On Thursday night, the tables were turned from a decade ago in the Big Apple, as the Phillies were the ones collapsing to the New York Mets. With the Phillies simply playing out the string, all fans can truly do is look ahead to the future. That, or think back to the Fightins coming from seven games down with 17 to play and winning the division.
- MORE JIMMY AND CHASE
- The Q&A ... with Dodgers leadoff hitter (and former Phillies icon) Chase Utley
- The Q&A ... with White Sox shortstop (and Phillies hit king) Jimmy Rollins
- WATCH: Utley gets standing ovation in return - and two more after his HRs
Speaking of the golden era of Phillies baseball, two of the key cogs on that 2007 team, as well as noted tormentors of the New York Mets and their fans, were both in the news over the past 24 hours.
, who declared the Phillies as the team to beat in the National League East in '07 (and then backed it up), has taken a job with Turner Sports as a studio analyst up to and through the 2016 MLB playoffs.
Rollins will join and in a room that certainly won’t lack for opinions. For a player that captivated fans on and off the field, television work is a logical next step for J-Roll.
His former double play partner, and Public Enemy No. 1 in New York, almost assuredly won’t be offering his opinions on television anytime soon. But is still playing, and as you can see below, he’s still capable of sheer brilliance in the field.
Let the retiring take it away:
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann