California, Here He Comes
After 15 seasons with the Phillies, five straight division titles and in 2008, just the second Worlds Series championship in club history, the Jimmy Rollins era has ended in Philadelphia.
Now 36, but with good baseball still left in the tank, his trade to the Dodgers represents a line in the sand. The Phils are officially in rebuild mode, while L.A. fills the void left by the departure of Hanley Ramirez.
The 2007 National League MVP, when he set the tone for a season when he called the Phillies "the team to beat" and watched them come from behind to topple the Mets in the NL East, Rollins was the longest-tenured Phillie. Only Mike Schmidt has played more games in the red pinstripes. If you go by the numbers, he ranks as the Phils greatest shortstop ever. More importantly, he was the sparkplug for the Phillies greatest era.
Ryne Sandberg will most likely pencil Freddy Galvis into the lineup next year. And much like Didi Gregorius at the other end of the Jersey Turnpike. Galvis will see how tough it is to follow a franchise icon.
Now 36, but with good baseball still left in the tank, his trade to the Dodgers represents a line in the sand. The Phils are officially in rebuild mode, while L.A. fills the void left by the departure of Hanley Ramirez.
The 2007 National League MVP, when he set the tone for a season when he called the Phillies "the team to beat" and watched them come from behind to topple the Mets in the NL East, Rollins was the longest-tenured Phillie. Only Mike Schmidt has played more games in the red pinstripes. If you go by the numbers, he ranks as the Phils greatest shortstop ever. More importantly, he was the sparkplug for the Phillies greatest era.
Ryne Sandberg will most likely pencil Freddy Galvis into the lineup next year. And much like Didi Gregorius at the other end of the Jersey Turnpike. Galvis will see how tough it is to follow a franchise icon.
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