It's going to be a VERY
busy weekend for Philly sports fans! Besides the Sixers’ playoff games,
the Phillies have a pretty important weekend of their own.
Inter-league play begins
for 2012 as the Phils host some of baseball's royalty with the Boston
Red Sox visit this weekend. Both squads
have had some early-season problems and find themselves in the unlikely
position of being in last place in their respective divisions, but the Phillies
are showing signs of life, having won four straight headed into tonight's game
against the Cubs in Chicago. Not much
has been made about the weekend series against the Red Sox, but you know that
Jonathan Papelbon MUST have had these dates circled on his calendar for quite
some time.
Over the years, I've spoken
to many players from different sports about playing against teams they had
played for previously, and what it meant to them. The opinions are pretty
diverse. Some guys play it off as being
just another game, but it seems like the stickier the exit, the more intense
the return match becomes. It's a natural
way to feel, I suppose.
Despite the fact that
most players understand that the world of sports is a "business,” that
doesn't mean they won't take exception to their life and the lives of their
families (in some cases) being uprooted and forced to change via either trade
or free agency. In Papelbon's case, he
has to be the one smiling at the moment as he has enjoyed some pretty decent
early success with his new team, not to mention a pretty HUGE contract.
Meanwhile, his old team
(the Red Sox) have struggled with the closer role and are still wondering who
might win that job. Many of Pap's old teammates have remarked about how
much they miss their old closer, on the field as well as in the clubhouse.
Early speculation was
that possibly Andrew Bailey could be the team's closer, but he injured his
thumb and has a long stint on the disabled list left. At the moment, Alfredo Aceves is the reliever
with the most saves so far (seven), but he also has a 5.74 ERA to go with those
saves.
I'm sure CBP will have
many Boston fans who made the trip to Philly in the stands. I also have a feeling that the Phillies
sweeping the BoSox and having a couple of those wins saved by Papelbon will
leave a very bad taste in the Red Sox fans' mouths.
Then again, it's not a
long drive to Tony Luke's on Oregon for a cheesesteak to help the Sox fans get
rid of that bitterness. Hopefully, they have a very good GPS or are
willing to ask directions!
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