Phils, from Chooch to Uts
PHILLIES PHEVER has swept the city, and if you're only a casual baseball phan, you may be feeling left out.
PHILLIES PHEVER has swept the city, and if you're only a casual baseball phan, you may be feeling left out.
It can be embarrassing at the water cooler or bus stop when someone asks, "Hey, how about J-Roll setting the tone with that shot in the first, and the Big Man going three-for-four," and your blank look betrays you.
Well, the People Paper is here to help. To get you through those difficult moments, here's our Phillies glossary:
* J-Roll - The shortstop, not the breakfast roll: Jimmy Rollins. He won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2007.
* The Big Man, or Big Guy - First-baseman Ryan Howard. He won the N.L. Most Valuable Player award in 2006, and led baseball in home runs and runs batted in this season.
* Uts - The second baseman, not Utz, the potato chips: Chase Utley.
* Chooch - The catcher, Carlos Ruiz. Under no circumstances should you refer to him as "Cooch," as one out-of-town announcer did. Also not to be confused with Chico Ruiz (see 1964).
* The Flyin' Hawaiian - Shane Victorino, the fleet centerfielder who hails from the Aloha State.
* Pat the Bat - Pat Burrell, the power-hitting leftfielder.
* Mad-Dog, or The Bridge to Lidge - The setup man, Ryan Madson. He pitches the 8th inning.
* Lights-Out Lidge - The closer, Brad Lidge. He pitches the 9th.
* Grandpa, or Gramps - Jamie Moyer, a 45-year-old starting pitcher.
* 1964 - Bad: A Phillies fan's worst psychic disaster. The team, en route to the N.L. championship, blew a 6 1/2-game lead with just 10 games to play. The collapse began when Chico Ruiz stole home in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds a 1-0 victory. Proper response to any mention of 1964 is a frown or grimace.
* 1980 - Good: The only World Series title in team history. The Phils beat the Kansas City Royals when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson in Game 6.
* Schmitty - Hall of Fame third baseman Michael Jack Schmidt, hitting star of the 1980 team, and a three-time N.L. MVP. The Schmitter, a sandwich sold at the ballpark, is named for him.
* Lefty - Hall of Fame (and lefthanded) pitcher Steve Carlton. Top hurler on the 1980 team. Winner of four Cy Young Awards.
* Black Friday - Oct. 7, 1977. The second-worst psychic disaster after 1964. Leading 5-3 with two out in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the NL championship, the Phillies blew the game.
* The Bull - Greg Luzinski, leftfielder instrumental on Black Friday and the 1980 World Championship team. Runs the excellent Bull's BBQ stand at Citizens Bank Park.
* Harry - Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas.
* The Whiz Kids - Nickname for the 1950 team, composed mainly of young players developed by the team's farm system.
* The Wheeze Kids - Nickname for the 1983 team, which featured six players over age 38: Pete Rose (42), Tony Perez (41), Ron Reed (40), Joe Morgan (39), Tug McGraw (38), Steve Carlton (38).
* Whitey - Richie Ashburn, who died in 1997, the Hall of Fame outfielder and broadcaster, who endures as one of Philadelphia's most beloved sports figures. The ballpark's Ashburn Alley entertainment area is named for him.
* Sarge - Gary Matthews, star of the 1983 N.L. champions, now a Phillies announcer.
* The Dude, or Nails - Lenny Dykstra, tobacco-chomping sparkplug of the 1993 team. Hit four home runs in the '93 World Series. Now a businessman in California and stock tout on TheStreet.com.
* Wild Thing - Mitch Williams, closer for the 1993 team, who gave up the Joe Carter home run that won the World Series for Toronto. Now a Phillies postgame analyst for Comcast.
