GaryMrMets
04-03-2004, 11:44 PM
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news.jsp?ymd=20040402&content_id=682397&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp
04/02/2004 7:10 PM ET
Good to be 'king' at CBP
Phillies' Rollins, others revel in new digs for first time
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Blue plush carpet sprawls over every inch of the oval clubhouse, broken up by the word Phillies written in red cursive on either side. Each finely chiseled locker stall feels like its own palace, and each player is royalty in front of it.
"Every man is king in here," said Jimmy Rollins as he enjoyed his leather reclining chair in Philadelphia's clubhouse. "It smells like a baseball field already."
Though Friday's rain prevented the players from working out on their new grass and dirt infield at Citizens Bank Park and taking hacks at the left-field wall -- save for a few guys playing catch in front of the dugout -- the players roamed through the clubhouse with wide-eyed excitement.
Inside their clubhouse for the first time, the players finally saw what everybody had been talking about for the past few years.
"I feel guilty wearing cleats in here," said Pat Burrell.
"Top of the line," said Amaury Telemaco.
"It makes you want to stay at the ballpark longer," said Mike Lieberthal.
Lieberthal was most impressed with the workout facilities and gushed about the weight room. He also quickly fell in love with the swimming pool and is certain that the cuisine will be much more to the players' liking.
"Players might work a little harder because they want to stay here," he said. "The only time I ever dreaded coming to the Vet was walking to the clubhouse. Once I got there, it was OK. We have a nicer everything. Weight room, four TVs, so we don't have to go outside. We can just watch."
When the longest-tenured Phillie ventured out to the dugout for a peek at the new field, he gushed some more.
"The scoreboard surprised me because it was so big and high," he said. "It's enormous. The brick backdrop in center field impressed me too and reminded me of Camden Yards. I thought the Liberty Bell was pretty cool."
Billy Wagner was just happy not to see a big hill in center field, as there was in his former home, Houston's Minute Maid Park.
"I love it," he said. "They've done a great job. It looks like they've covered a lot of bases. I'm sure there are things that will have to be changed, but I haven't noticed anything yet. When I came here in January, I thought there's no way it would be ready, but it looks great.
"The difference up here as a pitcher is you walk up and see the big field and you're more relaxed when in Houston you saw a wall in your face. That was scary."
Kevin Millwood, scheduled to open the regular season on Monday in Pittsburgh, is curious about the wind factor. Ditto for Eric Milton, who's scheduled to start Sunday's exhibition game.
As for the field itself, Rollins welcomes the openness of Citizens Bank Park.
"It's nice to get out there on a brand-new beautiful field. It makes you feel like you're playing baseball, instead of caveman ball, like at the Vet," he said. "That felt like a dirty underground, like you're walking through the jungle and, bam, there's the field."
That underground no longer exists, reduced to rubble less than two weeks ago. Now the Phillies can look forward to getting grass stains on their uniforms -- at home.
"It's going to be beautiful," said Doug Glanville. "My joints are excited right now. Grass is a big plus. I'm looking forward to it."
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2004/04/02/OAUqERuM.gif
Phillies pitchers jog around the warning track at Citizens Bank Park. (Chris Gardner/AP)
04/02/2004 7:10 PM ET
Good to be 'king' at CBP
Phillies' Rollins, others revel in new digs for first time
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Blue plush carpet sprawls over every inch of the oval clubhouse, broken up by the word Phillies written in red cursive on either side. Each finely chiseled locker stall feels like its own palace, and each player is royalty in front of it.
"Every man is king in here," said Jimmy Rollins as he enjoyed his leather reclining chair in Philadelphia's clubhouse. "It smells like a baseball field already."
Though Friday's rain prevented the players from working out on their new grass and dirt infield at Citizens Bank Park and taking hacks at the left-field wall -- save for a few guys playing catch in front of the dugout -- the players roamed through the clubhouse with wide-eyed excitement.
Inside their clubhouse for the first time, the players finally saw what everybody had been talking about for the past few years.
"I feel guilty wearing cleats in here," said Pat Burrell.
"Top of the line," said Amaury Telemaco.
"It makes you want to stay at the ballpark longer," said Mike Lieberthal.
Lieberthal was most impressed with the workout facilities and gushed about the weight room. He also quickly fell in love with the swimming pool and is certain that the cuisine will be much more to the players' liking.
"Players might work a little harder because they want to stay here," he said. "The only time I ever dreaded coming to the Vet was walking to the clubhouse. Once I got there, it was OK. We have a nicer everything. Weight room, four TVs, so we don't have to go outside. We can just watch."
When the longest-tenured Phillie ventured out to the dugout for a peek at the new field, he gushed some more.
"The scoreboard surprised me because it was so big and high," he said. "It's enormous. The brick backdrop in center field impressed me too and reminded me of Camden Yards. I thought the Liberty Bell was pretty cool."
Billy Wagner was just happy not to see a big hill in center field, as there was in his former home, Houston's Minute Maid Park.
"I love it," he said. "They've done a great job. It looks like they've covered a lot of bases. I'm sure there are things that will have to be changed, but I haven't noticed anything yet. When I came here in January, I thought there's no way it would be ready, but it looks great.
"The difference up here as a pitcher is you walk up and see the big field and you're more relaxed when in Houston you saw a wall in your face. That was scary."
Kevin Millwood, scheduled to open the regular season on Monday in Pittsburgh, is curious about the wind factor. Ditto for Eric Milton, who's scheduled to start Sunday's exhibition game.
As for the field itself, Rollins welcomes the openness of Citizens Bank Park.
"It's nice to get out there on a brand-new beautiful field. It makes you feel like you're playing baseball, instead of caveman ball, like at the Vet," he said. "That felt like a dirty underground, like you're walking through the jungle and, bam, there's the field."
That underground no longer exists, reduced to rubble less than two weeks ago. Now the Phillies can look forward to getting grass stains on their uniforms -- at home.
"It's going to be beautiful," said Doug Glanville. "My joints are excited right now. Grass is a big plus. I'm looking forward to it."
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2004/04/02/OAUqERuM.gif
Phillies pitchers jog around the warning track at Citizens Bank Park. (Chris Gardner/AP)