|
BlueClaws, Phillies Meet And Greet Fans At Freehold Mall
By Jim McDevitt
 | | --Photo By Jim McDevitt Fans lined up for hours to meet coaches from the Lakewood BlueClaws and players from the Philadelphia Phillies on their Freehold stop of the team's Winter Tour. |
|
If the lines for autographs at Freehold Raceway Mall were any indication, the baseball season is just around the corner.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Lakewood BlueClaws made a stop on their annual Winter Tour at the Freehold Raceway Mall on Saturday, January 20. Hosted by the Lakewood Blue- Claws, the event was an opportunity for hundreds of fans to meet and obtain autographs from Phillies relief pitchers Ryan Madson and Matt Smith, new Phils third baseman Wes Helms and new BlueClaws bench coach and former Phillies infielder, Kevin Jordan.
Fans lined up more than two hours before the event's start in hopes of meeting some bigleaguers and the BlueClaws' new coaches. The players had to stay longer than the scheduled 90 minutes to accommodate the crowd, but no fan went home without an autograph.
Also on hand to entertain the crowd and pose for photos were the Phillies mascot, the Phanatic, and the BlueClaws mascot, Buster. Fans were also given the opportunity to see the South Atlantic League Championship Trophy, which the BlueClaws won in 2006.
When asked why he would bear the long line, Don Bar- rett of Freehold said, "I'm a diehard Phillies fan. My father had season tickets at old Connie Mack Stadium. I come from a long line of Phillies fans."
Jordan, new to manager Steve Roadcap's BlueClaws staff this year, played parts of seven seasons with the Phillies from 1995 to 2001, his lone Major League experience. He retired in 2005 after several seasons in the minors and is now glad to be in the coaching game, especially since he will be working in the Phillies organization.
"Familiarity with the front office is a definite plus," Jordan said.
Still a month or so from the start of spring training, Jordan said he has no idea what the BlueClaws team will look like this summer, but with a crop of good, young players coming through the lower ranks of the Phillies minor league system, the future is bright.
"They've been doing a good job the last two to three years," he said. "We want to keep that up. It's important to have a good farm system."
Phillies Players
Look To Strong 2007
Helms, the former Brave, Brewer and Marlin, signed a two-year free agent deal with the Phillies in November after an outstanding second half saw him hit .385 for the Fish. He looks to man the third base position for the Phils while occasionally sitting in for reigning National League MVP and former BlueClaw Ryan Howard at first base.
Helms reportedly turned down more money from the New York Yankees to sign with the Phillies. "It was the National League, first of all," Helms said. "I've been in the NL for eight years. I didn't want to switch leagues."
Helms also feels the Phillies have a solid nucleus in place to make a run at the playoffs in 2007.
"I went to the playoffs with the Braves and there's nothing that I want more than to go back," he said. "We've got a lot of talent coming together here."
Madson, who struggled mightily in a starting job in 2006, but has had success out of the bullpen in the past, is comfortable with the club's decision to keep him in that role in 2007.
"I've never complained about not being a starter," Madson said. "It's an important spot. Every out counts the same."
Smith came over to the Phillies from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu trade and looks to have a solid chance to earn a spot in the 2007 bullpen.
"I'm looking forward to the season," Smith said. "I want to make a good impression. I like the Phillies a lot. It's definitely a good clubhouse."
Asked to compare the Phillies organization to the Yankees, Smith said, "They're both class acts."
The BlueClaws begin their title defense at FirstEnergy Park April 5 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The Phillies open the 2007 season at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on April 2 against the Atlanta Braves.
| 
)