Phillies Insider: Williams, Bowa 'Get' Philly... Rollins, Not So Much

Mitch Williams is the Bill Buckner of Philadelphia Phillies lore.

The "Wild Thing"was the eccentric closer who gave fans a heart attack each time out. Williams will contend that when he was called upon to pitch, he'd throw without any real clue where the ball would end up.

That's honesty...

Williams surrendered the game-winning home run that propelled the Blue Jays past the Phillies in the 1993 World Series. In my mind, Joe Carter is STILL rounding the bases.

Williams endured the hate mail and the passers-by shouting obscenities. He was traded to Houston in the offseason.

Today, Williams is one of the brightest sports personality in the city. He hosts a pre-game show on the Phillies radio network and is the lead analyst on Comcast SportsNet's Phillies Post-Game Live.

Mitchy-Poo has never been afraid to speak his mind and he never hid from the criticism. And, despite feeling the wrath of Phillies fans all too often, he fully supports them... and is one of many former Phillies who have opined about the Jimmy Rollins Situation.

In case you haven't heard, Rollins went on Best Damn Sports Show, Period! earlier this month and labeled Phillies fans "frontrunners."

Hey Mitch, what'ya gotta say to that?

"I think (Rollins) used the wrong word, I really do.," Williams told the Delaware County Daily Times. "They're a lot of things, but they ain't frontrunners. They show up. They're always here. The word fan comes from fanatic, and that's the way they are about their sports here.

"They show up, and when it's good, they're cheering, and when it's bad, they're booing. As a player, give them something to cheer for."


Larry Bowa is a beloved former player, manager and coach. He was the starting shortstop for the Phillies' in 1980 -- the only year the franchise has won the World Series

Bowa tried giving J-Roll a lesson in Understanding Philadelphia Philosophy 101, which Rollins in eight seasons has yet to pass...

"I think what he meant to say was, 'When you're going good, they're on your side, and when you're going bad, they get on you,' " Bowa told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"Frontrunner is not the right word. They're not frontrunners or they wouldn't come out, because God knows there have been droughts here. I told Jimmy, 'You just used the wrong word.' He said, 'Yeah, I think I did.' "