Phillies

Chris Wheeler Talks About Twitter and Possible Confusing Travel Plans for the Phillies

By Kyle Scott

Published: Sep 13th, 2012 · 3:51 PM EDT

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And what's the deal with Cyberspace?

Chris Wheeler called into 97.5 The Fanatic today (a format in which he is infinitely more likable). He spoke with Tony Bruno and Jon Marks about the Phillies’ comeback, Jimmy Rollins, and Penn State (of course), among other things. But what stood out to me (and my fever as we drove in sweatpants in 80 degree weather to get our prescription) were Wheeler’s comments about A) Twitter and B) the headache the Phillies’ traveling secretary will have when making plans for October.

First up, the Twitter talk, in which Wheels (amazingly) reveals that he knows about (@THE_REAL_WHEELS) parody account, which, sadly, hasn’t updated since July. Wheeler was talking about the online reaction toward Penn State’s kicker this weekend, and immediately hopped up onto his high horse about people in cyberspace attacking a kid. Then, this:

“We all deal with it. People do it to us. They do it to you guys, I’m sure. If that’s what your life involves, if that’s what you have to do with it, you know, it’s one of those things, I guess.” 

You weren’t on Twitter blasting him, Wheels?

“I can’t even spell Twitter. Somebody had a Twitter account, Tony, I think it was last year or the year before, it was called The Real Wheels or something. I didn’t even know about it. People kept saying, “What are you saying this for?” I said, “What are you talking about?” I didn’t even know what Twitter or Tweeter was. Now I have a much better idea. So no, I have nothing to do with it. I understand the whole concept. I’m not going to be a fossil about it, but I have no interest in being involved in it.”

 

Somewhere, Bob Costas is stroking himself.

Now, on the Phils’ efforts to plan for what could be confusing October travel with the new Wild Card and playoff scenarios:

“Let me tell you, Tony, on the plane last night, I sit in front of Frank Coppenbarger, who’s our director of travel. And you think it’s crazy right now, how would you like to be this guy, who 2-3 weeks ago thought [he] was going to be playing golf in a few weeks, to the point of right now, where you’re going “Oh my god, do I have to get hotel rooms for one night in this town? Do I have to set up a hotel another night in this town? Do I have to worry about getting Delta (Phillies’ charter) to have an airplane ready here, have an airplane ready there?" It’s all very strange.” 

 

Strange indeed. Sexy, even.

Listen to the interview. It’s all around the one-hour mark of the full show.