Matt Stairs is one of those guys that we’ll never forget in Philly – 10, 15 years from now he’ll still be fodder for nostalgic conversations at bars all across the Delaware Valley. By the time we tell our kids about his homer in Game 4 of the NLCS, it’ll sound like he hit it completely out of Dodger Stadium.

What’s so refreshing about Stairs is how honest and unassuming he his. Admitting after that game that he goes up to bat with one thing in mind each time – jacking a homer – is just what we’re looking for in our heroes. You hear guys all the time tell us how their homers are “mistakes” or how they never go up thinking about hitting one out – and you know 95% of them are full of it.

Anyway – Stairs is back in Maine coaching hockey, and the Bangor Daily News caught up with him.

One the more interesting parts of the article is when Stairs discusses how a new acquisition can ignite a fire among previously slumping players:

“The biggest thing is it is more of a wake-up call for some of the players who were struggling at the time,” said Stairs, who noted such a move can jump start the players who are struggling.

“Jayson Werth stepped up and hit two homers and had six RBIs in the first game I was there,” pointed out Stairs.

Stairs also give a shout out to the Philly phaithful the way Jimmy Rollins should have characterized them when he was on the Best Damn Sports Show Period in August:

“They were hungry for a championship. I came at a good time. We won something like 25 of our last 31 games, whatever it was,” said Stairs, whose Phillies won 28 of their last 39 including playoffs. “When you went to the ballpark, there was electricity. They were waving those white towels.

“If you don’t play well, they’ll be tough on you. It’s one of those things. But we played well at the right time,” said Stairs. “We never lost a game at home in the playoffs (7-0). Even if you’re tired, when you get in that batter’s box, you felt a surge of energy.”

Having Stairs back next year coming off the bench is a big plus for a team that is still improving it’s pinch hit power over the last few years (2006 – 3 PH homers, 2007 – 9 PH homers, 2008 – 9 PH homers). At least we know what Stairs will be looking to do when he digs into the batter’s box.

David Murphy from the Daily News has the story as well.