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Sending a message to Rollins
Now batting leadoff and playing shortstop for the Phillies … yeah, the MVP guy.
Jimmy Rollins will be back in his familiar perch at the top of the Phillies batting order, and in the middle of the infield tonight in Atlanta. He’s been out of the lineup for the last four games, getting a rest Manager Charlie Manuel hopes will shake him out of the doldrums he’s been in this season.
Simply put, Rollins has been anything but MVP material. Incredibly, he’s still second in the NL All-Star voting, trailing only the Marlins’
Hanley Ramirez. At least he’s still not leading the shortstop voting.
Having him start in the Midsummer Classic would be just embarrassing, both for Rollins and for baseball.
That’s not the Phillies problem right now. What is vexing them is just what is behind Rollins steep decline. The perennial All-Star and one-time MVP is hitting just .211 for the season. His on-base percentage is a paltry .254. Instead of the guy who makes the Phillies engine go, he’s been a faulty spark plug, a big reason behind the Phils’ recent struggles.
Maybe more troubling is that this isn’t just a slump. It’s a trend, And a most troubling one for the Phils. Since he was named National League MVP 19 months ago, Rollins numbers have paled. He’s hit just .254 in 205 regular season games. He didn’t exactly light things up in the playoffs last year either, hitting .237 as the Phils captured a World Series title.
One thing he has going for him is that the Phils are on the road tonight in Atlanta as Rollins returns to the lineup and tries to scratch his way out of his funk. He won’t be hearing from the fans if he strikes out, or boots a ground ball.
The Phillies need him to be the straw that stirs their drink at the top of their lineup. It’s pretty simple, when Rollins is on base and scoring runs, the Phils win.
But that means he needs to get on. That means working the count, drawing walks, laying down an occasional bunt, being patient. Those are not the hallmarks of the free-swinging Rollins.
That needs to change. Either by Rollins’ will – or the Phillies’.
Jimmy Rollins will be back in his familiar perch at the top of the Phillies batting order, and in the middle of the infield tonight in Atlanta. He’s been out of the lineup for the last four games, getting a rest Manager Charlie Manuel hopes will shake him out of the doldrums he’s been in this season.
Simply put, Rollins has been anything but MVP material. Incredibly, he’s still second in the NL All-Star voting, trailing only the Marlins’
Hanley Ramirez. At least he’s still not leading the shortstop voting.
Having him start in the Midsummer Classic would be just embarrassing, both for Rollins and for baseball.
That’s not the Phillies problem right now. What is vexing them is just what is behind Rollins steep decline. The perennial All-Star and one-time MVP is hitting just .211 for the season. His on-base percentage is a paltry .254. Instead of the guy who makes the Phillies engine go, he’s been a faulty spark plug, a big reason behind the Phils’ recent struggles.
Maybe more troubling is that this isn’t just a slump. It’s a trend, And a most troubling one for the Phils. Since he was named National League MVP 19 months ago, Rollins numbers have paled. He’s hit just .254 in 205 regular season games. He didn’t exactly light things up in the playoffs last year either, hitting .237 as the Phils captured a World Series title.
One thing he has going for him is that the Phils are on the road tonight in Atlanta as Rollins returns to the lineup and tries to scratch his way out of his funk. He won’t be hearing from the fans if he strikes out, or boots a ground ball.
The Phillies need him to be the straw that stirs their drink at the top of their lineup. It’s pretty simple, when Rollins is on base and scoring runs, the Phils win.
But that means he needs to get on. That means working the count, drawing walks, laying down an occasional bunt, being patient. Those are not the hallmarks of the free-swinging Rollins.
That needs to change. Either by Rollins’ will – or the Phillies’.
posted by Heron's Nest at
7:13 AM
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