http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/556 Recent articles about Jimmy Rollins en-us First off, I would like to say I love speculating about possible trades in all 4 major sports. That being said, I thought I'd throw some ideas out there. I know I'm going to get ripped for this, but I'll post it anyway. The Blue Jays have been rumored to whisper about a trade involving Roy Halladay. The Blue jays are in dire need of offense. Phillies send Jimmy Rollins, Drew Carpenter, Joe Savery, and Brad Harman for Roy Halladay. Failing this trade, maybe throw in a few chips like Marson or Jaramillo or Golson or Brett Myers or maybe even Joe Blanton or J.A. Happ. Call up Jason Donald if this works, put him in for a few games and see how he fairs. But deff. start Bruntlett too as I don't think Donald has the fielding ability of Bruntlett. Also, if the Jays still don't bite, throw in Jason Donald and ask for David Eckstein. Avoid trading Carrasco at all costs. I've actually seen him pitch up at reading and let me tell you, I saw some nasty curveballs that were just sickening. I don't know if he'll be an ace but deff. a No. 2 at least. Halladay doesn't seem intent on signing a contract extension with the Jays as he has expressed that he wants to win a World Series, something the Blue Jays aren't doing soon. The Blue Jays should trade him this year instead of next as he would become a rent a player next year and his value would drop. The Jays would be getting a reigning MVP with exceptional fielding skills at shorstop in Jimmy Rollins. He's probably the second best SS in the majors......when he's not late to the game. The Jays would also get 2 pitching prospects and a second baseman prospect. They could even get 3 pitching prospects and another infield prospect and a quality starter/closer. In 2 years when all these prospects are called up, most of their offensive woes should be solved. The potential Rotation could be this: 1. Halladay 2. Hamels 3. Moyer 4. Kendrick 5. Blanton/Myers Line up: 1. Victorino 2. Eckstein 3. Utley 4. Howard 5. Burrell 6. Werth 7. Feliz 8. Ruiz 9. P Depending on Myers' next outing, I think the Phils need to trade him as a closer. We all know Brett wants to be a closer and his calling is in the pen, but we have Lidge and we're not going to pay $12 mill for a set up man. He could possibly go to Detroit as a closer. In return, the Phils could acquire Pudge Rodriguez. Brandon Inge is gonna be the starter next year, and it's Pudge's last year in Detroit. Detroit is only 6.5 out of first place behind the White Sox. Without the blown save, they're only 4.5 back. Maybe it's possible. Pudge would be an instant upgrade over Ruiz or Coste. The Phils could also call up J.A. Happ as he's had some solid innings or even J.D. Durbin. Side note- why don't the Phillies use Happ more? He has a breaking ball to go along with a change up and a fastball. Kendrick only has a breaking ball and a fastball as he still needs to develop that change up. But I digress. Pudge's .290 average would bolster the team's average from the pathetic .257 it is now. Also, if Pudge lands here and signs an extension, that opens up the option trade Marson and Jaramillo as chips. And who else is with me on trying to move Jimmy Rollins? He's let the "MVP" thing go to his head. Suddenly team rules need not apply to him anymore. And I hate how he only swings for power at every chance he gets. "First pitch swinging" Jimmy is what I call him. Last year he almost always hit for contact. Clearly his best year is behind him, but with above average years ahead of him, I say move him. He needs that kind of slap to the face, not just some old "oh, you can have the day off today and still get paid and do what you want." He deff. needs some sort of shake up. So does the team. Bottom line, what I would do if I were Pat Gillick. Trade Brett Myers, Cris Coste, and Drew Carpenter for Pudge and a low level Prospect. Then trade Brad Harmon, Marson, Kyle Drabek, Joe Savery, and Rollins for Halladay. Rotation: 1. Halladay 2. Hamels 3. Moyer 4. Kendrick 5. Blanton Lineup: 1. Shane Victorino 2. Pudge 3. Utley 4. Howard 5. Burrell 6. Werth 7. Feliz 8. Bruntlett/Donald 9. P If you can't tell, we're basically swapping out a shorstop for a starting pitcher and an arse load of prospects. I know its a pipe dream to get Halladay, but I really thing the Blue Jays need to trade him now instead of next year as they can get more. The Pudge trade I think is really possible to happen. Let me know what you think. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:34:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295966 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295966 Reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins was benched Thursday for the second time this season by Phillies' manager Charlie Manuel. Rollins, instead of getting to Shea Stadium in Queens to finish off a three game set against the Mets with the rest of the Phillies in the team bus, opted to drive himself and arrived at the stadium after the designated 10 A.M. arrival time set by Manuel. The team bus also arrived to the stadium late, but still got there before their star shortstop. Rollins claimed that he was late because of traffic, which in all likelihood is most likely what happened. "I left ten minutes after the bus as usual but I just got stuck," Rollins said. "I can't change lights and stuff." Rollins was bench earlier this season mid-game for not running out a pop up, a move he agreed with. He does not agree with Manuel's decision to bench him this time. "We're not going to agree on this one," Rollins said. "We agreed last time but we're not going to agree on this one. He's the manager and he has to set a precedent with certain players and you're held up to higher rules. That's fine." Rollins was apparently late to a game one other time this season, but called Manuel to let him know and got off with a warning. Whether Rollins agrees with the decision or not, and whether he accepts the punishment (which he has) as a grown up or not, it does not appear to be having much of an affect on him. When Rollins was bench earlier this season for not running out the pop-up, we all hoped that it would light a fire under the struggling shortstop and motivate him to start playing harder, but all it did was make him run out pop-ups. Rollins still jogs out grounds outs and has been criticized numerous times this season for not running as hard on base hits as he should. Several times Rollins has strolled in second on a hit that, with his speed, could have easily been a triple. In a recent interview on the Comcast Sportsnet program Daily News Live, host Michael Barkan asked Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley which of his teammates is routinely late. After thinking for a few seconds Utley responded "Jimmy Rollins." According to many people who are around the club on a daily basis, Rollins usually arrives to the ball park right before he is required to. He does not appear to be a get there early, stay late kind of guy. It appears to me, and many of the Phillies' fans, that Rollins is mailing this season in. He doesn't feel the need to hustle every single play. He apparently doesn't think he needs extra time to work on his game, which has struggled this season. He still speeds around the bases, just not as fast. He still dazzles in the field, but has made a number of errors. He is the supposed leader of this team, but does not lead by example and apparently finds himself to be too good to ride with the team to the ballpark. I have been villified over the past couple days for attacking the character of Mets' star shortstop Jose Reyes for his immature and classless celebration antics. I am a firm believer in being fair and objective and I cannot question Reyes' character and then ignore the failings of my own team's star. Rollins, as the reigning MVP, has publicly taken up the mantle of the leader of this team, but has failed to act like the leader. I have no idea what Rollins is like behind closed doors, whether he is vocal amongst his teammates, encouraging them when they're struggling, yelling at them when they're slacking off. But I can't imagine it would do much good since Rollins himself appears to be aloof and slacking off. Team leaders need to lead by being vocal, but more importantly by example. I am as hard on Ryan Howard as anyone out there, but I was really impressed the other day when I saw him bust his hump down the line on a ground out that he had no chance of beating out without an errant throw on the play. Pat Burrell, who has had his fair share of struggles over his time with the Phillies, appears to be too laid back to be a vocal leader in the clubhouse, but absolutely leads by example. During his struggles from a couple years ago, Phillies fans were largely behind Pat because they saw how hard he worked at getting better. He was constantly working on his swing, seeking advice from anyone who could give it (which turns out was a big part of the problem), busting his butt every single day no matter how well he was doing. Fans love to see that a player is pissed at his manager for taking him out of the game like Burrell was after Sunday's loss to the Marlins. He was respectful and understanding of his shortcomings, but admitted that it angers him every time Manuel takes him out of the game in favor of a defensive replacement late in close games. Fans want a player with that fire, that drive, that hustle, and that desire. Jimmy Rollins is not the MVP this year. Jimmy Rollins is not the leader of this team. jimmy Rollins needs to prove me wrong. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:51:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295593 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295593 I haven't heard much from my favorite Philly Phanatic, Duff. Maybe Duff, with his faulty GPS system, was chauffeuring Jimmy Rollins to Shea yesterday? If you haven't heard, Jimmy Rollins was benched for yesterday's rubber game versus the Mets, because he arrived an hour before the first pitch. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel decided Rollins could best enjoy the day watching the air traffic pattern over Shea. How can Rollins allow this to happen? Is this Jimmy being Manny saying he can't control the lights? I've been ripping on Jose Reyes for his immature approach to the game, but how can Rollins fail to get out of bed on time? Did Rollins get seduced by the late night lights of Manhattan? Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:50:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295510 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295510 Whoever is walking the beat in the Phillies locker room this season is more Chief Wiggum than Sgt. Rowand. So what, if anything, would Aaron Rowand do if Jimmy Rollins was pulling this B.S. on his watch? Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:40:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295505 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295505 Yesterday saw the second rule violation from Jimmy Rollins, just days after a fly ball, no-hustle play over the weekend, the same reason he was benched on June 6. Does it pay for Charlie Manuel to be such a stickler? If winning is the desired effect, there's some evidence to the contrary that the strong arm of the law hasn't worked for Sheriff Manuel this season. Since J-Roll's first benching, the Phillies have gone 19-22. A handful of players have... Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:50:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295458 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295458 All you people out there telling me that the Phillies have one of the best offenses in the league and have no need for Matt Holliday (.343 AVG, 17 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R, 13 SB), I want you to look me in the eye (figuratively of course) and tell me you still think that. I agree with you that this is one of the best offenses in the league, on paper. A team composed of reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins (career* .277 AVG, 16HR, 62 RBI, 96 R, 35 SB), former MVP and Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard (.279 AVG, 42 HR, 97 RBI, 83 R)*, this year's MVP front runner Chase Utley (.299 AVG, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 85 R, 11 SB)*, and Pat Burrell (.260 AVG, 29 HR, 96 RBI, 75 R)* should be leading the league in offense, and somehow, this team still does. Despite having an awful almost two months of baseball, the Phillies are still second in the National League in runs scored, behind Chicago. To show you just how Jekyll and Hyde this offense has been this year, let's look at the numbers. Since June 1st, the Phillies have scored 181 runs. They have given up 182. Now let's take out the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 13th in which the Phillies won 20-2. With that game out, the Phillies have scored 161 runs and given up 180. That figure says a couple things. First off, they were really good in the beginning of this year. In April and May they scored 302 runs and only gave up 236. That is the run differential of a playoff team. Second, the fact that they are still the second highest run scoring team in the NL also shows just how weak the NL is this year. You can't say it's the pitching, because the Phillies have given up less runs in June and July then they did the first two months. Granted July isn't over yet, but even the Phils will be hard pressed to give up more than 50 runs in one week. This team just is not hitting. They aren't hitting with runners on base, with runners in scoring position, with no runners on. They aren't hitting. During the month of July, Utley has two home runs and five RBIs; Rollins hasn't had a home run since June 16th, and has seven RBIs this month; Geoff Jenkins has 16 hits since June 1st, with six of them coming in the first six days of that month; Jason Werth has six RBIs in July and Pedro Feliz has seven. The team's Jekyll and Hyde nature was never more evident then this past series with the Mets. The Phillies were the Kings of the Come From Behind Win last year and they showed that Never Say Die attitude on Tuesday when they scored six runs in the 9th inning to beat the Mets 8-6. After getting manhandled by Johan Santana through the first eight innings, this team showed an incredible amount of character (which they have lacked for the better part of the past two months) and grit and did not give up. Then they dropped the ball and let the momentum gained from that inning fade off and played like garbage the next two days. Despite a rocky outing by Brett Myers on Wednesday, the game was still tied at three coming into the sixth inning. The Phillies were very much in a position to win when the bullpen gave up three runs and you could just see the air go out of this team. They just laid down and conceded. Thursday the Phillies absolutely blew a beautiful gem thrown by Jamie Moyer and once again made the erratic Oliver Perez look like a Cy Young Award winner. Moyer went seven strong innings giving up only one run. J.C. Romero came into the 8th inning and gave up two runs. Romero has unequivocally been the Phillies best reliever this season aside from closer Brad Lidge. He has also pitched more innings than any other reliever and it is starting to show. Romero gave up a total of six runs in all of April, May and June. He has given up five so far in July, which is still remarkable and I am not dumping on him at all. But he needs some help; he needs another lefty in the bullpen that cane take on some of the situational responsibilities. This was the biggest series of the season and the Phillies blew it, despite having the biggest inning of the year. They had the momentum; they had first place; and I still believe they have a better team. The Phillies have just been way too inconsistent this season and the Mets have gelled together since the firing of manager Willie Randolph. This is going to be a very tough road over the remaining 60 or so games, but I still think the Phillies can pull it out. They have to start this weekend against the Atlanta Braves. * When calculating the career stats, I took out the player's first season and this season, as neither were full seasons. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:47:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295456 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295456 New York Mets 1st place, Philadelphia Phillies 2nd place. Get used to that, with a note that the Phils may be displaced in 2nd by the Florida Marlins plopping them sourly in 3rd place. What have you done for me lately?: *Since June 10th, a span of 37 games, the Phils have scored 3 runs or less 16 times. That's unacceptable. Record during that time, 15-22, not what a 1st place team is made of, or a second place, or a third place, or a... For a tirade about Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste, Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz, Adam Eaton, Joe Blanton, Kyle Kendrick, Brett Myers, RJ Swindle, Rudy Seanez, and JC Romero click on URL. Also, I promise a tantalizing picture of Janet Jackson. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:15:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295328 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295328 With no help from a benched MVP, the Phillies offense completely wasted a solid pitching performance. Jamie Moyer pitched 7 strong innings and gave up only one run, but the Phillies couldn't solve Oliver Perez, who pitched 7 and 2/3rds innings, struck out 12 and also gave up only one run. The Mets rallied to win in the 8th inning when Carlos Delgado doubled in a pair of runs in the 8th inning off of J.C. Romero, dropping the Phillies into second place after the 3-1 loss. Jimmy Rollins was a late scratch from the game, getting benched for showing up late to the game. Rollins got to the game one hour before it started, breaking Charlie Manuel's rule about showing up on time. Click the link for more on the game, including highlights. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:02:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295112 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295112 Carlos Delgado's two-run double broke an eighth-inning tie, and Oliver Perez struck out a career-high 12, as the Mets dumped the Phillies 3-1 to take over sole possession of first in the National League East. On a day that ended with the Mets making it their division to lose, Jimmy Rollins was scratched for showing up late to the game, according to multiple reports. That's twice this season that the reigning MVP has been benched for disciplinary reasons. Are you... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:00:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295110 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295110 Yesterday, I told the Mets to burn this image into their memory. I told them to use it as motivation for their games against Philadelphia and beyond. Well after Jose Reyes hit his three run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Mets in the lead for good, Reyes showed his rebuttal to Jimmy Rollins' celebration. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:45:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294766 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294766 I just wanted to take a moment and personally thank Jerry Manuel on behalf of every Phillies fan out there for taking Johan Santana out of last night's game. Santana was cruising along last night in complete control of the game. Through eight innings (105 pitches) he had given up eight hits but only two runs. The Phillies just could not get anything going and looked dead. Then the Mets' manager decided to do the Phils a favor and didn't bring Santana back in to finish out the game in the ninth inning, instead opting for Duaner Sanchez. The Mets were up 5-2 at that point and the Phillies had appeared so lifeless all game, I for one wasn't optimistic they were going to be able score no matter who was on the mound. Sanchez then loaded the bases without getting a single out. So long Sanchez (0.0 IP, 3 ER, INF ERA). In comes Joe Smith. With the bases loaded and Carlos Ruiz at bat, I was sure we were about to see a game ending triple play. I've said repeatedly that the best way to get the Phillies out is to let them load the bases and Ruiz has become known as the "Rally Killer" among the Phillies' faithful. Little did I know but the Mets' pitching was so bad last night that they actually allowed Ruiz to not only not hit into a triple play (although let me be fair here, Ruiz tried very hard to hit into a double play, but was helped out by a showboating Jose Reyes who tried to make the out at second all by himself and failed), but allowed him to get his second hit of the game. That's right. As soon as Ruiz got his second hit (and even an RBI!) I knew the game was in the bag. Smith (0.0 IP, 1 ER, INF ERA) exits stage right. In comes Pedro Feliciano. The other indication that the game was in the bag for Phils? So Taguchi not only got a hit, but drove in two runs to tie the game at 5. Ruiz and Taguchi, an unbeatable combination. After giving up the game tying hit to Taguchi, Feliciano gave up a double to Jimmy Rollins, scoring both Ruiz and Taguchi. Chase Utley would then ground out, moving Rollins to third. Pat Burrell is intentionally walked, then Ryan Howard grounded out to the pitcher, scoring Rollins. Out goes Feliciano (0.2 IP, 2 ER, 90.00 ERA). In comes Aaron Heilman who would eventually get the final out with no more damage done. Johan Santana: 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2.25 ERA Mets' Bullpen: 1 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 54.00 ERA Thank you Jerry Manuel. ShareThis Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294364 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294364 Just study everything about this picture. Jimmy Rollins celebration, his posture, his fingers to the sky. Look at Damion Easley's slumped shoulders, dejected look, and "I'm going to stare at the ground and hope this is all a dream" stare. This, right here, is your motivation. Remember this image tomorrow night. Remember this image Thursday afternoon. Remember this image for the rest of the games you play the rest of the year. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:56:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294206 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294206 The Phillies pulled off an astonishing 8-6 shocker by roaring back for six runs off the Mets' bullpen, which blew another dominant start by Johan Santana. Unlikely hero So Taguchi delivered the game-saving blow with his first pinch hit of the season. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Taguchi fought off several two-strike Pedro Feliciano pitches before gashing a double to right, plating two runs to tie it 5-5. Then, Jimmy Rollins followed with the game-winner, a two-run double... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:02:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294135 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294135 Charlie Manuel called out his hitters and their ability to hit in the clutch, and the Phillies responded. Down 5-2 entering the 9th inning, the Phils took advantage of some poor Mets fielding and got timely hits in a 6 run inning that gave them a 3-run lead that they hung onto for an 8-6 victory. The key hit in the 9th came from the most unlikely source: So Taguchi. Taguchi, who doesn't really have a role with the Phils and rarely sees any playing time, came up with the bases loaded and the Phillies down by 2 and delivered a clutch double that tied the game. Jimmy Rollins would then follow with a double of his own to score two more runs and put the Phillies ahead for good. Brad Lidge gave up a run in the 9th but held on to earn his 22nd save of the season. Joe Blanton made his Phillie debut and failed to impress, going 6 innings and giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks. I'll give Blanton a pass for now..... Click the link for much more on the game, including highlights. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:55:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294103 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294103 Joe Blanton makes his pitching debut for the Phillies and gave up 2 HR's early and the Mets controlled the game. Down 5-2 heading to the 9th the Phillies looked dead. Yeah right! A six run inning put the Phillies up 8-5. J-Roll coming up clutch with a 2-run double to put the Phillies up and they never looked back. The Mets were able to score one run in the bottom of the 9th but Brad Lidge got his 22nd consecutive save to keep the Phillies 1 game up in the NL East race. TAKE THAT NEW YORK! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:32:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294095 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294095