Can I get a show of hands....who is tired of Jimmy Rollins right now? In a room full of me, I see everyone's hands raised. The MVP, who last year won all of our hearts by being outspoken with his desire to win the National League east title, has turned many people off with his same big mouth.
On Wednesday, August 13th, prior to the Phillies' game in Los Angeles, Rollins appeared on The Best Damn Sports Show Period and came down on the phans, when a host asked if the phans were as bad as they seem. Rollins called us "front runners". Well if we are phront runners, I suppose Rollins is not surprised that the crowds at CBP are not currently running with him.
In 11 games since that statement, Rollins is 4-for-46 (that's a .087 batting avg) with 0 RBI and just 3 runs scored. This month, Rollins is batting .191. Is that poor? Of course, it is. But let's not forget the month of August that Jim-Roll had in 2005. Remember 2005, when Rollins finished the season on a 37 game hitting streak? Yeah, well Rollins batted just .188 in August 2005. So, maybe this poor month he is having is a sign of outstanding things to come.
Then again, Jimmy's season homerun total near the end of August 2008, doesn't even match his season HR at the end of APRIL 2007 (8 so far in 2008, 9 in April '07). Won't the real National League Most Valuable Player please show up?
On Wednesday, August 13th, prior to the Phillies' game in Los Angeles, Rollins appeared on The Best Damn Sports Show Period and came down on the phans, when a host asked if the phans were as bad as they seem. Rollins called us "front runners". Well if we are phront runners, I suppose Rollins is not surprised that the crowds at CBP are not currently running with him.
In 11 games since that statement, Rollins is 4-for-46 (that's a .087 batting avg) with 0 RBI and just 3 runs scored. This month, Rollins is batting .191. Is that poor? Of course, it is. But let's not forget the month of August that Jim-Roll had in 2005. Remember 2005, when Rollins finished the season on a 37 game hitting streak? Yeah, well Rollins batted just .188 in August 2005. So, maybe this poor month he is having is a sign of outstanding things to come.
Then again, Jimmy's season homerun total near the end of August 2008, doesn't even match his season HR at the end of APRIL 2007 (8 so far in 2008, 9 in April '07). Won't the real National League Most Valuable Player please show up?
Comments
Rollins is a tough commodity to guage. Arguably the best defensive short stop in the senior circuit (if not all of baseball), he had two spectacular seasons with the bat. However, prior to 2006 he was truly a disappointment at the plate(save for that end of season 36 game hitting streak in 2005). A leadoff hitter with none of the skills of a leadoff hitter, and not enough humility to try and learn the skills he lacked. If you sat anywhere near me at CBP you've heard me question his ability and call him out for underachieving on numerous occassions. And you also heard me eat those same words throughout '06-'07, and instead state that Jimmy had grown into the sort of player a team can rally around. I wonder about that now. Undoubtably, somewhere under that cool as a cucumber facade (or should I say cool as Ryan Howard's swing), Jimmy is not happy he signed his extention before the market exploded. He won't make that mistake again, and will no doubt want HUGE money when this contract expires in a couple of years. Let's hope Jason Donald can mature into the player I'd always Rollins would be...