If you missed it over the weekend, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is back at it again...offering up his predictions for the upcoming season.In 2007, the Phillies were in the midst of a 14-year postseason drought when Rollins began the season by asserting that the Phillies the team to beat in the National League East division. In the end, Rollins and his teammates clinched the division title on the final day of the season.
A year after that, Rollins promised 100 victories. The Phils didn't quite reach that mark during the regular season, but were able to reach the goal during the postseason and eventually brought home their second World Series championship as well.
On Saturday, the former National League most valuable player told members of the media, "We'll win 100 games. You know, I really plan on going after, who is it? I know Seattle won 114 or something....we're gonna get somewhere, hopefully, in that range. But that requires everybody doing their job."
This sort of talk can instill confidence in the team and can help drive Rollins himself, according to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.
"I like him talking because I think, when he talks, a lot of times, that shows that he's really focused on what he's doing, he's really into it and, to me, that's kind of a good sign," Charlie told Comcast Sportsnet.
"Jimmy's personality is really part of who he is and also it's kind of what helps him at times. Especially when he's happy and he's really concentrating and really up into the game and everything. I think that's when he's at the top of his game."
So, now that Rollins has set the bar higher, for this club that already seems to unanimously feel that anything short of a World Series berth is failure, it's time to get this 2011 campaign underway to see if Rollins is still a man of his word.
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Photo- ESPN
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