Jimmy Rollins is on a Roll for Flying Phillies
Bill Eichenberger - SportingNews.com
Jun 12, 2009
NEW YORK -- Jimmy Rollins put on a show for his teammates before Thursday's game against the Mets.
As replays of Rickey Henderson played on the TVs in the visitors clubhouse at Citi Field, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Rollins mimicked his idol's signature crouch at the plate and even his home run trot, including the exaggerated and wide turns rounding first and third base.
That Rollins was in such a playful mood was good news for the Phillies, who lead the N.L. East by four games after Thursday's 6-3 victory over the second-place New York Mets.
That gap is in spite of a slow start by Rollins, who only two seasons ago was the MVP.
Rollins' mood also reflected his pleasure at being reinserted in the leadoff spot Wednesday after spending two games in the No. 6 spot when his average plummeted to .217.
He went 5-for-8 in those games, and that was enough to convince Manuel that Rollins, a career .275 hitter, belonged back at the top of the order.
His 1-for-4 performance in Thursday's 10-inning victory did nothing to dispel the notion that Rollins -- whose average rose to .226 -- is on the road back to regaining his All-Star form.
"Raul Ibanez has carried us pretty much to this point," Rollins said after Ibanez's three-run homer provided the margin of victory.
What Rollins didn't say -- but what was understood -- is that he is eager to carry more of the load himself.
Rollins, who frowned when asked about his batting-order demotion, dismissed it "as almost like a vacation. Being at the top is just completely different from being below fourth. You get to relax a little bit. You just go up there and try to get on for the bottom of the lineup. But obviously, I'm a much better leadoff hitter."
His teammates agree. "You want to get that guy going," said Shane Victorino, who usually hits second. "We need him to get on base and be the guy that was the MVP."
Rollins has gotten off to slow starts in each of the past two seasons, but neither of those slumps lasted this long.
"When I talk to him and listen to him, he knows about his hitting," Manuel said. "So you say if he knows what he's doing, he should be able to correct it. But that is easier said than done."
Victorino said Rollins is trying to find his stroke. "He's not out of it yet," Victorino said, "but he's gotten a lot better."
Rollins agreed, saying that he is much more confident at the plate.
That is good news for the World Series champion Phillies. And, it's bad news for everyone else in the National League.
This story appears in June 12's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
Bill Eichenberger is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at beichenberger@sportingnews.com.
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