GaryMrMets
06-04-2004, 02:30 AM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s060304c.htm
Rollins set to roll as leadoff hitter
Thursday, June 3, 2004
By MARTIN FRANK
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
The leadoff job, once again, belongs to Jimmy Rollins.
How long he keeps it, according to Phillies manager Larry Bowa, is up to him.
"We'll leave him up there for awhile," he said. "He's got all the tools to hit up there. It's a matter of him concentrating and doing it."
Bowa is making the switch because Marlon Byrd, who took over the leadoff role last June and held it ever since, has been mired in a season-long slump. Byrd sat out his second straight game Wednesday when the Phillies played the Mets.
Byrd, who's hitting .220, with an on-base percentage of .301, will return to the lineup today when the Phils begin a 10-game trip in Atlanta. But Bowa said he'll bat eighth. Rollins' numbers aren't much better - .247 batting average, .303 on-base percentage - but he's been hot lately, hitting. 309 over his last 22 games. He leads the team with 11 stolen bases. A good leadoff hitter has an on-base percentage of about .380.
That the Phillies aren't close helps explain why they've had trouble scoring runs lately. Bowa knows that Rollins isn't going to help his on-base percentage much by taking pitches and drawing walks. Rollins has just 15 walks in 182 at-bats.
Still, Bowa said if Rollins focuses on making contact and not striking out, he will have some success as a leadoff hitter.
"The more pitches I take, the more passive I become, and that's not my game," Rollins said. "Obviously, as a player matures, you learn who you are. I know I have to be aggressive. In the past, I tried working on (other people's) expectations. I'm not doing that anymore. This works for me, and it's been helping me lately."
As for Byrd, Bowa said he wanted him to clear his head, not swinging the cage or watch video. But he also knew that would be tough for Byrd, whom Bowa calls "a workaholic."
"Obviously, he didn't chill out because somebody told me he hit for three hours," Bowa said.
Polanco closer: Phillies closer Billy Wagner and second baseman Placido Polanco both tested out their injuries Wednesday. Wagner, on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained groin, threw off the mound. Polanco, on the DL since May 8 with a strained left quad, did some running. If Polanco feels OK today, he'll go on a rehab assignment to the minor leagues with hopes of returning Sunday. If Wagner feels OK today, the Phillies will map out his return. Wagner told Bowa that he doesn't want to go on a rehab assignment, that he'd rather pitch in a simulated game against Phillies hitters.
Feast or famine: In the Phillies' last eight games, they are hitting .213 with four home runs, averaging 2.8 runs per game. In the 25 games before that, the Phillies hit .270, with 40 home runs and averaged 6.1 runs per game. During those 25 games, the Phillies scored more than three runs in every game, their longest such streak since 1895. In the last eight games, they have scored more than three runs in a game just twice.
Rollins set to roll as leadoff hitter
Thursday, June 3, 2004
By MARTIN FRANK
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
The leadoff job, once again, belongs to Jimmy Rollins.
How long he keeps it, according to Phillies manager Larry Bowa, is up to him.
"We'll leave him up there for awhile," he said. "He's got all the tools to hit up there. It's a matter of him concentrating and doing it."
Bowa is making the switch because Marlon Byrd, who took over the leadoff role last June and held it ever since, has been mired in a season-long slump. Byrd sat out his second straight game Wednesday when the Phillies played the Mets.
Byrd, who's hitting .220, with an on-base percentage of .301, will return to the lineup today when the Phils begin a 10-game trip in Atlanta. But Bowa said he'll bat eighth. Rollins' numbers aren't much better - .247 batting average, .303 on-base percentage - but he's been hot lately, hitting. 309 over his last 22 games. He leads the team with 11 stolen bases. A good leadoff hitter has an on-base percentage of about .380.
That the Phillies aren't close helps explain why they've had trouble scoring runs lately. Bowa knows that Rollins isn't going to help his on-base percentage much by taking pitches and drawing walks. Rollins has just 15 walks in 182 at-bats.
Still, Bowa said if Rollins focuses on making contact and not striking out, he will have some success as a leadoff hitter.
"The more pitches I take, the more passive I become, and that's not my game," Rollins said. "Obviously, as a player matures, you learn who you are. I know I have to be aggressive. In the past, I tried working on (other people's) expectations. I'm not doing that anymore. This works for me, and it's been helping me lately."
As for Byrd, Bowa said he wanted him to clear his head, not swinging the cage or watch video. But he also knew that would be tough for Byrd, whom Bowa calls "a workaholic."
"Obviously, he didn't chill out because somebody told me he hit for three hours," Bowa said.
Polanco closer: Phillies closer Billy Wagner and second baseman Placido Polanco both tested out their injuries Wednesday. Wagner, on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained groin, threw off the mound. Polanco, on the DL since May 8 with a strained left quad, did some running. If Polanco feels OK today, he'll go on a rehab assignment to the minor leagues with hopes of returning Sunday. If Wagner feels OK today, the Phillies will map out his return. Wagner told Bowa that he doesn't want to go on a rehab assignment, that he'd rather pitch in a simulated game against Phillies hitters.
Feast or famine: In the Phillies' last eight games, they are hitting .213 with four home runs, averaging 2.8 runs per game. In the 25 games before that, the Phillies hit .270, with 40 home runs and averaged 6.1 runs per game. During those 25 games, the Phillies scored more than three runs in every game, their longest such streak since 1895. In the last eight games, they have scored more than three runs in a game just twice.