GaryMrMets
07-06-2004, 01:24 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9062598.htm
Posted on Fri, Jul. 02, 2004
Defensively, Rollins having a golden year
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
Jimmy Rollins, two-time All-Star, recent Phillies leadoff solution and the best defensive player on the top team in the National League East, probably won't be an All-Star this season.
Barring a prolonged slump, he'll enter the break on July 12 having won again the leadoff spot he lost at the start of 2002 and 2003. He'll be hitting around .275 with a .330 on-base percentage, 14 or 15 steals - not All-Star numbers, to be sure. Hence, his absence among the top five candidates.
However, he'll probably enter the break on pace for a career low in errors, which, for Rollins, is fine. Judge him later, on his entire body of work, especially in the field.
"I've been to the All-Star Game," Rollins said. "I'd like to win a Gold Glove."
Unfortunately for Rollins, the same guy who owned the All-Star starting spot last season won Rawlings' fielding tribute the past two seasons: Edgar Renteria, the splendid shortstop from the offense-rich Cardinals. And that isn't necessarily fair.
"Jimmy's as good as [Renteria] is defensively," said Placido Polanco, once Renteria's second baseman and now Rollins'. "He's as good as anybody."
Rollins' trademark kneel-slide-spin-and-flip up the middle has opened a few eyes, but his consistency is what manager Larry Bowa appreciates, and Bowa won two Gold Gloves himself in the 1970s.
What gets most of the attention, though, is Rollins' offense, especially since he replaced since-demoted centerfielder Marlon Byrd atop the lineup at the start of last month. Rollins, who spent the offseason and all spring honing his skills as a small-ball batsman, hit .320 with a .376 on-base percentage in June, the last week with a debilitating cold.
Focused on laying off high fastballs, Rollins is on pace to strike out just 68 times, 40 fewer than he averaged in his first three seasons.
"We were hoping he'd get down to 80," Bowa said. "I think this is the best string of at-bats he's had since I've been here. I think he's really into batting leadoff."
The Phillies were reluctant to hit him there to start the season, since Byrd was such a boon there as a rookie. But now Byrd has been sent to Triple A to reconstruct his swing. Rollins simply stepped in and did what he was confident he could do all along.
"Just gotta get the chance," he said.
As for defensive chances, Rollins ranks just ninth in the league among shortstops, more a manifestation of playing behind a staff of fly-ball pitchers than a comment on his range. Among everyday shortstops (with at least 60 games), only the Dodgers' Cesar Izturis had a better fielding percentage than Rollins' .986 entering last night, and that's because Izturis had three errors to Rollins' four.
Rollins is on pace to make a career-low nine errors - remarkable, since he not only moved into a new ballpark this season but also from the more predictable artificial turf to natural grass. He seldom makes an ill-advised throw, he's almost never out of position.
"He takes pride in his defense," Bowa said. "He can go 0-for-18 or 0-for-20 and you won't see his defense suffer."
The oh-fers haven't come in a while. He hasn't had a three-game hitless slump since May 4-6.
But playing on a team known for its home-run prowess and performing in a park that plays small doesn't portend defensive accolades. And with David Bell second in the league in errors at third, with Jim Thome and his battered hands adequate at first, and with Polanco missing a month with a thigh injury, Rollins has been the lone consistent light in what has been a sketchy infield.
The question is whether that light is bright enough at season's end to garner enough votes from the managers and coaches to warrant a Gold Glove.
Role reinforced
Lefty closer Billy Wagner met with Larry Bowa before batting practice yesterday and urged the manager to consider using him before the ninth inning in certain situations, such as the one that arose Wednesday.
Bowa chose to stick with righty Tim Worrell and intentionally walk lefty batter Terrmel Sledge after Worrell had blown a one-run lead. Worrell allowed two one-out hits and a sacrifice fly that left the go-ahead run on second.
"I was up when the first guy got a hit," Wagner said. "He knows now: I want to pitch. I need to pitch."
And he will - in his role.
Bowa's point: The Phillies paid Worrell $2.75 million to pitch eighth innings. Worrell was fresh. He was hot, with a 10-game scoreless streak going. He needed one more out, against a righthander. He didn't get it - he gave up three more runs - but Bowa didn't want to show his theretofore dominant veteran setup man any lack of confidence.
That's not to say Bowa never will use Wagner in the eighth inning. If Worrell and/or Rheal Cormier are tired, limited or struggling over a stretch, Bowa said, he will consider going to Wagner before the ninth. That's good enough for Wagner, who exited the brief talk energized.
"It's just getting to know each other," Wagner said.
Posted on Fri, Jul. 02, 2004
Defensively, Rollins having a golden year
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
Jimmy Rollins, two-time All-Star, recent Phillies leadoff solution and the best defensive player on the top team in the National League East, probably won't be an All-Star this season.
Barring a prolonged slump, he'll enter the break on July 12 having won again the leadoff spot he lost at the start of 2002 and 2003. He'll be hitting around .275 with a .330 on-base percentage, 14 or 15 steals - not All-Star numbers, to be sure. Hence, his absence among the top five candidates.
However, he'll probably enter the break on pace for a career low in errors, which, for Rollins, is fine. Judge him later, on his entire body of work, especially in the field.
"I've been to the All-Star Game," Rollins said. "I'd like to win a Gold Glove."
Unfortunately for Rollins, the same guy who owned the All-Star starting spot last season won Rawlings' fielding tribute the past two seasons: Edgar Renteria, the splendid shortstop from the offense-rich Cardinals. And that isn't necessarily fair.
"Jimmy's as good as [Renteria] is defensively," said Placido Polanco, once Renteria's second baseman and now Rollins'. "He's as good as anybody."
Rollins' trademark kneel-slide-spin-and-flip up the middle has opened a few eyes, but his consistency is what manager Larry Bowa appreciates, and Bowa won two Gold Gloves himself in the 1970s.
What gets most of the attention, though, is Rollins' offense, especially since he replaced since-demoted centerfielder Marlon Byrd atop the lineup at the start of last month. Rollins, who spent the offseason and all spring honing his skills as a small-ball batsman, hit .320 with a .376 on-base percentage in June, the last week with a debilitating cold.
Focused on laying off high fastballs, Rollins is on pace to strike out just 68 times, 40 fewer than he averaged in his first three seasons.
"We were hoping he'd get down to 80," Bowa said. "I think this is the best string of at-bats he's had since I've been here. I think he's really into batting leadoff."
The Phillies were reluctant to hit him there to start the season, since Byrd was such a boon there as a rookie. But now Byrd has been sent to Triple A to reconstruct his swing. Rollins simply stepped in and did what he was confident he could do all along.
"Just gotta get the chance," he said.
As for defensive chances, Rollins ranks just ninth in the league among shortstops, more a manifestation of playing behind a staff of fly-ball pitchers than a comment on his range. Among everyday shortstops (with at least 60 games), only the Dodgers' Cesar Izturis had a better fielding percentage than Rollins' .986 entering last night, and that's because Izturis had three errors to Rollins' four.
Rollins is on pace to make a career-low nine errors - remarkable, since he not only moved into a new ballpark this season but also from the more predictable artificial turf to natural grass. He seldom makes an ill-advised throw, he's almost never out of position.
"He takes pride in his defense," Bowa said. "He can go 0-for-18 or 0-for-20 and you won't see his defense suffer."
The oh-fers haven't come in a while. He hasn't had a three-game hitless slump since May 4-6.
But playing on a team known for its home-run prowess and performing in a park that plays small doesn't portend defensive accolades. And with David Bell second in the league in errors at third, with Jim Thome and his battered hands adequate at first, and with Polanco missing a month with a thigh injury, Rollins has been the lone consistent light in what has been a sketchy infield.
The question is whether that light is bright enough at season's end to garner enough votes from the managers and coaches to warrant a Gold Glove.
Role reinforced
Lefty closer Billy Wagner met with Larry Bowa before batting practice yesterday and urged the manager to consider using him before the ninth inning in certain situations, such as the one that arose Wednesday.
Bowa chose to stick with righty Tim Worrell and intentionally walk lefty batter Terrmel Sledge after Worrell had blown a one-run lead. Worrell allowed two one-out hits and a sacrifice fly that left the go-ahead run on second.
"I was up when the first guy got a hit," Wagner said. "He knows now: I want to pitch. I need to pitch."
And he will - in his role.
Bowa's point: The Phillies paid Worrell $2.75 million to pitch eighth innings. Worrell was fresh. He was hot, with a 10-game scoreless streak going. He needed one more out, against a righthander. He didn't get it - he gave up three more runs - but Bowa didn't want to show his theretofore dominant veteran setup man any lack of confidence.
That's not to say Bowa never will use Wagner in the eighth inning. If Worrell and/or Rheal Cormier are tired, limited or struggling over a stretch, Bowa said, he will consider going to Wagner before the ninth. That's good enough for Wagner, who exited the brief talk energized.
"It's just getting to know each other," Wagner said.