Curse of Billy Penn

Cliff Lee or Jamie Moyer? The best and worst $9-million you can spend!

Cliff Lee is gone!  They could have had him for $9-million.  They tell us it's because they couldn't lock him up, and that he was going to walk at the end of the season and test the market.  They tell us it's because they depleted their farm system, and needed to acquire some prospects.

To address the first statement, Lee said he expected to finish his career in a Phillies uniform.  Not the sign of a guy that's gonna walk!  To address the second statement, the Phillies would have acquired two draft picks in the event that he walked, replenishing their farm system!

It doesn't add up!  Could it be a salary dump?  They tell us no, but then again, they told us they weren't going to get Roy Halladay either!

If it was a salary dump, we have to question the singing of Jamie Moyer.  If they don't have Cliff Lee right now because they handed a 46-year old pitcher a 2-year $13-million contract, what else can you say but...WOW!

If that is the case, then Jamie Moyer, you better have one heck of a season!

The Nationals can get worse, they now have Bruntlett

The Washington Nationals were the worst team in baseball last season.  At 59-103, they were the only team to have less than sixty wins and the only team with a hundred losses.  If that wasn't bad enough, they just signed Eric Bruntlett.

Bruntlett was given a minor league contract for 2010.  Who knows, maybe he can help.  They have to believe he will hit better than he did last year, although .171 is tough to top.

The Nationals committed more errors than any other team in baseball with 143.  They committed 19 more than the next highest team.  Maybe they saw a replay of Bruntlett's unassisted triple play and said, "that's our guy!"  

How do you have a season like the Nationals did last year, and tell your fans you just got Eric Bruntlett?  I'm not sure if that is the solution to filling all those empty seats down there!

Amaro Rushing Decisions

The verdict on Amaro: When he was first appointed GM, many people questioned his true ability.  He was "their guy," not "the guy."  Just because he was groomed for the job doesn't mean he had what it takes.  He has answered those questions, surprising many that were doubters.  

Picking up Lee at the trade deadline for practically nothing and getting the best pitcher in baseball was quite impressive.  After a World Series victory, Pat Burrell became a popular guy in this town.  He let him go for a 37-year old that may have had an MVP season had he not been injured.  

Amaro can look like a genius, but can also have you scratching your head, asking "why did he do that?"

I'm not even going to get into the fact that he signed 46-year old Jamie Moyer to a 2-year $13-million contract - who's salary probably made it impossible to keep Lee - but I will talk about Lee.  There are many questions surrounding his trade, but there are really no right answers.  The one question that doesn't make sense is why the rush?  

Should he have gone?  Was it about money?  Was it about prospects?  Did it have to be Lee?  Couldn't they have traded somebody else for prospects? 

So many questions, yet the real question is, why did Amaro fail to take time to consider some of these other questions?  Whether it was salary or prospects, I don't see why they had to rush out and get this done.  Take some time to weigh your options and make the right decision!

Jimmy Rollins Option Picked Up:  The day after Cy Young winner Cliff Lee was shipped off on what appeared to be a whim, the Phillies picked up Jimmy Rollins' $8.5-million option for the 2011 season.

Not that it doesn't make sense, it does.  $8.5-million for Rollins is a bargain!  But why the rush?  His numbers are declining and his attitude has sometimes been questionable.  He went through a terrible slump last season, but managed to come out of it.  What if he doesn't come out of it next year?  What if he gets hurt?  

Should they pick up his option?  Absolutely, but why now?

    

What Exactly is a "Baseball Decision?"

Why is Cliff Lee going away?  Some say it's the money.  The Phillies have a certain salary number they just won't go over, and that Lee had to go to stay under it.  Others say it's not about the money, it's about having prospects.  The Phillies lost seven prospects acquiring both Lee and Halladay, and that they needed to replenish their system.  I personally think it's the number!  Cliff Lee wore #34, and Halladay wanted it!  

All the possibilities, yet GM Ruben Amaro seemed to dance around the true answer.  He mentioned that it was a "baseball decision" many times.  What exactly does this mean?

Prospects or Money:  Amaro said it wasn't because of the money and that the team could have kept them both.  As soon as I heard they could have kept them both, I had to ask "why didn't they?"  He said they needed to replace their prospects.  If that's the case, then...

1. Why did it have to be Lee?  Not that I want to part with anybody on this team, but there has been talk that the Phillies will most likely lose either Vicotorino or Werth when they come due to make big money.  Why not one of them?
2. Why couldn't we get more for Lee?  What exactly is one of the best pitchers in baseball worth?  Three question marks prospects?  They need bullpen help!  I have to believe Lee is worth a couple of prospects along with a solid bullpen pitcher or two to somebody.  Why didn't they utilize his value?
3. What about the prospects they get if they lost Lee to free-agency?  If the Phillies would have lost Lee to free-agency, they would have received two prospects.  Does that make any sense?  

They say it's not about money, but the only thing that makes sense is money.  To answer the first question, it had to be Lee because he has a bigger salary than Werth or Victorino.  They had to clear his salary to get Halladay.  The others wouldn't have worked.

The same goes for the second question.  As one of the best pitchers in baseball, they could have used Lee in a trade for somebody they needed; somebody good!  But that wouldn't have worked either, because the object was to decrease the payroll, hence prospects!

Amaro, be honest!  Is it about the money?  If so, you can tell us that!  After decades of non-competitive baseball, we finally have a good team with the best players in the game.  If Amaro were to say, "we would love to have both, but it's not financially feasible," I think we would understand.  Go back five years, would you ever believe the Phillies would have a $140-million payroll?  No, and we are grateful! Obviously losing Lee is disappointing, but we understand there is a breaking point. 

Why Are We Disappointed?  There has been a shock-wave of disappointment throughout the Phillies' community from losing Lee.  We're all happy that we have Halladay, but $9-million for Lee is a bargain! 

Did we really lose him for prospects?  If so, why do we need prospects?  I understand "the future," but the future is now!  In a few years, a couple key players will be hitting free-agency.  They will be expecting raises!  What happens then?  Most likely, they will lose a couple, and rely on prospects.  Point is, this is probably the best team the Phillies have ever had or may ever have.  It will be hard to build a team this good for that kind of payroll!

So again, why prospects?  They are in a position to be as good as they ever have been, or even ever will be.  Why not take advantage of that and go for it?  If it doesn't work out, so what!  How bad would it be?  A few tough years because there are no prospects?  These guys may never be anything anyway!  If they are committed to having a $140-million payroll - prospects or not - they are going to have a good team!

Did we really lose him for the money?  Probably!  I can understand that we are not the Yankees and cannot just go out and have it all.  It's also hard to complain about payroll when they have the highest payroll any Phillies' fan has ever seen.  I have to think there is a little extra, however, for a situation like this.  If this is the best team they have ever had, how can you not find an extra $9-million to have Lee in it?

I would understand better if he was making what he is probably worth - roughly double - but he's not.  Is there really no exception?  It's like looking for a $200K house.  That might be your limit, but if somebody showed you a $400K you can have for $220K, there's a good chance you'll find that money somewhere!          

New Era in Philly: Eagles In First Place, 2 Weeks Before Christmas, and Everybody's Talking Phillies

Philadelphia bleeds Eagles Green!  Or does it?  It once did, but that might be changing.

The Eagles just beat the New York Giants!  They just moved ahead of the Cowboys for first place!  The playoffs are just a few weeks away!  Yet, everybody's talking Phillies!

For the better part of the past three decades, Phillies baseball ended in September and began April.  You rarely heard them mentioned in between.  The Eagles were the talk of the town - all year round!  Now, during what was perhaps the biggest week the Eagles have had this season, all the talk has been dominated by the Phillies.  

From the Eagles...  The Eagles are "a" top team every year, but never "the" top team!  At the start of the season, you can reasonably expect them to be playing in the post-season.  But how far does that expectation go?  Do we expect them to be in the Super Bowl?  That is what we expect of the Phillies!  We don't expect them to be in the playoffs, we expect them to be in the World Series! 

All of a sudden, the Phillies have become the big team in town...a football town!  The Eagles can blame themselves for this shift in thinking.  They are indeed at the top every year, but do you ever feel they are taking the next step to get over the hump?

After losing their losing their fourth NFC Championship game in eight years, team President Joe Banner said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.  Obviously we need to make some changes in what we're doing."  The only thing they changed was McNabb's salary (increased it) and Reid's contract (extended it).  There were no significant improvements made to this team!

...To the Phillies  The Phillies have now won their division for three consecutive years.  Unlike the Eagles, they have significantly upgraded their team...each year no less.  When they lost in the first round in 2007, they went out and got Brad Lidge.  His perfect season played a huge part in their World Series Championship.

It didn't end there!  After winning, they upgraded left field by letting Pat Burrell go, replacing him with a more expensive Raul Ibanez.  Then midway through the season, they added two Cy Young award winners to their pitching rotation, Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez. 

After a disappointing World Series loss to the Yankees, the Phils' went out and upgraded third base, replacing Pedro Feliz with Placido Polanco.  How about trading away your best pitcher, Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, to make room for possibly the best pitcher in baseball Roy Halladay?

The Difference Between the Eagles and Phillies?  The Phillies have made it obvious: they are not happy unless they win a World Series!  They are easily the best team in the National League.  In fact, the Yankees are the only team in baseball that has a comparable line-up.  The Yankees beat the Phillies in the World Series, but you could argue they are no better than the Phils.  Yet, the Phillies have made moves - significant moves - to get even better!  

The Phillies have been able to generate a buzz.  The Eagles go to the NFC Championship game, lose, then practically give us the same team in hopes the breaks fall their way next time.  What is there to be excited about?  The Phillies lose a World Series but continue to make themselves a better team.  You know that last season was great, but next year will probably be better.  That is exciting!  

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How About Some Pitching? Halladay & Smoltz Could Be Coming

The Phils' line-up is solid!  Their fielding is exceptional!  It's questionable whether they could have done better than than Polanco at third, but it was an upgrade there nonetheless.  As far as position players go, they're all set!  

So where do they need improving?  Pitching!  Having played in the past two World Series' with pretty much their current staff, improvements in the pitching area could be huge!  They could be looking at two improvements without adding anybody.  If we can get the same Hamels and Lidge back, that improvement would be huge!  They pretty much won us a World Series, but the Phils still made it to the big show when they were virtually absent.  Think about that.  You take two key elements from a World Series Championship team, and that same team ends up in the World Series again, what will you get when you put that talent back in?

It would be nice if Hamels could be an ace again, and if we could count on Lidge to be lights out.  If that were the case, the Phils would be a pretty good team!  What's nicer, theres still room to improve.  Two names that have been thrown around, Halladay and Smoltz.

Roy Halladay:  The Phils have been interested in him since the All-Star break.  Better yet, he's been interested in the Phillies!  We ended up with Cliff Lee - nobody will complain about that - and are now looking at the possibility of having them both.  Wow!  

He has been narrowed down to four teams: Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies.  Ruben Amaro has played it down, but he also did that with Pedro Martinez, who ended up our No.2 pitcher in the World Series.  I wouldn't be discouraged by Amaro.

The Red Sox and Yankees could easily acquire Halladay, but it is uncertain what they are willing to part with.  The Angels have made an offer, and the Phillies have the players to put up if they choose to.  It is very possible the Blue Jays could pass on the Red Sox and Yankees just because they are in the same division.  Obviously the Blue Jays are not contenders, so it shouldn't matter, but they have to consider the message it sends their fans.  Would they be "giving up" to do that?  Imagine if the Phillies weren't in a position to contend, so they gave Cliff Lee to the Mets.  Would you go to a game?

It will be interesting to see where he goes, but don't count the Phillies out!

John Smoltz:  The Phils have shown interest in Smoltz, but I'm not sure if this is good or not.  He is 42-years old (will be 43 in May) and shown signs of slowing down.  Boston had big expectations from him, but he went 2-5 with an ERA of 8.32.  That was enough to get rid of him, but he improved when he went to the Cardinals.  What can he give you at this point in his career?

The big question will be money.  How much will he command?  He can start or come out of the pen.  Both could come in handy, especially if Lidge continues to struggle.  If they can get him cheap, I would be okay with taking a shot at him, but I don't expect him to come cheap!  

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Eagles Win Game 1 - Phillies Win 2 Games

It was a pretty exciting day in Philadelphia.  The Eagles came out strong with a dominating victory over the Panthers.  The Phillies took both ends of a day-night double header against the Mets.  It was a good day!

Eagles

How would the Eagles look this year?  A 38-10 blowout against the Panthers surely sets the tone!

• The Defense was stellar!  Responsible for 7-turnovers (5-interceptions & 2-fumbles) and a touchdown.  No better honor to the late Jimmy Johnson!
• The Return of Brian Westbrook:  13 carries for 64-yards.  He played a good game - hopefully he is back!
• The Offense, Defense, and Special Teams each scored a touchdown.  The last time the Eagles accomplished this was 16-years ago.

Donovan McNabb suffered a broken rib.  They are saying that McNabb may play next week.  I have never suffered a broken rib, and make no attempt to understand the pain associated with that, but playing with a broken rib next week sounds a bit ridiculous to me!

Naturally, Michael Vick will be ineligible for next weeks game, so the start should go to Kolb.  He would get a chance to establish himself as the lone second-string quarterback, though he didn't make much of a case against Carolina.  If McNabb cannot return for game-3 against the Chiefs, it will be interesting to see who will be taking snaps!

Phillies

Following a devastating 9th-inning loss to the Mets Saturday night, the Phils would get a chance to pick up two wins in a day/night double-header.  Winning both games is nice, but doing it against the Mets is just flat out awesome!

• Lidge: In game-1 of the double-header, Lidge was given the opportunity to close out a 3-run lead.  He was successful, but only after allowing 2-runs on 3-hits.  Really...what are we going to do about his?
• Martinez: Absolutely brilliant!  The guy who can't go deep into a game provided us with 8-innings of scoreless pitching, throwing 130-pitches.  I guess he felt good, and I'm not a big fan of pitch counts, but I hope they aren't killing him!

Almost every Phillies game is sold out - something I now take for granted.  The reality of it all, however, still amazes me!  There was a time when nobody went.  Watch some replays of a few years back...empty seats!  Now they are selling out 2-games in the same day - roughly 90,000 people.  Considering this is a "football town," and nobody misses Eagles games around here, that statistic is actually quite impressive on Eagles opening day!    

Moyer Keeps Phillies Moving in the Right Direction - Allows Just 1-Hit

The Phillies were 9-1 in their last 10-games leading up to the All-Star Game, and would look for Jamie Moyer to keep the momentum going in their first game back against the Marlins Thursday night.  Moyer would answer the call!

Following a rough start to the season, the question began to surface: at 46-years old, was Moyer done?  That question has been answered! Moyer won his fifth-consecutive game Thursday, improving his record to 9-6, with a 4-0 victory over the Marlins.  Moyer pitched 7-scoreless innings, allowing just 1-hit.

I think it's safe to say Moyer has some juice left in the tank!  There will be times when Moyer has a rough outing, and gets lit up early in the game.  Unfortunately, you will get that from Moyer.  He is a placement pitcher.  If he is hitting his spots, he will give you a good opportunity to win the game.  When he is struggling with his location, you have a long night ahead of you.  You need to take the bad with the good!

Don't worry about this his age...he helps this team win!   

How to Utilize Pedo Martinez - Pitch Martinez and Moyer on Same Day!

Now that Pedro Martinez has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, we need to analyze how he can be most effective. 

As a starting pitcher, Pedro's career number look like this: 214-99, 2.91 ERA, 3-time Cy Young Winner, and 8-time All Star.  Not too shabby!  The Phillies have four solid starters in Hamels, Moyer, Blanton, and now Happ.  It's that fifth spot that has been an issue.  With the fifth spot open, and Pedro a natural starter, the decision seems obvious.  In fact, Pedro announced in his press conference that he is under the impression he will be a starter.

Based on that, you may ask why there is even a question about it.  Well, here is the reality: Pedro is no longer a Cy Young level pitcher - not that we are expecting that - nor is he the same pitcher that posted all those wonderful stats.  At 37 years old, Martinez has not had a successful season since 2005, when he went 15-8.  Last season, he was 5-6, with an ERA of 5.61.  Most importantly, Pedro has struggled to pitch deep into a game.  This raises the question: will he be better in the bullpen?

What to Expect:  With the fifth starting spot open, there is almost no question that Martinez will be a starter.  Though many people have questioned the acquisition, considering Martinez to be washed-up, I can't see how he is anything other than an improvement over the minor-league call ups we have been relying on.  At $1-million, it's actually not a bad deal!  What do we really have to lose?

In the event that the Phillies acquire Roy Halladay - something that has not been ruled out - the situation could change.  Most likely, acquiring Halladay would result in the loss of Happ, leaving a spot open for Martinez in the starting rotation.  However, the trade may include minor league prospects along with a position player, leaving the Phillies with Happ.  Now we would have an extra pitcher, and the idea of putting Martinez into the bullpen could become a strong possibility. 

Room for Thought:  One of the biggest concerns regarding Martinez - and has been for some time - has been his inability to pitch deep into a game.  We already have that problem with Jamie Moyer, who rarely pitches deep into a game, requiring the Phillies to overuse their bullpen.  Having two starting pitchers struggling to get past the fifth-inning is sure to put a strain on the bullpen, something we don't need!

This may seem ridiculous, but why not pitch Moyer and Martinez in the same game.  You could consolidate the two pitchers, essentially, into one solid starter!  If you are only going to get five-innings out of each, why not have each one pitch half the game?

This could be an effective strategy.  If you are the opposition, and Moyer or Martinez is pitching, your strategy would be different knowing their starter will only last five-innings or so, rather than knowing you will get quality pitching all nine-innings.  Imagine the headlines: Pitching for the Phillies tonight - Moyer/Martinez.

Maybe Martinez starts the game off, and goes as deep as he can, and Moyer finishes.  The next time they are due up in the rotation, they switch roles.  Moyer now starts, going as long as he can, with Martinez finishing it off.  If your starter gets knocked out early, don't worry, you have another starter ready to take over!

Again, this may seem a bit ridiculous, but sometimes you need to think outside the box and figure out how to make the best use out of your tools.  Think playoffs - when you drop to a four-man rotation!

    

     

Phillies Pitching Situation: Pedro Martinez? Roy Halladay?

When Brett Myers was lost to a hip injury on May 26th, a huge void became present in the pitching rotation.  Unfortunately, it is July, and that void has yet to be filled.  There has been recent talk of acquiring Pedro Martinez (one of the best pitchers in baseball at one time), or Roy Halladay (possibly the best pitcher in baseball now).

Pedro Martinez: The 3-time Cy Young winner was once a premiere pitcher in baseball.  Unfortunately, the 37-year old right-hander has not had a productive season since 2005, when he went 15-8.  The Phillies scouted Martinez Tuesday afternoon in the Dominican Republic.  It has been reported that they are willing to pay a pro-rated $5-million plus incentives if they feel he is throwing well.

Pros:

• Despite poor numbers over the past few seasons, Martinez has been plagued by injuries.  If healthy, it is possible he could be an effective pitcher!
• The Phillies would be able to acquire him without having to give anything up.
• Experience: 3-Cy Young Awards, 8-time All-Star, Previous World Series Winner, and a career record of 214-99

Cons:

• His long list of achievements are in the past!
• He is injury prone.
• He lacks the ability to throw deep into a game.  He won't get too far past the 5th-inning, if at all!  Our pitching crisis includes blowing through the bullpen - this wouldn't help!

The idea of putting a Phillies uniform on Pedro Martinez is not very appealing.  I personally don't believe he will help the team, and will only collect a pay check!  On the flip-side, we do need a pitcher.  Though I am uncertain of what he would give us, I have to believe he would be an upgrade to our existing roster.  He may be a surprise, and actually pitch very well.  Is this a risk they are willing to take?

Roy Halladay: The 32-year old right-hander just may be the best pitcher in baseball.  He is currently 10-2 with Toronto, with an ERA of 2.79.  He was a Cy Young Award winner in 2003, and a 6-time All-Star.  He is scheduled to make $15.75-million next season - not bad for a pitcher of his caliber!

Pros:

• He is the real deal - a true ace!  Perhaps, the best pitcher in baseball.
• He led the A.L. last season in innings pitched.  Unlike Martinez, who may only pitch half the game, Halladay will help save the bullpen.

Cons:

• He will come at a steep price!  The Blue Jays are not going to give him away.  They will most likely want future prospects ( Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, Lou Marson, and Kyle Drabek), an established veteran, or possibly both. 

It would definitely be nice to make Cole Hamels your No.2 guy - because your No.1 guy is Halladay.  They would probably be the best 1-2 combination in baseball.  Could you imagine going into the playoffs with that rotation?

There is no doubt that Halladay is the guy we want, but at what cost?  I am not opposed to giving up prospects, especially on this team.  Prospects are just that - prospects!  Halladay is proven, and you know where he can take the team. 

This team is fairly young, and I don't see anybody of significance going anywhere for a while.  Why not trade your prospects - when there are really no holes they need to fill anyway - for a guy that may give you a second straight World Series Title?

I'm not sold on trading any of our veterans, however.  I can't think of any position players I would be willing to part with.  Who would you trade?  Werth?  Can they afford to lose a solid right-hander out of this line-up?  The only players I would part with, the Blue Jays won't want!  I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.         

Shane Victorino Seeking Final All-Star Spot - Makes Case With Game-Winning Hit

There is one-spot left on the National League All-Star roster, and fans are allowed to vote until 4:00 PM E.S.T. Thursday afternoon.  Shane Victorino is currently trailing Giants' third-baseman Pablo Sandoval, but he is pleading his case!  With a walk-off, game-winning hit in the 9th-inning of Wednesday's game against the Reds, Victorino made a final statement!

The 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote, a competition that allows fans to pick the 33rd and roster spot, just may put Victorino in the 80th MLB All-Star Game.  This is the eighth-year of the competition.  The game will be held at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14th.

With Victorino in a tight race with Sandoval, he would have to do something very special to win votes around the country.  He began his quest with an infield single in the fourth-inning, stealing second, and eventually scoring on a Ryan Howard hit.  He would end up with two stolen bases, finishing off with a walk-off game-winning hit.

That highlight is sure to be played constantly on sports networks, possibly giving Victorino the push he needs!

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Phillies Seem to Be Getting On Track - Beat Reds 22-1

If Cole Hamels was looking for a little run support, he sure found it in Monday's game against the Reds.  The Phillies would be leading 10-0 by the time Hamels took the mound.  The final score would be 22-1, the largest margin of victory in franchise history.

I'm not sure anybody knew what to expect.  The Phillies were coming off a 3-game sweep of the Mets, but went a horrendous 4-14 in their previous 18-games.  Was the sweep a sign that the Phillies were getting back on track, or was it just the Mets imploding on themselves again?

Well, it's safe to say they are swinging the bats well!  This was the fourth-straight victory for the Phils, getting good outings from their starting pitchers.  This is a good sign, and crucial to their success! 

With the pitching coming along - especially Lidge, who has been solid in his last few outings - and the hopeful return of Raul Ibanez, the Phillies indeed appear to be headed in the right direction.  Imagine...following their 4-14 stretch, the Phils still find themselves in first-place.  How good will they be when they begin to fire on all cylinders?    

• Jimmy Rollins: 3-for-4
• Shane Victorino: 4-for-5, 4 RBI's, 2-doubles, and a home-run
• Chase Utley: 2-for-3, 4 RBI's, and a home-run
• Jayson Werth: 2-for-5, 5 RBI's - Grand Slam Home-Run
• Gregg Dobbs: 4-for-6, and a home-run
• Cole Hamels: 2-for-4, 2 RBI's on 1st-inning double

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It Was A Happy 4th of July Weekend as Phils Sweep Mets

Somehow, after losing 14-of-18 games, the Phils were still 1-game ahead of the Mets prior to their 3-game series on Friday.  The Phils were falling, and falling fast.  All of a sudden, Florida and Atlanta became a concern.  The team we should fear the most, however, failed to capitalize on the slumping Phils. 

The question was, how would the standings look after a 3-game series between the Mets and Phillies over the 4th of July weekend?  Would the Phillies distance themselves from a struggling Mets' team, or would the Mets finally find a way to jump ahead of the Phils in the standings?

The city of Philadelphia celebrated this 4th of July weekend, and not just with fireworks.  By the end of the weekend, the Phils would be sitting in first-place - completing a 3-game sweep of the Mets, leaving them 4-games behind the Phils.

It was a beautiful weekend.  The sun was shining, bbq's were plentiful, the Phils were winning, and the Mets were losing.  It was a perfect 4th of July weekend!  

Jimmy Rollins 0-for-5 In Return - He Still Hasn't Learned

After missing 4-straight games, Jimmy Rollins was back in the line-up against Atlanta Tuesday night, batting in the lead-off spot.  I was hoping he would come to his senses, and remember how to play the game.  Unfortunately, it seems he has not!

The reality hit in the third inning.   Joe Blanton would lead off the inning, taking the first 3-pitches for balls.  Next up...Jimmy!  I never would have thought it could be possible that Rollins - who has been heavily criticized recently for not taking better at-bats - could swing at the first pitch after watching the pitcher take 3-straight balls.  Swing he did - and sure enough, it was an out!

Rollins ended up 0-for-5, with 2 strike-outs, dropping his average to an embarrassing .207.  In two of those at-bats, he got himself out on the first pitch.  The biggest problem right now is not that he can't hit, but that he has no respect for playing the game the right way.  He is a lead-off guy, that has no interest in taking pitches.  Unbelievable!

So what's the answer?  It doesn't seem as though you can get through to him.  You would think 4-days on the bench would smarten him up a bit, but it appears Jimmy insists on doing things his way.  The first thing: get him out of the lead-off spot.  He may say he's a lead-off hitter, but if he isn't going to play like one, he shouldn't be one! 

The few times he batted in the middle of the line-up, he seemed to find success.  Why not put him there?  Maybe in the number five or six spot.  Better yet, put him in the number 8-spot, and let him do whatever he wants!

 

Jimmy Rollins Misses 4-Games - What's the Real Story?

Jimmy Rollins is off to a poor start!  Three months into the season, the former NL-MVP continues to struggle, and has yet to find his rhythm.  This type of a slump more than warrants a benching, and a benching he got!  Sunday marked the fourth-consecutive game that Rollins sat out, but I'm starting to wonder if it comes down to something other than numbers.

 Charlie Manuel said he wanted to give him a rest and get his mind off the game.  "I felt it was very important to let him sit over there and kind of get a clear mind when I put him back there so he's fresh," said Manuel. 

I will agree, Rollins is in need of a rest.  I'm just not sure I can ever remember a player of his caliber missing four games to clear his head.

It seems the final straw was a defensive mistake Rollins made against Tampa Bay.  Pat Burrell hit a ground ball to Rollins on what was sure to be the final out of the inning, but Rollins went for the force at second.  Ben Zobrist beat the throw, and everybody would be safe - bases loaded.  The Rays would go on to score 5-runs.  Rollins should have gone for the sure out at first, especially with Burrell running.

Manuel believes it was a result of carrying his offensive struggles onto the field.  Despite this mistake - along with his offensive slump, Rollins has been very solid in the field. 

Here's the big question; Was Rollins benched to clear his head, or was it a punishment?

Eric Brutnlett:  I understand putting Rollins on the bench for a day or two, but how can you leave him out four-games when Bruntlett is his replacement?  I don't have to explain what you lose defensively by doing this, but let's have a look at offensive production.

• Rollins: Batting .211 (.176 in June), Clearly struggling!
• Bruntlett:  Batting .136 - actually doing worse than Rollins...a lot worse!  In his 4-games replacing Jimmy, he managed 1-hit in 15-at-bats.   

Clearly, Bruntlett is a step backwards!  I understand you need to sit Rollins down and try to work him out of his slump, but I would rather have a struggling Rollins than Bruntlett. 

Ryan Howard - 2008:  We all remember the rough start Howard got off to last year.  If Manuel's method of working a guy out of a slump is to bench him a bunch of games, how come Howard never sat?

I do remember him not starting a couple of games, but he always worked his way in as a pinch-hitter eventually.  Howard played 162-games last year!  Here's a look at Howard's numbers through June of last year:

• Batting Average = .214
• Struck Out - 113-times - 37% of his at-bats - in 3-months.  Howard was up for the NL-MVP, but was edged out by Albert Pujols, who struck out 54 times (112 in 2007 and 2008 combined).
• Howard would go on to lead all of Major League Baseball with 19-errors.

So what exactly is the difference between Rollins this year, and Howard last year?  Howard clearly struggled, but never forced to sit out.  At least Rollins gives you defense.

Conclusion:  If Rollins was benched for anything other than his performance, I'm not sure what it is.  But based on certain factors, I think there may be more to it.  Why play Bruntlett - who is clearly a downgrade - when your in a first-place battle with the Met's?  If it takes a couple of days to clear your head when your in a slump, how come Howard got into every game last season when he was off to a horrendous start?

Rollins has been made an example of before.  He was benched last season for not running out a fly-ball, and again when he showed up late for a game in New York.

Is it possible this may be more about his attitude, rather than his performance?  Last year, Howard slumped, but worked through it.  Rollins doesn't seem to be getting the same chance.  Is it possible his attitude is preventing him from getting through this?

Howard slumped because he just wasn't playing well.  Rollins seems to be slumping because he isn't playing his game.

• He is a lead-off hitter that doesn't play like a lead-off hitter.  If you put him anywhere else in the line-up, he complains!
• During his MVP season, Rollins had an on-base percentage of .875 - compared to .582 this season.  He isn't getting on base, something a lead-off hitter needs to do!
• On the topic of getting on base, Rollins has managed only 16-walks this season.  There are seven other players on the team with more (6 over 20; 4 over 30, and Utley leads with 48).  Not a sign of a lead-off man!
• Why is a lead-off guy trying to hit home-runs?  Almost everything he hits anymore is a fly ball to the outfield.  Growing up in Oakland, he was a huge Ricky Henderson fan, and emulates his hero.  Henderson's game may have been hitting home-runs, but Rollins needs to realize his is not!  

Rollins insists he is a lead-off hitter, but fails to act like one.  Maybe that's what this is all about.