One James Calvin Rollins has long been the face of the Phillies. After making his first big league start and major league debut September 17, 2000, wearing #29, batting second behind Reggie Taylor in Terry Francona's farewell tour in Philadelphia, Rollins has gone on to appear in 1932 more games since that day. For the most part, his tenure in the major leagues has been the Jimmy Rollins show.
His Phillies career has included:
- Four managers (five, if you count the two games Gary Varsho managed to close 2004)
- Two stadiums
- One MVP award
- One World Series Victory
- Five division titles
- Three All-Star appearances
- Four Gold Glove awards
- One Silver Slugger award
Some Phillies feats:
- Most games played at shortstop
- Franchise leader in doubles
- Over 2000 hits
- Closing in on many Phillies all-time categories
Like our best friend, spouse, or other family member, we are well aware of Jimmy's faults. Rollins has been benched plenty of times for not hustling, including former manager Charlie Manuel removing him mid-game last year. Last time, fans took to Twitter to let him know they were not happy with him and 97.5 The Fanatic even had a billboard about it. They love him, though.
With the changing of the guard, Interim Manager Ryne Sandberg cannot simply accept these faults as the team looks forward to younger players and a new way. Greg Pinto wrote a while back, Sandberg has a tough task in overcoming these faults at Rollins' age and stature. It now appears that Sandberg has been sending Rollins a message by benching him.
Unlike Manuel who pulled Rollins out of the game, there must be a correlation to Rollins' lack of hustle on Friday night and his absence in the lineup on Saturday. Friday's lack of effort got a comment from Gary Matthews in the booth.
SIGH…Will Jimmy Rollins EVER hustle?
— Scott Bailey (@scottbails13) September 6, 2013
Saturday, Freddy Galvis got the start at shortstop. But Rollins has had plenty of "days off" in Sandberg's early tenure that began August 16. They are:
- August 18
- August 23
- August 29
- September 3
- September 7
It is even more curious considering that September 5th was a team off-day.
Another Sandberg point made evident: Rollins is not going to be his leadoff hitter. August 22nd was the last day that Rollins batted leadoff, and it does not appear that Sandberg has any plans to do so. Roger Bernadina got plenty of chances, Michael Young got others, and for six straight games Cesar Hernandez has led off for the Phillies. And Hernandez has done a nice job, hitting .318 with a .423 on base percentage and a .832 OPS. Expect Hernandez to stay there.
It remains to be seen how Rollins is taking this; he has been pretty quiet so far about his changing status on the team. Rollins has two years left on his contract after this one. Should Sandberg get the job, he will have to get used to a different role, showing hustle all the way.
