Jimmy Rollins wants to steal 50 bases -- and thinks Halladay is the best
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Jimmy Rollins wants to steal 50 bases -- and thinks Halladay is the best
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
One of Jimmy Rollins chief goals this season? Steal 50 bases, the Phillies short stop said yesterday. He has come close twice, stealing 47 in 2008 and 46 in his rookie season of 2001.
He also weighed in on his opinion of the best pitcher in the National League East, less than a week after Mets lefthander Johan Santana picked himself.
"Overall? Roy is (the best), as far as pitching is concerned," Rollins said. "You bring in the hitting side of things, and Santana gets the nod. There is no doubt about that. I mean, Roy can't hit. There's no secret there. I texted Roy prior to him getting down here and told him that he has my vote for National League Rookie of the Year already."
Santana is one of the better hitting pitchers in the game, with a .172 career batting average that includes 10 extra base hits.
Jimmy Rollins is 0-for-1 in his only career at-bat against Halladay and 6-for-26 with two home runs in his career against Santana.
More Rollins:
On his goals: I told Davey (Lopes) I want to try to steal 50 bases. That's the first thing I want to do. Will it happen? We'll see, but that's my goal. That's a place I've never been before, so it gives me something to shoot at. I want to try to keep the errors under three this year, that would be nice. I was on pace for that, and towards the end slipped up a little bit. Still trying to score 150 runs, I've never hit .300, working on 200 hits, so there are a lot of things for me to do, and hopefully if I do those things, hopefully I'll be doing a good enough job to bring us another championship."
On the chance to repeat: "Actually, Frank (Copenbarger) came and told me that National League teams who have gone to the World Series three years in a row won two out of three. Sounds like pretty good odds."
On Polanco hitting behind him: "Well, he's done it before. There will be a lot of first-to-thirds, for one -- well, probably not in our ballpark, but most other places. Polanco's a good hitter. He sprays the ball around, he puts the ball in play, he will move guys, he will drive in runs. Our line-up can be changed, and we've seen Charlie change a few spots. He keeps the three, four, five guys pretty much the same. . .but nothing is ever set in stone. . .if he feels good about something, he'll make a switch. But as it sits now, I guess that is the way it is slated to be."
Maybe a little more hitting and running, on our own "but we'll see how it goes."
Obviously, '08, that was just an injury. Last year, it was just a bad first half. I never really got going the first half. but other than that, I did a couple things right, scored 100 runs -- that's a bottom-line thing, just make sure I at least score 100. And I stole 30 bases, so I was still active in places at times where I could, but you can't do much more if you're not on base. Just find a way to get a few more hits in there, if they aren't going to pitch to me, draw a few more walks, but they are going to pitch to me.
As I told Milt and Charlie, don't worry about it, I'll get there. That's nothing to worry about. Charlie just kept asking when, so you guys would stop asking questions.
On the potential of a healthy Phillies' line-up: "If everybody has career years, then that will be a pretty fun time. If everybody just has a solid year, a decent year with points where everybody takes turns carrying the team but nobody really gets cold, that's a lot of wins. We could do a lot of damage. You want to be at that point come in October. If it doesn't happen in September and you find a way into the playoffs still, as long as you get into October, we'll be all right. Scoring runs, fortunately has not been a problem, it's just closing out games. . .That's something you dream about, everybody just absolutely going off, probably like Seattle in '01 or '02, where they just demolished everybody -- that's the type of year we could have."
On Brad Lidge: "It's important for him to be healthy. If he's healthy, he's going to be successful. There's no doubt about that."
On Jayson Werth's full beard: "It's pretty amazing what that man's face can do. He's pretty good right now. He's pretty good. What do I think he looks like? I don't know. He looks like the dude when you are driving down the street hanging on the corner with a sign trying to get some change."
On the Phillies picking up his option: "Ruben just called me, I don't know when it was, and said hey, I just wanted to let you know, tomorrow we are going to announce that we are picking up your option. At first I was like, Oh, OK, that's cool. But 15 minutes later I really started thinking about it, like, Wow, OK, that's real cool. I just go out there and chill. He said to go out there and relax and play, we want you to be here, so we'll go ahead and take care of that and take that pressure off. Actually, I hadn't even thought about it to that point. I guess I've only been in this organization. It never really dawned upon me to leave. I've been around here long enough and it seems like if you've been a part of winning and you're a good person, they've always picked your option up. I guess I was just going to wait until after this year or sometime during this year and expect to hear it. But he let me know in the offseason before spring training, so it was definitely spring training."
On whether he only sees himself in this organization: "When I get older, they might boot me out or some young dude might come run me off the block or something. That happens. At that point, I'll make a decision. I've just always said to myself, and this is in the future, of course, that when I'm no longer able to play everyday, there's really no reason for me to be playing. I'm not going to be a guy to come off the bench and contribute. I'm not all of a sudden going to get three or four more steps back because I'm not playing everyday. So whenever I get ran off, if I can go somewhere else and play, then I'll play, and if not, I'll go fishing or golfing or something."
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Top prospect Domonic Brown missed practice today with the flu. No word on when he will return.
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Cole Hamels was part of a pitching group that threw a bullpen session that included a designed simulation of the break between innings. Last spring, Hamels battled a bout of elbow tightness that particularly affected him when he attempted to resume throwing after a break.
He had no such problems yesterday.
"Cole is well ahead where he has been in any spring training," pitching coach Rich Dubee said.
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keep it up cole. we need ya. and jimmy, too. funny how j-roll said he needs to walk more when they are not pitching to him. That's like andy reid saying he needs to run the ball more when they are dropping seven into coverage. duh. go phils!
...and you are not Jack the Ripper. Rollin is, and always has been, the sparkplug to this office. When he gets on base, it jumpstarts the entire offense.— JimG- i agree with what jroll is saying about the potential of stealing 50 bases. it will not come easy, but there is no doubt that he's capable of doing it. it really all comes down to his on base percentage. last year people were demanding he be traded due to his "declining" speed but it really came down to him not being on base the first half of the season. jimmy is undoubtedly a top 5 shortstop in the game in regards to fielding, speed, power, contact and leadership ability.— wonka4444
- Jimmy - 2 month slump/poor pitch selection = 50 steals!! Do it— J.H.S.
- Did he say if he is going to walk more than the 44 times he did last season and get his on base percent over .300. Last season he had the fewest number of base on balls and the first time his OBP was under .300 in his 9 seasons as a starter.— Dull
- in order to steal 50 bases he is going to need to be a more patient hitter, stop swinging for the fences and walk more. at this point in his career, I don't see that happening.— mibrze
- He better start taking more pitches, bunt a little more and stop trying to hit the ball in the air and maybe he could get there.— EL Zorro
- He better starts taking more pitches, bunt a little more and stop trying to hit the ball in the air and maybe he could get there.— EL Zorro
- He better starts taking more pitches, bunt a little more and stop trying to hit the ball in the air and maybe he could get there.— EL Zorro
- He better starts taking more pitches, bunt a little more and stop trying to hit the ball in the air and maybe he could get there.— EL Zorro
- Zorro, your a spamming maniac, but you echo my thoughts exactly. Gotta get to first if you want to steal second.— phasor
- Jimmy Rollins consistent defense has been one of the major keys to the Phillies being a winning team for many years. Even as a 250 hitter he is immensely important to the Phillies. When he had his MVP season, he really played far over any year he had ever had and most likely will never come close to duplicating again. We were spoiled by that year and wanted to see it again.. Well, I am happy with Jimmy and if he slumps again he may get moved to the 8th hole but he's still my shortstop. I expect him to have a better year offensively this year.— bradco
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- needs to bat 7th with Victorino and Polonco at the top— retzlaff
50 steals out of the 7-hole would be great! That would mean punch & judy type hitters Ruiz and Schneider would only have to get the ball out of the infield to score a run.— WylieG
The thing I like about JRoll is his confidence. He likes to speak his mind, and generally does it in a respectful way. One of the true foundations of this successful Phillies era. I hope he finishes his career as a Phillie, just not yet.- Jimmy...please...just like everyone else, I love you forever! Please look at how much your stats and therefore the team could improve if your OBS goes up even just 50 points!!!!!!— bigphillydad
- so wait jimmy, your not a come off the bench guy? But you will go play somewhere else when that day comes and be a bench player? Just hit the DARN ball on the ground and run...— gulls3012
- Rollins has led the NL in outs made 4 times. According to baseball-reference.com, only one other player in baseball history (Bobby Richardson) has led their league in outs made 4 times. If Rollins wants to score 150 runs, he needs to raise his OBP to well over .400. Ain't gonna happen.— Bobby G
- That would require him getting on base, by far the worst lead off hitter in the league.— lgdoran
- You can't steal first, Jimmy. Also a major-league leadoff hitter should already know how to bunt. Even Mickey Mantle used to bunt for a hit better than Rollins does. J-Roll you used to be my favorite Phillie. Why don't you try working out all winter long and see if that helps?— Delaware Jim
- Sorry, my computer was acting up yesterday. Anyway, is nice for Jimmy to have that attitude, but sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But you never know. He has a history of being (predicting) right.— EL Zorro
- He should really just concentrate on getting on base more. A .300 OBP fron a leadoff hitter is dismal.— Jeff Dowder
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- Rollins spent at least 2 mo.s of last season with such flawed mechanics. Since hitting the long ball in the MVP season he has dropped the back shoulder in an effort to elevate the ball. Unfortunately when a little guy does that he just loses too much of his power, the result being pop-ups and weak ground balls. Rollins needs to go back to the old style of hitting roll the top hand over through the ball and he will hit .300. It is a joke to say he is the spark plug for this team. He was hardly on base for 3 months yet they still won and led the division. He is a club house leader & team union rep. so he has the respect of the team. His play on the field last year should put to rest the PR that he is the spark that makes the Phils engine run. It just aint so. 50 steals are possible but if he continues to play as conservatively as last year it won't happen. You have to make them throw the ball then anything can happen. Last season he was the recipient of gracious score keeping. There were at least 3 occasions he should have been charged and probably would have been if he played for the Nats. I for one hope Jimmy has come to play this year and to prove that he can be thought of with the great shortstops like Jeeter. Derek quietly gets it done for his team no matter where he is asked to play or hit the mark of a great player.— Wally 24
- One poster mentioned the great Mantle bunting for a hit. ALL the greats that could run a bit would bunt for their team. Schmidt layed down a bunt in the 7th inning of the NLCS against LA for a hit. Great players do great things but many times in little ways. Schmitty would also take a walk with no problem. I see the problem with the Phils not having great OBPs or being able to drive in runners from scoring position as a reflection of the manager and coaches on this team. Until they mandate those items as top priorities it won't get done.— Wally 24
- Jimmy probably will hit 275-285 20-24 HR. Only 6 errors at short all last year thats very good!— Don w
- Rollins needs to review the video tape. Pitchers weren't pitching to him. I remember his espn gamecast hitting zones his average was above .300 in every zone. Since his overall average was far below that, he was clearly making a ton of outs on bad pitches.— jtj06
- So pumped for this season to begin.— iladelph
- Jimmy is one of the best shortstops to play for this franchise, if not the best. That being said, as he acknowledges he still has work to do to improve. Stop swinging for the fences and hacking at the first pitch. Improve his plate discipline. I have no doubt that he can steal 50 bags but that requires getting on base first. Not going to do that with first pitch pop ups.— Dave34
