Schmidt: Rollins needs to be more "Pete Rose-like"
Mike Schmidt spent about 30 minutes fielding questions for a small group of reporters today at Bright House Field, and the Hall of Fame third baseman had some interesting things to say.
Schmidt: Rollins needs to be more "Pete Rose-like"
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Mike Schmidt spent about 30 minutes fielding questions for a small group of reporters today at Bright House Field, and the Hall of Fame third baseman had some interesting things to say.
I'm in the middle of transcribing the tape, but for right now I'll leave you with his thoughts on the Phillies' offense, which in his opinion has underperformed the last few years. Specifically, he zeroed in on Jimmy Rollins, who he said hasn't played within himself.
"I look for Rollins to push a 200-hit year," Schmidt said. "I look for Victorino to have a 200-hit year. We are talking in those terms. 100 walks. 200 hits. Sort of out-there goal for these guys that you haven't seen in the last few years. They are part of a winning team, don't get me wrong, but I still think they are underachieving as players. Jimmy Rollins can't do what Pete Rose did. Just take a year. Pete Rose had 200 hits 10 straight years. Jimmy's faster, you know.
"I just think Pete understood more what his role was. Jimmy kind of gets to being Jimmy. Jimmy needs to be more Pete Rose-like in his approach to the game, and more accountable for getting on base and understanding that offensively, he's about running and getting on base and getting hits and leading the lead in hitting. He wants to look at the USA Today or the Inquirer or whatever and see his name right up there in the top three in hitting. It should be, right? So should Victorino's. And they now feel that way. So I look for big things all the way around."
More to come.
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THANK you, Mike Schmidt. Victorino was ridiculously impatient at the plate, seeing the least amount of pitches last season among the starting 8. Lowest OBP of the starting 8 as our catalyst in J-Roll's absence, but not as if Jimmy is a patient man either. 100 walks would be AWESOME for each.
just a young kid from ohio with 2 bad knees...and a dream.....to be a major league baseball player wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
Both guys are block heads and play for themselves. Not for the team. If they played for the team they could win 105 games this year. But both will swing for the homer and team will still win in the 90's because of pitching.- in complete agreement with SJDevilBoy here, and all others who see Rollins as just a play-for-his-stats guy. He has no interest in playing small ball, of getting on base any way he can, of bunting or slapping it the other way.
When the Phils facve a lefty, Rollins would be my right-handed 5th batter. He's going to swing for homers anyway and if he catches a few, maybe he can be the protection Howard needs in the order. As for when the Phils face a righty, forget it, I'd hit him 8th. He has no idea (nor does Victorino) what he's doing left-handed anymore.— advantasux - Perfectly worded by Mike Schmidt. Rollins has to stop being Willie Mays Hayes and just get on base...
- As for the sentiments expressed in the column, Aaaaaaamen! Aaaaaaaaaaaaamen! Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.— orange rhino
Comment removed.- I'm glad Schmitty challanged Rollins. Understanding your role is important. Game 6 against the Giants still makes me nuts. In the 5th Rollins got on to lead off the inning. He didn't run just stayed put.
After 2 flyouts with Rollins still on first Howard doubles and Jimmy stops at 3rd. As we all know the inning ends and we don't score.
The little things mean a lot. If Jimmy steals 2nd and you bunt him to 3rd, the 2nd fly out scores the run and certainly Howard's double does. We had chances in the 5th,6th, 8th and 9th but played for the big inning.
I understand Jimmy was hurt but Carlos Ruiz hit 60 points better than him during the season. Hitting 243 with a free swinging bat and very few walks is not a leadoff hitter.— Fan74 - I wish he hadn't challenged him like this. Rollins is pig-headed. The more he gets challenged like this in public, the less likely he will be to play the type of offensive game he should play. — DPL
- I knews the "Willie Mays Hayes" ignorance had to surface somewhere here. Nothing intelligent to say so resort to that garbage. Best shortstop in Phillies history, league MVP, World Series champion and how many gold gloves? And all you clowns can do is whine. Pathetic.— JLH
Schmidt thinks every small player needs to be Pete Rose. Fact is, Rollins has a different skill set. He does hit for more power, hits a lot more doubles as a percentage of hits than Rose, and of course way more triples (a function of his speed). Rose was a slap-hitter who focused on singles. For Rollins to be at his best, he needs to hit line drives into gaps and RUN. Rollins shouldn't even try to mimic Rose.... although he should stop swinging for the fences every time up.- I totally agree with the first poster---the "Team to beat" quote was awesome and perfect. Its getting old, predictable and feeling a bit forced at this point. Just stop, Jimmy.
And JLH---you have a valid point, but so do all of us "whiners" that just want him to make a discernable consistent effort to ACT LIKE A REAL LEADOFF HITTER. Its not asking too much, despite all of his other great qualities.— Zee77 - I really have to agree that the Rollins/Rose comparison just isn't going to work. They need more contact hitting at the top of the order but I don't know that the answer is to try and turn Rollins into Rose. I still struggle with whether he should be leading off. There's no obvious upgrade in my opinion. The dynamics of this lineup are way different than the one Schmidt was a part of. I like that he's not afraid to put the comments out there though. JRoll is a great shortstop. In my mind the best in Phillies history. You give him a shot to be JRoll and see where he is around May sometime before trying to reinvent things too much.— s
- Mike Schmidt. HOF. Listen to him.— ACBaughman
- Willie Mays Hayes huh? can't you at least come up with something original and less ignorant if you're going to berate the best shortstop in Phillies history? League MVP. World Series Champ. Gold Gloves. Longest hitting streak in Philles history. Yeah he's just horrible.— JLH
