Schmidt: Rollins needs to be more "Pete Rose-like"
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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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Comment removed.
You mean he needs to pop "Greenies" and amphetamines before every game, and ignore coaches calls that help the team win games? Please.... Charlie H-H-Hustle was tweeked out for most of his career, and then ... well we all know the low down dirt y shame that guy brought on baseball— Pluski- Comment removed.
Let me start by saying, three of my favorite players are Schmidt, Rose and Rollins. That being said, just because Schmidt is the greatest 3B ever, does not make him a baseball expert. He has always been as strange as Carlton and Dutch with some of his comments.
Rollins needs to SCORE RUNS no matter how he gets on base. Schmidt comes up with this 100 walk stat. Guess what? Rose walked 100 times ONCE in his career. He averaged 71 walks and 194 hits per 162 games.
However, he "only" averaged 98 runs per 162. Rollins averages 108 Runs per 162 with 55 and 184 BBs and hits.
The goal of the leadoff hitter is to score runs and when he is healthy, Jimmy is as good as any player in baseball today scoring runs. Jimmy also averages 30 more total bases per season than Pete did, not to mention 28 more stolen bases.
Pete Rose is a Hall of Fame player if not for the haircut, I mean the gambling. But let's not make him out to be Ricky Henderson. He was a singles hitter and a wineer and while he got a lot of them, he was a one base at a time guy. Over the course of the season, Pete was on base slightly more than one time per week more than Rollins.
Pete was 3 and 3 in the World Series. By the end of 2012, Jimmy will be 3-1, hopefully.— NMPartners- JRoll should take a page out of Mike Schmidt's book and show up for practice with a Pete Rose wig on. — s
- Hopefully that fires Jimmy and Shane up a little bit.— jayflyte
- this would have been great commentary by Schmidt if it was 5 years ago, but I think both players are way too set in their ways and their approach to get 100 walks or 200 hits. I think Rollins goal for this year is to just stay healthy, and continue with the same approach he's always had for the game.— recoveryroad
- Jimmy Rollins is the most overrated athlete in the history of Philadelphia sports. I've never seen an athlete have his talents so overstated like this guy's throughout his career. Defensive? Top notch. Basepaths? Very good. But everything else about this guy's game is average to below average. They succeed in spite of Warning Track Power J-Roll not because of him. If he batted 8th and shut his gap toothed mouth, I would feel differently about him. But if he wants to talk and try and keep the charade of a lead off hitter going, he better bring it.— Blackbird32
- I looked up the 1980 Phils' stats the other night and was stunned to see that Rose had 1 HR the entire season. And if you ever saw Rose play, he was plenty strong -- more solid and stronger than Rollins and Victorino, easily. But, as Schmitty says, we didn't need him to hit for power. So, he hit for average, had 64 doubles (more than twice as many as anyone else on the team), showcased his trademark hustle -- and we won the whole thing, with a team less talented overall than we are this year or were in 2010.— eman
- I think you should have written down the stats you looked up instead of guessing. Rose had 42 doubles in 1980, not 64. 64 would have been the 2nd highest number in baseball history.
Also, "Pete Rose hit for average" is not totally accurate either. In 1980, he hit .282. His lowest average since 1964, his 2nd year in the majors.
Also, in 1980, Pete had his lowest on base percentage since 1966 at .352
So, in a season that ranked in the bottom half of Pete's career, the Phillies won the WS despite all that.
All this pontificating (I wonder if I spelled that right?)is nice for now but this season will come down to clutch hitting in October. The Phils had it in 2008 and through the NLCS in 2009. The Giants had it last year.— NMPartners - I usually can't stand when Michael Jack opens his mouth, but in this case, Amen brotha. Jimmy needs to stop giving predictions and worry about getting on base. Period. A guy hitting .250 with hamstring problems has no business hitting at the top of any lineup at any level. I want to throw up every time I hear someone recite the adage 'When Jimmy is on, it sets the stage for the whole lineup' (or something to that effect). Well, in place of 'Jimmy,' insert 'Any leadoff hitter, anywhere'. Because that's what a leadoff hitter is supposed to do. Find me one team that consistently scores runs without a leadoff hitter who consistently gets on base
- Neither J-roll or Victorino are in the same class as hitters as Rose,but schmidt is right,these guys have got to play to their strenghs,singles,doubles and stolen basses.They both should concentrate on getting on base and scoring runs.— schmitty71
- Schmidt and Rollins are both delusional. Hey fans, wake up. First of all, J-roll ain't gonna' try for 200 hits by bunting and slapping the ball around. Sorry, Mike. But secondly, Rollins is shot anyway. He's going to be 33 and on the down side of a career in witch his numbers were boosted by, guess what? The juice of course. Look what he's done since his 30 HR, 20 triples year. Not a whole lot. He won't be resigned by the Phils after this year. In fact he will once again be an injury prone liability. You heard it here first.— baabyrrej
Jimmy Rollins only needs to be like Jimmy Rollins.
Pete Rose disgraced baseball, and how dare Mike Schmidt lump J-Roll into that category.
How's this: Mike Schmidt needs to be more like a library--"quiet".- rollins is who rollins is I would not mind at all if he hits 30 hrs. again it is all about scoring runs and winning when he is healthy he scores runs, would like to see his avg for the year at .283 or higher but other than that if he is healthy he will score and drive in runs. rollins is NOT rose stop the b.s.— only 9
