Charlie Manuel loves idea of Jimmy Rollins in WBC
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Charlie Manuel loves idea of Jimmy Rollins in WBC
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
There are decisions to be made in Florida, probably more than a typical Charlie Manuel spring training, but nothing is more paramount than ascertaining the Phillies' health. Keeping an aging core on the field is proving a tougher task each year. In recent springs, Manuel has lessened the Grapefruit League load on his veterans.
But the 69-year-old manager has no qualms with Jimmy Rollins' selection as shortstop for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
"Actually, it'll be good for him," Manuel said. "Different scenery helps Jimmy. It matches his personality and how he looks at things. Over the years, I've gotten to know him pretty well. If there is different scenery, he really gets into it."
Manuel often likes to label Rollins a "red-light player" meaning the shortstop is at his best when the stage is grandest. Judging by America's interest in the World Baseball Classic, it's hard to describe it as a major event.
At the very least, it offers a change of pace from the monotony of Grapefruit League play.
Rollins batted 24 times during tournament play in 2009. With the United States' early elimination, he still had the chance to bat 37 times in Grapefruit League play. And all of that does not count the various exhibition games the United States played for practice.
It all added up to a typical spring workload for Rollins.
Manuel said at the end of last season he went home to Florida and sat down to think about how to be proactive in reducing wear and tear on his aged roster.
No surprise. It's January, so Manuel is talking about regular rest for his everyday players. That's a typical proclamation that falls by the wayside for various reasons.
"With the way Freddy Galvis plays defense, and if we set up the way I want us to, we can definitely give Rollins a break," Manuel said. "Rollins won't have to play 158 games next year. I talked to him about it at the end of the year. And [Chase] Utley won't have to play 162 games. If you look at it, if a guy hits at the top of the order and plays 140 games, that's 560 at-bats. If they get 560, 580 at-bats, him, Howard and Rollins -- and Michae l Young, too -- to me, that's a complete season. And we definitely should be able to keep them a little bit stronger and a little healthier that way."
Whatever the case, Manuel's primary concern this spring is his team's health. There are plenty of unknowns.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Charlie could make a trip to the proctologist sound pretty sunny. Of course, he's working without a contract for next year so he might sound a bit different than usual.— PhillySubsMac- Charlie says this every year and then runs the veterans into the ground. Halladay throwing 120 pitches with a big lead, Utley playing 50 games straight, and anybody with less than 5 yrs. experience sitting on the bench hoping someone finally breaks down so Charlie has to play them— bmayer1865
- Chollie will be unemployed by July 1. Book it.— FishtownFitz
- Fishtown, I hope you're wrong! With any luck he'll be out by May— Johnnyboyl
- Anybody know his 1BSP (First Base Stroll Percentage) in the last WBC?
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— Quixote II - Rollins is the heart and soul of the Phillies. He is 100% correct about all you Frontrunners. Go root for the Mutts or Gnats.— Paul SoTX
- "Frontrunners" don't fill the seats game after game, year after year, and if Rollins is the "heart and soul of the Phillies" I don't see them going anywhere this season either. — sjfella
- This season has a lot of if's associated with it....if Doc is healthy, if Chase is healthy.......We all know the truth though. This team will go as far as # 6 takes them. Our pitching will be compareable to the Nats and the braves but we have the single most dynamic batter in the NL East and he hits forth for the Phils. If he has a top 5 MVP season we will be in the playoffs. Book it Danno!— titleist_tim
- I don't want Charlie out by May or June. That would mean the Phillies are mired.— ACBaughman
- I don't want Charlie out by May or June. That would mean the Phillies are mired.— ACBaughman
- Stroller gives the Phillies the dimension of a bad attitude. His buddy Chawlie brings incompetence and blind loyalty to the table.— wo_fat
- My biggest gripe with the ned of last season and he offseason, why didn't they play Ruf from the start of Sept 1st. We were cooked and Charlie wouldn't play Ruf over Pierre. The biggest comment i hear about Ruf is he only had 37 ML-AB's. He should have easily had 100 AB's. This is the same problem with not using Brown in Ibanez'z last year. I respect Raul as a nice person but he was cooked in 2011 and Brown should have been playing or been in the minors. Amaro and Charlie only like old, tired players or young useless (Delmon Young and Betencourt are horrible). Hallady, Lee and Hamels can do their thing, we'll be a decent team but let Brown and Ruf play. It's what give Atlanta such and edge, they play there young players even if they are having a rough time. Believe in the talent and the talent believes in you.— simplefacts
- simplefacts is simplycorrect. No excuse for Ruf not having more at bats. Ruben get control of that freakin team and blow out the 1st one of them that doesn't run it out...show them who's boss.— Friend to All
