Jimmy Rollins apologizes to Charlie Manuel
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Jimmy Rollins apologizes to Charlie Manuel
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — The door opened at 4:23 p.m. and Jimmy Rollins smiled. Charlie Manuel chuckled from inside the visiting manager's office at Turner Field. The Phillies lineup was already made in Manuel's head and it included Rollins even before he issued an apology during a seven-minute chat.
"He walked in there," Manuel said, "and manned up."
A day earlier, Rollins was benched for not running out an infield pop up. It was two weeks to the day Manuel admonished Rollins for a similar lack of hustle. Manuel viewed the latest offense as disrespect toward him, his teammates and the entire organization.
Rollins said the act was not premeditated and he reached an understanding with Manuel. The shortstop admitted he does not hustle on every play. "It just doesn't happen that way," Rollins said.
He does not believe it is an issue.
"There's obviously a spotlight on it," Rollins said. "If I was the only player to ever do that and do that in this game today it would make sense. But I broke the rule, like I said. That was the result of it."
Manuel said he briefly contemplated sitting Rollins again Friday. Rollins figured he would play because he had not made a scene when removed and confessed to the gaffe.
Rollins said he had just emerged from the underground batting cage Thursday before his sixth-inning at-bat. He wanted more work on his righthanded swing because he had popped up in his previous at-bat.
When he did it again, he said he was immediately overwhelmed with confusion.
"The first thing was you didn't get the run in," Rollins said. "Second, it's like damn you were just in the cage literally working on that. How do you do it again? And that was really about it. That's all that went through my mind."
Manuel said he could understand that. But it did not preclude Rollins from running.
"I don't want to try to have to make Jimmy run," Manuel said. "I want Jimmy to want to run. I want Jimmy to want to run because you're supposed to run and you should run. That's what baseball is all about."
The manager, of course, knows that is unlikely to happen. Rollins, 33, is rooted in habit. The Phillies committed four more years to him this past winter. He is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game and above average in offensive production.
None of that, Manuel said, justified what he saw.
"That doesn't mean you let it go," Manuel said. "You don't let it pass."
Rollins was asked if he feared fans will eventually remember him for his lack of hustle rather than the world championship, MVP award, Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances.
"No, not really," Rollins said. "They're isolated incidents. From maybe my third year it was already something. Actually, my first year. Let's be real. It was always something. That's the decision people will make."
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Chawlie has lost this team.— wo_fat- They arent that good. — tr88
- That's interesting logic - The pop-up confused him so much that he neglected to run hard. What a bunch of BS. He's a prima donna who needs to ride the pine for a few days, and bat in the 8 spot when he returns. Sheesh.— philly2sf
- The apology that isn't. Other players are lazy Jimmy? Really? You're the only one anyone notices. The laziest guy in baseball leading off your lineup? Chawlie and Jimmy are a disgrace, the quitter and his enabler— wo_fat
- when the manager blows games night after night (and just decided to let everyone go home early by bringing in an awful rookie Rosenberg with an era over 10.00 to pitch to lefties and give up 4 runs in the 10th inning) and when the g.m. decides to go into the season with such pitiful additions and re-signings like Schneider, Qualls, Willis, Wigginton, Thome, etc, why as a player should you bother to bust your blank for such a joke organization? when the team was competitive and fighting for something Rollins was intense and often clutch, but it starts from the top and when your g.m. and manager are imbeciles and mailing it in then the players start doing the same— warbiscuit
- You mean Qualls the guy that you said was a good signing? LOL, dope. Oh that's right he was misused, LOL, dope. Funny you're not bashing Kendrick anymore, worthless garbage that wouldn't pitch in the league if it wasn't for RAJ, LOL, dope. Remember when you called Howards signing ridiculous because if they waited they could have signed Fielder or Pujols for less? LOL, dope. And when you said Halliday is the most overrated player of the decade, LOL, dope, and signing Pena, stating we should have resigned Lidge, LOL, dope. And... oh never mind you get the point you're a complete tool with zero basebal knowledge — DogBiscuitthedope
- Really? Did u like the last 7 yrs? One bad yr and everyone is garbage! Get lost. — likhon
- Rollins probably feels like he's not the only one who doesn't hustle. But everyone is responsible for themselves. Rollins has been with the team the longest and he's one of the few these days who plays everyday so more is expected.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Fire the bumbling manager and get lazy Poppins out of our city— shawnmac
- let's just not let it happen,......some place else— SyddBarrett
- how bout a blockbuster with Texas for Andrus? they have their new phenom and don't really need Andrus,....and we do,....then we can rape the Giants organization before midnight by giving them Rollins and throw in Mayberry while you're at it,.......PLEASE— SyddBarrett
- If Rollins sat for the Braves series, I would've felt that Manuel was making a point to his team. As it is, it seems Charlie's just not serious about waking up some of these guys, hasn't been serious all season. Not that it really matters anymore....— ijj
- Completely agree. — coloradoeagle
- rollins supposedly not running (he dropped him head down because of another pop up then proceeded)happens alot in baseball it called dis-appointnent, failure which is part of the game and LIFE get over it morons, most here are fat, lazy pampered, bigoted, hypocrites who can barely walk much less run, teams have bad years that is the way it is going down deal with it...— only 9
- Apparently your screen name refers to,your IQ — coloradoeagle
