Only time will tell, but for now, Rollins says he feels good at the plate and the evidence supports that.
After a 0-for-28 slump, he went 5 for 11 with two runs, three doubles, a homer, three walks, and five RBIs in a weekend series sweep of the New York Mets.
The Phillies' leadoff man enters tonight's game against Cincinnati hitting .217 with a .266 on-base percentage.
Rollins homered righthanded off Johan Santana to lead off the bottom of the first yesterday.
Other than to acknowledge that he's feeling good at the plate, Rollins did not chat with reporters after yesterday's game.
Manager Charlie Manuel didn't want to say much either. You know baseball people. They're always fearful of jinxing a good thing.
"There's no sense talking about it," Manuel said. "Leave him alone. Let him play."
Manuel said Rollins is putting better swings on the ball.
"He's seeing the ball good," Manuel said. "I think he's loading up better. He's cocking his hips and loading his hands better. That keeps him short and quick. When he hit that home run, he wasn't trying to hit a home run. He was just quick to the ball and put a good swing on it. Very good."
Ibanez to play
Leftfielder Raul Ibanez, on the disabled list with a strained left groin, will play a minor-league rehab game at Reading today at 12:05 p.m., the team announced.
Ibanez had worked out with Reading several times last week but was not cleared to play. Phils officials cleared him yesterday.
"It's good enough to go out and see what happens," Ibanez said.
Ibanez is eligible to come off the DL now, but Manuel has said he'd like for Ibanez to get about a dozen at-bats before he is activated. That could mean Ibanez would play tomorrow and Wednesday at triple-A Lehigh Valley before being activated for the final four games of the homestand.
Despite being out of the lineup since June 18, Ibanez was tied for fourth in the National League in homers (22) and RBIs (59) entering play yesterday.
Ibanez was voted a starter for next week's All-Star Game. Though he is expected to play, he said it was too early to know for sure.
Wright is wrong
With Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes on the DL, much of the offensive burden in the Mets' lineup has fallen on David Wright. He went 0 for 11 with four strikeouts in the series. He was also 0 for 11 with four strikeouts against the Yankees last weekend.
Contact staff writer Jim Salisbury at 215-854-4983
or jsalisbury@phillynews.com.
