Stay or Go: Fans split on Rollins' future
Jimmy Rollins will be a free agent this offseason and fans across the region are split on whether or not he should be re-signed.
Stay or Go: Fans split on Rollins' future
Matt Mullin
Will Jimmy Rollins be back with the Phillies next season? (David Maialetti/Staff file photo)
Mid-October. These were supposed to be the glory days for Philadelphia fans. Instead, fans across the region have been left with a sour taste in their mouths, one that can only be wiped clean by the promise of spring training.
With nearly five months - five winter months - until pitchers and catchers report, there is plenty of time to vent the frustration felt by the early postseason exit of a team with the highest of expectations, the 2011 Phillies.
At the end of each season, we at Philly.com conduct an informal survey asking readers which players they would like to see back the following season. While some answers won't surprise you, there are always a few that stick out.
While voting is far from over, here's a look at some of the team's big-name players, and how you, the fans, really feel about them.
Free agents are far from free
Two of the most talked about names this offseason will be shortstop and former NL MVP Jimmy Rollins and closer Ryan Madson. One's career is nearing the tipping point (Madson), while the other's point is becoming a little dull.
Both have been integral parts of the team in recent years, including the World Series win in 2008, but soon, both players will be free agents. Ruben Amaro Jr. and the front office will have to decide if they're willing to spend the money necessary to keep both players, and judging by your votes, that's exactly what you'd like to see happen.
While 90.1% of voters want to keep Madson, the opinion is a little more divided for Rollins. 56.4% are in favor of keeping him. Let's see if Amaro is as luke-warm about giving into his request for a five-year deal.
Trio down to two?
Another interesting disparity is in the outfield, where two of the spots are occupied by arguably two of the most popular starters, and the other by Raul Ibanez.
Ibanez' inconsistency has caused him to lose favor among fans, and boy did you show it. Just 13.4% of voters want him back for another season.
It's likely that Amaro feels the same way, unless he can get the veteran outfielder at a severely reduced price.
A new fourth ace?
Is Roy Oswalt out as the fourth ace, amigo, musketeer, or whatever they're called now? According to the results, Oswalt should be sent packing, and Vance Worley should step in. In arguably the most surprising result, Worley received the most positive support, with 97.7% wanting him back in the rotation next season. That's higher than Roy Halladay (97.6%), Cole Hamels (96.8%), and Cliff Lee (95.8%).
Below is a look at the full results, and don't forget you can still vote:
| POSITION PLAYERS | |||
| Stay | Go | Total Votes* | |
| Ryan Howard | 60.8% | 39.2% | 6853 |
| Chase Utley | 89.5% | 10.5% | 6295 |
| Placido Polanco | 35.2% | 64.8% | 6014 |
| Jimmy Rollins | 56.4% | 43.6% | 6366 |
| Raul Ibanez | 13.4% | 86.6% | 5896 |
| Shane Victorino | 93.4% | 6.6% | 5233 |
| Hunter Pence | 98.3% | 1.7% | 5487 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 96.3% | 3.7% | 4648 |
| STARTING PITCHERS | |||
| Stay | Go | Total Votes* | |
| Roy Halladay | 97.6% | 2.4% | 3280 |
| Cliff Lee | 95.8% | 4.2% | 3159 |
| Cole Hamels | 96.8% | 3.2% | 3011 |
| Roy Oswalt | 28.3% | 71.7% | 3929 |
| Vance Worley | 97.7% | 2.3% | 2808 |
| Joe Blanton | 24.5% | 75.5% | 3060 |
| BULLPEN | |||
| Stay | Go | Total Votes* | |
| Ryan Madson | 90.9% | 9.1% | 2773 |
| Antonio Bastardo | 89.3% | 10.7% | 2084 |
| Brad Lidge | 14.7% | 85.3% | 2958 |
| Michael Stutes | 87.4% | 12.6% | 2005 |
| Kyle Kendrick | 59.2% | 40.8% | 2279 |
| David Herndon | 23.8% | 76.2% | 2112 |
| Jose Contreras | 29.1% | 70.9% | 2064 |
| BENCH PLAYERS | |||
| Stay | Go | Total Votes* | |
| Wilson Valdez | 79.9% | 20.1% | 3478 |
| Brian Schneider | 41.4% | 58.6% | 3905 |
| John Mayberry Jr. | 98.1% | 1.9% | 3933 |
| Ben Francisco | 31.2% | 68.8% | 3414 |
| Ross Gload | 17.7% | 82.3% | 3395 |
| Michael Martinez | 61.9% | 38.1% | 2945 |
| Domonic Brown | 55.4% | 44.6% | 3210 |
| John Bowker | 9.0% | 91.0% | 2687 |
| DECISION MAKERS | |||
| Stay | Go | Total Votes* | |
| Charlie Manuel | 72.0% | 28.0% | 3860 |
| Ruben Amaro Jr. | 90.3% | 9.7% | 3537 |
*Vote totals as of 10/14/11 at 11 a.m.
Matt Mullin is a sports producer at philly.com. You can reach him by e-mail at mmullin@philly.com. Follow Matt on Twitter: @matt_mullin
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VOTE: Phillies: Stay or Go? Poll: Is this Phillies season a failure?Comments (56)
Why keep a 33 year old shortstop? His legs are gone, you can find better, his glove is good, but you can do well or better since his range is diminishing, and his bat is .260 at the leadoff spot where Charlie refuses to move him from. I think you can do better for the kind of money he wants and certainly not for 5 years. People need to get real. He wants to hold the city hostage for what he did years ago. Kind of reminds me of Andy Reid.— alwaysphil1- why is kendrick only 59/41 to keep a bullpen spot? he pitched outstanding both in relief and spot starts. the pollster should have asked this question: should joe blanton retain his starting rotation spot or should kendrick start in his place with joe handling kendrick's relief duties? kendrick has paid his dues on this club it is about time somebody notices and rewards him. blanton's contract was one of the first of many amaro braincramps as amaro began his tenure as GM. blanton never deserved 8 million per year - even when healthy, which has been a rare thing to observe in joe. we are finally in blanton's last contract year. anyone who wants to re-sign joe or see joe as a starter next year needs to have their head checked. — zwarte piet
- Who the heck voted to keep Bowker?— rodeojones000
- His mother, 2 sisters and an Aunt (his father's sister. His girlfriend told him she did, but secretly...she didn't. — justacarpenter
- Im hoping Rollins stays. At this point still valuable player due to steady defense at premiere position. Rollins made 7 errors Reyes 18. Some of these Es would mean defeats. At this point Tulow and Reyes rank ahead perhaps Marlins Ramirez and Arizona's Hardy aso I would not put Cubs Castro he made 29 errors. Ramirez is also error prone but top talent. Rollins not top level at this point but still good replacing him with Galvis projects less offense. Giants, Red Sox and Brewers could have interest. Red Sox bigger need pitching. Brewers will probably make strong effort to retain Fielder. Giants need upgrading at SS.
his steady defense would b
Im hoping Rollins stays a Phill. Not a top level plyer but still good who goves team steady defense. Rollins made 7 errors Reyes 18. Some of these Errors would mean defeats, Rollins right now ranks behind Tulo and Reyes at SS. Possibly Hardy and error prone Ramirez rank ahead. Ramirez talented but has issues.
— Don w - Don sorry but signing Jim-Me Pop Up for his defense is not a good idea. He wants 5 yrs at probably 10-13 mil a year. Who the heck is going to pay that??? Red Sox like players who work a count and we all know Jim-Me doesnt do that. Team will be better off with a true lead off hitter not this delusional swing for the fences lazy glove man.
- I want to know which 1.7 percent wants to see Hunter Pence go.— carmendmv
- I am guessing the people who saw him struggle in the playoffs. — bobcitydoc
- I like Jroll, but there’s no way we can give him a 4-5 year contract at the money that he will want and maybe command. His last 2-3 years of a future contract won’t be as starter quality.— terrycindyian
- Jimmy Rollins was the catalyst to winning it all a few years ago. He was great and did a great job for many years and we should never forget that.
However, it is almost scary in noticing the decline in Jimmy's abilities in the last two years. Continuing decline at this rate would render him unworthy of a starting position wirhin a year ot two. I believe it is more than just injuries. He has been at this game a long time and some players last longer than others.
This team, with Jimmy Rollins as part of it, has been in the playoffs five straight years. They have played a lot of meaningful games.
Jimmy says he wants a five year contract - if Galvis is the heir apparent, does he really expect the Phillies to keep Galvis in the minors that long ?
Then there is the youth movement we hear about. Resigning Jimmy does not seem to jell with that idea.
The chance to get Reyes and solidify the position for many years to come cannot be overlooked.
I wish Jimmy well, thank him for his contributions, but feel it would be a major mistake to resign him to a multi year contract.
— candidly - Why are people hating on Gload? He's a darn fine pinch hitter.— gho_matt
- Hating on Gload? Gload isn't good enough to deserve hate, he simply isn't good enough to keep, no hate needed. — twpman
- If I were Gm and Rollins told me he wants a 5 year deal with the 5th year option his, I'd laugh him out of my office and say thanks for everything and good luck with your new team! 5 YEARS? Are you on drugs? You're falling apart the past few years, lazy on the bases and you think you deserve 5 years? C'mon Man! With asking for 5 years, I read into that that he wants out of here because he knows he's not getting that here.— twpman
- People voting for guys like Pence and Lee to go are trolls who are probably Yankees on Eagles only fans..— Flyers1971
- Crazy how so many more people want Utley to stay than Howard. Will people ever turn their back on this cripple? Howard is way more valuable to this team right now, and more productive.— vvvmetallicavvv
- metallica, I thought the same thing. He misses the first third of this year, significant time every year, he's breaking down, and no production from him at all! Yet 90 % of the fans want him to stay? I don't get it, and never have.— mjc1
- Howard doesn't perform in the post season as Utley does......Mayberry graded higher than DBrown...I bet neither player saw that coming last spring but Mayberry's baseball talents are legit and Brown's are not even up to high school standards.....people voting against Pence probably didn't even know he played hurt with a sports hernia. Gload is a great PH and a nice bench piece to play 1st or RF now and then. Problem is he was hurt all year, should have had his hip surgery in April, then might have been good for us at the end, but no dice. Jimmy is Jimmy. You know what you got. If you sign him where are you gonna put him? He hamstrings this entire lineup and puts no pressure on the opposing pitcher or catcher when he gets on 1st. As much as I hate Reyes and his cost, he scares the bejeezuz out of anybody when he's down there, just like Michael Bourn does. It's almost an automatic double. Jimmy doesn't have that in his game anymore. He'd be a great 6 or 7 hole hitter but will he sign here to do that? Doubt it. Charlie loves him but he won't make the tough love decision to do that to him. We'd better get "some" different hitters in this lineup if we expect different results in 2012.— Mark1npt
- The Phillies have to totally retool. If I were the GM, I would get rid of Charlie and keep the starting pitchers. I would have the following everyday line up: C - Ruiz; 1B - Howard (he unfortunately already has a long term contract); 2B - Utley; SS - Martinez; 3B - Valdez; LF - Mayberry; CF - Victorino; RF - Pence. In the bullpen, I would have Madson, Bastardo and Stutes as the nucleus.— BobSG
- Thank goodness your a retired old wrestler with no GM ability. Valdez is best a good utility infielder. He barely hits .250 and doesn't run the bases well. Martinez at 3B? Are you kidding me? He trolled at the Mendoza line all year, can't hit with RISP, and isn't that great with the leather. At best, he is a super utility guy....at LHV. I'd hate to let you make out the line up card. Reality time....Rollins stay with a 2 maybe 3 year deal at the right price. Polanco needs to be healthy and if so, one of the best contact hitters in the game..even at 37. Tinkering will be fine, but retooling? Are you kidding me? 102 wins simply isn't by accident. This team needs to be patient at the plate, work the count, and go for one run at a time. — drhoffman
- J-Pop needs to go. Constantly popping out or grounding out on the second pitch is not lead off criteria. His glove is good, but his schtick at the plate is tiresome and fruitless. Time to find someone cheaper who has decent range and can get on base.— Bruno Sammartino
- We go through this charade every season, the famed Philly.com stay or go vote, followed by an article on the voting, as if an anonymous voting system, where voters can vote as many times as they like, whether or not they are even Phillies supporters, has any validity whatsoever. Here's an idea: call on the Phillies organization to carry out a complete survey of their full and part season-ticket holders, one vote per holder, the people who put their money where their mouths are, to see which players they would like to go or stay, as well as the Manager and General Manager, then write an article after that survey.— chuckw
- I don't want to see Lee or Pence go.
One thing about Lee this year.
He showed a propensity to make huge errors at critical moments in games - does not overshadow his great year, but a concern.
Odd that the picture of Jimmy above is the one where he did'nt run and the ball that was called fair in what was probably his last game as a Phillie.— candidly - Just when some folks were wondering where the more bizarre votes came from, we have BobSG with a revised team that would include the firing of Charlie Manuel after five Eastern Division Titles, 199 regular season victories in the last two seasons, with a crippled ball club, who saw Cliff Lee blow a four-run lead in game two of the playoffs, has Martinez at shortstop who hit .196 this past season, and career backup Wilson Valdez as starting third baseman, who will be lucky to still be with the club next season. Seriously?— chuckw
- I agree with you , but I am pretty sure Valdez has a better RBI/AB ratio for Polonco this year, and I'd bet my house he can do no worse in the playoffs for Runs/RBI's for a series! Look that number up. It will make you want to throw up. — justacarpenter
- Let J Roll walk and tried to get Aramis Ramirez from the Cubs and
you can use any short stop to play defense, Ramirez would get you
about 40 homeruns and his bat will replace J Roll— douglasrdd - I love JRoll, BUT, there is no way he should get more than a 3-yr. deal. Utley, Howard, Pence, Victorino, Mayberry, Ruiz, Polanco - all stay. The starters stay. Bullpen should be Madson, Bastardo, Stutes, Contreras (IF he's physically OK). Gload will be Gload, not the singles hitter of 2011 - he stays as does Valez and Martinez. Mayberry makes the point of Brown staying moot. Brown needs to play in AAA til he succeeds - if ever.— dwp66
- Why would folks want Vance more than the 3 aces ???? Vance is a nice 4 or 5 pitcher, nothing beyond that. His numbers in 2012 probably will not come close to matching his 2011 - he is more Joe Blanton than Roy, Cliff or Cole.— mrdip
- ALWAYS - Really? The Phils can do better than Rollins? Please, enlighten us: how can the Phillies do better than J-Roll over the next 3 years?! We await your pearls of wisdom with bated breath.— 5NOT4
- J-Roll will get (and accept) a 3-year deal, with a 4th year TEAM option. Oh, AND WHY IS CHASE UTLEY GETTING A FREE PASS RIGHT NOW?! Anyone? I love him, but he SUCKED this year, straight up.— 5NOT4
Comment removed.- I know I'm split on him coming back. I want the half that produces and shuts the F up to come back. I want the half that cares more about the team and less about home runs to come back. I want the half that realizes he has to train and work to stay at the top of his game to come back and I would like the millionaire who says he has enough and would like to offer something to the fans to come back for 3 years - to come back. The half that is the blohard that talks about how he will go elsewhere if we don't ransom our future for him....the half that thinks his &hit don't stink ....the half that is satisfied with his production to go play somewhere south of here, and I don't mean geographically.— justacarpenter
- More people want Michael Martinez to stay than Ryan Howard.
No wonder why America thinks we are stupid fans.— NMPartners - ...on 2nd thought...he's 33 ...get him gone. His legs are gone and his swing and his story is now old. Good Luck Jimmy!! Come back and visit us on years ending in 8's!— justacarpenter
- Comment removed.
- Good thing the opinions of the fans weigh heavily in the personnel decisions of the Phillies, lol.— JimG
- So where do we vote? LOL I think Jim's D is superb. His hitting and attitudes are not superb. Money has to play a point here and it is Galvis time. Time for a new 3rd Baseman too. Polly has to be bought out and if resigned, a bench guy. Resting could make him very worthwhile but his hitting seems to have ended . Mayb will have to play 1st for half the season and so a new LF is needed. Not Dom. Rube knows that. There is of course the idea that a trade could occur: what about Chase? Yeah I know, he is a god here but ...he could get some chips that might fill some places that the team needs. As to the 11 who should go off the money rolls, rid the team of them all. Period.— Koons
- There are actually people who voted for Pence and Victorino to go? Those have to be people who just want to be contrary.— phillyinsd
- Reyes THIS, man! He can't hold J-Roll's jock strap, all things considered. Plus, he is a hot dog, a selfish player, AND a Mutt. I guarantee that 90% of Phillies fans agree with me, bro.— 5NOT4
- "Lord have mercy...I'm coming Elizabeth...Grady playing shortstop for Philadelphia"— gogoruch
- Agree with most of the posts on Rollins. I do not want Phils to re-sign him. He has steadily been declining since his MVP year and has never been a true leadoff hitter. He pops up with his swing for the fence ways and when he does hit a ground ball, he jogs to first base. I slightly disagree with people on his defense though. Yes, it is still pretty good but he has lost range for sure. His errors are low because what he can get to a ball he is surehanded, but there are many balls he can't get to anymore.— BigRy2179
- You people who bust on Utley really tick me off. I will tell you why he gets a break in the fans eyes. Cause this guy busts his arse running down the line and in the field and every game he plays even with injuries he surely has but doesn't pi** and moan about like a lot of players. I give Ryan Howard the benefit of the doubt, having had achilles pain and blown out the same left achilles he did. Do I like Rollins? For the most part yes, but his laziness on the basepaths just drives many fans crazy, thus he catches mor shi*. I would like to see him resigned even with his declining skills but if he wants anymore than 3 years you would be foolish not to let him go.— pokerface
- Rollins and Ibanez need to go. No consistency from either. And Utley and Polanco are right behind them. The injuries have taken away the pop in their bats and .260 hitters with fewer than 20 homers and 80 ribbies aren't worth $10 million per year... no matter how good the defense is by any of the four.— kecward78
- Will the 87 people who voted for Doc to go please report to the bus station for a one way trip to Washington, D.C.
- 10 Best Players in Baseball - in no particular order.
Cano, Braun, Longoria, Tulowitski, Kemp, Reyes, McCann,Pujouis, Crawford and Justin Upton.
— candidly - Excuse me! A shortstop's job is to save runs before it is to score runs, Nobody does that better than JRoll - remember what happened when we let Bowa go too soon. He's a leader is excellent in the field and offers continuity in a very good 102 win team.— robinlupe
- HELLO, NMPartners - Martinez' percentage is AMONG BENCH PLAYERS - NOT OVERALL! DUH! I have "no wonder" why America thinks YOU'RE stupid.— dwp66
- Thank goodness fans don't run this team!— JBinPA
- BRad Lidge went 48-0 in 2008. He gets a free pass in my book. Keep him.— Blah202
- What hurts Rollins is his insistence on leading off; he is an excellent defensive player and mediocre lead-off hitter. If he was used as the superb defender we have seen for so many seasons and dropped to 7th or 8th in the order, then few would argue that he should get a three or four-year contract. We have forgotten what poor fielding shortstops do for a team's morale, particularly starting pitchers like Halliday, Lee, and Hamels, who rely on great defense. The Phillies won 97 games last season and 102 this season primarily because of great pitching and defense. Rollins is better than the topical great fielding, no hit shortstop, but he is not a top of the lineup guy. Phillies really need a quality lead-off hitter with great speed and a penchant for taking pitches and even bunting for hits and not trying to drive the ball out of the park.— chuckw
- Babe Ruth led the league in strikeouts five times (never as a pitcher). He was heavily criticized at the time. When he retired, he was the career leader. They said it was another of his records that wouldn't be broken. Ryan Howard has only led the league in strikeouts once.— Edward Creed
- No to signing Rollins. They have a young player who can be 75% of the player for $10 million fewer dollars. Use the money to get other good offensive players at other positions like third who will be better than Rollins. They're already strapped with Howard and even Utley depending on his next 2 years. They need to get younger and cheaper where they can.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Does anyone remember that Victorino dropped a fly ball that led to the winning run in one game? Does anyone remember that he picked up a ball on the warning track and threw it backwards to account for the winning run in the second loss? Does anyone remember the first batter of the game five loss getting a triple out of a ball that our boy missed the cutoff man sending Furcal to third and becoming the Series winning run? He was a major cause of each loss! He is so overrated! He has to bear some of the responsibility for the early elimination. Why does this guy get a free pass?
— joe12m - LooneyBin must be depressed over the Herndon vote. JRoll, the King of Pop, needs to move on with his 3yr avg of .261 and his lack of hustle.— NewMick314
- If they are crazy enough to keep Charlie asa manager instead of bumping him up to the front office, then they HAVE to get rid of Rolline because Charlie will just put him right back leading off! We need a legitimate, fast, young lead off hitter. Rollins is nothing like that.....— bmcw
- I love Jimmy, but not five years worth. If they can sign him for one or two years fine. Other than that "Thanks for the memories."— phineas
- Just let Rollins him go... if he doesn't take 3 for 27. I think the way he has been playing, that's over paying!! "I want 4 years and a 5th year option, my option." Are you nuts?!!— likhon
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