Jimmy Rollins: Big Words, Big Plays

by Moritz Wollert

As posted on: http://mos-baseball.blogspot.com

It was January 2007, still a couple of months before the MLB season 2007, but Jimmy Rollins already was ready to play. He felt that good that he made a bold prediction for his team, the Philadelphia Phillies: "The Mets had a chance to win the World Series last year. Last year is over. I think we are the team to beat in the NL East, finally. But, that's only on paper."

Pretty big words, especially considering that the Mets had won the division with ease in 2006 (exactly 12 games in front of Rollins & Co.) and the Phillies again just looked like an offensive bunch with a below average pitching staff.

[1] But now, October 2nd, we have only one thing to do beside breaking a little laugh over the ridiculous choking act by the Mets, who blew a 7 game lead to the Phils with only 17 games remaining: Tip our cap to the Phillies and tip our cap to their leader, who backed up his words with a tremendous season. Slugger Ryan Howard?! Second base sensation Chase Utley?! No, no, of course Jimmy Rollins (28) himself, who had one of most spectacular offensive and all around seasons for a shortstop in recent memory.

"JRoll" hit almost .300 (.296), he had 30 homers, 94 runs batted in and he also stole 41 bases. As if that wasn't enough, he played outstanding defense and, being the leadoff hitter, he clearly was the catalyst for the Phillies' high powered offense as he scored 139 runs while playing in all of the team's 162 games.

And with the playoff race against the Mets in the NL East coming down to the last day, the Phillies needed their leader in every one of these games. Now, with the playoff spot secured and a first round series against the Colorado Rockies looming, it was time for a little celebration in Philly, but it only took a 5-8 shortstop to remind the people that this is only the first step: "This is party No. 1. We're working on party No. 2 and party No. 3, a parade down Broad Street."

And as we learned, when Jimmy Rollins speaks, we should listen.

[2] Even with some of his teammates having terrific offensive seasons like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley or even Pat Burrell, the one constant force in the Phillies' offensive maschine has been the smallest of engines you could imagine. Howard and Utley both missed some significant time with injures (over 50 games combined) which could have proved costly in a tight division race. Burrell only started to hit in the second half of the season, finally not giving Philly fans a reason to boo him everytime he came near the baseball or the batter's box.

But Rollins was there every minute, every game, every month and he delivered which deserves a lot of praise especially today as we live in the days of big mouthed athletes and trash talking players who more often than not just say the dumbest things without ever standing up for their words.

Rollins stood up and he backed up his words in every way you can imagine. On and off the field he was the heart and soul of a team that was playing from behind almost the entire year.

Now, finally, it's time for them to look forward, not only at a potential postseason run but also at the MVP award for their little shortstop... if he gets it or not, nobody should care. Jimmy Rollins is a winner no matter what...