Rollins proves he's more than talk
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:18 PM
How can you not admire an athlete who backs up his words?
Jimmy Rollins threw himself and his team under the scrutiny of New York fans last winter when he proclaimed the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East. Now, the Mets are still likely to win the division despite how shaky they have looked of late, but the Phillies are breathing with two weeks left, largely due to the efforts of Rollins.
The shortstop is enjoying a superb season, enhanced by MVP play against the Mets. In Saturday and Sunday’s wins by the Phillies over the Mets, I watched key at-bats in which Rollins delivered timely hits. The frustration over his success was easily heard in the voices of the Mets’ announcers who have seen Rollins repeatedly rake the Mets pitching staff.
Rollins' season numbers against the Mets: .346 BA, 6 HR,15 RBI, 8 SB, 12 extra-base hits, and a 1.058 OPS. From the leadoff spot, he has displayed an extraordinary mix of on-base ability, speed, and power. It’s the kind of year Bobby Bonds produced early in his big-league career that helped redefine the leadoff position. And it’s the kind of year that was projected for Bonds when he first came to Pittsburgh and was tried in the leadoff spot.
Rollins has his team in the division race and, more so, battling for the wild-card spot. They have the Mets wondering about their bullpen that the Phillies have mercilessly hammered in seven straight September wins. They have the Padres and Dodgers unexpectedly watching scores from the East. They have survived a myriad of injuries and are making this push without right fielder Shane Victorino, unlikely to start in the final two weeks, and ace starter Cole Hamels, who returns tonight.
The Phillies play in St. Louis and Washington this week then finish at home with Atlanta and the Nationals. The Mets also have six with Washington, then seven with Florida and a makeup game with St. Louis. Barring a complete Queens collapse, the Mets should capture the division. But Rollins has done all he can for his team.
The NL is a moving target in the last two weeks and that includes the MVP voting. This past weekend, Rollins jumped forward heavily on this scorecard. His words weren’t empty.
Switching topics, admittedly this rant comes from within a glass house. And it is rare and somewhat uncomfortable to comment on another announcer’s work. But, why are historic baseball moments marred by an announcer’s personal signature line?
Jim Thome joined one of the game’s most exclusive clubs Sunday. As his 500th homer sailed into the left-field bleachers, the first line heard was a gimmicky home-run call. This happened when Edgar Renteria singled to win the World Series for Florida and when Dwight Gooden threw a no-hitter for the Yankees. Can’t an announcer shelve his ego and -- for that moment -- call the play without a manufactured line designed to draw attention to himself?
Look at the replays of Thome's home run and see the genuine joy of the White Sox as they greet him at home plate. He is universally regarded within the game as a gem. It was his moment. He deserved better.
