Athlete of the Decade #4 James Calvin “JRoll” Rollins

by Joseph Birmingham

Monday December 28, 2009 

Athlete of the Decade #4 James Calvin “JRoll” Rollins thumbnail

Jimmy Rollins arrives at number four, having had the benefit of playing his entire career and a complete decade here in Philly for the world champion Philadelphia Phillies at shortstop.   His entire family was athletic, from his mother playing softpitch softball, to his brother who played for the Rangers and Expos, to his sister who started for the University of San Francisco basketball team.

He was drafted by the Phillies in 1996, debuted in 2000 and was third in rookie of the year voting in 2001 and the only representative sent to the All Star game that season.   Rollins was named the 2007 National League Most Valuable Player, and has been named to the National League All-Star team three times (2001, 2002, 2005). He also became the first player in the history of Major League Baseball to collect at least 200 hits, 15 triples, 25 homers, and 25 stolen bases in one season, and holds the record for most at bats in a season with 716.

He became what the Phillies had lacked for so many years, a true leadoff hitter.  A guy who could get on base, then steal a base; provoke pitchers into making mistakes and losing their concentration on the mound worrying about his presence on the basepaths, and give all those who batted behind him an advantage at the plate.

Jimmy also owns the longest hitting streak in Phillies history at 38 games over 2 seasons, from the end of 2005 to the start of 2006.    He has led the league in triples 4 times, plate appearances three times, and stolen bases once.

All in all, he has quietly compiled a career that has shown the most consistant production at the lead off spot, at the same time carrying a career fielding percentage of .985 and on base percentage of .330.  His childhood hero was Rickey Henderson, and he started his career emulating the great one with 46 steals, but has never been able to have the kind of breakout season that may have been expected of him, given the hype surrounding him and his world class speed.

He has however never had a real tail off in production until early in 2009, when he started the season struggling to hit .200 and was actually benched for 4 games in an effort to get him focused back on his game. He closed the season in typically strong JRoll fashion, ending with 21 homeruns and 31 stolen bases, marking the 8th time in his 9 full time seasons where he has swiped 30 bases or more.

The Phillies recently exercised their club option on the star shortstop for the 2011 season, thereby guaranteeing they keep the strong infield nucleus of this team together for at least an additional 2 years.  Rollins has 1 MVP and World Series ring and may earn more before he is done, but the real reason he is ranked so high is a combination of what he has done to attract fans and solidify the club house of this team.  As he has matured, the Phillies have brought in a lot of younger players making more money, swinging for long balls and high RBI and runs totals, and what many may fail to realize, is without the presence of a strong, dependable lead off man to get things started, these other players would not have the opportunities they do.

The best way to measure the strength of Rollins and the importance of his lead off role is to look at the actual results.  Consider his effect just in one postseason situation, where one could argue he was the difference in the team winning it all, versus not being in contention whatsoever.  Note: Game 5 of the 2008 National League Championship Series. He led off the game with a homer.  That gets noticed.  But more importantly, in the third inning, he also drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored the second run of the game – the difference, as it turned out.  Without both those contributions, the Phillies may never have made the World Series.  Had the Dodgers won, it would have been a 3-2 NLDS with the pitching and schedule favoring LA.  Instead, the Phillies clinched, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Yes this team has 5 guys that can hit 40 out and drive 120 in, but they only have one Rollins who can carve a run out of nothing, jumpstart the offense, and when a scoring chance is needed, create at least the potential for a scoring opportunity.    And he is also the only player you can count on to produce 150 starts, 600 at bats, 90 runs, 160 hits, 40 doubles, 10 triples, 15 homeruns, 60 RBI and 30 stolen bases.   That line for many players would represent a career year, for Rollins it is slightly under his CAREER averages for an entire decade.  Batting leadoff.   And helping to turn an average team, that prior to his signing was frequently viewed as a laughingstock, that had one truly great year, (1980),  into the team to beat, of champion caliber that should compete for baseballs biggest prize for at least 4-5 years to come.

Filed Under Phillies

Comments

Got something to say?