In final year of contract, Rollins poised to step up
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jimmy Rollins has given it some thought, but not much. For the 11th straight year, the shortstop will be part of the Phillies' opening-day lineup Friday afternoon when the team plays the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park.
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jimmy Rollins has given it some thought, but not much.
For the 11th straight year, the shortstop will be part of the Phillies' opening-day lineup Friday afternoon when the team plays the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park.
Only Larry Bowa, with 12, has more consecutive opening-day starts at shortstop for the Phillies. Rollins could fall short of matching Bowa's franchise record because he is in the final year of the multiyear contract he signed in 2005.
"The only thing I've thought about is if this is my final opening day, should I come out and tip my cap just in case?" Rollins said. "Other than that, I haven't given it much thought."
Rollins, 32, has spent much more time focusing on his health than his free-agent future. His baseball life changed in an instant and forever early last season when a strained right calf stripped him of a chance to play in the home opener and twice sent him to the disabled list.
"What was my body telling me? I don't know," Rollins said. "A couple days before the injury, I was doing some jump squats with 25-pound weights, and I went in to [trainer] Mark [Andersen] and told him my calf was kind of tight. I went and got worked on, played that game. The next day they felt better, but they were still tight. I went in and got worked on and was able to go play the game.
"That was in Houston, so it was a little warmer. Opening day [at home], you do the same thing. You get worked on, take BP, then you have to go sit down for 20 or 30 minutes. And then it happened."
Rollins started running wind sprints about 10 minutes before the home opener against Washington, and this time the tightness was too severe for him to play. At the end of the season, he had hit .243 and been limited to 88 games.
"Whatever the reason was, I have to make sure it doesn't happen again," Rollins said. "I've done everything I think I could have done. I've stretched, got the massages pretty regularly, and stayed flexible. Obviously everybody knows about the yoga. Everybody says as you get older you have to do a little more. So instead of giving myself 10 or 15 minutes pregame, I'll give myself 20 minutes to work my way into it, and that's fine. You have to accept it."
From a contract standpoint, Rollins described his 2010 season - the least productive of his career - as a "blessing in disguise." His explanation was that if he'd had a good year he'd be more concerned about a contract extension.
Now, he said his focus is in a better place.
"I was hurt last year, and I need to be healthy this year," Rollins said. "I feel good, so I'm looking forward to playing a full season. After that, everything else will be where it needs to be."
Manager Charlie Manuel said he liked what he saw from Rollins, especially in the latter part of spring training.
"I feel like he's in better shape," Manuel said. "Lately, he's been swinging the bat better."
Rollins said there is plenty of good baseball and another big contract in his future, but he knows this season will determine if that baseball and big contract will come with the Phillies.
"I may just be past the halfway point of my career," he said. "Being 32, I think I have a good six or seven years left, and that would put me at 38 or 39."
That would also be enough time for one more lucrative multiyear contract. His first long-term deal with the Phillies ended up being worth $48.5 million over six seasons.
"I could put that number on the lower end of my two big contracts, and that would be great," Rollins said. "That would be something nice. Whatever you get, you're thankful for anyway. I never imagined making 48-something million. I knew I was going to make some millions, and I was fine with that.
"Growing up, I was like, 'Man, just let me make one million a year.' Then the market shows where you are according to your skill level and impact to the team. Hopefully, I can stay on the upper echelon of that market."
If he does, it will help the Phillies remain in the upper tier of teams.
"I think sometimes it motivates to go out there and work for another contract," Manuel said. "I've seen it, so I guess I believe it."
Rollins' Career Statistics
Year, Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
2000, Phillies 53 5 17 0 5 .321
2001, Phillies 656 97 180 14 54 .274
2002, Phillies 637 82 156 11 60 .245
2003, Phillies 628 85 165 8 62 .263
2004, Phillies 657 119 190 14 73 .289
2005, Phillies 677 115 196 12 54 .290
2006, Phillies 689 127 191 25 83 .277
2007, Phillies 716 139 212 30 94 .296
2008, Phillies 556 76 154 11 59 .277
2009, Phillies 672 100 168 21 77 .250
2010, Phillies 350 48 85 8 41 .243
Career 6291 993 1714 154 662 .272 EndText
Rollins Among Phillies Run Scorers
If scoring runs is the mark of the good leadoff hitter, then Jimmy Rollins is among the most productive in Phillies history. Here are Rollins' numbers compared with the team's all-time top scorers:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBIs BB SO OBP SLG AVG
Mike Schmidt 2404 8352 1506 2234 408 59 548 1595 1507 1883 .380 .527 .267
Ed Delahanty 1555 6359 1367 2213 442 157 87 1286 643 214 NA .508 .348
Richie Ashburn 1794 7122 1114 2217 287 97 22 499 946 455 .390 .388 .311
Jimmy Rollins* 1494 6291 993 1714 366 98 154 662 510 797 .328 .435 .272
Chuck Klein 1405 5238 963 1705 336 64 243 983 471 410 .379 .553 .326
Sam Thompson 1031 4413 924 1469 272 106 95 957 343 144 NA .507 .333
Roy Thomas 1286 4629 923 1364 80 42 6 264 946 11 .411 .334 .295
Sherry Magee 1521 5505 898 1647 337 127 75 886 546 201 .360 .447 .299
Bobby Abreu* 1353 4857 891 1474 348 42 195 814 947 1078 .416 .513 .303
Del Ennis 1630 6327 891 1812 310 65 259 1124 539 622 .344 .479 .286
* active
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