Ryan Lawrence: Bigger issue is Rollins' disrespect toward Manuel
Jimmy Rollins walked out of the home clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday afternoon only slightly quicker than he moved from home plate to first base earlier in the day.
After his manager benched him for violating a team rule - a lack of hustling - Rollins didn't care to comment on the situation. His manager did the talking for them both, he said.
But let's not let Rollins' actions or words on Thursday cloud the much larger issue. It wasn't jogging to first base (something that happens quite a bit in modern-day baseball) or blowing off the media (also not an uncommon occurrence) or not exhibiting accountability that was Rollins' biggest crime.
At Thursday's postgame news conference, all you had to do was listen to Charlie Manuel - and watch his body language - to realize that this wasn't so much about Rollins' cavalier baserunning or attitude. As he tried to sit comfortably at the dais for his daily chat with the press corps, Manuel was agitated.
He was agitated and he was angry.
Rollins, the longest-tenured Phillies player, didn't just not hustle or did not apologize publicly for his latest transgression until Friday, after the two cleared the air with a closed-door meeting.
The much more glaring sin was that Rollins' actions flew right in the face of his manager's words from 2 weeks earlier.
Rollins not running is an issue, especially as a supposed leader on a team that includes young, impressionable players. But a total and utter lack of respect for his longtime manager is a much, much larger issue.
Rollins was aware of Manuel's two golden rules as a manager a long time ago. Four years ago, he was briefed on them again when he broke both: first in not hustling on an infield fly in June 2008, then after showing up late to a game the next month. He was reprimanded for both instances.
But then only 2 weeks ago, on Aug. 15 in Miami, Rollins failed to run out a popup and also didn't go out of his way to break up a doubleplay in same game. Manuel and Rollins met the next day in Milwaukee, where the manager reminded the player of the rule he had broken.
For Rollins to be guilty of breaking the same rule 2 weeks later is unconscionable.
"I don't know; it happened," Manuel said of whether he was surprised of an incident so soon after the two had talked. "I've got two rules: be on time and hustle. Hustle is part of it. Running out balls is definitely part of it."
For the last decade, the Phillies have taken the good with the bad with Jimmy Rollins. Although he has bouts of not hustling, he also provides decent offensive production from his position and exemplary defense.
A perfect player is too much to ask for.
For all of Ryan Howard's home runs and RBI, you have to live with the slumps and strikeouts. For all of Chase Utley's attributes as the team's best hitter and leader, you have to live with the fact he probably will miss significant time with an injury almost every year.
So it's not so much about asking Rollins to run hard all the time, although that really isn't asking too much of a multimillionaire. It's about following the rules set in place by the manager, and certainly not ignoring them altogether.
Trivial pursuit
Ryan Howard will take the field Saturday in Atlanta matched up against Tim Hudson, a pitcher he has faced more than any other in his career. Howard has hit seven home runs against Hudson in 72 plate appearances.
It should be a good opportunity for Howard to get closer to the 300-homer plateau and a chance at making history. Entering Friday, Howard has hit 295 career home runs in 1,072 major league games.
Who is the fastest player in major league history to 300 home runs?
Former Phillie file
Shane Victorino moved to two familiar places on Tuesday at Coors Field: centerfield and the second spot in the batting order.
After hitting leadoff in his first 23 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Victorino slid down to the second spot in the lineup for three straight games, beginning Tuesday. He also moved from left to center after Matt Kemp injured his left knee running into the outfield wall.
Victorino has hit safely in 17 of his last 22 games with the Dodgers and .255 with six doubles, a home run and a triple in 26 games with Los Angeles since the Phils traded him on July 31. A free agent at the end of the season, Victorino is almost guaranteed to leave the Dodgers after the season: In their shocking trade with the Boston Red Sox last weekend, the Dodgers acquired Carl Crawford, who is out for the remainder of 2012, but will join an All-Star (and pricey) outfield with Kemp and Andre Ethier in 2013.
Future Phillie file
When the subject of Chase Utley taking ground balls at third base came up at Citizens Bank Park, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. unveiled what he called his "perfect scenario" for the future at the position.
"In a perfect scenario, Chase plays a year at third base and we figure out a way to keep him around long term at whatever position, and Cody Asche becomes available and ready to play in the major leagues," Amaro said.
Who's Cody Asche? He's the third baseman whose monster second half at Double A Reading is only being overshadowed by the other corner infielder on the team (Darin Ruf). Find out more in the minor league report on Page 34.
Trivial answer
Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner hit his 300th home run in his 1,087th career game, the fastest to reach the mark in major league history.
Ryan Howard entered the weekend needing five home runs in his next 15 games to tie Kiner's record.
Contact Ryan Lawrence at rlawrence@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanlawrence21.