A more mature Jimmy Rollins? Not so fast.
While the Phillies started the season terribly, their shortstop has been on fire. Jimmy Rollins is hitting .298 with seven HR and 14 RBI.
Most impressively, Rollins spent the first few games doing something he has rarely done in the past — he took pitches.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Rollins was asked for the reason for his fast start.
“Maturity,” he said.
In what way?
“In a lot of ways,” he said with a laugh.
How about patience at the plate? Entering yesterday’s games, Rollins was tied for second in the league in pitches per plate appearance at 4.50. He was tied for sixth in the league with eight walks. If Rollins continues to get on base like he has, he and the hitters behind him could put up some big numbers.
Seven games into the season, Rollins’ newfound patience seemed like a miracle. Now, just a week and a half later, it seems like a fluke. As ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick points out, Rollins has returned to his free-swinging ways.
From ESPN.com:
Here’s Rollins in a nutshell: He walked eight times in the Phillies’ first seven games this season, and didn’t draw another walk in the next 12 games. Maybe he’s just bored taking those four pitches outside the zone and jogging down to first.
It seems Phillies coaches are learning the hard way what almost any woman could have told them: you can’t change a man. Rollins is a hacker. Always has been, always will be. So I guess we all better accept it.
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