Rollins admits Sandberg is upset with him

It became a big story Wednesday night that Jimmy Rollins would be benched for a third straight game Thursday, and this morning he was frank with reporters about the situation with manager Ryne Sandberg.

"Obviously he’s upset about something,” Rollins told reporters, including CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury. “When he’s ready, he’ll let me know.

“I don’t know. You have to go ask the manager. I don’t write the lineups. It is unusual, yes, but I’m not going to try to second-guess or predict or try to come up with a reason why.

“Over the course of spring training, it could have been one specific incident he’s upset about it. That’s something that when he’s ready he’ll let me know.”

Rollins was quoted a few days ago in the Daily News with a "Who cares?" when asked about the Phillies' spring futility. That could have been what set Sandberg off. Typically, spring training numbers are meaningless, but that's not the best thing for a team leader to say when his team ranks dead last in baseball in batting average, OBP and slugging, 29th in runs and steals, and has 12 fewer hits than any team in Florida or Arizona.

Freddy Galvis gets another start at shortstop against the Yankees. 

This is far from the first time a manager has tried to send Rollins a message, though he says no message has ever needed to be sent. 

Rollins, who turns 36 in November, is in the final guaranteed year of a three-year contract. If he totals 434 plate appearances in 2013, an $11 million vesting option kicks in for 2015. If he stays healthy that's a virtual assurance -- Rollins' 434th PA of 2013 came on July 26.

Comments

[Willard Preacher]

Standard caveat that the small sample size of Spring Training should be taken with a grain of salt, but I think I'm ready to put a bow on the whole "Tyson Gillies experiment."

In the words of my 8 year old daughter, I'm so over him.

[cut_fastball]

Look up sad sack loser in the dictionary and you will see a picture of Jack.

Look up unluckiest man in the world and you will see a picture of Jack's dad whose seed spawned that waste.

[Kashmir]

Juums wrote the following at 2:58

I suspect Cody Asche, if he reaches his defensive upside of being league-average at 3B, will eternally be frustrating. Because he will flash Gold Glove reflexes and range one play, and Michael Young-esque incarnations of the same the next. Which balance out to being average.

Very well said

[Earl The Burl]

anyone here...? anyone? Bueller?

[denny b.]

Re-signing J-Stroll was another sterling move my our esteemed GM.

[Phillibuster]

Why, because he was the best FA SS who was available then, or since?

I get (I don't agree with, but I get) the lazy comments, but pretending he's not still an above average (all-around) SS is just ignoring facts.

Would life have been better watching Frandsen and Galvis take regular starts at SS the last 3 years?

[cut_fastball]

Look up sad sack loser in the dictionary and you will see a picture of Jack.


Look up unluckiest man in the world and you will see a picture of Jack's dad whose seed spawned that waste.

Posted by: cut_fastball | Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 03:47 PM

Vexatious troll. Whoever the bleep you are, get lost.

And while I'm at it, I'm calling you out, Truth Injection. You and your documented creepy obsession with bodily fluids, and everything Jack posts.

When you bragged about leaving Beerleaguer, my handle started getting hijacked. Man up and get help, but please just leave this place alone.

[Jackamac]

Ehh...I just want to clear up, I'm Jackamac. 'Jack' is an entirely different poster. I thought I saw someone confused earlier, so I'm getting it out there.

[clout]

Ryno just wants to see what Freddy can do playing everyday. No big deal. When the gun goes off, J-Roll will be ready.

[Delaware Avenue]

"Why, because he was the best FA SS who was available then, or since?

I get (I don't agree with, but I get) the lazy comments, but pretending he's not still an above average (all-around) SS is just ignoring facts.

Would life have been better watching Frandsen and Galvis take regular starts at SS the last 3 years?"

---------

EXACTLY. This hatred for Rollins is amazing to me at times. When he was re-signed, just exactly who else was there that they could have brought in to be the regular SS?

[Reality]

Hey cut, how did you figure out that I am The Truth Injection?

[Reality]

Nice try cut and Fake Reality, but I am not anyone named The Truth Injection.

[Reality]

Can we stay focused on baseball cut? I was told about accusing posters of things so I cut it out (no pun intended). Let's focus on baseball.

[If the Schu fits]

Anybody know when Cole next has a bullpen/throwing session?

[Reality]

I like it in the but.

[PLM]

Dont know the man but Sandberg face has that im not taking much shi* look. Sorta like the wait to we get home face my dad gave me. Could be Rollins is testing him in some sorta of shape. I hope this clears up last thing we need here is bad chemistry on the team.

[Reality]

I love hot man to man sex.

[denny b.]

Enough with the Rollins defending. If you don't think the guy has become a cancer and is WAY past his prime, you aren't paying very close attention. Its always something with him. And its not going to play with Ryno for two reasons...Ryno isn't Cholly and Rollins production isn't good enough anymore to cancel out the other crap. You can maybe get away with some of that stuff when your making all star teams and playing at a high level. When you are league average and playing more on reputation, the other stuff is harder to ignore.

The Phils had a golden opportunity to move on when it was obvious his best days were in the rear-view mirror and Roob made another boner and brought him back for big money.

The team has serious chemistry issues (which Hamels and others more then hinted at in the offseason) and our starting SS and closer are at the head of the class. And until those two guys are moved out of here, the problems are going to continue.

Sorry if that offends the long-time Rollins supporters (which I used to be one of). But its the sad truth. And more and more folks are going to start to see that.

[Phillibuster]

I don't think you're offending anyone, Denny, you're just not being terribly rational with your statements.

Rollins, even "well past his prime" Rollins, is still better than more than half the full-time SS in the game. His 3-year OPS (which included one over-performing and one severely under-performing year) would have made him the 14th-best SS with at least 300 PAs in 2013 (out of 36). Defensively, he's not "best in the game" anymore, but he's still likely in the top half of SS.

As to his being a cancer... Can you provide any actual evidence there? And no, "jogging to first" on weak grounders or pop-ups doesn't count. The reason everybody compares him to Pete Rose or Utley is because those guys were incredibly rare examples of 100% hustle all the (perceived) time.

Heck, even if you do want to include the jogging, he was the first one to get on Brown's case when he didn't hustle up the line a year or two ago (can't remember which), so it's not like he's promoting other players do the same.

Again, I understand (but don't agree) with the laziness thing, but who was a better option for the Phillies in 2012? 2013? 2014? Because every single option on the FA market or currently on the Phillies is worse - dramatically so. Which sort of undercuts your whole "re-signing Rollins was a dumb move" initial argument.

[Phillibuster]

Also... $11MM/year isn't really big money. In 2011, he posted a .736 OPS (which was still well below his career .761, so not an aberration) one year removed from a major injury.

He's not Tulowitzki. He's not Ramirez or Reyes (if you want to talk clubhouse cancer). He also didn't have a huge resurgence season like Jeter. However, he's not making as much as any them either.

[bullit]

my only gripe with rollins is his pop-ups. such wasted BIP. he needs to style his offense after revere. take all the upper-cut out of his swing. just make hard contact. best thing that could come out of this "who cares?" episode is for jimmy to put a chip on his shoulder inscribed "i'll show them."

[bullit]

and i don't mean put on a surly demeanor. be affable as always. just, whenever you get into the on-deck circle, listen to the chip.

[Reality]

Rollins is a cancer...

Overpayment by Roob...

Both examples of statements that are only true in people's minds and not in the real world. Let's not get into passing off opinions as facts.

[cut_fastball]

I've got a list of other names of people to unfairly accuse of things- and ignore the fact that maybe someone here just thinks my Larry King style of posting is crazy.

I'm gonna change my handle to Joseph McCarthy then go back to posting stuff under other handles that I have here.

[WSJ]

I hope Sandberg takes notice of this analysis when considering Amaro's order to start Howard every day.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/teams-ongoing-quest-to-gain-platoon-advantage-takes-a-left-turn/

We see from this data that a lefthanded or righthanded batter with the platoon advantage, from 2011-13, has hit about .261 with a .154 isolated slugging percentage and a strikeout rate of 18.5 percent. However, if a manager spots a righthanded pitcher against a righty batter, the batter hits .249 AVG with a .140 ISO and a 20.0 SO% (in the aggregate). If he spots a lefthanded pitcher against a lefty batter, the batter hits .235 AVG, with a .118 ISO and a 22.8 SO% (in the aggregate).
Obviously, not every lefty batter will suffer the deleterious effects of the platoon disadvantage to the same extent as the overall LoL average. The best of the best middle-of-the-order lefty bats will be serviceable versus southpaws—but they still suffer a dropoff in production when compared to their split versus righties. All of them. David Ortiz lost 132 points of OPS when spotted against a lefty from 2011-13. Joey Votto lost 94 points. Prince Fielder lost 145 points. Robinson Cano lost 220 points. Even three-time batting champ Joe Mauer lost 145 points.

[cut_fastball]

I've got a list of other names of people to unfairly accuse of things- and ignore the fact that maybe someone here just thinks my Larry King style of posting is crazy.


I'm gonna change my handle to Joseph McCarthy then go back to posting stuff under other handles that I have here.

Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 14, 2014 at 07:32 AM

Mr. Weitzel? Please? How can you let this once brilliant site devolve into a creepy and often nauseating playground for obsessive adolescents? What's next? Full-blown slander and libel?

Please, sir. Fix this site, permanently!

[Jason Weitzel]

I'll fix it if you leave you whining baby.

[Steve]

Mr. Weitzel ain't here no more

[Phillibuster]

New factoids:

Sandberg downplayed the whole thing following Thursday's 6-2 victory over the Yankees, saying he wasn't disciplining his veteran shortstop. He said he did not play Rollins three consecutive games simply because he wanted to give Freddy Galvis an extended look and felt the 35-year-old veteran needed a break...

And

Sandberg offered no such explanation when asked Wednesday why Rollins hadn't been playing. He simply said Rollins is fine.

But Sandberg did have an issue with Rollins, which he discussed with him Thursday in a lengthy meeting. The Phillies entered Thursday hitting just .198, which was the lowest mark in baseball. Asked about the team-wide offensive struggles Monday, Rollins told the Philadelphia Daily News, "Who cares?"

Rollins actually said more than that, explaining that Spring Training statistics are no great predictor of the regular season. But those are the two words that caught the attention of many at Bright House Field.

Sandberg said he could not remember when or how he first heard that comment, but if Sandberg did not find it himself, it certainly was brought to his attention.

"I wanted him to clarify that, because I wanted to make sure that he cared," Sandberg said. "And I wanted to make sure -- I know that everyone else in the locker room cared. So when he told me about what he was talking about, it made sense. … He was referencing himself and where he's at right now, as far as his offensive stroke and what he's doing on the field. So he was speaking for himself that he wasn't that concerned with it being that early in the spring.

"Jimmy cares. I wanted to make sure that he wasn't speaking for the ballclub with 'Who cares?'"

And finally

Sandberg denied sending any messages. Rollins didn't think he needed one anyway.

Source

[Dickie Thong]

In other news, the second round of cuts are in. Lou Marson was released and Sebastian Valle was brought back up to take his place. Also, Cesar Jimenez, Ken Giles, Andres Blanco, Jeremy Horst, Tommy Joseph, Tyson Gillies, and Zach Collier were sent down to minor league camp.

[Phillibuster]

Also:

Dugan and Altherr to Reading, Murray and Ogando now technically on roster.

Lou Marson released this morning. MLBTR implies he wasn't the only one cut today, but I couldn't find any other names.

[Phillibuster]

Ah, beat me to it, Dickie.

And with more info too. Excellent!

[NEPP]

But I was told that Lou Marson was better than Nieves and should be on the bench?!? WHY???

Guessing he's not healthy and it showed in camp.

[bullit]

how does this effect rupp, who is batting .286 to nieves' .077?

[Dickie Thong]

Marson only got 3 PA, so something must have been up.

[GBrettfan]

Excellent piece by Dave Murphy, IMO, about the different philosophies one can bring to baseball, as applied to Sandberg v. Rollins. I like that he doesn't seem to insinuate that one is better than the other.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20140314_Finding_common_ground_between_Rollins_and_Sandberg.html

[Juums]

I too was wondering why Marson was cut instead of being sent down to the minors, as catching depth is never a bad thing, especially given that coming into camp Marson had identifiable upside. That something was up with him physically would explain the Phils' decision.

[Phillibuster]

According to Rotoworld, the release of Marson is seen as a favor from the Phillies, because it's so early.

That would seem to imply he's not injured.

[Juums]

'Buster:
That would also do it. Though this means Tommy Joseph's going to get concussed again on Opening Day, Cameron Rupp is going to suffer a freak injury after getting beaned, and Sebastian Valle will continue to reside in that regressive purgatory he's been in for the past two seasons. Because, as is the trend of late, whenever the Phils do something justifiable with marginal talent, circumstances conspire to make them pay for it. (See, e.g., the Nate Schierholtz non-tendering.)

[Phillibuster]

Juums: I imagine a scenario in which a disgruntled Phillies "fan" in town for ST crashes a piper cub into the bullpen on an off-day, where all of the MLB and MiLB catchers are serving as backstops for the pitchers with scheduled bullpen sessions.

[Juums]

'Buster:
Am I a bad person for thinking this?
[Cub Pilot] *about to crash* I guess we're finally having that fire sale on talent, eh Rube?

[Phillibuster]

Juums: Terrible, actually.

I'd keep the seat next to me (way down under) warm for you, but it sort of does that on its own around those parts.

[Phillibuster]

On an unrelated note, reading the quotes in that Seidman article on CSN, I feel like Sandberg probably needs to get some tutoring when it comes with how to talk to the media.

Preferably not from Bowa.

His backpedaling feels way too forced, and the quotes he's giving seem a little more self-contradictory than your standard baseball quotes (which are already pretty self-contradictory at times).

[Phillibuster]

And today is another L/R/L lineup, with Howard 5th again.

Hopefully Manship looks sharp again. Can never hurt to have more guys doing well.

[Dickie Thong]

Brandon Beachy May Need Second Tommy John Surgery

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/03/brandon-beachy-may-need-second-tommy-john-surgery.html

[J. Weitzel]

It's Clout Day, so I'm ready to make educated conclusions based on what we've seen so far in ST. Dead last in the NL East. That's my conclusion.

[Phillibuster]

Isn't Clout Day the day that you start looking at ST stats?

[Dickie Thong]

I thought it was PI day.

[dons]

Lets get Lee to the Braves as quick as possible

[Steve]

Isn't Clout Day March 20th? Fake JW?

[WSJ]

Clout Day is March 20th.

The Ten Best Names in Baseball History, Jeff Manship Edition

Razor Shines (Montreal, 1983-1987)
Pu$$y Tebeau (Cleveland, 1895)
Rusty Kuntz (Chicago WS, Minnesota, Detroit, 1979-1985)
Tookie Gilbert (N.Y. Giants, 1950-1953)
Johnny Dickshot (Pittsburgh, N.Y. Giants, Chicago WS (1939-1945)
Drungo LaRue Hazewood (Baltimore, 1980)
Urban Shocker (N.Y. Yankees, St. Louis) 1916-1928
Heinie Meine (St. Louis 1922, Pittsburgh 1928-1934)
Wonderful Terrific Monds (Various Minor League Teams, 1993-1999)
Jeff Manship (Minnesota 2009-2012, Colorado 2013, Philadelphia ?)

In the meantime, all aboard the Manship!

[Willard Preacher]

This is going to come across sounding extremely "grumpy old man" of me, but how, in this day and age of media/technology/lack of privacy (etc.), do we have radio broadcasts and the technology that delivers Gameday, but no TV broadcast (that I'd just port over to the radio audio anyway, but still...). It's a head scratcher that any sort of a TV feed is not available to even a glorified practice game that I have only a waning interest in*.

*i.e. something to distract me from doing any semblance of actual real work on a Friday

[bullit]

comcast is selling shark vacuums on CSN and "a better butt in 2014" exercise vids on TCN. so it's gameday hell for me.

[bullit]

that's about as small ball as you can get to score that run.

[bullit]

glad to see revere getting a day off. they know what to expect from him now. brown seems to be heating up.

[Shane]

@WSJ

I have an honorable mention for your list.
I distinctly remember a player in AA ball that made appearances in Reading in the mid '90s who went by the name:

Boo More

[bullit]

after a lead-off double, manship goes pop-out, strike-out, pop-out.

[Phillibuster]

Not all ST stadiums are equipped with HD broadcast yet, so they try to avoid running those broadcasts.

Also, MLB probably couldn't find someone willing to pay them enough for the rights for that game, since I'm sure they sell ST rights as dearly as they can.

[Phillibuster]

Did Gwynn Jr. reach on an error?

[Phillibuster]

Yup.

[bullit]

ruf doubles on a sharp ground ball to LF. dom walks on 4 pitches. ibb? mabes up.

[bullit]

utley scores on ruf's double off the RHP, to tie it up.

[bullit]

it was utz who reached on an error.

[Phillibuster]

Bullit: I meant the first inning.

[bullit]

ahhh sorry, buster.

[Phillibuster]

No worries.

Wish I could see how bad (or not-bad) Rollins looked in his ABs.

[Jimmy Rollins]

Who cares how bad I look in my ABs?

[bullit]

woohoo!! ryno homers to left field. babe singles to left center off the RHP.

[bullit]

big spot for mabes.

[bullit]

even bigger spot for asche-san.

[Cyclic]

http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/cole-hamels-feeling-good-taking-it-slow

Hamels to throw his next bullpen on Sunday.

[Willard Preacher]

I know we probably beat the dead horse surrounding our broadcast staffs more than we should and I hate to continue to fan those flames, but PLEASE tell me that this "let Gregg Murphy handle some of the radio play-by-play for an inning or two" experiment will end once Spring Training is over? I assume he'll head back to his place roaming the stands for the unlistenable TV broadcast, but if they're even thinking of trying to get him some spot PBP duty, they're off their rockers.

[Phillibuster]

Murphy had the TV PBP over the weekend. I think he's just filling in with other guys taking breaks or having prior engagements during games that don't matter.

[Willard Preacher]

Michael Martinez with an RBI single. Might as well pack it in, fellas...

[Phillibuster]

Woof. Rough that Ruf couldn't take that 2nd-to-home on a single to the outfield.

Still, bats doing less-terribly, so hard to complain too much. Assuming the pitchers weren't just tossing them meatballs anyway.

[Phillibuster]

Martinez riding a predictably-solid .821 OPS this ST.

[Dickie Thong]

Michael Martinez in 20 PA in ST (not including today's game)

.368/.400/.421

[bittel]

Who cares?

[Meyer]

Yeah, Pete Mackanin a bit conservative halting the steam rolling Ruf powering around 3rd.

[Willard Preacher]

The difference between this year and last, however, is that the Pirates FO isn't likely to be swooned by Mini's Spring Training success, only to give him some sort of prominent role on the 25 man roster.

Then again, they have given him 20+ PA's already this Spring...

Sooner or later you just have to wonder if Mini Mart is really the Yellow King.

[Willard Preacher]

Bases loaded, no one out, Phils up, down 2.

Meaningless or not, I'm glad baseball is back!

[Willard Preacher]

Need a ruling here: bases loaded walk - "production," or no?

[bittel]

6-5, one out, still loaded after CH walk.

[bittel]

Absolutely production. RBI, amirite?

[bittel]

still hate losing.

[Ruben Amaro Jr.]

Who cares about walks? Even with the bases loaded. Who cares?

[MG]

Hasn't been discussed this spring that much but the middle relievers have collectively had a very mediocre spring.

More likely going to be a 3rd straight year of 'Crap to Pap' with the exception of Bastardo. Simple fact that a Rule V guy and Camp both ate good bets to make the Opening Day roster tells you volumes about how limited the talent pool is.

[Phillibuster]

Martinez had a pretty poor 2013 ST, actually, and a pretty minor role during the regular season.

[MG]

Weitzel - if the Phils finish behind the Fish, Amaro is definitely going to get fired.

Still don't think this team is that bad but if Hamels is a lost cause that will make things difficult.

[PLM]

Looks like they released the stiffer one Lou Marson. I thought he was at least worthy of stashing at AAA but apparently they wanna give Joseph more work or some thing or other.

[Phillibuster]

Ehhh. I've got some (not much, but some) hope that Adams manages a return in May.

Bullpen wasn't terrible in 2012, either. Not great, but not terrible. Ranked 16th by fWAR, 10th by ERA, which was about 0.20 points higher than FIP or xFIP.

[Michael Scott]

"Might as well pack it in, fellas..."

That's what *she* said!

[Reality]

Friday night glory hole is now open at my house. Call 782-522-6225 for directions.

[Cyclic]

MG-- That wasn't Weitzel. Everyone knows Clout Day is the 20th

[Phillibuster]

Looking at Beachy's 2nd TJ surgery looming...

Geez. Yeah, we get the shoulder issues, and Doc falling off the planet is about as dramatic a decline as you can find, but at least we haven't yet (knock on wood) lost a ton to TJ.

Like I said, there must be something in the water down there. Let's 'em ignore their natural limits and look amazing... Until their forearms rip out of their sockets.

[clout]

Clout Day is indeed March 20. Accept no substitutes.

[clout]

To provide context for Mini Mart's hot spring: John McDonald hitting .462 this spring.

[NEPP]

Also, JW would never comment without logging into his typepad account.

Its almost a certainty that Marson simply wasnt recovered from his shoulder issues. He got all of 3 PA in ST and they clearly saw something they didn't like in practice to just outright release him like that. A shoulder injury for a catcher is just as bad as it would be for a pitcher.

[NEPP]

***John McDonald hitting .462 this spring.***

Hmm...its almost as if ST stats are meaningless.

[Cyclic]

NEPP, I think you mean "worrisome".