After getting off to one of the best starts of his career, Jimmy Rollins was set to make his 2010 he debit at CBP. After being announced as leading off and starting at SS, Rollins was nowhere to be found when the Fightins took the field. Instead, veteran Juan Castro was warming up at shortstop.The beat reporters eventually flooded Twitter with news that Rollins had been scratched due to a right calf strain. It happened in warm ups, but clearly the Phillies weren’t going to announce that until after Rollins got the Opening Day ovation.
J-Roll had never looked better through the opening six games. He seemed to have found the plate discipline that has always been missing from his game. He had started the season 9/23 for a .391 batting average to go along with 7 walks. Those are the kinds of numbers a leadoff hitter should have.
With Rollins and the rest of the offense off to such a hot start, any missed time by Rollins could hurt. Throughout his career, as Rollins goes, the Phillies go. When Jimmy is hot, the team usually heats up behind him.
There is an MRI scheduled for today and a trip to the 15-day disabled list is likely. No sense in rushing Rollins back 7 games into the season.
The saddest thing to come out of this may just be the fact that Rolllins’ attempt to break the world record for longest batted ball today on the Parkway has been postponed.
The front office has prepared for things like this. Remember the great job done by Eric Bruntlett last year when Rollins missed some time? As much as he disliked around here, Bruntlett did a terrific job filling in when Rollins went down. All he was asked to do was to fill in and not cost the team any games. This offseason, the Phillies went out and got veteran Juan Castro to fill Bruntlett’s spot on the bench. Having someone like Castro around is a valuable asset that every championship caliber team seems to have. Castro even paid immediate dividends yesterday when he smacked an RBI double in the Phillies’ win over Washington.
With Jayson Werth also leaving the game yesterday with a sore left hip, the Phillies should display come caution here. No sense in pushing these two back before they’re ready. Werth seems to be fine and may miss a game or two at the most. Rollins may have to sit for a couple of weeks, but considering that it’s only April, that shouldn’t be an issue.
The only thing that would be of concern is whether Rollins can maintain this plate discipline when he comes back. He might come back and be overanxious, but if he can come back and pick up where he left off, the Phillies’ offense will just keep on ticking.
The Phillies have been compared to the Cincinnati Reds “Big Red Machine” over the past few years, but never has it been more appropriate than this first week of the 2010 season. If J-Roll can come back and keep it up, this Phillies’ team may just be the best in recent history.
