The losing is getting to Philadelphia Phillies all-star Jimmy Rollins. And when it manifested itself in a lack of hustle, it did not go over well with manager Charlie Manuel, who had a private meeting with the second-baseman to let his disenchantment known.
“We have two rules: Hustle and be on time,” Manuel told reporters. “We’ll see. That’s all I have to say. This is between Jimmy and me.”
Rollins jogged slowly up the first-base line after hitting a routine grounder to shortstop in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s loss to the Miami Marlins.
Rollins said, “I was just upset before I even got up there (to bat),” Rollins said. “I was already out of it. Mentally, just upset.”
He did not explain what he meant by “upset,” but also said that it was “not an excuse” for not running hard.
Manuel admitted he considered benching Rollins but opted against it because he wanted to win the game.
“After talking to him, I think he’s ready to play,” Manuel said. “He should be running hard from now on. We’ll see.”
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, three team sources believe it is a problem that not one player in the Phillies’ veteran-laden clubhouse chastised Rollins.
One of the sources told the newspaper that Rollins has been cited for lack of hustle in the past, but it went overlooked due to the Phillies’ overall success.
The five-time defending National League East champion Phillies (54-64) trail the first-place Washington Nationals by 19 games in the division standings and are 11 games out of a wild-card spot. Rollins said his lack of hustle has been magnified due to the Phillies’ disappointing season.
“Those things only come about when you lose, and that’s the truth,” Rollins said. “Nobody said nothing the day before when you win, or when you go from first to third on a ground ball up the middle, or when you score (from first base) on a ball hit down the line.”
