Open Letter: Jimmy Rollins

by Posted on

[Sent via twitter to @JimmyRollins11]

Dear Jimmy,

The news of you leaving Philadelphia hurts. Of the core players from 2008, yourself, Ryan, Chase, and Cole,  I had hoped you be the last remaining in a Phillies uniform.  Unfortunately, you’re the first to go. What a journey we Phillies fans have had with you.

Yeah, there are those who bitched about you popping up too much, even though your rate of infield fly-balls of 14% is barely above the league average of 13%. Some moaned  that you’re swinging at the first pitch 21.5% of the time was too much even though it was less than the MLB average of 27.8% and other leadoff greats: Jeter 33.7%, Time Raines 25% and Craig Biggio 28%. Some complained that you didn’t run out every pitch like they were told to in Little League. Little Leaguers makes lots of errors on routine ground balls, major leaguers don’t. Okay, sometimes you didn’t and it did come back to bite you in the ass every now and again. Nobody is perfect, maybe Willie Mays from what I’ve been told. And, Curmudgeons will be curmudgeons.

Photo by: Al Behrman
Photo by: Al Behrman

I think one of your problems with those detractors was that you made it look too easy. You were too good. Chase, he’s got the rap of being the hard-working guy. In reality, you’re 5’8″ in a pair of thick-soled shoes and 180 lbs. A player at your size doesn’t put up the numbers you put up without working your tail off.  You’re just too damn smooth, especially in the field.

You gave the Phillies a personality. Cole, Chase, Ryan are silent warriors. You brought the swagger, the attitude. You’re the one who boldly proclaimed in 2007 “The Mets had a chance to win the World Series last year. Last year is over. I think we are the team to beat in the NL East.” The Phillies backed that up and so did you with an amazing MVP season where you became only the 4th player in MLB history to join baseball’s most exclusive club of 20-2B, 20-3B, 20-HR, 20-SB. The next year, you helped break the Championship drought in this city. We are forever indebted and will never forget.

I know that statistics will say that you’re the greatest Phillies shortstop in team history.  That’s without question. You’re the franchise leader in hits. Your glove and arm were always worth the price of admission, even when the team sucked.   JP Crawford has some large shoes to fill in his future.

I can tell you that you’re the best Phillies player I’ve seen since Michael Jack Schmidt. Are you a Hall of Famer? You’re close. However, you should be enshrined in the Phillies Wall of Fame your first game back at Citizen’s Bank Park. That could happen, they’re gonna need a reason to sell tickets this year and a ceremony like that would get me in the park.

It’s been a wonderful 15 year ride. Did we bust your stones at times? Sure. Did you bust (front-runners) ours? Yup. That’s what family does. You’ll always be part of the Phillies family, just not while you’re wearing another MLB team’s jersey.

Citizens Bank Park won’t be the same without you and that smile.

Thank you!

Violations Greg