He's the Man, They're the Team, to Beat

Before the region’s sports fans go gaga over the results of tonight’s Eagles game, I wanted to pause for just a moment to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of Jimmy Rollins. He took a lot of heat, especially in New York, for declaring the Phillies were the team to beat this season. Sure the Mets may wind up winning the division. Heck, the Phillies may not even make the playoffs. But it turns out that at least in the NL East the Phillies were the team to beat, and the Mets couldn’t do it. The Phillies were 12-6 against the Mets this year, including three (3!) series sweeps. As they are fond of saying in NY, “amazing!”

Of course, dominance like that just doesn’t happen. And a large part of those victories was SS Jimmy Rollins, or as he should be called in the clubhouse, “The Man.”

Jim Salisbury points out that “In 18 games against the Mets this season, Rollins was 28 for 81, an average of .346, with four doubles, two triples, six homers and 15 RBIs.” That, my friends is production. Production when it matters against the best team in the division. And considering that half those games were being played in New York where Rollins received considerable abuse….well, again, simply amazing.

Jimmy Rollins talked the talk. And backed it up by walking the walk. You heard it here first. If the Phillies can make the playoffs then look out. Rollins could be ready for a Lenny Dykstra-like post-season performance and carry the team and the entire city on his back to the World Series.