Philadelphia Phillies: 11 J-Roll Moments from Jimmy Rollins

The show goes on in Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins will be back after signing a three-year deal with the Phillies, along with a vesting option for a possible fourth year.

Rollins, No. 11, will make a reported $11 million annually for the contract to play with the team he’s been the starting shortstop the past 11 years.

So what can we expect from J-Roll the next few years? Maybe some more J-Roll moments. He’s had many already.

Here are the 11 greatest moments of the Phils $11 million/year shortstop, from the past 11 years. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Re-Sign Jimmy Rollins: Cole Hamels Extension Next?

According to a multitude of reporters, the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms with shortstop Jimmy Rollins on a three-year, $33 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth year worth the same. Rollins, the team’s longest-tenured member, seemingly waned from his previous demands of a five-year deal or a four-year contract with a fifth-year player option.

That’s great for the team, considering that Rollins doesn’t have five years left in the tank.

With Rollins back, this spells a few things. First and foremost, Freddy Galvis will not start for the Phillies anytime soon. He’ll be stuck in Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the next three or four years, yet he’ll still be only 24 years old should Rollins’ new contract stand for four years and call for Galvis to start following its conclusion.

Then again, the Phillies could also use Galvis as a trade chip in any sort of deal should one be necessary next July or even sometime in the next few years. His defense is superb and his offense is gradually improving, and should it climb even higher next season, he’ll be a hot commodity.

Whether Dontrelle Willis’ signing with the team was a courtship to bring Rollins back to the City of Brotherly Love is a question for another time, but it sure helps nevertheless. However, the biggest question remaining in the minds of Phillies fans is this: will the team extend Cole Hamels next?

Until Vance Worley worked himself into the Phillies rotation, Hamels was the team’s last homegrown player in the starting rotation as well as the rotation’s youngest member, which consisted of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Hamels, and Joe Blanton on Opening Day of last season.

All of those pitchers were acquired via trades or free agent signings except Hamels, and all were at least 30 years old except Hamels.

Now that Hamels is one of the premier starting southpaws in the game, it begs the question: what will it take for the team to keep him beyond next season?

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated in an interview with NBC HardBallTalk’s Craig Calcaterra at last week’s Winter Meetings that the team would like to keep Hamels a lifelong Phillie, but that re-signing Rollins was his priority. Now that that’s come to pass, how much will Hamels extension talks heat up?

Hamels’ career numbers have been compared to those of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ace Jered Weaver, who signed a five-year, $85 million extension with his team late last season. But with Hamels being a lefty, his value automatically increases. and the fact that he’s an ace drives it up even further.

It’s been said that Hamels should command an extension comparable to Weaver’s, but with Hamels being one of the best starters in the 2013 free agent class alongside Matt Cain and Zack Greinke, he could command even more, possibly becoming a $20 million-a-year player.

There’s little doubt that Hamels will attain at least five years from the Phillies in an extension, but the price he’ll come at if extended is vague. Will he take a hometown discount and sign for an extension around the price of Weaver’s, or will he demand a contract worth an amount similar to one he’d make in free agency?

If the Phillies sign Hamels to an extension with an average annual value worth over $20 million, they would be the first team in major league history to have three starting pitchers on their roster making over $20 million a season. Will they offer that kind of contract to their organizational gem, or will they let the season play out first?

If I were Ruben Amaro, Jr., I’d lock him up now. He’s vastly improved since his 2009 fall and will continue to do so should he stay on his current track. If he does even better next year, imagine the money he’ll command in free agency next year. If the team wants to remain young and competitive beyond next year, they need to lock Hollywood Hamels up before it’s too late.

Here’s hoping Amaro knows what he’s doing.

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Why Philadelphia Phillies Fans Should Be Thrilled to Have Jimmy Rollins Back

The Philadelphia Phillies have re-signed Jimmy Rollins for a contract of three years worth about $33 million, according to Jim Salisbury. There was also a vesting fourth year added to the deal.

Phillies fans should be thrilled about this deal.

Of course, this does mean that the Phillies are not trying to get younger. I realize that, and I realize that infield prospect Freddy Galvis is in a bit of a predicament right now. However, like I have written many, many, many times before, the Phillies are in a position right now to win.

They are getting much older, and eventually they will need to rebuild. Every team goes through that cycle.

However, before that happens to the Phillies, they need to make the best possible effort to win right now. Rollins will help them do that much more than Galvis. Sometimes it takes young players a few years to actually break out and perform at the level that we know they can. It could take a few years for Galvis to reach the level of production that the Phillies need right now.

As a more established veteran, Rollins is in a better position to provide that to the Phillies. He has a great combination of power and speed that is rare among shortstops. Yes, he is getting older, but his career is definitely not over, and he still has a lot to provide to the Phillies.

I would like to think that this move came about because of all the writing I have done about why Rollins should return to Philadelphia. However, the real reason that Jimmy Rollins is returning to Philadelphia is undoubtedly because Ruben Amaro Jr. believes that he will help bring another world championship to Philadelphia.

That would certainly make all Phillies fans happy.

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Jimmy Rollins Signs 3-Year Deal with Philadelphia Phillies

Jimmy Rollins has agreed to a three-year deal with the Phillies, according to Jerry Crasnick of espn.com. The deal is said to be worth around $33 million with a fourth-year vesting option, according to Jim Salisbury of csnphilly.com. 

The Milwaukee Brewers were among other teams who were in the running for Rollins, but Crasnick himself stated, “Brewers made an offer, but he ultimately wanted to stay home.”

Rollins, who is 33 years old, hit .268 with 16 HR and 63 RBI last season. He has spent his entire career in Philadelphia, and Phillies fans will be satisfied to see him stay put.

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Philadelphia Phillies Are an Aging Team with Major Problems

The Philadelphia Phillies are in a lot of trouble. They are an aging team that has seen better days. They’ll make the playoffs again, but a lot has happened since 2008.

It is an old axiom that pitching wins championship. The Phillies’ problem is that it applies more to the playoffs and World Series than to the regular season.

Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee give the Phillies three of baseball’s top starting pitchers.

Halladay will be 35 years old in May and Lee will be 33 in August. Halladay is starting his 15th season while Lee will be in his 11th.  Barring injury, they should do at least as well as they did last season.

Vance Worley and Dontrelle Willis are the other starters, although general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. stated Joe Blanton, who has had elbow problems, would probably be the Phillies’ fourth or fifth starter with Willis working out of the bullpen.

Antonio Bastardo was expected to be the closer until the signing of Jonathan Papelbon.  Bastardo wore down near the end of last season while Papelbon has had some major problems during his Boston Red Sox career.

The rest of the bullpen is no better than average.

Overall, the Phillies’ pitching staff ranks among the league’s best, but the drop off after Halladay, Hamels and Lee is significant.

 

Too many of the Phillies’ regulars are old, injured or both.

Ryan Howard’s offensive production has decreased steadily the last two years. He suffered a torn left Achilles tendon when he made the last out of the Phillies’ 2011 season. His return for 2012 is unknown. Howard is still a top player, but he no longer is in the Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder class.

John Mayberry and Ty Wigginton are expected to fill in at first base until Howard returns. Wigginton, who batted .242/.315/.416 for Colorado, plays first, second, shortstop and the outfield, none of them very well. Wiggington is no Michael Cuddyer. 

Sadly, Chase Utley has seen better days. He is 32 years old, has lost range at second base and batted only .259 with 11 home runs upon returning from injuries.

Placido Polanco is underrated, but now, at the age of 36 and a player with little power at a power position, he is no longer an effective table setter for the sluggers.

Who is the shortstop? Jimmy Rollins will probably return, but he, like Howard, is no longer the great offensive threat he was a few seasons ago.

UPDATE: Rollins and Phillies agree to a three-year, $33 million deal.

Hunter Pence in right field is a star and Shane Victorino is Shane Victorino, but who is in left field?

John Mayberry may be adequate, but he might play a lot of first base. Ty Wigginton and Laynce Nix are jokes. Nix is with his fifth team and is no better than a reserve. Domonic Brown is the hope.

Finally, Carlos Ruiz is a winner that is terribly underrated. He has some fine seasons ahead of him. Backup Brian Schneider can catch, but hitting is another issue.

 

The Phillies are almost certain to make the playoffs. With Halladay, Hamels and Lee, they will win playoff games.

The problem is that the offense can be stopped, which, as in 2010 and 2011, puts too much pressure on the three aces.

The San Francisco Giants lead with Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner.

The Atlanta Braves start Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens and some highly prized youngsters.

The world champion St. Louis Cardinals have Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia and probably Adam Wainwright.

It doesn’t matter if the Phillies’ big three are better than their main rivals. The Giants, Braves and Cards starters can stay with them.

The answer is to improve the offense with some youth.  That’s not easy to accomplish.

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Top 5 Philadelphia Phillies on Twitter

Nowadays, it seems like everybody’s on Twitter. Celebrities have Twitter accounts, politicians have Twitter accounts, even my mom has a Twitter account. So it should come as no surprise that a handful of Phillies‘ players, both at the major league level and ‘down on the farm’ are active tweeters. Twitter is a great tool for a player to become more relatable to fans, publicize himself and interact with anyone and everyone on the web. (speaking of Twitter, follow me @Sheehan99)

The best tweeters are those who follow a few criteria:

1. Tweet often
2. Talk to / tweet with fans
3. Tweet funny and interesting things
4. Give the everyday fan a look inside the life of a professional ballplayer

So without further ado, here are the top 5 best Tweeters in the Phillies’ organization

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25 Most Eccentric Players in Philadelphia Phillies History

By some accounts, you have to have a few screws loose in the old dome if you’re going to play Major League Baseball, so there aren’t many “normal” players in the game. That influx of interesting personality has opened a door that leads to a Twilight Zone-like realm of screwy baseball players and, perhaps sadly, a lot of them have played for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In fact, looking back over their long history, would it be wrong to say that the Phillies have been the most eccentric franchise of all-time? After all, not only do they have some of baseball’s zaniest players, but they’ve had whole teams of guys who you could call, well, special.

In order to accurately describe the guys on this list, however, we’re going to need a reference point, and that reference point is going to be “eccentric,” which is defined as “unconventional and slightly strange.” If you ask me, I think that’s the perfect word to describe most of the Phillies’ history.

So now that we have found some common ground, let’s get to it. We’re taking a look at some of the most unconventional, slightly strange, wacky, zany, and just plain odd players the Phillies have ever had.

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MLB Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Players Who Will Improve in 2012

Coming off a franchise- and league-best 102-win season in 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies certainly have a lot to feel good about.

However, an early and unexpected exit from the postseason has left an overwhelming sour taste in the mouths of the Phillies Nation. The team has undeniably been built around the starting rotation, and they performed admirably, if not spectacularly from start to finish. But the offense simply lacked consistency all year long. Luckily for the Phils, over the course of the season, the lineup was able to muster enough run support to complement the exemplary efforts of the pitching staff.

The offensive shortcomings are something that must be addressed. And who knows? Maybe the answer to a poor offense is even better pitching. Regardless, right now it doesn’t look as if Ruben Amaro Jr. intends to make a big splash in either the free agent or trade market. This means that the boost will have to come in house—something this group of guys is perfectly capable of doing. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Trading Domonic Brown Right Now Makes Sense

Think back to July 2009 when the Phillies were hot for Roy Halladay. The only way they could get him from Toronto was a package that included Domonic Brown. Talks stalled and eventually the trade deadline passed without a move.

During the offseason and 2009 Winter Meetings, the teams revisited the idea of trading Halladay to the Phillies. The Phillies again refused to let go of Brown and eventually they settled on three other prospects in exchange for Halladay.

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud seemingly replaced Brown in the deal that was agreed upon, and the Phillies also sent Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek, both of whom were rumored to be part of the deal, to Toronto.

Recently, the Phillies made an attempt to get d’Arnaud back from Toronto, seemingly implying regret. Remember, this trade happened on the same day as another trade that sent a player to Seattle whom the Phillies ended up bringing back.

If it was Brown and not d’Arnuad that the Phillies had traded, would they have been calling Toronto two years later to reacquire him?

With the way Brown has played in his two partial seasons of Major League ball, it wouldn’t even be a thought. Instead, you have to wonder if Roy Halladay is insulted that the team refused to give up a struggling outfielder for his potential Hall-of-Fame talents.

Brown has contributed to making Halladay look bad with some of his blunders in the outfield. You’ll recall his helpless dive forward in attempt to be on Sports Center on a ball hit in the ninth inning of a shutout bid for Halladay.

 

The ball went past him and resulted in a triple by the baserunning-challenged Miguel Montero. If Brown played it correctly, it would have just been a single, not a run-scoring triple.

 

That was just one of many blunders by the oft-struggling corner outfielder.

There have been some other notable screw-ups, such as mistaking a ground-rule double for a foul ball, not being interested in touching a base he knew he missed, failing to back up plays in the outfield and, of course, jogging to first base three times in the same game.

There was also this game against Syracuse in a AAA double header.

To say the least, Brown has made a fool of himself in his two big-league seasons.

So where does he fit into the Phillies’ plans? It’s tough to find him a spot, for 2012 or the beyond.

John Mayberry Jr. is under club control through 2016. He has clearly outplayed Brown after slugging .513 last season, and is better than Brown in every aspect of the game except maybe foot speed. Mayberry makes up for this very marginal difference with being a smart, sound baserunner, contrary to Brown.

Hunter Pence is under control through 2013. He’s a two-time All-Star, if you needed any justification to play him in right field over Brown. He also led all Phillies regulars in batting average in 2011.

 

You can forget about considering him for that “left-handed-bat-of-the-bench” role. Ahead of him for that role is future Hall-of-Famer Jim Thome.

The Phillies also brought in reserve outfielder Laynce Nix with a two-year contract. Nix too bats left-handed and hit 16 home runs last season.

 

If Brown does not have a clear path to return to the Majors, what is the point of keeping him? Depth at this point may be the only motivation, but that’s no reason to keep him.

Theoretically, if Toronto wanted him more than d’Arnaud, then they would accept a Brown-for-d’Arnaud deal, right?

Not anymore, not the way Brown’s stock has plummeted. He’s been exposed. It’s going to continue to plummet if they keep exposing each and every one of his flaws.

Before Brown’s stock falls anymore, it’s time to make a move and at least get something.

In what is a pretty obvious correlation, the more a prospect is exposed as being a fraud, the more their value decreases.

They no longer will have a chance to capitalize on a J.A. Happ-type hot start to a career to score a big return. Brown’s lack of a hot start is at fault for that one.

Just as a prospect’s return value can reach a high, it can also reach a low: nothing.

Consider Brandon Wood, who hit 144 home runs in fewer than four full Minor League seasons. After hitting .168 in his first five seasons for the Angels, it became evident that he was not a big-league hitter. When the Angels moved on, they could not get anything in return for him; they had to cut him.

 

Before Brown reaches the point of becoming a bust, which is starting to look likely, try and settle for getting at least something for him.

 

There have been a few players and teams that have been in similar positions to the one in which Brown and the Phillies now find themselves.

Cameron Maybin, who at age 23 (same as Brown is now), was traded to San Diego for two quality relievers. Maybin was a highly-touted prospect (traded for Miguel Cabrera), but had a start to his Marlins career below expectations. They capitalized on whatever value he still had left and made sure they got something for him.

Former Mets prospect Lastings Milledge, who like Brown would often Cadillac his way through games, was traded to Washington following the 2007 season, his second in the Majors, for starting catcher Brian Schneider and starting outfielder Ryan Church.

Again, the team that traded the plummeting prospect got significant value in return.

An important thing to remember this offseason is that the Phillies are in win-now mode. Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are in their mid 30s. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are getting there.

Brown’s career WAR is below 0, meaning his replacement literally would result in more wins than he does. In other words, he’s not contributing in any way to the win-now mantra.

We have no indication he ever will. We don’t even have an indication he’ll have a spot, as he’s currently blocked at the two positions he plays.

Get something while you still can.

 

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30 Philadelphia Phillies Fun Facts You Didn’t Know

When you’re around for nearly 130 years, you’re bound to generate a few interesting tidbits that cause the casual fan to stop, think, and say, “Are you serious?”

In regards to the Philadelphia Phillies, however, we’ve already heard most of those facts over and over again. Yes, we know that Roy Halladay won the Cy Young Award in both leagues and was the second person in baseball history to throw a no-hitter. We know the Phillies have won five straight division titles. Their starting rotation was more than the best in 2011—it was one of the best of all-time.

We know.

But there are a number of other tidbits that have been generated throughout the course of the Phillies’ long history, some of which are almost too unbelievable to be true—but I assure you, they are. So beyond all of the obvious facts and numbers crunching, there exists an odd realm of Phillies’ history. Let’s explore.

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