Jimmy Rollins Needs Refurbishing

As everybody can tell, Jimmy Rollins has been in the slump of all slumps thus far in 2009. But it’s at the point in the season where we begin to wonder if this is really a slump, or just the first act of a terrible, horrific, abysmal, tragic, unbelievably awful overall season that is nearing intermission.

After last night’s loss to the Rays and yet another 0-4 performance, Rollins is hitting at a .211/.254/.328 clip. But manager Charlie Manuel insists on keeping him in the leadoff spot. In fact, to quote Manuel this past Monday:

“Knowing Jimmy like I do, I’m telling you right now. I don’t think it matters where he hits. I think I could hit him ninth and if he’s going to get some hits, I think he’s going to get them. If we move Jimmy down, then who are we going to play there? And I think I know who you’re going to say. At the same time, what kind of on-base percentage does that guy carry?”

That guy carries an on-base percentage 117 points higher than our leadoff guy. Manuel is referring to Shane Victorino, who is hitting .305/.371/.462 and has had two separate double-digit hitting streaks this season.

But hey, I’m not the manager. Maybe Charlie has a point. Right? Right?

From the leadoff position this year, Rollins is hitting .198/.241/.293. From any other spot (batting fifth, sixth, and ninth), he’s hitting .409/.458/.818, albeit in a very small sample size of 22 at bats over five starts and three pinch-hit appearances.

Rollins first left the comfort of his leadoff spot and batted fifth on May 2, going 1-4 with a walk. He returned to batting leadoff the next day and went 4-14 (.286) over his next three games before falling off again. Manuel next batted him fifth on May 12 and 13, and Rollins responded by going 2-7 with a home run. It seemed like something clicked, as Rollins returned to the leadoff spot the next day and went 15-41 (.366) over his next nine games and saw his batting average peak at .240. But it was short lived, as he tailed off and went on to hit .161 over his next 13 games.

Rollins was moved down to the six-hole on June 7 and 9 in Los Angeles and New York, respectively. Continuing the trend, he went 5-8 with a home run. Since returning to the leadoff spot June 10, he’s gone 7-56 (.125) with a .194 OBP in his last 13 games.

Meanwhile, Victorino has been getting on base a respectable amount and hasn’t been popping up to foul territory behind third base like our current leadoff hitter. Manuel seems too stubborn to consider tinkering with his lineup on at least a semi-permanent basis, so it looks like we’ll be stuck watching constant outs from Jimmy “I’ll bat .400 in May” Rollins.

With a lineup that feeds off the “When Jimmy goes, we go” mentality, Jimmy isn’t going. And it’s catching up to the rest of the team, since Rollins was 6-43 (.140) on the recent homestand when the Phillies dropped eight of nine.

Oh, but how did Rollins really do in the month of May, you ask? Well, it looks like .238 is the new .400.

Jimmy Rollins and his Quest for .400

As everybody knows, Jimmy Rollins has been known for his predictions the past few years. After starting this season in a terrible offensive funk, Rollins made another bold prediction about two weeks ago on April 27, when he was quoted as saying that he felt ready to hit .400 for the next month.

Well, the crystal ball seems a bit foggy right now. He’s batting .171 (7-for-41) this May, with five runs scored, three RBI, and zero stolen bases to go along with a .237 OBP.

Let’s say Rollins gets 111 at-bats this May (his career average for the month). He will need to record 38 hits in his next 70 at-bats to reach .400 for the month. That’s a .543 clip for the next three weeks.

To his credit, he has not been incorrect yet. After declaring the Phillies the “team to beat” in 2007, the Phillies won their division and advanced to the postseason for the first time in 14 years. Next was his proclamation that the Phillies would win 100 games in 2008. The team went on to win 103, with the final win coming as the World Series clincher.

It isn’t impossible, but Rollins may have out-predicted himself on this one.

Photo courtesy Steve Nesius / Associated Press.