So, this is how Charlie Manuel acts when he has a long-term contract.Manuel did, in fact, bench Jimmy Rollins in the fifth inning today, two innings after he didn't run out a pop fly that wound up being dropped in shallow left field by Reds shortstop Paul Janish. Not only was it the right message to send at the time, but Manuel and Rollins couldn't have handled it any better during the postgame session with the media. This could've been an explosive situation at the end of an otherwise wildly successful 8-2 homestand. But Manuel didn't embarrass Rollins, and Rollins took full blame for what happened.
"There is no explanation," Rollins said. "I just didn't do it, and sometimes, the manager gets you. I know better. I'll just go out there and make sure I don't do it again. He's the manager, and that's what he's supposed to do. He has two rules: One, be on time. Two, Hustle. I broke one of them."
Asked if he was upset with Manuel's discipline, Rollins said he wasn't. "It's like breaking the law and getting mad when the police show up," he said. "He's been here four years, and we've probably talked about it twice. Three strikes and you're out, I guess. I'm not going to be a distraction. This is the team. I did what I did. When you do something, you get caught, and it is what it is. Problems only occur when they keep reoccuring."
For Manuel's part, it's hard to imagine he would've benched the reigning NL MVP last season when he was a lame-duck manager with one year left on his contract. But, now, he has the security of a two-year contract and a club option for 2010. Manuel didn't publicly chastise Rollins. Instead, he said only, "Jimmy and I took care of that. I thought it was time for him to come over and sit." Pressed on the situation, he said, "I don't have to talk any more about it."
So, what do you think? Did Manuel make the right move?
6 comments:
Yes he did. And they both handled it extremely well also.
I am *astounded.* Thrilled that Manuel did it. Thrilled that Rollins took it like he did. That is very frickin' cool to hear.
i don't think it was just that one play. but that was the play that broke the camels back.
jimmy has been pretty lazy running towards first for a couple of weeks now. on ground balls hit to SS and 3b he's been just giving up half way down the line.
i think manuels point is that you never know whats going to happen so don't limit your options on the base paths.
Absolutely, he made the right move.
I think this works on many levels. It's the "get the accent" wake up slap that send a few waves throughout the club house.
First wave needs to hit R. Howard who could not have handled this situation but needs another "slap" to get his mind on hitting. Looks like he has given up to a much greater degree than Jimmy on the base paths.
Fact is the schedule is very difficult for the next 30 days. Everyone has to step up. You can not sleep walk past the teams they face the rest of June.
So maybe Charlie picked his MVP to send the strongest "wake-up" message.
I completely agree with Jamie here. Rollins has been jogging down to first if the ball looks like it may be caught, putting no pressure on any of the fielders. You see Utley on the other hand who almost always sprints down to first even on grounders hit to second. Once in a while Utley beats out a routine play because of the added pressure he's putting on the infielders to get the ball out of their glove quickly.
With Rollins' speed, there's no reason for a lack of hustle. He's always talked about how speed is his game, but he hasn't been taking advantage of it lately. I'm sure that being benched woke him up and I think it's great that Manuel sat him.
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