Jimmy Rollins Is Making Himself Relevant Again

Off the field that is, seeing as he's a .234 hitter on the field in the post season.

Oh snap.

And I know I know. Small sample size. I get it.

Jimmy Rollins predicts Philadelphia Phillies will beat New York Yankees in World Series in 5 games.

You know, I do like Jimmy Rollins and I think this was sort of in jest. Athletes should believe their team is going to win, regardless of the insurmountable odds against them. It's what makes competition fun. I'm still going to make fun of Jimmy for his prediction.

Jimmy Rollins is back in the prediction business. The Philadelphia shortstop, who famously proclaimed the Phillies were the NL East's team to beat in 2007, then back it up with the aid of an epic Mets collapse (emphasis mine), says his team will defend its World Series title and dispose of the Yankees in five games.

Philadelphia record since 2003:

2003: 86-76 (3rd in NL East)
2004: 86-76 (2nd in NL East)
2005: 88-74 (2nd in NL East)
2006: 85-77 (2nd in NL East)
2007: 89-73 (1st in NL East)
2008: 92-70 (1st in NL East)
2009: 93-69 (1st in NL East)

The Phillies had a young and talented team that matured, honed their skills and got better. They made some smart personnel decisions. Picking the Phillies to win the division in 2007, given they were second in the NL East for the previous three years, doesn’t make him Nostradamus. Also, he was helped by that gigantic Mets collapse which he had nothing to do with him.

He made the pronouncement on NBC’s foundering "The Jay Leno Show" - then reiterated it Tuesday at the Stadium, since Leno's ratings might have resulted in it going unnoticed.

Jay Leno jokes are becoming the hackneyed jokes of 2009. They’re getting tiresome.

"Well, of course we're going to win," Rollins said during the show's Ten@Ten segment. "If we're nice we'll let it go six. But I'm thinking five and close it out at home."

Ok Jimmy. No athlete in their right mind would “be nice”. The point is the beat your opponent as quickly and easily as possible. Extending a series would be pointless for a winning team.

Again, I do think this topic was done with fun. I really don’t think Jimmy is trying to be a dick or piss off the Yankees. I enjoy his personality.

The Phillies are a very good team, but clearly Jimmy isn’t using logic or reason in his arguments.

New York Yankees: .283/.362/.478/.839/244/915/111/1014
Philadelphia Phillies: .258/.334/.447/.781/224/820/119/1055

The Yankees have a better batting average, get on base at a higher rate and are a much better hitting the ball. If you want to use raw stats as well, the Yanks have more home runs, runs, strike out a lot less but the Phillies do have eight more stolen bases going for them.

I say advantage Yankees.

New York Yankees: 4.28/1.352/1260/574
Philadelphia Phillies: 4.16/1.352/1153/489

Yankees have a higher ERA, the same WHIP, more strikeouts and more walks.

I still say advantage Yankees.

This may look like a push but the Yankees already came out and said they’re going to go with a three man rotation (Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte) and have arguably the greatest closer of all time. I like the Yankees top guys more than the Phillies. Lee has been outstanding but that’s about all the Phillies have. Hamels has pitched horribly this whole year, including the post season. I don’t know what Pedro will give. I think Blanton is an average pitcher. It doesn’t appear the Phillies will start Happ. Burnett is as likely to implode as he is to throw a three hitter. Both bullpens have been crappy so far this postseason. Last season was a fairy tale for Lidge and I’m happy for the guy but looking at his career he has one or two bad innings in store this World Series.
I could see Lee winning one or two starts and for Burnett to have one good outing and one bad outing. The Yankees have much better hitters from top to bottom and I trust their offense more.

If I were to make a prediction, I say Yankees in 6.

Rollins suggested yesterday that he relishes having a bull's-eye on his back from other team's fans.

What a little instigator. Aren’t you just the cutest little instigator! I want to hug you.

"It makes it a lot of fun," Rollins said. "If they're not on you, then you're probably not an important piece of the puzzle. That's part of it. Also, it does make you step your game up. They're waiting for a mistake.

Jimmy Rollins has the worst OBP of all of the starting position players appearing in the World Series (which is not good if you're a leadoff man) and only Pedro Feliz has a lower SLG%, amongst the starters, on the Phillies. Jimmy is like the 12th most important piece of the Phillies puzzle if the Phillies intend on repeating as World Series champs. But hey, at least he'll be booed a lot in New York and feel important.