Comments on: In 2008, Rollins Showed His ‘True’ Colors

By: shannon

shannon — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:44:43 +0000

After Jroll said stuff about Phillies fans.A few friends of mine asked me if i was upset after Jimmy said those things.I said no because i’m not the type he was talking about.I do not like Pat.But i have never booed the guy.I do yell louder for guys like Jroll,Jason Werth and some former Phillies.

By: Chuck P

Chuck P — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:46:49 +0000

My 5 year old son’s favorite player is Jimmy Rollins and I couldn’t think of a better player to fill that role. He’s real, he smiles, he rises to the occasion, he plays through adversity, he is a tremendous talent and his approach is professional. He doesn’t always say the right thing but he says what he feels… to me, the best Jimmy moment was when he came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning earlier this year (I want to say it was against Houston) on one leg and poked a single to right (a pinch runner had to replace him). It was incredible… everyone knew that he needed to be on the DL (even Jimmy) but he didn’t want to allow his injury to be the excuse that led to another April slump. We are blessed to watch such great talent making plays in our infield night after night.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:09:03 +0000

Now, some of my thoughts on Jimmy… until this season, he was, without a doubt, my favorite on the team. But I noticed when he came back from his injury he seemed to have a different attitude, like he didn’t give a shit, didn’t seem to care if they won or lost. He ticked me off so many times, I probably said at some point to trade him. Then after his “frontrunner” fiasco, I thought he just didn’t want to be here anymore, and that hurt. I think too, upon reflection, that he was just trying to deflect the boos away from his brothers, especially Ryan, and take it all on his own shoulders.

What brought me back to loving Jimmy was seeing the look on his face during the playoffs, I have never seen such intensity, such drive, like there was no way that he and his mates were not bringing this championship home to Phila.

There’s no question that Jimmy loves the limelight, turns it on when it’s crunch time, and, yes, maybe can’t turn it on in the middle of a long season when it’s not imperative to win every game. In a way he reminds me of Iverson, with one MAJOR difference-the Phils are world champs!

By: Gavin

Gavin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:31:19 +0000

Great point Phils+50……The man makes every routine play. He can make the spectacular one sometimes, but day in day out his defense is overlooked by the majority of media outside of Philly thyat dont watch him everyday.

Best Phils ever on current team……
1B- Howard
2B – Utley
SS – Rollins
LF – Burrell
Closer – Lidge
PH – Dobbs
LOOGY – Romero

By: phils50+

phils50+ — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:27:12 +0000

No apology needed to Bowa, as great a fielder and as fiesty as he was and is. I never minded J-Roll’s comments on that show. I only wanted the guy to get out of the slump he was in at the plate. But his defense, the Gold Glove is evidence, was always stellar. After he made the comments and was blasted by the media and fans, I made it a point of wearing my Rollins jersey to the next home games I attended. And by the way, I was at the East clinching game when he saved it with that diving stop up the middle that Utley turned a very quick double play on. Wow! Great article on Rollins, Tim.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:06:40 +0000

Jimmy’s a Red-Light guy. I think thats the best compliment I can give a player. They are better the tougher the situation.

This brings up the question. How many guys on this team are the best to ever play that posotion for the Phillies?

IMO, JRoll is the best SS in Phillies history. My apologies to Bowa.

By: Phillies Phan SC

Phillies Phan SC — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:04:04 +0000

I always liked J-Roll and even defended his “Frontrunners” comment, to a point – HOWEVER – I now believe he did it to make us Boo HIM and not the others. He has my respect, he took a good one for the team. In the end though, he did walk the walk and he is a proud Phillie!

By: Henning

Henning — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:54:37 +0000

Great article. Jimmy has been and will continue to be my favorite player on a team filled with guys I love. What resonates with fans is that boisterous spirit, the willingness to talk – at times, admittedly too much – but more importantly a commitment to back it up on the field and at the plate. (Mostly) Despite his Bay Area roots, he’s definitely a true Philadelphian.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:35:07 +0000

Guys, we shouldn’t even be talking Eagles, this is one of Tim’s best articles, important points have been made, there’s much to be said about our Jimmy.

Sorry for mentioning McNabb…. I’m getting ready to go out for dinner, I’ll collect my thoughts on Jimmy and post later tonight.

By: SJ Mike

SJ Mike — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:22:39 +0000

Dennis is right. Donovan has never said a bad thing about Philly or Philly fans. His parents on the other hand have expressed bad feelings towards us. Donovan though has always remained classy.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:16:10 +0000

Georgie, again sorry to keep bringing this up on a Phils site but McNabb has never said a negative thing about Philly fans. Maybe his parents stick their nose in places they don’t belong but we can’t blame him for that. Say what you want about his ability on the field but the guy is a class act….

By: SJ Mike

SJ Mike — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:54:39 +0000

One thing about Jimmy that I’ve always liked is that he isn’t going to just blow smoke up our asses. He’s going to tell it how he sees it.

In many cases, he speaks very much from the mindset of us fans. Like Tim said wearing the hoodie, he gets us and understands us, positive and negative. When he brought up Santana and the Mets at the parade celebration, he brought it up from the standpoint of what the fans are thinking in the rivalry, not necessarily from the players’ standpoint.

One thing he does know is how to connect with the fans in weird ways, whether it be positive or negative.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:51:30 +0000

Tim, this is a really great article, lots of food for thought, gonna take me a while to digest it all.

Dennis, McNabb and his parents have made it obvious that they resent Phila fans for booing Donovan when he was drafted.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:41:34 +0000

Tim – I gotta say, this is probably the best article of yours that I’ve read to this point and I’ve read MANY!!! Congrats on the GREAT work!

Jimmy tells it like he sees it. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Who can fault a man like that? I certainly cannot!

By: Richie

Richie — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:38:27 +0000

Well put Tim, I had a hard time dealing with his comments from that show, a really tough time. But as you said, I was born and raised in South Philadelphia and I can’t tell ya how many times my mouth has gotten me into trouble. So, Jimmy you are forgiven. Just don’t let it happen again or your outta here!!

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:31:40 +0000

Mutley, not that this has anything to do with the Phillies but when did McNabb call the fans frontrunners? Get your info straight, despite everything McNabb has been thru in this town he has never once talked bad about the Philly fans….

By: Chase Mutley

Chase Mutley — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:29:15 +0000

Seriously, I love Jimmy, which is why he was REALLY disappointing when he pulled a McNabb and called the fans frontrunners. I wouldn’t even argue what he was saying. While blown out of proportion, it has to be tough playing for fans who will let you have it when you’re phoning it in at work. Frontrunners was really a poor choice of words though. Jimmy knows darn well how dedicated this fanbase is.

FYI, Matt Holliday was traded to the A’s today.

By: TOM G

TOM G — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:11:43 +0000

As transplanted Phils phan in Tampa, I miss the daily crap from the Philly Media…OK, maybe not…as an interested party from afar, I can tell you the Rollins personality is cool, steady and strong.
He is, if anything else, honest…Phans may not like being told the truth…he called it as it is…never complains about his press…he expressed a general belief about the phans…
so be it…we are tough…we expect a lot…why not…we pay for the prive!

I love his competitiveness…his game, his skills…he is Philadelphia!
J-RO is great…and will be even better when he is primed to repeat…