David Murphy is reporting Jimmy Rollins is likely to be placed on the United States roster for the World Baseball Classic.
This all comes from Mike Schmidt, who is pumping Rollins up across the country. Rollins will be backing up shortstop Derek Jeter (seriously, Rollins is better).
But Rollins might be the only Phillie on the American squad; both Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge turned down invitations. Which I’m happy about. Honestly, this World Baseball Classic takes away a good bit from the focus of Spring Training. Sure, a game is a game, but I’d much rather have all my guys at camp, working together, teaching together, learning together.
Tim MalcolmTim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.
