NewsRollins riding out skid on bench
Saddled with slump, shortstop out of lineup for second day
By David Singh / Special to MLB.com
06/26/09 7:10 PM ET
TORONTO -- As expected, Jimmy Rollins was not penciled into Philadelphia's lineup for Friday's series opener against Toronto at Rogers Centre. That's because Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has decided to rest the struggling shortstop for a while with the hope of awakening Rollins' sleeping bat. |
"Jimmy's sitting out again tonight," Manuel said prior to Friday's game.
The manager was not exactly sure when Rollins -- who also didn't play Thursday -- would return to the lineup. Manuel said he would take the situation on a "day-to-day basis."
Until that day comes, Manuel wants to keep an open line of communication with Rollins.
"I'll definitely talk to him today," Manuel said. "If he doesn't play tomorrow, I'll talk to him tomorrow. If he doesn't play the next day, I'll talk to him after that. I think he needs to sit down and kind of get a lot off his mind. Then when we put him back in there, he'll be ready to go."
Rollins is hitting just .211 on the season. Over 21 games in June, he has posted a .176 average. (16-for-91).
Manuel also said that when Rollins was told of the decision, the shortstop was rather reserved.
"He didn't say too much," Manuel said. "I think he understands it in a way. It wasn't like he was fine. I think he looks at it like, 'I've got to do something to get my swing going.' And he will get his swing going. It's just a matter of when. Sometimes you might not like it, but it takes a while."
David Singh is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
