Jul 28 2008 02:05 PM
Green throws J-Roll under bus
By RANDY MILLER
phillyBurbs.com
PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Rollins might want to head the other way if he sees Dallas Green coming his way.
Big D isn’t happy with J-Roll’s recent behavior, and, as usual, the Phillies’ outspoken senior advisor to the general manager still isn’t bashful about speaking his mind.
“Jimmy and I have a pretty good relationship,” Green said Sunday in the middle innings of the Phillies’ 12-10 win over the Atlanta Braves. “I’ll tell him when I think he’s done right, and I’ll tell him when I think he’s done wrong.
“He’s done wrong. He’s done wrong for the team, he’s done wrong for himself and he’s done wrong for Charlie.”
Green, who will turn 73 next week and is in his 52nd season of pro baseball, strongly supports manager Charlie Manuel’s decision to pull Rollins from the game for not hustling on June 5, and he also agrees with Manuel’s benching of the 2007 National League MVP last Thursday for showing up at the ballpark late.
“I think we’re all disappointed in Jimmy’s reaction to what’s going on,” said Green, the manager of the Phillies’ only championship team in 1980. “His body language is just brutal right now. The body language doesn’t say that ‘I’m busting my [rear] right now.’ ”
Hearing Rollins’ post-game comments last Thursday bothered Green. Rollins said he was stuck in traffic and didn’t think he let the team down because replacement Eric Bruntlett had three hits in a loss to the Mets at Shea Stadium. Green doesn’t think Rollins realizes he’s been a problem, and adds most of his teammates surely aren’t happy with him. “Jimmy doesn’t sense, I don’t think, that the guys are starting to get upset with him,” Green said. Rollins hasn’t had a great season on the field, either, although he did contribute two hits, including his first homer in 33 games in Sunday’s victory. Afterward, Rollins basically blew off the media for the third day in a row. A day after offering a “what a game; that’s my quote” statement, Rollins was asked for a second of his time after Sunday’s game and said, “Your second’s up” while leaving the clubhouse. According to one major league scout, a change in Rollins was noticed back in March.
“He didn’t run out a ball in spring training,” the scout said.
When the Phillies were vying for the pennant in 1980, Green had an off-the-field issue with Garry Maddox and didn’t start the eighttime Gold Glove center fielder six games in a row in the final week of the regular season.
“You gotta go with the rules you set,” Green said. “If the rule is disobeyed, you gotta follow through with it, and Charlie did.”
Years later, Green says he wouldn’t be so harsh on Rollins, although sitting him one game wouldn’t be his punishment for tardiness.
“I wouldn’t have played [Rollins] the next day,” Green said, “but it’s a different time. Charlie did the right thing. Charlie said that he talked to him, and they got it straightened out. I assume that’s what happened.”
Randy Miller can be reached at randarino@aol.com.