Jimmy Rollins learned the game from Mom

Pretty interesting article in the New York Times today about Jimmy Rollins learning baseball from his mom -- an outwardly confident woman "known as much for her flair as for her game" when she played as a middle infielder for the Allen Temple Baptist Church women's fast-pitch softball team in the 80s.

Read: For Philadelphia's Rollins, a Game of Maternal Instinct

A small snippet:

Gigi Rollins knew she was good, exuded it, and made sure her sons adopted the same attitude. She told the young Jimmy: "Every time you take the field, you have to not think, but know that you're one of the best out there. And you will be." As for letting others know as well, she added this reminder, "A closed mouth doesn't get fed."

At age 9, Rollins would stand in front of a mirror and devise a cool walk because the proper meter would advertise that he "was somebody," he said. Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell, who played on Bay Area youth teams against Rollins, said that he had buzz around him even then.

...

Ever since his rookie year of 2001 he has honed and showcased what he has long dubbed "the Jimmy style," a sublime mix of electricity and undulating cool.

"He's got a swagger, but he doesn't hit you as cocky -- he's too nice," said Billy Wagner, the Mets' closer. "If I was as good as Jimmy Rollins, I'd walk around like that, too. But he takes the game seriously."

Pat Burrell on a tear. Will it last?

In case you haven't noticed, Pat Burrell has stepped up his game this season. Sure, we're not even two weeks into April. Anything could happen. But in 35 at-bats, he's putting up some impressive numbers so far.

AVG .400
OBP .512
SLG .857
12 RBIs (2nd best in NL)

By comparison, in 2007, it took Burrell almost a month-and-a-half to hit 4 homers and drive in 12 runs.

Regardless of how early it is, a few things have become clear. Burrell is being smarter at the plate. He's taking more pitches. And he looks even more confident than he did at the end of last season.

Fun New Quotes from Our Old Friend, Billy Wagner!

On Being Scared About the Philles:
"We're baseball players ... we go out there, play the game: see ball, hit ball, pitch. [The Phillies] do the same thing. They've got to be feeling good today - they won and we didn't. But it's not like, 'Jeez, the Phillies are coming to town, we're probably going to lose.' That's the furthest stuff from our mind."

On Hearing About the Phillies:
"We're a damn good team and - you know what? - as ugly, at times, as it looked today, tomorrow it's going to change. We're going to go out there and play the way we play and do well. I think we're all tired of hearing, 'The Phils have our number.' The Phils don't have our number. We keep shooting ourself in the foot every time we get out there. We've got to quit worrying about who we're playing and the mental aspects and just play the game."

On Being Scared (Part II):
"We don't worry about facing Ryan Howard and Chase Utley - we could care less."

On 'Stupid [Stuff]':
"[A television guy is] in there trying to say it's like an old girlfriend, baggage. You take her to a date, you dump her, you come back - he's trying to analyze our baseball team to a girlfriend. That's the stupid [stuff] you have to deal with."

On Charlie Manuel's comment, 'They'll talk, we'll hit. That's the only way I see it.':
"Tell the hillbilly that that's too late, they've already done that. But he's right. You know what? When they come here, they bring it. They show up and they play great and that's what we have to do."

On the Mets' Future:
"There's definitely confidence on their side ... But there's no lack of confidence over here, saying that we can't get those guys out, or [that] our hitters aren't as good as their hitters. We're a good team. We know that we're a good team. We know that we're going to go out there and, a month from now, we'll be hearing a different story."

Utley hits 99th & 100th career home runs against Reds

"To me, it's just another home run," he told the Associated Press. Oh, Utley, you coy little man.

Phils win, 8-4, reaching .500 -- 6 weeks faster than they did last year!

In other news, Brad Lidge is back.

Awww. Don't ya miss this face just a little bit?



Larry Bowa suspended for 3 games.

Phils pickup Rudy Seánez from Dodgers

Article here.

- Right-hander
- 39 years old
- 2007: 6-3, 3.79 ERA in 73 games
- Best season: 2005 (7-1, 2.69 ERA in 57 games).

Full career stats here.