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A struggling Rollins earned a longer leash. So when the midseason grades were assigned through 83 games, Rollins was given a soft pat on the back by way of an "Incomplete." After all, he did miss a month with a bum ankle.
However, Rollins' behavior in the last seven weeks, culminating in Thursday's late arrival and subsequent benching in New York, has had an adverse effect on how the veteran shortstop should be handled.
In short, it's time to drop the kid gloves.
Through 103 games, 79 of which Rollins played, the grade is in for the reigning National League MVP. We're tagging Rollins with a D-plus - and the plus is only for his superb defense.
Part of Rollins' grade comes from his baffling attitude Thursday. When asked if his tardiness let the team down, Rollins replied, "No, not really," and took the opinion that reserve Eric Bruntlett's three hits were more than he could contribute, anyway.
Yikes. Perhaps Rollins should cease the cockeyed looks he has given when asked if the team misses the leadership of Aaron Rowand.
Rollins also must be graded on what has been a poor season statistically. Entering Saturday's game, Rollins was hitting .266, 11 points below his career average. He has six home runs after hitting 65 over the last two seasons.
Perhaps the most offensive statistic - and that's offensive, as in offending to those watching the games - Rollins has scored 42 runs in 79 games. That is way, way off his normal pace. Rollins averaged 125 runs a season over the last four years.
You can't blame that stat on his struggling teammates. Chase Utley had an MVP-worthy first half and a case could be made that both Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell were All-Star worthy.
With 58 games to go, Rollins will be lucky to score 90 runs this summer.
Before Friday's game, the Phillies held a team meeting in which manager Charlie Manuel voiced his concern that the club has lost an important personality trait.
"I think there's something missing on our team," Manuel told the media shortly after the meeting. "It's that little extra kick we had, that resilient effort."
In case you haven't noticed, that spark begins with Rollins.
It isn't a coincidence that when he was at his best, the team outscored the rest of the league en route to a division title; when Rollins has been at his worst this year, the offense has been remarkably mediocre.
It's long past time for J-Roll to get rolling, on and off the field. Fans can only hope that Rollins isn't late in realizing he needs to be the guy to get his team on track.
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Manny being Philly?: Reports circulated Friday night out of Boston that the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez were quickly moving toward a divorce.
After Terry Francona penciled the long-time slugger into the lineup, Ramirez complained of a knee injury (oh, and the MRI came back negative) and took himself out of the lineup.
It was the second time this week Ramirez told the Red Sox manager he could not play.
Ramirez's latest aloof behavior had many New Englanders clamoring for an end to the eight-year relationship between Ramirez and the Sox.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney, figuring that Boston won't deal Ramirez to an American League team, speculated that the Mets and Phillies could be suitors. Because of his hefty salary - he's still owed around $7 million this year - Ramirez might not cost more than Jayson Werth or Shane Victorino, plus prospects, according to Olney.
However, Ramirez was back in the lineup Saturday - and he actually played - so perhaps the bickering couple is making up again.
Before anyone becomes too enamored with the idea of Manny in red pinstripes, remember that the Phillies had a closed-door team meeting Friday afternoon during which work ethic and accountability were discussed.
Although Manuel and Ramirez have a history in Cleveland, it would be hard to believe Manny's laissez-faire attitude - or his shaky glove - would fly in Philadelphia. He would, however, potentially loosen everyone up and add a dimension to a punchless lineup.
o
Puzzling move of the week: The Houston Astros, who were in last place in the six-team National League West division heading into Saturday, bolstered their rotation by trading prospects for former Phillie Randy Wolf.
Kudos to the Padres, who dumped Wolf and his $3.5 million. As for the Astros, general manager Ed Wade really needs to take a look at the standings and ask himself if this trade makes any sense.
Wade, the Phils' former G.M., should know the Astros were 12½ games behind N.L. Central-leading Chicago.
Hey, at least the Astros are only 11½ back in the wildcard race, right?
Losers of 12 of their last 19 games, Wade and the Astros should surely be sellers, not buyers as Thursday's deadline approaches.
o
Trivial pursuit: Pat Burrell has 18 career home runs at Shea Stadium, which is (thankfully) closing its doors this season as the Mets get ready to move into Citi Field.
Burrell's home run total at Shea ranks second among active players and is tied for fifth all-time.
Who is the active leader among visiting player home runs at Shea, and who holds the overall mark?
o
Are the Minnesota Twins even trying to win?
Greg Genske, the agent for pitcher Francisco Liriano, has asked the players' union to investigate why his client is still in the minor leagues. Genske may have a point.
In his last 10 starts at Triple-A Rochester, Liriano is 9-0 with a 2.37 ERA. In his last five, the talented left-hander is 5-0 with a 0.29 ERA along with 42 strikeouts and five walks in 35 innings.
Yet Liriano's next start won't come with the Twins. He's scheduled to pitch for Rochester again today.
Liriano missed all of last season while recovering from left elbow surgery. However, you may remember a stretch two years ago when he was arguably the best pitcher in the majors.
In 14 starts from May 19-July 28, 2006, Liriano was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA. He finished the season 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 121 innings, good enough to take third in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting.
While Liriano continues to dominate in the minor leagues this year, the second-place Twins, 3 ½ games back of the White Sox in the A.L. Central, continue to send Livan Hernandez to the mound every fifth day. Hernandez has allowed a major-league high 190 hits this year, 32 more than anyone else. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings of work, only 15 pitches - including the venerable duo of Brett Myers and Adam Eaton - have higher ERAs than Hernandez's mark of 5.31.
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Future Phils file: Rollins better not be late for work again. His team may be busy grooming his eventual replacement.
The Phillies' decision to trade top hitting prospect Adrian Cardenas may have coincided with the emergence of shortstop Jason Donald. In 85 games at Double-A Reading, the 23-year-old University of Arizona product ranks in the top five in the Eastern League with 170 total bases.
The four players ahead of him have played in at least 100 games.
Donald is hitting .305 with 14 home runs, 54 RBIs and nine stolen bases. He has surpassed his 2007 homer total (12), which he amassed while hitting .304 with 71 RBIs in 134 games between Class A Lakewood and Clearwater.
Donald is one of two Phillies prospects selected to represent the United States in next month's Olympic Games in China. He's joining catcher Lou Marson, who leads the Eastern League with a .437 on-base percentage while hitting .321 with five home runs and 46 RBIs.
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Former Phils file: After Kyle Lohse and agent Scott Boras rejected a mutliyear offer from the Phillies this winter (reportedly in the three-year, $21 million range), the organization moved on and settled on reclamation project Kris Benson.
Sixteen months after undergoing rotator cuff and right elbow surgery, Benson is 1-4 with an 8.42 ERA in six minor-league starts for the Phillies. General manager Pat Gillick said earlier this week that it was "doubtful" that Benson would contribute to the Phils this year.
Meanwhile, Lohse keeps rolling in St. Louis. The durable right-hander received a no-decision in the Cards' 4-3 defeat to Milwaukee Tuesday. Lohse, who was acquired by the Phillies before last year's trading deadline, hasn't lost in more than two months. Since that May 8 loss, Lohse is 9-0 with a 2.60 ERA in 14 starts.
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Trivial answer: With 18 HRs at Shea Stadium, Burrell is one home run behind the active leader, Atlanta's Chipper Jones. With 26 homers, Mike Schmidt is tied with Willie Stargell for the all-time record at Shea. Dick Allen ranks second, with 21.
Reach Ryan Lawrence at ryanlawrence21@gmail.com, or visit his Phillies blog at: www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/delco times/ryanl/blog.html
