It’s Time To Move Jimmy Rollins Down in The Order

I think it is time to move Jimmy Rollins out of the number two spot in the lineup. When the Dodgers acquired the veteran shortstop from Philadelphia back on December 19 of last winter, the thought process was that he would be a bridge to top prospect Corey Seager.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

J-Roll has played in a lot of big games. Rollins was expected to play solid defense at shortstop, while providing a little pop at the plate. He would bat around .250, hit somewhere between 10-15 home runs, and steal anywhere from 25-30 bases. Despite the fact that he’s 36 years old and entering his sixteenth major league season.

Unfortunately things just haven’t worked out with Rollins. J-Roll has not hit a lick. He hit a game-winning three-run home run on opening day to beat the Padres, and hasn’t hit since then. Projections have him hitting around .230-.235 with ten home runs, and an 86 WRC+. Currently coming into today’s game Rollins is batting .201/.277/.333 (32 for 159) with four home runs and 13 runs batted in. Rollins has posted a 74 WRC+ in 177 plate appearances. He’s walked 17 times, and has almost as many whiffs (29) as he does base hits (32).

His power has completely disappeared. He has just 12 extra base hits, (.132 ISO), and he isn’t stealing bases either. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t get on base at all. He has a .277 OBP. That is way below his .326 career mark. He’s only hit 26 line drives this season, and I doubt that his bat speed is there anymore.

Live Feed

Call to the Pen

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

He’s played decent enough defense. However he isn’t providing any value offensively. However Don Mattingly insists on continuously batting him second in the lineup. Actually Rollins has never hit well in the second spot in the lineup. He has always hit better batting in the lower spots. Rollins has a career slash line of .250/.312/.378 batting second. You want the top two guys in the order to be getting on base. If they are not, then they shouldn’t be batting at the top of the lineup.

He hits the best in the sixth spot. When batting sixth, he is hitting .349/.369/.460 (44 for 126). He has an .830 OPS batting sixth, versus his .690 mark batting second. He’s hit lead-off most of his career, and has hit 179 of his 220 home runs at the lead-off position.

It doesn’t matter where he is hitting this year, he’s just not hitting at all. Yes I am aware that his BABIP is .220. Yes perhaps he’s had some poor batted ball luck. Regardless of that, it’s time to move Rollins down in the order. He’s not hitting, he’s not getting on base, and he’s mucking up the order. I am not saying to bench him, just move him down. Hit him sixth or seventh. Just please, please, for the love of god stop hitting him in the two hole.

It’s just not working out with J-Roll hitting second. It’s time to make a change.