Home Run Drought was Latest Thing Not Worrying Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins has confidence, which is great.

Confidence is something we need.  Mindless, thoughtless confidence, as we stand on the edge of the abyss, knowing the slightest doubt will send us plummeting over the edge…

Jul 21, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) grounds out during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes, baseball makes us think that a plunge into endless darkness which culminates in our own demise is the best way to go.  But not Jimmy Rollins!  Even after a series loss to the Mets that clearly is indicative of how the rest of the season will go, despite an NL East division that is falling apart and the Phillies winning four straight series heading into the All-Star break, Jimmy is still pretty sure things will go okay.

For instance, if you just take a peak of a microcosm of his game, you’ll see he hasn’t lost a step.

I mean, it looks like he’s lost a step, because he’s not moving as fast or hitting as well, but confidence-wise, he’s the same as ever.  When he led off the second game of this series with a home run – something he’d done 44 times before – he hadn’t hit a home run in 161 at-bats.

Now, we don’t expect power from Jimmy.  Half the time, production itself is a miracle, when he’s in one of those pop-up downward spirals.  But he is entirely capable of a dinger once and again, and that he hadn’t hit one in so long… well, it wasn’t very apparent, because there are bigger problems to worry about.  But after becoming aware of it, you are like, “damn.”

But Jimmy’s not thinking about that.

"“I don’t know how to put it, but it wasn’t even in my mind. I’m trying to get some doubles. That’s what I’m really trying to do.”–Jimmy Rollins"

And really, he shouldn’t be thinking about it.  Nobody needs Wille Mayes-Hayes in Major League II syndrome.  The leadoff spot will take a large enough hit as it is with Ben Revere out for forever.