Jimmy Rollins Ready To Lead And Win With The Dodgers
For a player with a World Series ring, MVP Award, multiple Gold Gloves and the record-holder in several Philadelphia Phillies statistical categories, Jimmy Rollins is far from satisfied.
During his introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Rollins sat alongside Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi, spoke of the lure that comes with playing for the Dodgers and couldn’t hide his desire for wanting to accomplish more.
“I haven’t won enough rings,” Rollins said. “That’s why I put on this uniform to play 162 games and qualify. I haven’t won enough so maybe I can make up for that here.”
As for Clayton Kershaw’s ‘World Series or bust’ mantra that the Dodgers were unable to fulfill last season, Rollins saw no issue with the sentiment. “That’s something we have to believe in, not just saying it,” he said. “It’s believing it.”
When asked if the same expectation should carry over in 2015 Rollins offered sees no reason it shouldn’t. “Why not?” he asked.
The veteran shortstop also said he wasn’t surprised by being traded after spending his entire 15-year career in Philadelphia and called Los Angeles the only place he was interested in being dealt to. He also reaffirmed his desire to assume a leadership role and said he’s already spoken with manager Don Mattingly to discuss the makeup of the team and what’s expected of him.
“My first question was about leadership,” Rollins said. “What was the leadership in the clubhouse? Who does what? Who’s quiet? Who speaks out? And he gave me the rundown and pretty much there let me know how he wants me to fit in and what my role should be not on the field, but in the clubhouse.”
While key players such as Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez, both of whom assumed some form of a leadership role are no longer with the team, Rollins joins a relatively veteran nucleus led by Adrian Gonzalez, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw.
During his time with the Phillies, Rollins was very much the heartbeat of their franchise and was instrumental in ending their 28-year World Series drought in 2008. Now at 35 years old, he faces a similar challenge with the Dodgers, who haven’t won a World Series or reached the Fall Classic since 1988.
Did you See What Jimmy Rollins Had To Say About The History Of The Dodgers Organization?
Hopefully he steps up when it counts. I’m a lil skeptical
iF cOLE LEAVES US, TOO. i WILL NEED TO BECOME A DODGERS TEAN WHIHC I HATED WHEN THEY CAME TO HOUSTON TO PLAY THE ASTROS. POOR TOMMY LASORDA WOULD GET BOOED AS SOON AS HE WALKED ON THE FEED.
Dodgers not giving the Phillies what they want for Hamels so you can rest easy…he won’t be a Dodger anytime soon
Jimmy Rollins is a great addition..trouble is, it is about 6 years too late….I doubt the Dodgers will get that MVP type season that he had with the Phillies. Some offense, better defense than Han Ram, but he is close to 37…and that is what you are goin to get ..a SS in his declining years….