Derek Bodner’s Blog

Jimmy Rollins failure to run out a pop fly last week is the stuff superstars do from time to time. Every now and then, a ball is misplayed and the player is caught. Occasionally superstars will get calls into the managers office after the game, and a private chat will be held to make sure said superstar doesn’t do it again.

This situation last week was anything but regular.

For an oft-regarded players manager like Charlie Manuel to bench the reigning National League Most Valuable Player mid-game for everyone to see was news. It’s also a move that in the wrong clubhouse, or from the wrong manager, could have been disastrous. Possibly more important than Manuel making the move was Rollins acceptance of it.

“I know better. He’s the manager, and that’s what he’s supposed to do. Charlie has two rules — be on time, and hustle. I broke one. That’s what happens”, Rollins said. “It’s like breaking the law and getting mad when the police show up.”

That’s the beauty of how the situation unfolded. Manuel handled it perfectly. By benching Rollins for the infraction, not only did he send a message to Rollins, but he also sent a message to everyone on the team. With two former MVP’s, a possible future MVP, and a Cy Young contender, there have been less accomplished players develop big heads and bad attitudes. Not only does it keep the stars inline, but everyone else lower on the totem pole knows they can be benched as well. After the game, Manuel didn’t air dirty laundry to the media. The benching was all that was needed to send the message, and the simple pronouncement that he and Jimmy had handled it left the press with no sound bites to let it linger.

Still, the situation could have gone bad had Rollins resented such treatment. After all, he is the reigning MVP, and with that award can come a sense of entitlement. But not in this clubhouse. Not with these players. And that’s why this team could be special down the line.