NEW YORK – Jimmy Rollins has been around and seen it all. Played on a last place team and a World Series champion.
He’s played under a variety of manager types including Terry Francona, Larry Bowa and Charlie Manuel with the Phillies and Robin Ventura in his first year with the White Sox and knows turning tables over in the clubhouse doesn’t get results on the field.
People who want to see that “watch a lot of baseball movies from the ’80s and ’90s,’’ Rollins said Monday. “Do those things happen? Yeah, but everybody is like (raising one eyebrow) ‘There you go again.’ ”
When teams are spiraling downward as the Sox are – they lost for the 15th time in 19 games Saturday – no pep talk or magic words will fix things, the 37-year-old former MVP says.
“Each individual, when their time is called they have to perform and find a way to do it,’’ Rollins said.
“It’s psychological. You talk to guys, see where their mind is at. Maybe hit a reset button for some of the guys. Encourage. Make sure everybody keeps things in perspective. It’s been a rough stretch. Fortunately it’s now and not September.’’
The Sox were 17-8 in April but they fell to 10-17 in May and if their seven-game losing streak isn’t halted they very well could be a couple games under .500 before they return home next week.
“When the calendar turned to May, we started losing traction and put on the slippery tires,’’ Rollins said. “Fortunately we were able to build enough of a lead that, losing a thousand games in a row it feels like, we’re still right in the thick of things.
“But you can’t stay in that valley too long. We’ve been in it too long.’’