Fri Apr 11 16:08:13 2008

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Phillies stumble without Rollins

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(Sports Network) - Many teams can be expected to stumble when they lose a Most Valuable Player due to injury. True to form, the Philadelphia Phillies lost two straight to the New York Mets without shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the lineup.

Rollins suffered a sprained left ankle sliding back into second base in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Mets, the Phillies' ninth straight win over their National League East rivals.

Rollins stayed in the game and even scored in the inning, but was unable to start in games two and three of the series on Wednesday and Thursday. Not surprising, Philadelphia dropped both games by a 12-5 margin.

The 2007 NL MVP did pinch-hit on Thursday, striking out, and is day-to-day with the injury. He hopes to play Friday night versus the Cubs.

Many people argue over the definition of an MVP. One side of the coin says it is the most valuable player to his team, while opponents of that theory say it is simply the best player in the league.

Lucky for the Phillies, they have both arguments on their club.

Ryan Howard took home MVP honors in 2006 after slugging 58 homers and driving in 149 runs, solidifying himself as the best player in the NL that year.

Rollins, meanwhile, took home the hardware last year through consistency and leadership. He proclaimed the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East and backed that up by setting career highs in average (.296), home runs (30) and RBI (94) in addition to 41 steals and a .344 on-base percentage in leading the Phils to their first division title since 1993.

The shortstop entered last year with a 36-game hitting streak that he stretched two more games in 2007, marking the fourth-longest run in NL history and longest in Phillies history. He also had his 230 games-played streak ended on Wednesday, which was the third longest active streak at the time.

Was he the best player in the NL last season? Maybe not, but Rollins was more valuable to his club than any other player in the league. While Howard can be pitched around in the lineup and often strikes out, making him huge risk-huge reward, Rollins is a danger at the plate, on the bases and in the field.

That became much cleared in the two games he missed. Rollins, a three-time NL All-Star who won his first Gold Glove last year, was replaced in the starting lineup by Eric Bruntlett. Bruntlett, though, made two of Philadelphia's four errors in Wednesday's loss, and went just 1-for-10 at the plate in his two starts.

PHILS ADD BULLPEN PIECE

The Phillies signed left-handed reliever Steve Kline to a minor league deal on Thursday. The 35-year-old was released by San Francisco at the end of spring training and will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Kline could add experience to the Phils' bullpen, as he entered the league in 1997. He spent the last two years with the Giants and went 5-5 with three saves in 140 games. He posted a 3.66 earned run average in 2006, but that number rose to 4.70 last year.

The lefty is the second reliever the Phillies have added since the season started. Philadelphia signed 39-year-old Rudy Seanez on April 2 after the right-hander was released by the Dodgers.

Philly is hoping to find itself another J.C. Romero early on in the season. The left-hander went 1-0 with a save and 3.15 ERA with Boston in 2007 before being acquired by the Phillies midway though the season. In 51 games with Philadelphia, Romero went 1-2 with a 1.24 ERA to earn a multi-year deal with the club this past offseason.

WHO'S HOT

After a poor spring, Cole Hamels has been outstanding through two starts this year. The young left-hander is 1-1 through two starts with a 1.20 ERA, and has struck out 10 batters in 15 innings.

Hamels' loss came in a 1-0 decision to Washington in a game in which the Phillies offense managed just one hit. Hamels did his part, holding the Nationals to only one run in eight innings.

The 24-year-old, who is slated to start Saturday versus the Cubs, then defeated the Cincinnati Reds on April 7 after giving up just two runs (1 earned) on five hits and three walks over seven innings while fanning four.

WHO'S NOT

In his first year as the Phillies' starting center fielder, Shane Victorino is struggling mightily. The former right fielder is batting a mere .175 on the season after getting just seven hits in 40 at-bats through Thursday. Victorino has three walks and eight strikeouts on the season after hitting .281 last year with 37 steals.

Victorino strikes out a lot for a two-hole hitter, but was making plays at key times last year while playing a great right field. He is no slouch defensively in center either, but needs to get his bat going, especially while he fills in at the leadoff spot with Rollins sidelined.

ON DECK

The Phillies return home to host the Chicago Cubs for a three-game weekend set. Brett Myers (0-1, 6.30 ERA) will toe the rubber on Friday against Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 1.32).

Hamels (1-1, 1.20) squares off against Ted Lilly (0-1, 9.72) in a battle of lefties on Saturday, while ageless left-hander Jamie Moyer (1-0, 4.66) will face an unknown starter in Sunday's finale.

Philadelphia is off on Monday before hosting the Houston Astros and New York Mets to round out a nine-game homestand.