Mike_schmidt_media
Mike Schmidt held his annual State of the Phillies address today. Michael Jack is bascially Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own in his role with the Phillies- minus the women and all the drinking. A couple of times a year, he comes out, waves his cap around, gives the people a thrill. If there's ever an organ grinder, he'll do a little dance if his knees are feeling up to it. You usually get the sense that he'd rather be golfing, but deep down inside, he cares about the team.

Oh yeah, and he takes jabs at Jimmy Rollins and the rest of the lineup: [Delco Times]

They all know how the game should be played. But Polanco is the one guy who is willing to play it all the time. He's geared in to that being sort of his game. His game is playing it right. He can play on any team anywhere at any time…

…I look for a Rollins to push a 200-hit year. I look for Victorino to have a 200-hit year and we're talking in those terms: 100 walks, 200 hits. They're sort of out there for goals with those guys that you haven't seen in the last few years. They are part of a winning team, don't get me wrong, but I still think they are underachieving as players.

Jimmy Rollins can't do what Pete Rose did, just take a year. I mean Pete Rose got 200 hits 10 straight years and Jimmy is faster. I just think Pete understood more what his role was. Jimmy needs to be more Pete Rose-like in his approach to the game and more accountable for getting on base. Offensively, he's about running and getting on base and getting hits and leading the league in hitting. He wants to look at the USA Today every day or the Inquirer and see his name right up there in the top three of hitting. It should be, right? Same with Victorino and I know they feel that way.

 

Well, we know how you feel, Mike.

He's actually 100% right on Rollins. No one is going to pretend that Rollins doesn't care about winning, but what's the phrase Larry Bowa used, "red light is on?" Rollins seems to save his best for the big moments. That's fine and all, but, especially in this contract year, he needs to do that everyday. Showing up early to spring training was just a small step in that process.

As for the playing the game the right way comment, I'm fairly certain Chase Utley is sharpening his shiv as we speak. 

And that Pete Rose character would look great on a t-shirt…oh, tease!

Much more from Schmidt at DelcoTimes.com.