RollinsThe Phillies lost 5-3 last night. And though we can blame usually steady Antonio Bastardo and Mike Adams, and that slug Jeremy Horst, for squandering Roy Halladay’s 3-1 lead and then allowing the Pirates to mount themselves on top of it… let’s blame Jimmy Rollins instead. He cost the Phillies at least two runs last night with stupid, stupid baserunning.

In the first inning, he tried to stretch a leadoff single into a double by testing the fielding and throwing abilities of Andrew McCuthchen. Bad idea. He was thrown out, meaning that the bomb Chase Utley hit moments later was a solo shot. Rollins’ aggressiveness is noted, and appreciated, but still, J-Roll™ net: -1.

In the fifth, with Rollins on third and Utley on first (after a gorgeous and sexy little Chase bunt), AND NO OUTS, Rollins hesitated on a ground ball hit by Michael Young to (deep) third. It was early enough in the game for the Pirates to take the easy 5-4-3 double play and let Rollins score. But no, Rollins hesitated, waited until the throw went to second, and then came home. He was out by – no exaggeration – ten feet. So instead of two outs and a 3-1 lead, the Phillies had two outs, a one run lead, and Young on first, where, of course, he would be left stranded. J-Roll™ net: -2.

Phillies broadcasters – on both TV and radio – mostly ignored Rollins’ gaff. But the Pirates’ TV analyst (don’t know his name, don’t care) didn’t. Here’s what he had to say about it:

“It’s amazing to see things happen like this at the big league level. I mean that is about as boneheaded of a baserunning play as you can (sic). You got to break home when the ball is hit. You can’t let them turn a double play and be standing at third base. But he does nothing, he just stands at third base. And then he realized, “What am I doing? I should have run.” Now it’s too late. The horse is already out of the barn now. But he goes anyway and compounds his earlier mistake by making the second out at home plate. Very foolish.”

Very foolish indeed.

But at least Dom Brown made a sweet diving catch. See it, after the jump.