CLEARWATER, Fla. – Jimmy Rollins made it crystal clear yesterday that this year his Fightin’ Phillies are here to beat up the Mets.
Over the winter, Rollins said his team is the class of the NL East. He was even stronger in his comments yesterday when asked if he still feels that way.
“Bottom line, we’re the team to beat,” the shortstop said. “I can’t put it any other way.”
There you have it David Wright & Co. The gauntlet is thrown down.
Rollins isn’t the only one talking this way. Manager Charlie Manuel’s message to his team on the first day of full-squad workouts was simple: “We’re here to win,” Manuel said. “We’ve got to win. Losing is not an option.”
Even though the Mets ran away with the division last year, Rollins said he thinks the Phillies are the better club now.
“Look at our team,” he said, mentioning star first baseman Ryan Howard, the addition of pitcher Freddy Garcia, and the continued development of Cole Hamels and Brett Myers. “Look at what we’re bringing. Look at the improvements we’ve made.”
What if his words upset the Mets?
“If they needed motivation to play this game,” Rollins said, “then they are playing the wrong game. They had a chance last year to go to the World Series. They made it to the playoffs.
“They won a division. Congratulations, but last year is over.
“They can take it any way they want; I’m just merely stating the facts.”
Good for Rollins. Too many players are afraid to say what they believe. Rollins, who hit 25 home runs last year and scored 127 runs, is not afraid. He is thinking World Series victory.
“Anything short of a ring is not a failure, but I wouldn’t consider it a great season,” Rollins said. “You play this game to be the champion, and we definitely have the team to do it.”
His teammates believe, too.
“But I’m just putting that exclamation point on it,” Rollins said. “If you are afraid, I really don’t want you on this team anyway . . . I want to put that pressure on them and myself.”
Rollins was happy the Mets did not sign free-agent Barry Zito, who joined the Giants.
“Am I glad Zito is in San Francisco instead of New York? Definitely,” Rollins said. “He wins. Regardless if you think he is good or that he is just OK, he wins. You can’t argue that point.
“To put him on that (Mets) staff, we’d have to think a little harder about thinking we’re the team to beat because they would be more of a handful.
“Their staff is getting a little older. It’s going to be a battle, no doubt, but I think we have the edge.
“The proof will be in the pudding at the end of the day, though,” Rollins added. “Hey, I’m not a big talker, but when there is a fact to be made, I’m not afraid to say it.”
Consider it said, Jimmy. Can’t wait until the real games start.