January 8th, 2015 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka After nearly a month of on-again/off-again rumors and a prolonged delay due to Matt Kemp’s physical with the San Diego Padres, Dodgers new shortstop Jimmy Rollins was finally introduced to the L.A. media at a press conference held at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. And if there was one overlying theme as to what the 36-year-old, 15-year MLB veteran sees as his top priority with his new team, it is leadership in the clubhouse.
“My first question [to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly] was about leadership; What was the leadership in the clubhouse? Who does what? Who’s quiet? Who speaks out?” Rollins said. “And he gave me the run down and pretty much there letting me know how he wants me to fit in and what my role should be, not on the field but in the clubhouse, and trying to be the glue that holds everything together.”
Although Rollins detailed the importance of leadership on the field, especially in the shortstop role where he see everything going on in front of him, he quickly got right back to the importance of the off-the-field stuff – the behind-the-scenes stuff that wins championships.
“When things get a little bit out of whack, may get a little crazy and hectic and attitudes flare, try to bring everybody back down,” Rollins said. “Don’t let them get too far left or right.”
Although he may not have realized it, the leadership qualities that Jimmy Rollins spoke of during his introductory press conference on Wednesday afternoon almost had a 1988 Kirk Gibson-esque feel to them – and we all know how that worked out. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
As for what he thought about playing on the same team with 24-year-old outfielder Yasiel Puig, the Oakland, California native said what undoubtedly every other opposing player thinks about the exciting but often controversial Cuban superstar, and yet again hinted towards clubhouse leadership.
“It’s gonna be fun,” said Rollins. “Obviously I got to play against him. I remember the first time, he might have been stealing a bag or running into second for a double and I just remember thinking ‘This dude is fast and big and I would not like to have him on a football field, and I’m glad to be standing.’
“He’s talented, he puts on a show, which is fine,” added Rollins. “Hopefully we keep all of that energy going in the right direction. He’s going to be a star, he is a star and we’ve just got to keep pushing him, going in the right direction that everybody else follows.”
When asked about the situation in Philadelphia over the last couple of years, Rollins was extremely professional and tactful, but was also very direct.
“It wasn’t the best of things,” said Rollins. “Obviously no one comes into a season with the intent to lose. Coming off of five straight divisions, winning the World Series, losing, being within a game… a run, feeling like we’ve got the best team in baseball in ’11 and just wasn’t able to do it, it made it tough coming after that … After ’11 it was like that magic was gone. I can’t explain it, it was just gone.”
The 20 minute press conference wasn’t all serious business and had several lighter moments, especially when Rollins was asked what he thought of the Dodgers in 1988 when he was nine years old and the biggest Oakland A’s fan on the planet.
“I didn’t like the Dodgers… sorry Tommy (who was sitting in the front row), I really didn’t like the Dodgers,” said Rollins and drawing laughter from the crowd. “I love the color, blue is my favorite color so I’ve been attracted to the uniform. Obviously being a Nor Cal kid you really don’t pull for southern California teams. But once I started coming here and playing against the teams, seeing the crowd in L.A., liking the field, the lights flashing back when Piazza was hitting home runs and stuff, I was like ‘This is pretty special,’ it’s a production it feels like.
“You’re putting on a show and baseball is entertainment and this is a place that allows you to entertain, so it was very attractive for that reason,” Rollins added. “But when I was growing up as a kid, after ’88, I didn’t really like the Dodgers too much.”
It may be all smiles now between Rollins and Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, but when the Dodgers beat his Oakland A’s in 1988, the then nine-year-old Rollins “Didn’t really like the Dodgers too much.” (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
What kind of team does Rollins think the 2015 Dodgers will be?
“We’re going to be fun, it’s going to be a fun team to watch, I can guarantee that much,” Rollins answered. “Everybody is going to be pulling in the same direction and you’re going to get our best. Wherever we’re playing they’re going to get our best.”
But it was Rollins’s answer to one of the final questions asked of the three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove, former NL MVP and World Series champ that should have Dodger fans feeling pretty good heading into 2015: Is it reasonable to expect a World Series Championship from the Dodgers this year?
“Why not?” Rollins answered.
Why not, indeed.
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Jimmy is probably quite relieved to be out of Philadelphia.
That seems to be quite a task to be brought in to be the glue that holds things together in the clubhouse. I wonder if that can be assigned. It seems it would have to evolve.
I kind of imagine we might see quite a bit of footage of Rollins, Uribe and Puig probably with Rollins in a headlock.
I think it is extremely important that Andre gets moved. There is no way he will be a happy camper again this season as he has stated his position. That will not make for a good clubhouse situation. Maybe Carl gets moved to open a spot in the outfield.
I also think Rollins will be super motivated in a new situation, wanting to be a leader, and looking for a new contract in 2016.
I would hate to see Crawford moved over Ethier – he is WAY more valuable to the team than Andre with perhaps the exception of his arm; although that seemed a lot better towards the end of last season, which suggests that his shoulder surgery has finally healed.
I encourage you to watch the Rollins press conference. Perhaps then your doubts about his leadership ability would diminish – but maybe not. Here it is: http://www.sportsnetla.com/content/snla/shows/access-sportsnet-dodgers.oVqQogbtFF8s.html
I don’t and didn’t question his ability at leadership at all. I didn’t even mention ability.
As stated above I am just wondering if you can assert that you are the leader, that is why you are coming aboard and it simply happens. It is my belief that leadership among equals (25 man roster) is difficult to ascribe or claim and most likely must evolve and be earned. That can all happen at ST so it doesn’t have to be a long evolution.
I’m not saying Jimmy can’t or won’t earn that respect and function as clubhouse glue but I think it must be earned and that as stated it is no easy task. In my opinion it might have been better to just go to work at the leadership role and not announce it as your priority. It also suggests others who might have been considered as leaders didn’t provide the glue. Maybe there was no glue but guys like Clayton, Juan Uribe, Justin Turner come to mind.
I surely don’t want to start a controversy but if Don Mattingly told Jimmy that was his role – on or off the field – I think Donnie should have done that in confidence. I don’t understand why he would give the run down on his players.
I too would prefer now that Andre be moved but the outfield glut still has to be addressed in whatever way they can do it.
I watched the interview and it was indeed a good one. As mentioned when Jimmy is on his game publicly he is a bit effervescent and smiles a lot. Thankfully he is not prone to using worn out cliches. Only way it could have been better is if Sandra Bullock was being interviewed.
He addressed the respect I mentioned and earning it. He spoke often of a group working together and that leadership is situational and not a one man show. At least that is part of what I took from his other answers.
I think the Dodgers pitchers will have a strong infield behind them, Rollins leading all MLB shortstops with a .988 FP.
🙂
It is so very difficult to put into a brief article what was said during a press conference (or an interview). It is even more difficult to express the “feel” of them. This is why I felt that you might have a better understanding of Rollins’s clubhouse leadership comments after seeing the full press conference, which seems to be the case.
I fully understand that being deemed a clubhouse leader is something that must be earned and not just claimed, but both Rollins and Howie Kendrick clearly have so much to offer to the youngsters on this Dodger team – if they are willing to listen, that is. Both of these guys give me a (very strong) impression that they will be GREAT for the likes of Puig, Joc, Van Slyke and the other kids who will be in the Dodgers clubhouse at Camelback Ranch and Dodger Stadium.