Phillies Insider: Rollins' Actions Are Alarming

There is an image I remember from a Phillies game. I think it was from the 2006 season.

The Phillies had just wrapped up a win against who-knows-who. As the players convened to the field, Rollins walked out of the dugout with Charlie Manuel, playfully slapping and pushing one another.

It was an image that I remember thinking encapsulated the at-ease relationship Rollins and Manuel shared.

Those good times are few and far between nowadays.

This season, Manuel has benched Rollins for violating the manager's only two rules - hustle and show up on time.

Rollins was scratched from the starting lineup against the Mets Thursday afternoon because the reigning MVP was stuck in Flushing, Queens traffic on his way to the ballpark. Manuel told reporters that Rollins, who arrived to Shea Stadium approximately one hour before the game, let him know of his situation ahead of time.

Manuel quickly defused reporters' request to talk about the incident, saying in an all too familiar fashion that he and Rollins handled the matter "in-house."

Manuel said similar words back on June 5, when Rollins was removed from a game against the Cincinnati Reds for failing to hustle out of the batter's boxafter hitting a pop fly that was dropped.

Rollins told reporters after Thursday's game that he didn't agree with Manuel's decision... and added this:

"It's the same thing I do all the time -- leave 10 minutes after the (team) bus when I drive myself. You can't change the lights."

Here's the problem: Rollins shouldn't be driving alone to any road game that requires a team shuttle, let alone a rivalry game against the Mets, where huge ramifications (first place in the division) are at stake. What makes him so special? Rollins is the emotional leader. He's the energizer. He's the sparkplug. He's the heart and soul... and he should have been on that bus.

Rollins' actions are becoming a growing concern. Not only is he arriving late, he's also not doing the little things that earned him MVP honors last season.

The game against the Reds was the first red flag. Rollins owned up to the mistake and agreed that Manuel was right in pulling him.

Last week, Rollins was chastised for not hustling around the bases on a first-to-third against the Marlins. He might have been able to score. Instead, he was stranded on third base and the Phillies lost by a run.

Rollins hasn't been the same player this season. It goes beyond the numbers. And it goes beyond the apparent riff in his relationship with Manuel.

Jimmy Rollins is simply not into it anymore. Having already declared MVP status, Rollins is resting on his laurels.

The me-first attitude is costing Rollins playing time. And it's crumbling the team.