J-Roll Fields NL MVP

Diminutive shortstop backed up swagger with hot hitting, Gold Glove defense

By Jesse Andrews

Posted Nov 20, 2007 10:22 PM CST

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J-Roll Fields NL MVP — A Jimmy Rollins fan holds up a sign during the Philadelphia Phillies' baseball game with the Washington Nationals in Philadelphia, in this Sept. 30, 2007 file photo. The Phillies won 6-1, taking the NL East title. Rollins was voted the NL Most Valuable Player Tuesday Nov. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek) (Associated Press)

Jimmy Rollins, who helped fulfill his bold prediction of a playoff appearance for the long-suffering Phillies, squeaked by Colorado's Matt Holliday for the National League MVP award, reports MLB.com. At 353 voting points, his 17-point margin over the brawny Rockies slugger was the slimmest in 16 years.

Rollins yielded a scant 11 errors all season at shortstop, enough for the Gold Glove, and as the team's leadoff hitter batted .296 with 30 HRs, 20 triples, 94 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in a league-record 716 at-bats. Said manager Charlie Manuel of his shortstop, "Once he popped up, he put his intensity where his mouth was. He likes the stage. Jimmy has what I'd call a good cockiness."

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