Odubel Herrera walked on the next pitch to load the bases. Franco then drove one into the seats in left field.

"We know what he is; he's a gamer," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "This game he likes to play. He does not feel sorry for himself. He doesn't pout. He goes up there to do damage."

"I talked about that with Ruben after the season that it was something that he needed to work on because he is Ryne Sandberg and he is the manager," Rollins said. "So as a manager, you have to deal with 25 personalities. Actually more because guys get hurt and guys come up [from the minors]. So it isn't just about the X's and O's and executing the game plan.

"When you manage, you have to manage the players. You manage the game during the game time. In the meantime, you have to manage the players. … But obviously whatever happened over here [in Philadelphia], he took it upon himself to say he didn't really want to be a part of it anymore."

Rollins was referring to when Sandberg abruptly resigned June 26 leaving Pete Mackanin to step in as interim manager.

Since Mackanin took over managing duties, he has been seen in the clubhouse very often, lightening the mood and communicating with players. Sandberg didn't make the same effort and Rollins recognized that.

"It was a rough place," Rollins said. "But that is where communication comes in. When you are able to talk things through and fix those rough patches or not even have them. But it just didn't work out that way."

Even though Rollins spent his entire career in Philadelphia prior to this season, he had other managers to compare Sandberg with, like Charlie Manuel and current bench coach Larry Bowa.

"He was different than [both of them] at the time," Rollins said. "You can't expect to have the same guy in there. His personality and being Ryne Sandberg was established long before he became a manager. When he got here we had him for a year at third base and we knew he was very quiet. As a manager, you have to be more open because you have to deal with different personalities. Obviously, there was a difference with all three of them. And you could see it too."

Ironically, hours after telling all about Sandberg, Rollins tied him for 123rd on Major League Baseball's all-time hit list with 2,386 in his second at-bat of the night.

But is all that Mackanin's doing? Sounds like it's possible, according to Rollins, who knows Mackanin very well from his time in Philadelphia.

"You get some experience at the helm," Rollins said. "He's in that sense the complete opposite [of Sandberg]. He's always talking, cracking jokes, keeping things light. And he knows the game. That's why he's always been in baseball and been kept around. Because he does know the game and he keeps things light."

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:I think you have a decent race for ROY as of right now, Joc isn't running away with it anymore


AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS/OPS+/HR

Joc) 428/.222 /.349/.452/.801 /122 /21

walks at much higher rate, slightly higher HR per AB, better defensive position value

Maikel) 298/.282/.339 /.491/.830/128/12

hits more, has higher slugging, performing well on bad team

Werthless wrote:

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:I think you have a decent race for ROY as of right now, Joc isn't running away with it anymore


AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS/OPS+/HR

Joc) 428/.222 /.349/.452/.801 /122 /21

walks at much higher rate, slightly higher HR per AB, better defensive position value

Maikel) 298/.282/.339 /.491/.830/128/12

hits more, has higher slugging, performing well on bad team

Kris Bryant is leading. A couple pitchers (Syndergard with 2.66 ERA, Heston with 11 wins) should also receive consideration. Franco probably finishes 3rd or 4th.

Werthless wrote:

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:I think you have a decent race for ROY as of right now, Joc isn't running away with it anymore


AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS/OPS+/HR

Joc) 428/.222 /.349/.452/.801 /122 /21

walks at much higher rate, slightly higher HR per AB, better defensive position value

Maikel) 298/.282/.339 /.491/.830/128/12

hits more, has higher slugging, performing well on bad team

Kris Bryant is leading. A couple pitchers (Syndergard with 2.66 ERA, Heston with 11 wins) should also receive consideration. Franco probably finishes 3rd or 4th.

Rockinghorse wrote:Wow, Jimmy made it sound like in-game management was Ryne's strong point...yikes

pacino wrote:unless he has some monster month of August and/or September, Franco won't get it.

BigEd76 wrote:Matt Duffy (Panda's replacement in SF) is in the mix too

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:I think you have a decent race for ROY as of right now, Joc isn't running away with it anymore


AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS/OPS+/HR

Joc) 428/.222 /.349/.452/.801 /122 /21

walks at much higher rate, slightly higher HR per AB, better defensive position value

Maikel) 298/.282/.339 /.491/.830/128/12

hits more, has higher slugging, performing well on bad team

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:

Werthless wrote:

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:I think you have a decent race for ROY as of right now, Joc isn't running away with it anymore


AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS/OPS+/HR

Joc) 428/.222 /.349/.452/.801 /122 /21

walks at much higher rate, slightly higher HR per AB, better defensive position value

Maikel) 298/.282/.339 /.491/.830/128/12

hits more, has higher slugging, performing well on bad team

Kris Bryant is leading.... Bryant doesn't have high enough traditional numbers (he's batting .246) to overcome the media storm that will follow the Mets' young pitchers.

jamiethekiller wrote:Pistachio girl is obviously the best because i've seen those cans on the internet