Phillies' Rollins opens season trying to extend hitting streak

PHILADELPHIA -- Since Jimmy Rollins last went hitless in a game for Philadelphia, the Phillies again failed to make the playoffs, the Chicago White Sox ended an 88-year championship drought and the seasons changed three times -- summer to fall to winter to spring.

Six months after ending last season with a 36-game hitting streak, Rollins resumes his pursuit of Joe DiMaggio's major league record of 56 when the Phillies host the St. Louis Cardinals in their season opener today.

"I'm fortunate to be in a situation where I have the chance to do something special," Rollins said. "Am I ready to handle the pressure? I don't know. I've never been in this position, so we'll all go through it together. I don't mind the pressure."

A three-time All-Star shortstop, Rollins nearly helped the Phillies reach the playoffs by hitting .379 during his streak.

Now Rollins has his sights on breaking DiMaggio's 65-year-old record. There is a catch, though, because DiMaggio accomplished his feat in the same season. The major league marks for longest hitting streak in one season and longest hitting streak spanning two seasons are separate records.

DiMaggio holds both with his 56-game streak in 1941, but there is a difference in the NL records: Pete Rose (1978) and Willie Keeler (1897) share the NL mark at 44 games. However, Keeler got a hit in his final game of 1896, so his run of 45 games overall is the first record Rollins can chase.

"You have to start over in your approach," Rollins said. "There's no pennant chase now, so I'm going to have to find other things to focus on."

Rollins' hitting streak is the ninth-longest over one season in big league history and the longest in the majors since 1987, when Paul Molitor hit safely in 39 consecutive games.

Rollins and the rest of the Phillies' hitters have a tough task in their first game because they'll be facing National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter.