Rollins to leadoff for Dodgers; aiming to steal 25 bases

Jimmy Rollins will be setting the table for the Los Angeles Dodgers offense this season.

"That's the one guy that I think that we are pretty sure about," manager Don Mattingly told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. "Jimmy's really kind of that leadoff guy."

Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, Rollins will move into his more comfortable slot in the batting order after spending the majority of last season in the two-hole. 

"It feels like the game starts later for you," Rollins said of hitting second. "I was accustomed to being the leadoff hitter, where you're thrown into the fire. I just like that feeling of having to go out there and lead the way.

"So to be back there, as of now, you feel like you're that fire-starter again, like you'll be that sparkplug that gets things going."

Part of the reason as to why Rollins has over 6,000 at-bats hitting from the leadoff position is because of his speed, and while the 36-year-old understands his days of stealing 40-plus bags are behind him, he still feels his legs will play a major role in his game this season. 

"I was disappointed with 28 bases (last season), but it's what it was," Rollins said. "I always set a goal. It used to be that 30 was the minimum. Now, I've kind of cut that back to 25 with aspirations to get to 30."