Rollins returns after birth of daughter

CHICAGO -- Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was back in the lineup Saturday after missing the past two games for the birth of his second daughter, Logan Aliya.

Coming just 22 months after the birth of his first daughter, Camryn, Rollins said he was better able to handle the stresses of childbirth and is happy to be back with the team. Logan's delivery went smoothly and is resting at home with Rollins' wife, Johari.

"Yeah, it's good to be back," Rollins said. "You know, the first kid it was definitely like, I'm watching games on TV thinking, 'There's no way in the world I can play. Not right now. Everything is crazy.' The second child, like I said, you're a little more relaxed. Mom is fine; everything is good. Gotta go to work, baby."

Rollins' two-game absence -- he was never formally placed on the paternity-leave list -- came the same week Mets second basemen Daniel Murphy missed the first two games of the season to be with his wife for the birth of his first child, Noah. Murphy was criticized for that decision by New York sports radio hosts Mike Francesa, Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton.

Players are allowed 1-3 days for paternity leave, a provision that was negotiated into the 2011 MLB Players Association collective bargaining agreement.

"I heard about it," Rollins said of the criticism. "I was just like, 'I know what you're going through.' It's really none of anyone else's business except for that family's, and I support Daniel. I did the same thing. Especially as his first child, I believe, you're going to take those days off. That's what we fought for.

"We play a season 162 games and we're home for a week, gone for a week, home for 10 days, gone for 10 days and for the next six months, you barely get to see your child."

Rollins also noted how the situation differs between football and baseball.

"Unlike, I think Boomer jumped in, you know football, where you get to be home six days a week or five days a week -- you don't get that luxury in baseball. So he [Murphy] did the right thing, made sure his child is fine, made sure his wife's OK. Hopefully he got to go home with the baby once the family was able to leave the hospital, everybody's settled. Then his mind is cleared and go back to work and get back to business."

As for why Rollins thinks Murphy got attacked on radio?

"Everybody feels like they have something to say and they want to be heard, and it's a radio show," Rollins said. "They need ratings. Controversy sells."