Jimmy Rollins: MVP.

A look at the moments that made 2007 the Year of J-Roll.

Jan. 22: Rollins to Mets: Beat us.

The year began with a boom in the National League East, as Rollins admitted the Phillies were superior (on paper) than their New York rivals. It lit a fire under the Mets, who opened the season with a lead in the East, including a big series win against Rollins (who made a crucial error) and the Phils at Shea Stadium. But, as we know, the fire wasn’t made to last for six months.

April 25: After starting the season 4-11, Rollins helps lead the Phillies to a fifth win in a row, a 9-3 win over Washington. Rollins knocks his eighth homer of the season, keeping the National League lead. He upped his slugging percentage to .659.

June 5-7: The month of May was not particularly good for J-Roll, but he came back strong in June, going 7-14 with a home run, 4 RBIs and 2 SBs in a crucial 3-game sweep of the Mets at Shea.

July 13-14: Maybe feeling snubbed after the All Star Game, which he wasn’t picked to attend, Rollins goes a combined 6-10 with homers in back-to-back games agasint the Cardinals, preventing the team’s 10,000th loss for a short while. Rollins got pushed aside by Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and the Brewers’ JJ Hardy.

August 27-30: Rollins puts together four consecutive multi-hit games, knocking two homers and getting on base half the time against the Mets in a gigantic four-game sweep at the Vault. It pulls the Phils close to the Mets and sets up a September to remember.

September 15: Rollins strikes a pitch to centerfield in the eighth inning of a tie game against the Mets at Shea. Carlos Beltran, usually a rock in center, misplays the fly and has to backtrack. His glove doesn’t reach the ball, sailing over his head and to the wall. Rollins barrels into third base with his 18th triple of the season, scoring Wes Helms and Pete LaForest and giving the Phils the lead. The Phils would win, sweeping the Mets and preparing the team for a final two-week surge for the NL East title.

September 30: The final game of the regular season. The Phillies and Mets are tied for first place in the NL East, and already in Queens, the Mets are down 7-1 to the Marlins. Jimmy Rollins leads off the Phillies offense with a single. Then he steals second. Then he steals third. Chase Utley flies a shallow pop to right field, and Rollins, probably biting his nails at the chance, takes off once the ball hits the mit. He charges the line and comes home standing up. 1-0 Phils.

Later, Rollins gets on base via a walk. Standing at second, he waits as Ryan Howard unloads on a pitch and drives it just over the head of Rafael Belliard and into shallow right field. Yet again, Rollins is off. The throw comes in, but Rollins is way ahead of it, and begins his slide from about halfway down the third base line. he slides right across the plate, like a glass plate on a sheet of ice, gliding to the end of the circle, where he stands and gets a big hand from Aaron Rowand.

Then, with the Phils needing an insurance run, two are on base. Rollins comes to the plate, the crowd going nuts, anticipating something — it’s going to be big, they just know it. He finds his pitch and rips the ball on a line down the first base line. One run scores. Two runs score. The cameras show Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand cheering the runs on, then Rowand points excitedly to second base — Jimmy hasn’t stopped. The throw comes in, Rollins is on his horse, Burrell is jumping in the dugout … slide … safe.

Wheeler and Matthews go crazy. The fans go crazy. Rollins raises his arms in the air and claps. Triple No. 20. The 20-20-20-20 season is complete. Rollins’ MVP victory is solidified. Rollins’ preseason words are vindicated. It’s the best moment of the season … of his career — until one hour later.

Did you know Rollins missed only 12 innings of baseball in 2007? Twelve! ! That’s a gamer.

Congratulations, Jimmy Rollins, 2007 Most Valuable Player of the National League.