Home sweet home opener

Jimmy Rollins has drawn the ire of fans for trying to swing for the fences. Soon, he’ll be cheered for it.

Using the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as his launching pad, Rollins will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Longest Batted Ball, which stands at 576 feet. (The event was slated for today, but has been postponed due to Rollins’ calf injury).

Dr. Lloyd V. Smith, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Washington State, has hand-picked his “souped up” equipment. He predicts Rollins will hit it between 500-550 feet.

“For him to break the record, he’s going to have to hit it dead-on, get the sweet part of the bat, hit at the right angle and get a little help from Mother Nature,” Smith said. “If it all comes together, it’s a possibility.”

Rollins will be using a composite bat — comprised of the same materials used on airplanes — and a college ball, with more stiffness than a standard one.

“Ultimately, it’s going to come down to his athleticism,” Smith said.