In 2004, St. Louis's vaunted offense was a force to be reckoned with, especially after the mid-season acquisition of Larry Walker. The trio of Albert Pujols (1.072 OPS), Jim Edmonds (1.061 OPS), and Scott Rolen (1.007 OPS) could not really be overcome, not even over the course of a single game. Chances are one of them was going to hurt you before the team had used up all 27 of their outs. While Pujols still remains every bit as dangerous as he was then (not really; he had an awful 2007 in which he posted a meager .997 OPS), Rolen and Edmonds have slipped in a big way in the three subsequent seasons. Each, in fact, has posted two disappointing campaigns and a respectable one that still doesn't approach their best. For Edmonds, the decline has been chronological, and thus makes sense, despite whatever injuries may have contributed. Edmonds's OPS+ has slipped each season since his phenomenal '04, from 170 that year to 137 in '05, down to 11o in '06, down to a disgraceful 88 in '07. If used properly, he could have a slight rebound in San Diego, but his new home park will not help him offensively or defensively, and there's a very good chance that Edmonds is largely done as a baseball player. But it is not my intention to discuss the recently traded St. Louis icon in this article; I have no ill feelings towards Jimmy, and wish him all the best. His prime years as a Cardinal were fantastic, and I will always remember him fondly.
Scott Rolen, on the other hand, is a whole different matter. While Edmonds and Rolen are similar in the fact that they've both shown signs of being really whiny pricks, at least Edmonds appreciates the city and organization that helped make his career. Rolen, on the other hand, has been insufferable for the better part of two years now because he has chronic shoulder problems that the Cardinals' medical staff wasn't able to magically heal. Rescued in 2002 from a franchise that has seen just four trips to the post-season since their 1980 World Series effort, Rolen got a chance to start anew in St. Louis, and he did just that. The franchise has been largely successful since acquiring him, making four trips to the playoffs from 2002-2007, including two pennants and a championship ring. How does he feel about the organization that has given him all this opportunity in his professional career, including long-term security with an 8 year, $90 million dollar contract? He hates them.
With everything taken into consideration, I'd have to say that doesn't make any sense. It's true I'm not an insider to the whole situation. But really, no one understands what's going on here. That's mostly because Scott Rolen won't express anything about it. In fact, he simply transitioned overnight from a happy, content player to a brooding son of a bitch who hated his manager and everyone else on the team. I was patient with him through the start of this ongoing soap opera, and in fact publicly supported him on his Baseball Reference page. I spent $50 to sponsor that page, and how does he repay me? By demanding a trade, by being a total bastard, by
putting up an OPS of god damn .729. Well, I've had it. He's played for two franchises and gotten himself on bad, irreparable terms both places. I'm convinced the problem all along has been him, not his managers, teammates, or anything else. In fact, fuck Scott Rolen.That said, I'd love nothing more than to see him come out in 2008 on a tear and hit .315/.385/.550 through the first part of the season and get traded for a substantial package near the trading deadline. As far as personal opinions go, though, I will not forgive him no matter what kind of performance he puts up. No one should be surprised if he is incapable of bouncing back and playing that well, though. His once Hall bound career has taken quite a detour, and it wouldn't be surprising if he failed to ever win another Gold Glove or post a .900 OPS again.
For the time being, the Cardinals don't have any in house options to replace Rolen, so they have to choose carefully in regards to searching for a trade. The deal that never came to pass with Milwaukee that would have allegedly freed St. Louis of his entire contract plus netted them Chris Capuano and a top prospect would have been too good to be true at this point, but merely dumping his salary is a risky proposition at this point in time, since his decline is not as clear cut as the 37-year-old Edmonds's. Rolen will be 33 in April, and could theoretically have a few top seasons left in him if his injuries went away for good.
As a final thought, the Cardinals actually got a third baseman in return for Edmonds, although the primary motivation in sending Jimmy to San Diego was obviously financial. David Freese, 24, has shown the ability to hit, albeit only at the Single A levels of the minors. In 2007 he put up a solid line of .302/.400/.489. If he can make the jump to Double A this season and hit convincingly, he may be a possible option at third down the road should the Cardinals need a solution to replace Rolen within the organization. Chances are he won't provide enough power to justify a starting corner infield spot at any point, but at least there's potential there. ESPN analyst Keith Law calls Freese the type of player who could one day be a useful bench player, which isn't very encouraging. Then again, Keith Law hates every baseball player who has resisted his sexual propositions (he's gay).
At any rate, regardless of what ends up happening in the Scott Rolen saga, on the field or off, my opinion of the man has been permanently stained. I no longer think well of him, and furthermore, he can go to hell.
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