(Get) A Sporting Life

I never thought this was gonna happen: Players pass physicals; Rolen-for-Glaus all but done Scott Rolen and Troy Glaus each passed his physical today, according to a major league source, and the paperwork needed to complete the swap of All-Star third basemen will be submitted to the commissioner's office. The trade, which will send Rolen to the Toronto Blue Jays and bring Glaus to the Cardinals, could be completed as early as this afternoon. In one sense this could be viewed as treading water. Whatever Glaus provides could have been provided by Rolen (at least theoretically.) However, the reality of this is far bigger and better for the Cardinals. The Cards will not have enough hitting or pitching this year to compete for any titles, but the Rolen situation threatened to hang over the entire season like the morning bathroom stench after a night of Michelob and LaBamba Super Burritos. In addition to waiving his no-trade clause, the Cardinals also wanted Glaus to trigger his $11.25 m...

Most of the things I read about the Rolen trade situation focus on the Cards perspective (how much salary to eat, what we need in return, etc). To the extent the other GM's viewpoint is taken into account, it's whether Rolen is healthy and will return to earlier offensive form. I haven't seen much, if anything, on the other simple and obvious complicating factor that he may be a headcase. It's kinda, sorta said in a roundabout way. I guess since he doesn't mouth off in front of the camera, the enigma factor remains. But any GM has to take it into account if they are thinking about acquiring Rolen - the guy is 0-2 in getting along with managers. Maybe it's no big deal because he never loafs, but do you really want to gamble with a guy coming off injuries and sub-par seasons who doesn't appear to have been happy on a club where in 5.3 seasons he won four division titles, four NLDS, two pennants and a World Series ring? I don't know what he does or does no...

Or is he just gonna continue to be the world's biggest pussy? Let's face it, it is an open question if he will ever get over his shoulder problems. His bat looked slow all last season, and he was even a little erratic in the field trying to compensate for something. As is he seems to be an average number seven hitter, someone who can get a hold of the occasional mistake made by a pitcher, and not in any way, shape or form "protection" for Pujols. Given that, what more can Rolen expect from this organization? They have got a shit load of money invested in this player who will never, dollar for dollar, deliver the production one would expect. So La Russa sits him after he looks like utter crap at the plate, so what? Lots of players who look like utter crap at the plate find themselves left off of the lineup card. Scott Rolen gets all the respect he should need every time he cashes a paycheck. So, shut up and play ball...if you still can.