Rolen Traded

[Guest Some Guy]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0729/1411479.html

 

Seems like a good trade for both teams. Bud Smith looks like he could be good and the Cards greatly upgrade their 3B defense and offense. Last I heard the Phils wanted Pujols, the Cards would haev been stupid to do that and I'm glad they didn't.

[Guest alkeiper]

Cardinals: They get a huge upgrade at third. Polanco's a replaceable commodity, as is Timlin. Mike Crudale's been absolutely dominant, so they can spare a reliever. Hopefully the Cards take charge in the NL now.

 

Phillies: Hopefully Bud Smith returns to form, as he's the key to this trade. The Phils' 2003 rotation looks like this......

 

Brett Myers

Vincente Padilla

Randy Wolf

Brandon Duckworth

Bud Smith

 

5 good pitchers, all young. I still maintain the Phillies have a great future ahead of them.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

At this point...getting anything for Rolen is a good trade for the Phills.

 

They aren't making the playoffs...and he wasn't coming back anyway.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I guess this means I'll have to keep tabs on the Cards, now.

[Guest Choken One]

Of course I hate this deal.

[Guest the pinjockey]

This is a great deal for the Phils because they actually get something for Rolen. Instead of getting nothing at the end of the year and paying him $3 million for nothing they at least get some players back.

 

As for the players

 

Mike Timlin: Actually a very nice throw in for the Phils because it addresses their biggest need which is a reliable bullpen arm other than David Coggin

 

Placido Polanco: A serviceable third baseman. Not a defensive liability. Can hit .300 while batting in the two hole which means more people on base for Burrell instead of Rollins in the two hole hitting .240

(I just went to ESPN stats section and Polanco actually has equal fielding statistics across the board as Rolen)

 

Bud Smith: If he returns to last year's form I will take the Phils rotation over any other in the majors.

 

Padilla

Myers

Smith

Duckworth

Wolf

There is a chance to win every single day.

[Guest the pinjockey]

Choken I assume you are a Cards fan?

[Guest DrTom]

I've always thought Rolen was a little bit overrated, but he's a heck of a defender and a pretty good bat to have in the lineup. This also lets Pujols play OF, where he's been much more comfortable this year than at the hot corner.

 

The Phils got an excellent young arm, and their rotation for next year has the potential to be amazing.

[Guest the pinjockey]

Scott Rolen is one of the most overrated players in the league. I was pissed when the Phils offered him 10 years 140 million. He hits .260 this year .280 for his career. I don't care how good your defense is I want either a .300 hitter or 40-50 hr guy out of my 3B for that kind of money.

 

And his defense is actually overrated as well. Polanco has a better fielding percentage at 3B than Rolen while having the same range according to ESPN.com fielding stats.

[Guest meanmaisch]

Believe me Jockey, no one in baseball is better at 3rd base than Scott Rolen. He makes the kind of plays that defy all logic. As a Phillies fan, it sucks to see him go, but this will probably be better for both sides, if only in the locker room. I have a feeling that this trade will benefit the Cards way more than it benefits the Phils. The only player I see on the roster a year from now is Smith. The Phillies are notorius for dealing good players and getting little in return.

[Guest Shaved Bear]

man the Cards are gonna own the NL, and if they can pass Johnson-Schilling and the Braves, then they could be in the WS, i think now they seem very able to

[Guest The Man in Blak]

I think it was an excellent deal for both sides - Rolen should help give Edmonds and Pujols a little more offensive help (since Drew and Tino are currently languishing) as well as shoring up the corner defensively. I don't know that much about Doug Nickel, but the fact that he's a young arm should mean good things for the future.

 

The Phillies, on the other hand, get an amazing guy in Polanco, a .300 hitter that can play three different infield positions, a young arm in Bud Smith that will probably make a huge rebound, and a serviceable reliever in Timlin.

 

Though I initially thought that trading Bud Smith was a huge mistake, given the Cardinals' rotation woes, there wouldn't be much of a spot for him later on anyway:

 

Matt Morris

Jason Simontacchi

Woody Williams

Chuck Finley

Garrett Stephenson / Travis Smith

[Guest DrTom]

I thought trading Smith was a little curious, too, but it's obvious the Cardinals have given up on him after the promise he showed last year. Simontacchi, BTW, is a fall-apart waiting to happen, and were I the Cardinals, I'd want the extra rotation depth just to pick up the pieces when that happens. But if they think Rolen gives them a better path to the promised land, so be it.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

"Padilla

Myers

Smith

Duckworth

Wolf

There is a chance to win every single day. "

 

 

Sure it's possible, they all have great arms. But anyone remeber "the can't miss Mets" starting staff from about 8 years ago.

[Guest alkeiper]

Yeah, but the Phillies are different. I'm sure Dallas Green---wait a minute.....the same Dallas Green?

 

 

 

 

 

We're fucked.

[Guest meanmaisch]

Green is such an ass. He was a medicore pitcher, a questionable manager, and a terrible front office man. The 1980 Phils didn't win because of him, they won in spite of him. They hated him so much that they were determined to show that they were better than he thought. He would insult them just to get the fire to play better. I think anyone could have managed that team to a championship. His insulting of Rolen definitely gave Scott more reason to want to leave the team. The Phils cling to their past way too much. They do this, of course, because they realize that their future is constantly in a state of limbo. Blame that on the ownership and the management that is handpicked to make sure that the Phils make just enough money, but never actually win.

[Guest Choken One]

Nope Pinjocky...Everyone here should know that along with Human Fly, we are the Board's Signature Reds Fans.

[Guest realworldschampion]

Ah another example of the Phillies cheap ownership being a bunch of jackasses. JD Drew wants to be paid??? Nah we can't keep Dave Montgomery from pocketing the profits!!! Curt Schilling and Scott Rolen actaully want to be on a winning team??? No no no we can't have that, we'd have to actually spend money!!!! Use money in the off-season to make a run at a good pitcher like Aaron Sele or John Smoltz??? Nah let's go get Terry Adams!!! That'll put asses in the seats!!!! Bring up Marlon Byrd, a great prospect in Scranton that plays CF???? Of course not, what would the Phillies be like without the under .230 batting average of Doug Glanville!!! Oh yeah we got Dave Hollins too!!!! LOOK OUT ATLANTA!!!

 

What a depressing time to be a Phils fan. At least Burrell rules all.

[Guest meanmaisch]

Its depressing being a Phillies fan. Its almost like being an Expos fan. Any homegrown talent that begins to excel will have to leave early. Burrell is great and I hope he stays in Philly for his entire career, though the odds of that happening aren't good. Adams is this year's example of money wasted on a shitty pitcher. Chad Ogea was like this, and despite actually having talent, Andy Ashby was a waste as well. Let's not forget the four years and millions of dollars they spent on Gregg Jefferies. He proved in Philly how worthless he actually was. Signing Hollins is yet another pathetic grasp for the magic of '93.