The outcry has subsided since Scott Rolen's announcement at the start of spring training that he will not re-sign with the Phillies. Several readers have asked, so I'll weigh in on the issue.
The Phillies' third baseman has a right to feel the way that he does. I agree with his assessment that the ownership has not shown enough of a financial commitment to improving the club, but I also feel that trading Rolen is not the answer.
Unlike others, I didn't take his tirade personally, nor did I feel that he was trying to dictate how management should run its business. The fact remains, though, that Rolen is an employee who is paid a handsome sum to play baseball. It's his right to turn down millions of dollars, and he's entitled to be unhappy about his situation.
How many people at jobs all over the city get angry and mouth off at their employers once in a while? That's pretty much how I interpreted the outburst.
After a rookie season during which he was accommodating to nearly everyone, Rolen has been much more protective of his privacy. It was obvious, though, that he was unhappy last year, particularly after clashes with manager Larry Bowa and Dallas Green, an adviser to general manager Ed Wade.
However, there is nobody on that team who plays harder or who wants to win more. Underneath the calm exterior is a player with intensity not seen around here since Bowa was the regular shortstop.
It appears that the two sides could have reached the impasse in the contract talks due to a misunderstanding, and that's a shame. There also are signs that the infielder could be having second thoughts, either of his own accord or after hearing from some teammates. He may be playing his final season in Philadelphia, but he should play the entire year here.
The club has never been this close to contending since his arrival, and they won't get fair value for him in a trade. I say the team should take its chances that Rolen could lead them to the playoffs this season.
And if he walks away in October, that's life.
How do you feel about it?
Last year, I didn't know what to make of the club as the season began. The Phillies begin this campaign with the same starting eight, including a healthy Mike Lieberthal. I've always liked the catcher, and I still think that the club could have won the Eastern Division last year if Lieby hadn't been injured.
That said, I'm hoping that this year's model has the right stuff. The team will go as far as the pitching takes it. Remember, though, that projections are based on the idea that players who have had good years will duplicate them and those coming off of bad seasons will improve.
First baseman Travis Lee and center fielder Doug Glanville have had good springs and may have returned to form. Also, left fielder Pat Burrell seems to have learned from Mike Schmidt's tutoring, so let's look for fewer strikeouts and a higher batting average.
I'm not sold on pitcher Terry Adams yet, but I'm excited about the potential of starters Vicente Padilla and Brandon Duckworth. The rotation will change when Randy Wolf comes off of the disabled list.
I don't think there has been much improvement in the bullpen. Hector Mercado is an unknown quantity at this point, and Carlos Silva won a job after having a good spring. Not many players can make the jump from Double-A to the big leagues. He might not be around long.
I'm also not sold on the Phillies' bench. Dave Hollins has spent much of the last few seasons in Triple-A. Outfielder Ricky Ledee's defense is impressive, but he didn't hit much (.231) in Texas last year. John Mabry is valuable because he plays several positions, as does Tomas Perez. Mabry and Perez should be key bench players this year.
The potential to contend is there if everyone stays healthy. The pitching will be the deciding factor.
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