The current homestand will have a great bearing on how the rest of the summer plays out for the Phillies. The club will have to face both the Atlanta Braves and the Florida Marlins a few more times before the season wraps up, and all three teams are expected to battle for the Eastern Division crown. I'd like to see the Phillies break even, at least, for the eight-game stretch that ends on Sunday. Five or six wins would be better.
I've heard a lot of disconcerting talk lately about the Phillies trading Scott Rolen, much of it from disappointed fans. I don't have any inside information, but it's my guess that the club is on the level when the brass claims that it will do everything possible to keep the third baseman. The disgruntled fans are just letting their emotions get a little carried away on this issue.
Rolen is not having a good year — .262 average, seven HR and 42 RBI through games of June 25. Nobody is perfect. Even Hall of Fame players have had off years once in a while. (Pitcher Steve Carlton lost 19 games in 1970 and dropped 20 games in 1973.) And the third baseman is just as unhappy about his lack of offensive production as the fans are — probably more so.
During spring training, contract talks stalled supposedly because the Phillies were unwilling to give Rolen an "out" clause if he felt that the organization wasn't serious about committing to spend the money necessary to compete for the playoffs.
I say give him the clause. After almost five years on a club that until now has contended for just half of one season (1999), Rolen understandably wants to win. That's what athletes play for. That's why pitcher Curt Schilling forced a trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks last summer.
After the Phillies decimated the roster last July, some players who were left behind were dazed and probably just went through the motions for the rest of the year. Rolen doesn't want to do that. He's too much of a competitor. Give him fair market value, and give him the out clause. Then make the moves needed to bolster the club.
The trade winds are blowing. I'm not sure who's coming or going, but the Phillies will likely make a trade or two within the next few weeks. I just don't want to see Rolen included in those talks.
The third baseman was soundly booed when he ended a potential big inning against the Baltimore Orioles on June 17 by striking out with the bases loaded. He's not the first one to do that, and he won't be the last.
I have no problem with fans showing their discontent if such a situation makes them unhappy. Just remember that Rolen came into this season with a .284 lifetime batting mark. He's also averaged 26 homers and 92 RBI and collected two Gold Glove awards during his first four years with the club.
A reminder. The last Rookie of the Year that the boobirds ran out of town was a shadow of himself when he returned. During the five years that he played elsewhere (1970-74), Dick Allen hit for a .298 average, belted 142 homers, drove in 433 runs and picked up an American League MVP Award. When he returned to Philadelphia in 1975, the first baseman hit .233 with 12 dingers.
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