This isnt like 2006, when former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa benched third baseman Scott Rolen twice during the playoffs. Back then, Rolen was not happy.
He had given himself to the team physically during the regular season, playing 142 games with an ailing shoulder. He then proved his point to La Russa after starting the postseason 1 for 11, batting .351 with a .955 OPS over his final 10 games and helping the Cardinals win the World Series.
Now, almost six years later, Rolens playing time is again threatened, but the circumstances are different.
So is his reaction.
Rolen is 37 now. He recently missed five weeks with a strained left shoulder. And his replacement, rookie Todd Frazier, is producing numbers even better than the more-celebrated Bryce Harpers.
Manager Dusty Baker started Frazier in the Reds first game after the All-Star break before turning back to Rolen on Saturday. Rolen went 2 for 4 in the Reds 3-2 victory over the Cardinals in 10 innings. Perhaps now he will get ...
