Let's Go Phillies

[Godard]

2002--time to beat those overpaid, overfinanced, aging, overrated NL East teams and DOMINATE!!!

[ramsfan125]

What is your take on the Scott Rolen deal? I like it, but the Phillies made a good move by trading him instead of just letting his contract expire.
The Cardinals get a very good third baseman in Rolen, and now they can move Albert Pujols to left field and have possibly the best lineup in baseball. They unquestionably have the best defense I think, even before they got Rolen.
Second though, the Phillies got a deal because it was worth getting some talent over nothing. You got Placido Polanco (I liked him, but I'll get over it), Bud No-Hit Smith (We'll have to see if he becomes great or his nickname is as useful as the one of Home Run Baker), and Mike Timlin, one of many overrated, overpaid Cardinals relievers. Maybe he's good, but since Larussa treats them all like they are gods, I can't say I'm positive.
What's your take? P.S. Please don't hurt Rolen! I'm not saying you are one of those fans who throws batteries at J.D. Drew, but if you know them, tell them to get over it.

[Godard]

Of course, it rises in the hands of a ST LOUIS fan

I'll be at the Vet on Sunday, booing the **** out of Drew and Rolen. I was going to cheer for Rolen, but I was at a game where Rolen hit 2 homers and won the game for us, and everyone stood up and cheered for a curtain call, and he wouldn't do it. We assumed he was just workmanlike.

Then he breaks an 0-for-200 slump with a SOLO homer in St. Louis, and gives a curtain call.

**** him!

I do think the Phils should have traded him at the beginning of the season, with less of a strike threat, more value in a trade, and the chance to let someone else learn third base -- or time to get a real one of our own.

As it stands, we made out OK. Smith is basically a prospect; we've seen that he can be great, but he obviously forgot whatever it was. The Phils are fantastic at teaching mechanics to young pitchers, so he could definitely become a #3 or 4 starter.

Polanco fills in the gap until Chase Utley learns the position, or until we sign a free agent in the offseason (still, there aren't a lot of good third basemen out there). Polanco will be a good bench player.

Timlin basically was a salary concession, but he also took some of the pressure off of a horrible bullpen. The rest of the bullpen got about 2 times better since the trade, so the ripple effect has been excellent. No reason to keep him around next year though.

And Rolen is obviously a tremendous player who has yet to reach his offensive potential; a speedy #3 hitter, a booming #5 hitter, and he save about a run every other game with his glove.

So yeah, good trade.