Scott Rolen is heading back to St. Louis, this time as a Cincinnati Red, but he looks very much like the player who once starred for the Red Birds. The third baseman is hitting .341/.430/.549 since the All-Star Break after a first half of the season that had many wondering if the 37-year-old was done.
Now Rolen is red hot and hoping to help the Reds put even more distance between them and the second-place Cardinals. They currently lead the Central by seven games over St. Louis with a chance to add to that margin at Busch Stadium this weekend.
Knowing that the Reds were heading to St. Louis this weekend, Dusty Baker made sure to spell Rolen against the Phillies. Now he is fresh to take on the Cardinals.
"I could see him wearing down the last couple of days. I've got to spot him," Baker said. "Hopefully he'll be fresh."
The last thing that the Cardinals wanted to see was a fresh and hot Rolen this weekend. After all, they know what Rolen can do when he is in a groove after a six-year stint in St. Louis that saw him make the All-Star team five times, but a red hot Rolen is what they are going to get.