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Keep Rolen?: Amid serious doubts about how long he'll be playing for the Phillies, hard-charging third baseman Scott Rolen continues to give his all for the team

Rolen, who in January agreed to a one-year, $8.6 million deal, had considered signing a contract extension with the Phillies before last season. According to [agent Seth] Levinson, the two sides even discussed conditions under which Rolen could opt out of his contract if the Phillies failed to meet certain payroll standards. Another of Rolen's agents, former Kansas City Royals infielder Keith Miller, told him what a great thrill it was to watch teammate George Brett retire as a careerlong Royal. Goose bumps popped up on Rolen's arms when he thought about a similar scenario for himself. He told [Phillies GM Ed] Wade and Philadelphia general partner Dave Montgomery that he wanted to tip his cap in the club's new ballpark, which is scheduled to open in 2004, and eventually retire in a Phillies uniform.

Before last season, however, Philadelphia fired Terry Francona, a likable, easygoing manager for whom Rolen had played almost his entire major league career, and replaced him with [Larry] Bowa. A former Phillies All-Star shortstop, Bowa cajoled the Phillies to 86 victories, their first winning season since they won the National League pennant in 1993. He did so in the abrasive manner that marked his 16-year playing career as well as a short, unsuccessful stint as manager of the San Diego Padres in the late '80s. He chapped some players last year by keeping a log in which he recorded notes about their work habits. Last June Bowa alienated Rolen when, after the Phillies lost two out of three to the Red Sox, the manager was quoted as saying, "If the number four guy" -- Rolen -- "even makes contact in either Boston loss, we sweep the series. He's killing us."

-- Tom Verducci

Issue date: April 22 2002 Photograph by Al Tielemans