GatewayRedbirds.com

Scott Rolen missed Sunday's game after telling his manager that he simply couldn't go. Rolen seems to be deep in the spiral of continuing to lose effectiveness while getting less and less relief from quick fixes like cortisone injections. As with a pitcher, the fact that his shoulder is getting worse earlier in the season than last year is a definite concern, making some wonder if he'll need more surgery, or if he'll simply walk away from the game. Both outcomes are possible, though Rolen seems to be the type that will make every effort to stay while his team has any shot. Watch for Rolen to continue down this cycle, with his production dropping all the while.

The Cardinals are also watching Albert Pujols closely to see how bad his elbow is. There were rumors this weekend that Pujols had finally snapped his UCL, an injury he's dealt with throughout his career. For a position player, this would only affect his throwing, and the original injury is one reason Pujols is now at first base. This isn't tremendously significant, though if Pujols does need Tommy John surgery, he could miss six months, so the timing of the surgery will be key. So far, the Cardinals don't seem to think it's gone quite that far, and with Pujols going 2-for-4 on Sunday, there's really no rush.

Rolen may be a lost cause. Maybe he’s just destined, sadly, to be a diminished offensive player. It isn’t his fault; a serious injury altered his career template. And another surgery may not cure him. But one theory is that Rolen is being held back by scar tissue that formed after the second surgery, and that a surgical clean-up may help him.

If that’s the case, it would be incredibly stupid to hold off on such a procedure. The Cardinals are on the hook to pay Rolen a guaranteed $36 million from 2008-2010. The best thing the Cardinals can do for themselves, and Rolen, is to try and repair him now, and give him every possible day to recover and rehab in hope of having him completely ready for spring training 2008. Playing him now achieves nothing.

clevername wrote:Rolen's on track for a surgery per offseason. If a procedure this off season doesn't improve things or at least keep him from needing another procedure next year, his career may be nearing its end.

Did he have any shoulder problems before the Cintron incident? Is all this stemming from that original injury?

Alex freaking Cintron.