Post by cardsfan643 on Feb 24, 2007 14:28:41 GMT -5
JUPITER, FLA. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and third baseman Scott Rolen have declared a cease fire.
The two shared a firm handshake and a brief but congenial exchange outside La Russa's office Thursday. After talking past each other during the team's World Series run and literally walking past each other during last month's Winter Warm-up, the four-time manager of the year and his seven-time Gold Glove infielder agreed to "turn the page" on a disagreement that had turned ugly and public.
"It's not an issue. We've got other things to concern ourselves with now, like how to get ready to win ballgames," La Russa said Friday afternoon.
Asked if he believes he and La Russa should discuss the matter further, Rolen said, "I don't know if there's value in that. It's better to turn the page and move on. It's certainly a happier existence than digging it up and continuing to disagree." Advertisement
General manager Walt Jocketty helped broker the truce, according to club sources.
"I was involved," Jocketty said. "In a case like this, a general manager can't take sides. I'm looking out for what's best for the organization."
"It happened last season at a very tense time," Jocketty added, recalling the team's near-meltdown before hanging on to win the National League Central. "I think what happened is done. Tony and Scott realize we're starting fresh this year. It's important for the success of the organization and the team to have them both on the same page."
La Russa and Rolen had not spoken since Rolen was benched for Game 4 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres. The move surprised Rolen, though the two met in La Russa's Busch Stadium office following the Cardinals' Game 3 loss. La Russa said Rolen's at-bats were declining in quality during shoulder discomfort that later required a cortisone injection.
The chill deepened when La Russa benched Rolen without warning in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
After the benching, Rolen hit safely in the team's final 10 postseason games and was shortstop David Eckstein's top challenger for World Series MVP.
La Russa, who makes a practice of phoning his players during the winter, did not contact Rolen, and the two failed to speak during a fundraiser in January.
Rolen said the lack of communication weighed on him as spring training approached. The matter became a source of concern to ownership and Jocketty.
"They knew it had to be resolved," Jocketty said. "It needed to be done."
"I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said it didn't cross my mind," Rolen said following Friday's workout. "The closer you get, the more you think about it. You're going to see each other and you haven't spoken about anything. You're going to be in the same place at the same time in a suit at the White House. Regardless of everything — who, what, when, where and why — it's unhealthy and there's no benefit."
La Russa is entering the final season of a three-year contract and is poised to pass Red Schoendienst for most wins by a manager in club history. Jocketty, who hired La Russa as manager in October 1995, recently said La Russa could manage the club as long as he desired.
Rolen, 31, signed an eight-year, $90 million extension with the club shortly after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in July 2002. The deal includes no-trade protection that assures Rolen will remain in St. Louis through 2010. Rolen said Friday that he briefly considered approaching the club about waiving his no-trade clause but soon decided otherwise.
"I've got four (more) years here. He's under contract. Neither one of us are going anywhere. Neither one of us have much to gain by going anywhere," Rolen said. "If it was a situation where something had to happen, I'm sure it would have happened. But I don't think anything had to happen."
La Russa and Rolen spoke to media about their strained relationship during the NLCS and the World Series. La Russa insisted he had no issue with the third baseman, but clearly he did not appreciate Rolen referring to a late-season omission from a game against Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt as being "benched."
La Russa later thought it "hypocritical" to explain his rationale for sitting Rolen in the postseason when the player had not accepted his earlier explanation.
"There wasn't one time I've ever done anything with Scott that was not in his and our team's best interests," La Russa said.
Jocketty said, "They're both professional. They're both big boys. They're both very good at what they do. And in some ways, they're probably similar."
The two shared a firm handshake and a brief but congenial exchange outside La Russa's office Thursday. After talking past each other during the team's World Series run and literally walking past each other during last month's Winter Warm-up, the four-time manager of the year and his seven-time Gold Glove infielder agreed to "turn the page" on a disagreement that had turned ugly and public.
"It's not an issue. We've got other things to concern ourselves with now, like how to get ready to win ballgames," La Russa said Friday afternoon.
Asked if he believes he and La Russa should discuss the matter further, Rolen said, "I don't know if there's value in that. It's better to turn the page and move on. It's certainly a happier existence than digging it up and continuing to disagree." Advertisement
General manager Walt Jocketty helped broker the truce, according to club sources.
"I was involved," Jocketty said. "In a case like this, a general manager can't take sides. I'm looking out for what's best for the organization."
"It happened last season at a very tense time," Jocketty added, recalling the team's near-meltdown before hanging on to win the National League Central. "I think what happened is done. Tony and Scott realize we're starting fresh this year. It's important for the success of the organization and the team to have them both on the same page."
La Russa and Rolen had not spoken since Rolen was benched for Game 4 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres. The move surprised Rolen, though the two met in La Russa's Busch Stadium office following the Cardinals' Game 3 loss. La Russa said Rolen's at-bats were declining in quality during shoulder discomfort that later required a cortisone injection.
The chill deepened when La Russa benched Rolen without warning in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
After the benching, Rolen hit safely in the team's final 10 postseason games and was shortstop David Eckstein's top challenger for World Series MVP.
La Russa, who makes a practice of phoning his players during the winter, did not contact Rolen, and the two failed to speak during a fundraiser in January.
Rolen said the lack of communication weighed on him as spring training approached. The matter became a source of concern to ownership and Jocketty.
"They knew it had to be resolved," Jocketty said. "It needed to be done."
"I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said it didn't cross my mind," Rolen said following Friday's workout. "The closer you get, the more you think about it. You're going to see each other and you haven't spoken about anything. You're going to be in the same place at the same time in a suit at the White House. Regardless of everything — who, what, when, where and why — it's unhealthy and there's no benefit."
La Russa is entering the final season of a three-year contract and is poised to pass Red Schoendienst for most wins by a manager in club history. Jocketty, who hired La Russa as manager in October 1995, recently said La Russa could manage the club as long as he desired.
Rolen, 31, signed an eight-year, $90 million extension with the club shortly after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in July 2002. The deal includes no-trade protection that assures Rolen will remain in St. Louis through 2010. Rolen said Friday that he briefly considered approaching the club about waiving his no-trade clause but soon decided otherwise.
"I've got four (more) years here. He's under contract. Neither one of us are going anywhere. Neither one of us have much to gain by going anywhere," Rolen said. "If it was a situation where something had to happen, I'm sure it would have happened. But I don't think anything had to happen."
La Russa and Rolen spoke to media about their strained relationship during the NLCS and the World Series. La Russa insisted he had no issue with the third baseman, but clearly he did not appreciate Rolen referring to a late-season omission from a game against Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt as being "benched."
La Russa later thought it "hypocritical" to explain his rationale for sitting Rolen in the postseason when the player had not accepted his earlier explanation.
"There wasn't one time I've ever done anything with Scott that was not in his and our team's best interests," La Russa said.
Jocketty said, "They're both professional. They're both big boys. They're both very good at what they do. And in some ways, they're probably similar."