the Rolen effect...part deux

[KronoRed]

Bingo.

You know a team near the Reds was famous for being bad all year then having good 2nd halfs and standing pat only to repeat the process the next year.

Cincinnati tradition

[Tom Servo]

From Fay:

Brandon Phillips is the hottest hitter in baseball. He’s hitting .571 over his last eight games. Elias Sports Bureau says no player with at least 20 at-bats is hitting as high over that period.

I asked what he attributed it to.

“Scott Rolen,” he said.

How so?

“Just watching him play everyday,” Phillips said. “He doesn’t talk that much. But the way he approaches the game. I learn a lot from just watching him. I don’t talk to that much. We say: ‘Congratulations. Nice hit.’ That stuff. But his approach to game says a lot.

“We have the same agent (Sam and Seth Levinson). I talk to my agent a lot about Scott and the type of person he is and how he approaches the game. It really shows me what I need to work on — how to be a better teammate, how to be a better major league baseball player, how to be a better leader.

“It’s a beautiful thing that Walt Jocketty brought him over here. I don’t know how it’s affected everyone else. But the type of person I am, it’s affected me. I’m hungry. I feel like I’ve got room for improvement. Watching him shows me I have a lot of work to do. I attribute my success lately to Scott Rolen, especially with him hitting behind me. He doesn’t try to do too much. He lets the game to come to him. I’m trying to let the game come to me. You go out and do what you can. When you leave the field, you’re going to be happy, instead of worrying about what you could have done.”

Phillips could trying to say that right thing. But if Rolen has a long-term affect on how Phillips plays, it will be a nice bonus to the trade.

[Brutus]

From Fay:

I've been saying all along, these intangibles do exist. Clearly, Phillips is benefiting most from having a talented hitter being behind him. But there's a small, but certifiable amount of importance to work ethic, approach, leadership (by word or by example) and such.

More importantly than that, it just goes to show that perhaps this trade truly is mattering in the way it was supposed to.

[VR]

No surprise there, good to see BP is paying attention.

[nate]

OMG, BP was stealing from us before Scott Rolen got here!

[RollyInRaleigh]

I've been saying all along, these intangibles do exist. Clearly, Phillips is benefiting most from having a talented hitter being behind him. But there's a small, but certifiable amount of importance to work ethic, approach, leadership (by word or by example) and such.

More importantly than that, it just goes to show that perhaps this trade truly is mattering in the way it was supposed to.

Good luck, Brutus.

[Brutus]

Good luck, Brutus.

You suggesting that perhaps I've opened Pandora's Box?

[RollyInRaleigh]

Maybe

[HeatherC1212]

If he's opened the box then so have I because I think he's onto something here. Joey mentioned some similar things during his post game interview tonight so Scott has made a difference with at least two of the cornerstone young Reds guys and it's not too far of a stretch to think he's had an effect on some of the other guys too. I don't really know for sure or anything but it's darn fun being a Reds fan right now!

[Team Clark]

If he's opened the box then so have I because I think he's onto something here. Joey mentioned some similar things during his post game interview tonight so Scott has made a difference with at least two of the cornerstone young Reds guys and it's not too far of a stretch to think he's had an effect on some of the other guys too. I don't really know for sure or anything but it's darn fun being a Reds fan right now!

If the Reds could find some way to pry Orel Hershiser away from the booth and get him to be the Pitching Coach..... The they would be cooking with gas.

[HokieRed]

Just a note, from which I draw no conclusions. Blue Jays were 49-53 when they traded Rolen, are now 60-75. 11-22 during that stretch, 2-8 in the last 10 (the reverse of the Reds 8-2).

[Stormy]

From Fay:

That's very cool to read. There's no question that Scott Rolen is about the most consummate professional in the game, and there has to be a significant intangible benefit a young team receives from watching his approach. Regardless of how you quantify Rolen's presence, his value certainly exceeds his punchless 734OPS as a member of the Reds.

[WVRedsFan]

That's very cool to read. There's no question that Scott Rolen is about the most consummate professional in the game, and there has to be a significant intangible benefit a young team receives from watching his approach. Regardless of how you quantify Rolen's presence, his value certainly exceeds his punchless 734OPS as a member of the Reds.

Well, he ain't what he used to be at the bat, but he still is a huge jump ahead of the former third baseman and a genuine major leaguer, of which the Reds have few. This team has lived so long on the cheap that they have forgotten what good players are. I understand your comment, but this long list of "never has beens" that have dominated this club for so long (as well as the "promising minor leaguers") have led us to believe that no real major leaguer needs to be on this club. I think we've seen what one of those genuines can do.

[WebScorpion]

It's like being from a dysfunctional family, if you never see an example of how things should be done to achieve success, it is very difficult to do the right things. You can read all the books you want and be told and retold the proper way, but until you witness someone doing it day after day you just won't get it. These guys are young and very impressionable, I can see how they'd ALL be effected by a living example showing up in their midst.

[RollyInRaleigh]

It's like being from a dysfunctional family, if you never see an example of how things should be done to achieve success, it is very difficult to do the right things. You can read all the books you want and be told and retold the proper way, but until you witness someone doing it day after day you just won't get it. These guys are young and very impressionable, I can see how they'd ALL be effected by a living example showing up in their midst.

Well said!