Jim Edmonds joins Cincinnati, becomes enemy in St. Louis

When Jim Edmonds made the Milwaukee Brewers out of spring training, Cardinals fans smiled and wished him the best. Edmonds was a fan favorite and All-Star center fielder for eight years in St. Louis and that bond would never weaken. Fans even showed some apprehension when Jon Jay was give the No. 15 jersey after being called up early in the season.

Jim Edmonds was the St. Louis Cardinals No. 15 and he always would be.

A few months later and boy have things changed. It’s easy to see that always almost never happens and while Cards fans are often praised for their understanding for the game and respect for opponents, Jim Edmonds won’t be getting any support from St. Louis during the final two months of the season.

Edmonds was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Chris Dickerson today, throwing him into the NL Central division race and making him an enemy of the Cardinals. […]

When Edmonds announced he wanted to return to baseball after taking 2009 off, his hope was to come back with the Cardinals. Edmonds told Tony La Russa and the front office that he wanted to join St. Louis as a veteran presence coming off the bench and helping out the outfield. The Cardinals were already set on their team and wished him the best with his season.

Edmonds made the Milwaukee Brewers and has had an outstanding season. He has mainly played right field, but he has also roamed center like the old days. At the plate, he is batting .286 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in 73 games. Edmonds has been clutch in Milwaukee, hitting a game-winning pinch-hit home run off Bronson Arroyo a few weeks ago and making big plays in quite a few wins for the Brew Crew. He also adds more veteran leadership to a young Cincinnati club, joining another former Cardinal Scott Rolen and heady shortstop Orlando Cabrera. Edmonds and Rolen were a part of the 2006 Cardinals World Series championship team. Cabrera anchored the infield of the 2004 Boston Red Sox championship team. Together, they hope to hold up the young nucleus that has made Cincinnati into a bonafide contender.

Edmonds also brings a reliable bat and smarts in the field that always come in handy during a pennant race.

The Reds didn’t give up much to get him. Dickerson, 28, was hitting .205 in 44 at bats this season and was currently in the minors on a rehab assignment.

The trade throws Edmonds right into the fire. The Reds open a pivotal three-game series with St. Louis tonight.

Cards fans have some experience with seeing Edmonds wearing rival colors. He spent most of 2008 with the Cubs, helping them win their second straight division title. While the Cubs are the ultimate, this is different. The Reds and the Cards are battling back-and-forth for the division this year. In 2008, the Cards finished fourth and never had a chance. Going into this series, St. Louis is two games back and the importance of every game is magnified. The Redbirds can’t afford to fall too far behind.

Chris Carpenter and Mike Leake battle it out to open the biggest series of the season.