This Week in Ex-Cardinals

It’s been an interesting week for former St. Louis Cardinals players.
Apr 9, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen (27) tries to handle a ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Great American Ballpark. The cardinals defeated the Reds 7-1. Image Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Former closer Ryan Franklin is now active on Twitter. You can follow the retired pitcher at Franky3131. We hope to have an interview with Ryan later this season.

There’s also the issue of Scott Rolen. We don’t know at the moment as to whether or not he will play this season but Matt Whitener writes at I-70 Baseball that it is time to give the former Cardinal third baseman his due.

In 17 seasons, Rolen has 2,077 hits, 316 home runs, and a career .281 batting average. Add on to that: 8 Gold Gloves, 7 All-Star appearances, the 1997 Rookie of the Year award, and and MVP caliber season in 2004. The case can be made that Scott Rolen is a Hall of Famer–if only for defense alone. He has 8 Gold Gloves to Brooks Robinson‘s 16 consecutive Gold Gloves (1960-1975). Robinson finished his 23 year career with over 2,800 hits while Rolen just passed the 2,000 mark in 2011. Rolen was selected to 7 All-Star games while the former Oriole was selected to 18 All-Star games over the course of his career.

No matter what Rolen decides to do, I’ll always cherish his 6 seasons as a Cardinal.

Lance Berkman talked about why he decided to return for another season and play for the Texas Rangers. Berkman returns for his 15th season although the 2012 campaign was somewhat of a bust. The 37-year-old player is closing in on 2,000 hits in his career and is sitting at 360 home runs. With 2 World Series appearances and one ring, it’s hard to say as to whether or not he will make the Hall of Fame. He has had 6 MVP caliber seasons that could help his resume but no major awards outside of the 2011 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Depending on what happens health-wise to him this season, Berkman figures that he’ll play in 2013 and 2014 before calling it a career.

Jason Isringhausen has joined the coaching staff at SIUE as a volunteer pitching coach. His agent confirmed to Derrick Goold that he did not retire and is still looking for a team to pitch for in the majors.

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that Kyle Lohse is expected to sign soon but we don’t know which team that will be. The draft pick attached is not doing him any favors in signing with a team.