HBT: Reds should sit shaky Rolen for Game 4

As costly as it was, Scott Rolen?s second error of the NLDS, which scored the go-ahead run as the Reds lost in 10 innings, isn?t reason alone to stick him on the bench against San Francisco?s Barry Zito in Wednesday?s Game 4 in Cincinnati. But it doesn?t need to be.

In Todd Frazier, the Reds have a third baseman who posted an OPS 200 points higher than Rolen did against lefties this season. Rolen came in at .234 with one homer in 77 at-bats against southpaws. Frazier hit .298 with six homers in 124 at-bats.

Meanwhile, Rolen?s poor September has carried over to the postseason, as he?s opened the series against San Francisco 2-for-11. Frazier struggled during the season?s final month, too, but he outhit Rolen over the rest of the year.?As a third baseman, he?ll never be confused with prime Rolen. But then neither will the 37-year-old version of Rolen manning the hot corner right now.

The Reds don?t need to make a permanent Rolen-for-Frazier switch at third. It?s doubtful Dusty Baker would even entertain the thought. Still, plugging in Frazier against the lefty in the second of three possible games in three days makes plenty of sense. The Reds managed Rolen?s playing time carefully all year anyway, and the lineup could use Frazier?s extra pop.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/09/shaky-rolen-should-take-a-seat-in-game-4/related

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