"Tonight was to be the return to Busch Stadium of former Cardinals All-Star and Gold Glove third baseman Scott Rolen, who has bounced to Toronto and then to Cincinnati in the past couple of years.

Rolen had left for Toronto after the 2007 season in a trade for third baseman Troy Glaus when it became clear that his simmering discontent with Cardinals manager Tony La Rsusa couldn't be resolved.

But Rolen, hit in the head by a pitch from former Cardinal Jason Marquis when the Reds played against Colorado some nine days ago, had to be scratched from the Cincinnati lineup in San Francisco on Saturday when he was feeling some concussion symptoms. Rolen was to be examined Sunday night in Cincinnati by a specialist, and it was not known whether he would join the Reds for the three-game series in St. Louis.

La Russa, approaching the Rolen issue warily Sunday, said, "I did not like him having to go through (the beaning). But I look at it that we're playing the Reds and I'm concerned about playing the Reds."

As to anything further regarding his past with Rolen, La Russa said, "I'm not getting into that. There was plenty said about that relationship.

"I imagine I'll be asked about that tomorrow by somebody else."

The few left among Rolen's teammates on the 2006 World Series championship club were looking forward to his potential visit."