"In a sense, it was like opening night on Friday for Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen. For the first time in nine years in St. Louis and for the first time in the newest Busch Stadium, Rolen took the field here in a visiting uniform. He last had played here as a visitor on Aug. 19, 2001 when he went nothing for three in a 9-0 Philadelphia Phillies loss to the Cardinals.

When Rolen last was in town, in August of last year, the Red had just acquired him from Toronto, where the Cardinals had traded him following the 2007 season. And, more immediately, Rolen was getting over the effects of a concussion suffered when he was hit in the helmet by Colorado's Jason Marquis, a teammate of Rolen's on the 2006 world champion Cardinals.

While not playing then, Rolen and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa mended the considerable breach in their fence in a lengthy pregame meeting one night, so that act erased that uneasiness. But there was a different kind of nervousness for Rolen Friday night.

Not quite sure how to address his feelings about returning, Rolen began by saying, "Great place to play. Great place to play as a visitor. Great place to play as a home player. I think everybody in the league looks forward to coming here to play, without a doubt. You know you're going to play in front of 40-plus (thousand people).

"But this (Friday's game) is something I need to get over. This is a hurdle. I'm kind of a business as usual guy. I'm comfortable with business as usual. I'm not big on an opening day kind of thing. I'd rather be ready for Game 2.

"I don't know what the word is. It's not a negative word. But yeah, there's going to be a certain sense of anxiety. It's an anxiety of anticipation."

Then, Rolen recalled the first time he had been traded - from Philadelphia to St. Louis in July 2002 - and then having to play in Philadelphia less than a week later. He was not received well. "That was a tough draw there," said Rolen.

Phillies fans would have booed much longer, if not louder that day, if late Phillies broadcasting legend Harry Kalas hadn't intervened.

"There's a possibility they still might be booing," said Rolen, who hoped and expected the reception to be warmer here Friday night.

Indeed, Rolen was accorded considerable applause - and no boos - when he batted in the first inning. But, unfortunately for Rolen, there was more applause when he bounced into an inning-ending double play.

Rolen restructured the final year of the eight-year contract he signed with the Cardinals into a three-year extension at less money to stay in Cincinnati, which is near his Indiana roots. He lives much of the time in the Bloomington, Ind., area now.

"This is the right place for me to be," said the 35-year-old Rolen, who said he thought the Reds had a good, young team that he might be able to help direct to a high level. And he has two young children, 5 and 2, who can see their dad play as they