"Jimmy Rollins was in his second summer as a Phillie when the Scott Rolen soap opera was at its steamy worst.

At the time, an anonymous Phillies teammate had called Rolen a "clubhouse cancer" and Phillies senior advisor Dallas Green had these biting words for the disgruntled third baseman: "Scotty's satisfied with being a so-so player," Green said in a radio interview. "I think he can be greater, but his personality won't let him."

It's been eight years since Rolen publicly criticized the Phillies for not spending the money to put a talented team around him. Eight years since the Phils traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for Placido Polanco, Mike Timlin and Bud Smith.

Yet when Rolen steps to the plate tonight as the Cincinnati Reds' 35-year-old starting third baseman, fans from all corners of Citizens Bank Park will boo him with the same lust as they showed in 2002.

"If you leave on bad terms, they're going to let you know," Rollins said whimsically Tuesday as the Phillies prepared for their fourth straight postseason journey. "When you show up to the ballpark, they're going to let you know that we still remember."

Since leaving Philadelphia, Rolen has seen the Phillies raze Veterans Stadium and replace it with a beautiful, hitter-friendly ballpark that is filled to the gills every night. He's seen them reach the postseason four consecutive years, winning two National League pennants and one World Series. He's also seen the club change managers, change general managers and open their wallets to sign Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

Whether or not Rolen sees irony in the fact that the Phillies blossomed into a perennial contender after his departure is difficult to ascertain.

Tuesday he left Citizens Bank Park without speaking to reporters who waited hours for him outside the visiting clubhouse.

Rollins, the only Phillie remaining from Rolen's last stand in Philadelphia, says he holds no grudges for his former teammate."