Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The St. Louis Cardinals open the post-season playoffs at Los Angeles tonight.

Khalil Greene won't be with them.

Greene, one of the best players in Key West High School history, was left off the Cardinals' 25-man roster for the first round of the playoffs and wasn't even invited to travel with the team.

Although Manager Tony LaRussa could have a change of heart and add Greene if the Cards advance to the National League Championship Series, it would appear that his days as a Cardinal are over after one season.

Greene finished the year striking out in five of his last 11 pinch-hitting appearances and batting an even .200. His last hit was against Florida on Sept. 14. Greene, who will be 30 on Oct. 21, is in the last year of a contract that paid him $6.5 million for this season, a season in which he twice went on the disabled list for a social anxiety disorder. Once the playoffs are over, he'll be a free agent, able to sign with whichever team wants him, should he so desire.

A friend of a friend of Khalil's told me Tuesday afternoon that Greene has lost interest in baseball and may not wish to play anywhere again.

"I just think that he is at the point where, and I told him this, we're feeling great that he feels good, and I think he's excited about his prospects for next year," LaRussa was quoted in several places Tuesday. "But as far as his playing time, I think Troy (Glaus) will give us more." Glaus, hitting but .172 in 29 games this season, was added to the roster in place of Greene.

After leading the Conchs to state championships in 1996 and 1998, Greene went on to Clemson University and was named as the best collegiate player in the country by several groups his senior year. He was drafted 13th overall by the San Diego Padres and spent six seasons there before the Cardinals dealt for him last off-season.

In his seven major league seasons, he has hit .245 with 90 home runs and 352 runs batted in. He played in the post-season in 2005 and 2006 as San Diego's starting shortstop, the position he has played throughout most of his career.

Greene was born in Butler, Pa., but his family moved to Key West when he was a youngster. They have since moved from the area.

He is one of six players with Key West connections to have reached the majors. The only other current one is Cincinnati pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who was born in Key West, but whose family left the island before he entered high school. He finished 15-13 for the Reds this season.

Boog Powell was born in Lakeland, but played for Key West High School, as did his half-brother, Carl Taylor, a native of Sarasota. Powell played 17 years in the majors, mostly with Baltimore, where he was the league Most Valuable Player in 1970. Taylor played outfield for six seasons, starting in 1968 with Pittsburgh, hitting .266 over 411 games.

Randy Sterling, born in Key West, a standout at the high school and still on the island, won one game for the New York Mets in 1974.

Vic Albury, also born in Key West and a player for the Conchs, was a lefthanded pitcher for Minnesota, winning 18, losing 17, in the mid-1970s.

Sports Editor Ralph Morrow's Armchair Comment appears exclusively each Sunday in The Citizen. He can be reached at 305-292-7777, Ext. 264, at Rmorrow@keysnews.com and by Fax at 305-295-8016.