(Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
In St. Louis, fans and the organization alike hoped for his final season to be a fluke, and for him to put up numbers more akin to the 27 HR and 97 RBI he had in 2007.
However, Greene stumbled in his first few months as a Cardinal, hitting only .213 with 2 HR through the end of May.
Then, Khalil's career took another bizarre turn, plunging to a deeper valley after starting out with so many peaks.
He was put on the DL with what was later described as anxiety, caused by his own frustration and the pressure he felt to respond in his new team.
The odd peace was broken once more, and this time, Greene gave a little more insight to the cause, telling the USA Today that he "[W]ages a constant, exhausting battle trying to push away negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones."
While the above statement might signal a purely internal problem, Greene told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the problem was exacerbated by San Diego...sort of.
"Given my experience in San Diego wasn't a great one, that left a bitter taste in my mouth," Greene said.
"It felt like the trust factor had been shattered. On the micro-level aspect of it, that didn't involve the clubhouse, but I really felt soured by that. Here, obviously, they want me to contribute, but at the same time I felt a genuine sympathy for my well being. ... I wanted to respond to that."
Huh?
Greene's begrudging statement about San Diego's front office is strange and misguided, mainly for the following reason: While Greene's exit was definitely facilitated by his large impact on a shrinking payroll, it was his poor performance and unstable nature that prompted his ouster.
However, when a person's health is on the line, one must always look out for the human being first and wish him well, regardless of what or whom he feels is to blame.
If Khalil wants to pinpoint the treatment the San Diego Padres' organization gave him as the crux of his recent troubles, and use it as motivation to do better as a ballplayer and as a person, so be it.
Since coming off the DL on June 18, Greene has hit three home runs while adjusting to a new defensive position, third base.
Meanwhile, his team leads the NL Central while his former club struggles several games under .500, in fourth place in the NL West.
No matter what happens on the diamond, everyone should hope that Greene matches that calm, serene exterior to a growing feeling of inner peace.
And thus, we should all hope to stop collectively reacting perplexed to his behavior.
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