When the 2006 season came to an end the general consensus was that once again the Boston Red Sox would be in search of a shortstop on the free agent market. Over the previous three seasons the team had seen four individuals play significant time at the position with none doing enough to earn the job for the long term. Nomar Garciaparra was traded for Orlando Cabrera. Cabrera left via free agency and was replaced by Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez was allowed to leave and was followed by Edgar Renteria. Renteria was shipped out of town and the team again had to fill the same need.

There was a pattern developing in Boston. And not a good one despite the fact that the team was still competitive year in and year out during that time. So, in that offseason Theo Epstein went all out to get what he perceived to be the best available option during that time. Of course, if you were to look back at the free agent class for that offseason, Julio Lugo was actually the best option available. Nobody could have been able to tell at the time that Jerry Hairston Jr. would turn into a viable utility man over the past few seasons in Cincinnati but even still, he hasn’t been primarily a shortstop during that time so it’s tough to say he was truly a better option. In the end, Epstein got his man by signing Lugo to a four year, $36 million deal.

This week, after 266 games with a .251 batting average and committing 42 errors, the Sox finally cut ties with Lugo when they designated him for assignment. I personally expected that the team would simply release the shortstop as no team could possibly have enough of an interest in him to give up anything viable in return when they could simply wait 10 days and sign him for the pro-rated league minimum. But, yesterday I was proven wrong when Lugo was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Chris Duncan and a player to be named later (or cash considerations).

Sure, the Red Sox are paying the remainder of Lugo’s salary through the end of next season, but they can finally utilize that spot on the 25-man roster by filling it with a player who’ll help the team. Lugo’s inability to play defense was ultimately what ruined any chance of him being a successful player in a market as tough to play in as Boston can be. The fans chewed him up at every opportunity and by association continued to question Epstein’s thought process behind signing Lugo in the first place. But in the end, Epstein started to right the wrong not just by dealing Lugo but by actually getting something in return. Chris Duncan, a 27 year old outfielder/first baseman, gives the Red Sox some more depth at a number of positions. He has shown in his time in St. Louis that he can hit for some power and can play respectable defense. Plus, he is under team control at an affordable price through next season. The proverbial PTBNL or cash considerations is secondary, but still a nice addition to sweeten the deal.

Personally I don’t see what need the Cardinals have for Lugo. Brendan Ryan has turned into a decent shortstop and between Skip Schumacher, Joe Thurston, and Khalil Greene there seemed to be enough production to fill the at bats coming from second base and off the bench. Mark DeRosa has solidified third base and the team still has Brian Barden and David Freese just in case. Lugo isn’t an upgrade over any of these players and sitting on the bench getting two at bats every three weeks isn’t going to turn him into a reliable contributor. Again, the Cardinals aren’t paying much for Lugo’s services but with so many existing internal options I fail to see the point in adding him.

I would take either one of them...

Greetings…

We talked about this on my WXOS 101.1 FM radio show Thursday and it’s worth some follow-up discussion.

The Cardinals need a third baseman, and GM John Mozeliak apparently plans to pursue one.  Three prime names have surfaced, so far: Cleveland’s Mark DeRosa, Colorado’s Garrett Atkins and Seattle’s Adrian Beltre. All three are free agents after the season. DeRosa makes $5 million, Atkins makes $7 million and Beltre is being paid $12 million this season. We’ll also throw in Baltimore’s Melvin Mora, who makes $9 million this year in the final season of his contract.

All are RH bats, which the Cardinals covet.

Let’s take a closer look …

- DeRosa: He’s more affordable for payroll puproses than Atkins, Beltre or Mora. DeRosa isn’t the smoothest at 3B, but can hold his own. He can also play 2B, SS, 1B, LF, RF. That versatility is ideal for manager Tony La Russa’s lineup concoctions. The Cardinals are poor against LH pitchers and DeRosa could help remedy that. In his career, he’s a .303 hitter against LH, with a .373 OBP and a .481 slugging percentage. Great guy in the clubhouse. Loved playing in the National League. Is Mitchell Boggs enough to land DeRosa? The Cubs, Mets and Brewers are said to be interested in acquiring DeRosa.

- Atkins: There seems to be a bit of a groundswell forming for Atkins among Cardinals fans, but let the buyer beware. Atkins had a career year in 2006 — 29 homers, 120 RBIs, .329 BA — but his offensive numbers have been in steady decline since then. Atkins is batting only .195 this season, with a .273 OBP and an anemic .292 SLG. He’s also near the bottom of the NL in zone rating among 3B. And here’s another big concern about Atkins: He has glaring home/road splits. He hits with greater authority at Coors Field and isn’t nearly as effective away from Coors. That bothers me.

Here are Atkins’ career splits:

Home:   .331 BA,   .388 OBP,    .519 SLG
Away:    .255 BA,   .324 OBP,    .410 SLG

To put Atkins’ road splits in perspective, consider these two batting lines:

.246 BA,  .353 OBP,  .404 SLG.
.247 BA,  .309 OBP,  .424 SLG.

Both sets of numbers are similar to what we’ve seen from Atkins away from Coors Field, no?

Well, the first hitting line belongs to Joe Thurston.

The second belongs to Brian Barden.

Perhaps Atkins would be jump-started by a transfer to St. Louis and the opportunity to compete in a winning environment. Then again, didn’t many of us say the same thing about Khalil Greene? I have no idea what the Rockies would want in return, but they’re 14 games out of first place and probably are looking to dump salary. And the word on the street is that the Rox may be willing to eat a big chunk of Atkins’ $7 million salary. Bill DeWitt holding on line two…

-Beltre: I have to be up front about this. At first I thought – no way. But I warmed up to the idea after digging into the numbers. First of all, the $12 million. That’s a lot of jack, and I can’t imagine that DeWitt would approve of adding so much salary to the payroll. So I’m assuming that the Mariners would have to absorb a lot of that salary to make this deal possible. Are the M’s willing to do that? Dunno. They’re 6 games out in the AL West. I don’t think they’re a playoff team, so maybe the M’s will want to save some money. Beltre is a very good defender. Since signing with the Mariners in 2005, he’s been the second-best 3B (according to Zone Rating compiled by STATS LLC) in the American League.

Beltre’s biggest season was with the Dodgers in his walk-year of 2004, when he hit 48 homers, knocked in 121 runs and batted .334. But here’s the deal: since joining the Mariners, Beltre ranks 6th among MLB third baseman in homers, and he’s 5th in RBIs. He’s 16th in slugging. That may not seem overly impressive to you, but we must consider an important factor in these numbers:

Beltre is the opposite of Atkins in that his offense has been suppressed by playing home games at Safeco Field. He’s a much better hitter away from Seattle. Let’s take a look:

Home:  .247 BA,  .302 OBP,  .405 SLG
Away:  .277  BA,  .325 OBP,  .481 SLG

In Atkins, you get a hitter with mediocre numbers away from Coors Field. In Beltre, you get a hitter who packs a lot more punch when he gets away from his spacious home yard in Seattle. Beltre is also great pals with the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols. Beltre has started slowly this season, but that’s normal for him; during his career he really heats up as the season rolls along. In terms of talent, Beltre is the guy. But the salary implications figure to be a considerable obstacle.  

-Mora: He drove in 104 runs for a bad team last season, and is a solid pro, good in the clubhouse. He’s playing decently at 3B. But Mora is 37, his power has dropped this season, and he has a no-trade clause. Mora, his wife and their large family have also made Baltimore their year-round home. Even if the Cardinals wanted him, and could get him, would Mora be willing to relocate? Would he insist on a contract extension to do so? A few things here seem to make this a reach for the Cardinals.

Bernie Miklasz
STL Today

 

Do MO/DeWitt have the stones to pursue DeRosa?

A week ago we Cardinal fans pretty much thought the sky falling. We could not hit, we could not pitch, and we could not field. We were struggling at every aspect of the game possible.

The Cards had lost three in a row and it seemed like everybody was hurting. Since Monday, we have allowed two runs against what most thought to be the best team in the NL. After this series, people are starting to realize that they are not the best team in their own division.

We put an absolute ass whoppin’ on Chicago (saying that felt good), and came out of the gates hot against Kansas City tonight. In our four game winning streak, we have outscored the opponent 13-2.

While the offense was not outstanding vs the Cubs, it was obviously good enough. When you have three straight GEMS, you do not have to put up a seven spot every game.

However, I have seen some good things on the offensive side these past two games. On Thursday, we managed three runs six hits. Tonight, our offense looked much better with five runs on seven hits, a Tyler Greene home run, and a Khalil Greene two-RBI double. Khalil has had at least one RBI in the past couple games.

When looking at our lineup offensively, there is one major hole.

Our third basemen have collectively batted .252 with three home runs and 17 RBI. Looking at that, you see a struggling player. BUT WAIT, these are the total stats of not one player, not two players, but FOUR players. To add insult to injury, the players that have played 3B this season have struck out 24 times while slotted at the five position.

How do we fix it? We gotta reach outside of the organization.

Brett Wallace is too young and inexperienced. People say if he is ready, bring him up. Why take that risk? Why jeopardize our best Minor League prospect? The difference between AAA and the MLB is astronomical.

While Barden is good, he is not the solution for a playoff contending team. If Barden can keep his average above .275 while playing every day, then we can keep with him. But I don’t know if he can.

We could wait for Troy Glaus, but NOBODY knows when that could be. Reports now are saying a July comeback is possible. Even if he does make it in time for the final run, who know how good he could be? That is IF he comes back.

We don’t have an option if we want to contend for a Ring. We have to take these rumors and convert them into actual players.

In the past week, there has been immense talk about the Cardinals looking to trade for a 3B. When there are four different reports saying the same thing but with a different team, you’d be naïve not to listen to them.

There have been many conflicting reports, but here are the main candidates:

Adrian Beltre
The 30 year old Seattle third baseman is struggling right now, but always does in the early portion of the season. He is currently batting .205 but is sure to bring that up.

As most of you know, Beltre made a name for himself in 2004 when he took the NL MVP award with the Dodgers. Do not expect to see the 48/121 line that Beltre had back then, but he is capable up 25 homers and 90 RBI. I mean, hell, the guy has averaged 26 HRs and 93 RBI.

162 GM average: .269, 25 HRs, 88 RBI
Contract: $13.4 million

Garrett Atkins
Just like Beltre, Atkins has struggled of late. Atkins has more than Beltre, with a .187 average in COLORADO. If you are hitting .187 in the easiest place to hit in the country, why should we think it will be better in St. Louis?

Atkins is the only candidate that is still in his 20s. Again, he plays in Coors Field and history shows us that hitters leaving Colorado have a hard time in their new location.

Atkins is probably the best hitter out of all the players the Cards are interested, I would be too if I played in Denver. Although a great hitter in Colorado is still a good hitter everywhere else. Perfect example would be his splits for this season… Atkins is batting .215 at home, and .166 when the visitor.

162 GM average: .292, 22 HRs, 105 RBI
Contract: $7.0 million

Melvin Mora
There are some pros and cons to this one. Mora is playing well, and always has been very good, but is creeping his way toward 40 yrs old.

He is on pace for 85 RBI, and when healthy, can get that number up to 100 every time. Last season, he WAS healthy all year and totaled 105 RBI while sporting a hefty .488 LG%.

162 GM average: .279, 20 HRs, 82 RBI
Contract: $8.0 million

Mark DeRosa
This is the interesting one. DeRosa is more of a utility player than anything, but can certainly play third. He is listed as a 3B/RF, but can actually play third, second, first, and the entire outfield.

The Cards need a third baseman, but if we even had any injury that involved a middle infielder, DeRosa could take that role to. He is very versatile and has said over and over he can play any position on the field.

Before heading to Cleveland, DeRosa played with Chicago for a couple years. Last season was the best of his career with the Cubs when he belted over 20 HRs and 87 RBI. It would be a good shot in the arm for the Cubs if we landed DeRosa.

DeRosa has been on a tear lately, and has put together a nice season so far. In the past week, Mark is batting .326… bringing his season average to .256. He already has six home runs and 27 RBI, so it looks like his 2008 was no fluke.

He is the best fit for the Cards, and is the one the organization is most interested in. With lack of infield depth, DeRosa would be a major lift for the offense.

162 GM average: .278, 13 HR, 66 RBI
Contract: $5.5 million

There is one problem though. For any of these trades to take place we will need to give up “starting pitchers that are MLB-ready”. That is what all of the teams are asking for, and I don’t know if MO/DeWitt are ready to deal that.

In fact, I don’t even know if there are any SPs that we are willing to give up. I would say Blake Hawksworth or Clay Mortenson could be the ones that get moved, but are they MLB-ready? The only guy that I can think of that is young and MLB-ready would be Mitchell Boggs.

It kills me to say this, but I think Boggs could be on his way out. I hope I am wrong, but who else? I don’t think the Cards would deal anybody that is currently in the rotation considering our SP is the best in the majors this week. Why would they look to disrupt that?

IF I was John Mozeliak, I would do whatever it takes to land one of these four guys.

As Bernie wrote this morning for the Post Dispatch…don’t panic. We pushed and pulled our way into first place in the NL Central by positively shining through the month of April…but now the reality of a 162 game season has set in and the Cards are dragging multiple casualties through the injury-littered battlefield of May. I won’t rehash the stats of a 4-9 run, but I think it is important to review the list of key players on the recent disabled list:  Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Troy Glaus, and Chris Carpenter have all fallen ill to the various physical maladies of professional baseball. That’s 3 All-Stars and one power-hitting Center Fielder.

Others, although not physically afflicted, have found themselves exposed to mental lapses and cognitive vacations (e.g. Joe Thurston, Todd Wellemeyer, Adam Wainwright, Joel Pineiro, and even the great Tony La Russa).

Take all of that, sprinkle in a lineup composed of up to 6 “more or less” rookies on any given day, and you have the makings of a lengthy slump.

It happens, guys. It’s okay. It’s only May.

But May is more than half over…at some point, the team needs to pick up their jocks and salvage their record for the month if they hope to properly position themselves for a stretch run. A bad month in this division is an uncommon luxury for an over-achieving team like the Cardinals. If we hope to seriously contend, we need to make changes now. But where? What changes need to be made?

That’s where your friendly neighborhood Cards ‘N Stuff comes in! I’ve spent the last several minutes (hey…I’ve got a busy schedule…you want more…YOU write it!) compiling a short list of key changes. I’ve covered most (if not all) of them before, but apparently Tony didn’t get a chance to check ‘em out…so we’ll go over them again. Enjoy!

Problem:  Todd Wellemeyer      Solution:  Mitchell Boggs
I like Todd. He’s accessible, funny, unique, and he has a great arm…but he’s just not getting it done. The guy has almost no command of his pitches (literally…nearly none) and now resembles his wild and wacky 2007 days when he lasted barely 5 innings, walked the planet, and benefited from unusual run support. His 2008 days of sharp, plate-painting fastballs appear over, and his bat-missing slider seems to be running for the hills. Put him out of his misery. Remove him from the rotation ASAP. Of course, ASAP may not be quite fast enough. We optioned Boggs to AAA on the 15th. As far as I know, he has to stay there for 10 days before being eligible for a recall. That means Wellemeyer’s turn in the rotation must be addressed at least one more time before he can be yanked and replaced. That last turn just happens to be against his old team – the Kansas City Royals – this Friday night in Busch.

Here’s what needs to happen:  Wellemeyer starts the game in lieu of another viable option…but he pitches on a VERY short leash. We cannot afford to lose another game in the first inning. Get Brad Thompson ready and waiting to step in from the start, and hope to God we don’t need him. With Carp on a limited pitch count, we need our long man well-rested. Once Todd’s start is over, re-evaluate. If he pitches well…fine…give him another go at it. But if he pitches anything at all like he did against the Brewers Sunday…yank him from the rotation and call up Boggs to cover at least the next two starts while Wellemeyer attempts to reboot and figure his sh** out on the sidelines. I’m sick of watching him shoot himself (and us) in the foot simply because La Russa thinks 2/3’s of a season makes him yank proof. Enough is enough. Make the change.

Problem:  Joe Thurston      Solution:  Brian Barden
Super Joe ain’t lookin’ so Super after all. You know the thing about 4A players? There’s usually a reason they’re 4A players…and it’s rarely because they “never got a shot.” Thurston is a talented guy with a bit too much aggression…but he’s handicapping this team. Tony has consistently started Joe over Barden game after game, despite his blatant lack of production. I can only assume Tony sees something in the match-ups (especially the righty/lefty thing) that makes him keep writing his name on the lineup card over Barden…but I can certainly guess that Thurston is simply the latest in a long line of TLR love affairs that is further complicated by Jose’s affinity for the player. It’s infuriating. Barden finally started yesterday’s game and went 1 for 3 with a walk. To me, that’s a remarkable performance considering he’s been stuck in bench-player purgatory for nearly a month. Brian Barden is just not a “pinch-hit here and there” type of guy. He needs consistency and at-bats. Thurston, on the other hand, has the type of dynamic bat and consistent aggression that can be well-used in a late-inning switch and/or pinch-hit situation. The two roles need to be swapped. Start Barden. Sit Thurston. Enough already with the Super Joe love affair. Make the change.

Problem:  No OF Depth in AAA      Solution:  Daryl Jones
When Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick went down with injury, the Cardinals turned to their AAA club in Memphis for a solution. That solution? Nick “The Stick” Stavinoha. Seriously? A limited defender hitting .264 in the minors? Come on. The Cardinals, thinking their 4 outfielders at the major league level would allow them to be patient with slow-starting outfielders in AAA, sat on their hands and left themselves vulnerable. After all…what are the chances 2 of the 4 in St. Louis would go on the DL at the same time? Turns out…pretty good.

When the Cards needed to take advantage of their organization-wide OF depth, it wasn’t available to them. Because of Joe Mather’s abysmal start to the season and Shane Robinson’s “already present and accounted for” status, Nick Stavinoha got the call. It should have been Daryl Jones. Jones is hitting .308 with 8 doubles and 20 RBIs for the Springfield AA squad. His sweet stroke, electric speed, and raw talent are clear. He needs to be promoted…now. I don’t care if they have no room for him at the AAA level. Make room. Outfielders in the AA leagues can afford to flirt with the Mendoza line – as a group – but AAA outfielders cannot. As they say in football, those guys are only one play away from getting on the Big League field. We need them ready and able. Mark Shorey or Jon Jay not getting it done? Fine. Send them down and call up Jones. Hell…to be honest…considering the job Pop Warner has done with Joe Mather in the past, I don’t think it would be such a bad idea to send Joey Bombs himself down to work with Pop again for a few weeks. He’s sure as hell not gonna’ get a call up hitting .129 in AAA. Sometimes you have to step back to go forward.

At any rate, the Memphis outfield must be addressed. As it stands, the St. Louis club has no protection at the outfield position. They thought they were fine with 4 stellar outfield bats…but they forgot one thing…we usually play with 5. Enough already with the overly-patient AAA club. Make the change.

A Few Positives…

Okay…enough with the negatives. There are, believe it or not, a few positives to note. For one, Adam Wainwright appears to have figured something out and righted himself. Would’ve been nice to have that during Carp’s absence…but whatever. Speaking of Carp, it looks like he’ll make his tentative return Wednesday against the Cubs (I say “tentative” because, really, isn’t everything tentative with Carp these days?). Cause for celebration right there. Third, Rasmus seems to be getting locked in. If there is a silver lining to losing 2 of 4 outfielders in the same time period, it has to be Rasmus’ opportunity to play everyday and figure a few things out at this level. It’s exciting to watch. Finally, the unsung hero of the month, the St. Louis bullpen. Cardinals relievers are just flat-out gettin’ it done (Boyer’s “oopsie” to Prince aside). What was once a frighteningly unstable bunch has turned into a nice, solid, dependable staff – due in large part to Frankie’s Izzinator impression.

Yessiree…throw all that in a pot and stir it all up and you’ve got one dandy lookin’ June on your hands. Of course, we have to survive May first…but things can’t get much worse…can they? Ugh.

GO CARDS!!!

It’s been a while, but with a new baby, a new internship, and countless other changes to my everyday life…my blogging time has justifiably suffered. However, with the bitter taste of our most recent road trip lingering like bile on my tongue, I can’t help but throw a few Bird Seeds items out there to tide you over. So, here it goes…a little welcome home message for the Cardinals and their fans:

Greene is a Serious Color  I was thrilled when we picked up Khalil Greene for (at the time) next to nothing…but I’m 90% ready for Tyler to show us what he’s got. I watched Tyler Greene in person for a while in Springfield, and he’s always had a sharp bat and strong, natural talent in the field. He’s the real deal…and it may be time to let him prove it. Honestly, I think Brendan’s reassignment to AAA for rehab may be, in part, to allow Tyler a longer look at the Big League level. If he continues to play as he has…good things.  Barring a serious production reduction (hehe), the Cardinals need to find a way to keep him at this level for the foreseeable future.

Enough with Joe Thurston  Look…Joe Thurston is a talented andaggressive player with an occasionally dynamic bat. That’s it. He’s not consistent. He doesn’t play smart. He attempts to over-hustle to compensate for a lack of baseball maturity at this level, and he thinks he’s Albert Pujols on the base paths. Brian Barden, on the other hand, is almost the exact opposite. I don’t think Barden is our long-term answer at third base…but I absolutely think he is our short-term solution. The guy gets rookie of the month andthen gets his at-bats limited to 17 for the month of May to Thurston’s 38!!! Come on…if it wasn’t for TLR’slove affair with Thurston, Barden would be getting the majority of the at-bats at third base. And the worst part of it…Barden’s level of play has suffered for it. The guy needs consistency to produce. Plug him in the lineup, sit Thurston down, and use Joe as a pinch-hitter and 2nd base late inning sub.

4-Man Rotation  No, I don’t mean the starting pitchers…I mean the outfielders. Ankiel is due back next week, and Ludwick won’t be too far behind. With the way Rasmus is grabbing hold of his consistent playing opportunities, our four-man rotation in the outfield is looking pretty promising. We could roll through the rest of the season giving every outfielder every 4th day off to keep them fresh and sharp. Play 3, take a day…play another 3, take a day. With the bats in our outfield, we suffer little by subbing one for another. I see no reason to trade one of them away if Carp’s return can help right the ship in our starting five.

Woeful Wellemeyer  I like Todd. I really do. But maybe it’s time for him to start taking a hard look at his eccentricities. Starting pitchers don’t talk to others on the day of their start for a reason…focus. Wellemeyer, however, is the abnormal one. He has no problem talking, interviewing, and even occasionally twittering (I hate the term “tweeting”) on a scheduled start day. In the past, we (fans) and the media have received this unique trait with a certain fondness. Enough. I don’t know if it’s mechanics, delivery flaws, or just a simple inability to focus…but Wellemeyerhas got to start doing things differently. He had about two thirds of a decent season last year on the mound…and then moaned about “not feeling right” or his bum elbow the rest of the time. That’s all we know of the guy. His first half season with us…he was a wild gamble every start. He walked the side and survived on a wicked fastball and the occasional slider. Now, he’s toned down his fastball and all but eliminated his slider in the early innings. The result…fewer walks and more hits. A bit more on Wellemeyer:

The time has come to face reality with Todd Wellemeyer. The guy is either hurt, experiencing major flaws in his mechanics, and/or taking a flawed approach into every game (e.g. throwing too many fastballs early). Or…he’s just not the pitcher we all thought he was in the first place. Personally…I think it’s a combination of approach and a stubborn inability to conform to the routine of a starting pitcher. To get the first out of the way (and this is thanks to Matt Leach of mlb.com), Todd is throwing way too many fastballs early in the game andall but abandoning his slider. As Matt put it, he must throw his slider. I understand the approach…throw the fastball early andsave the slider for the second and third time through the order…but it’s not working for him. Guys are jumping on his fastball (typically up in the zone) and stringing together too many hits in one inning. My concern here is this: If he has to use his full repertoire of pitches early in the game, doesn’t that make him more hittable the third and fourth time through the order? Are we solving early inning runs and replacing them with late inning runs? I don’t know…but I’m not all that concerned about his game plan. I’m more concerned about the personality he’s taking into the game. Wellemeyer’s eccentricity was cool and a good discussion topic when he was pitching well…now, it’s a target. At some point, Todd has got to figure out that he is a starting pitcher, now. He would do well to mimic the likes of Carp and maximize focus before, during, and in between starts. I just haven’t seen it yet.

On a Positive Note  The bullpen seems to have turned it around…and not in ideal conditions. With quality starts a recent “thing of the past,” the ‘pen has done an outstanding job limiting the damage. Considering where this ‘pen was last season and the start of this season, it is commendable the way they’ve pulled themselves together. Let’s hope the starting five gets themselves figured out before the ‘pen can get beat up and worn down from over use.

A Final Comment…  Can we stop with the “mechanics problem” and/or “flaw in my delivery” issues for starting pitchers? Look…you either get guys out, or you don’t. Enough with the arm angles, flying open, pulling off, etc. You know what those are? Various ways of saying the same thing: I can’t get hitters out. That’s it. I honestly believe all these varying excuses and supposed explanations for ineffective pitching have done one thing…propped up pitchers with multiple crutches. Kick one out from under them and they topple. Enough already. Either you’re effective or you’re not. I don’t want to hear about your arm being 3 or 4 inches lower…or the one secret “thing” you discovered to fix your delivery. I don’t care! Fix it. It’s all sugar water anyway. It’s all mental crutching that serves one purpose only…to get your head in a place where you believe you can get it done. You’ve been pitching since you were 6 years old (most)…your body knows how to pitch. Just get your damn head out of the way. Sheesh.

Now, I realize it’s not always that simple…and I know a small adjustment here or there can make a significant difference. But come on…a lot of the time, you’re just not getting it done. Suck it up and pitch.

Okay…that’s all for now…here’s hoping the home stand is a welcome stretch…but with the Brewers, Cubs, and Royals coming to town, it’s going to take more than a little home cookin’ to rejuvenate this Cardinals team.

GO CARDS!!!

The New York Mets visit St. Louis for the first time in 2009 to play the Cardinals in a three-game series.

Pitching Matchups:

Game 1: Oliver Perez vs. Todd Wellemeyer

Which Ollie will show — Dr. Perez or Mr. Hyde? Nobody knows. Wellemeyer is a prime example of why Dave Duncan cannot be paid enough to be an MLB pitching coach.

Game 2: John Maine vs. Joel Pineiro

Will John Maine ever get past the fifth inning? Pineiro, another scrap heap success story for Duncan’s resume, has a perfect 2-0 record but a 5.40 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP thus far. Last year, the Mets battered him for 21 hits, 2 homers, and 9 runs in 9 innings, so perhaps this can be the game in which they finally send some runners home.

Game 3: Livan Hernandez vs. Kyle Lohse

This is a day game, 1:40 PM start. Before the season, I predicted Livan would be the Mets’ third-best starter before it was all said and done. He’s currently #2, which is as much a credit to Hernandez as it is due to the erratic performances of the other Mets starters. Lohse is off to a hot start, with two wins and a 2.57 ERA. Lohse was 1-1 vs. the Mets last season.

Offensive Concerns

The Mets are hitting .236 with RISP, with David Wright going 2-for-13 by himself. Wright, however, is 5-for-7 lifetime against Wellemeyer, and could shake his slump in the opener. Luis Castillo is currently leading the Mets with a .389 AVG while Ryan Church leads the team with 6 doubles, a .477 OBP, and a 1.018 OPS.

The Cardinals still have Albert Pujols, and surround him with a fairly balanced attack of LH and RH hitters. Ryan Ludwick is so far showing that 2008 was not a fluke, leading the Cardinals in the three major offensive categories. He’s batting .405 with 5 HR and 15 RBI through 10 games. However, another player to watch is 3B fill-in Brian Barden, who has slugged 3 dingers and 19 total bases in 22 ABs and is hitting .409.

Conclusion

Hard to say which way this series will go. Much depends on the efforts of Perez and Maine, who have become the poster children for inconsistency.

CHICAGO – It shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to anyone that the Cubs beat St. Louis on Friday. Sure, Cardinals fans likely had their fingers crossed and a bit of lingering hope in the backs of their minds that their team could pull out back-to-back wins against their division rivals, but the odds were heavily stacked against them.

A rookie pitcher in P.J. Walters had no business being even close to picking up a win in his major league debut against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, especially when his counterpart – Carlos Zambrano – was Chicago’s ace starter.

But what should have St. Louis fans excited and Chicago faithful scratching their heads is that Walters was in position to possibly get the win and that it wasn’t the Cubs bullpen that blew a lead, but rather the pitcher that is supposed to guide the team through the season that surrendered seven runs on nine hits. The two Chicago relievers – Aaron Heilman and Carlos Marmol combined to allow only one hit and one walk.

Walters matched Big Z in strikeouts (7) and the Cardinals nearly held on for the win using three Triple-A pitchers in Walters, Mitchell Boggs and Chris Perez. St. Louis had plenty of offense provided by two home runs from Ryan Ludwick and one from Brian Barden accounting for five of the team’s seven runs.

But it was Chicago’s lone homer from Alfonso Soriano that put the Cubs back in front.

Nearly pulling off a win with a rookie pitcher filling in for the injured Chris Carpenter should put a slight spring in the Cardinals’ steps along with the fact that the pitching matchups are relatively even for the final two games of the series.

One note to watch out for in today’s game as well as Sunday’s finale is possible retaliation from Tony La Russa.

In the top of the ninth, the Cardinals trailed by one and Marmol had just walked Colby Rasmus on four pitches. On the very next pitch, Marmol hit Albert Pujols in the elbow leaving him with a sore arm that might keep him out of Saturday’s contest. It’s possible that it was unintentional, despite the Cubs making it clear before the series even started that they would not pitch to the St. Louis slugger in situations just like the one in the ninth inning.

It’s possible that Marmol was just wild and having control issues. But after throwing five consecutive balls with only a one-run lead and hitting a batter to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, the dangerous Ludwick no less – who eventually struck out – there was no attempt from the Cubs’ catcher or a member of the coaching staff to calm Marmol’s nerves. No meeting on the mound, just a presence and approach that things were going as planned.

Right or wrong, fair or unfair, it’s in La Russa’s game plan and reputation. You hit my pitcher, I’ll hit yours. You hit my star, I’ll take care of yours. Soriano might be among the list of Cubs feeling a bit sore by the end of the weekend.

CHICAGO – As if the rivalry of the Cubs and Cardinals wasn’t already hot enough, the Cardinals heated up Wrigley Field in the first game of this weekend’s four-game series with a trio of homers and leaving the Northsiders wondering what is wrong with their bullpen.

The NL Central anointed quickly became the annoyed as the division’s preseason favorites went through six pitchers, trying to find an answer for the St. Louis bats.

The Cardinals, who lead the National League in runs scored, tallied 12 hits including homers by Chris Duncan, Khalil Greene and Brian Barden, and saw Brendan Ryan and Rick Ankiel both finish with doubles.

St. Louis even gave Chicago a few extra chances in the form of three errors – two on one play when Duncan had a fly ball hit off the heel of his glove and then threw the ball away allowing runners to advance.

But much of the credit should be given to winning pitcher Adam Wainwright. Despite laboring through six innings and watching his pitch count climb rapidly, Wainwright got out of a bases-loaded jam in the same inning that saw the two errors by Duncan and Ryan.

After Aramis Ramirez reached on a single and he and Mike Fontenot advanced to third and second respectively on the errors, Wainwright sat down Geovany Soto and intentionally walked Ryan Theriot to load the bases, bringing the pitcher’s spot to the plate.

What followed is what has Cubs fans across the board infuriated. The highly-touted and highly-controversial Milton Bradley stepped to the plate to pinch hit. More accurately, he pinch stood. Bradley watched the first three pitches go by to bring the count to 3-0 only to strike out with the bat resting nicely on his shoulder.

Of course, the anger management class graduate shared a few choice words with the home plate umpire and, not shockingly at all, was tossed from the game.

The Cubs had one more opportunity to break the 4-4 tie but Alfonso Soriano flew out to Duncan in left field.

Two things happened in the sixth inning – Wainwright proved that while his mechanics might not be completely sound early in the season, he certainly has the mental toughness that should help carry him through this season as the Cardinals’ No. 1 starter.

What it showed the Cubs was that they need to find answers for their offense.

On paper, there is no question that Chicago should breeze through the NL Central. But if the bullpen, aside from Carlos Marmol, continues to have problems holding leads and saving games, the offense needs to find a way to step it up.

This is only the first of four games this weekend between the two division rivals, but already many questions are being raised and answered on both sides of the field.

The Cubs should have a decided advantage in Friday’s game with staff ace Carlos Zambrano taking the ball while the Cardinals send rookie P.J. Walters to the hill to make his Major League debut. Walters was just brought up from Triple-A Memphis to give the starting rotation a bit of support while Chris Carpenter takes his 15 days on the DL.

It’s a heck of a way to make a debut, in a stadium that typically favors hitters and in one of the biggest series of the early season. If there is even a glimpse of good in Walters’ performance under such great pressure, good things might be in store for the young pitcher.

But with Big Z on the mound and considering the pitching matchup, there is little reason why the Cubs shouldn’t even the series. If the Cardinals’ bats stay hot, even against Chicago’s No. 1, the discussion might quickly turn from running away with the division to simply trying to keep pace.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The final and possibly biggest question mark remaining in the Cardinals starting rotation was turned into a period on Monday. Exclamation point still pending.

Todd Wellemeyer – who went only five innings and gave up 12 hits and five runs in his season debut against the Pirates – followed up his subpar first outing giving up only seven hits and one run against the Diamondbacks.

Prior to Monday’s game, Wellemeyer was the only St. Louis starter to not have recorded a win. There was a little concern entering the game that the adjustments he made following last week’s start would only complicate the situation and lessen his performance. The results were quite the opposite.

And while he allowed one run, he found just enough support from his offense with two solo homers by Albert Pujols and Brian Barden.

Is there anyone still questioning the Cardinals possibilities for this year? It apparently doesn’t matter who is in the lineup for the Redbirds. Manager Tony La Russa throws a different lineup onto the field nearly every night.

Skip Schumaker is tied for fourth most hits on the team so far this season and even found himself granted a night off in favor of Barden, and La Russa proved himself right again. Barden’s home run in the eighth inning was the difference in the Cardinals stretching their winning streak to five games.

Hot-hitting Ryan Ludwick extended his hitting streak to six games, and Pujols’ bomb was his fourth of the season, trailing only Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria for most in the majors.

Now it’s Chris Carpenter’s turn to prove that his season debut wasn’t a fluke. Carpenter’s effort put him at the top of the list of starters. No other St. Louis starter has given up fewer hits or fewer runs so far this season, and in only seven innings, he is third (7) on the staff in strike outs behind Adam Wainwright (11) and Kyle Lohse who have thrown 3.1 and 9.0 more innings respectively.

All eyes will once again be on Carpenter tonight as he attempts to keep his remarkable come-back story on the positive side.

Tonight he will face a Diamondbacks lineup with no player batting over .214 (minimum two at bats) against Carpenter. Meanwhile, the St. Louis sluggers will face an ailing Max Scherzer who is making his season debut after pitching for the organization’s Class A squad.

Per Derrick Goold tweeting from Twitter…Chris Perez has been optioned to Triple A to make room for Brad Thompson on the Cards’ Opening Day roster. Apparently the team feels they need an innings guy for long relief during the grueling, one-day-off April schedule. I agree…but not completely.

Here’s my Opening Day roster if the Cards’ front office thought to consult the all-too-knowledgeable staff at Cards ‘N Stuff.

STARTING PITCHERS
No surprise here, so I’ll make it short and sweet.

1. Adam Wainwright
2. Kyle Lohse
3. Todd Wellemeyer
4. Chris Carpenter
5. Joel Pineiro

In that order.

CATCHERS
Again, this is an easy one. The no-brainer guys are:

1. Yadier Molina
2. Jason LaRue

INFIELDERS
Because I want to save the bullpen lineup for last, we’re gonna’ jump right into the position players – starting with the infielders.

1. Albert Pujols (1B) – ‘Nuff said.
2. Khalil Greene (SS) - Again…no brainer. Let’s hope he can carry his hitting into the season.
3. Skip Schumaker (2B) – This time last year…never thought I would say this…but Skip’s the man at second. Good to see him improving.
4. David Freese (3B)- This is truly a positive coming out of camp. Freese is a plus player with strong defense and an exciting bat.
5. Brendan Ryan (Utility) – I just like Ryan’s energy. He has the ability to make things happen on offense, and his defensive versatility has only improved this season.
6. Brian Barden (Utility)- Aaaannnddd…here we go. I know Joe Thurston has become the new thing in camp, but Barden’s my guy. He may have a “limited” bat, but it’s still a good bat. The man is solid on defense, can play anywhere on the infield, and he is a true ball player. You may say his offensive performance this Spring came in limited at-bats (especially compared to his counter-part, Thurston), but I say all the more reason to keep him on the roster. In limited, sporadic at-bats, Barden has done nothing but hit (.385) and get on base (.442 before today’s game). The guy puts the ball in play. What more could you ask of a utility-playing, bench-warming, part-time pinch-hitter?

OUTFIELDERS
Here it is…the big one…the roster configuration where Colby Rasmus does NOT make the Opening Day squad.

1. Rick Ankiel – Guy’s a slugger. Be fun to watch him this season.
2. Ryan Ludwick – All-Star…he’s on.
3. Chris Duncan – This guy is gonna’ be exciting this season. His power’s back, and I think dealing with his injury the last couple years has made him a better hitter (better contact, fewer strikeouts, more walks).
4. Joe Mather- I know his bat has been quiet, lately…but the odd thing is he’s still capable of running up his RBI count. Despite his recent dip in production, he’s a valuable, Scott Spezio role guy. He’s on in my book.

Rasmus is not on. I’m not sayin’ he shouldn’t be brought up near the end of April, but let’s not jump the gun. Let the guy get everyday at-bats to jump-start his season in April and let his arbitration clock start later. Why? Because I want Chris Perez on the team.

BULLPEN
The Cardinals have a tight schedule in April with only one off day and all five starters still in early season form. You need a long relief guy like Brad Thompson on the team…but that doesn’t have to come at the expense of Chris Perez.

1. Ryan Franklin – Looks to be great this year.
2. Josh Kinney – Gonna’ be nasty this season. The arm looks good and the stuff looks filthy.
3. Jason Motte – The man’s a beast. I love watching him take the mound. He makes me believe nothing shakes him…and it’s the hitter that’s on the defensive.
4. Trever Miller – One of two lefty specialists on the team. He’s a must…but he makes me uncomfortable. He has not…I repeat, not…had a good Spring. But…recently…a bit better.
5. Dennys Reyes - The other lefty and a late addition, he could be the best move we’ve made in the off-season.
6. Kyle McClellan - The righty seems to have righted himself with his return to “his” side of the rubber. He’ll be strong again this season…and may end up filling a brief need as a long reliever.
7. Brad Thompson - This guy has made a career of pitching on the bubble. His role the last few seasons is under-appreciated and all-too necessary. Good to see him on the team…but with young relievers like K-Mac, Motte, and Perez…how long will he remain?
8. Chris Perez - Perez was just optioned to AAA…and I don’t like it. The way he’s throwing, and considering the way our bullpen functioned last season, the best course of action here is to plug him into Raz’s roster spot until April is over…then make the tough call in the ‘pen based on performance. But…alas…the team doesn’t see it that way. We have not seen the last of Chris Perez in 2009.

And that does it…my roster preference. To summarize, I went with six infielders, four outfielders, and a whopping thirteen pitchers to help support the Arms Race of April. My roster delays the arrival of Colby Rasmus in favor of Perez’s Opening Day debut, but it’s worth it. With one off day in the opening month, what do we need yet another left-handed outfielder for, anyway?

Anywho…with less than a week ’til Opening Day…

GO CARDS!!!!

In a front-office move, shocking by its level of common sense and its hit to the bottom line, the St. Louis Cardinals have released whiny disgruntled second baseman Adam Kennedy.

And according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kennedy’s release was at the behest of Tony La Russa. Me, agree with Tony La Russa? Has the world gone mad?

With Kennedy’s release and La Russa BFF Aaron Miles now with the Cubs, a yawning chasm now exists at the Cardinals’ keystone and an open competition declared to fill it. But by whom? Let’s take a look at the candidates:

• Skip “Jared” Schumaker: Despite having declared he’s not a second-base candidate at the Springfield stop of the Cardinals Caravan, His Jaredness now finds himself in the running. He’s in Jupiter a week early, taking groundballs and whatnot in the infield. In a perfect world (e.g., Colby Rasmus starting in CF), he’s no better than the fourth outfielder on this team. Perhaps he realizes this and is preparing for his new role as Tony La Russa’s Super Utility Bitch™.
• Brendan Ryan: Where Skip punishes right-handing pitching (a career .324/.371/.451 vs. righties), Brendan Ryan is roughly analogous against portside pitching. As an amateur TLR profiler, I imagine a Skip/Ryan combo would be his preference.
• Brian Barden: Said to be a whiz with the leather, Barden also is theoretically in the mix at third base because of Troy Glaus’ sudden surgery. While he’s hit well enough in the pitcher-friendly Texas League and Pacific Coast League (Double-A and Triple-A, respectively) parks, he has fewer than 50 major-league plate appearances. So what he does offensively is anyone’s guess.
• Joe Thurston: The black version of Brian Barden. Once considered a star prospect in the Dodgers organization, Thurston’s had roughly the same career path as Barden: good with the glove, acceptable-for-second-base offense in favorable parks, limited MLB action. But he’s spent five seasons at Triple-A, which doesn’t bode well for his future in St. Louis.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir: The Cardinals’ top middle-infield prospect, Hoffpauir has walked more than he’s whiffed each of his five seasons in the minors. But he hasn’t shown he can hit for much power, aside from his 2007 barrage in hitter-friendly Springfield. Still figures to have a better season than Kennedy if he can keep his walk rate up.
• Tyler Greene: Another minor-leaguer, Greene can steal a base, but that’s about it.

The Who’s On Second? game: Coming soon to a spring-training facility near you!

I’m trying to cut down on the blogging habit for a while, but this certainly came as news and is worth commenting on.

So before securing a replacement for Adam Kennedy, the team let him go? Weird. Very weird. I thought the org and the player kissed and made up and everyone was happy. Apparently Tony was not. The relevant question now is: Who wins the job? You would think the club would look outside with several good candidates out there, but Goold says they’ll look internally.

Here are the in-house candidates by their CHONE projections:

• Joe Thurston – .322 wOBA. I got nothing on his defense, but in his last three minor league seasons he was +8, -4, -5 per 150 games.
• Brendan Ryan – .308 wOBA- minus 4 on defense.
• Brian Barden – .310 wOBA, neutral on defense.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir – .324 wOBA, last three seasons in minors -9, 0, -15.
• Skip Schumaker – .328 wOBA, glove???

I had Kennedy for .8 WAR but if he replicated his 2008 campaign in which he was a + 10 defender, he’d be at 1.2 WAR. Running each player through the spreadsheet and giving the starter 500 PA’s I get:

Thurston: .8 WAR
Ryan: .1 WAR
Barden .5 WAR
Hoffpauir .4 WAR
Skip .7 WAR, who really knows with the glove. I put him down as a -8 defender, and I think I am being nice.

Thurston projects to be every bit as good as Kennedy, if you can call that good. The bottom line is ditching Kennedy is no huge loss. If Skip can prove us wrong and be serviceable at 2B, it could clear the way for Colby.

Jerry Crasnick reported last week that the Cardinals phoned Ray Durham to see if he’d be interested in backing up Kennedy but nothing really happened. Hopefully Mo calls again. Eric Seidman of Fangraphs earlier today made a great case for Durham. I know the Cardinals would rather not eat AK’s salary and pay for another 2B, but Durham could probably be had for cheap. I think he’d look good batting 2nd, 7th or maybe even leading off if he can come close to posting another .380 on base%.

Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Mike Parisi boosted his record to 8-2 with a 1-0 AAA-Redbirds win last night at Autozone Park.

The visiting Portland Sea Dogs were unable to score upon Parisi, nor middle relievers Jason Motte and Chris Perez, each earning a hold. Mark Worrell was credited with the save for his work as closer.

David Freese supplied what would turn out to be the game-winning hit early, in the second inning, after Josh Phelps led off with a double.

Brian Barden went 2-for-4.

I can’t believe June is already here. That means it’s time to look back at May and who turned in great performances that month. Our panel has spoken, and there’s no disputing who belongs at the top this month.

FR Position Player of the Month of May:

1. Joe Mather, 20 points. Key stats: .311/.385/.709 AVG/OBP/SLG, 12.8% per plate appearance. 10 HR.
2. Allen Craig, 13 pts. .327/.356/.611. 9 HR.
3. Brian Barden, 10 pts. .377/.460/.538.
4. Bryan Anderson, 8 pts. .358/.400/.463.
5. Shane Robinson, 7 pts. .367/.402/.456.

Also receiving points: Andrew Brown, 1.

No question that Mather belongs at the top, his performance was so hard to ignore that it earned him a spot on the big league team when it was all said and done. After him, it’s pretty questionable who was 2nd best. Craig had some monster power numbers that are certainly hard to overlook. Brian Barden had a spectacular month, but how many years has he played in AAA now? Anderson and Robinson both continued to build on their impressive first months of the season.

FR Pitcher of the Month of May:

1. Jess Todd, 20 points. 18.8% K/PA rate, .169 BABIP, 0.91 ERA.
2. Fernando Salas, 16 pts. 53.8% K/PA, 3.8% BB/AP, .167 BABIP. 1.23 ERA.
3. Mitchell Boggs, 8 pts. 3.22 ERA, 51 GB%, 16.2 % K/PA.
4. Mark Diapoules, 6 pts. 64% GB, 2.73 ERA, 19.4% K/PA, 5.6% BB/PA.
5. (Tie) Jaime Garcia, Francisco Samuel 3

Also receiving points-Nick Additon, 2, Mark McCormick 1, Matt Scherer 1.

Todd has been the Pitcher of the Month two times in a row now, last month in Palm Beach now this month while he was in Springfield. At this rate, he’ll be the June Pitcher of the Month at Memphis. Salas has emerged from an unknown in the Mexican League to a shutdown closer in the TL. Like with the hitters, it’s a toss up after the top of the list. You could make an argument for Garcia being next; # 5 seems too low for me but I presume that is because after some great starts in AAA he’s had some so-so ones that have knocked him down a peg. Boggs has been one of the PCL’s most solid starters. Young Mark Diapoules come up to the QC with aplomb, missing bats and inducing lots and lots of grounders with that sinker of his. And Francisco Samuel has been “effectively wild” to this point for Palm Beach, ascending into the closer spot after others have faltered.

In my last post, I explored the organization’s options at third base (in case the club needed to DL Glaus for more than a while). Unfortunately, in my haste to get the post up well before the game and thus allow time for discussion, I overlooked a valuable infielder at the AAA level. My thanks to Travis for pointing out my oversight. Because Cards ‘N Stuff will always do our best to point out and correct our own mistakes, here is Brian Barden’s snap shot at third:

AAA Brian Barden (.322 AVG, .454 SLG, .400 OBP – 3 HRs) – Wow. I should be banned from the fan blogosphere for leaving this kid out this weekend. But, in my defense, I purposefully excluded him because the organization has him listed/playing shortstop in Memphis. His offensive numbers speak for themselves (and an .854 OPS!), but can he play the Hot Corner after high error numbers at short and a long absence from his natural position? I think in a possible Glaus DL situation, the club will want to call up a current and natural third baseman OR someone who is just demanding to be called up (like Joey Bombs). Unfortunately for Barden, he doesn’t fit either of those categories. Yes, his numbers are impressive, but Mather’s are even more impressive. Yes, he can play third, but he’s not our best third baseman. All-in-all, he’s that guy that falls in between the best defensive and the best offensive options without being either one. Still, he could be a good way to get both in one package…and at 27, he’s no Spring chicken…

Thanks again, Travis!

(Update: I republished all the Cardinal affiliates with their numbers in google docs for those of you too lazy to sort. Click here to see)

Dan Fox rocks. I don’t know if you’ve been following his research at BP on his new fielding metric Simple Fielding Runs or not, but it’s worth the read if you don’t mind hearing about some methods. Of course, the good part is when he gets to the numbers…until you find out just how bad Chris Duncan really is. On the flip side, you hear again just how good Pujols is.

Fox also just provided a download of SFR that included minor league infield data. Huge props to him.

So how did some of our infield prospects rate?

• David Freese has had somewhat of a bum rap for his defense, but not so according to SFR. He’s the 8th best 3B in the minors and worth about 12.3 runs.
• There have been a lot of questions about Allen Craig’s defense, and according to SFR he’s more close to neutral then detrimental, coming up +2.7 runs. That jives with what Derrick Goold told us a few weeks ago. “He’s not great at third, he’s not a game-changer at third, but he also – according to an opposing manager – doesn’t hurt his team.”
• We have a couple of good fielding shortstops in Jose Martinez and Tyler Greene. Martinez came in at +8.3 and Greene at +8. (edit: Martinez also was a +6.8 at Palm Beach) That’s encouraging. Last year there was talk that Greene should move to third, and this season we’ve been hearing that Martinez would be better at 2B. Both have more value at their current posisition. Speaking of SS’s, Brendan Ryan was +3.6 for Memphis.
• The best infielder in the system? Donovan Solano. He was a +12.6 at 3B for Quad Cities, and +4.3 at SS for PB. Unfortunately he has just a .589 career minor league OPS. Then again, our starting big league SS had a career .630 OPS in the minors and still has made it to the big leagues because of his defense.
• So who was the worst fielder in the system last season? Thankfully, it wasn’t a prospect but a minor league journeyman-New Padre Edgar Gonzalez was -13 runs. Yikes. No wonder he hasn’t seen a big league at bat yet. I think he owes Blake Hawksworth and Mike Parisi an apology.
• Pete Kozma wasn’t great but wasn’t bad. +1.9. His high school team played on turf, word is he was adjusting to a different surface. I’m optimistic he’ll improve.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir was also about neutral. +1.2 in AA, -1.2 in AAA.
• Brian Barden was a +11 for Tucson at 3B, making him one of the better fielders in the minors.
• Mark Hamilton was bad, a cumulative -4.5 between A and AA.

St. Louis Cardinals’ prospects Jarrett Hoffpauir and Mitchell Boggs continue to have key roles in Arizona   

With limited at bats so far during the Arizona Fall League, Jarrett Hoffpauir has made the most of his opportunities and is putting himself in the mix for a role on the 2007 Cardinals.  In Thursday’s action, the second baseman was 2 for 5 with two runs batted in and a stolen base.  The 24 year old is now hitting .333/.429/.333 with four runs batted in six games and 18 official at bats. 

Monday’s AFL action saw the return of Mitchell Boggs to the bump.  Having not allowed an earned run in his first two starts, Boggs proved he is human giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in three innings of work.  In three starts, Boggs,  who had pitched six scoreless going into this game,  has an ERA of 2.00 in nine innings of work.  Jason Motte got in a perfect inning of work, lowering his ERA to 3.60.  Mark Hamilton had a good game with a hit and two walks.  The first baseman is hitting .188 in the Arizona sun.

 And, as I first reported over at the Birdhouse, Amaury Cazani Marti has been named as Joe Mather’s replacement for Mesa, but has yet to make an appearance.

 Blake Dewitt has made the most of his opportunities in Arizona.  With another hit on Tuesday, Blake is now hitting .316/.364/.421 with only one strikeout in 19 at bats.

With Tony’s track record of choosing veterans over youngsters, some of his comments from his press conference were quite interesting:  “To set the record straight, if I had to choose one, I’d take the young team,” La Russa said. “I’d rather have a group of young guys with true talent than I would (older) guys who are on the (declining) side of their careers.”  Huh?  Did he forget that he played Miguel Cairo over Brian Barden at the end of the season and that Cairo took playing time away from Brendan Ryan?

Per the North Central Illinois News Tribune, 12th round pick Brett Zawacki has at last signed. No word on his bonus, but I’d have to believe it’s well over slot. He had committed to Arizona State before signing. The scouting report on Zawacki he throws a a good sinker in the low nineties, but scouts aren’t really keen on his arm action or curveball. I’m glad they got the deal done, that now leaves Russell and Stutes.

Non-stop noise machine John Hadley is reporting that the Cardinals have claimed 3B Brian Barden off of waivers. Barden, who is 26 was ranked by Baseball America as being the best defensive 3B in the PCL, and has hit .297/.353/.451 over 6 seasons in the minors. He’s struggled this year. Barden’s been a fringy prospect type for some time. Some of the parks he has played in have helped his production, but he has shown decent ability to hit for average and flash occasional power, just not enough power that you’d like to see from a corner IF. Good line drive hitter and can play SS if needed. He could be a decent utility man. Some of his PECOTA comparables are J.J. Furmaniak, Andy Phillips, Nick Green and Dan Uggla. Travis Hanson, your days are numbered.

Hat tip poster Pickefork, Richard for passing along the scoop.