While all the lazy baseball players rest for their precious "All-Star Break", I'm going to spend my day off doing something productive and post a blog about them. More specifically, what I think the Cardinals should do to solidify their roster for the second half. Let me preface all of this by stating that I actually am not confident this team can hold off fellow Wild Card competitors Milwaukee and New York, and I've all but given up hope that they have any shot at catching the Cubs for the division lead. The Cubs are just too good, and have Rich Harden. Fucking Cubs. But lack of confidence notwithstanding, the fact is that the Cards are still in this thing, so it's okay to dream as I sit here typing this on July 15. The following are the products of this dreaming.
It seems to me that the Cardinal offense actually doesn't suck. The team's cumulative OPS is sitting at .779 headed into the All-Star Break, which is good for fifth in all of the major leagues, including those cheating/awesome AL teams using a DH. Only the Cubs have a better offense in the much more gritty/terrible National League. So with that being said, should the Cardinals focus more on acquiring pitching help? No, and I'll tell you why. There are plenty of in-house solutions when it comes to pitching; they need to let their own guys sort out the pitching holes. Offensively, they would need to consult outside sources if they are to improve their chances at staying in the race in the second half. They have too many outfielders with the same set of skills, and too many middle infielders with no set of skills. The result is a logjam in both departments, and a personal guarantee from manager Tony LaRussa that he'll be inserting at least four position players incapable of hitting for power in the lineup every game.
Tradition dictates that it's okay to have a few spots in your lineup where power is not required. That would be the leadoff spot, where OBP trumps SLG handily, and the 7-8 slots (or the 7 and 9 slots for the Cardinals, who continue to pointlessly hit the pitcher 8th). Typically, those three powerless positions are catcher, short stop, and second base. And the Cardinals adhere to that standard admirably by never using who can hit for power at those spots. The problem is, none of them bat leadoff, so the only place you can put them is 6-7-8/9. That's been my complaint this entire season; someone with no power has to hit sixth or second the way this roster is currently set up. As solid as this offense has been in 2008, if they could just manage to acquire a middle infielder who can hit for some power, their lineup is set. I wouldn't take this issue lightly, either; they absolutely do need another impact bat in the lineup, but it's senseless for that impact bat to come in the form of another outfielder, even one as good as Jason Bay. Is anyone really satisfied with the combined offensive output of Miles/Kennedy/Ryan/Izturis? I'm not, and I want to look at alternatives.
No one currently in the system would be much of an upgrade. Sure, I'd rather see Memphis second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir (.297/.381/.403) playing every day in St. Louis instead of Miles or Kennedy, but he doesn't fit the power criteria I'm looking for in a 2/6 hitter that would beef up the heart of the order and keep the non-power threats either in the leadoff spot or 7 and lower. So in this instance, we'd have to pursue a trade to meet this need. You don't need an all-star, just someone who can safely stay on the .400 side in the slugging department. Some ideas? Gladly.
Brian Roberts (2B) - .296/.375/.489He's been ridiculed in the past by fellow sprayahen writer Brian Vaughan, but Roberts, steroids or not, has slugged well over .400 in each of the past four seasons and now boasts a career total of .417, even with the inclusion of several light hitting seasons before his .902 OPS break out in 2005. I know Roberts is not close to that good, but he draws walks and hits for enough power to serve as a great two hitter in front of Albert Pujols.
Orlando Hudson (2B) - .302/.359/.457
O-Dog is a very solid player; great glove at second and a more than adequate bat, possessing a little power as well as decent plate discipline. The only problem is that he may be boosted a bit by his home park with an OPS of just .742 outside of Arizona. He's more effective from the left side of the plate, particularly this season.
Mark DeRosa (2B) - .283/.377/.453
I admit that I thought the Cubs were crazy when they signed him to 3 year/$13 million contract in 2007, and I admit that I was wrong. He's done nothing but earn that money ever since, and I wish he was a Cardinal.
Ray Durham (2B) - .293/.385/.414
Although it'd be a clear half-season rental in this case since the 36-year-old Durham is a free agent to be and he should have no place in the Cardinals' future, if he could be acquired cheaply, he could be a fine addition down the stretch of 2008.
Obviously, most teams that St. Louis talks trade with are going to ask mainly about Colby Rasmus and Bryan Anderson, but are also likely to inquire about Jess Todd and Jaime Garcia as well. I'd hate to see the Cardinals part with any of those top four prospects, but the most expendable is easily Anderson since the club has no interest in displacing Yadier Molina. Since Anderson is far too good of a hitter to be a backup catcher, it's only a matter of time before he's dealt, and I've come to terms with that. I believe any of those second basemen listed above could be had merely by offering secondary prospects like Mitchell Boggs and possibly stumbling, unproven major league players such as Chris Duncan or Anthony Reyes.
At any rate, put me in the group that doesn't believe the Cardinals should turn over their farm system to add big names to their roster and gun for the post-season in 2008. This rebuilding process is actually increasing my interest in the team, and I personally would be irritated if the front office doesn't stick to that plan. I think the only moves that make sense for this trade deadline involve trading surplus position players and/or fringe prospects for temporary upgrades at the major league level. I realize fans are starting to get nervous because the heat to stay in the race is really on now and no one wants to see this team get buried after working so hard, but the best bet really is to wait for the return of Carpenter and Wainwright, get rid of unnecessary extra pieces, and make sure that minor league system keeps going full force.
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