Michael Phelps is getting a free pass after a photo surfaced of his testing the waters of a marijuana bong.
It must be in the air (bad pun), because one of our local superstar heroes has not faced a firestorm of criticism for a statement that makes you wonder if he were high when he said it.
I’m not suggesting that Albert Pujols uses any type of drug, but his appeal for the Cardinals to sign the high-priced and high-maintenance Manny Ramirez would sound hemp-induced if it came from anyone else.
The Cardinals currently have plenty of outfielders, but there could still be a trade or two and both Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan have had injury issues the past two seasons.
But instead of talking Ramirez craziness, let’s look at what the future Cardinals’ outfield might look like two years from now.
Colby Rasmus is pretty much a lock to start in centerfield this year or next. Either Ryan Ludwick or Ankiel would be in the mix. That leaves an outfield slot open come the 2011 season. Introducing 21-year-old speedster Daryl Jones.
In fact, some followers of minor league baseball think he’ll be the Redbirds’ leadoff man on that future Opening Day.
Jones, named one of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Minor League Players of the Year, is a rarity – a talented black athlete who turned down football for baseball. Is this a Ryan Howard influence? Let’s hope so.
Selected by the Cardinals out of Spring H.S. (Texas) in the 3rd round (No. 110 overall) of the June 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Ryan had several offers to play college football. He chose Johnson City, Tenn., instead when he signed with the Cardinals. He hit .265 with rookie-level Johnson City before moving up to Class A Quad Cities. He hit just .235.
But the Cardinals saw something they liked and
He is rated as the Cardinals’ fastest baserunner and best athlete in a Baseball America survey of “Best Tools” in each Major League team’s respective minor league system.
In 123 games split between Class A Palm Beach and Class AA Springfield in 2008, Jones hit .316, with 13 home runs, 49 RBI and 24 stolen bases.
He was a member of the Florida State League Midseason All-Star Team with Palm Beach where he hit .326 with 18 steals in 87 games. He was later named Texas League Player of the Week on August 25 with Springfield. He was the organization’s August Player of the Month. At Springfield, he batted .290 with six homers
That helped him earn the Cards’ top minor-league player honors.
“Many of our players had strong performances in 2008,” Cardinals’ Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jeff Luhnow said.
“Daryl distinguished (himself) at multiple levels to earn this honor.”
He said Jones “reflects the quality of our system and organization both on and off the field.”
In other words, he stays out of trouble and plays the game right.
So why is Pujols talking about Ramirez when there is so much young (and inexpensive) talent just a couple of years away?
Who knows and who cares.
Luhnow said of Jones’ 2008 season, “The lights went on.” Hopefully, this black young man will be under the lights of Busch Stadium a couple of years this Opening Day.