Do you hear that?
It’s me. Scratching my head.
I’m trying to figure out the St. Louis Cardinals offseason strategy n and I’m not having any luck.
As of Wednesday morning, the Redbirds had not stunned us with a decisive trade or free-agent signing that improves its starting pitching, relief corps or everyday offensive lineup.
Chances are it didn’t happen over the last 24 hours and the annual Winter Meetings are drawing to a close in Las Vegas.
Yes, I’m perplexed.
There must be more to come because not much has happened yet.
The Cards’ first “big move” of the offseason was signing free-agent left-handed reliever Trever Miller.
Miller, who is still probably celebrating the Tampa Rays ALCS triumph over Boston, signed a one-year deal worth about $2 million. Great for the Cardinals, right? Wrong.
Miller wanted a two-year contract and, luckily for the Cardinals, it was discovered that the pitcher has a torn labium muscle in his left shoulder.
He swears he didn’t know it was there and that it didn’t hinder his 2008 campaign, which included two saves, 43.3 innings pitched and a 4.15 ERA.
Why is it that I can hear the Rays’ front office giggling?
Do the words “damaged good” sound familiar?
Speaking of which, the Cards say they received “good news” about Chris Carpenter last week. Let’s face it, that’s probably bad news for fans.
It means the team is still holding out hope that Carpenter not only pitches in 2009, but that he pitches effectively. I doubt either will happen.
The injured nerve in his right shoulder has reportedly improved enough to allow Carpenter to begin a rehab throwing program in mid-January. He would then be tested again later in the month. If all is well, Carpenter could report to spring training. Not gonna happen, folks.
Count me as an unsatisfied Cardinals’ fan, so far.
Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten the deal that has brought shortstop Khalil Greene to St. Louis for a pair of minor leaguers and a player to be named later.
Greene is 29 and came into the Majors with all the fanfare and promise of the game’s top shortstops.
He has far from lived up to it.
Greene is a lifetime .248 batting average, which is hardly sublime. What is truly alarming is his .213 batting average, the lowest of his six seasons in the Majors. He hit just 10 home runs with 35 RBI and struck out 100 times. His on-base percentage was a paltry .260. That’s terrible.
The Cardinals are banking on Greene having a repeat of his 2007 season, when he hit 27 home runs and drove in 97 runners. He had the highest batting average of his career in ’07, but it was just .254.
This is improvement?
Cesar Izturis was never mistaken for Alex Rodriguez last season, but he was steady defensively and hit .263. That’s 50 points higher than Greene. Izturis also threw in 24 stolen bases compared to Greene’s five.
Obviously, the Cardinals could still make a major trade involving either Ryan Ludwick or Rick Ankiel. That’s almost a must now because the two moves that GM John Mozeliak has masterminded haven’t accomplished much at all.
Yes, I’m scratching my head. I wonder what the Cardinals are scratching.