Now that the St. Louis Cardinals have a new look, the question is: Will it be enough?
The answer is: It should be.
The Redbirds have coveted the services of both Mark DeRosa and Matt Holliday for some time and, without a lot of fanfare and hoopla, they got the deals done. Maybe now the whole “the Cardinals don’t spend any money” thing can go away.
For those of you who like to keep score of that sort of stuff, the Cardinals’ ownership has a better record than one might think when it comes to those sort of things. Going back to Mark McGwire, Larry Walker and Scott Rolen – acquisitions that all required them to spend money – all came through. And while that doesn’t mean they always get their man, especially when it comes to free agent signings, they have responded in kind to addressing needs.
Now, here come the naysayers who felt like they mortgaged the farm to get Holliday who will be a free agent after this year.
Here is something to chew on. Brett Wallace was their number one draft choice last year. He has shown the ability to hit, but his fielding skills were certainly in question. Wallace could have helped the Cardinals in two, perhaps three years at best. At last check, the Cardinals and their fans want to compete if not win now.
Clayton Mortenson and Shane Peterson are just prospects. The chances of them being immediate impact players would be limited at this time. So just what did the Cardinals give up for an everyday slugger who can have an impact right now? As for free agency, if Holliday moves on then at worst the Cardinals would get a first round draft choice next year.
The results from the three new members of the Cardinals has been immediate as each has solidified their position in the field and at the plate. The infield has gone as far as Julio Lugo now creating a pleasant problem for manager Tony La Russa, since both Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan were already playing well before the trades.
Lugo’s addition gives the Cardinals depth that they didn’t have before now. If there is one concern it may be the fifth spot in the rotation, as Todd Wellemyer has been statistically the worst starting pitcher in the National League and yet he continues to dig a bigger hole for himself.
While it would be easy to say, “Bring someone up from the minors,” there is no one there who is really that much better due to the lack of experience and or skill. So what do you do? Look to make another deal that will not cost you much. You may look to rent a player down the stretch although the Cardinals are afforded the option of going with a four-man rotation at some point due to the fact they have a number of off-days that should help them down the stretch.
Any way you look at it, the Cardinals are a better team now than they were on July 1 and that could mean playing into October. They have now made the statement that they are going for it, and that is fine with me.
Sticking with Vick
While I said my peace on the Michael Vick saga last week, it is interesting to note that Commissioner Roger Goodell partially reinstated Vick back in the NFL.
Here is why. The league does not want to have the image of banning a player from the league after he has paid his debt to society.
They do not want a Pete Rose type of situation, where everywhere the commissioner goes the question is, “When are you going to free Michael Vick?”
Second, the NFL does not want Michael Vick playing on opening day where that would be the big story to start the season. We don’t want any distractions, please. If a team thinks Vick can help them, they can now sign him and allow him to do everything but be on the opening day roster.
My question is: Where and what position is he going to play? He was an outstanding rusher when he had the defense on their heels and an average quarterback at best. He would be right at home in the NFL as 90 percent of the quarterbacks in this league are average most Sundays anyway.
What’s next? Stand by and let’s see what team has what it takes to make the next move. Mind you, it will be a team that will have to have a skin as thick as Michael Vick’s.