As we approach the All Star game the question is: What will the second half of the season look like and will the Cardinals be in it?
They have had a tremendous first half, considering where they were picked to finish. With the addition of C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs acquiring Rich Harden, the Cardinals will have to go for the upgrade.
The minor leaguers the Cardinals have been touting are just that at this time: minor leaguers. That is okay, if you have no plans to have them help you win this season. The problem is, the Cardinals have been pressed into using some players who may have been better served with just a tad more seasoning.
No one’s fault. Injuries and some players just not playing up to the team’s expectations explain why they have been called up – and for the most part they have performed admirably.
But the Cardinals need more. More experience and more consistent productivity that will be hard to determine with so much on the line when you look at a chance for post-season.
Remember this was supposed to be the re-toooling year, and 2009 was going to be the season the Redbirds were going to serve notice. Thankfully, the Cardinals players did not read that memo and (with the exception of a half-dozen outings) they have been in a competitive position to win every game.
Now they must come up with ways to stay in this thing without mirrors. Manager Tony La Russa does not get the credit he deserves for this one. He and his coaching staff have been magnificent in getting this club ready almost every night, and yet someone will question his moves. Oh yeah, he is not Whitey Herzog. And your point is?
La Russa needs help and a lot of it. No longer can the Cardinals pin their hope of the return of Mark Mulder, Chris Carpenter, Matt Clement and maybe Adam Wainwright in saving the day and giving the Cardinals that trade-like feeling. All are still mending and may not return to the form it will take to win this thing.
Did I mention left-handed relief pitching? I should have. It is at the top of the list as the current situation has not performed well enough.
The Cardinal offense has shown signs of slowing down also. A bat here would be greatly appreciated. Aside from Pujols and Molina, anyone else should be available in exchange for that prayer to be answered. The challenge will be how can the Cardinals get better. At this point, a trade is your only option.
While some would ask why didn’t the Cardinals make a deal for Sabathia, I would say in Milwaukee they are desperate. If they do not win this season, they will all be fired. Sabathia will be a free agent, and the Brewers have shown no indication that they will sign him or could afford him with some of the other free agents coming due at season’s end. Instead they have mortgaged the farm for one shot.
If the Brewers win, the price for those free agents will go higher. If they lose, they will see players leaving. Either way, it will be tough for them. I am not sure Cardinal fans would want to be in that position because Milwaukee also gave up some of their top prospects in the trade.
The Milwaukee trade was one the Cardinals should have passed on. That does not let them off the hook. To wait too long for the perfect deal could be devastating, as this race will become more intense sooner than later. They need to decide on what they can live without and move on from there. While Colby Rasmus should be the lone untouchable now, the Cardinals have to get future value in return when they elect to push the trade button.