New Arrival
I feel as though I've not done my duty as a blogger during the Matt Holliday acquisition, but it couldn't really be helped. I knew on Thursday night there was almost a 100 percent chance we were getting Holliday, but I wasn't able to blog since my internet is on the fritz at my apartment. At any rate, let me get into some discussion.
I'm a fan of the trade to get Holliday for Brett Wallace, Shane Peterson and Clayton Mortenson, and here's why:
* First, Brett Wallace had no spot to play for the Cardinals. He is a poor defensive third baseman who should play first base, and we all know he's not going to be doing that in St. Louis. He also lacks range and the first step to play in the outfield, so there's just nowhere the Cards could have put him. He would be a liability at the hot corner. You could make the argument that his bat would offset that, but wouldn't that just make him a mediocre player if he's being exposed on the infield?
* Second, the Cardinals are going to seriously pursue an extension for Holliday. And guess what? If they don't extend him and they offer him arbitration for $16 million and he declines, we get a first-round and a supplemental pick from the A's in addition to our regular first-round pick, which automatically replenishes the farm. With Troy Glaus, Adam Kennedy and Khalil Greene coming off the books in the offseason, we will have funds to disperse accordingly.
* Third, this lengthens the lineup tremendously whenever it can look like this on any given night:
Schumaker/Lugo
Rasmus/DeRosa
Pujols
Holliday
Ludwick
DeRosa/Rasmus
Molina
Ryan/Schumaker
Pitcher
That's pretty deadly, which we saw last night when they beat a very good lefty into the ground.
* The move rejuvenates everyone and gives them a new sense of excitement. It's been reported that the Cardinals were texting back and forth to each other when the trade happened expressing excitement for that type of player to come in.
* The move also makes a statement in the division toward the other contenders, serving almost like a scare tactic to show them the Cardinals mean business. After reading message boards for Cubs and Brewers fans, they are not too happy about this acquisition. They know the Cards are now the team to beat in the Central, if not the entire league.
* Finally, as stated above, this makes the Cardinals very much the division favorite. They are now less vulnerable to lefties, they have a potent lineup and their pitching is some of the best in the league. Three of the five Cardinals starters have ERAs in the top 10 in the league (Carpenter, Wainwright, Pineiro), and our bullpen is anchored down with Franklin, McClellan and Trever Miller, with other solid guys in there as well. If we can get to the playoffs, this team will not be one other teams want to face.
On another note, I'm relieved to see Chris Duncan out of St. Louis so LaRussa doesn't feel obligated to play him because of who his daddy is. The politics that went into LaRussa's lineup decisions was reminiscent of Kennett High School baseball in the 90s and 2000s until Aaron New put his stamp on the program. The "if your last name is (fill in the blank) then you get to play," approach is now done in Kennett and in St. Louis. Hallelujah. It's about time.
- -- Posted by Baseballfan88 on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 11:27 PM
- -- Posted by Brandon Higgins on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 11:51 AM
- -- Posted by Baseballfan88 on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 11:24 PM
- -- Posted by sandman1765 on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 3:46 PM
- -- Posted by Brandon Higgins on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 4:46 PM
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