APRTW wrote:

This team is fucked if they are done adding infielders.  One injury and the tailspin begings.  If Furcal gets hurt we will see a platoon of Greene/Delscalso/Skip at 2b and SS.  If Freese or Delscalso get hurt Skip turns into the starting second baseman.  Freese and Furcal are the teams biggest injury concerns.   They might want to prepare.  For all the Cardinals talk about the value of good competition they sure are handing a very unproven Delscaso a job.  Descalso didnt even have a very good 2011.  His OPS that of Theriot and Skip.

I suspect the team would carry one other bench player who could at least play the corner infield positions.  Maybe Matt Carpenter?  At least unti Craig is healthy

Bench: 2 OF, 2 IF, C

Schumaker (OF, 2B)
Greene (2B, SS, 3B)
Cruz or Anderson (C)

Cruz's versatility may give him a big edge here.

They also took some outfielder in the Rule 5 draft.  Admittedly, I know nothing about him (including his name), but if they want to keep him, he has to stay on the roster.

St. Louis selected outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Washington organization in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

Komatsu, who turned 24 after the 2011 season, split the year between the Brewers' and Nationals' Double-A affiliates. He was Milwaukee's Minor League Player of the Year in 2010, and was traded for Jerry Hairston Jr. at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in July 2011.

A left-handed hitter out of Cal State-Fullerton, Komatsu was an eighth-round Draft pick by the Brewers in 2008. He batted a combined .277 with a .367 on-base percentage and .382 slugging percentage in 2011, with seven homers, 48 RBIs, 60 runs scored and 21 steals in 30 attempts.

artie_fufkin wrote:

I think I read somewhere the Cardinals picked an outfielder in the Rule 5 draft who roughly matches Chambers' skill set, but since I'm stupid I can't remember his name. Maybe someone here with superior intelligence knows.

artie_fufkin wrote:

St. Louis selected outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Washington organization in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

See Artie, this is what you can do if you just apply yourself.

From El D's chat:

Eric: Is there anything to be excited about with Erik Komatsu?
Joe Strauss: He cost only $50,000.

APRTW wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

I think I read somewhere the Cardinals picked an outfielder in the Rule 5 draft who roughly matches Chambers' skill set, but since I'm stupid I can't remember his name. Maybe someone here with superior intelligence knows.

artie_fufkin wrote:

St. Louis selected outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Washington organization in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

See Artie, this is what you can do if you just apply yourself.

After all these years, I finally figured out what the term "search engine" entails.

Mo is quoted as saying they are not done and did no rule out trades as a method of improving.  2b would be a nice position to trade at.

I am not convinced that entering into a 3 year deal worth close to 30 million is a smart move to make with Beltran.  I dont think the FO should forget that he wasnt worth his weight in 2009 and 2010.

"I am not convinced that entering into a 3 year deal worth close to 30 million is a smart move to make with Beltran."

If Cuddyer got 3/$31, I'm guessing Beltran is going to want more.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"I am not convinced that entering into a 3 year deal worth close to 30 million is a smart move to make with Beltran."

If Cuddyer got 3/$31, I'm guessing Beltran is going to want more.

Then I would pass and see what the market for Cody Ross would be.  I see him falling closer to the 2y/15mill contract that Jason Kubel got.  He plays alittle center and could platoon with Jay there.  He also would be seem more projectible then Beltran as a part time player.

I forgot about Ludwick.  I remeber hearing that from you but havent heard it from any news source.  I wonder why he is being over looked.

I agree with you comment about them paying millions and committing 2 or 3 years for a 2 month problem.

Last edited by APRTW (12/19/2011 12:50 pm)

Strauss was interviewed today on Bernie's radio show.  Couple of tidbits from Strauss:

- Market regressing for Fielder.  Boras is a proponent to exploring free agency early and often.  If a long term deal doesn't materialize, he could seek a much shorter deal 2-3 years, and the Cardinals could kick the tires.  Seattle is the main player and Fielder doesn't want to go there because he's from Orlando and it's too far from home.  Cubs are supposedly not in the hunt.

- Cardinals could finish the Beltran deal with a single phone call, but may be waiting to see what happens with Fielder.  The won't wait too much longer to see what happens with Fielder.  Beltran and Berkman are close and Berkman has been in contact.  Something in the $10-11M range.  Lozano wants 3 years, Cardinals seem comfortable at 2.

- Cardinals may be interested in a bigger name because Craig's injury was fairly serious procedure.  2 screws in the knee was not a minor procedure.

- Latos deal seemed to be a "fit of frustration" by Jocketty.  Jocketty seemed desperate to make a deal and gave up too much to get Latos.

tkihshbt wrote:

Just give Beltran 3 years and get this over with.

Tell Lozano to go **** himself and get this over with.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"- Latos deal seemed to be a "fit of frustration" by Jocketty.  Jocketty seemed desperate to make a deal and gave up too much to get Latos."

Strauss is crazy. TTTIB will win 101 games and is World Series bound.

And Latos will go 21 - 2, but lose the Cy Young to Cueto who will win 30.