Second base is always an offseason topic for the Cardinals.  I find it odd to give Greene such an inside route.  I would be offended by it if there were other options.  I am kind of glad they see Descalso as a utility player and not an everyday guy.  He was a fun story in 2011 but I would be worried of overexposer putting him in the everyday lineup.  I think there is going to be plenty of playing time in the middle infield.  Greene and Furcal are not going to play 162 games.  With Greene being out of options the FO might just be putting pressure on him to preform because they dont want to make that decision.

Yesterday's Post-Dispatch story seemed to suggest that Greene is getting more than just a shot.  It sounds like it's Greene's job to lose.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/greene-is-cards-preferred-candidate-at-second-base/article_14aee820-d415-500b-98f1-5a76bb717878.html

Obviously, the current General Manager and the previous Manager had diverging opinions on Greene's value. Let's see how Matheny plays this one ...

FWIW, Greene has a raw skill set that no one else has.  They see the potential for a guy to hit for a decent average, hit 10+ HR and steal 30+ bases.  Whether he can actually do that is another story, but I don't blame them for wanting to find out.  Not to mention, he's still an inexpensive option which they're going to need if they're really paying Molina $15M/year.

I suspect you hit on the reason in your earlier post.  Everything we've read about Greene seemed to make it sound as though the uncertainty of his status under TLR made it difficult for him to perform.  Perhaps they're just trying to get him to relax by telling him it's his job to lose. 

Obviously for the team's sake, if he can produce anything close to the numbers he produced in Memphis it would be fantastic.  Especially while he's making little more than the league minimum.

"In a related matter, I think that link Fors posted the other day has Strauss mentioning that Craig might be back sooner than the eariler prognosis. As soon as that happens, he needs to play every day."

Barring an injury, Craig doesn't have an everyday job until 2013.  Beltran has made it pretty clear he doesn't think he can play center field often.  For the money they're making, neither Beltran nor Berkman will sit more than occasionally.  Craig's knee led the team to finding an alternative that, unfortunately for Craig, filled the only position available for Craig to play.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Barring an injury, Craig doesn't have an everyday job until 2013."

Oh come on. What are the odds Beltran isn't in the lineup for all 162?!? Like nil. Maybe less than nil. Look out, Ripken.

It sucks that Craig that doesnt have an everyday job.  He has a high ceiling and I hate to see him wait another year on the bench.  At the same time it is nice to have a guy ready to go that can fill in for Beltran, Berkman and Holliday without losing much.  I think Craig will find plenty of time.  All three of those guys are injury risk.  Craig is going to be eased into play at the begining of the season so he wont need alot of playing time early when all three are healthy.  I think it will work out fine and Craig will find his at bats.