Everybody's been talking about everything wrong with the St. Louis Cardinals. The pitching is shaky. The middle infield can't hit. The words "shredded ligament" are being used to describe Albert Pujols' elbow.
But in lieu of the negative, let's pretend we're all "glass is half full," people. (Just go with it.)
Here it is: the Cardinals have one of the best young outfields in all of baseball. Between Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan, and Colby Rasmus, we could be looking at a combined 100 HR, 300 RBI outfield in the near future. Say what you want about the pitching, but that kind of production from the outfield is going to win a lot of games — and sooner rather than later.
The key now is to how to put it all together.
Ankiel and Duncan are locks to make the roster. So it's down to Rasmus, Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, Brian Barton, and Juan Gonzalez for three spots.
(Don't think Gonzalez and Barton belong in the conversation? Gonzalez has 434 home runs and 1,404 RBI. Barton has a .317 batting average, .417 on-base percentage, and 82 stolen bases in his three-year minor league career. One might be a has been. One might be a never was. But both have earned the shot at a big league job in 2008.)
Compounding the issue is that, with the exception of Rasmus, the two who don't make the Opening Day roster are likely gone from the organization. Schumaker and Ludwick are out of options and would have to clear waivers — a doubtful proposition at best. Gonzalez isn't going to Triple A and Barton, as a Rule 5 pick, would go back to where he came from (Cleveland).
So what does Tony La Russa do?
Option 1: Ankiel, Duncan, Ludwick, Schumaker, and Rasmus in. Gonzalez and Barton out.
This might be the best possible combo for the roster, but it provides the least amount of flexibility for La Russa. If Pujols goes down and they need to move Duncan to first, who becomes the fifth outfielder with Gonzalez and Barton gone? Most likely Joe Mather, who hit 31 home runs between Double A and Triple A last year, but hit only .241 after getting the bump from Springfield to Memphis.
Option 2: Ankiel, Duncan, Ludwick, Schumaker, and Gonzalez in. Rasmus goes to Memphis, Barton to Cleveland.
The fans don't want this. If this is going to be a tough year, they at least want to see the phenom play every day. If Ankiel, Duncan, and Rasmus are the outfield of the future, make it happen.
With that said, La Russa loves veterans. Gonzalez, at his peak, was one of the best hitters in the majors. If he's in a platoon with Ludwick, with Rasmus waiting in the wings, La Russa has a veteran presence with power off the bench and a ready-made infusion of youth in Memphis. Remember when Ankiel came up last year. The Cards, at six games under .500, went on to win six of seven and nine of their next 12. Don't think La Russa isn't taking that into consideration.
Option 3: Ankiel, Duncan, Ludwick, Rasmus, and Gonzalez in. Schumaker goes through waivers and hopes for the best. Barton goes to Cleveland.
I don't like it. Schumaker will get plucked and, with Barton gone, there won't be any speed off the bench. You need to keep at least one of those guys.
Option 4: Ankiel, Duncan, Ludwick, Gonzalez, and Barton in. Schumaker is probably lost through waivers. Rasmus goes down as a spark-plug in reserve.
This one actually has some potential. The only way you give up on Schumaker is if you think Barton is better. Both bring much of the same tools to the table, so Barton on the club makes Schumaker somewhat expendable. You have the Gonzalez veteran power off the bench or in a platoon with Ludwick, plus the energy waiting in Memphis. There's also the chance Schumaker could clear waivers and still be an asset to the team, while Barton is irretrievable once the team hands him back to the Indians. There's a chance you could end up with the best of both worlds.
It basically comes down to two how much La Russa wants Gonzalez and whether he thinks Barton or Schumaker has a better long-term future.
My guess is he goes Option 2: Ankiel, Duncan, Ludwick, Gonzalez and Schumaker make the squad. Barton goes back to Cleveland and we wait with baited breath for Rasmus come the first injury.
Seth Doria is a writer based out of St. Louis. For the only daily column that mixes sports, politics, and entertainment news in one, visit The Left Calf.
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