In a winter that has grown increasingly contentious across the Cardinal Nation, the St. Louis Cardinals front office has made some curious moves in recent days.
How the Troy Glaus injury situation was handled has already been well-analyzed by others, so I won’t excessively beat that horse further.
I will say that it is impossible for me to come up with a scenario where management allowed this to happen on purpose. After all, how could the club benefit by Glaus missing up to two months of the season? It’s not like they think they will play better without him and they do still have to pay him, either way.
Still, the investigative journalist side in many people will not seem to be happy until proper blame can be laid on someone. By default, that always seems to be management. In this case, it seems partially valid at least, in terms of how the communication was handled.
I find it disappointing that during the Winter Warm-up fan event, just a few days prior to the surgery announcement, both the club and player covered up the problem, likely to avoid having to answer tough questions. That is not the way to foster trust with an already-wary wary fan base.
No matter whose fault it is, it provides yet another opportunity to criticize ownership and management at a time when the fan’s confidence level in them seems to be following a George Bush popularity trajectory. Hmmm, maybe that is explainable, since Bill DeWitt, Jr. and “43” are buds.
One positive that may come from this injury is the chance to find out early on if David Freese has what it takes to become a major league third baseman. With Glaus’ contract up following the 2009 season and if the “powder dry” Cardinals continue on their cost-cutting trajectory, Glaus will most likely be playing elsewhere in 2010.
Already on a very aggressive schedule since being drafted in the first round just last June, Brett Wallace would have to wow the coaches in camp to become a serious factor to open the season in St. Louis. Yet, crazier things have surely happened.
Speaking of crazy, let’s move on to second base, home of Adam Kennedy and some very unsettled plans.
One of my pet peeves was recently surfaced in the news. If I had a dollar for everyone who thinks Player A, who apparently isn’t good enough to start at his current position, can magically convert to second base overnight, I would be most wealthy. Trying it at the major league level is even more risky.
Yet, that is precisely what Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak offered up for the Cardinal Nation the other day in a chat at StLToday.com. The subject was Skip Schumaker.
“Schumaker was drafted as an infielder but has not played there since making the move to the OF. I have spoken with Tony on this and we have included Oquendo in these talks as well. Skip may get a look there this spring to gauge how comfortable he would be with trying to move back to the infield. He had a good offensively (sic) and we always look for creative ways to get players more playing time,” Mozeliak said.
Up until that point, I refused to believe the scuttlebutt about Schumaker, just as I did about the earlier rumors about outfielder Shane Robinson, who did not see action during the Arizona Fall League at second base, by the way. (As an aside, Jon Jay received a spring training invite and Robinson did not. Consider that an indication of the outfield pecking order.)
Since Mozeliak had discussed the idea of trying Schumaker at second with Tony La Russa and Jose Oquendo as he says he did, why didn’t any of them actually discuss it with the player, too? Couldn’t they have gotten the player some reps in winter ball to test the idea and increase the odds of success?
Of course, the player needs to be sold on the idea first. Earlier, at WWU, Schumaker seemed lukewarm at best, joking that there was likely a reason he hadn’t been put at second base since college in 2001 and prior. Probably knowing he had to be politically correct, the outfielder also said he would try to do whatever the coaches ask.
Why Mo divulged the idea about Schumaker in the manner he did now seems a bit odd. It may not be completely fair, but it felt to me like the GM is trying to generate hope any way possible no matter how unlikely it seems as this increasingly-long, tiring and frustrating off-season continues.
What was unsaid is that if Skip is able to cover second, that creates more outfield room for top prospect Colby Rasmus. In a season with not much new to be excited about, at least so far, more and more signals are pointing to Rasmus as becoming a 2009 focal point – if he makes the team, that is. (An indicator of the hope is the assignment of number 28 to Rasmus this spring, something that stands out among all the number 70s and 80s assigned to the other non-roster invitees.)
Joe Mather, who hasn’t ever played second, recently commented that he would be excited to get the chance to try to play there, too. La Russa had previously laughed off the idea, noting the 6-foot-4 Mather would be one of the tallest second basemen ever. Seems to me that in camp Mather ought to be concentrating on becoming a credible third base reserve, anyway.
Stop! Let’s get real here. This is the major leagues, not some rookie tryout camp. The Cardinals already had two other proven second basemen and they let them walk.
They watched Felipe Lopez leave because he supposedly wanted a multi-year deal. Yet he signed just a one year contract with Arizona for just $3.5 million. They ran Aaron Miles, who was still under team control, out of town because they were scared of arbitration. Miles signed with the Cubs for an average of $2.45 million for the next two seasons, hardly a king’s ransom.
If the Cardinals want another real second baseman, just go get one now, for Pete’s sake. Waiting until camp to determine if any of the in-house candidates are capable is a gamble. Perhaps some decent right-handed hitting second basemen will be available then, but perhaps not.
Among the second basemen still on the market today are Orlando Hudson and Ray Durham. Hudson is a Type A free agent, so his price may be too high due to the compensatory first-round draft pick lost. Former Cardinal Mark Grudzielanek is also out there and any of the three could be a serviceable Kennedy alternative from the right side of the plate. (AK is a left-handed hitter as is Schumaker, another reason the proposed switch seems questionable.)
Since the Cardinals were willing to pay Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes, there must be a little dry powder that could be spared to acquire a decent second baseman if the club wants someone who is actually proven at the position. Yahoo Sports’ most recent projection has the Cardinals coming in with a $91 million payroll in 2009, an almost 10 percent drop from 2008.
Instead, are we really supposed to feel confident about the idea of Skip Schumaker playing second base?
I am not big into playing the blame game myself, and have been trying to wait to pass judgment until the off-season is complete, but Cardinals management isn’t doing anything to help their standing in the court of public opinion. Lately, it seems just the opposite.
i am always for seeing if a guy can move around the field and TLR seems to promote it as well but, as much as i get having flexibility in positions is great, especially if it comes with the ability to keep north multiple good players. i dont get the Skip at 2nd idea.Mather maybe..but Skip (unless the idea is for 2010 and beyond) doesnt make much sense..unless it is against righties…both Kennedy and Skip struggled against lefties andi just cant get behind a backup 2b that provides little upgrade in some facets from the starter…if we are gonna use Kennedy then it seems best to use him for righties..same as Skip….i think we need a switch hitting or good lefty hitting bat on this bench… Wiggington is still out there and can play 2b and 3b, he mashes lefties and might be had for a short contract…
I was surprised Houston let Wigginton go. However, I have heard him called “thick-legged” (sound familiar?) and lacking the range to be an effective second baseman. He certainly could be part of a Glaus interim solution, too, but I’d rather see Freese (and even Wallace) get a shot before bringing in a veteran 3B.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the Skip to 2B idea isn’t more about making room for Rasmus than anything else. Asking Skip to make that kind of shift on the fly seems to be asking a lot.
I also did not like the Schumacker comment. Skip was a pitcher and OF in college, not an infielder. He had few at bats his freshmen and sophmore years; he may have been a pitcher and also he had a shoulder operation. So most of his play in the field was as a junior and it was in the OF. Before the draft, Schumacker was mentioned for his arm; he threw 92 mph as a pitcher in collegiate games, could hit up to 95 at other times.
Perhaps the Cards drafted Schumacker thinking he might be suited to conversion to infield. He seems listed at SS on the Cards 2001 draft list. Mo seems to be referring back to this context when mentioning him as an infielder. But this is more in the imagination of the Cards in 2001 than reality. So why would a guy play pro ball from 2001 through 2008, 8 years, solely as an outfielder, NOW get mentioned as a guy to consider for 2B in spring training 2009? This seems over-optimistic happy talk for fan consumption that ought to get reigned in, because it could make the Cards sound goofy.
In 2001, John Nelson was drafted in the 8th round. IIRC, Nelson played RF for U Kansas. In any event, the Cards did make Nelson into a SS, where he played while rising in the system. He spent at least two seasons at Memphis, before traded. Nelson was an OF with a strong arm who really became a middle infielder. The Cards gave him 5 ML at bats; he struck out 4 of them, IIRC, since he had big holes in his swing.
There seems too much non-credible happy talk, presumably aimed at gullible fans. Daddy Rasmus knows Colby is going to begin the year at Memphis. Luhnow has acknowledged this too. Meanwhile Mo spins a tale about how there are ways Colby could make the team out of spring training, such as Schumacker becoming a backup 2Bman or Mather at 3B.
I dont think the team should sign a veteran middle infielder. Thurston, Hoffpauir, Barden, and Ryan are enough candiates for 1 backup roster slot. Signing another vet would seem a needless expense.
I agree on the “happy talk”. Even the original time estimate for Glaus’ return was not credible.
With all due respect, neither “Daddy Rasmus” nor Luhnow decide who makes the team out of spring training. As I have said all along, I think there are reasons the Cards may not want to do it, but those two aren’t indicators it will or will not happen, especially the former. On the latter, I wonder what Luhnow’s current thinking is. I doubt it conflicts with his boss’ view, at least not publicly.
The Cardinals are weak at 2B and made it a priority early on. Only after they found they had to pay to give Kennedy away, did they change course. Since then, they let Miles go. The current path is the cheapest, but most of the names you mentioned are unproven at best. If Kennedy and Greene both bounce back, the Cards should be fine up the middle, but that is hardly assured. 500 at-bats of Barden or Thurston or equivalent would not be good, nor would 500 innings of Skip there defensively, for that matter.
i think iw oudl takea thick legged Wiggington at 2b for his bat vs. lefties off the bench or as a LHSP starter for 2nd base… KGreene and Pujols can make up some of that space i think…I still think giving Freese the 3rd base job is smart..i just worry about havign too many youngsters with little experience as our sole infield backups…other than perhaps Ryan
I am not too worried about second base this season.
I just want another starting pitcher. I can live with everything else, but I want another starting pitcher. Perez or Sheets would be gravy, but at least give me Wolf, Looper, or, gulp, Garland (in that order of preference).
Or…Mo…pull a slick trade for another starter.
I would have entertained a Molina for Buchholz or Masterson swap (or something like that).
I would be thrilled if we could move Ankiel for a starter, but it doesn’t look like that will happen. Could he not land us anyone decent from the Yankees? I don’t expect Hughes for him straight up, but surely something could be done? Would you swap Ankiel for Ian Kennedy? I guess I probably wouldn’t, but it would break up our “logjam” and give us ANOTHER 5th starter type. I don’t know. What about a lefty from their system like Phil Coke or Wilkins de la Rosa?
(sigh)
I would have loved it if the Cards could have gotten rid of Kennedy and signed Felipe, who I suspect will excel for the Diamondbacks. Upgrading the starter at 2B would have been wonderful. Its much harder to care about backfilling Miles. The problem is Kennedy. At least, Mitey Cesar is no more.
Last year, we had Izturis and Kennedy, backed by Miles, backed at AAA by D’Angelo Jimenez. This year, we have K. Greene and Kennedy, backed by a Miles successor (with Barden and Ryan maybe strongest candidates). Compared to 2008, I like where we stand for 2009.
I have enjoyed the thread Brian. As soon as Ankiel settles, he will be ready to move. It will be a pitcher I think, of modest talents who comes our way.
i still think we coudl snag Hughes from the Yanks for Ankiel…we will probably have to throw something in, but i think it would be worth it to have our solid young SP ….saying that though…i must say that i do not want to see Ankiel in another uniform regardless of whether he will be a FA or not…would a long term outfield solution of Ankiel Ludwick Colby be so bad? i know we have other youngsters waiting, but if they are good enough maybe they can bring us back an SP or a 2bman of similar prospect rating…like a Matt Antonelli or Triunfel?
I like Ankiel. The fatigue he showed later in the year was a deep concern of mine. I honestly believe that the Cards won’t be dealing with the unknowns surrounding his mental health if they can help it. They will collect on his potential to be good, as opposed to benefiting by it. All this talk about adapting players to positions is part of the managements justification for dropping out of the competition in the market place. In all fairness I know that it isn’t Mo. He is just trying to feed his family. This has little to do with baseball and thats why it seems so out of phase. I think that 2006 had some very negative repercussions that we are feeling now. I believe that BD may have decided that luck is actually more important than skillful (and expensive) preparations.
I would have entertained a Molina for Buchholz or Masterson swap (or something like that.
That thought crossed my mind also, but I can’t see them entrusting catching duties to Bryan Anderson. There are a couple of young guys in the lower minors who could come on and replace Molina in two or three years perhaps. But really, as long as he and Albert are buddies, why even mess around with trading Molina?
As to the rest, I don’t think Mo’s comments regarding second base amount to “intrigue.” I think they are wrestling with how to keep all six outfielders on the roster. Frankly, that problem has just resolved itself a little bit more to the extent that Mather can play third as well as outfield and first. Kennedy is the incumbent secondbaseman, but recognizes he has to “win” his job this spring. This isn’t really a new development, as arguably last year only three regulars were locks without fielding one ball in spring training: Molina, Pujols and Glaus.
I’m not worried about injury timetables either. So long as the club recognizes there is uncertainty, honestly, what difference does it make if the front office makes optimistic statements or not?
I will repeat what I said a few days ago, Mo is a straight shooter who is doing his best given some pretty unwieldy financial constraints imposed by ownership. Schumaker will take a few ground balls at second. Big deal.
The Molina trade is not plausible Red. Pujols would ask to be traded immediately.
Daddy R. may be a formidable character, yet on select topics Daddy and I can be one mind.
Yeah, the team clearly needs to trade OF depth (at the ML or AAA level) for an equivalent middle infielder, left-handed reliever, or starting pitcher. Converting outfielders to infielders isn’t gonna work well.
That said, maybe the comments are simply being made in order to convince other teams that they are less desperate to unload their outfielders.
I would feel a lot better with Lopez, Miles, or someone like Wigginton on the roster.
Brian,
I have never seen the Cardinal front office so untouched with what is going on around them. They want to appear to be conservative as far as spending money, but because of the lack of a good medical staff ,or the lack of communication between the medical staff and the front office, we continue to have more high paid players wind up on the disable list for longer periods of time , than any team in baseball. I assume they do tests at the end of the year , and before the start of the next year, but we have spent millions of dollars on Carpenter, Mulder, and half the roster, if you count Spezio ,Rolen,Encarnacion, Clement, Pollett Ankiel,Edmonds,Kennedy,Wainwright, Melina ,and Isringhausen, just in the last two years.
This is unexceptable .In any other work place , that big of a percentage. of mistakes would get your butt fired. I understand that in some of these, it just happens , but we hired some of these people after we knew they had problems. In the case of Glaus, I would find out where the lack of communication led us to where we are and who’s fault it was , and they would be gone. If that was Glaus, I would give his butt a good by. The reason I say this is because he is putting hisself before the team. We can’t afford people that don’t c.ontribute. We worry about payroll,in the last 2 years what we paid Mulder,and Carpenter, would have won us one or two more World Championships than we have. We are betting our whole season , that Chris will be what he has been, and I think that is slim to none. He can say what he wants to, but when he came off that mound last year, you could see it in his eyes, he is just like Mulder , he is DONE. I am sorry, but that is how I feel.
Maybe there is hope Covington. No use fretting about it. After last years non-moves, the chairmen seems well insulated from pressure. He does have a weakness though. Lets see if he has a change of heart reflecting on it.
CT, I don’t have the 2008 data at my fingertips, but in 2007, the Cardinals ranked seventh of the 16 NL teams in total player days spent on the DL. Despite being in the middle of the pack, their number of days was 15% higher than the NL average, though. Here’s the link to the details.
The problems are not with the medical staff, which is basically Barry Weinberg and George Paletta, but with Walt Jocketty. It was Jocketty who signed and then extended Chris Carpenter, a man who is described as having some of the worst mechanics among all starting pitchers in the majors. It was Jocketty who traded for and extended Mulder, despite warning signs before the trade and the poor track record of pitchers recovering from detached labrums.* It was Jocketty who signed Encarnacion, Kennedy, Sanders and Pineiro to long-term deals as “value” plays. Blech.
So don’t hang this stuff on George Paletta. If the club stopped drafting risky pitchers, it would have a healthier staff.
* And frankly, Jocketty never did understand pitcher mechanics, drafting another injury-in-waiting from Tom House’s School of Pitching, Anthony Reyes.