From the Cardinals:
The St. Louis Cardinals reinstated Khalil Greene (pictured) from a rehabilitation assignment and activated the infielder from the 15-day disabled list today. In addition, the club has also recalled RHP Josh Kinney from Triple-A Memphis. To make room on the roster the team optioned outfielder Nick Stavinoha and RHP P.J. Walters to Triple-A.
Greene has been on the disabled list since May 29 and has missed 19 games. He played in four games at Memphis during his rehab and went 6-for-15 (.400) with two doubles. Josh Kinney began the season with St. Louis and was optioned to Triple-A on April 17. He has made 21 appearances for Memphis and was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 26.0 IP, collecting 30 strikeouts.
2009 A Baseball Odyssey
( A brief reminder; the MO 9000 has been give confusing and morally ambiguous mission goals and is acting erratically)
MO 9000 – “Tony, Dave, I think the only thing to do at this point is to replace the Khalil unit and carefully monitor is behavior. It really is the only way we can determine if my diagnosis was correct”.
Tony – “ Alright MO, lets do that then. Could you rotate the dugout please MO. Thank you MO. Now please close the dugout door MO. Thank you MO.”
(Tony stands and turns of the intercom) “Can you here me MO”.
(Tony turns to Dave) “ I don’t think he can hear us. What do you think”.
Dave- “ Well, it was his idea. Lets face it, we are never going to get the player we need unless we remove all the excuses and delaying tactics, what choice do we have”.
Tony- “ Agreed! I will watch the Khalil unit work out and see if the pharmaceuticals are inhibiting its performance. If it looks functional, I’ll go out and put it back in.” “ The question is, what if it doesn’t fail right away”? “What if it’s a week or ten days before it takes a line drive off the chest and the dysfunction punches through the patina of the medication”? “What if it burns down before a booing public in a Chris Carpenter start? “Are we going to be held accountable”?
Dave- “ This is the Heartless Big Leagues Tony. If we don’t go through with it, how will we be able to trust our MO 9000 again”?
As we all know, Tony goes out to put him in…………. Better be sure there are exploding bolts on that dug out door Dave!!!!!!!
Westie, here’s a little bit of inside ball. Khalil was an underpowered 3rd baseman at Clemson University. During his third year, he shifted to SS. He did not have great range there, so went in the 14th round to the Cubs. Scouts were not super excited. However, his senior year of college, he started to drive the ball more, so the limited range was less of an issue. Like Mortensen, he rose high in the draft as a senior, which is unusual.
Defensively speaking, Khalil was a 3rd baseman. He is now returning to his roots. If it helps him feel more comfortable defensively to play 3B, then this could give his spirits a lift offensively too. And he can be a pretty good hitter.
This is not a big change, like moving Skip from OF to 2B. I doubt Skip really played IF in college. However Greene really was a 3rd baseman. So this is a return, not a conversion. Greene can hit as well as DeRosa, when his morale is good.
We shall just have to see how things turn out.
I’ll be watching with interest Jumbo. Thanks for the info.
Thank god we sent down Stavinoha. His timely hits and rbi were keeping us in too many ballgames.
Stavinoha had a nice run but has not had the hits lately. He is still not a great fit defensively. I like him though but don’t expect him to stay in the organization long term.
Two at bats at 3B, two extra base hits for K. Greene. He must be happier there. Khalil could chip in usefully with the bat and turn into a Hollywood happy ending. That would be swell, if it were to turn out so. Its not like he broke a bone or had a physical injury. Khalili is physically fit and a fine hitter, so if he can find a happier outlook, then he could make a strong baseball contribution. Which this squad could use.
Kyle Davies………………… no fatigue…….. even Ludwick hit that tee ball. Lets just watch and hope for Khalil for awhile. Duncan is the one the concerns me. They knew he couldn’t turn on Verlander who has good counter pitches to his fastball, so he stayed closed and just sprayed to left. That earned him a little more of the plate later and with good extension hit the bomb to center left. He is 0 for 4 the next days, and then fizzles yesterday trying to turn on something. That is too obvious to miss for the coaches, (Dave) so I must assume that Chris is aware that without better power numbers, his career pretty much ends this year with the Cards or even as a tag along with Dad and Tony. No one is looking for a singles hitter with below average defensive tools. His struggles, along with Ludwick’s make this a middle of the road team burying the Albert advantage. I’m happy some had a nice day yesterday, but exploiting a struggling pitcher does not hide all flaws.
Brandon Yarbrough is back on the d.l. now
from Shawn Kerrick’s new blogspot, Batavia adds two more to the roster:
http://stkerrick.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/2-more-former-johnson-city-cardinals-assigned-to-batavia.html
Three games for Khalil, 4 for 8, 3 HRs, 5 times on base in 9 at bats. He seems to have a cheerier outlook.
This is a positive development. Rasmus has been hitting. Now Khalil gives a veteran who can contribute with the stick. The more guys get on base, the better others will hit. There can be a tipping point effect.
Brad Thompson, need to give him credit for doing a fine job. Since the low of being swept by the Rockies at home , this team is getting in a better way, even without a trade. Lohse will return and provide welcome reinforcement. I like our chances.
Rocks can hit Jumbo. The quality of pitch we have been facing is suspect. Ankiel, Ludwick, and Duncan continue to depress. No way this team wins a playoff game. I hope Greene turns the corner. That is less than 50/50 I think. Lets hope for a miracle, and that Tony doesn’t move him around too much. He would be a fool to invite defensive pressure at short, and then lose the bat in the pout.