FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Yes, so I realize that we are still in the midst of the playoff race for 2008. Right now we're just a few behind Milwaukee, with perhaps the most crucial series of the year coming up. If we can win both games, we'll be in a better position than ever. Should we split or get swept by the Brew Crew, well, all is not lost (they still go head to head with Chicago six more times), but it's akin to chumming the water while we're still in it.

But I digress. I've been thinking about what some other people have been saying about the Cardinals, how it's good that we didn't make any impulse trades, that '09 is our year. And it very well may be. We have a hell of a group of prospects at AAA waiting to be called up.

Hold on, you say. What about the guys here now? Aren't they doing a pretty damn good job? Of course they are. And this is where the main point of this article comes in. With September callups coming up soon, people have begun talking about who will be brought up, and invariably, the biggest name is Colby Rasmus. Last I checked, he was still injured (if this has changed, someone please let me know), but he is by far our biggest star in the minors.

The problem is, where do we put him?

And therein lies the rub. Call me crazy, but I honestly think the Cardinals have one of the best outfields in the majors, if not the best.

Stop the laughter and think about it. Look at our starters.

Skip Schumaker (.309 BA, .371 OBP, 8 HR, 43 RBI, 8 SB)

Skip's had a breakout season as our leadoff guy. Except for a dry run at the very beginning (erase those first 16 at bats he had a donut for, and his average is .321), he's hit consistently, has a terrific OBP, and strikes out about as often as Pujols, always a good hitter to emulate. He's not overly fast, but he could steal 15-20 bases in a season with the proper baserunning coaching.

Rick Ankiel (.272 BA, .346 OBP, 24 HR, 68 RBI)

The Comeback Kid's had a terrific year as well. I like to think he's Edmonds Part Deux: low average, high power and strikeouts, exceptional fielding and arm. He still takes some mind-boggling routes to balls and seems to end up either on the blooper reel or web gems every other night, but there's no reason he can't hit 30 home runs and play some great defense when healthy. A winter of working with Pujols or another solid hitter will really do him some good. Like Edmonds with the high heat, Ank's extremely susceptible to one particular pitch, the low breaking ball. He can't lay off, and more often than not, ends up striking out on it. Still, LaRussa seems to have a mancrush on him, and with good reason.

Ryan Ludwick (.304 BA, .380 OBP, .599 SLG, 31 HR, 95 RBI)

 The Cardinals' MVP if it weren't for a certain Dominican superman. Ludwick was a pleasant surprise last year and has become a full offensive force this year. He's a streaky hitter, but fortunately, he seems to find a hot streak just when Albert starts to cool off. The only potential knock against him is that he's 29, an age that is on the downward slope of a career bell curve. Still, many ballplayers have had hugely productive careers well into their 30's, and considering he's been healthy so far the last couple seasons, there's no reason he can't be one.

Find me another outfield where you can get that kind of production across the board.

As if that's not enough, riding the pine pony are Joe Mather, whos hit 7 HR and 17 RBI in just 120 AB (that projects to roughly 32 HR and 78 RBI over 550 AB) and Brian Barton, who's probably the fastest guy on the team. Throw in Chris Duncan, who seemed to be hitting better at the end and could still be an offensive force, and Rasmus, and the Cardinals now have seven major league-ready (or nearly, in Rasmus' case) outfielders. Nick Stavinoha is also showing some potential down in AAA.

So what do the Cardinals do with a gluttony of potential starters? Obviously it wouldn't make much sense to carry more than five outfielders on the team at a time. Here's what I think they should do, followed by what I think they will do.

What I think they should do:

At the trade deadline, I was touting the possibility of trading Duncan along with another high prospect, perhaps Bryan Anderson, for Erik Bedard. Now, even knowing Bedard's injured, I think it would still be a good trade. Bedard's having a decent year, and if he can get healthy, imagine how well he might do under Duncan's tutelage. Chris has a decent power bat and deserves steady playing time, something he won't get as long as the above three starters are around. And Anderson's a good catching prospect that the Mariners could use to replace Johjima eventually. Even if it's not for Bedard, I think it's in the Cardinals' best interest to trade Duncan and Anderson, while the two still have trade value.

That leaves six. This is where it gets tricky. Rasmus has had a mediocre year at AAA, hitting for low average and power. But he tore it up in spring training and impressed a lot of major league scouts. So I say bring him up through trial by fire. Give him a major league spot and make him earn playing time. Either he'll season a bit on the bench as a reserve, or he'll do so well he'll push one of the veterans for playing time and create some marketability for trades. So who gets the last spot? I'd have to give it to Mather. He's got some pop, and as the catch in Florida showed, he's got a decent glove, too. He could become a supersup in the outfield and infield or push for playing time as a starter.

Barton...God bless him,  he's got speed, and he might be one of the smartest players in the game. But other than stealing bases, there isn't anything he does that Skip can't do. Barton, if packaged with another prospect, could become pretty valuable.

What I think will happen:

Duncan stays, gets another chance in the OF/1B. Mather gets demoted and stews a bit in AAA, along with Rasmus, who the Cardinals will deem unready next year. He'll most likely come up for good in 2010. Barton and Duncan support the starting 3 as the Cardinals win the World Series and date supermodels. Hopefully while the Cubs are in the midst of year 101.

Anyways, thoughts welcome. Infield to be reviewed prolly within the next week, or whenever I feel enough energy.