Broken Dreams in Baseball heaven?
by Killer
That’s right, were not even to the winter meetings in Las Vegas yet and we’re already talking baseball. In years past the Cardinals have shown no interest in picking up the big name player and signing them to a multi year deal and this year is panning out to be no different. Can you really blame them though? The Mark Mulder fiasco turned out to be a horrible bust and it looks as if Chris Carpenter may fair the same.
All that aside, the Cardinals are playing the field with some new players. Names such as Jake Peavy, Rafael Furcal and A.J. Burnett are all being thrown around in the media in St. Louis. Guess what Cardinal fans? You get Trever Miller who seems to have arm issues and Khalil Greene who seems to be a lateral move from Cesar Izturis. The question really becomes do these players make our team better than what we currently have?
Are the Cardinals kidding with this? Cardinal fans are growing tired of grabbing off the trash heap and hoping everything turns out ok. Trever Miller can make your team better. You know why? Because your left handed relief pitching was atrocious last year but that’s only if he’s healthy and plays. I realize that Dave Duncan has made miracles happen with broken down pitchers but he’s no doctor, he can’t fix broken arms. There are rumors building up that he passed his physical but may have some labrum damage. Rumors also say that it doesn’t require surgery. Haven’t you heard that before? After Mark Mulder, Matt Clement and Carpenter, why are the Cardinals even contemplating this move? History is taught so you can learn not to repeat other's mistakes. 
This is what the Cardinals look for in pitchers
Khalil Greene certainly has proven that he can be a hitter in this league but last year was a considerable drop in productivity. Last year Izturis batted .263 and had 24 RBI’s. Greene batted a lowly .213 with an astounding 34 RBI’s. Now the upside to this is that he batted .254 with 27 homeruns and 97 RBI’s in 2007. Did he lose it? No, more likely the national league west figured out that he can’t hit a slider down and away and has a real hard time recognizing it. Now you have two hitters in Ankiel and Greene who can’t hit a pitch that’s thrown away from them. Greene Struck out 100 times in 105 games and broke his hand because he punched a locker. Aren’t these red flags to anyone? Upside: He regains his composure and the Cardinals teach him to hit the away pitch to the opposite field. He continues his outstanding defense of a year ago and only commits 8 errors. Downside: He never gains any of that back, hits right around the Mendoza line and strikes at least once a game. Isn’t that what everyone kind of expects from Izturis? 
Expect a lot of this in 2009 Cardinal fans
If Miller can stay healthy he can bolster a bullpen that is terribly depleted and without a defined closer. He doesn't bring much of a resume' with a 4.15 ERA and 20 earned runs in 43 pitched. He has been good with enherited runners so if the cardinals can use him wisely and in specialty situations you can avoid over exposing him. If Greene can hit right around .250 and hit 20 homeruns than cardinal fans can stop complaining about no production from there middle infield. Cardinal fans can’t be surprised by this as the cardinals have been doing this for sometime now but they shouldn’t be happy either. The Cardinals should have gotten Peavy, Fuentes, or Furcal but instead you get the top of the trash heap again with Miller and Greene.
While I’m down on these trades, they can work out but not likely the way a Fuentes or Furcal would. There is still time to sign a closer and a starting pitcher. What are they waiting for? The Cards are holding onto potential rather than being aggressive and going out and getting an instant impact player. If were the Cardinals front office I would drive anyone that doesn’t have Wainwright, Molina or Pujols on the back of their jersey to the airport to get Peavy.
This guy may strike out a lot, but at least his labrum is intact
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