I'm sure I am not the only person to notice that this Cardinal team is shockingly bad. You know, I don't care that we just won (improbably) the World Series, Walt Jocketty should be raked over hot coals for the state of this team. Sure the state of the pitching is not Walt's fault, and we do have some extra arms in the organization that should be able to help out, but the state of the outfield has been abysmal from day one of spring training.
It won't be getting better anytime soon.
1. Jim Edmonds. Sure he tries hard, but it looks increasingly as if the game has passed him by. He can still catch the balls he can catch up to, but he can't throw and he simply is not the hitter he was a couple of years ago.
2. Preston Wilson. Preston should not be an everyday outfielder. I could see keeping around in a platoon situation, but the sad fact is there is nobody to platoon him with. At this point in his career overexposure will kill what little Wilson could offer the Cards.
3. So Taguchi. I've no idea why Taguchi is still on this team. He isn't even doing well on the fundamentals anymore.
4. Chris Duncan. He is at least swinging the bat a little bit, although his inability to hit with runners on base is becoming alarming. If he keeps going at this pace he will wind up with something like 30 Home Runs and 62 RBI's. There is still hope here. His defense has improved some (couldn't get worse), but he still cannot throw.
5. Scott Spezio. God bless Spezio, but he isn't an outfield answer. He is a role player that should be pinch hitting, spelling guys for an occasional off day, and filling in when there are injuries. His role is too large on this team for what he is able to deliver.
6. Skip Schumacher. He will impress nobody as the second coming of anyone particularly good, but he is at least getting his base knocks.
7. Juan Encarnacion. Well, we knew he wasn't going to be a world beater, and he would help a little bit were he around right now. Maybe he could be the player to simply platoon with Wilson, but that would strike fear into the heats of no one but Cards fans.
All in all, there is no way a GM should go into a season with this as the cast of outfielders. This is the type of outfield you wind up with when your top two players are out because of injury. That is, this is a lineup you get forced upon you, not one you actually choose.
It won't be getting better anytime soon.
1. Jim Edmonds. Sure he tries hard, but it looks increasingly as if the game has passed him by. He can still catch the balls he can catch up to, but he can't throw and he simply is not the hitter he was a couple of years ago.
2. Preston Wilson. Preston should not be an everyday outfielder. I could see keeping around in a platoon situation, but the sad fact is there is nobody to platoon him with. At this point in his career overexposure will kill what little Wilson could offer the Cards.
3. So Taguchi. I've no idea why Taguchi is still on this team. He isn't even doing well on the fundamentals anymore.
4. Chris Duncan. He is at least swinging the bat a little bit, although his inability to hit with runners on base is becoming alarming. If he keeps going at this pace he will wind up with something like 30 Home Runs and 62 RBI's. There is still hope here. His defense has improved some (couldn't get worse), but he still cannot throw.
5. Scott Spezio. God bless Spezio, but he isn't an outfield answer. He is a role player that should be pinch hitting, spelling guys for an occasional off day, and filling in when there are injuries. His role is too large on this team for what he is able to deliver.
6. Skip Schumacher. He will impress nobody as the second coming of anyone particularly good, but he is at least getting his base knocks.
7. Juan Encarnacion. Well, we knew he wasn't going to be a world beater, and he would help a little bit were he around right now. Maybe he could be the player to simply platoon with Wilson, but that would strike fear into the heats of no one but Cards fans.
All in all, there is no way a GM should go into a season with this as the cast of outfielders. This is the type of outfield you wind up with when your top two players are out because of injury. That is, this is a lineup you get forced upon you, not one you actually choose.
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