…to make a deal with the Yankees. Today they signed Andy Pettite to a deal. So, they have to have a surplus in the pitching department.

Time is ripe for the Cards to offer Ankiel to them for Phil Hughes. Damon can’t play for them as he used to. Matsui can’t either. Nady is not a regular any more. The Time Has Come to make the offer.

Ankiel for Hughes.

Make the call, Mo.

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Let’s not complicate things and go out and trade prospects for some established third baseman. Let’s not sign a free agent , like Crede or Uribe or Garciaparra, that no else has signed at this late date. The costs are not needed.

David Freese, at or near MLB minimum salary, is from OUR OWN system. He has shown the propensity to play a very good 3rd base with an above average stick in the minor leagues. The Cards spent an extra $1 mil to get him in the Edmonds trade. He deserves first shot.

Brian Barden and Joe Mather are next in line. Barden has shown he is glove ready but a minimal bat and Mather is probably ready to hit but with a glove concern.

Down the road- Wallace

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Glaus is to have surgery. Some reports say he will be available on Opening Day. The more realistic observers say a shoulder operation such as his will take up to 6 months to heal. What are the doctors doing? What is Troy Glaus doing, waiting so long to get it done????

So who takes over? Some are proposing a trade with the Orioles. No, not a good idea. Let’s go in-house and let Freese play this year and let Wallace get another year in the minor leagues.

I am ok with Wallace getting the shot, I just want a bit more seasoning for Wallace.

As Luhnow said:
David Freese – when they got Freese in the Edmonds deal, they knew that he had a potential major league bat. What surprised them is how well he has accepted fielding instruction from our minor league staff and now has major league defensive skills. He has become a complete player. The surprising comment Jeff made at this point was that IF WE CAN’T EXTEND Glaus, Freese could be a viable alternative.

Allen Craig – They have been pleased with his hitting. They feel like he is almost there to be a major league hitter. The problem has been his defense. They don’t know at this point if he can improve enough to play 3B at the major league level.
They may have to try to find a new position for him.

Brett Wallace – Here is what I thought was one of the bombshells of Jeffs answers. He said that Wallace is
a terrific hitter, who with our minor league instructor’s tutelage this year showed tremendous strides defensively. He said that some think now that
his defense can become a “plus asset” along with his
obvious offense. He then said the Brett will be at 3B for the Cardinals when he is ready – no sense in even talking about any other position.

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This might have been one of the weaker affairs held in Peoria in quite some time. Brendan Ryan, Nick Stavinoha, Josh Kinney and Chris Perez were current players in attendance. None of them had any insight into anything of substance. Ryan mentioned he thought it was a horrible idea to sign Orlando Hudson and Perez thought he was ready to claim closer spot.

Al Hrabosky, as emcee, wanted to make sure everyone know his background of being cut in 8th and 9th grade from his team and being in the majors by age 20. He came off very arrogant.

He did say that the team we have on the books right now would likely be very much different when they break camp after Spring Training. He indicated that pitching will be acquired and outfielders will supply that need.

He had a few comments on the “weirdness” of Tony La Russa. He mentioned that Tony’s family have only attended in STL 3 times in 12 yeas He didn’t know how Tony could stand that. Then he closed that part with saying that Tony is just plain “different” … he might have said “odd”.

Vets Danny Cox, John Tudor and Tom Lawless were there and had really nothing to add. I believe they came just to placate the oldies that remember the playing days. None of them were very talkative. Cox had nothing to say when Al mentioned that Danny should say why he got “fired” from his last job. Also, Al introduced Danny Cox as being down from his weight of 350 lbs. I was hoping Cox would cream him right there.

Tons of prizes given out and a much larger crowd in attendance than last year.

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No way.

Goold reports the Cards called and asked about the availability of Cano. There answer was Adam Wainwright.

Deal immediately disintegrated. Good. A top pitcher is difficult to find and hard to keep.

Who do the Yankees think they are?

Is this the response the Cards get on every deal? If so, Ridiculous.

Color me glad to not accept this one.

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I will be in attendance again this year. Last year I won a very nice plaque.

It is held on Sunday the 18th.

Perez, Kinney, Ryan and Stavinohalong with Tudor, Cox, Lawless and Al Hrabosky will be on hand.

Hope to see you there.

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Inactivity. Doing nothing. Sitting on their hands. It’s maddening.

The front office has not delivered any improvements or very little if you consider Greene as an improvement to us for next year. We sit and wait for the same players we had last year to suddenly be better.

Carpenter to the pen. Wow, maybe the pen is better but the SP is not very good. I am frustrated.

I am hoping for a Spring Training trade. Gotta hang on to some hope.

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