As the Cardinals continue their four-game series in Los Angeles tonight, here are some Redbird-related news items…
- GM John Mozeliak took some criticism for trading Ryan Ludwick last summer, but Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch argues that Mozeliak may deserve some credit given Ludwick's struggles since the deal. Ludwick has just a .607 OPS in 207 plate appearances as a Padre.
- The Cardinals have spent some extra money on Caribbean scouting and development in recent years, and the first prospect to emerge from the revamped system is Eduardo Sanchez, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Sanchez made an impressive Major League debut on Wednesday, recording five strikeouts in two innings of relief against Arizona.
- Gordon, Strauss and a roundtable of other Post-Dispatch writers look at how Adrian Gonzalez's extension with the Red Sox may affect Albert Pujols' contract this winter.
- Speaking of Pujols, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports looked the slugger's recent emergence from an early-season slump.
All the scouting reports I’ve read say he has a consistent 96-97 mph fastball. I’m excited about this guy.
Eduardo Sanchez? The father of Kenny Powers?
i was hoping nobody had written this yet. well played sir.
The fact that Ludwick is the absolute wrong player to hit at Petco might have something to do with it.
Not to mention facing much, much tougher pitching in the NL West.
Agreed. Petco and the rest of the Padres lineup is probably the reason for Ludwick’s regression.
I agree that Ludwick is just in a bad spot now. But at the same time, I don’t believe it was a bad trade. The Cardinals had to have another starter to have any shot at the playoffs and the farm system had been hit hard over the last few years. Mozeliak did what he had to do to get a starter without hurting the system even more. Ludwick is a great guy, but he is not worth 8-9MM a year.
I’m sure Pujols will won’t disappoint this season, he is human which makes him susceptible cold streaks. He’ll break through and be prove to be deserving of a fat contract, though I really don’t believe anyone is worth $30Mil.
it seems you are right that he’s human. thing is, he had never really shown that before this year. it was all just a fringe theory until now
I went to school with a guy named Eduardo Sanchez. I don’t think that’s him, though.