I'm concerned about the nagging injuries he's had, and continues to have. It's hard to get in a groove when he has to take time out to battle injuries. The best thing that can happen for him is to get healthy and stay healthy. I think it all falls into place if that happens.

We continue to hear this kind of blather, and I blame fantasy baseball enthusiasts. Let's look at some rational items on the topic.

Chris Duncan:

A below average fielder with a power bat. He has shown ability to provide a team with an OPS that will FAR outweigh the damage his defense will do. In a perfect world, he is probably an AL 1B/DH, given his limited defensive skills. He has a wild swing that will make him susceptible to the SO, but he has shown good plate discipline highlighted by 5 BBs to 2 SOs so far this season. This is at a time when he is in a slump. He has also shown an ability to provide above average base running skills, but he has shown a proclivity for injury. The question is will injuries ruin a promising career as a No. 5/6 hitter in the majors, or will he put it together to become the major piece in a deadline deal for a top flight IF prospect.

Adam Kennedy:

An average defender with limited offensive skills. His playing time relies on his ability to get on-base while providing solid, if not spectacular, defense a 2B. He was signed to provide solid, consistent production at 2B. He was not predicted to be a cornerstone either offensively or defensively. So far, he has not lived up to his billing, and the real determination is to decide if last year was the beginning of a consistent decline.

Neither of these questions can be answered after 7 F'IN GAMES. Duncan is not costing us anything. His slump has provided the plethora of young OFs an opportunity to show what they can do at the major league level. He has shown good plate discipline, and I firmly believe that when his injuries subside he will be back to infuriating us all in LF. While Kennedy isn't making an exceptionally high salary, it is difficult to justify dumping a 3-year contract after 1-year. It would be better for the Cards if they could get at least half of this year out of him before determining if he was a bust. In addition, you know nothing about what Hoffpauir will do against major league pitching, and Ryan may be this year's version of Bo Hart. I'd like to see him get a shot, but he is injured and that will give Kennedy time to show whether or not this is going to be a consistent trend.

We all know that MIF is this team's biggest weakness. I don't think Ryan is going to develop into more than a major league super-sub, but the sample size is pretty small, so far. Izturis has done a good job, and he is providing about what could be expected of him. It would be nice to get an upgrade at both the SS and 2B positions in the near future. Mather and Rasmus are going to make it possible for the Cards to make a deadline deal with one of the their OFs. In the meantime, both are getting regular playing time against decent pitching.

You don't make money buying high and selling low. Give these guys time to develop decent trade value or bottom out completely. I think Duncan will do the former, and Kennedy will probably the do the latter.