before we write him off. This is the same Adam Kennedy that was a productive hitter for the Angels and maybe he can settle in during his 2nd season in the NL.

does not list Miles. It will probably take another power ply by MO to get him off the roster.

...Delorean and re-sign Belli.

Or beat the Cubbies to punch on Brian Roberts (if we don't have to overpay). Instant No. 2 hole with OPS skills to pay the bills.

As an aside, how does preventing the Cubbies from getting affect his value to the Cards?

Jarrett Hoffpauir for our Second baseman. He had a .400 obp last year. He will give us 10 Homers a year. Which is more then Kennedy has hit in the last 3 years combined. I don't think he will be able to, or get the chance to, take the job this year but I hope by the All-star break he can be a bench player.

I don't know that the Cards have enough in-house talent to solve the long term problem at either 2B or SS. I would like to Ryan and Hoffpauir at the major league level get a regular shot for maybe an half of a season. Maybe Hoffpauir is the real deal. I don't have time soon to research what might be available on the trade market, but I think the Cards are definitely going to have options over the next 3 months. I know everybody is down on Duncan, but I still think that when he comes around he is the best trade chip we have. I think the combination of surplus starting pitching and OFs will put Mo in a position of strength to find what the Cards need. It sounds like the Orioles are over-valueing Roberts, but I'm sure there are some options out there that would provide both offense and defense from those positions.

As long as they keep flashing the leather I would give them a chance to put up some better offensive numbers.

If not...

Anybody remember my suggestion about trying Barton at 2B ?

In the last two games he played, AK is 0-8 with 3ks, outside of that the guy has done well. He's getting on base much better than last year, and he's hitting the ball at people (which means it’s only a matter of time before then start getting though). The 3ks are the only ones he has this season so far. Give him time. Plus with Ryan coming off DL and Miles still getting playing time, the keystone wouldn't be that great but it will be serviceable. The team won in 2006 with a platoon at 2B with Luna, Miles and later Belliard. We are 11 or so games in to the season, and in first place, it's a little too soon to be voting people off the island.

MLBtraderumors.com suggested that the cards could pursue Ellis. He's currently posting the 3rd highest OPS amongst regular second basemen who "qualify" according to Yahoo stats at an .869 clip. He'll turn 30 this year, I think. Guess who is putting up the second highest qualifying OPS? Grudzie! Also to watch is Kendrick. He could break out in a big way this year.

I don't think it would be out of the question for Hoff or Ryan to put up .725-.750 OPS. They would be an upgrade over Miles/Kennedy for sure.

Let's say Hoff continues to hit and gets a shot Ryan and Miles remain back ups. Kennedy gets DFA'd? We still have a surplus of pitchers, but no imediate need at the major league level. So do we trade the pitchers for the best available prospects and build the farm?

Except for Duncan I like the outfield, and I think Iz2 is here for the rest of the year at least. If Hoff fills the need at 2B what else to we need?

hoff is like rasmus, if he comes up to the big leagues he's going to be a starter, not a bench player. He's too good of a hitter to be off the bench.
We have kennedy for this year and next year, and i know the cards probably have no desire to get rid of him while he takes a decent sized chuck from the payroll.

Unless the cards trade duncan, he's not going anywhere, he's cheap and he's a 30-hr outfielder that can fill in at first for pujols if he needs a day off.

I'd say the cards can easily trade duncan if a team needs a 1st baseman, but how many teams don't have a good hitting 1st baseman?

since we're obviously going to run out of starting pitcher spaces, it'd be really nice to see us trade a few of these mediocre somewhat old pitchers away (Looper, etc.) for some SS and 2B prospects. They don't even need to be top of the line, but I feel that if we could establish a surplus of prospects at 2B and SS, we may have the chance of developing a Tulowitzki or a Howie Kendrick. Then we won't have to worry about this anymore!

I've advocated shipping Looper before. He's more of a proven commodity than some of our other guys like Wellemeyer, Clement/Mulder. Plus, a bunch of teams could use a solid middle relief/swing pitcher like Looper. Give me a second base prospect for Looper, por favor.

To answer your question in the main title: it's simple, promote Jarrett Hoffpauir. He's batting .371/.429/.457 in 35 AB (although it needs to be mentioned that he has an incredibly unsustainable .406 BABIP). His walk rate and K rate have stayed consistent at every level of the minors, and he already had a successful stint at Triple-A last year. Promoting Hoffpauir would not only be promoting from within, but it would also be sticking with the new direction of the franchise.