does defy explanation. My first guess was that the infield at Busch may be maintained so as to allow more double-play groundballs. Nope, we’ve grounded into fewer at home than on the road, in spite of presumably more opportunities at home with the higher on-base average. Our stealing efficiency is better at home.

All I see to explain it are the five extra hit batsmen and five extra batters reaching on error on the road in 9 fewer games. Not enough to explain the difference. I’ll chalk it up to timely hitting—specifically that from Troy Glaus’ bat that’s been so much better on the road than at home for the first quarter of the season and that looked to be evening out in the last homestand, especially against Pittsburgh.

in any conventional sense according to my calculations (90% ci).

Even with 900 ABs on the road/home each the percentage differences are small enough that you can’t reject sampling error as the cause.

I truly do not remember the last time the Cards’ Triple A affiliate did well in a season…even with the usual collection of AAAA castoffs with a handful of prospects, they usually sucked. This feels like a different kind of team, though.

I posted this the previous time you made this comment about the high average on ground balls. It makes sense to me that a high OBP will lead to a high average on ground balls due to the increase in the number of times the infield will be playing at double play depth. With the infield pulled in, more balls make it through the holes. What is difficult to understand is how much the affect is because these two statistics would seem to feed off each other. High OBP leads to higher average on ground balls, but high average on ground balls also leads to higher OBP (obviously). So, in some sense, I think walks have an added benefit of leading to more hits on later ground balls (further raising OBP).

As some anecdotal evidence, if I recall correctly, the Cardinals and Cubs are 1st and 2nd in OBP and also 1st and 2nd in batting average on ground balls. What does the rest of the league look like in these two categories and are there any other numbers that would seem to prove/disprove this association between OBP and batting average on ground balls?

but what would you think of trading with Detroit for Renteria. Then Trade or designate Kennedy and move Edgar over to 2nd. I know it’s unorthodox to do so (with a player of Edgar’s status and tenure), but it’s a move I feel Edgar could make. The question is whether or not he would be willing to make it. It would be adding some power and pop to our infield and I don’t imagine it hurting the defense, as well the fact that it would make it harder for TLR to constantly throw miles out there with izturis. Plus in a pinch I think Edgar could play some games at third if needed. Now the question is what would Detroit be looking for in return?

Polanco…interesting

the Cards front office appear to have a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. I’m not saying it’s broken, but feel that there are some chinks that need addressing.

Outfielders: One lefthanded bat too many. Duncan needs to start producing or get moved.

Middle Infielders: Where is the power? Extra base hits are too rare.

Bench: alas, no power there too.

I just don’t want “status quo” to rule. Have to keep Barton, so Duncan, Ankiel, Kennedy are my choices to get moved. I would add Miles to that list, but coach/players don’t get DFA….. they just become blogging fodder.