but at this point it just isn’t a good idea. With less than 80 games in the season, there is very little reason to think that Barry is in MLB game ready shape. Even if it is simply a matter of getting the rust off, there isn’t much time for that. One bad month could sink our chances, and certainly would not endear us or any fans to Mr. Bonds.

I was for this at the beginning of the year, but now is simply too late. We can all debate the ramifications of Barry being shut out this season and what it means because there is simply no baseball reason why this dude isn’t on a squad, but that will have to be another discussion.

I would rather have Rasmus called up soon and see if he could give us a shot in the arm over the final two months. Those ABs would be better for the Cardinals long term.

why not pay for the cheap rental? Plus, it goes to charity.

...there, I said it. Make it happen Mo.

Just for a few months, seeing Pujols and Bonds batting back to back would be something to pay to see.

this could be the best thing we do. Don’t get me wrong I don’t like him but if it gets protection for Pujols then do it. If he will sign for the minimum bring him in, lay down the ground rules and go. If he starts to be an enigma he’s gone and we are out $390,000 that went to charity. Maybe this has really humbled him, stanger things have happened. I say go for it, the only thing it costs us is money and not much considering the alternatives.

before August or even mid-August. This team needs some offense so why not give it a shot? Tell Lamar you’ll give him $850 K plus incentives. If he works out, the Cardinals offense drastically improves. If he fails, you lose $850k.

It’s never going to happen but it is fun to think of that kind of power and batting eye hitting cleanup behind The Pu.

I’m all for the move if he can.

I’ve hated Bonds for so long, that I just couldn’t see myself rooting for him.

However, I know how much his bat would potentially help the ballclub. It would be a terror to opposing pitchers to see Pujols and Bonds back to back in the lineup.

All that said, I just don’t think it will happen. We already said no to him once, his agent said “all 30 teams” don’t want anything to do with him, I’d be shocked if it happened.

basically he would be a mercenary, a hired gun to help lift us to the playoffs for one season. i would not associate him with cardinals history at all.

it comes down to asking if you would mind having a player you hate on the roster in order to do everything it takes to win. to me the answer is easy, of course i would. i’d would want any player as long as he increases our chances to win, sure i’d feel a little dirty rooting for him, but i’d rather feel dirty and be in the playoffs than squeaky clean and miss them. that is why i think bonds is at least worth giving a look at in a workout. if he shows that he can still play a passable (chris duncan-esque) left field, hit a ton, and walk, then you sign him and let him work his way up to the majors over a couple weeks in the minors (like a spring training). seems like the perfect plan to me.

I hate Barry “I don’t sign for white people” Bonds (just ask Ron Kittle) so much that I’d rather the Cardinals not make the playoffs at all rather than see Bonds win his first ring on the Cardinals. I guess that means my hate for Bonds is greater than my love for the cardinals.

It’s funny to me that some of the same people that suggest trading Kyle Lohse are the same people in favor of signing Barry Bonds.

By the way the Cardinals, do not need outfielders they need infielders, lefty relief, and probably a starter. The outfield hasn’t been an issue at all, with the exception of Duncan. These (s)crappy weak hitting MI are the issue with the line-up. And for all you Miles haters, he has been the best of the bunch regardless of what you want to say about his defense. That being said, he still shouldn’t be relied on for anything more than a spot start and pinch-hitting duty.

In a PERFECT WORLD we’d be able to get Brian Roberts and Edgar Renteria for the IF. Roy Halladay (not that he’s on the market, but it’d be a nice answer to the CC and Harden trades) or Greg Maddux for the rotation. And both Fuentes and Mahay for the bullpen. Obviously that’s not gonna happen but I’d be happy if 2 of those transactions happened without Rasmus being involved.

Possible trades:

Bryan Anderson for Renteria (plus option gets picked up)
Mortenson, Kozma, Motte, and Mather for Roberts
David Freese for Maddux (imagine being traded straight up twice for two HOF’s)
Jon Jay and Shane Robinson for Fuentes
Chris Duncan and Anthony Reyes for Mahay

I know thats looks like a lot of talent being given up, but it doesn’t really hurt us.

Anderson, Duncan, Reyes, and Freese have no future with us anyway.

Mather, Jay, and Robinson are expendable because Rasmus and Ankiel will be 2/3 of the OF for at least several years and I’m not so sure you can count out All-Star Ryan Ludwick either.

Kozma is expendable because it already looks like Nico Vasquez will surpass him within a year or two. Trade him now while his value is still high.

Mortenson is expendable because we already have Garcia, Boggs, Parisi, and Todd.

Motte is a flamethrower who’ll be attractive, but doesn’t really have the secondary pitches for big league success.

The lineup then looks like this:

Roberts
Renteria
Pujols
Ludwick
Ankiel
Glaus
Molina
Pitcher
Schumaker

The bench:

Miles
Ryan
LaRue
Barton
Stavinoah

The Rotation

Wainwright
Lohse
Maddux
and 2 of the (Wellemeyer,Looper, Pineiro)

Bullpen:

Mahay
Fuentes
Franklin
Springer
Perez
Isringhausen
(looper,wellemeyer, or pineiro)

Maddux and Fuentes would be gone after this year, but would be replaced by Carpenter and Tyler Johnson in ‘09

Mahay, Renteria, and Roberts are all signed for ‘09

Also in ‘09 Rasmus replaces Skip in the lineup and Skip replaces Stavinoah on the bench.

After watching him torch the Yankees in the 9th inning tonight, this seems like it should be one of our top 2 or 3 options for a LOOGY.

Don’t let his low .200s BA vs LHB fool you. He’s got a .400+ BABIP vs lefties. It didn’t appear he had much in the way of a slider, but a 97 mph fastball sure is nice coming out of that arm slot. He is currently the closer for the Pirates but in all honesty they don’t need a closer being 11 games out of 1st place. He is a non-factor for the Pirates after this season as he has a $6 M club option for 2009.

I think someone needs to mention in here that we’re debating on the “should,” and not on the “will.” Will the Cardinals sign Bonds? No. They will not. Certainly I’m the only one who’s seen multiple TV interviews with Mozeliak this year where he all but laughed at the very idea of even considering signing Barry Bonds. I really don’t think it’s something Mo will do. Should he? Okay, up for debate. Will he? I really think there’s almost zero chance. So the whole conversation is somewhat moot.

As for the should, I really don’t think it makes all that much sense. He’s a force, sure, but he’s also a media circus (something the Cardinals have avoided since the Rolen feud) and a defensive liability. He’s also not really addressing a need—as someone pointed out in another thread, all of our starting OFs (Luddy, Ank, and Skip) have VORPs of 17.4 or more, good for 2nd-4th on the team. Playing Bonds means benching someone who has been, at best (worst?), our fourth best player.

So we have to weigh the marginal gain between (presumably) Bonds and Schumaker with the media scorn and large defensive downgrade. If that isn’t enough, Bonds hasn’t seen live major league pitching in a long time and probably needs a readjustment period. Considering all that, I’m gonna say it’s probably not worth it.

Of course, then there’s the possibility of signing Bonds and trading an OF or two away for a middle infield upgrade (Grudz and Durham being popular names). We measure all the above negatives against the marginal upgrade of Bonds over whoever we traded AND the marginal upgrade of our new MI over Kennedy or whoever else goes away.

I don’t know. It’s a complex issue. However, it’s really more of a non-issue, because Mo’s not going to do it anyway.