It would be best for him to have some time at AAA. We also have a bunch of guys that can play OF when he’s there. That said, if he mashes in ST, let him start in St. Louis.

Let’s assume he does well in ST. Regardless of the long term savings we might achieve by waiting three months, bring him up. Interesting that there is much talk on the Board that we need to focus on cost controlled players and that we shouldn’t waste money on free agents. Cards management generally follows that logic as well. But in the case Verducci discusses, there is $11 million (Future value dollars) on the table. In Rasmus’ case could be that or more.

Seems to me that with the team not wanting to spend even a couple million on Springer, a better second basemen, etc that they would not then throw away that value by bringing him up early. Isn’t that what last year’s ST decision was all about?

I want to see Rasmus as well, especially if he is tearing it up, but if I were Mo, I’d have to be pushed pretty hard by DeWitt before I put him on the roster prior to June 1.

Raz probably won’t be as productive as Luddy or a healthy Ankiel. But, Skip had a career year IMO, and I seriously doubt he will be able to improve, unless he learns how to hit lefties. Mather is good and will be productive, but Raz is a better defender than Joey. Unless Dunc hits the cover off the ball in ST, I think he should start the year in AAA on a rehab assignment. And, I just don’t see Barton having much of a future with the team (too many other outfielders in the system, wasn’t given a whole lot of opportunities last year, etc….). There is also still a chance that one of these 6 big league OF’s gets moved before the start of the season.

Also this kinda made me excited when I read it the other day.

Raz hit 29 home runs in AA, so he already has decent power. To know that he (and Luddy) are improving strengthwise just makes me feel even more comfortable with him being our starting CF this year.

His above average defense was confined to LF where he was one of the worst offensive contributors at that position in the NL. Sure, his defense is good compared to Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Carlos Lee, and Pat Burrell, but that doesn’t make him a good defensive OF. His skillset is only valuable in CF and he posted a -6.8 UZR/150 in CF last year and a -19 in very limited action in 2007.

Colby would be a more valuable player than Skip right now just because of his defensive superiority. He runs better and it really isn’t all that hard to put up an OPS in the ballpark of Skip’s platoon-inflated .765. James and Marcel have him projected in that vicinity ( and with a slightly higher wOBA) without being platooned and with 22 and 16 SB respectively.

None of the guys you mentioned is really even an average CF defensively except Ludwick in that was only in 64 innings. I love Mather, but it would be completely unfair to expect him to play CF with any regularity – he was -27.3 UZR/150 in limited PT in CF in 2008.