he actually had a decent June, overall, even without taking walks- but most of that was early on, and they’ve figured him out. if he can take good PA’s and get 5-10 walks in July, and continue his very decent hitting when he DOES swing, he’ll make a huge difference. I’d also like to see him steal some bases. Turn him loose, tony.

Luddy and ankiel are the other two who are really underperforming right now. I expect Luddy to have a very decent July. Ankiel, who frigging knows.

Can Brendan Ryan keep up his incredible defense at short? And what is going on with Chris Carpenter?

that descalso got promoted to AAA?

with that development, my players to watch:

wallace, derosa, lohse, descalso, colby

if he can get playing time, raz is going to have such an amazing july. i predict he runs away with the roy in july

This may mark me as an idiot, but I don’t care. I read this blog everyday, yet somehow I missed the day when people started calling a certain player Boog. Who is this mystery Boog?

Derosa

Despite the fact that he has probably the worst approach to hitting I have seen in awhile, I still believe in him as a player. If he is able to return to his numbers last year (.360 wOB) and play a + left field, he would still be a very good player. Really, I just want him to play instead of Duncan, who truly looks like a AAA player.

plate appearance, situational hitting…call it what you will… the current crop of Cardinal bete noires are so frustrating I want to throw things when I watch:
Ankiel, especially, but also Duncan, Thurston. and lately T Greene.

I agree with the OK ones: Pu (very very ok); Colby and DeRo (very ok); Schu (the next best, but doesn’t hit lefties well); Luddy, Yadi and Boog…even LaRue (generally ok)

In short, MY ‘one to watch’ in the second half is… tada… LaRussa.
Will he demand (and then use) a decent “approach to hitting” third baseman and left fielder? 3b: DeRosa, Glaus, the Walrus, maybe even Yadi a few games? LF: DeRo, Schu (as a starter), X, Y, Z — someone other than Ankiel or Duncan.

Will Tony have the cajones (and the sense) to bench and/or send packing Ank, Dunc and Thursty, and maybe T Greene as well?

The pitching will, one way or another, be adequate… but we can’t win the Central (because of a probable surge by the Brewers or Cubs, who have been, so far, having problems of their own) with a line-up that has even two of the above four mentioned “can be pitched to” players.

… he changes everything. i don’t think he should come back until he’s completed his “extended spring training” or whatever they’re calling it AND played well for at least a week in the minors. but if he can come back in middle of August and be 75-80% of what he was last year, then this is a completely different team.

Glaus + DeRosa = two .800+ OPS additions to the line-up, plus makes the team much more capable of hitting LH pitching.

if Glaus comes back then send Duncan down, start Schu in LF on most days with Raz and Luddy, DeRosa at 2B, and the team looks really good all of a sudden:

1. Schu
2. Raz
3. Pu
4. Glaus
5. DeRo
6. Luddy
7. Yadi
8. Pitcher
9. Ryan

i’ll take that.

He’s GOT to start over Ank or Dunc against righties. He’s been hitting them great lately. Ank and Dunc have been nothing but, well, AnK and DunK.

Hoffpauir. Would love to see him rake both offensively and defensively and earn a starting spot at second. Then we could move Schu back to the OF and maybe get rid of Ank or Dunc. Or at least any more of that Thursty in LF nonsense. I know, just a pipe dream….