A healthy Yadi
Imperative certainly,
Though do not forget
Pierzynski and Cruz
Must play well in the meantime
Until Molina.
Need not be heroes,
Just not automatic outs,
For red October.
Also, Matt Adams
Need not be early aughts Bonds,
But walks are helpful.
His BABIP is good
And his power is quite potent.
He just shouldn’t chase.
If he swings in zone
And takes first if given it,
The offense is strong.
If Kolten maintains
His development this season.
And the team succeeds.
He’s not yet a star
Yet can do everything well;
That should be enough.
Surely he’ll redeem
Last year’s World Series mishap
As full time starter.
As for Carpenter,
The man of many talents,
I’ll try to avoid
Obvious clichés.
But Matt is the kind of guy
You want on your team.
Versatility,
Ability to draw walks,
And he can hit too.
Grand consistency
Will be help in September
Perhaps quietly.
But where Carpenter
May have subtle flourishes
Peralta’s less so.
He will draw his walks
Though also sock some dingers,
Which come in handy.
Small ball can be fun
And exciting and joyous,
But dingers are life.
Even if Heyman
Finds him a disappointment,
His bat always helps.
As for Holliday
He just needs to get hot late,
As he’s known to do.
May as well demand
For heat in St. Louis June
Or December cold.
Jay? Bourjos? Why argue?
Both are playing superbly
And it’s safe to say
That most any team
Would kill for someone like them
To sit on their bench.
Will surely come along soon.
Guys as hyped as he
Don’t hit the big leagues
And then do nothing
Without some flashes.
Optimistic? Sure.
But he’s due for a breakthrough
Sooner or later.
Anyone believe
In total sincerity
That Waino is spent?
That Adam can’t pitch?
Or he won’t kill October?
Surely you must jest.
With Lynn and Lackey
Surrounding a top two arm
In this year’s NL,
This team’s rotation
Is good as I can recall
At Busch Stadium.
If Wacha comes back,
As the team says he will do,
Plan the parade now.
While Rosie had struggles
When given high work volume,
He’s a flamethrower.
With he and Neshek
At or near their all-star form,
Late leads should be safe.
And also there’s Carlos,
Maness, Choate, and others
In their bullpen roles
All but assuring
That this postseason bullpen
Will be frightening.
People will complain,
For cynicism’s simple,
But fret you need not.
Any team can win
In October’s craziness,
But this team’s on track.
The Dodgers are good,
Just as they were last season
When they were subdued.
The core is still here.
Let’s clear a flagstick quite soon.
This team has got this.