2008 Rule 5 Draft notes

(hitters only)

In re-stocking our pitifully thin MI herd, might we be able to raid udder organizations for their non-protected talent?  This link has a few very interesting names, two especially from Colorado (Daniel Mayora and Corey Wimberly).

Here 2008 Rule 5 Draft - pitchers are some interesting pitchers, especially the A's Brad Kilby and the Red's Pedro Viola.  After getting some decent return from Brian Barton last year, and probably even more to come, I think its time we go fishing again!

:=8)

The MooCow, YES, the MooCow, has found a young pitcher  who is perfect for the role of closer for the Cards - we'd better jump soon before the udder major league teams sign her.

HER??  Yes, her.  The MooCow is talking about  Eri Yoshida, and her wicked side-arm knuckleball.  Check it out:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081117/sp_wl_afp/lifestylejapansportsbaseball_081117063048;_ylt=AkxFB9sSwC9ynt4NB10FO9wazJV4

Imagine: she's so young (16) that she could close for us for the next 25 years, especially since a knuckler does cowparitively little damage to the arm.  And, of course, anyone who ever watches any Japanese anime know that 16 year old Japanese schoolgirls possess amazingly superhuman powers, usually in the form of samurai swords, laser beams, and/or giant rubber suited monsters.

So, let's get a petition for Mo to Sign Eri Now, so she can turn opposing batters into so much chopped sushi...

;=8)

Olsen to Nats

Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham were traded to the Nats for what is basically a bucket of chicken (ie a couple of lower prospects).  Cow is it we weren't sniffing this deal out?  Olsen isn't great, but he'd be a good, low cost 5th starter - and I would like to have seen what the Dunc-meister would have done with him.  And Willingham was just icing on top of the cake.  One begins to wonder about our Mo's trading skills - did he pass this one up, and if so why?  Or did he not even know about it - but isn't that his job?  I dunno, this isn't a blockbuster deal or anything, but I think little mooves like this are what helps to build champions.  Just an-udder missed opportunity.

:=8/

That got yer attention, didn't it?  Well, according to MLB Trade Rumors.com, the Padres cud very well be shopping Jake Peavy.  He's only 27, an ace, he has good injury history (which is to say, almost none), and his insertion into the top of the rotation (Along with Wainwright, Lohse, Wellemeyer, and possibly Carp) would give the Cards the best rotation in the NL, and probably all of basbeball, and for a few years too.  given that we have strength in the outfield, and we have good prospects coming up (J. Mather, D. Jones, for example), is now the time to start thinking about trading Rasmus away?  Earlier in the year I would have said no way, but that was before we saw how good the outfield is, including the prospects.  And before Rasmus went into the doghouse.  I can't imagine trading Rasmus for anything less than a #1 ace starter, but that is what Peavy is.  Rasmus alone won't get the job done; I image we'd have to sweeten the deal with 1 or two moore prospects, but think about that rotation!  And we cud spend moolah on upgrading the MI and lefty relief.  it doesn't give us an 'impact bat' that some have clamored for, but I think our offense was pretty darn good moost of the time as is.

if we can pull this off, then I say go for it.  We may have to toss in Anderson and maybe a lower level prospect, something like Worrell, but for an ace like Peavy I think it would be worth it.  At 27 Peavy cud be good for an-udder 5-8 years at his current performance level, or close to it.  What does everyone else think?

:=8)

Jon Heyman notes "talk lately that the Yankees might consider trading Robinson Cano."  Apparently Cano still has good trade value and the Yankees could fill multiple needs in a deal.  Heyman says the Dodgers are interested.  Cano was subject of an odd Dodgers rumor back in July.  The Yanks would be interested in Orlando Hudson if they were to trade Cano.

Here is the link to MLBTradeRumors.com for the juicy bits from the article.

Ok, a trade for Robinson Cano would be very appealing for the Cards, and would give us a legit #2 hitter to hit behind Skip, not to mention a solid young defender.  What would we have to give up to get him?

If Colby Rasmus is truly in the doghouse, would it be heresay to trade him for Cano?  Whe could still keep Daryl Jones.  I think an combination of Freese, Anderson, Motte, and maybe Brad Thompson would do it.  I know, I am always looking to moove Thompson.  I like him, but I just see him as trade bait.  He was moore tradable bait before his ERA balloned to Oprah-like proportions, but I still think he's tradable.  Freese cud moove on over to 1st base; anderson gives them a primo prospect behind the plate to take up after Posada wraps it up; Motte gives them a good young relief pitcher for the 'pen; Thompson cud start or relieve.

What do you all think?

:=8)