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This year’s World Series is going to be contested between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pretty exciting, right? Each team has a former Cardinal on it: the Astros have Carlos Beltran, even if he doesn’t play every day, and the Dodgers have Rich Hill, who was a Memphis Redbird in his 30s and now is in the starting rotation of an extremely wealthy team in the World Series. What a time to be alive.
Anyway, my friend Ben Province (he’s on Twitter at @BenProvince) does this thing that honestly I’m too lazy to do because I’m not sure how it can be done via Baseball Reference Play Index where he creates all-time teams among players who have played for the Cardinals and another franchise. I’ve shared some of his lists before on here and I’m doing it again. With his permission, of course.
Cardinals/Astros
C: Tony Pena
1B: Lance Berkman
2B: Jose Vizcaino
3B: Ken Oberkfell
SS: Julio Lugo
LF: Jose Cruz
CF: Cesar Cedeno
RF: Carlos Beltran
SP: Larry Dierker
RP: Octavio Dotel
Cardinals/Dodgers
C: Todd Zeile
1B: Reggie Smith
2B: Mark Grudzielanek
3B: Ken Boyer
SS: Rafael Furcal
LF: Pedro Guerrero
CF: J.D. Drew
RF: Brian Jordan
SP: Fernando Valenzuela
RP: Todd Worrell
Anyway, it is almost November, which means it is almost time for substantive things to happen. Until then, here’s some stuff regarding what could happen and what is happening at lower levels in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
- Ben Markham looked at Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, an impending free agent who he suspects the Cardinals could get at a relative bargain on the free agent market.
- The red baron considered the future role of catcher Carson Kelly, stuck in an awkward position of backing up Yadier Molina but also potentially having less value if lower level prospect Andrew Knizner continues to progress throughout the Cardinals organization.
- Josey Curtis checked in once again on the Arizona Fall League and the Cardinals prospects who are making splashes this year in the off-season league.