I actually haven't watched many games this year, mostly settled for the Braves who are a bit more together this year than the birds. But here is my assesment of the obvious.
Biggest Disappointments: Kip Wells and Adam Kennedy. I really though these guys were going to be amazing additions. Kennedy a cardinals minor leaguer and Kip who's shown signs of greatness in his career. Kennedy's an odd one because he was awesome with the Angels for a short time and I think the birds really regretted sending him to the west coast, especially when he won the WS in 2002. But he has had no pop to his bat... or even a snap or a crackle. The decision to get some stability in 2nd just hasn't panned out all that well.
Wells.... ugh... I thought if Duncan do what he did with Weaver, surely he could do even more with Wells. I mean he had two double digit winning seasons with Pittsburgh... and that's saying a lot.
Reyes... Well I think the cards need to part ways with him, that or they need to part ways with the Duncan Larussa era. Here is a prospect that has good stuff but is a square peg that duncan and larussa keep trying to put in their round hole. It says something that when he's in the minors and pitches the way he wants he's lights out, but as soon as he's called up and told to pitch a different way... he stinks... hmmmm think about that one. Granted I'd take duncan and larussa over Reyes, so I'd trade him and hope to get a good prospect in return, one that fits into the groundball style of play they have. Makes you wonder if even if the Cardinals kept Dan Haren if he would've have succeeded under Duncan. Haren's a bit of a power pitcher at times.
The other duncan has been not too shabby. The injuries have hurt and really exposed a lack of a bench. And when the bench is injured you're left with an exposed and bare minor league system. Whereas the bravos pull up guys like Saltalamachia and others that fill in perfectly and excel, the cardinals can't pull up much because they're still rebuilding down in the minors.
It'll be interesting to see if and when Ankiel is brought up and if he can contribute. I've read a lot of scouting reports on him and its all positive, some have said he's a top prospect.
I think the cardinals were hoping to land Burleh (sp) this offseason gettin the home town discount, but after the White Sox resigned him that's pretty much out. I think the cardinals often rely too much on the "home town discount..." So far they've used that as a ploy to try to land a few guys and everytime they don't its b/c they wouldn't pony up to the table and fork up the cash.
I wouldn't mind if the birds did a bit of a sell off. Mainly rolen, i think if they can get any young prospects for hiim that they should go after them. He's good, but he's getting old adn lets face it him and tony will never be best friends after last year. I mean he's probably the 3 best 3rd basemen in the NL right now, maybe 4th. But still a few contenders could use him and pay dearly for him, specifically some teams out on the west coast. It'd be great to send him to the Angels or A's both of which have so much young talent that it causes me to salivate.
Other than that the cardinals don't have much to trade, Izzy and Carp are the only two pitchers with 'hefty' salaries, but they're no that bad based on the market so it makes more sense to keep them.
I'd say ditch Juan encarnacion but who would want him... why the cardinals ever signed him is beyond me. Jimmy E makes a good chunk of salary but he was pretty much resigned as a favor to him and to the fans to have him retire as a cardinal. At least he better after this tenure.
So some unluckiness this season but all in all they over achieved last year and from all the fans I've talked to, we're still just basking in the glory of last year.
So enjoying last year and watching the braves.... that's been my baseball for 07...But will go to at least 2 of the 4 braves cardinals games at the Ted in a two weeks. I got my saturday game scheduled with some buddies from chatty and then thursday with some co-workers. Friday may not happen and sunday i'll have anna-kate all day so i'll have to for go that one.