The Cardinals made a move today that many have been clamoring for, including the Post-Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz in a much-discussed article before yesterday’s game.
{{bbref|d/duncach|Chris Duncan}} is headed to Memphis, {{bbref|m/mathejo|Joe Mather}} is coming to St. Louis.
This move can be viewed many random different ways, in my mind anyway:
- It was clear Duncan needed this, hopefully he will find his swing back with regular at-bats in Memphis. He just wasn’t going to get the three trips to the plate everyday that he needs in St. Louis.
- If he hadn’t done it with his hitting already, this virtually locks {{bbref|l/ludwiry|Ryan Ludwick}} into a starting role.
- Good for Joey Bombs, who’s been mashing the ball in Ludwick-esque fashion in Memphis.
- Does this leave the Cardinals short on power from the left side? {{bbref|a/ankieri|Rick Ankiel}} is about all they’ve got. Ludwick is still hitting RHP better than LHP, but the rest of the left-handed bats are all slap-hitters.
- Mather should have a good chance at being in the starting lineup tonight, with the Cardinals facing a left-handed pitcher in {{bbref|dukeza|Zach Duke}}.
- Speaking of lineups, how does this leave the outfield rotation? I suspect lots of Ludwick and Ankiel, with {{bbref|s/schumsk|Skip Schumaker}}, {{bbref|b/bartobr|Brian Barton}} and Mather splitting platoon time in left field, while also occasionally spelling Luddy and Ankiel. Mather will likely see time at first base as well, assuming Duncan’s back-up role there.
Ultimately, good luck to Duncan in Memphis – I’d love to see his bat back in form and back with the Cardinals come stretch-time around the end of July or mid-August.
More immediately, I hope we get to see Joey Bombs park one in Big Mac Land tonight.
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