Joe Mather called up to the big show

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.

Chris Duncan is headed to Memphis, 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 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? 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 Zach Duke.

Speaking of lineups, how does this leave the outfield rotation? I suspect lots of Ludwick and Ankiel, with Skip Schumaker, 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.