And now that Duncan actually hit a HR, that will buy him another month unquestioned by TLR. Mather has solid if unspectacular skills at 1B…as that was his minor league position for quite awhile. He’s better there then Dunc.

Didn’t catch the game last night. Herding 6/7 year olds around in tball. :-\

I’d like to see Mather replace Duncan again, now that Pujols is back to man first base.

Barden is a tough one – I agree his play has merited a call up, but I’m pretty sure he’s not on the 40-man. Couple that with the way Miles and Kennedy have been hitting, and it’s a hard sell (at least in Tony’s eyes, which is how I’m trying to rationalize it).

Miles is still hitting around .315 I believe. Kennedy has hit about .320 for the month of June.

That being said, I don’t see any reason to carry a 13th pitcher either, if Tony would manage his bullpen correctly.

Can Barden play any third base? That’s one glaring weakness in the roster, is someone to hold down the hot corner when Glaus sits. I cringe seeing Miles there, and Ryan isn’t much better.

FR discussed Barden at length today and I totally agree. He is slick and has infield skills that put Miles to shame. Now, I am not a complete Miles-hater…clutch hitting has to account for something…but how he gets as much versatility time as he does mesmerizes me.