One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

By JP

       A motto of many Fortune 500 companies is "continual improvement" or a variation thereof. That is exactly what the Cardinals are doing right now. Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, and Kolten Wong are heating up at the plate and I think Jhonny Peralta will be coming around soon. Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte have returned from injuries and helped a struggling pitching staff. And, of course, the St. Louis Cardinals are only a game and a half out of first place. They have made this turn around (albeit a small one) but taking two steps forward every time they are forced to take a step back.

       They have accomplished this in many ways. First of all, taking at least two of three games during their last four series is a key factor. The Cards lose Joe Kelley to injury but get Jaime back and he seems to be pitching well enough right now. They have a team right now capable of competing for a Wild Card spot, but what do they need to win the division or go deep into the post season?

       To win the division, the Cardinals need to improve their offense. Right now they may be able to do that with minor leaguers. Since being sent back down to the minors, Randal Grichuk has been hitting the cover off of the ball and both Oscar Taveras and Stephen Piscotty have been hitting very well. It is unlikely we will see all three this season and given Mike Matheny's LaRussa-esque seeming dislike for rookies or very young players, we may not see them get much playing time at all. In several games, Matheny has opted to go with veteran player Mark Ellis at second base over Kolten Wong, who has shown marked improvement. Because of this, I don't expect to see someone like Taveras coming in and sparking the offense like Yasiel Puig did for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.

      To go deep into the playoffs the Cardinals need a third starting pitcher, at least in the opinion of this highly uncredentialed little blogger. But what about Shelby Miller, Jaime Garcia, Lance Lynn, or even Joe Kelley you ask? Miller faded down the stretch last year which is a big reason that he wasn't used much in the post season. That doesn't mean he won't be successful this year, but, while he does have a 6-3 record, he hasn't really showed the lights out stuff that Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha have. Garcia can't be counted on for a full season even if he does seem healthy right now and Lance Lynn, while a good first half of the season pitcher, seems to have used all of his good stuff by the All-Star break. So, what does that leave?

       The Cardinals really have no Major league ready pitching in the minors right now and the free agents that are still on the market are not the third dominant pitcher that the Cardinals need for the post season. John Mozeliak is unlikely to make any trades until very close to the non-waiver trade deadline and if he does, it likely won't be splashy. He hasn't made a big trade since acquiring Matt Holliday in 2009. I wouldn't mind having someone like Cliff Lee (who wouldn't?) even though he will be 36 at the end of August. He's a left handed pitcher which was one of the Cardinals biggest problems in the World Series. Had they had a good left handed pitcher to throw two games, that pitcher likely would have cooled David Ortiz and maybe would have given the Cards another ring. That is, of course, all speculation. Lee is 4-4 this season with a respectable 3.18 ERA, but went on the DL five days ago with an elbow strain, so I am guessing that Mozeliak will shy away from him.