BG: Hi skmsw. Overall I like the direction of the team since I left RN. We got our world title in there and we finally replenished our farm system (which is the only way a smaller market like St. Louis can compete). About some of your specific concerns --skmsw wrote: A lot has happened since you left RN. What do you think of the overall direction of the team? Would be interested in your thoughts on both micro (Lohse extension, Schumacher at second base, etc) and macro (draft strategy, overall roster composition, current depth of minor league system, correct approach to how to surround Pujols during his prime, etc) issues.
The Lohse extension: I liked it. The guy doesn’t have killer stuff, but he fits well here and with our shaky rotation we simply NEEDED a workhorse like Lohse. (His current injury has nothing to do with poor mechanics or lack of durability – it coulda happened to anyone.)
Schumaker at 2B: I still don’t understand why we didn’t go harder after Orlando Hudson or a major-league-ready prospect like Brandon Wood. A groundball staff like the Cards’ needs Hoovers on the infield, and Schu ain’t. That said, the move hasn’t been the disaster many thought it’d be, and I love having an extra bat in there every day.
Supporting Pujols: Our front office approach to this has been fine, but Glaus’ injury really threw a monkey wrench into the execution. When everyone is healthy, we have plenty of bats surrounding Pujols, but our latest run of injuries and Rasmus’ and Greene’s subpar play haven’t helped. But again, to me those things are less a failure of design than a failure of luck.