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Skip Schumaker is a poor man's So Taguchi.

I think that Schumaker is essentially Taguchi, though younger, and with a bit more speed. I'm not a big Taguchi guy, at least, not in terms of the roster. I would take my chances with PW, JRod and Skip over So.

The big problem, of course, is that Skip is lefthanded, as is Rodriguez and Duncan. Marrero may have a chance simply because he's a righty batter, although someone was suggestign earlier today that he got the chance to play today (outfield, catcher, *and* first base) because he's being showcased for a possible trade. If so, he made the most of it today.

They always seem so supportive of Ankiel year after year. I can't help but think he'll be up as soon as they have any opportunity.

Jmodene wrote:The big problem, of course, is that Skip is lefthanded, as is Rodriguez and Duncan. Marrero may have a chance simply because he's a righty batter, although someone was suggestign earlier today that he got the chance to play today (outfield, catcher, *and* first base) because he's being showcased for a possible trade. If so, he made the most of it today.

Add Marrero's versatility to his .958 OPS vs. left-handers (over the last 3 years) and he seems like what the Cards have been missing from the bench since Eduardo Perez left.

The Skip is cheaper argument really doesn't hold for this season. We already are committed to pay So his $800K or whatever it is. Getting rid of him doesn't relieve us of that obligation, unless they can unload his contract on someone.

I'm reluctant to draw any big conclusions on Skip based on a short spring, but I generally agree that Skip could probably handle most of what So does. But I'm more concerned about So's offensive production dropoff. But if it comes to keeping So, and sending Skip to Memphis, or cutting So to make room for Skip on the major league roster, I think I'd choose the former. You can always make the swap later down the line.

Tony loves So. He's not going anywhere this year. Especially not in favor of Schumaker, who is probably no better and is definitely less proven.

Fat Strat wrote:

Skip Schumaker is a poor man's So Taguchi.

I think that Schumaker is essentially Taguchi, though younger, and with a bit more speed. I'm not a big Taguchi guy, at least, not in terms of the roster. I would take my chances with PW, JRod and Skip over So.

I'm not sure that Schumaker is even that. The guy has a knack for piling on hits in ST(he hit .348 in ST '05), but he's played consecutive years at AAA at ages 25-26 with unimpressive results(nearly 900 PA's of .730 OPS). He did hit LHP well last year, but I don't think that's enough to imply that he'll be able to continue to have any type of success against MLB pitching, even more so when his (very) brief MLB experience is yikes-worthy(.205 AVG, .540 OPS). Relative to Taguchi he has age on his side, but if we're comparing him to alternatives than Rodriguez runs circles around both of them offensively.

Transmogrified Tiger wrote:Relative to Taguchi he has age on his side, but if we're comparing him to alternatives than Rodriguez runs circles around both of them offensively.

No one will argue you on that.

But there's a reason Taguchi is on the team: he's the primary backup center fielder. Rodriguez can't play the corner outfields, much less center. Schumaker is a plus defender that plays all three outfielder positions.

And yeah, Schumaker's career numbers are atrocious... but it's two very small sample sizes spread out over the course of two years (edit: sorry, I see you did address this).

I really hate to see So forced out of the club, especially after the postseason heroics against Billy Wagner. I wish he would've just retired after winning his World Series to open up the spot for Schumaker.

That said, it's time for him to move on. I'm slowly coming around to the idea that the things Skip did with McGwire and Duncan this offseason are actually helping him actually hit the ball this year. I don't know his spring training stats from years previous (where can I look those up, btw?) but his AAA OPS last season was a measly 730, right in line with his entire minor league career. This spring, he's come out tearing the cover off the ball, with an OPS over 1100. I know, I know, small sample size (31 AB) but that kind of jump, combined with his plus defense, gives me hope that he can be the So of the future.

As far as So's job being on the line, Taguchi will have at least two weeks it sounds like to prove that he belongs at a major league level. With Encarnacion and probably Edmonds both starting the season on the DL, So's not going to be the odd man out of our reserve outfielders, if there is one. Two weeks at a major league level (you know, when the games count) doesn't sound like much time for Tony to evaluate who stays and who goes, but that's all the time Skip had before being sent down last year. That's when the real fourth/fifth outfielder competition will be held, in my opinion.

skmsw wrote:Tony loves So. He's not going anywhere this year. Especially not in favor of Schumaker, who is probably no better and is definitely less proven.

Also the righty vs. lefty thing (which will be important when Edmonds is back), and the fact that So is Japanese. Even though it hasn't beared any fruit yet for the Cards, I think it's important to keep your franchise on the Japanese/Asian radar.

Plus So is a fan favorite, often getting the second largest applause during introductions next to Albert Pujols. I don't think the organization would want to just release him unless he really starts to stink it up. I know that's not a great logical reason for keeping him, but for an organization that prides itself for operating like a "family" (or so they insinuate), I think they'll keep him on board.

--P--