A Tough Split (Plus, Win Free Stuff!)

is just about at the end of his rope.  Tony LaRussa's comments after the game showed a large amount of frustration with the pitcher.  With Kyle Lohse ready to return, Wellemeyer and Brad Thompson both are probably not wanting to be called into the manager's office.

On the positive side, the offense was able to put up four runs and take a lead with absolutely nothing from Rasmus and Pujols.  So maybe they are showing signs of life.

The big talk off the field is, of course, the possibility that the Cardinals could be in on Roy Halladay. This is going to be one of those classic "win now, be weak later" vs. "contend for a long time" debates that will continue to swirl for the rest of the month, I'd expect.

On the face of it, even though I love pitching and I love Halladay, I didn't think I'd be in favor of this deal.  The Cardinals are going to need young players to come up through the ranks and develop this team in order to support Albert's next contract.

The more I read about it, though, the more I start wondering if maybe this isn't a deal the Cardinals can make.  Obviously, if it's a Brett Wallace and Colby Rasmus type deal, then no can do.  But Wallace, while I'd love to see him in St. Louis, is going to be a first baseman some day according to all reports.  For someone of Halladay's stature, I wouldn't make him untouchable.

Throw in another few prospects, such as Bryan Anderson, Pete Kozma, Clayton Mortenson, even Daryl Jones (though the latter should be a last resort kinda thing) and, while you've damaged the farm system, it's not completely depleted.  Not to mention the two draft picks you'll get when Halladay signs elsewhere, assuming he doesn't take a below-market deal to stay in St. Louis.

Plus, what better way to prove to Albert that you are committed to winning than to put together a team that could go deep into October, at least for the next two years?  Then, in 2011, you've got some young guys to put into the mix and some funds to sign a FA or two to at least keep the team from being a Pirates-level disaster.

Think about best case scenario if you make the deal.  Troy Glaus is close to going on a rehab assignment.  Say he does well and can contribute.  You could have a lineup of:

Schumaker 2B
Rasmus CF
Pujols 1B
Ludwick RF
Glaus 3B
DeRosa LF
Molina C
Pitcher
Ryan SS

And a rotation of Halladay/Carpenter/Wainwright/Lohse/Pineiro.  Tell me that wouldn't do some damage, especially in the NL Central and short series in October?  Plus, assuming you could resign DeRosa, only Glaus and Pineiro would change for next season, creating the chances for a strong 2010.

I'm not saying that the Cardinals absolutely should do the deal, but it's a more realistic and less damaging scenario than I originally expected.

With that, I'm basically signing off for the next 10 days.  While I have internet on my phone, I'm not sure I can hunt and peck out an entry and probably won't have the time to anyway.  I'll share pictures from FanFest when I return.

However, you won't be entirely without content.  Later today I'll put up the post for the United Cardinal Bloggers next project, a live blog on Sunday that will start at noon and hopefully go from there until the end of the second game of the Cards/Cubs doubleheader.  You can see this live blog on any of the UCB members that are participating as well as the official UCB website.  You can interact with the members as well, asking questions and just talking baseball.  It'll be a chance to look back at the first half as well as get ready for the stretch run.  It should be fun (and I hate that I'll miss it!)

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