Tagged: Garret Atikins

DeRosa Deal Done, Joins Cardinals

Just as many suspected, the Cardinals were quietly looking for a constant at third base. It’d been rumored that Garret Atkins was a possibility, as well as Mark DeRosa. Tony LaRussa didn’t feel like waiting til the July trading deadline neared as he wanted the trigger pulled on the deal before July could even come around. DeRosa mentioned that he suspected something could’ve been up since he was held out of the lineup on Saturday night. The Cardinals and fans were happy something was up and welcomed him to a standing ovation on Sunday as soon as he buttoned up his uniform (minus the two top buttons of the uniform he never finds).

St. Louis had been in talks with Cleveland for a short while, wetting their appetites with flame-throwing right hander Chris Perez, 23, who was thought to be first in line for the closers role at the start of this season. Perez had lost weight in the offseason, but struggled early in the season. Cleveland had hopes of competing in the AL Central and getting back to the playoffs as they did in 2007. The Indians acquired DeRosa in the offseason hoping he’d be part of the missing piece they needed to get to the next level, but had failed to meet expectations (31-46, 5th in the AL Central).

The Birds possesed a surplus of right-handed relief pitching and with Jason Motte appearing to pass up Chris Perez in the depth chart, it made Perez expendable. Cleveland needs all the help they can get to bolster a meak pen, which made Chris exciting to them. Afterall, Perez has power stuff, and is very young. The deal will also send a player to be named to cleveland, which will be chosen later in the year from a list of players the Cardinals and Indians agreed upon.

Acquiring DeRosa not only gives the Cardinals an option at third base, but bolsters the versatility of their club. In his first game in St. Louis De Rosa played left, and showed off his glove making a tumbling catch. DeRosa shows that the Cardinals fully believe they are in it to win it this year, and shows commitment to winning. Upon finalizing the deal, General Manager John Mozeliak was asked if this will nullify any other deals the Cardinals could make before the trade deadline. Mozeliak didn’t comment.

A battle for first place in the division is in full swing with Milwaukee as the Cardinals and Brewers are deadlocked atop the division. Cincinnati is surprisingly sitting at 2.5 games back. Brad Thompson mans the bump for the Cardinals tonight against San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum. Look for DeRosa to be the impact player the Cardinals are hoping him to be. 

 

Cardinals Need Consitencty At Hot Corner

With powerhouse slugger Troy Glaus on the DL since the start of the 2009 season, the Cardinals have struggled to find any sort of offensive consistency from third base. Early in the season the Birds tried a platoon of Brian Barden, David Freese, and Joe Thurston which didn’t have the same impact as a bat like Glaus. Manager Tony LaRussa has yet to name a starter, but it’s clear that Thurston has won LaRussa over based on the playing time he’s received.

Uncertainty surrounds the return of Glaus, who blasted 27 homers and drove in 99 runs behind Albert Pujols. Glaus provided a protection that was imminent in Albert’s production, as well as Ryan Ludwick, but other than Pujols the offense has sputtered. The Cardinals should look to a team who is looking to deal a third-basemen that can hit with some power to protect Fat Albert. Cleveland’s Mark DeRosa would be a great fit in St. Louis. DeRosa has a flare for the dramatic and can play multiple positions at a very high level. Not to mention he can rake. If Arizona feels they want to dismantle a little of their roster, Mark Reynolds would also be a nice fit for the Cardinals. He provides a power, the defense is somewhat shaky, but he’s young which is an upside. Colorado could provide Garret Atkins as long as they don’t have double-digit win streaks anymore. Atkins is a proven power but, is somewhat prone to the strikeout, but plays pretty solid defense and would be an upgrade from the inconsistency the Cardinals are dealing with now.

It’s only a matter of time before teams start to give Pujols one hittable pitch a game, if that. With teams not afraid to pitch to any other player in the lineup, the Cardinals desperately need someone to fill the void of “the protector.” Hopefully, sooner the team will look to acquire someone sooner rather than later.