Luddy, my buddy! #2

Last year, my grandfather, Bum, and I having our picture taken with Ludwick and Izzy... again. As you can see, we switched sides. Neither of us wanted our picture with Izzy.

Yesterday: Ryan Ludwick, 5 for 8, 2R, 2 2B, 2HR, 4RBI. There is no reason why Ludwick should not be an every day starter from this point forward, and no reason why he should bat in any position in the lineup other than cleanup.

There has been some speculation that a trade proposal from the Cardinals to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay would include Ryan Ludwick.

The rotation falls off considerably after Carpenter, Wainwright, and Lohse. Piniero has been lights out so far this year, getting ground ball after ground ball and maybe even a strikeout or two per game. Wellemeyer has been atrocious when starting and even when relieving, as he did yesterday (a good omen?). If that means Wellemeyer is leaving the rotation, good. But, the only situation I want to see him in relief in is long relief. Wellemeyer could be replaced by Boggs, Doug Davis, or Roy Halladay (reverse preference).

However, trading away the cost and team controlled cleanup hitter in Ludwick is not an option. That would mean Rasmus or Molina would have to hit cleanup. I would advocate trading Ankiel and Duncan for a bag of balls so that Ludwick can get in some more batting practice before the second half of the season rolls around. Then call up Jon Jay, put DeRosa at 2nd, Skip back in the outfield, and Glaus at 3rd. Leave Joe Thurston on the bench, please. If we needed another outfielder, we could call up Barton (oh wait! we already traded him away for a bag of balls!).

There has also been speculation that we could trade for Matt Holliday, and that Ludwick would inevitably be included in that trade package as well. This was the same rumour circulating over the summer, and thankfully, it never took place (rumoured to include Skip also). Holliday is clearly missing Coors Field. At this point, I would not trade Ludwick for Holiday, one-for-one. I don't think this issue deserves to be addressed any less summarily.

Finally, it has been said that it is a foregone conclusion that Brett Wallace would have to be included in any blockbuster trade proposal the Cardinals would put together for either Halliday or Holliday, or any other big name player that might be available. Wallace is ranked #25 overall for minor league prospects. He is the only prospect the Cardinals have in the top 50. His defense has been severely criticized at third base. He could play DH. But his natural position is first base, and as we know, we already have a first baseman. With that, it seems so obvious that Wallace would serve as our most valuable and important trade chip. However, I feel that we must consider why the Cardinals organization drafted Wallace in the first place.

The Cardinals could have drafted Wallace for five reasons: (1) to play a mediocre third base with a big bat (as with Jake Fox of the Cubs); (2) to hit DH when the NL adopts the rule ; (3) to sit on the bench and pinch hit, and get an occassional start at first base; (4) to be traded; or (5) to play first base.

I understand that all of these are possibilities (some more likely than others), but I have a sick feeling in my stomach that the Cardinals drafted the the pure hitter in Wallace for one reason: to play first base. But we already have a first baseman you say? Well we do, at least for 2 more years. . .

Closer: Did the Cardinals draft Brett Wallace looking to 2012? Is Wallace supposed to make fans feel better if the Cardinals fail to extend Pujols' contract? Is Wallace supposed to give the Cardinals some sort of leverage of Pujols? $30m/yr could buy a lot of talent if the Cardinals had a cost controlled Wallace for 6 or 7 years who could hit for better than league average for first basemen. If Wallace's offensive prowess translates into MLB offense, would the money be better spent elsewhere?