I think it really comes down to what do you want as a bench/backup player? Serviceable in the field, competent at the plate. In a tie ballgame in the 8th inning with a runner on second, who would you want coming up to the plate? Izturis or Hall?
Just gonna mention that.....if you had to choose between Izturis and Bill Hall, who do ya pick? We know Bill Hall can pitch, so he's got that going for him.
I know they are farther down but Yadiel Rivera and Orlando Arcia do count as shortstops and are part of the entire system. However, they may or may not pan out, so getting a few more prospects isn't a bad thing at all. I would wait until the deadline, though. I have a feeling we'll be buyers as opposed to sellers.
Don't forget that Scott Linebrink made the Cards as well. I know many aren't too high on him, my wife went to college with him, so I've been a fan. However, I'll still root for him and root strongly against the Cards.
Wilson, Counsell, Hairston, McGehee, Kotsay were all there as well. I stand corrected....however Counsell doesn't seem to fit Mr. Negative. I could see McGehee and to some extent Kotsay.
Yuni, Prince, Saito, Hawkins are guys who aren't on the team this year. From what I see of Hawkins on Twitter, guy is positive and upbeat. I don't really see Saito either. Prince and/or Yuni, I could see, even though I'm unsure of Yuni's English skills.
Bingo! Karl isn't anywhere close to Pop. Last year was the anomaly, but Pop is pretty much next to David Robinson in rulership of the city of San Antonio. He's done a great job this year, and I hope the Spurs go far this year and put some people on notice!
How will Chris Carpenter explain this to his son? No, son, this is a different kind of Crew. Not those horrible hoodlums in Milwaukee. Think of rowing....crew, what my millions will buy you someday.
If said guy lands in a mug of beer, no stupidity at all. If said guy goes down the slide into....well....the bottom of the slide, fairly stupid. But it's our stupid, so we love it.