Mid-Season Review, UCB Style

Stick around after the jump for thoughts on last night's Home Run Derby, but right now, it's the next installment of the United Cardinal Bloggers franchise!

Last week, the UCB members started a roundtable discussion on how things had gone so far and what was coming next.  Each person tossed out a question for comment.  Today, each blog--CardinalsGM, The Cardinal Virtue, Fungoes, Redbird Ramblings and Mike on the Cards--will be posting the transcript of answers to their questions.  (Links will change from the general blog to the specific entry when they go up.)

My question was "Which player or players is/are the most likely not to be a Cardinal come August?"  It probably won't surprise you that one name dominated the discussion.

C70: I still have to think Anthony Reyes is at the top of Mozeliak's move list.  There's really not a spot for him in St. Louis going forward, at least under the current management, so why not give him a shot somewhere else?

Mike on the Cards: The trade market sure seems to be the hot topic right now, especially after the moves made by the Cubs and Brewers.  Tony wants help.  Mo wants to sit idle.  Fans want the world for nothing.  I think there might be a small move made at the deadline, involving Anthony Reyes and one or two middle tier prospects.

Redbird Ramblings: I think Reyes is the guy most likely to be traded.  He needs to go to get a change of scenery and he should be dealt for a guy that also needs a change of scenery; that's only fair.  I mean, no one is gonna take Reyes as a centerpiece to any kind of big trade; only probably as a throw in.  I also would like Mo to unload Duncan and, if they are out of the playoff picture, Lohse too because he is having a career year and will probably cost way too much come free agency.

The Cardinal Virtue: Duncan and Reyes are both out of option years.  If they are going to stay on the 40 man roster next year they'll have to be on the active roster as well or clear waivers--and neither of those are probably happening.  Don't be surprised if they are packaged for a reliever of some kind.

Fungoes: Iron Cap Reyes.  If the team was more willing to let Mike Parisi, Mitchell Boggs and Mark Mulder start games than Reyes, they'll never have a need for him again.

There was a report that Pedro Gomez said that A.J. Burnett could be moved for a package including Reyes and Chris Duncan.  I don't know if that's valid or a joke (probably the latter), though I could imagine that being reasonable since Burnett is going to opt out of his deal at the end of the year.  Whatever the deal winds up being, most of us would be very surprised to see Reyes still wearing the birds on the bat after the deadline.

Now, for the HR derby..............


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What a show Josh Hamilton put on last night!  Those were some absolute moon shots that he was hitting in the first round.  I caught the end of the first round after putting my son to bed (but was sure to see the replays on SportsCenter) and was just amazed.  Of course, I figured that it would follow Derby form and the guy with the big display winds up losing.  I think Abreu may be the only one of the real big rounds to actually go on and win.  Justin Morneau hit 13 fewer HR but got the title, which is the way it goes.

I've been a big fan of Hamilton's since I've heard his story and seen how he brings his Christian witness to the ballpark.  I do think that was one of the reasons he did so well on the big stage, so he would have the opportunity to tell people where he was and how he got to where he is now.  I'm sure some people don't care for hearing all of that or just dismiss it, but being a fellow believer, it's wonderful to hear that on a national stage.

And what about Ozzie in the softball game?  Man still looks like he could field some grounders, doesn't he?  He's a little bigger than his playing days--you won't see any backflips now--but he's not let himself go like a few other players (Tim Raines, for example).  Great to see him out there.

Hope that the NL can break the streak tonight!