The Cardinals drafter ASU 3b/1b Brett Wallace. A lefty hitter, he was listed as 6-1 245, with great plate discipline and good power.
All right, I'm sure that it's great that they got a guy with a great bat. Maybe that makes him a great trade value, maybe he's a desperate hope for a future Glaus hole, maybe he's insurance of Albert's elbow.
I know that picking Kozma last year was a shot a filling an organizational hole in the middle infield (eventually he could fit in at second or maybe short), and that made sense. What didn't to me was drafting all college guys the next ten rounds or so. I hope that the Card's sandwich pick, or second rounder, at least, is a high schooler, who generally have more upside.
But why Wallace? Just because he's a position player, and his bat is a sure thing? The Cardinals historically have a rep for good defense--and Wallace doesn't seem to fit that mold. Yet, they still need pitchers with a good arm. Yes, they still need athletes in the middle inield and the outfield (with a possible future OF of Mather, Rasmus and Ankiel). So, why draft a guy who ostensibly is blocked by Alber Pujols?
Not that 'm complaing, of course--but the two picks right after Wallace, Aaron Hicks and Ethan Martin, both looked really interesting. And the Cardinals don't usually draft as high as 13th.
All right, I'm sure that it's great that they got a guy with a great bat. Maybe that makes him a great trade value, maybe he's a desperate hope for a future Glaus hole, maybe he's insurance of Albert's elbow.
I know that picking Kozma last year was a shot a filling an organizational hole in the middle infield (eventually he could fit in at second or maybe short), and that made sense. What didn't to me was drafting all college guys the next ten rounds or so. I hope that the Card's sandwich pick, or second rounder, at least, is a high schooler, who generally have more upside.
But why Wallace? Just because he's a position player, and his bat is a sure thing? The Cardinals historically have a rep for good defense--and Wallace doesn't seem to fit that mold. Yet, they still need pitchers with a good arm. Yes, they still need athletes in the middle inield and the outfield (with a possible future OF of Mather, Rasmus and Ankiel). So, why draft a guy who ostensibly is blocked by Alber Pujols?
Not that 'm complaing, of course--but the two picks right after Wallace, Aaron Hicks and Ethan Martin, both looked really interesting. And the Cardinals don't usually draft as high as 13th.
