One of the stupidest controversies this year has been Bernie Mikalsz running campaign to play Oscar, if he didn't play or was in the majors, he would ask why, and pretty much bad mouthed the manager every chance he got. The thing is, that this is a team that was projected to be a contender and was struggling offensively, you had Holliday, and Adams producing, but not Bourjos, Craig or Taveras, so the only sensible thing was to try and find playing time for those three with the hope that they can find their stroke, while limiting the number of lineup spots being used by non-productive at bats. Sure in some people world, projections is all that matters and ignoring the reality of a player not performing should just be tossed aside as 'sample size' issues.

Taveras playing time wasn't about Matheny not liking Taveras, it was about putting the team on the field that was producing. In theory both Taveras and Craig are probably right now about equal quality hitters, and both were hitting like a defense first shortstop.

projections is all that matters

The thing is ZiPS RoS has him at 274/318/414; PECOTA RoS is a little more friendly at 283/322/442, but that's not particularly impressive for a corner OF. It's not the projection so much as the silly "Best Hitting Prospect Since Pujols" label. Cardinals fans should be more cynical about this nonsense after the "Next Edmonds" was wisely dropped for a generic guy like Jon Jay.

Cardinals fans should be more cynical about this nonsense after the "Next Edmonds" was wisely dropped for a generic guy like Jon Jay.

Remind me--who was the "Next Edmonds"?

Remind me--who was the "Next Edmonds"?

Colby Rasmus, who has 12.9 career war at age 27(782 games), when Edmonds had 14.9 (500 games)at relatively the same age, although Edmonds had two 5+ war seasons by that point, and Colby's best has been 4.6.

Oh right. He was actually good for a while there, wasn't he?

Rasmus has had two very good seasons (2010 and 2013) and four mediocre ones. This year might be his first with an OPS+ between 90 and 126.

Yeah, the young Edmonds wasn't Edmonds! and, as if by magic, he started hitting LHP when he got to StL.

Yeah, the young Edmonds wasn't Edmonds! and, as if by magic, he started hitting LHP when he got to StL.

True about hitting LHB, but in his five seasons before arriving in STL his OPS was .888, .946, .868, .874, and then a .766 in an injury-shortened season (129, 137, 123, 123, 95 OPS+). That may not merit an exclamation point, but he was pretty darn good.