missouridawg said:
but trust, me, I'd be ecstatic with it.
He showed flashes of his potential last year, but injuries always seem to de-rail him. The Cardinals NEED him tostart 140 games this year. If Punto has to start more than 100 games, we're in trouble.
That's not the stat line he said to me....I didn't ask him. That is my opinion. He really looks good right now. Has added about 8 lbs of muscle, and is really barreling the ball up right now. He was hitting some absolute bombs. That being said, alot of his numbers are going to depend on where LaRussa hits him in the lineup. I would hit him 5th, but that is just me. My lineup would look something like this....Theriot, Rasmus/Jay, Pujols, Holliday, Freese, Berkman, then go from there....I don't know enough about the backend of the roster, but it would look something like that. I would also look at dealing one of the young OFs(Jay or Rasmus), for some MI help. When you have that pitching staff, you have surround them with a defense that suits their tendencies.
The year he came out in the draft, a few scouts I know asked me what I thought, and I told them he was the best bat I had seen that year in person, and I saw every SEC team play. He was the one that I was sure, barring a significant injury, would be a big leaguer. I was somewhat worried defensively, but he has gotten better there, as well. Either way, he is going to be a very good big leaguer. Maybe not an AS, but a certain yearly contributor. However, outside of Wright, and maybe Rolen, there isn't a better 3B in the NL, IMO.