GraffaniNO

Well, there goes my grand plan for the Cardinals acquiring Tony Graffanino to solve the second base/two-spot in the order problem. The Royals acquired Mr. Graffanino via waivers from Red Sox. I'm not sure why they would want to do this considering they have his exact clone in Mark Grudzielanek. The AP Report said they are picking him up to use him in a utility role. I would think that the Royals would want to bring up a young player that shows promise and use him in a utility role to groom him and let him get used to Major League pitching and talent.
So, my plead to Walt to acquire Graffanino has fallen on deaf ears. You know what they say, though; there are three certainties in life: death, taxes (unless you are Barry Bonds, of course), and the Royals will always beat the Cardinals (and almost anyone else for that matter) on the waiver wire. That's just the way life is, like it or not.
So, where do the Cardinals go now? I still think a trade is necessary. I don't really like this team the way it is. There have been rumors about David Dellucci (yawn). One thing you can rely on is that Walt always has something up his sleeve, and rumors that show up on ESPN and the Post-Dispatch usually don't come true. Walt likes to fly way under the radar. I still think something is going to happen involving a trade, but I have no idea what it might be at this point.
Just one more thing today: Braden Looper earned the loss today by giving up two runs in the eighth inning (1 earned). He has been horrible this spring. He is supposed to be the main set-up man to Isringhausen. Generally what I like to see in relievers is a high strikeout rate and low WHIP. In the last three years, he has had aWHIP of 1.38, 1.22, and 1.47 respectively. That seems really high for an effective reliever. Be afraid of this guy, be very afraid.