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St. Louis Cardinals: Departed Players Are NOT Better

By Dr. Michael D. Miles

Mar 21, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (91) is congratulated after hitting a two run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (91) is congratulated after hitting a two run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma (38) leans on the batting cage prior to a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma (38) leans on the batting cage prior to a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Pete Kozma- SS

I was never- never- a fan of one Pete Kozma.  I never rooted for him and never saw much that would warrant rooting.  For some reason, however, the Cardinals for so long couldn’t shuffle him off the squad.  That all came to a halt in the offseason of 2015 when the Cardinals granted him free agency.

Let’s look at his spring numbers:

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS GDP HBP SH SF IBB OppQual
2016 NYY 28 13 26 24 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 .167 .231 .250 .481 2 0 0 0 0 8.4

I, for one am glad that we have sent a slash line of .167/.231/.250 packing.  A quick note about these numbers: these came against AAA-equivalent players (see the 8.4 OppQual number) which indicates that Kozma couldn’t hold a candle to MLB players with which we are all too familiar.  In his place, the Cardinals have at-best Ruben Tejada, and at worst Greg Garcia.  Let’s look at each of their spring numbers:

Tejada-

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS GDP HBP IBB OppQual
2016 NYM,STL 26 12 33 32 2 10 2 1 1 6 0 0 1 5 .313 .333 .531 .865 1 0 0 8.3

Tejada, two years younger than Kozma, is out-performing Kozma when facing similarly-talented players.  Out-performing is a nice way of saying that Tejada is almost doubling the numbers exhibited.  A reminder, I am labeling Tejada the at-best scenario for the Cardinals when comparing the shortstop position.

How about the at-worst scenario, Garcia?

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS GDP HBP SH IBB OppQual
2016 STL 26 19 48 42 4 11 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 8 .262 .340 .262 .602 2 2 1 0 7.7

Like Tejada before him, Garcia is two years younger than Kozma.  While facing slightly lesser-abled players, Garcia (again, the Cardinals at-worst scenario at shortstop) is also out-performing Kozma if not by much.  Anyone want Kozma back?

Next: Center Fielders

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