St. Louis Cardinals: Randal Grichuk moves to Memphis

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned their struggling outfielder to the minors in May in hopes that he will return with a vengeance.

What a surprise it must have been for Randal Grichuk when the St. Louis Cardinals optioned him last month all the way to single-A. And I, for one, am and was very much in support of this decision. I was somewhat disappointed that the hitting genius in Memphis wouldn’t have the chance to sink his teeth into him, however.

All of that changes today as Grichuk is being promoted but not all the way back into the majors, not yet. And I, for one, am very much in support of this decision.

Now, I know many of you will skewer me on a stake because of how badly the St. Louis Cardinals are playing and the need for a spark plug, but let me remind you that Grichuk was anything BUT a spark plug which is why he was sent back to the minors.

Some might suggest giving him the chance to be the spark needed. I’m sorry to burst your bubbles, but I just don’t agree with this. I think sending Grichuk to Memphis makes so much better sense.

For starter he will get to work with hitting genius Mark Budaska. Secondly, why send a struggling hitter to a team that is struggling to hit already? Isn’t that asking for disaster and asking to demoralize him? Although, I hear this as I type it that perhaps the demoralizing occurred when Randal boarded a flight to Palm Beach.

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Let me return to the idea of sending Grichuk to St. Louis. If this were done, do you really believe that Grichuk will wake the offense? I don’t. And if Grichuk joins the St. Louis Cardinals back in the gateway to the west then who is sent out?

Aside: I know, I know, I know, the question of who to send out is an easy one to answer, right? Jhonny Peralta must go. That answered, let’s move on.

So, Mozeliak decided to send Grichuk to Memphis. And I, for one, as I’ve said, am in favor of this decision. This will allow Grichuk to experience some near-MLB pitching and field an outfield that is near-MLB as well. If Grichuk tears it up while in Memphis then he can perhaps be the spark needed.

Let’s take a moment to look at Randal’s single-A numbers. Grichuk experienced a mere three single-A at-bats and recorded only one hit. He did have one-on-one instruction in the back fields with the St. Louis Cardinals staff so maybe they saw enough in his four at-bats (one strike out in those at-bats though) to promote him.

Next: Offense offends

Now, his triple-A experiment begins. Stay with me where and I’ll keep you updated on his progress and whether or not he is boarding that I-55 bus to St. Louis. Thanks for reading and GO CARDINALS!