Cubs’ fans have to be scratching their heads over this one. For the last two years, Mark DeRosa has been their team’s most valuable player. After trading him to Cleveland to dump salary and make room for Milton Bradley, the Cardinals swooped up and nabbed DeRosa this weekend.
The reason I say DeRosa was the Cubs’ most valuable player was because this guy was brought in to be manager Lou Piniella’s second basemen before the 2007 season. DeRosa said at the time he was looking forward to playing in Chicago and having one position to himself as opposed to being a utility player.
It was apparent that DeRosa would become an everyday utility player. In 2007, DeRosa played 92 games at second base, 37 at third, 22 in right field, one in left field, one at first and one at shortstop. In 2008, it was more of the same. 95 games at second, 38 in right, 27 in left, 22 at third, and one each at first and short. While the Cubs offense wilted in back to back sweeps in the Divisional round of the playoffs, DeRosa hit a steady .333 in each series.
For some reason, general manager Jim Hendry felt DeRosa and his ability to play six positions wasn’t needed and he dealt him to Cleveland to free up money to pick up Milton Bradley because the Cubs needed a left handed bat since they wasted $44 million on Kosuke Fukodome.
The Cubs got three minor league pitchers in return, an outfielder in Bradley who is dealing with leg problems and hitting under .240 and the need for utility player that they went out and signed struggling Ryan Freel who just came off the DL. Oh yeah, and remember the Cubs really stuck it to the Cardinals when they stole Aaron Miles away. He was supposed to be the guy who replaced DeRosa’s versatility.
Now, Cleveland is behind the Royals (to show you how bad their season is) and now the Indians needed to get rid of DeRosa’s salary. That’s when Cardinals GM John Mozeliak stepped in and snatched DeRosa away not only from Cleveland, but from the Cubs.
Fans have been openly begging for the Cubs to re-acquire DeRo. Instead, it looks as though the Cardinals are making the moves to make a run at post-season. I’m still not sure the Cardinals have the starting pitching, but this answers a big hole in the Cardinals lineup. DeRosa will be good for a .280 season at the plate. When Khalil Green goes back on the DL (as early as today) for anxiety disorder, DeRosa can slide over there. When Troy Glaus comes back, he can move out to left field which will bring a substantial upgrade in defense over Chris Duncan.
Time will tell if the Cardinals have the horses to stay on top of the division, but this is a great move in the right direction.
DeRosa a big steal for the Cardinals
Berkmeyer wins 2nd Amateur title
Skip Burkmeyer beat Justin Bardgett on the first playoff hole after the two were all square after 36 holes of match play in the Missouri Amateur Championship at the St. Joseph Country Club.
Berkmeyer wins his second championship 11 years after his first. He’s also been runner up two times. As far as Bardgett, who will be a senior at the University of Colorado next year, he hopes to turn pro after college.
For more on the story, click here .
Former Mizzou player Paulding named MVP
Former Mizzou Basketball player Rickey Paulding was named Finals MVP of the German BBL (Bundesliga Basketball League) after leading his EWE Baskets to the league crown.
Paulding led the Baskets to a 3-2 series win over Telekom Baskets Bonn in the finals averaging a team-leading 19.2 points on 50.9 percent shooting from the floor and 53.6 percent from three-point range.
Paulding was one of the German league’s top players throughout the season as well. He averaged 14.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 51% from the floor and 45.0% on three pointers. His scoring numbers ranked fifth in the league, while his 1.5 steals per game ranked fifth and his 72 total three-point field goals was third.
Paulding and his EWE club beat former Tiger Jimmy McKinney and the Deutsche Bank Skyliners in the opening round of the playoffs.
Public input sought on Ozarks parks plan
The National Parks Service is reviewing three alternatives for a comprehensive parks plan in the Ozarks.
The last general management plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was done in 1984 and public input forums are being held throughout the state to formulate a new plan. The end result with guide decisions at the park for the next 15 to 20 years.
Elisa Kunz with National Parks Service says three alternatives are being considered. The zones include land, water, developed, natural, resource-based recreation and primitive.
Kunz says many people are concerned about a possible change of allowable horsepower on the waterways. Others are looking at the zones from a horseback riders’ viewpoint and some want things to stay as they are.
"Some even want it to be changed back to how it was in 1964," she says.
Other concerns include too many tubing, canoeing, rafting, and boating on the river; too much lewd visitor behavior; pollution by people, vehicles, horses and motorboats; people are scaring wildlife and damaging habitat; invasive species of animals are moving in and spreading; some land uses and activities outside the park are damaging things inside the park, including water quality.
Kunz says the main planner is from Colorado, where National Parks have the same zone concept as well as the same challenges.
Seven zones are proposed for the park. That includes a Developed Zone, which would have buildings and visitor facilities like campgrounds and related services; Resource-based Recreation Zone; a Natural Zone; a Primitive Zone; a Mixed-Use Zone for motorized and non-motorized boating; a Season Mixed-Use Zone for non-motorized and lower horse-power motorized boating during the low-use season (non-motorized only during the rest of the year); and a Non-motorized Zone.
The parks service hosted forums around the state to get public input, which wrapped up in St. Louis Friday, June 26.
Public commentary can still be submitted online at nps.gov/ozar or by sending a letter to: Superintendent, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P.O. Box 490, Van Buren, MO, 63965.
Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]
Elisa Kunz explains possible action alternatives
