With Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder both still at least a month away from rejoining the Cardinals starting rotation, the team had to do something. That something was send momentum-killer Kip Wells to the bullpen, recall winless Anthony Reyes from Triple-A, and, apparently, trade for a mediocre left-handed pitcher from the AL. We like the move. We'd have preferred the Cards sent Reyes and Chris Duncan to the Pirates for Ian Snell, but that wasn't ever going to happen.
Tigers starter Mike Maroth is the newest addition to the Cards' horrid pitching staff, and he fits right in. He's 5-2 in 13 starts this season, with a 5.06 ERA. Adjusted to the NL, we'll say his ERA will drop to about 4.00, and he'll get about that many runs a game to work with. So, in essence, the Cardinals have just acquired a .500 pitcher. They'll take it. Maroth's WHIP may be an ugly 1.66, but his five wins are nearly twice as many as Wells and Reyes have combined this season.
Maroth will never be anything more than a No. 3, but in the eight starts he made against NL teams from 2004-06 he's never given up more than five earned runs. That may not sound like an accomplishment, and it shouldn't. On this team, though, it's a breakthrough.
We like the trade. Viva El Birdos likes the trade, saying "he ain't a world-beater, but he can throw innings, and he ought to be able to survive against nl lineups." And the readers of the Tigers blog Bless You Boys aren't happy to see Maroth shipped out, a sure-fire sign the Cards are getting a good deal.
And now, because this is always fun, here's what the ESPN commenters are saying:
"I am upset that the Tigers are getting rid of this young great arm. This is a huge loss to the organization."
- Evan_Kaplan
"Tigers will not miss him. They have a surplus of young arms and once Kenny was called up there was a logjam. This is the best for Maroth and the tigs."
- dominiakd10
"The first stone has been cast in the race for the pennant. by the defending champs. desperation setting in for some teams."
- skonman
"Hancock and Kile are not returning."
- Thomar4
"Good move by the cards, they still have a great chance to win that lousy division."
- Chowdahead23
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