UPDATE: Cards Acquire Holliday, page 26

[docellis]

“If he gets here, he plays,” Tony La Russa told Goold via text message about using Holliday in tonight’s game vs. Philadelphia.

[JL21]

On paper, this is the best team they've had on the field since June 2006. They've got an AL contender's garbage as their backup MI, three OFers with pop and solid defensive skills, the best player in the game, the best defensive C in the game, four solid starters, and a patchwork-but-effective bullpen.

And for the first time since the middle of 2007, I legitimately believe they're a better ballclub than the Cubs.

[KyCardinalFan]

“If he gets here, he plays,” Tony La Russa told Goold via text message about using Holliday in tonight’s game vs. Philadelphia.

Sweet. I'll get to see this.

Thanks doc.

[Jocephus]

tony is a texter

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

And for the first time since the middle of 2007, I legitimately believe they're a better ballclub than the Cubs.

Which is crazy seeing as how 5 or 6 months ago everyone said it was impossible for the Cards to catch the Cubs on paper.....

[cards2468]

“If he gets here, he plays,” Tony La Russa told Goold via text message about using Holliday in tonight’s game vs. Philadelphia.

Sweet. I'll get to see this.

Thanks doc.

He's gotta get there, though. I suppose speculating that the deal will be approved they'll get him on a plane and the deal should be approved before the game start

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

“If he gets here, he plays,” Tony La Russa told Goold via text message about using Holliday in tonight’s game vs. Philadelphia.

Sweet. I'll get to see this.

Thanks doc.

I've always wondered, how will he get here.... surely the Cards have a plane, right?

Or do they just get him a coach ticket on American?

[Cronos]

tony is a texter

Something makes me doubt that he'd ever be a twitter-er, though.

[Jmodene]

FWIW, Holliday is a .394/.475/.750 hitter in 120 AB's lifetime *against* the Cards, with 9 HR and 15 RBI. 14 K and 15 BB.

Playing in St. Louis, he was 3-for-10 with a double and an RBI in 3 games at Busch II, and is 15-for-39 with 5 HR and 7 RBI in 11 games at Busch III.

So while he may be a Coors hitter, he's done pretty well in St. Louis, too - I'll gladly take 18-for-49, a .367 average with 5 HR and 8 RBI in 14 games.

[JL21]

And for the first time since the middle of 2007, I legitimately believe they're a better ballclub than the Cubs.

Which is crazy seeing as how 5 or 6 months ago everyone said it was impossible for the Cards to catch the Cubs on paper.....

In fairness:

a) Ryan Franklin is pitching like Mariano Rivera, the other night notwithstanding

b) Joel Piñeiro isn't pitching like Joel Piñeiro

c) they now have DeRosa

d) they now have Holliday

Those are big changes, none of which seemed likely a few months back. Throw in the Cubs' struggles and there you go.