The Bourjos Plan

Now that I have unloaded my rants via Twitter about the demotion of Oscar Taveras this afternoon, I come to you with a plan for the most polarizing figure in St. Louis Sports. Peter Bourjos. That’s right, he hoped over Sam Bradford this summer as the man to love or hate. There is no in between. Or is there? Let’s talk about it.

Peter Bourjos isn’t Mike Matheny’s favorite child on the roster. He got a number of starts to begin the season and then was benched(not demoted) for what seemed to be 3 weeks. In that time, Bourjos learned how to knit, make a killer Gatorade and got really good in the batting cages(Tower Tee Legend Material). He probably just sat around waiting. Soon enough, Peter got some starts, homered in Atlanta, eliminated poverty and restored balance to the world with a great series in Atlanta. He homered against Kansas City last week and once again flipped the horizon on its side and danced atop it. Overall, Bourjos is hitting .213 with 44 strikeouts in 136 at bats and has generally never caught fire. Sure, in his last ten games, he has 7 hits and bumped his average from two points up.

Bourjos just doesn’t do it for me and I will tell you why. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze and maybe in another season or time the move would work. It’s not working out this season for Bourjos or the Cards. He is a player that needs everyday at bats and with Jon Jay, Randal Grichuk and Oscar on the horizon, that won’t happen. How can we expect him to get better if the situation doesn’t play to his strengths?

When Bourjos was traded for in the offseason, I think the main component in that deal was Randal Grichuk. Sure Randal looks overmatched but the Cards see him in their future plans. I don’t see dear old Peter in those plans. He plays above average defense in center field but he isn’t the best out there. There are times where he looks a little shaky and he has NO ARM whatsoever. Granted, he is good but he isn’t as awesome as the Twitter Mafia makes him out to be.

The Cardinals lead the league in defensive runs saved, per Bill James and his baseball bible. One could say Bourjos has helped that. That is true. However, Jon Jay has improved in center field this year after an atrocious 2013. Jay is back to his steady 2012 self. He doesn’t run great routes but he gets to baseballs and can equal Bourjos’ arm. Plus, Jay has a far better bat. For all the talk about Bourjos hitting ability, the man is a career .247 hitter and an on base percentage of .303. He has 26 home runs in over 1160 at bats, which isn’t exactly Ruthian. I just don’t see the allure in Bourjos. His highest batting average came in 2011 and it was .271. What exactly is the greatness here? Add to it he is coming off wrist surgery and doesn’t look comfortable at the plate from game to game.

Hold on…the attack on my head and home is getting closer for this Bourjos plan. I’ll keep going.

Jay had two great seasons in 2011 and 2012 and last year drove in 67 runs and hit in the .270’s. He has experience in being productive out there and that is something Mike Matheny knows and trusts. It’s evident. Jay is also hitting lefties better.

I will sit here and say Bourjos and Jay each won’t finish the season here. I can’t see it. A trade will happen and an OF will be shipped.

Mark my words ladies and gentlemen.

The Cards could try this. Send Peter down to Memphis for a 10 game stretch. Let him start 10 days in a row and get at bats and see if his bat picks up. Sure, it would come against minor league arms but still it’s work. See if he does start to find his stroke. Bring up scrappy Shane Robinson to hold his spot while Jay gets the majority of the starts. That’s just an idea.

Right now, I want Jon Jay out there in center if Oscar isn’t here to play. Overall, I see more worth in his bat and his average sometimes decent defense.  Grichuk needs more tutelage in Memphis as well and looks overmatched at the plate unless he catches lightning with his bat in a pinch hit appearance(hello Toronto). With this struggling offense, you can’t go with Bourjos’ inconsistent or nonexistent bat. Jay’s bat has too much worth.

In the words of the great musician Todd Snider, I don’t expect to change your mind folks but only to ease my own.

If Peter Bourjos could get on base, he could be great.  Key word is “could”. That speed messes pitchers up and puts a defense on its toes. However, he just doesn’t get on base enough. Something has to give.

If I had to choose a limb to rest or sit right now,  I would choose Bourjos. I expect the bats to come flying and the hands to be raised with stones.

Opinions aren’t made to please. These are mine. Respect and respond. Thanks for reading.

-DB