Do the Cards have the conversation with Albert?

[oldroundballer]

They only way I think they do is if the NL is going to the DH next year. To get to 700 he's going to need quite a few ABs. He needs 21 now. If he gets 2-3 more this year he's definitely within reach next year. He's had a decent stretch with the Dodgers but I don't see how you could sit Goldy enough to get him the needed ABs. He isn't going to want to just PH once a game. It would be a nice ending for him to get 700 with the Birds and go out with Yadi and Waino. But it would have to be as a DH.

Speaking of the NL DH, I read an interesting idea. Losing the strategy that's involved with the lineup concerning pitching changes is one of things people don't want to see disappear. One thought was to tie the DH to the pitcher. When a pitching change is made the current DH is done. When his spot comes up again you have to use a PH. That might not work but it at least sounds interesting. Managers would still have a little thinking to do. Do you really want to make a change when Albert is due up next inning in a tie game or will you take a chance and stick it out a little longer?

 

[3Rfan]

They only way I think they do is if the NL is going to the DH next year. To get to 700 he's going to need quite a few ABs. He needs 21 now. If he gets 2-3 more this year he's definitely within reach next year. He's had a decent stretch with the Dodgers but I don't see how you could sit Goldy enough to get him the needed ABs. He isn't going to want to just PH once a game. It would be a nice ending for him to get 700 with the Birds and go out with Yadi and Waino. But it would have to be as a DH.

Speaking of the NL DH, I read an interesting idea. Losing the strategy that's involved with the lineup concerning pitching changes is one of things people don't want to see disappear. One thought was to tie the DH to the pitcher. When a pitching change is made the current DH is done. When his spot comes up again you have to use a PH. That might not work but it at least sounds interesting. Managers would still have a little thinking to do. Do you really want to make a change when Albert is due up next inning in a tie game or will you take a chance and stick it out a little longer?

I don't see Albert or the Cardinals making any deal to bring him back without the DH. That said I'd bet on the DH in the NL next year. With the DH you have Albert in the lineup everyday and at 1st when you need to give Goldy a day off. I saw him pick a couple of throws last night.
One other thing that has to happen is for the powers that be make a decision in time to allow teams to decide how to make off season trades or free agent deals. If they wait too late everybody will have their rosters set.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I think, if everything lines up that needs to line up, they do have the conversation. The DH in the NL will happen. His current .784 OPS with the Dodgers would put him 4th in OPS on the Birds. I think it might rejuvenate him enough to be a competent player, maybe at least league average. But that's based on the Birds going out and getting a SS and a bat for the OF. Albert won't cost them much, because it'd obviously be a one year deal. They need a top of the order SS and a middle-ish of the order OF bat. Albert can't be the focus of off-season transactions. But I think if he's the DH and hitting 6th or 7th, there's some value there. And it could be an awfully neat story that would probably put more butts in the seats. I wasn't the biggest Mang fan. Don't get me wrong, best hitter of my generation, just not a fan boy. I haven't been to a game in probably 4-5 yrs. I'd make it a point to get to at least a weekend series next summer if he were back.