I realize we are quibbling about words, “deep” versus “thin”, but when considering the few openings at the big league level, and the excellent prospects and depth at AAA, I am not worried about what the Cards have in the way of postion prospects below AAA, particularly in light of the group suggested by me and DT (keeping in mind that there is always a good chance for another player or two to come out of nowhere and be thereafter considered to be a “top prospect”, particularly so with the Latin American players, not well known to this point , e.g. B Valera).

I expect them to be one of the few teams that have more than one first round pick next year (offering Lohse the requisit one year contract seems likely). That will give them one of the better opportunities to further add to the system.

I am not saying all of those guys will be excellent, but I am also sure that I have either missed someone and there are always guys that suprise that I did not list, but I certainly don’t think the system is thin on good prospect position players below AAA. When you include the players that will start at AAA due to the small number of needs at St. Louis, I think the system is excellent overall vis-a-vis position players and very good or better at AA and below going into next season, not “thin”.

Absolutely no need to rush any pitching prospect in the Cardinals’ system. To get to the Cardinals’ rotation next year, Wacha will have to leapfrog at least Miller, Rosenthal, and Kelly. That’s not likely.

I look for Taveras to force his way into the Cardinal lineup with a great spring, much as Pujols did, and for Wong to arrive around mid-season, if not sooner.

If a dog’s mean, it’ll bite you when it’s a pup.

These are mean pups.