SOUTH GRAND — The only thing worse than Major League Baseball moving toward the World Series becoming some sort of neutral-site circus would be to dismiss the idea entirely and ignore all of the suggestion its inspired.

Coming out of the rain-delayed 2008 World Series and staring at a 2009 postseason that likely won’t end until the first week of November, the drumbeat for change echoed around baseball coverage. “Neutral Site” was the new black. ESPN’s Buster Olney surrendered in a way, waving a white flag of nostalgia and agreeing it was time for the World Series to follow the Super Bowl. Over at Fox, Ken Rosenthal detailed the arguments for a neutral-site World Series and outlined the trickle-down events that would happen because of it. Our resident Hall of Famer Rick Hummel turned to one of the original authors of the neutral-site concept — former St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog — for his updated take in the washout from the Philadelphia delays.

It was Herzog that I first remember suggesting a neutral-site World Series, presenting his case in the book, “You’re Missin’ a Great Game”, he wrote with my Mizzou classmate, Jonathan Pitts. In it, he argues:

A neutral-site World Series would bring back fairness and give us a chance to make the World Series what it ought to be: the number-one spectacle in American sports. Now hear me out. … Every year, during a given, single week, you’d have a uninterrupted, eight-day World Series extravaganze.

Traditionalists will spew their Cracker Jacks. “What about the flavor of the home parks?” “What about the local economies that would be hurt?” But like with most good ideas, the more squawking you hear, the better your idea’s going to be.

Count me among the people who had to wipe the Cracker-Jack spew off my monitor. But while I think a neutral-site World Series would rob October of some of its feel, whether it’s at the same place every year (Herzog suggests Nashville) or a rotating cast of cities like the Super Bowl. Do you really want the first World Series since 1945 at Wrigley Field not to include the Chicago Cubs? An Associated Press article wondered a year ago — should the World Series be played in Las Vegas? Tokyo?

At Lord’s in London?

But there are some solid ideas circulating because of this conversation.

As Rosenthal mentioned in his article, back in 2007 agent Scott Boras sent a letter to commissioner Bud Selig with some suggestions. The idea that got headlines was his idea that the World Series should be expanded to the best-of-nine format. That wasn’t the only idea Boras advocated, however. He and others have presented the idea that the World Series should be more of an event like the Super Bowl or Final Four and that the whole week of games should be augmented with a swirl of activities in the same city.

Town hall meetings. Golf tournaments. A red-carpet award ceremony for the MVP, etc.

Roll these general manager meetings, going on now, into the whole shindig.

The argument is that planning such a typhoon of activity — meant to attract fans of baseball, invade a town and magnetize the national attention on baseball — demands it happen a neutral-site facility, like the All-Star Game. Maybe not. Heading into October, even late September, the list of possible sites for the first two games is narrowed down to four sites. Ditto with the site of the three middle games. How mobile a World Series “circus” could be? Well, depends on its aim. A FanFest would be tricky. An award ceremony — a great idea, ala the National Hockey League — would probably have to find a neutral-site home. But town hall meetings? GM meetings? Aren’t these nomadic.

Not everybody agrees on what should be done to put the World Series back on its rightful pedestal, but everybody agrees something should be done to make it weatherproof and to make it, as Herzog said, an extravaganza.

With that in mind, what would election day be without a poll …

*** RIFFS ***

From Dana Point today, colleague Joe Strauss is the first to report that Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter had surgery today to address the nettlesome nerve condition that so must rests upon.

Ken Rosenthal turns down the dial on Prince Fielder rumors while arguing that the Cardinals are content with an outfielder of Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel and Colby Rasmus. Says there as it’s been said here and elsewhere that the Cardinals do have an asset to deal this winter — a center fielder. It’s just not what teams are looking for first and foremost. (Hint hint: Starting pitching.) …

Speaking of Dana Point and the GM meetings, the Padres have had “some nibbles” on shortstop Khalil Greene, but this report out of San Diego does not mention the Cardinals as a, um, nibbler. …

Brett Wallace, the Cardinals first-round pick, had his breakout game in the Arizona Fall League. Third baseman drives in six runs with four hits, including a homer and a double. …

Matt Clement, the Cardinals’ lottery ticket from 2008, is leading his division in CBS Sports’ MLB Fantasy League. His team was, at last check, 5-3, and tied with David Wright’s atop the National League’s division. Toronto closer B.J. Ryan was unbeaten entering play this week. Clement’s team was routed by Travis Hafner’s earlier this season, another notch for the AL’s belt when it comes to whipping the NL. …

Toronto claimed Cardinals’ righthanded reliever Kelvin Jimenez off waivers. …

An excellent exit poll of general managers done by ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick where unnamed GMs answer questions like — Where will CC Sabathia land? Will Jake Peavy be traded? Who would you rather sign for four years, Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett?

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