THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Besides Albert Pujols, which sluggers would you most like to see perform in the year’s Home Run Derby?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Let’s back up a moment. Actually, I DON’T want to see Albert Pujols in the HR Derby. He’s The Franchise. He has a partially torn elbow ligament. I don’t see how it makes sense whatsoever to put Pujols at risk by having him take multiple sets of maximum-intensity swings, just to give Chris Berman something to scream about on ESPN. Cardinals fans may want to see Pujols in the HR Derby; I’d rather see him play first base for the Cardinals for the remaining games on the schedule. Because if he snaps the elbow ligament, the Cardinals are doomed. Done. Finished. If the public has such an insatiable desire for homers, then give ’em what they want. MLB should turn the Home Run Derby into a showcase for the juicers. Invite Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, A-Rod, Ramirez, Sheffield and let’s have a freak show.

JOE STRAUSS
Aaron Miles, Cesar Izturis, David Eckstein, Brendan Ryan and Ryan Freel. Perhaps then the longest, most sponsor-driven night in American sport would take less time than the Game itself. This year’s selection process suggests that at least one player, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, was named to the NL All-Star team to ensure his participation in the Derby. Sounds like the tail wagging the dog to me.

JEFF GORDON
Start with the hometown kid, Ryan Howard. He would want to put on a big show, right? A pure hitter like Justin Morneau is fun to watch in an event like this, too. Josh Hamilton is a freak show. If he is healthy enough to answer the bell, that would be great fun. Evan Longoria and Adrian Gonzalez are on my fantasy baseball team, so I would rather they skip the event and save themselves for second-half statistical glory.

DERRICK GOOLD
Chiefly, Ryan Howard. It is, after all, the biggest reason he’s coming here as an All-Star — because he can flat crank with light-tower power. Howard was a manager’s pick for the National League team, a favor pick, if you will. There are more deserving bats in the NL (read: Pablo Sandoval) but there aren’t any more fitting bats for an All-Star Game than the slugger back home to hit homers in St. Louis. A duel between him and Pujols would be the Must-See TV that ESPN is certainly salivating over. You could argue that the derby should be exclusively first basemen, but others who should be in the derby, taking aim at “BIG MAC LAND” are: Ryan Braun (one of the best righthanded hitters in the league), Evan Longoria (young star on the rise), Mark Teixeira (see how he does outside of new Yankee Stadium) and … Ichiro Suzuki. Word is he can put on a show during batting practice with his pop. Time to flash that 5 o’clock power under the lights of the 7 o’clock derby.

DAN O’NEILL
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, Ted Williams, Joe Adcock, Frank Howard, Ralph Kiner, Ernie Banks, Dick Stuart, Dick Allen, Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell, Jimmie Foxx, Reggie Jackson, Rocky Colavito, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Stan Musial and Johnny Mize.

Because with today’s bats and today’s balls, they would put on one heckuva show. And best of all, none of it would be chemically enhanced.

THE WATERCOOLER
(Post-Dispatch columnists and beat writers share their thoughts on a question of the day.)

Question: What are your expectations for Khalil Greene at shortstop for the Cardinals next season?

JOE STRAUSS
Greene is a lesser defensive player than Cesar Izturis who will probably benefit from exiting what had become a toxic situation in San Diego. Significant questions persist over his offensive approach, unwieldy strikeout totals and low on-base percentage. The Cardinals now project four 100-strikeout bats (Greene, Ankiel, Glaus, Ludwick). It’s a Band-Aid that leaves the Cardinals seeking their fifth shortstop in seven seasons for 2010. Greene is regarded as an introspective, spiritual person … a good guy. But there are many who now wonder if overanalysis contributed to last season’s dramatic offensive tumble. For now, it may be best to describe the move as “neutral” with decent upside.

RICK HUMMEL
I’m a big Khalil Greene fan, despite his awful season last year. If he hadn’t been so bad, the Cardinals might not have been able to get him so cheaply, seemingly. He should hit 20 home runs and drive in 75 and make the plays that need to be made. He will strike out, but so does everybody but Pujols, Molina and Schumaker.

DERRICK GOOLD
Greene fits the change-of-scenery label — a talent who after a power surge and 97 RBIs in 2007 was thought to be a charter member of the National League’s group of wunderkind shortstops, only to collapse into a disastrous 2008. He needs a fresh start. He has a one-year engagement with the Cardinals to do so. Getting out of Petco Park and away from the rapidly bailing San Diego franchise should engage and revive Greene’s interest and ability. He’s a career .270 hitter and a .484 slugger outside of Petco Park, and at his best he’s an athletic defensive player with reliable gap power. The Cardinals will get that Greene, not the 27-homer breakout of 2007, with the good glove, 30-plus doubles and an on-base percentage that makes it difficult to bat him near the top of the order.

BRYAN BURWELL
If Greene returns to his 2007 form, this is a good deal. His glove will be reliable, but the Cards have to get the 27-homer production for this to be considered a success.

****

MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

CARDS GET SHORTSTOP, BUT AT WHAT COST: Obviously the big news of the day is the Cardinals trade for Padres shortstop Khalil Greene. The move comes on the heels of the Cards signing lefty reliever Trever Miller to a one-year deal Wednesday. That means the Cards have addressed two of the areas they deemed most important before even arriving at the Winter Meetings this weekend. Next up: a second baseman, an impact bat and perhaps a starting pitcher (pending news on Chris Carpenter, of course.)

What’s not yet known is what the Cardinals are giving up for Greene, though Joe Strauss has reported the move will cost the Cardinals organization two pitchers, neither of whom was on the major-league roster at the end of last season.

Bernie Miklasz says that manager Tony La Russa might want to consider Greene in the No. 6 hole. That’s been Greene’s best lineup spot during his career. In 636 ABs as a No. 6 hitter Greene has 31 homers, 110 RBIs and a .489 SLG.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Greene’s frustration over a season-long hitting slump last year boiled over July 30, when Greene punched a storage chest in a clubhouse tunnel at Petco Park, fracturing his left hand (insert Julian Tavarez joke here). Greene missed the final two months of 2008 because of the injury. You can read about that and what Padres fans are saying about the deal on the Union-Tribune link above.

SPEAKING OF SHORTSTOPS: The San Francisco Giants are expected to announce today that they’ve signed former Cardinal Edgar Renteria, who some locals had hoped would return to the Redbirds. Renteria will replace 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel. It is reported that Renteria will receive an $18.5 million, two-year contract. That’s a lot of cake for a 33-year-old shortstop who’s range has diminished and who just finished a season batting .270 with 10 homers and 55 RBIs. I guess the economy doesn’t suck for everybody.

****

A FEW THINGS TO PONDER

A RULEBOOK REFRESHER: Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was ridiculed mercilessly a few weeks back for not knowing that an overtime game can end in a tie in the NFL. But is he the only player in the league who would be baffled by some of the game’s rules? ESPN.com’s Rick Reilly put a number of players to the test. I found the results hilarious. Check it out.

PACKERS, OK. BUT THE SPURS? According to a consumer survey released this week, the Green Bay Packers have the strongest brand in its local market of any North American team in the major sports leagues. “What this is saying is the following the Packers have is more intensely loyal to supporting the Packers than any other team,” Len Perna, president of New Jersey-based Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, told the Associated Press. “What this basically says is that all other things being equal, a sponsor gets more value in sponsoring the Packers than any other team.”

The Packers ranked first among 122 team brands in the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball. That’s got to be a tough pill to swallow for the Best Fans in Baseball. But fear not, Cardinal Nation. According to the survey, Cards fan at least showed up in the top ten, barely. Biggest surprise omissions here for me were the Cowboys and the Cubs. Oh well, in the words of Richard Dawson: And the survey says …

1. Green Bay Packers
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. New England Patriots
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. San Antonio Spurs
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
9. Boston Celtics
10. St. Louis Cardinals

****

STATS OF THE DAY

38 … 623 … 6 — Those are the receptions, yards and touchdowns for Isaac Bruce this season.

45 … 526 … 2 — Those are the receptions, yards and touchdowns for Torry Holt this season.

Did the Rams cut ties with the wrong receiver? You make the call.