Restless time for Redbirds DeRosa isn't a savior for team's slumping offense

John Mozeliak didn't sleep well Tuesday night. Mark DeRosa's throbbing left wrist was on the fritz, and the Cardinals' GM feared the worst: his new trade acquisition, gone to the disabled list, and for a very long time. "It was restless. I didn't sleep very sound, for a variety of reasons," Mozeliak said Wednesday afternoon. "And this was one of them." A variety of reasons, indeed. Let us review the concerns that have the GM tossing and turning: There's DeRosa's injury status. DeRosa was here for less than three full games after the big swap with the Indians ... and he's gone the way of Andres Galarraga in 1992? Already broken? Hold on. It's OK. The Cardinals can exhale. DeRosa's condition was diagnosed as a strained tendon. He should be out for a few days. Then again, how many times have we heard that before? There's the month of June, which just expired. The Cardinals received a sizable donation of 14 homers and 35 RBIs from El Hombre Grande, Albert Pujols - and somehow turned this gift into a 12-17 record. How was that even possible? There's the offensive famine (minus Pujols) that continues to starve the Cardinals' record. Through Tuesday, the team had scored three runs or fewer in 39 games. It happened 18 times in June, despite the barrage by Pujols. There's Khalil Greene, who was placed on the disabled list for a probable long-term stay after experiencing more severe affects of social anxiety disorder. Greene, who makes $6.5 million this season, was the piece de resistance of Mozeliak's offseason work. Contribution: .200 batting average, 19 RBIs. And those are just the headline-caliber problems. We could also mention the decline of starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer (who will start tonight), Joe Thurston playing third base, the necessity to press 15 rookies into major-league service at some point this season and the Cardinals' 25-31 record in May-June. And there was Wednesday night's game against the Giants. The Cardinals scored only one run in regulation as the teams carried a 1-1 tie into extra innings before winning 2-1. But as manager Tony La Russa would say, every team has injuries, slumps and stinkin' problems. There's no crying in Baseball. "We've gotten hit. You expect it to be reasonable," La Russa said. "We've probably gotten an unreasonable part. But we just got done playing the Mets, and they had nine guys (injured). So it's tough saying anything. The games still count. So why get into it?" And the picture may be brightening - if only slightly. Third baseman Troy Glaus, who drove in 99 runs last season, is about to resume full Baseball activities after recovering from shoulder surgery. He may begin a minor-league rehab assignment by next week. All-out pessimism has given way to cautious hope. "I spoke to Troy the past few days, and just listening to him, he's encouraged over where he is," Mozeliak said. "Understanding that, it gives me a reason for optimism. Again, not trying to diminish where he's at, but now he gets to take that next hurdle." If DeRosa's injury is no worse than is being described by the Cardinals , they were indeed fortunate to avoid a devastating and untimely loss. To secure DeRosa, they parted with Chris Perez and a (quality) pitching prospect to be named later. DeRosa entered Busch Stadium after hitting 13 homers and driving in 50 RBIs for Cleveland, and if he had been rubbed out of the lineup for six or eight weeks, the Cardinals would be trying to survive another key personnel move that blew up on them. That said, some of the veteran bats on this team must start hitting up to previous levels. And that's with or without DeRosa. When healthy, he should be able to help. But let's be reasonable here: The 2009 Cardinals won't be what they could be or should be unless the outfielders start taking better at-bats and mashing the ball. "I'm not going to be a savior," DeRosa said. "I don't think the team is looking to me for that." And don't be looking for top prospect Brett Wallace, either, despite his current hitting binge at Class AAA Memphis. You want to get La Russa angry? Just mention the idea of bringing Wallace to the majors. "You've got to be kidding," TLR said. "Whoever is saying that is ... you guys who are saying that, are you pulling for him or against him? Whoever is making those comments is pulling against him rather than for him. Just let him play. If anybody cares about this young man being a Cardinal, let him play. Not here." Instead of pining for Wallace, more trades or miracles, we should be demanding more of outfielders Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan and Colby Rasmus. Going into Wednesday night's game with the Giants, Ludwick was batting .182 since April 26. Ankiel was batting .228 with three homers in 114 at-bats since May 24. Duncan was hitting .213 since May 2. And the rookie, Rasmus, was working on an odd streak of 101 consecutive plate appearances without a walk. The offense from the outfield was a team strength last season. So far this season it's been a glaring weakness. You want to fix the Cardinals ? It starts with the outfielders, and their missing firepower. No one else can hit for them. Not Pujols, not DeRosa, not Mozeliak. They have to do what Rasmus did Wednesday: step up and win the game with a long home run.