You can now follow me on Twitter at TheRedCorner. I’ll be posting additional baseball musings on a regular basis.  

It’s good to be back. After taking the past month off -- thanks to the generous insidestl.com paternity leave policy -- I’m back in the saddle again. Here are some thoughts about our struggling hometown team and other baseball news:

* Following Tuesday’s 6-3 loss, the Cards officially closed the door on a dreadful June. The club finished 12-17, losing 7 of the final 9 games in the month. Without question, the team's subpar offense is hurting the team's performance for a second straight month. This club hitters aren't getting the job done. In June, the team did average 4.1 runs per game, but this number is skewed by four 10-plus run efforts against Florida, Detroit and Kansas City (twice). The Cards were shut out three times -- all within the past two weeks -- and were limited to three runs or less in 18 games. Talk about feast or famine.

* Last night's loss also dropped the Cards (41-38) two games behind division-leading Milwaukee. After a 17-7 start, the Cards are 24-31 in the past two months.

* Albert Pujols’ two-homer game on Tuesday now puts him in exclusive company. He became only the seventh player in MLB history to hit at least 30 bombs before July 1. Plus, he joins Mark McGwire as the only Cardinals to hit at least 30 homers in the first half; McGwire hit 37 dingers in the first half of 1998.

* Another Pujols fun fact: In five games against the Giants this year, he has four home runs and 5 RBI in just 17 at-bats. He’s hitting a robust .588 against San Francisco.

* Mark DeRosa's early departure from yesterday's game with a wrist injury is certainly disconcerning. Not much was known immediately after the game, but this is certainly something to watch on Wednesday. More on the DeRosa trade below.

* Tuesday’s loss dropped the Cardinals’ home record to a pedestrian 22-20. In June, the club had lost 11 of 16 at Busch Stadium.

* The Cardinals grounded into three double plays on Tuesday, yet another glaring example the team’s pathetic offensive output. Entering the game, the club had hit into the fifth-most double plays (25) among all teams in June.   

* Did you catch Chris Perez’s debut with Cleveland? Yikes!

* Could Scott Rolen be an All-Star? He’s hitting .333 (sixth highest in the game) and playing exceptional defense for Toronto. He gained a bad rep in his final days in town, but how could you not love the way he played the game? Plus, he was a major contributor for four playoff teams, including the 2006 World Series club. And as my dad mentioned recently, wouldn’t it be something if Rolen was playing third base on July 14 with Tony La Russa watching in the N.L. dugout? I’ll be in the stands that night, and I will stand up and applaud Mr. Rolen when he's announced to the crowd.

* After Thursday’s game against San Francisco, the Redbirds embark on a 10-game road trip against N.L. Central teams to close the first half. The Cards will play the three teams that are all in the hunt -- Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Chicago. It’s been a rough June, and unless the team turns around its play by July 12 -- the final day of the first half -- the club could start the second half in a hole. Thankfully, it’s a winnable division.

* Finally, kudos to my brother’s friend Joe, who caught Yadier Molina’s ground-rule double in the eighth inning. Talk about good hand-eye coordination.  

The DeRosa Deal: Will It Work?
Redbird Nation is generally upbeat about the Mark DeRosa deal and naturally, there’s been a lot of chatter around town about his impact on the club. He’s off to a slow start -- going hitless in 9 at-bats -- but it’s still early. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of the trade:

Reasons to like this trade:
1. Let’s give credit to ownership and the front office for making this deal. GM John Mozeliak gave up a talented reliever in Chris Perez and a player-to-be-named from the farm system, and ownership is absorbing the remaining $2.5 million on DeRosa’s contract. This is a risky trade. But after last year’s inactivity at the trade deadline, it was nice to see management step up and improve this club by filling a glaring hole at third base. They definitely landed one of the premier trade chips on the market and didn’t have to wait until the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline to get DeRosa to town.

2. The Cardinals have been touting their farm system and it’s about time that they trade some prospects for immediate help. Even better, the Cards didn’t give up Colby Rasmus or Brett Wallace, the club’s two most sought-after young players. The deal also speaks well for Jason Motte’s long-term future as the team’s closer. In the meantime, Ryan Franklin is more than holding his own in the role. Perez became expendable. 

3. It’s worth noting that DeRosa’s 50 RBI entering Tuesday’s games rank higher than many notable players -- Adrian Gonzalez, Miguel Cabrera, Nick Markakis, Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman, just to name a few. This RBI total also puts him well ahead of many of his new teammates, including Ryan Ludwick (38), Chris Duncan (31) and Rasmus (28).

4. This guy is a beloved teammate. His former teammates in Chicago miss him. He should be a positive force in the St. Louis clubhouse.

5. He slaughters lefthanded pitching, hitting .323 against lefties this season with Cleveland. He’s also a lifetime .304 hitter against southpaws.

6. He’s not a cleanup hitter, but he's an ideal No. 5 or 6 hitter. And he's already batted in the no. 2 hole twice. La Russa will love to plug his name up and down this lineup.

7. His versatility is attractive. He’ll likely play third base most of the time, but he can play second, first and the corner outfield spots.

Reasons to be concerned about this trade:
1. DeRosa is a free agent after the season. He’s off to a very good start already, and a big second half could mean big dollars for this well-respected player. Will the Cards pony up $7 to 9 million per season to keep him here? Should the club invest long term in a player who is already 34 years old?

2. Perez could turn into a very good closer. Plus, who will be the player-to-the-named later? If DeRosa bombs and Perez becomes Trevor Hoffman, this trade will hurt.

3. DeRosa strikes out a lot. He has struck out 63 times this season entering Tuesday night, and he averaged 100 strikeouts in each of the past three seasons. 

4. Some fans think DeRosa is a savior, but in reality, the club really needs Ludwick, Ankiel, Duncan and Co. to step up their offensive production. DeRosa is a perfect complimentary player, and he’ll see better pitches to hit if his teammates pick up their play. If they don’t, DeRosa is not enough of a difference-maker. The club may need to do more. Do the Cards have enough assets that other clubs want to bring in additional help? How much are the Cards willing to give up?

A Promise to My Daughter
As the father of a three-week old daughter, I certainly hope she becomes a baseball fan. I feel there are some essestials that I need to impart on my daughter as she grows up a Cardinals fan. She should know the following:  

* How to keep score
* How the infield fly rule works
* Never, under nearly any circumstance, root for the Cubs
* How to appreciate the greatness of Albert Pujols
* The beauty of Shannonisms 


Thanks for reading.
 
Gabriel Kiley is a freelance sports writer based in St. Louis. Feel free to post your comments below or on my Twitter page.