looking to the future

If you'd asked me at the beginning of the season who I'd like to see make the extended roster in September, my list would have included a lot of the promising AAAers like Mather and Perez and Boggs. Guys with a lot of potential looking for their first opportunity to show the big leaguers what they're made of.

Unfortunately, there aren't many of those guys left. The Cardinals have seen nearly a dozen prospects make their major league debuts this season--including some very clutch performances--and McClellan, Pérez, Mather, Stavinoha, and Phelps are currently on the 25-man roster.

Players who have been up and are on the 40-man roster:

Mitchell Boggs
Jaime García
Mark Worrell
Mike Parisi (thhhhbbbbpppppt.)
Brendan Ryan (MLB debut 2007)
Rico Washington
Kelvin Jimenez (MLB debut 2007)
Randy Flores (MLB debut 2002)

Players who are on the 40-man roster but have not seen ML action:

Jason Motte
Jarrett Hoffpauir
Blake Hawksworth

There are also four spots on the 40-man roster currently occupied by DLers (Duncan, Carp, Barton, and Izzy).

I'd love to see guys like Brian Barden and Cody Haerther get the chance to show off their stuff, but we'll have to wait and see what Tony thinks about that.

Am I a staunch supporter of the September roster expansion? No.
Will I live with it because it's not going anywhere? Sure.
Do I believe it is as evil as the DH? Not necessarily.
Do the pros outweigh the cons? It's entirely possible.
Does anybody really care what I think? Chances are slim.