No Placido to Go

polanco is going back to philly, leaving cabrera as a likely signee in the middle infield. i hope not; he will not be worth the price. my own opinion is that the cards should bring in a couple of old guys ---- larkin and alomar --- to key the infield, along with pokey reese for spot starts and late-inning defensive help. even in their declining years, both of these old pros still get on base more often than cabrera. either one can lead off, filling the cards' main remaining hole, and both will field their positions reliably if unspectacularly. but best of all they will leave the cards with some payroll flexibility when the midseason fire-sale commences.