Aaron Miles needs to stay in the Cards

Aaron Miles impressed with his debut yesterday (4-5, 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R), but his job is still day-to-day

If Spivey clears waivers, he will be sent to Class AAA Memphis, and the Cardinals want him to play his way back to the majors. With Luna now serving as the utility infielder, Miles will get ample time at second. If Spivey returns, Miles probably will shift to the utility role. Unless he’s too productive to move from where he is.”Nothing is etched in stone,” Miles said. “You’re just the starting guy right now. Never do I believe that it is my job totally. … Who knows if I’ll ever be the guy who can have a bad spell and still keep my job. That hasn’t ever been the case in my career.”

The Cardinals should let Miles know that the job is his. In his only year as a starter (2004), Miles hit .293 with 153 hits and 75 runs scored.  That’s about the same as Grudzielanek hit last year (.294, 155 H, 64 R). Granted, Miles was helped by Coors Field that year, but still hit a respectable .277 on the road.
Spivey, on the other hand, has shown declining production every year since his career-best year in 2002. Last year, he appeared in only 77 games for the Brewers and Nationals. He had a respectable OPS thanks to 7 HR and 15 doubles in 259 AB, but the role LaRussa looks to fill seems better suited to the 29 year old Miles than to 31 year old Spivey.