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The Matt Carpenter second base experiment illustrates the St. Louis Cardinals' desperation, but that's okay

Matt Carpenter is working toward playing second base for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013. Which means they're desperate, but that's okay.

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals are so desperate for a second baseman in 2013—that is, one who can outhit Daniel Descalso—that the Post-Dispatch reports Matt Carpenter, their all-purpose veteran-replacement last year, will be focusing on second base in the offseason. This is the second time in five years that the Cardinals have tried to convert a bench bat into a middle infielder, which suggests that they should probably consider signing and developing actual second basemen in the future.

But while Kolten Wong develops, that it's desperate doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad idea. Descalso's an average glove and a below-average bat; Skip Schumaker's a non-issue; and that's pretty much the end of the list. Wong, meanwhile, hit .287/.348/.405 in AA Springfield, which is probably worse than you remember him hitting.

Carpenter hit .294/.365/.463 in the major leagues last year, for an OPS+ of 125. He probably won't be a good second baseman, but if he can be as bad as Skip Schumaker or Dan Uggla are even an OPS+ of 110 could make him a useful starter.