orleans takes a hit

The Orleans Cardinals are riding high, but they'll have to ride the rest of the way without two key contributors. The Cardinals announced that shorstop Cole Figueroa has signed a professional contract and that pitcher Eric Erickson has left with an injury.

Both are pretty big losses this late in the season. Figueroa, a draft-eligible sophomore from Florida who was a sixth-round pick of the Padres, was hitting .232 but catching fire. In July, he was hitting .333.

It was thought that Figueroa would be a tough sign, since he's only played two years at Florida. But the Padres' offer must have been good enough to lure him away. Keep an eye on the blog It Might Be Dangerous, which is written by Paul DePodesta, a central figure in "Moneyball" who's now in the Padres front office. I imagine he will put something up soon about Figueroa.

As for Erickson, the sophomore lefty from Miami was having a decent summer, with a 3.27 ERA and a 21:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The good news for the Cardinals is that at various points this year, seven pitchers have made starts. Without Erickson, there are still six who can probably make it in the rotation.

At the shortstop position, I imagine Kyle Spraker would step in. He's been used in a utility role and has hit .200.