2004 Scouting Report from Stats Inc.

2003 Season
What at one point seemed like a career year fell apart in more ways than one for Jim Edmonds. Edmonds had launched 28 home runs by the All-Star break. However, a shoulder injury which he apparently suffered in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby contributed to a sharp drop-off in his production in the second half, when he often was unavailable to play.

Hitting
Edmonds has the blue-chip combination of high on-base percentage and slugging percentage attained by only an elite few hitters. And few lefthanded batters have better opposite-field power than Edmonds. However, there always is the sense that he could be even better. He gives away far too many at-bats for a player of his caliber, and he also is as streaky as any top echelon player in the game. Edmonds annually is among league leaders in strikeouts, many of them coming in bunches when he starts chasing high pitches.

Baserunning & Defense
Edmonds is no steal threat, and you can count on him for at least one baserunning gaffe every couple of weeks. However, he remains one of the game's premier outfielders and won his sixth Gold Glove last year. Edmonds has outstanding range and a strong, accurate throwing arm that annually produces double-figure totals in outfield assists. At the same time, he will have lapses in concentration and occasionally seems to time his leaps and dives for dramatic effect.

2004 Outlook
There were whispers last September that Edmonds was among a group of Cardinals veterans who quit on Tony La Russa down the stretch. True or not, tension has become obvious between the hard-driving manager and the laid-back center fielder. Whether that translates into a change of scenery could depend on whether St. Louis can find a market for Edmonds' hefty contract. However, he remains one of the game's premier talents-with several prime seasons still ahead.