In his role as the vice president of scouting and player development for the St. Louis Cardinals, Jeff Luhnow often wrestles with conflicting viewpoints.

"At times, the glass seems half full because you see the growth and development that is taking place. At other times, the glass is seemingly half empty because needs constantly arise," Luhnow said. "There is a fluidity to it all."

Luhnow has had a first-hand view of that over the weekend, concluding a four-game visit to the Quad-Cities on Sunday when the River Bandits split a Midwest League doubleheader with Kane County, winning the opener 10-2 before dropping an 8-2 decision.

The visit followed a 30-40 first half by Quad-Cities, a record Luhnow labeled "disappointing."

"We expect better, and we are working to be more competitive within this league during the second half," Luhnow said.

He suspects the River Bandits roster will continue to evolve as St. Louis signs players from its 2009 draft class, a group of 50 players that includes 43 with college-level experience.

The movement began last week with the arrival of second baseman Jason Stidham, an eighth-round pick from Florida State.

"I would anticipate that there will be a little more roster mixing as guys sign. I'd think that at least one of our pitchers from the draft, possibly two, and maybe an outfielder might begin at this level," Luhnow said.

"With the starts a couple of players are off to at (short-season) Batavia, I'm sure we'll be looking there as well as in hopes of creating a more competitive situation."

Those additions have created some subtractions as well, but Luhnow believes the experiences several younger players who struggled with the River Bandits gained during their Midwest League tenure can be beneficial from a development standpoint.

He points to shortstop Niko Vasquez as an example. Vasquez was reassigned to Batavia last week after batting .197 and committing 24 errors in 61 games with Quad-Cities in the first half.

Luhnow believes the 20-year-old shortstop, a third-round pick of the Cardinals in 2008, will benefit from his experience with the River Bandits.

"For all players, I think there is a point in time when they discover to some level that the game is harder than they thought," Luhnow said.

"For Niko, the move to Batavia is to get him back to the basics. He'll be back here or be at a level above next year. He'll be better for having spent half of a season here, even though he struggled with errors that may have cost the club a win or two, than if he would have stayed at extended spring training."

That's the development part of the equation, every bit as much as the success that allowed Chris Swauger to earn a promotion to high-A Palm Beach on May 15 and the defensive work that keeps catcher Charlie Cutler in a River Bandits uniform despite his league-leading batting average of .364.

Luhnow receives daily game reports and has regular conversations with the Quad-Cities coaching staff and the organization's roving instructors, but he considers in-person visits to be equally important as he assesses talent within the farm system.

"I get a lot out of the time I spend on the road with our clubs," said Luhnow, who plans to visit Triple-A Memphis and short-season Johnson City this week. "It gives me a feel for what our coaches are talking about and provides me with a more detailed picture of what is taking place. It's valuable time."

QUAD-CITIES 10-2, KANE COUNTY 2-8

FOR OPENERS: A pair of big innings allowed the River Bandits to roll in the opener. Quad-Cities scored all the runs it needed by taking advantage of three Cougars errors in a four-run third. Osvaldo Morales capped the early uprising with a two-run homer, his third home run in four games.

CRUZ CONTROL: Paul Cruz collected two of his three hits in the Bandits' six-run sixth inning of the opener, including a two-run single.

FOUR-HIT EFFORT: Hector Cardenas and Scott McGregor combined on a four-hit effort in the opener for Quad-Cities. Cardenas scattered four hits over five innings - including three by the Cougars' Carlos Arrieche - before McGregor earned his first professional save by retiring all six batters he faced.

QUOTEBOOK: "McGregor was impressive. That was probably the best he has thrown. He just needs to get more consistent in keeping the ball down in the zone.'' - River Bandits manager Steve Dillard

SPLIT DECISION: Mike Spina, an 11th-round pick of the Athletics in the June draft from the University of Cincinnati, belted his first two professional home runs to lead the Cougars to the win in the nightcap. Spina belted two-run homers to left in both the third and fifth innings.

LONG BALL: Jon Edwards accounted for all the River Bandits' runs in the nightcap, clearing the fence in left with a two-run homer in the fourth inning to briefly cut the Kane County lead to 5-2.

QUICK STAT: Despite going 0-for-3 in the nightcap,

Quad-Cities newcomer Jason Stidham is off to a .455 start at the plate through three games.

More dog days: The River Bandits will host two more Tailz 'Er Waggin' Dog Days of Summer this season, on July 12 and Aug. 23.

NEXT: Burlington at

Quad-Cities, Tuesday, 7 p.m., Modern Woodmen Park

Box scores: D4