Position player moves this off-season

by jomfa on Aug 23, 2006 10:48 AM EDT

Since this season is providing more frustration than enjoyment, I'm starting to move in to the off-season mode where I enjoy contemplating the moves our team could/should make in order to make the next season more enjoyable. I thought I'd take 20 or 30 minutes and address each position with my view of needs/free agency and promotions from the farm.

C - pretty sure Yadi is going to remain, and should remain, our starting catcher. While he needs to be better offensively, he's still young yet and we shouldn't give up just yet. However, it does mean a solid back up is necessary and Gary Bennett is not it. It would be interesting to see if a Chris Widger or Mike Lieberthal would be viable for a minimum salary.

1B - no acquisition necessary

2B - keeping Belliard would not be my preference and neither would having Miles as the starter. I would prefer some continuity however and so finding a relatively young free agent for this position would be my choice. At age 30, Adam Kennedy could be the "former Angel" which jump starts the team as Edmonds did.

3B - no acquisition necessary

SS - Eckstein is still the starting short stop, but his time on the disabled list indicates a need for a back up infielder which can field with quality in his absence. Miles is not that person.

LF - Would like to see Duncan remain the starter in this position. Until he proves the recent offense he's provided is a fluke, the job should remain his. People may compare him to Bo Hart, but they did the same when Pujols started too. Not that Duncan is Pujols clone, but the kid might have something. Besides, why should we deny that our farm system could generate such a player? Luna did better in the majors than the minors, so can Duncan. Again, a solid bench player for the corner outfield positions is needed in case Duncan crashes back to earth.

CF - the big debate over Edmonds will continue throughout the 2007 season - whether we keep him or not. Personally, I still believe paying $3M for a player to be on another team is wrong. The alternative, an extra $7M to play involves what I believe is still quality centerfield performance, even if it's not vintage Edmonds. As with the other positions, a solid CF backup is needed for the bench.

RF - another year with Encarnacion may frustrate people if he has a start to the 2007 season which mirrors his start to the 2006 season. However, the guy simply had a slow start and is having a better year than we projected before the season started. He's earning his money.

Backup Corner IF - keeping Scott Spiezio would not disappoint me. Getting a Pedro Feliz would be too expensive probably and am not sure Aubrey Huff is worth anything after seeing his lack of production in Houston. If Spiezio would be agreeable to continuing in the role of utility player and with a contact that's reasonable, I will be happy.

Backup Middle IF - I'm actually curious as to whether Alex Cora could be the guy. Not sure if he's interested in being a backup at his age, but it might be worth exploring. His ability at short stop would be better than Miles. I'm afraid however that Miles will end up our backup in the effort to save a few bucks.

Backup Corner OF - keeping Preston Wilson would not be the worst thing to happen. However, a Jose Cruz Jr. or David Dellucci might be good, assuming they're agreeable to competing for playing time - especially behind Duncan if he keeps up his production. I don't see Ankiel coming back and making the team, although if Larry Bigbie could see to being healthy for once, perhaps he could be the best option for keeping money in the pitching staff and not on backup outfielders. J-Rod may also compete for this option.

Backup CF - Gary Matthews Jr. will probably seek another starting role and demand a sizable paycheck, but if he relented and considered the backup position for the Cardinals, he might see a better future. Still probably a bad idea, but grabbing a Darin Erstad wouldn't be bad either if it would fit in the budget and for the player to be a backup. I'm just not satisfied with Skip Schumaker as our backup CF and no other call-up is ready.

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Comments

I don't think

that there's any chance of Gary Mathews taking a backup role, he's going to cash-in this offseason after the career year he's having.

Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together...it's Arrested Development.

by Bowen on Aug 23, 2006 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

I agree with you

as I noted originally how he will seek a starting role with a sizable paycheck, but wanted to mention I believe him to be no better than a backup who COULD become a starter with more experience. He's made good progress, but I don't believe him to be worth what he will be demanding this off season.

by jomfa on Aug 23, 2006 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Only thing is...

Your major change to make to the team's lineup is the 2-bagger position. The current Cards are not scoring enough runs as it is and without the addition of a guy like Soriano or Kent at 2b (not that I would be wild about either because Soriano will cost way to much and Kent's mustache bothers me) we will not score any more runs with Kennedy (which by the way we traded with Kent B. for Edmonds). To just replace Ronnie, I don't see this line-up really doing a whole lot more.

The drastic changes will be in the starting pitching. With Carp and Reyes really the only players with a job next year with the Cards, I would love to see a Jason Schmit pick up along with a two-year contract to Suppan. The Cards can do their usually garbage rummaging for their 5th starter or go with Wainwright if they feel its right (I say they move him to groom for a closer's role, but that's just me).

by riescher on Aug 23, 2006 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Rotation

The starting rotation, in my opinion, is the biggest question mark for next year. I would like to see the Cardinals saddle up and sign a legit. #2 starter (Schmidt, as you point out) or simply stay with their usual "garbage rummaging." Great phrase, by the way.

In general, I'm tired of the Cardinals strategy of trying to find someone who can "turn it around" in St. Louis under Duncan and LaRussa. They may be decent coaches, but they are not miracle workers. Besides, how well did rummaging the garbage work last year? Spivey, Ponson, Rincon and Bigbie come to mind as accurately described trash bin finds. (Not that you can blame injuries on management, but at least sigining solid players gives the Cardinals the ability to say "See . . . we tried.")

No deals this offseason; let's just saddle up and fix our problems instead of trying to plug them.

by Ray Lankford on Aug 23, 2006 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Correction

And by "deals" in the last sentence, I mean getting some people really cheap who have been playing really shitty for the last few years of their pathetic career (finger pointing at Ponson).

by Ray Lankford on Aug 23, 2006 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Offense

I would disagree that a big bat at 2B is what's needed to score more on offense. Yadi is having a bad year offensively and as I mention, needs to improve for next year. A solid offensive option at catcher (for backup) would help in this department. If we hadn't been searching for production like Duncan is providing for most of the season, we also wouldn't have the perception of a lack of offense. Also, we have had plenty of offense in many of the games we've lost - it was the pitching where those games were lost. Honestly, I feel solid production exists at 1B, 3B, LF and RF. Eckstein is having an off-year, 2B isn't helping, Edmonds is having an off-year and the catcher position is causing problems. Since we're going to keep Eck, Yadi and Edmonds makes sense to keep, 2B is your only option for a newcomer at a starting position. Otherwise, it's about having solid reserves - something which is probably the cause for our overall team rank in offense being middle-of-the-pack. Since I'd rather spend more on pitching, going for a big paycheck at 2B is moot.

I need to review more of the starting pitchers who will be available before I do put the same out on the rest of the team.

by jomfa on Aug 23, 2006 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

On Yadi's offense

There was some talk somewhere the other day about BABIP, and players who were overrated because they got lucky. People keep saying that Yadi has been getting unlucky. BABIP might be a good place to look to see if he really has been getting unlucky. I have neither the time (I'm coming back from Africa to the U.S. this week) nor the know-how to put the figures together. Would someone mind doing that for me?

by Arambar on Aug 23, 2006 1:18 PM EDT reply actions