I'm sick of the negativity about this offseason...

by silent_bob on Jan 4, 2007 11:44 PM EST Comment 9 comments

What is with the continued drubbing of the ownership? Most of us who read/post on this site will probably agree with what I have to write, but I know there are many out there who just can't get enough of ripping the Cards, even after we just won it all.

I know our rotation doesn't look good now, but who here doesn't trust Walt's judgement?

I don't think that all these fans projecting gloom and doom in '07 have a long term memory, however, seeing as we have won the NL pennant 2 of 3 years and have also won a World Series title.

Hopefully with our organization making the commitment to youth, we can continue to develop quality young arms and we can make free agent splashes when they are worth the risk! We did so with Schmidt and it didn't work out. So what? He didn't want to play in StL. Fine by me. Have a nice career. There will be others, next year, and the year after, who will want to play here because it's a great place to play.

This organization has a plan. And a pretty incredible track record, considering our market/payroll, etc.

What team has won the most games over the past 5 years?

TEAM WINS AVG PAYROLL RANK
NYY 582 1
STL 575 10
ATL 571 8
OAK 571 24
BOS 548 2

This organization knows what they are doing. The Cards will be fine.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Hear Hear

Way to go. I could not agree more. Also look what happened when we did try to make a big splash. We got Mulder and gave up a bunch of young arms for him. Now I am not trying to say it was a horrible deal we may still get a few great years out of Mulder but what if? All in all though I am happy with what we have now and am exicited to see what Walt does during the spring and at the deadline.

GO CARDS! WS Champs.

by Tarheel85 on Jan 5, 2007 12:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Im wit you

Can anyone with a straight face come up with someone that we should have signed for the money they got in their contract?

Just about anyone who signed a semi-manageable salary seemed predestined to go somewhere (Wolf, Schmidt-West Coast). In this market, if you stay out of the deep end, you wont get bit in the ass.

by gopher100 on Jan 5, 2007 12:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Here's the thing

This blog is about discussion. We sit around and discuss different things even though they mean nothing and are really a complete waste of our time. But whatever. That's what we choose to do for fun. And with that discussion comes a few criticisms of the ownership, front office, players, etc. Just because we criticize doesn't mean we don't love our team.

I think Jocketty, TLR and Duncan are fantastic. Without all of them, the Cards wouldn't be the organization they are today. But that doesn't make them perfect and beyond criticism. They are human and humans make mistakes (not faulting him, but the Mulder deal as mentioned before was a mistake). So we, as bloggers, call them on these mistakes and make suggestions (for our own fun of course).

Personally, I think a discussion about the Cardinals would be silly if we all just sat around talking about how great Jocketty and the owners are. But the truth is they're not perfect and we're just discussing that imperfection.

So what I'm sick of is the people who refuse to think outside the box on these things and just want to anoint Walter J. and the owners as saints and move on. Because I personally wouldn't find that particular blog interesting.

Sorry to get on my soapbox but I hate the idea that anyone who ever says anything negative is labeled a hater when we're just voicing our opinions.

by themang on Jan 5, 2007 12:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

83-Win Team

If Izzy'd been Izzy, the 2006 Cardinals still look like a 90 win team. They look better going into 2007. Spring Training can't get here soon enough...

by liam on Jan 5, 2007 5:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Debating and discussing...

the moves that the Cardinals make is the whole point of this blog. The fact that the Cardinals have had a nice 5-year run doesn't buy them a single win in 2007.

Look at the Braves. They had a pretty decent track record prior to last year. 14 divisions straight. Committed to building from within - Frenchy, McCann, James, LaRoche, Langerhans, Davies... Who here doesn't trust John Schuerholz? Yeah, they finished 18 games out.

Bob, if a Cardinal fan can't indulge in a little doom and gloom after hearing the phrase "Looper to the rotation," when can he?

Acquire Jon Lieber!

by guayzimi on Jan 5, 2007 9:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

fair and well-reasoned criticisms

of the organization, players, etc., are absolutely welcome here. as noted above, without diff'nces of opinion this would be a pretty boring place.

as those of you who've been reading for a long time remember, i was a big critic last off-season and even during the season. but circumstances change from year to year. this off-season i don't have a major problem with the decisions they've made so far. i don't think they've been unerring, but i think they have the correct set of priorities.

but i also think most of the critics at VEB this off-season have stayed within the bounds of fairness and reason. in my opinion they have made their case well, and with no agenda other than a desire to see the team succeed on the field.

by lboros on Jan 5, 2007 10:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not just referring to

bloggers on this site, as I find most of you here to be educated, and your arguments are well thought out.

I still am sick of all the gloom and doom predictions, as they started in the offseason last year. I don't think this team is in bad shape at all, and I will save my criticism until after spring training due to Walt's track record.

by silent_bob on Jan 5, 2007 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's all in the game.

Some fans will bitch that the club isn't doing enough. It's true in nearly every city - even the ones who outspend everyone.

Jocketty, LaRussa, and the ownership have their faults (Branch Rickey, Bing Devine, and Whitey Herzog all made mistakes too). But at this point, their track record (7 playoff appearances, 2 pennants, 1 World Series in 11 seasons) has earned them some slack. Now that we've won a World Series, we can focus on what's good for the team in the medium to long term.

When all 30 teams are flush with cash (some more than others), and the free agent pool is less than stellar, it's a good idea to lay low and let everyone else screw themselves over.

We've got some young cheap arms with lots of potential upside. We've got one of the best pitchers in the game and THE best hitter in the game. I'm all for taking a wait and see approach and see where our next big hole develops before we start making panic signings. Lets see what Jimmy and Rolen have left. Let's see how Wainwright and Reyes do in their first full seasons as starters. Let's see what happens with Duncan in his first full year (and how much he can improve his outfield 'skills').

We're done playing for the short term now that we've won a World Series. Playing for the short term is what led to the Mulder trade (among others).

Bide your time, and everything becomes clear, and you can act accordingly.

by musial6 on Jan 5, 2007 11:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I love this offseason

Was I the only one hoping that Schmidt and his decling periphs would not be part of this team? Walt spends wisley. I consider him Billy Beane with balls. Letting those dice roll in ST. Remember the only reason Albert got his shot was because Bobby Bonnila got hurt and he played third? I do. I bought the first custom made Pujols jersey durring ST. We all need to relax. Walt has a team on the field that can compete. And that is all we can ask. We are not the Yanks nor do I want us to be. We are the effing Cardinals. Call us Rumplestiltzskin, because we turn straw into gold. Actually this lineup, IF healthy gives me goose bumps.

by onephinepeace on Jan 6, 2007 1:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs