Young Outfielders

by aet15 on Mar 8, 2007 5:29 PM EST

Was anyone else upset that we retained all of our outfielders from last year?

Watching this spring and seeing players like Rodriguez, Ankiel and Schumaker (especially with the McGwire training he went through)excel, just reiterates the point that we can afford to lose one or two of these veteran role playing outfielders. I mean, I love the smile of PW as much as the rest of you, but I can't help but thinking that the hard working players like J Rod and Skip would be such a better asset to our team if we gave them the chance. And while I realize that J Enc has been relatively steady with his career numbers, the names I mentioned would be cheaper.

I know it's only spring, but we seem to have some real promise in terms of role-playing outfielders, and I'd like to see them given a shot instead of paying veterans who are on their way out.

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Who?

Duncan? he's young. Encarnacion, if he was traded, or moved to Tibet and became a buddhist, would make us all happy. He is under contract. Wilson, ok, I agree a youngun' would be better.
But Jimmy Baseball? He will retire as a Cardinal and a Legend, the way it ought to be.

A walk is a waste of three pitches-Bob Gibson

by orlando card on Mar 8, 2007 11:13 PM EST reply actions

Oh

I agree about Edmonds -- that's why I said "role-playing outfielders." Jimmy is a personal favorite and deserves to be there for sure.

And Duncan is a perfect example of someone who got a shot and proved he deserves to be there. I think with a shot, these guys could do the same.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Mar 9, 2007 1:42 AM EST up reply actions

so...

you want Edmonds and Duncan.

Are you saying we dump Encarnacion for Skip the Skip or "I just realized I should start working out when I'm 30 years old...J Rod" Ankiel hasn't played a full season of baseball in a long time; He just needs AB's and experience.

Encarnacion; He's a VETERAN 80/20/80 outfielder with above average defense. He got off to a terrible start in St. Louis, but then came around and had a good season. He costs about 5-6 Mil per year which is a Steal. Also, he went nuts when Pujols was hurt and really was key in keeping the Cards from free falling.

So, are you advocating that they get bench spots? I'm all for them over So Taguchi; I don't think he's that good, but he did it in the post season when it mattered, and that's what gets you a roster spot.

Same for Spezio.

Cheaper than Preston Wilson, ya, but this is another veteran POWER bat off the bench and for a platoon with Duncan. Skip and Jrod have no where near the strength this guy does. I know he's not the same player, but he's not that far removed from a 141 RBI Season.

Then we've got Bennett and Miles. you've got to have an infielder and catcher on the bench, especially with our injury problems.

So, I'd say; Give Ankiel the everyday AB's he needs and maybe we can call him up if he's bad ass in a few months. I think JRod is a better fit for a bench spot and RF fill-in, especially since he finally got his head in gear this offseason and he has had a decent number of ML Ab's already. Skip could actually get the spot if one of the starters is on the DL. solid defense, but I'm not sold on his bat quite yet, those are early spring training AB's.

All in all, we only really retained Jimmy E, and there's no discussion there. LF is costing us about 2 mil maybe, and RF is costing us about 6 mil. 8 Million is about the rate for each of your corner outfield spots, not the total. I think the right decisions were made, with the exception of re-signing So.

by whatapartier on Mar 9, 2007 9:20 AM EST reply actions

Um

I don't know where you got your Encarnacion numbers, but he's never even reached 20 homers, and has only made it to or past 80 RBI once in his career.

The thing about Speez is he's also on the team for infielding purposes, that's why I didn't bring him up. I feel that he's great value for all of the positions he can play.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Mar 9, 2007 2:55 PM EST up reply actions

okay, sorry

He had 19 Homers 3 times, basically 20.

last year he was 19/79, basically 20/80 especially considering he had a terrible April.

He's a 20/80 of in our lineup.

by whatapartier on Mar 9, 2007 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

And...

I'm not trying to start a fight or be a dick, but he had 24 homers in 2002.

by whatapartier on Mar 9, 2007 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

Schumaker is terrible

J-Rod is a fine hitter, and Ankiel could be, but let's not bring Skip into it. He can't hit.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 9, 2007 2:53 PM EST reply actions

when did

j-rod become a fine hitter. he is ok if he only sees fastball. i agree ankiel could be and skip is ok . skip might make the roster but i dont think he will ever be more than a 4th outfielder.

SWH

by BRINGBACKWILSON on Mar 9, 2007 6:46 PM EST reply actions

Everyone here loves Duncan

but you could say a similar thing about him. If you're getting the job done, who cares if you're a fastball hitter?

by Valatan on Mar 11, 2007 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

it doesn't matter what kind of pitches you hit

he's got a career OPS of .812, which makes him a solid outfielder. Not a great one, not an above-average one, but he won't drag a team down.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 11, 2007 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

my hesitation with Rodriguez

stems from the fact that he has only 332 big-league AB. He's shown that he deserves a chance to play some more -- and certainly I'd be comfortable with him as a fourth or fifth outfielder -- but I'm not convinced as some that he's going to maintain an .800 OPS.

I'm a little puzzled by his low HR numbers. He came up in 05 after an incredible run at AAA -- 17 HR in 120 AB at Memphis -- and promptly hit 3 more HR in his first 11 days with the big club. Since then he's hit a total of 4 homers, including 2 in all of 06. Curiously, his doubles and triples skyrocked, from 6 in 149 AB in 05 to 15 in 183 AB in 06. It's almost as if he lost 10 feet of power somewhere along the way.

by DCGreg on Mar 12, 2007 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions