mean sailor

by lboros on Jan 5, 2008 9:03 AM EST in News Comment 83 comments

here's my Hardball Times Season Preview player comment about aaron miles, which i submitted five or six days ago:

Hits quite a number of singles but doesn't walk, hit for power, or play defense. Another career ruined by sabermetrics.

and rescued, apparently, by tony la russa. i'm reasonably certain that miles was re-signed because tony demanded it --- because he thinks miles will help the cardinals "compete" in 2008. i e-mailed the following question to an informed source: "if the front office doesn't want the guy (and i assume that nobody wants him but la russa), why does the manager get to make the call?" the response came back: "he ain't just any manager."

in spite of what many people think, mozeliak is not an ignoramus. he gets concepts such as on-base percentage and zone rating. and unlike walt, he's actually listening to the sabermetricians in the front office; those guys are not ignoramuses either. but they're still not empowered, despite the big shakeup. la russa's got the owner in his corner; for all we know (warning: unfounded speculation to follow), dewitt --- who desperately wanted la russa back for another year or two --- agreed to give tony a bigger say-so on personnel decisions, as an inducement to get la russa to re-up.

it's not as if brendan ryan is such a great prospect; at best he might be a so-so regular for a few years. but that's still more upside than aaron miles has. i'd been led to believe that the cardinals had shifted their philosophy and were now committed to creating opportunities for unproven players with potential, even modest potential such as ryan's. i thought they were through with zero-risk, zero-reward players like aaron miles; i thought they were going to take chances on players who might deepen the organization's talent base. but as long as tony's in place, that evolution is going to happen haltingly at best.

some of you have been saying as much for weeks; i've suspended judgment, waiting to see how things play out. there have been some mildly encouraging signs, but the miles re-signing is very, very discouraging.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

one overlooked aspect of aaron miles' tremendous versatility is this: his name is powerfully anagrammatic. scramble up the letters and you can get all manner of provocative phrases, such as

ONE ARM AILS
ME, I ALSO RAN
ALAS, I'M NERO
MEAN SAILOR
MINOR SALE
AOL MARINES
MAIL SO NEAR

there are geographic combinations:

A MILAN ROSE
RISEN ALAMO
SAME OL' IRAN
RE: SOMALIAN
ROMAN AISLE

and zoological ones:

LOSIN' A MARE
O SALINE RAM
ARE SALMON I?

and enigmatic statements about other st louis ballplayers:

MOLINA'S EAR
MARIS ALONE
ROLEN'S A M.I.A.

and here are my two favorites --- the sound that miles' re-signing produced among cardinal fans

SERIAL MOAN

and the spectre it seems to summon up for the cards' near-term future:

LOSER MANIA!!!!

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That guy's

got a 5:5 vowel-to-consonant ratio! Sign him up!

by jfs on Jan 5, 2008 9:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I believe I see...

alias rolen in there, but I don't believe it to be true.

the anagrams are by far the best thing about this signing...and I'm not being harsh!

by cardzfanbub on Jan 5, 2008 9:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

nope...

used the L twice, and no M. Obviously I'm not as good at this as thou art.

by cardzfanbub on Jan 5, 2008 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LaRussa isn't an ignoramus either

I don't get this signing and, for all of his faults, TLR isn't an idiot at player evaluation, so I'd love to know what his thinking is here. Aside from the obvious statistical issues, Miles might be the least toolsy ballplayer in the Cardinals organization right now, so it's not that. You can attack the various attackers for overstating the significance of this transaction, but it's remarkably hard to find a direct defense of retaining Aaron Miles.

by Rob H on Jan 5, 2008 9:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe...

...it's due to Miles' toughness. He did bite the flesh out of a man's back to escape a robbery... did he not?

by AndyB83 on Jan 5, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

I've respected Miles as a man ever since I read that story. Anyone got a link? I think it was in ESPN the magazine a few years ago.

It doesn't do much to change my opinions of him as a ballplayer, but it's one of those put-things-in-perspeective-because-there's-more-to-life-than-baseball stories.

I can't think of a good offseason signature.

by effin fisk on Jan 5, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Any chance this is ...?

A precursor to another move? Maybe Spiezio? That's the only way I can wrap my brain around this move.

by cardsfanfarfromhome on Jan 5, 2008 10:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope so

What is Spiezer earning this year? Is Miles a cheap backup? After all we have enough OFers this year that Speizer won't see time there and it them limited to 1st and 3rd. Miles can play 3 position and Dunc can play first if AP gets hurt. If they do move to free up more money for later then I am okay with this.

I do wish MO was running things instead of TRL.

http://welcometojohnsonville.blogspot.com

by arthropodtodd on Jan 5, 2008 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Miles...

Well, this seems to be a common misconception.

In fact, he can't play 3 positions anymore than I can play 3 positions.

He can barely play one.

"You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish." Billy Beane

by bobbyballgame1 on Jan 5, 2008 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Miles "plays" 3 positions

Miles plays 3 (2b, ss, 3b) positions in the sense that he is willing to put on a glove and stand in the appropriate area with a good attitude. Heck, when asked he will hustle in LF or even pitch.

I'm sure if asked of his virtues, Larussa would comment on making contact, good at bats, a good attitude, playing the game the right way, hitting behind the runner, (being alive during the Carter Presidency) or some such. Many of which probably have somewhat more value than we give them credit for, and probably significantly less value than old timers give them.

Miles is not a bad player--he is fine in a limited role. The problems are he is likely to be asked to do more than he can do well, and the Cardinals are not at a point where they should be putting time and money into such a known commodity with such limited upside.

by tarakas on Jan 5, 2008 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

captured it well

did karatas, when he said:
"...more value than we give them credit for, and probably significantly less value than old timers give them."

As one of those 'old-timers' I appreciate the concession {albeit tepid} that attitude and playing the game right DO have some value. But I also concede the power of statistical analysis (even tho I am too stubborn to fool with it).

What dismays me, tho', is that MY assent to the return of Aaron Miles has been ruined by the venom I have had to read (and will have to read) on here.
In short, I don't know how to feel. The hover over my spirit being that every time Miles DOES do something good, like slap a key hit or make a good catch and throw, I'll hear the majority saying, "yeah, but"... and when he screws up... oh my lord the "SEE!!!" will be resounding.
I think I HAVE decided how I feel, after all. I'm sorry he is back, for his sake and mine.

by the Tewk on Jan 5, 2008 8:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Go Ahead and Like Him!

I don't dislike Miles. He is a fun player. I just wish he did more to help a team to win.

Along the same lines, I loved to watch Eckstein play, and he was great to root for. On the other hand, I wished the Cardinals had a better shortstop.

I think you can look at a player through an analytic lense, but you can also put on your "fan" hat and just enjoy players for who they are.

So I think you can root for and enjoy Miles the player, and appreciate his successes, while also thinking the Cardinals could have used the roster spot in a better way.

by tarakas on Jan 6, 2008 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Speez' salary

was $2.1M in 2007. Haven't seen 2008 figures but they'll be similar. Thing is, though: are Miles are Spiezio comparable from a skills perspective? Laying aside differences in offense, can Miles play as many positions serviceably as Speez? Note that I did not say "well"... OTOH, it's been years since Spiezio played second base regularly (although he did in his youth) and according to baseball-reference.com, he's never played short. All told, I don't see Miles and Spiezio as scratching the same TLR itch.

I stick to my earlier position: I don't see this signing as a big deal -- in and of itself. It does run up a warning flag that TLR may not be with the program, and that requires watching. But it's still "early" in the off season, and will continue to be "early" until spring training starts and the sorting-out process gets under way in earnest.

by StanTheManFan on Jan 5, 2008 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good frank, no nonsense post, Iboros

maybe La Russa just could not recover from the loss of both Miles and Taguchi and had to have at least one of his "little fellers" back.
Also see the the Royals have signed Hidio Nomo. Now that is a name I haven't heard in a while. There was a time when I wanted the Cards to give him a try; was surprised to find that he is only 39 years old.

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 10:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Where did you find the software?

to whip out those provocative phrases; wouldn't mind having that little program

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 10:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Secretly...

...I'm hoping that there is no software and that he took the time to do it manually. Either way, we needed something to help us laugh off this signing.

by AndyB83 on Jan 5, 2008 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lame As Iron

http://wordsmith.org/anagram/

by azruavatar on Jan 5, 2008 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but i didn't cheat

made 'em up myself . . . .

by lboros on Jan 5, 2008 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

get out

are you serious?!?!? Do you have some kind of super anagram brain or something? Are you an amazingly talented dyslexic? That's a pretty impressive skill. I'm not sure how applicable it is to tasks but still, kudos.

by azruavatar on Jan 5, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

great anagrams. I knew this was the literate Cards' site. I've actually been higher on Miles than most folks and even I think this is an astonishingly depressing move. Ryan may not be the player he seemed to be in his brief trial last year but, with the kind of competition he has in the Cardinal infield, you've absolutley got to find out. I don't get to see many games but in the ones I did I was very impressed by his quickness, reflexes and range. Miles has that key ingredient, 30 years worth of animate existence, that Tony can't resist. I've mellowed in my opinion of Tony over the years. He has become a better manager and he, after all, has presided over more Cardinal wins than any other. But some of these recurrent, unjustified biases just get depressing. Mo is in a terrible situation, one that probably some of the other GM candidates anticipated. He does not have the current players to field a good team now and he apparently does not have the okay to do what's necessary to build for the future. I'll get over it. Like I said I don't really think Miles is a terrible ball player. It's just that this is exactly the wrong kind of move for a team in this position to make.

by easy on Jan 5, 2008 10:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

"30 years worth of

animate existence" Damn that's good. I'm going to have steal that line...

by nmstar on Jan 5, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Molina's Ear?

I believe the Apocalypse is now upon us.

by Hungry Jack on Jan 5, 2008 11:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Second.

From this day forth, Miles will be known as Molina's Ear.

by Beware the Molinas on Jan 5, 2008 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Or Loser Mania!

Yeh, my favorite AG used to be Mr. Mojo Risin' / Jim Morrison, now I can think of Miles as Molina's Ear...or Loser Mania, it's a toss-up.

Some guys just dont look good in red.

by cardschinmusic on Jan 6, 2008 6:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rise of the Redbirds, Memphis that is...

Signing Miles is the last piece to complete the strategy that had not been made obvious. It has been nearly a decade since the AAA club had a better record than the big boys. Before the resurrection by call ups of the prospects, the good year at AA must be moved up a notch, and reconfirmed to the benefit of the PCL backmarkers.

By bringing in a cheap SS, a rule V OF, another rehabing pitcher, and now the king-pin of the strategy by re-upping Miles; they can keep the boys on the the farm for another hot showing of the spring chickens. (While simultaneously continuing the slide of our AAAA club in STL, so the Redbirds have a shot at the best record in the organization in 08).

The turnstiles will be hot in Memphis. Go Redbirds. Maybe we can put together some veb car pools!

by Birds on the Bat on Jan 5, 2008 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

hate this signing

It does nothing but solidify mediocrity.

by clcardsfan on Jan 5, 2008 11:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

"solidify mediocrity" I like that.

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is not necessarily a bad thing

to "solidify mediocrity" at a few positions or roster slots, if it means the team can solidify superstars at the others. A studs-and-scrubs approach to roster building can work; it worked for the Cardinals as recently as 2004, when the team had five or six mega-stars (Renteria didn't really qualify as a "mega-star" that year but was at least above average) surrounded by a collection of basically league-average talent, a few of whom (King, Kline, Tavarez) picked 2004 to have career years. The result was plenty good even though there were Miles-like players on the roster; remember that the mediocre Roger Cedeno and the execrable Marlon Anderson each got over 200 plate appearances. You can tolerate having those guys -- or Miles -- around as long as you've got Pujols, Edmonds, etc. getting most of the playing time.

Me, I'm more worried about where the required superstars are coming from. If this signing blocked a Pujols, or a Rasmus or even a Renteria, I'd be enraged at it. But there is no foreseeable future in which Ryan or Hoffpauir wind up with even Renteria-like numbers in 2008. They're just not exceptional middle infielders. So where are the next superstars going to be found? That should be the topic of maximum attention, not hand-wringing over which league-average-or-below guys to run out there.

by StanTheManFan on Jan 5, 2008 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Studs and Scrubs...

I'm all for that.

However, it only works when you have a nice pool of CHEAP talent.

The only way the Studs and Scrubs approach will work, on our budget, is by not tying up an extra million here and an extra 2M there when you don't have to.

Ryan can, at the very least, be just as productive as Miles at 1M less.

Look at it this way, you lose a few of these also rans making 1-3M and replace them with cheap talent....that gives you extra money to spend when the superstars become available.

Let's say, there were no Miles, Springer, Kennedy and Izturis on this roster and their production could be approached by guys making the league minimum or close to it....which isn't a stretch.

That's 10M extra dollars keeping the same budget, or the difference between an 8M free agent an a 18M free agent. That difference is much bigger than the neglible difference between the quartet and whoever listed above.

Here is where the problem lies. Too much money tied up in the fringes of your roster prohibits you from being a player when a true impact player becomes available.

"You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish." Billy Beane

by bobbyballgame1 on Jan 5, 2008 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If a "true impact player"was available

I'd agree with you. Fact is, none are, or at least, there's not one that can be obtained for nothing more than money. The free-agent pool stank something awful this year, as we all know. So instead Mo must look for a "true impact player" via the farm system -- and while Rasmus is there, I don't see anyone else who qualifies -- or via trades.

One thing about acquiring Miles (geez ... am I actually starting to defend this move?) is that it provides a slight gain in flexibility in making trades that do get somebody valuable. If a deal was brewing out there that involved trading Ryan, no big advantage to this move; there were already enough Ryan-level alternatives. Ditto for Hoffpauir. But if somebody with a depleted farm system wanted Ryan AND Hoffpauir in a trade, the option now is realistic, whereas it was marginally possible before because there's nothing else major-league-ready at short or second in the minors.

Is this sufficient justification for signing Miles? I don't really think so. But I'd be keeping my eyes open for a useful trade that we don't see yet and that may have become a little easier to make because of thismove.

by StanTheManFan on Jan 5, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

humm

I hear what you are saying but I don't see one single middle infield guy who would bring any talent in a trade. Well maybe some AL team might have hope that Kennedy can put up some decent numbers in the AL and be willing to trade. I still don't see Adam Kenndy bring much talent. I guess he could be packaged with some others such as Reyes, Thompson, or some OF guy.

The Cardinals just have such average talent in the middle infield they are really stuck. Hoffpauir, Ryan, Kennedy, Miles, Izturis, Jimenez... all those guys smell of average at best. Not much upside and sorry to all of you who think Brendan Ryan is young, look at his birth date he and Izturis are basically the same age.

by ICbirdfan on Jan 5, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't see anybody

wanting Kennedy at all with his contract. If fact I wonder if and how many deals might have been scratched this off season by some other club because the Cards wanted Kennedy included. The resigning of Miles might mean they have a Taker.

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm talking...

overall theory to build a ball club. Not actually this year, but how you construct a roster as a rule.

There are some pretty interesting names on the free agent list for '09, not all will make it but some will.

I'd hate to not be able to put out a competitive offer because we are tied up with the Miles, Izturis and Springers of the world.

"You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish." Billy Beane

by bobbyballgame1 on Jan 5, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Studs

The cardinals have zero studs at the MI spot in the entire organization. The Cardinals as an organization may have the worst MI talent at all levels. There is not one player who pops out as being great defensively or great offensively. Heck even the #1 Pick Kozma is supposed to be more of a average player.

So the Cards have zero studs at MI. It is kind of pathetic how it is important to be strong up the middle defensively and talent wise and STL fails at SS & 2B.

by ICbirdfan on Jan 5, 2008 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind signing Miles...

I would mind if he got 400 ABs again this coming season. As an "extra" guy off the bench, he's okay; playing almost every day, not so much.

Maybe this signing is because Kennedy's still not healthy? I dunno... but I suspect the Cards' moves aren't over, and probably won't be until the trading deadline (or later!)

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Jan 5, 2008 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping this move means

Mo has some sort of deal involving Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson and Adam Kennedy in the works.

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 5, 2008 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kennedy's not going anywhere

Ed Wade already signed Kaz Matsui!

by chuckb on Jan 5, 2008 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Loser Mania!

What could we get for Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson and Adam Kennedy? San Diego would give up Ensberg, maybe...then proceed to immediately release Thompson and Kennedy.

by Beware the Molinas on Jan 5, 2008 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Spring Training is right around the corner

we will need all the bucket of balls we can get.

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 5, 2008 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most ML teams

don't carry backup 2B. Seriously, it's not a meaningful role. He can't play SS, and he can't hit. He's only a MLB player at this point because of TLR.

by plh903 on Jan 5, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

can't hit ?

define "hit."
Miles .290 last year; .283 for his career
Kennedy last year, .219; career .275

Strikeouts... Miles .097/.102; Kennedy .118/.152

by the Tewk on Jan 5, 2008 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And this...

Is why La Russa should have been given the gold watch and sent on his is way this offseason. If he was willing to use his index cards with the team that the GM gave him I could tolerate that, but instead we have to make all these concessions to keep Tony happy. He has to have his scrappy McVeteran replacement-level bench players, he has to have his defense-only catcher, he has to have his "proven" closer, he has to have his 237 man bullpen. If he occasionally makes non-optimal strategy decisions that cost the team 1-2 games a year then whatever, most managers do that. But at this point he is hurting the long-term development of the team.

by mikedallas23 on Jan 5, 2008 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

BTW, you missed one

relevant to the discussion here:

"An' some rail."

by StanTheManFan on Jan 5, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

A lame sin, no

is maybe the best anagram b/c this is a genuine sin. Perhaps Tony's presence here did dissuade Antonetti from taking the job. This is a very disappointing sign for several reasons but it virtually guarantees about 500 pa's for Izturis from the SS position. Ryan returns to AAA to battle for playing time w/ Jimenez, Hoffpauir, and Martinez.

So not only will Ryan, Hoffpauir, and Martinez not get any PA's in St. Louis to find out what they can do but they'll get fewer PA's and less time in the field in Memphis to see what they can do.

This, right here, is the reason Tony shouldn't have been re-signed. He's been a great manager for the time he's been here but he was not the best choice for this organization at this time.

by chuckb on Jan 5, 2008 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

couldn't be said better HC

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone stopped to think

that maybe Mo has ZERO confidence in Hoffpauir, Martinez, Ryan or Jimenez at being competent MLB players?

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 5, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

mo drafted hoffpauir

and had a hand in drafting ryan. he's been a champion of both --- was a prime reason ryan started last year at triple A, despite having only about 150 at-bats at double A.

mozeliak likes both players. this was a case of tony shoving miles down mozeliak's throat.

by lboros on Jan 5, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

"This is a very disappointing sign for several reasons but it virtually guarantees about 500 pa's for Izturis from the SS position."

Or, it guarantees Miles gets 400-500 pa's because of the opposite platoon splits of Kennedy and Izturis. Either way, it's a bad bad thing.

"You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish." Billy Beane

by bobbyballgame1 on Jan 5, 2008 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Miles quote

Miles is not dumb at least, he probably knows he couldn't play anywhere else-

"I think what I've done here is the player I am," Miles said. "I'm not a guy who is going to put up the eye-popping numbers, but they can feel comfortable having me in the lineup. They know how I compete. ... I do like the role I have here -- that if I'm not the guy who is starting, I know I'm going to play."

Miles is TLR's security blanket?!

by Beware the Molinas on Jan 5, 2008 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously...

How long did those take?

That's why this site is so great...Larry serves up a newspaper column worth of good analysis picking apart the facets of a move...and then follows it up with a bunch of random anagrams.

I love the interweb.

by whopperman on Jan 5, 2008 12:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Uno mas...

MO SANE?! LIAR!

by RedbirdRay on Jan 5, 2008 12:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

brilliant

I can't think of a good offseason signature.

by effin fisk on Jan 5, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this has got to be a slow winter

Lbros has resorted to anograms(sp) to entertain us...sadly it worked...my fave alas im nero

I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punchinjudy hitter-major league 2

by punchinjudy on Jan 5, 2008 12:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, in Tony's Court

Miles is A SEMI-EARL, NO?

Though to us, perhaps just AN OIL SMEAR.

Down on the farm they snicker and the manager says, NO SMILE, AAr!

But in the SS LaRussa everyone has to row together, so they say: OAR 'N SMILE!

by Red in Chicago on Jan 5, 2008 12:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps we can

have A MINOR SALE later in the season....

by ncgostl on Jan 5, 2008 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

bull

shit if they want tony to run the damm team they should have made him the gm too.. they should have retired his old ass and started from scratch.....youth movement this team is going to suck so why not play the young guys..

by cm1000 on Jan 5, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

Best post EVER. I'm rolling...

by udcardinals on Jan 5, 2008 12:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I find it interesting that more people are up in

arms about Aaron Miles getting $1.4 M to be a backup player (who probably will get more ABs than a backup should) but seem somewhat content that we threw TWICE AS MUCH MONEY at THE WORST HITTER OF THE LAST 5 SEASONS in CEZAR IZTURIS!

Perspective people.

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 5, 2008 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hiz Turdis could at least teach Ryan glovework

At the time I thought it a cheaper way to have a good defensive player to backup Ryan, because another year of Eck could not work like that. But adding Miles again just proves what it means to have depth in the clubhouse.

Go Redbirds!

by Birds on the Bat on Jan 5, 2008 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Izturis hasn't been a good defensive player

in 3 years.

I'd have rather paid Barry Larkin $3 M to follow the team around and teach Brendan Ryan how to field groundballs. Atleast Larkin wouldn't be wasting a roster slot.

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 5, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

izturis is a real shortstop

with a gold glove at the position. miles has played 80 games at SS above A ball.

by lboros on Jan 6, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2006-2007

Izturis: 113 G at SS
Miles: 79 G at SS

Izturis makes twice as much as Aaron Miles for being a terrible hitter and having won a Gold Glove 4 years ago.

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 6, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's the combination that's really damning

if it was one or the other, whatever, but both of them -- ugh.

by azruavatar on Jan 5, 2008 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hardcore,

sometimes you can really nail it, you know it.

by ridgesee on Jan 5, 2008 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Past 2 seasons

I was just reading Bernie's Bits and saw this tid-bit:

".372 onbase percentage vs. lefthanded pitchers the past two seasons."

by Big Red on Jan 5, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

Vs RHP .292/.311/.353 .663OPS 9BB/312PA
Vs LHP .286/.368/.336 .704OPS 16BB/137PA

So he takes walks against lefties.

by StLHugo on Jan 5, 2008 5:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you recall...

there was just as much outrage when Izturis was signed.

It's been awhile, and they say that time heals all wounds.

I'm equally upset with both players being on this team.

Worse thing about it....one or the other will be on the field everyday. Think about that!

"You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish." Billy Beane

by bobbyballgame1 on Jan 5, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Really reaching here

I am so disappointed in this signing, especially the opportunity cost of taking away AB's from young up-and-comers for no apparent benefit. I want to give Mo the benefit of a doubt - not having heard anything about Spezio in a while, I wonder if they are worried that Spezio isn't fully recovered and ready to contribute in a meaningful way this year. Without Spezio on the bench, Miles in a TRUE utility role (not 400 AB's!) might make some sense. He and Ryan backup 3b-SS-2b and Duncan is the 1B backup.

Just trying to make sense of something that doesn't add up.....

by wildman on Jan 5, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Inseam Oral!

Oral As Me In...the number 2 hole.

I will be boxer briefs

by Hardcore Legend on Jan 5, 2008 3:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i like

a manly so

they are both the same players we had hoped to get rid of, only miles is back so that must somehow make him more manly.

I hate... so much about the things that you choose to be.

by erik on Jan 5, 2008 3:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hey this is fun

cesar izturis

Crazier Its Us

I hate... so much about the things that you choose to be.

by erik on Jan 5, 2008 3:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pleasure Job Jolts

is still my favorite player.

Fame was like a drug, but what was even more like a drug were the drugs

by Alxfritz on Jan 5, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At least we'll be able to watch

BARE JOLT PLUS

by tinstl on Jan 5, 2008 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Indeed, JUST LABEL PRO

by ncgostl on Jan 5, 2008 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tony Larussa

A few for Tony:
Sour Analyst
Salary Not Us
Snarls Ya Out
Royals Tan Us
Royals Aunts
A Royals Nuts
Our Sly Satan
Any Star Soul
Any Rats Soul
Lunar Ass Toy
Or Say Sultan
Ultra Says No
Natural Soys
Our Analysts
Satan Sourly
Outran Salsa
Anal Soy Ruts
Loan Stray Us

by dralexp on Jan 5, 2008 4:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At least we aren't

LOSIN' A REAM.

by ncgostl on Jan 5, 2008 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mozeliak

I agree w/ Larry in the sense that Mo doesn't seem to be an ignoramous...In fact I think he's made some fairly shrewd moves this offseason, all things considered...Except for this one...Well and Julius Cezar Izturis.

Are there any Scrubs fans out there? B/c in some ways Mo is starting to remind me of Ted Buckland. He exists simply to do the bidding of his boss...in this case DeWitt and TLR are playing the Dr. Bob Kelso role jointly. No word yet on if they are systematically attempting to crush his soul, but who knows. I guess cutting the string on Miles and then being told to reaquire him (b/c god knows there are NO other available "utility" type players out there) has to be a little bit soul-crushing.

Another thing that I don't get is TLR's insistence on making personnel decisions. I agree with it to a point, but at some point you have to let others do their jobs. I wonder if he's just turning into a severe control freak in his grandfather years. I think he's a good manager in terms of how-to-win-this-game type stuff, but I think he's too close to the everyday grind of baseball to see the big picture.

by redbirdnation8206 on Jan 5, 2008 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A NAME ROILS,

judging from the response.

by Nate811 on Jan 6, 2008 2:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Miles--NL record holder?

for his three-error inning? I couldn't find anyone to confirm this at PD, or even if it was a club record?

BTW I've been a lurker here. Decided to join.

by gocards62 on Jan 6, 2008 7:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Welcome

Did a little digging. The record is four errors in an inning.

With the Giants, 3B Bob Brenly committed four errors in the fourth inning of this game on 9/14/1986 against the Braves.

That tied the standing record at the time, last set by SS Lennie Merullo of the Cubs on 9/13/1942. Retrosheet doesn't have a play-by-play for that game, but this link goes to a Google scan of a book that claims he had a son born that day who was nicknamed "Boots."

Other 4-error-inning players are Doggie Miller of the 1895 STL Browns at catcher; Ray Chapman with the 1914 Cleveland Naps and Shorty Fuller with the 1888 Washington Senators at short; Jimmy Burke with the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers and Lew Whistler with the 1891 NY Giants at third base.

by liam on Jan 7, 2008 4:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs