FJM did work on a rather humorous article a few weeks ago that posited that Sabean was a superior GM to Billy Beane. Yes, that Billy Beane. I think they could have just posted that article and not even bothered with it, b/c that premise is so incredibly absurd. The guy built a team around 150-year olds, and not particularly good ones either. And we used to complain about the LaRussa/Jocketty regime…at least they brought in people who weren’t yet considered fossils!

Anyway, I think Durham would be a respectable fit. His defense wouldn’t be great, obviously, but its not as if Kennedy and Miles are lighting the world on fire with the leather. He’d certainly be a better offensive force than either of them.

Cardsfan84 posted about the Memphis ownership offering their stadium for the Iowa Cubs to play since flood waters continue to rise across Iowa, and in downtown Des Moines, where the I-Cubs’ stadium sits at the intersection of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. The situation in places like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo (as well as countless other communities) is catastrophic. Downtown Des Moines is looking more and more precarious, with the Birdland neighborhood being the most-threatened at this point. (I’m going to be sandbagging there a little bit later.)

To update folks on the baseball aspect of this statewide emergency, the Iowa Cubs are stating that they will play all eight of their games in Des Moines, at Principal Park, despite the rising rivers (which are supposed to crest today). Frankly, I don’t know how they are going to manage. Their stadium is fastly becoming an island with the Raccon and Des Moines Rivers forming a moat. Right now, the field is dry, but we Des Moines-area natives need only look back fifteen years for a sobering reminder of the fate that could await the stadium. You can see video from a helicopter of how high the waters have gotten so far this morning here in their video viewer.

The heartening aspect of this set of tragedies is the way that communities have come together, locked arms, and worked to keep one another high and dry. The goodwill has not been restricted to within Iowa’s borders and the offer from the Memphis ownership is deeply appreciated. Right now, however, there are more pressing concerns than baseball. Say a prayer for Iowans today. The rivers are supposed to crest and we’ll need all the help we can get.

Last I heard, Rollins was leading the league in doubles since his return from the DL. I mean, I’m not saing we should give this guy an MVP award or anything silly like that - oh wait - but he’s still a really good player and he’s swinging a good stick.

Was told to report to his ship. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.

Godspeed Mr. Harris, and thanks for serving our great country!

He hasn’t been given the chance to prove his worth or unworth. He has shown some signs of having a flair for getting a hit or making something happen in key spots when he does play..enough that I personally would like to see a little more of him before entering into discussions of trading prospects for a 36 year old 2nd basemen that is currently playing over his head.
The biggest handicap to seeing what level Ryan is capable of reaching and maintaining is the fact that kennedy is still on the Cardinal roster. The first step to solving the MI problem IMO, should be to release Kennedy and go from there.

Roberts would be nice but how about Polanco???

If the Tigers do tear it down(I think they can still make a run) would they move Placido? I would love to have him back home .

Also maybe no Ugla but can we talk to the Rangers about Kinsler? He seems a tick off on Defense but so is Ugla and you can improve defense with a fungoe and an Oquendo.

you all are going to hate me for this but am i the only one who feels like there is a white elephant in the room when we talk about duncan’s mysterious loss of a power stroke?

Because I really hope the light up Joba.

I am driving down from Peoria for the game tonight and I am hoping that it doesn’t storm too bad. I have been checking accuweather and noaa and it seems that there is about a 50% chance of T-storms tonight. Since this is the Phils only trip to St. Louis this year, do you think that they will try to get the game in tonight even with inclement weather? With gas prices being so high I don’t want to make the trip for nothing seeing as I only get to a couple games a year.

apparently, the Cardinals are one of 7 teams that have shown interest in him. He is currently petitioning MLB to be labeled as an ‘undrafted free agent’ because he says he was in the USA BEFORE the draft actually took place.

and assuming the challenge is between kennedy and Durham, I don’t think Durham would be enough of an offensive upgrade to be worth trading for.

The difference between him and adam kennedy so far this year has been about 14 runs, offensively, using BP’s BRAR numbers; durham has only had 197 PA’s and Kennedy has only had 163 PA’s. Assuming they each get 350 more PA’s and perform at the same levels, Durham would be worth about 27 runs more than kennedy over the rest of the season, or about 3 wins.

Defensively, assuming Durham really is as bad as his RZR says, Kennedy will have made 11 more in-the-zone plays (durham’s .735 RZR * Kennedy’s 87 chances – kennedy’s actual plays) to date than Durham, and since kennedy has made 13 more OOZ plays in less playing time (durham has only made 4 OOZ plays, so his range is really much worse than his already terrible RZR would make you think) it’s safe to assume a margin there as well. That could lead to more than 57 plays not made over the next 94 games [162/68 * (13+11)]—in fact, since kennedy hasn’t played anywhere near every day, it could be even higher than that. Though of course we’d be using a defensive replacement every single game (which would potentially cut into the offensive value as well).

I can never remember the exact translation between “plays not made” and runs, but 57 plays not made should come very close to making a mere 27 runs of offense irrelevant. I guess you could assume they are all singles and then multiply by the linear run weight of a single (.48); if you did that, he’d cost us 27 runs. Yikes.

(and an interesting bit of synchronicity there ;)

I wrote a fan post about needing a 2B’er that can hit. I was willing to wait and see then and now I figured out a couple of things. I diffenantly do not want the Cards to trade for an aging second baseman. Roberts is signed for ‘09 at 8mil, and Durham is just too old. If we trade we need a guy who is still in is 20’s. I have not yet given up on Hoff. He has not lit up the stat sheet with any kinda numbers, but since June (9 games I know, I know) he has had a little more pop. OPS of .887. Kennedy doesn’t have much time turn on his bat, but why make a trade that doesn’t solve the problem long term.
I still think we should wait and see. We have time even with Albert on the DL. The last thing that Mo should do is act out of desperation. Lets STILL wait and see.

It takes up a roster spot that can be used for a relief arm, when tony burns it once a week

Send Boggs, Reyes, Hoff for Kinsler?

Or

IF you were Texas would you say go pound dirt?

I would still try some young pitching to get it done with a vet or two.

I dont know if anybody has seen this already, but ESPN has Ludwick on the All-Star Team: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=3437903&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab5pos1

I think that’s a fair question to ask. Pujols is clearly the better pure hitter, but getting Utley’s production out of second base is pretty huge. Opens up a spot at 1B for a lesser Pujols.

according to ESPN’s “accuscore” system (insider), the cardinals are 5-0 when they are considered “underdogs” at home, and 19-13 when the underdog, overall. When we are “expected” to win the game, we’re 21-21. We’re also 21-13 at home overall and 5-1 when Welle starts at home.

Anyway, we’re underdogs tonight, even with Cy Colonel on the mound, so might be a good night to put a buck on the home team…

Too bad Pujols is out when Lidge is coming to town, eh?

Scotty Ro and Hustlestein could really help their old club tonight.

Weird that Jimmy, Scotty, and David will all be on the field together tonight, none wearing the BOB…

I don’t know if this was already said, don’t feel like reading 160+ comments. He has better patience this year and is not swinging at balls out of the zone. The thing that bothers me is that he is not swinging for the fences, he seems like he is trying to be a high average/ on base guy. He is more valuable when he swings for an 8 run HR then when he shortens his swing trying not to strike out. He needs to go back to the Adam Dunn mentality of HR or bust, maybe he strikes out 175 times but if he has a 270+ average and 35-40 HRs who cares?

cus their schedule is ridiculously hard and I just do not see them being succesful without Albert