An idea for a drastic change

by Ghosty on Jul 24, 2008 10:57 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

I'm pretty sick of our twin save-blowers, Izzy and Franklin, as I'm sure you all are too.

I don't see us making a trade before the deadline for the answer, either, be it Fuentes or Sherril.

Chris Perez isn't ready yet, and even if he were, LaRussa wouldn't give it to him.

Here's an idea that won't happen but I think it should:

Braden Looper. He was a closer years ago and he was a decent setup man for us in 2006. He's been halfway decent as a starter, but we are going to presumably have reinforcements in Wainwright and Carpenter coming within a month or so.

I trust Looper can get through 1-2 innings without giving up a homerun, at least most of the time. I mean, he's no K-Rod, but he'd be a slight upgrade over our alternatives.

Anyone wanna give their opinion on this, why it should/shouldn't happen?

P.S.- And the idea is that Chris Perez would be ready by 2009.

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Looper

It’s a good idea, and I’m sure just a change of scenery would actually do us some good, but then that leaves a hole in the rotation. If both Wainwright and Carpenter come back strong, then it would probably work, but if they don’t then we would have to rely on a rotation of mainly AAAA players.

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it."- Rogers Hornsby

by redbirds8233 on Jul 24, 2008 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Only two AAAA starters at Memphis

are Wasdin and Reyes, and neither of ‘em are gonna be starting for the Cardinals with Boggs and Garcia around.

This idea isn’t crazy at all, but Looper wouldn’t like it. His .821 OPS against argues pretty loud against it, too, but maybe Looper’s just “saving it” too much there in the first.

by liam on Jul 25, 2008 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

absolutely!

PLEASE let Loop take the closer roll for the rest of the year. he may consider it a demotion but what good is it to be a starter only to watch your lead vanish into thin air as soon as the bullpen doors fling open? TLR preaches a “team win or team loss” so for the good of the team and my nerves, Looper should reprise his role and help us all out.

by jbrowning007 on Jul 24, 2008 11:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what about wellemeyer?

....my quick smells like french toast...

by mstreeter06 on Jul 24, 2008 11:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've been fighting for this one

Welley into the closer role once Waino and/or Carp get back.

Last year in the pen, he was nearly untouchable!

by stlfan on Jul 25, 2008 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

Welley really should be the closer imo. starting asap

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 25, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you haven't grasped the situation!

by sportsman on Jul 25, 2008 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad idea at all.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Jul 25, 2008 12:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like it better...

than the Waino to the Closer’s Role idea. You don’t put an arm like Wainwright’s in the bullpen when he’s shown his abilities as a starter.

by mynameistyler on Jul 25, 2008 12:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wainwright...

...going to the closer role may be the result what he’s able to do post injury, Im hoping he can go back to starting also.

As for now, flip flop the pen order and full speed ahead into a fairly good schedule thru Sept? Looper goes to the pen or stays in the rotation, where ever he can do the most good based on the success (or not) of Carpenter and Wainwright.

Being Aaron Miles has to be so much more fun than being you...

by cardschinmusic on Jul 25, 2008 5:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

love the sig

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 25, 2008 5:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Miles man...

Gotta root for the guy, he gets plenty of the other ‘round these parts…almost put “being Barry Bonds!”

Being Aaron Miles has to be so much more fun than being you...

by cardschinmusic on Jul 25, 2008 5:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how often do you here the name Papelbom

Pretty big job I think

by CalvinB on Jul 25, 2008 12:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

looper was never really a great closer...

he couldn’t do worse than franklinhausen, but he’s not a solution. He’s really just “blah” whether its at closer, middle-relief, or as a starter. Why hasn’t Salas been promoted to AAA yet, he’s got a sick k/9. Sherrill for anything but Rasmus would be a nice trade…seriously, other than Rasmus and The Walrus do the cardinals really have any future all-stars in the organization? PROBABLY not…

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 25, 2008 4:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs