Grading the 2008 Cardinals

by Ghosty on Aug 16, 2008 9:34 PM EDT Comment 29 comments

Just for fun, I decided to give each player we've had all year a grade. I tried to include every player that has donned the birds on the bat this year, even only temporarily (I threw Clement in just for fun). Feel free to critique this or ask questions. Didn't feel like including explanations. I feel the grades are self-explanatory.

Rick Ankiel - B

Brian Barton - B-

Mitchell Boggs - C-

Chris Carpenter - B+

Matt Clement - Expelled

Chris Duncan - D

Randy Flores - D-

Ryan Franklin - D

Jaime Garcia - B

Troy Glaus - B+

Jason Isringhausen - F

Cesar Izturis - C+

Kelvin Jimenez - C-

Adam Kennedy - C

Jason LaRue - C-

Kyle Lohse - A-

Braden Looper - B+

Felipe Lopez - C+

Ryan Ludwick - A+

Joe Mather - B

Kyle McClellan - A

Aaron Miles - B

Yadier Molina - A-

Mark Mulder - F-

Mike Parisi - D+

Chris Perez - B+

Joel Pinero - C

Albert Pujols - A+

Anthony Reyes - Truant

Brendan Ryan - C-

Skip Schumacher - A-

Russ Springer - B

Nick Stavinoha - D

Brad Thompson - B+

Ron Villone - C

Adam Wainwright - B+

Rico Washington - D-

Todd Wellemeyer - B+

Mark Worrell - C

Dave Duncan - B+

Tony La Russa - A-

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My Grades

Rick Ankiel – B B

Brian Barton – B- C

Mitchell Boggs – C- C

Chris Carpenter – B+ B

Matt Clement – Expelled Agree

Chris Duncan – D Agree

Randy Flores – D- D

Ryan Franklin – D Agree

Jaime Garcia – B B+

Troy Glaus – B+ A

Jason Isringhausen – F agree

Cesar Izturis – C+ B-

Kelvin Jimenez – C- D

Adam Kennedy – C c-

Jason LaRue – C- B-

Kyle Lohse – A- agree

Braden Looper – B+ B

Felipe Lopez – C+ B

Ryan Ludwick – A+ Agree

Joe Mather – B Agree

Kyle McClellan – A B+

Aaron Miles – B B+

Yadier Molina – A- A

Mark Mulder – F- agree

Mike Parisi – D+ agree

Chris Perez – B+ agree

Joel Pinero – C agree

Albert Pujols – A+ B+

Anthony Reyes – Truant stone waste of white

Brendan Ryan – C- agree

Skip Schumacher – A- agree

Russ Springer – B C

Nick Stavinoha – D C

Brad Thompson – B+ agree

Ron Villone – C agree

Adam Wainwright – B+ C+

Rico Washington – D- agree

Todd Wellemeyer – B+ A

Mark Worrell – C B

Dave Duncan – B+ B

Tony La Russa – A- B

by patton044 on Aug 16, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You both have Ryan Franklin as a D.....

I know that we have all been unhappy with him as our closer, but he does still have a 3.49 Era. Which is a very solid era for a reliever. I don;t think as many people would be so upset with him if he was not pushed into the closers spot. So I give him a C+ maybe a B-

Yadi is my hero

by Big Phil on Aug 17, 2008 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

C

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 17, 2008 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His ERA may be 3.49, but his WHIP is 1.53. That’s not very good. I think a D or a C is appropriate.

by jdub176 on Aug 17, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

clearly you meant to give pujols an A+, not a B+

even if you’re one of those subjective graders who grades people based on “what i know you’re capable of” or some other wishy-washy stuff like that (i hate that kind of grader) how is a slugging% of .617 (awesome) and an obp of .459 (best of his career so far) a B+?

by mattybobo on Aug 18, 2008 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope that it is simply too early to grade out...

by stlfan on Aug 17, 2008 8:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How

does Ankiel only get a B but Skip gets an A-?

by stl522 on Aug 17, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Because

It’s hard to grade someone with so many absences. See Chris Carpenter.

by Ghosty on Aug 17, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carpenter is a terrible example

He’s made what…3 starts for us this year? Ankiel has played in 107 games and produced in the field and at the plate. He’s a better player, plain and simple. Skip has a brutal split against lefties – while Ankiel is significantly less effective against them, he’s not completely helpless like Skip. I’d give Ankiel an A and Skip a B+.

by jdub176 on Aug 17, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

heh

Ankiel has played in 107 games and produced in the field and at the plate. He’s a better player, plain and simple

I looked at this again…and it kind of looks like I’m comparing Carp and Ankiel, rather than Skip and Ankiel.

by jdub176 on Aug 18, 2008 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reyes proper grade is "dropped"

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Aug 17, 2008 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the teacher in you

just couldn’t resist the correction?

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Aug 17, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No. I could not. I am a walking correction at school.

Some folks appreciate it; some find it annoying. I cannot help myself-it’s part of who I am. Sorry, I guess……

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Aug 17, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

teachers should correct people. that's their job.

seriously. if you’re not an authority of what is correct and true, what’s the point?
no apologies necessary.

by mattybobo on Aug 18, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no apologizes needed

I liked it, even if it didn’t come off sounding like I did. I actually like being corrected when I am wrong.

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Aug 22, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shut up!

hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit

by Alxfritz on Aug 22, 2008 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like Bugs Bunny

I know when to shut up. I am gonna go ahead and shut up right now. Shutting up!

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Aug 25, 2008 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rick Ankiel: A (come on, what do you want the guy to do?)
Brian Barton: B+
Mitchell Boggs: D
Chris Carpenter: B+
Chris Duncan: D-
Randy Flores: F
Ryan Franklin: C
Jaime Garcia: B+
Troy Glaus: A+ (plus offense, plus defense, unusually healthy…where do you dock points?)
Jason Isringhausen: F
Cesar Izturis: C
Kelvin Jimenez: C
Adam Kennedy: D
Jason LaRue: B
Kyle Lohse: B+
Braden Looper: B+
Felipe Lopez: B (so far, anyway)
Ryan Ludwick: A+
Joe Mather: B+
Kyle McClellan: A+
Aaron Miles: A:*
Yadier Molina: A
Mark Mulder: Z-
Mike Parisi: D+
Chris Perez: B+
Joel Pineiro: C-
Albert Pujols: A
Brendan Ryan: D
Skip Schumaker: A
Russ Springer: A
Nick Stavinoha: C-
Brad Thompson: A-
Ron Villone: C-
Adam Wainwright: A-
Rico Washington: C-
Todd Wellemeyer: A-
Mark Worrell: C

Dave Duncan: B+
Tony La Russa: B+

by mojowo11 on Aug 17, 2008 6:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Grades

Rick Ankiel: A- (come on, what do you want the guy to do?—swing at fewer balls)
Brian Barton: B
Mitchell Boggs: D
Chris Carpenter: B+
Chris Duncan: D- (yeah, because he didn’t tell people he was hurt)
Randy Flores: F
Ryan Franklin: C+
Jaime Garcia: B
Troy Glaus: A
Jason Isringhausen: F
Cesar Izturis: C
Kelvin Jimenez: D-
Adam Kennedy: D
Jason LaRue: B-
Kyle Lohse: B+
Braden Looper: B+
Felipe Lopez: B-
Ryan Ludwick: A+ (Would it just kill these people to give him a LT contract?)
Joe Mather: B+
Kyle McClellan: A+
Aaron Miles: A- (would be an A but defensive lapses)
Yadier Molina: A- (accuracy is off this season, despite improved batting)
Mark Mulder: incomplete (The ‘F’ should be awarded to Walt Jocketty, not Mulder)
Mike Parisi: D+
Chris Perez: B+
Joel Pineiro: D
Albert Pujols: A
Brendan Ryan: D (huge disappointment)
Skip Schumaker: A- (still can’t hit lefties)
Russ Springer: A
Nick Stavinoha: C- (will not make the 25-man in St. Louis)
Brad Thompson: B+
Ron Villone: C- (would be a “B” if he only faced lefties)
Adam Wainwright: A- (“A” until he got injured, now???)
Rico Washington: C- (Uncle Rico never should have made the team)
Todd Wellemeyer: A-
Mark Worrell: C

Dave Duncan: B
Tony La Russa: B (Someone has to take responsibility for the bullpen)

by Red in Chicago on Aug 18, 2008 1:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ludwick

Are you not concerned Ludwick is a 1 season wonder? I hope not but I would not give him a LT contract just yet.

by llabyellov on Aug 18, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

I’m more concerned he’s not—and that we’ll let him go when he is exactly the hitter we need behind Pujols. Sign him to a three-year deal, already!

by Red in Chicago on Aug 18, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, I forgot one...

Walt Jocketty: Dickhead

by Red in Chicago on Aug 18, 2008 1:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

damn...thats pretty harsh

He’s a HUUUUGE reason for the success that we’ve enjoyed for most of the past 12 years. He made a few mistakes (Haren, Kennedy), but he’s no Bill Bavasi

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

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Aug 18, 2008 5:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, no...

by stlfan on Aug 18, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jocketty

Okay, maybe it’s harsh…and yeah, he made some good moves. I can certainly credit him for much of the team’s resurgence in the 2001-2006 period. BUT since the club won the World Series, what exactly did he do that positioned the club for the future?

He traded Dan Haren, extended Mulder, Edmonds and Carpenter to expensive and risky deals. He signed Pinata to an expensive three-year deal, AK to a three-year deal, passed on Rick Porcello. Lots of other very poor draft decisions were made.

Sure there are worse GMs, but frankly I wish he could be re-hired just so he could be fired again. The Mulder fiasco alone would justify that.

by Red in Chicago on Aug 18, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think a big test for Jocketty will be this winter

and to see if he can improve the Reds offense. I’m not sure how much money he will have to spend, but with Griffey and Dunn gone, he is going to need to find a power bat to hit behind Bruce and in front of Phillips. Walt has his work cut ou for him. One thing is for sure Walt doesn’t have an Albert Pujols coming up to take over like he had with the Cards… but at least he finally signed Yonder Alonso who has the potential to be a big time hitter for the Reds in year or two.

by KYCards on Aug 18, 2008 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

$30 MM is how much

according to MLBTraderumors. It could be a nice club in a few years. Personally, however, I’m glad the Cardinals are the Cardinals and Jocketty is with the Reds.

by Red in Chicago on Aug 18, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not entirely correct RiC

You ask what he did after the club won the World Series, then you immediately go on to talk about two things (Haren/Mulder) that happened before the World Series.

I agree he’s had a bad couple of years in terms of how everything played out…just maybe some information in the wrong order or not as clearly as you meant to write it. I guess.

Otherwise, good point…I’m glad you retracted slightly on the harshness of it.

by stlfan on Aug 18, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know the chronology

But the point is that with Haren around, this team would have gone to playoffs last year, and would be challenging the Cubs for the division title, most likely, this year. (Hell, they probably would have made the series in 2005—possibly even defeating the White Sox.) Of course, we probably would have started Barton and never gotten Glaus with the way these things go. I don’t have any personal objection to Jocketty really, but he comprehensively screwed up in his last couple of years as G.M. The Reds will love him.

by Red in Chicago on Aug 19, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs