Let Rasm-us Pray
by DanUpBaby on May 4, 2009 8:30 AM EDT
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PrintSo, it's May 4. Rasmus has been a major leaguer for just about a month, after three years of being the lead story on Future Redbirds. ESPN's predicted stats—it hurts me to link to ESPN.com, one of the most bloated websites this side of MySpace, but their predicted stats do a pretty good job of illustrating how well La Russa's platoon has gone, at least as far as its stated goal—damn the torpedoes, at-bats for everybody—goes. 157 games? 495 at-bats? Sure.
How's the experiment gone, though? Well, I'm glad he hit that home run. Where he is right now—take a look—
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
| 20 | 63 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .270 | .365 | .365 | 92 |
—I think a 7/10 is in order. The calls to bench Ankiel are premature, given their offensive proximity to one-another even after all the he-looks-lost hubbub, and his gaudy fielding numbers (no matter how good he is, he isn't going to finish the season three wins above the average outfielder) are in for some regression, but he's maintained his plate discipline and the power's starting to come. I'll take it.
The way he's started, it's easy to forget that he was a fair candidate for an early season collapse; his 2008 was only impressive inasmuch as it came right after his outstanding 2007 campaign, and he's a famously slow starter with low-average tendencies, a class of player that tends to look even worse than they are when they're slumping.
But Rasmus has gotten off to a passable, if definitely quiet, start to his rookie campaign. His strikeout rate remaining stable across three levels, ever since his AA breakout year, is definitely a good sign, and I've got to imagine the power is coming.Gotta like that home run swing, too; he's got a little bit of the Larry Walker follow-through.
#
While we're on the subject of prospects, and given the post rain-delay paucity of major league stuff to talk about, I thought I'd take an informal survey of our VEB prospect-watching habits.
Allow me to start: those of you who've followed me for a while--especially back on Get Up, Baby!, where, in the pre-Future Redbirds days, I used to follow prospects more closely than I do now, know I have an idiosyncratic way of becoming attached to, and subsequently following, prospects. Which is to say that I have no standards for performance. If I like a guy--if the early scouting reports excite me, if he has one skill that impresses instead of a broad, average base--I will ride his bandwagon all the way off the cliff.
So I'd like to ask you, the VEBers, if you have any non-prospects you'll follow to the bitter end. For me, it's a motley collection of tools goofs--Tommy Pham, Jon Edwards, Daryl Jones--ex-prospects--Blake Hawksworth, et al--and interesting stories--Gary Daley, et al. Jones is the exception that proves the rule, inasmuch as ninety percent of these guys turn into nothing, but it gives me something to watch for in the box scores. I'll try to get Chuck and the red baron to come clean on Their Guys, too; maybe we can make a recurring feature of it.
#
Baseball tonight, hopefully: Kyle Lohse against Joe Blanton, who has what might be the worst MLB.com photo in a long history of bad MLB.com photos. Stay tuned.
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Outfield grit
For me, it’s hard not to root for Shane Robinson. I just love a guy who falls into the ’don’t judge a book by its cover’ cliche. I kind of doubt he’ll ever get his cup of coffee but if by chance there is a September callup sometime I’ll be cheering for a double down the line.
yeah, sugar shane won me over
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
I like to pick
several that nobody makes a fuss over to watch and right now it’s Robinson and Stephen Hill. Haven’t given up on Walters either.
Cards expected to make a bullpen move today
I assume Walters will head back to AAA with Josh Kinney or Brad Thompson being called up. Although doubtful, Todd has to be a candidate as well.
Thompson was supposed to start yesterday in AAA, fwiw.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
Walters down
Craig up!
We don’t need 13 pitchers.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on May 4, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You got me excited for nothing
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
It's Monday morning
and after an awesome weekend, Rasmus hit his first homerun [/robot tear], I find myself back at work which makes me a little cranky. 1, 2, 3. . . go!
Why in the name of long-relievers do we have an effing 8-man bullpen? Worse yet, TLR feels the continued need to hedge his bets with it?
La Russa promised Sunday he would continue to “hedge” with an eighth reliever for at least the near term, insisting he can more readily accept being a position player short than overexposing his bullpen.
Holy sinkerball, Batman! There’s an argument to be made that having a 7-man bullpen is too much but an 8-man bullpen — lunacy! There’s two problems driving this 1) the starters weren’t going deep into game. That’s tough, I get it but you’ve got to be able to skirt those periods as best as you can. 2) TLR uses too many damn relievers in a game. Let some of these pitchers go 2 innings. Why do we need to switch a Chris Perez for a Boyer or a Motte. Stretching some of these guys out for more than 15-20 pitches at a time would really help alleviate some of the warmup pitches and appearances these relievers are making.
But our bench is an absolute joke right now. We’ve got LaRue, middle infielder, middle infielder and one decent bat (outfielder). TLR is ceding late inning matchups on offense to the opposition because he doesn’t have any damn options off the bench. What does Allen Craig have to do to get a callup? Heck, I’d even take Freese over an 8th reliever at this point.
I’m still clinging to the Kenny Maiques bandwagon. Thankfully, they stopped that ride for a while because I was being drug down the street holding onto to that bumper. I’ll also admit a certain fondness for Hoffpauir although I don’t think he’s going to get a shot in this organization, nor that he necessarily should.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
Pinch-hitters & WPA, plus the Bullpen
So far this season, our pinch-hitters have contributed a WPA of -0.385; the opposition PH options have a WPA of +0.428. What does this tell us? Probably not a whole lot, but it could say:
1) Our bench options aren’t that good – probably not that much worse than league average for pinch-hitters, but certainly not helped by a bloated bullpen
2) Despite an 8-man bullpen, LaRussa is still getting out-matched in pinch-hitting situations
(these two are not mutually exclusive)
- – – – -
I really don’t think that the main reason for keeping the 8-man pen is because the staff feels that their guys are overexposed. I think it has a lot more to do with holding onto 5 right-handed relievers who TLR & DD think shouldn’t be used in the long-relief role, requiring a swingman who is probably worse than any of the other guys out there. Possible improvements:
1) Utilize McClellan as a vs-lefties option and drop one of the LOOGY’s
2) Stretch out a couple of the righties and have them pitch an extra inning, then don’t worry about “no long man”
3) Trade somebody, because Franklin’s our closer, Mac, YP, & Sauce are pitching well enough that none of them deserves to be sent down, & Boyer is Dave’s new project, therefore off-limits
4) Make Boyer the long-man – he’s going to be turned into a starter next year anyway, because we obviously shouldn’t use any of the legitimate options in AAA
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
The article I linked to talks about Boyer's use of the sinker
from Marty Mason and Duncan’s coaching. I don’t think it’s at all out of the question to watch them stretch him out next year to start.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
That was my kneejerk reaction to the trade, as well.
I experience a weird “Lost”-like trip back to 2007, where the scrap heap was culled for someone, anyone to fill out the depleted rotation. After P.J. Walters’s odd start in Chicago, I felt that Boyer was the New Todd Wellemeyer, reliever-turned-started by the mystical Dave Duncan. However, the emergence of the swing-and-miss inducing Mitchell Boggs seems to have put off this re-imagining until next Spring.
Would you rather have Boggs/Boyer as the bottom fifth of the rotation next year or Boggs/Wellemeyer or El Pineiro? I don’t even know the answer to that question.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I'd rather pay league minimum for my 5th starter
and shuffle whatever warm body is available to take that start.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
I want them all gone
I want all the Cardinals free agents gone next year outside of possibly K Greene
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on May 4, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I tend to agree.
But, what happens when Carpenter goes down with an injury? All of the starters move up one slot, making our #4 our #3 and our #5 our #4, which means that we then have to shuffle whatever warm body who is available to take that #5 start. Do slot in another serviceable arm for the #5 role anticipating that it will become the #4 role for long stretches of the season?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
there's not that much difference between our farm-based would be #5's and the
ones we would get on the FA market.
how much did tim redding make this year? how much did boggs make? which one will pitch better this year?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I agree, when comparing Redding to Boggs
And, hopefully another farmhand develops from 2009 to 2010 the way that Boggs seems to have done from 2008 to 2009.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Anybody know what kind of leverage situations Boyer's been pitching in so far?
I haven’t been able to follow the last few games too closely because I’ve been busy, but I am curious how they’re using him. Thanks if anybody knows.
Off the top of my head
They all seem to be rather low leverage situations. Like every time he goes in we are up by at least 4 runs
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on May 4, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Tony Stark test-flying the Iron-suit
That reminds me of Duncan test-flying Blaine Boyer in low leverage situations.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the info, FlimtotheFlam as well
I had assumed this was the case, but didn’t want to make an “ass” of “u” and “med”
This has nothing to do with your excellent comment
My friend went to Clemson and one year there was a campaign for a guy named “Rob Ot” running for student body president. You had to write him in. He made a series of campaign videos, here’s the first one. The others can be found in the “related links” section.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUFB-nGh8io&feature=related
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 4, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Why? Seriously?
People keep going 5 innings! heh.
Lohse benched yesterday
Does anyone else think it’s strange that K-Mac was going to get the start over Lohse in Sundays rainout?
I thought K-Mac was settling into a late inning role?
Kyle's knee
I think that they may have been wanting to keep Kyle from having to pitch on the wet mound.
Im not sure why Hometown was given the (postponed) start.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on May 4, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
The stated reason
TLR said that he went with McClellan because they anticipated two or three rain delays, which would have caused him to yank the starter early anyway. So, instead of going with Lohse for two or three innings, he was just going to go with K-Mac until the first rain delay, a couple/few innings into the game.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
That makes sense
of course, I didnt have anything to back up my assumptions.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on May 4, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Prospect watching
Back in the bad-old-days, I used to spend some time scouring the minor leagues for promising free agents to stock AAA. Now I’m not sure what to do after the last long-shot non-prospect I kept the closest tabs on was cut. I’d like to get a better idea of how academy league numbers translate to A-ball, since neither Wladimir Mendoza or Juan Mosquera amounted to much after promotion to the farm.
Why the emphasis on 90% of tools goofs not panning out?
Ninety percent of ALL minor leaguers don’t pan out. That’s why the draft runs an order of magnitude deeper than the team’s needs for new guys.
AZ, I’d agree about the weird structure of the roster if it stayed that way into August. I don’t think it will. Between the ridiculously overactive April (I’d go nuts if I had to work 20 consecutive days), the start-of-season pitching readiness, and having the staff ace on the shelf, I don’t see it as unreasonable now. When those things are in the past, the roster will change. I think.
Because I don't get excited
about 90% of minor leaguers in general.
by DanUpBaby on May 4, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I am looking forward to see what
Henley and Castellanos do this season. I think Castellanos has an interesting blend of speed and power although I am not sure his power profile will fit 3B long term. Aaron Luna is another guy I like.
Call me the first round junkie
I tend to follow the first rounders (or early picks at least) now, Kozma and Wallace primarily but Mort and Lynn as well. I was also a follower of Ryan in 06 and 07 and Barden last year. I also want Anderson to wake his bat up and just show why he belongs in the Cards system, even if that is just so he gets higher trade value. Jones intrigues me but not to the level that he does others. Jay, Mather, etc. are all good outfield prospects as well but I am just tired of hearing about outfielders in our system.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
Rasmus' Warning Track Power
should develop as well… I would still trade any outfielder, including him, should the opportunity present itself. But that will never happen given every team’s seemingly endless supply of credible OF. Has replacement level gone up from a couple year’s ago?
Trading him, as with anyone else
would depend on the return. To suggest he’s interchangeable with the other OFers would be incorrect from a value perspective. Ankiel will be a free agent after this season. Rasmus gives us high level, cost controlled talent for years to come. We won’t be trading Rasmus, because it’s bad as a business decision and in an attempt to win games. I trust Moz on that one.
It isn't necessarily bad as a business decision...
IF, and I mean if, the team gets at least as much in return as they are giving up. Yes, there will be an OF drop-off between Rasmus and Mather or Rasmus and Craig or Rasmus and Jay, but if we could nab some fantastic young pitching or a great young shortstop, Mo would certainly have to look.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Of course
there variable of return, as I mentioned in the first sentence, is the most important consideration for any trade. I just don’t believe they can get a return that is equal to his value.
If Rasmus gets traded
I will be seriously devastated. I don’t even like thinking about it.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
Call me crazy
but I still think if an OFer gets traded this season, it will be Rasmus.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
It will be Ankiel
Sentimentality or not. TLR may have some sway in the FO but not enough to convince Moz to trade our most valuable young commodity since Albert.
YOU'RE CRAZY!!!!!!!!
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 4, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey, no personal attacks!
FLAGGED!!!
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...and I'm wanting an Allen Craig call-up!
by RunninRedbird on May 4, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
What, he asked me to call him crazy!
[/Win Ben Stein’s Money]
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 4, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I did, I did!
of course I thnk that irrational fear is just a defense mechanism my mind has set up just in case the insane does happen.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
You are 100% correct!
He asked for it, you obliged.
Therefore, RunninRedbird gets FLAGGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
No worries. I'm all stocked up with the latest model.
I think this was my first “official flagging” of the 2009 season and I apologize for that. I’ve been extremely busy and have had to rely on you and some others around here to keep things in order.
Give me about a month and I’ll be in mid-season form.
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
by Tackle Box on May 4, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
AH NOOO!!!!
I took your game, tried to beat somebody else with it, then you came and turned it back on me. Dammit!
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...and I'm wanting an Allen Craig call-up!
by RunninRedbird on May 4, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Lesson learned.
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
When Rasmus was in Egypt land
Let my Rasmus go
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
Awesome
I was in Chicago over the weekend. The whole time I was thinking things like “is that the building Ferris’ dad works in, or is it the dad from Adventures in Babysitting?” (It was the latter)
Also, there was no German parade but there was some sort of Polish thing going on.
adventures in babysitting!
I annoy more people by constantly recommending Adventures in Babysitting and Better Off Dead as the zenith of 80s teen comedies than with any other annoying personality tic.
FWIW
I’m a big fan of Lance Lynn. I know most of the projectors say he tops out at a #3 type starter, but I think the kid has some potiential to be a very above-average and very durable pitcher. He’s got good mechanics and a good body for the innings load. He’s got good strikeout numbers and good control so far as a professional. I think he was a heck of a good pick.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Good to hear
I’ve been a bit depressed lately reading the excellent DFR over at Future Redbirds thinking… is there a single pitcher in the Cards farm system to get excited about? Maybe I’ll jump on the Lynn bandwagon.
There seem to be lots of good looking position prospects, but very few starting pitchers. I really hope this becomes a focus for this year’s draft. The farm system is in pretty good shape so take some high risk, high reward starting pitching and hope that you hit with at least one.
I think there are some good pitching prospects
You just have to separate “good” pitching prospect from “top flight starter” pitching prospect. Most organizations have maybe three or four of those a decade, and they’re lucky if one ever really pans out. The Cardinals have had four since 1999: Ankiel, Wainwright, Haren, and Reyes. Only two of them panned out, and only one panned out with the Cardinals (as a pitcher), but that’s probably above average results for those type of players.
I think there are some good arms in the minors that could at least be back end starters or bullpen pitchers at the big league level: Ottavino, Reifer, Todd, Mortenson, Lynn, Hooker, Kopp, Samuel, Salas, Castillo, and Walters. If you look at where the farm system was at 5 years ago in terms of pitching talent, you’ll see how far we’ve come in that all of the aforementioned guys are probably talented enough to a least get a crack (if they haven’t already) at the big leagues.
As far as I’m concerned, if you can develop one #1 or #2 starter every 5-6 years out of your farm system, and enough #4, #5, and relief options so that you don’t have to spend FA $$$ on those roster spots, a team should be able to go out and get a FA starter to fill the ace and the #3 spot in the rotation.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
am i overly optimistic to think that we should likely get one starter for 2010 and maybe two
out of our farm?
seems like we have a good mid-rotation starter in Jaime Garcia (if he fully recovers from TJ), and Mortensen could verge up towards the mid-rotation level. Boggs or Walters could reasonably be a #5 for us.
I’m expecting at least one of those to pan out. Two is optimistic but still within the range of reason. Am I being a homer?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
2010 may be dicey, but 2011 for sure.
I don’t know if Boggs’s gains this year are real, but he certainly has the arm for the job. Why can’t he be at least as good as Wellemeyer? He throws hard, has decent movement on all his pitches, and has discovered how to strike some people out.
Garcia looked pretty impressive when he did pitch last year. I don’t know if he will help us in 2010, but I do believe he will help us sometime.
Maybe my doubts are unfounded, but Walters scares me. I just don’t think he will get guys out as a starter in the bigs.
Lynn, however, could be up by the last half of 2010 or maybe opening day of 2011. He seems pretty polished as a pitcher right now, though we will see if he can still get guys out at a higher level as he moves up.
I really hope that at LEAST two of these guys are in our starting rotation in 2011. Maybe a rotation of Carp (if his arm is still attached, I think he will still be under contract), Wainwright, Lohse, and 2 of Boggs, Lynn, Garcia, Mort, or Walters.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Carp's Contract via Cot's
Our oft-injured ace, due to the extension signed by Walt Jocketty after the 2006 season which amounted to a 5-year deal, is under contract through 2011 with a club option for 2012 which has a $1MM buyout. His salary by year:
2009: $14MM
2010: $14.5MM
2011: $15MM
2012: $15MM (option year with $1MM buyout referenced above)
At least we only paid Carp $10.5MM last season and $7.5MM in 2007 for his time of the DL. Any season-ending injury from here on out will be twice as expensive as 2007. Carpenter’s 34th—yes, 34th—birthday was April 25th. To do the math, we owe the 2005 Cy Young $44.5MM for his Age 34, 35, and 36 seasons with the million-dollar buyout for his Age 37 season. What a horrible decision by Jocketty to extend this injury-plagued, aging pitcher through 2011.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
One of Jocketty's last acts as
Cardinals GM is worth just as much to the Reds as a lot of other moves he could make now on behalf of the Cincinnati roster.
by MdRedbirdFreak on May 4, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
If he's healthy for the play-offs
every year through 2011, it might work out.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
OTOH
When he’s healthy, he’s a stud. There’s no “I’m not quite right” starts from Carpenter. If he’s able to be healthy the rest of this year after coming back from the DL and he’s able to make 25-30 starts the next couple of years he and Adam could anchor our staff.
I hate the questionable health aspect too — not being able to count on a stud starter is frustrating, but at least he’s not Mark Prior, who wasn’t even worth a crap after coming back from injury. When Carp takes the mound he’s Carp, he’s not some fish you use for bait…
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
I agree, but you prefaced your statement perfectly
“When he’s healthy…”
You don’t sign someone for that long and that much money with Carp’s health history. You just don’t. I’d even go so far as to say that you don’t sign someone Carp’s age for the long and that much money.
Here’s hoping (with every fiber of my being) that he’s healthy from July through November and beyond. Fingers crossed, TLR style…
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think you're being a homer
unless you think that one of Boggs/Garcia/Mortenson is going to be ace material. I really don’t think that they profile that way. I do think that two of those three could be rotation material in the near future, and possibly all three of them. I don’t think that all three will be in the rotation here though, since I don’t think any of those pitchers profile better than a #3/#4 starter. We’ll end up trading one or putting one in the bullpen. This may be why Jess Todd was put in the bullpen — it’s the only defensible reason for that actually.
You have to figure that there’s only two spots open for 2010 right now, assuming Carp is healthy, and I would really hope that the club goes out and looks for one starting pitcher next offseason, with all the money that will be coming off the books and with the cheap position playing talent waiting in the wings with Rasmus, Wallace, Jones, et al.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
what i'm hearing says garcia is our only pitcher likely to pitch at a #3 level,
though azru did an eval recently of mortensen that made him sound better than back-end material.
i agree that the club should focus its efforts on putting a top-end starter in the rotation for next year. the money should be there. I would rather take my chances on tyler greene and brendan ryan and brian barden at short and get a high-end starter, if we have to skimp on a shortstop to afford a good pitcher. on the other hand, it seems like there will be no value in spending on a back-end type pitcher.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Hate committing the dollars to pitchers
Well, maybe not the dollars so much as the years. I’d like to do whatever it takes to keep Pujols around (as we all would) and then use a big chunk of what is left to supplement the offense. I think the system can pretty well take care of outfield, so I guess I am advocating investing in middle infield. Of course if all or maybe even most of the starter prospects flop, I’d have to reexamine my stance. Generally, though, I only want to give long term deals to pitchers as a last resort.
One thing I keep going back to in my mind, when we talk about our prospects being #4 and 5 ceilings, is the aggressive approach being taken when promoting. It is to be expected that some pitchers will struggle at the AA and AAA levels when we push them forward through a couple of levels a season. I think it is a good approach, but I think we may be selling pitchers a little short at times because they run into resistance from this approach. When you have prospects reaching AA and AAA within a year or 2 of being drafted, there may be some setbacks. You’re getting a chance to see how they work through struggles, and you are getting to do it earlier than with our past methods. The result may be that you won’t see the statistical support you would if they were instead destroying competition in Davenport or Palm Beach, but I think you may be more likely to see a great improvement in year 2 at Springfield or Memphis. Long way I saying I think we can get some surprises out of these guys. Call them #3, #4, #5….what is important to me is that they become league average, or slightly better. If you can fill a rotation with those types at a low overall cost, we’ll have enough resources to field a lineup that wins with that.
by Merry CRasmus on May 4, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with what you're saying...
But I’m a half believer in the TINSTAAPP method of evaluating pitching talent: Your true #1 and #2 starters (4+ WAR) aren’t going to struggle a lot when moving from level to level because their stuff is so dominant. They might struggle with a call-up to the big league prematurely, mainly because of mental issues (Ankiel seems a prime example, as well as Dan Haren), but Rick Porcello didn’t struggle much in the minors and made the Tigers this year, Felix Hernandez didn’t struggle in the minors and hit the big leagues at the tender age of 19, Tim Lincecum made quick work of the minors as well. My point is that we really don’t have any of those type of pitchers in our minor league system at the present. Maybe Mortenson will be a #2 starter at the big league level — but I know that Madison Bumgarner has a lot better chance of that than Clay does.
I don’t put my full faith in the TINSTAAPP method because there are guys who struggle in the minors and then become good major league pitchers. Dan Haren and Randy Johnson would be two examples. Roy Halladay would be another. But it’s pretty rare to get past the age of 25 without being ready to make an impact at the big league level if you have that kind of talent.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
I'm keeping my eye on Steven Hill
Don’t really have a solid reason, he just intrigues me. He’s gotten off to a great offensive start in Spfd. I’ve seen him catch two games so far, so can’t really make a decent determination on how the conversion is going. Also, I’m excited that Lynn and Kozma got called up this past week. Hopefully I’ll get to see both of them play when I go to the game on Wednesday.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...and I'm wanting an Allen Craig call-up!
I heard Lynn is throwing today...
and he is right now…so that means he wont throw again until they are back on the road after the short 4 games home stand that starts tomorrow…that sucks because I was really hoping to see him as well…but it is a very cool time to go see a Springfield game with Wallace, Jones, Kozma, and Lynn. that could be 4 out of our top 5 top prospects next year.
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
Yeah, I'm a loser...
wow
and they did Lynn no favors by having both Jones and Wallace sitting out…but Lynn doesn’t care as he had a 2 run 2B to help himself…
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
Yeah, I'm a loser...
Nice
5 shutout inning outing for Lynn.
I am also a tools whore
And Jones has done nothing but make it worse. Now I just expect that Pham will break out at some point, but who knows if it will ever happen. Love Ryde Rodriguez as well.
A few of my other favorites that nobody has mentioned thus far (obviously TINSTAAPP doesn’t apply to me): David Kopp, Scott Gorgen, Casey Mulligan….
On a side note, I’m working for the low single-A affiliate of the SF Giants this summer, and as luck would have it, I missed all of their major prospects by a season. Last year in Augusta, they had Madison Bumgarner, Angel Villalona, Buster Posey, and Conor Gillaspie among others. All of those guys are up a level this year in San Jose. Damn the luck!
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
I live next door, in Aiken S.C
I usually go see the Green Jackets a few times a summer. Haven’t gone yet this year though. Are tickets still 5 bucks for seniors.
Box score texts
I’ve used Yahoo Sports a few times in the past; they’ll send a text to you every 3 innings with a score.
Is there a site that will just text you at the end of the game with the score and maybe a couple of highlights like the innings/runs given up by your starting pitcher, who got the save, etc.?
I get that for free from Verizon
If they’re your provider, you can sign up with the messaging → Set Alerts thing. I’ve got mine set up for just a post-game update, but down the stretch last season, I got updates after every inning of Cards games and post-games for the Cubs and Brewers.
Unfortunately I have Tmobile
It looks like Yahoo doesn’t do this anymore. ANd mlb.com wants $4/month.
I’ll have to try Google or the 65246 mentioned below.
Google-text doesn't work for me anymore
It looks like T-Mobile offers the same service: http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?PAsset=Messaging&tp=Svc_Tab_Alerts
65246
You have to text the number to get info though. After the game, it will give you the final score and the when the Cards play next. During the game, you get the current pitcher and batter along with the count and how many outs.
It’s pretty bare bones, but it’s very convenient
Forgot to mention
You text Cardinals to get the game/score information. Can be done with any other team as well
i have the thing from MLB
they text you when a cardinal hits a home run, when the lead changes after the 7th, and after the game ends. Costs like $4/month.
I like it because when I’m working on something in another room and I hear a “ding” I know to run into the TV room to watch the good guys hit a home run ;)
- "I went at it and didn’t slow down, so it kind of bounced off me." -Lil' Dunc
Donovan Solano
has been my irrational prospect to follow ever since I saw the reports when we signed him at 16 that he was more advanced than Renteria at the same age. So happy to see he has plodded right along to AAA now.
has been my irrational prospect to follow has been my prospect to irrationally follow*
I in know way wish to impugn Mr. Solano’s ability to make sound decisions and conclusions.
by slu on May 4, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm constantly apologizing
for Pete Kozma. I have two friends who were irate when the pick was made – and I’m always trying to defend the Kozma pick. Porcello already surfacing in the majors hasn’t made it any easier. So I guess he’s the prospect I am the most hopeful about.
It hurt to see Kozma's swing described as "poopy" by that one writer...
I know it was just one guy, but still.
That's just juvenile...
Elementary school, even, and completely uncalled for when discussing the Cardinals’ SS of the future.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I wish I could remember where I saw it
And I don’t think it was a professional, maybe one of the more popular prospect blogs or something? Whoever it was actually wrote a really interesting article, breaking down swings of first round prospects with frame-by-frame looks and animations.
He did have a point in that Kozma clearly didn’t have the kind of power stroke that the rest of the guys did.
In his defense
he was basing it off of some online video where his swing didn’t look great.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
So it was a bad sample basically?
I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, since I’ve never seen Kozma actually play for a comparison.
I think so
There was quite a bit of discussion about his swing at FR, and Gomez joined in with some clarification, if memory serves.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
I didn't remember quite right
The FR Thread is here, and Gomez sticks to his description.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
Thanks for looking it up
I thought he stuck with it but he explained why he thought it was crappy. I also couldn’t help but picture Rasmus swinging Mr. Poopy from GU Comics as his bat when I read that.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
I know there isn't
a stat for “clutchiness” but the kid won the state championship with a homerun. Obviously HS doesn’t translate to the majors but the kid had an “it” factor that was intangible. Also Owasso HS fwiw is a hotbed of baseball talent. They are always in the mix to win the 6A state championship. THere was another kid that got drafted and his name escapes me right now but he was a huge guy (like 6’8") and could flat out bring it. I think Boston got him.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
If there is a stat for "clutchiness"
Dude…small sample size
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 4, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Or I guess
you would have had to seen him play. Again this is high school so I get it, but that dude looked like a man among boys.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
Being a man among boys in HS may make you a high-round draft pick
But beyond that, it’s pretty much meaningless.
Molina was a man among boys
according to Soto (at the bottom of the page)
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=yourmlbforecastforthemon&prov=tsn&type=lgns
R.P.O.F.Y.M.
He is apparently excellent defensively
and he has a pretty good walk rate. At his peak, I could see him being a 3 WAR player, which wouldn’t quite be Porcello, but it wouldn’t make me want to tear my hair out.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
The Outfield Rotation Strategy
has advantages and disadvantages but I think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. I think that it is more difficult for hitters to get into a hot streak when they are being rested right in the middle of a good stretch. I think you need to ride momentum and Ludwick early in the year is a good example. He seemed to be smashing the ball and was not in the line-up due to the rotation. Rasmus had a great day Saturday hitting his first HR and delivering a beautiful opposite field single and his reward was that he was not in the line-up Sunday.
I understand the argument related to over-exposure and match-ups but you don’t platoon good players and I think they have 4 good players all deserving of playing everyday. To me the current rotation strategy makes the most sense if you are trying to set something up for a trade. To trade one of these guys they need to be playing and producing and right now all four are doing exactly that.
I agree with a previous poster who stated that any of the four should be available, including Rasmus. I don’t think that Rasmus will be traded but if you could get a real good young starting pitcher then you would have to think about it. It is more likely that Rasmus is your CF’der of the future and if he is then the current rotation stuff needs to end as soon as someone can be moved.
Shane Robinson: I am pulling for Shane and think that he will be the 4th outfielder of the future assuming that one of the four current outfielders is traded or allowed to walk. Jones has more talent but they do not need another LH hitting outfielder. Robinson is more suitable for a bench position because he can play all outfield postiions and he also hits lefties very well – another need.
I disagree
I think that Rasmus’s value is too high to allow for a trade. He plays a premium position extremely well in the field and has the tools to be a very good offensive player. What’s more, he is at the beginning of his big league career, meaning his low cost production will last longer than either Ankiel or Duncan. Top flight center fielders are extremely difficult to find and one that is on the cusp of cementing himself as our starter heading into 2010 is more valuable than a pitcher, if only because I feel that pitchers are a bigger health risk as they develop.
That said, if you could trade Duncan or Ankiel for a youngish number three starter, I think you do it as both of them are nearing the end of their cheaper production.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Although we can't see how Rasmus will end up
the part that you hit on the head was the cost control. There are not to many players on the Rays that I wouldn’t want, yet they are all cost controlled. If a team with our money (mid 90’s million payroll) can even come close to doing what the rays are doing in the farm the Redbirds will have a bright future. Something to truly look forward to
gonna need more franklins to get through this one.
by hoofhearted-pujols on May 4, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You have to endure lots of years of total suckitude...
in order to wind up with the draft picks the Rays got.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
That is not actually tue
Besides David Price none of their top prospects are from the 1st round
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on May 4, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Huh. That is interesting.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Well
Longoria is a top 1st rounder, Upton is a top 1st rounder, they traded for Garza/Bartlett with their top 1st rounder Young, Kazmir is a top first rounder that was gifted to them during another losing season. I think it’s very safe to say we wouldn’t be talking much about the Rays if they didn’t have the bad standings position to draft those guys. They’ve obviously managed the roster extremely well e.g. trading Young to begin with, finding Pena out of nowhere, but their two best players are a direct result of drafting at the top.
But yeah their farm system is a different story.
PS I’m still the only person in the world that isn’t otherworldly high on Price. He’ll be good but I still don’t like him to be an ace starter at all.
Not afraid to nitpick
My attachment generally occurs in Des Moines, Iowa, when Memphis comes to town
It started with So Taguchi, who I first saw as a Redbird. I have seen Skip Schumaker play more games for Memphis in Des Moines than for the Cardinals in St. Louis. This is probably why I have become an apologist for his Experiment at second base. Likewise, the favor Rasmus curries with me exponentially increased after what was a lackluster appearance in Des Moines (because of his defensive plays in the series). Also, Adam Wainwright, Mitchell Boggs, and Chris Perez fit this bill. After this weekend series, the list will undoubtedly contain Craig, Hoffpauir, Mortenson, and Boggs. Ironically, I really dislike Das WunderBrad.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
WPA after four weeks
per FanGraphs
Hitters
Team Total: 2.676 (3rd in NL, 5th in majors)
Best 3: Pujols (1.632, 3rd in NL), Duncan (.888), Ludwick (.754)
Worst 3: K.Greene ( -.219), Freese ( -.195), Ankiel ( -.187) [PITCHERS: -.538, Waino -.124]
Best lineup spot: 3rd (1.580); worst: 6th ( -.653, worse than the 9th spot)
Best WPA by (non-P) position: 1B (1.562); worst: CF ( -.340)
Best single-game performance: Ankiel Thursday v WAS (.364); worst: Ankiel on 4/18 ( -.343)
Best Plate Appearance: Ankiel’s RBI 2B (.351); worst: Greene’s game-ending DP on 4/17 ( -.290)
Starters
Team Total: 1.887 (1st in majors!)
Best to worst: Lohse (.867, 6th in NL), Pineiro (.445), Carp (.410), Wainwright (.397), Boggs (-.008), Walters (-.054), Welley (-.170)
Best single-game performance: Lohse CG shutout (+.448); worst: Wellemeyer vs CHN (-.320)
Relievers
Team Total: -.052 (7th in NL, 14th in majors) [League Average, Baby!]
Best to worst: Franklin (1.298, 1st in NL, 2nd in majors), Boyer, McClellan, Boggs, Reyes, Walters, Perez, Miller, Motte, Kinney ( -.584)
Best single-game performance: Franklin 4/18 v Cubs (.261); worst: Motte on Day 1 ( -.833)
Pitching
Who are we beating up: 5-hitters (-1.020) & catchers (-1.146); who is beating us up: 8-hole (.439) & 3rd basemen(.919)
Best inning – hitting: 5th (1.132); pitching: 4th (.912); combined: 4th (+1.954)
Worst inning – hitting: 2nd (-.800); pitching: 5th (-.542); combined: 10th & 11th (-.500); otherwise: 2nd (-.357)
Last two weeks: Batting +1.111, Starters +.586, Bullpen +1.315
Trending up: Pujols (.885), Franklin (.653), Ankiel (.610), Lohse (.495), Motte (.436), Pineiro (.280), Ryan (.216)
Trending down: Ludwick (-.230), Wellemeyer (-.218), Molina (-.158), McClellan (-.123)
Final note: The difference between how well Albert is playing (+1.632) and how the opposition 1B-men have performed (-1.021) has been worth over 2.5 games in the standings.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
i would have to imagine
the second inning would be most teams worst hitting inning. If you have a decent 1st inning the second would have your bottom of the order plus a pitcher that more than likely would still be in the game.
good info thanks for the report
gonna need more franklins to get through this one.
by hoofhearted-pujols on May 4, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
that's pretty indicative of what we get with ankiel
high upside, but at times he looks like he is not a baseball player
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
just start calling him jekyl and hyde
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Dick
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
by the red baron on May 4, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I would suggest
Dr. Dick and Mr. Hyde, but I’m pretty sure there’s a film production company that owns that title. If you get my meaning.
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
by the red baron on May 4, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
heh
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Post
A nice read that will warm your heart heading into tonight’s contest versus the World Series Champions, who will trot out Joe Blanton:
Joe Blanton’s Straight-Line Fastball is the Shortest Distance for Hitters Over the Outfield Fence
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
After reading that
I’m convinced if Joe Blanton were a lefty, he’d toss a 3-hit shutout tonight. But man, is he handsome.
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
I still don't understand this part
“Blanton’s two-seamer also has less vertical movment than the big-league average two-seamer. Blanton’s measures out at 11 inches of vertical movement, while the league averages 5 inches [in the case of vertical movement, smaller numbers are better; a pitch with 0 in. vertical movement is a theoretical pitch with absolutely no spin]. "
Even after reading the very detailed fanpost here a week or so ago about 4 times. I don’t get why “less vertical movement is better” on a 2 seam fastball.
"Rising" fastball
Just riffing here on what makes sense to me:
A fastball thrown with no spin would drop at exactly the rate that gravity affects it (assuming we don’t factor in other effects on a baseball, like a knuckler). A standard 4-seam fastball has significant backspin that causes the ball to sink slower, giving it an effective positive vertical movement as compared to a spin-less baseball. A 2-seamer has less backspin, but more than a non-spinning ball. A 12-6 curveball has top-spin, causing it to drop faster than a simple fired ball.
Back when I was a teen, I worked at McDonald’s and one time they offered these little plush sports balls with the Happy Meals. I took a couple home and played catch with my brother. The plush soccer ball (smaller than a standard baseball) had these amazing seams that caused the ball to behave wildly. I could stand back 90-120 feet from my brother, throw the ball toward his feet, and have him catch it at his chest Or a 3-9 curveball that pops out a foot behind the batter and lands 18 inches off the plate. Bugs Bunny-, RBI Baseball-type stuff.
I wish I still had that thing – it rocked!
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
You make sense EXCEPT
that the quote is talking about a 2 seamer (sinker) and not a 4 seamer.
Maybe there is a typo or something.
Confusion
I think where there might be some confusion is the use of “less vertical movement”. In the literal sense, you would want a sinker to have more vertical movement, meaning that it sinks more. If you look at it as having less Vertical Movement (the rating), then having a lower number means that it has less back-spin and is a better pitch. Blanton’s 2-seamer doesn’t seem to sink very much, denoted by a Vertical Movement factor a lot closer to a 4-seamer than a league-average sinker.
I’m probably full of drek, but that’s the best I can do.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
The PITCHf/x attempts at classifying 2-seams is idiotic
I can’t stand when these guys try to classify these things between 2/4-seam. You just aren’t going to be able to do it there’s waaaay too much overlap between the two. Blanton throwing an 11-inch vertical movement fastball is pretty clearly not intended to be a damn traditional 2-seamer even if he is throwing it with a 2-seam grip. So stupid.
Not afraid to nitpick
I personally feel that prospects are only good for one thing
to be traded.
So, I watch every night to see which ones have been taken out of the lineup and pray that it is because they have been traded for Miguel Cairo.
We don't have enough talent in our minor league system to pull a superstar like Miguel Cairo
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
you know tony is just trying to pump up rasmus's trade value
so we can get miles back from the cubs.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Alright.
I shall place, right here, for all to see, my minor league guys, mostly present, but a couple past as well.
Number one of all, of course, gone from the charts but not our hearts, Anthony Reyes.
I love Dan Descalso, called him a breakout candidate last year, and he’s finally doing some good this season. I like him based on almost entirely seeing video of his swing. Don’t care about his stats or anything else; I just don’t see a guy with his swing not hitting.
Andres Rosales is another. Six foot nothing, a buck forty on the scales, posted an 8:1 K/BB ratio in 2007. I’m a sucker for K/BB. Big time.
Blake Murphy, ‘cause you don’t hear the phrase “five tool catcher” all that often.
Tyler Henley and Beau Riportella. Henley because I said he was going to be good when he was drafted, and he’s mostly kept up his end of the bargain. Riportella because that’s the best name ever.
Adam Reifer, because I think he’s going to be awesome.
David Kopp, because he has the best delivery I can recall seeing, outside of Mo Rivera.
A couple of past ones:
Mark McCormick, big time. I remember coming home a couple of days after the Cards drafted him and watching Baylor play Texas in the NCAA Regionals to see McCormick pitch. I was smitten.
Worrell. Batshit insane or not, the delivery was fun.
Jimmy Journell.
The Hawk.
I can’t think of the guy’s name, but he was a lefty reliever who was supposed to throw so hard, but never topped about 92 when we saw him in St. Louis. Now that’s going to piss me off until I give in and look it up.
Also on my current list are all the guys I wrote about for the Maple Street Annual. So chalk ‘em up. They’re DRT.
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
Lefty relievers
My all time favourite prospect was Cali (no, not Jimmy Baseball, Carmen Cali!). I kid, but damn, Cali was so disappointing.
My favourite prospect right now? Craig! Call him up already, damnit!
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Thank you everyone.
Carmen Cali it is. Never did see that mythical, Billy Wagner-lite velocity we were supposed to get out of him.
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
by the red baron on May 4, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Inside Chris Duncan's Mind
Hey I’m in the paper! I wonder what for?!?
Awwww.
…
I hate this fucking town.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on May 4, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
sex assault on a major sporting trophy?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Not only that
but I’m sure Bernies column “NL Defensive Ratings, left field” can’t be too flattering.
by Hardcore Legend on May 4, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Why?
As he pointed out recently Duncan is about league average by most defensive metrics. He isn’t a Gold Glover but he isn’t a Brick Glover either. He is what he is and if people are willing to accept Dunn, Manny, Soriano, etc. in LF because of their bats why not Dunc? He may not be quite as good as some of them offensively but he isn’t too far off IF he is healthy.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
my idle fantasy is that someday people will call Adam Dunn "a poor man's chris duncan."
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 4, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
additionally
while his slugging currently stinks… he is on pace for 118 runs
i don’t imagine he will get 118 runs (although that would be incredible)… but i definitely believe his slugging will improve
wow
that’s bizarro
that was meant to be reply for a post somewhere else in this thread discussing rasmus….
rasmus’ current slugging is crap, but he gets on and scores (current pace of 118)
actually, that was suppose to be a reply to your post at the bottom of this thread
or at least currently the last post
At the beginning of last season, some tried to point out that he was as good as Skip Schumaker in LF
It’s one of those, “I know what my eyes are telling me” situations where any metric is cast aside in the face of the anecdotal experiences of defensive miscues by Duncan. He looks clumsy out there, too, which doesn’t help.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Right
He looks clumsy because he is, his instinct’s suck but his athelticism allows him to stumble to balls he should have easily gotten. Skip on the other hand has great instincts but sometimes makes boneheaded catches or to me seems to get lost in the sun at the last second.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
I disagree...
Skip takes some of the worst routes in the OF I’ve seen (except for Ankiel, actually).
Maybe I'm seeing things
but most of the problems I see Skip having are in closing the deal once he gets to a ball. Though I can remember a few times I wish he had gotten a better jump. Meh, lets just say that Skip as a defensive replacement w/ Rasmus on the bench is about as stupid as putting Pujols in CF.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
last year
he turned a LOT of singles into doubles.
- "I went at it and didn’t slow down, so it kind of bounced off me." -Lil' Dunc
That's simply
because he’s not very fast. Angles matter, but if you’re so slow you’re cutting a ball off 10 steps in front of the warning track with the proper angle it’s not going to make much difference.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
that might be
seemed like he was also lining up poorly, as well – though part of that might have been trying to compensate for the lack of speed by shading into the gaps.
- "I went at it and didn’t slow down, so it kind of bounced off me." -Lil' Dunc
Duncan's career UZR/150 is about -8
That is over a pretty large sample size also. And he has been consistently in the -5 to -10 range every year.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
we talked a little about the unreliability of small sample sizes in defensive metrics.
bernie’s post seems to reinforce this, though he may not realize it.
He picks two different defensive metrics, the THT RZR stats and fangraphs’ UZR .
one thing that should jump out is that the two don’t reach particularly similar conclusions. conor jackson is the best LF in the league, by RZR, but has the WORST UZR/150 (a few tenths of a point worse than Dunn, who didn’t qualify for the Fangraphs list). Ryan braun is very good by RZR and at the low end by UZR.
I’m sure that some differences should be expected between defensive metrics, but they shouldn’t differ on whether someone is the best or the worst LF in the league. the most sensible answer is that the sample size is so small you can’t draw any clear answers.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Exactly
That is for this year, when we only have a 200 inning sample size to work with. There are obviously going to be some wacky results. However, in Duncan’s case, he has over 1500 innings (which is nearing the the point when UZR starts to become reliable), and each year he has had ratings between -5 and -10. Those number’s, combined with the “eye test” makes a pretty good argument that Duncan is a crappy defender.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
BUT -- importantly -- not nearly as crappy as lots of valuable LF.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
sure
If Duncan can continue his ~.390 wOBA this year, than he would still be a very valuable player. I was only arguing for UZR type metrics and against the notion that Duncan isn’t a crappy fielder.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
I really
don’t want the Cards to trade Dunc. Is there something wrong with me?
Classic underachiever.
Keep Duncan until his price goes up
By then the farm system’s bushel of OFers ought to be ready.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope
Ankiel is the one that needs to go.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
He has the most value
And Duncan is probably a little bit better than him.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
I thought for sure
this would be my first ever green comment.
/sigh.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
I find it hard to believe you've never had a green comment.
Is this true?
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
I'd like to have stats to back it up
but I have to be leading the blog in recs w/out greens.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
Fishing for rec's
I may have to de-rec
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 4, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
your welcome
It kind of sounds like he’s [Duncan] just running around like a puppy out there – full speed ahead in random directions. – BTown Birds Fan
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
Despite the suspension I'll stick with Deryk Hooker
Big frame, big K-rate, young so I can waste years looking at his stats=yay!
OTL: My Game Theory professor wasted so much time on the basic obvious stuff that in the past week, we’ve learned the entire content of the Game Theory semester in a different economics class. That’s one semester in one week, and it wasn’t pushing it.
Not afraid to nitpick
I still want to know what drugs he got busted for
After reading over the MLB contract the whole situation didn’t make any sense. No one gets a 50 day suspension on the first time. It is at least the 2nd time you get that one that high.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on May 4, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Deryk Hooker
Isn’t he an RBI program alum?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Some of my favorites
PJ makes the list just because I have always wanted to see how this stuff played in the bigs. So far not so good, but I hope he gets a second go-around, even if just in Sept. Gorgen interests me for some of the same reasons.
I like Hoffpauir too, but looks like he isn’t going to make it. I believe a big part of the appeal there was rooted in a desire to see us stop overvaluing Aaron Miles….i.e. I think Hoffpauir could pretty much do what Miles can do at a fraction of the cost. But that ship has sailed.
I like Jonny Bravo just because of the name. I think it would be flippin’ awesome to have Jonny Bravo coming in from the pen in the big leagues.
And Jon Edwards definitely makes the list. He shows power in his teens. That’s pretty darn rare, and I think he flies a bit under the radar as far as what he could potentially be. He’s going to strike out a lot, so he’s got a big issue to work through there as he advances. We have a lot of scratch off lottery tickets in the system….people that could fast track through some levels but offer a limited ceiling. Edwards is more of a Powerball ticket. Most likely you are only going to be able to dream about what could be, but if that ticket cashes it could be a huge return.
Honorable mentions are Adam Reifer, Niko Vasquez, & Richard Castilo
for reasons which are unclear to me, i became very interested in nick additon in the middle of last
season. no idea why.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Irrelevant to Cards Prospects
This has nothing to do with anything (except baseball) but it made me laugh. I love the Onion.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/outfielders_take_knee
you can't beat the one just before it though.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
i think my favorite is an old one.
in a list of famous MLB manager tantrums:
1990: During his younger, more wild days, Athletics head coach Tony La Russa steps out from the dugout, tells the umpire, “that was not a very good call,” and then steps back into the dugout.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
My favorite
It was just a headline, no accompanying article:
Dusty Baker to Reds’ talented young rookie pitcher: “Mwahahahahaha”
by Andyfantastic on May 4, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Pujols's herb garden is hilarious.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
There's an article in the new GQ
about Scott Boras’ training complex in which he states that the training done there has helped players like Jason Varitek play “successfully into their late 30’s”. I guess that depends on what you call “successful”:
- Playing good baseball and being better than league average at your position? OR
- Holding a giant guaranteed contract even though you can’t hit your way out of a wet paper bag?
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
By beating their nose with a newspaper every time they pee on the carpet
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
That used to hold water
Until Lester and Beckett got off to such middling starts this year.
He’s playing because they have no other options right now — I think Francona would bench him in a minute if he had someone at AAA that could hit.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
trade you steve hill for lester, straight up.
though, seriously, i bet he would hit and defend better.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
but there's a lot of them
who can hit .220/.313/.359 which was his line last year in 131 games. In fact, I think that a replacement level catcher could probably match that for $400,000 a year while Varitek moves into the dugout and puts the “C” on his pullover jacket.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
My heart is aflutter
SI’s John Heyman has proclaimed St. Louis the “real deal” in their question to win the NL Central while singing TLR’s praises and noting “complimentary threats” Ludwick and Ankiel while not giving props to Duncan. That settles it. I’m convinced. Onward to October!
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
We will be playing ball in Oct
Guaranteed!
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
good point
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Cue the traditional LaRussa 8 game losing streak!
by Hardcore Legend on May 4, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
It's not Octo--
Oh wait, in October, TLR clubs have 4-game losing streaks. To start out a series…
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
big z leaves cubs game with pull in his hammy.
running out a single — somewhere the steinbrenners add a tick to a list.
out at least one game.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
While this is true
they can take a tick off the list for Big Z’s being a triple short of the cycle his last game at the plate…
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Looks like Wonderbrad is on his way back up
Walters down, too. Per the Rotoworld side bar…
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
rotoworld says PK has "no fantasy value."
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I wouldn't say none
he does have some value to the person you are playing against.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 4, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Has Brad Thompson ever been on any fantasy team in any league ever?
I can’t imagine…
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
Yes...
the annual cellar dweller in my dad’s league took him last year because he thought his 2007 was a “coming out party”….LMAO
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Why didn't they just release him last time?
How many times do I have to see him get called up? He’s better than Kelvin Jiminez but not by much.
Tony should have gone 5 blades and called up Royce Ring.
by Hardcore Legend on May 4, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Im fine with Brad being called up.
As long as he has the same role as PJ – mop up.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
regarding the status of the bullpen, won't we have to make another move in a couple
weeks to rebalance the lineup? our first interleague series starts the 22nd against KC. I can’t imagine we want to start all four outfielders (imagining duncan as DH) and have tyler greene or brendan ryan as our primary PH.
if tony wants another week to shift the burden around inside the bullpen, ok (though we have two off-days in the next two weeks). i’m not getting terribly impatient, but we’ll HAVE to see somebody (craig? jay? robinson?) moved up and added to the roster. although I did see gordo advocating for stavinoha. which i guess is some kind of move. craig seems like a very solid choice.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
+1
Having Craig on the roster for interleague makes a lot of sense.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
DH/Pinch Hitter options
Has anyone been able to see Craig play personally? And if so, what can you tell me about this kid?
try this article.
i guess the other defense for waiting until later in the month is that the club may hope that mather or freese turns the corner in the next couple weeks, and they can call someone up without burning the extra roster spot.
They can’t call them up while they’re hitting below the mendoza line, obviously.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
they can...
but it wouldn’t be smart.
The other 40 man candidates are:
Stavinoha: .222/.326/.347
Hoffpauir.177/.246/.306
Yeah our 40 man guys suck atm.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
if we put somebody on the 40-man as a sub for an injured player, can we
then remove them from the 40-man w/o that player going through waivers?
e.g., we put glaus on the 60-day, and he no longer counts towards the 40-man. we promote craig. can we later take craig off when (if) glaus comes back? or does he have to go through waivers?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
has to go through waivers
at least that is how I beleive it is
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
is it the time yet
to summon Amaury?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
it may be time to put him in a package with puppy kicker to toronto. . . .
for . . . . well, something.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
.309/.387/.654 w/ 8 HRs in 21 Games 81 ABs in Mexico
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
I'd love it
if he got a September call-up and just brutalized the league.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
I'd love it
if he’d get a chance to play everyday in the states. At this point, I’m not sure what the whole point is.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
Me neither
Don’t see why he’s in Mexico again.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
ISO of .345 (!)
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
teh suck.
.139/.213/.222
also, freese: .182/.229/.394.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
damn
I was really hoping Freese would have an impact this year.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
I am not gonna look it up
because it might make me cry, but is Pagnozzi hitting better than Mather?
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Is Lohse really not hurt?
I know they said it was rain for why KMac was starting, but is it not a coincidence that Thompson would be starting at Memphis today if he wasn’t called up? Is Lohse hurt and they want to be able to make a game time decision on him?
Over/Under on Lohse’s IP today. Setting the mark at 5IP: Place your bets!
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
8 1/3
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
6 1/3
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
7 2/3
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Results are in
FAIL for everyone who took the over- looks like the house is on the take once again.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
tonight's lineup, per p-d
Skip Schumaker 2b
Joe Thurston 3b
Albert Pujols 1b
Chris Duncan lf
Ryan Ludwick rf
Rick Ankiel cf
Yadier Molina c
Tyler Greene ss
Kyle Lohse p
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
So long as Thursty continues to walk at an 11% clip, he can bat 2nd
But, when the month comes where his walk rate plummets, he should be relegated to no. 8.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
unless tyler green is still in the lineup
he should always bat 8th
gonna need more franklins to get through this one.
by hoofhearted-pujols on May 4, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
if we're going to get into lineup issues
should skip be our defacto leadoff hitter? I think he’s been penciled in as leadoff more than anyone else… yet his OBP is not very good so far. maybe thurston should lead off? he has a higher OBP… although it might be neat to see Colby or Duncan lead off
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm with ya on Colby
But I think Skip will come around.
And I say England's greatest prime minister was Lord Palmerston.
Eh, .337
This early in the season, I’m not too worried about his numbers. We’ve gone 17-8 with him putting up the numbers he has, most of the time in the leadoff spot. What I will say about what I’ve seen so far this year, I like his approach at the plate in the PAs I’ve seen. He’s not afraid to take a strike, and he works deep into counts. He’s third on the team in P/PA with 3.8. His BABIP is .034 below his career average. He’ll be fine.
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
it would be both hillarious and effective
to have baby dunc leadoff sometimes, cmon TLR, do it
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
why not just paint a big target on his chest?
or dip him in that “nacho cheese” you get at movie theaters and put him in a room full of cards talk posters?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I have no answer to that
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
His Slugging is even lower than that
He is the worst hitter on our team right now, and definitely shouldn’t be batting leadoff, until he starts hitting like he did last year.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
what I'm sayin
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
No Rasmus the night I'm going to the damn game.
I expect to see “Rasmus would have caught that.” in the thread everytime Ankiel bungles a catch. And if Duncan is out there in the 7th, I’ll be an angry robot.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
you'll just be there to see him hit pinch-hit walk off HR #2.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
His reward for killing that rally on Saturday
The bum
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
I am fully expecting Rasmus to start in CF Thursday
and have a 3 homerun day. I figure if I am gonna set myself up for disappointment in regards to his position, I will carry it over to the boxscore as well.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
The sidetrack from last week
Chuck lives to fight another Fall.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Ugh
I even fooled myself. The decision will be next week. Hollywood is worse than the Hot Stove with this stuff.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 4, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Sometimes I think...
shows like that (sort of off beat, or at least non-mainstream) should be on the WB (or whatever they call it these days).
Buffy or Supernatural would never have survived more than one year if it were on one of the big 4.
Does anybody have a link to tonight's game?
Flim, I’m looking at you.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
Rock on! Looks like a nice night for a game.
by BTown Birds fan on May 4, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
yes, color me jealous.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
congrats!
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 4, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
No idea where your seats are
but if anyone is at the game, I’ll be in the RF bleachers with a white STL cap and a Springfield Rasmus #4 t-shirt jersey.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
My wife is out in the bleachers tonight
I’ll tell her to keep an eye out for a robotic man keeping his binoculars (why would a robot need binoculars? Shut up stream of consciousness!) firmly tuned into Skip Schumaker.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on May 4, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I just read a great article on how to revamp the MLB Draft...
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9531418/How-to-make-the-MLB-draft-more-interesting
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
the problem with trading
is that then you almost have to do away with FA compensation picks. Why would you trade Santana to a team with the 16th pick if you can just hope that team signs him and you would get the pick anyway?
And what about teams like FLA that might trade the #1 pick in the draft, will that be allowed? Too many questions.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
Ah. I didn't think of that one. Well haven't the Yankees proven that you can buy your way around comp picks anyways?
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
Yes. Me too.
I think all of those ideas would be great except for the bit about picking from other teams minor leagues.
I thought that was what the rule V draft was for anyways.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
Who pitched last year when the Phillies scored roughly 20 runs off us at Busch?
We did come back and take the next two from then though.
When you cite Rasmus' OPS+
That is underrating his actual production because he has a high OBP and a low SLG. His wOBA is .336, which is slightly above average.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
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