Affirmation
by DanUpBaby on Sep 22, 2009 6:01 AM EDT
476 comments
Mark DeRosa's line since I called out his Cardinals performance as vaguely disconcerting: .313/.313/.938.
First: Yes, I will take credit for it. Second: That brings his seasonal line back up to .257/.326/.451. Gaining 20 OPS points in one day at this late hour is pretty impressive on its own merit, and it's important for the team this year, but Dan'n'Al have begun pressing down pretty hard on the resign-DeRosa pedal, and I can't say I buy it. Paying market value for Mark DeRosa so that he can stand at third all year is like signing, say, Mike Napoli and then installing him at DH; he's not a bad player there, but you're getting less out of him than his other suitors would.
One more year of DeRosa is far from the worst thing that could happen to the Cardinals next year, but signing him to play third base would be a (far cheaper, far less risky) Lohse move—they'd be paying full price for production that, at the high end, is a little bit above league average for the position. Teams that are not the Yankees can't afford to do that very often, and it seems like a waste of resources to do it at a position where the Cardinals have David Freese and Allen Craig ready to fight each other in Mortal Kombat for at-bats. Freese, by all accounts an above-average third baseman, finished his abbreviated AAA season with MLEs of .263/.317/.438; Craig, by all accounts not an above-average third baseman, had an MLE of .351/.400/.688, which is just awesome.
If Mozeliak and co. don't think either of those two can hold down third base in an average way for the remainder of the season, that's fine; but it seems to me that they're close enough to it that any prospective free agent signing ought to be more than, say, one win better when he's playing at his best. That's right: Nobody's quite so ecstatic about what he adds to the Clubhouse Chemistry man stew, but consider this my back-door, measured recommendation to see how Troy Glaus feels about a make-good contract.
Lohse also looked better, probably because he was item #2 on that same list, but the real eye-openers came courtesy of the bullpen. Motte's now struck out 13 in 9.2 scoreless innings, dating back to the end of August; in the same time he's walked three and, maybe most importantly, not allowed a single colossal, soul-crushing home run. If you were wondering, his career splits now look something like this:
| G | IP | H | ER | BB | K | HR | ERA | OBA | |
| April-August | 58 | 46.2 | 50 | 29 | 21 | 40 | 10 | 5.59 | .279 |
| September | 20 | 18.1 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 0 | 0.49 | .133 |
There's only one word for this kind of clutch performance, and I've had to invent it—Jeterian. Jason Motte had the presence of mind, upon having earned the closer's role as a rookie, to blow a series of games so that Ryan Franklin could not only be unhittable for several months but also give his young kids the excitement of an all-star week in St. Louis. Then, when the seasons changed and Franklin's luck ran dry (not everyone can be this good when it counts) he put it back together.
We can only hope that La Russa knows as much about putting your best foot forward in September as Motte does; in the meantime, I think it's obvious that Jason Motte is your 2009 AL MVP.
As great as it is to see Motte succeeding like he did exactly one year ago, I have to give just as much credit to Kyle McClellan, against whom I named myself chief runner-down sometime in the immediate aftermath of the Chris Perez trade. He's still not the pitcher he appeared to be in the first half of last season, and his control problems are still both real and almost entirely hidden by his weird ERA, but his walks have trended down and his strikeouts up since the beginning of August. He might not really be a set-up man, but for this team he's a reasonable facsimile.
Small sample sizes are hard to deal with, and it's tempting—it might even for the best—to just stop analyzing day-to-day reliever performance entirely. But that's the only kind of sample we have for these guys. The entire Jason Motte story, his incredible September and his disastrous April and the doldrums of summer, covers 65 innings; for Adam Wainwright that's a month and a half.
1 recs |
476 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Resigning DeRosa
Would be a good idea. But like you said it shouldn’t be to be our starting 3rd Baseman. I would love to have someone like DeRosa coming off of the bench.
by Evilfrog on Sep 22, 2009 7:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It depends...
on whether we sign Holliday or not. If we sign Holliday I don’t see Derosa getting enough playing time to justify the contract he would sign. If he does get that kind of playing time it would have to be at 3B, therefore at the expense of Freese/Craig playing time. The more I think about it the more I see Craig and Mather as near Derosa equivalents (minus the ability to play 2nd, which should be fine between Skip and Lugo). I’d much rather pay one or both of Craig and Mather league minimum than pay Derosa $6M+.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Evidently
the Cards do not think Craig can handle 3rd base on a major league level, otherwise they would have played him there some but he has played 3rd base hardly at all for at least the last year and a half. I can think of only several games this year.
Not what you would think of at all for the offensive prospect he seems to be. The Cards handling of Craig has been kind of a mystery to me.
by ridgesee on Sep 22, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know that I see that as much of a bad thing...
as I did at first. He provides pretty decent Holliday insurance. I still see him as pretty much a Derosa equivalent.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that was the point of the artical.
Freeze/Craig would cost less than 1M total. Derosa likely more than 5x that.
It’s hard to justify paying someone that much to play not as well.
It's official. Cardinals third basemen are jinxed.
by YesWeOquendo on Sep 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But he's a PROVEN VETERAN
/ESPN’ed
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He Cud Go...
…to the CUBS if we don’t re-sign him…
:=8(
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
by The MooCow on Sep 22, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And,
if we offer arbitration, we get a draft pick. I would love for the Cubbies to give him a 3-year deal or something insane like that. At his age, I’d be very hesitant to give him anything over one year. If the Cubbies do that, more power to them.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After last night...
and with a strong finish. I bet we’re looking at two draft picks.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope that you're right.
I didn’t want to jinx it. If we played the rest of our games at Enron, I’d be certain of two draft picks, because it seems like DeRosa pounds the ball in the oddly shaped mallpark.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I added that it would...
take a strong finish, so as not to tempt any fate-controllers.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty expensive
bench bat, especially with lugo or skip already there, depending on who’s tossing.
by spencegrif on Sep 22, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure he'd make a great bench player.
But he will comand a lot of money— too much to be allocated to a bench player. It would be like holding on to Wallace to back up Pujols. Sure, he make a terrific back-up, but he has more valued uses to other teams that need an everyday 1B.
The St. Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champions!
by Zubin on Sep 22, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are bench players and then there are bench players
He’ll get 400 ABs assuming a normal performance. I agree he isn’t a starter, but much more than a bench player like Thurston or LaRue. He’s more of a sixth man in basketball. I’d pay $10/2 for that.
Just win
by The Duke on Sep 22, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm in the
just offer him arbitration and see what happens crowd
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 22, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's my kinda crowd.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 22, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
no other decision even close to rational
luuuuugy is free and with the number of infield prospects in line, give the money to holliday and/or pinata
much better
"No matter where you go, there you are" Buckeroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension
by sportsman on Sep 22, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd say +2
but I guess we’re at +5 and counting in this subthread. One more to make it serious!
by nota bene on Sep 22, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting comments from Tony
From Matthew Leach’s article on MLB.com.
“I don’t think when Atlanta and Florida walked out of there, maybe even the Cubs, they thought we were really a tough club to pitch against,” manager Tony La Russa acknowledged. "First of all, I think we are potentially. Secondly, we have to be if we want to go very far.
“Because of the talent and the toughness that we’ve shown, even against pitchers like that, we should get more than we did.”
Tony like a lot of us has been really frustrated with the offense as of late and in a way it was refreshing to hear him speak the truth and not ignore the problems. Last night’s performance was much needed…let’s just hope it wasn’t just the once a week outburst and we drift back to 2-3 runs per game.
It was also good to hear Tony admit that this team won’t go very far in the playoffs only scoring 2-3 runs per game. I’m hoping they are seeing what some of the problems are and are trying to get them fixed with the remaining games in the regular season. Last night was a step in the right direction….against a pitcher that usually shuts them down even!
Great post btw Danupbaby
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
by KYCards on Sep 22, 2009 7:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In the radio broadcast last night...
Rooney said that McRae had said something along the line of
Pitchers aren’t trying to throw us strikes, and we’re chasing stuff out of the zone.
In other words, our hitters are TOO aggressive. Hopefully between this comment and TLR’s from last week we will see a bit more patience at the plate.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we're just setting them up for the postseason
watch a newfound patience emerge in a couple of weeks
by Expatcardfan on Sep 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are we going to see last night's lineup
in the future against LHP? It was pretty radical of TLR to put Skip in CF, but we did score 7 runs. Every field position player had a hit. We are a little weaker defensively though. I think the results merit another go.
Proud sponsor of the Official 2009 StL Cardinal theme song: Reason to Believe
by gocards62 on Sep 22, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't merit another go.
Skip should not play CF. EVAR. Especially in Enron, Coors, Philly, L.A., Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Angels Stadium, or Candlestick.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Polo Grounds. Also.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ebbets Field
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yellowstone.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
In the playoffs, we aren’t going to need spectacular defense out of our CF’er with Carpenter, Waino, and JP on the mound. If Raz and Ank aren’t going to hit lefties, AND Tony thinks Skip can/will, I’m all for him getting the start against the tough lefties. At the very least, right now, I have more confidence in Skip taking a “good” AB against a tough lefty than the other two guys.
Matt Holliday. Nuff said.
by SoonerfanTU on Sep 22, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In 278 PA
Skip has a .492 OPS against left-handed pitchers. The choice isn’t between a player who is a lesser defender but can hit lefties versus a player who can’t but is a great defender. Regardless of your confidence, none of our lefties have shown the capability of a “good” AB in that circumstance.
None of our lefties can hit lefties so pick the better defender. (Also, I think you are underestimating the value of a very good defender.)
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
by azruavatar on Sep 22, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
can't wait
for that new fielder tracking system mlb’s putting in place.
by spencegrif on Sep 22, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's going to be neat.
I wish they had it for MV3 Edmonds.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I think you could statiscally justify starting Ank against lefties (.582 OPS this year in 91 AB’s) over Rasmus (.426 in 100). Ank plays better CF D than Skip, too. I don’t see any reason for Skip to be in the lineup against any LHP at 2nd or in the OF. I still think Colby should be in the lineup last night unless he’s hurt. In the playoffs Ank might give you a better chance to win.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Statistically, Ank has been better vs. LHP, but his *better* OPS is .585 (!)
And, if I may bring some firsthand observation to the table, I don’t know that you can justify Ankiel stepping into a batters box these days. He looks worse than normal. I would still go with Rasmus and maybe bat him 9th for old time’s sake.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's looking forward to the Joe Mather era...
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 4:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Skip is probably the worst vs. LHP of all of them
At any rate, they’ve all reached a level of distinction where it doesn’t matter who is “better.” None of them have hit LHP worth a crap. Skip is the worst defender of the three, and to make matters worse he’s been playing 2nd all year so I doubt he’s sharp out there. The correct decision is to take the best defender and hope he does something at the plate, b/c then at least you’re getting something out of that spot.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that Skip has been trending up
Against LHP but I cannot figure out how/where to parse the data to confirm. It seems to me that he has been better in the 2nd half against LHP and given our struggles as a team and in particular (Rasmus & Ankiel) I am all for trying something different. Can anyone out there help me find a site where I can look at splits over a given time period?
"I learned a long time ago if you keep checking your stats all year, you're going to end up in the toilet." - Chris Carpenter, 2009.
by indakind on Sep 22, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't have time to look it up, but
www.baseballmusings.com has a day-by-day database that will let you do splits over a period of time, which is useful if you want to see how skip has done since an arbitrary date (IE 23 June).
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
by SleepyCA on Sep 22, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right
Forgot about that one. You are right that any date picked would be arbitrary. I’ll see what I come up with.
"I learned a long time ago if you keep checking your stats all year, you're going to end up in the toilet." - Chris Carpenter, 2009.
by indakind on Sep 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Normally I'd say that it'd be hard to play Skip in center at Candlestick these days
But honestly, I would never put any aspect of lineup creation past TLR. He’d figure out a way to do it.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just call the new stadium "Candlestick" because they change the corporate sponsor so often.
It’s easier that way.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not in favor
Of a DeRosa resigning either – mostly because I think we can get just as good or nearly as good production on the cheap at third, and certainly don’t think we need to plop down funds in a possible bidding war for a bench player. I think SuperJoe has simply inflated DeRosa’s value at third in the eyes of fandom, and if we can avoid a repeat of that next year, then it’s harder to value de Rose as high. Also, and just as important a point, that’s FA money that needs to be secured for better players down the stretch.
Plus, with any luck, we let DeRosa go and, in an attempt to appease those cubs fans who are convinced their season went down the drain just because DeRosa wasn’t there, Hendry signs another albatross contract to their payroll. :) Oh, and Sauce and McClellan aside, I really would love to see Lohse simply hold his own enough to put Smoltz in the bullpen come October.
Jeterian. That almost made me snort my coffee, which I think puts you, danny boy, in contention for AL MVP.
by Oedipa Maas on Sep 22, 2009 8:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
HENDRY
has to make it to this offseason first, new owners in town might now like the way Hendry makes the coffee and fires his ass
Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat
by DESTROYER on Sep 22, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hendry is gone.
I think the Bradley thing just sealed it.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 22, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i agree
This isn’t even a case of Holliday value now vs Wallace future value. At the very minimum, freese will outplay Derosa with the glove and hopefully he won’t embarrass himself with the bat. AT MINIMUM. At best, he’d shine with the glove and belt 20 hr while getting on base at a decent clip, all for a fraction of derosa’s cost. Signing the guy just doesn’t make sense. This is not even to mention a potential impact bat in Mr AC. Plus won’t Mather be that “right handed bat coming off the bench” if all else fails? Seems like derosa’s just too pricey for the mediocrity you’d get.
by spencegrif on Sep 22, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hate to carp on the "proven vet" thing
as I usually go along with the sarcasm that’s dripping from that phrase here, but Mather, Freese and Craig have proven nothing at the major league level. I am all for giving them a shot at the position (again), and hoping for the best.. Just wondering what will be out there next year come late July if the rooks stink it up again.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The rooks
didn’t really stink it up this year. They were hurt, hurt, deemed incapable of playing 3B, traded and Joe Barden.
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 22, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
derosa
hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire. he’s hurt, but the same was/is true of the “stinking rooks”
by spencegrif on Sep 22, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Hendry, Cubs, and big contracts:
With a new owner finally in place in Tom Ricketts, who hopes to pare a $140 million payroll by $40 million and create some semblance of a farm system, the time is right for a new front-office boss with fresh ideas to tackle the toughest job in baseball.
He doesn’t seem to think that Hendry is definitely getting axed, but sounds convinced that the payroll is coming down.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Sep 22, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd bet they want to pull a "Luhnow"
or whatever you want to call it. They need to rebuild their farm system.
I had to laugh at the fangraphs article about how Felix Pie is doing better now.
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
God if they have to cut $40M off payroll
They are so screwed with their many bad contracts only getting worst
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a great point.
According to the invaluable Cot’s, from 2009 to 2010, the Cubs are giving a few raises. Soriano gets a raise of $2MM. Fukudome gets a raise of $1.5MM. Dempster gets a raise of $4.5MM. Milton Bradley is due a raise of $4MM. Fontenot, Guzman, and Marmol will all get raises in arbitration. I’m not sure what Theriot’s status is. But, that’s an increase of $12MM in payroll. They would have to move a few players to clear $40MM in salary off of the 2010 books.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FAs
3M-Reed Johnson
7M-Rich Harden
~1M-Grabow
4.2M-Gregg
Yikes their payroll decreases by 3.2M and they have 4 spots to fill. And try to get better. There’s no way they could possibly slash 40M and remain semi-competitive.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
I did not include free agents and I should have. This really crustalizes how hard it will be for $40MM to come off the books, though. As you point out, they have spots to fill, which means that those salaries wiped off the books will likely come back on the books via the signing of free agents, unless Scales and Fox fill the OF holes.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
To cut 40M they’d have to find takers for something like Soriano’s remaining contract (chuckle), Bradley (chuckle) and Fukudome. Good luck staying competitive.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The hilarious thing,
is that Bradley will probably the best contract out of those three.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fukudome's probably is
He’d be overpaid somewhat but that’s right in the general range of what he’d sign at if he was a FA.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bradley's contract pays less per year and is shorter,
and he was an above average player for six years leading up to this one. Fukudome has been just below average for two seasons now.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milton Bradley
Is also super-volatile and apparently hates everything. And can’t handle media scrutiny.
And hates America (possibly actually, unlike Adam Dunn).
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he really hates baseball
he’s said he never had any issues till he started playing
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but the baggage Bradley has now is absurd
He’s been kicked out of 2 cities basically. He’d get an incentive laden deal I would imagine.
Fukudome has been pretty much dead on average this year so like ~9M.
Either way, there aren’t a whole lot of good contracts on that team.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well Bradley's going to get dumped on the first sap who'll take a bit of his contract
and may end up being a bit of a bargain. Methinks they’re going to have to swallow at least 10m of the remaining money, however. $5m/yr for Bradley could end up being a good deal for someone.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 22, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The dude did lead the AL in OPS in 2008
That seems worth $5M a year to me
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
guessing there are 14 AL GM's
saying “wouldn’t touch him with a 10 foot pole” while secretly praying they get a shot at him for that price.
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
by SleepyCA on Sep 23, 2009 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it wrong to like these posts?
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
comment completion fail
And use them to brighten the day of Cub fan friends?
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know they've already talked to Reed Johnson and John Grabow
Hoping to retain those two guys.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
to me, it seems like the best asset they have right now is randy wells.
playing over his head — will still be a decent pitcher, but at a peak in value. trade him, restock the farm with some nice pieces. sell high, buy low.
$40M seems almost impossible. you’d have to get a bunch of guys to waive no-trade clauses. and almost everybody has had a down year. you’d end up doing it by eating salary on four or five contracts. that would really get ugly in 2010.
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 Sep 22, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cubs might get a tad lucky with Bradley
his suspension may turn 2011 into an option with a $2m buyout. I hear there’s at at-bats clause but i can’t find it.
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
option year details
2011 may become $12M club option with $2M buyout if:
- Bradley has more than 75 days on DL in 2009, or
- Bradley is on DL at end of 2009 season with specific injury and not on active roster by 4/15/2010
Also, his salary is actually $9 mm in 2010 and $12 mm in 2011. I thought it was $10 mm each year.
by ubeddie on Sep 22, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Neither are applicable here
Thus the third year is guaranteed. Fits right in with the rest of the contracts on that team.
"I learned a long time ago if you keep checking your stats all year, you're going to end up in the toilet." - Chris Carpenter, 2009.
by indakind on Sep 22, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2011 turns into an option...
if Bradley spends 75 days on the DL in 2009 (hasn’t happened) or ends the season on the DL and does not return to the active roster by 4/15/2010. All of this information is from Cot’s. With the suspension, Bradley getting hurt is out of the question so 2011 will be guaranteed. That suspension is really hurting the Cubs…
by Jumsy on Sep 22, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Tonya Harding option
So, the Cubs would benefit if he returned to the team and suffered an injury that kept him on the DL past April 15, 2010……..
by madridbend on Sep 22, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thinking about it, I'm not sure it's even POSSIBLE for them to cut $40m payroll
it’s certainly very difficult. They’d have to trade nearly all their useful players (i.e. ones on non-albatross contracts) and I don’t see them getting a huge amount back for them.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 5:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is on the assumption...
that Mariotti knows what he’s talking about, and judging by the fact that he’s Jay Mariotti, that doesn’t seem likely to be the case.
"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 fourstick on Sep 22, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It's tragic when simply existing is enough to discredit your input
But that’s the place where Mr. Mariotti finds himself these days.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay so, Hendry has been horrible for the team, making bad move after bad move,
and the team needs to cut 25-30% of the dead weight payroll that Hendry signed. Isn’t cutting Hendry a good place to start?
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I propose some sort of Hendry/Ricciardi steel cage death match.
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 Sep 22, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tag team vs Minaya/Moore
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
With guest referee
Steve Phillips
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see Phillips in more of a michael buffer role
Let’s get ready to rumble!
by _pistol_ on Sep 22, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OH MY GOD IT'S ED WADE
ED WADE IS IN THE BUILDING
OH GOD HE’S JUST THROWN HENDRY THROUGH A TABLE
OH JESUS THE CARNAGE
RICCARDI TAGS OUT! SABEAN IS IN THE RING!
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
IT'S A STEEL CHAIR!!! JIMMY HART HAS DISTRACTED THE REFEREE, SOMEBODY STOP THIS!!!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
that should be green damnit
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait, is that....
IT IS! IT’S SABEAN’S MUSIC! SABEAAAANNN!!!!!
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 5:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would ask about Z
6ly.
If the Cubs want to cut salary, go after SP. With all the crappy contracts they have, you never know.
Proud sponsor of the Official 2009 StL Cardinal theme song: Reason to Believe
by gocards62 on Sep 22, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To repeat my response from a previous thread.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
agree with DanUp, signing DeRosa
Seems like a misallocation of resources to me. There’s too much downside here, including:
- age related decline
- injury questions
- his highest likely production is still around avg
- poor defensive range
- poor FA 3b market means more competition to re-sign him
- our limited resources means signing him makes it harder to sign our other FAs or take on midseason acquisitions
- opportunity cost: it becomes more difficult to find PT for the troika of Craig, Freese and Mather
Imerman Angels 1on1 Cancer Support - ask me more if someone you know is fighting cancer.
by airhad on Sep 22, 2009 8:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Kudos for the use of your vocab word of the day
“troika”.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would still offer him arbitration
but that’s probably as far as I would go. If we can keep him for a year while Freese and/or Craig to get used to the position, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing, and I just don’t see how his highest likely production is average. I mean, he’s playing injured! And he can still cream Wandy.
"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does all the work"
-Mark Twain
by Taskmaster on Sep 22, 2009 8:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Arbitration...
I wonder if last night’s game threw him into type A status. He was pretty close already. If he’s a type A you have to offer arby…if he’s a type B you better be pretty confident he won’t accept. If he accepts you’re looking at 1yr/$8M+.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Type A v B
Derosa is trending downward, so it might take a nice 10 day hitting streak to push him into Type A
Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts the person who “cracked the code” has him as of Sept 19th at 67.58 . As of July 25th Derosa’s ranking was 68.88.
The person DeRosa could overtake for Type A is Glaus who’s Sept 19th rank was the lowest 2B/3B/SS Type A at 68.13
by ubeddie on Sep 22, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I pray that DeRosa overtakes Glaus, because Glaus would almost assuredly accept arbitration.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i want Glaus back on the cheap
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
after last night...
I would think he improved his Elias number significantly (by significantly I mean maybe .5 points). Glaus’s shouldn’t go anywhere but down from here. I think surely Glaus will get knocked out of type A…the problem is Derosa has to leap over Tulo or Escobar to get to type A. That thing really needs to update daily.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if last night’s game threw him into type A status. He was pretty close already. If he’s a type A you have to offer arby…if he’s a type B you better be pretty confident he won’t accept. If he accepts you’re looking at 1yr/$8M+.
Actually, I tend to disagree. You find that Type A guys who are kinda “marginal” (i.e. not massive difference makers/stars) will find it harder to get signed to nice contracts because teams aren’t willing to part with a draft pick to sign them. This happened last year with Orlando Hudson – everyone was scared of the wrist, so no-one wanted to give up the draft pick plus a multi-year deal, and he ends up getting lowballed by the Dodgers. Also with Juan Cruz, I believe, who ended up getting signed by Dayton Moore anyhow (I suspect you can pretty much ignore anything Dayton Moore does, however).
DeRosa’s MORE likely to accept arby if he’s a Type A IMO because he’s more likely to get a bigger contract in free agency if he’s a type B – he carries less stigma then. Of course, it’s still a risk/reward thing – say he’s 80% likely to turn down arby if he’s a type B, then we get one draft pick most of the time, but only 40% likely to turn down if he’s a type A – the chance we get the picks is lower, but we get a first-rounder as well. It’s a potentially interesting “expected value” decision.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 5:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was my next question
The VEB pendum seems to be swinging him “sign him” to “don’t sign him” but no mention was made of arbitration. It would suck to get nothing out of this….
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing that scares me about Glaus
is if it takes him this long to recover from just shaving the muscle, how long will it take him to recover from the real surgery he’ll surely have this off-season? That contract would have to be very cheap and nearly all-incentive base for me to sign on.
by outraged on Sep 22, 2009 8:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Glaus is gone after this season...
…no real knowledge; just a hunch.
"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
by The Ol Goaler on Sep 22, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed.
and I won’t sweat it if he isn’t. Long live the youth movement!
by Oedipa Maas on Sep 22, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Glaus could be to third base
what Mulder was to the rotation.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pardon me
whilst I go hurl at the very mention of that guy who used to be good with the A’s…
"It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again." - Terence Mann.
by TurdFerguson on Sep 22, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was also good for us.
For a season. At least until Game 6 of the NLCS. After all, didn’t we only give up some kid named Danny or something? I mean, really, what MLB has a little boy’s name?
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we gave up Rich Harden
I could be remembering that wrong, though.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It always comes down to money
Re-signing DeRosa makes sense in a lot of ways:
- a hitter that compliments the skillsets of our big boppers a legitimate fielder at several positions
-
- a “good clubhouse guy” and anybody who can land a wife like that has some 6 luck that has to filter over to baseball somehow
-
But then we get to the real snag in this issue:
- We Can’t
-
- Afford Him
-
Look, I’d love to make my commute every day in a BMW 6-series. But the last time I checked, I had two perfectly good Saturns parked out in front of my house. Sure, the CD player doesn’t work on one, but they will both get the job done, as long as I don’t push either too hard.
The money that would go toward a long term deal with DeRosa is more likely going to be needed to over-pay at at least two other positions. Whether or not Mo decides to offer arbitration for the express purposes of recouping additional picks (an otherwise valid move) is both a separate issue and a considerable gamble in either direction.
It would be a different conversation if we didn’t have any legitimate internal alternatives, but we do. It would also be a very different conversation if we weren’t going to plop down a considerable sum of money on re-signing Holliday and/or acquiring/retaining a middle of the rotation starter.
But we also lucked out by getting the best player of his generation, someone whose services have come at a decided hometown discount to this point. We can’t afford to either:
- go super cheap on the rest of the roster past the eight-figure guys, or send a low-ball offer to Pujols because we already spent all of the money
-
The only other way I see this working out is somehow convincing DeWitt to spend a little more on this team. This team can make more money if it keeps getting into and going deeper into the playoffs, but that can only reasonably happen with the upfront investment. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll have to pay for those things that are most important to us, and judiciously use the rest of our resources as best we can.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
by Solanus on Sep 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Formatting fail
That’s what I get for trying to write a post on the blackberry on the way into work (in the passenger seat, thankfully for the rest of the cars around me).
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
by Solanus on Sep 22, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not one, but two saturns? oh solanus
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm trying to maintain my streak of not having a girlfriend
The things you have to do to respect the streak. If you believe that it works because you’re getting laid, or because you’re not getting laid, or because you wear women’s underwear, then you ARE!
Not that I’m wearing oh so comfortable women’s underwear …
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
by Solanus on Sep 23, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does a garter belt by itself count as "underwear"?
It might just be an under-accessory.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 23, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's the definition I'm using
So, no, I’m not wearing women’s underwear.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
by Solanus on Sep 23, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 23, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the Cards can't re-sign Holliday...
(and look for the Mets to throw barrels of money at him, if the Wilpons aren’t broke), then what about re-signing DeRosa as a 3B/LF combo?
Financially speaking, I can see the Cards keeping one of the FA trio of DeRo, Holliday, and Piñeiro… but not all three.
"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
by The Ol Goaler on Sep 22, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like this idea, if Holliday cannot be resigned
I also believe Tony could have a “field” day moving DeRosa/Schumaker/Freese—Craig around the field as well
by BCinVA on Sep 22, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believed that Holliday was the first domino to fall.
But, doesn’t Boras tend to wait out the market and plant false stories in the press? It could be drawn out and alternatives may be gone by the time Holliday signs with a club.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's the thing though...
from a financial standpoint, I agree – I can see them getting one of the three… but I’ll go one further and say that I don’t see why we can’t resign Holliday by letting the other two go.
Personally, I’d offer DeRo and Joel arb and let them walk – they’ll get better deals than that elsewhere. I’d love to have DeRo off the bench, but someone will pay him to play full time. And as others have stated, we’ve got in house folks to compete for 3rd next year. And as awesome as J-1000 (the cybernetic organism sent from the future to induce groundballs everywhere) has been for us, we’ve got serviceable pitchers to take his place, too.
by A1R3Z on Sep 22, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree on arbitration.
For each of them. Especially Pineiro.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the problem with that is...
that Mather and/or Craig are likely equals to Dero as 3B/LF combos, and cost 80%+ less combined. I really like Dero, but resigning him to block Mather/Craig/Freese just doesn’t make sense.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will wait and see how things shake out.....
Before deciding on how I feel about resiging DeRosa. When that trade initially went down, I figured you had to try to resign him, or at the very least, offer arbitration in hopes of picking up some draft picks.
None of us know what the owners have decided to do about overall team payroll going forward. At some point, it needs to make a fairly substantial jump up, in order to keep us competitive. I kind of assumed we’d make a run as resigning Ankiel, but I read over at mlbrumors yesterday that the prevailing thought is that we let him walk. That will clear up a couple of million dollars to go elsewhere. And with youngs arms like Garcia, Boggs, and Hawk showing that they are likely ready to contribute at the MLB level next year, that helps will finances as well.
I also think there is a possibility that we shop Skip in the offseason, OR move him to the 4th OF spot. We have a few MI bats that will need to get on the field. Ryan, Lugo, possibly Greene. I guess if we resigned DeRosa, you could add him to that list (as a 2B). If Freese is for real, I wouldn’t mind doing just that, start Freese at 3B, DeRosa at 2B, and Ryan at SS, with Lugo as the primary backup, and Skip backing up both the OF and 2B.
And this all depends on Holliday. If we resign him, obviously, money gets tighter. If we don’t, we’ll almost certainly need DeRosa’s bat. Maybe in LF.
Matt Holliday. Nuff said.
by SoonerfanTU on Sep 22, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was going to add.....
IF we make the WS this year (not trying to get ahead of myself), what better time to raise payroll than coming off a stretch of seasons where we made the WS 3 out of the last 6 years. AND with a new stadium? Funds should be available.
Matt Holliday. Nuff said.
by SoonerfanTU on Sep 22, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know you didn't mean to get ahead of yourself
But you should still pray for mercy from the GOBs when making such postulations.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GOBs are currently sending a tornado into downtown STL
And the stadium and its financing was probably insured by AIG.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 22, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to disagree on shopping Skip...
and definitely not bumping him to 4th OF. We don’t have any MIF’s that look like locks at the big league level. Hoff, Descalso and Greene may all turn out okay, but I’m not ready to turn the position over just yet. I like the MIF as it is currently constructed Ryan and Skip/Lugo platoon with Lugo as the backup SS. I’m not sure that Hoff makes it through the offseason as a Cardinal (rule 5?).
As for Dero, at the time of the trade our 3B situation was a MESS. Freese and Mather were still injured, and Craig had been slumping (and playing LF). Since then Freese got healthy and mashed, Mather got healthy (why isn’t he with the team?) and Craig turned it around. Now 3B looks like a spot with a lot of depth, and Dero looks expendable.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hoffpauir is on the 40-man roster.
So, unless they remove him, he won’tmbe eligible for Rule V consideration.
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 22, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's a very distinct possibility
that he gets removed with Descalso, Skip, and Greene in the organization.
"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 fourstick on Sep 22, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I haven’t looked at the breakdown in a while, but I know that the 40-man roster cup is going to be overflowing. Hoffpauir may not have enough value-weight to keep from floating to and off the top. Besides that I’m not sure that he would stick with the claiming team…though I am confident he would be claimed.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hoffpauir would be a good fit in somebody else's club as a backup 2b.
he has no role on the cards squad.
if you don’t get called up in September when you’re healthy and 26 or older, you don’t really belong on the 40-man.
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 Sep 22, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thanks for the Motte jinx
P-D should be all over it by mid-day.
It happened on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1982.
by Glenn Brummer stole home on Sep 22, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Motte Reverse Jinx
It’s an arbitrarily selected, tiny sample size. There is no reason whatsoever to expect Motte not to regress to Opening Day form, perhaps as early as tonight. If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on this future occurrence.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was bringing heat last night
From my view in the seats. The stadium boards weren’t showing his mph’s (or Lohse’s or McClellan’s) but it looked serious.
Anyone remember what he was throwing ATG?
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The FS MW gun had him at 98, if I remember correctly.
But, he’s been bringing the heat for most of the summer. I don’t think an increase in speed is the reason for his recent string of solid outings.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right.
I live in Houston so I don’t get to see him throw that much in person.
He also looked like he was spotting the ball too. Had 1st base seats so I didn’t get a good side-to-side look. Though, again, it was the Astros who had just been told to close up shop for the season via Cooper’s firing.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 22, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he was at 98 in the Cubs game too
by OCCardsFan on Sep 22, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was at...
97 and 98 on Sunday night (according to the stadium gun). The thing I was most impressed with that night was Boggs velocity (according to the stadium gun) being at 97 and 98 also.
by Jumsy on Sep 22, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he's added back 2+ MPH...
in his recent outings. Seems like he was sitting at 94-95 and touching 96 a lot this summer. Now he’s sitting 96-97 and I think may have hit triple digits on the homestand.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe he likes cooler weather?
But I guess that wouldn’t explain April, unless you include early-season jitters as a reason for suckage.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually outside of the opening day game...
he was quite good in April…9 IP in 10 games with 1 ER on 4H and 1BB while striking out 7. He was also quite good in May 11IP in 12 games 2ER, 6H, 3BB and 11K’s. From June to August 23rd he was pretty bad…he got four days off and has returned to his Spring form since August 28th.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
98 sounds faster than he had been pitching
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 22, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BEHOLD! A PERTINENT GRAPH!
Looks like he threw the fastest fastball of his career in his last outing.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, I swear I was at a game in Sept 2008 in which I saw him hit 101 on the stadium gun at Busch
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at that game too
I think it was a franklin implosion game that we finally won on an Izturis sac fly.
I ruined a perfectly good hat that game.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds about right.
How did you ruin your hat? Beer shower?
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Franklin pissed my off one too many times
and I threw it down in a fit of rage. It landed in someone’s unfinished nacho cheese. The stain never came out.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe that stains improve sports clothing
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I replied to this but I got SBN'ed
I said something to the same effect. Now you have a story to tell.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
versatility
The return we got in DeRosa has obviously been limited by his injury; it’s also been limited by the fact that we’ve had to stick him at 3B for most of the time he’s been in St. Louis. For other teams, DeRo has been more valuable because of his ability to play a number of positions, in a competent (if not outstanding) fashion.
But the versatility I’m talking about relates as much to Ryan Ludwick as it does to DeRosa. One possible advantage in resigning DeRosa is that it allows the team to have Freese, Craig, and Mather compete for one lineup spot next year, and stick the winner either in RF or at 3B (with DeRo at the other position). Ludwick becomes the tradeable commodity — allowing the team to either restock the farm or fill some hole, and givnig the team a decent chunk of salary relief
by tdawg on Sep 22, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
which means you're trading DeRosa for Ludwick and PTNL
no thanks.
by Oedipa Maas on Sep 22, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it obviously depends on what you are getting back
which wouldn’t be a PTBNL
by tdawg on Sep 22, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously,
very few players are untouchable. And I don’t think Ludwick is one of those untouchable players. However, he is a highly skilled defender and a good hitter. He is a low-cost player, as well, which provides great value. I would not keep DeRosa over Ludwick, especially given their respective ages. To trade Ludwick, it would have to be a very good package. I would much rather extend Ludwick with a 3-year deal than trade him for, say, a vetern righty reliever.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
meh
You actually sort of convinced me, even though I think we could get more for Lud than a reliever. I also wasn’t taking into account the draft pick(s) we will get if DeRo walks. Really, the quesion (if we are choosing between these two), is DeRosa plus whatever can be received for Ludwick vs. Ludwick plus the draft picks.
by tdawg on Sep 22, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely
That is the question. And I may be a bit more worried about DeRosa’s production moving forward because of DeRosa’s age than you are. It would depend on the package for Ludwick, but I feel that our Major League roster looks pretty locked in, provided we re-sign Holliday (a big assumption). I’m much more interested in getting some draft picks to replenish the system after The Trades of ’09. Preferably with some college-aged closers that throw heaters.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
all makes sense
and you are probably right that 2 years of Ludwick is worth more than 2 years of DeRosa (although I think, with the raise Ludwick will be due, the money will be a wash).
The original thought that got me going on this was that keeping Ludwick and not DeRosa means that one of the Craig/Freese/Mather troika needs to work out as a starting 3B, whereas keeping DeRosa and trading Lud means that one of them (or Jay or Jones) can make the team either as a 3B or in RF, with DeRo playing the other position. That kind of flexibility might not be worth a whole lot, but it is worth something.
by tdawg on Sep 22, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The flexibility is valuable.
The other way of looking at that, though, is through the LF lens. Holliday might not be coming back, which means Ludwick is needed. You can then gain the flexibility in regards to LF and 3B that you discussed in regards to RF and 3B, which I fear might be needed.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also think Luddy might be...
a hair bit cheaper than Dero – especially on a one year deal…FWIW.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Think..
…that the Holliday signing is paramount, and then it comes down to either Jo-el or De-Rosa. Edge to Jo-el: we need a solid 3 some for the Cards to really cowpete. I love what Mark the Rose has done for our team, but for next year he will be moore of an expensive luxury – I’m all for getting it if we can, but we probably won’t be able to afford all 3. I’d rather sign The Rose to man 3rd over a make-good Glaus contract.
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
by The MooCow on Sep 22, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Didn't Rotoworld say the other day that Pineiro is looking for a Lohse contract
Do we really want the risk of 4 years of Pineiro to go along with 3 years of Lohse?
I’d be concerned (or cowcerned) about taking on that contract. Much rather spend the money on Holliday and Pujols.
by OCCardsFan on Sep 22, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, we don't.
Of course, I didn’t think we needed the risk of 4 years of Lohse.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What About
3 years? Or 2 w/ an option at 3? It’d be nice to have 3 set starters through 2012…
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
by The MooCow on Sep 22, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think spending...
another 10M on SP is a wise move. You are going to have Boggs, Hawksworth, and Garcia all competing for spots in the rotation, along with Lynn and possibly Miller in the next 3 years. Locking another SP will eventually block the younger players. I say no to Pineiro but I am open to bringing Smoltz back or bringing Sheets in on an incentive laden deal.
by Jumsy on Sep 22, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: I don't really follow Pop news but...
I am just reading this story about how Jessica Simpson’s dog was picked up taken away by Coyotes right in front of her. That is kind of messed up.
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They were rescuing
that dog.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This just sounds like the butt of a really cruel "purse-dog" related joke....
"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 fourstick on Sep 22, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A DING TOOK MY BABY!
oh wait, it’s not a dingo…
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh wait. I don't have a baby....
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another OT:
Has anyone recieved the email about buying post season tickets?
"The almighty tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he’s pretty sure you’re screwed" Albert to opposing pitchers.
by swmofan on Sep 22, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It somewhat concerns me that I have not heard anyone win tickets
Especially out of all of us or any of my friends
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Years past
they informed you when you didn’t make it, too. That is what is odd to me.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Site says....
on or about the 21st. Don’t they go on sale tomorrow.
"The almighty tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he’s pretty sure you’re screwed" Albert to opposing pitchers.
by swmofan on Sep 22, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, But they should of informed people yesterday
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone in last night's gamethread
said that they were notified that they won. Don’t recall who it was, though.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Sep 22, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is disconcerting.
Because it means that I probably did not win.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they were being facetious
And I’m pretty sure you’ll get an email letting you know if you didn’t get one. I got my “thanks for trying” email from the Rockies yesterday.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
by TNTinCO on Sep 22, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of which
I’m going to the Cards-Rockies game on the 27th at Coors. Anyone know who’s scheduled to pitch on Sunday?
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wellemeyer
find me under the fan voices section for the st. louis rams
by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 22, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
jk
assuming they follow schedule, it would be lohse.
find me under the fan voices section for the st. louis rams
by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 22, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wapischh...
(smacking fang in the back of the head).
Should be Lohse
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So there's another day off this week, yah?
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yessir
find me under the fan voices section for the st. louis rams
by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 22, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really????
That sucks, if there’s no sarcasm there. Is that just to save the other arms for ….. ok, saw below b4 I had to finish my thought.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm going to all 3 games this weekend.
see ya there.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
by TNTinCO on Sep 22, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Section 145, with my kids and some people from
the kids’ school.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I only know Friday's seats for sure
Sec 133, row 8 (prob best seats I’ve ever had at Coors).
Sat somewhere on 3rd base side. They’re comped from the Rockes VP of PR, so I think they’ll be ok. Sunday, just winging it with scalpers most likely.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
by TNTinCO on Sep 22, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, got it
Posted on it below accidentally. Think I’ll try for NLCS and hope we get there.
"But as the leadoff guy that inning, my job is to get on base and let guys drive me in." - Albert Pujols 8/20/09, base-clogger.
by lightbulb on Sep 22, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you sign up for that at a later time?
I forgot to even get in the running. If you haven’t given your e-mail by now, is it too late? Or do they do everything over again for the NLCS?
by saladdays on Sep 22, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got my email about 20 minutes ago!!!
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Sep 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lucky man.
Congrats!
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thanks
in line now to buy a powerball ticket.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Sep 22, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW, how does it work?? HELP!!
My first time “winning”. Obviously, we don’t know yet if we’ll have home-field or not, and that will influence which game you get. So, for example, If I buy four tickets to NLDS Game 3, but we end up being the home team of that series, does that mean I get game 1? I need to know, since I can’t go the Oct. 8th game of NLDS. HELP!!
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Sep 22, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Breathe
It’ll be okay. Not sure if you will have your choice of specific games since no one knows yet which games will be the home ones for the Cards. I imagine you will be able to choose NLDS or NLCS, but probably not much beyond that…nonetheless, you’re in there!
"But as the leadoff guy that inning, my job is to get on base and let guys drive me in." - Albert Pujols 8/20/09, base-clogger.
by lightbulb on Sep 22, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
too many exclamation points I guess...
not panicking but, excited nonetheless. I guess since there’s a potential conflict for me, I should just go after NLCS tix and cross my fingers/toes/arms/legs
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Sep 22, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Allow me to explain
You can chose Home Game 1, 2, or 3 for the division series
Home game 1 will be game 1, if we have home field advantage. Home game 1 will be game 3 if we don’t.
Same way for NLCS, but home game 4 will be game 7 if we are home team, and it will be an automatic refund if we are not home team (or don’t make it that far)
make sence?
by salukihoops on Sep 22, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Concise and Clear
Thank you Saluki.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Sep 22, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just got this E-Mail
Dear Cardinals Fan,
Thank you for registering for a chance to purchase tickets for the Cardinals Division Series and League Championship Series. Unfortunately, your entry was not selected.
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah just got mine too
"The almighty tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he’s pretty sure you’re screwed" Albert to opposing pitchers.
by swmofan on Sep 22, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Same heres.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got my ticket FAIL email today
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
paring payroll
starting with eight players and $111 committed. Good luck getting rid of some of the contracts. Maybe they’ll wait until next August and try to pull off a Rios with someone like Big Z. Bradley on the other hand is on the books for two years and probably $8 of his $10 mm each year when they do cut ties with him.
by ubeddie on Sep 22, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
reply fail
this was to go way way way up the page. browser failure, nothing to do with user
by ubeddie on Sep 22, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got one this morning around 10:30--check your email again
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
I was “not selected” but I can guarantee a spot by putting a deposit down on 2010 season tickets!!!!
Do you think the Pirates run that scam on their fans and, if they do, how well does it work?
"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 fourstick on Sep 22, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
While I was in Pittsburgh last season...
I went to 4 or 5 games. This year, I received at least 5 calls from the Pirates asking if I wanted to purchase any tickets at all for the season.
by Jumsy on Sep 22, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have received the email
9:58 this morning
by _pistol_ on Sep 22, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the Cardinals should...
take the same approach that the NCAA does with their final four tickets. You pay for the tickets up front and are entered into the drawing. 3 months later the drawing takes place. Losers get their money refunded, while winners get tickets. The Cardinals could sellout every playoff game in April, and have money from many people who would not end up getting playoff tickets, and earn interest on all of that money for 5-6 months. That kind of income could really expand the payroll.
by Jumsy on Sep 22, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe MLB controls which teams are allowed to sell post-season tix
Season ticket holders get an invoice in August or so when the team gets the green light. Unplayed games (playoff or otherwise) get credited to next year’s tickets (or they’ll cut you a check). So they have something like that working already.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Sep 22, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't re-sign derosa for anything more than 1 year 6 million
Allen craig is going to be the MVP of baseball next season; his MLE’s prove it
"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister
by VolsnCards5 on Sep 22, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't you mean,
the 2009 AL MVP? His numbers down the stretch for Memphis have been Jeterian.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
all of baseball
create a new award, they would….whoever they is
"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister
by VolsnCards5 on Sep 22, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Derek Jeter Award for Doing All the Little Things.
DJA-DALT for short.
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 Sep 22, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there's nothing little about minka kelly
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Postseason Tickets
Anyone else win the postseason lotto? I won for the first time ever, woot and whatnot! Maybe “won” isn’t right…got the right to pay money for exciting games…Guess that’s a win.
"But as the leadoff guy that inning, my job is to get on base and let guys drive me in." - Albert Pujols 8/20/09, base-clogger.
by lightbulb on Sep 22, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whoops, missed the thread
"But as the leadoff guy that inning, my job is to get on base and let guys drive me in." - Albert Pujols 8/20/09, base-clogger.
by lightbulb on Sep 22, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My sister won.
in my world that equals me getting a ticket. looks like a trip to STL is in my future.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
by TNTinCO on Sep 22, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
DeRosa
Take DeRosa back if he’ll go for a really short, team-friendly deal. He’s simply not good enough to justify a longer contract, especially considering his age and the money this team will need to save to go after Pujols and probably Holliday.
As was said earlier, DeRosa’s value has been shortcircuited. He’s a valuable player b/c he’s a good bat who can fake 5 positions. He’s most certainly NOT a 3rd baseman either based on his SSS UZR or pure “watching him play” factor. If the Cards resign him to a large contract to play 3rd, they are making a mistake. I mean, they can look north-east and see a particular blue-clad squad that has hamstrung itself with a bunch of silly contracts. The Cards could very well do the same thing if they’re not careful.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whatever Mo does, I doubt DeRosa gets a _large_ contract
Holliday, however, I dunno….
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree on the utility value
Just because we have to use him solely at 3rd this year doesn’t mean that is how he’d be used next year. He could certainly fit the jack of all trades role that suits him best for us next year. I would probably just offer him arb, though, and deal with whatever happens.
by Merry CRasmus on Sep 22, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Type A
Anyone know what kind of production DeRosa will have to have over the next two weeks to move into the Type A ranks? I would think that would make a big difference — both in driving down the number of potential suitors and the price they would pay, and in the Cards’ assessment of the “cost” of not resigning him.
by tdawg on Sep 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
not much. i checked the most recent listings. he was a hair under glaus at third.
glaus was a type A at the last calculation, derosa a type B.
he could easily make it to be a type A. we won’t know for sure until the end of the season.
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 Sep 22, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldn't one more game like yesterday do it?
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm thinking so; also, though the scheme doesn't penalize players for being on the
dl for (i think) 90 days, glaus has burned that time. so everyday he doesn’t play, his numbers sink. i’m almost sure glaus will end up type B; i think it’s on a curve, so his sink may lift derosa’s boat — not sure 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
by tom s. on Sep 22, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Danup what are you looking at to get the MLE for Craig?
Minorleaguesplits has his AAA MLE at .278/.319/.440
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is what I am saying
I doubt Craig would put up a 1.088 OPS in the Majors
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah,
I found it a little suspect that his MLE was better than his ’09 AAA stats.
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 22, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I find myself wondering if this is a sarcasm fail?
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is a pretty nice line
For a first year player. I can’t imagine that DeRo’s projection for next year is that much higher.
"I learned a long time ago if you keep checking your stats all year, you're going to end up in the toilet." - Chris Carpenter, 2009.
by indakind on Sep 22, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that was his MLE for one month, July I think—
I’m a little busy right now so I can’t check (I shouldn’t be reading the comments, for that matter) but that’s what I meant to type.
by DanUpBaby on Sep 22, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That MLE is probably similar to what we'd expect from DeRo next year
and if we assume their defence is basically a wash, it’s kind of hard to think there’s much point extending DeRosa (DeRo’s ZiPS going forward is .273/.333/.424). Also, whilst DeRosa might have a nice comeback year if the wrist surgery works out, there’s also a real chance it could sap his power, and you’d have to think that he’s on the downslope of his career whilst Craig is on the up (and finished the season at AAA much stronger than he started it). Throw in Freese and Mather and it’s hard to see what value DeRosa offers next year, excepting his teamy-ness, which I don’t think is worth $6m+.
Spend the cash on Holliday and the pitching. Our back of the rotation and bullpen look our biggest weaknesses next year, and I feel we need one more starter (Smoltz pleeeeease!) and a reliable RHRP (Calero ideally, but Springer or Hawkins or someone would do), which is surely going to cost ~$10m. If we’re spending 16 or 17m/yr on Holliday, that’s basically the money spent.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shameless plug to My Year in Review
Pineiro vs. Bazardo tonight? We are at least two games away from clinching. I’m pumped…..
Sponsored by Slick-Rick 'Stache Cream
by The_teague on Sep 22, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Forgot the link
Sponsored by Slick-Rick 'Stache Cream
by The_teague on Sep 22, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well Done, Sir.
A rec for you
Don't ping my cheese with your bandwidth.
by RosevilleRedbird on Sep 22, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What if Operation: MWN fails?
Holliday could easily increase his salary by $5M per year by leaving St. Louis. It seems like the stage is set for an Mets/Sox bidding war on him, and if he does go to free agency we will not be able to compete with other offers (nor should we). If he goes, does Craig become the favorite for LF? Does Dero get resigned automatically? Glaus has been left out of this thread almost entirely, but what would his contract have to look like to make him a worthwhile pickup?
Freese and Craig have both put together excellent seasons in AAA and project as decent players in the majors going forward. Between them and Mather, I think it’s possible that we could survive missing out on all three of Holliday/Derosa/Glaus. Of those three, Holliday should be the first priority, but he’ll be the most expensive by far, and despite talk from the FO, I’m really not sure if they will pay the man (and they shouldn’t if his demands are too high).
Derosa is an awesome guy, and I would love to have him back just for the things he brings to the larger man stew, but if he seeks a contract more than 6-7M per season I think the risks are too great and the reward too small. Glaus could definitely be a bargain on a make-good contract of 3-4M with 5-6M worth of incentives.
What about Pineiro and Smoltz? If we increase Pineiro’s salary by $1.5M per season and offer him a two year deal with a 12.5M option, does he accept that? He has been said to be seeking “Kyle Lohse money”, but I assume he has seen what happens to pitchers who made good in STL and then left, and just as the Dunc gaveth to Suppan, Looper, Weaver etc., the departure made them all into below-average starters once again. Smoltz is the opposite, a self-made man with excellent skills but frightening health issues. There is no way we can count on him for more than 100 to 150 innings next season, but if we give him a similar contract to the 5.5M plus incentives that he received last offseason, he could be a good deal.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Then we should have baked more pies.
I will blame myself.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As will the rest of us.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who knows, he might like pie.
Hopefully not money pies though.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 22, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
100 dollar bills baked into the crust?
Sponsored by Slick-Rick 'Stache Cream
by The_teague on Sep 22, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Money pies?
Wow. You are a shoo-in for the award for “Best X-rated catch phrase of the year”. Hopefully now the BBWAA isn’t dumb enough to give that to Jeter too.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
by all4tookie on Sep 22, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 2009 BBWAA "Best x-rated catch phrase of the year" nominees are:
Cardfanintherock — “Money Pie”
Derek Jeter — “Deep in the Gap”
Mark Teixeira — “Switch Hitter”
And the award goes to…
Derek Jeter, “Deep in the Gap”!!!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
C'mon, c'mon...
Jeter’s best was clearly “In the two hole”
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
by all4tookie on Sep 22, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But the BBWAA has this thing where they don't like having consecutive winners if they can help it.
I think “In the Two Hole” won in ’06.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I didn't mean consecutive. Blah.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Definitely
That’s the exact phrase that was used to describe the Cards’ chances at winning the World Series at the end of the regular season.
by splhcb67 on Sep 22, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly I was not even considering the sexual innuendo possibilities.
Also sad is that I have no idea if you’re giving me crap or being serious. I try to avoid going there but I guess I’ll have to check urban dictionary to figure it all out.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 22, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
f'in fritz
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm...
all good points. I’m not sure I like the $$$ in any of your scenarios. Derosa and Glaus have varying degrees of risk, and I’m not sure that either can be considered a significant upgrade over what we have at Memphis. Your numbers are probably more realistic than the ones in my head…though I think you might get Smoltzy cheaper than that. $3.5M with $500K incentives at 80, 90, 100, etc…He’d be a $9M pitcher at 180 innings.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Operation MWN cannot fail
It never fails. When it seems to not have worked, it is because that person is an evil person who hates America, the Arch, toasted ravioli, America, dogs, his mom, baseball, and of course….
…pie. And America.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would actually LOVE to trade for Bradley
We could litterally get him for nothing, and he’d likely be a very good player.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 22, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well his complaints about the media & fans wouldn't fly in the STL
if he can’t play & be happy there, he can’t play & be happy anywhere
i still don’t want him, he’s very talented, but way too much of a head case for me
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure the Cubs and the media drove him to be such a dick this year
by vivaelpujols on Sep 22, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but what about Cleveland?
what about San Diego?
neither one of those towns are hard to play in, and he had issues there. in fact he had problems in LA & Oakland too. like i said, he’s very talented, but no thanks.
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BUT HE WOULD DESTROY AMERICA WITH HIS ANGER AND SULLYNESS
The Arch would probably crash.
More seriously, I don’t see he and LaRussa coexisting, and I’d be stunned if TLR wasn’t back next year.
Bradley has fallen off a bit this year, but his performance is NOT what is ruining that team, nor is NOT having DeRosa. He’d be an effective player when he was on the field (and who knows how often that would be) but it’s simply not going to happen.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On a related note
I have to say that Bradley may have a difficult time finding work next year. The Cubs will probably offer him up for a bag of baseballs, and no one will even take that. He’s been whacked around like a pinata by the Chicago media and handled it anything but well, which only made them whack him around more. I mean, Oakland again maybe? I don’t even know.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldn't be the worst backup plan
If he’s basically free it’d be worth a shot with the more positive leaning fans, plus the implied fact that Pujols will own your soul if you fuck up.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bradley
classic “careful what you wish for” situation.
If he could come here and just. shut. the. fuck. up. and. play, it’d be great. He won’t. His on-base skills are not worth the distractions and bullshit.
Plus, he is unable to hit for power in Wrigley Field. Isn’t that a red flag?
by nota bene on Sep 22, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he would relish playing for the Cardinals at Wrigley field
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, here's the problem though
Were those distractions (which I agree exist) what made A-Ram’s shoulder fall apart? Were they what made Soriano hurt himself and hide it for several months? Did they hurt Lilly’s arm and make him miss a few starts? Did they make Marmol forget where the plate was and make Gregg bad? Is he the cause of that black hole at 2nd? Did he make Soto eat his way out of a productive season?
I don’t know the degree to which Bradley has “distracted” his teammates, but what I do know is that he’s been an adequate (and still somewhat disappointing) player for them, and they’ve seen injuries and ineffectiveness from key players. Those problems go beyond Bradley. No, I’m not really defending him because I think some of his BS is pretty crappy stuff to pull, but he’s not the reason that team has struggled and I don’t think the Cards would implode because of him.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
your points are entirely valid
I don’t think for a minute Bradley is what caused the Cubs to stumble this year. The reason Bradley is going to be leaving Chicago has less to do with his on-field performance and more to do with his off-field behavior. I don’t know how much the kookiness outbreaks really hurt the team’s W-L record, but they can’t possibly help.
FWIW I think that wise GMs avoid obvious head cases (somebody who just dominates like Bonds or Randy Moss might be an exception, but that’s not Bradley; he’s merely good as opposed to great). Feel free to disagree with that. I think downplaying “chemistry” concerns is fine, but I don’t think you can just dismiss them entirely.
But, personality issues aside, doesn’t his injury history alone worry you?
by nota bene on Sep 22, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The question is whether or not him being a dick is worth the his on field production
If his personality costs us 1 win, and he’s a 3-4 win player, I’d said he’s worth it.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 22, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How's about Cameron?
Hugely underrated, still an elite defender, would probably be +10-15 in LF, and owner of solid, above-average wOBAs every recent year of his career. Good on the base-paths, some power out of the 2-hole, .340 career OBP, seemingly a decent guy, able to play CF (if Colby can’t vs LHP).
Some slight durability issues, but he’s still averaged about 530 PAs and a little over 3.5 WAR the last 5 years, and could probably be had for $10m at the most. What’s not to like?
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely the injuries bother me
I’m not arguing they SHOULD get him, b/c I don’t think they should. The guy will only play 130 times a year at max, which is a problem. I’m also worried if playing OF fulltime would only exacerbate that. THAT is the reason I think that he should be avoided.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 22, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What if Operation: MWN fails?
Although I’m seriously hoping we see Holliday locked up long-term to an acceptable deal, this might not be the worst thing in the world. Providing DeWitt doesn’t pull back some of the $ (i.e. hoping it’s not earmarked only for Holliday, and if we don’t sign him, the money ain’t spent), there’s some great options out there to meet our needs with the ~$30m we’ll hopefully have in the kitty following the post-season revenue bump.
Mike Cameron would be my preferred Holliday substitute – great glove, streaky bat with some pop, ideal for the #2 spot in the order (letting Raz/Lud handle cleanup and #5) and able to play CF, so he can spell Rasmus against lefties. Also, with him in LF, we have arguably the best defensive outfield in all of baseball, and certainly the NL. I can’t see him costing more than $10m (say, something like 2/$20m).
We just let Freese take over 3B, with Craig and Lugo as utility pieces to spell 3B/LF/2B/wherever when necessary. We have the cash to offer DeRo arby, hoping he turns it down, but if he doesn’t, no sweat, we have plenty of payroll space to accomodate him for another year.
We can then go out and spend a nice amount on a SP. I’d think it’d take <$10m to get Brad Penny or Justin Duchscherer, both of whom are potentially #2s in a decent rotation if fit, or we could look at Sheets on an incentive-laden deal, or go a bit cheaper and offer Smoltz similar to what he’s been on this year. In any case, I’m confident we’ll get our short-term, mid-rotation starter with the budget we have.
We should then have enough to seriously strengthen the pen – if Calero’s going to be a popular FA, we can probably give him the $3m it’ll take to land him, or we could even aim a bit higher and look at getting someone like Octavio Dotel – might cost $5m or so but he’s a good bullpen arm and would probably benefit from a move to Busch. Michael Wuertz is another potential target. In any case, we have a bit more wiggle-room to go for a genuine impact arm in the pen.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can someone, using dictionary-style usage,
please tell this out-of-towner how “Mozeliak” is pronounced? When I see the name, I think “mo-ZELL-ee-ak”, but I think perhaps I’ve heard commentators on the WWL say “MO-zell-EE-eck”.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mo-Zay-lick
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where's the emphasis? On the middle syllable?
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think so.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Sep 22, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MO-ZAY-LOCK
is how I usually hear it.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm... I've heard that, too
I’m not sure which is proper.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It cannot be pronounced by mortals without driving them mad.
Only the high priests and the Old ones themselves can speak that tongue.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a shame that these days, kids in this country get through school without ever learning how to pronounce the Elder Tongues, let alone converse.
This guy is lobbying for reform in that area.
Speaking of that venerable publication, here is a classic baseball-related piece.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need an abbreviation for the most used,
most tired phrase on this blog: small sample sizes….How about SSSs? Or SSS’s? Or 3S, or Sx3?
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Isn't it usually SSS. That's what I've always seen.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Sep 22, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really? I've only ever seen it spelled out.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WellI don’t know about on here but on other places. I thought it was a widely accepted abbreviation.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Sep 22, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
tis.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
by all4tookie on Sep 22, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
SSS, of course.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I haven't ever seen it like that.
But now that I have it just makes me think of snakes.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 22, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think I made my feelings pretty clear about the DeRosa v. Craig
situation on FR.net. I have a hard time believing that Allen Craig, for nearly 1/5th the price couldn’t match DeRosa’s offensive and defensive abilities next season. This organization, despite their midseason spending binge, can’t afford to pay older veterans like DeRosa if they hope to improve the team in other areas.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 22, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think you when you also factor Freese and his Defense
I can’t see a Freese/Craig platoon plus one or two draft picks not be more valuable than DeRosa
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 22, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Freese also put up a .388 wOBA in AAA,
plus defense along with what projects as average offense, for free? I don’t even care about his man stew above replacement when his projection is that good.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you give up the potential draft picks
via arbitration?
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
aaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnd he's back
i agree, but when you think about how much they lost to get DeRo, i think MO will do whatever it takes to resign him. just listen to how he & the rest of the FO talks about DeRo. the same goes for Lego, but i think they are way more willing to let him go than DeRo. if only for cost considerations.
which sucks, because i feel in the black hole where a normal person’s heart is, that a Glaus, Freeze, Craig, Bombs combo fighting it out will be far more productive than DeRo could ever be.
of course that will be a huge loss for the man stew’s. but can we really put a dollar amount on them?
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not back.
I just thought that if I followed this team next year, I’d like to put my 2 cents in.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 22, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you boycotting this season?
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it ain't VEB without HL
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
did i miss something regarding HLs participation around here?
by FunkeeC on Sep 22, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, what exactly happened?
I’m pretty sure in big situations, they’d walk him [Pujols] to get to Babe Ruth.-- Matt Holliday
by il rosso on Sep 22, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The interesting thing about DeRosa is that he really was the trade we weren't supposed to need.
There had been rumblings of an eventual trade of Brett Wallace for a while, and Holliday was known as someone that Tony et al. coveted. Sending Chris Duncan somewhere else wasn’t exactly shocking to me from an “on paper” perspective (the other issues are a different matter I acknowledge). But we ended up getting DeRosa so that we didn’t have to play Thurston and Khalil as 3B for the rest of the year, and the only reason we were in that bind is because none of our other options ended up working out.
Given that, what are the chances that Craig/Freese/Mather has as second consecutive year of catastrophe?
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Craig
Since Craig was never given a chance at third base, I don’t think it’s fair to include him in the failed third base category. To add to our “on paper” strengths, OF was also supposed to be an area of surplus talent, so much so that last year’s starting LFer was converted to 2B. Ankiel and Duncan had very poor showings, Rasmus has been okay, and we traded for Holliday. The best laid plans…
"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 Sep 22, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's well past time to apply the Secret Weapon
to Craig’s glove.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 22, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By season's end...
Craig could be league-average with the glove.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we can turn a fourth outfielder into a starting second baseman
surely we can turn a third baseman into a third baseman. Anybody can play third base, even third basemen!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
You just reminded me.
The original plan was to turn an outfielder into our everyday second baseman and an outfielder into our everyday third baseman. TLR even picked out a grown up number for Mather. Poor Joey Bombs…
"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 Sep 22, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I didn't mean to slight Craig like that
What I meant was that he was a “de facto” failed option, since he was never really given a chance. I’m hoping that his performance this year has forced the organization to take a good look at him potentially for some position.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand where you're coming from.
He seemingly wasn’t ever seriously considered as a possible solution at third base. Not in Spring Training when Mather slumped, not in April when Barden was winning Rookie of the Month while splitting time with the equally hot-hitting Thursty Joe, not in May when Freese had been sent down and the Thursty McBarden duo began to plummet, not in June when Thursty Joe was a black hole, and not in July because we traded Perez and Todd for DeRosa. Additionally, Craig did not get PAs as a third baseman when Freese went on the DL. They called up Wallace. A frequent topic of discussion here was how the organization seems to have written off Allen Craig as a third baseman.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I think I kind of absorbed the gist of the Craig discussion but didn't remember the actual timeline.
It’s just odd.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 22, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Being fair to the org
Craig absolutely stunk for the first couple of months of the year, when he could’ve been the guy to save us from the Thurston suck-a-thon at third. Seems it took him a little while to adjust to AAA (or for whatever reason he just slumped for a while). We pretty much already had DeRo once he turned it around.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mather continues to struggle and his wrist injury was among the worst kind a baseball player can have.
Freese looks like he will be an excellent 3B (offense and defense considered), and Craig looks like if his defense is passable his bat absolutely has to be in the lineup. I don’t foresee the catastrophe reoccurring.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
by hazel on Sep 22, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i am DEEPLY pessimistic of mather coming back in a big way next year.
i am pleased by freese’s progress, 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
by tom s. on Sep 22, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which is a shame
Mather mashed for 2 straight years and was my “he’s underrated damnit!” prospect.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I loved Joe Mather.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Sep 22, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You and me both, dear
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And me.
But also for baseball reasons.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, the baseball reasons are good too.
I was so sad the first time he hurt his wrist. I was convinced he was going to carry us (with his big, strong arms) into the post season.
I have some delicious (if a little blurry) pictures of him blowing bubbles in the outfield. And also this:
From various Cardinals games 2007 – 2008
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey I liked him for baseball reasons too.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Sep 22, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i will always love Joey Bombs
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Link sent to me by my mother-in-law
Conversation between Gibson and Reggie Jackson (they’re promoting a new book) about “who owns the plate” and how a batter “hits himself” by leaning out over it.
Makes me wonder about something else: have you EVER seen Ankiel call time during an at-bat? It’s like Scott Rolen swinging 3-0.
by bobeans on Sep 22, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the calling time thing isn't an issue for some people
I never did when I was hitting. I can see how some people would get uncomfortable, but I never really locked in until the pitcher started his motion. So I was pretty loose and relaxed just standing there. I was happy to wait as long as the guy wanted, it wasn’t going to affect me. Maybe Ank is the same way?
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
see
i watch kids grip there bat white knuckled and just stand there swaying all locked up. i try to get them to jump out the box and loosen up, but they don’t listen. Me i didn’t care because i also was relaxed until the pitching motion. to each his own i guess.
by RedJoker on Sep 22, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if only someone would have made a fan shot about this,,,,
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
get on that, will ya!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i cannont get on any harder captin'! i'm givin all i've got!
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's what the gay porn star said.
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 Sep 22, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm still not here to talk about the past
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
so to speak
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
that's what got us in trouble in the first place
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This whole thread should ideally be green.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Home-Field in the NL
The P-D has a nice little primer on the tie-breakers for home-field in the NL.
The pertinent portion of Mr. Laymance’s piece:
If wild card comes from the West (Colorado has a 4-game lead), the Dodgers couldn’t play them in first round because they are in the same division so Philadelphia (if tied with the Cardinals or ahead of them) would play the wild card. That means the Cardinals would face the Dodgers.
The Cardinals would play the wild-card (from the West) if they pass the Phillies.
I would point out that Colorado has a 4-game lead over San Francisco, also from the NL west. I think it’s something like a 3% chance it’s not an NL West club, but I’ll leave that to the mathematicians amongst our hearty ranks. We are currently 3 losses behind the Dodgers for best record and 2 losses behind Philly. Thus, if the season ended today, the Rockies would head to the City of Brotherly Love and the Cards would head to the City of Angels. However, the situation remains fluid.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So chances are very good that we're playing the Dodgers 1st round
Works for me. I got NLSD tix in L.A. for game 1! lets go carp/waino!
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Dodgers honestly scare me the least
Their 1-2 punch in the playoffs is Wolf-Kershaw. Now that we can kinda-sorta hit lefties, that hardly makes me uncomfortabl with Carp-Waino taking the mound for us.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't know billingsley was hurt?
Regardless, I think the Dodgers are just a solid, all-round team. No major areas of huge strength, but no discernible weaknesses either. I feel that our current team (incl. the mid-season acquisitions) is probably a bit stronger, and you’ve got to feel somewhat confident with Carp/Waino/Pineiro in games 1-3….
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope it stays this way
I think that the Rox and Phils are very similar teams. Both have good not great pitching. Both have tons of LH pop. Both play in hitters parks.
I think that the Phils and Rox present more matchup difficulties for the Cards than the Dodgers do. As a result I only want to have to beat one of them rather than both.
"I learned a long time ago if you keep checking your stats all year, you're going to end up in the toilet." - Chris Carpenter, 2009.
by indakind on Sep 22, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Goold pulling a Red baron with the 10 @ 10 today?
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it's still not up, at this point, i don't think it will evar be up
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anybody have a way to watch the AAA world series tonight?
I’ll be stuck at work and won’t have ESPN2 here. Any help would be awesome.
by cloistermaximus on Sep 22, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nope. My ISP at work doesn't pay the ESPN piper
Need to be on a network that supports it.
by cloistermaximus on Sep 22, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd ask again later in the game thread
to see if anyone has a link… there are a few people on here that generally have a bunch of sites bookmarked and will run through them and post a link if there is one.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
by TNTinCO on Sep 22, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wagner Mateo's contract voided
guess that eye problem was serious
being tweeted by several folks
by FunkeeC on Sep 22, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
whoa
I hadn’t heard about his eye problem. Link?
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bernie posted in his forum
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bummer
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Sep 22, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Team Physicals
This, and Khalil Greene’s mental issues, make me wonder what a team physical involves. To me, I would do an eye examination and a basic mental evaluation as a part of that process. Apparently, the Cardinals do not.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Never mind.
Apparently the phsycial caught Mateo’s problems. (I put off reading the forum post for fear of maintaining my sanity after venturing to the P-D Forums.)
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that wasn't stated
and probably shouldn’t be. but it’s safe to say that it’s a degenerative condition.
by _pistol_ on Sep 22, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sano is still unsigned.
Though they never came to a conclusion on his age. I guess he is 34.
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 22, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
still, sign him!
poor wager. hope the kid can have a normal life
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OMG can you imagine?
The let down? Ugh. Like winning the lottery, having your ticket voided, and then losing your house.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
one second, all you wildest dreams come true
the next, you wake back up in third world. he has to be absolutely crushed. i hope the Cards just didn’t cut him loose & will help the kid at least go to college or something. it’s not his fault his eyes will go bad.
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was hoping it was just a factor that might make him not worth $3M, but still
a decent prospect. bernie makes it sound really bad. we could still renegotiate with him, but if he’s really that badly off, they won’t touch it.
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 Sep 22, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just re read the DFR & it says per a tweet
his people say he’s fine & there’s no defect. uhm
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I can't honestly see his agent saying
“Well, kid’s done. Nooooo reason whatsoever for any other team to consider offering him a bonus & signing him, which I will get a % cut of. Just don’t go there”.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or thinking you won a ballgame on a double play,
only to have the ump call a wide slide at second base.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
by vico on Sep 22, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sad. I was really looking forward to watching him play.
That youtube collection of clips is AMAZING. I was thinking young A-Rod.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another Bernie tweet.
BTW, La Russa isn’t going anywhere. He’s happy in St. Louis. He cherishes the Cardinals’ tradition.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yippie skippy
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's the devil we know, at least.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOOHOO!
:=8P
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
by The MooCow on Sep 22, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a friend who is interested in sabermetrics.
Is there a primer I can send her to read?
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I recommend...
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. And no, I’m not Sooner in disguise…
youneverknow
by floodOfLove on Sep 22, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I already did that, silly.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My cell number?
Seriously though I’d probably start with something like the book Baseball Between the Numbers. If she isn’t that dedicated I’d look for a FIP primer. The whole BABIP thing blows your mind enough to be more interested in everything else.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball between the numbers is a great book.
The baseball economist is lesser, but has some interesting stuff.
Beyond the Boxscore is amazing.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BtB is probably too hardcore
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think so
They’ve gotten soft lately
by vivaelpujols on Sep 22, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All 12,000 authors?
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
by azruavatar on Sep 22, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good suggestion.
I’ll mail her my copy.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball Between the Numbers is a great starting point, I think.
It really depends on the person and their interests. I got a buddy of mine who loves Ozzie Smith hooked with The Fielding Bible.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Picked up on the "her" eh?
sorry, had to get the jab in.
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mackin dat internet game
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 22, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would start with Moneyball, because that gives you context
by thepainguy on Sep 22, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel I should take this opportunity to state that
I have still not read Moneyball.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Waiting for the movie?
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
I typed that I was doing just that, but then deleted it. And, for the record, I was very excited about the movie back when it was going to happen.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its happening again
Aaron Sorkin to write. It died, then changed studios, then Sony started it back up again with a different writer.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That could be good.
Is Brad Pitt still attached to star?
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was very excited about the movie back when it was going to happen
Rest assured it will utterly suck.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't read it until recently.
Put things in historical perspective, but didn’t teach me anything I hadn’t learned a different way.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I learned the hard way
from reading VEB and a bunch of random internet sites
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 22, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: DanUp, if you're out there
We had a Murakami discussion some time back — I’m finally at the point in my life where I have time to do some serious reading (of things that I want to read). After reading Infinite Jest all summer, I’m moving on to the works of Murakami. I’m reading Kafka on the Shore right now, I’ve read The Windup Bird Chronicle. Got any recommendations about what I should read next?
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Norwegian Wood
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 22, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
was full of beautiful images. I’m not sure I have any idea what it was about. I think I might just not be smart enough for it. It’s my soft-tossing rookie left-handed pitcher.
by peach concrete on Sep 22, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well said
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Sep 22, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a messy book
Murakami has said before that he doesn’t map his books, he just writes and discovers the story along the way. You can definitely feel that in the Windup Bird. I agree that it is totally beautiful, and IMO half the experience is just reveling in the language. But I thought it was a brilliant book, and it’s “about” a lot of things, not just one.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
murakami!
My favorite of his long, “Murakamian” works is Dance Dance Dance; my favorite of all his works, and I am in a distinct minority on this one, is Sputnik Sweetheart. I actually haven’t read Windup (only the story it’s based on) and Kafka, but from what I know about them Dance is probably closer to your Murakami wheelhouse.
by DanUpBaby on Sep 22, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
to elaborate:
Dance is very much Murakami doing Raymond Chandler, but it’s also Murakami doing Murakami—it’s almost like a book constructed from all the generalities people would write on the back of a Murakami paperback. There’s a psychic, some murders, some sex, skeletons, a man with one arm, a hotel with metaphysical implications etc., lots of jazz and food and disappearing girls, and none of it quite comes together at the end. But it works really well, and it was translated by Alfred Birnbaum, who I love. It’s the sequel to A Wild Sheep Chase (and, as a result, to his unreleased-in-the-US debut and its sequel), but since it’s just his generic I narrator there’s no real need to read them in order.
Sputnik is a very sparely written book, in places, but it fits. The structure of the book, and this is weird for Murakami, is really deliberate and interesting. I honestly can’t say why I like it so much—like the best of Fitzgerald, say, it’s just really evocative in mood and tone. There’s a great—and more direct than usual—unrequited love thing going on, too.
by DanUpBaby on Sep 22, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm open to reading whatever
I don’t exactly have direction in my Murakami readings – Windup I just read because it’s The Murakami Book. Kafka I’m just reading because a) my (ex-)girlfriend read it and liked it, b) I had a gift card to Barnes and Noble and needed some books to read and c) the cover of Windup Bird said “From the Author of Kafka on the Shore.” Who knew those little taglines actually influenced people?
I’ll definitely check out Dance Dance Dance (or should I say Dansu Dansu Dansu!) and Sputnik Sweetheart. Both sound very interesting in very different ways. I do have a hard time believing anything he wrote could seem deliberately structured, so that’d be something to see.
Thanks for the detailed writeup. You should moonlight from your full-time, high-paying VEB job as a book reviewer.
by mojowo11 on Sep 22, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No love for hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world?
Somewhat wierd but effective. Read it whilst I was in Tokyo (and spending a lot of time on the Ginza line, in which a lot of it is based) which was quite cool.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haven't seen it yet, so here it is:
Cardinals vs RHP Yorman Bazardo:
1. Schumaker 2B
2. Rasmus CF
3. Pujols 1B
4. Holliday LF
5. Ankiel RF
6. DeRosa 3B
7. Molina C
8. Lugo SS
9. Pineiro P
Astros lineup:
1. Bourn CF
2. Tejada SS
3. Berkman 1B
4. Lee LF
5. Blum 3B
6. Pence RF
7. Keppinger 2B
8. Towles C
9. Bazardo 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
by tom s. on Sep 22, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lugo @ SS
is bad for Joel.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah. if i were joel i'd play under protest.
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 Sep 22, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seems backwards...
Having our good CF’er today when we have our out-of-this-world GB pitcher on the mound, but I would assume there are some ‘rest’ issues coming into play… somehow… maybe…
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
by Toppins on Sep 22, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rotoworld thingy says Tony wanted to stack the lineup full of lefties
Tony does know Lugo bats RH?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ryan is awful vs RHP
probably not that bad to sit him once in a while against a righty.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 23, 2009 7:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where's Thursty Joe...
in this lefty lineup?
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
by cardzfanbub on Sep 22, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
who's that?
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 22, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
shhhhhhh, the bear can hear you
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
f'in bear
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we're starting to see some rest days
Boog and Lud don’t sit much, and Boog may have a couple of nagging aches and pains.
by sdrone on Sep 22, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Boog!
:(
The only thing that would make this game better is a walkoff! - said in walkoff situations since 9/19/09
WALKOFFZ R MOAR FUNN! - used after walkoffs since 9/19/09
by zoomzoomj88 on Sep 22, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bazardo World?
AnKKKiel instead of Ludwick? Why?
by madridbend on Sep 22, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
To quote someone yesterday,
because Tony LaRussa.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
by andi_k on Sep 22, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the devil we know indeed
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tony's man-lovin' Ankiel
I think we all know that.
The only thing that would make this game better is a walkoff! - said in walkoff situations since 9/19/09
WALKOFFZ R MOAR FUNN! - used after walkoffs since 9/19/09
by zoomzoomj88 on Sep 22, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
TLR loves the look of that smooth strike out!
by RedJoker on Sep 22, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But....
Ank’s strikeouts are particularly ungraceful. Anyone can get him to chase junk low outside, or swing under a high hard one.
by madridbend on Sep 22, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
guessin Luddy needs day off
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 22, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That and he wants to make sure Ankiel is properly warmed up for the playoffs.
Because Ankiel in the playoffs worked out so well last time.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 22, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well that was just uncalled for!
Ankiel batting 5th? Jebus, I might need a fifth to get through this
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats it
I’m watching the memphis game tonight instead.
by El Hombre 05 on Sep 22, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That will always be too soon.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
by RiverRat on Sep 22, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i get the feeling Luddy can't get out of his head right now
he looks a mess at the plate. sure he had some good at bats over the weekend, but he’s clearly pressing. giving him a day or five off between now & october probably isn’t a bad move. we need him back to his 08 form if they have any intention of playing deep into the month.
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 22, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/256186-br-exclusive-interview-rasums-girl
Colby Rasmus is very non-tech savvy. A colleague of mine once asked his agent for his e-mail address to send some questions for an article he was writing for CBS Sportsline and the agent told him that Colby doesn’t even own a computer.
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 22, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
which would explain
why his website is from 2002.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 22, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and more
There are many Colby Rasmuses on Facebook, none of which seem to be the real Cory Ramos
by madridbend on Sep 22, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your mom is from 2002.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
by azruavatar on Sep 22, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But he does know how to play Call of Duty
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 22, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, he says he plays the hell out of his Xbox
Sponsored by Slick-Rick 'Stache Cream
by The_teague on Sep 22, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Late to the party...
but this comment in the Trib that the Cubs are going to get down to $100 million in 2010 is just silly. The big 8 – Lee, ARam, Fuke, Lilly, Soriano, Bradley, Z, and Dempster – are on track to make $119 million alone.
They’d have to eat lots of money to make Soriano and Bradley go away. Z has no excess value, so they could probably do a Rios. Fuke and Dempster are probably in between. And the others are critical for the team’s success.
Plus Fontenot, Guzman, and Marmol are arb eligible.
Their payroll isn’t going down much, and they’ll still suck.
Ask me about my avatar!
by guayzimi on Sep 22, 2009 7:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the Cubs
are probably looking at a 90-loss season sometime in the next couple years….2010? 2011?
If I were the Cubs’ GM, I might consider blowing up the team and going into full rebuilding mode….Lilly in particular seems like a valuable enough commodity to help restock the farm system….
by nota bene on Sep 22, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Allen Craig up to bat.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 22, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
why didn't jaime start the game? been discussed yet?
by njmcelh on Sep 22, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not enough days' rest, I think.
minors don’t merit a game thread?
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"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
by Yadi2Second on Sep 22, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm pretty sure...
he hasn’t pitched since a week ago today. i guess they just went w/ the next in order. I do know that i read earlier this week in the preview article that it was supposed to be garcia
by njmcelh on Sep 22, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he's coming off surgery
shielding him wouldn’t be out of the question
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"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
by Yadi2Second on Sep 22, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
mark me down as not being a fan of this one game championship
really? Really? Playing the championship in front of 22 fans at a neutral site? Awesome.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They should play it in one of the...
ML parks before or after a game.
Ask me about my avatar!
by guayzimi on Sep 22, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
espn2 mysteriously cut out some of its video of Craig
hiding him. further.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"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
by Yadi2Second on Sep 22, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who the hell is this guy announcing the game?
To me,David Freese may be one of THE top prospects in minor league baseball
Jebus
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Sep 22, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
a fan of our fancy faberge eggs clearly
why question such brilliance?
by FunkeeC on Sep 22, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come join us!
http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2009/9/22/1050635/triple-a-championship-pcls-memphis
There are unicorns and bacon.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
by azruavatar on Sep 22, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
aha, there it is.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"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
by Yadi2Second on Sep 22, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
