The One Where The Robot Forgot It Was Sunday
by azruavatar on Dec 19, 2010 10:19 AM EST
in St. Louis Cardinals News
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PrintSo, ya. Today's Sunday. Oh, I'm supposed to write on those days and that's why there isn't a post up when I got up this morning. Hmmm. [charles barkley] That's Turrible [/charles barkley]
Obviously the big news here is that Zack Greinke was traded to the Brewers. Having not visited yesterday's thread, either this has been discussed in depth or Aranathor had too much to drink in England with Stuart Broad. The Brewers fill another gaping hole in their rotation and now find themselves with a pretty impressive front three of Greinke, Yovani Gallardo and Shawn Marcum. That should be enough to scare anyone in a short series and it will certainly be interesting to see what Greinke can do in the National League.
Greinke had requested a trade out of the depths of baseball purgatory, which, strangely enough, is a brief drive down I-70 from St. Louis. I had always thought purgatory was much more involved than that. Anyway, requesting a trade was enough to get him sent to the Brewers but, outside of $2M, the Brewers didn't escape unscathed. They sent their young slick fielding shortstop Alcides Escobar and three impressive prospects to the Royals: Jeremy Jeffress, Lorenzo Cain and Jake Ordorizzi. If you go back to before the 2010 season, those four players were the Brewers #1, not top 10 prospect, #8 and #9 prospects. Jeffress was the Brewers 1st overall pick in the 2006 draft and was once highly regarded. (Pre-2007 season, Jeffress was the #4 prospect with Cain at 8 and Escobar at 9 per Baseball America.)
[Update: It appears Jeffress will be replaced by a PTBNL. The perils of a harsh publishing deadline. The story stands as originally written. A PTBNL may be worse for Milwaukee as Jeffress looked like a washout due to command. Likely, it will be a no name prospect though.]
So the Royals managed to haul quite a few prospects. They also sent a wonderful (from our perspective) treat to the Brewers to play SS for them: Yuniesky Betancourt. Former player of the #6org (i.e. Mariners), Betancourt's horrible conditioning and hack/slash style at the plate has made him a near replacement level player. He's a stop gap at best and not someone you want to see at SS if you think your team is a contender.
Strangely, the Brewers look like contender's after this move even with Betancourt at shortstop. Pitching was a huge problem that they've now addressed and they still have some potent bats on the team. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder should both provide the thump in the middle of the lineup. The team will need Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks and Matt Gamel/Casey McGeehee to be average offensive players to even out the lineup. These players have been inconsistent in their year to year production (Hart just got that hefty extension) so it's possible that the lineup could be problematic still. Like the Cardinals, they will have some gaping offensive holes notably at shortstop, catcher and centerfield.
The Brewers problem, to me, looks like a defensive one. Betancourt is a terrible shortstop. The corner outfielders, Hart and Braun, are both below average defenders on their good days. Prince Fielder has fall down range. It's a weak group of gloves. The only decisively above average glove to my eye is centerfielder Carlos Gomez.
That's not to intimate that the Brewers aren't a troublesome team. They've certainly placed their name with the Reds and the Cardinals when discussing who will win the 2011 Central Division. I still like the Cardinals as the slightly better team on paper but both the Reds and Brewers are within 2-3 wins by my estimation.
If there's any saving grace here from the Cardinals perspective, it should be that the Brewers have taken themselves out at the knee caps in their farm system. They've traded away four good to great prospects to acquire Marcum and Greinke. There's no impact player in that farm system that can be reasonable projected to arrive prior to the 2014 season. They're really down to bare bones and players in the low minors portion of their system. If things don't work out near term and they can't retain free agents like Fielder (2011) and Greinke (2012), they could turn into a very bad team very quickly.
In 2011, however, we've got some competition.
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Comments
At least someone got my memo that my new regular post time would be 9:19 CST.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Rec'd for the caption.
Remember though, Kevlar is not good against stabbing or punches to the throat.
Brendan Ryan is no longer a St. Louis Cardinal.
Fortunately, Aaron Miles isn't either.
I'm not worried about the Brewers getting Greinke
We got Berkman,Theriot, and Laird………………
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
you jest
but you forget the addition…
of that one guy
um, his name starts and ends with a t
tallet?
by jealousblues on Dec 19, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
bluefont
is not an option here
(unless I missed counter sarcasm)
by jealousblues on Dec 19, 2010 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
with Miles and Winn distinct possibilites as PTBNL
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
they are now much better
we may look better on paper, but there are some paper knees and paper ankles in there. as bad as they may be on defense, their regular lineup and rotation doesn’t have the reliability/health issues that we do.
greinke will make a difference in several ways. as we saw last year, holes in the rotation can kill you literally and figuratively (emotionally). their rotation has definitely picked up and they lost nothing from current offense; you wonder though if they now wish they still had hardie?
adds interest to the season for sure
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
The Brewers best player from last year is the definition of having reliability/health issues
Marcum had TJ in 2008, Fielder is 300 pounds, Braun’s ISO has trended down every year, Randy Wolf=Lohse. That’s not really less than the variability at the top of Pujols, Holliday, Wainwright, Carpenter, Garcia.
Not afraid to nitpick
thinking more about
bman
tastee
plus carp and himay
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
Reading through yesterday's late night comments.
I’d like Fritz to provide me with the definition of ‘rexert’.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
by azruavatar on Dec 19, 2010 10:39 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
WHat about playing in the intense pressure-cooker that is Milwaukee?
Greinke is kind of fragile you know (not Italian…)
G-O-H-O-H-O-9-O!
G-O-H-O-H-O-9-O!
but, if he drinks beer and eats sausage
got it made
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
will Laird be run over by a guy in a sausage suit is the real question
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
So you're saying that he's a playboy?
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Dec 19, 2010 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
I'm excited for how amazing the Royals farm is
Any chance they become a good team soon?
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
I just read the whole thread at RR with thier reactions to the trade
And it seems like they all hate Escobar. Which is kind of baffling IMO.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
Average based on what?
Even uber-optimistic Bill James calls for .272 .318 .364.
Not afraid to nitpick
improved BABIP
someone with his skill-set should be able to out perform even the .264 BABIP he had in 2010. something like .315-330 BABIP should be possible with him.
stat corner has him at a .308 wOBA based on batted ball profile
That would make him about -10 runs over 600 PAs
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
He had a bad rookie season with the bat
It happens.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
by mob16151 on Dec 19, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
well, we hate Bud Norris
so at least it’s understandable
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
how quickly is soon?
2011 — definitely not
2012 — probably not
2013 — things are looking very interesting
i don't think a single one of these prospects falls into the Royals top ten
disappointing…
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
that's a super generous assessment
is Odorizzi better that Crow? Melville? Dwyer? Colon? Eibner? Giavotella? I say no to all of those.
Fire John Mozeliak
And I would say yes to being better than Crow and Melville. Personal preference though.
Baseball makes the world go 'round, or at least in my world it does.
by Whiteyballer on Dec 19, 2010 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, I was honestly hoping for the Greinke trade to make the Royals system perhaps one of, if not THE best system of all time
just because it would be cool. But the only prospect here is Odorizzi, and he’s like… maybe 16 or 17?
Fire John Mozeliak
I always really liked Gerald Laird - so I wanted to share this.
Gerald Laird: One man, five tools. Too bad Jon Jay’s already wearing the number 15 for you guys.
(Apologies if this has already been posted – a quick search didn’t turn anything up, though)
"there no countrey called west xylophone" Youtube
that's funny
also funny that someone thought he was being arrogant rather than hilarious. people are so dumb sometimes.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Dec 19, 2010 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Greinke's peripherals all took a negative hit last season
He’s regressing, right? This trade will blow up in the brewer’s faces, right? Pujols will hit a HE off him in a big spot, effectively crushing his fragile psyche, a la Lidge, right?
Right?
"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
RIP Boog. FIRE TLR NOW
by VolsnCards5 on Dec 19, 2010 11:20 AM EST via mobile reply actions
he was 26
i mean, it was a “regression” from his age 25 season. But don’t assume those numbers are going to continue on a downward slope
I didn’t get on base. One time I did (Wednesday) and we scored a run. That shows if I get on base, things can happen - Oilspill
I was being
"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
RIP Boog. FIRE TLR NOW
by VolsnCards5 on Dec 19, 2010 11:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Sarcastic
"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
RIP Boog. FIRE TLR NOW
by VolsnCards5 on Dec 19, 2010 11:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Royals are going to acquire veteran leadership...
to help with all these youngsters. Don’t doubt it. We need to get in on that.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
by guayzimi on Dec 19, 2010 11:20 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I personally think LaRussa would look great in a Royals cap.
He can do that whole finish the career where it started thing (KC A’s). and then all the young stars will get peddled off for Skip Schumakers and Ryan Franklins. It’d be sooooooo sweet for everyone involved.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah TLR's take-no-prisoner style would be a big + for the dozen or so fans who regularly attend Royals' games.
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
I must say
I’m glad Odorizzi is out of Milwaukee’s system. I wanted the Cards to draft him in ’08 so I have followed him since then.
He is from the metro east
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
That is..
He went to the same HS as me so I’ve been following him too…was hoping the Cardinals would get him too.
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
wasn't he highly touted as a shortstop also?
I remember reading about him being projected as a first-rounder either way. Funny how the milwaukee organization wasn’t able to find him a single plate appearance so far.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
He was good
I’m not thinking first round good though (as a SS).
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
speaking of starters...
isn’t it time for Cincy to trade someone?
They currently have:
Arroyo
Cueto
Volquez
Leake
Wood
Chapman
Bailey
They also have Yonder Alonso hanging around. I think Walt will do something big at some point.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 11:27 AM EST reply actions
in all seriousness i was thinking a shorstop could be on their radar.
possibly one of Michael Young, Jose Reyes, or Stephen Drew
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
while it makes sense
this is the same team that extended arroyo with all those pitchers already mlb ready.
don't think cabrerra will be picked up before ST?
wonder how low his price will drop
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
he's ticketed as insurance wherever he goes
what’s the going rate on ss insurance?
edgar seems to think it is much more than 1 M
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
I would think about the cost of a win or so maybe 2-4M
I guess where there’s an Edgar that wants 5M there’s going to be a Lopez that will take 1M.
it's jokes like this
that confuse the hell out of people who aren’t aware
Kyle Lohse has a No Trade Clause!!
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
exactly
he could get a ring via the Jason Marquis method (left off the postseason roster). what gig is cushier than that?
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
. what gig is cushier than that?
The Molina ring method? lol
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I have been arguing this at redreporter til I'm blue in the face...
Volquez/Cueto for Granderson/Gardner/Swish, or package a pitcher with Alonso and get something super-duper awesome to replace Gomes. Didn’t get many takers…
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
yeah i was reading some of your discussions at RR.
they are not met with an amenable disposition. And most have a near-irrational hard on for the Ninja and Volquez.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
I try to keep it fair over there...
they so remind me of how we were smitten with Jocketty 6-8 years ago.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
I can understand that.
he did help bring them to the playoffs this year. the bad moves of this offseason are being overshadowed by the glow of their first successful season in a long time.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
They should have traded for willingham or dejesus.
That would make them pretty much elite IMO.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 19, 2010 1:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
agreed...
those guys would’ve been perfect. I think they’d have to trade an arb eligible player to make it work though…
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
Also,
A trade of Cueto would make the team itself much less hateable.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 19, 2010 3:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
i actually really liked the reds until the whole Phillips/Cueto thing.
oh and Bronson Arroyo has always been a douchebag, but beyond that they were pretty likeable.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
the do not view chapman as a starter
i hear
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
Give him a shot yeah
They basically have to given his contract stipulations, but as a starter he had an inconsistent slider and effectively no 3rd pitch combined with the occasional inability to throw even a fastball for a strike.
Not afraid to nitpick
because dusty baker?
I remember reading quotes from baker basically saying he has starter stuff, they just view him as being more valuable in the pen.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
All the scouting reports i heard about
before he was signed indicated he had ‘ace-like’ stuff. If suddenly he’s now got just bullpen stuff. Those scouts need firing; or someone has made a catacylsmic misjudgement
ace like stuff?
what does that even mean? if it means the quality of his pitches, then yes he has ace like stuff.
If it means his mechanics, his durability, and work ethic then I don’t know.
i'd never heard
that he had anything more than the Bob Feller fastball (probably better,but i’m givin props to a dead guy), and a passable slider. He was overhyped as having plus, plus, plus stuff by ESPN, because that’s what they do.
Every time Skip adjusts his gloves while batting, I die a little inside. -DJ 12-15-10
by mattyfrommo on Dec 19, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
I think Chapman probable could, as well
but still, Chapman will never be a Bob Feller
Every time Skip adjusts his gloves while batting, I die a little inside. -DJ 12-15-10
Few are.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Dec 19, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
hopefully he wont be
if it turns out he can start, he’ll be a lefty throwing 103. that’s insane.
Fire John Mozeliak
Well, yeah
it has nothing to do with the kind of stuff he has. He just doesn’t have the endurance for a full game.
Fire John Mozeliak
So does Cleto or whomever the Cards fetched for Boog. . . Gets him in A ball for a 4th year.
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
thank you for the subject line
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
It will spontaeneously combust by September.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
Acc. to The Onion...
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Dec 19, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
Chapman won't be a starter
Bailey probably not.
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
Nauseous means you make other people nauseated...
/grammar police
Play ball!
by IL and StL Fan on Dec 19, 2010 11:29 AM EST reply actions
Google says otherwise
nau·seous/ˈnôSHəs/Adjective
1. Affected with nausea; inclined to vomit.
2. Causing nausea; offensive to the taste or smell.
FWIW
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
There should be a term...
for stock corrections people annoyingly trot out. This is one. The whole “irony” debate is another.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
I personally dislike when people point out obvious typos.
but their corrective post is riddled with grammar mistakes, and/or they put a period at the end of a not-complete sentence…
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
I take some small measure of pride in my vocabulary
so I’m always open to constructive criticism on that topic or corrections. Sometimes my mind reaches for words and doesn’t grab the one I needed to, which makes for a muddled sentence. That said, I’m comfortable with my usage of nauseous in this context.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
these arguments make me nauseous
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
Really?
You all know me as a pain-in-the-ass pedant, so here goes:
and that’s why there isn’t a post up when I got up this morning. Two different tenses.
the Brewers look like contender’s after this move even with Betancourt at shortstop. No apostrophe needed.
The Brewers problem, to me, looks like a defensive one. Possible need of an apostrophe (Brewers’)
There’s no impact player in that farm system that can be reasonable projected Should be “reasonably”.
I know you said vocabulary, and this is more grammar than vocab…
/end nitpick
rec’d for great info
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
You missed the key to all this
there isn’t a post up when I got up this morning
;o)
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Merriam-Webster directly addresses IL and StL Fan's "policing" and says that your usage is not a misuse.
Either way, I want to vomit.
Quite right.
Nauseous has crept towards meaning nauseating only through misuse by ignoramuses who don’t know the difference. The line must be held! No pasaran!
I’m sort of sensitive on matters of this sort because the abusers are taking the bat out of my hands.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I think we're saying different things.
Still, can’t it be said that I am causing my own nausea? And therefore I am both nauseated and nauseous?
Yes.
But you are only reflexively nauseating; not even that if, as I think could be argued, it is not you causing your nausea but your guest (or, to use your term, parasite).
I think we’re saying mostly the same thing, but I’m less wishy-washy than M-W.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
By allowing the parasite to persist, I am causing it.
Also, I can easily cause it by not eating or over-eating, or eating something I know to make me sick.
I decline to accept
any characterization of a Mother as nauseating. Doesn’t fit the Southern Gentleman schtick.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
It only lasts for the first trimester.
/saystheguywhosewifediditEVERYDAYforthefirstsixmonthsforbothkids
Brendan Ryan is no longer a St. Louis Cardinal.
Fortunately, Aaron Miles isn't either.
We have a friend who was sick, and bed-ridden, for almost the whole 9 months
she was pregnant both times. Insisted that her husband get ‘fixed’ after their second child.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
Oh come on
I already made fun of myself as a grammar cop.
The M/W argument is based on most common current usage. By that logic, “less” and “fewer” are not distinct anymore, either. Or “who” and “whom.”
Play ball!
by IL and StL Fan on Dec 19, 2010 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
less and fewer are definitely not interchangeable
who and whom are getting there, though
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
Like most 'usage' issues
this is a question of linguistic register.
Yes, language changes, both lexically and grammatically. Formal usage, however, changes much more slowly than do any of the colloquial and dialectal registers: because it must sustain its communicative intent across larger populations and longer timespans. It is indifferent to ‘common current usage’ precisely because what’s current today is dead tomorrow.
And by the same token, formal usage is beyond grammar-cop criticism by informal users. Unless a context explicitly demands a non-formal usage (for instance, in a work of fiction or drama where the speakers do not enter the formal register, or in a work addressed to users of a specific dialect or jargon), formal usage is ipso facto ‘correct’ even if it conflicts with one or another informal standard. Azruavatar’s use of ‘nauseous’ to mean “afflicted with nausea” cannot be called in question.
This is not, by the way, to say that formal usage is monolithic, or that the ‘rules’ taught under color of ‘formal propriety’ are universally accepted. There are lots of ‘rules’ imposed by newspaper editors and high-school English teachers which have no validity whatever – the widely-disseminated rule distinguishing when to use “that” and when to use “who” or “which”, for example.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
He's become a soft tosser because his shoulder is blowing up
It’s just a matter of time.
Boog would have made that play.
Yeah but it works for him...
and there’s only two years to go until FA. Of course, Melvin is threatening to extend.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
Oh no... He can't throw left-handed can he?
"I got to get Dr. Freeze off my twig right now."-Nyjer Morgan
by flipthebird15 on Dec 19, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
tick tick tick
that’s the sound of you shoulder’s life running out… ftfy
by RasmustheRipper on Dec 20, 2010 4:30 AM EST up reply actions
he had an inverted G
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I lol'ed.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Dec 19, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Two front page mentions in a week?!?
and NEITHER of them involve me being perma-banned for lewd and inappropriate conduct? Damn i’m good.
Although… would it kill you to spell my name right? Azxruvator?
Kill? No.
But it was too much effort to look it up. Fixed now that it’s on the same page.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
azruaviator
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
don't let it go to your head mate
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
i for one welcome our new fabulous overlords
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
by gdm426 on Dec 19, 2010 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Considering our total absence of SP depth...
we might have the third best rotation in the NL Central
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
wat
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
It depends on how you value having a top-line guy vs. having depth:
Rotations (name, zips proj. innings, ERA+):
Milwaukee
Gallardo, 160, 117
Greinke, 222, 137 (adj. for NL)
Marcum, 137, 122 (adj for NL)
Wolf, 199, 100
Narveson, 146, 86
Depth: Parra, Capuano, Rogers
Cincinnati
Arroyo 201, 100
Volquez 108, 115
Cueto 191, 104
Leake 168, 97
Wood 178, 115
Depth: Bailey, Chapman, LeCure, Maloney
St. Louis (estimated)
Wainwright, 200, 135
Carp, 180, 125
Garcia, 160, 115
Westbrook, 160, 105
Lohse, 100, 95
Depth: Walters, Lynn(?)
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
i value adam wainwright greater than i value manny parra
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
gallardo?
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
Greinke, Gallardo, Marcum...
is almost indistinguishable from AW, Carp, Garcia for 2011.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
i disagree
i see Marcum being comparable to Westbrook, who are both not as good as Garcia
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
i guess i see him as an injury concern
and yet don’t see that in Westbrook. i’m a homer
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
even if that were true
and i don’t believe it to be, they have nothing after that. westbrook + lohse >>> wolf + narveson
and adam wainwright is well better than anything they can throw out there
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i reckon we'll get more innings out of Westbrook and Lohse
I also hope that Lohse will pitch better than a 95 ERA+. But there’s every chance that he is permantly broken. Milwaukee’s depth is not much better than ours in terms of quality, i don’t see Travis Wood putting up a 115 ERA+ over nearly 180 innings.
and a PTBNL
who will be cox when he’s eligible
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
The shallowness of the Cards' depth is vast. . . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
GDM
read your story last night. Wanted to try to help. Looked up Columbus in the VA careers website. Theres a few health tech positions open that could get your foot in the door. Once you are in, you can apply for other positions and move up the ladder.
Here is the link.
You already have my email if you have any questions. There are several jobs with the VA I think your skill set would be perfect for. (Lots of computer type jobs)
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
thanks dude, i'll look into it & let you know tomorrow or tuesday
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
That certainly makes things harder in 2011
Gotta think this is a nice pickup for Milwaukee. Possible they bought very low on Zach and a move to a new league ought to result in a nice 2011 for him. The varcious reports seem to think they didn’t give up any more than one really high end piece for him so that has to be counted as a good trade for a top 20 pitcher.
What would the equivalent Cardinal package have needed to look like to get this done: Lynn, Jay, B Ryan (before his trade) or Kozma and a high end reliever?
Just win
no way on Miller
they didn’t net a prospect with the upside of Miller. And none with the ML experience of Skip — besides they were looking for a SS. Motte would probably be a good fit but he has a lot more ML experience than what they got.
Just win
jenkins + chambers + sanchez + greene
that’s as close as i can get
i don’t think i’d do it
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
i think you're misunderestimating the point of this exercise, codyg
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
I get it
we’re trying to put together a similar package.
which I don’t think is possible without trading Miller.
but they didn't have a miller-like prospect in the deal
so it’s not a similar package
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
value wise
we can’t offer a SS prospect similar to Escobar
miller probably has the same if not more value than esobar so what we’re basically swapping the surplus from escobar with miller.
/Also Miller is still a pitcher so it’s a really high risk for any team to take a A ball pitcher who still has 1.5+ years of developing across several more levels and not experience an injury/reduced in stuff/
that's fair
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
oh hi braintwin
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
and we wouldn't be able to pull that off
til this years draft (jenkins)
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
and you, BVHeck
`
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
but then settled for
cain, escobar, odorizzi, and PTBNL
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
since Greinke said no to Nats
not sure how realistic that was. Which is why this is a good deal for Brew Crew — the NTC limited the amount the Royals could get so they probably got less than they would have with all the teams bidding.
Just win
We don't have a comparable package...
[Insert ML-ready young cost-controlled SS with upside — Cards have no one like this, which is a huge hole], Miller [Odo – Miller is slightly better], Eduardo Sanchez [Comp to Jeffress or whoever the PTBNL is], and Jay [Cain is better than Jay as he is better defensively in CF].
by Willie McGee's Twin on Dec 19, 2010 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Slightly?
Odorizzi has like a three starter upside. Miller has a true ace upside.
Fire John Mozeliak
Fundamentally;
i don’t think the Cards’ should make this trade anyway. It’s pretty clear the Royals wanted rid of Betancourt as well, don’t think i could stomach that guy on our roster.
we always have a guy like that on our roster
well, lately anyway
why can’t Tony & Mo remember the early to mid ‘00s when we didn’t need to have such grit filled crappiness to win?
Every time Skip adjusts his gloves while batting, I die a little inside. -DJ 12-15-10
by mattyfrommo on Dec 19, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
richie weeks
did I miss a new meme?
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
I think this trade is a complete bust for the Royals
unless Odorizzi emerges as a front of the rotation starter.
I seriously don’t see much here. I think they’d have been better served to deal with Toronto despite their unwillingness to part with Drabek and Snider. J.P. Arencibia and one of their young non-Drabek starters would have been a better haul.
I see Escobar, Cain, and Jeffress just being guys and Odorizzi has scouts already talking about him being in the bullpen.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 12:40 PM EST reply actions
who is talking about odorizzi being in the bullpen?
The guy has a full arsenal of pitches. If Escobar, Cain, and Jeffress are “just guys” and you think Odorizzi is going to the bullpen, you must despise the Cards’ system because we don’t have anyone to match Escobar (future gold glover by most accounts) or Cain, and Miller is slightly better than Odorizzi and just as far away from the majors.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Dec 19, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
yea...not a huge fan of the cards farm system....
and why would I be?? Outside of Miller. Its just a bunch of guys and a handful of guys who haven’t proven anything yet – Matias, Cox, and Jenkins.
Odorizzi could be a top of the line starter – i didn’t dispute that, I’m just saying this trade is a complete bust if he isn’t.
Cain and Jeffress are truly nothing to be worked up over.
Escobar hasn’t accomplished much of anything. He had a really nice AA season at age 20, thats about it.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
I'm excited because the ceiling of all those guys are future star aces
so it’s exciting to see if any of them hold up in A ball.
/ also I live in QC so I get to watch a lot of their games.
sure i'm excited to see those guys..
but as a whole the system still kinda blows.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
indeed.
but i’m trying this new thing where i try not to get excited about prospects until they are in the top 100 or performing at a high level in AA AND AAA.
I think it’ll make me a much more rational fan.
We’ll see, though. I’m sure I’ll be scowering Johnson City boxscores by late June.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
miller is a top-100 prospect
i wouldn’t be surprised to see him around the top-20 in the upcoming lists
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
if you wanted to be ballsy, you could slot Matias at the end of the top 100
i’ve seen this idea here and there. I wouldn’t do it, but I haven’t seen him pitch.
Fire John Mozeliak
i would do it
i think there’s a real possibility that he passes miller in the prospect rankings by the end of the year.
imagine two top-25 prospects in our system at the end of the year!
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
dun wanna
i like pitching
check it:
waino
miller
martinez
jenkins
some chump
???
warld series!
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
yea..this is what i'm talking about...
As excited as I want to be about Carlos Matias, I want to at least see him above the DSL league before putting him in the top 100 or proclaiming him a future ace. same think with Jenkins
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
sickels also once ranked
Hee Sop Choi ahead of Miguel Cabrera, Travis Hafner, Adrian Gonzalez, and Justin Morneau.
Its just the whole counting chickens before eggs are hatched thing.
Just trying to refrain from it a little bit. Nothing wrong with being excited though.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
He factored in Choi's ability to destroy thirdbasemen.. . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Miller is slightly better than Odorizzi
In order to have this opinion, you have to really really dislike Miller and really really like Odorizzi.
Fire John Mozeliak
On the other hand...
Odorizzi:
I’m a big Cardinals fan since we lived just outside St. Louis.
Fire John Mozeliak
Or one might realize that trying to parse the difference between...
B+/A- prospects who are recent first round pitchers and are having some success in A ball is pretty much a fool’s errand. Miller is slightly better than Odorizzi but the two pitchers are the most comparable prospects if one was trying to match up this deal to the Cards’ system.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Dec 19, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
miller is an ace in the making
odirizzi is somewhere around a number 3, with some more upside.
i think jenkins is a better comparison at this point since miller is one of the best prospects in baseball
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
I think it's fair to say that opinions about prospects are like a-holes...
Let’s pick one recent source (fangraphs):
Miller and Odorizzi are both starting RHP, both their team’s No. 1 prospect, both just finished seasons in A ball, both recent 1st round draft picks who are similar in age, similar BB/9 and GB% rates. Miller has a better FB and a better SO rate (making him a slightly better prospect in value).
You are entitled to your opinion, like everyone else on the internet who has an opinion about pitching prospects in A ball (a speculative endeavor if there ever was one), but I’ll stand by mine that Miller is slightly more valuable as a prospect and is the best comp to Odorizzi in our system.
1. Jake Odorizzi, RHP
Acquired: 2008 supplemental 1st round (Illinois HS)
Pro Experience: 3 seasons
2010 MiLB Level: A
Opening Day Age: 21
Estimated Peak WAR: 5.0
Notes: Odorizzi was my favorite prep arm in the 2008 draft and I was more than a little surprised to see the Brewers get him with the 32nd overall selection. He suddenly became the club’s top prospect after second baseman Brett Lawrie was dealt to the Jays. Odorizzi broke out in 2010 after being handled cautiously for the first two years of his pro career. The right-hander spent the entire ’10 season in low-A ball and produced a 2.93 FIP in 120.2 innings. Odorizzi saw his strikeout rate jump to 10.07 K/9, while his control was respectable with him posting a rate of 2.98 BB/9. He also had an average ground-ball rate of 46%. Odorizzi has a four-pitch mix with an 88-93 mph fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. He may be better off scrapping the slider and focusing on three pitches. The right-hander has room to fill out and could add a few more ticks to his fastball. Odorizzi will likely continue to move slowly and he should spend most of the year in high-A ball. He has the ceiling of a No. 2 or 3 starter.
1. Shelby Miller, RHP
Acquired: 2009 1st round (Texas HS)
Pro Experience: 2 seasons
2010 MiLB Level: A
Opening Day Age: 20
Estimated Peak WAR: 5.5
Notes: Miller, 20, has a good pitcher’s frame and he does a nice job of staying tall in his delivery. He throws with a low three-quarter arm angle. Miller occasionally has his front foot land a little too far toward third base, which causes him to throw across his body as well as cause command issues. A good athlete, he needs to work on consistency with his delivery. He held his own in low-A ball in 2010 as a teenager by displaying good control (2.85 BB/9). Miller posted a 2.42 FIP while missing a lot of bats (12.08 K/9). He produced an average number of grounders (46%). His repertoire includes a fastball that touches 96-97 mph, a good curveball, and a changeup. Miller certainly has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the organization and he’ll open 2011 in high-A. The right-hander should spend the majority of the season there but he’s talented enough – despite his age – to see a late-season promotion to double-A. He should be ready for regular MLB action in 2013.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Dec 19, 2010 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
Miller has a better FB and a better SO rate (making him a slightly better prospect in value).
You are criminally underrating the value of the FB and K-rate. Odorizzi is a good prospect, but Miller is a lot better. He has one of the highest upsides of any pitcher in the minors (the 5.5 vs. 5 really understates that), and is no less likely than Odorizzi to make it. Sickels has Miller at A- for this year, and the preliminary Odorizzi grade was B-.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Dec 19, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Your last sentence is misleading
since Shelby was a B on the preliminary list (Odorizzi was a B-) and Sickels hasn’t rated Odo for this year. You think he might be a B+ after his year in A ball? Probably.
And I didn’t say either is more or less likely to “make it.” Both are pitching prospects in A ball, i.e. there is significant risk that neither make it (making their value today even more similar)
In any event, the argument is worthless (various people arguing with me about what I meant by “slightly”) – I think it’s clear that Miller is a better prospect (slightly) than Odo but Miller is the best comp to Odo in the Cards’ system.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Dec 19, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
Speaking of assholes,
Fangraphs is not reputed for it’s scouting so much as it’s groupthink. That said, Miller is younger, half a run better, and he is more physically gifted. The two are “comparable”, but they’re pretty far from equal.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 19, 2010 3:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Well they have a "prospect guy" in Marc Hulet, so that doesn't apply to group think
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
odorizzi is a nice prospect, but I think a lot of his appeal comes from having like, five pitches to work with.
the problem is that, while these pitches all play in A ball, I don’t think they’re all gonna make it to the majors. I do see him as a three pitch guy (like Miller) going forward. He’s a year older at the same level as Miller with not nearly as much zip on his fastball. Besides that, pretty much all his peripherals are inferior to Miller’s and furthermore, I much prefer Miller’s thick, Clemens-like frame to Odorizzi’s lankyness.
Fire John Mozeliak
Odorizzi and Miller
Miller’s definitely not a good comp for Odorizzi at this point, though I understand you’re trying to name the CLOSEST person the Cards have. In that case, I’d say it’s about where Jaime Garcia was a couple years ago, sans injury – a nice mix of pitches, decent pitchability, relatively high floor and moderate ceiling. Yeah, one’s a lefty and they have different pitches, but the projected floor/ceiling is probably about similar.
Yeah, I thought Garcia too
but there are too many differences there. I think Garcia has much more in the way of ground ball tendencies, and the obvious fact that he’s a lefty. I don’t really think you can say anyone in A ball has much of a floor though. But I still think Garcia a few years ago was a better prospect than Odorizzi is now.
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
it's odd that
the brewers mothersite (or any other reputable source) still hasn’t confirmed the trade
Your team is incompetently run by baseball equivalent of the captain from the Caine Mutiny -DiscoJer
So if the Brewers make the playoffs..
and Marcum and Greinke are leading the charge…Does Melvin win Executive of the Year?
I don’t think you can give it to a guy with basically an unlimited budget (Epstein or Amaro).
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 12:56 PM EST reply actions
He's going to end up...
getting fired over this. He has utterly cleaned out the farm and is no better than 3rd in the division.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
It's pretty close...
but Wolf and Narveson are a weak link, team defense is another problem, and their top guys (Braun, Fielder, Weeks, Hart) can’t quite hang with Votto, Pujols, Bruce, Holliday, Rasmus, Rolen etc…)
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
rasmus will be worth 5 WAR in 2011
take that to the bank
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
probably not
but he might be
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
i agree that these 3 teams are pretty even.
the only thing that would be suprising is if one of these teams isn’t in the top 3n
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
Paulino is gone
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
must be a decent trade since everyone's all over the map
you say he “cleaned out the farm” but others would say “who cares” since the farm was full of “just guys.”
So either he mortgaged the future or there was never any future to mortgage.
Looking forward to the first Brewers series a lot more now!
by Willie McGee's Twin on Dec 19, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
o/t
has anyone heard anything about the Cards turning Robert Stock back into a pitcher? Seems like a good time to go ahead and pull the trigger on that.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:05 PM EST reply actions
I'd rather have a hard-throwin reliever than a catcher
who hits like matt pagnozzi…just sayin.
Sorry Robert, that was low…but damn you were terrible last year.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
He was really really terrible last year
But I’d still be on board for another shot as a catcher
Fire John Mozeliak
have you heard for sure that Stock is gonna make another run at C?
I mean, it’s not like the system is hurting for catching depth. But I think it’s likely that one of Cruz/Audry Perez/Cody Stanley/Robert Stock/Bryan Anderson has a break out year.
Fire John Mozeliak
Loved KLaw's ranty rant about Greinke
I hate all vague or flippant mentions of how Greinke “couldn’t handle the pressure” in NY because of his social anxiety or whatever. It’s infuriating and well, I’ll let Keith take it away.
“As for Greinke’s ability to handle a large market, if teams are using his mental illness as a way to gauge his “toughness” or makeup, they should be ashamed. Depression is not about being sad, anxiety disorder is not just a matter of being scared, and neither one makes a person “soft.” This isn’t a question of “he can pitch here, but not there;” that’s an infuriatingly superficial take on a legitimate medical issue."
"...and pujols has given st louis the lead"
follow me on teh twitterz @greenfieldt
by tgreenfield on Dec 19, 2010 1:43 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
a bit more enlightened than i would have thought likely
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
i'm a keith law fan
there, I said it. I think the guy has good insights on prospects and on the intricacies of the sport.
Fire John Mozeliak
i thought most people thought this
are people still bitter about “tigers in three”?
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
I think he's pretty bad
He’s fun because he loves extremes and snark. I still think its kind of odd to consider him a scout.
My friends are flipping out about the Greinke trade
But I keep telling them to calm down. The Brewers still have a lot of problems, as this article brings out.
nope, the article lost all credibility when it said this
Unlike most of his teammates, Braun can actually handle the glove as well.
oh look you wrote this article
I feel much better knowing I can say it to you in “internet” person.
/awkward silence
haha...i was waiting for that
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
it appears this was his first comment
right now he’s just another spammer until he actually starts commenting.
so meh…
also the way the comment is written
as in; “hey you guys, i found this article about this thing your talking about which i tottally didn’t write, you should look at it!”
Also, that site has this article
Eckstein Effect: Ryan Theriot could be exactly what this Cardinals team needs
that guy certainly doesn’t know his audience
only by fairly dumb social conventions.
A) braun has an indubitably bad glove B) why would we reward saying things behind people’s backs that we wouldn’t say to their faces?
"We were men - flesh and blood - and we played baseball in the sunshine. We hit doubles off the wall, slid hard into second base. We had fights, and we made love. We sang songs and prayed on Sundays. . . . We felt pain. And we felt joy. There was a lot wrong with the world. But we weren't sad, man. We had the times of our lives." Buck O'Neil, from "The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America."
by tom s. on Dec 19, 2010 7:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
so they have Escobar, Lucroy, and Gomez in their lineup and Narveson in the rotation...
boo-fucking-hoo. We have Schumaker, Theriot, and who the hell knows at 3B. Kyle Lohse in the rotation. Defensive issues all over the place.
The brewers should be a really strong team if the can get their heads out of their asses for 1 season before Fielder leaves.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
oh and did i mention we still have
Ryan Franklinhausen still closing games?
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
someone take him to indonesia
he could stay there as a mercenary for hire
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
my bad...
but seriously – aside from having Westbrook for a full season how is this team better than last years?
We’ve swapped out:
Brad Penny
Ryan Ludwick
Brendan Ryan
Dennys Reyes
For:
Jake Westbrook
Lance Berkman
Ryan Theriot
Bryan Tallet
so unless your assuming that Westbrook for a full season puts us over the top in the Central than your enthusiasm should be dampened
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
well, last year it was only partial seasons of Penny and Luddy
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
it'll only be part of a season for bman too
just spread out over the whole year
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
What puts us over the top is
our boys deciding they want to play baseball when they hit the field.
Maybe miss a few more gloves while we’re at it.
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
also, Westbrook should be nearly as good as Penny was over a full season
Berkman could be about the same WAR value as Luddy, or even slightly better depending on how he hits. Theriot won’t be that big of a downgrade from boog, and Reyes might be on the downhill slide of regression
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
thats my point though...there isn't much if any difference
its essentially the same thing that didn’t get the job done last year. Any improvement is marginal at best.
Unless they think berkman and theriot are gonna be the glue that holds the clubhouse together, i just don’t see it.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
I think they were pretty unlucky last year
injuries, BABIP, etc. it’s gotta be a bit better this year, but they kinda screwed the offseason up. they should have got hudson instead of berkman, kept ryan at SS, and they still would have had cash for one more player. but I can’t say I’m not excited for next season.
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
i'm excited for every season...
I just don’t have that “This is the year feeling”
I would’ve felt a lot better with a major upgrade at 2B or SS. or maybe a new closer
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
I agree
but the only good free agent for 2b was o-dog, but he’s not that great really. for SS there were also very few options, and I always feel uneasy about Franklin being the closer. I hope that if appropriate they will switch to Motte or someone ASAP
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
the bigger question to me is
will the riot be better than cabrerra, or cost appreciably less?
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
I already made this bold prediction
I think I’m the president of the Tyler Greene fan club around here though.
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
My hope expressed in rhyme
Tyler Greene you are what we really need on this super studded team
Just so long as LaRussa can concede you are the best on the green
Your combination of speed and power has me drooling by the hour
So I beg of you do not make me sour and please flower not cower
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
doubt it
he’s been my favorite prospect ever since he came up in the majors
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
well last year we underperformed our Pythagorean by a good
5 or 6 games, from what I recall. Assuming that we are at about the same level next year, we should be due for some regression. As poorly as we played at some points last year, we also got pretty unlucky, and hopefully that should change. Of course, pinning your hopes on luck and regression is—admittedly—not the most inspiring feeling.
and yeah, what Chitown said
the Penny and Freese injuries decimated us. Hopefully Freese can stay healthy and not suck (crossing my fingers on that one) and Westbrook can stay healthy all year.
Over under 70% chance
Freeser Bag shows up to spring training in the “best shape of [his] life”
…
or is “best shape of my life” even possible?
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
rest assured that comment is coming
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
I plan on losing sleep until I hear it.
(yank yank)
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
but what does a healthy freese really mean?
I mean how many teams would he be starting for? maybe 3 or 4? I think he is still very much a question mark even if he is healthy. We know his glove is good, but his numbers weren’t really what you expect for a 3B and he wasn’t a highly touted prospect at all. he’s only played 87 games so far so I guess he still deserves his shot, but I don’t see him as a major difference maker, except the fact that he won’t make us want to puke at the mere site of his name being in the lineup. See: Feliz, Lopez, Thurston
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
huh?
SSS and all, but Freese was performing very well to start the season. Almost an .800 OPS in March/April and almost a .900 one in May. In June, his numbers were atrocious and made his overall season numbers look pretty poor. Obviously none of this has much predictive value, but I’m hoping those first two months were more telling of his ability and June was the injury starting to affect him.
a healthy Freese is at least much better than what we've seen the last few years
with the exception of Glaus I guess
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
perhaps Troy cursed the position somehow
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
we've only gotten 120+ games out of a starting 3B twice
in the last 5 years. And it likely won’t happen this upcoming year either. just frustrating as hell.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Dec 19, 2010 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
Seeing what we threw out there instead,
compared to what we can reasonably expect from Freese, he [Freese] could have been more of a difference maker than we think. Lopez may have been less suspect to pick up the slack…possibly steal some bats from Skip (less isolated to bring out weaknesses). Maybe no Miles. Ripple effect.
I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
by martimeryard on Dec 19, 2010 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not worried about the pen
we have so many options here, that if one fails, we can just try the next one. More, I’m worried about how management will hand the bullpen.
Fire John Mozeliak
Gah Betancourt is awful how do you have a .405SLG% with 29 doubles and 16 HRs?
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
or more importantly how do you have a sub 700 OPS with those XBHs
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
OT: Azru and others,
I need a good science fiction book gift
recommendation. Any suggestions?
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 19, 2010 3:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Have you heard of this book called "Ender's Game?"
It’s kinda underground, but I think they might like it
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Dec 19, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
speaker was the best, imho, but Ender's Game was brilliant
and speaker couldn’t have stood on it’s own, so it’s something of a “perfect” sequel- the initial work allowed the author to do something in the sequel that couldn’t be done in an original novel, and succeed.
I also really loved the recent round of “alternate viewpoint” books about the aftermath of EG, from petra/bean/etc viewpoints.
Not sure I've seen dumber baseball words: "Brendan Ryan became expendable after (Cardinals) acquired infielder Ryan Theriot." -Joe Posnanski
Orson Scott Card is a hack.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 20, 2010 12:33 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
what an insightful response.
Not sure I've seen dumber baseball words: "Brendan Ryan became expendable after (Cardinals) acquired infielder Ryan Theriot." -Joe Posnanski
He literally wrote a good book,
failed to write a better book, then REWROTE THE EXACT SAME BOOK AND REPUBLISHED IT under another title for more money. That is the most basic definition of a hack.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
I despise fiction
especially teen/pre-teen books that adults go nuts over, however, I’ve HEARD that “the hunger games” is BA if you’re into that shit. Which I’m not so this is 100% word of mouth.
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
by rocKStark5 on Dec 19, 2010 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I despise fiction
what
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
so basically reading in general I guess
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 6:20 PM EST up reply actions
Oh I read that
I liked it a lot
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
When I was working at the bookstore, that book flew off the shelves.
The lady who ordered for the YA and children sections absolutely raved about that book.
Read it
Felt very young. Not science fiction really — more alternate timeline. Didn’t care for it.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
It *is* young
My son devoured it when he was 12-13, and I understand it has a cult following. But it’s well written and I think has a honorable place in the techno-political genre.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I thought the plot concept was interesting
I could just never connect with the characters because it was such shallow character development, which is because it’s a YA book.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Narrow I think would be fairer than shallow
It’s like the Jungle Books or Kidnapped, a fantasy of adolescent competence to confront and defeat an immoral adult tyranny.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I don't think it's fair to say that all YA books have shallow character development.
I think John Green, for example, does a decent job developing his characters.
by peach concrete on Dec 19, 2010 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
If you're into well-written dystopic YA.
by peach concrete on Dec 19, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions
Heinlein called the whole genre "Speculative Fiction"
I think Hunger Games falls into that definition, at least as much as Jack Vances’ stuff did.
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
Cousin who's an engineer in his late 20s
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 20, 2010 12:35 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I've been into Greg Bear recently
He’s firmly on the science fiction side of the scifi-fantasy spectrum. I enjoyed Eon, Legacy and Darwin’s Child all by Bear. I also read Axis and Spin by Robert Charles Wilson recently and enjoyed those as well.
I really ought to catalog all my books at some point in time . . . I’ve got several hundred boxed up and I’ve given away probably 200 or so in the last couple years that I didn’t expect to re-read.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
I also am a huge fan of Robert Sawyer.
Mindscan, Rollback, Flashforward, Calculating God. All books I’ve read multiple times and kept because I plan to re-read.
Tony Ballantyne is another author whose books were interesting. His work is essentially a trilogy though the first book can stand on it’s own: Recursion, Capacity Divergence.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Of all those I've listed
I’d say that Bear and Wilson’s books are the least character driven and the most hardcore science fiction. Sawyer has the most innovative ideas but they’re driven by personal attachments to the characters.
Ballantyne is more pop-science fiction. The overarching plot of the three books is incredibly thought provoking but it’s fast paced and shallow in details.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Whoops
I meant Darwin’s Radio by Bear. Darwin’s Child is the sequel to Radio that I just got for christmas. Haven’t read that one yet.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Blood Music by Bear
was good, and a bit of a scary thought process.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 20, 2010 1:00 AM EST up reply actions
Armor by John Steakley
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
if you are unfamiliar with it, it is the best Sci-Fi you have never read
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
How old?
For younger kids (pre-teens and early teens), I’d suggest EE Doc Smith’s Lensman series.
I started with Galactic Patrol.
Boog would have made that play.
Wow, I thought I'd be dating myself
if I recommended Asimov, Heinlein, Blish, Dickson … but you’ve got me beat.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
So, if mediaeval lit is acceptable ...
Classics: Asimov, the Foundation trilogy … Heinlein, Starship Troopers, Glory Road, maybe even Stranger in a Strange Land (though it’s awfully dated now) … Blish, Cities in Flight … Dickson, the Childe Cycle (anything with Dorsai in the title) …
For more grit, the dystopias: Spinrad, Bug Jack Barron … Brunner, Stand on Zanzibar, Shockwave Rider …
At the edges of the envelope: Herbert, Dune (but avoid the sequels) … Le Guin, Left Hand of Darkness.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
What's the one...
…with the guy and the place and the ships or pods or something that go random places and you either die or find something amazing?
Boog would have made that play.
Do you mean Farmer's World of Tiers series?
I wasn’t particularly taken by them, but my son got into them when he was fifteen-sixteen.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
No I was thinking of Pohl's Heechee books
Always thought that would have made a cool TV series.
Boog would have made that play.
Loved Frederik Pohl's books
Especially fond of Drunkard’s Walk. Surprised to find he’s still alive.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:32 PM EST up reply actions
Le Guin's
The Lathe of Heaven (not a fan of the Earthsea books); holy cow, can’t believe I totally spaced having read the Dorsai books decades ago. Also, yes, Stand on Zanzibar. Going back even further, Clarke’s The City and the Stars, Simak’s Ring Around the Sun, City, and Time is the Simplest Thing.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 9:03 PM EST up reply actions
Herbert has some pretty good books besides Dune.
The White Plague, Destination:Void(the three sequels are okay but not as good, just much bigger stories), Man of Two Worlds, The Dosadai Experiment.
I always liked Ray Bradbury when i was a kid.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Dec 19, 2010 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
Never liked Bradbury
Felt like he was a literary guy slumming. Opinion confirmed when he started showing up in the HS curriculum.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I did say, when I was a kid.
Which was over 20 years ago. It’s been forever since I read one.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Dec 19, 2010 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
Yah, me too
When I was a kid cutting-edge sci-fi was Foundation and Starship Troopers: Bradbury was trespassing.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I enjoyed Time Enough For Love
but found a lot of his other stuff tiresome, like Glory Road or Farnham’s Freehold. And Stranger in a Strange Land seems dated now, but I still have a soft spot for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 20, 2010 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
if you're willing to go fantasy, A Game of Thrones is good
and there’s a tv series coming out for it.
if just pure scifi, Valis or The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch are really good. Deathbird Stories by Harlan Ellison is practically a must read, also.
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
Try a CANTICLE FOR LIEBOWITZ
Old but interesting—just like me.
Older than any three of you.
by Remember Kenny B on Dec 19, 2010 6:20 PM EST up reply actions
Love that book!
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
Sci-fi
depends on the age of the reader. I love Neal Stephenson and Roger Zelazny, though much of the best of Zelazny’s work is fantasy rather than sci-fi (see the Amber Chronicles). If it’s an adult you’re buying for, and fantasy is ok, then I recommend Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy. I also enjoyed Peter Brett’s The Warded Man, whose sequel is out in hardback. I would recommend Stephenson’s Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon, both of which are sci-fi, and the huge volumes of The System of the World, which is definitely not for children, or even teens, really, and is an alternate history based around Isaac Newton’s time.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
I too am very fond of Stephenson -
But I would not call either Cryptonomicon or the Baroque Trilogy sci-fi. They’re not alternate history but historical romances, in the direct Walter Scott tradition.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I assume you mean Sir Walter Scott? I might agree with you
if I had ever read any of his books. I can see the argument, especially with the Baroque trilogy, but although there’s a fair amount of romancing in Cryptonomicon, it’s also overrun with science and math, which I thoroughly enjoy, even if I don’t understand all of it.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
Ah, but the math and science are real math and science, not imaginary
Don’t worry about reading Scott. He’s got his points, but it’s very hard to see why he was so enormously popular and so enormously influential unless you spend a couple three months of reading his predecessors … but in a way, Scott’s also the great-great-grandfather of a certain school of sci-fi: he invented the notion that not just style but behavior and values are conditioned by the historical context – which is just as true of imaginary history and projected history and future history as it is of past history.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
Ohhh
picked up Anathem by Stephenson on a random rec from a friend — amazing.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Yeah, I enjoyed that one, too
but in a different way. I like his world-making, he does it fairly seamlessly; I also liked The Diamond Age, which I mean to re-read at some point; maybe after I finish re-reading the Patrick O’Brian seafaring books (15 down, 5 to go).
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
Do you know the originals ...
Hornblower?
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
Never read them.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
Treat yourself
Not so cinematic, but more character.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
Stephenson reader
I’d rate Zodiac higher than Snow Crash or Cryptonomicon, FWIW.
That's the one Stephenson I've never read
and I go all the way back to his first novel, The Big U, which I read in the 80’s. I’ve just never been interested in reading an “ecothriller”; why, I don’t know, since I’ve pretty much enjoyed everything else he’s written, as well as being something of an environmentalist.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty much pure thriller
Eco’s just an excuse.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
Shit
now I feel the compulsive need to compile a list of all books that I own
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
I like
I will probably use this. Easier to brag with show to others.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
It'll never work.
You’ll keep running into things you want to reread.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
I'm reading Steven Erikson for 4th or 5th time
I got book 9 so I’m re-reading 1-8. I think it’s something like 7000-8000 pages (mass market paperback). I’ve been searching for new authors that I like lately but I decided to re-read Erikson till I found something promising.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Have you tried Abercrombie's
First Law books? Or the semi-sequel, Best Served Cold?
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
Not yet.
I’ve picked them up a couple of times in the book store, paged through them, read a chapter and decided that I wasn’t hooked. I will probably buy them at some point since he’s been well received thus far.
I’m still waiting for George RR Martin and Patrick Rothfuss to get their shit together too.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Does that mean you've read The Game of Thrones
and are anxiously awaiting the movie, or you’re waiting for Martin to finish up the series before delving in?
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 20, 2010 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
I've read the 4 books he's published thus far
and am eagerly awaiting the HBO series
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
I've read the Wheel of Time series twice.
Each book is roughly 800 pages long, and there’s 13 books atm. It’s quite a hefty amount of pages. Hooray descriptive writing!
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
I've read all of Jordan's books
that he wrote himself (through #11, Knife of Dreams), except for New Spring. Haven’t read the two new ones that Sanderson finished, haven’t heard good things about them. Are they okay?
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 20, 2010 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
Sanderson's voice is clearly different
but he’s still a good writer. It’s hard to call the books bad when they’re culminating plot lines that were 85% complete.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Agreed the new ones are definitely worth the read, especially if you are
already invested in the story
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
Indeed, Sanderson is a completely differented writer than Jordan.
Granted, these aren’t Sanderson’s characters, but he has completely changed the personalities of several characters in a way that was fairly surprising (Nynaeve, Elayne, etc.). The great thing about Jordan, and why I think he’s one of the best writers I have read, is that he can juggle several different moods of characters while maintaining their central personalities, such as Rand. Sanderson is a good writer, and the books are enjoyable, but I feel the last few would have been so much better with Jordan.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
I think I read them through for the 4th or 5th time when
The Gathering Storm came out in paper back.
If you like Jordan, I’d recommend Erikson. Similar type of novel (epic fantasy) different strengths for the writers.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
Well...
if Johnson City is looking for warm bodies Matt Dodge is available… young, good athlete, very raw, not particularly cerebral. Formerly an NFL punter.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
I am training my son to be a kicker/punter
I figure if all he does is kicking/punting than he will be good enough to get a scholarship for it. This is my plan to fund my son’s college tuition.
by FlimtotheFlam on Dec 19, 2010 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
So a lot of people are saying the Royals got jobbed
but I like the trade two good defensive players up the middle with potentially above average bats for their positions plus a couple of good young arms. Maybe it wasn’t Dan Haren to AZ good but it wasn’t Dan Haren to LAA bad either
~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~
that surprises me
he didn’t seem good enough for japan
by DanUpBaby on Dec 19, 2010 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
what does it take to be good enough for Japan?
i mean, Matt Murton just broke records there, for godsake.
Fire John Mozeliak
it seems like you need a particular skill-set to work out there as a hitter
Murton was a tweener outfielder in the majors with some good skills, Jimenez was just a bad reliever. Brian Falkenborg was great there in 2009 (haven’t seen his 2010 stats) but Jimenez is at least one step worse.
Murton isn't really that bad though
Jimenez is a BP thrower… just no one’s told him yet. Or LaRussa, who would inexplicable use him when he’d get called up.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Dec 19, 2010 7:42 PM EST up reply actions
Murton would have been above average.
The Cubs just screwed up and overpaid to import an inferior player from a place where murton is now awesome.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 20, 2010 12:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Murton would have been above average.
The Cubs just screwed up and overpaid to import an inferior player from a place where murton is now awesome.
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 20, 2010 12:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
presented without comment
DSzymborski -Just finished running Cardinals ZiPS – no big surprises here. ZiPS doesnt’ like Berkman/Theriot shuffle
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
what does that mean though?
obviously it wouldn’t like the Theriot shuffle because he’s worse than Ryan most likely but I guess it thinks Berkman will be worse than Jay/Craig?
at least that’s how i’m reading it
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
i think it means
the nfc west shouldn’t get a playoff berth at all.
And I think maybe he is talking about in regards to last years projections, which would make it Berkman/Theriot vs Ludwick/Ryan.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
then what's the point of divisions?
this is an aberration and the exception not a regular occurrence
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 7:02 PM EST up reply actions
ZIPs can s my d
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
by vivaelpujols on Dec 19, 2010 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
spay my dog?
i don’t think that’s the kind of services they perform
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
then he still needs to contact the humane society
come on guys
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
by prophetjohn on Dec 19, 2010 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Player RC/27 BA OBP SLG
Tyler Greene 4.17 .238 .301 .373
Ryan Theriot 3.93 .269 .327 .324
Pete Kozma 3.60 .236 .294 .336
Donovan Solano 3.56 .259 .295 .327
by D.Szymborski on Dec 19, 2010 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
eyah
gonna have a hard time translating that into 4 WAR
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
TYLER GREENE BANDWAGON!
I’m glad you are on it in full force now
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
It's a boat, not a wagon.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Second base….I’ve played second base, how hard can it be? -TLR
Also, Dave Concepcion.
it was a wagon last year
trust me it was lonely…. but i’m glad it has been been upgraded
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 9:56 PM EST up reply actions
Doesn't need half that ...
A fulltime 2B starts at 2.25, SS at 2.75
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
i thought a SS was 3.0?
cause positional adjustments were +1.0 or did they change that or am i thinking of something else?
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
7.5, I think, but I could be wrong.
But off the top of my head that batting line looks like -10 or -15 runs for a full-time player.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
scary thing is
EVERY ONE of those is an improvement over 2010’s SS line of .221/.289/.311 (.600 OPS)
Tyler Greene is also actually somehow an improvement over what we got from either 2B (.671) or 3B (.655) last year, too, although last year’s production was slightly more valuable due to the higher OBP with similar OPS.
Not sure I've seen dumber baseball words: "Brendan Ryan became expendable after (Cardinals) acquired infielder Ryan Theriot." -Joe Posnanski
This team needs Tyler Greene
Enter vivaelpujols
My great wit allows me to interject that by assuming the partakers of this conversation are inbedded and perhaps romantically entangled, rather than indeed, the truthful observation that they are both platonic and standing upright. Great comedy may be produced!! -Aranathor
by hazel on Dec 20, 2010 12:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Every time I think maybe I've been too hard on Cards fans...
… I come here and discover you’re the big bunch of douches I thought you were. And now you’re delusional too.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 19, 2010 7:34 PM EST reply actions
at least we aren't hypocrites
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 7:39 PM EST up reply actions
Every time I think I might start a conversation
I start it by insulting the people I am addressing
by FlimtotheFlam on Dec 19, 2010 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Let me guess...
The brewers are going to win the NL central by 10 games
Sweep the Giants in the NLDS, Sweep the Phillies and then beat the Red Sox / Yankees / whoever in the Series?
All behind Greinke and your Douche-y right fielder?
Obviously Greinke will pitch on 3 days rest the whole year and be allowed to go 9 innings each time.
If you're talking about Braun-y, Aranathor,
he plays LF. Unless, of course, you’re speaking of Hart, in which case, nm.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 19, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
Well, Ed Hardy shirts are douchy
Sunglasses at Night are still up for debate.
Brendan Ryan is no longer a St. Louis Cardinal.
Fortunately, Aaron Miles isn't either.
he meant brawny
the quicker picker upper
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
No one cares
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
by vivaelpujols on Dec 19, 2010 8:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i still kind of want to figure out why he thinks we are delusional
and prove to us why he is in fact a hypocrite
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
51 troll flags
I haven’t banned anyone since the Reds-Cardinals series, IIRC.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
well
he’s only got 2 VEB flags since people round here rarely flag. He’s earned 52 troll flags to date though so I can ban without a hint of remorse. Not that I ever feel sorry for banning but still it’s the thought that counts . . .
. . . or some holiday shit like that.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
by azruavatar on Dec 19, 2010 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It's spelled "holliday"
or that’s how I realized I was doing it this year until I saw it with one L.
Is that 52 troll flags...
from all the blogs on sbnation? Pretty cool you can track that…
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
Dude spammed the Royals boards poll
And voted “Terrible” on the “How do you feel about this trade” poll. So, since he is a Brewer fan, I guess that is indisputable evidence that TSSC thinks Melvin took it in the shorts on this deal.
I guess I’ll vote “good” to cancel it out.
by Merry CRasmus on Dec 19, 2010 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
Ban him for bringing shame to his namesake.
Brendan Ryan is no longer a St. Louis Cardinal.
Fortunately, Aaron Miles isn't either.
Indeed.
You can troll around SB Nation if that’s what you feel like doing with your life but for godsake, not in the name of Simba.
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
its the thought that counts
in the sense than Robots literally tabulate and enumerate all their thoughts?
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
I watched a 60 minutes special last night
about people with super autobiographical memory. They can remember (essentially) their entire lives. They page through their memories in their mind, categorize them, etc. There have only been 7 people identified with that talent so far but it was amazing to watch.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
They'll have two first rounders next year...
the regular and the replacement for Covey (I think), plus two more (possibly) for Fielder and Weeks… That’s at least seven in the first two rounds and potentially six of the first 45 or so. They’ll get back up to speed fairly quickly, although they only have a one year window.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIII
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
what a bunch of douches
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
just kidding!
turn it up to '11
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Dec 19, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
simpsons are replaying the lisa as a manager episode on fox
I didn’t get on base. One time I did (Wednesday) and we scored a run. That shows if I get on base, things can happen - Oilspill
Turns out VEB is not the only place giving me frontpage mentions
New heights of fame are reached at Bay Bridge Banter, another spawn of SBN.
It'll never work
He fits the gay stereotype so much better than you do: self-absorbed, narcissistic, flamboyantly exhibitionist, style-over-substance, fixated on personal relationships and emotional issues.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
by alberich on Dec 19, 2010 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
congratulations aranator
but don’t act like a big shot around here just because some other blog mentioned you even though your stories are one of a kind
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
If you're so damn unique
how come you go by so many different names?
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
wow i don't get credit for purposefully spelling your name wrong
I’m hurt… HURT i tell you!
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 9:00 PM EST up reply actions
only 5,703 comments to go!
and i’m counting this one
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 9:14 PM EST up reply actions
That makes you, I think
Published, and not merely self-published. A major milestone.
The Mang does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
Fact or Fiction:
The Cardinals should be considered as favorites to run with the division title.
I am sure the Walrus can play RF...
Boog for Starting Shortstop in 2011!
Fiction: I find it hard to label anybody as the "favorites"
but yes I do think we are the favorites looking through my Cardinal red colored goggles
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
me looking through my astro colored pair(they were on sale)
by CodyG on Dec 19, 2010 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
At Wrigley
they’re giving free Theriot jerseys with every hotdog.
I need signature suggestions. The Boog and the Walrus have both departed. And it's not funny anymore... sniff
which team are we more concerned with in 2011
brewers or reds?
i’m giving it to the brewers pretty easily
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
Yeah I agree with that
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
you're delusional.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Second base….I’ve played second base, how hard can it be? -TLR
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Albert?
Matt?
Adam?
Fredbird?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
My name is a good name
distinguished, not too common, regal…..
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 20, 2010 12:40 AM EST up reply actions
We're set on names.
We decided a long time ago.
by spants on Dec 20, 2010 12:55 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
my name is pretty much of all of those
it’s not really regal, but it’s most definitely historical
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:04 AM EST up reply actions
Y'know, "Rui" is also a very beautiful name
People don’t know how to pronounce but hey! That builds character!
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
But then I would be Rui's mother.
Not gonna happen. Nice try.
by spants on Dec 20, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was trying to figure out what you meant.
I guess if I hate the kid I could always change its name to Mark Mulder ********.
Mark Mulder should change his name to Mark Mulder*******
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
dibs on brendan
and no, I’m not joking.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
we are watching a puppy until christmas
picked it up a couple of days after he got traded. Wife has called it Boog ever since. She’s going to be crushed when the 7 year old the pup is intended for changes its name to “floppy” (Its a basset hound)
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
are any of your senses enhanced yet? i've heard that happens to some women when they are pregnant
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
that'd be cool if you developed xray vision
so you have like super hearing & smell now?
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
Taste, too. Touch senses are a bit off, too.
And though it’s not a sense, I’ve noticed some extra clumsiness the last few days.
I feel like a walking science experiment.
sounds cool, except for the clumsiness part
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
Today I dropped a mini bagel.
Cream cheese side down.
On my cat.
by spants on Dec 20, 2010 1:44 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
hahaha, i'm sorry, that's really funny, how pissed was the cat?
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
It is funny. Fortunately it wasn't the last bagel!
The cat tried to eat the bagel. It was pretty excited about cleaning up the cream cheese.
i've dropped stuff on dogs before & they would spin around in circles
trying to get it off their backs. i bet it loved the cream cheese.
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
also, how was the bagel?
Not sure I've seen dumber baseball words: "Brendan Ryan became expendable after (Cardinals) acquired infielder Ryan Theriot." -Joe Posnanski
you mean you didn't eat another whole one?
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
isn't that what husbands are for?
All I've got is a broken heart, memories & dreams that I can't drink away
name him Brendan
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
by vivaelpujols on Dec 20, 2010 3:53 AM EST up reply actions
Why wood?
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
by vivaelpujols on Dec 20, 2010 3:58 AM EST up reply actions
OT:
The San Francisco 49ers currently hold a 5-9 record. But, and here’s the kicker, could still win the NFC West if they win their next two games. A 7-9 record into the postseason! (Tigers in three, huh)
I need signature suggestions. The Boog and the Walrus have both departed. And it's not funny anymore... sniff
Rams will win - mark it down
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
change your sig
our punter is better than yours. He doesn’t kick in a dome 1/2 of his games either.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
not true - they are about eqaul actually
Donnie – 45.9 average/41.3 NET
Lee – 46.3 average/37.7 NET
Donnie – 35.7% inside 20
Lee – 34.6% inside 20
Donnie – 5.7% touchback
Lee – 14.1% touchback
those stats say Donnie’s better, but since he’s plays in dome half the time, i’ll call them equal i guess
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
Lee's nets are down due to our crappy coverage.
Same can be said for inside 20%. I got nothing for the touchbacks.
But seriously, I’m torn here. Do I want to make the playoffs as a terrible team and get the 21st overall pick in the draft or do I want to miss the playoffs and get a good draft pick? Point of playing the games is to make the playoffs and, as we learned in 06, anything can happen once you get there.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
are we talking about baseball?
i mean, you always shoot for the playoffs.
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
i'm in the same boat
but unlike you, we have a competent QB so our draft position is relatively unimportant whereas your draft position could be the difference between locker or a different position (or something like that)
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 19, 2010 11:04 PM EST up reply actions
I think it would be hilarious if the Brewers completely flopped this year
and were out of it by the All-Star break.
Fire John Mozeliak
They still have some significant weaknesses...
at least the good people of Milwaukee have something to believe in again.
Sign Carl Pavano!!!
God only knows they need it
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Cody, you broke my damn browser
I award you no points.
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 19, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
what's up VEB?
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:11 AM EST reply actions
I've decided to go home tomorrow
So there’s that
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
giving up?
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, kind of. And my landlord agreed to show the apartment if there's any interest
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
what a guy.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
well my parents are pressing me asking what i want for christmas
but i’m blanking and i don’t really want anything because my birthday was four weeks ago (although i didn’t ask for anything then either)
guess i’m just simplistic…
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:16 AM EST up reply actions
ask for Austin Wilson!
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 20, 2010 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
that's what the internet is for
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:18 AM EST up reply actions
ask for cardinals tickets duh.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
that's definitely not a problem
i go to plenty of games already – i think I’ll just ask for a jersey
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
went to 21 or so this summer.
aiming to top that this summer. may not happen though.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
i don't keep count, but if I had to guess
i’d put it somewhere around… 30-40? I literally don’t have any idea….
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:27 AM EST up reply actions
damn.
seriously? you were at literally every other game?
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
i'd say i probably went to at least a game every series
i couldn’t really tell you though because i don’t have any idea…. if you are wondering, my parents have had season tickets for a while now and they are busy as shit so a lot of times they just defer to me….
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:51 AM EST up reply actions
fair enough.
one game per series equates to about 27-30 games. i would end up at 30 probably but i lose about a third of the season to this thing called college.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:55 AM EST up reply actions
ain't that a bitch?
that’s gonna happen to me next year
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:00 AM EST up reply actions
it sucks.
it really does. but college is where i met my buddy who takes me to about ten games a year in AWESOME seats every time. so i can’t complain.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 1:06 AM EST up reply actions
That's more games than I went to as an employee of the Seattle Mariners
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
you joined midseason though
right?
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:05 AM EST up reply actions
Kind of... May 17th to August 10th-ish
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Ask for the Fushigi!
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Dec 20, 2010 12:48 AM EST up reply actions
if i was stuck on some desert island
and could only access one website. that website would be grooveshark
by YesWeOquendo on Dec 20, 2010 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
not touching that.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
does VEB not count?
i could ask for help and not be bored all day
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
yep they made it worth it
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
Do you guys truly want your minds blown by the awesomest music video of all time?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLNK3mn7zE
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 20, 2010 12:37 AM EST up reply actions
this is pretty awesome
song using only letters, numbers, etc. on keyboard – also this is fucking catchy and way better than the original
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 12:58 AM EST up reply actions
why do my fanposts always turn into novels
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
Because you touch yourself at night
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
what's the topic?
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:09 AM EST up reply actions
'dis
http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2010/12/20/1886570/projecting-the-cardinals-versus-the-brewers
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
yeah i'm not reading all that.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 1:17 AM EST up reply actions
no, i'll read it tomorrow over coffee.
follow me on twitter @nickg105
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2010 1:43 AM EST up reply actions
Hey, that's great work
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I liked it.
Rrelated to this topic, Erik Manning did some (apparent) off-the-cuff WAR projections for the entire NL Central. He seemed more pessimistic about the Cards than you/Bill James. And I would say that the hardest part about doing a post like yours is projecting playing time, especially on a La Russa managed yeam
"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" -Isaac Asimov
i expect mine are optimistic
but the idea is that they should be equally optimistic for both teams. so, while they may not play out like that in the real world, the comparisons should be close
and ouch, manning doesn’t like the cards next season. that’s a third place finish
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
yeah I saw almost no improvement from anyone, anywhere.
That’s almost impossible.
"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" -Isaac Asimov
holliday loses a full 2 WAR?
Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
twatter
Freese is slated at .2
less WAR than he amassed in 270 PAs last season. I dunno, all I can figure is that he’s factoring in some significant injury time (eg Freese) or benching (Colby)
Freese is carrying a serious injury into this year and got very lucky on BIP last year
I actually think 1.5 WAR is pretty bullish.
I also think 5 is fine for Holliday.
I’d argue he’s a little low on Skip (I think a Skip/Greene platoon is probably a 1 WAR true talent, minimum) and definitely on Lohse (who’s never been replacement-level in his career, put up nearly 1 WAR in each of the last two horrible, injur-hit years, and is definitely as good as Narveson, and possibly even Randy Wolf, who’ve got 3.5 WAR between them somehow).
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Dec 20, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
Molina has a 3.0 WAR
that’s the only one though
to be fair, he’s pretty low on everyone else though
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:41 AM EST up reply actions
it's like he took everyone's WAR from last year and adjusted it down 10-20%
"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" -Isaac Asimov
which is crazy in the cardinals case
since there are quite a few players who were unlucky last year
also it looks like he simplified his projections by reverting to .0 and .5
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:45 AM EST up reply actions
i'm sure he will
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:49 AM EST up reply actions
regression and injury risks are bitches
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
by vivaelpujols on Dec 20, 2010 3:42 AM EST up reply actions
But those are too low for some players
Skip Schumaker is a scapegoat
by vivaelpujols on Dec 20, 2010 3:43 AM EST up reply actions
Matt Holliday's WAR projection is inexplicably low from him
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
06-2010 he averages about 6 WAR per year
and you’ve got to figure in some injury risk (he’s had well over 600 PAs each of those 5 years). I’d say he’s a 5-6 WAR true talent, so 5 WAR (especially as he’s now 31, arguably jussssst starting to hit his down years) doesn’t seem crazy.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Dec 20, 2010 12:54 PM EST up reply actions
he's low on our superstars
Pujols declining again? Waino having his worst season of the last three years? Rasmus drops 0.5 in WAR? Lohse and Schu are worth nothing?
man not one of those predictions is optimistic in the slightest sense and most of them are pessimistic
DONNIE FUCKING JONES FOR PRO BOWL!
by stlcardsfan4 on Dec 20, 2010 1:39 AM EST up reply actions
Just a quick note about this comment, az
Like the Cardinals, they will have some gaping offensive holes notably at shortstop, catcher and centerfield.
I agree on shortstop and catcher (I could see them adding Bengie Molina to split time with Lucroy), but they should be pretty capable in CF – they traded Jim Edmonds for Chris Dickerson last year, and if Dickerson can stay healthy he’s probably an above-average CF; decent glove in a premium position with a bat that looks average or a tick above. Just remains to be seen if he gets most of the playing time ahead of Gomez but I expect he should.
The Brewers rotation and starting lineup looks SCARY and the fact they’ve added the best part of 8-10 wins with the last two moves makes them about a 90 win team now, assuming their bullpen will be halfway decent IMO. I think they’re probably neck and neck with us for best team in the NLC now. I reckon the Reds are probably 3-5 wins behind, at a rough estimate.
Still bitching to contact.
The Brewers have a weak defense and I wait to see how this will play out in their upcoming games. This is not to say that disposing the top 4 talented batters was a mistake, I just think they should be covering their defenses and I do not see how Greinke, Gallardo and Marcum will fare here.
Michael Jordan in his prime
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