Its all setting up rather nicely

by Cylix3341 on Nov 28, 2006 4:43 PM EST

I like the moves by the cardinals alot. These moves are setting us up for something big. They add stability to 2B and pick up some good bench players as well as a starter who if healthy is a #3-#5 starter. I will assume the Weaver signing will come soon also. Or possibly being delayed as Boras deals with the Matsuzaka thing. This leaves he #2 hole in our rotation open. And leave that open for a big name signing or trade. We need a name pitcher and a name bat. And will probably add someone like Dotel to the pen. And no wainwright won't be in the rotation. The Wells signing ended any chance of that. Jocketty will acquire a stud pitcher at these winter meetings. I am very sure of that because now there aren't too many other FA's to deal with with that we want. Two big deals will be done soon. speculations?

Poll

What corner outfield bat would you like to the Cardinals Acquire?

Shannon Stewart

6 votes

OTHER ....note with a post.

5 votes

Manny Rameriez

31 votes

Juan Rivera

1 votes

Carl Crawford

82 votes

Rocco Baldelli

12 votes

Barry Bonds

3 votes

Aubrey Huff

5 votes

145 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm sorry, but..

I think having Manny would be awesome. Sure his defense can be a little bit lack-luster sometimes (most of the time) but he's a good hitter and I think he and Pujols would get along well (although who wouldn't with Pujols..besides Brad Lidge). And I'm sure I'll get insulted due to that but I do. I know it may frighten many of you to think of an outfield that regularly starts Enc and Manny but the line up would also frighten the opposition. only problem is we really don't have much to offer the Red Sox, but if they plan to sign Matsuzaka, they could use a salary dump and we have a long way to go before we get to the "$100 million" payroll.

I'm a Jenius!

by gibbons on Nov 28, 2006 4:59 PM EST reply actions

Yeah

teams would be a lot more hesitant to pitch around Pujols with Manny batting cleanup. That said, I don't see the Cards being able to put up a sufficent package to go get him--I don't see the Sox jumping on something like Reyes, Enc/Duncan and Hawksworth, which I think would have to be the sort of package that we would offer them.

by Valatan on Nov 28, 2006 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

With the signing of Kennedy

Walt REALLY needs to trade for a big bat for LF or RF.
We are going to need another power hitter/rbi guy to help protect Pujols.

I mean yeah we got Rolen but.....

Edmonds...Pray for a big comback year, his offense really dropped off last year, will it continue?

Duncan....will he get traded? Will he continue his power numbers/poor fielding?

Juan Enc....medicore hitter and not consistant.

Yadi...Great post season but was WAY below average during the regular season at the plate. He will really need to step it up.

Kennedy...not a great productive hitter and can't be counted on to drive in a lot of runs.

Unless we can get an impact bat for LF I'm just not real crazy about our line-up right now. Considering the competition in the Central will be quite a bit tougher next year in my opinion.

by KYCards on Nov 28, 2006 6:20 PM EST reply actions

I'll second that

Although I think most agree the top priority has to be on resigning Suppan or Weaver for the #3 spot in the rotation and getting a bonified #2 starter in the fold, I agree with "Kentucky" the run production appears on paper to be questionable. A bonified "big bat" for one of the corner spots sure would make all the difference in the world for a lineup that right now is not really very imposing save for Pujols The Great.

Duncan appears to be best suited as a platoon player his sophomore season and I've long felt JuanE is a platoon talent at best (really I think he should be a No. 4 OFer) and would make a decent enough platoon tandom with Duncan, be it in LF or RF (preferrably LF). My fear, though, is this is not a concern for Walt and JuanE will continue to be the everyday RF and the platoon tandem will be Taguchi and Duncan. I'm not a proponent of that situation in the least.

Baily

by Baily on Nov 28, 2006 10:00 PM EST up reply actions

All the projections out for Duncan

are pretty damn good. Not sure we should go out of our way to acquire someone when we have him.

Now don't get me wrong, encarnacion is signed at a reasonable cost and is at minimum a good complementary player but if we were going to move someone I'd rather see his woeful OBP change teams.

Acquire Jason Schmidt!

by azruavatar on Nov 28, 2006 8:24 PM EST reply actions

I think

the problem is that those other teams would rather not see Enc's woeful OBP change teams,

Acquire Barry Zito!

by aet15 on Nov 29, 2006 1:31 AM EST up reply actions

Enc

Hey, the Cubs don't worry about OBP, maybe they want him :)

by mikedallas23 @ Viva El Birdos on Nov 29, 2006 7:33 AM EST up reply actions

For left, I'd vote for Jose Guillen

He has plus power and is a defensive asset. He was hurt last year and has had a bad attitude, but he could be a bargain the way Frank Thomas was for the A's in 2006. Another guy who should be considered is Trot Nixon. Again, good power and good defense, and injured. Trot has a good team attitude, though. Additionally, I think he fits Larussa's "play a hard nine" mindset. If the Cards go for a more prolific player, then I'd vote for Bonds. Defense is probably bad, but better than it's been lately. His knees looked better late in the season than earlier. You know what kind of offense he could put up even in an off year. The drawback is that Barry is a royal asshole, of course.

by michajo on Nov 28, 2006 8:45 PM EST reply actions

SIGN GONZO

if the cardinals can sign gonzo . they can use duncan and juan e in rf. i would perfer they trade juan e and bring back wilson or maybe sign another wilson (craig wilson). they need schmidt,weaver , mulder for the rotaion.

trade loop in a salary dump. and i see marrero taking over so t. spot. also some spare parts could be sent out.

get rid of j-rod

SWH

by BRINGBACKWILSON on Nov 29, 2006 12:46 PM EST reply actions

do you think about some of these suggestions

or are you just talking off the cuff?

Juan E for all his foibles is not a bad player and is signed at what appears to be a decent contract in terms of the market. He plays above average defense in RF and can back up CF if needed.
Why dump Looper's salary? It's 4.5 million for an effective if unspectacular reliever with closer experience. A salary dump implies that you take a player with little or no value to the team and move him for little in return. Looper is a solid setup man and while I'm not advocating handing out contracts to FA relievers, it doesn't make sense just to dump him.

3)JRod is one of the more effective pinch-hitting options off the bench. Unless you think Spiezio is going to continue to put up numbers like last year, JRod could be our BEST pinch-hitting option off the bench (at least in terms of getting on base). He makes league minimum to top it all of. Personally, I think he could be an everyday LF or RF option but he is certainly good enough to stay on the bench for late inning PH duties.

Acquire Jason Schmidt!

by azruavatar on Nov 29, 2006 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

NO THANK YOU!

I wouldn't want Mannyon the Redbirds... He and Tony would not get along. I don't want Luis Gonzalez either,way to old, gonna get hurt. Offer up a deal to the Marlins for Miguel Cabrerra! Now that would be something! He'd be awesome batting behind Pujols. And what would we really have to give up? Duncan or Encarnacion? Maybe a pitching prospect? The guy can play Third and OF!

by onebigdummy on Nov 29, 2006 1:21 PM EST reply actions

THINK

if we can trade looper and not have to pay his salary that frees up more money to sign schmidt or weaver. and then maybe get a impact bat.
what good is j-rod to the team. is is above avg hitter and below avg fielder and baserunner. but he might be able to help a AL team at dh. which is better for jrod getting a chance to play.and with spez,miles,skip,duncan that is good lefty options off the bench
learn how to speak with respect
juan e showed his true colors in the playoffs. if they have to they can get by with him but if a kc or colorado would take him
IMPROVE THE TEAM. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TEAM. JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK JUAN E OR LOOP IS CUTE DOES NOT MEAN THE CARDINALS SHOULD NOT TRY TO MOVE THEM .IF THEY CAN MAKE THE TEAM BETTER THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED TO DO

SWH

by BRINGBACKWILSON on Nov 29, 2006 4:12 PM EST reply actions

you are unrealistic in your expectations

subtracting Looper and Juan does not gaurantee us a big bat. Name someone who can be had for comparable statistics (I can only think of gonzo) at Juan's price and then you consider the trade. Even then you need someone to back up Edmonds and Juan has the best defensive metrics for that assignment.
The whole point of JRod is that he IS an above average hitter. If I accept your premises that he is a below average defender/baserunner, he's still the ideal PH candidate. And he costs league minimum. Duncan is starting in LF right now and no one else hits righties as well as JRod.
your arguments don't make sense. validate them. that's all i'm asking.
Juan was allegedly battling a wrist ailment all season. He started the most games on the team and put up some great stats when Albert went down. I think this is putting way too much stock in a player's disposition when the truth is none of us know what he's like in person.
You haven't shown a plausible scenario where moving those two players improves the team. Just moving them worsens the team because they are both better than a replacement level player.

Acquire Jason Schmidt!

by azruavatar on Nov 29, 2006 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

THINK

walt is smart enough to realize that if you sign the free agents you want or make a trade. then you can trade loop or juan e. to get you back around the payroll you want. i like looper but if it means getting schmidt they should dump his salary. remember you will have izzy,wainwright and kinny to pitch the late innings. as far as juan e. i doubt he wants to platoon with duncan in rf. i think i they will sign gonzo. it might come down to that juan e. is the best option they have.but i feel they can do better. and juan e. is going to be a problem as the 4th outfielder(he has proved that in his past).

you are right j- rod does a good job as a ph but is there going to be room on the roster. if you package him in a deal you might get something useful in return and maybe help jrod go somewhere to play a little more. marrero will be on the opening day roster.

SWH

by BRINGBACKWILSON on Nov 29, 2006 9:35 PM EST reply actions

rincon

does anybody know if the lefty pitcher r. rincon they signed last year is coming back .i heard he might retire. it would be nice if he could comeback and help the team or maybe be trade bait. because there are alot of teams looking for a lefty releiver. barring any injuries i think the cardinals are set for a while with flores and t jo

SWH

by BRINGBACKWILSON on Nov 29, 2006 9:39 PM EST reply actions