Possible remedies anyone?

by DD502DK on Sep 20, 2007 11:35 AM EDT

I know this has been done quite a bit lately, but this kind of talk usually keeps the juices flowing through the unusually long winter the Cardinals are about to experience.

Management: This is obviously in the hands of Tony LaRussa, but I for one would like to have him back for at least three more years to try and get the Cardinals back to Post Season contention. If he leaves I would say possibly Joe Girardi, Jose Oquendo, or Dusty Baker (JUST KIDDING!)
Shortstop: I don't know what it would take to bring Eckstein back, but if it is for a reasonable amount and a short contract length, I say do it. If the contract demands seem to be unreasonable, move on and take a look at Brendan Ryan as the everyday guy.
Starting Rotation: This is the one key to '08, and I haven't a clue how to fix it. The way I see it, the FA market is weak and the trade market seems to be too hefty recently for the Cardinals to even compete. I believe that Bartolo Colon is coming off of a pretty bad year for the Angels and is a free agent. He may be a piece that could be added and then try to make a trade for a solid #2-3 type to hold down the fort until our pitching reinforcements get healthy. (How has Hawksworth looked in AAA ball this year? Could he be promoted?)
Second base: I hope the Cardinals actually just pretend like they forgot they signed Adam Kennedy, stop paying him, and instruct security to not let him into the Jupiter, FL complex or Busch Stadium when the season starts. (Is Hoffpauir a realistic option at second?)

Just some fun opinions and questions to discuss for next year. Have at it!

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A lot of things need answered

...wonder how long before someone yells at you for not having a cool enough diary?

Management - I don't want to see TLR and Walt leave. If we think this is rebuilding now, it would only get worse under someone else. TLR and Walt have a pretty good idea of the weaknesses. The key is going to be whether the team is ready to expand the payroll and fork out some dough.
Eck should be gone. You lose nothing performance-wise by going to Ryan.
Rotation is a disaster. I have no idea what they can do. Carp won't be ready until the second half. Bring back Pineiro and Loop then hope a good 3-4 guy is out there.
Give Kennedy another shot. If he fails by June, call up Hoff if he is performing well.

by paCardsFan on Sep 20, 2007 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

Thoughts

I think Tony and Walt and all the coaches save McRae will be back (McRae might be but I am not as sure of him)

Eck will probably be gone and I actually think Renteria is going to happen not sure how or why but I just have a gut feeling.

Rotation....I won't even touch that monster (pleas stay Walt and fix that crap)

Kennedy should get another shot, I don't think he is nearly as bad as what he was this season.

by StLHugo on Sep 20, 2007 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

How about Reyes & Anderson for Willis?

Marlins want a catching and pitching prospect. We seem to be destroying A Reyes. Molina doesn't seem to be going anywhere and we could use another starter. Willis needs a change. Anybody that wouldn't pull the trigger on that trade or any reason the Marlins don't?

The Red Blazer

by Red Blazer on Sep 20, 2007 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Anderson...

I read on a diary a couple weeks about the idea that we could actually move anderson to 2B, a sort of Biggioesque move. If that is actually a plausible idea, I say we try that. I do agree that Anthony should be traded, however, I think that Willis would be like a Carpenter project. Acquire him, get him worked on (by doctors) and then hope that in a year and a half to two years down the road that he is the ace everyone thought he would be. I don't think acquiring him would help out rotation next year.

Cards fan banished to NH

by t7rick on Sep 20, 2007 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

willis has to be hurt

no way. i wouldn't give up anything significant for the d train.

Future Redbirds

by erik on Sep 20, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

Renteria is one of my all-time favorite Cardinals. He always seemed to give this team a spark, and he had that home run to cap off a come from behind vicotry against the Cubs on Sunday night baseball a few years ago.

I know I am hard on Kennedy but it seems like we have enough productive middle infielders and I like the idea of an up and comer like Hoffpauir getting a shot.

I really like the opinions so far. Here is the kind of upgrade to the rotation that I could see, hopefully it is a realistic one:

Wainwright
Colon
Looper
Silva
Piniero, Mulder, PTBNL

by DD502DK on Sep 20, 2007 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

I think that could be doable

I actually left Reyes off my list because I feel he will be traded. Maybe Duncan could turn Willis around and fix whatever it is that has been screwing up this season.

by DD502DK on Sep 20, 2007 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

Bartolo Colon

I was thinking about that about a week ago but then realized that he makes Sidney Ponson look downright svelte. He wouldn't survive spring training exercises.

I'm pretty sure that Willis would be better helped by Dr. Andrews than Dave Duncan.

by liam on Sep 20, 2007 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Big changes needed

As per earlier scenario, Reyes and Hawksworth to Chicago for Jon Garland.

Sign Livan Hernandez

Exercise Pineiro option

Trade for Miguel Tejada (won't take too much if we assume much of the salary)

Absolutely do not resign Eckstein or Miles, Ryan and Kennady play 2B with Hoffpauir waiting in the wings

Rotation:

Garland
Wainwright
Hernandez
Looper
Pineiro

Lineup:

Ryan
Ankiel
Pujols
Duncan
Tejada
Rolen
Edmonds
Molina

by KoryWiu14 on Sep 20, 2007 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Sick

Give me that line up healthy and that's all it can be. Sick, just sick. Oh, and intimidating, classic, nasty....sorry I got carried away.

by DJ4508 on Sep 20, 2007 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd love

Tejada at SS. With the MV3 down to under 220 RC for 2007, one recovering from surgery and the other almost done for 08 doesn't look good for the mv3.

They need to beef up other positions and hope Ankiel and Duncan continue their offense assault.

by rocKStark5 on Sep 20, 2007 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a big Tejada fan...

I would rather see Ryan and use the money somewhere else or trade for Renteria.

The Red Blazer

by Red Blazer on Sep 20, 2007 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

My best guess

1.) Management: I'm a LaRussa fan, but this will probably be his best chance to get out of here.

2.) Shortstop: I agree that if Eckstein is coming through at a reasonable price, we should attempt to keep him, but between Ryan and Miles, we could probably find a starter, if not platoon. (It should be noted that we should attempt to find a second basemen, for #4.)

Oh, or if we could somehow get Renteria back, that would be great. This would probably be one of the best moves the Cards in 5 years. (That or letting Mattheny get away for Molina to rise up. It's a toss-up in my book.)

3.) Starting Rotation: Wainright, for certain. It's too bad that he probably has the skill right now to be a #3 guy, maybe #2 by next season. Looper is golden, I think. That's as certain as I am going to get. Personally, I think if they hadn't of switched Thompson around so much, he would do better, so he could be a #5 guy. Wells should be a relief pitcher, so I'm not going to count him. Reyes is trade bait, which isn't worth much I know, but still I don't know if I could bear to watch him another season. He needs someone besides Duncan to help him. Basically, I think we need to trade for an ace, and sign #4 guy. I'm not certain what Mulder's new injury means, but this should at least keep us in some sort of a race, maybe.

1.)
2.) Waino
3.) Looper
4.)
5.) Thompson

4.) Second base: The original post reminded me of the movie Office Space and the character Milton. And what happens at the end of the movie, Milton burns down the entire company. I don't know if Milton and Kennnedy are connected, but I think it's still a funny idea. Anyway, Miles probably has the skills to be an everyday, which is why I don't think this is going to be a big deal. If we had another Ryan-like prospect as a back-up, that would set us up pretty nicely.

Or if we can somehow manage to get Renteria, that would be nice to have a Miles-Ryan platoon working second.

4.5) I also have a bit of concern for third base. I wouldn't be surprised is Brannen is resigned, because Brenden Ryan is probably going to get more middle infield playing time next year.

Time to bring up the prospects.

by CraveCase on Sep 20, 2007 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

Memphis Mafia

On the slate as Memphis Mafia Members next year:

2B Jarrett Hoffpauir (.300/.394/.416)
3B Brian Barden (combined AAA .263/.342/.342)

I think those 2 will handle our backups for the infield next season if something needs to be done quickly. I doubt Branyan is back but we did trade for him so all I can think of is what did we lose in a PTBNL for him.

by StLHugo on Sep 20, 2007 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

If Hoffpauir were going to be considered...

for next year, even as a utility guy, I think he would be up now.

I imagine Ryan will be the utility guy next year, along with Cairo and Miles.

by DiscoJer on Sep 20, 2007 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

A name to watch

Alexei Ramirez!

He was the top HR hitter in the Cuban League this summer and will be an MLB Free Agent this Winter. Did I mention that he is a middle infielder?

I smell Alfonso Soriano. Let's start with that.

Another name to watch: Jason Jennings. He has been crap in that hitter haven, but could turn it around. Ground ball guy would fit nicely.

I also would love to get Dontrelle. I don't care how bad he has been this year. His mentality alone would bring something to this team.

Come on You Redbirds--Mike Shannon

by BluesDrummer85 on Sep 20, 2007 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

Billy Hall

It seems Billy Hall is again without a position on the Brewers. JJ Hardy was injured last year and Billy held down SS adequately...especially when taken in context of the monster year at the plate he had. He's been a decent third baseman also. Corey Hart has been seeing time in Centerfield now and seems to be playing much better defense there than Hall.

Hall is having a down year, especially when considered in the context of 2006. I don't think he is truly a 35 HR player. Nor do I feel he's as bad as he's been this year. I think he'd be a plus offensive SS.

I doubt the Brewers would sell as "low" as he's under team control for some time. But, the Brewers might want to free salary to better address needs or to go out and find a true outfielder rather than try to adjust Hall to LF or put him at third and try to make Braun an outfielder.

They already negotiated out his arby years + have him in control thru 2010 with an option on 2011.

by RedbirdRay on Sep 21, 2007 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

Worthless Rantings of an amateur GM

sp- Waino
sp- Mulder (injury?)
sp- Colon
sp- Pineiro
sp- Loop
extra sp- Thompson, Silva (depending on Mulder's status)

c- Yadi (Bennett)
1b- Poo
2b- Kennedy (Miles)
3b- Rolen (Speezer)
ss- Ryan (Miles)
Utility - Miles, Speezer, Hoff.

of- BabyDunc
of- Edmonds
of- Ankiel
of- Ludwick
of- Speezer

Our only trading strengths are young outfield depth, Anderson at catcher, and bullpen. We could try to dislodge a good starting pitcher with a package of Dunc, Reyes, and/or Anderson.

This would be a fairly formidable team, and we wouldn't be losing any of our youth to put it together. Really, I see no room or need for Eckstein. We are stuck with Kennedy, so I kind of side with everyone else on this one. Just keep him and see what he can provide. I understand he is a great teammate.

I'm a man, a manly, manly, man. Unknown

by Eckstreem on Sep 25, 2007 10:39 AM EDT reply actions