tuesday this n that

by lboros on Mar 13, 2007 9:03 AM EDT in St. Louis Cardinals News

i'm battling a bug of some sort, so just a quick post today. to begin with: cards face sandy koufax jr in a spring-training tilt; kip wells pitches for our side. gameday is right here, and you can also listen to mike and john call the game live.

community projections are up for braden looper and david eckstein. re looper: bdief has now seen two of looper's spring starts; he's got another diary up with some impressions. re eckstein: will carroll dropped this ominous remark about him in the first "under the knife" column of 2007:

David Eckstein is almost ready to start swinging a bat again. The chronic oblique problem is something to be very worried about, at least until he proves he's past it. A full offseason, albeit with some wrasslin' added in to his normal training regimen, didn't heal it up ...

if eckstein continues to have trouble with that thing and is sidelined for any length of time, aaron miles and brendan ryan inherit the shortstop position. i like what i've seen of ryan so far, but he's only had about 250 plate appearances above class A; miles is what he is. together they're the very definition of "replacement player." eckstein is 3 or 4 games better than replacement in an average year, and 5 or 6 games better in a good year; if he misses half the season battling this oblique thing, it could cost the team 2 or 3 games in the standings.

he's scheduled to return to the lineup today; don't swing too hard, david.

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Comments

A question

Do the Cards still need to make a deal to improve pitching depth? To me, it seems much less feasible now that Edmonds & JuanEnc are ?? for Opening Day and Kinney is out for the year. We do have a potential surplus of lefties with Flores, TyJo, Rincon and Narveson - but I'm not sure that in itself is enough to get someone decent. If Thompson doesn't get the 5th starter spot, is he the 8th-inning guy? Hmmmmm....

Personally, I think we got hosed on that call.

by Futility Infielder on Mar 13, 2007 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

I think a lefty reliver MAY be moved....

but we wouldn't be trading from a position of strength in my opinion. It's been several years since I've been worried about my team making the playoffs (2000 or 2001) in ST. But this is one of those years.

I think our rotation is looking solid, after that I do worry a bit all the way around.

Here's to overachievement.

by HoosierCardFan on Mar 13, 2007 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

sandy koufax jr....

all I have to say is thank god the 'Stros didn't bring him up in their organization! Can you imagine their rotation the past few years with Santana in it as well?

by HoosierCardFan on Mar 13, 2007 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

Re: NRI's

Simply put, they have more at stake. With some, if not most of them, it's their last shot at getting back to the big time, and they go balls out from Day 1 of Spring Training.

by cardsrul on Mar 13, 2007 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

NRIs

Also, remember that a lot of the MLB regulars have the luxury of trying things out. Rolen likes to take lots of pitches during ST at the cost of OBP and Avg. Carpenter is working on his change up, Reyes is refining his two-seamer, etc.

The NRI's don't have the luxury of refinements, they have to go with their best stuff from day one. No tweaking, no experimentation, just play for your big league life with everything you've (currently) got.

by punditmoi on Mar 13, 2007 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

strong out of the gate

The stats geek's blurb about the Bucs chances hinging upon a strong April showed the miserable performance of the NL central after 5/1/06- every team under .500 for the final 5 months.

Last year's Cards used the Hare approach to top the Tortoises in the division. The cards 07 schedule shows 25 of the first 31 games are within the division. I'd feel better if this team had an Al Reyes type of righty for those 7-8th innings, otherwise the Cards may be the tortoises this year.

I will (almost) avoid any reference to Cardinal hurlers getting shelled.

by baked mcbride on Mar 13, 2007 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

commenter at bucs dugout

"the Cards rotation is an unmitigated disaster."

they're picking the brewers to win the division. can't necessarily argue with that. but i would bet $100 that the cards' starting five has a better ERA this year than the bucs' starting five. just not sure i want to create a login just to do so.

by nycbirdo on Mar 13, 2007 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

Some Pirate fans are realists

A co-worker of mine is a big Bucs fan and he freely admits that their rotation stinks. He's hoping for a .500 finish, not winning the division.

Personally, I think we got hosed on that call.

by Futility Infielder on Mar 13, 2007 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

For me...

It's not the rotation that stinks. The rotation is passable. It's the offense that stinks.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 13, 2007 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh come on

"just not sure i want to create a login just to do so"

You know you want to. :)

by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 13, 2007 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

bucs dugout

I couldn't believe what i was reading when a poster there wrote that they believe they have the best rotation in the central... they are all dead even if you ask me. either all young and unproven (Reyes, wainwright; Duke, Snell, Maholm, Gorzellany...(WHO?)) anyway i don't think they are being realists. we will just have to wait and see...

and braden looper might not be THAT bad as a starter after all.

by youngunn on Mar 13, 2007 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Unmitigated disaster?

That's a little bit strong, isn't it?

I mean, can't it be mitigated if it turns out to actually, you know, win some games...?

The English language is hard for some, I know. But I think we can save the hyperbole for September, when the real unmitigated disaster is happening on Addison Avenue.

by Red in Chicago on Mar 13, 2007 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

speaking of which ... mark prior

This is from Schrodinger at BP:

"Mark Prior, on the other hand, was anything but effective for the second consecutive outing. In his two innings and 40 pitches the Royals tagged him for four runs on six hits. Although his motion looked smooth, his velocity was clearly down, never topping 89 mph with his fastball. He also struggled to get his breaking ball over (walking three), and Royals hitters were able to simply wait on his fastball. He may be pain-free, as he said after his first spring outing, but he's still apparently got a ways to go."

This sounds like Matt Morris to me ... former fastballer who comes back from surgery and hasn't adjusted for the fact that he's lost several mph. Matty Mo went from a 3.76 ERA in 2003 to a 4.72 in 2004; his walks went up by almost half and his HRs almost doubled. All of these were back to normal in 2005, but worse again (except the HRs) in 2006.

All of which is to say, if Prior is even healthy, it's going to be tough for Chicago to get more than #4/5 performance out of him.

by nycbirdo on Mar 13, 2007 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Prior's mechanics also went to hell...

...no matter what they say. He is still "smooth", but he's no longer powerful at all. Take a look at an '03 game (preferably the Bartman game), he really drives to the plate with his legs, gets separation between his lower/upper half, arm-action is smooth without a hitch. Now? He's almost abandoned pushing off to the plate and in one of the games last year I noticed a subtle hitch in his arm action not to mention it takes him about twice as long to get to the plate. He's toast.

Pujols > God

by joker24 on Mar 13, 2007 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh. Hey, 89 mph

is better than the 84 mph he threw last week.

by sdrone on Mar 13, 2007 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Prior

With that kind of velocity, maybe he should switch to the knuckleball. Do you think Barrett would set a record for passed balls?

by Red in Chicago on Mar 13, 2007 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

In spite of the salty taste

This is quite an encouraging pitcher's duel we're witnessing today. Wells is almost matching Santana's performance through three. Same number of total bases, Santana has one more K.

by liam on Mar 13, 2007 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

My internet is at turtle speed

You didn't jinx him, did you liam? But from what I can see thus far, our starting pitching is on a mission. I don't know if it is the new TLR philosophy of ditching the 'competition' phase of ST or the schedule, but I will take it.

Wells IS matching Cy Young jr., and I'm ready for the season to start now.

Opening Night 2007, here I come!

by gforce on Mar 13, 2007 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I jinxed Hawksworth

Nice outing by Wells, although it looks like he burned through his pitch count a little quick.

by liam on Mar 13, 2007 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

edmonds

after reading the p-dispatch article about him yesterday i'm a little worried. he seems like he's not too interested in playing baseball anymore. i'm not exactly sure of the extent of his injuries over the offseason, but from the sounds of it he did nothing related to baseball or even being a professional athlete. he has come to camp completely out of shape having not picked up a bat or glove since the world series and doesn't seem to concerned about getting up to speed very quickly. this is a sharp contrast to a guy like izzy who seems to be obsessed with rehabing and getting back into condition. it all just makes me a little worried about jimmy's desire to play anymore with all the injuries he's had.

by jojo5492 on Mar 13, 2007 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

Just Jimmy Baseball...

being Jimmy baseball.

He'll be fine.

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Mar 13, 2007 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he has 'Shaq-ism'

where he thinks it's so easy you don't have to try until midway through the season.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 13, 2007 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

the last time a team was worried about this

they traded him for kent bottenfield and adam kennedy. Edmonds never talks or acts like he enjoys baseball, but he'll be effective until his body breaks down completely.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 13, 2007 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Edmonds.

Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise for Jimmy Ballgame. He has always come to camp in good shape, punished the ball through June, then fallen apart at the end of the year as fatigue gets the best of him. Maybe this year, he will get in gear a little slower, and build up his momentum as the season progresses.

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

by Eckstreem on Mar 13, 2007 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

Ankiel hits a double off the wall and Negron

doesn't score from first? How slow is this guy?

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 13, 2007 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

mike shannon eat your heart out

the Twins announcer just called Tagg Bozeid "Tagg, ah--Brasierred."

He also keeps calling Taguchi "Iguchi", with a long I.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 13, 2007 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

mike shannon eat your heart out

the Twins announcer just called Tagg Bozeid "Tagg, ah--Brasierred."

He also keeps calling Taguchi "Iguchi", with a long I.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 13, 2007 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

heard that

also just noticed that Shannon is now pronouncing 'Cavazos' correctly.

by _pistol_ on Mar 13, 2007 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

anyone seen pujo lately?????

i'm in dallas so i obviously haven't caught a glimpse of el hombre lately. but i was just listening to the radio (dan patrick show on espn) and olberman was on there. he was giving a report on spring training baseball since he has been down there watching everyone.

anyway, olberman comes out and says that he noticed that pujo was "significantly smaller" than he was last year...."especially in the upper body." he said he figured that his eyes were just playing tricks on him since it wasn't just blatantly obvious. so he conferred with a few other people, notably buck martinez, who said the exact same thing.

while olberman said it wasn't, the obvious inferrance here was that pujo was juicing earlier and is now off of it. he was quick to point out that it was nothing like a reduction of an irod or sosa or whatever. much, much less severe. but at the same time, it was noticable.

i was just curious....anyone seen him lately? i haven't heard anyone say anything about him dropping weight or whatever. the steroid inferenice i couldn't care less about. i choose to believe el hombre is above all of that shit. but i was just wondering if he's made a point to shed some weight over the off-season.

by busch league on Mar 13, 2007 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

olberman

is a self-important d bag. He could tell me Barry Bonds was juicing and I would have doubts about it.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 13, 2007 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

again...

olberman said he was in now way making accusations. he just said it was something that he noticed right away (that pujo was smaller) and it was confirmed by a few other people. he went out of his way 3 or 4 times to say he isn't saying pujo is juicing.

still....i think it's obvious what he was implying. and dan said the same thing, that's the inference.

by busch league on Mar 13, 2007 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

See for yourself

You can find video of AP taking batting practice swings in camp on the PD website...

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/cards

He's wearing one of those big blousy warm-ups, though. No comment from me as to whether he looks his usual size or not.

by jfs on Mar 13, 2007 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

pujols

he looks about the same to me...

by jeff abs on Mar 13, 2007 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not saying....

When someone says, "I'm not saying he's juicing..." that means, "I want to bring up the subject but want to stay on both sides of the fence."

I'm not saying Olberman is a cheapshot artist....
but insinuating steroid use without proof is irresponsible.

OTOH, losing weight to gain quickness or flexibility is a good idea for a lot of players (maybe Yadi, for example), and until we have seen enough ABs to tell if Pujols' isolated power is down, I don't think it warrants much comment.

by madridbend on Mar 13, 2007 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Olbermann...

is a classic cheap shot artist. What else can you call him if he's throwing around accusations without any evidence?

Now if someone shrinks drastically like Giambi... one could claim that that's beyond what could physiologically happen without steroids or a cancer diagnosis. But 225lb guy in decent shape like Pujols can gain or lose 15lbs over an off-season quite easily.

Acquire any Established Major League Starter!

by guayzimi on Mar 13, 2007 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Believe me

Albert does not need to gain flexibility. He has it. The guy is freakishly flexible. Have you watched his routine in warm-ups? The trainer stretches him like a gymnast. Seriously. He can bring his feet behind his head.

Albert has never looked that huge in the upper body to me. He has huge tree trunk-like legs. He was never "ripped." Olbermann is a yankee lover. I can't believe he'd bring this type of "controversy" talk up without having one bit of proof besides his own two eyes.

Then again, I can believe it.

by silent_bob on Mar 13, 2007 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Huge vs ripped

No, Albert has never looked ripped. Far from it.

But he is damn near huge. I've often wondered if he never really shed his "baby fat." He's always looked "almost" overweight to me.

by sdrone on Mar 13, 2007 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Hot.

But seriously, losing body fat is not an indicator of steroid use.

What an asshat.

by plh903 on Mar 13, 2007 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually

thought he looked kind of fat the last few months of last year (post-injury especially). If he really wants to play 155-160 games a year, he needs to silim up a little from last year and drop 15 to 20 lbs.

He wasnt (isnt) out of shape by any means, but it couldnt hurt.

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Mar 13, 2007 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

indeed

i thought the same thing. i thought he could afford to drop 15-20 pounds at the end of last year. i'm sure that's all this is. he probably shed a few pounds and ko is being an idiot.

by busch league on Mar 13, 2007 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Sour grapes

Olbermann doesn't like to be wrong. When he is wrong, he generally bad mouths those who have proven him wrong any chance he gets.

He's like the kid that never apologizes, keeps his head down and wait for an opportunity to jump out and say 'See, I told you so' whether it is there or not.

I mean, I like KO and his show, but he is very childish at times.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 13, 2007 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Men's Fitness Article

The newest Men's Fitness that has Pujols on the cover details his offseason training regimen. Albert says he is meticulous about what he eats during the offseason so that he can get into perfect shape. During the season, however, he lets himself eat whatever he wants to because he figures he needs the energy.

In fact, I remember thinking Pujols looked a little slim during last year's spring training, but not thinking that during the season.

The outfield is deep and playing him straight-away and the infield is the same except first, second, third and short are playing him to pull. -- Mike Shannon

by MUTiger on Mar 13, 2007 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm...

Is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?

>During the season, however, he lets himself eat
>whatever he wants to because he figures he needs
>the energy.

Move over Atkins and South Beach, here comes the Pujols Diet!

Eat healthy and sensible meals during the cold Fall and Winter months, but for the 6 months a year during baseball season, you can eat anything you want!

After all, "your body needs the energy!"
- Albert Pujols, celebrity endorser

We could make a FORTUNE with this...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Mar 13, 2007 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

It's also

quite possible that this was the first time KO had seen Albert in Spring Training. To be fair, at least a couple other people noticed the same thing, one being Buck Martinez, before they even talked to Olbermann.

by cardsrul on Mar 13, 2007 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Positive marks for Izzy's

This P-D article stated he'll probably start in Thursday's game. I'm not convinced that he's completely healed, but the progress is good news. It sounds like he won't miss too much of season, if any. Regardless of your opinions on Izzy as a closer, the sooner he is filling that role the sooner the other relievers figure out their roles.

by _pistol_ on Mar 13, 2007 6:26 PM EDT reply actions

J-Rod

The merits of John Rodriguez versus every other outfielder on the team is a popular topic on this blog. The P-D had this Q&A on the topic:

Q. John Rodriguez in his two years with the big club has averaged around .300. Hitting well this spring. Yet he has to fight to make the team. Competition comes from Preston Wilson, So Taguchi, Jimmy Edmonds, Chris Duncan, Skip Schumaker, plus Scott Spiezio can play outfield. Can't imagine keeping six outfielders. What are the Cards doing about keeping him in the big leagues? Does he make the team? Any trade rumors about him?
- Daniel M. Jacobson.
DG: Rodriguez got to the majors with power and his role on the bench has been to provide lefthanded pop in a pinch. Last season, because of injury, because of lack of at-bats, because of however several reasons, Rodriguez provided production but not much pop. His defense is playable and his base-running can be adventurous, so it's clear he's around for his bat. And while he had a .301 average and 17 extra-base hits, just three were home runs. If they could count on his power, then his place on the team would be more secure. Until then he's left doing exactly what he's done -- show better play in the outfield, show discipline at the plate, show lively legs (he said he wants to display more speed this spring) and take a few pitchers deep. He's not the kind of player who fuels trade talk, but he has shown he can be a player who contributes.

The conventional wisdom is that Schumaker makes the team if Edmonds is on the DL. If Edmonds is not on the DL (or comes off), either Shumaker or Rodriguez gets sent down (to what I'm sure will be much nashing of teeth).

Personally, I'm willing to give Skip a try. And give J-Rod an opportunity to rack up the HRs in Memphis. Gooch, Juan, Duncan, Speez, and Wilson simply aren't going anywhere.

So says, The Dude

by Titus Pullo on Mar 14, 2007 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

neither skip nor j-rod

need more time in AAA. they're more or less already the players they're going to be, and the player schumaker's going to be shouldn't come near a major league roster.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 14, 2007 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

If it were me

Gooch and Juan would be gone
Ankiel, Edmonds, Duncan, Wilson, Speez are our 5 outfielders. I think Speez, Wilson and Ankiel can combine for the production Juan gives us.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 14, 2007 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

Ankiel over Juan, J-Rod, and Gooch?

I don't see the basis for that call. Describing Ankiel "unproven" is charitable.

So says, The Dude

by Titus Pullo on Mar 14, 2007 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

JRod should have remained, error on me

Pujols
Kennedy
Eckstein
Rolen
Yadi
*Miles
*Bennett
*Spiezio
Duncan
Edmonds - DL
Wilson
*Ankiel
*JRod

JRod platoons with Duncan in Left, Wilson starts in CF while Edmonds is on the DL, moves to right when he comes back and platoons with Ankiel.

Ankiel and Skip are interchangable. Actually, Ankiel is stronger offensively. In 2005, he combined for 21 HR and 75 RBIs split between Springfield and Quad Cities. Skip has been essential pedestrian as a minor league hitter, where as Ankiel has shown a considerable amount of pop and the ability to drive people in.

Juan isn't going to be with the team past this season, imho. I can't see them paying him $6.5 million for 17 HRs and 75 RBIs when they've got cheaper options out there who can atleast combine to provide that type of production.

I think Juan best value to this team is a midseason trade somewhere to pick up some minor leaguers. His $6.5 million, along with Looper's $5.5 (should we dump it), gives them $11.5 to pick up another pitcher or corner outfielder, or combine it with Eckstein's 2007 $4.5 cost to spread around for a shortstop, outfielder or pitcher.

Ankiel and JRod are 26 and 29, respectively. It's time to maximize their value, imo.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 14, 2007 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Ankiel

I can't, for the life of me, figure out why he's still around. It's strange that they are this loyal to him, when they have basically told others(coughSuppancough) to take a hike. He's taking a roster spot that should be going to someone else.

by cardsrul on Mar 14, 2007 1:38 PM EDT reply actions