For a number of years, TLR has been grating on me.  There is the Don LaRussa intimidating younger players on the team (example, B. Ryan last season).  There is the slavish devotion to left-righty matchups, the use of extremely small sample sizes to determine use of pinch hitters or spot starts, his occasional ridiculous jihads against the local press for preceived slights in their of him.  The list of personality quirks is endless.

.... but I came to a conclusion recently: as entertainment, I very much enjoy watching the LaRussa Cardinal teams.  My wife was born out of the country and is a reality TV queen.  She is now way into the Cardinals.  That's when it dawned on me--the LaRussa Cardinals are a long running reality show.  We have the tragic deaths of Daryl Kyle (drug use) and Josh Hancock (alcohol).  TLR's interesting DWI arrest--fell asleep with the car running and in gear at a red light.  The star who is a regular on the show--Sir Albert Pujols.  The stars who feuded with TLR and left--Edmonds and Rolen.  TLR always seems to have a wipping boy--A. Reyes.  He also seems to adopt a player as a son / mascot.  Before it was Taguchi.  As my wife pointed out the other night, Miles is TLR's new adopted son.  We have the nepotism story line--the struggling C. Duncan.  Dave Duncan--the consummate resurrector of disgarded pitchers, the magician at making starters out of relievers, and one of the hardest heads in the game of baseball who will attempt to jam a square peg in a round hole come hell or high water.

It's great theatre!  Really, I think a day will come when we have a manager who is mild mannered, always plays the correct percentages, and is a fair evaluator of talent.  I'm sure my wife will lose interest in such a team.  I'm sure to miss these LaRussa drama teams.

As much as I whined about the return of TLR for 2008 and his mucking up the roster with vets, I have to say that (so far) there are not a lot of personnel moves that I really have legitimate grounds to bellyache about ... won't stop me from complaining mind you.  Resigning Miles after non-tendering the little guy seems to be the biggest problem.  It cascades along the infield.  If Miles was gone and Ryan was working in at SS and 2B, we'd have room for a corner IF bat.  I don't know how long it's been since Joe Mather played 3B, but that kind of bat on the bench would be nice to exchange for Miles.  Heck, I'd take Freese on the bench in exchange for Miles.

But Miles is water under the roster bridge.  At least we jettisoned So Taguchi.  So here the Cards find themselves 41 games into the season and, after a hot start, are scuffling.  But they're only 1 game back @ 23-18.  On opening day, we all would have pleasantly hoisted a Budweiser if told this would be the Cards' record on 5-14.  But some problems are starting to rear their head.  Our bullpen, once thought of as a strength, is showing signs of collapse.  Izzy has been demoted.  The rest of the relievers have looked human.  The starters haven't been much better.  Loshe has regressed substantially after a hot start.  Write Clement off.  Write Mulder off.  For some reason, TLR & Dunc have written Anthony Reyes off.

Given that we are competitive this season to date, the question is what do we do to improve this team?  I know what would have happened if Uncle Walt were still the GM--he'd be looking to deal prospects to bring in more vets.  JMo ain't gonna play that game.  Hallelujah.  The path to improving the team going forward must appear clear to everyone not part of the two headed monster known as LaDuncan.  We finally have talent in the upper levels of our farm system.  The answer to the bullpen woes sits a few hundred miles down I-55 in Memphis.  Chris Perez was told he was coming to the show then, hours later, told to stay put.  Was there a tug of war between LaDuncan and JMo?  Did Papa Dewitt step in and side with LaDuncan?

I think the situation with Izzy in microcosm determines the course for this team.  Izzy should not be a Cardinal next season.  Springer is not a long term solution.  Franklin is getting by with smoke and mirrors.  C. Perez needs ML experience in 2008 to not only improve the club today but prepare him for a larger roll in 2009.  If the Cardinals insert Izzy back into the closer role while C. Perez continues to blow away minor league hitters, then LaDuncan will have their hands firmly on the rudder of the good ship SS Redbird.  If C. Perez is called to STL and slowly gets handed more responsibility as he shows he can handle it (ala McClellan), then we know JMo has finalized a palace coup and has command.  I'm pulling for you JMo.  We'll keep our eyes on the Izzy / C. Perez situation.

Anthony Reyes just raised his trade value substantially.  Mozeliak's instances that Reyes remain on the 25 man roster against the wishes LaDuncan has just paid dividends.  But there is really nowhere for Anthony Reyes to go in this organization.  As the injured starters (Pineiro, Mulder, Carpenter, Clement) come off the DL, current starters will be returned to the bullpen.  And then there is Josh Kinney.  Soon, current bullpen members will be voted off the island.  Reyes and McClellan are the obvious choices (both with options).  Gee, who gets more love from Duncan?  They both may have to go to Memphis in the first half of this year.

It just makes sense that the Cards will deal A. Rey early this season.  And isn't Colby Rasmus one of the three best OFers in the Cardinals organization right now?  C. Duncan can't stay healthy.  The big boy is a DH / 1B waiting to happen.  Let's say we package A. Rey and C Duncan.  What are we looking for in return?  My vote would be for a middle infielder who can start immediately.  Any thoughts on this topic?

I know there are comments on this topic in the main post today but it is pretty significant news so I hope it does not offend that I started a separate post on the topic.  As you probably know, Reyes made the 25 roster as a reliever:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/0CC52FE90F73636E86257418001216EB?OpenDocument

This despite Duncan correctly saying Reyes was not setup for the reliever roll.  How do you think was the conversation we between MO and TLR when the decision was made to set the 25 man?

TLR: I cannot abide by stench of straight bill.  Banish him to Memphis.

MO: No sir.  I cannot comply with your galant wishes.  Reyes is on the 25 man.  You shall play him sir.

TLR: Like hell I will Junior!  He can rot in the bullpen like a corpse left on the gallows.

MO: You are the manager and you decide who plays.  But I as the GM decide who is on the 25 man.  So there.

(MO then sticks out his tongue out at TLR.)

Reyes is absolutely unsuited to relief.  All I can figure is that they are trying to trade him and his perceived value may be higher as a guy off the 25 man versus someone down on the farm.

Curt Schilling has a bum shoulder.  The team doctors medically cleared him after last season, he signed a 1 year deal for $8 mill, and then, apparently it worsened.  Sound familiar?  The team doctors are prescribing rest then a strengthening program while a shoulder specialist (Dr. Morgan) says Schilling needs to go under the knife pronto if he is to pitch this season.  Sounds real familiar.  Can you say Mark Mulder?  What's interesting is that Schilling is publicly dis'ing the Boston team doctor.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/02/schilling_backs.html

And did you catch the elaborate prank pulled against the Phillies Kyle Kendrick?  They convinced the kid he had been traded to the Japan's "Yomiuri Giants" (the team does not exist).
http://www.mcall.com/sports/all-kendrickvideo0218,0,730095.story?track=rss

It's a minor league contract ... but I still don't trust TLR to give Juan a fair and balanced evaluation: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/5C9E01BF754FC855862573E50069DA42 ?OpenDocument

That is the problem with continually have the mindset that the team is in the hunt.  Tomorrow gets sacrificed for today.  We have a lot of young talent in the OF.  The Cards need to sort that talent out and see what they have.  Yes, the team can use a right handed power bat on the bench but Juan has had 128 ML ABs since 2003!  I just don't see this guy helping the Cards in any meaningful way.  Who do show the door so Juan makes the team?

Here's the link:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-02-01-mets-santana_N.htm

Obviously, even if the Cards had the prospects to land him, the team never would have coughed up this kinda coin over 6 years.  This sort of deal is out of our league for anyone not named Pujols.  How will other big market teams like the Cubs and Dodgers respond?  I think they'll both push up payroll.

I thought I had some grasp of the Mozeliak philosophy for this team after the early moves.  Pick up expensive option on Izzy.  Resign Springer, Pinero to short term deals.  Not splashy (at the time, looked overpriced) but signings do not hamper the team long term.  Check.  Jettison Taguchi, Miles, Edmonds.  Allow the team to get younger.  Check.  Sign Izturis to a short term deal to bolster middle infield.  Former gold glover who was available in the bargain bin.  Stop gap.  Check.  Shopped Rolen at player's request but pulled back when the package offered didn't meet the value he perceived for the player.  Check.  Signed Clement to an incentive laden deal with a club option.  If Clement is healthy, the team is not required to endure another round of the TLR/Duncan v. A. Reyes test of wills (they surely will crack the kid this year if more of the same ensues).  All reasonable moves so far.

He might have pandered a bit to TLR / Duncan with the Izzy and Springer signings (TLR's head pops when he doesn't have vets in the 9th and 8th inning slots) but, other than the expensive bullpen, all the moves follow reasonable pattern--gradually get the team younger while still maintaining the appearance of fielding a competitive team.

I was further encouraged by most of what I heard from the Bernie interview of Mozeliak on the radio a few days ago.  When asked (after landing Clement) whether he would go along with the TLR tradition of bringing to spring training a raft of starting pitchers on minor league deals, he said quite firmly "no".  When asked why, he replied, "to do so limits the opportunities for the guys you already have in our organization"  Hallelujah!  Music to my ears.  Tony craves gris for his player mind game, spring training mill.  It's his way of motivating the players.  But the downside is that you steal ST innings from true organizational prospects.  If our goal is to build from within rather than continually filling out the roster from the refuse bin, then Mozeliak should say "no" to the annual boat of ST refugees.  Good for him.

But in the closing moments of the interview, Bernie asked Mozeliak what his next moves were on the horizon.  His reply, "first off, we need to strengthen our utility position, then prepare for the arbitration cases."  Say what?  What utility hole pray tell do you need to fill?  Scott Spiezio @ corner IF.  Brendan Ryan @ middle IF.  We already have six outfielders for five positions.  What in the name of Stan Musial could Mozeliak be referring to?

Yesterday we found out.  Aaron Miles.  The guy who fought off the hotel room intruder at gun point.  He was thrown overboard but, inexplicably, found some way to scamper back onto the boat!  The only reasonable explanation is that TLR hates B. Ryan and, thus, could not abide the stench emanating from the reality that, as things pre-Miles signing stood, B. Ryan was almost guaranteed a spot on the 25 man.  Miles just displaced him.  Completely unreasonable signing.  Miles is nearly incapable of playing SS.  No pop in the bat.  No speed on the bases.  No upside.  Ryan is a solid SS.  Some speed on the bases (yes, can steal a base).  Might have an upside.  Might have some pop.  We just need a larger sample size to tell.    

So Mozeliak threw Tony a bone.  Miles is the bone.  Lord, I hope it stops there.

Here is the story from Goold: tiny URL.

There are quotes in Goold's article from DeWitt. Why tell the press Mozeliak is guaranteed a job with the new front office unless Mozeliak is being passed over the GM position? This looks more and more the way things are going. I am starting to believe that Mozeliak is TLR's man in the front office. Will rally the x-Jocketty personnel around him to form a faction? If so, DeWitt has just granted him immunity from getting voted off the island at tribal counsel. Brilliant.

Second thought. The Cards GM job looks less appealing by the moment. The new guy will be saddled with a strong-willed and powerful coach not of his choosing, the owner's handpicked scouting-minor league kahuna, and the former GM's right-hand man. They'll have to dump a long-term contract and lots of cash on Antonetti to get him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3064898

The other diary was well over 100 comments.  Cumbersome to scroll thru so I started another diary.  $6.5 mill per year ... not as bad as feared.

Wainwright
Looper
Pineiro

... not exactly a starting rotation that makes the opposition wet its shorts.  But we've had worse in STL.

What I just can't figure out is the organizational che the 2008 Cardinals are throwing out there.  A) Are we rebuilding?  B) Are we making a run for it?  C) Or is this a team built to be 500 which qualifies them to be in the hunt in the NL Central but mucked up with vets preventing any real room for growth as a team?

I fear C.  Maybe that is wants DeWitt anyway, a steady competitive team with small peaks and valleys.