A Rare (sadly) Post on a Rare Off Day

Wow a baseball blog without anything to say on opening day? Missing the first series with the Cubs? So I guess my first post of the season coming on the only scheduled off day in the first month and some change shouldn’t be all that odd eh? I really need to keep up with the posts more frequently or risk loosing all my loyal readers (read that as my wife and brother). Anyway here we go…

I like this team a lot. There are some moves to be made: sending B. Ryan out via trade or using up that recently found loophole option, sending down Freese he needs to play and Barden and Thurston have locked up the platoon at 3B, Ankiel needs to remember how to hit a baseball or become the full time LH bat off the bench, we accept the fact that for the rest of the month and maybe a chunk of the year we will need to carry 13 pitchers to cover from some short outings from the starters. These don’t seem to be major problems/shifts to make happen.
What have we learned from the first two weeks?

Colby is a very patient hitter, seven walks in eleven games, and in three of those eleven games he was a pinch hitter. Nice patience from a rookie.

Barden + Thurston= a HUGE Improvement over Miles. I think that one explains itself even if we are basing in on a small sample size (in the Majors).

Carp should be allowed to stand in at the plate with the bat glued to his shoulder. No swinging at anything just take what ever they throw at you. Here’s hoping he comes back sooner rather than later.

Our offense is huge this year and should continue to be enough to get us through the year. I do think once the bullpen settles in and TLR settles in on how he will basically handle his roster we will be a more dimensional team capable of winning the division.

Motte reminds me of Wildthing from the movie “Major League” maybe it is just the glasses maybe it is the potential that needs to just get harnessed (and appears like it will be).

If we can hover at about this level of play through this early stretch of the season then with the bulk of our off days much later in the year we will be well positioned for the playoffs. They haven’t proven to me that they can win it all, but at least a first round appearance with a shot to make it to the NLCS should be in order.

Our young bullpen is better than they have looked in these first few games. I blame the over exposure, the odd early schedule, and rookie nerves. I will be own up to this statement if proven wrong, but let’s give them until the end of May before we render judgment and/or let panic settle in.

My early assessment back in my open letter to Cards fans looks to still be a pretty solid argument two weeks in. Ramirez, Bradley, and Soto have all already had minor injuries that have held them out of games, Big Z was reported as cramping after his first start (I don’t remember the source on that, I believe it came from a Chicago based news program but I might have read it someplace. In any case my buddy Andy who is a Cubs fan and big time baseball fan backed it up as well.) Also, Big Z struggled in his first start against the Cards. Harden hasn't been able to get the innings a top of the rotation guy should be able to get; injury on the horizon...I think yes. The Cubs lack depth and in reality aren’t as big of a threat as they appear to some on paper. The Central can be won by the Cards but they will need to work and “play a hard 9” to make that the reality.

There you have it; my initial impressions. It would be nice to have that trade I have been hoping for to happen but I think we can stand pat and be fine.
Some combination or even all of: B. Ryan, Dunc or Ank, Thompson, Jay, B. Anderson, Freese and a lower lever Righty starter should be enough to get us a decent to plus young #3 starter who has proven both effective and durable (with some upside) dare I say maybe even a legit #2. I prefer to deal Ank and keep Dunc but at this moment the former has lowered his value and the latter has proven he is healthy. When Carp comes back Welly or Pienero go to the pen and add long relief, or Welly could become a really exciting, strong closer who could handle the 8th and 9th if need be.

I have a personal goal of doing at least one post per series, but my life is pretty busy as I am expecting my second child in the coming weeks. Let’s hope we get to the next post sooner rather than later.

The Blog Returns

Sorry that it has been so long between posts, I have been burning the candle at both ends and am going to try to make it a point to make updates here more frequent. All that being said, opening day is a mere 14 days away and the roster looks to be shaping up.

My timetable for an OF trade has come and gone with no action, so let make some changes from what we can learn from Spring Training thus far. My new thought is Duncan, Ryan, and a right handed reliever (I would prefer Thompson but it seems like TLR loves the guy so he probably stays) for a promising 2B/SS prospect on the cusp of being MLB ready for the 2010 season and a LHP for the 2010 bullpen or insurance in 2009. I am thinking the Edmonds for Freese last year and it now looks like Freese makes the team as the 3B placeholder as Mather is in the TLR doghouse after his promising start. I still think Duncan is the OF they trade. I am not one of the nepotism conspiracy thinkers out there and like the power he brings to the roster. With the pending arrival of Rasmus and his left handed bat and + + defense, it looks like for all parties involved Dunc being sent out makes the most sense. He can be an American League DH and can relax after leaving his dad’s shadow and the Cards free up OF room, have the potential to keep with the new player development emphasis, plug the holes in depth at the minors which are also the areas the team has revolving doors for the last several years. Everybody comes out better.

Other things that I hope develop:

Joe Thurston on the team as a utility guy, I was hoping that T. Greene would join Thurston as the other IF backup but he was sent out a few days ago so it looks like Ryan (unless he is traded).

Rasmus on the team; Jay, Stavinoha, and Barton have been sent out so, it looks increasing likely that this can and will happen. If memory serves from my reading over at the PD (*Disclaimer- as of late the PD site has been my primary source of ST info; so that is where I am getting the updates that inform my thoughts) I think Rasmus, Duncan, Ankiel, Ludwick, Mather, and the new 2B Schumaker are the other OFers left. I really, really like an active OF of Ankiel, Ludwick, Rasmus, and Mather (with the added flexibility of Schumaker).

Memphis has a great season. TLR had a comment the other day where he said something to the effect of “you have to be a good team when you are sending players of this ability down”, and it does look like the Redbirds will have a solid team all around. This also starts a logjam in the system young players blocking young players. The blockage then allows for the trades that the fan base is all worked up about. The players become more desirable as their professional track records grow. A cost controlled young starting pitcher with a couple of season’s in the majors sound appealing anyone?

Let’s go Cards! The season is almost here and I really hope the cynics can stop rooting for a big payroll and begin rooting for the team again.

Last little item, if you want to get excited and have a laugh watch these: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/fan_forum/2009_commercials.jsp

Keystone Cops

As Spring Training continues, from what I have read over at the PD, in the last few days Skip at 2B has been struggling. I am still firmly on this band wagon with a round trip ticket. I remember last year when we had no real leadoff hitter, and the Sports talking heads and commentators wrote Skip off. We found out quickly that this guy could be put under the great pressure of leading off, as a table setter for one of the true greats in all of baseball history no less, and find success and prove that he belonged on the team for a full season and that he IS our lead off hitter.

This is a prime example of the organization’s movement to solving problems from within. Skip is one of those guys who just seem to love playing baseball, and who are willing to put in the work to make the team stronger. I am still in his corner.

It will be a rough go the next few weeks, and also early in the season but I would rather have Skip out there giving his all than singing a stop gap one year guy to keep the recent revolving door spinning.

Have a look at this from the PD on the competition for the expected two infield utility spots: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/7A935BBEF6F2289086257575000D5651?OpenDocument

TLR is the king of the double switch and moving player’s positions mid game. All four of those guys bring exciting skill sets to the table (I like the sound of T. Greene and Thurston) and I think any combo would be a surprising upgrade over Miles. Don’t get me wrong, I was a big Miles fan, be he will be over exposed with the North- siders the next two seasons.

Think of how this team could shift in the most LaRussian of ways: send your 2B to the OF for a defensive upgrade while keeping your leadoff guy, bring in a speedy utility guy to cover 2B adding a speed threat in the later innings with a defensive upgrade at the keystone, move the current 3B placeholder (Matther) to the OF for a 3B defensive upgrade with more speed but still keeping the power bat of “Joey Bombs”, if Albert is hurting you could give him a slight rest by shifting an OF (Duncan) to first which is a better fit defensively for him than the OF and he is still a strong bat and left handed so TLR can still play his leftie/righty matchups with the player off the bench. Doesn’t that sound like TLR will be happier than a kid in a candy store? Imagine him doing most of those things in the same inning all at once or between opposing at bats…he will either look like he is nuts and/or like a genius. I think that could throw any major leaguer off their game by getting in their head and forcing them to try to recall all of the scouting game plan stuff from locker room meetings, all the while they are flying solo in the batter’s box so they wouldn’t have the option of whispering with the guys in the dugout.

Current Bottom lines: Don’t bet against Skip and the Utility Competition will be fun to watch develop.

New Arm Left of the Mississippi

Yesterday the cards signed Dennys Reyes a LHP for the bullpen. He will be a Card through next season for $3 Mil total on his 2 yr deal. Last year he pitched for an ERA of 2.33 in 75 appearances and 46.1 total innings. His record was 3-0, and he allowed 40 hits, 15 BB, and struck out 39. The PD reports that over the last three seasons he has the lowest ERA of Southpaws in the Majors at 2.14.

The only downside to this signing is that Reyes is pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and that will keep him out of camp for the next few weeks.
It looks like the left side of the bullpen is set with Miller and Reyes (and should be a huge upgrade over last season).

Not to brag, but I called that a player would be brought in the day before this signing happened. I told you (As I have said before I have been aggressively following the team on-line for the last three off-seasons) I am starting to pick up on the rhythms of the FA thus my long winded open letter back when the blog started. I think the move of an outfielder comes in the next week and a half for either a proven middle infield utility guy or a back of the rotation starter.

If you get the chance look at the forums over at the PD’s site; the same people who were bitching that we needed to sign more lefties for the pen are now up in arms that Reyes is here the quotes still out there are that our two new lefties aren’t “good” some how. I still don’t get it, and we also have Ring as depth in addition to that handful of other LHPs. This is a nice time to introduce the term “VIs” to this blog this term comes courtesy of my dad and little brother and their observations of overheard conversations at Rams games. VI stands for “Village Idiot(s)” the logic being that when dumb people gather together, who are not the most deft at handling the English language when it comes to matters concerning professional sports, that some villages are without their resident idiot. The VIs these days are having a convention in their new convention center at the PD please give it a look if you need a good laugh. http://www.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=612058

Here are the links to Reyes’ MLB profile page and then the PD’s coverage

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=121096

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/120EB5E7F1A535C3862575710010E309?OpenDocument

Back from my Off Days for Today's Off day

As I am writing this, I have WGN on in the background with Len Casper and Bob Brently calling a spring training game between the Cubs and the White Sox and I sit here thinking about our guys in the birds on the bat. I have had some issues with the internet being down the last few days so I am sorry that it has been so long between posts.

MLBTradeRumors had a post today saying that the cards were looking at free agent lefties which was expected (at least in my book). I still think they have 1-2 moves to make before the season starts and I think pitching will be the focus.

From what I have read, it sounds like Duncan has returned to form so we either a) have another offensive option or b) have a strong trade chip to an AL team needing a DH. If they move an outfielder as expected, I think it will be Dunc. I really like all of our outfielders for different reasons, but Dunc or Ankiel would be the two I would look to deal first. Luddy, Rasmus, Mather, and Batron would be a fun group to watch. John Jay seems to be having a strong spring so, maybe he and Ank would be out the door, and then you keep Dunc as the 5-OFer. I think I have talked about our OF before, but what a great area to be a backseat GM.

Tomorrow Wellemeyer starts against the Dominican Republic WBC team, and that game should tell us a lot about how the guys are progressing. Let’s see how Skip handles second against J. Reyes, H. Ramirez, D. Ortiz, and M. Tejada. The Cards play an All-Star team and we aren’t even in April this should be fun.

Grapefruit Goings-On

It is tough to judge games from here in the windy city without a box score, highlights, or radio broadcast but today in the grapefruit league opener the cards played to a 5-5 tie with the Marlins.

From the recap on the official Cardinals site: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090225&content_id=3880104&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
It looks like Skip is really hustling to earn that 2B job with two singles and a stolen base on the offensive side of things, and according to the PD: http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/cardinal-beat-updates/2009/02/conflicting-signs-cardinals-strand-14-in-5-5-tie/ he didn’t see a ground ball.

The other thing that excites me about what I am reading on today’s events is the success of Royce Ring. Two strikeouts against the heart of the Marlins roster. Maybe that Mo guy knows a thing or two…

Here is a fun read from Sports Illustrated: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/02/25/larussa/index.html
TLR: Love him or hate him either way he still loves this game.

Let the Games (ST) Begin

Are we all excited yet? Spring Training games start tomorrow. So far the reports from FL I have caught over at the PD website sound very encouraging, and the skeptics seem to be dying down. Thus far carp seems ready to go, and Duncan has faith in him so let’s keep our fingers crossed that our Cy Young winner is back to his old self.

Also, if further evidence was needed to illustrate the leaps and bounds our farm system has made in the last few years Baseball America just put out their annual list of Top 100 Prospects. Give it a look: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2009/267698.html
Colby Rasmus (OF) #3
Brett Wallace(3B) #40
Chris Perez (RHP) #91

We still have the best possible problem in our OF, how do we get all of these guys playing time? Ludwig, Ankiel, Rasmus, Mather, Duncan, Wallace (I have read from multiple sources that a position shift to the OF might be in his future) with Barton and Jay down in AAA there is something to like about all of these players and the first five on my little list all bat with power. If Skip sticks at 2B, with the reporting from the PD it sounds like he will, that at least clears up some OF at bats. I hope Wallace can up his defense and stick as the everyday 3B later this season. Mather is learning 3B and has played some 1B and he was drafted as a SS and we know he played in the bigs last year in the OF, so he could be the new super sub and would provide lots of power off the bench.

My thought, trade Duncan and Ankiel later this spring for pitching depth and/or a SS prospect with an ETA projected for 2010.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow.