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.