Stuck in the Middle

After reading some of the responses to my “letter” over at the Post’s website and posting a response of my own, I got to thinking. I think a big thing playing out right now in redbird nation is the change (and battle in some cases) in organizational philosophy.

I am a guy who sees value in both the traditional baseball mindset (a la Tony LaRussa) and also the newer evaluations and statistical tools (Moneyball and Bill James) so I am excited by what others could see as the problems of the club.

TLR might not be back after this season, and that will be a big loss. He is a great manager and finds ways to keep his team in every game. He really is one of the best minds in the game but he also is set in his ways and those ways want “proven big name” players; a “legitimate closer” or “another Big Bat” if you will. I understand he thinks that is why he is successful, but I don’t think he gives himself enough credit.

The club is moving towards a youth movement which will be a continual pipeline to the big league team. I think that is smart and makes perfect sense. I also think we are shifting towards this model later than other teams, but at the right point in the team’s history. The guard is changing, and that is good, bad, and bittersweet all at once.

Soon TLR will be gone and will leave big shoes to fill, but his push back to the front office will also be gone so the organization can get everyone on the same page. The youth movement is 100% smart baseball and business especially in the current economy. I am excited to watch players develop and play with the club for longer stints than a typical free agent would. The downside, the youth movement could push TLR out the door faster than might be desirable. I could see him leaving after this year, but I could also see him sticking around for two more years as his final contract. I think a lot of that rides on the season, but I think the former becomes the lock if the kids falter and moves aren’t made.

In a perfect world TLR would get wise to the fact that he can make a better lasting impact on the young players. Last year at the deadline the big name didn’t come, but 2008 was still one of if not THE best TLR managed teams ever. No one else keeps the team on track with a group that saw far to many injuries and had something like ten players make their MLB debut. I remember 08 as the year we were unexpectedly in the mix until early September. I always forget that in the end we finished 4th. I never really think of 4th place teams surprising as much as last year’s Cards and TLR needs much of the credit. We have been a trade and sign free agents ballclub through the Jocketty years and now we are in the second year of Mo's player development driven one. I think the fan base has gotten so accustomed to the old model that the merits of this new one are lost or dismissed. It is a big change for all of us, the entire country is also changing in new and exciting ways, and I am glad to team is moving forward.

Welcome

So, Here We Go

Thanks for dropping by. I was born and raised in St. Louis, but now live in the city where the Cubs play (but in Sox territory). Following baseball is a favorite hobby of mine, and I thought it would be fun to join the world of blogging with my thoughts on the best baseball team in all of MLB. I have always been a fan of the Cards thanks to trips to Busch starting when I was just a few months old and many Saturday afternoons riding around with my dad listening to KMOX while picking his brain for his memories following the team. I have always loved the Cards, but I became a true die hard when I left STL. I realized that the Cardinals were the only team I really felt like a fan of and now suddenly they weren’t playing a few miles from home, they were back in my old hometown. Absence does make the heart grow fonder; at least it did for me. I hope to use this blog as my sounding board as a fan and offer my perspective and take on the team for whatever that's worth. I am just a fan, in no way am I any type of expert. Maybe down the road we can get some debates going and see how this thing evolves. The goal is to stay on topic, but from time to time I may comment on my other interests and passions. That seems like enough of an intro let’s get started.

I typically follow the team online through the following sites:
http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/cards
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

I read those pretty much daily, and I drop by http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/ every now and then.

The thing that really made me want to get this blog going has been the recent cynicism that seems to be growing in corners of the fan base mostly over at the forums on the Post’s website. We are fans of one of the most storied franchises in all of pro sports and there is always something to say. I am tried of all of the bitching and moaning, why call yourself a fan if you don’t like anything about the team except for #5? Yeah, sometimes they make dumb moves, have a rough game, or let some great opportunities slip past them but being a fan fosters ties that go deeper. I am sure I will do my share of bitching here, but I try to keep things in perspective and look at as many sides as possible before I settle on my finial opinion. We have the reputation as being the smartest fans in baseball, to me that means doing the research.