While John Mozeliak was busy blowing smoke around all the reporters, myself included, that thought he was chasing the likes of Jon Lester, David Price or Cole Hamels, he was quietly working out a deal with the Indians for starter Justin Masterson.
According to Peter Gammons, Masterson will be headed to the Cards and will likely make his debut on Saturday. Joel Sherman of the New York Post was the first to report that James Ramsey would be the player headed to the Indians.
After a stellar 2013 season, in which he went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA for the Indians, Masterson has struggled this year, posting a 5.51 ERA in 19 starts. However, per Steve Adams of mlbtraderumors.com, Masterson's former pitching coach, Mickey Callaway attributes his struggles to a knee injury which may have caused him to change his mechanics.
In any case, the Cardinals are hoping that he is now healthy and will return to form.
As for the Indians, they are getting one of the Cardinals better outfield prospects in Ramsey. A first round pick in 2012, Baseball America ranked him as the Cards # 8 prospect heading into the season. He has put up excellent numbers at AA Springfield, with a .300/.389/.527 with 13 homers.
Despite the acquisition of Masterson, the Cards could still go after Jon Lester, per Jon Paul Morosi. However, such a deal would likely cost them Shelby Miller, per Morosi.
Overall, I like the Masterson acquisition. It is a classic low risk/high upside kind of move. Losing Ramsey hurts, as I considered him the Cards center fielder of the future, but hopefully the team can turn Masterson around and convince him to stay long-term.
As for a deal involving Miller for Lester--yes, please, as long as it doesn't require 3 other prospects on top of it.
Showing posts with label James Ramsey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Ramsey. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Cardinals offense needs a boost. What are their options?
After leading the NL in runs scored last year, the Cardinals offense has gone south this year, currently sitting in a 13th place tie with the Cubs for fewest runs scored. While their excellent starting pitching has buoyed them so far this year, recent injuries to their pitchers have put more pressure on the offense to perform.
What are the Cardinals options for boosting their sagging offense? Here are some thoughts.
Oscar Taveras
The first and foremost option was to promote Oscar Taveras and play him, which the Cardinals did yesterday. The only question now is where will he play?
Mike Matheny started him in right field yesterday, with Allen Craig moving to left and Matt Holliday spending a day on the bench and its likely that Matheny will work out some sort of 3-man platoon with Taveras, Craig and Holliday. I don't see the Cardinals working Matt Adams into that platoon, as he's been one of the team's most consistent hitters this season.
Taveras could also play center field, giving the Cardinals a bit more punch than the current duo of Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos, however that would come at the expense of the team's defense.
Acquire a Second or Third Baseman
The Cardinals second base duo of Kolten Wong and Mark Ellis have been pathetic offensively so far this season. As a team, the Cardinals' second basemen are hitting a combined .201, third worst in the NL, with a .534 OPS, second worst in the NL.
Rumors are already swirling that the Cardinals are looking for a second or third baseman (allowing Matt Carpenter to move back to second). I went into detail as to the Cards options in Monday's post, so I won't dwell on this too much. But let's just say that it doesn't appear that Wong is ready for prime time.
Give the bench a boost
On those days when Jon Jay starts, the Cardinals bench is downright laughable, with the likes of Peter Bourjos (.204/.270/.309), Daniel Descalso (.182/.232/.234), Mark Ellis (.194/.276/.239) and Tony Cruz (.229/.315/.271) waiting in the wings. None of those guys are going to strike fear in the heart of pitchers if they came up to pinch hit.
The addition of Taveras to the active roster helps in that it forces either Allen Craig or Matt Holliday to the bench, giving the team at least one potent bat to use in key situations. However, the bench could use more help.
The Cards have tried out Randal Grichuk and Joey Butler off the bench to no avail, so perhaps its time to dig a little deeper into the farm system for some help.
Stephen Piscotty is currently hitting .307/.368/.437 at AAA Memphis and doesn't seem to have anything left to prove there. However, he is primarily a corner outfielder and, with Taveras already up, the only one he could replace would be Bourjos, leaving the team with only Taveras as the backup center fielder.
Another option might be James Ramsey, who is hitting .307/.389/.550 at AA Springfield, including 12 homers, but the Cardinals would likely prefer to keep him in the minors to continue his development.
Aledmys Diaz is healthy and hitting .291/.311/.453 at Springfield and might be an upgrade over Descalso. However, he is hitting only .262/.295/.333 in June and may need some more time to get his stroke back.
Blockbuster Trade?
Around this time last year, Giancarlo Stanton was the subject of many trade rumors and this year Matt Kemp's name has come up. While their respective teams are still in contention, I tend to believe their GM's will not trade them, but you never know. The Cards have the kind of team depth to pull off such a move, if they so desired.
However, acquiring a guy like Stanton would likely require the Cards to give up a ton of prospects, starting with Oscar Taveras and adding a couple young pitchers to boot (Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzales perhaps). In short, you would basically have to gut your farm system to land a stud hitter like him and, while adding a guy like Stanton would certainly give the Cardinals offense a boost, I just don't see John Mozeliak making such a move.
Overall, the best bets for the Cardinals to improve their offense would be to find ample playing time for Taveras and hope he hits, then go out and acquire a second or third baseman. Doing so would also improve the bench by default, by pushing Wong and either Holliday or Craig to the bench and lead to a better overall offensive team.
What are the Cardinals options for boosting their sagging offense? Here are some thoughts.
Oscar Taveras
The first and foremost option was to promote Oscar Taveras and play him, which the Cardinals did yesterday. The only question now is where will he play?
Mike Matheny started him in right field yesterday, with Allen Craig moving to left and Matt Holliday spending a day on the bench and its likely that Matheny will work out some sort of 3-man platoon with Taveras, Craig and Holliday. I don't see the Cardinals working Matt Adams into that platoon, as he's been one of the team's most consistent hitters this season.
Taveras could also play center field, giving the Cardinals a bit more punch than the current duo of Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos, however that would come at the expense of the team's defense.
Acquire a Second or Third Baseman
The Cardinals second base duo of Kolten Wong and Mark Ellis have been pathetic offensively so far this season. As a team, the Cardinals' second basemen are hitting a combined .201, third worst in the NL, with a .534 OPS, second worst in the NL.
Rumors are already swirling that the Cardinals are looking for a second or third baseman (allowing Matt Carpenter to move back to second). I went into detail as to the Cards options in Monday's post, so I won't dwell on this too much. But let's just say that it doesn't appear that Wong is ready for prime time.
Give the bench a boost
On those days when Jon Jay starts, the Cardinals bench is downright laughable, with the likes of Peter Bourjos (.204/.270/.309), Daniel Descalso (.182/.232/.234), Mark Ellis (.194/.276/.239) and Tony Cruz (.229/.315/.271) waiting in the wings. None of those guys are going to strike fear in the heart of pitchers if they came up to pinch hit.
The addition of Taveras to the active roster helps in that it forces either Allen Craig or Matt Holliday to the bench, giving the team at least one potent bat to use in key situations. However, the bench could use more help.
The Cards have tried out Randal Grichuk and Joey Butler off the bench to no avail, so perhaps its time to dig a little deeper into the farm system for some help.
Stephen Piscotty is currently hitting .307/.368/.437 at AAA Memphis and doesn't seem to have anything left to prove there. However, he is primarily a corner outfielder and, with Taveras already up, the only one he could replace would be Bourjos, leaving the team with only Taveras as the backup center fielder.
Another option might be James Ramsey, who is hitting .307/.389/.550 at AA Springfield, including 12 homers, but the Cardinals would likely prefer to keep him in the minors to continue his development.
Aledmys Diaz is healthy and hitting .291/.311/.453 at Springfield and might be an upgrade over Descalso. However, he is hitting only .262/.295/.333 in June and may need some more time to get his stroke back.
Blockbuster Trade?
Around this time last year, Giancarlo Stanton was the subject of many trade rumors and this year Matt Kemp's name has come up. While their respective teams are still in contention, I tend to believe their GM's will not trade them, but you never know. The Cards have the kind of team depth to pull off such a move, if they so desired.
However, acquiring a guy like Stanton would likely require the Cards to give up a ton of prospects, starting with Oscar Taveras and adding a couple young pitchers to boot (Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzales perhaps). In short, you would basically have to gut your farm system to land a stud hitter like him and, while adding a guy like Stanton would certainly give the Cardinals offense a boost, I just don't see John Mozeliak making such a move.
Overall, the best bets for the Cardinals to improve their offense would be to find ample playing time for Taveras and hope he hits, then go out and acquire a second or third baseman. Doing so would also improve the bench by default, by pushing Wong and either Holliday or Craig to the bench and lead to a better overall offensive team.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Who are the Cardinals trade chips?
Buster Olney is reporting that the Rays are prepared to deal David Price "right now". The trade market is obviously heating up and thhe Cardinals appear to be looking to make a big splash this time around. But what do the Cards have to offer the sellers as the trade season heats up?
Here's a look at some of the players that the Cards might be willing to part with to land the pieces they need to contend for a title.
The Outfield Logjam
One area in which the Cardinals have a surplus is in the outfield, here are some players that could be moved to ease that logjam.
1. Matt Adams
It was reported a while back that Adams could be on the block as the Cardinals look to eliminate their outfield logjam, while at the same time getting a quality player in return. Adams is appealing to other teams in that he is cheap (he still has one more season before arbitration) and he is a career .295 hitter with power. He could be involved in a trade for a big fish, such as Price.
2. Allen Craig
Craig is also appealing due to his reasonable contract--he is earning just $2.75 million in 2014, and will make just $5.5 million in 2015, $9.0 in 2016 and $11 million in 2017. All affordable salaries for a career .297 hitter and rbi machine. He probably wouldn't be the centerpiece of a David Price deal, but could be used to acquire an upgrade at another position, such as second base.
3. Jon Jay/Peter Bourjos
Jay and Bourjos have been splitting time in center this season, with Mike Matheny riding the hot hand. However, one of them could be traded to land some bullpen help or as a piece to a larger deal. Both will be entering their second year of arbitration this offseason and trading one of them could help the Cardinals save money to use for other needs.
The Prospects
Although the Cardinals no longer have the top farm system, the team still has quality prospects and depth to make some moves.
1. Oscar Taveras
If the Cardinals are going to land a pitcher like Price, they are going to have to part with some of the best prospects and there is no one better than Taveras. He could be the centerpiece of a mega-deal while at the same time helping to eliminate the outfield logjam.
2. Carlos Martinez/Marco Gonzales
If there is one thing that selling teams crave, its young, controllable, major league ready pitching. Martinez is a young power arm that could be the key to a deal for a veteran arm, such as Price. Gonzales doesn't have the power arm, like Martinez, but his promotion to start on Wednesday could just be a means of showcasing him to other teams. In any case, don't be surprise if one of these guys names pops up in trade rumors.
3. Stephen Piscotty/Randal Grichuk/James Ramsey
The Cardinals have an abundance of good young outfield prospects and one of these guys could end up on the block. Any one of these guys could be traded to land a quality reliever or could be included in a larger deal.
These are just some of the guys who the Cards might consider expendable to get what they need. The team currently has the depth to do whatever it takes to make this team better, but will John Mozeliak be willing to pull the trigger?
Here's a look at some of the players that the Cards might be willing to part with to land the pieces they need to contend for a title.
The Outfield Logjam
One area in which the Cardinals have a surplus is in the outfield, here are some players that could be moved to ease that logjam.
1. Matt Adams
It was reported a while back that Adams could be on the block as the Cardinals look to eliminate their outfield logjam, while at the same time getting a quality player in return. Adams is appealing to other teams in that he is cheap (he still has one more season before arbitration) and he is a career .295 hitter with power. He could be involved in a trade for a big fish, such as Price.
2. Allen Craig
Craig is also appealing due to his reasonable contract--he is earning just $2.75 million in 2014, and will make just $5.5 million in 2015, $9.0 in 2016 and $11 million in 2017. All affordable salaries for a career .297 hitter and rbi machine. He probably wouldn't be the centerpiece of a David Price deal, but could be used to acquire an upgrade at another position, such as second base.
3. Jon Jay/Peter Bourjos
Jay and Bourjos have been splitting time in center this season, with Mike Matheny riding the hot hand. However, one of them could be traded to land some bullpen help or as a piece to a larger deal. Both will be entering their second year of arbitration this offseason and trading one of them could help the Cardinals save money to use for other needs.
The Prospects
Although the Cardinals no longer have the top farm system, the team still has quality prospects and depth to make some moves.
1. Oscar Taveras
If the Cardinals are going to land a pitcher like Price, they are going to have to part with some of the best prospects and there is no one better than Taveras. He could be the centerpiece of a mega-deal while at the same time helping to eliminate the outfield logjam.
2. Carlos Martinez/Marco Gonzales
If there is one thing that selling teams crave, its young, controllable, major league ready pitching. Martinez is a young power arm that could be the key to a deal for a veteran arm, such as Price. Gonzales doesn't have the power arm, like Martinez, but his promotion to start on Wednesday could just be a means of showcasing him to other teams. In any case, don't be surprise if one of these guys names pops up in trade rumors.
3. Stephen Piscotty/Randal Grichuk/James Ramsey
The Cardinals have an abundance of good young outfield prospects and one of these guys could end up on the block. Any one of these guys could be traded to land a quality reliever or could be included in a larger deal.
These are just some of the guys who the Cards might consider expendable to get what they need. The team currently has the depth to do whatever it takes to make this team better, but will John Mozeliak be willing to pull the trigger?
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Should the Cardinals pursue David Price and, if so, what might he cost them?
Last week I opined as to what the Cardinals needs might be heading into trading season. Bullpen help is their main priority, but there is also the possibility that the Cardinals could make a big splash and try to pull off a blockbuster deal.
A little while ago, Ken Rosenthal suggested that the Cards should pursue a big-name starting pitcher, such as David Price and, with the recent elbow issues of Adam Wainwright, that is a distinct possibility. However, Rosenthal recently indicated that the team is hesitant to go shopping for a starter, as they still have internal options, such as Joe Kelly and Carlos Martinez.
Early indications are that Wainwright's injury is not serious, but it does raise concerns. Waino is definitely the Cardinals ace and while Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and Jaime Garcia have all pitched well, a long-term injury to Wainwright would definitely hurt the Cards playoff chances.
Plus, could you imagine a big 3 of Wainwright, Wacha and Price in the playoffs? The Cardinals would definitely be tough to beat.
Price would be under team control through the 2015 season, which means he is not the typical "rental" player available this time of year and it would give the Cards time to negotiate a potential extension with him.
Obviously, there are a lot of benefits to acquiring Price, but at what cost?
The best comparison to determine the asking price for Price is to look at the Rays trade of James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals in December 2012. At that time, the Rays acquired Wil Meyers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard from the Royals for those two pitchers.
To put that package in perspective, Meyers was the Royals #1 prospect and the 4th best in all of baseball according to Baseball America. Odorizzi was the Royals #5 prospect and ranked 92nd overall by Baseball America. Montgomery had fallen off the charts a bit, but was once a top 50 prospect and Leonard was a low-level, unranked power hitting prospect.
What might the equivalent package be that the Cards would have to pony up for Price?
Well, you have to consider that the Royals were getting two quality arms in their deal, however Price is considered a much better pitcher than either Shields or Davis, so that probably balances out.
Thus, I would think that any discussion would probably start with Oscar Taveras. The Cards would probably have to include a pitcher who is close to major-league ready as well, such as Tim Cooney and then a couple lesser prospects.
The question then is: Is it worth the cost?
Would you be willing to part with your top hitting prospect for arguably the best pitcher on the market?
Considering the logjam of outfielders that the Cards have in their system both in the majors (Matt Holliday, Peter Bourjos, Jon Jay and Allen Craig), as well as at AAA (Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk) and even AA (James Ramsey), parting with a top talent like Taveras for a lefthanded "ace" like Price is a little less painfull.
Overall, I think that, if the Cards could land Price for some package involving Taveras, they should go for it. Pitching wins championships.
What do you think?
A little while ago, Ken Rosenthal suggested that the Cards should pursue a big-name starting pitcher, such as David Price and, with the recent elbow issues of Adam Wainwright, that is a distinct possibility. However, Rosenthal recently indicated that the team is hesitant to go shopping for a starter, as they still have internal options, such as Joe Kelly and Carlos Martinez.
Early indications are that Wainwright's injury is not serious, but it does raise concerns. Waino is definitely the Cardinals ace and while Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and Jaime Garcia have all pitched well, a long-term injury to Wainwright would definitely hurt the Cards playoff chances.
Plus, could you imagine a big 3 of Wainwright, Wacha and Price in the playoffs? The Cardinals would definitely be tough to beat.
Price would be under team control through the 2015 season, which means he is not the typical "rental" player available this time of year and it would give the Cards time to negotiate a potential extension with him.
Obviously, there are a lot of benefits to acquiring Price, but at what cost?
The best comparison to determine the asking price for Price is to look at the Rays trade of James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals in December 2012. At that time, the Rays acquired Wil Meyers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard from the Royals for those two pitchers.
To put that package in perspective, Meyers was the Royals #1 prospect and the 4th best in all of baseball according to Baseball America. Odorizzi was the Royals #5 prospect and ranked 92nd overall by Baseball America. Montgomery had fallen off the charts a bit, but was once a top 50 prospect and Leonard was a low-level, unranked power hitting prospect.
What might the equivalent package be that the Cards would have to pony up for Price?
Well, you have to consider that the Royals were getting two quality arms in their deal, however Price is considered a much better pitcher than either Shields or Davis, so that probably balances out.
Thus, I would think that any discussion would probably start with Oscar Taveras. The Cards would probably have to include a pitcher who is close to major-league ready as well, such as Tim Cooney and then a couple lesser prospects.
The question then is: Is it worth the cost?
Would you be willing to part with your top hitting prospect for arguably the best pitcher on the market?
Considering the logjam of outfielders that the Cards have in their system both in the majors (Matt Holliday, Peter Bourjos, Jon Jay and Allen Craig), as well as at AAA (Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk) and even AA (James Ramsey), parting with a top talent like Taveras for a lefthanded "ace" like Price is a little less painfull.
Overall, I think that, if the Cards could land Price for some package involving Taveras, they should go for it. Pitching wins championships.
What do you think?
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Cardinals Mailbag
As part of the United Cardinals Bloggers May project, we created a mailbag format where each blogger is asked a question from a group of fellow Cardinals bloggers and provides a response to each.
As a result, here is the first CFCL mailbag (sponsored by the UCB):
Bill Ivie, I-70 Baseball - Your site is dedicated to your father, who you say "without whom my love for the Cardinals would have never been born." My father was very important to my love of the game and I'm intrigued. If you don't mind, could you share with us a story about your father and how he helped you come to love the Birds on the Bat instead of the Baby Bears?
Growing up in Normal, Illinois, the Cubs and Cardinals fans were pretty evenly split, however there was never a question as to which team I would root for. My dad spent the formative years of his life in Clayton, Missouri and once got to see Dizzy Dean pitch against Carl Hubbell. His love for the game and the Cardinals rubbed off on me and stays with me to this day.
As the beneficiary of a June birthday, my gift each year was to go down to St. Louis for a weekend Cardinals series with my family. While my sister never was really into baseball and my brother outgrew the sport and turned his interests to music, the love of baseball and the Cardinals is something my dad and I always shared.
Daniel Solzman, Redbird Rants - In your years of following the St. Louis Cardinals, what is your favorite moment?
There have been many great moments in my years of following the Cards, including the 2011 World Series game 6, attending Lou Brock day back when Brock was my favorite player and getting to shake hands with Willie McGee and Ozzie Smith at the Adams Mark hotel bar after a game.
However, my favorite memory has to be watching the 7th game of the 1982 World Series with my dad and brother in our living room. I sat in silence for a few seconds after Bruce Sutter struck out Gorman Thomas to win it, before joining my dad and brother in celebration.
After becoming a diehard Cardinals fan in the mid-1970's, getting to finally see the Cards win a World Series for the first time (in my lifetime) was a special moment for me and to be able to share it with my dad and brother made it that much more special.
Ben Chambers, The View From Here - What is the hardest part of being "behind enemy lines"?
Probably the hardest thing about living in the Chicago area, is the inability to follow the Cardinals as closely as I use to.
When I was growing up in Central Illinois, I listened to the Cards on the radio every night and watched the games regularly, when the Cardinals games were picked up by one of our local TV stations. Nowadays, I can only catch the Cards on national telecasts.
Other than that, the fans are tolerable (I'm married to one), especially now that they are rebuilding and you don't have fair-weather fans coming out of the woodwork. But, if they were to become relevant again, that could certainly change.
Dan Buffa, Dose of Buffa - Can you see any huge differences between this team under John Mabry as hitting coach as opposed to Mark McGwire?
You mean other than the fact that the Cardinals can't seem to score runs this year compared to prior years?
In all seriousness, I don't put a lot of stock in hitting coaches having a significant impact on a team. For the most part, hitters know their swing and can tell when they are out of sync and the coach can help them tweak things on occassion.
Its rare that you are going to change a hitters approach once they reach the major leagues (see Colby Rasmus), so the main thing that I think a hitting coach does is to help hitters who are struggling sort out their mechanics and all that entails is watching some video.
Daniel Shoptaw, C70 At The Bat - What one move would you make to shake up this team and get it out of the .500 doldrums?
I don't know if there is one move that will shake up this team and get it back on track, as the biggest issue has been the lack of offense. The only thing Mike Matheny can do about that is to keep trotting the under-performers, like Allen Craig, out there in hopes that they can get hot.
Other than that, guys getting healthy, like Jason Motte and even Jaime Garcia, should give the other problem area, the bullpen, a boost as Garcia's return to the rotation would allow the Cardinals to move Joe Kelly back to the pen (when he's healthy again).
The only move that the Cardinals have yet to try (and that fans have been clamoring for) is to promote Oscar Taveras and start him in center field. However, while he might improve the offense, he would probably make an already poor outfield defense even worse.
Basically, the talent is there for the Cards to go on a run, they just have to play up to their abilities.
John Nagel, Cardinals Farm -Since you are a history buff, what is another Cards team that had plenty of talent but couldn't put it together?
The Cardinals team that stands out to me as having the most talent and not being able to put it together was the 1986 team.
This was basically the same team as the World Series team of 1985. After leading the NL in runs scored in 1985 with 747, the 1986 team struggled to score runs (sound familiar), finishing last in runs scored (601), average (.236) and OBP (.309).
Only a solid pitching staff that finished the season 4th in ERA (3.37) helped the Cardinals avoid total disaster that year. They dug themselves a big hole with a 36-50 record in the first half, but showed that they had the talent to win, going 43-32 in the second half of the season to end up with an overall record of 79-82.
After adding Tony Pena via trade after the 1986 season and promoting Joe Magrane to join the starting rotation, the 1987 Cardinals once again rose to the top and made it back to the World Series, but, to me at least, the 1986 season for the Cards will always be one of the biggest disappointments.
Kevin Reynolds, Stl Cards 'N Stuff - How has blogging about baseball changed your experience of baseball? Bonus Question: What single position (non-position) on the Cards roster do you see being filled with a future core player from the farm system not currently with the big league team? Who/why/etc.?
I think that, living in the Chicago area, I have not been able to follow the Cardinals as closely as I have in the past. Starting a blog on the Cardinals has helped me "reconnect" with the team.
The easiest answer to your second question is that the Cardinals will eventually make room for Oscar Taveras at one of the corner outfield spots by trading one of Matt Holliday, Allen Craig or Matt Adams.
However, to dig a little deeper, I'm not currently sold on either of our center field options nor is Jhonny Peralta a long-term solution at short. I think the center field will eventually be filled by James Ramsey. He is making some noise at AA Springfield this season (.305/.393/.583 with 11 homers in 151 at bats) and is well regarded for his leadership and makeup.
As for shortstop, I think the Cardinals will eventually have to look outside the organization to fill that hole (again).
That's it for this mailbag. If anyone has any questions they would like me to answer for future mailbags, please send them to: watershark67@yahoo.com.
As a result, here is the first CFCL mailbag (sponsored by the UCB):
Bill Ivie, I-70 Baseball - Your site is dedicated to your father, who you say "without whom my love for the Cardinals would have never been born." My father was very important to my love of the game and I'm intrigued. If you don't mind, could you share with us a story about your father and how he helped you come to love the Birds on the Bat instead of the Baby Bears?
Growing up in Normal, Illinois, the Cubs and Cardinals fans were pretty evenly split, however there was never a question as to which team I would root for. My dad spent the formative years of his life in Clayton, Missouri and once got to see Dizzy Dean pitch against Carl Hubbell. His love for the game and the Cardinals rubbed off on me and stays with me to this day.
As the beneficiary of a June birthday, my gift each year was to go down to St. Louis for a weekend Cardinals series with my family. While my sister never was really into baseball and my brother outgrew the sport and turned his interests to music, the love of baseball and the Cardinals is something my dad and I always shared.
Daniel Solzman, Redbird Rants - In your years of following the St. Louis Cardinals, what is your favorite moment?
There have been many great moments in my years of following the Cards, including the 2011 World Series game 6, attending Lou Brock day back when Brock was my favorite player and getting to shake hands with Willie McGee and Ozzie Smith at the Adams Mark hotel bar after a game.
However, my favorite memory has to be watching the 7th game of the 1982 World Series with my dad and brother in our living room. I sat in silence for a few seconds after Bruce Sutter struck out Gorman Thomas to win it, before joining my dad and brother in celebration.
After becoming a diehard Cardinals fan in the mid-1970's, getting to finally see the Cards win a World Series for the first time (in my lifetime) was a special moment for me and to be able to share it with my dad and brother made it that much more special.
Ben Chambers, The View From Here - What is the hardest part of being "behind enemy lines"?
Probably the hardest thing about living in the Chicago area, is the inability to follow the Cardinals as closely as I use to.
When I was growing up in Central Illinois, I listened to the Cards on the radio every night and watched the games regularly, when the Cardinals games were picked up by one of our local TV stations. Nowadays, I can only catch the Cards on national telecasts.
Other than that, the fans are tolerable (I'm married to one), especially now that they are rebuilding and you don't have fair-weather fans coming out of the woodwork. But, if they were to become relevant again, that could certainly change.
Dan Buffa, Dose of Buffa - Can you see any huge differences between this team under John Mabry as hitting coach as opposed to Mark McGwire?
You mean other than the fact that the Cardinals can't seem to score runs this year compared to prior years?
In all seriousness, I don't put a lot of stock in hitting coaches having a significant impact on a team. For the most part, hitters know their swing and can tell when they are out of sync and the coach can help them tweak things on occassion.
Its rare that you are going to change a hitters approach once they reach the major leagues (see Colby Rasmus), so the main thing that I think a hitting coach does is to help hitters who are struggling sort out their mechanics and all that entails is watching some video.
Daniel Shoptaw, C70 At The Bat - What one move would you make to shake up this team and get it out of the .500 doldrums?
I don't know if there is one move that will shake up this team and get it back on track, as the biggest issue has been the lack of offense. The only thing Mike Matheny can do about that is to keep trotting the under-performers, like Allen Craig, out there in hopes that they can get hot.
Other than that, guys getting healthy, like Jason Motte and even Jaime Garcia, should give the other problem area, the bullpen, a boost as Garcia's return to the rotation would allow the Cardinals to move Joe Kelly back to the pen (when he's healthy again).
The only move that the Cardinals have yet to try (and that fans have been clamoring for) is to promote Oscar Taveras and start him in center field. However, while he might improve the offense, he would probably make an already poor outfield defense even worse.
Basically, the talent is there for the Cards to go on a run, they just have to play up to their abilities.
John Nagel, Cardinals Farm -Since you are a history buff, what is another Cards team that had plenty of talent but couldn't put it together?
The Cardinals team that stands out to me as having the most talent and not being able to put it together was the 1986 team.
This was basically the same team as the World Series team of 1985. After leading the NL in runs scored in 1985 with 747, the 1986 team struggled to score runs (sound familiar), finishing last in runs scored (601), average (.236) and OBP (.309).
Only a solid pitching staff that finished the season 4th in ERA (3.37) helped the Cardinals avoid total disaster that year. They dug themselves a big hole with a 36-50 record in the first half, but showed that they had the talent to win, going 43-32 in the second half of the season to end up with an overall record of 79-82.
After adding Tony Pena via trade after the 1986 season and promoting Joe Magrane to join the starting rotation, the 1987 Cardinals once again rose to the top and made it back to the World Series, but, to me at least, the 1986 season for the Cards will always be one of the biggest disappointments.
Kevin Reynolds, Stl Cards 'N Stuff - How has blogging about baseball changed your experience of baseball? Bonus Question: What single position (non-position) on the Cards roster do you see being filled with a future core player from the farm system not currently with the big league team? Who/why/etc.?
I think that, living in the Chicago area, I have not been able to follow the Cardinals as closely as I have in the past. Starting a blog on the Cardinals has helped me "reconnect" with the team.
The easiest answer to your second question is that the Cardinals will eventually make room for Oscar Taveras at one of the corner outfield spots by trading one of Matt Holliday, Allen Craig or Matt Adams.
However, to dig a little deeper, I'm not currently sold on either of our center field options nor is Jhonny Peralta a long-term solution at short. I think the center field will eventually be filled by James Ramsey. He is making some noise at AA Springfield this season (.305/.393/.583 with 11 homers in 151 at bats) and is well regarded for his leadership and makeup.
As for shortstop, I think the Cardinals will eventually have to look outside the organization to fill that hole (again).
That's it for this mailbag. If anyone has any questions they would like me to answer for future mailbags, please send them to: watershark67@yahoo.com.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Could the Cardinals trade one of their surplus outfielders for relief help?
Over the last few years, the Cardinals have been know for developing and promoting power arms, including such standouts as Shelby Miller, Trevor Rosenthal, Michael Wacha, Joe Kelly and Carlos Martinez.
With those pitchers having already graduated to the majors, it appears that the Cardinals system strength is now their outfielders.
In addition to major league regulars Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos, 3 of the Cardinals top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America are outfielders, headed by top prospect Oscar Taveras, as well as spring standout Stephen Piscotty (#4) and up-and-coming James Ramsey (#8).
In addition, BA lists Mike O'Neill as having the "best strike-zone discipline", Charlie Tilson as the "fastest baserunner", C.J. McElroy as the "best athlete" and Tommy Pham as the "best defensive outfielder".
Now, let's consider the Cardinals bullpen.
The Cards pen ranks 13th in the NL with a 4.47 ERA. Manager Mike Matheny has leaned heavily on Pat Neshek and Kevin Siegrist, who have both appeared in half of the Cardinals 20 games, as well as rookie Carlos Martinez who has appeared in 9 games.
Some help may be on the way in the form of Jason Motte, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and could return sometime in May. However, its obvious that Matheny could use another reliable arm (or two) if only to lessen the burden on Neshek, Siegrist and Martinez.
So, with an obvious need and an obvious surplus, it would only make sense for the Cards to trade one of their outfield prospects for a reliever. The only problem is that there probably aren't any pitchers on the market right now.
The Cardinals have had success the last two years trading for struggling relievers in July and helping them get back on track. It worked with Edward Mujica, who the Cards acquired from the Marlins in 2012 for Zack Cox and it worked with John Axford, who the Cards got from the Brewers for Michael Blazek last July.
Expect a similar move this July, with an outfielder at the center of the deal. It likely won't be one of the top 3 guys, but I certainly could see someone like Mike O'Neil being moved for a reliever.
With those pitchers having already graduated to the majors, it appears that the Cardinals system strength is now their outfielders.
In addition to major league regulars Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos, 3 of the Cardinals top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America are outfielders, headed by top prospect Oscar Taveras, as well as spring standout Stephen Piscotty (#4) and up-and-coming James Ramsey (#8).
In addition, BA lists Mike O'Neill as having the "best strike-zone discipline", Charlie Tilson as the "fastest baserunner", C.J. McElroy as the "best athlete" and Tommy Pham as the "best defensive outfielder".
Now, let's consider the Cardinals bullpen.
The Cards pen ranks 13th in the NL with a 4.47 ERA. Manager Mike Matheny has leaned heavily on Pat Neshek and Kevin Siegrist, who have both appeared in half of the Cardinals 20 games, as well as rookie Carlos Martinez who has appeared in 9 games.
Some help may be on the way in the form of Jason Motte, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and could return sometime in May. However, its obvious that Matheny could use another reliable arm (or two) if only to lessen the burden on Neshek, Siegrist and Martinez.
So, with an obvious need and an obvious surplus, it would only make sense for the Cards to trade one of their outfield prospects for a reliever. The only problem is that there probably aren't any pitchers on the market right now.
The Cardinals have had success the last two years trading for struggling relievers in July and helping them get back on track. It worked with Edward Mujica, who the Cards acquired from the Marlins in 2012 for Zack Cox and it worked with John Axford, who the Cards got from the Brewers for Michael Blazek last July.
Expect a similar move this July, with an outfielder at the center of the deal. It likely won't be one of the top 3 guys, but I certainly could see someone like Mike O'Neil being moved for a reliever.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Projecting the Cardinals future lineups
According to GM John Mozeliak, the Cardinals are likely finished with their offseason moves, meaning that, besides adding some minor league depth, the Cards roster is pretty much set.
Thus, as I did with the starting rotation a little while ago, its time to look at the projected Cardinals lineups not only for 2014 but for future years as well.
In case you missed it, as I had just started up this blog at the time, I did a similar exercise last year, which can be found HERE.
Its always interesting to see how my projections look a year after they are made. The main restriction I put on myself is to assume that all openings will be filled in-house (i.e. no free agents or trades), thereby relying only on the Cardinals farm system to fill holes, which, as we have seen this offseason, is not always the case.
Thus, last year, I showed 2013 free agents Rafael Furcal and Carlos Beltran being replaced by Pete Kozma and Oscar Taveras in 2014 and then 2015 free agent David Freese being replaced by Kolten Wong with Matt Carpenter moving over to third.
However, this year, with the likely starters all locked up through at least the 2016 season, taking the above approach would be pretty boring, thus, I decided to shake things up a bit by assuming some possible trades and free agent signings.
In any case, here's how I see things shaking out over the next few years:
2014
As I alluded to before, the 2014 lineup is set, its just a matter of figuring out the batting order. I think Mike Matheny will make new addition Peter Bourjos the leadoff hitter, followed by Matt Carpenter. However, I'm not entirely sold on Bourjos as a leadoff man, given his career .306 OBP and I can see Carpenter returning to the leadoff spot with Jhonny Peralta hitting second.
From there, Matt Holliday will likely stay in his familiar 3rd spot with Allen Craig hitting 4th. Then Yadier Molina and Matt Adams following, with perhaps Adams moving down further against some lefties. That leaves Bourjos and Kolten Wong bringing up the rear.
Thus, here is my projected 2014 lineup:
At some point in the 2014 season or before the 2015 season begins, the Cardinals are going to have to make a big decision. Oscar Taveras will likely be ready to assume a full-time outfield role with the team and the Cards already have too many outfielders.
Jon Jay will likely have already been traded by the July 2014 trade deadline, but that still leaves the Cardinals with Holliday, Craig, Bourjos, Adams and Taveras to fill 4 spots (including first) and that's not even considering the Cards other top hitting prospect Stephen Piscotty. I could see the team possibly trading Holliday, who will be 35 at this time, to free up some salary and to replenish their farm system.
Holliday is owed $17 million a year through 2016, with an $17 million option for 2017 that carries a $1 million buyout. Thus, trading him at this time would save the team $35 million. Allen Craig is another trade possibility, but he's younger and under a more reasonable contract, thereby making Holliday the more appealing option.
Thus, here is how I see the 2015 lineup panning out:
Again, there would be no free agents to worry about at this time, so it comes down to whether the Cardinals feel a trade or free agent signing make sense.
My main concern around this time would be Peralta's defense at short. He will turn 34 during the 2016 season and will likely have lost a step or two on defense. Thus, it might make sense for the Cards to pursue a free agent shortstop.
Yunel Escobar will be a free agent after the 2015 season and could be a good fit for the Cardinals. While he is an average hitter, he has proven to be an above average fielder in his career and would give the team's defense a boost.
Of course, if the team signs Escobar, that leaves Peralta without a position. He could become trade bait or a super utility player, but in either case he will be out of the starting lineup.
Also, by this time, I would think that Wong will have established himself as a good major league hitter and capable leadoff man, thereby allowing Carpenter to bat second, thus giving us the following lineup:
Finally, a free agent! After the 2016 season, Peter Bourjos will likely leave via free agency. Waiting in the wings could be James Ramsey, who will have likely served a long apprenticeship, beginning in 2015 as a 4th outfielder.
Other than that, it will be more of the status quo for the team, giving us the following lineup:
However, the team is certainly set up for long-term success and, if they continue to develop players as they have recently, that success will continue.
Thus, as I did with the starting rotation a little while ago, its time to look at the projected Cardinals lineups not only for 2014 but for future years as well.
In case you missed it, as I had just started up this blog at the time, I did a similar exercise last year, which can be found HERE.
Its always interesting to see how my projections look a year after they are made. The main restriction I put on myself is to assume that all openings will be filled in-house (i.e. no free agents or trades), thereby relying only on the Cardinals farm system to fill holes, which, as we have seen this offseason, is not always the case.
Thus, last year, I showed 2013 free agents Rafael Furcal and Carlos Beltran being replaced by Pete Kozma and Oscar Taveras in 2014 and then 2015 free agent David Freese being replaced by Kolten Wong with Matt Carpenter moving over to third.
However, this year, with the likely starters all locked up through at least the 2016 season, taking the above approach would be pretty boring, thus, I decided to shake things up a bit by assuming some possible trades and free agent signings.
In any case, here's how I see things shaking out over the next few years:
2014
As I alluded to before, the 2014 lineup is set, its just a matter of figuring out the batting order. I think Mike Matheny will make new addition Peter Bourjos the leadoff hitter, followed by Matt Carpenter. However, I'm not entirely sold on Bourjos as a leadoff man, given his career .306 OBP and I can see Carpenter returning to the leadoff spot with Jhonny Peralta hitting second.
From there, Matt Holliday will likely stay in his familiar 3rd spot with Allen Craig hitting 4th. Then Yadier Molina and Matt Adams following, with perhaps Adams moving down further against some lefties. That leaves Bourjos and Kolten Wong bringing up the rear.
Thus, here is my projected 2014 lineup:
- Matt Carpenter, 3B
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Matt Holliday, LF
- Allen Craig, RF
- Yadier Molina, C
- Matt Adams, 1B
- Peter Bourjos, CF
- Kolten Wong, 2B
- pitcher
At some point in the 2014 season or before the 2015 season begins, the Cardinals are going to have to make a big decision. Oscar Taveras will likely be ready to assume a full-time outfield role with the team and the Cards already have too many outfielders.
Jon Jay will likely have already been traded by the July 2014 trade deadline, but that still leaves the Cardinals with Holliday, Craig, Bourjos, Adams and Taveras to fill 4 spots (including first) and that's not even considering the Cards other top hitting prospect Stephen Piscotty. I could see the team possibly trading Holliday, who will be 35 at this time, to free up some salary and to replenish their farm system.
Holliday is owed $17 million a year through 2016, with an $17 million option for 2017 that carries a $1 million buyout. Thus, trading him at this time would save the team $35 million. Allen Craig is another trade possibility, but he's younger and under a more reasonable contract, thereby making Holliday the more appealing option.
Thus, here is how I see the 2015 lineup panning out:
- Matt Carpenter, 3B
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Yadier Molina, C
- Allen Craig, RF
- Matt Adams, 1B
- Oscar Taveras, LF
- Peter Bourjos, CF
- Kolten Wong, 2B
- pitcher
Again, there would be no free agents to worry about at this time, so it comes down to whether the Cardinals feel a trade or free agent signing make sense.
My main concern around this time would be Peralta's defense at short. He will turn 34 during the 2016 season and will likely have lost a step or two on defense. Thus, it might make sense for the Cards to pursue a free agent shortstop.
Yunel Escobar will be a free agent after the 2015 season and could be a good fit for the Cardinals. While he is an average hitter, he has proven to be an above average fielder in his career and would give the team's defense a boost.
Of course, if the team signs Escobar, that leaves Peralta without a position. He could become trade bait or a super utility player, but in either case he will be out of the starting lineup.
Also, by this time, I would think that Wong will have established himself as a good major league hitter and capable leadoff man, thereby allowing Carpenter to bat second, thus giving us the following lineup:
- Kolten Wong, 2B
- Matt Carpenter, 3B
- Yadier Molina, C
- Allen Craig, RF
- Matt Adams, 1B
- Oscar Taveras, LF
- Peter Bourjos, CF
- Yunel Escobar, SS
- pitcher
Finally, a free agent! After the 2016 season, Peter Bourjos will likely leave via free agency. Waiting in the wings could be James Ramsey, who will have likely served a long apprenticeship, beginning in 2015 as a 4th outfielder.
Other than that, it will be more of the status quo for the team, giving us the following lineup:
- Kolten Wong, 2B
- Matt Carpenter, 3B
- Yadier Molina, C
- Allen Craig, RF
- Matt Adams, 1B
- Oscar Taveras, LF
- Yunel Escobar, SS
- James Ramsey, CF
- pitcher
However, the team is certainly set up for long-term success and, if they continue to develop players as they have recently, that success will continue.
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