The St. Louis Cardinals offense suffered a big loss when Jason Heyward took less money to sign with the rival Cubs. Given that the Cards finished 11th in the NL in runs scored, Heyward and his 3.8 oWAR (offensive Wins Against Replacement) will be missed.
With the inability to resign Heyward and the apparent unwillingness to sign another big bat, most fans have given up hope for the Cardinals offense.
But fear not fans, despite the loss of Heyward, its still possible that the team's offense can improve.
Here's how....
Stay Healthy
The Cardinals lost two very important offensive pieces in Matt Holliday and Matt Adams for significant portions of the 2015 season. Holliday only played in 73 games, while Adams only played in 60.
Prior to 2015, Holliday average a 3.3 oWAR from 2012-2014, while Adams posted a 1.5 and 1.4 oWAR in his first two seasons in the majors.
If the Cardinals can get 130 to 140 games from both of those two guys, it will go a long way to replacing Heyward's production.
More Piscotty
The main benefactor from the Heyward departure appears to be Cards youngster Stephen Piscotty.
Piscotty burst onto the scene in 2015, hitting .305/.359/.494, good for a 1.4 oWAR in just 63 games. He should get the majority of the playing time in right field and could double that oWAR in 2016.
While his defense will not make anyone forget Heyward, his offense should not be much of a drop off.
Better Bench
One thing John Mozeliak did do this offseason was improve the team's bench.
Gone are the light hitting Pete Kozma (-0.7 oWAR), Jon Jay (-0.6 oWAR), Tony Cruz (-0.5 oWAR), Peter Bourjos (-0.3 oWAR) and Mark Reynolds (-0.3 oWAR).
Replacing them are Jed Gyorko (1.2 oWAR), Brayan Pena (0.6 oWAR), a full season of Tommy Pham (1.1 oWAR in 52 games) and late 2015 acquisition Brandon Moss (0.1 oWAR in 51 games).
Overall the Cardinals offense can improve, but there are some questions. Can Holliday stay healthy for a full season? Will Piscotty continue to produce or will he suffer a sophomore slump? Can the bench be relied on to give the starters (especially aging veterans Yadier Molina and Holliday) some rest?
The answers to those questions will determine the fate of the Cardinals offense.
Showing posts with label Matt Holliday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Holliday. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Cardinals are taking a hard look at David Price
Usually when it comes to trade rumors, you can discount much of what is being thrown around as just that, rumors. However, when more than one person is hinting at someone, chances are that it is true. Like they say "where there's smoke, there's fire".
That appears to be the case when it comes to the Cardinals and Tampa Bay's David Price. According to Joe Strauss, the Cardinals remain "fixated" on Price, while Derrick Goold indicates that the Cards interest in Price is reminiscent of their pursuit of Matt Holliday in 2009.
This is a bit surprising, as we were told just a week and a half ago, by Goold himself, that the Cardinals were looking for "hitting not (Jake) Peavy". Of course, Price is not Peavy and, as Strauss points out, beyond Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn, there are many questions surrounding the Cards starting rotation.
Despite the loss of Yadier Molina, there is still the belief that the hitting will come around. Matt Holliday is starting to heat up. He is hitting .304/.407/.522 in July and Allen Craig is too good of a hitter to be hitting only .244.
There have been signs of life with the offense and I think that the Cardinals just need to string a few good games together to get on track. However, the way this season has gone so far, that's a big if.
On the flip side, despite being 3rd in the NL in starters ERA, the Cardinals pitching has been shaky as of late. Shelby Miller was recently demoted to the bullpen after posting a 7.30 ERA in his last 5 starts, with the Cards saying he looks "tired". Carlos Martinez has been maddeningly inconsistent, as most rookies are, and Joe Kelly just came off the DL as is still trying to find his form.
Add in that Jaime Garcia is done for the year and Michael Wacha could be out at least until September and you can see why John Mozeliak could be looking to add a pitcher.
So, if you're going to add a pitcher, why not go big?
Well, according to Goold, there are a couple things the Cardinals will need to sort out first, before they even consider a trade for Price: (1) the chances of Price re-signing with them and (2) their willingness to pay the high cost (both in terms of money and prospects).
In his Baseball Tonight podcast last Friday, Buster Olney indicated that he thought that Price would be open to signing an extension with the Cardinals, as St. Louis is close to his hometown of Nashville.
As to the second point, the Cardinals certainly have the money for Price. Their 2014 opening day payroll of $107 million was less than their 2013 payroll of $115 million. Plus, they will have the salaries of Jason Motte ($7.5 million) and Mark Ellis ($5.25 million) coming off the books, giving them at least $20 million to play with. Add in the new MLB TV deal that kicked in this year, as the Cards should be flush with funds.
The main question that remains is whether Mo will be willing to part with the prospects required to last Price.
For his part, Price is making it hard for any team, let alone the Cardinals, to say no, as he has posted an 0.85 ERA over his last 4 starts and a 1.64 ERA over his last 9 starts.
With 11 days until the deadline, it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
That appears to be the case when it comes to the Cardinals and Tampa Bay's David Price. According to Joe Strauss, the Cardinals remain "fixated" on Price, while Derrick Goold indicates that the Cards interest in Price is reminiscent of their pursuit of Matt Holliday in 2009.
This is a bit surprising, as we were told just a week and a half ago, by Goold himself, that the Cardinals were looking for "hitting not (Jake) Peavy". Of course, Price is not Peavy and, as Strauss points out, beyond Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn, there are many questions surrounding the Cards starting rotation.
Despite the loss of Yadier Molina, there is still the belief that the hitting will come around. Matt Holliday is starting to heat up. He is hitting .304/.407/.522 in July and Allen Craig is too good of a hitter to be hitting only .244.
There have been signs of life with the offense and I think that the Cardinals just need to string a few good games together to get on track. However, the way this season has gone so far, that's a big if.
On the flip side, despite being 3rd in the NL in starters ERA, the Cardinals pitching has been shaky as of late. Shelby Miller was recently demoted to the bullpen after posting a 7.30 ERA in his last 5 starts, with the Cards saying he looks "tired". Carlos Martinez has been maddeningly inconsistent, as most rookies are, and Joe Kelly just came off the DL as is still trying to find his form.
Add in that Jaime Garcia is done for the year and Michael Wacha could be out at least until September and you can see why John Mozeliak could be looking to add a pitcher.
So, if you're going to add a pitcher, why not go big?
Well, according to Goold, there are a couple things the Cardinals will need to sort out first, before they even consider a trade for Price: (1) the chances of Price re-signing with them and (2) their willingness to pay the high cost (both in terms of money and prospects).
In his Baseball Tonight podcast last Friday, Buster Olney indicated that he thought that Price would be open to signing an extension with the Cardinals, as St. Louis is close to his hometown of Nashville.
As to the second point, the Cardinals certainly have the money for Price. Their 2014 opening day payroll of $107 million was less than their 2013 payroll of $115 million. Plus, they will have the salaries of Jason Motte ($7.5 million) and Mark Ellis ($5.25 million) coming off the books, giving them at least $20 million to play with. Add in the new MLB TV deal that kicked in this year, as the Cards should be flush with funds.
The main question that remains is whether Mo will be willing to part with the prospects required to last Price.
For his part, Price is making it hard for any team, let alone the Cardinals, to say no, as he has posted an 0.85 ERA over his last 4 starts and a 1.64 ERA over his last 9 starts.
With 11 days until the deadline, it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Revisiting the Cardinals and Troy Tulowitzki rumors (again)
Don't look now, but Ken Rosenthal is stirring up rumors regarding Troy Tulowitzki and a possible trade. Per Rosenthal, Tulo indicated that he would be open to a trade, saying "I want to be somewhere where there’s a chance to be in the playoffs every single year.”
However, before we all get our hopes up about the possibility of adding a true impact bat this month, Rosenthal is quick to point out that its more likely that Tulowitzki would be traded in the offseason rather than now.
Still, it makes one wonder if the Cardinals might pursue the Rockies All-Star shortstop this winter.
This season might be lost for the Redbirds, as the recent injury to Yadier Molina and the general malaise of the team have this writer wondering if they have what it takes to even make the playoffs. The Cardinals considered a trade for Tulo last winter before they ended up signing Jhonny Peralta to play short and they might revisit the idea again, if the Rockies make him available.
Peralta can easily shift over to third base, with Matt Carpenter moving to second, to make room for Tulowitzki. Kolten Wong would be the odd man out, but he hasn't exactly shown that he is major league ready. Perhaps he could end up being a trade piece (maybe even this month).
As Rosenthal points out, I'm sure many Cardinals fans would be willing to trade Allen Craig, Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal to the Rockies for Tulo, as he suggested last year. The Rockies are in desperate need of pitching help and the Cards still have a nice stable of young arms.
The only thing that concerns me about Tulowitzki is his home/away splits. While he is a career .299/.374/.518 hitter, he has hit .324/.398/.565 in Colorado and just .275/.349/.470 on the road. However, fans had the same concerns about Matt Holliday and he's turned out alright. Besides, if those road numbers are his standard with the Cards, its still better than any shortstop we've had since I don't know when.
Its an interesting situation and one that bears watching this winter, however, its not gonna help the Cardinals this year.
Cards Claim George Kottaras
In other news, the Cardinals claimed catcher George Kottaras off waivers from the Indians. He will provide the Cards with much needed depth after Molina's injury. Kottaras is a career .216 hitter, but does have some power, as his career ISO (isolated power) is .199, which is above league average.
He will replace Audry Perez on the active roster and will likely split time at catcher with Tony Cruz while Molina is out.
However, before we all get our hopes up about the possibility of adding a true impact bat this month, Rosenthal is quick to point out that its more likely that Tulowitzki would be traded in the offseason rather than now.
Still, it makes one wonder if the Cardinals might pursue the Rockies All-Star shortstop this winter.
This season might be lost for the Redbirds, as the recent injury to Yadier Molina and the general malaise of the team have this writer wondering if they have what it takes to even make the playoffs. The Cardinals considered a trade for Tulo last winter before they ended up signing Jhonny Peralta to play short and they might revisit the idea again, if the Rockies make him available.
Peralta can easily shift over to third base, with Matt Carpenter moving to second, to make room for Tulowitzki. Kolten Wong would be the odd man out, but he hasn't exactly shown that he is major league ready. Perhaps he could end up being a trade piece (maybe even this month).
As Rosenthal points out, I'm sure many Cardinals fans would be willing to trade Allen Craig, Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal to the Rockies for Tulo, as he suggested last year. The Rockies are in desperate need of pitching help and the Cards still have a nice stable of young arms.
The only thing that concerns me about Tulowitzki is his home/away splits. While he is a career .299/.374/.518 hitter, he has hit .324/.398/.565 in Colorado and just .275/.349/.470 on the road. However, fans had the same concerns about Matt Holliday and he's turned out alright. Besides, if those road numbers are his standard with the Cards, its still better than any shortstop we've had since I don't know when.
Its an interesting situation and one that bears watching this winter, however, its not gonna help the Cardinals this year.
Cards Claim George Kottaras
In other news, the Cardinals claimed catcher George Kottaras off waivers from the Indians. He will provide the Cards with much needed depth after Molina's injury. Kottaras is a career .216 hitter, but does have some power, as his career ISO (isolated power) is .199, which is above league average.
He will replace Audry Perez on the active roster and will likely split time at catcher with Tony Cruz while Molina is out.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Cardinals could look to add a second or third baseman, but who?
The Cardinals made a move today to try to bolster their sagging offense, promoting Oscar Taveras from AAA Memphis. His promotion likely means less playing time for Allen Craig and possibly Matt Holliday. However, the team does not appear content with just that move.
According to Derrick Goold of the Post Dispatch, the Cardinals are "open to seeking a trade for a hitter at second base or third base." In either case, rookie Kolten Wong could be out of a job, as Carpenter would likely shift to second, if the team acquires a third baseman.
So, who might be available?
As of now, it appears that the following teams are likely to be sellers at this year's deadline: Cubs, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rays, Astros and Rangers. Here's a look at what each of those teams might have to offer at either second or third. (It should be noted that the Cards could acquire a shortstop and move Jhonny Peralta to third and Carpenter to second, giving them a few more options).
Cubs
The Cards are unlikely to find much talent here, as the Cubs currently employ Darwin Barney (.198/.243/.284) at second and Mike Olt (.142/.224/.346) at third. Emilio Bonifacio has some speed and can play second, third or center field, but he is hitting only .207 since April and is currently on the DL.
Phillies
Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are likely off the table, as they both have no-trade clauses and have said they want to stay in Philadelphia. Cody Asche could be an option, as the Phillies have top prospect Maikel Franco waiting in the wings. However, as a young, cost-controlled player, he would likely cost the Cardinals more in terms of prospects.
Diamondbacks
Both Aaron Hill and Martin Prado are signed through the 2016 season, so its unlikely that the D'backs would trade either of them. They do have a glut of shortstops though, with Didi Gregorius, Chris Owings and the recently promoted Nick Ahmed. However, Owings is injured, Gregorius is not much of a hitter and Ahmed is unproven.
Padres
Chase Headley is certainly available. He is hitting just .204/.293/.327, so the Cardinals could potentially get him cheap. However, is he really an upgrade over Wong? He had one monster year in 2012, when he hit .286 with 31 homers and 17 stolen bases, but didn't really do much before or since then.
Rays
Ben Zobrist is likely available. He is signed through 2014 at $7.0 million and has a $7.5 million option for 2015. He is a career .262/.353/.432 hitter, but is 33 as has started to show some signs of decline. However, he has shown the ability to get on base in the past and could slot in nicely in the second hole of the lineup.
Astros
Jose Altuve's name immediately jumps out at you. When you're hitting .347 with 36 stolen bases (and just 3 caught stealings), people take notice. However, he is signed through 2017 with 2 reasonable team options, which could lock him up through 2019, so its unlikely that the Astros would trade him.
Rangers
The Rangers have made it be known that all of their players are available, but some, like Adrian Beltre, would cost a lot more than others. The Cardinals could pursue Elvis Andrus, who is a career .273/.337/.348 hitter and generally regarded as a good defensive player. However, his speed and defense don't make up for his career OPS of .685 (84 OPS+) and his contract jumps up to $15 million per season, starting next year, making him much less appealing.
Overall, there are not a lot of quality options out there, but I think the best bet would be for the Cardinals to go after Ben Zobrist. He can get on base and would definitely be an upgrade offensively over Wong. Beyond him, you're looking at guys like Asche and Headley, who carry a bit more risk and don't necessarily provide you with an offensive boost.
According to Derrick Goold of the Post Dispatch, the Cardinals are "open to seeking a trade for a hitter at second base or third base." In either case, rookie Kolten Wong could be out of a job, as Carpenter would likely shift to second, if the team acquires a third baseman.
So, who might be available?
As of now, it appears that the following teams are likely to be sellers at this year's deadline: Cubs, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rays, Astros and Rangers. Here's a look at what each of those teams might have to offer at either second or third. (It should be noted that the Cards could acquire a shortstop and move Jhonny Peralta to third and Carpenter to second, giving them a few more options).
Cubs
The Cards are unlikely to find much talent here, as the Cubs currently employ Darwin Barney (.198/.243/.284) at second and Mike Olt (.142/.224/.346) at third. Emilio Bonifacio has some speed and can play second, third or center field, but he is hitting only .207 since April and is currently on the DL.
Phillies
Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are likely off the table, as they both have no-trade clauses and have said they want to stay in Philadelphia. Cody Asche could be an option, as the Phillies have top prospect Maikel Franco waiting in the wings. However, as a young, cost-controlled player, he would likely cost the Cardinals more in terms of prospects.
Diamondbacks
Both Aaron Hill and Martin Prado are signed through the 2016 season, so its unlikely that the D'backs would trade either of them. They do have a glut of shortstops though, with Didi Gregorius, Chris Owings and the recently promoted Nick Ahmed. However, Owings is injured, Gregorius is not much of a hitter and Ahmed is unproven.
Padres
Chase Headley is certainly available. He is hitting just .204/.293/.327, so the Cardinals could potentially get him cheap. However, is he really an upgrade over Wong? He had one monster year in 2012, when he hit .286 with 31 homers and 17 stolen bases, but didn't really do much before or since then.
Rays
Ben Zobrist is likely available. He is signed through 2014 at $7.0 million and has a $7.5 million option for 2015. He is a career .262/.353/.432 hitter, but is 33 as has started to show some signs of decline. However, he has shown the ability to get on base in the past and could slot in nicely in the second hole of the lineup.
Astros
Jose Altuve's name immediately jumps out at you. When you're hitting .347 with 36 stolen bases (and just 3 caught stealings), people take notice. However, he is signed through 2017 with 2 reasonable team options, which could lock him up through 2019, so its unlikely that the Astros would trade him.
Rangers
The Rangers have made it be known that all of their players are available, but some, like Adrian Beltre, would cost a lot more than others. The Cardinals could pursue Elvis Andrus, who is a career .273/.337/.348 hitter and generally regarded as a good defensive player. However, his speed and defense don't make up for his career OPS of .685 (84 OPS+) and his contract jumps up to $15 million per season, starting next year, making him much less appealing.
Overall, there are not a lot of quality options out there, but I think the best bet would be for the Cardinals to go after Ben Zobrist. He can get on base and would definitely be an upgrade offensively over Wong. Beyond him, you're looking at guys like Asche and Headley, who carry a bit more risk and don't necessarily provide you with an offensive boost.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Cardinals could trade an outfielder. Who could move and for what?
Its no secret that the Cardinals have a surplus of outfielders in their system, from major leaguers Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Peter Bourjos and Allen Craig on down to their AAA outfield of Oscar Taveras, Randal Grichuk (who are both currently on the major league roster) and Stephen Piscotty.
In a recent article, Bernie Miklasz indicated that something's got to give, hinting that a trade is the logical thing to do.
But who might the Cardinals trade and what do they need in return?
Well, Darren Wolfson says that the Twins have interest in Jon Jay and that the Cardinals would probably ask for reliever Casey Fien and a prospect in return. This makes sense for the Cards as they certainly could use the bullpen help and it could open up the possibility of Taveras splitting time with Bourjos in center.
Jon Heyman speculated a while back that the Cardinals could trade either Matt Adams or Allen Craig. However, if the Cardinals were to trade one of those guys, they would be looking for more than a reliever in return.
According to Miklasz, a scout suggested to him that the Cards could try to make a big splash and acquire a "formidable starting pitcher" to complement Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha in the rotation. Two of the biggest starting pitching names that have been rumored to be on the block are the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija and the Rays' David Price.
The Cubs don't seem to be willing to pony up the money necessary to extend Samardzija, who is signed through the 2015 season. However, the Cubs already have a couple of talented outfield prospects in Albert Almora and Jorge Soler. Do they really need another outfielder and would they want to trade within their own division?
As for the Rays and Price, they could certainly use another outfielder, as they are currently employing David DeJesus in left field. While he's a decent outfielder, he doesn't have the power normally associated with a corner guy.
That's not to say that Craig or Adams would be enough to land a pitcher like Price. Most likely it would require some prospects as well. For example, when the Rays traded James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals a couple years ago, they acquired the Royals top prospects Wil Meyers and Jake Odorizzi, along with a couple other prospects (Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard).
Are the Cards willing to part with some of their top prospects for Price, who is only under team control through 2015?
Both Price and Samardzija are more valuable than most players on the block this time of year, as they are under team control beyond 2014, but that just means that their teams will be looking for more in return as well.
In any case, this situation bears watching and I'm sure there will be many more rumors floating around as the July 31st trade deadline gets nearer.
In a recent article, Bernie Miklasz indicated that something's got to give, hinting that a trade is the logical thing to do.
But who might the Cardinals trade and what do they need in return?
Well, Darren Wolfson says that the Twins have interest in Jon Jay and that the Cardinals would probably ask for reliever Casey Fien and a prospect in return. This makes sense for the Cards as they certainly could use the bullpen help and it could open up the possibility of Taveras splitting time with Bourjos in center.
Jon Heyman speculated a while back that the Cardinals could trade either Matt Adams or Allen Craig. However, if the Cardinals were to trade one of those guys, they would be looking for more than a reliever in return.
According to Miklasz, a scout suggested to him that the Cards could try to make a big splash and acquire a "formidable starting pitcher" to complement Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha in the rotation. Two of the biggest starting pitching names that have been rumored to be on the block are the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija and the Rays' David Price.
The Cubs don't seem to be willing to pony up the money necessary to extend Samardzija, who is signed through the 2015 season. However, the Cubs already have a couple of talented outfield prospects in Albert Almora and Jorge Soler. Do they really need another outfielder and would they want to trade within their own division?
As for the Rays and Price, they could certainly use another outfielder, as they are currently employing David DeJesus in left field. While he's a decent outfielder, he doesn't have the power normally associated with a corner guy.
That's not to say that Craig or Adams would be enough to land a pitcher like Price. Most likely it would require some prospects as well. For example, when the Rays traded James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals a couple years ago, they acquired the Royals top prospects Wil Meyers and Jake Odorizzi, along with a couple other prospects (Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard).
Are the Cards willing to part with some of their top prospects for Price, who is only under team control through 2015?
Both Price and Samardzija are more valuable than most players on the block this time of year, as they are under team control beyond 2014, but that just means that their teams will be looking for more in return as well.
In any case, this situation bears watching and I'm sure there will be many more rumors floating around as the July 31st trade deadline gets nearer.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Cardinals are content to stand pat...for now
While many Cardinals fans may be panicking over the team's sluggish start, GM John Mozeliak is not. Both Rick Hummel and Ken Rosenthal posted articles recently indicating the the Cardinals GM is not looking to make a move any time soon.
However, that doesn't mean that one won't be coming in the future, as Mo says "That doesn’t mean we’re going to sit back and be complacent and do nothing. We’ll survey markets and see where we might go. It’s a little too early to say what we might chase.’’
The Cardinals offense has started to show signs of life and their bullpen will get a boost from the return of Jason Motte, so its hard to see where the Cards have a glaring need.
One area where the Cards have struggled is second base, where the team has a .207/.276/.250 line so far this season. However, since his return from the minors, Kolten Wong has gone 5 for 11 to raise his average to .256 and is starting to look like he belongs in the majors.
Another problem area has been right field, where Allen Craig resides. His .226/.281/.354 line is the main reason the Cardinals right fielders are hitting .203/.254/.326 as a group. However, Craig is still a career .297 hitter and its too soon to give up on him.
Finally, center field has been an issue for the Redbirds, where projected starter Peter Bourjos got off to a slow start, leading Manager Mike Matheny to play the defensively challenged Jon Jay more in the early going. However, Bourjos' bat has come alive in May, to the tune of .324/.390/.486, leading to more playing time for him and less talk of promoting Oscar Taveras.
Overall, the Cardinals have the talent and the depth to get on a hot streak and pass the fading Brewers. Once guys like Craig, Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter start hitting like they should, the wins should follow.
However, that doesn't mean that one won't be coming in the future, as Mo says "That doesn’t mean we’re going to sit back and be complacent and do nothing. We’ll survey markets and see where we might go. It’s a little too early to say what we might chase.’’
The Cardinals offense has started to show signs of life and their bullpen will get a boost from the return of Jason Motte, so its hard to see where the Cards have a glaring need.
One area where the Cards have struggled is second base, where the team has a .207/.276/.250 line so far this season. However, since his return from the minors, Kolten Wong has gone 5 for 11 to raise his average to .256 and is starting to look like he belongs in the majors.
Another problem area has been right field, where Allen Craig resides. His .226/.281/.354 line is the main reason the Cardinals right fielders are hitting .203/.254/.326 as a group. However, Craig is still a career .297 hitter and its too soon to give up on him.
Finally, center field has been an issue for the Redbirds, where projected starter Peter Bourjos got off to a slow start, leading Manager Mike Matheny to play the defensively challenged Jon Jay more in the early going. However, Bourjos' bat has come alive in May, to the tune of .324/.390/.486, leading to more playing time for him and less talk of promoting Oscar Taveras.
Overall, the Cardinals have the talent and the depth to get on a hot streak and pass the fading Brewers. Once guys like Craig, Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter start hitting like they should, the wins should follow.
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.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Could the Cardinals trade Matt Adams to make room for Oscar Taveras?
With the outfield logjam in the Cardinals system, I have recently speculated that potentially Matt Holliday or Allen Craig could be traded to open up a spot for top prospect Oscar Taveras. The thinking is that the Cardinals could shed some salary while improving their outfield defense.
However, there is another option out there.
According to Buster Olney (ESPN Insider required), a rival talent evaluator suggested that Matt Adams could be the one to be traded, with Craig moving to first and Taveras playing right field. The scout suggests that defensive issues are preventing the Cards from promoting Taveras, as he is better suited for a corner outfield spot than center.
I agree that Taveras is unlikely to be a long-term solution in center and that playing him in center field this year would weaken an already poor outfield defense. Holliday is not going to win any Gold Gloves and Craig is not much better. Adding Taveras to the mix would create more gaps, due to the limited range of all three.
Peter Bourjos' recent hot streak (he's 5 for 8 in his last 2 games) may give him another opportunity to prove himself capable of handling the everyday center field job, where his range and plus defense is much needed.
At the same time, trading Adams would improve the Cardinals defense in right field (i.e. Taveras > Craig), while not losing much (if anything) at first.
In addition, trading Adams would probably net the Cards more in return, as he is cheaper than either Holliday or Craig and under team control through 2018.
Overall it makes sense, but its unlikely to happen anytime soon. The Cardinals will likely promote Taveras sometime in June and then rotate their outfielders and first basemen for a time until the July trade deadline.
That is when we will see what, if anything, the Cards do about the logjam.
However, there is another option out there.
According to Buster Olney (ESPN Insider required), a rival talent evaluator suggested that Matt Adams could be the one to be traded, with Craig moving to first and Taveras playing right field. The scout suggests that defensive issues are preventing the Cards from promoting Taveras, as he is better suited for a corner outfield spot than center.
I agree that Taveras is unlikely to be a long-term solution in center and that playing him in center field this year would weaken an already poor outfield defense. Holliday is not going to win any Gold Gloves and Craig is not much better. Adding Taveras to the mix would create more gaps, due to the limited range of all three.
Peter Bourjos' recent hot streak (he's 5 for 8 in his last 2 games) may give him another opportunity to prove himself capable of handling the everyday center field job, where his range and plus defense is much needed.
At the same time, trading Adams would improve the Cardinals defense in right field (i.e. Taveras > Craig), while not losing much (if anything) at first.
In addition, trading Adams would probably net the Cards more in return, as he is cheaper than either Holliday or Craig and under team control through 2018.
Overall it makes sense, but its unlikely to happen anytime soon. The Cardinals will likely promote Taveras sometime in June and then rotate their outfielders and first basemen for a time until the July trade deadline.
That is when we will see what, if anything, the Cards do about the logjam.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Should the Cardinals consider trading Matt Holliday or Allen Craig this winter?
If you read my article from the other day, you know that the current strength of the Cardinals organization is their outfield depth. The Cards currently have 4 outfielders on the major league roster (Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Peter Bourjos and Allen Craig) who could start for most teams.
In addition, the Redbirds have two top prospects in Oscar Taveras (.299/.356/.493) and Stephen Piscotty (.353/.397/.515) tearing it up at AAA Memphis. Its only a matter of time before they force their way onto the major league roster and then the team will really have a logjam.
So, with the abundance of quality outfielders in their system, one wonders what the Cardinals are going to do with all this talent?
One possibility is that the Cardinals could trade either Matt Holliday or Allen Craig this winter to make room for Taveras or Piscotty. Let's look at some of the pros and cons of trading each.
Matt Holliday
Holliday is the oldest regular on the team and also the highest paid position player. He is signed through the 2017 season at $17 million per year. He also has a 2017 option worth $17 million or a $1 million buyout. Thus, trading him could potentially save the Cardinals $35 million.
Holliday's defense is much maligned, and the advanced defensive metrics back it up, but he makes up for that by being one of the Cards best and most consistent hitters. He has hit .305/.388/.515 in his 6 seasons with the team.
However, at 34 years of age, its likely that Holliday's best days are behind him and it might behoove the team to trade him while his value is still relatively high.
Allen Craig
Craig is only 29 and signed at a reasonable price. He will make just $5.5 million in 2015, $9 million in 2016 and $11 million in 2017, with a $13 million option for 2018 ($1 million buyout).
So why trade him?
Well, for one thing, because he is still relatively cheap, he could fetch more in a trade.
In addition, like Holliday, he is below average defensively.
Finally, there are some questions about his offense. For instance, much of his success driving in runs last season was due to an abnormally high batting average with RISP (.454). Can he possibly keep that up?
Also, his power has dwindled the last two years, with his homers dropping from 22 in 2012 to just 13 last year and just 1 so far this season in 80 at bats. His isolated power has also dropped from .215 in 2012, to .142 in 2013 to just .075 this season.
But, what does trading either of these players accomplish?
Well, for one thing, it would help improve the Cardinals defense. Replacing Holliday or Craig with a younger and more agile player would help the team cover more ground in the outfield.
In addition, trading either of these guys would free up money for the Cardinals to use to improve elsewhere (i.e. the bullpen), while the Cardinals could also use the trade to help improve their minor league depth and talent.
Overall, it might make sense for the Cards to make such a move this offseason. Is it likely? Probably not, but it should at least give us something to keep an eye on.
In addition, the Redbirds have two top prospects in Oscar Taveras (.299/.356/.493) and Stephen Piscotty (.353/.397/.515) tearing it up at AAA Memphis. Its only a matter of time before they force their way onto the major league roster and then the team will really have a logjam.
So, with the abundance of quality outfielders in their system, one wonders what the Cardinals are going to do with all this talent?
One possibility is that the Cardinals could trade either Matt Holliday or Allen Craig this winter to make room for Taveras or Piscotty. Let's look at some of the pros and cons of trading each.
Matt Holliday
Holliday is the oldest regular on the team and also the highest paid position player. He is signed through the 2017 season at $17 million per year. He also has a 2017 option worth $17 million or a $1 million buyout. Thus, trading him could potentially save the Cardinals $35 million.
Holliday's defense is much maligned, and the advanced defensive metrics back it up, but he makes up for that by being one of the Cards best and most consistent hitters. He has hit .305/.388/.515 in his 6 seasons with the team.
However, at 34 years of age, its likely that Holliday's best days are behind him and it might behoove the team to trade him while his value is still relatively high.
Allen Craig
Craig is only 29 and signed at a reasonable price. He will make just $5.5 million in 2015, $9 million in 2016 and $11 million in 2017, with a $13 million option for 2018 ($1 million buyout).
So why trade him?
Well, for one thing, because he is still relatively cheap, he could fetch more in a trade.
In addition, like Holliday, he is below average defensively.
Finally, there are some questions about his offense. For instance, much of his success driving in runs last season was due to an abnormally high batting average with RISP (.454). Can he possibly keep that up?
Also, his power has dwindled the last two years, with his homers dropping from 22 in 2012 to just 13 last year and just 1 so far this season in 80 at bats. His isolated power has also dropped from .215 in 2012, to .142 in 2013 to just .075 this season.
But, what does trading either of these players accomplish?
Well, for one thing, it would help improve the Cardinals defense. Replacing Holliday or Craig with a younger and more agile player would help the team cover more ground in the outfield.
In addition, trading either of these guys would free up money for the Cardinals to use to improve elsewhere (i.e. the bullpen), while the Cardinals could also use the trade to help improve their minor league depth and talent.
Overall, it might make sense for the Cards to make such a move this offseason. Is it likely? Probably not, but it should at least give us something to keep an eye on.
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.
Monday, December 30, 2013
The Cardinals top 5 stories of 2013
Every December you will see various publications posting their Top 10 lists relating to the concluding year, whether it be top news stories, top sports moments, best defensive plays, etc...
This year CFCL, as part of the United Cardinals Bloggers December project, is joining the fray with the top 5 Cardinals stories for the 2013 season.
My criteria for the top stories are those that I feel impacted the Cardinals the most in their run to the World Series.
So, without further ado, here are my picks for the top 5 Cardinals stories of the year, in countdown order:
5. Edward Mujica steps up
After losing Jason Motte to Tommy John surgery and fill-in closer Mitchell Boggs to ineptitude, the Cardinals were desperate for someone to step up and fill the closer role.
Enter Edward Mujica. After taking over the closer role in mid-April, Mujica saved 35 out of 37 games before tiring down the stretch and losing the closer role to Trevor Rosenthal.
However, make no mistake about it, the Cardinals would not have reached the playoffs without Mujica's quiet efficiency as closer from April to August.
4. Cardinals redefine the term "clutch"
When it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP), no one did it better than the Cardinals in 2013. As a team, they hit .330 with RISP, nearly 50 points higher than the second place team, the Tigers, who hit .282 with RISP.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Allen Craig who hit an insane .454 with RISP. In 130 at bats with RISP, Craig had 84 rbi's, despite just 4 homers.
In addition to Craig, Matt Holliday was 4th with RISP with a .390 average, Matt Carpenter was 5th with .388 average and Carlos Beltran 8th with a .374 average.
3. Cardinals rookie pitchers come up big
Due to an seemingly endless string of injuries and ineffectiveness, the Cardinals relied on their rookie pitchers early and often during the 2013 season.
It started with Shelby Miller, who won the 5th starter spot in spring training and finished the season with a 15-9 record, a 3.06 ERA and a third place finish in the ROY voting.
Second on the list was Trevor Rosenthal who absolutely dominated in the setup role, posting a 2.63 ERA and 108 K's in 75.1 innings. He took over the closer role late in the season and locked up the 2014 closer role with 11.2 scoreless innings in the 2013 postseason.
Other key rookie arms were Seth Maness (2.32 ERA and an incredible 4.40 GO/FO ratio), Kevin Siegrist (0.45 ERA in 39.2 innings), Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78 ERA) and Carlos Martinez (5.08 ERA in the regular season, but a 3.55 ERA as the primary setup man in the playoffs).
2. Adam Wainwright returns to form
After shaking off the rust from Tommy John surgery during an up-and-down 2012 season, Adam Wainwright showed he was back as the Cardinals ace in 2013.
Wainwright was among the top 5 in ERA for most of the season, holding a 2.58 ERA through August 23, before back-to-back poor outings against the Reds ballooned his ERA up to 3.14. He settled down after that to lower his ERA to 2.94, good for 7th in the league while tying for the league lead with 19 wins.
Add to that his leadership and dancing ability, and its easy to see why Waino is a fan favorite.
1. Michael Wacha dominates the postseason
In all my years of watching and following the Cardinals, I am hard-pressed to think of any pitcher, let alone a rookie, who had a better stretch of starts than Michael Wacha did in his first 4 postseason starts.
It started with game 4 of the NLDS against the Pirates. Facing elimination, Wacha no-hit the Buccos through 7.1 innings before allowing a homer against Cardinal killer Pedro Alvarez.
He followed that up by throwing 13.2 scoreless innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS, including 7 innings of 2 hit ball in the decisive 6th game, earning the NLCS MVP award.
He then went on to win game 2 of the World Series, allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits.
All told, Wacha went 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his first 4 postseason games.
That he ended up losing the decisive game 6 of the World Series does not diminish his heroics as the Cardinals certainly would not have even made the World Series without him.
I'm sure there are other key moments that I probably have forgotten about, but those are the ones that stood out to me. What's yours?
This year CFCL, as part of the United Cardinals Bloggers December project, is joining the fray with the top 5 Cardinals stories for the 2013 season.
My criteria for the top stories are those that I feel impacted the Cardinals the most in their run to the World Series.
So, without further ado, here are my picks for the top 5 Cardinals stories of the year, in countdown order:
5. Edward Mujica steps up
After losing Jason Motte to Tommy John surgery and fill-in closer Mitchell Boggs to ineptitude, the Cardinals were desperate for someone to step up and fill the closer role.
Enter Edward Mujica. After taking over the closer role in mid-April, Mujica saved 35 out of 37 games before tiring down the stretch and losing the closer role to Trevor Rosenthal.
However, make no mistake about it, the Cardinals would not have reached the playoffs without Mujica's quiet efficiency as closer from April to August.
4. Cardinals redefine the term "clutch"
When it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP), no one did it better than the Cardinals in 2013. As a team, they hit .330 with RISP, nearly 50 points higher than the second place team, the Tigers, who hit .282 with RISP.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Allen Craig who hit an insane .454 with RISP. In 130 at bats with RISP, Craig had 84 rbi's, despite just 4 homers.
In addition to Craig, Matt Holliday was 4th with RISP with a .390 average, Matt Carpenter was 5th with .388 average and Carlos Beltran 8th with a .374 average.
3. Cardinals rookie pitchers come up big
Due to an seemingly endless string of injuries and ineffectiveness, the Cardinals relied on their rookie pitchers early and often during the 2013 season.
It started with Shelby Miller, who won the 5th starter spot in spring training and finished the season with a 15-9 record, a 3.06 ERA and a third place finish in the ROY voting.
Second on the list was Trevor Rosenthal who absolutely dominated in the setup role, posting a 2.63 ERA and 108 K's in 75.1 innings. He took over the closer role late in the season and locked up the 2014 closer role with 11.2 scoreless innings in the 2013 postseason.
Other key rookie arms were Seth Maness (2.32 ERA and an incredible 4.40 GO/FO ratio), Kevin Siegrist (0.45 ERA in 39.2 innings), Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78 ERA) and Carlos Martinez (5.08 ERA in the regular season, but a 3.55 ERA as the primary setup man in the playoffs).
2. Adam Wainwright returns to form
After shaking off the rust from Tommy John surgery during an up-and-down 2012 season, Adam Wainwright showed he was back as the Cardinals ace in 2013.
Wainwright was among the top 5 in ERA for most of the season, holding a 2.58 ERA through August 23, before back-to-back poor outings against the Reds ballooned his ERA up to 3.14. He settled down after that to lower his ERA to 2.94, good for 7th in the league while tying for the league lead with 19 wins.
Add to that his leadership and dancing ability, and its easy to see why Waino is a fan favorite.
1. Michael Wacha dominates the postseason
In all my years of watching and following the Cardinals, I am hard-pressed to think of any pitcher, let alone a rookie, who had a better stretch of starts than Michael Wacha did in his first 4 postseason starts.
It started with game 4 of the NLDS against the Pirates. Facing elimination, Wacha no-hit the Buccos through 7.1 innings before allowing a homer against Cardinal killer Pedro Alvarez.
He followed that up by throwing 13.2 scoreless innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS, including 7 innings of 2 hit ball in the decisive 6th game, earning the NLCS MVP award.
He then went on to win game 2 of the World Series, allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits.
All told, Wacha went 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his first 4 postseason games.
That he ended up losing the decisive game 6 of the World Series does not diminish his heroics as the Cardinals certainly would not have even made the World Series without him.
I'm sure there are other key moments that I probably have forgotten about, but those are the ones that stood out to me. What's yours?
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.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Johnny Peralta signing sets the Cardinals lineup. But what about their bench?
With the signing of Johnny Peralta, the Cardinals starting lineup is set for 2014. As of right now, the 2014 lineup would look like this:
C - Yadier Molina (Right handed)
1B - Matt Adams (Left handed)
2B - Kolten Wong (L)
SS - Johnny Peralta (R)
3B - Matt Carpenter (L)
LF - Matt Holliday (R)
CF - Peter Bourjos (R)
RF - Allen Craig (R)
Jon Jay (L) will be relegated to the bench and Oscar Taveras (L) will likely start the season in AAA. However, once Taveras is ready its likely that the Cardinals will trade Jay to make room for him.
With Daniel Descalso (L) likely acting as utility infielder and Tony Cruz (or some other seldom used catcher) acting as Molina's backup, the Cardinals will still have two spots to fill on their bench.
Shane Robinson (R) could fill one spot, as the 4th or 5th outfielder, but the Cardinals could use a right handed hitter for their bench, particularly one who can play the infield (2B, 3B and 1B), as they've got an abundance of lefty-hitting infielders.
Pouring over the options, I think the Cardinals should pursue Jeff Baker.
Not only is he capable of playing 1B, 2B, 3B and the corner outfield spots, but he kills lefties. For his career, he has hit .298/.353/.522 against left handers, including 35 homers in 751 at bats. Plus, even though he is 32, he showed no signs of slowing down in 2013, hitting .297/.390/.653 including 10 homers in 101 at bats against lefties.
He would be the perfect compliment to a primarily left handed infield and would basically fill the role that Ty Wigginton was suppose to fill last year.
C - Yadier Molina (Right handed)
1B - Matt Adams (Left handed)
2B - Kolten Wong (L)
SS - Johnny Peralta (R)
3B - Matt Carpenter (L)
LF - Matt Holliday (R)
CF - Peter Bourjos (R)
RF - Allen Craig (R)
Jon Jay (L) will be relegated to the bench and Oscar Taveras (L) will likely start the season in AAA. However, once Taveras is ready its likely that the Cardinals will trade Jay to make room for him.
With Daniel Descalso (L) likely acting as utility infielder and Tony Cruz (or some other seldom used catcher) acting as Molina's backup, the Cardinals will still have two spots to fill on their bench.
Shane Robinson (R) could fill one spot, as the 4th or 5th outfielder, but the Cardinals could use a right handed hitter for their bench, particularly one who can play the infield (2B, 3B and 1B), as they've got an abundance of lefty-hitting infielders.
Pouring over the options, I think the Cardinals should pursue Jeff Baker.
Not only is he capable of playing 1B, 2B, 3B and the corner outfield spots, but he kills lefties. For his career, he has hit .298/.353/.522 against left handers, including 35 homers in 751 at bats. Plus, even though he is 32, he showed no signs of slowing down in 2013, hitting .297/.390/.653 including 10 homers in 101 at bats against lefties.
He would be the perfect compliment to a primarily left handed infield and would basically fill the role that Ty Wigginton was suppose to fill last year.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
How can the Cardinals improve their lineup against lefthanders?
Its no secret that the Cardinals struggled against left handed pitchers in 2013. As a team, the Cards hit just .238/.301/.371 against southpaws and their .672 OPS against lefties was 13th in the NL. This was highlighted even more in the postseason, when the Cards hit a combined .211/.268/.295 (.563 OPS) against lefties, including two losses in the World Series against Jon Lester, who allowed only 1 run against the Cardinals in 15.1 innings.
Its pretty obvious that the Cardinals need to make some adjustments to their roster in order to fare better against lefties. Here are my suggestions for doing just that:
1. Hold on to David Freese
The much maligned Freese had a down year in 2013, hitting just .262/.340/.381 with 9 homers, after a 2012 campaign which saw him hit .293/.372/.467 with 20 homers. With Freese eligible for arbitration this year and projected to earn $4.4 million, per MLB Trade Rumors, many are saying the Cardinals should trade Freese and install Kolten Wong as the everyday second baseman (thereby moving Matt Carpenter back to his natural position at third).
However, I think the Cardinals would be wise to hold on to Freese.
They can make Freese a platoon partner with lefty Wong and help strengthen a pretty weak bench. Essentially, Freese would be filling the role that Ty Wigginton was suppose to for just about $2 million more.
He would give the Cardinals some much needed pop off the bench and be a fallback should Wong struggle.
2. Find a better shortstop
This is something the Cardinals are already working diligently on. The Cardinals desperately need to upgrade offensively over Pete Kozma at short.
Kozma hit just .217/.275/.273 on the season, but he was even worse against lefties, hitting just .184/.280/.256, by far the worst on the team. If the Cards want to improve against lefties, replacing Kozma would go a long way towards that goal.
The guy on the top of my list to replace Kozma would be Elvis Andrus.
Not only would provide the Cardinals with a bona fide leadoff man and some much needed speed, but look at these lefty/righty splits:
You cannot get much more consistent than that.
3. Add a righthanded OF to the bench
Kozma was just one of two Cardinals regulars who struggled against lefties in 2013. The other was Jon Jay.
Jay hit just .220/.306/.314 against southpaws, but hit .291/.363/.386 against righties. Maybe 2013 was an aberration for Jay, as he is a career .269/.343/.346 hitter against lefties. However, I do not want to take that chance, not when there's an opportunity for improvement.
Jay got most of the starts against lefties as the Cardinals alternative, Shane Robinson, wasn't much better (.228/.319/.278 against lefties in 2013).
Thus, the Cardinals need to find an upgrade over Robinson for their 4th outfielder/backup center fielder.
Thankfully, this year's free agent crop offers 3 guys who can fill the bill. Rajai Davis (.294/.354/.425), Franklin Gutierrez (.287/.344/.474) and Reed Johnson (.311/.366/.456) all hit lefties very well and would fit nicely in a platoon with Jay.
All are capable of playing center field, but Davis is probably the best defender of the bunch. In addition, all of them should be relatively cheap. Gutierrez made $7 million last year, but will likely have to take a hefty pay cut, as he amassed just 295 at bats over the last two years due to injuries. Davis made just $2.5 million in 2013 and Johnson made just $1.6 million, so neither of them will break the bank.
Personally, I would like to see the Cards sign Davis.
With these moves, here's how the Cardinals lineup and bench could stack up:
Lineup vs Righties
Its pretty obvious that the Cardinals need to make some adjustments to their roster in order to fare better against lefties. Here are my suggestions for doing just that:
1. Hold on to David Freese
The much maligned Freese had a down year in 2013, hitting just .262/.340/.381 with 9 homers, after a 2012 campaign which saw him hit .293/.372/.467 with 20 homers. With Freese eligible for arbitration this year and projected to earn $4.4 million, per MLB Trade Rumors, many are saying the Cardinals should trade Freese and install Kolten Wong as the everyday second baseman (thereby moving Matt Carpenter back to his natural position at third).
However, I think the Cardinals would be wise to hold on to Freese.
They can make Freese a platoon partner with lefty Wong and help strengthen a pretty weak bench. Essentially, Freese would be filling the role that Ty Wigginton was suppose to for just about $2 million more.
He would give the Cardinals some much needed pop off the bench and be a fallback should Wong struggle.
2. Find a better shortstop
This is something the Cardinals are already working diligently on. The Cardinals desperately need to upgrade offensively over Pete Kozma at short.
Kozma hit just .217/.275/.273 on the season, but he was even worse against lefties, hitting just .184/.280/.256, by far the worst on the team. If the Cards want to improve against lefties, replacing Kozma would go a long way towards that goal.
The guy on the top of my list to replace Kozma would be Elvis Andrus.
Not only would provide the Cardinals with a bona fide leadoff man and some much needed speed, but look at these lefty/righty splits:
| I | Split | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs RHP as RHB | .275 | .337 | .347 | .684 | |
| vs LHP as RHB | .273 | .346 | .352 | .698 |
3. Add a righthanded OF to the bench
Kozma was just one of two Cardinals regulars who struggled against lefties in 2013. The other was Jon Jay.
Jay hit just .220/.306/.314 against southpaws, but hit .291/.363/.386 against righties. Maybe 2013 was an aberration for Jay, as he is a career .269/.343/.346 hitter against lefties. However, I do not want to take that chance, not when there's an opportunity for improvement.
Jay got most of the starts against lefties as the Cardinals alternative, Shane Robinson, wasn't much better (.228/.319/.278 against lefties in 2013).
Thus, the Cardinals need to find an upgrade over Robinson for their 4th outfielder/backup center fielder.
Thankfully, this year's free agent crop offers 3 guys who can fill the bill. Rajai Davis (.294/.354/.425), Franklin Gutierrez (.287/.344/.474) and Reed Johnson (.311/.366/.456) all hit lefties very well and would fit nicely in a platoon with Jay.
All are capable of playing center field, but Davis is probably the best defender of the bunch. In addition, all of them should be relatively cheap. Gutierrez made $7 million last year, but will likely have to take a hefty pay cut, as he amassed just 295 at bats over the last two years due to injuries. Davis made just $2.5 million in 2013 and Johnson made just $1.6 million, so neither of them will break the bank.
Personally, I would like to see the Cards sign Davis.
With these moves, here's how the Cardinals lineup and bench could stack up:
Lineup vs Righties
- Elvis Andrus, SS
- Matt Carpenter, 3B
- Matt Holliday, LF
- Allen Craig, RF
- Yadier Molina, C
- Matt Adams, 1B
- Jon Jay, CF
- Kolten Wong, 2B
- David Freese
- Rajai Davis
- Daniel Descalso
- Shane Robinson
- Tony Cruz
- Elvis Andrus, SS
- Matt Carpenter, 2B
- Matt Holliday, LF
- Allen Craig, RF
- Yadier Molina, C
- David Freese, 3B
- Matt Adams, 1B
- Rajai Davis, CF
- Kolten Wong
- Jon Jay
- Daniel Descalso
- Shane Robinson
- Tony Cruz
Monday, October 7, 2013
Rookie pitchers help Cardinals stave of elimination
Led by Michael Wacha, who threw 7.1 no-hit innings before allowing a homerun to Pedro Alvarez, the Cardinals avoided elimination by beating the Pirates 2-1 this afternoon. Rookies Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal finished off the Pirates from there to send the teams back to St. Louis for game 5.
This is the second straight game where Wacha has flirted with a no-hitter, after pitching 8.2 innings of no-hit ball in his last regular season start. He will almost assuredly be given a start should the Cardinals advance to the NLCS.
Matt Holliday provided the only Cardinals offense with a two-run homer in the 6th and the rookies made it stand up, limiting the Pirates to the lone hit while walking three and striking out 11.
If you haven't figured it out by now, Wacha has a chance to be a special pitcher. His changeup is downright nasty and he backs that up with a 95+ mph fastball. If he ever develops a consistent third pitch, he could be a perennial Cy Young contender.
The Cardinals and Pirates will now square off one last time on Wednesday to decide the series.
Adam Wainwright will get the ball for the Cards, while A.J. Burnett seemed like the likely choice for the Pirates. However, after his struggles in game one and Gerrit Cole's dominance in game 2, Clint Hurdle elected to go with Cole in game 5.
It should be another barn burner for the Cardinals and Pirates.
This is the second straight game where Wacha has flirted with a no-hitter, after pitching 8.2 innings of no-hit ball in his last regular season start. He will almost assuredly be given a start should the Cardinals advance to the NLCS.
Matt Holliday provided the only Cardinals offense with a two-run homer in the 6th and the rookies made it stand up, limiting the Pirates to the lone hit while walking three and striking out 11.
If you haven't figured it out by now, Wacha has a chance to be a special pitcher. His changeup is downright nasty and he backs that up with a 95+ mph fastball. If he ever develops a consistent third pitch, he could be a perennial Cy Young contender.
The Cardinals and Pirates will now square off one last time on Wednesday to decide the series.
Adam Wainwright will get the ball for the Cards, while A.J. Burnett seemed like the likely choice for the Pirates. However, after his struggles in game one and Gerrit Cole's dominance in game 2, Clint Hurdle elected to go with Cole in game 5.
It should be another barn burner for the Cardinals and Pirates.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Why the Cardinals should pass on extending Carlos Beltran.
About a year and a half ago, the Cardinals were in a bind, they had just lost their icon, Albert Pujols, to the Los Angeles Angels and needed to find someone to replace him. Two weeks later, they signed Carlos Beltran. Little did they know at the time, but in the 1 1/2 season since then, Beltran would actually out produce Pujols, hitting .282/.347/.512 with 50 homers to Pujols' .275/.338/.491 with 43 homers.
Now that Beltran is facing his own contract year with the Cardinals, there has been a general groundswell of support for signing Beltran to an extension.
It started with Beltran's own admission that he wants to stay in St. Louis, saying "I really love playing here. There's no doubt about it. I experienced something here last year that I hadn't experienced in a long time. It was a good clubhouse and so many good people, playing in front of these fans. They really support you when you do well and when you do terrible. It's a great feeling. Playing in a city like this, it makes everything easy."
From there Bernie Miklasz jumped on the bandwagon, saying "put me in the pro-Beltran camp, at least for now."
He has since been joined by the likes of Corey Rudd (StlSportsMinute.com) and Cardinals fans on message boards.
It seems like every Cardinals fan believes the team should bring back Beltran...except me.
I think it would be a mistake for the Cards to bring Beltran back, for the following reasons:
Age
Beltran turns 37 next April 24 and while his age may not show in his current stats (.308/.349/.546), you can see it taking a toll on his body. Knee problems may have led to his poor second half last season and he wasn't 100% at the start of this season due to a broken toe.
As we saw with Lance Berkman, after the Cardinals signed him to an extension after his stellar 2010 season, a player past his prime with previous knee problems is a high-risk proposition.
In addition, unless you are a 'roid enhanced guy like Barry Bonds, baseball skills generally decline with age. So, while Beltran may be performing well this season, the chances of a repeat are slim.
The Outfield Logjam
Heading into next season, the Cardinals could have 5 players--Matt Holliday, John Jay, Oscar Taveras, Allen Craig and Matt Adams vying for 4 spots (including first base). Add Beltran to that mix and things really get crowded.
Taveras, when healthy, looks like he can step in and contribute right away. Other than his first season with the Cardinals Dominican League team, Taveras has hit above .300 each season and is starting to show the power that everyone has said would come. Between him and Adams, the Cardinals should be able to replace a good portion of the offense that Beltran has provided.
Team Philosophy
As Bill Baer of ESPN points out, the Cardinals have played it smart when building their teams over the years. General Manager John Mozeliak has, mostly, "eschewed expensive, long-term free-agent contracts in favor of young, cost-controlled players from within the organization, short-term free-agent contracts and contract extensions for key players such as catcher Yadier Molina."
Beltran is an example of a short-term free-agent signing by the Cards and while it might make some sense to bring back Beltran on another short-term (preferably one year) contract, what it really comes down to is...
Money
Beltran is making $13 million this year and it would probably take a similar amount to bring him back for another year. After signing Adam Wainwright to a 5-year, $97.5 million extension in March, the Cardinals are probably looking to save money elsewhere and Beltran is one luxury they can do without.
Take that money and apply it to other areas of need, such as shortstop or some bullpen help, and the Cards will come out ahead, just like they did when Pujols left.
Bottom line, unless Beltran is willing to take a one-year deal at a steep discount, that both limits the Cardinals risk while also allowing them to address other areas of need, the Cardinals should thank him for his service to the team and move on after this season.
Now that Beltran is facing his own contract year with the Cardinals, there has been a general groundswell of support for signing Beltran to an extension.
It started with Beltran's own admission that he wants to stay in St. Louis, saying "I really love playing here. There's no doubt about it. I experienced something here last year that I hadn't experienced in a long time. It was a good clubhouse and so many good people, playing in front of these fans. They really support you when you do well and when you do terrible. It's a great feeling. Playing in a city like this, it makes everything easy."
From there Bernie Miklasz jumped on the bandwagon, saying "put me in the pro-Beltran camp, at least for now."
He has since been joined by the likes of Corey Rudd (StlSportsMinute.com) and Cardinals fans on message boards.
It seems like every Cardinals fan believes the team should bring back Beltran...except me.
I think it would be a mistake for the Cards to bring Beltran back, for the following reasons:
Age
Beltran turns 37 next April 24 and while his age may not show in his current stats (.308/.349/.546), you can see it taking a toll on his body. Knee problems may have led to his poor second half last season and he wasn't 100% at the start of this season due to a broken toe.
As we saw with Lance Berkman, after the Cardinals signed him to an extension after his stellar 2010 season, a player past his prime with previous knee problems is a high-risk proposition.
In addition, unless you are a 'roid enhanced guy like Barry Bonds, baseball skills generally decline with age. So, while Beltran may be performing well this season, the chances of a repeat are slim.
The Outfield Logjam
Heading into next season, the Cardinals could have 5 players--Matt Holliday, John Jay, Oscar Taveras, Allen Craig and Matt Adams vying for 4 spots (including first base). Add Beltran to that mix and things really get crowded.
Taveras, when healthy, looks like he can step in and contribute right away. Other than his first season with the Cardinals Dominican League team, Taveras has hit above .300 each season and is starting to show the power that everyone has said would come. Between him and Adams, the Cardinals should be able to replace a good portion of the offense that Beltran has provided.
Team Philosophy
As Bill Baer of ESPN points out, the Cardinals have played it smart when building their teams over the years. General Manager John Mozeliak has, mostly, "eschewed expensive, long-term free-agent contracts in favor of young, cost-controlled players from within the organization, short-term free-agent contracts and contract extensions for key players such as catcher Yadier Molina."
Beltran is an example of a short-term free-agent signing by the Cards and while it might make some sense to bring back Beltran on another short-term (preferably one year) contract, what it really comes down to is...
Money
Beltran is making $13 million this year and it would probably take a similar amount to bring him back for another year. After signing Adam Wainwright to a 5-year, $97.5 million extension in March, the Cardinals are probably looking to save money elsewhere and Beltran is one luxury they can do without.
Take that money and apply it to other areas of need, such as shortstop or some bullpen help, and the Cards will come out ahead, just like they did when Pujols left.
Bottom line, unless Beltran is willing to take a one-year deal at a steep discount, that both limits the Cardinals risk while also allowing them to address other areas of need, the Cardinals should thank him for his service to the team and move on after this season.
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