"Wong could be huge (yep, went there) id baby him alittle and try to get him off to a good start with favorable matchups and less responsiblity in the lineup"

So what you're saying is the Cardinals should be very careful about how they handle Wong?
(Hey, you started it ...)

The thing about Wong is he seems a little cocky (yeah, I can do it too), but not in a bad way. He just seems to have a confident swagger, especially since Wong found his stroke.

I think he's the kind of guy who will feed off the confidence of others. My fear would be that if you put Wong in the 8 hole, he feels he's a bad week/month away from a demotion. Put him up in the order, and tell him that's his spot. I agree that you play matchups a bit to keep his confidence up, but for some reason he strikes me as a guy who babying will actually serve worse.

APIAD wrote:

I just think putting wong in the 2 hole to quickly could be painful.

It needn't be.


 

artie_fufkin wrote:

 You don't want to insert Wong prematurely. It could blow up in your face.

Again????


 

don.rob11 wrote:

You guys need help ..........

There haven't been this many dick jokes on this board since Johnson and Wang played for the Yankees.
 

Listening to the Twins feed on the XM this afternoon. Not sure Dan Gladden meant to be funny, but what he had to say about the Cardinals' new centerfielder cracked me up: "Bourjos has to be thrilled coming over from the Angels to a good organization."
Martinez is dealing today. One hit and one walk through four.

I don't know if Gameday is accurate, but it has Martinez throwing 29 pitches through five innings.

Martinez pitched well again today.  It is going to be hard to keep him out of the rotation.

tkihshbt wrote:

I was just coming here to say that. I think Kelly is going to win simply to protect Martinez's arm, but if he's ready now...how do you keep him away?

The same way they held Wacha back after a Spring Training in which he didn't allow a run.

If they think it needs to be done in Martinez's best interest, then you do it.  I also think it may be in the team's best interest because with Martinez in the rotation, they don't have anyone they can count on to get outs in the 8th inning.

If they are going to limit his innings like wacha and miller i think the question shifts alittle . It isnt about "is martinez ready" because he is.  It becomes a matter of how to use his 170 inning limit.  Starting in memphis doesnt help because that is still innings.  The bullpen limits innings but he will have to be streached out at some point in the minors And seems like the best option.  These problems seem to have away of working themselfs out.  Plus isnt maness struggling?  If so they need another good option.  Martinez, motte and rosenthal could be epic.

Then he can be a starter till all star breakish.  Not in memphis or st louis

I don't know. As a starter last year he had 46 strikeouts to 34 walks. That's toeing a pretty fine line. He really doesn't throw enough strikes to be anything more than a back-end guy.