Maybe he will start out okay and they can unload his ass.  He has never been all that.

I tried to ignore the warning signs of Garcia for the past few years, but it's probably time to face reality and admit that he just doesn't have the mechanics to pitch a very long career. 

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

From what I'm hearing, I'm not sure I would count on Garcia for 80 innings, let alone 180. 

What are ypu hearing?  Seems the message the FO is sending is that all is well. 
 

That Garcia has become very complacent since signing his extension and is very content cashing his checks regardless of whether he pitches or not.  His shoulder is a ticking time bomb. 
 

Pardon my cynicism, but this sounds too much like a propaganda war from the FO not to be treated circumspectly.  It could be 100% true, but the fans should not be too swayed by rumors like that.  

forsberg_us wrote:

But yeah, stick to that theory. 

OK.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/rule-change-third-first-fake-pickoff-move-now-033809715--mlb.html

dumb

Kelly Johnson to the Rays; opportunity to add a legitimate second baseman passes by Cards

APIAD wrote:

what was his price tag?

Money not announced, but it's a 1-year deal, according to Yahoo. I've never been enamored of Kelly Johnson the way TK has.
Cedeno gives them a glove in case Furcal doesn't come back, which I don't think he will.
 

Last edited by artie_fufkin (1/28/2013 1:10 pm)

artie_fufkin wrote:

"he just doesn't have the mechanics to pitch a very long career."

Not sure about mechanics, but he still seems to lack intestinal fortitude. At this stage, it's a troubling characteristic.

Watch a slowed down version of the way he pitches. It's completely unnatural and precisely why his left arm is coming apart. Great for getting a lot of downward action on the ball, but bad for things like having a functional limb when you're 40. I bristled at all the hyperventilating about it when he started getting recognition in (I think) 2006, but it's pretty real.

Of course, Garcia will probably come into camp throwing 83 mph, which will mean he's either faking hurt or the Cardinals made another misdiagnosis. This will be all we hear about until May. 

All that said, I'm strapped in for another dramatic season of the Cardinals allowing narratives from Joe Strauss to dictate the personnel decisions they make. I'm guessing within two years Shelby Miller will be traded for a bag of balls because he came in to camp with 8 percent body fat, while Oscar Taveras gets traded because he didn't run out a grounder to third. 

"within two years Shelby Miller will be traded for a bag of balls"

Batting practice balls, or new ones they can use for games?

Yeah, personally I think he's dumb for not having the surgery, but as I understand it, surgery is the last resort for professional athletes.

I don't want to sound like I'm being a shit-stirrer today, but I do fear that the episodes we've seen with Reyes, Sanchez, Rasmus, Miller, Garcia, Greene, heck...even Boggs in 2011, are going to repeat themselves with the other prospects and that's pretty scary.

Honestly, can anyone else think of an organization that has so much drama with its young players as much as the Cardinals? Was it La Russa and Duncan? Is Mozeliak not running a tight ship? Why do seemingly simple issues get turned into season-long dramas with this team?

Cedeno officially on the rooster.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-sign-cedeno-to-one-year-deal/article_d1ff8f80-cdec-5de2-90a2-6d704be3c22a.html

Well, with Reyes there was "he won't pitch the way we want." That became an ongoing saga for two seasons. With Rasmus it was "his dad is a distraction." That went on for a season and a half. With Tyler Greene there was "he's feuding with management because they keep yanking him around." Garcia was publicly dismissed by his pitching coach. Mitchell Boggs was in Tyler Greene's situation and after he blew a save in Houston he was never given much of a high-leverage role for the entirety of 2011. Miller supposedly came in too skinny. 

Maybe I'm not paying enough attention, but I don't see it in other organizations where prospects just fail because. There's always some sort of weird shit going on with the Cardinals. Well, almost always. They kept a really tight lid on Brett Wallace.

Last edited by tkihshbt (1/28/2013 8:19 pm)

tkihshbt wrote:

Reyes, Sanchez, Rasmus, Miller, Garcia, Greene, heck...even Boggs in 2011,..........
Honestly, can anyone else think of an organization that has so much drama with its young players as much as the Cardinals? Was it La Russa and Duncan? Is Mozeliak not running a tight ship? Why do seemingly simple issues get turned into season-long dramas with this team?

I do not think other clubs young guys get the attention that ours do.  I dont think it would be a big deal that Greene was never a major leager or that Rasmus has daddy issues if they played for another club.  I am not sure why it is that big of deal in STL but it is.  Sometimes giving  the problem air is not the best thing.  What would things be like if we didnt even know who Tony Rasmus was?