I'm not going to harp on what's been written by people who no longer post here, but I find it interesting that Hamels has written off what was five years ago the franchise every other team was supposed to model themselves after. The Phillies may be the worst team in the major leagues this season.
I'm not sold on the Tsunami as a viable starting pitcher, but I'm not sure I want to include him as the centerpiece of a trade that brings the Cardinals a 31-year-old starting pitcher who is still owed around $100 million. That seems Hendryesque.
As for Garcia, he can say whatever he wants, but until he shows he's the pitcher he was in 2010-11 - and I'm not sure he ever will - the Cardinals ought not to count on him for anything.

I'm sold on Martinez. I wouldn't mind Hamels, but that price tag is stupid. No way. As far as Garcia... he hasn't pitched more than 10 games in a season since 2012. He reminds me of Fernando Tatis. Maybe I'm wrong about him, but there's a great upside. This is the last worthless Garcia season we have to endure. Garcia is due 11.5 and 12 million for 2016/17, but the Cardinals have a 500K buyout to get away from him. 

Might be the biggest 500K we spend in next years offseason.

Last edited by alz (2/20/2015 12:35 pm)

artie_fufkin wrote:

I'm not going to harp on what's been written by people who no longer post here, but I find it interesting that Hamels has written off what was five years ago the franchise every other team was supposed to model themselves after. The Phillies may be the worst team in the major leagues this season.

I wish Max would come back and defend himself (if he even has that capability right now) but I called the demise of the Phillies and he wouldn't listen. They were set up for at least a Wild Card in 2012, but when a team is built as fragile as the Phillies were, 81-win seasons are bound to happen. Amaro is an awful GM. Really, really bad.
 

I agree with him.  Carp proved he can put the ball over the fence more then 8 times a year and hayward should hit for more power.  I think this lineup would be best if wong was able to hold the leadoff spot and carp, heyward and holliday filled out the 2 throught 4 spots.

"I think this lineup would be best if wong was able to hold the leadoff spot"

Either Wong or Bourjos. Of all the dumb things Matheny does, putting a fast guy in the eighth spot might be the dumbest. OK, it's either that or bringing in a starting pitcher who hasn't pitched in 21 days as a reliever in the last inning of the last playoff game of the season, but I digress.
Batting Carpenter in the leadoff slot was fine in 2013 when the fastest guy on the team was Joe Kelly, but now you've got two bona fide base-stealers at your disposal, and you ought to use them. And Carpenter would be a decent RBI guy hitting lower in the order.
I know Bourjos' main problem last year was he couldn't steal first base, but he had his hip fixed, so let's see if he's more of a threat at the plate this year.

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"I think this lineup would be best if wong was able to hold the leadoff spot"

Either Wong or Bourjos. Of all the dumb things Matheny does, putting a fast guy in the eighth spot might be the dumbest. OK, it's either that or bringing in a starting pitcher who hasn't pitched in 21 days as a reliever in the last inning of the last playoff game of the season, but I digress.
Batting Carpenter in the leadoff slot was fine in 2013 when the fastest guy on the team was Joe Kelly, but now you've got two bona fide base-stealers at your disposal, and you ought to use them. And Carpenter would be a decent RBI guy hitting lower in the order.
I know Bourjos' main problem last year was he couldn't steal first base, but he had his hip fixed, so let's see if he's more of a threat at the plate this year.

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Bourjos to win a starting job.  The team just agreed to pay Jon Jay $11M over the next 2 seasons.  Bourjos is nothing more than a 4th/5th outfielder and defensive replacement.  

Personally, I'd like to see Carpenter and Jay batting 1-2.  Both guys get on base at a better than average clip, which would give the big bats a chance to drive in some runs.  Wong's base stealing isn't enough of an asset when his OBP is below .300.

I'm thinking Wong will get better since he knows it's his gig now. The last couple of months and particularly the playoffs were encouraging.
Or he could shit the bed completely and they'll have to bring in some re-tread. Keep Mark Ellis on speed dial.
 

I dont like the whole trickling guys on base and hoping the 3 or 4 hitters come through.  It didnt work last year.  Obp is nice but it doesnt score from first base.  This offense has to find a way to be explosive.  It wont be hitting home runs.  As much as they want hayward to hit 30 hrs, he wont.  They need wong scoring from first on a carp double.  That is the way i see this team getting more runs then they did in 2014.  Not just that example but putting pressure on the pitchers.  Speed does that.  Guys on bases other then 1st does that.  What i dont want to see is carp drawing long at bats, jay hitting a single and holliday rolling over.  If wong gets on base he is basicly on second with less then 2 outs the way carp can handle a bat.  Of course wong has to prove he can handle the leadoff spot.  I hope he can.

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

I wish Max would come back and defend himself (if he even has that capability right now) but I called the demise of the Phillies and he wouldn't listen. They were set up for at least a Wild Card in 2012, but when a team is built as fragile as the Phillies were, 81-win seasons are bound to happen. Amaro is an awful GM. Really, really bad.
 

I doubt Max will ever be back.  I have a hard time believing that someone in an academic/research setting is completely without access to the internet.  I suspect if he wanted to be here, he'd be here.  Max was way too invested in the Cardinals' failure after Pujols signed with the Angels.  He's incapable of admitting he was wrong, so it's easier just to stay away.  Or maybe he'll just stay away until the Cardinals have a 75 win season, then he'll re-emerge to tell us how correct he was after all.

 

No fighting does get sort of stale. We need a fued.
 

I could go digging and try to find Alz's post where he asked me to imagine that Pujols would have 600 HR within 3 seasons after leaving St. Louis.  

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

I wish Max would come back and defend himself (if he even has that capability right now) but I called the demise of the Phillies and he wouldn't listen. They were set up for at least a Wild Card in 2012, but when a team is built as fragile as the Phillies were, 81-win seasons are bound to happen. Amaro is an awful GM. Really, really bad.
 

I doubt Max will ever be back.  I have a hard time believing that someone in an academic/research setting is completely without access to the internet.  I suspect if he wanted to be here, he'd be here.  Max was way too invested in the Cardinals' failure after Pujols signed with the Angels.  He's incapable of admitting he was wrong, so it's easier just to stay away.  Or maybe he'll just stay away until the Cardinals have a 75 win season, then he'll re-emerge to tell us how correct he was after all.

 

No fighting does get sort of stale. We need a fued.
 

Bill Clinton was the best U.S. President of the 20th AND the 21st centuries. Discuss ...

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

I doubt Max will ever be back.  I have a hard time believing that someone in an academic/research setting is completely without access to the internet.  I suspect if he wanted to be here, he'd be here.  Max was way too invested in the Cardinals' failure after Pujols signed with the Angels.  He's incapable of admitting he was wrong, so it's easier just to stay away.  Or maybe he'll just stay away until the Cardinals have a 75 win season, then he'll re-emerge to tell us how correct he was after all.

 

No fighting does get sort of stale. We need a fued.
 

I could go digging and try to find Alz's post where he asked me to imagine that Pujols would have 600 HR within 3 seasons after leaving St. Louis.  

Erroneous on all counts. This is blatent defamation of character, and nothing more than conjecture and liable. I never said any such a thing. 

(The race is on, if I make it there first, it's deleted!)
 

tkihshbt wrote:

Wainwright spent part of his offseason in Honduras building a clean water project. I only put this here because it never fails to amaze me how humble he is.

Hopefully he didn't give himself a hernia.  He's headed back to St. Louis due to abdominal pain

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/wainwright-experiences-abdominal-soreness-will-be-examined-in-st-louis/article_65c0c056-6513-57e5-9841-6a19a900af86.html

forsberg_us wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

Wainwright spent part of his offseason in Honduras building a clean water project. I only put this here because it never fails to amaze me how humble he is.

Hopefully he didn't give himself a hernia.  He's headed back to St. Louis due to abdominal pain

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/wainwright-experiences-abdominal-soreness-will-be-examined-in-st-louis/article_65c0c056-6513-57e5-9841-6a19a900af86.html

I'm just going to go ahead and rule him out mentally for Opening Night.