Sometimes I told you so feels so good

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/have-holliday-and-moss-switched-positions-cardinals-offer-peek/article_c44c35ad-565d-54fe-a1f7-6cc9e85028a7.html

I know it is just st but i have have a feeling this is going to be 2007 all over again.

AP, I'm feeling the opposite. The two worst Cardinal teams I've watched make postseason both won world series titles....

Let the Cubs have all the publicity. Let them have Heyward, he isn't worth 200 million and we all know it. Let them have Lackey, I'm still saying a lot of his success came from Yadier Molina (magically, he shaves 1 to 1.5 off every pitcher's ERA who throws to him, after a while, you have to assume he has a lot to do with it....). I don't think the Cubs will be happy with either of those people. In the meantime, picture Leake with a 1-1.5 smaller ERA number, and that's a very nice addition. Why? He's also going to be throwing to Molina. 

Mostly though, this is a season where the Cardinals don't have to burden themselves with insane expectations, I think that will be a refreshing change. We're still sitting on a BOATLOAD of spare money, so if there's a move to be made at the trade deadline... We're in prime position to be the money at that table. 

APIAD wrote:

Ive never had knee surgery but i find it suprising that it would sideline oquendo all season.

I thought the same thing.  I know attorneys who have had knee replacement surgery and were back at work and moving around pretty good after a few weeks.  I can understand why Oquendo wouldn't want to be at third base, but I would think he could serve as a bench coach.

alz wrote:

AP, I'm feeling the opposite. The two worst Cardinal teams I've watched make postseason both won world series titles....

Let the Cubs have all the publicity. Let them have Heyward, he isn't worth 200 million and we all know it. Let them have Lackey, I'm still saying a lot of his success came from Yadier Molina (magically, he shaves 1 to 1.5 off every pitcher's ERA who throws to him, after a while, you have to assume he has a lot to do with it....). I don't think the Cubs will be happy with either of those people. In the meantime, picture Leake with a 1-1.5 smaller ERA number, and that's a very nice addition. Why? He's also going to be throwing to Molina. 

Mostly though, this is a season where the Cardinals don't have to burden themselves with insane expectations, I think that will be a refreshing change. We're still sitting on a BOATLOAD of spare money, so if there's a move to be made at the trade deadline... We're in prime position to be the money at that table. 

This offense hasnt hit in along time and they are bot showing any signings of resurgence.  The rotation hasnt looked unbeatable in st either.  I think the bullpen would be great if they hot handed the game in the 6th or after.

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

I'm having my knee replaced at end of June. I plan to be back at work in a month. Granted, I'm not coaching third base or hitting groundballs.

Like fors said, id assume he would make a heck of a bench coach.  Also it isnt like being a third base coach is a physical demanding task. 

The conspiracy theorist in me says there is more to this story.

It isn't physically demanding, but I could see where it would be easy to reinjure the knee dodging a line drive or getting out of the way of a pop up.

But I had the same reaction as you when they said he was taking off the whole year. Doesn't smell right.

APIAD wrote:

The most recent article on the pd website made it sound like the team is not getting along. If the pd mentions a little negativity, then there must be alot.

Could be worse. Could be Drake Laroche. Let's let them get through opening day before we write off the season. 
 

Listening to Derrick Goold on the radio and reading between the lines, I don't think the concern is that they aren't getting along as much as one group of guys aren't happy that they haven't received their normal amount of reps, and another group of guys (mostly the veterans) are appalled with how the team has played the last two weeks. Goold also mentioned that the 'core four' want Piscotty and Grichuk to step up and be more vocal.

tkihshbt wrote:

Listening to Derrick Goold on the radio and reading between the lines, I don't think the concern is that they aren't getting along as much as one group of guys aren't happy that they haven't received their normal amount of reps, and another group of guys (mostly the veterans) are appalled with how the team has played the last two weeks. Goold also mentioned that the 'core four' want Piscotty and Grichuk to step up and be more vocal.

Hopefully that is stuff that can be worked past.  The offense still sucks. I believe hollidays first homer was yesterday.  Im not sure that can be blamed on reps.  It has been a yearly trend of shitty hitting.

I honestly don't give a crap whether these guys get along with each other. This isn't a summer camp. It's a friggin' major league baseball team. 
But having a whole bunch of meetings in ST isn't a good sign. As much as I didn't like him showing up his teammates (which he was pretty good about not doing in St. Louis compared to some of his other stops), I think Lackey is going to be missed in the clubhouse. He brought some piss and vinegar that was needed  every once in awhile. I'm sick of watching Holliday ground into a double play and then flipping his helmet to the first base coach like it's no big deal. The leaders like Holliday, Wainwright and Carpenter almost never blow a gasket because it would be very un-Christian behavior. Sometimes a team needs a shit-stirrer. Not a loon like Zambrano taking a bat to the Gatorade machine when an outfielder misplayed a fly ball. That was more about his ERA than anything else. But they need someone to wake them up every so often. It doesn't even have to be a tantrum. Jeff Bagwell never had to raise his voice in the Astros' clubhouse, but everyone - even Carl Everett - in there knew he wasn't going to put up with any shit.

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

I honestly don't give a crap whether these guys get along with each other. This isn't a summer camp. It's a friggin' major league baseball team. 
But having a whole bunch of meetings in ST isn't a good sign. As much as I didn't like him showing up his teammates (which he was pretty good about not doing in St. Louis compared to some of his other stops), I think Lackey is going to be missed in the clubhouse. He brought some piss and vinegar that was needed  every once in awhile. I'm sick of watching Holliday ground into a double play and then flipping his helmet to the first base coach like it's no big deal. The leaders like Holliday, Wainwright and Carpenter almost never blow a gasket because it would be very un-Christian behavior. Sometimes a team needs a shit-stirrer. Not a loon like Zambrano taking a bat to the Gatorade machine when an outfielder misplayed a fly ball. That was more about his ERA than anything else. But they need someone to wake them up every so often. It doesn't even have to be a tantrum. Jeff Bagwell never had to raise his voice in the Astros' clubhouse, but everyone - even Carl Everett - in there knew he wasn't going to put up with any shit.

Of the "core four" waino, molina and holliday are all past their prime. Including carp as a non vocal person. I agree, the team needs an asshole. I cant play worth a shit but i can be a dick. Id be willing to sign at the minimum too.

Key-rist. I'm an asshole and I do it for free.
Spitballing here, but maybe this is one area where they miss that guy who went to Anaheim. Pujols certainly flaunted his Christianity, but that didn't necessary mean gathering everyone in a circle in the clubhouse and singing Kumbaya before every game. 
Or maybe it had more to do with La Russa's personality. I can't see him calling a meeting during batting practice to have everyone hug it out.

100% agree on missing an element with Lackey.  I've heard Lynn has a similar mindset, but if you're not playing you can't be that vocal in the clubhouse.

Wainwright is a great pitcher, but he doesn't have the "asshole effect" that Carpenter or even Lackey brought to the mound.  

Matheny hasn't really had to handle adversity.  Yes, he's had to manage around injuries, but he's had 4 years of winning.  If this team starts off slow and the Cubs get out to a quick start, it'll be interesting to see how he handles it.