I saw a clip of Poncedeleon getting coned. I don't know how anyone gets back on a mound after that.
Alex Reyes is everything Martinez isn't, and he's capable of becoming the best pitcher the Cardinals have had since Gibson. He's got the most effortless delivery I've seen since Mariano Rivera. And, yes, I realize I just compared him to my favorite player ever and the best relief pitcher in the history of the sport.

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

I saw a clip of Poncedeleon getting coned. I don't know how anyone gets back on a mound after that.
Alex Reyes is everything Martinez isn't, and he's capable of becoming the best pitcher the Cardinals have had since Gibson. He's got the most effortless delivery I've seen since Mariano Rivera. And, yes, I realize I just compared him to my favorite player ever and the best relief pitcher in the history of the sport.

Sort of suprised he needed tj as little effort as it looks like he puts into his delivery.

 
I'm not sure one has to do with the other. It seems like a guy with a violent delivery is more likely to hurt his shoulder. UCL tears seem to be random.

"
I can't disagree with any of it, but I'd add the extension Moz gave to Molina before the season will go down as the worst contract in the history of the franchise, exceeding the Leake contract. Fouler can't be moved, they put too much faith in Piscotty and I doubt anyone will take Wong off their hands for anything substantial. I think they could

The Fowler deal is worse than Molina's extension and it isn't even close. Molina's extension wouldn't be an issue if the manager had the stones to manage rather than letting Molina decide when he wants to play.

Of course, I like Molina, in part because I know how much he dislikes the manager who I would love to see fired."



Thats interesting to know.  If the players, especially the longest tenure, face of the franchise, doesnt like the manager i wonder how much that factors into the lack of focus. 

Fowlers contract is frustrating.  The paid high dollar for a redundant player.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Of course, I like Molina, in part because I know how much he dislikes the manager"

I wasn't aware their relationship was adversarial. Is this one of those things I don't know because I don't live in St. Louis?
The Cardinals are going to be paying Molina $20 million for the next three seasons, until he's 38. That's a lot of money for someone who at that point is going to be a backup catcher.

Someone who at that point "should" be the backup catcher.

I understand what Yadi's role should be going forward, but I think he will earn at least a significant part of that in mentorship and leadership. Maybe Kelly will be everything Mags thinks, but he still has fewer than 400 professional games as a catcher. Molina can impart a lot of knowledge to Kelly over the next 3 seasons and there's value to that.

Over the last couple of seasons the Cardinals invested heavily in Latin America. Molina is a huge name among the Latin players. Last Spring, Molina got permission to take Dalvin Perez to the WBC to have him meet and hang around Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, two shortstops from PR that Perez has been compared to. Supposedly Molina told Perez to sit back and learn and Perez took it to heart. If Molina can be that type of leader to the Latin players, there's value to that as well.

On the other hand, Fowler is a mediocre centerfielder on a team that doesn't really need a centerfielder now and certainly won't over the next 4 seasons.  Setting aside this year's aberrant number of HRs, he doesn't steal bases and plays below average defense and threw a tantrum at the suggestion that someone else might be a better option at CF. I'd approach him about waiving his no-trade clause and, if possible, ship him out in a heartbeat.

The Molina/Matheny thing isn't something that's known around St. Louis, but it's apparently known in the clubhouse.

I have no knowledge of oquendo and mathenys drama but nobody could ever convince me that there isnt any.  Last i knew he was in florida working with prospects.  Id probably hire him as intern manager till the end of 2017 and then reevaluate.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"The Molina/Matheny thing isn't something that's known around St. Louis, but it's apparently known in the clubhouse."

Does it have anything to do with whatever is going on between Matheny and Oquendo?
And what in the world is going on with Oquendo these days? Is he still recovering from knee replacement? 

I thought I told you guys the Oquendo story. His knee was legitimately bad--worse than an ordinary knee replacement because he had put it off for far too long. But that isn't why he's no longer with the team and it doesn't have anything to do with Matheny either.

Apparently Oquendo had a handful of girlfriends in visiting cities and Mrs. Oquendo found out. He was given the option of staying in Jupiter with Mrs. Oquendo or give up half of his property in a divorce. He chose Jupiter.

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"The Molina/Matheny thing isn't something that's known around St. Louis, but it's apparently known in the clubhouse."

Does it have anything to do with whatever is going on between Matheny and Oquendo?
And what in the world is going on with Oquendo these days? Is he still recovering from knee replacement? 

I thought I told you guys the Oquendo story. His knee was legitimately bad--worse than an ordinary knee replacement because he had put it off for far too long. But that isn't why he's no longer with the team and it doesn't have anything to do with Matheny either.

Apparently Oquendo had a handful of girlfriends in visiting cities and Mrs. Oquendo found out. He was given the option of staying in Jupiter with Mrs. Oquendo or give up half of his property in a divorce. He chose Jupiter.

 
You probably did and I forgot. What is it with Cardinals' employees having girlfriends in every port of call? And it's not like Oquendo is an especially good looking guy. The "Secret Weapon" must be something else.

artie_fufkin wrote:

Off topic, but I assume you missed Sunday's episode of GoT. It was epic.

I assume your aren't asking me.
 

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

Off topic, but I assume you missed Sunday's episode of GoT. It was epic.

Yes, we'll watch it when we get back. I tried to watch on HBO Go, but it turns out you have to be in the US to log in.

Ur not in the us?

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

Off topic, but I assume you missed Sunday's episode of GoT. It was epic.

Yes, we'll watch it when we get back. I tried to watch on HBO Go, but it turns out you have to be in the US to log in.

Zach has been at camp since the end of June and he'll be there until the middle of August. The camp has a rigid no electronic devices policy. There's a TV monitor in the game room but it's not connected to cable. There's a DVD hooked up to it so it can be used to play G-rated movies on rainy days, but that's it.
So needless to say, when I showed up for visiting day this past Sunday, I was harassed by Zach and his fellow CITs for information about the first episode of the season. I felt like Blind Harry reciting the tale of William Wallace.

artie_fufkin wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

Off topic, but I assume you missed Sunday's episode of GoT. It was epic.

Yes, we'll watch it when we get back. I tried to watch on HBO Go, but it turns out you have to be in the US to log in.

Zach has been at camp since the end of June and he'll be there until the middle of August. The camp has a rigid no electronic devices policy. There's a TV monitor in the game room but it's not connected to cable. There's a DVD hooked up to it so it can be used to play G-rated movies on rainy days, but that's it.
So needless to say, when I showed up for visiting day this past Sunday, I was harassed by Zach and his fellow CITs for information about the first episode of the season. I felt like Blind Harry reciting the tale of William Wallace.

What a wonderful-sounding place to spend one's days.

Do they have a place for financially-impoverished 75 year-olds?
 

Mags wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Yes, we'll watch it when we get back. I tried to watch on HBO Go, but it turns out you have to be in the US to log in.

Zach has been at camp since the end of June and he'll be there until the middle of August. The camp has a rigid no electronic devices policy. There's a TV monitor in the game room but it's not connected to cable. There's a DVD hooked up to it so it can be used to play G-rated movies on rainy days, but that's it.
So needless to say, when I showed up for visiting day this past Sunday, I was harassed by Zach and his fellow CITs for information about the first episode of the season. I felt like Blind Harry reciting the tale of William Wallace.

What a wonderful-sounding place to spend one's days.

Do they have a place for financially-impoverished 75 year-olds?
 

Unfortunately, my son is the only person on the property who can claim to be from a financially-impoverished background. Absent the ban on electronics, the place is more like a resort than what most people would consider to be a summer camp. The camp is run by the daughter of one of the two brothers who own Jordan's Furniture, the largest chain of furniture stores in New England. Among the activities are water skiing, fencing, gymnastics and BMX cycling. There's a heated swimming pool, electricity in the bunks and the food is better than anything I've ever eaten at home.

http://www.campmicah.com/

Last edited by artie_fufkin (7/27/2017 11:00 am)

Thsnks for everything.

Now I've got to compile a list of questions about t.v. programs and text-messaging usages of our host.