Funny year, lots of middle-to-back of the rotation pitchers going dirt cheap on one year contracts.  All of this makes the Westbrook signing, and therefore the Ludwick trade, look more expensive than ever.  You could argue that no one could have predicted how the bottom would drop out from underneath starting pitching, but the counter argument is that Mozeliak is paid a lot of money to know these things.

If Westbrook experiences a rebirth under Duncan, and becomes a bona fide #2-3 200+ IP starting pitcher, then the Ludwick deal and Westbrook's contract will look good.  Otherwise, it will be very easy for people within the organization who want to tear Moz down to spin it all as bad.

Max wrote:

You could argue that no one could have predicted how the bottom would drop out from underneath starting pitching, but the counter argument is that Mozeliak is paid a lot of money to know these things.

You mean like arguing that Mozeliak should have known that the bottom was going to drop out of the market before signing Lohse to that anchor of a contract?

Perhaps you are remembering that I have defended him several times on that score, and are implying that maybe he should have guessed at that one, too?  It's not like the effects of the American banking collapse of 2007-2008 were any great secret by middle 2008.  In any case, my point was more about how his rivals will spin it, and I am pretty confident that they spin the Lohse contract much to Mozeliak's detriment. 

I realize he just signed a three year extension, but if the Cards are not successful this year, I can envision blame being dumped on his shoulders.  In fact, he's really been pretty bad so far, and I almost wonder if DeWitt's deep strategy was to bring in a guy who could "bungle" the Pujols extension talks, get blamed and fired for it all, and create a fire wall that protects ownership when the fan anger over the loss of Pujols explodes.  The way Walt played the game, this extension would have been sealed up at least a year ago, and ownership would have been on the hook for a big, big contract, that nevertheless had a tidy home town discount.  That's how it should have been.

Last edited by Max (1/25/2011 11:52 am)

Adam Kennedy got a DUI.

Pettitte to announce retirement Friday .

Marmol, Cubs agree to $20 million, 3-year deal



http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AoEziX96.4_RYCxl.qUMBcQRvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-marmol

I've received a few emails from him.  I think he's pretty busy this time of year coaching his son's basketball team.

He's fine, other than a few run ins with officials

I think it's all still my bad breath, or other BO that's keeping them all away.

Doesn't KC want to jump back in and confirm that he was right, as the first among us to lay the blame on DeWitt, as a cheapskate?

We have 17 registered users, but only a few are posting regularly these days.  At least 9 or 10 others could take similar offense, Web.  No offense meant.  Post more!

forsberg_us wrote:

I've received a few emails from him.  I think he's pretty busy this time of year coaching his son's basketball team.

That's a bingo! (Anyone else see Inglourious Basterds?)
We're off until after school vacation and then play in the semifinals.
The Cavs lost in the quarters so we're playing the 8th seeded Bulls a week from Tuesday.
The vaunted Celtics - the Real Madrid of Marblehead Youth Basketball - likely await us in the finals.

Max wrote:

Nice to see you back, D'Artie

Good to be back. This coaching gig has almost been like a part-time job.