Mags wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Mags wrote:

Once again, if they are to continue carrying the same number of pitchers, they've got some tough decisions (especially for the players involved): To come off the DL, sooner or later. 
1.  Lyons (soon)
2.  Reyes (soon
)3.  Martinez (apparently later)
4.  Gregerson (apparently later)
5.  Wainwright (much later -- not really a factor)

Eligible to option without having to pass through waivers:
1.  Brebbia
2.  Mayers
3.  Hicks
4.  Gant
5.  Weaver
6.  Flaherty
7.  Reyes

 Also, they will have to make a place on the 40 man roster for Reyes even if the comes off the DL and goes to Memphis (which I doubt)..

Finally, after having a rough start his first game after being returned to Memphis, Gomber pitched 1 hell of a game last night.  Eight scoreless innings.  Charged with a run in the 9th after a runner who he had put on base scored on a sacrifice fly.  Another lefty, Austin Warner (who is about 6 inches shorter than Gomber), pitched a 9 inning shutout for Palm Beach (high A).

p.s.  Wisdom hit his 4th homer and went 1 for 3.  I can't understand why the Cards don't use him in a trade.  I guess they are asking too much.

Yeah, I'm sure the Cardinals are asking a ton for a guy who isn't among their top-30 prospects and who they left exposed in the Rule 5 draft.

Right now they're using 12 pitchers.  Assuming they stay at that number, and assuming Martinez is out for a bit, once Reyes returns the rotation will be Wacha, Mikolas, Weaver, Flaherty and Reyes.  The more interesting question is what happens when Martinez is healthy.  If I had to guess, either Flaherty, Weaver or Reyes head back to Memphis.  Of course that assumes the others are healthy which is never a given.

Assuming health, the bullpen will include Norris, Holland (ugh), Hicks, Cecil, Lyons and Tuivailala (unless they trade him).  That leaves one spot.  If healthy, it's Gregorson's.  If not, I assume it's up for grabs between Mayers, Bowman, Gant and Brebbia.

In terms of opening up a spot on the 40 man, if Kelly returns, they can DFA Baron.  If not, then I would expect them to try to make a move among the redundant right handed relievers.

In light of AP's report, it looks like they will be keeping all three (Weaver, Flaherty, and Reyes) even after CM returns.  That to me means Gregerson is out of a job unless there is an injury.

BTW, who said anything about asking a ton for Wisdom?  By definition, if the price is too high for there to be any other takers it is too high.  The only other possibility I can think of is that the Cards are simply holding on to him as insurance for worst case scenario.
 

I figure going 13 pitchers and sending bader or oniell to memphis is more likely.

Mags wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Mags wrote:

Once again, if they are to continue carrying the same number of pitchers, they've got some tough decisions (especially for the players involved): To come off the DL, sooner or later. 
1.  Lyons (soon)
2.  Reyes (soon
)3.  Martinez (apparently later)
4.  Gregerson (apparently later)
5.  Wainwright (much later -- not really a factor)

Eligible to option without having to pass through waivers:
1.  Brebbia
2.  Mayers
3.  Hicks
4.  Gant
5.  Weaver
6.  Flaherty
7.  Reyes

 Also, they will have to make a place on the 40 man roster for Reyes even if the comes off the DL and goes to Memphis (which I doubt)..

Finally, after having a rough start his first game after being returned to Memphis, Gomber pitched 1 hell of a game last night.  Eight scoreless innings.  Charged with a run in the 9th after a runner who he had put on base scored on a sacrifice fly.  Another lefty, Austin Warner (who is about 6 inches shorter than Gomber), pitched a 9 inning shutout for Palm Beach (high A).

p.s.  Wisdom hit his 4th homer and went 1 for 3.  I can't understand why the Cards don't use him in a trade.  I guess they are asking too much.

Yeah, I'm sure the Cardinals are asking a ton for a guy who isn't among their top-30 prospects and who they left exposed in the Rule 5 draft.

Right now they're using 12 pitchers.  Assuming they stay at that number, and assuming Martinez is out for a bit, once Reyes returns the rotation will be Wacha, Mikolas, Weaver, Flaherty and Reyes.  The more interesting question is what happens when Martinez is healthy.  If I had to guess, either Flaherty, Weaver or Reyes head back to Memphis.  Of course that assumes the others are healthy which is never a given.

Assuming health, the bullpen will include Norris, Holland (ugh), Hicks, Cecil, Lyons and Tuivailala (unless they trade him).  That leaves one spot.  If healthy, it's Gregorson's.  If not, I assume it's up for grabs between Mayers, Bowman, Gant and Brebbia.

In terms of opening up a spot on the 40 man, if Kelly returns, they can DFA Baron.  If not, then I would expect them to try to make a move among the redundant right handed relievers.

In light of AP's report, it looks like they will be keeping all three (Weaver, Flaherty, and Reyes) even after CM returns.  That to me means Gregerson is out of a job unless there is an injury.

BTW, who said anything about asking a ton for Wisdom?  By definition, if the price is too high for there to be any other takers it is too high.  The only other possibility I can think of is that the Cards are simply holding on to him as insurance for worst case scenario.
 

There's also the possibility that he has no value.

"There's also the possibility that he has no value."

Perhaps.

Mags wrote:

The Redbirds won 7-2 tonight.  Mercado, who is now hitting .329, was 3 for 5 with a home run.  And my daughter was there.

The funny thing is Mercado didn't hit .329 during his senior year of high school before the Cardinals drafted him.  

Mags wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Mags wrote:

The Redbirds won 7-2 tonight.  Mercado, who is now hitting .329, was 3 for 5 with a home run.  And my daughter was there.

The funny thing is Mercado didn't hit .329 during his senior year of high school before the Cardinals drafted him.  

He only hit .215 in 2016 in high A -- the year he switched from SS to OF after about 80 games.  He says the pressure of play shortstop was really a burden on him.  I've heard that many times but in his case I'm a believer.  From everything I hear, he's a spectacular CF.  Hearing Whiskey Dan talk about Alex Gordon yesterday had me wondering.
 

You likely remember Bernard Gilkey, outfielder for the Cardinals and later the Mets, who came up around the late 80’s, early 90’s. I went to high school with Bernard. He was a decent baseball player, but a better basketball player. He was a 2-time Metro Player of the Year in St. Louis. We all assumed he’d be headed somewhere to play college basketball, but then he was drafted by, and signed with the Cardinals. His first 3-4 years in the minors he never hit .240, and never played above A ball, and we all felt he had made a huge mistake. Then for some reason the Cardinals promoted him and he somehow hit better.

He ended up having a 12 year MLB career, made over $20M and finished as a .270-280 major league hitter despite the fact he never hit .240 at rookie or A ball. Guess he made the right decision after all.

FWIW, he was actually a really good guy. Glad he had the success he did. His brother made a living as a failed burglar. I always felt bad when Bernard would have to try to clean up Steve’s messes.

forsberg_us wrote:

Mags wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

The funny thing is Mercado didn't hit .329 during his senior year of high school before the Cardinals drafted him.  

He only hit .215 in 2016 in high A -- the year he switched from SS to OF after about 80 games.  He says the pressure of play shortstop was really a burden on him.  I've heard that many times but in his case I'm a believer.  From everything I hear, he's a spectacular CF.  Hearing Whiskey Dan talk about Alex Gordon yesterday had me wondering.
 

You likely remember Bernard Gilkey, outfielder for the Cardinals and later the Mets, who came up around the late 80’s, early 90’s. I went to high school with Bernard. He was a decent baseball player, but a better basketball player. He was a 2-time Metro Player of the Year in St. Louis. We all assumed he’d be headed somewhere to play college basketball, but then he was drafted by, and signed with the Cardinals. His first 3-4 years in the minors he never hit .240, and never played above A ball, and we all felt he had made a huge mistake. Then for some reason the Cardinals promoted him and he somehow hit better.

He ended up having a 12 year MLB career, made over $20M and finished as a .270-280 major league hitter despite the fact he never hit .240 at rookie or A ball. Guess he made the right decision after all.

FWIW, he was actually a really good guy. Glad he had the success he did. His brother made a living as a failed burglar. I always felt bad when Bernard would have to try to clean up Steve’s messes.

I recall Gilkey very well and was pulling for him to stay with the Cards during that stretch when they had four strong candidates for the outfield (Lankford,  Jordan, & Whitten also).  He came across as a really good guy and I loved the way he played the game.

Damn shame about the brother.
 

Last edited by Mags (5/24/2018 5:21 pm)

forsberg_us wrote:

Reyes absolutely killed it in Memphis. 7 IP, 1 H, 13 K

Total for 4 rehab starts

23 IP
7 H
7 BB
44 K

Wowzers.

And Mercado was 4 for 5 with his 11th stolen base.
 

Hudson continues to impress.

https://www.milb.com/memphis/news/redbirds-shutout-rainiers-to-win-series/c-280309288

Wisdom is hovering just over .300.  But made still another error last night. He has quite a few for a guy is supposed to be a top glove man.

Another possibility I hadn't thought of.  Maybe the Cards are holding onto him so that their top pitching prospects can learn to pitch around errors.  That's certainly a much needed skill for pitchers with the big club.

Roster Moves:

Munoz to DL.

Gregerson to 60 day

Wisdom contract purchased and called up from Memphis.