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BW, Thanks for the information on Mo’s quote. I don’t remember the Cards ever going into a season with this much high end BP depth. It’s already likely a few guys will be sent back to AAA when they would be easily be on most teams opening day rosters. As we have learned, basically since any of us followed baseball, you can never have to much pitching.
Jager, I didn’t realize Walker hadn’t signed anywhere. That would be an option that could pay huge dividends. Another, assuming he’s healthy, which I’ve found literally zero info on, Cingrani would also be someone who wouldn’t be awful to take a flier on.
Interesting that you brought up Cingrani. Wonder if he will come back with a degree of effectiveness.
Bccran, that’s a toss up, I just looked again and can’t find any sort of update at all. That’s worrisome, but the Cards would probably know better than most.
Does anyone know if the equipment tractor-trailers have left for Jupiter. 2nd question: does anyone know when they will be leaving if they haven’t already left.
Usually there is some small amount of fanfare with that news being released and announced publicly. It is my official first day of Spring… groundhog shadow or not.
bc, if you did that you’d certainly become the front-runner for “Participant of the Year”.
I think that I’ll put that on my bucket list.
All I know is that media who want to cover the day will be allowed in starting at 9:15. What time the trucks will be filled and pull out would seem to depend on the speed of loading.
Do the trucks drive all night until they reach Jupiter or do they spend the night somewhere? It looks to be about a 17 hour drive.
Specially for those who cannot get enough equipment truck news…
We talked to one of the luckiest guys in St. Louis this week: Bob Amelung who is going to be hauling 80,000 pounds of #STLCards equipment to Jupiter, for Spring Training https://t.co/lN5D7Vd0ZW
— KMOX St. Louis News (@kmoxnews) February 4, 2020
Glad to see what it said in the PD this morning about the crowded major league camp this year –
“The Cardinals expect to hold back field games and scrimmages just to create playing time for the populated roster.”
It also said that they are going to crowd almost 75 players into a clubhouse that that usually houses 2/3 that many. At least 9 lockers will be shared.
From page 1 of this thread, posted January 23.
“Yes. I asked Shildt that very question last weekend. He said there would be more simulated games on the back fields for the 13 starters to get in their work and be evaluated. Details in the Sunday WWU article posted on the home page.”
Why bring a bunch more OFs to camp who aren’t going to play? The numerous 40-man outfielders need at-bats to sort out who is going to play where in the regular season. I am good with the decision, though I wouldn’t have been surprised if Justin Toerner and/or Conner Capel had been invited.
On the “B” games or sim games, overall it is positive – certainly for the team and players. But among the negatives for the rest of us include little advance notice, no published lineups and the only stats we will probably see from all of those games will be whatever is captured and shared by the media or fans informally. As a result, the published official spring stats will be incomplete – covering the stadium games only.
Not earth-shattering, but something to be aware of. When making roster and playing time decisions, the team will have more information than us.
Why bring a bunch more OFs to camp who aren’t going to play? The numerous 40-man outfielders need at-bats to sort out who is going to play where in the regular season. I am good with the decision, though I wouldn’t have been surprised if Justin Toerner and/or Conner Capel had been invited.
They are being showcased.
The OFs in camp are not being showcased – they are competing for the starting LF job, maybe the starting CF job and bench spots.
The Cardinals already lost four OFs from last season – Ozuna, Martinez, Arozarena and Garcia. I would be very surprised if they trade away more of them. Memphis OF depth is thin and all the competitors have options.
Outfielders –
Fowler
Bader
O’Neill
Thomas
Dean
Williams
CarlsonInfielders –
Goldy
Wong
DeJong
Carpenter
Edman
Munoz
Sosa
Ravelo
Montero
Baker
Gorman
Mendoza
Schrock
Nogowski14 infielders and 7 outfielders. And I don’t count infielders who can also play a little outfield as true outfielders.
If you’re going to make a point, Brian, about OFers who shouldn’t be brought to camp because they “aren’t going to play”, then shouldn’t you make the same point about guys like Nogowski, Schrock, Baker, etc.?
Does a team have the option to request more split squad games in ST? Or would that have to be requested a year or so in advance?
My thinking behind that question, the normal amount of games might not be enough to see all of the OF and BP options that the Cards need to sort out and no one should care about the ST record.
Goldy, Yadi, Wong and DeJong are the only lineup regulars that I would consider 100% set and/or don’t need to show they can still hit (Carpenter and Fowler).
The BP will be a very interesting situation to watch also. ST is almost here but I still wouldn’t be surprised if there is a last minute invite or two thrown out (why not right?). Or someone very unexpected throwing so well they can’t be left off the 26 man roster.
Split squad games are negotiated each year as part of coordinating spring training schedules. Of course, to have a SS game, two teams must agree on a need on a certain day months in advance – and one of them will have to travel. It is not known that far ahead of time which days will be best to have more guys throw and how many innings will be needed. For hitters, it is easier.
It is far superior to remain flexible and schedule your own B games (or sim games) as needed on the back fields in the mornings. The team controls everything in that format.
bccran said:
14 infielders and 7 outfielders. And I don’t count infielders who can also play a little outfield as true outfielders.
If you’re going to make a point, Brian, about OFers who shouldn’t be brought to camp because they “aren’t going to play”, then shouldn’t you make the same point about guys like Nogowski, Schrock, Baker, etc.?
Edman, Munoz and Ravelo also will see time in the outfield, so taking that into account makes your scale more balanced.
To your question, no. The starting infield is set. The veterans will not play full games and minor leaguers are needed to fill in. As an example from 2019, Ravelo led the entire team in spring at-bats, mostly playing first so Goldschmidt did not get overworked. This year, Wong and DeJong should receive similar treatment.
On the other hand, at least one and arguably two starting outfield jobs are up for grabs this spring. That is why the OF is very different from the IF.
P.S. There is also a “reward” dimension to spring camp invites. Pretty much everyone from the position player side at Memphis received an invite – including infielders Nogowski and Schrock. No Memphis outfielders were passed over.
Again, the sheer numbers imbalance you are seeing is primarily due to four 40-man outfielders leaving since last season and only one new OF coming in.
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