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Well Goldys dinger pulls us through. Had some base runners in the 9th. Time to stop celebrating and get back in form to compete in the off-season. Worst thing a playoff bound team can do is sit around and relish in the media hype. Thats how the Chiefs got steam-rolled by the Bucs last year. Don’t believe all the crap they write about how great you are. Get focused now. Go Cardinals!
I’m just waiting for arenado to get going. Just think what we could be doing if he was pulling his weight right now.
Just win baby!
I know Al Davis may have originally coined this all encompassing phrase many moons ago, but not even Al said it with the style ,flair and at the precise and appropriate moments that our esteemed friend, TexasCard, does. Bravo, TexasCard…… bravo.
Nice to see Hudson pitch well…he looked to be rounding into form in 2020 before his injury so it’s cool to see him back. He could be a weapon in a playoff run.
Also, Tyler O’Neill…the guy is making us all forget about that Ozuna guy that we lamented losing a bit too much. I think the top of the order next year will include Dylan Carlson as the leadoff man and with his likely improvement, we should have a lethal 1-4.
Finally…90 wins! Just like we drew it up and figured all along, amiright?!?!
I think the top of the order next year will include Dylan Carlson as the leadoff man
The problem with that is most pitchers are righties and Carlson’s huge platoon split props up his overall batting line.
vs. RHP .242/.325/.411/.736, K rate 25%. Not a compelling argument to bat leadoff.
Edman’s line vs. RHP isn.t great for a leadoff hitter either.
They seem to be looking close at left swinging Nootbaar, and will give him a further look in AFL. No telling how his role on the roster will evolve.
Carlson may well improve vs RHP. Other guys might improve as well. I consider next year’s leadoff slot to be up in the air. I do think Carlson has the inside track, but if he does not improve vs RHP he could get platooned, at least in the leadoff slot.
The problem with that is most pitchers are righties and Carlson’s huge platoon split props up his overall batting line. vs. RHP .242/.325/.411/.736, K rate 25%. Not a compelling argument to bat leadoff.
I hear you. That said, I think we can cut him a little slack as a rookie. His year has been good, albeit not spectacular. Plus he was better against RHP in his minors career in 2016, 17, and 19, plus his small sample 2020, so he has it in him. I think he will end up a sort of Matt Carpenter of the OF. Solid OBP, decent power, not great glove but very playable. Unless the Cards want to go big for a Seager, I’d probably slot Carlson in at leadoff for 2022. But like you said, that could change.
“I’m just waiting for arenado to get going. Just think what we could be doing if he was pulling his weight right now.”
Don’t worry Willie, it’s early yet!
19 0f 20. A great closing stretch. It all came together for this club. The big maturity of the younger players, and key pitching acquisitions that looked like dumpster dives at the time have revitalized this club. And putting Sosa in the lineup everyday further pushed the momentum.
As for lead off next year, maybe Sosa will be the guy. Edman is the one you would like, but is not quite what you want in a lead off guy. He would be a perfect 9 hitter in a DH lineup, and maybe that is where we end up next year. But Shildt is a little wacky in how he places guys in the order, so who knows. I have to say though, he put O’Neill at 3 and Tyler has performed like a “3” these last few weeks. He practically carried us to the win in the this one.
Looking ahead to the play-in game, that will be one of those where even going into the ninth up three I won’t feel comfortable. Those Dodgers, assuming it is them, have firepower all over the place. Then again, being down three in the ninth is not game over either, as we have shown some electric offense as well. Might be one of those classic back and forth affairs where the momentum is constantly changing.
Looking ahead to the play-in game, that will be one of those where even going into the ninth up three I won’t feel comfortable.
Was thinking this very thing as I watched LA come back against Milwaukee last night. If the Cards somehow get a lead against Scherzer, the last three innings will be intense baseball, pitch by pitch — just like the playoffs should be.
As for lead off next year, maybe Sosa will be the guy.
Yeah, Sosa could pan out as a leadoff hitter, but he also may have a platoon issue, and I don’t have a feel for whether or not the organization sees his glove as regular starting shortstop. It might be that they had to get DeJong out of the lineup, and Sosa’s glove is playable. (I don’t see an issue myself). He doesn’t have a ton of sample size but what there is looks good….vs. RHP ..296/.366/.404/.769, 20% K rate. That is looking decent for a leadoff. Its a different story vs. lefties though. He doesn’t have much sample size there, but what there is definitely sucks.
Good stuff, bling. Personally I do not put near as much stock in past performance of young players as probably most people do, when assessing future performance. I look at the player’s instincts, talent (speed, arm, swing, etc), and then form an opinion on him. Usually it seems that guys who have the ability and have had success in the minor leagues will be good major league players if you play them, knowing you will go through growing pains. The tough part is allowing them to make mistakes at the big league level, rolling the dice that it will pay off in the future.
Sosa looks like that to me. He will hit lefties, but you have to commit to playing him day after day and let him learn and mature. Maybe lead off is not his best spot, but he looks to be about as good as any candidate on our club as it currently stands. I also thing his glove will play. If not at short, he might be an upgrade over Edman at second, but DeJong does not look like the answer at short. His career is a downhill slide.
I’d still like to see the Cards acquire an every day 2nd baseman so Edman can fill the utility role.
If you figure Nootbar for the 4th outfielder that might work but he’s still very much a work in progress.
Do we have Yadi’s heir apparent or do we need to keep trying?
I think the farm may be able to fill in the gaps next year for the field players but what about the DH? Like it or not that seems to be coming.
The pitching staff still needs significant work imo.
Flaherty – should be ok but until he is – he isn’t.
Mikolas – see Flaherty.
Hudson – recovery looks very promising but – see Flaherty.
Lester – old as the hills, can probably squeeze one more year out of him as the 4 or 5.
Wainwright – older than Lester and pitching 12 years younger but, do we think he’ll repeat this next year? Ok if you are only counting on him as your 4-5 but not pencilled in as the staff ace.
Woodford – ok as the 4-5 guy in the rotation.
I think the farm arms are all still a year away.
IF the rotation is good the bullpen will not be overtaxed and should be great.
I really think the Cards need to add 1 frontline and 1 middle of the rotation starter to the mix – Happ and LeBlanc do not need to be back. They can keep Carpenter and DeJong company on the bus out of town.
Seager from the Dodgers will not be the leadoff hitter next year either. He will bat 2nd behind Edman. The 2022 lineup will be as follows:
Edman
Seager
Goldschmidt
Arenado
O’Neill
Carlson
Molina
Baderr/Esteemed Rat
If the Cards sign Seager, it wouldn’t make any sense to not have him hit leadoff. His career OBP of .366 is higher than any year Edman has had, including his great rookie campaign. Like BikeMike said, Edman is an ideal #9 hitter if we have the DH next year…which seems likely.
I think the farm may be able to fill in the gaps next year for the field players but what about the DH?
I agree with this completely. That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement from outside, and such improvements will be out there this winter.
It is more that we need pitching help, both active roster and depth. Given the in house resources, it seems hard to justify diluting the effort to upgrade the pitching situation. DH is a question mark as is leadoff, but I like our chances of finding those answers in house.
I think Mo will stick to the pitching side this winter and come away with some dry powder.
The talk about the leadoff slot got me to checking today’s starting lineup to see how many players that we offloaded in one way or another are leading off for their teams today.
Arozarena for Tampa Bay
Lane Thomas for Washington
Max Schrock for the Reds
Brewers isn’t posted yet but that will be Wong.Edman’s natural position is shortstop. It will be interesting to se if he gets reps there next spring. IMO, this team needs a lock down closer. Gallegos is finding ways to get the job done, but he worries me every time he takes the mound. Also, I’d like to see them pick up a proven middle reliever. BTW, Hicks has always bee considered a late inning reliever. Lately, he’s been starting games and it looks like they’re bringing him along as a starter. Not sure what’s with that. Finally, Knizner has been exposed during this late September run. I hate to think of what it would be like if Yadi went down for an extended period, and Knizner was the only option. They need to find a backup catcher. Regarding Seager, it could just be a rumor that Seaver’s agent started. But the rumor is that the Dodgers want him back and the Yankees want to sign him. Bidding war, anyone?
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