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Once again we see the Cards going down to the wire to get into the playoffs. Last year it was as a division champ, and this year as the division runner up. It’s been a slot and a grind that no team has had to endure in a very long time. But here we are.
This thread will be for discussion of the rotation and roster, starting with the 3 game series in San Diego on Sept 30th. Who will the Cards use to start the games? How will they decide what bullpen arms to carry? How will the lineup and bench look?
Remember that this year is different in that there will be no off days between games in a series. For a three game set this likely makes no difference, but keep it in mind if the team makes it past San Diego. It’ll be good to have a couple days off from the tension but I’m looking forward to seeing if the wily veteran Cards can tame the young broncos from San Diego!
Jack, Waino, and Kim will be the three starters. If we advance and need a fourth starter I am guessing Gomber would have the edge on Ponce but that is debatable.
Reyes, Cabrera, Miller, and Gallegos should get most of the high leverage spots. I am hoping Shildt will move Gallegos back to the 9th. I still think he is our best reliever. If we advance perhaps Gant can come back.
I don’t think 15 pitchers will be needed so a 14-14 split makes some sense. That should help someone like Dean or Knizer make the squad.
Somebody explain to me again why we arent going to Detroit? If the Cards would lose both in Detroit the Reds would have had a better record. And, therefore, different seedings.
What am I missing?
r/Esteemed Rat
Rats, the Monday games would not be played if seedings 5-8 were the only thing at stake. So they won’t. (The answer is also in the Seedings thread. This thread is about the Rotation and the Roster.)
Great idea for a thread and the link provided was a nice refresher, hat-tip.
I agree with GS that a 14/14 roster makes sense, we’re basically adding our SP4 and SP5 as relievers too. That should help Shildt make any in-game matchup moves and pinch runners he needs to. A 3rd catcher also helps free up Wieters switch hitter bat, or pinch runner for Yadi.
I agree that the starting three will be Jack, Waino and Kim in some order too. Probably that order. Guys I consider the locks to be on the postseason roster:
C-Yadi, Wieters
1B-Goldy
2B-Wong
SS-Dejong, Miller (ha!)
3B-Edman, Carp
OF-Fowler, Bader, Carlson, O’NeillSP-Jack, Waino, Kim
RP-Gallegos, Cabrera, Reyes, Miller, Webb, Helsley, Gomber, Ponce, WoodfordThat’s 12 position players and 12 pitchers I’d say are safe to be on the roster.
That leaves Oviedo, Whitley, Elledge, Fernandez, Nogowski, Ravelo, Dean (maybe?), Schrock, Knizner, Williams and Thomas to fight for the last four spots. If they go with the even mix, I’d probably go with Oviedo and Elledge. Maybe Whitley gets a shot. And I’d say Ravelo and Knizner for the position players.
If Jack Flaherty doesn’t have to face the Brewers (who I’m certain must have figured out some tip he had) we might still have a pretty formidable rotation. Minus his Brewers starts, Jack was 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Waino 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Kim 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Compare to the vaunted Reds rotation of Bauer (1.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP), Castillo (3.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) and Gray (3.73 ERA, 1.22 WHIP).
Diego is having SP issues with both Clevinger and Lament, but unless they dig very deep, they’ll be throwing righty SP’rs at us. The three SP’s next in line are Davies, Paddock and Richards. That suits our lineup much better.
Pham has returned, and Rosenthal is doing just what the friars had hoped for.
RE: Jack, Waino, Kim
KK threw Thursday, Jack Friday and Waino Saturday as their most recent starts. If the brass leaves it that way, each would throw on 5 days rest vs Diego.
If game 3 were unnecessary vs Diego, Adam is in line for game 1 the next round, and possibly pitches twice that series. If game 3 is necessary, we roll out the old war horse in a win or go home elimination game.
A lot of folks have speculated that Jack would take Game 1, but I like the rotation as it has been, as jj described. Everyone gets one extra day of rest.
Even if Waino has to pitch Wild Card Game 3, he could pitch NLDS Game 2 on regular rest. Though I would prefer to keep using Kim and Flaherty in order (with each still able to get extra rest).
This would be possible since the NL has three scheduled days off between the WC and DS – and it isn’t like there are going to be any rainouts in San Diego to mess with the schedule. 😉
It’s just hard to imagine the optics of the guy who’s been your stopper all year not pitching in a do or die game when he’s available. If the Cards lose game 1, I would expect Waino in game 2. Maybe if they take the first game, they would leave Waino for game 3.
My prediction of the order is Jack, Waino, and Kim. Now it wouldn’t shock me if Waino got game 1 but I would be very surprised if Kim got one of the first two games. There would be a lot of explaining to do if we got eliminated without Jack or Waino ever taking the mound.
If they go with the even mix, I’d probably go with Oviedo and Elledge. Maybe Whitley gets a shot. And I’d say Ravelo and Knizner for the position players.
I agree with Oviedo, Ravelo, and Knizer but I think I would take Whitley over Elledge. Whitley didn’t get much work but Elledge seemed shaky to me. I am not sure he is ready for prime time.
I’m leaning towards the Jack, Waino, KK rotation. As 25 noted, game 2 could be an elimination game. Continuing to consider the days rest, Jack and Waino as the game 1 and 2 SP’s would both pitch on regular 4 days rest. KK and his medical condition would be on 7 days rest.
What are the postseason roster mechanics this year? I’m guessing it’s a set 28-man roster for each series, but with some sort of taxi squad? Is the 60-man pool over with now?
-JoeJoe asked:
1) I’m guessing it’s a set 28-man roster for each series,
2) but with some sort of taxi squad?
3) Is the 60-man pool over with now?1) Yes.
2) Yes.
3) Yes. The large pool was essentially made obsolete when the alternate camps closed. Really, it matters far less since the only roster changes that can be made during a playoff series are injury replacements. The taxi squad is in the post-season bubble with the team.For subscribers, I wrote about this last night.
Walton’s Cardinals Wild Card Roster Predictions – “Dance With Who Brung You!”
Thanks, Brian! Could we see a bigger-than-usual taxi squad since they won’t want to bring new people into the bubble, or will it remain three?
The taxi squad was increased to five across MLB when the COVID cases hit. At the same time, they decided to keep the rosters at 28, rather than drop to 26. At this point, it is unclear to me how the taxi squad will be deployed in the post-season, but it will be used in some fashion.
Hyun Kim would start Game 1, Adam Wainwright would get the call for Game 2 and Jack Flaherty would be waiting in the wings if a Game 3 is necessary.
The roster of umpires include none of the notorious ones.
The info @eboland11 and @SamBorden yearn for… @MLB announces umpiring crews for the Wild Card Series: pic.twitter.com/mUb1QXg776
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) September 29, 2020
Umpire Rob Drake, who is on the SD-#stlcards crew, ejected Mike Shildt in July 2019 over a timeout not granted to batter Yairo Munoz. https://t.co/oltH1MX5m0 Drake also had an incident with Yadier Molina way back in 2011 that led to a five-game suspension for the catcher.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) September 29, 2020
It was Rob Drake that made bad calls in the final game of the year for the Giants. His low strike calls – so low they should have been balls – could possibly have hurt the Giants chances. SF wasnt too thrilled with him.
Fortunately for us he wont be behind the plate in any of the San Diego games.
r/Esteemed Rat
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