bicyclemike

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  • in reply to: Former Cardinals in the News #133233
    bicyclemike
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    Former Cardinal farmhand Daniel Bard made the Opening Day roster with the Rockies. He last pitched in the Cardinals system in 2017, last pitched in MLB seven years ago. Good for him.

    Rockies might be a little desperate.

    in reply to: First Game – line up talk #133214
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    I like Wong in the leadoff spot. I would probably switch O’Neill and Molina, but otherwise the lineup looks pretty good. If Bader can learn to be selective and hit again, I would like him at the second spot. But for now keeping him low is the right approach.

    Not sure if Edman can approach his success from last season, but with the DH it will be a good time to give him a shot to play every day and see how it goes.

    in reply to: Former Cardinals in the News #132981
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    Wow, I do not recall ever reading anything about that 1911 train wreck story. I have heard the club called a “train wreck” now and then, but did not realize they had been involved in one. Amazing that none of the players were hurt.

    in reply to: Ranking TV broadcast crews #132946
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    Agreed Euro. Timmy’s a baseball guy who experienced playing for several teams, and even got a ring as a Philadelphia Phillie. But most guys tend to identify closest with the organization they went through the minors with, and played for in the majors as long as it was a representative time frame. McCarver was a Cardinal during his prime and won three flags, so that is where his heart lies.

    Keith Hernandez is the same way, which we have discussed in depth on the Cardinal Hall of Fame thread. I think Andy Van Slyke is still a big Cardinal fan as well, although he stays true to his Pittsburgh identity as well.

    in reply to: Ranking TV broadcast crews #132866
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    I really like McCarver, which is a minority opinion I know. But I like the way he bridges the gap between generations of Cardinals personnel. The story he told on a broadcast one time about introducing Bob Gibson to Willie Mays back in the day was hilarious.

    Part of my thoughts about McCarver are due to seeing him back in the ’70s after a game. I was a teenager and my buddy and I were hanging out by the clubhouse exit at Busch Stadium. The players would come out and usually bolt for their cars or the hotel. McCarver though, spent a lot of time talking to fans and seemed to enjoy the banter. He was just a regular guy, and even gave people tips on how to approach a player so as not to get on their bad side. He understood the fan’s disappointment at often getting the brush off from players.

    Hope he is back in ’21.

    in reply to: Hicks opts out #132797
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    Echoing the sentiment here. I think it is smart of Hicks to opt out given his diabetes. Plus the extra time to recover from major surgery is good.

    I hope Fernandez gets a good shot. I like him a lot and can see closer potential in the guy.

    in reply to: Happy Independence Day #132220
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    Happy Fourth to all and your families. Be safe!!

    in reply to: Thank You Brian/Flaherty and social justice #132219
    bicyclemike
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    This is indeed a great site, with solid information and without the “ax to grind” attitude for the most part.

    Tagging on to Austin McHenry and what could have been, I tend to link him together with catcher Bill Delancey. Delancey looked to be a potential Hall of Famer with the Gas House Gang. In that magical 1934 season he was only 22 years old, and had an OPS of .979 (152 OPS+) in 93 games. The lefty batting Delancey split time with veteran Spud Davis, a right-handed hitter during the season. With the Tiger pitchers being right-handed, manager Frank Frisch then used DeLancey as the catcher in all 7 games of the World Series.

    But like McHenry, his health failed and he died far too young.

    in reply to: COVID19 Virus vs Baseball #131893
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    I would think the Ballpark Village area will have social distancing restrictions. I doubt any place will be “packed like sardines” for awhile.

    in reply to: Former Cardinals in the News #131498
    bicyclemike
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    Interesting on Baugh. My cousin and I are big sports collectibles freaks as some people on here know. He lives in the Dallas area and got to know a guy who ran a collectibles shop down there for years, who was a close friend of Sammy Baugh. The guy had all kinds of Baugh memorabilia, but I never knew he played a year in the Cardinals baseball system.

    in reply to: 2020 Schedule & Jordan Hicks #131494
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    My guess is Hicks would not be part of the equation, other than possibly being available should the club get to the post-season. If it looks like St. Louis will be in the post season, I am thinking Hicks may get some appearances in late September.

    But that is conjecture only, and not based on anything I read or heard.

    in reply to: 2020 MLB Draft #131493
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    Real impressed what the Cardinals have done here. In reading about the Walker kid, he looks be a great first pick. Sounds like he will start out as a third baseman, but with that height I envision him moving across to first base at some point.

    in reply to: John Brebbia #131489
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    What inquiring minds really want to know is this: Does the surgery change Brebbia’s practice of starting a season clean-shaven, and letting his beard grow as the season progresses?

    bicyclemike
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    Alright, finally! A 60 game schedule seemed right like two weeks ago. Glad they finally put the finishing touches on it. Any word on active roster size? 35? 40?

    in reply to: Jack Buck Tribute On MLB Network #131309
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    Nice. Thanks Euro!

    in reply to: Jack Buck Tribute On MLB Network #131275
    bicyclemike
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    Did anyone see this? If so, how was it? I do not have cable anymore so no MLB network.

    in reply to: Mets are a mess #131274
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    IF A-Rod/J-Lo (quite the name for a purchasing group) were to buy the Mets, they would likely have the best looking owners in sports. I mean who would you rather have a business lunch with, J-Lo, or Jerry Jones? 🙂

    bicyclemike
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    I do not think anyone wants to trade Flaherty, but rather the original poster was curious as to what he might bring in return at this point in his career.

    With no current baseball to talk about, stuff like that is fun to banter about.

    in reply to: Agreement on 2020 salaries/service time/contracts #131190
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    With the players rejecting the 60 game schedule, I do not see a season happening in 2020. You cannot play too much longer of a schedule than that, and do not see much benefit in Manfred making an executive order to play. That would greatly harm chances of a reasonable settlement in December 2021.

    This is the most pessimistic I have been on 2020 MLB. Think we are in for a big downturn in MLB revenues for the next few years, unless 2021 is back to business as usual and an agreement is struck that does not impact 2022. The chances of both of those happening do not look real good right now, but of course things can change.

    in reply to: Albert Pujols #131122
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    Continuing my comp to Jimmie Foxx with Albert, and thinking about HOF cap, there are some similarities. Foxx is shown in a Boston cap, but played 11 years with the Athletics and 7 with the Red Sox. He was better as an Athletic, played in 3 World Series with them, and none with Boston. The A’s hat would seem more appropriate, but he was no slouch with Boston. He had a 170 OPS+ with the Athletics and a 156 with the Red Sox.

    Albert played 11 years with the Cardinals and has 8 with the Angels. Ironically he also had a 170 OPS with St. Louis, and played in three World Series, winning 2 (Foxx also was on 2 Series winners with Philadelphia). The big difference is Albert has fallen to a 110 OPS+ in LA.

    Rightfully Foxx should be in an A’s hat, and Albert should be in a St. Louis hat. But it is not a big stretch to put Foxx in a Boston hat. Pujols is a big stretch, but will likely have the Angels hat on in his plaque, IMHO.

    in reply to: Albert Pujols #131098
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    Good discussion on the greats of the game. Hard to say exactly how the greats of yester-year would fare in today’s game. The one thing I think you can say is great players would be great no matter when they played. Some guys who have crossed eras show that, Musial and Williams for example. Their careers covered some big changes in the game, and they marched on no matter who they faced. Stan got a hit in his last at bat against a guy who threw about as hard as anyone in Jim Maloney.

    Anyway, in the way Dizzy Dean used to say it, Albert may not be the greatest player ever, but he’s amongst ‘em. Here is a guy I did not see on cranny’s list, Jimmie Foxx, career slugging .609, career OPS 1.038, career OPS+ 163. When Albert was with us, I used to think “This must be what it was like to watch Jimmie Foxx in his prime”.

    bicyclemike
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    I would think his value right now is somewhere in between what stlcard25 said. He will need to pitch more like his second half 2019 to get to the Sale/Kershaw/Cole type status. I doubt many teams right now would take on the risk that he’s is another Cole in terms of value. After all he could be another Wacha.

    In my opinion he is going to be real good though. Might take the highest Cardinals’ offer ever for a pitcher for us to keep him once he hits free agency. The Cards will do what they always do and try to keep him with a strong offer before then, but Jack has already shown that he will be tough at contract time. A bit of a latter-day Steve Carlton in that regard.

    in reply to: Ranking TV broadcast crews #130832
    bicyclemike
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    Hawk Harrelson was the guy with the “Put on the board – Yes!” Call. (Can’t get my iPad to not capitalize “call”).

    The Rockies do some good stuff, and really promote to the younger crowd. The downtown area is a young person’s place, and the Rockies are a big part of the summer scene. They always draw well even with mediocre teams. There is criticism that the games are an excuse to party and only a fraction in attendance are real fans. That may be true to a degree, but in occasionally mingling with the party people, there are a lot who are into the game.

    I do not care much for the Rockies’ radio crew, but as I mentioned Drew Goodman is real good on the TV side.

    in reply to: Agreement on 2020 salaries/service time/contracts #130795
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    Apparently Clark said to tell us “when and where” and the players are ready to play. The ball is in Manfred’s court.

    It sounds like we either have baseball in 2020, or Manfred is in the unemployment line in 2021.

    in reply to: Ranking TV broadcast crews #130794
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    I do not hear the non-Cardinals crews enough to know about them. When I had cable back in the day the Rockies main guy, Drew Goodman, was great. Former Cardinal George Frazier was the main color guy for quite awhile and I liked him, but he was not all that popular around here I don’t think.

    I like our teams in general, and enjoy the variety of guys teamed up with Danny.

    Like was said earlier, I am sure MM3 will give all of the Cardinals combinations top billing, as he enjoys the announcers more than the games! 🙂

Viewing 25 posts - 3,101 through 3,125 (of 4,509 total)