Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
And that might put an end to the season. We’ll see if St. Louis can respond with at least one to keep their dim hopes still aglow.
Don’t like Matheny burning all these pitchers with 1 inning stints. This is a must win gsme. You don’t want to get caught short. There are a lot of guys available, but these guys have been real efficient and could have easily gone more than 1.
Man, what were Martinez and DeJong looking for? Two pitches they could have put a good swing on, and each takes for called strike three.
Strange bringing in Nicasio in the 8th. TV guys speculating, or at least discussing that sometimes other guys cannot go so a managers choices are limited.
What ever happened to those Cub road hats with the red bill? They only wore those a few seasons. I’ve never cared for the blue jerseys. The all-gray is a better look.
Nice game for Lynn. Would have liked to see him go a little longer. He has been a real good Cardinal, and will help somebody next year with his durability and stuff.
Ugh, Piscotty. Pitch was right there and he takes it on a 3-2 count with the runner going. Strike ’em out throw ’em out. Ridiculous.
Most any team that is close, but not quite there could benefit by making a big move. It is easier said than done though. Still maybe it is time to be aggressive. But the cost could be high, with names like Weaver, Reyes, Kelly, Flaherty, Hudson, Bader and others being thrown around as going the other way.
I normally favor trades the other way. Like dealing say Carpenter for a couple of good prospects. We could look to do both – deal an established veteran or two for prospects, then make a splash with prospects for a key veteran.
That sounds like a sideways approach, but depending on the personnel it might be the way to go.
I am guessing you were being sarcastic in your comment about attitude Cranny, as a defeatist attitude would tend to originate from management. Generally attitude, or what we might call corporate culture, is set by management from both actions and example.
That would run counter to your thoughts on Matheny as our field manager, thus I am thinking you threw that out there in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
Fact is though, as I pointed out, the Cubs are a better club than us right now.
Great post J Patrick. My thoughts exactly. Baseball is a game of failure. Not hitting is just how it goes sometimes – most times. Gutless would be failure to hustle, maybe losing your cool and blaming circumstances, stuff like that.
Probably not. But then if we have some key guys have good years, and they have some key guys have off years, then maybe we can stay even or even a bit better.
Not sure that a big move is realistic. People want Stanton, but can that be done without taking a big hit elsewhere? And then can you justify that contract?
Middle management positions tend to do a lot of hands-on people directing, as well as research and analysis. In most traditional business organizations, middle managers are extremely busy – I know having been one. But they do not have highly visible jobs, so the perception might be that they don’t do much. However, reality is different than perception in this area of a business.
The offense and the bullpen certainly were the weak spots in ’17, although both got better in the second half. Bullpens are a bit tricky, as relief pitchers sometimes have bad years followed by good years. So it can be a case of chasing a moving target when building a ‘pen.
On offense, we definitely need to find more production from right field. Maybe Bader can be the guy. Our best outfield next year, assuming we do not bring anyone from outside the organization, might be Fowler, Bader, Pham left to right. We could also use more of a run producer at first base, moreso than an on-base guy that is. Put Carpenter’s numbers on a good defensive middle infielder or center fielder, and you have a nice player. On a first baseman, and you have a passable player when others are providing the run production. Unfortunately we did not have enough run production elsewhere.
I think third base, the other traditional run producing infield spot, is acceptable with Gyorko. You might look to upgrade there, but it would depend on how much you can improve compared to the cost.
It will be interesting to see if DeJong can be as good next year, or better, or if he slips back ala Diaz. We also will need Wong to stay healthy in ’18.
Bottom line, I can see us being better next year without making a lot of moves. But that depends on some younger guys continuing to improve. As a GM, I would be open to dealing Carpenter and Piscotty for a legitimate run producing first baseman, although I do not who that guy might be.
And heck, Carp might be better next year if his right shoulder is 100%. But you still have that “can only bat leadoff” stigma with him.
The difference is not mental, as the Cubs are clearly the better team. Their infield is much better than ours, and they are probably even with us at catcher. Left field might be the only place you could say we are clearly better.
Their rotation is as good as ours, their bullpen better, and they have some nice depth. They simply have it going on right now, whereas we have slipped back into a period of mediocrity. But a year can make a big difference, so who knows what might happen in 2018.
The club might “chance it” if he looks good in the Spring and is able to go 5 or 6 late in the exhibition season. But most likely they will ease him into a longer work load during the season.
Nice step forward for the Twins. The Rockies lost 87 games last year, so they are also having a nice turn-around. I’ve been impressed with their GM as well, Jeff Bridich. He’s come to a couple of our SABR gatherings, and has been very good about answering questions and taking the time to explain the organization’s plan going forward and what they hope to achieve.
Let’s hope next year the Cardinals can reverse this trend they are on, and get back to a post season berth. I would like to see Lance Lynn back, but doubt that will happen. If he stays in the division, we may regret letting him walk. He seems like a good fit to replace Lackey in Chicago, and I don’t think the Cubs would flinch at the cost although I am not familiar with their potential prospects who might fill that role.
Wow, great game. Would have been nice to not let them back in it, but Nicasio was tough. We’re probably about done with the Brewers and Rockies both winning, but at least tonight we had what it takes.
Apparently Pham is hurting from that HBP. The bad move tonight was not staying with the lefties when you had Heyward and other lefty hitters coming up. Maddon could have made a move for a righty hitter like Russell. Still jist a strange move.
Would have mich preferred Pham up there with two on than Piscotty. Hopefully nothing serious from that HBP.
Still you’re up 8-3, so Lyons has some breathing room and you have two lefties due up. If anything, I would think you might summon Sherriff if you are going to make a change. Maybe they do not have confidence in him either.
Sheesh, this is getting tight. Man, you had the two lefties coming up and took out Lyons for a righty. Why wasn’t Sherriff ready?
Curious move here, bringing in a righty to face Heyward. Lyons did hit a guy then walk a guy, but he should be able to arve up Heyward with that curve.
That was a bomb by Gyorko. Funny, as I said that one probably went 444 feet, and later Edmonds guessed the same number.
Grichuk looks about as good as I have seen him at the plate. Looks confident, and has stayed on the pitches rather than pull away as he does so much.