Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I don’t know if it’s the ball or not. But when I keep seeing warning track power over and over again, and when I keep seeing the way our batters can’t handle the breaking ball, my thoughts go to Jeff Albert.
Then, we might as well get used to players bringing their personal politics onto the stage with them.
I believe the Rockies want no part of Arenado’s contract. They signed him with the intention of trading him. Their strategy is to reap the benefits of a player’s best years, then, when he starts earning the really big money, trade that player to a sucker organization like the Blue Jays for a bevy of top prospects. That’s what they did with Tulowitzki.
If revenue for MLB teams starts going down, whether that’s because of players protesting or some other reason, those players will stop being so brazen about stating their political views and about skipping work. The same holds true for guaranteed long term contracts. Get rid of long term contracts and players will think twice about offending some people with their political views.
The trade deadline is right at hand. I said at the beginning of ST that the Cardinals have too much pitching. I still think they do, although with the dynamics of this weird season combined with all the doubleheaders the Cardinals have coming up, this might not be the best time to trade pitching. Of course, if they get an offer that that they think could help them a lot in the future, they might have to take a chance.
I wonder how much input Matheny had for some of these bad signings. I’m not looking for somebody else to blame besides Mo. Just wondering about it. When he was here I remember thinking that MM doesn’t have the ability to evaluate talent meaning that he can’t tell a gifted player from a mediocre player. I don’t think there have been any more wasted signings since Matheny left.
Absolutely there are fans who would boo Flaherty for bringing his highly charged beliefs into MLB. No doubt about it. And the reason why is because their beliefs are just as charged as his are.
Here’s a refresher on Arenado’s contract:
2021 – $35,000,000.
2022 – $35,000,000.
2023 – $35,000,000.
2024 – $35,000,000.
2025 – $33,000.000.
2026 – $27,000,000.
2027 – $25,000,000. (He will require at least another $25M to waive his NTC.)We also have to keep in mind that, traditionally, mega-contract players severely underperform during the last few years of their contract. So figure on a slash line something like .269/.303/.399/.702 for the last two or three years of his contract.
Maybe if we had an economy like the one we had prior to the pandemic, WDW might take the risk. But under the current economical and cultural climate, I don’t think so.
The way I see it is that the only way to solve any of this is through honest, open dialogue. The problem is that honest, open dialogue is not possible at this point in time. People just can’t do it. Instead of actually talking to people about their thoughts and feelings, they start spouting their political dogma about what is absolutely, positively right, and what is absolutely, positively wrong. People refuse to listen to anything that doesn’t align with their belief structure. For that reason, anything that is politically charged needs to stay off the board. All it’s going to do is create turmoil and hard feelings. At some point people will have to actually talk to one another, and when we see that happening around us, it should be safe to do that here.
Speaking of hard feelings, I wish BW would apologize to Game Card. BW was unnecessarily trigger happy when he went after Game Card and blocked him.
The problem with the defense is hard to figure. We have the same players except for Brad Miller. Maybe it’s because they are out of synch from the quarantine, or maybe the lack of spring training set them back. Great defense is a thing of beauty, but all the errors we’re seeing this year make the game ugly.
If all contracts were based on performance criteria, that would do a lot to calm restless fans who are concerned about how their money is being spent.
It’s just too, too bad that the Cardinals management team doesn’t do the same thing that The Cardinal Nation management team does.
I do understand the need for it. I just wish professional sports understood the need for it, also.
Last chance to bat, runner on third, and Shildt sends none other than rookie infielder, Max Schrock, up to hit while Paul DeJong (who has been hot with the bat lately) sits on the bench. I don’t get it.
Is Shildt trying to win games, or what? This was another dumb move by the manager that might have made the difference in the game.Per Cardinals website, Andrew Miller to IL for shoulder fatigue retroactive to August 24. He has made seven appearances so far this year and he needs seven more appearances to vest his $12M option for 2021.
I sure hope he doesn’t get those seven more appearances. It’s not that I’ve got something against Andrew Miller, but the truth is that he just isn’t worth it. I hope they can save that $12M for a player who will benefit the team, and the fans, more than Miller has. If some of these washed up millionaire players would have the guts to retire when they know they can’t do it anymore, rather than hang around to collect more millions of the fans’ money, MLB and it’s fan base would be in a better place.
How many times have we seen a manager put in a pinch runner late in a game? It was almost automantic with TLR. If O’Neill was running, the game would have been tied. Shildt did his part to lose this game.
I’d be fine with acquiring Merrifield as long as they don’t overpay for him. We already have enough very good players and very good prospects. Besides, Mwerrifield should be starting the downside of his career, and he might very well start his decline as soon as he gets traded. What this team needs is an elite talent whether it’s by trade, free agency, or we just wait until we can draft and develop somebody. Also, we still don’t know what we’ve got with Thmomas, and personally, I’d like to see Dean get a legitimate chance before he is written off. BTW, Tyler O’Neill’s strikeout rate was 40% in 2018, 35% in 2019, and only 20% in 2020 so far. O’Neill has been hitting the ball this year. When some of those hits start dropping in, his stats are going rise fast. He looks much different at the plate than he has previously.
This is such a funky, weird year. Let’s not crown it by giving up high end talent for a player that we can get along fine without.Even with those two strikeouts today, O’Neill’s strikeout rate is only 19%. He looks so much more different now than he has in the past. Just imagine what he could be if this keeps up.
I don’t believe we have any scouts working in the Latin countries because of Covid. Is that correct? Is that why there is almost nothing ever said about what’s going on with the DSL, etc? Or is it because there just isn’t a DSL this year? Someone once mentioned in another thread that there were a few middle infielders in the DSL who have been looking pretty good, but I don’t know any more than that. Actually, someone found Edwin Nunez and got him signed, so there must be something going on in the Latin countries.
Those 15 additional minor leaguers could help the major league team get a little deeper into the postseason, they would pay for themselves. OTOH, if they are the players that Brain suggestd, I can’t see where they would make a difference one way or another. Am I correct in saying that purpose for adding 15 players is so that the 18 players still in camp will have more guys to work out with?
Andrew Miller got the outs he needed, but IMO, he only threw one good pitch. It was that wipeout slider he threw that was the last pitch of the game. If he can’t throw that pitch with some consistency, I don’t want him back next year.
