2016 St. Louis Cardinals

#1      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
#2      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
I like our team and I like our chances. Obviously I'd be more comfortable if we'd landed price or heyward, but I'm comfortable with what we have. We lose lackey and Lynn and replace them with wainwright and leake, so I think our pitching is even or slightly better than last season 1-5 with the added experience for cmart and wacha. Hopefully garcia can give a full season for once. I also like the way our bullpen is shaping up save for broxton... that one was a head scratcher to me.

Our lineup I think will be improved. Yes, heyward leaving hurts, but we replace him with some exciting young players in Piscotty and Pham. Also, we get back a healthy holliday, grichuk, and adams. Brandon moss was evidently dealing with some hip issues still last season, so hopefully that's behind him, and now Wong has a full season of experience. Plus, we add some quality depth in Pena and gyorko (or however his name is spelled.) Hopefully mike uses them well to keep everyone fresh, and hopefully we stay healthy relative to last year so he has the opportunity to do so.

Basically, we need to stay healthy, which is true for every team. Cubs and pirates will both be tough, should be a fun season. Need to whoop up on cincy and milwaukee
 
#3      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
Here's my projection on the opening day roster based on the current 40 man. The only question mark for me is whether Marco Gonzalez breaks camp with the team or they keep him in AAA to get some starts. Maybe Socolovich or Tuivalala take his spot in that case, or even Lyons.

Wainwright
Garcia
Wacha
Martinez
Leake

Rosenthal
Siegrist
Oh
Broxton
Maness
Harris
Gonzalez

Molina
Adams
Wong
Carpenter
Peralta
Holliday
Grichuk
Piscotty

Pena
Moss
Gyorko
Pham
Garcia
 
#4      

ibdmainman

I
ibdmainman
illini8507 said:
Here's my projection on the opening day roster based on the current 40 man. The only question mark for me is whether Marco Gonzalez breaks camp with the team or they keep him in AAA to get some starts. Maybe Socolovich or Tuivalala take his spot in that case, or even Lyons.

Wainwright
Garcia
Wacha
Martinez
Leake

Rosenthal
Siegrist
Oh
Broxton
Maness
Harris
Gonzalez

Molina
Adams
Wong
Carpenter
Peralta
Holliday
Grichuk
Piscotty

Pena
Moss
Gyorko
Pham
Garcia
Click to expand...


I think Lyons will be the 2nd lefty out of the bullpen, and Gonzalez and Cooney will both start in the Triple-A rotation.
 
#5      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
illini8507 said:
I like our team and I like our chances. Obviously I'd be more comfortable if we'd landed price or heyward, but I'm comfortable with what we have. We lose lackey and Lynn and replace them with wainwright and leake, so I think our pitching is even or slightly better than last season 1-5 with the added experience for cmart and wacha. Hopefully garcia can give a full season for once. I also like the way our bullpen is shaping up save for broxton... that one was a head scratcher to me.

Our lineup I think will be improved. Yes, heyward leaving hurts, but we replace him with some exciting young players in Piscotty and Pham. Also, we get back a healthy holliday, grichuk, and adams. Brandon moss was evidently dealing with some hip issues still last season, so hopefully that's behind him, and now Wong has a full season of experience. Plus, we add some quality depth in Pena and gyorko (or however his name is spelled.) Hopefully mike uses them well to keep everyone fresh, and hopefully we stay healthy relative to last year so he has the opportunity to do so.

Basically, we need to stay healthy, which is true for every team. Cubs and pirates will both be tough, should be a fun season. Need to whoop up on cincy and milwaukee
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I just hope that MM does rest our vets, or anyone that could use a day off. The division/playoffs are not won in May. Stay in touch with the top of the division through July and then push if necessary. No team should run away with this division.
 
#6      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
ibdmainman said:
I think Lyons will be the 2nd lefty out of the bullpen, and Gonzalez and Cooney will both start in the Triple-A rotation.
Click to expand...

Hard to say wrt Lyons vs Gonzalez. They both have major league experience in the pen, but I'd say because of Marco missing basically the whole season to injury in 2015 that you're probably right. They'll want him pitching every 5th day
 
#7      

DrewD007

DrewD007
Woodridge, IL
DrewD007
I think I heard that Lyons does not have any more options for the minors so he has to go to the bullpen.
 
#8      

karmapoliceman

karmapoliceman
STL, MO
karmapoliceman
I don't know if I'd consider the sky to be falling in wrt this year's outlook. All I know is that a LOT has to shake out in our favor.

I see our squad evenly split on both sides with aging/injury prone players looking for a bounceback, and younger, largely unproven guys that could become exposed once their tendencies are identified.

With our miraculous RISP production a few years ago and an historic SP ERA for 85% of last season, we've kind of been the benefactors of some really insane luck.
 
#10      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
karmapoliceman said:
I don't know if I'd consider the sky to be falling in wrt this year's outlook. All I know is that a LOT has to shake out in our favor.

I see our squad evenly split on both sides with aging/injury prone players looking for a bounceback, and younger, largely unproven guys that could become exposed once their tendencies are identified.

With our miraculous RISP production a few years ago and an historic SP ERA for 85% of last season, we've kind of been the benefactors of some really insane luck.
Click to expand...

I agree with the RISP, but last year's injuries certainly balance out the great ERA last year. I would think that average production across the board for each player would look pretty darn good.
 
#12      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
Nobody wants to talk baseball? Guess everyone is too wrapped up in basketball season yet, lol.

I'll break the ice with a few predictions

1. We surpass the Pecota projection of 3rd place and 82-80. We will win no less than 86 games and finish no worse than 2nd in the Central. I don't think that's going out on much of a limb
2. If healthy, Randal Grichuk will hit at least 30 HR. That may be a little more out on a limb.
3. Jaime Garcia will make every one of his starts. THAT is way out on a limb, lol.
 
#13      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
illini8507 said:
Nobody wants to talk baseball? Guess everyone is too wrapped up in basketball season yet, lol.

I'll break the ice with a few predictions

1. We surpass the Pecota projection of 3rd place and 82-80. We will win no less than 86 games and finish no worse than 2nd in the Central. I don't think that's going out on much of a limb
2. If healthy, Randal Grichuk will hit at least 30 HR. That may be a little more out on a limb.
3. Jaime Garcia will make every one of his starts. THAT is way out on a limb, lol.
Click to expand...

1. I see anywhere between 86 to 94 wins and in the thick of it for another division crown. That is also assuming we don't take the injuries we had last year.
2. I love the pitching rotation 1-5 this year even minus Lynn. This is as good as a group top to bottom as any team can trot out there for a regular season run. IMO, we also have some nice depth here should we take a few injuries.
3. The bullpen when healthy is a good one. We are at a borderline crisis level with our lack of proven lefties in this spot. We have some bodies to run out there, but a majority project to be starters. Atleast, this could give a few of them some live game action, I just worry about getting them stretched out should they need to come into the starting rotation.
4. Defensively, we should have another good group. We don't have a lot guys who can make the spectacular play in the field, but most of them take good routes to the ball and do not throw it away. We have a lot if guys who can multiple positions and thus a good to great thing for us this year. Gyorko(sp) can play all of the infield positions and he hits lefties well. I think we are going to like him. Piscotty obviously can play in the outfield, but he also offers us an option at first. We can rotate Pham and Grichuk all over the outfield as well. Pena offers us nice upgrade to back up Yadi. I have no fear running him out behind the plate to spell Yadi for extended periods of time, which he may do to start the season.
5. Offensively, we won't be a hire scoring team, but we shouldn't struggle to score. Do we have a 30hr guy, I don't know, but I think Grichuk offers that potential. I agree with MM and say Holliday has a hell of a season. We must find some days to get Jhonny some rest and we can do that with Gyorko in the fold. I think MM is really going to have to manage these guts thus year. We can ride the hot bats a little more this year, because we have guys who can play multiple positions.

I'm excited for the season, and really do think we win the division again. As always, health us a big key as I don't think our 40 man is as stocked as years past.
 
#15      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
Ryllini said:
1. I see anywhere between 86 to 94 wins and in the thick of it for another division crown. That is also assuming we don't take the injuries we had last year.
2. I love the pitching rotation 1-5 this year even minus Lynn. This is as good as a group top to bottom as any team can trot out there for a regular season run. IMO, we also have some nice depth here should we take a few injuries.
3. The bullpen when healthy is a good one. We are at a borderline crisis level with our lack of proven lefties in this spot. We have some bodies to run out there, but a majority project to be starters. Atleast, this could give a few of them some live game action, I just worry about getting them stretched out should they need to come into the starting rotation.
4. Defensively, we should have another good group. We don't have a lot guys who can make the spectacular play in the field, but most of them take good routes to the ball and do not throw it away. We have a lot if guys who can multiple positions and thus a good to great thing for us this year. Gyorko(sp) can play all of the infield positions and he hits lefties well. I think we are going to like him. Piscotty obviously can play in the outfield, but he also offers us an option at first. We can rotate Pham and Grichuk all over the outfield as well. Pena offers us nice upgrade to back up Yadi. I have no fear running him out behind the plate to spell Yadi for extended periods of time, which he may do to start the season.
5. Offensively, we won't be a hire scoring team, but we shouldn't struggle to score. Do we have a 30hr guy, I don't know, but I think Grichuk offers that potential. I agree with MM and say Holliday has a hell of a season. We must find some days to get Jhonny some rest and we can do that with Gyorko in the fold. I think MM is really going to have to manage these guts thus year. We can ride the hot bats a little more this year, because we have guys who can play multiple positions.

I'm excited for the season, and really do think we win the division again. As always, health us a big key as I don't think our 40 man is as stocked as years past.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this.
 
#19      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
illini8507 said:
Kolton wong signs a 5 year extension
http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/art...=10154496006036840&adbpl=fb&adbpr=38596231839

I know all the media attention has been on the young players of one of our rivals, but with Wong, Grichuk, Piscotty, Wacha, Martinez, Rosenthal, Siegrist, and Pham I really like our young core too. A few nice pieces in the pipeline too. Should be a good rivalry for several years.
Click to expand...


We just need some more high end position prospects. The fact that we don't is a little worrisome. I think we possible have one in Carson Kelly who is already a gold glove catcher in the minors in his 2nd year behind the plate. But man, his hitting needs work. If he can work on that - between him, Grichuk, Piscotty, and Wong - that is a solid core of your position players.

Note: I didn't say Pham cause he's already like 27 years old.
 
#20      

Shane Walsh

Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
Shane Walsh
illini8507 said:
Kolton wong signs a 5 year extension
http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/art...=10154496006036840&adbpl=fb&adbpr=38596231839

I know all the media attention has been on the young players of one of our rivals, but with Wong, Grichuk, Piscotty, Wacha, Martinez, Rosenthal, Siegrist, and Pham I really like our young core too. A few nice pieces in the pipeline too. Should be a good rivalry for several years.
Click to expand...

Agree with you here 100%. The Cardinal organization has been top notch in identifying and developing talent over the last decade or two, resulting in more winning. The next man up always seems to be as good, if not better than the man they are replacing. I am looking forward to this rivalry also. :thumb:
 
#21      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
IAmChrisFarley said:
We just need some more high end position prospects. The fact that we don't is a little worrisome. I think we possible have one in Carson Kelly who is already a gold glove catcher in the minors in his 2nd year behind the plate. But man, his hitting needs work. If he can work on that - between him, Grichuk, Piscotty, and Wong - that is a solid core of your position players.

Note: I didn't say Pham cause he's already like 27 years old.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I almost left tommy out of my post because of his age. But I meant young more in the sense that they didn't have much major league experience. I think Diaz will be a good one for us too. I don't expect him to make the team this season, but I think we'll see him called up at some point if there's an injury, or at least in sept. I guess technically matt adams is fairly young too, we'll see if he can have a bounce back year
 
#22      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
illini8507 said:
Yeah, I almost left tommy out of my post because of his age. But I meant young more in the sense that they didn't have much major league experience. I think Diaz will be a good one for us too. I don't expect him to make the team this season, but I think we'll see him called up at some point if there's an injury, or at least in sept. I guess technically matt adams is fairly young too, we'll see if he can have a bounce back year
Click to expand...


Good call on Diaz. I completely forgot about him. He turned it on in the second half, and tore up the AFL. I think he'll be up for offensive production this year.
 
#25      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
AnticipatedSerendipity said:
What do you think it would take to get Francisco Lindor from the Indians?
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We do seem to have a nice working relationship with them based on the amount of trades we've had with them in the past, but to answer your question, a lot. By all accounts, the Indians plan on competing in a major way in that tough division and I couldn't imagine them getting rid of this rising star.