Deleted member 3875
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It's a Cub conspiracy. Still getting secret payments funneled through Russian bank.
2017 St. Louis Cardinals
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Or perhaps his subpar defensive metrics for his entire career were accurate and last year was some combination of fluke, taking advantage of Wrigley's relatively small center field, and not having to worry about anything hit to his left because Jason Heyward was there.
BillyBob1
- Champaign
When Fowler was signed, we were told a great lead off hitter (lowest on base %), stolen base threat, I think he has 4, and a solid defensive center fielder. I just read an article about the signing and how bad it has been. They are about 7 games over .500 when he doesn't start and about the same under .500 when he does start.
Deleted member 3875
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Guest
The collision with Pham and the dropping of the easy fly ball the other night tells me he isn't going 100%. More like 65%. Big fat contract in hand, I can do whatever I want.
Give me a hustling Bader or Sierra any day.
Or it could be the fact that he has foot probems that have been a recurring issue and he has to watch how much he goes full out before suffering an injury that could keep him out longer than he is now.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
In his career, he normally played a "shallow" CF and that led to his low defensive metrics. Last year he played deeper than he normally did and his metrics changed. Perhaps he's playing shallow again? Certainly Heyward in RF helped which allowed Fowler to concentrate on CF and the LF gap.
So the Cards won't trade Lance Lynn because we are in it. The Cards won't go after a middle of the order guy or some bullpen help because we aren't in it.
Meanwhile, Theo makes moves to strengthen a team that likely runs away with it.
Meanwhile, Theo makes moves to strengthen a team that likely runs away with it.
I wouldn't really complain until the deadline actually passes. But the Cubs have emptied out the farm entirely for a year when they were likely to win the division without making the Quintana or this recent bullpen trade, so I don't think that's the strategy the Cardinals should emulate. Not that those trades made the Cubs worse, it just bought marginal wins they likely don't need.
Lynn is the piece I really hope they moved, just because Weaver projects better than him for the rest of the season anyway.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
The Cubs goals isn't to "win the division", which yes they could have done without making any trades. It is to win the World Series again, as it will be every year going forward as long as Epstein is there. No way they were going to beat the Dodgers with what they had. Now they at least have a chance with Quintana and improved bullpen.
What are you basing this statement on?
orangeroses07
- Centralia, IL
What an embarrassing deadline. They acted like they are "still in it", yet didn't even find a bullpen arm to help with their constant issues.
South Farms
- near Ogden & Rt 83
the Cubs goal is to not only win the division and WS this year, its to win the division and WS in 2018 and 2019.
the prospects traded had no place on the roster next year or the year after. Cubs have Quintana for a few years and Wilson for one more. the position players are all pretty much set for a few years.
Lets see the Cards , Brewers or Bucs make the moves needed to challenge for the division the next 2 years. Right now, it looks like the favorite is local
I'm guessing the market for Lynn wasn't quite what they hoped. So they're sticking with him, going to lose the division by 1-2 fewer games than if they had traded him for prospects, and hope for compensatory picks in the off season. Cooool.
The only pure rental starting pitchers traded around the deadline were Trevor Cahill, Jaime Garcia (twice), Francisco Liriano, Jeremy Hellickson, and Yu Darvish.
Yu Darvish is the only one I'd say netted actual future assets, with the others getting marginal prospects at best.
Lynn is a better pitcher having a better year than all the other non-Darvish rental pitchers traded. So if the return for Lynn wasn't substantially better than what the other pitchers were bringing, I can totally understand the Cardinals deciding to just roll with their 20% chance to make the playoffs (or whatever the current number is) instead of cashing out for virtually nothing.
When there's hardly anything in the pot, trying to pull that flush card can be a better play than folding.
Yu Darvish is the only one I'd say netted actual future assets, with the others getting marginal prospects at best.
Lynn is a better pitcher having a better year than all the other non-Darvish rental pitchers traded. So if the return for Lynn wasn't substantially better than what the other pitchers were bringing, I can totally understand the Cardinals deciding to just roll with their 20% chance to make the playoffs (or whatever the current number is) instead of cashing out for virtually nothing.
When there's hardly anything in the pot, trying to pull that flush card can be a better play than folding.
All 3 Fangraphs projections have Lynn around a 4.30 to 4.40 rest of season FIP and Weaver around a 3.80 rest of season FIP. Weaver is ready right now and Lynn's ERA has outperformed his FIP by almost 1.5 runs this year, which shouldn't be expected moving forward.
I'm disappointed they didn't make any moves, but moving Lynn was the only obvious one and if he was only going to get a Jaime Garcia type return, then might as well keep and see if they can sneak into the playoffs. There's still waiver moves to be made (which includes my undying hope they get Stanton for just money), no reason to make a move just to make a move.
I'd argue if the Cardinals had made the Marco Gonzales for Tyler O'Neill trade a week later than they did, the whole narrative of "the Cardinals didn't do anything at the deadline" would be completely different.
Yes! And Mo not finding anything he was comfortable with. What's the last good move Mo has made. I guess Oh a season ago. Obviously hindsight but he's been sucking of late.
Molina showing frustration with the status quo. Obviously he's putting it on Matheny by paying a tribute to Oquendo on Instagram. I wouldn't be surprised if Molina ask to be traded in the off season. He probably thought we could have gotten a return on Kelly and another outfield prospect.
Does sound like Mo would have given up Grichuk and Piscotty but no one buying that offer.
Maybe that would be for the best. I understand his desire to play everyday and he is still a good player. But he isn't getting any younger, catching is hard on his body, and Kelly needs to play to stay sharp and develop. When Molina pitches a fit when he isn't in the lineup, he puts himself before the team. This reminds me of the Ozzie Smith/Royce Clayton situation of several years ago (although Clayton wasn't an up and coming rookie), which was pretty toxic if I recall.
I think Molina is frustrated with the Cards approach. They did nothing to bolster a really mediocre team in a weak division. I think Molina is frustrated that the Cards play sloppy, uninspired baseball. i just think he's in a mode of get me a better team to play with Mo and a better coach too.
I just think Yadi is a winner and losing has him a bit pissed at the status quo.
I just think Yadi is a winner and losing has him a bit pissed at the status quo.
orangeroses07
- Centralia, IL
It's weird because he and Matheny seemingly had a great relationship. It's pretty obvious that the players don't enjoy playing for him, I just wish ownership would swallow their pride and do what's best and just let him go.
dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
IMO, if the Cardinals front office was really serious about turning the Cardinals back into a smart, well-playing and contending team, they would do just that. But I'm not holding my breath.
IMO, if the Cardinals front office was really serious about turning the Cardinals back into a smart, well-playing and contending team, they would do just that. But I'm not holding my breath.
All this "unrest" in the clubhouse is giving them cover to fire him. And "unrest" is in quotes, because I'm sure nothing much has changed and Molina is just feeling the pressure from Kelly a little earlier in his fresh contract than he thought.
Not that they need cover, he's just as bad of a manager in year 6 as he was on day 1. Hasn't learned a single thing, and it's easy to lead a clubhouse when you're winning 95 games a year.
Nice bounceback game for Yadi
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