St. Louis Cardinals 2015 Season

#2      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
Anyone know when single-game tickets go on sale?
 
#4      

CardsIllinifan8

C
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CardsIllinifan8
Cardinals are seriously looking to add a frontline starter - Hamels (yes!), Price (no, his heart will be in Chicago), and Scherzer (maybe. depending on the length of contract). I prefer hamels over those cause he's under contract, 4 more years I think, lefty, a número uno pitcher, and damn good in big games. Plus he has a smoking hot wife. :D
 
#5      

kentuckyillini

K
Louisville, KY
kentuckyillini
CardsIllinifan8 said:
Cardinals are seriously looking to add a frontline starter - Hamels (yes!), Price (no, his heart will be in Chicago), and Scherzer (maybe. depending on the length of contract). I prefer hamels over those cause he's under contract, 4 more years I think, lefty, a número uno pitcher, and damn good in big games. Plus he has a smoking hot wife. :D
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Can you imagine a team in the playoffs trying to get any advantage when they have to beat Waino and Hamels the first two games? SIGN HIM UP.
 
#6      

CardsIllinifan8

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CardsIllinifan8
kentuckyillini said:
Can you imagine a team in the playoffs trying to get any advantage when they have to beat Waino and Hamels the first two games? SIGN HIM UP.
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And a third IF Wacha is healthy. Oh wow.

The Phillies are said to be wanting Grichuk or Piscotty, and Marco or Carlos, and they've been interested in Bourjos for a long time, so they say.

Here's a article from Ken "Bow tie" Rosenthal. Who should get that nickname - Rosenthal or Mo?

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/...scherzer-ken-rosenthal-jon-paul-morosi-010715
 
#7      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
CardsIllinifan8 said:
And a third IF Wacha is healthy. Oh wow.

The Phillies are said to be wanting Grichuk or Piscotty, and Marco or Carlos, and they've been interested in Bourjos for a long time, so they say.

Here's a article from Ken "Bow tie" Rosenthal. Who should get that nickname - Rosenthal or Mo?

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/...scherzer-ken-rosenthal-jon-paul-morosi-010715
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Lackey is not unfamiliar with postseason pitching either. Lance Lynn, who has similar numbers to jon lester, would be the #5 starter on that staff... sick
 
#8      

CardsIllinifan8

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CardsIllinifan8
illini8507 said:
Lackey is not unfamiliar with postseason pitching either. Lance Lynn, who has similar numbers to jon lester, would be the #5 starter on that staff... sick
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I just worry that lackey won't make it through the year, or he'll start to !!!!! and moan about his contract. He was the one who agreed to it back in Bawston.

Lynn progressed a ton last year, and pitched really well in the playoffs. I'm stoked to see what he can do this year. If he can have a sub 3 ERA , and 200+ innings, he will get paid, deservedly so. Oh yeah, stats are fairly similar to lester. :)
 
#9      

DrewD007

DrewD007
Woodridge, IL
DrewD007
I'd take Scherzer over Price and Hamels purely for the fact that he wouldn't cost anything but money.
 
#11      

217sports

217sports
Springfield
217sports
CardsIllinifan8 said:
I just worry that lackey won't make it through the year, or he'll start to !!!!! and moan about his contract. He was the one who agreed to it back in Bawston.

Lynn progressed a ton last year, and pitched really well in the playoffs. I'm stoked to see what he can do this year. If he can have a sub 3 ERA , and 200+ innings, he will get paid, deservedly so. Oh yeah, stats are fairly similar to lester. :)
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Look for Lackey to get an extension this offseason to fix that contract of his
 
#12      

CardsIllinifan8

C
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CardsIllinifan8
DrewD007 said:
I'd take Scherzer over Price and Hamels purely for the fact that he wouldn't cost anything but money.
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I don't want him because he wants 5-6+ years. Main reason why I want Hamels is the 4 years left on his contract. I know getting rid of a Carlos or Grichuk could be hard to swallow, no way both are involved in a package together, but if you have a chance to get a top-10 pitcher for 4 more years at below market value, a lefty, and a damn good big game pitcher - go get him Mo.

217sports said:
first round draft pick to sign him I believe.
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Yep. There is always a good chance that those 1st rounders don't work out, but I can't see us getting Scherzer. Will it surprise me if we did? No it wouldn't, but I would rather spend it elsewhere.
 
#13      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
CardsIllinifan8 said:
I don't want him because he wants 5-6+ years. Main reason why I want Hamels is the 4 years left on his contract. I know getting rid of a Carlos or Grichuk could be hard to swallow, no way both are involved in a package together, but if you have a chance to get a top-10 pitcher for 4 more years at below market value, a lefty, and a damn good big game pitcher - go get him Mo.




Yep. There is always a good chance that those 1st rounders don't work out, but I can't see us getting Scherzer. Will it surprise me if we did? No it wouldn't, but I would rather spend it elsewhere.
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Pretty much my thoughts too.
 
#14      

CardsIllinifan8

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CardsIllinifan8
Good article from Bernie with a statement that might make some fans mad, but I think it is true.

3. This one won't go over well, and I'm not trying to troll anyone here. But I believe the Cubs' expedited rebuilding program under team president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer is making the Cardinals a little nervous. If indeed the Cardinals view the Cubs as a rising power, then that's another reason to make a big move here to strengthen your roster for the long haul.
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Then here is another article from Jeff Gordon, not the nascar driver. Some points I do agree with, but these statements I don't agree with:

• If Cardinals management believes Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha are iffy for this season, then Mozeliak never should have traded Shelby Miller. The fact he DID trade Miller — who has a million miles left on that arm — suggests organizational confidence that neither Wainwright nor Wacha present an unusually high risk.

• Lance Lynn is a solid No. 2 starter and John Lackey is a solid No. 3. Both are going to command a lot more money past 2015, which is why adding, say, Cole Hamels at $23.5 million through 2018 would be problematic.
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Waino and Wacha both are high risks. Waino just had surgery, and can he really go 240+ innings again (counting playoffs)? Probably not. Wacha had a weird should fracture, and you don't know how he will respond to it. Will he be healthy? Who knows. And Lackey won't be with the Cardinals after this season. Also, the Cardinals have the money to pay a Hamels/Price/Scherzer, Lynn, and Heyward. They have a big TV contract coming up, and they have saved money each year for a time to strike, and this is the time.
 
#15      

I Hate Lemonier

I
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I Hate Lemonier
CardsIllinifan8 said:
Good article from Bernie with a statement that might make some fans mad, but I think it is true.



Then here is another article from Jeff Gordon, not the nascar driver. Some points I do agree with, but these statements I don't agree with:



Waino and Wacha both are high risks. Waino just had surgery, and can he really go 240+ innings again (counting playoffs)? Probably not. Wacha had a weird should fracture, and you don't know how he will respond to it. Will he be healthy? Who knows. And Lackey won't be with the Cardinals after this season. Also, the Cardinals have the money to pay a Hamels/Price/Scherzer, Lynn, and Heyward. They have a big TV contract coming up, and they have saved money each year for a time to strike, and this is the time.
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I agree with you on the financial parts. The Cards have absolutely raked in the $$$ over the last 10 years and now with ball park village and a new tv contract coming they have it to spend. I think maybe the sportswriters are overthinking this a bit. I think the Cards checking in on these guys has more to do with their new financial bracket than injury fears or fears of the Cubs and Pirates.

Lackey may be back next year as they have had talks about working something out with the funky one year salary he has left. Maybe a raise with a team friendly option next year.

A Price deal could make some sense as a one year rental due to the aging Molina, Holliday, Peralta trio. Price would walk in 2016 but you would get the draft choice.

I could see staying put or going all in with one of these Aces. Both make sense to me. I really don't want to deplete our farm system anymore than it is so if I had to choose I probably would leave the team as is and make a move mid season if necessary. Next year there are a bunch of good free agents pitchers if you want to go shopping as well.
 
#16      

I Hate Lemonier

I
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I Hate Lemonier
In prospect related news Anthony Garcia has torn up Puerto Rican Winter Ball this season. He had fallen off the radar screen after an impressive 2012 and this is likely a make or break year for him. Obviously the competition isn't that great but he has shown power potential throughout his minor league career. You will also note the struggles of the ballyhooed Javier Baez in the same league.

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2014&sid=l133&lid=133&t=l_bat
 
#17      

CardsIllinifan8

C
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CardsIllinifan8
I Hate Lemonier said:
I agree with you on the financial parts. The Cards have absolutely raked in the $$$ over the last 10 years and now with ball park village and a new tv contract coming they have it to spend. I think maybe the sportswriters are overthinking this a bit. I think the Cards checking in on these guys has more to do with their new financial bracket than injury fears or fears of the Cubs and Pirates.

Lackey may be back next year as they have had talks about working something out with the funky one year salary he has left. Maybe a raise with a team friendly option next year.

A Price deal could make some sense as a one year rental due to the aging Molina, Holliday, Peralta trio. Price would walk in 2016 but you would get the draft choice.

I could see staying put or going all in with one of these Aces. Both make sense to me. I really don't want to deplete our farm system anymore than it is so if I had to choose I probably would leave the team as is and make a move mid season if necessary. Next year there are a bunch of good free agents pitchers if you want to go shopping as well.
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Our farm system is depleted of high potential bats, not arms though. The high potential arms are a few years away. We have two potential front of the rotation starters in high-A, maybe AA this year in Reyes and Kaminsky.

I am higher on Grichuk than I am on Piscotty. I think Piscotty is too limited - not much power, and still learning the OF. Grichuk has the speed and power where he make a legit difference. Funny thing is, MLB Network ranks Piscotty as the number 1 prospect and Grichuk the 6 prospect. I would try to hold onto Grichuk and pray he can become a .260-.270 hitter, .330 OBP, .500+ SLG, and 20-25 homers per year. If he can do that, especially at CF, he is more valuable to us than any other team.

Lackey could be a valuable trade piece for either Hamels or Price. He is cheap, you know what you are getting from him, and he is a good postseason pitcher. If the Tigers or Phils want someone to seal the deal, he could be the guy. Phils it might not work because they aren't close to winning, but he could mentor the young guns and mentality to pitching. His competitiveness would rub off on them too.
 
#18      

I Hate Lemonier

I
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I Hate Lemonier
CardsIllinifan8 said:
Our farm system is depleted of high potential bats, not arms though. The high potential arms are a few years away. We have two potential front of the rotation starters in high-A, maybe AA this year in Reyes and Kaminsky.

I am higher on Grichuk than I am on Piscotty. I think Piscotty is too limited - not much power, and still learning the OF. Grichuk has the speed and power where he make a legit difference. Funny thing is, MLB Network ranks Piscotty as the number 1 prospect and Grichuk the 6 prospect. I would try to hold onto Grichuk and pray he can become a .260-.270 hitter, .330 OBP, .500+ SLG, and 20-25 homers per year. If he can do that, especially at CF, he is more valuable to us than any other team.

Lackey could be a valuable trade piece for either Hamels or Price. He is cheap, you know what you are getting from him, and he is a good postseason pitcher. If the Tigers or Phils want someone to seal the deal, he could be the guy. Phils it might not work because they aren't close to winning, but he could mentor the young guns and mentality to pitching. His competitiveness would rub off on them too.
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I tend to agree with you on Grichuk. I think he can play an above average Center Field and hit 20-25 Hr. I don't think it will happen but I would like to have him in AAA playing Center Field every day because I think his value is tied in deeply with his defense 1st and then his power. Ideally I would like to trade Jay or Bourjos to get Grichuk some more time in Center.

Our minors are not totally devoid as you pointed out. Very few organizations have a 1-2 punch like Reyes and Kaminsky. There are some very intriguing position prospects in the very low minors in Sierra and Collymore but they are years away.

Lackey is probably a more midseason move if we have somehow fallen out of the race. He has pitched very well in the postseason so a team would likely value that. Hopefully we don't have to worry about being sellers though.

Cmart, Piscotty and Gonzalez are likely are top 3 trade chips at this point. I know some disagree but a team would have to blow me away to get Cmart. His kind of arsenal doesn't come around often. Unless the Front Office is absolutely convinced he can never be a starter then I wouldn't move him. I don't think the FO feels that way since the Braves prefered him over Shelby and the Cards wouldnt budge.
 
#20      

hermie1985

H
hermie1985
I want to keep Marco for middle relief for now. Carlos can be effective in many roles. I'd rather give up a first round pick and over pay Scherzer than lose either of those two.
 
#21      

CardsIllinifan8

C
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CardsIllinifan8
@andrewdmoses: ,@JoeStrauss says on @CBSSports920 he's firmly convinced Cardinals will make a significant pitching move this weekend. #stlcards
 
#22      

217sports

217sports
Springfield
217sports
What I see happening is that the Tigers resign Scherzer and trade Price to us.
 
#24      

DrewD007

DrewD007
Woodridge, IL
DrewD007
IanKEvans2 said:
Do you feel Price would re-sign with St. Louis?


Sincerely,
Cubs fan (among many) with David Price on his 2016 free agent wish list.
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Think he'd test free agency regardless, just like Heyward will do.
 
#25      

CardsIllinifan8

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CardsIllinifan8
217sports said:
What I see happening is that the Tigers resign Scherzer and trade Price to us.
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I agree with you. Think this is most likely to happen.

IanKEvans2 said:
Do you feel Price would re-sign with St. Louis?


Sincerely,
Cubs fan (among many) with David Price on his 2016 free agent wish list.
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No I don't. I think it's inevitable that he is in Chicago in 2016. He made that comment on Twitter how it would be cool to win a ship in Chicago. Then Cubs get Maddon, too many things are pointing price there.