St. Louis Cardinals 2022

#51      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
Correa to the Twins, yes the TWINS, 3 years 35 million per with 2 opt outs.

Plenty of smoke of Story to the Red Sox.

Cards offseason so far at best a meh... (C- or D+).

Needs Minimum of 1 or 2 "High leverage" relievers a mid-level starter and a lefty bat.

VerHagen Who? Was horrible in the majors, went to Japan and was okay at best.

Wittgren – Double who?

McAllister – Trifecta of Who's.

Matz - Hope he is last years Matz, not the 9+ era from 20.

Dickerson - Was he really the best left handed hitter they could get, or just the cheapest.

I always thought Mo's big thing was to offer high AAV with short years. If Correa plays great he opts out. One year at $35 sounds like a perfect deal.

A few years ago, DeWitt said they weren't afraid to push up to the luxury tax, but never has.

If baseball really isn't a money maker, (hah), please sell the team to someone who will spend some money. No I don't want them to spend like the Yanks, Dodgers or Sox, but actually meeting last years payroll or maybe even bumping it 10%.

Oh well, I can dream. I will cheer like heck for the players, but ownership and FO are exasperating.
 
#52      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
jmwillini said:
A few years ago, DeWitt said they weren't afraid to push up to the luxury tax, but never has.
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Survivorau GIF by Australian Survivor
 
#54      

wpr

wpr
wpr
Se Il Illini said:
The DeWitts are owners to make money. They know they can make a good profit without a championship caliber club.
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I read an article in a magazine (maybe SI) back in the 80s. An economist did a research project. He proved baseball franchises make more money finishing second in their division with a lower payroll than teams who go all in and stack the lineup. That was long before the mega media deals came pouring in. Still seems to be accurate.
 
#55      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
So I think barring a trade, the roster is pretty much set. Thoughts?

Here are mine:

I think we're solidly in the running for a wild card spot. I'm not too confident about competing with this roster for even the weak division we're in, though I do think we're the 2nd best team in it. I think the Flaherty injury really hurts if it drags out.

I'm excited about our outfield, and think they can all build on great seasons last year. Our corner infield is great. I'm not sold on us at SS, and while I think Edman is a great defender, and extremely useful because he can play a bunch of positions, I think he's horribly miscast as a leadoff guy and hope Marmol sticks him at the bottom of the lineup where he belongs. I worry we won't get as much out of the DH spot as other teams will. I hope Yepez gets a look as I think he probably has the most upside of our internal DH options (not counting Gorman, because I think he eventually starts at 2nd base). Pitching remains a big concern.
 
#56      

wpr

wpr
wpr
the juiceman cometh said:
So I think barring a trade, the roster is pretty much set. Thoughts?

Here are mine:

I think we're solidly in the running for a wild card spot. I'm not too confident about competing with this roster for even the weak division we're in, though I do think we're the 2nd best team in it. I think the Flaherty injury really hurts if it drags out.

I'm excited about our outfield, and think they can all build on great seasons last year. Our corner infield is great. I'm not sold on us at SS, and while I think Edman is a great defender, and extremely useful because he can play a bunch of positions, I think he's horribly miscast as a leadoff guy and hope Marmol sticks him at the bottom of the lineup where he belongs. I worry we won't get as much out of the DH spot as other teams will. I hope Yepez gets a look as I think he probably has the most upside of our internal DH options (not counting Gorman, because I think he eventually starts at 2nd base). Pitching remains a big concern.
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Ditto.
 
#59      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
Especially since the new wild card playoff is a best of 3 game series, guaranteeing at least 1 home game. A catch lightning in a bottle strategy just puts more dollars into BDW's pocket.

Again, I don't want them to spend like the Yanks, Sox, Dodgers and Mets. I just want them to appear that they are at least trying to IMPROVE the team. Needed help at SS, bullpen, rotation and a lefty bat. Did they really improve any of those? Starter maybe? No offense to Matz, but they overpaid for him in dollars and years.

I have been a Cardinal fan since my first game in 65/66. I lived through the 70's, Joe Hague and Mike Tyson anyone? The mid 90's? I am more frustrated by the leadership of this team than I have ever been.

Their entire strategy seems to be "We made the playoffs" So what, we want you to win...
 
#61      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Why change if you still have 3+ million people going through the turnstiles every year?
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Unfortunately, a huge amount of their tickets are corporate sales, especially the expensive seats. Until they stop buying, the only way to really see what is going on is actual attendance. 3+ isn't that impressive if 2+ really show up.
 
#62      

Se Il Illini

Se Il Illini
Se Il Illini
As long as the money for tickets keep coming into ownership - whether individual or corporate - things are not going to change dramatically.
 
#64      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
So I was checking out the Cardinals schedule today to see when the rescheduled games, that were supposed to be played the first week of the original schedule, would be played and here's what I found.

The 3 season opening games against Pittsburgh have been tacked onto the end of the original regular season schedule. This means that they'll play their final 6 games of the regular season (3 at home, 3 in Pittsburgh) to finish the season. If they're close to playoff contention this could be a key stretch to end the season as they have an 8 game road trip prior to that finishing stretch that sees them go to San Diego, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee.

The 2 games against the Cubs will be made up as part of split doubleheaders. The first will be made up on June 4 where they'll have a 12:20 first pitch for the first game with the 2nd game being a 6:15 PM start. The second will be made up on August 23 where they'll have a 1:20 first pitch for the first game with the 2nd game being a 7:05 PM start.
 
#66      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Redbird reunion: Pujols is returning to the Cardinals on a one-year deal

St. Louis icon Albert Pujols is set to sign as a free agent with his original MLB team.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals’ search for a way to maximize the brand new position of designated hitter has led to a reunion with one of the greatest hitters of all from their past.
Albert Pujols and the Cardinals are finalizing a one-year contract to bring the franchise icon back to St. Louis, multiple sources said late Sunday night. The agreement, first reported Sunday night by the Post-Dispatch, is pending a physical and will pay Pujols $2.5 million.

An inevitable first-ballot Hall of Famer, Pujols returns to St. Louis for the coda of a career that began with a stunning spring training and Rookie of the Year award in 2001, matched Stan Musial with three MVPs, and now brings him home 21 homers shy of 700 for his career. Pujols, 42, will have the opportunity to be the team’s righthanded-hitting DH against lefthanded starters or a deterrent off the bench against lefties in late innings.
 
#68      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
pruman91 said:
www.stltoday.com

Redbird reunion: Pujols is returning to the Cardinals on a one-year deal

St. Louis icon Albert Pujols is set to sign as a free agent with his original MLB team.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals’ search for a way to maximize the brand new position of designated hitter has led to a reunion with one of the greatest hitters of all from their past.
Albert Pujols and the Cardinals are finalizing a one-year contract to bring the franchise icon back to St. Louis, multiple sources said late Sunday night. The agreement, first reported Sunday night by the Post-Dispatch, is pending a physical and will pay Pujols $2.5 million.

An inevitable first-ballot Hall of Famer, Pujols returns to St. Louis for the coda of a career that began with a stunning spring training and Rookie of the Year award in 2001, matched Stan Musial with three MVPs, and now brings him home 21 homers shy of 700 for his career. Pujols, 42, will have the opportunity to be the team’s righthanded-hitting DH against lefthanded starters or a deterrent off the bench against lefties in late innings.
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Pujols is one of my favorite Cardinals ever so it will be cool to see him back. He could even be good if used correctly (i.e. only against lefties). I am concerned there will be pressure to play him every day since he's close to 700 HR. Last year he actually ended up with more ABs against right handed pitching, even without the nostalgia/chasing history factor. That just can't happen here unless we're ok with being the only team in the majors getting negative WAR out of the DH spot (Albert was worth -0.6 bWAR and -0.2 fWAR last season). FWIW, ZiPS projects him at -0.5 WAR with 13 HRs in 324 plate appearances. That puts him 8 short of 700.
 
#69      

Se Il Illini

Se Il Illini
Se Il Illini
the juiceman cometh said:
Pujols is one of my favorite Cardinals ever so it will be cool to see him back. He could even be good if used correctly (i.e. only against lefties). I am concerned there will be pressure to play him every day since he's close to 700 HR. Last year he actually ended up with more ABs against right handed pitching, even without the nostalgia/chasing history factor. That just can't happen here unless we're ok with being the only team in the majors getting negative WAR out of the DH spot (Albert was worth -0.6 bWAR and -0.2 fWAR last season). FWIW, ZiPS projects him at -0.5 WAR with 13 HRs in 324 plate appearances. That puts him 8 short of 700.
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In addition, on those days when he is not in the line-up, when do the we want Albert chants begin?
 
#70      

wpr

wpr
wpr
It's a good news bad news thing. Albert has probably earned the right to retire a Cardinal but I don't see where he will bring a lot to the lineup. The last time he hit more than 21 hr was 2019. It took nearly 500 AB to do it. As a platoon batter I don't see him getting much more than 350 AB and 10-12 hr.
 
#73      

Dee_4_Three_83

Dee_4_Three_83
Mahomet, IL
Dee_4_Three_83
wpr said:
It's a good news bad news thing. Albert has probably earned the right to retire a Cardinal but I don't see where he will bring a lot to the lineup. The last time he hit more than 21 hr was 2019. It took nearly 500 AB to do it. As a platoon batter I don't see him getting much more than 350 AB and 10-12 hr.
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I look at it this way. He will get as many ABs versus LHP that he can. Whatever he gets will be a special moment. Because his ABs will be limited, it's a low risk-high reward move. It also will put fans in the stands and money in BDW's pocket. My hope is that this will be Will Clark/Lance Berkman 3.0

Side note: I had forgotten Lance Berkman played two more seasons after 2011. In my mind, he just retired after getting the ring. Looking at his stats in 12 and 13, he probably should have.
 
#75      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Pujols is just there to DH against lefties and pinch hit occasionally. Dickerson is likely going to be the DH the rest of the time.

Also should add that Pujols did say today that he's intending to retire after this season.