viking6888
St Louis Cardinals 2023
Carlton, Andujar, Freese among candidates for Cards HOF
I try to vote for 1 pitcher and 1 position player each time. Tough choices this year for me.
I have always loved Andujar's fiery temperament. "Youneverknow".
Carlton got his stats with the Phillies
and Matt Morris has been a favorite of mine.
Then again who can forget Freese's post season heroics?
Renteria? ARRRG. I need to vote for them all.
NEIlliniFan
- No longer in New England
I agree re the tough choices.
I don't know who I'm voting for
I don't know who I'm voting for
Some quick addition. Steve Carlton was 77-52 in St. Louis with 3 all star appearances before the trade for Rick Wise. One of my votes would go for him. edit. The trade would be probably the worst trade in my lifetime.
I have to throw a vote to Matt Morris and his 101-62 record with the Cards
I try to vote based on what they accomplish in StL. When I checked with Baseball Reference I was surprised how strong Steve's numbers are. They're not Philly strong but he has the best WAR.
The fact Carlton was traded and did not seek the trade plays into my thoughts. Rick Wise was a decent pitcher, but everybody at the time new that Gussie Busch got taken to the cleaners. The 70's might have had a different outcome with Carlton as the ace of the staff after Gibson retired.
Unfortunately this could be said about the Cardinals and every team. Don't get me started on Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen in trade for OzunaThink about what might have been.
Yeah, the thing about prospects is you never really know. Alcantara and Gallen could have just as easily turned into Shelby Miller and Alex Reyes, and Carson Kelly could have turned into Sean Murphy.
I do think that's a bit different than trading a perennial all-star pitcher (Carlton) for a pitcher of roughly the same age coming off a very good season but whose career before that had been far more pedestrian (Wise).
Yeah it was just an example but it happens all the time with prospects and MLB talent. Two best players on our squad are from trades with teams just looking to drop the player before he hits a huge contract.
The part that hurts more is Ozuna was coming off a monster season and came to the Cardinals. He wasn't a dud but just an above average OF with some power. Alcantara winning the CY Young and Gallen having a real nice season with AZ brings it all back.....throw in the Cards have been looking for an ace for years.
viking6888
Greeley, Colorado
apparently link does not work
I think the Cards have come out on the right side of those kinds of trades more often than not.
Just on the current team, you guys got two future HoFers in the primes of their careers in Goldschmidt and Arenado for what turned out to be a half-full bag of chips and expired Bass Pro Shop gift card.
Or the Rolen trade. The Phils got a few nice years out of Polanco, but nothing compared to the numbers Rolen put up.
As for Ozuna, it all might have worked out for the best for the Cards. He’s Atlanta’s problem now. $83 million guaranteed for half a great season, a couple seasons of below average play, and he may never see a MLB field again.
Meanwhile, of the other Marlins outfielders traded that off-season, those prospects haven’t worked out, but the Yankees are still on the hook for $160 million to Stanton who just turned 33 and the Brewers still owe (gulp) $156 million to Yelich who’s only 31, but can barely get the ball back to the infield from left on the fly.
(And I’m still not fully convinced there wasn’t some funny business in those two seasons where Yelich magically turned into Barry Bonds all of a sudden and then just as magically turned back into a pumpkin right after the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal broke.)
Meanwhile, of the other Marlins outfielders traded that off-season, those prospects haven’t worked out, but the Yankees are still on the hook for $160 million to Stanton who just turned 33 and the Brewers still owe (gulp) $156 million to Yelich who’s only 31, but can barely get the ball back to the infield from left on the fly.
(And I’m still not fully convinced there wasn’t some funny business in those two seasons where Yelich magically turned into Barry Bonds all of a sudden and then just as magically turned back into a pumpkin right after the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal broke.)
Some people see a cup half full. Others half empty. Tis ever thus.
It's a small sample size but 9 hits with 3 doubles and 3 homers in 18 AB isn't too shabby. A slash line of .500/.500/1.167 and an OPS of 1.667 makes me smile.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Jordan Walker's outrageous performances might soon force the hand of the Cardinals
Cardinals prospect Jordan Walker went 4 for 4 with two home runs and a double in a win over the Washington Nationals.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It’s still early in spring training, but it might almost be time to stop referring to Cardinals top prospect Jordan Walker as a potentially impactful hitter on the way.
He may have arrived. At this rate, it might not take until the end of spring training before that becomes undeniable.
It has taken fewer than 20 at-bats for Walker to become one of the dominant topics of discussion for those in and around Cardinals camp.
For some who’ve observed and followed the franchise closely over the years, it has even started to stir memories of when young superstar-to-be Albert Pujols left his mark on spring training.
Walker’s latest exploits include a 4-for-4 game that included two home runs, a double and beating out an infield single on a ball hit deep in the hole to shortstop. All this from a 20-year-old who stands 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds with a clear aptitude for the game.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Paul DeJong home run an encouraging sign for former All-Star shortstop: Cardinals Extra
Cardinals infielder Paul DeJong hit a home run in a spring training win against the Washington Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 4, 2023.
Lynn Worthy
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Paul DeJong spent a lot of his offseason at the Cardinals' complex in Florida trying to get a lot of things back. He wanted to get back to the form that made him an All-Star. He wanted to get back to hitting the ball with consistency. He needed to get back some confidence at the plate. And he wanted to get back to playing the game with joy.
One mammoth home run off the bottom of the batter’s eye at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches didn’t give DeJong everything back, but it gave him a reason to smile and likely gave him encouragement to stay on his current path.
“I think overall it’s about breaking every situation down and not getting ahead of myself,” DeJong said. “Just focusing on what I can do right now. I know in the past, when things have gone wrong I’ve been thinking too far ahead.
It would be a big lift to the team if he could turn it around.Paul DeJong home run an encouraging sign for former All-Star shortstop: Cardinals Extra
Cardinals infielder Paul DeJong hit a home run in a spring training win against the Washington Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 4, 2023.www.stltoday.com
Lynn Worthy
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Paul DeJong spent a lot of his offseason at the Cardinals' complex in Florida trying to get a lot of things back. He wanted to get back to the form that made him an All-Star. He wanted to get back to hitting the ball with consistency. He needed to get back some confidence at the plate. And he wanted to get back to playing the game with joy.
One mammoth home run off the bottom of the batter’s eye at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches didn’t give DeJong everything back, but it gave him a reason to smile and likely gave him encouragement to stay on his current path.
“I think overall it’s about breaking every situation down and not getting ahead of myself,” DeJong said. “Just focusing on what I can do right now. I know in the past, when things have gone wrong I’ve been thinking too far ahead.
viking6888