8 posts tagged “cardinals”

Well, I haven't posted in a little while.  It's been a busy time.  Last week was spring break and over the weekend my son Austin turned 1 year old.  I can't believe he's 1 already.  I will get some pictures of him up soon.  He doesn't walk by himself yet but he does walk while pushing a 'walker' that my sister bought for him.  It's this neat little car that he can sit and scoot around on but it also converts to a stand up walker.  He'll pull himself up and walk all over the place with that thing.  I'll have to get a video up of that as well.  He gets all excited about it, hehe.

In Cardinals news, they had a successful road trip, sweeping the Pirates and come back home one game over .500 at 5-4.  Bad news though that Chris Carpenter has bone spurs in his elbow that caused it to swell.  He'll be out for probably 2 weeks.  They're still trying to decide whether or not he will need surgery at some point before the end of the season.  Scott Rolen's back issues have flared up again and are causing him problems.  Hopefully he'll be back in the starting lineup for this series against the Brewers.  Also, even though I try not to, I'm getting a little antsy with Pujols' VERY slow start.  This is extremely uncharacteristic of him.  I'm sure he's just in a slump and hope that it's not something more serious, like an injury that no one is talking about or something. He does try to play through pain and while I admire him for that, if he's hurting in some way, then take the time off now, early in the season, and get healthy!!

A couple other thoughts real quick.  This whole thing with Don Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team.  If somehow you haven't heard about this, read HERE and HERE.  Don, come on.  You really couldn't have thought that was gonna be a cool or real funny thing to say.  I'm glad though that he met face to face with the basketball team and they both heard each other out.  CBS fired him yesterday with CBS president Leslie Moonves claiming that the "...effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society." is what weighed most heavily on their minds when they made the decision to fire him.  I'm sure that it did weigh in, but if it was the biggest influence why didn't they fire Imus immediately, not just suspend him?  I think they were waiting to see what the fallout was.  To me, it looks like once they lost the sponsors they did,  along with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson meeting with them and promising to rally and persuade more sponsors to leave, they figured they had no choice but to fire Imus.  Hey, if that's the reason, fine, but don't try to now make it look like your moral conscience was weighing heavily on you.  If that was the case, you'd have fired him alot sooner.

Speaking of good ole Al and Jesse.  Where are their apologies to the Duke men's Lacrosse team players that had been accused of rape and other violent crimes against an African American woman hired to dance a party.  They are the first to come out and rally people, to call for apologies, people's jobs, trials, and convictions when an incident appears to be a racial issue.  And they were there for this incident as well.  But where are their apologies now when it looks like these boys/men were accused falsely.  In fact, the North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper didn't just drop the charges, he declared each player innocent.  So Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Jackson, where are your apologies to these men?  To be fare, it's not just Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson who should be apologetic.  It's also Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong for rushing to accuse in order to increase his re-election chances, it's Duke University for cancelling the rest of the team's season and basically totally distancing itself from the accused, it's Duke professor Kim Curtis if she actually did give one of the players a failing grade for just being a member of the Lacrosse team, almost costing him his graduation, it's everyone who jumped to the conclusion that the players were guilty based solely on racial issues, that the accused were white and the accuser was black.

Finally, if, in this country, we all truly want to someday exist as one people (nation) no matter of 'originating' race we have to stop turning everything that happens, good or bad, into a racial issue.  I'm not naive and think that no racial crimes or discrimination happens but I also don't believe that everything that happens (the Duke Lacrosse story for instance) is a racial issue.  There are unfortunately bad people in all races and they don't just commit crimes against people of their same race.  And when they do commit a crime against someone of a different race, it doesn't immediately mean that it was based on the victim's race.  The sooner we can all start acting as Americans, not Asian Americans, not African Americans, not Latin American, not Irish American, not European American etc., just United States of America Americans, the sooner this country will be better off.

Just my 2 cents worth....

Is it too early to start counting down the Cardinals' magic number??  ;-)

It was good to see Jim Edmonds back in the Cardinals lineup yesterday.  After offseason shoulder and toe surgeries he hadn't played in any spring training games.  It's good that Jimmy usually doesn't need much spring training time to get ready for the regular season, so as long as everything progresses well he should be ready to go for opening day.

A couple of players that will probably be sent back to AAA, Skip Schumaker and Tagg Bozied, have made a pretty good impression in camp I think.  With Skip Schumaker, I think you are seeing the Cardinals' future in center field after Jimmy retires.  Tagg is trying to still make something of a career after having his patella tendon snap in 2004 after hitting a game winning grand slam in a minor league game.  Unfortunately for him, his position is 1st base and with King Albert firmly entrenched there for (hopefully) a long time, Tagg may need to start developing his 3rd base skills (with Rolen there, that may be a long shot as well) or probably even learn the outfield, ala Chris Duncan, if he hopes to make the big club anytime soon.

Following up on a previous post I had talking about pitchers we lost from our rotation and the ones we have added, Kip Wells is looking like he is going to definitely be a good number 2 pitcher for the Cards.

I had posted that "So far though in Spring Training (so take it for what it's worth) in 12 innings (through 4 games) he hasn't given up an earned run and has struck out 9."  Well to update that, now after 17 innings through 5 games, he has a 1.06 ERA and has struck out 15 (to only 2 walks, that I know of).

Also, here are some updates on the pitchers that the Cardinals lost during the offseason: (Taken from THIS stltoday.com article)

"RHP Jeff Weaver (0-2, 8.31 ERA): With Seattle, Weaver has allowed four home runs in 13 spring innings. The Diamondbacks recently thrashed Weaver for five runs in the first inning of an 8-1 loss. Weaver is currently vying to be the Mariners No. 3 starter. The other candidate is Miguel Batista (see: wants). Though some reports have Weaver actually pitching to be in the fourth of fifth spot. That would be an expensive No. 5 pitcher.

RHP Jeff Suppan (1-0, 4.91): Suppan will forever be followed now by the phrase “signed the richest contract in Milwaukee Brewers franchise history”, but he’s recovered well from his standard fastball-changeup day to progress normally through spring with one walk in 11 innings. As will be discussed in the special section coming out in tomorrow’s Post-Dispatch, the Brewers staff hinges on Ben Sheets, who appears to learning a thing or two from Suppan. But Suppan has provided what GM Doug Melvin called “a big-game presence and experience” that was lacking from a .500 team’s clubhouse. The theory is that Suppan, Sheets and Chris Capuano, an underrated lefty, will be the Brewers’ answer to any other big three in the division. So far, so good.

RHP Jason Marquis (1-1, 4.50): So Marquis tells us at the end of the season that he has a pitching guru that he’s going to go work with to help repair his mechanics and get him ready for the coming season. Turns out he was steered in that direction by Greg Maddux and that pitching helper is none other than Cubs’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild. No kidding. Kudos to Marquis for his guts. Not only did he do that but when he signed with the Cubs’ for $21 million he also took No. 21, last worn by Sammy Sosa. He’s alloweed three home runs in 14 innings and struck out eight to five walks. When it comes to Cubs’ pitching this spring, Marquis has been the least of the team’s worries. He’s in the rotation and there’s something about this counterintuitive move that just might work.

RHP Sidney Ponson (2-1, 6.30): A Yankee by the time the Cardinals won the World Series, he does count as a member of the Cardinals’ rotation. His World Series championship ring will say so. Ponson has been a hot topic on the other side of the state because it appeared that despite pitching just OK he would bump hotshot prospect Matt Garza from the Twins’ rotation. There appears to be room in the rotation for both righthanders now, and Ponson could get, of all things, Francisco Liriano’s spot on the 40-man roster. Ponson ignored his boo-filled welcome back to the Orioles’ facility this spring, and may have secured his spot with the Twins the same day."

 

Here's hoping, this time, that someone's spring training stats actually do give an indication of what he'll do during the regular season.

I'm sure everybody has already heard LaRussa's response to his DUI arrest but here it is along with a little more from an article at stltoday.com.

'"What seems to make sense to me is that a person's goal is for everyone … close to them and the organization that he's a part of, to feel good about you personally and professionally," La Russa said during a brief afternoon news conference. "That's been my goal as long as I can remember and the last 11-plus years with the Cardinals.

"Last night's situation is the opposite of feeling good. It was an embarrassment," continued La Russa, who spent the night in jail. "So I apologize to anyone who is close to me, members of the Cardinals organization, our fans. I regret it, take responsibility, and I'm not sure there is anything else I can say."

La Russa then declined to take questions about his arrest.

La Russa's arrest came five weeks after he encouraged his team to avoid distractions following the club's first World Series title since 1982.

Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said La Russa would not be disciplined and has the organization's full support. "We intend to help him any way we can."

Palm Beach attorney David Roth, who is representing La Russa, said, "He has requested that we evaluate the facts, give him our best honest advice and let the legal system, which he believes in, take the normal course."'

I'm definitely glad to see him admit the embarrassment and be willing to go through the 'normal course' of the legal system and not try to get around it.  Watching his statement on tv, it was nice to see that it obviously wasn't a prepared statement by his lawyers.  He manned up and said that it was an embarrassment and took responsibility for it.  It was also good to see the Cardinal fans show why we're the best sports fans around: "Much of the crowd of 7,353 offered La Russa a standing ovation when he entered Roger Dean Stadium before Thursday's game against the Florida Marlins."

 

Now, let's play some baseball!!!

 

Just over 11 days until opening day for baseball and I can't wait!  It seems like it was just yesterday that the Cardinals won the World Series yet here we are getting ready to try and defend that title.  People have made a big deal over the fact that three fifths of the Cardinals' starting rotation will be different that it was last year.  Let's take a look at that for a moment.  Who are the pitchers that we lost:

Jeff Suppan:  One of only 2 of the four we lost that I wouldn't have minded that the Cardinals kept  He finished up 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA, 104 strikeouts, and a 1.41 WHIP.   Not brilliant stats but not bad to slot in as the number 2 or 3 starter.

Jason Marquis:  The Cubs signed him for WAY too much money (3 years $21 million).  14-16 with a 6.02 ERA only 96 strikeouts and a 1.52 WHIP and you're gonna sign him for $7 mil a year?  Now do you people understand why the Cubs have gone so long without a championship?  Marquis seems to always start off well but falls apart in the second half of the season.  The Cards didn't even put him on the post season roster last year....gotta tell you something.  At least the Cards will get to bat against him this year instead of trying to win WITH him.

Sidney Ponson:  Who thought that was a good pickup to begin with?  4-5 with a 6.25 ERA, 48 strikeouts and a huge 1.69 WHIP.  He didn't even last the full season before the Cards dropped him.

Jeff Weaver:  The other pitcher that I wouldn't have minded if the Cardinals could have resigned him.  His overall stats don't look great, 8-14, 5.76 ERA, 107 Strikeouts, 1.51 WHIP.  That was split between the Angels and the Cardinals.  Just his stats with the Cardinals though, 5-4, 5.18 ERA, 45 strikeouts and a 1.50 WHIP in 15 games.  He had 2 more wins and 6 less losses in 15 games with the Cards than he did in 16 games with the Angels.  Then the way he pitched in the post season (3-2, 2.43 ERA, 19 strikeouts and a 1.15WHIP), you can tell Dave Duncan had an impact on him.
                                                                                                                                                                           

Now, let's see who we replaced them with:

Kip Wells: He's definitely a question mark.  Hopefully Dave Duncan can work his magic on him. 2-5, 6.50 ERA, 20 strikeouts, 1.85 WHIP in an injury plagued season.  So far though in Spring Training (so take it for what it's worth) in 12 innings (through 4 games) he hasn't given up an earned run and has struck out 9.

Adam Wainwright:  Ok, this kid was a STUD last year filling in for Isringhausen as the closer even though he's actually a starting pitcher.  He went 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 72 strikeouts, 1.15 WHIP and 3 saves.  The in the postseason as the full time closer he went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 15 strikeouts, 0.93 WHIP and 4 saves in 9 games.  So far in spring training this year,  he's 2-1, 1.08 ERA, 6 strikeouts in 4 games as a starter.

Braden Looper:  He may be another question mark.  He's been a reliever for his career and is making the switch to a starter.  Last year as a reliever for the Cardinals though, he went 9-3, 3.56 ERA, 41 strikeouts, and a 1.31 WHIP.  He's also had a pretty good spring training as a starter, going 1-0, 3.21 ERA, and 6 strikeouts in 14 innings through 4 games. That ERA had been 0.00 through 11 innings.  So he's not looking too bad either.
                                                                                                                                                                          

So, looking it over, I don't really think our rotation is that much worse than it was last year winning the World Series.  If these 'new' guys actually pitch up to their potential, or at least the potential they're showing in spring training, this rotation could be even better than last years.  With all of them working with Dave Duncan, I think they will come closer to reaching their potential than not.  Ahh, but that's part of the fun of spring training, trying to figure out what your team has and if they are going to be any good.

Come on opening day!!  Cardinals baseball and listening to Mike Shannon talking about having a cold frosty Budweiser....it doesn't get any better than this!

**Edit**

Well, sending a message from my phone to my vox blog didn't quite work the way I thought it would. Didn't realize it was basically all gibberish.  So here is the text of what I tried to send to my blog via my phone...

 

Albert Pujols was jobbed outof the MVP award again this year.  The award went to Ryan Howard of the Phillies.  Now I like Ryan Howard and all and he is a St. Louis boy but without Pujols the Cardinals don't even make the playoffs this year. The Phillies weren't making the playoffs with or without Howard. And that's just it isn't it?  The Cards made the playoffs (World Series Champs, thank you very much!) and the Phillies didn't. This isn't the Most Homeruns Award.  It's the Most Valuable Player award. I think it's obvious who was more valuable to their team.  Pujols should have at least three of these awards by now.

I'm sure you've all seen, heard, or read by now about the Cardinals winning the World Series for the first time in 24 years.  I still remember where I was when the Cards won that series in 1982.  I was 10 and my parents let me stay up to watch Bruce Sutter secure the win in game seven. I remember the nervous feeling watching that game, standing behind, leaning on my dad's recliner because that nervous feeling wouldn't let me sit down.  Flash forward to game 5 this past Friday.  I was still nervous but it was a different feeling than I remember being a 10 year old kid.  Maybe it's because that was a game seven and this was just a game five, or maybe it's because then I was 10 and now I'm 34.  Whatever the reason, it didn't feel quite the same and that's kinda disappointing to me.  I'm kinda hoping that it's because it was only a game 5 instead of the seventh, do or die, game of the series.  I really don't want it to be because I'm 24 years older and it doesn't affect me the same anymore.  I have a son now but he's only six months old and obviously has no clue about baseball and the Cardinals and their history.  I'm hoping as he gets old enough to enjoy baseball, the Cards will get back to The Series again and I'll get to experience it with him and maybe that feeling of a 10 year old kid getting to stay up late to watch his favorite team in game seven of the World Series will come back.  Even though it didn't feel quite the same, I'll take it!!  Congratulations Cardinals and a tip of my hat to the Detroit Tigers, their manager Jim Leyland and the season they had.  They should still be very proud of themselves.  Jack(Buck), this one's for you!  We definitely miss hearing you call Cardinals games and it would have been great to hear your line, "...and that's a winner!  A World Series winner!  Go crazy folks!  Go crazy!!"