2 posts tagged “world series”
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!
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!!"
