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Redbird Rundown V

Started by dhornjr1, March 30, 2011, 01:26:42 am

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dhornjr1

I know Hogtropolis is busy with personal commitments and doesn't have a whole lot of free time so I guess I'll start our Cardinals thread for 2011.

I'm looking forward to baseball - like I do every year - but I am not looking forward to the Albert Pujols free agency onslaught we're gonna be subjected to this year.

The loss of Adam Wainwright will be difficult to handle. Hopefully, Chris Carpenter can stay healthy and Jake Westbrook can give us some quality innings. LaRussa says that Jaime Garcia is "on an upward swing".

As usual, the bullpen is a question mark, as is the durability of Lance Berkman. Ryan Theriot taking over at short will be interesting to watch.

On a positive note, Kyle Lohse, Kyle McClellan, Skip Schumaker and David Freese have all looked pretty good this spring.

Here's the 25-man roster according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Starting Rotation

Chris Carpenter
Jake Westbrook
Kyle Lohse
Jaime Garcia
Kyle McClellan

Bullpen

Bryan Augenstein    
Mitchell Boggs    
Ryan Franklin       
Trever Miller    
Jason Motte       
Brian Tallet    
   
Catchers    
   
Gerald Laird    
Yadier Molina    

Infielders    

Daniel Descalso    
David Freese    
Tyler Greene    
Albert Pujols    
Nick Punto    
Skip Schumaker    
Ryan Theriot    
   
Outfielders    
   
Lance Berkman    
Allen Craig 
Matt Holliday    
Jon Jay    
Colby Rasmus

Opening day is Thursday versus the San Diego Padres at 3:15 PM. The game will be televised on ESPN or on your local Fox Sports channel if they carry Cardinals telecasts.

This will be the first opening day for me without my dad, who was a die-hard Cardinals fan from 1950 until his death on New Year's Eve. One of the last things he said to me the night he died was how much he was looking forward to the upcoming season. Maybe he can bring us some good fortune this year.

Here come the Cardinals!


OakTreeHawg

Looks like to me run production may be a problem. :(

 

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

March 30, 2011, 10:52:25 am #2 Last Edit: March 30, 2011, 10:59:20 am by HogsnCards
As much as he struggled, I hate to see Brendan Ryan off the team. He played the game it should be played, in my opinion.
ched come back pls

Smolder

March 30, 2011, 12:44:28 pm #3 Last Edit: March 30, 2011, 12:54:55 pm by Cutty
Hitting will be fine. I expect Albert to be Albert, Rasmus/Freese to have a career years, Theorit to run and steal which should help run production, and the rest of them to do whatever they usually do. Berkman, if healthy and returns to form, would be a bonus in my eyes but expect Jay to play most of the time.

Pitching is where we are going to hurt.

Charpenter - an injury risk.
Westbrook - an ok pitcher.
Garcia - a second year player who wore down at the end of last year.
Lohse - always hurt and he is Kyle Lohse. Looked good this spring. 2008 Return?
McClellan - who knows what we get out of him. Hopefully the spring stats this year.
Bullpen - Horrible now that Mclellan is starting. It was just crappy before.

On a side note, why do we consistently have a horrible farm system? For everything great this organization does, I don't know how they survive other than luck with some of the players that come up through the organization.

dhornjr1

Quote from: HogsnCards on March 30, 2011, 10:52:25 am
As much as he struggled, I hate to see Brendan Ryan off the team. He played the game it should be played, in my opinion.

I liked Ryan, too. But LaRussa hated him so he's gone.

dhornjr1

Quote from: Cutty on March 30, 2011, 12:44:28 pm
On a side note, why do we consistently have a horrible farm system? For everything great this organization does, I don't know how they survive other than luck with some of the players that come up through the organization.

This is one of the reasons why Walt Jocketty is gone. He had different ideas about how the farm system should work. He and LaRussa preferred the farm system be used for trades to bring in veterans.

LaRussa hates young players unless they have exceptional ability or preternatural focus like Pujols and Molina. Colby Rasmus has more talent than John Jay but he likes Jay because he has that Pujols-like intensity and he hates Rasmus because he is laid back.

They're working on changing how the farm system operates but it will take several years. Rasmus and Garcia are hopefully just the first wave of homegrown talent we will see in the next few years.

dhornjr1

Well, Ryson Franklinhausen is off to his usual great start. Great day by the offense, too.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Hate to state the obvious, but our pen is going to keep us out of the NL Central race. I just didn't think it'd be this obvious this early.
ched come back pls

dhornjr1

Quote from: HogsnCards on March 31, 2011, 07:43:29 pm
Hate to state the obvious, but our pen is going to keep us out of the NL Central race. I just didn't think it'd be this obvious this early.

Is Ryan Franklin the worst closer in baseball? I think he may be. He comes into the game and I just assume he will either let the opposition tie it up or take the lead.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Quote from: dhornjr1 on March 31, 2011, 08:01:53 pm
Is Ryan Franklin the worst closer in baseball? I think he may be. He comes into the game and I just assume he will either let the opposition tie it up or take the lead.
Let's just say the nickname of Franklinhausen is well deserved. Then Bautista couldn't throw his age in strikes if we gave him 200 pitches. Miller is Jamie Moyer minus the crazy-grandpa syndrom. Then we have a few kids who I predict haven't seen the last stage of puberty yet. This could get bumpy.
ched come back pls

dhornjr1

Quote from: HogsnCards on March 31, 2011, 08:19:04 pm
Let's just say the nickname of Franklinhausen is well deserved. Then Bautista couldn't throw his age in strikes if we gave him 200 pitches. Miller is Jamie Moyer minus the crazy-grandpa syndrom. Then we have a few kids who I predict haven't seen the last stage of puberty yet. This could get bumpy.

It could get downright ugly. You know LaRussa, he'll continue to run Franklin out there until he's blown up in about eight or ten appearances in a row.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Quote from: dhornjr1 on March 31, 2011, 09:07:06 pm
It could get downright ugly. You know LaRussa, he'll continue to run Franklin out there until he's blown up in about eight or ten appearances in a row.
I'm afraid we've seen this episode before. Although, I'm pleasently suprised with what I saw out of Rasmus in the opening game. Didn't look nervous, timid, or impatient. I think he breaks out this year with 30 HR's. Could be a huge piece IF we can make a playoff push.
ched come back pls

pigture perfect

Sad start. Franklin and LaRussa Wasted an excellent outing by Carp. Even Pujols grounded into 3 double plays. +1's to all of the Rundown regulars.
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

 

dhornjr1

Quote from: pigture perfect on March 31, 2011, 10:14:54 pm
Sad start. Franklin and LaRussa Wasted an excellent outing by Carp. Even Pujols grounded into 3 double plays. +1's to all of the Rundown regulars.

Backatcha pigture.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Quote from: pigture perfect on March 31, 2011, 10:14:54 pm
Sad start. Franklin and LaRussa Wasted an excellent outing by Carp. Even Pujols grounded into 3 double plays. +1's to all of the Rundown regulars.


Quote from: dhornjr1 on April 01, 2011, 12:24:57 am
Backatcha pigture.
I'll join the party too.
ched come back pls

NeverYield

+1 to my fellow Cards!  Maybe Saturday and Sunday we'll produce the win we should've had Thursday.
"You can take a boy out of ole' dixie land lord, but ju'll never take ole' dixie from a boy..."  -Ronnie VanZant

Smolder

We'll get better. I see this season playing out similar to 06 regular season. Just up and down.

Smolder


Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

What in the Sam Hill is going on?? Should have seen it coming. No good news in the offseason, no good news on opening day. I hardly overreact, but I'm calling it now: we're toast.
ched come back pls

dhornjr1

Quote from: HogsnCards on April 01, 2011, 03:01:35 pm
What in the Sam Hill is going on?? Should have seen it coming. No good news in the offseason, no good news on opening day. I hardly overreact, but I'm calling it now: we're toast.

Is it too early to say "Wait 'til next year"? Jeebus.

ErieHog

April 01, 2011, 03:45:40 pm #20 Last Edit: April 01, 2011, 03:47:11 pm by ErieHog
Quote from: Cutty on April 01, 2011, 02:20:51 pm
Long season ahead.
Matt Holliday to undergo surgery for appendectomy. Out 4-6 weeks.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/article_332f9d6a-5c89-11e0-a54e-0019bb30f31a.html

4-6  weeks seems extreme for an emergency surgery that kept out  Andres Torres of the Giants for only 11 days last year.    Even Stauffer (San Diego's starter from yesterday) missed a tad less than a month when he had an emergency appendectomy, and it's usually much harder for pitchers to bounce back from core surgery.
No cause, ever, in the history of all mankind, has produced more cold-blooded tyrants, more slaughtered innocents, and more orphans than socialism with power. It surpassed, exponentially, all other systems of production in turning out the dead. The bodies are all around us. And here is the problem: No one talks about them. No one honors them. No one does penance for them. No one has committed suicide for having been an apologist for those who did this to them. No one pays for them. No one is hunted down to account for them. It is exactly what Solzhenitsyn foresaw in The Gulag Archipelago: "No, no one would have to answer. No one would be looked into." Until that happens, there is no "after socialism."

Smolder

Quote from: ErieHog on April 01, 2011, 03:45:40 pm
4-6  weeks seems extreme for an emergency surgery that kept out  Andres Torres of the Giants for only 11 days last year.    Even Stauffer (San Diego's starter from yesterday) missed a tad less than a month when he had an emergency appendectomy, and it's usually much harder for pitchers to bounce back from core surgery.

Probably. I just took the timetable from another reporter that said he heard it from an St Louis employee. Hopefully you are right.

jdhogster

Was at the game (my 1st opening day) and it looked like we might escape with a win)....we had huge opps....2 on with NO OUTS and we get Holliday picked off 2nd...Pujols stunk...the pen would come in and get 2 quick outs and then struggle for the 3rd out.  Happened to 3 pitchers. 

Going to Saturday's game, which I hope will be a better outcome. 

pigture perfect

Since SD is in town maybe we can trade Frankilin for Luddy. It would make me feel better anyway.
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

 

dhornjr1

Quote from: pigture perfect on April 01, 2011, 11:07:18 pm
Since SD is in town maybe we can trade Frankilin for Luddy. It would make me feel better anyway.

We couldn't get a six pound box of sunflower seeds for Franklin.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Quote from: dhornjr1 on April 02, 2011, 12:02:04 am
We couldn't get a six pound box of sunflower seeds for Franklin.
We couldn't get the box itself for Franklin.
ched come back pls

Tony Perkis

Let's hope Westbrook shows up today.

Tony Perkis

The lineup without Holliday.

1. Theriot SS
2. Rasmus CF
3. Pujols 1B
4. Freese 3B
5. Berkman RF
6. Craig LF
7. Molina C
8. Schumaker 2B
9. Westbrook P

FS Hog

Quote from: pigture perfect on April 01, 2011, 11:07:18 pm
Since SD is in town maybe we can trade Frankilin for Luddy. It would make me feel better anyway.
They traded Luddy because they didn't think they could afford him, so they got Berkman for 8 mil. I'd rather have Luddy. Anyone know what Luddy signed for?

dhornjr1

Quote from: FS Hog on April 02, 2011, 02:20:00 pm
They traded Luddy because they didn't think they could afford him, so they got Berkman for 8 mil. I'd rather have Luddy. Anyone know what Luddy signed for?

He's making $6,775,000 this year.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

ched come back pls

Tony Perkis


Smolder

It's hard not to lose hope 2 games into the season when your weaknesses that everyone knew about are on full display.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

It's going to be a loooooooong year. By that I mean it will feel long. Because we definitely aren't playing any extra baseball after the regular season.
ched come back pls

dhornjr1

Quote from: HogsnCards on April 02, 2011, 05:50:37 pm
It's going to be a loooooooong year. By that I mean it will feel long. Because we definitely aren't playing any extra baseball after the regular season.

One of the primary arguments that ownership has is that they can't pay Pujols his market worth and still maintain a competitive team. That argument has no credibility when he is currently underpaid by industry standards and there are still gaping holes at second base and in the pitching staff.

Oh well, when he's gone to another team we can use his money to sign a bunch of sore-armed, Dave Duncan reclamation projects next year.

FS Hog

Quote from: dhornjr1 on April 02, 2011, 02:45:33 pm
He's making $6,775,000 this year.
A bunch of stuff Mo does makes no sense to me. Seems every Card they've interviewed has mentioned missing Ludwick.

pigture perfect

I hate feeling like a Cubs fan this early in the year.
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

dhornjr1

Quote from: FS Hog on April 02, 2011, 07:36:42 pm
A bunch of stuff Mo does makes no sense to me. Seems every Card they've interviewed has mentioned missing Ludwick.

I think it has more to do with what Mozeliak has to work with. He's given his marching orders by Bill DeWitt and he has to try to make things work within those orders.

It's funny - the Ludwick deal was done as a cost-cutting measure to try to re-sign Pujols but they come back and pay Berkman more than they were paying Ludwick.

dhornjr1

BTW, eight walks by the vaunted Cardinals pitching staff today.

jdhogster

It sure did stink to fork out good $$$ to attend your first opening day and your first games ever at Busch3, and then to watch the crap on the field.  Theriot is playing uptight.  He has had some costly errors in both games.  We aren't working at bats.  We are being a little TOO aggressive at the plate. There were several AB's for the Cards over after 2-3 pitches.  Richard got hit around early but stayed til the 6th...Westbrook just stunk.  Hope they win today.  Digging out of early season holes are not fun and add gray hairs.

Tony Perkis

I still think this team will contend in the Central. They'll get it together. Has to be soon though.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Jamie did work today. Awesome outing.
ched come back pls

Tony Perkis


dhornjr1

April 03, 2011, 04:31:55 pm #43 Last Edit: April 03, 2011, 04:33:57 pm by dhornjr1
Quote from: HogsnCards on April 03, 2011, 03:27:43 pm
Jamie did work today. Awesome outing.

With the way the offense is looking we're gonna need a lot more of this type of outing. Smart money says we don't get a lot of them.

dhornjr1

Quote from: OakTreeHawg on March 30, 2011, 09:22:50 am
Looks like to me run production may be a problem. :(

I know we're only three games into the season but it looks like you may be right.

Tony Perkis

Run production should be decent as the season moves on. Especially when Holliday gets back. Albert will be Albert.

pigture perfect

1st win of the year! Everyone deserves a +1
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

dhornjr1

Quote from: pigture perfect on April 03, 2011, 11:56:16 pm
1st win of the year! Everyone deserves a +1

I hope we can give and get about 110 more +1's in this thread between now November.

DeltaBoy

If the South should lose, it means that the history of the heroic struggle will be written by the enemy, that our youth will be trained by Northern school teachers, will be impressed by all of the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors and our maimed veterans as fit subjects for derision.
-- Major General Patrick Cleburne
The Confederacy had no better soldiers
than the Arkansans--fearless, brave, and oftentimes courageous beyond
prudence. Dickart History of Kershaws Brigade.

Jacob "2 Scoops" Johnson

Hopefully playing Pittsburgh will pad our record. If we lose this series, goodness gracious...
ched come back pls