Ugh
« In Other News | Main | Good News? »This story at the Post-Dispatch is painful.
Ray King is gone. In spite of King's poor 2005 campaign, I don't see why he couldn't have returned to his career norms. He criticized LaRussa though, which means he's been sentenced to a year in Pitcher Hell. I'm not sold on Tyler Johnson's improved walk rate, so I'd rather have seen him start the season in Memphis.
Presently the bullpen has the oft-injured Isringhausen, Thompson, the rehabbing Flores and Johnson maybe. Wow, that's thin, no joke about King intended. We'll see if the just-in-time compiler is working. This is where Kiko Calero would look good.
Larry Bigbie and Aaron Miles were the net for King. Bigbie played one game at Frederick in 2004 and I happened to be there. He homered twice, which isn't quite as good as my Austin Kearns game. Other than that, this is one of those players that people have decided is a legit major leaguer for reasons unknown. Unless he's the Ozzie Smith of left fielders, then this isn't much of a gain.
Aaron Miles is awful. He's proof that you can make it to the majors even if you repeat at three different levels of the minors. This would be a terrible plan for 2B, especially with Mark Loretta getting swapped for a backup catcher and Luis Castillo being sold for a couple of middling prospects; more on that below. Miles should start the season at Memphis, but...
Mark Grudzielanek, per his contract, wasn't offered arbitration. He's a hacker and he's aging. Even with good defense it's hard to get worked-up over this loss. It's another option that gets crossed-off the list though, and while a couple of 2Bs could shake loose when arb-eligibles are non-tendered, the Miles news makes the middle infield uncomfortably crowded. The 40-man roster includes Miles, Hector Luna, Deivi Cruz, Bo Hart, Brendan Ryan and Travis Hanson. Unless the Cardinals plan on stockpiling middle infielders they have no intention of using, Jocketty may consider his work done at 2B. The only good spin for this is that Bret "One T" Boone is less likely to be a Cardinal.
Then you have your doomsday scenarios... oh, dear... with all those middle infielders, LaRussa's liable to play Miles in the outfield some. If he does that, then my head may explode.
The Cardinals didn't offer arbitration to Reggie Sanders or Julian Tavarez either. While neither is a complete surprise, it couldn't be worse news. Holes not filled and draft picks not gained.
Two incredibly bad quotes:
La Russa underscored Wednesday that economic realities make it likely So Taguchi will go to spring training as a projected starter.
Just a reminder, So Taguchi will be 36 next year. And there's this...
Interest in Millwood comes amid ownership's adherence to a "hard cap" that provides no more than $2 million and one season to the club's next starting second baseman.
Who the heck puts a "hard cap" on a single position? Is this arbitrary line-drawing the reason that Loretta and Castillo won't be in St. Louis next year? The Cardinals apparently have decided they needed to make the NL Central more of a challenge, and so they'll be painting themselves into corners all offseason. They keep talking about a $90+ million payroll, and while we're still only in early December, where's all this other money going?
The Cardinals are returning the core of a team coming off consecutive 100-win seasons. Ergo, I refuse to panic. That said, could the offseason have unfolded any worse than this?
Posted by Rob at December 8, 2005 03:17 AMYou know, if we traded for Milton Bradley, we could play him in right field and then platoon SoTag, Rodriguez, and Bigbie in left.
Posted by: Fitz at December 8, 2005 10:44 AMYeah, this is not the greatest of news. I am trying not to get too despondent though, because every off season looks bleak and then Walt works a little magic. I feel like there is something big coming down the pipe. Let's hope so, anyway.
Posted by: George in SF at December 8, 2005 12:49 PMI know we all have been maintaining the "sure it's bad, but Walt always manages to make magic in the end." the only problem with this is that someday, your luck runs out. Someday, there's no junkheap 2B to sign as a one year reclamation project or that project fails. There is some comfort in the core group returning, but that comfort is more than slightly diminished by the number of those players being at high risk for injury, due either to age or prior history (Rolen, Edmonds, Mulder, and even Carp's coming off the first 200+ inning season of his career). Just think, if Rolen gets injured, Miles has some experience at 3B...ugh. Not in panic mode, but slightly concerned.
Posted by: ryan vb at December 8, 2005 12:58 PMAnyone think J-Rod earned a shot at a starting job?
Posted by: Jeff at December 8, 2005 01:11 PMI think that if we go into spring training with John Rodriguez having a STRONG shot at being a starter, I will cry.
Milton Bradley would be a good choice though.
Posted by: Fitz at December 8, 2005 01:19 PMNot quite panicking like y'alls.
I have no problem with Taguchi starting, as long as some other things happen too. taguchi is neither a major part of our team nor a downer. he played pretty well, I thought, last season and even in the brief times he appeared in the playoffs. He's a contact slap hitter which is fine for our otherwise plenty powerful lineup.
If we get a strong corner OF to plug the medium sized hole in our lineup, then So in left and a really good defensive/who cares offensive 2b will be fine for our team. Remember, our rotation produces an inordinately high number of ground balls on purpose, we need a guy who can turn the double play like butter more than we need an above average OPS from that position.
I'm assuming Walt can do this (corner OFer), even though our options aren't clear. but he left the bullpen short last year, and that is my main area of concern, especially if we are easing a young SP into the mix. I think a wicked bullpen is extremely valuable. We saw what Houton did with it and what teams do without one in a pinch.
Posted by: Ryan at December 8, 2005 05:06 PMI saw a lot of Larry Bigbie in 2005, and I got the impression he's as streaky as they come. When he stays back and hits the ball to left center, he's dynamite, but when he tries to pull everything, it gets ugly. He also has some pretty good speed in the outfield, and he'd definitely be an upgrade over Reggie defensively. But he's frequently hurt, tends to sulk (although he's not very outspoken about it, thankfully) when either not starting or playing poorly. Still, I think he's more likely to post closer to .280/.340/.420 as a fourth outfielder than his .239/.301/.346 from last season.
This has potential to be a solid trade, but right now giving up Ray isn't looking so hot.
Posted by: MO Boiler at December 8, 2005 05:10 PM..Manny? That'd be interesting.
Posted by: MO Boiler at December 8, 2005 05:13 PMManny? Huh? You mean there's a rumor lboros missed?
Fitz, I hope you've got some plan in case the Cubs get Bradley.
Posted by: Rob at December 8, 2005 06:00 PMNo rumor, it was just a crazy thought.
Posted by: MO Boiler at December 8, 2005 10:47 PMMorris was offered salary arbitration.
Posted by: Daniel at December 9, 2005 12:56 AM>Fitz, I hope you've got some plan in case the Cubs get Bradley.
Yeah, I do. I'm going to wait until he plays at Busch and yell at him a couple times. I should get a sweet settlement and he should get suspended a la Artest.
What happened to the talks with Jaque Jones i say sign him, stick him in right and then platoon with the other three. He hits 20 bombs a year hits for a decent average and is at moderate price.
Posted by: Zach at December 9, 2005 03:32 PMJones sucks. He can't hit lefties and swings at junk. He'd be overpaid. At least Sanders would've been worth it at $4 million.
Larry Bigbie is 11 for 14 career vs. Andy Pettite. Ass-tros, get ready to eat a fat one.
Posted by: MO Boiler at December 9, 2005 05:54 PM