Welp, Cardinal Fans...............
- Thread starter Indndawg
- Start date
Since the Brewers have gone into orbit, it may not have mattered anyway, but they have blown more games this year in the late innings by not having a real closer. Given the history of great ones in St Louis, it is sad to watch their bullpen
It really has become hard to watch. As successful as the Larussa/Duncan combo has been in St. Louis, it may be time for a change. I'm not opposed to keeping them around but maybe some new energy is what the team needs.
Looking back, trading Chris Perez was obviously a bad move. Pitching has got to be revamped and Shelby Miller needs to hurry up and get ready.
Looking back, trading Chris Perez was obviously a bad move. Pitching has got to be revamped and Shelby Miller needs to hurry up and get ready.
The LaRussa/Dave Duncan show has run too long. Time to cut the cord. Duncan's philosophy of pitching works great when you have solid middle infielders (which they don't) to grab ground balls.
I'm so sick of Larussa. He thinks that he's so much smarter than all the other managers. He consistently overmanages the team to losses, runs out a different line-up every day, and refuses to play the young guys (surprised Freese has played so much this year). He doesn't know how to develop young guys. The Rasmus trade is gonna bite him in the ***. Descalso and Craig (when healthy) should have been starting all year.
Hopefully, Larussa will be gone after this year. The only reason I wanted him around was to ensure Pujols would stick around. Now, I don't care if Pujols signs elsewhere. He's on the downside of a brilliant career, but is not worth 25 mil/year.
With the payroll and fan support he was given, he has underacheived. After this year, his teams will have missed the playoffs in 8 of his 16 years as manager of St. Louis. In the NL Central, the weakest division in baseball.
I'm sick of him.
Hopefully, Larussa will be gone after this year. The only reason I wanted him around was to ensure Pujols would stick around. Now, I don't care if Pujols signs elsewhere. He's on the downside of a brilliant career, but is not worth 25 mil/year.
With the payroll and fan support he was given, he has underacheived. After this year, his teams will have missed the playoffs in 8 of his 16 years as manager of St. Louis. In the NL Central, the weakest division in baseball.
I'm sick of him.
Pujols has said as much. The issue was the length of the contract, not the money.
I've always like LaRussa/Duncan- they've had a lot of success over the years with the White Sox, the A's and now the Cardinals. If they leave, they leave- and that could make things a little bit interesting as far as Pujols is concerned if there is a different manager. That said, I'm pretty open to just about anything if it makes the Cardinals better. One thing I've noticed about the Cardinals in recent years is that they have gotten a lot less aggressive on the basepaths compared to when LaRussa took over. They used to be able to do a lot more small ball mixed in with some guys that could hit the long ball- whether that be McGwire, Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds, Holliday, etc.
If there is a silver lining, not making the playoffs might give them a better chance at signing Pujols because they will have more time to negotiate. How defeatist is that?
I think they missed Wainwright a lot this year, and I agree with everyone who said that they need a closer- that's why I said at the trade deadline that they needed to get Heath Bell. Yes, Salas was doing a decent job, but he is still a rookie, and therefore unproven.
If it were me, what I would do if I was the Cardinals:
1. Sign Pujols. Give him a blank check. Lord knows how much money he has brought that franchise by himself, they almost can't overpay him.
2. Get rid of Westbrook and Lohse. A healthy Wainwright will replace one and then I would give Shelby Miller a long look in spring training as the fifth starter. And yes, I am aware that he has not pitched above AA and has had some alcohol related issues.
3. Either make Jason Motte the closer, Edwin Jackson the closer, or sign Heath Bell. In that order- paying Bell is my third option because I figure paying Pujols will eat up a lot of the budget. Motte, in my opinion should get a shot. I would let Edwin Jackson leave and take the draft picks that the Cardinals would get.
4. Get the best middle infielder I could with whatever is left in the budget- in particular a SS. Someone like an Orlando Cabrera probably wouldn't break the bank.
I've always like LaRussa/Duncan- they've had a lot of success over the years with the White Sox, the A's and now the Cardinals. If they leave, they leave- and that could make things a little bit interesting as far as Pujols is concerned if there is a different manager. That said, I'm pretty open to just about anything if it makes the Cardinals better. One thing I've noticed about the Cardinals in recent years is that they have gotten a lot less aggressive on the basepaths compared to when LaRussa took over. They used to be able to do a lot more small ball mixed in with some guys that could hit the long ball- whether that be McGwire, Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds, Holliday, etc.
If there is a silver lining, not making the playoffs might give them a better chance at signing Pujols because they will have more time to negotiate. How defeatist is that?
I think they missed Wainwright a lot this year, and I agree with everyone who said that they need a closer- that's why I said at the trade deadline that they needed to get Heath Bell. Yes, Salas was doing a decent job, but he is still a rookie, and therefore unproven.
If it were me, what I would do if I was the Cardinals:
1. Sign Pujols. Give him a blank check. Lord knows how much money he has brought that franchise by himself, they almost can't overpay him.
2. Get rid of Westbrook and Lohse. A healthy Wainwright will replace one and then I would give Shelby Miller a long look in spring training as the fifth starter. And yes, I am aware that he has not pitched above AA and has had some alcohol related issues.
3. Either make Jason Motte the closer, Edwin Jackson the closer, or sign Heath Bell. In that order- paying Bell is my third option because I figure paying Pujols will eat up a lot of the budget. Motte, in my opinion should get a shot. I would let Edwin Jackson leave and take the draft picks that the Cardinals would get.
4. Get the best middle infielder I could with whatever is left in the budget- in particular a SS. Someone like an Orlando Cabrera probably wouldn't break the bank.
Besides Pujols, Freese, and Wainwright, I dont care if any of them come back. Might throw Motte in there, he seems to have finally figured it out.