2018 STL Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

Opening day lineup

Fowler RF
Pham CF
Carpenter 3B
Ozuna LF
Martinez 1B
Molina C
Dejong SS
Wong 2B
Pitcher

Edit:
Matheny fired 07/14/2018




Opening Day Roster

Spoiler!

St. Louis has opted to carry 12 position players and 13 pitchers to begin the new season, with a four-man bench and eight-man bullpen.

Outfielders:
Dexter Fowler
Tommy Pham
Marcell Ozuna

Infielders:
Matt Carpenter
Paul DeJong
Kolten Wong

Catchers:
Yadier Molina
Francisco Pena

Utility:
Jose Martinez
Greg Garcia
Yairo Munoz
Jedd Gyrko

Starters:
Carlos Martinez
Michael Wacha
Luke Weaver
Miles Mikolas
Jack Flaherty

Relievers:
Dominic Leone
Tyler Lyons
Bud Norris
Brett Cecil
Sam Tuivailala
Matt Bowman
Jordan Hicks
Mike Mayers

On the DL:
Adam Wainwright
Luke Gregerson

[Miles]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's what I've argued that the Cardinals do for years. The best relievers are repurposed starters. I've said it over and over again. Look at what the Astros have done this year. They've taken guys like Colin McHugh and Brad Peacock, who were shitty starting pitchers, and turned them into excellent relief pitchers. The Royals did it by accident with Davis and Hochevar after they failed miserably in the rotation. The Cardinals have done something similar with players earlier in their development. Guys like Gomber, Poncedeleon, and Hudson all profile to the back end of a rotation, but when they can blow it out for an inning or two, their stuff plays better. Hell, look at the difference between Mayers in the pen compared to starting. Eventually, one or two of them will have more value in the rotation, but as long as they have velocity and good control, they're usable for an inning or two, which is a damned sight better than paying $26 million per year to Cecil, Gregerson, and Holland, The Three ****sketeers.

The other frustrating thing about all three of those guys...The Three ****sketeers, is they were coming of either down seasons or in the case of Holland coming off a late seaason implosion. Given the variance in retred releivers, I'm completely fine signing or trading cases of beer for these types of guys and seems like Joceketty did well doing exactly that. Key difference is they should be dumpster dives and not big money or legit assets given up. Even worse is they were supposed to be relied up and had/have the inerta of sunk cost money tied to them.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Frazod

If only they'd fired his ass earlier.

God I hate it when some so obvious, necessary and inevitable takes ****ing forever to happen.

Or given an extension instead...

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's what I've argued that the Cardinals do for years. The best relievers are repurposed starters. I've said it over and over again. Look at what the Astros have done this year. They've taken guys like Colin McHugh and Brad Peacock, who were shitty starting pitchers, and turned them into excellent relief pitchers. The Royals did it by accident with Davis and Hochevar after they failed miserably in the rotation. The Cardinals have done something similar with players earlier in their development. Guys like Gomber, Poncedeleon, and Hudson all profile to the back end of a rotation, but when they can blow it out for an inning or two, their stuff plays better. Hell, look at the difference between Mayers in the pen compared to starting. Eventually, one or two of them will have more value in the rotation, but as long as they have velocity and good control, they're usable for an inning or two, which is a damned sight better than paying $26 million per year to Cecil, Gregerson, and Holland, The Three ****sketeers.

Old school is often still valid. Some of our best closers were failed starters.

[jd1020]

Nationals brought in Holland in a tie game and the only out he recorded was a wild throw in which the umpire called out the runner for being outside the baseline when the ball didn't even hit him before he ultimately walked in the go ahead run on 4 pitches.

[BigRedChief]

Carp is mashing “Pujols like”. The dude was completely lost for months this season. Despite that hole, he’s now in the conversation for NL MVP. Go figure. But, I like it.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Carp is mashing “Pujols like”. The dude was completely lost for months this season. Despite that hole, he’s now in the conversation for NL MVP. Go figure. But, I like it.

His stats this season compare to some of the worst in Pujols' time in STL.

That shows how ridiculous Pujols was in his prime.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

His stats this season compare to some of the worst in Pujols' time in STL.

That shows how ridiculous Pujols was in his prime.

no shit. Pujols was amazing when he was here.

Pujols had the best 11 years of any baseball player, ever. No one was better. Not Ruth, Mantle, Musial, no one. Any comparison to that will always fail in comparison.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Where’s the Royals game day thread?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Where’s the Royals game day thread?

Guess morale has declined since they took 2/3 from us in St.Louis.

[BigRedChief]

Why did they call up Wisdom? Has he stopped being a strike out machine?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Why did they call up Wisdom? Has he stopped being a strike out machine?

Munoz to the DL and they had to burn another spot on the 40 man (sigh) after putting Gregerson on the 60-day.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Man, they don’t exactly have a cake schedule from here on out but these guys could actually make the Wild Card game.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Munoz to the DL and they had to burn another spot on the 40 man (sigh) after putting Gregerson on the 60-day.

still doesn’t explain why the call up now? Has he cut down on his strikeouts? If not, why do we need a strikeout guy killing rallies when this offense finally is starting to show some life?

We kept the guy exposed and no one in baseball wanted him for waiver wire money. Can’t we just expose him again this off season? Or does a player have to stay on the 40 man roster a specific amount of time when added?

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Why did they call up Wisdom? Has he stopped being a strike out machine?

He was still striking out about the same rate as always, but he has been more productive overall (.842 OPS). I was surprised it was him, but that has to be a good feeling after getting snubbed a bit in September last year.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Man, they don’t exactly have a cake schedule from here on out but these guys could actually make the Wild Card game.

they are playing some good baseball. Young guys in the pen are coming through for the team. WC or not it’s a lot more fun watching this team since Matheny was fired.