***Official 2015 STL Cardinals Thread***

[BigRedChief]

2011 World Series Championship
2012 NLCS. One win from another WS appearance.
2013 World Series. Two wins from another World Series Championship
2014 NLCS. Three wins from another WS appearance

• Made the postseason 10 times in the last 14 seasons.
• Only 1 losing season since 2000.
• Reached the World Series 4 times since 2004 and won as many championships (two) the past eight seasons as it did from 1965 to 2005.
• Made the NLCS 9 times including the last 4 years 2011-2014
• Three million attendance? Take it to the bank.
• 65 post season wins since 2004. 22+ wins more than any other team.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Still Backwards kinda. One win away from Series in '12, two away from World Series win in '13.

Maybe you should post some more pictures of girls with clothes on and off.

You google and find some. Why am I the only one? 13K views? Want to look but not contribute.............Lazy shits

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

We know all that dude

So what would you do smart guy?

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Mark Reynolds. Print em.

I hear he strikes out occasionally.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Miles

I hear he strikes out occasionally.

He can't do any worse than Ellis and Delcaso. How good of a hitter are you going to get that's willing to ride the pine and PH only? Pretty small sample size of talent in that pool.

He is a hit a home run or strike out type of hitter. Maybe get us a timely home run in the playoffs next year?

[Miles]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

He can't do any worse than Ellis and Delcaso. How good of a hitter are you going to get that's willing to ride the pine and PH only? Pretty small sample size of talent in that pool.

He is a hit a home run or strike out type of hitter. Maybe get us a timely home run in the playoffs next year?

I'm actually ok with the signing since it was only for $2M. Also read somewhere is D has gotten a lot better over the years at 1B.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Miles

I'm actually ok with the signing since it was only for $2M. Also read somewhere is D has gotten a lot better over the years at 1B.

I'm hearing rumors that they are going to play Piscotty at 1B some this year to see if he can handle the position just in case.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by Miles

I'm actually ok with the signing since it was only for $2M. Also read somewhere is D has gotten a lot better over the years at 1B.

They signed Reynolds for his ability to play 1B. They were looking for someone who could play RF/LF/1B. Although it seems to me we had 5 outfielders already.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Who is our utility infielder this year? Surely they understand Kozma won't do. Garcia? Can Reynolds play some 3B as well?

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Who is our utility infielder this year? Surely they understand Kozma won't do. Garcia? Can Reynolds play some 3B as well?

Kelly or Anna.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Who is our utility infielder this year? Surely they understand Kozma won't do. Garcia? Can Reynolds play some 3B as well?

Isn't that why they signed Anna?

[BigRedChief]

Possible Matheny Lineup

Carp
Hayward
Holliday
Adams
Molina
Peralta
Jay
Wong
Pitcher

Mine:
Carp
Wong
Holliday
Hayward
Molina
Adams
Peralta
Jay
Pitcher

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Isn't that why they signed Anna?

Forgot about that guy. Might as well play Kozma.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I know its a long shot but Its not unrealistic but why not Shurzer?.

Why are Waino, Holliday, Carp etc calling him if they don't think its a possibility, even if its a long shot. Numbers.............Follow along......

2014 Opening day payroll: $111 Million
2011 Opening day payroll: $109 Million

The Cardinals have pocketed some profits the last few years thanks to their young low paid talent. Goold says the Cardinals could afford a $150 payroll this year. Make the debt payments on the stadium and still profit $20 million.

These $68.6 million salaries are coming off the books in the next few years

2015
Garcia's $9.375 million

2016
Holliday $17 million

2017
Peralta $10 milliom
Molina $14.2 Million

2018
Wainwright $18.2 Million
Committed payroll
2015 : $97,125
2016 : $72.700
2017 : $57.200
2018 : $33.250

Baseball has a new TV contract and license/sponsorship rates. Here's whats predicted for the cost or WAR.


So why can't we commit this new money to a top of the line pitcher. Thats $75 - $150 million of new money through 2020. We still have the cap space above to pay the other players.

Again, why not pay Schurzer $25 million/7 years, $175 million total. We have the room to not hamstring us down the road.

I'm thinking we realistically have 2 years left in the window. In 2017 Holliday is gone. Peralta, Molina and Waino are done or on their last legs. Why not give it our best shot to win another WS in the next two year window?

Just heard a guy on MLB tonight say he thinks the Cardinals get Shurzer but it will be mid January after the Yankees refuse to fork over $300 million.

[BigRedChief]

Ken Rosenthal: Could Hamels, Price or Scherzer be answer to Cards' rotation needs?

The St. Louis Cardinals say they like their starting rotation. But that is not preventing them from pursuing a major upgrade.
The team is exploring trades for left-handers Cole Hamels and David Price and the possibility of signing free-agent right-hander Max Scherzer, according to major-league sources.


No deal appears close on any front, and it’s possible that the Cardinals will simply decide that the acquisition cost in each case is too high.
However, the Cardinals’ interest in adding another starter reflects, at least in part, concern about their rotation beyond right-hander Lance Lynn.
Staff ace Adam Wainwright is coming off surgery last October in which he had cartilage trimmed from his right elbow. Michael Wacha pitched only 107 innings last season due to a stress reaction in his right shoulder.
John Lackey is entering his free-agent year, while Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzales are unproven as starters. Jaime Garcia, the sole veteran left-hander, underwent surgery in July to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in his shoulder and has pitched only 99 innings the past two seasons.


The Cardinals’ preference, according to sources, is to add another left-hander; hence, their interest in Hamels and Price. Scherzer holds a different appeal — he is a native of St. Louis and the best pitcher on the free-agent market. However, sources say he is seeking $200 million, and his agent, Scott Boras, generally is not inclined to grant hometown discounts.


Hamels and Price would be expensive in other ways.






The Phillies want premium talent for Hamels, who is owed $90 million over the next four years. Teams usually balk at trading top prospects while taking on expensive contracts. The good news for the Cardinals is that they could acquire Hamels without his permission; they are not on his no-trade list.


If anything, Hamels would welcome a deal to St. Louis, sources say. His wife, Heidi, is from the St. Louis area, and all of her family lives in Missouri, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
The Cardinals’ biggest problem, perhaps, would be satisfying the Phillies.
To secure Hamels, the Cardinals likely would need to part with Martinez or Gonzales as well as an outfielder such as Randal Grichuk or Stephen Piscotty (the Phillies have long coveted Peter Bourjos as well, sources say).


Such a price could be prohibitive.


Rest of the article here:
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/s...-morosi-010715

[Mr. Flopnuts]

I read earlier that Shields could well end up in the Lou.