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

[BigRedChief]

I can’t remember the last time anyone in the front office, including Mo has publicly called out a player line this.
————————————-

PHOENIX • In a series of broadcast interviews the past two days, John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, has had a blunt assessment of the team at the halfway point, and that included comments that were perceived as critical of center fielder Dexter Fowler.

Mozeliak told interviewers that he has been questioned about Fowler's "effort and his energy level," and during an interview Sunday morning on KMOX/1120 AM he said he wanted to "challenge" Fowler to bring more of the energy and excitement that the team saw from the veteran a year ago. He elaborated on that thought Monday during a podcast interview with Fox Sports Midwest broadcaster Dan McLaughlin.

"Those are things I can't defend," Mozeliak said of the perception. He then launched into a general comment on the team: "Everybody needs to take a hard look in the mirror and decide what they want that next chapter to look like. In Dexter's case, maybe taking a brief timeout, trying to reassess himself and then give him a chance for a strong second half is probably what's best for everybody."

[bdj23]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I can’t remember the last time anyone in the front office, including Mo has publicly called out a player line this.
————————————-

PHOENIX • In a series of broadcast interviews the past two days, John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, has had a blunt assessment of the team at the halfway point, and that included comments that were perceived as critical of center fielder Dexter Fowler.

Mozeliak told interviewers that he has been questioned about Fowler's "effort and his energy level," and during an interview Sunday morning on KMOX/1120 AM he said he wanted to "challenge" Fowler to bring more of the energy and excitement that the team saw from the veteran a year ago. He elaborated on that thought Monday during a podcast interview with Fox Sports Midwest broadcaster Dan McLaughlin.

"Those are things I can't defend," Mozeliak said of the perception. He then launched into a general comment on the team: "Everybody needs to take a hard look in the mirror and decide what they want that next chapter to look like. In Dexter's case, maybe taking a brief timeout, trying to reassess himself and then give him a chance for a strong second half is probably what's best for everybody."

Inb4 Fowlers wife calls mo a racist on Twitter

[Frazod]

Should be calling out the manager that's let the team get this way.

[bdj23]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Should be calling out the manager that's let the team get this way.

Yep

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Should be calling out the manager that's let the team get this way.

He should just fire Meathead.

Although I agree with his sentiments and have advocated just DFA’ing Fowler.

The GM shouldn’t be calling out any players so publicly. Just cut him, demote him, whatever but public shaming isn’t a good thing for the Cardinals org. We are already having trouble recruiting good players. If the org is willing to public shame a player, why should I go there?

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

He should just fire Meathead.

How big is DeWitt on paying 2 more years of Matheny's salary when he isnt an employee?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by jd1020

How big is DeWitt on paying 2 more years of Matheny's salary when he isnt an employee?

he paid $144 Million for the team. It’s worth $1.9 Billion now. He’s making a small fortune with baseball village and the team is making $100 million in profit this season. He can afford the write off.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

he paid $144 Million for the team. It’s worth $1.9 Billion now. He’s making a small fortune with baseball village and the team is making $100 million in profit this season. He can afford the write off.

Being able to afford something and being willing are two entirely separate things.

Who is the Cardinals biggest retained salary? Mike Leake? Isn't he off the books after this season?

IIRC, when the Cubs hired Maddon they were still paying Sveum AND Renteria.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

He should just fire Meathead.

Although I agree with his sentiments and have advocated just DFA’ing Fowler.

The GM shouldn’t be calling out any players so publicly. Just cut him, demote him, whatever but public shaming isn’t a good thing for the Cardinals org. We are already having trouble recruiting good players. If the org is willing to public shame a player, why should I go there?

If people were still willing to play for a ****wad like George Steinbrenner after he hired a degenerate gambler to try and ruin Dave Winfield's reputation out of spite, and after he called Hideki Irabu a fat toad, then I doubt what the GM says, which is pretty milquetoast in this instance, moves the needle much at all.

It's always about who will pay free agents the most money. Boston is an openly hostile fan base to black players and they still manage to get plenty of them as free agents because they offer more money.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If people were still willing to play for a ****wad like George Steinbrenner after he hired a degenerate gambler to try and ruin Dave Winfield's reputation out of spite, and after he called Hideki Irabu a fat toad, then I doubt what the GM says, which is pretty milquetoast in this instance, moves the needle much at all.

It's always about who will pay free agents the most money. Boston is an openly hostile fan base to black players and they still manage to get plenty of them as free agents because they offer more money.

its a different era back then. The Yankees had a lot more money than the rest of baseball and an owner willing to spend money.

Now the majority of teams have money. The players have options to get their top $ money. Different era.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

its a different era back then. The Yankees had a lot more money than the rest of baseball and an owner willing to spend money.

Now the majority of teams have money. The players have options to get their top $ money. Different era.

Now the majority of teams have money and players like David Price are still going to the Red Sox because they offer the most money.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Being able to afford something and being willing are two entirely separate things.

Who is the Cardinals biggest retained salary? Mike Leake? Isn't he off the books after this season?

IIRC, when the Cubs hired Maddon they were still paying Sveum AND Renteria.

Yadi is $20M in AAV.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Here's the problem with the Cardinals: they don't understand that in sports a dollar is worth more than four quarters. They want to fill the team with 2-3 win players. High floor, low ceiling type guys. Yet when they were on their run of excellence, they had multiple guys giving them 6+ wins rounded out with a bunch of 1 win players, not a lineup and rotation filled with above average MLB starters and no elite players.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Yadi is $20M in AAV.

Yadi is not wasted money yet. Still have two years to go though.

Cardinals position players are worth .5 WAR for the season. So theoretically we can get anyone to replace theses guys.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

This zone tonight is the worst I've seen all year, and there have been some awful ones. Welke missed five calls in the first inning, and every one of them benefited the Dbags.