The Holtonian

Cardinals Tanking... oh well

So I'm kind of hoping the cards blow it and the astros win the division. I was talking to concerned last night and we really feel that the team is not playing to win this year. They seem to have this mind set, "Well we can't win the WS why bother in the post season, lets just wait till next year when we'll have a completely different team."

Free Agents:
Jim Edmonds--probably not resigning him due to his concussion syndrome and decline in production. I was disappointed when the cards were moving in this direction initially b/c I'm a believer you give a guy a chance to retire with the team, but after the concussion stuff surfaced I think in my own Calvinist sort of way that it was God trying to tell Jimmy to hang it up.

Marquis--fish and cut bait. The two best (arguably) pitching coaches in the ML (definately in the NL) Duncan and Mazzone(i realize he's al now) couldn't handle this guy. He's got all sorts of issues and no one knows how to motivate him. He's like the genius kid in school who would rather throw spit balls at the teacher and breeze by getting B's then applying himself and getting A's. Good stuff but he's definately Jeckyl and Hyde out on the Mound.

Suppan--I'm actually a fan of Suppan (and that rymes). I say the cards throw him a low ball offer and say "Hey we like you, we know what we get from you "(at least 15 wins usually a season... this year he was a bit off). "Come pitch and be a good 3rd or 4th man in the rotation." He's a good guy and is only 30ish.

Mulder--I'm a firm believer that the Oakland A's Pitchers are way over rated. They play in a division of four weak, WEAK!!! teams. The Angels, A's, Mariners, and Rangers, those are three weak teams. The Angels won the WS by playing a weak Giants team a few years back, and that was the worst WS since Yanks Mets 2000.... those series stink if you don't live in the state that is represented, thats why I fear this year. Mulder and Thompson (In ATL) have been sooooo mediocre. AND THEY"RE PLAYING IN THE NL! They should dominate. So the AL west is weak (they only have 4 teams for crying out loud). Now this all being said, give the guy a contract that is low and try to retain him just in case he can come back from the DL and turn his career on. They did the same thing for Morris and it worked for a few years before he went to the Giants. This all being said I would not sign Zito. He's the best of the three from Oakland but his stuff has dropped some the past few years. The A's are built on young pitching and there seems to be a reason why they let the pitchers walk when they come of age. Well, not walk, trade them for younger pitchers...

Belliard--Dumbest trade this year let him walk, the indians are still laughing at us for this one.

The cards also need to think about a few aging players. Izzy, Rolen, Eckstein (b/c of is injuries this year). They have no farm system thanks to trades the past few years. So they may be hurting for a while now. They can either go free agent crazy, which they won't, or just shut it down for a few years, which would be a shame because you have pujols in his prime and carpenter still roaring. I think free agency could build the team back up into contention but they'd be looking at a adding a lot of pay roll and relying on two young starters: Reyes and Wainwright.

I also think they need a new coach because Larussa doesn't inspire anyone. They need a motivator who is more concerned about the team and his players. Concerned and I like Giaradi out of Florida but my guess is if he's out there watch the cubs fire baker to pick up that former cub... at least that's what I'd do. As far as Larrusa goes though he won't be gone till his contract is up. Though I would like him too, you don't really get rid of a coach if they get you to the WS.

Posted by holtonian at September 29, 2006 06:24 AM | TrackBack