SB Nation User Blog: Warcard

Major Moves Coming

Warcard — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:02:56 -0000

The Cards seem to be a team in transition and things just seem to keep changing. Tony has announced that Ankiel will play RF when he comes back and Tyler Greene and Ryan seem to be battling for the everyday SS position. Evidently there is a need for a 3B although Barden is hitting again after getting some consistent playing time, and Wallace is tearing it up in Memphis.

I think Ankiel moving to RF is intriguing because Rasmus is clearly your better defensive CF'der and the future in that position, and by moving Ankiel to right seems to indicate a shift in philosophy. Ludwick would seem to be the guy to alternate between LF and RF because Duncan is a LF only ? If someone gets moved I still believe that Duncan is the guy they should move unless they put him at 1B and move Pujols to 3B and we all know that is not going to happen.

The Cards also have a lot of decisions to make at the end of the year with pending free agency. I for one beleive that they need to sign a frontline starting pitcher and invest in Pujols' new contract. Frontline starting pitching and Pujols' new contract will be very expensive but that would be an excellent way to spend the money that they will have coming off the books by not resigning Ankiel, Glaus, K.Greene, Wellemeyer, and Pinero. They will also have Adam Kennedy money off the books as well.

In my opinion, the Cards are in a great position for the future because they have talented young players developing for key spots and money coming off the books. There is also the intrigue of doing something to improve the team now and I believe that immediate improvement and future improvement could go hand-in-hand.

Their current needs are pretty evident - they need a 3B and they need starting pitching depth - DeRosa and Peavy anyone? DeRosa is a really good fit to bridge the gap to Wallace or Freeze and Peavy gives you a frontline staring pitcher for the current year and for the future. DeRosa seems like a no-brainer and if you really look at the situation with starting pitching I think Peavy makes sense as well. They have money coming off the books and many believe that frontline starting pitching is their greatest need. With Peavy you basically would be trading for a rental pitcher for this year and signing a long-term FA for future years. Peavy is not cheap but I believe that he is as good as anyone on the upcoming FA market and as many have advocated the Cards greatest need is to sign a FA top flight starting pitcher.

DeRosa and Peavy are just what the Cards need and it is possible because they have the depth to trade from and they have money coming available.

Hitting in Front of Pujols

Warcard — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:16:58 -0000

is constantly talked about as being the best spot in baseball and I would like to throw out a different line of thinking on such perspective. There is no doubt that the guy hitting in this spot may get better pitches from a pitcher because they do not want to face Pujols with runner(s) on base, etc. While this is a distinct advantage I think there is also some negative to this spot as well.

I think the #2 spot in the Cards order brings with it more pressure than any other spot, even more pressure than hitting behind Pujols in the clean-up spot because there is so much emphasis to just get on base so Pujols will get a chance to hit. I think this "just get on base mentality can make he hitter more passive and alter the approach. I don't think that is a bad thing for a guy like Robinson, but I believe it may take away to much aggressiveness from a guy like Rasmus.

It may just be coincidental but I just had a feeling that we would see a different Rasmus hitting down in the order, and so far so good. Not that he did not do a good job hitting in front of Pujols, but he seems much more relaxed and aggressive hitting in the #6 spot. Of course his success may be from just getting to play on an everyday basis, etc. but it makes me wonder. Remember the discussion about how they wanted him to hit down on the ball, and how he was encouraged to bunt. Nothing wrong with that strategy, but they may have under-estimated his power and value at driving in runs.

What happened to the warning track power thoughts, and the discussion of how he will eventually become a power hitter as he matures? Now I fully understand that a couple of home runs does not make him a power hitter, but that 452 foot bomb was pretty impressive - it makes me wonder if he does not have more power than what most were predicting.

So maybe Rasmus will thrive down in the order and maybe Tony needs to re-think what type of hitter should be in front of Pujols. I know Tony has said that he likes someone who can provide power in that spot, but maybe just someone to get on in front of Pujols should be the goal, and a pesky hitter like Robinson might just be the right fit.

Free Agency 2010

Warcard — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:55:29 -0000

The Cardinals have 5 key players that will be eligible for free agency in 2010 and those players currently command a combined salary of approximately 31.5 million. Three of those players are position players (K. Greene, Ankiel, Glaus) and two players are pitchers (Wellemeyer & Pinero). That 31.5 million is a huge chunk of the total payroll and another 4 million comes off the books from Adam Kennedy's contract. Additionally, the Cards are currently approximately 10 million under the overall salary high water mark. To make a long story short, the upcoming free agency will provide the Cards a great oppportunity to re-shape the roster. That re-shaping might simply be resigning some or all of the Cardinal free agents or that re-shaping could mean that the current free agents are allowed to walk allowing them to spend the money in a different manner. Thirty five million is a lot of money and the decisions about how to move forward will no doubt have a huge bearing on the future of the Cards. Ideas on how they should utilize these resources is the parameter for discussion in this thread.

I believe that the Cards are in a position where they might should let all five of the pending free agents walk or if possible move them in a trade this summer. I like Ankiel but Duncan is here to stay, Rasmus is your CF'der of the future and you need Ludwick's RH bat in the line-up. Glaus is a good player but I am not sure if Glaus gives you more production than Barden and Thurston plus Glaus commands a huge salary. K.Greene has potential but he is not hitting and he is not as good defensively as T. Greene or Ryan. Bottom line is that I think you see all three of those guys being traded or allowed to walk.

In my mind pitching is the weak link. Wainright and Lohose are good enough at the top of the rotation but Wellemeyer or Pinero can probably be replaced with a young pitcher from within the organization, and I just don't think that either is good enough for what the Cards need - a frontline starter. I think you count on Carpenter as your #5 and hope for better, but you find a cheap young #4 to go along with Wainright and Lohose and you sign the very best free agent starting pitcher possible to strengthen this staff. In my mind, this improves the team more than signing any of the Cards current free agents.

Signing a frontline starting pitcher should be a high priority, but. priority #1 should be to re-structure Pujols' contract and make him a lifetime Cardinal. Ankiel, Glaus and K. Greene are good players, but they can be replaced - there is no replacement for Albert!

Cardinal Prospect Questions / Comments

Warcard — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:03:52 -0000

I went and watched Springfield play against Frisco last week and was surprised by a couple of things and thought I might get some feedback.

#1. Jones hit way down in the order and I had heard so much about him that I figured he woIuld be in the top of the order. Does anyone have any insight as to why he might be hitting 7th?

#2. I have not heard anything about their catcher (Hill) - he is hitting about .400 and I am wondering what the book is on him.

#3. Springfield has a some guys hitting in the top of the order that I have not heard anything about. I am wondering if they are good prospects, etc.

#4. Wallace did not get any hits but hit a ball against the CF wall in his first at bat. He made all the plays at 3B but did not have any tough chances.

Memphis:

#1. Noticed that Craig is now playing LF since Freese was sent back down. Has he played there before, etc.

#2. Jay has cooled off and Mather finally got a couple of hits going 2-4 on Thursday night - maybe that will get him going.

Overall - I don't see anyone knocking the door down to get promoted - I know it is early.

Barden

Warcard — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:49:35 -0000

getting the start at 3B today is interesting. I always wondered if Mather and Freese were being given a shot and if they did not prove out that Tony could always go back to Barden. Barden has enough experience that they know what they are going to get from him and he is hitting better than any of 3B candidates or the other utility players. I know it is only spring but his .400 avg. is hard to ignore.

He also flips with Schumaker in the leadoff and second leadoff spot and that might be an advantage for him. Of course this may mean absolutely nothing and he may be the guy that gets cut when it is all said and done as most are speculating. However, I think the case can certainly be made for Barden to make this team and even start at 3B. He does not have the power that Mather or Freese has, but that is really not what the Cards need. They need people who can get on in the leadoff and second leadoff spots and I think a case can be made for Barden being the best at that particular need.

Another Line-up Thought

Warcard — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:11:35 -0000

There has been much discussion about the #2 spot in the batting order and I like many others have advocated for Ankiel in that spot. I still think that Ankiel is a good option but I am now wondering if Greene would not be a better option. Greene at the top of the order was originally discussed right after the Cards picked him up and the concensus seemed to be that he was to prone to strikeouts and had a low on base percentage. He may still have the same problems once the season starts, but he sure has not shown any signs of such so far. He is hitting for a very high average, has not had a problem with strikeouts, has speed and hits for power. He would also keep the Cards from having two lefties hitting back to back and provide better L/R balance throughout the line-up.

I'm sure that there is a great reason why this is not a feasible option, but I need some help - what is it?

Final Roster Predictions

Warcard — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:39:33 -0000

Things are getting interesting as the final roster appears to be taking shape but there are a few decisions that remain to be settled and are worthy of a good discussion / debate, etc. For the purpose of this discussion please predict what you think will happen - NOT WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN.

Rasmus / Duncan - It appears to me that Rasmus is going to make the team although I understand that many think he will end up in Memphis. I think Memphis is a good argument, but I believe that he will either start in a 4-man rotation or he will get plenty of PT as the defensive replacement. Watching Adam Dunn last night in the WBC should remind everyone the importance of defense and Colby clearly is the best option from a defensive prospective. Duncan is head-and-shoulders above Dunn and one should not even compare Duncan and Dunn, but Rasmus in that outfield really makes it a better defensive outfield. I think the book is out on which one makes the Cards better offensively. I don't think that Rasmus will get the opening day nod, but I think he makes the team and will end up playing a lot.

Schumaker @ Second Base - It appears that Schumaker continues to progress and that he is going to be the opening day 2B. I am pulling for him to be successful, but I also realize that there is going to be tremendous pressure when the real games start. His status at 2B puts a premium on a defensive back-up and probably a RH player to play against lefties and to sub in for late inning defense. Looks like two of the three, (Ryan, Barden, Thurston) make the team and provide 2B defensive help. Ryan gets the first spot because of his SS ability and his speed. He will probably leadoff and play 2B against lefties and in my opinion this solidifies his spot on the roster. I really like Thurston, but his lack of hitting probably gives the job to Barden. Therefore, I think Barden and Ryan make the team.

Mather / Freese - Most think that Freese is going to get the nod but I have to disagree. The job is only open for a short period of time and I don't think it makes sense to have Freese play for a few days and then be sent back to Memphis. He is also to good to serve as a bench player and he either starts for the Cards or for Memphis. I think this is why Mather was handed the job originally, and why he will be given the job opening day. Freese being sent back to Memphis also allows Thurston to make the team and provides defensive depth at 3B and 2B. Mather gets the nod at 3B and Thurston makes the team.

Relief Pitching - Probably the most uncertainty as to who makes the roster lies within the RH relief pitching. Considered to be one of the strengths of the team, the RH relief pitching offers some interesting final competition. Make no mistake - Motte is the best option for closer, and McKinney and Franklin have been impressive. No competition there, but McClellan, and Thompson have struggled and Perez has shoulder issues. It makes no sense to rush Perez if he is not healthy, and he may very well start the season on the DL, but what happens if he is healthy and ready to go. In my opinion, he pushes Thompson or McClellan aside and I think that it is Thompson who is in trouble.

Ankiel in the #2 spot & who hits 9th

Warcard — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:47:19 -0000

As everyone knows the #2 spot is very important in the Cards line-up because of Albert hitting in the all important #3 position. I found it interesting today that Ankiel hit #2 with Duncan hitting clean-up. Schumaker continues to do a good job leading off but the #2 spot seems to be an audition. I know that Ankiel is not ideal because of the strikeouts but he did take a walk today and just maybe hitting in front of Albert would make him more patient. Many have said that the #2 spot in the Cardinal order is really like the #3 spot in the traditional order and that description just seems to fit Ankiel. He clearly has more speed than Duncan and probably has a better chance of scoring from 1B on the balls that Pujols is certain to hit in gaps. I'm sure the auditioning will continue and it will be interesting to see who ends up in this spot. Opinions!

Additionally, if Duncan does end up in LF flanked by Ankiel and Ludwick, then who hits in the second leadoff 9th position. Rasmus seems to fit that spot really well but with Duncan in the line-up who hits #9? Seems to me that the only logical option miight be K. Greene. Opinions!