Whenever an opposing player hits a home run it is natural to want to throw it back onto the field in disgust.  But that is a Cubs tradition so that can be a problem.  On the one hand  you want to reject the homerun, on the other you don't want to "copy" the Cubs tradition.

I was thinking that throwing it out of the stadium would be an interesting twist.  But there are a couple of wrinkles.  Depending on where you are sitting, you may need the help of others to get it out of the stadium.  The teamwork element makes it an even cooler idea, but I don't think stadium security would smile upon tossing a ball around in the stands... or over the wall for that matter.  Setting the ball on fire, while also being very cool, would also get you tossed by security, and possibly arrested.

Any ideas?  Also, this isn't restricted to opposing home run etiquette. 

I realize that Mark Reynolds had 199 strikeouts up to this point in the season to practice, but the credit for him breaking the record (and adding to the record) really ought to go to me and my friends.

A friend had six tickets for the seventh row behind the visitor's batting circle and I was blessed to be one of the five invited to go along with him.  We were there two hours early to fill our bellies with Cardinals Club fare and beer so by the time the second inning came around we were very much ready to get involved in the game in a significant way.  That is when Mark Reynolds came to the plate.  We quickly recognized the historic magnitude of the situation and did our very best to "help him along" in his momentous quest.  We did our job well.  I'm sure that Mark, if he wasn't the professional that he is, would have thanked us profusely right then and there for the "encouragement" we gave him during that anxious at bat and in the batting circle before hand.  It takes a tremendous amount of focus, self-discipline, and shear guts to strike out 200 times in a season.  But let us not forget that it also takes the support of the fans - support that also takes focus, self-discipline, and shear guts.  I know that he would have had another series to ascend to that exclusive 200 strikeout club but you never know when a slump will start.  And with the season quickly wrapping up the pressure must have been unbearable.  I'm glad we could be there for him and be the wind beneath his wings.  I am not one that usually toots my own horn, but I believe an asterisk next to his name mentioning the integral part I played in his historic achievement wouldn't be too much to ask.  

Here is a list of some of the bigger name fre agent pitchers available this off season copied from Fan Graphs http://tinyurl.com/6l7wk8

CC Sabathia, 2.98 FIP, 4.05 WPA/LI
Ben Sheets, 3.20 FIP, 2.18 WPA/LI
Derek Lowe, 3.33 FIP, 2.33, WPA/LI
Ryan Dempster, 3.38 FIP, 2.91, WPA/LI
Mike Mussina, 3.44 FIP, 1.62 WPA/LI
AJ Burnett, 3.65 FIP, 0.00 WPA/LI (can opt out of current contract)
Andy Pettitte, 3.78 FIP, 0.99 WPA/LI
Randy Johnson, 3.83 FIP, 0.23 WPA/LI
Kyle Lohse, 3.90 FIP, 1.54 WPA/LI
Greg Maddux, 4.03 FIP, 0.70 WPA/LI
Jamie Moyer, 4.29 FIP, 0.63 WPA/LI
Randy Wolf, 4.32 FIP, -0.43 WPA/LI
Oliver Perez, 4.74 FIP, 0.37 WPA/LI
Braden Looper, 4.89 FIP, -0.44 WPA/LI
Jon Garland, 4.91 FIP, -0.72, WPA/LI
Pedro Martinez, 5.40 FIP, -0.62 WPA/LI

When I survey the Cardials pitching situation for 2009 I see a solid core in Wainwright, Carpenter, and Wellemeyer.  The Cardinals also have a couple of youngsters that could serve well in the rotation.  But, factoring in injury potential and youngster inconsistency and durability issues, I'd say the Cardinals would do well to get at least two FA pitchers, even with Pineiro as rotation spot filler insurance.

From the list above I think we would agree that Sabathia and Sheets are the top free agents.  We'd also probably agree that they are out of the Cardinals' price range.  Dempster has impressed me this season with a dominating and consistent effort.  But I doubt the Cardinals will be able to get him either.  Most of the others I don't see as providing much value.  But I do think Lowe would be a great fit for the Cardinals.  His durability and his ground ball-ness are exactly what the Cardinals need.  And if the price was right I'd also like to see them go after Randy Johnson or Pedro.  They would be tremendous 4th or 5th starters and it would be great to have HOF caliber former Cy Young winners as part of the team.  All three of those guys, (assuming short contracts for the oldies) would be worth whatever it would take to get them.  They have been healthy of late and as 5th starters their risk would be minimized.  And with Looper, Loshe, Mulder, Clement, and Isringhausen off the books we could easily afford them.  How about this for a rotation (I made it six deep to account for the fragility take off one of the last two if you think it is too much):

1. Wainwright 
   
2. Carpenter
3. Lowe
4. Wellemeyer
5. Johnson
6. Martinez

And then Pineiro and the youngsters would fill in when the need arose.  
Or better yet, trade Pineiro.
Which two or three from that list would you pursue if you were the Cardinals?  The rules for this discussion are - be reasonable and conscientious of the Cardinals budget, and no talk of minor leaguers in the opening day rotation (I know there are reasonable arguments for those guys but save those for other fanposts).  Also, what do you think it would take to sign the guys you like.  For my three I'd guess 14 or 15 for Lowe, and 8 - 10 each for Pedro and Randy.  Pricy for oldies, but with guys like that I don't think the cost matters as much because of marketing and merchandise gains.