"Official" 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

This is so unreal. We were dead. No hope. A season over. Somehow, someway we find some team chemistry and squeak into the playoffs on the last day of the season.

Only to find us facing one of the best pitching staffs assembled in years with home field advantage. We somehow, someway find a way to beat the best pitcher in baseball on the road in an elimination game.

We have to go on the road and beat the team with the best home record in baseball. A team who mortgaged their future to make this run .We somehow, someway find a way to beat them on the road and make our 18th World series trip.

We take game 1, we give away game 2 and home field advantage. Albert goes off for probably the best performance in World Series history and we take game 3 easily. Games 4 & 5 our bats fall asleep, Phone gate happens and its not looking too good.

Game 6, one of the best baseball games of all time and it takes place in a season ending go home game. Cardinals are down 2 runs in their final chance on the season, twice. They are down to their final strike of the season, twice. They give up a 2 run homer in extra innings. In the bottom of the inning their final 3 batters are a combined 3-26 in the Playoffs and a pitcher because the bench is empty. Somehow, someway they get some runners on and the comeback player of the year drives in the tying run. Mr. Freese hits the walk off home run. We will see you tommorrow night.

Game 7, With our bulldog on the mound pitching on 3 days rest he is able to give us 6 good innings and get us to within 9 outs of our 11 World series title. Texas meltsdown, probably left over from last nights game and its over.

The underdog, come back team who had no business even being in the playoffs wins a World championship. They make movies about events like this in life. Events that you remember even if your not a fan of the sport or team for the rest of your life.

When it is your team.......Priceless


.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by veist

Sounds like a good day.

Heh. I've never looked forward to going to work on a Monday so much in my life.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We were the best team in MLB in 2004. Almost a univeral opinion. To get squnked like we did was a big punch to the gut that still bears a mark on my basball soul. Those posters telling us we can;t complain ever again because we went to 3 World Series inb 7 years and won 2 dont really comprend how much losses like 85/87/04 drug us down as fans.

I think they were the best in 2005 as well.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

I think they were the best in 2005 as well.

God, that year sucked. Losing in the playoffs to a division rival is the worst - it was like getting beat by the Broncos in '98. At least they didn't win the World Series. They didn't win another game in Houston, either.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by frazod

God, that year sucked. Losing in the playoffs to a division rival is the worst - it was like getting beat by the Broncos in '98. At least they didn't win the World Series. They didn't win another game in Houston, either.

And in 2006 we lost like 7-9 going into the playoffs before we clinched. Everyone thought they were going to get swept in the first round. Another wasted year. 2004-2005-2006 felt like a waste and we under perfomed until the playoffs started in 2006.

But out of nowhere they came on in 2006 and in 2011 their September/October came out of nowhere. Crazy damn game that can still surprise the hell out of you.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Which is why he should have been fired the instant those comments were aired.

Keith Law:

The Cardinals, meanwhile, have made a terrible organizational move by allowing their aging manager to run off the best hitting prospect the team has produced since drafting Albert Pujols. Whether La Russa was mostly responsible or only shares responsibility with Rasmus and his father, it is clear that La Russa’s my-way-or-the-highway mentality has hurt the organization for this year and several years to come with the Rasmus fiasco, and unfortunately the front office’s decision to retain La Russa for 2011 has come back to haunt them. Rasmus has the potential to be a 5- to 6-win player at his peak, and there’s no manager in baseball who can produce that kind of value.

That's Keith Law, former GM, current blowhard.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

That's Keith Law, former GM, current blowhard.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins
Which is why he should have been fired the instant those comments were aired.

Keith Law:

The Cardinals, meanwhile, have made a terrible organizational move by allowing their aging manager to run off the best hitting prospect the team has produced since drafting Albert Pujols. Whether La Russa was mostly responsible or only shares responsibility with Rasmus and his father, it is clear that La Russa’s my-way-or-the-highway mentality has hurt the organization for this year and several years to come with the Rasmus fiasco, and unfortunately the front office’s decision to retain La Russa for 2011 has come back to haunt them. Rasmus has the potential to be a 5- to 6-win player at his peak, and there’s no manager in baseball who can produce that kind of value.

I'm on record as against the Rasmus trade. Until TLR made those negative comments publically about Rasmus. We had no choice at that point. If you would have told me that trading Rasmus would get us a World Series Championship. I'd have said.....WTF are you waiting for, trade his ass.

[O.city]

Rasmus might end up being great. Who cares we won a WS.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It's the height of idiocy to draw to an inside straight and then talk about how good you are when it hits.

The Rasmus trade worked. If Rasmus ends up as a healthy Grady Sizemore, it still worked, but mortgaging a gifted, cost-controlled player for a number of parts who will only be around for the short term is a win-now move that can be potentially disastrous.

Had the Braves won two more games, that trade could go down as devastating for the Cardinals.

Fortunately for us, they didn't.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's the height of idiocy to draw to an inside straight and then talk about how good you are when it hits.

The Rasmus trade worked. If Rasmus ends up as a healthy Grady Sizemore, it still worked, but mortgaging a gifted, cost-controlled player for a number of parts who will only be around for the short term is a win-now move that can be potentially disastrous.

Had the Braves won two more games, that trade could go down as devastating for the Cardinals.

Fortunately for us, they didn't.

Yes, very true. However, I would like for us to bring back Scrabble and Jackson. Hell even Dotel if he could hold up. Honestly I would rather run jackson out there every 5th day than Lohse or Westrbook.

Hamas, what are your thoughts on Albert? I figure he will be resigned but who knows. If Waino comes back healthy and Miller and (other minor league pitcher who's name eludes me) could come up and help the rotation would be pretty good. I'd bring him back and see what kind of run you could have for the next 3-5 years.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's the height of idiocy to draw to an inside straight and then talk about how good you are when it hits.

The Rasmus trade worked. If Rasmus ends up as a healthy Grady Sizemore, it still worked, but mortgaging a gifted, cost-controlled player for a number of parts who will only be around for the short term is a win-now move that can be potentially disastrous.

Had the Braves won two more games, that trade could go down as devastating for the Cardinals.

Fortunately for us, they didn't.

I wasn't against the trade then and obviously am not now. I was one of the few from the get go.

Rasmus is JD Drew V.2 with a little less talent and less heart and it's hard to have less heart than Drew. Real hard.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

Yes, very true. However, I would like for us to bring back Scrabble and Jackson. Hell even Dotel if he could hold up. Honestly I would rather run jackson out there every 5th day than Lohse or Westrbook.

Hamas, what are your thoughts on Albert? I figure he will be resigned but who knows. If Waino comes back healthy and Miller and (other minor league pitcher who's name eludes me) could come up and help the rotation would be pretty good. I'd bring him back and see what kind of run you could have for the next 3-5 years.

1)You can't afford Jackson. Offer him arb, let him decline, and take the pick.
2) You have to make Albert an offer to retire a Cardinal. He's worth more as an iconic figure than you can measure through stats.
3) Miller and Martinez won't be ready next year. Maybe by 2013.
4) You pretty much have to run Lohse and Westbrook out there next year, but after that, their deals expire, which may allow for the Cardinals to go for an impact MIF
5) It wouldn't surprise me to see the Cards offer an incentive-laden deal to Roy Oswalt, or something similar to what they gave to Brad Penny in 2010.
6) Hopefully we can get as many ABs for Craig as possible next year. He needs at least 300+. He's just too damned good.
7) Re-sign Furcal
8) Let Theriot walk
9) Non-tender Skip
10) Have Rzepczynski, Lynn, and Brandon Dickson battle it out for the #5 spot, since we can't just release Lohse and Westbrook
11) If Dotel is willing to come back as a MR, do it.
12) We are going to desperately need a LHRP, especially if Scrabble becomes a #5 starter/long guy
13) Let McClellan walk.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

1)You can't afford Jackson. Offer him arb, let him decline, and take the pick.
2) You have to make Albert an offer to retire a Cardinal. He's worth more as an iconic figure than you can measure through stats.
3) Miller and Martinez won't be ready next year. Maybe by 2013.
4) You pretty much have to run Lohse and Westbrook out there next year, but after that, their deals expire, which may allow for the Cardinals to go for an impact MIF
5) It wouldn't surprise me to see the Cards offer an incentive-laden deal to Roy Oswalt, or something similar to what they gave to Brad Penny in 2010.
6) Hopefully we can get as many ABs for Craig as possible next year. He needs at least 300+. He's just too damned good.
7) Re-sign Furcal
8) Let Theriot walk
9) Non-tender Skip
10) Have Rzepczynski, Lynn, and Brandon Dickson battle it out for the #5 spot, since we can't just release Lohse and Westbrook
11) If Dotel is willing to come back as a MR, do it.
12) We are going to desperately need a LHRP, especially if Scrabble becomes a #5 starter/long guy
13) Let McClellan walk.

All this including the unpopular move at #13 being a home town guy and the #9 TLR type player.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

1)You can't afford Jackson. Offer him arb, let him decline, and take the pick.
2) You have to make Albert an offer to retire a Cardinal. He's worth more as an iconic figure than you can measure through stats.
3) Miller and Martinez won't be ready next year. Maybe by 2013.
4) You pretty much have to run Lohse and Westbrook out there next year, but after that, their deals expire, which may allow for the Cardinals to go for an impact MIF
5) It wouldn't surprise me to see the Cards offer an incentive-laden deal to Roy Oswalt, or something similar to what they gave to Brad Penny in 2010.
6) Hopefully we can get as many ABs for Craig as possible next year. He needs at least 300+. He's just too damned good.
7) Re-sign Furcal
8) Let Theriot walk
9) Non-tender Skip
10) Have Rzepczynski, Lynn, and Brandon Dickson battle it out for the #5 spot, since we can't just release Lohse and Westbrook
11) If Dotel is willing to come back as a MR, do it.
12) We are going to desperately need a LHRP, especially if Scrabble becomes a #5 starter/long guy
13) Let McClellan walk.

I didn't know about Jackson. He wasn't really that good in the postseason, maybe bidding wont get too high. Honestly at this point I might look to package Lohse and Garcia to anyone who would take them. If you could sign Oswalt to pair witn Carp and Waino.

[Marcellus]

All that being said having Oswalt and Berkman both on the Cards may make me lose it.

Berkman took some getting used to and is the best off season FA signing period, for any team. Love it, and him.

Oswald and his bad back and sour face?

Don't want.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

1)You can't afford Jackson. Offer him arb, let him decline, and take the pick.
2) You have to make Albert an offer to retire a Cardinal. He's worth more as an iconic figure than you can measure through stats.
3) Miller and Martinez won't be ready next year. Maybe by 2013.
4) You pretty much have to run Lohse and Westbrook out there next year, but after that, their deals expire, which may allow for the Cardinals to go for an impact MIF
5) It wouldn't surprise me to see the Cards offer an incentive-laden deal to Roy Oswalt, or something similar to what they gave to Brad Penny in 2010.
6) Hopefully we can get as many ABs for Craig as possible next year. He needs at least 300+. He's just too damned good.
7) Re-sign Furcal
8) Let Theriot walk
9) Non-tender Skip
10) Have Rzepczynski, Lynn, and Brandon Dickson battle it out for the #5 spot, since we can't just release Lohse and Westbrook
11) If Dotel is willing to come back as a MR, do it.
12) We are going to desperately need a LHRP, especially if Scrabble becomes a #5 starter/long guy
13) Let McClellan walk.

I'd agree with all of that.

And not that it would ever happen, but there are already sports radio guys who have the plan to make sure #6 happens.

Trade Holliday to the Nationals.

I heard two different guys on two different stations suggest it within an hour of each other on Saturday afternoon.

I don't see anyone taking on his contract.