***Official 2015 STL Cardinals Thread II***

[BigRedChief]

2011 World Series Championship
2012 NLCS. One win from another WS appearance.
2013 World Series. Two wins from another World Series Championship
2014 NLCS. Three wins from another WS appearance
2015 Clinched Central Division title and Home Field advantage in the playoffs. First team in MLB to win 100 games since 2011.

• Made the postseason 11 times in the last 15 seasons.
• Only 1 losing season since 2000.
• Reached the World Series 4 times since 2004 and won as many championships (two) the past eight seasons as it did from 1965 to 2005.
• Made the NLCS 9 times including the last 4 years 2011-2014
• Three million attendance? Take it to the bank.
• 65 post season wins since 2004. 22+ wins more than any other team.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Other than Hootie and Michigan Mike, the big thing you gripe about is the turds on the bench that get put in positions they don't need to be in. NL going to the DH would eliminate that. Seriously there is no reason we need to be seeing the Pete Kozma, Tony Cruz, Memphis Redbirds AAAA guys, Dusty Coleman types at all unless its a blowout, crazy injury, or a get away Sunday afternoon throw away game.

Of all the NL franchises a DH would be most helpful to you guys. More than likely (other than money of course) was probably a big reason why Pujols left. Chance to extend his career longer. You have Holliday, who is okay in the outfield but would be much better at this stage of his career just DHing. Berkman, Walker and several others over the years perfect roles.

I just don't see why pitchers hit and other turds in the game, makes it any better. I'm just really surprised the player's union hasn't pushed for it more. Adding 15 more DH salaries would be more beneficial in the player's minds I'm sure instead of AAAA type talent. Just my 2 cents on the matter.

Silly us, figuring that a 25 man roster should actually matter.

That's the worst part about AL baseball. 25 guys on the roster and only 20 of them ever play.

Kozma shouldn't be in the game because he shouldn't be on the roster - same with Cruz. We complain because this team actually has better options and won't use them.

Putting training wheels on a game that isn't all that difficult to begin with isn't the answer. The Royals shouldn't be crying about having to play Dusty Coleman - they should just not have Dusty Coleman. The answer is building a better bench, not watering the game down to make it easier for the slow kids.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Swanman

Maybe Lilliquist can do something for him to get him straightened out. If nothing else, he's a guy that can spell the overworked relievers and once Walden is back, Cards will have a number of good and fairly rested arms in the bullpen.

He's been much, much better the last month or so. Lilliquist doesn't need to work on him; Matheny just needs to use him and spell the back three.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I'm not going to donate $10 to get out of a measly $20 potential obligation that allows you to crow. I made a bet, so I stick to the terms.

can we at least double the bet? I'll pay you 2.5 : 1 if Volquez falters!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

can we at least double the bet? I'll pay you 2.5 : 1 if Volquez falters!

You need to stop thinking that I give a shit about this. If you're that hard up for money go sell some plasma.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Yup.

Being a tall dude with bizarre mechanics, Cishek will just flat fall out of sync sometimes and he'll be terrible. But when his mechanics are even okay, he'll be tough to pick up, especially for righties.

We gave up nothing for him.

It seems that Miami just gave him away. Am I wrong? That seems like about as low as someone can be and still be a prospect.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

When Walden returns I have to think Tui sticks due to the progress he's made. At that point you end up with Rosenthal, Walden, Maness, Tuivialala and Cishek from the right side. You can use Cishek as almost a pure ROOGY at that point if he's just the 5th righty in your pen.

That's an October ready bullpen if someone can just keep Matheny from sending Choate out there to !@#$ it up.

I agree. We need a Matheny proof bullpen. Even if he flames out or never gets back to his old form, theres a chance he will. And if that happens, holy shit could that help out, well done Mo

[DJ's left nut]

Just a quick snippet on Cishek before the rest of you go back to being dipshits engaging an infant:

Steve Cishek, like many of the Marlins, has had a miserable season. The righty with the funky delivery has three saves, six losses, and a 5.14 ERA. All too often, Shrek has been shredded by enemy bats.

In 2013 and 2014, Cishek’s sinker dipped and his slider darted. A bright spot on blighted squads, he earned saves in 73 of Miami’s 139 wins. This year, a misplaced arm angle, which proved devilishly difficult to realign, has contributed to a bumpy ride.

“When the season started, my arm slot was a little low and my velocity was down,” explained Cishek. “I tried a little too hard to bring my velocity back up and started yanking everything. I was flying open and the ball was just taking off on me.

“If I’m throwing from too low, my sinker doesn’t sink. It’s flat. If I’m able to move my hand up an inch or two, I’m able to get the diving action I’ve had in the past, with a little more thump behind the ball.”

Cishek is 29 years old and in his fifth full season. He recognized the problem early on, but despite his experience, he struggled to make the needed adjustment. “It’s harder for me to bring it up than it is to go from high to low, like I did two years ago,” explained the 6-foot-6 reliever.

Cishek is an atypical sidewinder. His arm is at a wide angle, but he’s tall when he comes through his delivery and he needs his hand on top of the ball in order to drive it down. As he puts it, “When I’m at my best, I feel like I’m throwing overhand. I don’t feel like I’m throwing sidearm.”

We haven’t seen Cishek’s best this year, but he has performed better since returning from a two-week hiatus in Double-A. It’s too late for the Marlins to salvage their season, but their once-dependable closer has three months to reclaim his old form. Whether that happens in Miami is another question. The trade deadline is fast approaching.

Seriously, those of you that respond to him are the problem. Just exactly that the **** do you think you are going to accomplish here? "It's been 5 years of the same shit...surely I'll be the one that shows him the error of his ways..."

Dolts.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

It seems that Miami just gave him away. Am I wrong? That seems like about as low as someone can be and still be a prospect.
I agree. We need a Matheny proof bullpen. Even if he flames out or never gets back to his old form, theres a chance he will. And if that happens, holy shit could that help out, well done Mo

Yeah, Miami just gave him away. Pure money dump to my eyes.

For the Cardinals, they're in a situation a lot like they were with Axford. They can see what happens over the course of the year and if they like him, they'll approach him about a 1 or 2 year extension. If they don't, they'll non-tender him. The team control doesn't matter as he made over $6 million this season and can only take a 20% pay cut in arbitration so at best you'd get him for $5 million. They'll need to extend him or walk away from him. If he has a nice season, approach him with 2/$6 million and that might get it done.

In either event, it's a no cost addition with some possible upside. Good move that leaves enough depth in the system and dry powder to go after Lind or LaRoche.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Yeah, Miami just gave him away. Pure money dump to my eyes.

For the Cardinals, they're in a situation a lot like they were with Axford. They can see what happens over the course of the year and if they like him, they'll approach him about a 1 or 2 year extension. If they don't, they'll non-tender him. The team control doesn't matter as he made over $6 million this season and can only take a 20% pay cut in arbitration so at best you'd get him for $5 million. They'll need to extend him or walk away from him. If he has a nice season, approach him with 2/$6 million and that might get it done.

In either event, it's a no cost addition with some possible upside. Good move that leaves enough depth in the system and dry powder to go after Lind or LaRoche.

This trade is a Mo special. If Cishek doesn't work out, you gave up next to nothing for him. If he does work out, you got him for pennies on the dollar.

Get a bat for the bench and/or a 1b and go to work in the second half.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Silly us, figuring that a 25 man roster should actually matter.

That's the worst part about AL baseball. 25 guys on the roster and only 20 of them ever play.

Kozma shouldn't be in the game because he shouldn't be on the roster - same with Cruz. We complain because this team actually has better options and won't use them.

Putting training wheels on a game that isn't all that difficult to begin with isn't the answer. The Royals shouldn't be crying about having to play Dusty Coleman - they should just not have Dusty Coleman. The answer is building a better bench, not watering the game down to make it easier for the slow kids.

We actually use our bench a lot. It's going to be even more dangerous of a weapon this September and October, because we add Gore and this year we have Orlando as well to go long with Dyson for even more speed. If Morales, Rios or in case we really need to go for the win and take Salvy out, we are set.

If you are talking about slow kids, that's pitchers batting. Few of them can swing the bat but the majority are just flat out awful. Then you got the bunting, which a few select cases are fine, but the most part bunts are just wasted outs. The amount of money that is tied up in starting arms, why even risk having them bat.

I just see no advantage to NL style other than just nostalgia value.

[Rams Fan]

Just one last post about Hootie in this thread. What's the reason why he has the most posts in this thread if he just wants to tell us how great the Cardinals are?

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Just one last post about Hootie in this thread. What's the reason why he has the most posts in this thread if he just wants to tell us how great the Cardinals are?

Cards are great !

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Braves are rolling with a bench that is two short tonight, having traded Uribe and Kelly Johnson just before gametime.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Braves are rolling with a bench that is two short tonight, having traded Uribe and Kelly Johnson just before gametime.

If Conney is good tonight does it improve his trade value?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

If Conney is good tonight does it improve his trade value?

If it does said GM is an idiot, because it's a single start. That said, there are a lot of idiots out there.

Late call from behind the plate is annoying me.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Seriously, **** Wong's baserunning.