The "Official" Cardinals Discussion Thread.

[BigRedChief]

Figured that if we had one thread to discuss Cardinals "stuff" it would be easier to find. What do you think? Good idea?

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

right but so what? The only solution is to go trade for bullpen help. You see what the Pirated got from the Tankees for Martee? No way I would make that trade unless I'm the pirates.

It is a tough situation to be in no doubt. I don't want them giving up the prospects either and I don't think they will. Looks like we are stuck with what we got. The going rate for the top relievers available is too expensive.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Well this game is over. Santana on the mound and down 7-0. Lohse getting pounded.

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by SEA_OF_RED

You've only made up one game yet you are still talking. Typical Cards fan.

You are supposed to be a contender this year, we were not.

You go out and try to add the final piece, we are in rebuilding mode

You have been piss pounded, like us, and gave up your lead.

Looks like the Brew crew will be waving as they pass you and take the division

Maybe next year right?

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

You are supposed to be a contender this year, we were not.

You go out and try to add the final piece, we are in rebuilding mode

You have been piss pounded, like us, and gave up your lead.

Looks like the Brew crew will be waving as they pass you and take the division

Maybe next year right?

so ..... how soon until the "wait til next year"
calls from Cubbie fans....

End of August, mid-Sept?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by PGM

Heh, glad we came back to win the game, but the frustration of blowing another save still remains. Been hearing more and more about Wainwright possibly returning to the pen when he comes back. This team is a contender THIS year with a better pen.

That is a god awful idea. Wainwright has far more impact as a starter where he will face 25-28 batters a game. As a reliever, he'd probably face that many every two weeks.

If you want to make a starter a closer, do it to Wellemeyer. He's got the best fastball, a plus slider, and he throws a lot of strikes.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That is a god awful idea. Wainwright has far more impact as a starter where he will face 25-28 batters a game. As a reliever, he'd probably face that many every two weeks.

If you want to make a starter a closer, do it to Wellemeyer. He's got the best fastball, a plus slider, and he throws a lot of strikes.

And he's been getting his brains beaten in lately...

AND until last year he was a reliever...

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

And he's been getting his brains beaten in lately...

AND until last year he was a reliever...

yep. we talked this other nite.
his Finger strain almost indicates a Bull Pen role in 2008

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by StcChief

yep. we talked this other nite.
his Finger strain almost indicates a Bull Pen role in 2008

Haha my bad for being unclear... I meant make Wellemeyer the closer.

[BigRedChief]

A little more than a year since he had surgery to reconstruct his elbow, Chris Carpenter will rejoin the Cardinals' rotation in time to help fortify a flagging contender. In what will be the righthander's first big-league appearance since opening day 2007, the Cardinals plan to start Carpenter on Wednesday at Atlanta, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday.

"Best news we've had," La Russa said, and then challenged, "Give me something else that comes close to it."

Carpenter made his second rehab start Friday with Class AAA Memphis, and he threw 78 pitches to log 5 2/3 innings. The righthander allowed four hits, walked one and struck out five. He described himself as "definitely pleased." La Russa checked in on Carpenter to see how the surgically reconstructed elbow felt Saturday and after that conversation named him Wednesday's starter.


WAINWRIGHT CURVES

Adam Wainwright threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session at Shea Stadium on Saturday, including the first six or seven breaking balls he has thrown in seven weeks. Wainwright said his "control stunk, but it's the first time I really juiced it." Wainwright will take two days off, increase intensity in a bullpen session Tuesday and then the Cardinals will take a look at targeting Wainwright's return — and what role he'll return to. Having him start or close will be part of that discussion, team officials said.

Wainwright was instructed not to snap any curve balls Saturday, just to lightly flip the breaking ball. He said his first couple attempts were tentative as he got a feel for how his middle finger — which is recovering from a ruptured pulley — reacted.

"I just plopped a few up there, balls that didn't so much curve but dropped because they were so slow that's all they could do," Wainwright said. "But I had good spin. The ball felt good coming out of my hand."

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That is a god awful idea. Wainwright has far more impact as a starter where he will face 25-28 batters a game. As a reliever, he'd probably face that many every two weeks.

If you want to make a starter a closer, do it to Wellemeyer. He's got the best fastball, a plus slider, and he throws a lot of strikes.

We've blown what, 100 saves this year? How is Wainwright as closer bad? Especially if we're trying to ease him back in. And who do you trust not to choke, Wellemeyer, or Mr. I-Won-The-World-Series?

Luckily the Cubs play the Brewers this week. Hopefully they'll beat the hell out of each other and we can gain some ground.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

LOL

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

LOL

Mother****er!!!! I just heard the guys on Cardinals live say it too. Izzy back as the closer. Man he is going to catch some heat from the crowd if he blows..AGAIN!

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

Mother****er!!!! I just heard the guys on Cardinals live say it too. Izzy back as the closer. Man he is going to catch some heat from the crowd if he blows..AGAIN!

You mean WHEN he blows again?

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

You mean WHEN he blows again?

Yes, Yes, Yes I did....

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by frazod

We've blown what, 100 saves this year? How is Wainwright as closer bad? Especially if we're trying to ease him back in. And who do you trust not to choke, Wellemeyer, or Mr. I-Won-The-World-Series?

Luckily the Cubs play the Brewers this week. Hopefully they'll beat the hell out of each other and we can gain some ground.

It's not just our closers that our bad. We've had like 2 quality starts in the last three weeks. A good starting pitcher is always worth more than the best closer in the world simply because he has more impact on the game. He faces more batters, and thus, can affect the game in a more meaningful way. It's the same reason why a good position player is always worth more than a good pitcher. He has a chance to affect the game 4-5 times every day.

It's not a coincidence that the teams with the best bullpen ERA's also average the highest number of innings from their starters.

Putting Wainwright in as a closer is a reactionary move. The guy had an ERA of 3 and gave you 6-7 innings every time. Even if he was a lights out closer, say he had an ERA of 1.50, he's still far more valuable to the team as a starter. There's a reason why the Cardinals have hovered over .500 since he got hurt--it exposed the pen.