Martinez, Pham, Wong, Bader.

Martinez is not a starter in the NL. Pham is not a starter, period. Wong is good defensively but his bat does not play. Bader came out of the gates blazing but has never been highly regarded at the plate and has a .654 OPS over his last 30 games.

The Brewers have a terrible staff and without a run of Royals-esque sequencing luck, they won't be able to maintain during the second half. Regardless, this team still needs to sell. It needs a hard reboot.

And the Carp gif was fixed for y'all.

Your comment said on a legit contender. Martinez is a starter on a legit contender, just not in the NL.

The other 3 I don't disagree with and even stated as such.

Bader is on pace for a 4 WAR/600 ABs. That's not even close to a fringe starter. Keep picking those cherries, though. He had a good April, a great May, a terrible June, and has had a very good July so far. If he's a league average hitter (105 wRC right now) then he's basically a cost-controlled version of the guy you're paying 20 million per.

I dont even think Martinez could latch on to a contender in the AL. He's more like a decent bat you can plug into at DH but would you take him over other DH's currently on the AL's best teams?

So you are left with Carpenter, Molina, Ozuna, Gyorko, and Dejong. Not exactly a great core to be building a contender around.

Ya ya ya. I'm sure you were singing the same tune to Heywards WAR as well.

The Cubs should win this division easily but it doesn’t matter because the AL is so much better this year anyways. I’d like to see the Mariners make a run because they have for the most always sucked ass and I have friends and family who have suffered as lifelong fans.

The issue I have with ownership currently is I don't know if they're honestly willing to go all in for a playoff team even if that's the expectation.

I've been on record saying 2019 is the make or break season with this roster and stick by that with regards to making the post season. However, the only chance they have at that is making significant changes to the roster with regards to spending even more.

Solutions:
-Bite the bullet on Fowler. Similar to Leake situation. I liked the Fowler signing at the time but for whatever reason he hasn't really clicked in St. Louis
-Norris needs to GTFO.
-Trade one of Carpenter or Martinez to create more opportunities for Gyorko.
-Give Machado an endless amount of Brinks trucks. Donaldson doesn't do shit.
-Get rid of either Gregerson or Cecil.
-Sign an OFer.

I'd take Martinez over Gattis and the 2018 version of Edwin Encarnacion.

Ozuna and DeJong are two players who I believe are legitimate core pieces.

Fowler needs to fake an injury and hit restart next year. If he is still completely useless this time next year than get rid of him.

You only have Ozuna for 1 more year unless you grab a manager in the offseason who's ready to get down on his knees and relax his throat.

Unless you are lucky enough to somehow lure Machado or Harper to play in St. Louis then you probably aren't going to make enough changes to that roster to beat the Cubs or Brewers in 2019. You could hope to re-sign Ozuna, but you still need a bat in the middle of that lineup and its not coming from the minors.

I don't foresee another Heyward situation regarding Ozuna.

Ozuna wants to be the featured player for a team and hasn't shied away from it.

Heyward wanted nothing to do with that.

He hasn't been a feature, either.

I don't necessarily disagree but I do believe he can bring a positive value to the Cardinals with his performance regardless.

Also:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> players now are on notice. I get the feeling this front office will make sweeping changes if the direction isn’t VERY clear in the next few weeks. This front office has pined for years to be a seller and stock up for the future, as others have done.</p>&mdash; Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) <a href="https://twitter.com/markasaxon/status/1018360227819851776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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100% for throwing up the flag on this season to ensure long term success. Not Royals-esque level but more or less the Yankees of 2016.

Ozuna isn’t exactly the type of player you would get down on your knees for. His lack of game is partially responsible for this mediocrity.

If he isn’t brought back I wouldn’t miss any sleep over it.

Probably not, but what are your alternatives?

Hope Tyler O'neill doesnt strike out 50% of the time?

Dont get me wrong, I want to keep him but definitely not break the bank for him. A player like Machado you break the bank for. Guys like Ozuna not so much.

O’Neill is comparable to Grichuk. I would take Grichuk’s high K rate and power threat over what Ozuna is currently bringing. I do think Ozuna is a better hitter than what we are currently getting though.

I’ve said all year to play for 2019.

Sell high on your found money

Trade Martinez to the AL
Sell high and Trade Mikolas to a contender

Correct your mistake
Give Fowler to anyone and cough up the money needed to make the deal


We are not getting Manny no matter if we offer $350 million. Ain’t happening.

I agree with everything you said except about Mikolas.

Mikolas should be kept.

My issue with Martinez is while I think he can hit, he his skill set is not best suited for a team in the NL and his ability(or lack there of) hinders opportunities for Gyorko.

Machado isn't a realistic expectation of mine, but dammit, I'd love to see it happen. If it's not him, spend on someone else.

Why on earth would you keep Mikolas?

You got him from Japan. Starting pitching is where the Cardinals actually have depth now and in the future. He's soon to be 30 years old and he's on a 2 year deal and you aren't contending. He was your only player to be voted into the All-Star game.

There is no better player on the Cardinals to trade right now than him.

Waiting on players to crash is how you turn Starlin Castro into Adam Warren or Jorge Soler into 1 year of post prime Wade Davis.

Easy.

Wacha's shoulder is a ticking time bomb and until Reyes proves he can pitch in the big leagues you can't count on him for shit.

The Cardinals have a great chance at success in 2019. Mikolas being apart of the team only enhances that.

You can find my previous posts on saying how I didn't expect anything until 2019 with regards to playoffs from either this year or last.

I legitimately expect this team to contend next season and have even before this season started.

You are lying to yourself my dude. Their chance lands on the ability to sign Machado or Harper.

All the big hitting clubs in the MLB didn't reset their luxury tax penalties this off season for nothing. Chances the Cardinals land either is pretty slim.

Even if one of them doesn't wind up in one of the huge markets, the Cardinals cannot match anything the Phillies would offer and you better believe the Phillies are gonna be stepping up to the plate for one of them.

I think ownership will finally have pressure put on them for the first time, in a long time, to go out and actually do something.

Assuming the team doesn't make the playoffs this season, this will mark the third consecutive season they've missed the POs. That's the longest stretch of missing the POs in the DeWitt era.

Fans aren't going to be too happy if that's the case. I'm grateful for the DeWitt era and the overall success of it, but part of that success leads to higher expectations.

I don't think any fan reaction will be anything like SaveOurChiefs level stuff, but there will be pressure for ownership to spend or for management to make significant improvements to the roster.

There are building blocks with the rotation and some offensive players to have a team compete at that level.

Now it's up to ownership/management to do one of three things:
1. Give up on the season and look forward to opportunities on how to improve the roster in 2019 and beyond starting immediately or after the season.

2. Don't give up on the season, improve the roster for this season and the future.

3. Do nothing.

Strive for .500!

They can have all the pressure on them in the world but it has little to do with a FAs willingness to sign with the Cardinals.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You don&#39;t have to wonder. Joe Girardi will be considered.<br><br>He has a history with Mozeliak, and good rapport. He has the familiarity with organization that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cardinals</a> value, and there is a fondness for him already in the club. One question is his interest-level. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlcards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stlcards</a> <a href="https://t.co/OX1v3pWd7k">https://t.co/OX1v3pWd7k</a></p>&mdash; Derrick Goold (@dgoold) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgoold/status/1018336658171875329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Wouldn't that just be awesome. Fire Matheny to hire his twin.

Unconfirmed from a radio guy.........

Mo talked with Molina today. After that talk, he decided to fire today after getting permission from Dewitt.

So what is the list of replacements? Who would you all like to have as Mathenys replacement?

This seems like a horrible list to me.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news...c1x9ymvrgylqz8

While the Cards are likely a half-season away from selecting a permanent replacement (bench coach Mike Shildt was named interim manager), here are some candidates the franchise could consider as it prepares to enter a new era:
Joe Girardi

Could Girardi find his way back to the National League?

The 2006 NL Manager of the Year with the Marlins was unceremoniously let go last year by the Yankees after a playoff run that lasted much longer than many thought it would — the Bombers came up one win short of the World Series after being knocked off by the eventual world champion Astros in the ALCS. His final record with New York: 910-710 (.562 winning percentage).

Girardi has history with Cards president John Mozeliak — he played for the expansion Rockies from 1993-95 when Mozeliak was beginning his front-office career in Denver, and he ended his playing career with the Cardinals in 2003 when Mozeliak was assistant GM to Walt Jocketty. Given those connections and his clear desire to manage again, he will most likely get at least a phone call to gauge his interest.
Carlos Beltran

Beltran, who had two productive seasons for the Cardinals in 2012 and 2013, was a hot managerial candidate following the 2017 season. He interviewed with the Yankees to replace Girardi and was reportedly one of the final candidates in a search that turned into something out of "Survivor."

Beltran knows how to play the game and appears to be a fine example of the "Cardinal Way." He's also fresh off a World Series win with the Astros and is a beloved baseball figure and mentor. Beltran has often been hailed for his ability to communicate and guide young players, something in which the Cardinals appear to be lacking.

It's difficult to see the Cardinals hiring Beltran given his lack of managerial experience, but giving him a call would be a sexy move. They aren't known to be flashy when it comes to hiring managers, but it feels as though the organization needs a shot of energy, and Beltran would certainly help remove the staleness surrounding the franchise.
Raul Ibanez

Like Beltran, Ibanez has interviewed recently for managerial openings. The Rays and Yankees both expressed interest in him, and he was rumored to be a candidate for the Phillies' job last year before the club hired Gabe Kapler.

Also similar to Beltran, Ibanez doesn't have managerial experience, but he is often hailed as a bright baseball mind. The well-traveled Ibanez, who's four seasons removed from playing, will likely find himself leading a coaching staff in the future. Would the Cardinals — for whom Ibanez never played — give him that shot?
Jose Oquendo

Oquendo is the easy in-house nominee. He is in his second stint as the Cardinals' third-base coach (he was on the staffs of the 2006 and 2011 world championship teams) and he played 10 seasons (1986-95) for the Redbirds as the team's popular "Secret Weapon."

He interviewed to succeed Tony La Russa in 2011 before the Cardinals hired Matheny. He has also auditioned for the Mariners, Mets and Padres.

While it isn't quite big-league experience, he has managed major-leaguers before: He led Team Puerto Rico, whose roster includes Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.

Oquendo makes a lot of sense given his history with the organization and intimate knowledge of the "Cardinal Way," and he'll likely get at least a second shot at a first (or third) impression with the front office.
Jason Giambi

Say what you will about Giambi, but he is considered destined for a managing gig at some point.

You can have Clint Hurdle.

who’s list is this? Did you write this? You need to at least tell us where this is from.

ROFL

Sorry man I thought I had the link in there.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news...c1x9ymvrgylqz8

Think Ibanez is a good candidate if they dip into the pool with little experience. Great motivator, varied experience, smart and articulate. Can win over both young players and vets.

Not sure there’s a realistic “steal him” manager that’s a great upgrade. Better to go with fresh blood IMO.

https://kmox.radio.com/articles/card...cement-manager

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals are seven games out of first place in the NL Central and four out of an NL Wild Card, which is by no means unreachable with a half-season of baseball remaining. After St. Louis dismissed manager Mike Matheny and hitting coaches John Mabry and Bill Mueller, we look at the possible long-term options for the Cardinals (in no particular order):


Mike Shildt

The 49-year-old has been a member of the Cardinals organization since 2004 and has served on the team’s Major League coaching staff the past two (2017-18) seasons. He has been named the interim manager for the time being, but could become the best option if St. Louis can't attract a big-name coach by the start of next season.

Jose Oquendo

Can the Secret Weapon also play manager? The 55-year-old former infielder may be the players' choice, as he has often received the praises of practically all of St. Louis' infield position players, including Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong, Paul DeJong and Jose Martinez.

Carlos Beltran

The former slugger for the Cardinals, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Houston Astros was among the finalists for the Yankees' manager spot, this season. He took the 2018 season off, but the nine-time All-Star could be back on a managerial short list soon.

Joe Girardi

The Peoria, Illinois native will be among the most-likely of outside hires. He was a catcher for St. Louis in his final season as a player in 2003, before beginning a managerial career in 2006 with the Florida Marlins. After one season there, he managed the Yankees for 10 seasons, winning the 2009 World Series championship.

Mark McGwire

We've seen Big Mac back in St. Louis a lot lately, as he's the current bench coach of the San Diego Padres and each time he seems to receive a bigger ovation from the fans. McGwire was the Cardinals hitting coach between 2009-2012, then moved the Dodgers in 2013 and San Diego after.

Stubby Clapp

Last year, he was named the Minor League Baseball Manager of the Year, after leading the Memphis Redbirds to a league championship in his first season at the helm. And with the best record in the Pacific Coast League again this year, they could be repeat champions.

Terry Pendleton

The former St. Louis and Atlanta Braves third baseman was let go as bench coach of the Braves after th 2017 season. He has been on the shortlist of recent MLB managerial jobs inlcuding Atlanta in 2011, Washington Nationals in 2006 and St. Louis in 2012, after Tony La Russa ended his managing career with the Cardinals.

Willie McGee

Similar to Oquendo, he's a guy who almost every current Cardinals player would get behind – not to mention he's an all-time fan favorite. McGee returned to the MLB dugout full-time this season, after working as a minor-league instructor for the Cardinals in recent years.

Joe McEwing

Famouly known by St. Louis fans for his "Little Mac Land," McEwing is the current bench coach for the Chicago White Sox. He played just two seasons in St. Louis in the late 1990s, but did set a new record for the longest errorless games by a MLB outfielder (230 games) during that time.

I wouldn’t hate Harold Reynolds. Think he’d be a good fit in STL.

Did you hate Mike Matheny as a tactical manager?

Because Harold would probably be just as bad if not worse, with the same style.

I’d be stunned if they hire a manager without any coaching experience. Not mananagerial experience, but coaching experience in general.

Hiring Beltran or Ibañez or someone or that ilk would be crazy.

Just hire Stubby Clapp. A manager doesn't have to be great, just not a ****ing moron. He's done very well in Memphis, and he's still a young guy.

I think as long as you have some experience and understand the mechanics of the game, you can manage a major league team. Key is handling the clubhouse personalities and managing people.

Even in the nAtional League, the strategic levers aren’t that complicated.

Matheny was bad at the latter and also stupid/old school about he former. Which is how he took the Porsche he inherited and wrapped it around a light pole.

My personal preference would be hire from outside the organization to bring in a different view or perspective.

We will throw in some Primanti Bros.

CBS is trying to tell me Dusty Baker is a potential candidate.

They're joking, correct?

I seen him and John Farrell on a couple of lists as well. Dusty has failed everywhere. I don't know much about Farrell.

Hey, at least you could count on Baker playing your SP and not going to the pen. Could be a good match.

yeah I’m not very keen on hiring another manager with no experience managing at any level. Unless Yadi wants to retire immediately and take the manager job.

His name makes him sound like a double amputee with syphilis.

There is some deep wisdom in this post. Modern day managers main job is clubhouse and player management. When to pull a pitcher, bunt etc is pretty close in all managers except for our former lame ass Manager.

Ran a Porsche into a tree indeed.

Jesus, how many Porsche's did you give the guy?

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided."

ROFL
Well played sir

Bader’s hurt so now we get to see more Pham. Awesome!!

I almost forgot - now that asshat has been fired I'm no longer on strike. Watching the game now. At least for the moment, they're winning.

Just swept the Brewers in five games!!!

Damn it

It's what we do. It's who we are.

2045 world title. I'll take u to te parade with my grandkids

I remember the days when you guys won 18 straight games against us.

When was that? It seems like the Brew Crew has always had issues in the division, and played better against the East and the West and the AL

1-0 under a new Manager. That is a good way to start. Hopefully we will keep it going.

Supposedly the Yankees are interested in Carlos Martinez. Ready to give up top prospects for him. What can we get?

Not sure why you would trade him. He's not going to return as much as you hope. You have him locked up til 2023. More valuable to the team.

Some rumors say we would get 2/4 of these, some say we get 3/4 for Carlos. No idea if that’s a good deal or the upside of these guys.

Justus Sheffield, Clint Frazier, Estevan Florial and Miguel Andujar

I dont think you would be offered Sheffield or Andujar.

Sheffield is 22 in AAA and dominating with 2 plus pitches.

Andujar is their starting 3B with no one to really replace him.

Florial probably ends up like a poor mans version of Billy Hamilton. Poor bat. Less speed. Less defense.

The ship has sailed on Clint Frazier being a thing. He hasn't shown anything in the majors.

So I could see Frazier + Florial. I just don't see how its valuable to the Cardinals.

Frazier is 23 and has all of 180 at-bats. Saying he’s “past being a thing” is incredibly premature. All the tools are still present for him to be a high OBP, high power corner bat with good speed.

Your scouting report on Florial is also way off. He put up an .855 OPS in the Sally league at 19 while playing premium CF defense and also being a major threat on the basebaths. He’s fast and plays Cf, which is about all he has in common with Hamilton.

Those are both outstanding prospects, though they wouldn’t be great fits for the Cardinals with their glut of young OF.

Andujar would have to be the centerpiece, and if the Yankees plan to go after Machado in the offseason is expendable.

He isn't expendable because they aren't playing for 2nds this year. Andujar would only be expendable AFTER the Yankees signed Machado to a multi year deal.

And they aren't my scouting reports. Florial is currently in A+ with a .696 OPS striking out ~30% of the time. He has a 45 grade hit tool.

He started the year as baseball prospectus' #26 prospect. He didn't even make their midseason top 50.

I cant see what baseball america says anymore since everything they do is behind a paywall now.

Late 2000s or early 2010s. It was a thing. We lost 18 straight games at your stadium and then 18 straight games overall.

Florial broke his hamate bone and hasn’t played in several weeks. He’s just now on a rehab assignment. That’s why he isn’t on their midseason list.

Regardless of his hit tool grade (and most I’ve seen had a 50 on it before the season), comparing him to Billy Hamilton is still way off base. He’s a power-speed combo guy, not a rabbit whose only tool is speed.

And that’s an incredibly small sample size (~150 ABs) by which you’re judging a 20-year-old in A+ for the first time. Especially a raw, toolsy one just a year removed from a huge breakout (and who had a strong debut in a small sample size at that level).

The Yankees have enough offense to win with a slight downgrade at 3B like Brandon Drury, or flip a a top 10-15 guy in their system and a lotto ticket to KC for Mike Moustakas and break even. They might not have enough SP to make it through the AL side of the playoff bracket.

Glad to see Fowler take the high road


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fowler&#39;s final word on Matheny: &quot;I respect the hell out of him. He’s a winner. You don’t coach that long in the big leagues if you’re not. Obviously, we had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day, he’s a good man.&quot;</p>&mdash; Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/LangoschMLB/status/1018623280310308869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That doesnt even make sense. A prospect doesnt drop off a list because of an injury (Alex Reyes ring a bell?). He's played like shit. End of story.

There is nothing power about the kid. In 3 seasons at A+ he has a ****ing .376 SLG%. Now he may develop power given that he's only 20 years old, but there is absolutely nothing I have read to suggest that it is likely he'll be this 5 tool player everyone is hyping him up to be.

Our prospect just crushed Sheffield at the Futures game

Royals fever - catch it

Sorry bud, my teams crushing MLB pitchers.

Red Sox fan?

Close, but not quite.

He’s a stinking Cubs fan.

Rosenthal lights the Cardinals up on the Athletic.

Today’s press conference showed that the Cardinals once were considered a model franchise, is now just another desperate team.

Figures

He doesn’t believe in mid season firing?

It absolutely makes sense. Guys drop in prospect rankings all the time because of injury, because other players impress and move up the list. Marty Schottenheimer isn’t calling the shots on these lists, so injury can cause a guy to drop.

Alex Reyes even fell - he was a top 3-5 prospect who dropped into the back half of the top 10 and even into the teens in some lists after the injury.

Florial’s “3 season’s at A+” include all of 8 at-bats in2016 at age 18, 75 in 2017 at age 19, and 134 this year at age 20. That’s not a large enough to say anything about his stat line (other than he has good plate discipline and needs to work on his k rate - BB and K rates stabilize in a sample like that).

And judging prospects at extremely young edges and low levels by their statistics is faulty logic. Ask anyone who works on scouting minor league prospects. Sit in on a chat. They’ll all tell you the same.

Especially “toolsy” prospects like Florial - who had power grades of 55, 60 (FV) entering this season. Just about any write-up about him talked about 30 HR/30 SB potential.

He’s absolutely nothing like Billy Hamilton.

:clap: Thanks for the info.


I know your not a Cardinals fan but if you could come around and just talk about baseball related stuff, DJ and Hamas join in..... we'd all be smarter about the game of baseball.