****The Official 2019 STL Cardinals Thread****

[BigRedChief]

Cardinals announce 25-man Opening Day roster for the 2019 season.

Spoiler!

The Cardinals today announced their 25-man Opening Day roster that includes four first-time Cardinals and 13 players that were developed within their organization.

PITCHERS (12): 60 – John Brebbia-RHP, 22 – Jack Flaherty-RHP, 53 – John Gant- RHP, 49 – Jordan Hicks-RHP, 43 – Dakota Hudson- RHP, 55 – Dominic Leone-RHP, 59 – Mike Mayers- RHP, 21 – Andrew Miller-LHP, 39 – Miles Mikolas-RHP, 29 – Alex Reyes, RHP, 52 – Michael Wacha-RHP, 50 – Adam Wainwright- RHP;

CATCHERS (2): 4 -Yadier Molina, 32 – Matt Wieters;

INFIELDERS (6): 13 - Matt Carpenter, 12 – Paul DeJong, 46 – Paul Goldschmidt, 34 – Yario Muñoz, 33 – Drew Robinson, 16 – Kolten Wong;

OUTFIELDERS (5): 46 – Harrison Bader, 25 - Dexter Fowler, 38 – José Martínez, 41 – Tyler O'Neill, 23 – Marcell Ozuna;

DISABLED LIST (5): 27 - Brett Cecil (10-day, left hand Carpal Tunnel syndrome), 44 – Luke Gregerson (10-day, right shoulder impingement), 18 – Carlos Martínez (right shoulder cuff strain), 3 - Jedd Gyorko (10-day, right calf strain), 67 - Justin Williams (10-day, right hand 2nd metacarpal fracture).

2019 Opening Day Line up

Spoiler!

Starting lineup
Matt Carpenter 3B
Paul Goldschmidt 1B
Paul DeJong SS
Ozuna LF
Yadier Molina C
Dexter Fowler RF
Kolten Wong 2B
Harrison Bader CF

Won the Central Division. Won the NLDS.

NLDS Playoff roster

Spoiler!

Pitchers (12): Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, Adam Wainwright, Dakota Hudson, Genesis Cabrera, Tyler Webb, Andrew Miller, John Brebbia, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Carlos Martinez.

Catchers (2): Yadier Molina, Matt Wieters.

Infielders (6): Paul Goldschmidt, Kolten Wong, Paul DeJong, Matt Carpenter, Tommy Edman, Yairo Munoz.

Outfielders (5): Marcell Ozuna, Harrison Bader, Dexter Fowler, Jose Martinez, Randy Arozarena.

NLDS Playoff Game 1 starting lineup

Spoiler!

1. Dexter Fowler, CF

2. Tommy Edman, 3B

3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

4. Marcell Ozuna, LF

5. Yadier Molina, C

6. Paul DeJong, SS

7. Kolten Wong, 2B

8. Harrison Bader, CF

9. Miles Mikolas, P

NLCS Game One Starting lineup

Spoiler!

1. Dexter Fowler, CF

2. Kolten Wong, 2B

3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

4. Marcell Ozuna, LF

5. Yadier Molina, C

6. Matt Carpenter 3B

7.Tommy Edmond RF

8. Paul DeJong, SS

9. Miles Mikolas P

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

That’s the only time I even give it a thought but I still can’t get into it. I’d change the rules to allow for more scoring. I don’t get icing or offsides at all. It takes the fast break away in my opinion. Stupid rule.

They got rid of the two-line pass rule for exactly that reason. Won't explain what that is here, but it slowed the game way down.

You have to have the icing rule otherwise a team that had any kind of a lead could just sling the puck the length of the ice at every opportunity. Icing makes the team with the lead have to continue to play hockey.

Getting rid of off-sides has been considered from time to time. Not sure if it would make the game better or worse.

But the reality is that it's just hard to score in hockey. the goal isn't very big, and the goaltenders are just really good. A 'bad' goalie will allow just 3 or so goals in a game on average.

But I get it; hockey isn't for everyone. I got into it because a friend of mine played in high school and played a bit as a minor league goalie.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by dls6501

I am sure many of you will be ready to take away my fan card after the following sentence....

But I dont know why there has been zero talk about how pathetic Yadier Molina was with the bat this postseason. He was constantly coming up in big spots with men on base and failing. One sac fly is literally all I can remember from his postseason. And that's not enough when others are struggling.

He's still a decent defensive catcher, but a pure liability if he's at the plate and not behind it. He needs to hang up his spurs and move on to coaching.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by dls6501

I am sure many of you will be ready to take away my fan card after the following sentence....

But I dont know why there has been zero talk about how pathetic Yadier Molina was with the bat this postseason. He was constantly coming up in big spots with men on base and failing. One sac fly is literally all I can remember from his postseason. And that's not enough when others are struggling.

He tied the game and won the game against the Braves in game 4.
Most of our hitters sucked this postseason.

[Megatron96]

Wasn't Yadi one of the few Cards that actually got some hits in the post-season?

Not saying he was great at bat, but let's be real, Yadi's importance to the team is behind the plate, not at bat. And his leadership.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Not really, but a good run nonetheless....

You are such a ****ing douche its unreal.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by dls6501

I am sure many of you will be ready to take away my fan card after the following sentence....

But I dont know why there has been zero talk about how pathetic Yadier Molina was with the bat this postseason. He was constantly coming up in big spots with men on base and failing. One sac fly is literally all I can remember from his postseason. And that's not enough when others are struggling.

Originally Posted by Frazod

He's still a decent defensive catcher, but a pure liability if he's at the plate and not behind it. He needs to hang up his spurs and move on to coaching.

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

He tied the game and won the game against the Braves in game 4.
Most of our hitters sucked this postseason.

without him, we don’t win the NLDS. We can’t compare the 38 year old Yadi with 17K innings on those knees to the younger version that was the greatest defensive catcher of his generation.

He’s still at least average in his catching skills but still calls a great game. Although I do hope this is his last year. I’d hate to see a Yadi that has seriously deteriorated skills just hanging on to what once was greatness.

[dls6501]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Wasn't Yadi one of the few Cards that actually got some hits in the post-season?

Not saying he was great at bat, but let's be real, Yadi's importance to the team is behind the plate, not at bat. And his leadership.

If you consider getting 5 hits in 9 games "actually getting some hits" then I guess he was. For me, it was the fact that it seemed like he was always up with men on base and he didnt produce.

He slashed .152/.216/.242 in the playoffs this year. Thats Baderesque.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by dls6501

If you consider getting 5 hits in 9 games "actually getting some hits" then I guess he was. For me, it was the fact that it seemed like he was always up with men on base and he didnt produce.

He slashed .152/.216/.242 in the playoffs this year. Thats Baderesque.

Kind of reminded me of McGwire's last playoff series against the Diamondbacks. Seemed like every time he came up to bat there were runners on base and two outs. Strike one, strike two, strike three, inning over. Everybody on earth knew he was a guaranteed instant out, except for Tony.

[VAChief]

He wasn’t the only one killing us, but he certainly deserves his own criticism.

Yadi batting 5th tells you all you need to know about the state of our position player roster. Batting 8th is where he fits the rest of what is left of his career. He really doesn’t fit there well either, but if you have the other pieces and he continues to hold down opposing running games it is justified.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by VAChief

He wasn’t the only one killing us, but he certainly deserves his own criticism.

Yadi batting 5th tells you all you need to know about the state of our position player roster. Batting 8th is where he fits the rest of what is left of his career. He really doesn’t fit there well either, but if you have the other pieces and he continues to hold down opposing running games it is justified.

Yadi throws out Acuna in the first inning seems to have changed their whole series game plan about running. He should have not been batting 5th but as you said, thats more of a statement of our other players than his current offensive skills. Yadi was not one our main issues this year.

Our problem is, as the guest on Bernies podcast said yesterday,....... we need more good dudes...

I don't understand why AL teams aren't interested in Jose Martinez. The dude can obviously hit.

Carlos still has top shelf stuff, maybe we get a team that thinks they can "fix" Carlos focus and make a deal for more offensive production?

Just trade Fowler for whatever we can get, pay the majority of the remaining contract. If its only a bag of baseballs thats fine, we need to just move on. If Mo is your guy, Dewitt needs to just eat the rest of the contract.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yadi throws out Acuna in the first inning seems to have changed their whole series game plan about running. He should have not been batting 5th but as you said, thats more of a statement of our other players than his current offensive skills. Yadi was not one our main issues this year.

Our problem is, as the guest on Bernies podcast said yesterday,....... we need more good dudes...

I don't understand why AL teams aren't interested in Jose Martinez. The dude can obviously hit.

Carlos still has top shelf stuff, maybe we get a team that thinks they can "fix" Carlos focus and make a deal for more offensive production?

Just trade Fowler for whatever we can get, pay the majority of the remaining contract. If its only a bag of baseballs thats fine, we need to just move on. If Mo is your guy, Dewitt needs to just eat the rest of the contract.

Extending Carp is worse than Fowler. Mo should be fired for that one alone. PGM thinks fire Mo first, but also thinks Shildt is a turd, but ironically Shildt just provided Mo more job security by managing a 4 place team of position players to the NLCS.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yadi throws out Acuna in the first inning seems to have changed their whole series game plan about running. He should have not been batting 5th but as you said, thats more of a statement of our other players than his current offensive skills. Yadi was not one our main issues this year.

Our problem is, as the guest on Bernies podcast said yesterday,....... we need more good dudes...

I don't understand why AL teams aren't interested in Jose Martinez. The dude can obviously hit.

Carlos still has top shelf stuff, maybe we get a team that thinks they can "fix" Carlos focus and make a deal for more offensive production?

Just trade Fowler for whatever we can get, pay the majority of the remaining contract. If its only a bag of baseballs thats fine, we need to just move on. If Mo is your guy, Dewitt needs to just eat the rest of the contract.

Yadi will never admit it, but he is at the point in his career where if they put him on a schedule where he played 90-100 games he might actually be more productive. The MLB schedule is grueling for an aging body let alone one that plays catcher.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Yadi will never admit it, but he is at the point in his career where if they put him on a schedule where he played 90-100 games he might actually be more productive. The MLB schedule is grueling for an aging body let alone one that plays catcher.

Oh, I think that's definitely true. He hit much better the first several weeks back from his thumb injury, and it's likely because he was finally rested. I'm sure the grind of the last several weeks of the season wore him down again. The announcers spoke repeatedly about both his hands bothering him.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Oh, I think that's definitely true. He hit much better the first several weeks back from his thumb injury, and it's likely because he was finally rested. I'm sure the grind of the last several weeks of the season wore him down again. The announcers spoke repeatedly about both his hands bothering him.

I don't think people can fully appreciate the pounding catchers take to their hand from just catching the damn ball (especially as velocity rates climb). I remember in Junior College I had a fellow pitcher who threw low to mid 90's and sometimes we would catch each other in the bullpen. He also threw a heavy ball and occasionally that sink would hit the mitt and just numb the meaty part of my thumb. I can't imagine doing that for 9 innings and then trying to hit.

[O.city]

So, next year is gonna be the same squad right? There's not much they can change iirc.