2018 STL Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

Opening day lineup

Fowler RF
Pham CF
Carpenter 3B
Ozuna LF
Martinez 1B
Molina C
Dejong SS
Wong 2B
Pitcher

Edit:
Matheny fired 07/14/2018




Opening Day Roster

Spoiler!

St. Louis has opted to carry 12 position players and 13 pitchers to begin the new season, with a four-man bench and eight-man bullpen.

Outfielders:
Dexter Fowler
Tommy Pham
Marcell Ozuna

Infielders:
Matt Carpenter
Paul DeJong
Kolten Wong

Catchers:
Yadier Molina
Francisco Pena

Utility:
Jose Martinez
Greg Garcia
Yairo Munoz
Jedd Gyrko

Starters:
Carlos Martinez
Michael Wacha
Luke Weaver
Miles Mikolas
Jack Flaherty

Relievers:
Dominic Leone
Tyler Lyons
Bud Norris
Brett Cecil
Sam Tuivailala
Matt Bowman
Jordan Hicks
Mike Mayers

On the DL:
Adam Wainwright
Luke Gregerson

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I like what I see in Capel. A lot (he's playing on a High A team, FYI; Carolina League).

geezz man how do you know that much about some prospect in Cleveland? I thought you had a job?

Thanks for the deep info in the guy. You say you like the guy a lot but the way you explain it is that someday he may be a little better than Mercado? We already had Mercado why trade for a guy that might someday be a little better?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

geezz man how do you know that much about some prospect in Cleveland? I thought you had a job?

Thanks for the deep info in the guy. You say you like the guy a lot but the way you explain it is that someday he may be a little better than Mercado? We already had Mercado why trade for a guy that might someday be a little better?

Because like I said - he's further away and that's a GOOD thing for this team. They have JAG and Arozarenas, not to mention Bader and O'Neill they need to find ABs and roster space for now.

This frees a 40 man spot (which was kinda necessary after they added Hudson) and brings a lefty into the system that was almost exclusively righthanded before the addition of Capel and Williams.

[BigRedChief]

Kieth Law and Baseball America chime in

Keith Law’s analysis is a subscription-service piece, but here are a couple of small excerpts:

On Cabrera: “Lefty Genesis Cabrera is a clear starter for me as long as he stays healthy, working at 93-96 with a plus changeup, often plus cutter, and show-me curveball … he has a No. 2 starter ceiling.”

On Williams: “A down year in Triple A (this season) after producing at every level below that, the 22-year-old was known for his big power in high school, but throughout pro ball he’s been a high-contact, ground-ball hitter never hitting more than 14 homers in a season. … if ever there were a player to work with on launch angle, Williams is it.”

Now, let’s look at what Baseball America had to say:

Baseball America on Williams: “He’s always hinted at potential through a series of loud tools, but it’s never quite come together all at once. His best tools are his plus or better throwing arm as well as above-average raw power that hasn’t manifested itself in games. … he will need to add lift to his swing to begin tapping into his power potential. If it all comes together, he has the makings of an everyday corner bat. If not, he could still have a role as a backup in the major leagues.”

Baseball America on Cabrera, age 21: “Although he still has a ground to make up as far as control and command are concerned, Cabrera was still the owner of one of the Rays’ system’s most electric arms. He brings a low-to mid-90s fastball with riding life from the left side and couples the pitch with a slider that has flashed plus this year. His 124 strikeouts in 113.2 innings are second in the Southern League. Scouts are split on Cabrera’s future, with some seeing a late-game reliever while others see a pitcher with the upside of a mid-rotation starter if everything comes together.”

Baseball America on RH reliever Roel Ramirez, age 23: “The third player in the Cardinals’ return is a relief-only prospect, but one who brings an explosive, mid-90s fastball to the table. He couples a fastball with a slider and split-fingered fastball, neither of which is average at this point.”

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Because like I said - he's further away and that's a GOOD thing for this team. They have JAG and Arozarenas, not to mention Bader and O'Neill they need to find ABs and roster space for now.

This frees a 40 man spot (which was kinda necessary after they added Hudson) and brings a lefty into the system that was almost exclusively righthanded before the addition of Capel and Williams.

makes sense thanks.

[Rams Fan]

I'm not mad about the Pham trade. Or J. Martinez still being a Cardinal.

I am mad about Norris being a Cardinal after today with no other moves done to improve the 25 man roster today. There's no justification as to why he's still here. His contract is up after the season. The FO had an opportunity to sell and didn't.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I'm not mad about the Pham trade. Or J. Martinez still being a Cardinal.

I am mad about Norris being a Cardinal after today with no other moves done to improve the 25 man roster today. There's no justification as to why he's still here. His contract is up after the season. The FO had an opportunity to sell and didn't.

I'm more irritated about his justification.

Moe says we're too close to contention and wants to know who would close if Norris were traded...

He still doesnt have the balls or self-awareness for this gig. I mean he was actually unnerved by the loss of Bud. ****ing. Norris.

Guys just a delusional chickenshit.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I'm more irritated about his justification.

Moe says we're too close to contention and wants to know who would close if Norris were traded...

He still doesnt have the balls or self-awareness for this gig. I mean he was actually unnerved by the loss of Bud. ****ing. Norris.

Guys just a delusional chickenshit.

I saw that comment and it pissed me off as well.

If they thought they had a chance at contending, then make moves to support that notion. If you don't believe that you have a shot at contending, then cut dead weight.

This team would be better off going into 2019 with having the entire Memphis rotation handle bullpen duty with Hicks sprinkled in there than with Norris closing.

Oh, and to answer Mo's question, Leone when he comes back.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I saw that comment and it pissed me off as well.

If they thought they had a chance at contending, then make moves to support that notion. If you don't believe that you have a shot at contending, then cut dead weight.

This team would be better off going into 2019 with having the entire Memphis rotation handle bullpen duty with Hicks sprinkled in there than with Norris closing.

Oh, and to answer Mo's question, Leone when he comes back.

Can't wait until the Cardinals bring him up after two innings pitched at Memphis only for him to get promptly shellacked, blowing out his shoulder in the process. You know it's coming.

[bdj23]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I'm more irritated about his justification.

Moe says we're too close to contention and wants to know who would close if Norris were traded...

He still doesnt have the balls or self-awareness for this gig. I mean he was actually unnerved by the loss of Bud. ****ing. Norris.

Guys just a delusional chickenshit.

The 2nd wildcard was a mistake. Keep conceding to the Cubs and chase that last spot Mo, ya dipshit.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I'm more irritated about his justification.

Moe says we're too close to contention and wants to know who would close if Norris were traded...

He still doesnt have the balls or self-awareness for this gig. I mean he was actually unnerved by the loss of Bud. ****ing. Norris.

Guys just a delusional chickenshit.

some of a bitch that comment pissed me off.


I dont know what we could have got for Norris but it would have been something that could possibly help us in 2019 or beyond. Now its just another example of Mo playing it safe and continuing our new tradition of "meh" baseball.

We just spent the last few pages of this thread talking about this exact thing. That this type of move ia holding us back from returning to the level of play we expect from the Cardinals. If some Joe schmo's on an internet message board identified this issue, surely someone in the FO has had the same discussion and at least some reached the same conclusion?

I cant see any reason to act like this other than they want to keep 42K+ in the stands this season. Mo told us what his job was, at a press conference, cameras rolling, to make money for Dewitt.

They care more about making money than being a great team on the field.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Can't wait until the Cardinals bring him up after two innings pitched at Memphis only for him to get promptly shellacked, blowing out his shoulder in the process. You know it's coming.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

some of a bitch that comment pissed me off.


I dont know what we could have got for Norris but it would have been something that could possibly help us in 2019 or beyond. Now its just another example of Mo playing it safe and continuing our new tradition of "meh" baseball.

We just spent the last few pages of this thread talking about this exact thing. That this type of move ia holding us back from returning to the level of play we expect from the Cardinals. If some Joe schmo's on an internet message board identified this issue, surely someone in the FO has had the same discussion and at least some reached the same conclusion?

I cant see any reason to act like this other than they want to keep 42K+ in the stands this season. Mo told us what his job was, at a press conference, cameras rolling, to make money for Dewitt.

They care more about making money than being a great team on the field.

I'd have taken the relief prospect the Dodgers gave for Axford. He'd have just been another body to throw at the pile.

But hey, we're this close to being a 5 game winning streak away to being tied for a play-in game that we'll send Miles Mikolas up there on fumes to pitch in. So obviously we needed to hold Norris...

Here's hoping they had the wherewithal to have passed him through waivers some time ago. He doesn't make enough money to be someone who will obviously clear (Fowler) but if they slipped him in under the radar, they can get him traded in August.

[BigRedChief]

MLB's new STL top 30 prospects:


http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2018?list=stl


Williams #9
Capel #10
Cabera #14
Eldridge #22
Gallegos #23


Agree? Disagree?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

MLB's new STL top 30 prospects:


http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2018?list=stl


Williams #9
Capel #10
Cabera #14
Eldridge #22
Gallegos #23


Agree? Disagree?

Elledge seems to low but that's understandable since the Mariners slow-played him. He needs time in AA to move up the lists much.

Williams is too high, IMO and Cabrera is too low. I'd put Capel at 9, Cabrera at 10, Roberts 11 and then Williams at 12.

But that's parsing things pretty thinly for a prospect list. I mean I'd move Fernandez, Woodford and Urias down 5-6 spots/each as well (maybe 10 spots for Fernandez. He's nearing non-entity status for me) and that would get Elledge up into the high teens and move Gingery up as well.

But man, that big ol' bunch of young pitchers in the 20s or so is just pretty fluid. I don't think you can argue too loudly over any of them and I suspect most of them will be off the list in a year or so anyway. Guys like Oviedo and Seijas stall out and fade away pretty quickly.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Tommy Pham: 1.5fWAR, 396 PA, three yrs control
Bryce Harper: 1.6fWAR, 450 PA, free agent in two months

Lulz