Blockbuster Deal: Ponson to STL

[CardsFanInChiTown]

So are we still taking bets on what will be higher: Ponson's ERA, weight, or blood alcohol level.

 

I predict ERA, but only by a little.

 

ERA- 5.22

Weight: 320

Blood Alcohol 2.3

 

Those are my pre-season predictions.

 

320 > 5.22

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

So are we still taking bets on what will be higher: Ponson's ERA, weight, or blood alcohol level.

 

I predict ERA, but only by a little.

 

ERA- 5.22

Weight: 320

Blood Alcohol 2.3

 

Those are my pre-season predictions.

 

320 > 5.22

Remove the decimal...522 > 320. But however you want to look at it.

 

In comparison to averages, those are all big numbers.

 

Or in Ponson's case, obese numbers.

[UK1679666180]

Cardinals signed RHP John Riedling to a minor league contract.

After taking a one-year deal from the Marlins, Riedling hurt his shoulder in March and never made much of a contribution, finishing with a 7.16 ERA in 27 2/3 IP. He could be a useful middle reliever if healthy

 

That dartboard is getting a workout in Jocketty's office, this one landed on Riedling.

[PieOnMyHands]

I'm not sure why you're so confident about Rolen; You have no real idea what he's going to provide coming back from injury. That would be like me being confident that Kerry Wood will make 35 starts. I just don't see the Cardinals as the runaway winner this year. Of course, its possible that another bat or impact pitcher will be signed but right now I see a lot more questions throughout the lineup and pitching staff.

 

Why wouldn't I be high on Rolen? A career .890 OPS to go along with the best defense out of a third baesman in the game.

 

There seems to be this misconception that Scott Rolen is brittle, like a JD Drew, or something. Even if he gets hurt, he still plays... I sometimes wonder if people are talking of the same Scott Rolen:

 

2001: 151 games

2002: 155 games

2003: 154 games

2004: 142 games

2005: 56 games

 

Is there something I'm missing? Fluke shoulder injury on a collision with Alex Cintron cost him the 2002 playoffs. In 2004, he did miss some time, but still managed to play in 142 games. You can argue that it cost him the playoffs that year, too, but I would beg to differ. In the NLCS he hit .310 with a 1.045 OPS. If anything, it was him cooling off. Last season was also a pretty fluke injury, when he collided with Heep Sop Choi.

 

Now, I'm not saying that it doesn't matter how you get hurt... it's just, what are the chances of these happening? Clearly, if Rolen is getting hurt, he's still battling through it. Look at the games he's played since coming to St. Louis. He does seem to always have lingering injuries, but as I've already said, he plays through them and plays at a very high level.

 

 

And to then to address the second point you made: on that list that I provided where I went through player-by-player -- who on there is such a significant loss that we'll end up losing 11 wins from last year's team?

 

I'm not saying that the playoffs are a lock -- fluke injuries and whatnot always seem to pop up. However, I think that St. Louis has just as good a chance as anyone to make the playoffs. The nucleus of the team stayed intact; given the elite talent they have within that nucleus, they're going to win a lot of games.

 

 

BONUS: Quote from Ponson:

The hardest thing for me to do was to look at my Mom's face and see how much I hurt her.

Sounds sincere to me. He's content on turning it around. I hope this signing works out well.

[SouthSideRyan]

In regards to the Cards losing games off of last year's totals, they'd likely lose a few games just through regression, as according to the stats, it takes a truly incredible team to be statistically a 100 win team.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm not sure why you're so confident about Rolen; You have no real idea what he's going to provide coming back from injury. That would be like me being confident that Kerry Wood will make 35 starts. I just don't see the Cardinals as the runaway winner this year. Of course, its possible that another bat or impact pitcher will be signed but right now I see a lot more questions throughout the lineup and pitching staff.

 

Why wouldn't I be high on Rolen? A career .890 OPS to go along with the best defense out of a third baesman in the game.

 

There seems to be this misconception that Scott Rolen is brittle, like a JD Drew, or something. Even if he gets hurt, he still plays... I sometimes wonder if people are talking of the same Scott Rolen:

 

2001: 151 games

2002: 155 games

2003: 154 games

2004: 142 games

2005: 56 games

 

Is there something I'm missing? Fluke shoulder injury on a collision with Alex Cintron cost him the 2002 playoffs. In 2004, he did miss some time, but still managed to play in 142 games. You can argue that it cost him the playoffs that year, too, but I would beg to differ. In the NLCS he hit .310 with a 1.045 OPS. If anything, it was him cooling off. Last season was also a pretty fluke injury, when he collided with Heep Sop Choi.

 

Now, I'm not saying that it doesn't matter how you get hurt... it's just, what are the chances of these happening? Clearly, if Rolen is getting hurt, he's still battling through it. Look at the games he's played since coming to St. Louis. He does seem to always have lingering injuries, but as I've already said, he plays through them and plays at a very high level.

 

 

And to then to address the second point you made: on that list that I provided where I went through player-by-player -- who on there is such a significant loss that we'll end up losing 11 wins from last year's team?

 

I'm not saying that the playoffs are a lock -- fluke injuries and whatnot always seem to pop up. However, I think that St. Louis has just as good a chance as anyone to make the playoffs. The nucleus of the team stayed intact; given the elite talent they have within that nucleus, they're going to win a lot of games.

 

 

BONUS: Quote from Ponson:

The hardest thing for me to do was to look at my Mom's face and see how much I hurt her.

Sounds sincere to me. He's content on turning it around. I hope this signing works out well.

One thing to consider about shoulder injuries is how that will affect his swing. Shawn Green comes to mind. Had shoulder problems and never came close to his numbers again. Whenever a player has a serious injury which is what Rolen had you do have to question how he will come back. I still say Cards take the division because their nucleus of players i svery solid.

[wolf stansson]

Weight: 320

That's a nice round number.

 

Hey o.

 

I honestly don't know what to think about this signing. It's such a lateral move. It honestly seems to me that he is going to be our 5th starter and we'll trade Marquis. Otherwise I don't understand the signing at all.

 

All I know is that if barring injury Anthony Reyes isn't in the opening day rotation, I am stabbing fools.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

BONUS: Quote from Ponson:

The hardest thing for me to do was to look at my Mom's face and see how much I hurt her.

Sounds sincere to me. He's content on turning it around. I hope this signing works out well.

 

Apparently, you have little experience with addicts. They say that stuff all the time....many of them still continue to make the same self destructive decisions.

[Fred Hornkohl]

 

BONUS: Quote from Ponson:

The hardest thing for me to do was to look at my Mom's face and see how much I hurt her.

Sounds sincere to me. He's content on turning it around. I hope this signing works out well.

 

Apparently, you have little experience with addicts. They say that stuff all the time....many of them still continue to make the same self destructive decisions.

 

And sometimes you gotta fake it until you make it.

[RockTheIvy]

BONUS: Quote from Ponson:

The hardest thing for me to do was to look at my Mom's face and see how much I hurt her.

Sounds sincere to me. He's content on turning it around. I hope this signing works out well.

 

He sat on his own mother? I'm actually surprised to hear she's doing well!