NL Central: Reds, Pirates and others

[The_Achiever]

 

Eh, I need to watch it before I say the guy is awful. Might have been trying to work on some pitches or isn't up to full speed yet.

 

I hope he sucks and the Cubs torch him the first chance we get.

Yeah it’s ST and his first start so stats are mostly meaningless but that’s a rough debut for a guy who sucked last time he was in MLB and hasn’t pitched in MLB in years.

 

I do think the Cardinals' rotation has the chance to implode if Mikolas sucks and Wainwright continues to struggle. Wacha has had problems staying healthy. I think the Cubs have a much stronger rotation now.

 

We should make a thread or poll for when we think MM will get fired lol. I'll say right around early August after the trade deadline.

 

Agreed. I think they'll score plenty of runs but this rotation doesn't scare me at all. Surprised we haven't heard them connected to Jake, Cobb, etc. more. (although they do love to keep their powder dry....)

[champaignchris]

I think they'll score plenty of runs...

 

The Cardinals have so many regression candidates... basically, their entire lineup either significantly outperformed their career numbers last year or are getting old. Pham, Wong, Gyorko, Ozuna, and DeJong aren't all going to repeat what they did last year. Probably not close. This may be the year that Fowler (32), Carpenter (32), and Molina (36) start showing their age.

 

They might be a very good offense. They also might completely fall off the table.

 

They're low floor/high ceiling both on the mound and at the plate.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Eh, I need to watch it before I say the guy is awful. Might have been trying to work on some pitches or isn't up to full speed yet.

 

I hope he sucks and the Cubs torch him the first chance we get.

Yeah it’s ST and his first start so stats are mostly meaningless but that’s a rough debut for a guy who sucked last time he was in MLB and hasn’t pitched in MLB in years.

 

I do think the Cardinals' rotation has the chance to implode if Mikolas sucks and Wainwright continues to struggle. Wacha has had problems staying healthy. I think the Cubs have a much stronger rotation now.

 

We should make a thread or poll for when we think MM will get fired lol. I'll say right around early August after the trade deadline.

 

Their other problem is they'll be relying on some combination of rookie/second year pitchers (Weaver, Flaherty, Reyes) who might have to throw career highs in innings and could easily wear out.

[imb]

also any number of their players could die in a fiery DUI crash

[Derwood]

The Reds, in 2018, for the first time EVER, will broadcast all 162 of their regular season games. On television.

 

How is that even possible?

[Cubswin11]

The Reds, in 2018, for the first time EVER, will broadcast all 162 of their regular season games. On television.

 

How is that even possible?

The Brewers announced the same thing recently. Amazing.

[Cubswin11]

Bud Norris 2.1IP 4H 5ER 1BB 2SO 2HR and he left with an injury

[PackLandVA]

Mikolas went 5 innings today with 4 Ks, but he gave up 4 ER, 6 H and a dinger to boot.

[Cubswin11]

Mikolas went 5 innings today with 4 Ks, but he gave up 4 ER, 6 H and a dinger to boot.

Box score says he went 3IP 6H 4ER 0BB 0K 1HR. This guy might be a bum. Hopefully they panic and cave to over pay one of the FA starters left.

Edited March 3, 2018 by Cubswin11

[PackLandVA]

Gameday playing games! I swear it read what I posted. I thought it was odd he went 5 in his second start.

[Cubswin11]

Remember when we thought signing this Mikolas bum and Cobb would’ve been a perfectly fine offseason for SP additions?

 

[treebird]

stop pretending spring training means anything. mikolas is a nice bet.

[Cubswin11]

stop pretending spring training means anything. mikolas is a nice bet.

I mean that’s fair. But he was a bum last time he was in MLB (6+ era his last season here) and he’s been an absolute bum in his 2 starts since being back. I saw his first start and ST or not his stuff looked quite average and the results so far show it.

 

He’s gone 4.2IP 13H 10ER 1BB 2K 2HR on 106 pitches so far.

[Clem Fandango]

A glimpse into Mike Mikolas' near future

 

https://youtu.be/BH3flcdsfO0

[Banedon]

I would really like to see the rest of the free agent pitchers sign to give the Cards less options if Mikolas doesn't pan out though.

[17 Seconds]

Remember when we thought signing this Mikolas bum and Cobb would’ve been a perfectly fine offseason for SP additions?

 

 

if you thought he was a fine bet before, you should still think that now

[CyHawk_Cub]

I'm glad I never thought that.

[The_Achiever]

I'm glad I never thought that.

 

Yeah. Cobb seemed like an ok acquisition but I'd rather just roll with Montgomery than spend money on Mikolass.

[We Got The Whole 9]

DeJong just got a 6 year extension at 26m with 2 more option years to max it out at 51m

[The_Achiever]

DeJong just got a 6 year extension at 26m with 2 more option years to max it out at 51m

 

Infield Randal Grichuk. Good luck with that.

[champaignchris]

DeJong just got a 6 year extension at 26m with 2 more option years to max it out at 51m

 

Addison Russell is 4 or 5 months younger.

 

DeJong was a 4th round pick, never ranked as a top 100 prospect, and had a .780-ish OPS in his only full year of minor league play. Only 12 months ago, Diaz was as the Cardinals’ SS of the future and DeJong wasn’t on anyone’s radar.

 

I’m fully prepared to be proven wrong about this, but I strongly suspect that DeJong doesn’t amount to much.

[Cubswin11]

Seems like an unnecessary move to me but it really isn't much money and they save some money if he turns out to be like the SS version of Todd Fazier. Most likely though when regression hits him the contract is going to keep Matheny running him out there at SS over a better option.

[champaignchris]

DeJong will make more money this year than Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Trea Turner combined.

 

So, it was clearly a move they had to make.

 

Maybe I give the Cards’ front office too much credit.

[Cubswin11]

Sounds like Carpenter likely won’t be ready for opening day with a back issue and Matheny had this gem of a quote on it.

 

After weeks of displaying cautious optimism about the severity of Matt Carpenter's back injury, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny admitted some concern before Tuesday's 4-4 tie against the Marlins about his first baseman's status for Opening Day.

 

"No," the manager said, when asked if Carpenter's health worried him. "But, yeah."

 

Also apparently Pham is unhappy with the amount the Cardinals decided to pay him in his last year before arbitration

[Clem Fandango]

Also apparently Pham is unhappy with the amount the Cardinals decided to pay him in his last year before arbitration

 

Well, Tommy, maybe if you weren't hot garbage until you turned 29 you would've earned more money based on your performance history, ya dingus.