indifferent

Bold statement, care to elaborate?

Is it true that certain teams match up well against another team or is it just a small sample size? You'd expect a team with a better record to win the season series against a team with a worse record, somewhat proportionally to the difference between the two teams. Yet, every team has a team that seems to beat them, regardless of their record. For the Cards, it seems to be the Phillies and Giants in recent years. For the Cubs is it the Brewers? The Cubs were the only team in the Central who beat the Cards in the regular season. Do they match up well with the Cards? I guess that depends whether you believe there's such a thing as favorable matchups in the MLB. Seems to be a much more probable theory in the NFL. For example, if you have the best running back in the league (but have a lower tiered passing game), playing a team with the most porous rushing defense in the league is certainly a better match up than a team with the best run defense.

Which brings to bear another question, are the Astros criminally underrated? Seems they're like the Braves the last few years, always counted out despite recent success, but finding a way to get it done.

Although not a big fan of comparing position players of different teams, I think how the leadoff men will fare between the two is an interesting discussion. I predict Pierre>Eckstein this year in the role. Of course, this depends on the no. 2 hitter for both teams which is seemingly still up in the air for both. Eckstein posted his best numbers last year with Walker and Edmonds batting behind him (go figure, and with Pujols at no. 3). Any other Cards hitters batting no. 2 which included Taguchi, Grudz, and JRod and his numbers suffered. Cards are not going to have that luxury on the other hand this year, losing both Walker and Sanders, requiring a need for more power lower in the lineup. JimEd will move to the five spot which will bode well for his numbers. This will necessitate Spivey or Bigbie/JRod/So in the two spot. Unless Perez is batting 2nd which by all accounts seems unlikely, even if Walker is gone, Pierre will pick up his performance to closer to his career numbers.

Now I understand why hope springs eternal in Chicago...the Cubs have been the team with the biggest wild card tendencies in the Central the last three years, mostly due to the health of their talented starting staff. This is why every year you see pundits everywhere predicting them to finish anywhere from 1st (those still enamored with rotation's potential) to 4th (those wary of Baker's fingerprints). This is also why I'm here frequently, there's much to speculate about. The second biggest wild card is the Brewers as no one knows how their youthful everyday players will pan out this soon. Although, I agree with Vance in that they have some good veteran presence here in Lee and Jenkins. The Cards have slightly downgraded, I'll agree. It doesn't concern me too much because these are low cost, low risk downgrades (except Encarnacion, and possibly Looper). In which case if the risks rail, they won't be that difficult to replace mid-season if need be. Much prefer the marginal moves made to a big gamble or trade. It will be hard to mess up a 100 win team with these moves than a large scale Peter/Paul type move. I also don't agree with TT on the Cards bullpen. The bullpen had a pretty different look from the 04 bullpen and both ended up with the best bullpen ERA. Those predicted losing Calero and Kline would hurt the bullpen, Reyes stepped up out of nowhere and they ended up being just as good. Sure, this is largely predicated upon the health of the starters, but I don't care how good your bullpen is, it will be exposed in a large increase in number of innings pitched. When I look at Vance's predictions, I agree with them also for the most part, but there's also nothing shocking about them. I'd agree with his rankings in the Central, unless the Brewers arrive a year earlier than expected.

On one hand, being professional is a good thing. You love a guy that ignores the media fray, etc. But on the other hand, he might go about his business and when free agency hits, bolt. It's a reality Cards fans face with Mulder, albeit a lesser talent, he strikes me as a professional salivating for free agency.

I posted about the new stadium=status quo payroll before. Not a happy camper (or Cards fan). I just don't think there's a chance they'll be able to extend Mulder prior to his free agency. Unfortunately leaves the Cards with few options heading into next year. Once he hits free agency, it's the old Catch 22 where he has a great season and seriously inflates his value or he tanks in which case, why would you want to pay for past performance with declining trends anyway?

After this year w/ expensive club option for 07. Mulder's just going to cost too much in free agency next year and it's not the Cards style to overpay like that. His peripherals are declining and he's not a power pitcher. The Mulder trade was a bad deal, but it still doesn't make sense to overpay for his performance. We'll see how he does this year, I guess. I think there's no chance Mulder doesn't test the market.

I'm not excusing management for their dumb decision, I think he should consider the fans. Although it's true there's no guarantee they would do anything worthwile with the dollars. I like the way the Cards structured Edmonds' deal. They have a pricey club option for him in 07, but they can extend him for less if Edmonds agrees.

That's the case with a lot of older star players (the deferred contracts). Some have chosen to walk away and leave a ton of money on the table. He's been overpaid the last two years. He's a lifelong Astro and he was compensated handsomely. That should count for something.

Cards are going to be in a world of hurt in 07 when Mulder, Suppan, and Marquis are all free agents. Signing three solid free agent pitchers will cost a ton. What would you do if you're the Cards? a. Sign Marquis to an extension because he's the only pitcher where you have fairly good leverage at this time. b. Sign Mulder to an extension (you can only pick this option if you think Mulder would go for it). c. Wait and see approach (i.e. Reyes pans out, hope for Wainwright or another low cost surprise). Feel free to add other options.

I was wondering when that was going to happen. No matter what Bagwell's done for the franchise in the past, you can't keep paying a guy 17 mil for non-existent production. I'd say he's about as selfish as Clemens.

Bruce, This will probably be locked, destined for the rivalries forum, but what do you think about the Cards moves to date? Does Ponson block Reyes in the rotation? Who's considered Cards starting left fielder? Will Marquis be traded?

Succinctly put and valid.

I'm bummed for you, Rocket. I was also rooting for the Bengals and have been looking forward to the game all week. On the plus side, I've lived in both cities and Big Ben went to my alma mater.

Excellent catch by C. Johnson!

is there anything to like about the steelers? Cowher is a really good coach... aside from that, no there is not much to like about them. Who's a better coach, Cowher or Lewis? I'd say Lewis is less proven, but I'm impressed with what he's done with the hapless Bengals the last two years. I'm giving the edge to Lewis.

Zero. If they don't feel he can play on it now, he won't be coming back into the game. If he felt like he could play, he would be in the game, regardless of what might have happened to his knee. It's on Kitna to win or lose. Ugh. I'd say rely more heavily on Rudi, but not with Steelers run D. Kitna may be one of the best backup QBs, but he's no Palmer.

Not so fast...10-7 Bengals What are the chances that Palmer comes back? They said they'd have his MRI results by the 3rd quarter. Is Henry out for the game?

Sorry, I'm plagiarizing from Cards Talk, but there have been some heated comments so far on this topic over there. Curious to see how Cubs Nation breaks it down. http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=326739

An example of the crap we have to deal with on Cards Talk, look at what this idiot has to say: http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=323244&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20 :roll: Mod note: The stuff that idiot wrote was offensive so I edited your post to remove it. The curious can view that link.

does skmsw still post there? I always thought he'd fit in well here, amateur sabremetrician that he was. Yep, not as frequently as he used to. Mostly because the board in its current state turned on him as he was adamantly opposed to the Mulder trade and he was down on Eckstein over Renteria. Cards Talk definitely gets worse in the offseason. Although you have to admit, what exactly have Cards fans had to talk about?

Fair enough. Let me revise it to say, good for regular season, mediocre for post-season. I think it should be revised to say you have the power pitchers to succeed in the post season in which case I'd agree. Your original statement also might have been more true in the case of the 04 Cards, but not so with the 05 staff who were 2nd in the majors in starting pitching.

Cards Talk isn't that bad. You just have to be able to skim at a fast rate of speed to tune into what the knowledgeable posters have to say. There's at least 15 that post on a regular basis and many more who hardly post. Wonder why that is?

Sorry, but the Cardinals did not win with a mediocre staff. A good pitching rotation also relies on number of innings pitched in a season.