iirishluck

I'm not sure if Stan is more revered in St. Louis than Ted Williams was in Boston. But, St. Louis obviously is a baseball town. Although, I'd read that when Shanahan was at his peak in popularity as a Blue, there were a record number of boys born in St. Louis named Brendan. Well is it that uncommon to name the kid after the father?

Wait...McGwire teaches a linear weight transfer? I'd think he'd be a huge rotational guy. And Pujols does not share a weight transfer approach with the stance he uses, that's for certain. Actually Pujol's and McGuires swings are fairly similiar. Very quiet front feet. Weight on back foot, coild waist with front foot. Transfer weight to front and allow rotation. Call it whatever you want to call it, but it models (Along with Edmonds) It all begins with quiet mechanics to keep the head still and allow the bat the most time in contact zone.

Cardinals OBP were not very good. Skip .364 Fairly good Ryan .340 Not good enough to truly protect Albert Albert .443 One bright spot Matt .394 again good, but Matt's replacement might be Derosa Ludwick .329 can we say all or nothing? Derosa .319 give the ex-cub a flyer on being hurt usually he is closer to .360 Rasmus .307 he stands to benefit most from Mark. Molina .366 damn if only he could run faster than my grandma PROS I think Mark's philosophy of plate discipline will fit nicely compared to McRae's philospphy of hit the first thing you see. Also everyone on the lineup except Ludwick and Holliday use the same basic weight transfer approach. Mark studied the game like his mentor TLR and DD do. Bring the same scouting report research to the hitting aspect of the game will most certainly do well for this team. CONS Media Circus I'd mention the inexperience and unknown factors as cons as well, but anything has to be better than McRae.

I hate that saying in regards to stuff like this. How about thinking about how YOU'D feel if you ever got there. It was a funny celebration. He wasn't taunting anyone, he wasn't talking trash, he didn't go way over the top. He was just celebrating with his teammates. Nothing wrong with that. Now what would have been really funny would have been to have the entire cardinals defense fall down like that every time he struck out last night. It's only really entertaining if your team is good. Maybe they would have a better record if their pitchers, at least, spent the time spent practicing that broadway act .... on pitching?

That is correct! By the latest indication Duncan feels disrespected by the FO. and the power they have been bleeding away from the Manager (and him) I don't see him returning 'tho LaRussa will try to move heaven and earth to change his mind. In my mind he will be looking for a managers job! And he will get one. But where? I see Houston, Chi and Cincy as possibles. Or the Mets??? Now wouldn't that raise the stakes even more in the cubs/cards rivalry if Duncan were to become manager of the Cubs! Joe Strauss of the STL PD has tiwtted that the possiblity of Larussa being manager of the Cards with a pitching coach other than Dave next year is significant.

Bill Dewitt Jr. has said "for the right" player" payroll could be seen as high as $120 million. It's nearly $100 million now with significant money coming off the books. The bigger contracts are fairly staggered , and if done right could be offset by expiring contracts. Financially, the Cards are in pretty good shape for the near future.

Because we needed to get more left handed; where the hell have u been the past 10 months? :wink: :wink: My dad told em that when i was little. He said he noticed mt right forearm was getting alot bigger than my left ....

Watching the Cards get smoked in the playoffs by the Phillies then watching Holliday bolt for a major market team will be fun to see. Take it for what it is worth but .... Matt Holliday enrolled his son in a St. Lois area school. Having his son go to one school has been his primary focus on his next contract. He will be a Cardinal next year. School starts these next few weeks for everyone, some already have. Was he supposed to let his kid take the first semester off until he decided where hes going to play next year? No, but why would you added yet another school change. Why bring your family. Why not stay in the area you just settled into, until you decide where you are going to lay roots down. Like I said, take it for what it is worth, but to completely dismiss it is wishful thinking on your part.

Watching the Cards get smoked in the playoffs by the Phillies then watching Holliday bolt for a major market team will be fun to see. Take it for what it is worth but .... Matt Holliday enrolled his son in a St. Lois area school. Having his son go to one school has been his primary focus on his next contract. He will be a Cardinal next year. The past 2 weeks the cardinals have not played great baseball. Pitching has been pretty good, but the lineup is hitting in the low .200's. The middle guys have not been tearing it up. Been winning with great pitching adn the Brendan Ryan's carrying the offense. Do you think Albert will continue to struggle the rest of the way? I doubt it.

If that is a reference to me, wise guy, then you are half right. I'm a fan of BOTH. Not that it's any of your business. So you're not an actual fan k I guess I'm not. Not in your frame of reference. I don't live and die with either team. My sympathy's right now are with the Cubs. It's hard to watch sometimes (like this series) Don't get on my case because you can't understand my way of thinking. I never got on you for yours. Haha, yeah - we don't understand the fact that you can be a "fan" of two rival teams that are supposed to hate each other. Shame on us. Actually makes perfect sense. Middle Illinois has a ton of split allegiances. What's weird about someone who likes both? I have always liked a few certain Cubs players even if I like having the good natured rivalry with the evil Cubs. I almost always rootfor A Ram to do something great.

Doh sorry

Billy Wagner claimed off waivers by undisclosed team. http://www.rototimes.com/mlb/news.php?tqid=1159&type=news&nid=145154 Could it be the Cubs? The Marlins have shown a lot of interest He would also be an upgrade for Philly. Cubs would have fist dibs before either of those teams. He would most certainly would help and possibly give the Cubs a shot at redeeming this season. If it is not the Cubs, then that signals to me the FO is giving in on this year. Thoughts?

Start spending the $10,000,000 signing bonus he got before he even got directions to Wrigley? I would argue Dusty Baker should be forced to pay that back.

You're completely ignoring the age factor and injury histories of some of the key players on this team. True. But what ya going to do? But I believe their is some gas still left in a lot of those tanks. It all comes down to % chances anyways. Unless the new owner can absorb another 20 or so million.

They need upgraded offense from at least one of (probably more) LF, 2B and/or C next year also. I really don't believe they are a closer away from contending for a WS. Thats not going to happen though. They cant do anything with Soriano. They're going to have to give Soto another year to see if this was just a sophmore slump, and hopefully, he'll play winter ball. As for 2B, I dont know whats really available, so we may as well stick with Baker and Fontenot. The only moves I anticipate are a closer and maybe re signing Harden. You're probably right, but you never know. Unfortunately, the best chance is July 31st. But teams desperate might take someone, and you would have to entertain ANY of the larger contracts.