XZero771679666304

It's hard not to like Ryan Dempster.

McNutt pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendering a homer, double and three walks. Yikes. Make it four runs, as Scott Rice comes in and gives up a hit.

Cubs are getting 1 hit by the Reds. And we're about to see Marmol! 1 hit or no, I'd rather see Castro, Jackson, Colvin and Pena. I suppose we get to see Soto, but still.

It's nice to have a game on TV, but almost all of the players I wanted to see are in the other game.

If it were just meat, he'd be thinner.

If St. Louis re-signs Albert, it'll be during the season or in the window after the Series. If he makes it to free agency, it's over for the Cardinals. They can sign him to a relatively team friendly contract before he hits the market, but if they have to compete with the big market teams...they can't (or won't). If that does happen, I think it'll come down to the Cubs, Angels and Dodgers. The Cubs will shed almost all of their guaranteed contracts over the next two offseasons. Arte Moreno may want to strike hard after muffing the past few offseasons. If the Dodgers can get their ownership situation straightened out, they'll be big players. It's an outside chance, but until AGon signs an extension, I'm not ruling the Red Sox out. As I've said, a few weeks ago I didn't think it was at all likely he wouldn't end up with the Cards. But after seeing that offer and hearing what Mozeliak and DeWitt had to say about it, I'm not at all convinced they're prepared to go all in. I think they won't go much higher than 80% of what Albert is seeking, hoping for another discount. I just can't help but wonder why they didn't make a more serious offer. I think Pujols would have taken 26-27 million per. But now I think he is committed to seeing what he can get. I just can't see the Cards upping their offer by 30% total value, which is about what it'll take now. All that said, and though it would be kind of sweet, I just can't picture Pujols in a Cubs uniform. It just seems...unnatural. It may very well happen, but the whole notion seems off somehow. But I'm sure I'd get used to it.

That pretty much confirms there's not much of a competition for that spot (which was suspected anyway). If Wells's spot wasn't secured already he's doing a very good job securing it. And Cashner is giving the Cubs no reason to pick him for the 5th spot. I'm not sure who else is, but I doubt they pick Cashner if everybody is terrible. If Hill continues sucking this badly, how can it continue? I assumed they had him slotted into the backup catcher's role, but if he only gets a hit or two all spring, how can they justify it? It's not like there aren't better alternatives staring them in the face.

Why is Koyie Hill getting so many ABs? Give them to Ramirez/Castillo, plz.

Well, at least his forearms look decidedly bigger to me. And the guy who does the Boys of Spring says he looks like he'd been working out a lot.

To be fair, KSU had several moments where they had a 5-7 point lead, and blow it at the middle/late of the 2nd half. Basically, they couldn't close the deal. To be fair, tadow is a ridiculous homer. Homer... for sure, as are all of you when it comes to your teams. Ridiculous, probably not. You're not ready to take cubbiebum's mantle of most utterly preposterous homerism, but you're a pretty big homer. Probably more in sulley's range. No offense. We're all homers to a degree, but not all homers are equal.

Given his recent history of leg injuries, I think they have abandoned Sori's running game. And rightfully so. I don't think him bulking up is a sign of a return to it, either.

More like 30 pounds, just to show abuck what's up.

He looks like he's added some muscle: http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd358/Cloudstrife219/SoriBOSe.jpg

what is this, little league? that doesn't matter in the big leagues. It doesn't mean nearly as much, but it's a big stretch to say it doesn't matter at all.

Kosuke got quite a few ABs in 2008 and 2009 in the first spot, and did well (an OPS of .800+). I think his performance last season there was just incidental, coinciding with his slump.

I like Fuku first because he works the count more than Castro, and gives the guys behind him more of a look at the pitcher. Also, I think he'll ground into fewer double plays than Kosuke would (assuming you put Kosuke second if Castro is first). And I think there is some scrutiny that comes with the perceived "responsibility" of batting leadoff. Castro will be under enough as it is.

We lose the foul battle everywhere, and it isn't because of the refs.

I may be mistaken, but didn't Fuku bat leadoff while he was in the midst of his slump? He OPSed over .800 as the leadoff hitter in 2008 and 2009 in almost the same combined number of ABs as last year's stint. Really, I like him there. He works the count and gets on base.

I'm trying to figure out what Von Joshua is witnessing here: http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd358/Cloudstrife219/vonface.jpg

And apparently Dr. Nick Riviera will be performing the operation (well, the team doctor, who seems to have a less than stellar reputation). Surprised a more well regarded surgeon (Yocum or Andrews) isn't doing it.

83-85 wins may take the division, but it won't be because it sucks. This is the best it's been a long time. huh? how can it not suck if 83-85 might take it? also, 2008- Cubs 97-64 Brewers 90-72 Astros 86-75 Cards 86-76 i think you mean it's the most competitive it's been in a while. Maybe so, but I think the top four teams are (or can easily be) pretty good. It's going to be a pretty tough division.

83-85 wins may take the division, but it won't be because it sucks. This is the best it's been a long time.

This doesn't kill the Cards, but it's certainly a hit to their playoff hopes. I don't like their chances much more than ours at this point.

Ramirez would probably have to be injured or have a terrible year to settle for $8-$10 million. Beltre (granted coming off of a great year) just signed for $96 million over 6 years and has career numbers less than Ramirez. Probably, but if he misses a few weeks again and doesn't OPS over .800 again, I don't think he'll get a lot of offers better than that. Beltre go a contract not many would have given him, doesn't have the injury concerns Ramirez does, is a year younger is a GG defender and had an OPS over .900. Ramirez has been a much more consistent offensive force, but this is a big year for him. If he doesn't come up fairly big, his rep may be as a past his prime player, and in the same position as Pena was this offseason. Hitting behind Pujols for a year to boost his value might be very appealing in such a scenario. Now I think he will rebound, but it's a distinct possibility he doesn't.

I'm hearing a lot of Cardinals fans trying to make thrmselves feel better by saying we don't have the payroll flexibility to sign Pujols. We not only do, but after 2012, Ricketts + Co. (hopefully not Hendry) will have the flexibility to fill in around him nicely as well. The only contract we're committed to after 2012 is Soriano and the arbitration eligible guys. Absorbing a 10/300 deal would actually be quite feasible without impacting flexibility much at all (I would actually front load it). Selling the Cubs to Pujols would be easy. Ricketts could just tell him "We'll give you your 10/300. We have some young talent and the flexibility to build around you for years, with your input. You can be the one to lead the Cubs to our first WS in over a century, and you'll be a bigger, more marketable icon than you could ever be in St. Louis. Between that and the records you may break, you could cement your place atop the pantheon of the all-time greats." If Ricketts decided to go this route, the only thing that could impede it would be if Albert has such a strong loyalty to the Cardinals that he wouldn't sign a more lucrative contract with the Cubs because of it. As for Ramirez, I think another possibility is declining his option and approaching him with a lower offer (say, 8-10MM, depending on his 2011 performance), with the bonus of hitting behind Pujols. Unless he has a fairly big bounceback year, I can't see him getting much more on the open market, given his recent injury and performance issues.