Seth Maberry
"The Stage Is Set"
The stage is set for one of the most unlikely World Series matchups we've had in baseball in a very long time. The Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Tampa Bay Rays. I suspect that not many of you guys out there were thinking that coming into spring training. I sure as heck didn't. I figured the Phillies would be fighting it out in the N.L. East with the Mets, but I actually thoughts the Mets would win that divison (turns out you should never pick the Mets, because they choke). As for the Rays, many people, including myself, expected them to be better, but I thought like 75 wins better. Who knew they would win 97, and then win the American League pennant? Unbelievable. I expect the T.V. ratings to be down for this World Series, which I think would be tragically sad. I know it's not a Mets-Yankees or a Cardinals-Red Sox world series, but still it is the World Series, and both teams invoved are most definintley deserving. It should be a fun match-up, as both teams match up well with each other. The Rays play hard for nine innings and can play small ball, or hit the long ball. Ironically, so do the Phillies (the Phil's do rely on power a little more then the Rays do). Both teams boast a good pitching staff, though if I had to give an advantage to one or the other, I'd lean to Tampa Bay. The Rays have more depth to their starting staff with guys like Matt Garza, Andy Sonanstine, James Shields, and staff ace Scott Kazmir. I stay staff ace, but thats why I really like the Rays staff, all of the guys they use are very very good with similar numbers. Three of the four guys I mentioned have ERA's under 4. The bullpen was good in the regular season for the Rays and with the exception of Game 5 of the AlCS, they have been good through the playoffs. So I give an edge overall to the Rays because of their pitching. That being said, winning in October is about being hot at the right time and thats whats going on with the Phillies staff. We all know about Cole Hamels, but the rest of the staff was really under-whelming during the regular season. I mean, they have 75 year old Jamie Moyer out there on the mound (Moyer actually had great numbers this season with a 16-7 record and a 3.71 ERA). The rest other two guys on this post-season staff, Joe Blanton and Brett Meyers, had losing records during the regular season and ERA's north of 4. They have just gotten hot at the right time and rode that kind of pitching and timely offense all the way to the fall classic. The Phils can rake, and the Rays can pitch, so it should be a heck of a series. So, I encourage you to watch. I know its not the most glamourous of World Series, but it should be a fun one. Game 1 is this wednesday. Tune it in.
10/19/08
Seth Maberry
Here We Go Again
As much as I would like to see the Tampa Bay Rays make a run to the World Series, I just don't know if that is going to happen. A Ray's pennant would be the best feel good story to come out of baseball in a very, very long time, and could perhaps begin to heal the wounds left by the steroid era. The Rays have a small payroll, and finished dead last in the American League East a season ago, only to finish first this season. In Game 5, the Rays held a 7-0 lead on the BoSox in Boston, and the Sox were left for dead. However, after coming back to win Game 5, 8-7, and winning Game 6 last night, the Rays appear to be on the verge of becoming the next Red Sox come-from-behind victim. I think a Ray's world title would be great for the best sport in America in need of a boost, but with Game 7 looming tonight in Tampa, I just don't know. I've seen the Red Sox come back too much to be overly confident in the Ray's chances. Whatever happens tonight, it's been one magical ride for the Tampa Bay Rays!
Nathan Yount
10/7/08
Roster Review
Week 2: Infield
The Cardinal infield has followed the same plan for a long time: hold on to your big bats on the corners, and let chaos and mediocrity reign in the middle. While we did see the turnover of one of those corner bats last off-season, the same strategy has made the Cardinals a fairly predictable team in this area, and there is no real reason to expect different this year. There are still, however, many options to fill the void between the corners, and the Redbirds have lots of pieces to tinker with. I haven’t written anything for a while, so this may get long, but as I sit here watching Troy stomp FAU (wow that’s sad), let’s get started.
#5 Albert Pujols
First Base
Best player in baseball. Next.
#8 Troy Glaus
Third Base
He has one year left on his contract, and he will obviously be the starter next season. He may, however, sit more than he is used to if he gets into one of his classic slumps, as there will be players banging on the door to get major league experience at this position.
#22 Felipe Lopez
Second Base/Utility
He is currently a free agent, but I will be surprised if the Cards don’t try to resign him as the normal second baseman.
#7 Adam Kennedy
Second Base
Kennedy has been a disappointment since arriving in St. Louis. Now that management has seemed to abandon the notion that he will come around, he has requested a trade, and will likely be accommodated. Don’t expect a big draw for Kennedy; just expect him to be gone.
#12 Aaron Miles
Second Base/Utility
Miles has been a great asset off the bench, and I wouldn’t expect that to change much. He will most likely get more at-bats than he did even this year, and may compete for the starting shortstop job. He has, however, shown in the past that he can wear down when used every day, and I like him more in a off the bench or platoon job. He’ll get a good raise in arbitration this year, and he deserves it.
#23 Brian Barden
Shortstop/Utility
This guy almost worked his way onto the roster last spring, and don’t be surprised if he makes another strong case this year. He could possibly be the best hitting option at short, and he is more than able to play other infield positions too if the Cards get into an injury fix. He’s more valuable to this club than many people may realize, and expect to hear his name a good bit next year.
#13 Brendan Ryan
Shortstop
Ryan didn’t do much last year to improve his standing, and his lack of progression seems to be wearing on his once extremely supportive fan base. He has a large upside and could do very well, but if he can’t get his head around how to play the game at this level, expect him to fade away quickly. He may have already if there was anyone behind him demanding a roster spot.
#3 Cesar Izturis
Shortstop
He is a free agent currently, and the Cardinals may resign him to another short-term deal. I’d like to see them trade for a bat at this position (blockbuster for Hanley Ramirez, anyone?), but don’t expect anyone expensive at short for a while.
#?? David Freese
Third Base
After being seen as just a way to get rid of Jim Edmonds, Freese dominated in Memphis. He’ll probably start the year there again, but if Glaus starts to stumble, or perhaps gets traded, expect to see this kid in a heartbeat. He’s earmarked for the starting job in 2010, so expect him to get some experience before then.
#?? Brett Wallace
Third Base (?)
First round pick last year, he was absolutely torrid in A ball. If he keeps it up, he will almost certainly be in AAA at some point next year, and could possibly get his feet wet in the bigs. If the Redbirds get in injury trouble in the infield, don’t be shocked for him to make an early arrival.
#4 Yadier Molina
Catcher
He will most likely be catching for this team for a long time to come. While he had a bit of a lapse this year from his usual form, it’s still saying something for this year to be a lapse.
#?? Bryan Anderson
Catcher
Hot prospect backstop, I wouldn’t be surprised for him to be the backup next year. If he proves to be the force he has threatened to be in the past, the Cards could have a difficult decision on their hands.
The Cardinals have a wealth of options in the infield, assuming they resign Lopez and possibly go into free agency for someone. Wallace may not have the body type to end up at third, but he’s got the bat to play somewhere, and I wouldn’t take him out of position until he proves he can’t handle it. The hot corner is getting exceedingly crowded, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Allen Craig moved quickly from the Springfield roster for some pitching. The middle infield still needs some pop in my opinion, but it’s not going to show up for a while. At least for the coming year, the Cards infield will be what it always has been, but don’t be surprised to see some big turnover after that.
Roster Review
Week 1: outfield
Well the Cards have had a fun season. After starting with predictions of last in the division and having basically nothing to lose, we got to see some baseball in its purest form: guys just trying to win and have some fun. That worked out pretty well for a while, and showed how the Redbirds could look in the coming years. Now I’m going to take a few weeks to examine the components of the Cardinals and give my two cents on what should be done with who and where. So as I sit here in the middle of a nutritional science class, let’s start with the outfield.
#55 Skip Schumaker
Skip really proved a lot this year, and endeared himself to many fans who probably didn’t believe in him at the beginning. He’s our only option as a leadoff man, and that means he needs to play every day.
#54 Brian Barton
I wasn’t overly impressed with Barton, albeit he was limited by injuries for a large part of this season. If he hadn’t been a Rule-5 player, he certainly would’ve spent a lot of time in Memphis, and I think that we may need to send him there now that we control him, and once he raises his stock I would consider a trade to someone who needs him more than the Cardinals do.
#16 Chris Duncan
Duncan is a very interesting case. He has shown obvious potential, but he just hasn’t seemed able to get himself right. I’d say don’t cut him too much slack, and don’t hesitate to start him in the minors if need be. Again, I’m not sure that he’s someone that this team needs, but he could be a strong asset if he pulls it together.
#47 Ryan Ludwick
Ryan Ludwick could do many things for this team. The most important is getting us a big time pitcher. Ludwick has been a great player this year, but outfield is not where we need him. He is a big trade piece that the Cardinals should take advantage of.
#24 Rick Ankiel
Another very intriguing player. This guy could grow into a very good ballplayer, versatile and dangerous. He’ll need to work on his consistency, and I wouldn’t hate to see him even play a little winter ball to possibly make sure he’s on track. That may not be necessary, but if the organization can insure his readiness for next season, and perhaps make him less streaky, then he will be someone to look out for on the roster for a long time to come.
#62 Joe Mather
I like this guy. He has the power to replace Ludwick, and I think he will be a good player off the bench next year. I wouldn’t hold on to anyone in the outfield too tight though, and if he needs to be the extra something to make a package deal work, so be it.
#61 Nick Stavinoha
Stavinoha may not have a long term place on this team, but I think his job in Memphis earned him a more long-term look in the bigs, and if his batting average in the minors can translate to results with the big league club, he could be a big time asset down the road.
#?? Colby Rasmus
It’s inevitable that this guy is going to show his face in the majors next season. While he had a bit of a down year overall at Memphis, he got rolling mid-season before sustaining a knee sprain that ruined his Olympic aspirations. He is a notoriously slow starter, but don’t expect that to limit his playing time. Once the highly decorated top prospect is called up, he will be the everyday center fielder, so everyone else better make room.
That’s at least 8 players for probably 5 roster spots. With two that will play almost every day (Unless Rasmus becomes a leadoff man. Don’t get me started on that), the Cardinals have an obvious surplus here that should be taken advantage of. These are all good players, but many of them have more value as a trade piece than as a player in St. Louis. Either way, this seems to be the obvious strength of the team. Barring extreme injury, I would expect the outfield to be just fine.
9/21/08
Benjamin Herrold
"Goodbye Yankee Stadium"
Today, one of the greatest eras in baseball history came to a close when the New York Yankees played their final game at Yankee Stadium. It is simply the grandest cathedral in the history of baseball. Peter Gammons called it the greatest sporting venue in the Western Hemisphere. From its first game in 1923, which the Yankees won behind a Babe Ruth home run, the House That Ruth Built has inspired an awe and reverence that is unique among sporting venues, somehow different than the love and reverence for other stadiums.
Part of the stadium’s lure is certainly because the team that plays there is the New York Yankees, who won 26 World Series and 37 American League pennants in the stadium. The greatest to ever play this historic and mystifying pastime have played here, from Ruth to Gehrig to DiMaggio to Mantle to Jackson to Mattingly and right on down to Jeter today. Yankee Stadium is where the ancient story of baseball developed, a link from the bright lights of the game today back into the fading mists of the past, graying images of the incomparable Ruth swatting homers.
It is where DiMaggio and Mantle patrolled center field, where Yogi Berra spouted wisdom, where Don Larsen through the only perfect game in World Series history, where George Brett went insane when he was called out in the infamous “Pine Tar Game,” where Maris hit his record 61st home run, and where Aaron Boone hit his extra inning home run to win the 2003 AL Pennant.
Yankee Stadium is more than just baseball. It is where Lou Gehrig, stricken with the disease that now bears his name, said, “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” It is where Ruth made an appearance on Babe Ruth Day in 1948. He was dying of cancer, like a man at his own funeral, and he leaned on a bat and talked to a stadium full of people and pennants about how baseball gave every little kid a chance.
The stadium aged over time, even undergoing major renovations in the 1970s, but the allure of Yankee Stadium only grew. The stadium took a central role after the events of September 11, 2001. Yankee Stadium was host to a memorial service a few days after. It was the perfect location, for we are all Americans. We are all Yankees. A few months later, the ballpark hosted three of the most dramatic World Series games ever, with the Yankees hitting game tying home runs in the 9th inning on back to back nights while a tattered flag pulled from the rubble waved in center field. They were the most chilling, moving moments I have ever seen in sports.
This Stadium and this team symbolize this nation at its best, winning in grand fashion, striving to be the greatest, and doing it with class and elegance. Everyone has a chance.
And so, it ended on Sunday and this link to the past will be demolished, replaced by a shining New Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, appropriately, as they won an amazing 63% of their games played there over 85 years. Now grand old Yankee Stadium can fade entirely into the memory, into the past.
Farewell, Yankee Stadium.You at least have to give it to the Royals for playing hard until the end. Sure, I ranted about how they quit trying in August when they lost 18 of 21 games, presumably to focus on watching college football. But the team has quietly rallied, righting the ship and then doing one better by going on a winning streak. Today’s 12-0 drubbing of Seattle, which completed a four-game sweep, was the 7th win in a row for the Royals.
This season has been a mix of signs of hope and the same old frustrations. Trey Hillman has shown he could be a very good manager. Starters Gil Meche and Zach Grienke have shown they can be top-notch starters. Some of the young players have made progress. Then we have closer Joakim Soria, the Mexicutioner, who has converted 40 of 43 saves with impressive strikeout totals and a 1.65 ERA. And, yes, the Boys in Blue won 4 of 6 against the Cardinals.
The frustrations include a 12-game losing streak, being below average at about every position, still being far from competitive in the division, and the train wreck that was Tony Pena Jr. at the plate. He’s at .204. Slugging Percentage. His batting average is all of .162. But he has just been one of many underachievers. I can’t count how many times this year I muttered, “Same old Royals.”
So here we are at 69-84 with nine games to play. All the Royals have to do is win one of these nine games and they will increase their win total from last year’s 69-93 effort. This will be the third year in a row the Royals increased their win total from the year before. Progress is being made.
More importantly, the minor league system is being restocked and paid the attention it deserves. It took over a decade of mismanagement and not spending money at the minor or major league levels to get us here. It will take a few more years of good decisions by general manager Dayton Moore to get the Royals to be consistently competitive. Moore got here midway through the 2006 season. Hang on, Royals fans. It is getting better. I really hope so.
Royals win-loss totals
2005: 56-106
2006: 62-100
2007: 69-93
2008: 69-84*
*- 9 games left to play
9/15/08 BY NATHAN YOUNT
THE RANTINGS OF AN ANGRY FAN
So the Cardinals are done. It’s over. They were finally pronounced when Albert Pujols flied out to end the game and series against the Cubs last Thursday. Just accept it, their done. Now let’s examine what happened to this young, energetic team with such a promising start.
When it was crunch time in mid July, the division got much better around the Cardinals. But what did the Cardinals front office do to keep up? They added the integral piece to a pennant run, Felipe Lopez. I mean don’t get me wrong, the guy has done well since getting here, but the team obviously had and still has more pressing needs than a middle infield semi-bat. The promised addition of Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter didn’t pan out (who would’ve seen that coming), and all the while the bullpen and offense have been inconsistent at their best and faltering at their worst. The front office has held on to their prospects like their life depends on it, and the reasons are all too obvious to be hidden by over-hyping their potential.
The Cardinals upper management has two reasons for holding on to their hopes and dreams with the current prospects. The first is a seeming fear of failed trades. In the wake of the Mark Mulder trade, the Cardinals are too skittish to pull the trigger on any trades, and maybe for good reason. If another fiasco like that hits the organization, the fan base, myself included, will demand the heads of many of the front office personnel.
The second reason is the same reason that no key additions were made in the off season, or that we let David Eckstein, Jeff Suppan, etc. walk away: money. The ownership knows that it will be cheaper in the long run to hold on to our own minor leaguers than to trade them for proven names that will demand big contracts.
All of the blame for the Cardinals ineptitudes cannot be placed on management. The biggest thing tying the hands of the organization is the ownership. Eventually, the Cardinal fans are going to realize that all of the good organizations in the majors are spending money on good players, not trying to land someone cheap and make them better. Walt Jocketty managed to hide this truth because he is a baseball genius, but he’s gone, and eventually people will demand more dedication from ownership, or possibly different ownership altogether.
It’s obvious that the Cardinals are no longer competitive in this division. While the Cubs are no-hitting the hottest team in the league, the Cards are being swept by the worst organization in sports. There is a big hype over the team next year, with prospects coming into their own and stepping up into bigger roles. I hope that works out, but I’m not going to plan on it. The National League is beginning to realize the importance of spending money in modern baseball. Either the Cardinals need to get on that bandwagon, or prepare to fall by the wayside.
Click here to start typing your text
Click here to start typing your text
