2007 St. Louis Cardinals: Quest to Repeat

Erik W. · 03-22-2007, 11:55 AM

It's a shame no one had started this thread yet, because now I have to kick it off with:

Way to go Tony!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...rss_topstories

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 12:07 PM

Cards fans must be hoping the team is a lot better in 2007. Jocketty seemed to snooze through another offseason.

Erik W. · 03-22-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Cards fans must be hoping the team is a lot better in 2007. Jocketty seemed to snooze through another offseason.

I don't think they need to be better. I think they need to be healthier.

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

I don't think they need to be better. I think they need to be healthier.

Having Toguchi, Encarnacion, and Marquis healthy all year may be a dream best deferred.

Erik W. · 03-22-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Having Toguchi, Encarnacion, and Marquis healthy all year may be a dream best deferred.

Marquis is the Cubs' problem now. And I was speaking more about guys named Rolen and Edmonds staying healthy, which didn't happen last season.

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

Marquis is the Cubs' problem now.

Sweet. Forgot about that addition by subtraction. Sometimes fiddling whilst the city burns pays off.

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 01:41 PM

Word is that LaRussa got ticketed for a DUI. Tsk, tsk.

Luis_Rivera · 03-22-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Word is that LaRussa got ticketed for a DUI. Tsk, tsk.

Yea, I heard about it here!

Gastric ReFlux · 03-22-2007, 01:47 PM

Will they let Tony manage from jail?

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis_Rivera

Yea, I heard about it here!

LOL. I saw that "Way to go, Tony" and never even bothered to click on the link. Now, how was I ever supposed to make that connection?

Luis_Rivera · 03-22-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Cards fans must be hoping the team is a lot better in 2007. Jocketty seemed to snooze through another offseason.

I think last year's offseason was pretty bad. This one, I'm ok with at least what I can think of off the top of my head.

-Kennedy isn't a worldbeater but he's an improvement over the awfulness they had at 2B last year
-Edmonds and Rolen should be better than their performance last year
-Not re-signing Marquis, Weaver, or Suppan were probably all good choices although it did leave them a little light on pitching depth
-Carpenter is still a stud, Reyes is a good pitcher... much better than what you saw last year, Kip Wells isn't anything special but at least they got him on the cheap, and Wainwright should be an adequate starter
-That 5th starter position will probably be filled by Mulder/Looper so that's a big question mark
-Encarnacion and Molina are still makin' outs on offense unfortunately but that comes with the territory - Jocketty LOVES the noodlebat/good defense catcher

So, while this team has obvious holes and I don't think they'll make the playoffs, I don't fault Jocketty for what he did/didn't do this past offseason. This is just a continuation of the transition stage the team entered last year, and just happened to get lucky and win the World Series... but Jocketty deserved it after the run he put together over the last 7 years or so.

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gastric ReFlux

Will they let Tony manage from jail?

Mebbe idling under the influence carries a lighter sentence.

darkhorse · 03-22-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis_Rivera

Encarnacion and Molina are still makin' outs on offense

Don't forget Toguchi! Or Eddie Gaedel....erm.....Eckstein.

It would be reasonable to expect a similar year from Rolen. Edmonds is well into his decline, though it wouldn't be out of line to expect more than 109 games out of him.

Kennedy's offense took quite a drop last year. It will be interesting to see how he performs now that he's on the other side of 30.

And, I'd agree that it will take some 2006 vintage luck for the Redbirds to get back into the postseason.

Luis_Rivera · 03-22-2007, 02:12 PM

What I'm really interested in as a sorta-cards-fan is whether or not Jocketty decides to extend Eckstein's contract. I love Walt, and I think he's a very good GM, but that is a bonehead move that seems like it would fit right in with what flaws he does have. I reeeeeeeallly hope he lets him walk.

As for Kennedy, I'd expect a similar season to last year. '05 was a weird year for him... walks declined, he was really hit lucky, and his power disappeared. Things levelled off last year and I bet you'll get a similar performance in '07. As for the future, he's got a lot of his value tied up in BABIP and that doesn't bode well for a guy entering his early 30's as that's the first thing to decline after speed.

Green & Gold Heart · 03-29-2007, 01:28 PM

This picture scares me. Albert looks like he's going to eat David Eckstein!

andymac · 03-29-2007, 01:34 PM

I am disappointed that John Rodriguez is being left off the opening day roster. I have no idea why the Cards need 2 decent field, no hit outfielders on the roster over a guy who should be able to put up .780+ OPS vs. right-handers.

Erik W. · 03-29-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymac

I am disappointed that John Rodriguez is being left off the opening day roster. I have no idea why the Cards need 2 decent field, no hit outfielders on the roster over a guy who should be able to put up .780+ OPS vs. right-handers.

The website isn't saying yet. Who'd they take? I'm guessing Edmonds (duh), Taguchi, Wilson, Duncan, Spiezio, and Encarnacion?

andymac · 03-29-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

The website isn't saying yet. Who'd they take? I'm guessing Edmonds (duh), Taguchi, Wilson, Duncan, Spiezio, and Encarnacion?

I don't think the official roster has been announced but Rodriguez was optioned to Memphis. Encarnacion is supposed to start on the DL. So, it looks like the opening Day Roster will look like this:

Code:

P	Chris Carpenter
P	Randy Flores
P	Ryan Franklin*
P	Josh Hancock
P	Jason Isringhausen
P	Braden Looper
P	Anthony Reyes
P	Ricardo Rincon*
P	Russ Springer*
P	Brad Thompson
P	Adam Wainwright
P	Kip Wells
C	Gary Bennett
C	Yadier Molina
IF	David Eckstein
IF	Adam Kennedy
IF	Aaron Miles
IF	Albert Pujols
IF	Scott Rolen
OF	Chris Duncan
OF	Jim Edmonds
OF	Skip Schumaker
OF	Scott Spiezio
OF	So Taguchi
OF	Preston Wilson


* - I could see Tyler Johnson being there over any of the these pitchers.

Erik W. · 03-29-2007, 02:30 PM

Huh. Yeah, Tyler being left off seems odd.

I would've put J.R. over Schumaker.

Did Johnson and J.R. perform poorly in spring training? Or maybe did Schumaker really perform well? Otherwise there does seem to be a couple of odd choices there.

andymac · 03-29-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

Huh. Yeah, Tyler being left off seems odd.

I would've put J.R. over Schumaker.

Did Johnson and J.R. perform poorly in spring training? Or maybe did Schumaker really perform well? Otherwise there does seem to be a couple of odd choices there.

Well, the reason Johnson I didn't put Johnson on there is he is the only one of those guys that wouldn't have to go through waivers or be released. Without knowing what the club is thinking in that regards, I could definitely see them sending Johnson down until making a decision on those 3 (maybe trying to trade Rincon or something).

As far as J.R. & Schumaker...it seems Tony is worried about having guys to play center field...I don't think it had much to do with ST performance. It sounds like Jim Edmonds is going to be getting a lot of days off, at least early.

It seems to me he is picking the possible Schumaker(CF)/Wilson(RF) combo over the possible Wilson(CF)/Rodriguez(RF) combo. Yea, the one he went with is probably better defensively, but I like the 2nd option a lot better offensively.

03-22-2007, 11:55 AM	#1
Erik W. Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, Qc Posts: 4,615	2007 St. Louis Cardinals: Quest to Repeat It's a shame no one had started this thread yet, because now I have to kick it off with: Way to go Tony! http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...rss_topstories __________________ Free agent baseball fan. Let's go (insert team name here)!

03-29-2007, 01:34 PM	#16
andymac Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Effingham, IL Posts: 5,725	I am disappointed that John Rodriguez is being left off the opening day roster. I have no idea why the Cards need 2 decent field, no hit outfielders on the roster over a guy who should be able to put up .780+ OPS vs. right-handers. __________________ June Madness: Links FTB: andymac

03-29-2007, 02:30 PM	#19
Erik W. Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, Qc Posts: 4,615	Huh. Yeah, Tyler being left off seems odd. I would've put J.R. over Schumaker. Did Johnson and J.R. perform poorly in spring training? Or maybe did Schumaker really perform well? Otherwise there does seem to be a couple of odd choices there. __________________ Free agent baseball fan. Let's go (insert team name here)!

03-22-2007, 12:07 PM	#2
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Cards fans must be hoping the team is a lot better in 2007. Jocketty seemed to snooze through another offseason.

03-22-2007, 01:41 PM	#7
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Word is that LaRussa got ticketed for a DUI. Tsk, tsk.

03-22-2007, 01:47 PM	#9
Gastric ReFlux Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Member #3409 Posts: 8,350	Will they let Tony manage from jail?

03-22-2007, 02:12 PM	#14
Luis_Rivera Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,177	What I'm really interested in as a sorta-cards-fan is whether or not Jocketty decides to extend Eckstein's contract. I love Walt, and I think he's a very good GM, but that is a bonehead move that seems like it would fit right in with what flaws he does have. I reeeeeeeallly hope he lets him walk. As for Kennedy, I'd expect a similar season to last year. '05 was a weird year for him... walks declined, he was really hit lucky, and his power disappeared. Things levelled off last year and I bet you'll get a similar performance in '07. As for the future, he's got a lot of his value tied up in BABIP and that doesn't bode well for a guy entering his early 30's as that's the first thing to decline after speed.

03-29-2007, 01:28 PM	#15
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	This picture scares me. Albert looks like he's going to eat David Eckstein!