In Front of the World's Greatest Fans - a St. Louis Cardinals Dynasty

[5cards]

Originally Posted by Orcin

I finally caught up with your draft posts. I think they should be considered required reading for any OOTP GM. Great job!

Many thanks! I started writing on the topic and figured it would be one blog entry... then before I knew it, I had something like four each covering one aspect of the draft! I'm tempted to sit down at some point and write an "Unofficial Guide to Being a GM"... or maybe an Idiot's Guide... But I'll wait until I see if what I did worked or not.

Also, I just posted the draft results for the team, so feel free to see how we did!

[5cards]

Week in Review
Monday, June 11, 2012

Team Stats and Ranks
Team Record: 36-25, 3.5 GB, 2nd
Power Rating: 4th, 113.2, +
Batting Avg.: 6th, .259
On Base Pct.: 4th, .329
Starter ERA: 4th, 3.78
Bullpen ERA: 6th, 3.36
Defensive Eff: 10th, .686

Fans and Attendance
Fan Interest: 90
Owner Mood: Good
Total Attendance: 1,112,686 (17th) (-1.2%)
Attendance per Game: 41,211/46,861

Week's Record: 5-2

Game Log
6/4: STL 10, NYN 3
6/5: STL 5, HOU 8
6/6: STL 4, HOU 0 <--Second shutout for Garcia!
6/7: STL 6, HOU 5
6/8: CLE 4, STL 5 (12)
6/9: CLE 7, STL 0
6/10: CLE 1, STL 2

Players of the Week
AL: 1B Albert Pujols, LAA - .458, 4 HR, 5 RBI
NL: RF Carlos Beltran, STL - .407, 3 HR, 8 RBI

Major News
6/5: Matt Harrison of Texas holds Oakland to just five hits and six strikeouts in a 4-0 win.

6/5: Pittsburgh and Baltimore finalize a trade that sends closer Jim Johnson to Baltimore for a minor-league player. Johnson is 1-3 with 12 saves and a 2.88 ERA.

6/5: In another move to strengthen their bullpen, Atlanta has acquired reliever J.P. Howell in return for Atlanta's #1 pick of 2011, SP Sean Gilmartin. Howell is 3-3 with 2 saves and a 3.16 ERA in 21 appearances. Gilmartin, at AA, is 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA this season.

6/6: As seen previously, Jaime Garcia kept Houston's bats silent for much of the game, taking a 3-hit shutout in the process.

6/6: Following Texas' shutout of Oakland on the 5th, Derek Holland turns around and shuts them out again, 6-0. He outdoes Harrison by giving up just 3 hits and striking out 8.

6/6: Doc Halliday operated on the Dodgers in a 1-0 nail-biter. Halliday gave up just 3 hits and got 7 strikeouts.

6/6: The first cycle of the season is in the books. Kansas City's Billy Butler singled in the first, tripled in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th, then flew out in the 7th... but with the team down 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Butler came up big and cranked a 3-run home run off of closer Matt Capps of the Twins. He becomes just the sixth player in MLB history to cap a cycle with a walk-off home run: Ken Boyer (1961), Cesar Tovar (1972), Kansas City's own George Brett (1979), Dwight Evans (1984), and Carlos Gonzalez (2010).

6/8: Astros pitcher Jordan Lyles grounds the White Sox, giving up six hits and three walks in a 4-0 shutout win.

6/9: Derek Lee of Houston and Phil Humber of the White Sox have been suspended three games in the wake of a benches-clearing brawl.

6/10: Motte is out six months with an inflamed shoulder. Boo!

6/10: Kansas City has sent left fielder Alex Gordon to Cleveland for two minor-league players. One of the minor-leaguers, 2B Cord Phelps, figures to see playing time with Cleveland as he was hitting .375 this season at AAA. Gordon, meanwhile, is hitting .225 and joins a lineup that has no right-handed players in it. Gordon is a leftie and the Cleveland lineup now has 7 lefties and 2 switch hitters.

GM's Blog Post

Upcoming Schedule
6/12: vs CHA: Danks (4-3, 3.24) vs. Garcia (5-4, 2.85)
6/13: vs CHA: Floyd (3-7, 5.33) vs. Lynn (3-2, 3.25)
6/14: vs CHA: Humber (3-6, 5.77) vs. Lohse (4-4, 4.71)
6/15: vs KC: Mendoza (5-2, 4.54) vs. Wainwright (5-3, 2.79)
6/16: vs KC: Montgomery (0-5, 3.43) vs. Carpenter (2-0, 6.63)
6/17: vs KC: Paulino (6-3, 4.09) vs. Garcia

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by 5cards

Also, I just posted the draft results for the team, so feel free to see how we did!

I read that too. Nice haul!

Sorry about Motte.

[beachbomer]

Originally Posted by 5cards

Well, the title is one that many media organizations have given the Cards before. Chipper Jones, when Atlanta came to visit, got a standing ovation in his first at-bat from the crowd to the point that he had to make a curtain call. Great defensive plays get applause from the home crowd no matter who makes them - the opponents get as much applause as the Cards! Heck, old players return on other teams and still get rounds of applause for being a former Cardinal. (Contrast that with the reception that Scott Rolen received in Philadelphia the first year he was a Cardinal - they gave him a standing boo!)

I won't nay-say another team's home crowd, but a lot of sportswriters have commented before that the St. Louis crowd is probably one of the politest and best-behaved towards opponents. (Yes, even those Cubs and Reds...)

Impossible I say, just impossible.

[5cards]

BNN Breaking News
Saturday, June 16, 2012

Brewers and Phillies Shake Up NL!

Milwaukee (BNN) - BNN has learned that the Brewers and Phillies have come to what appears to be a major blockbuster trade that may shape the rest of the season for these two clubs. Milwaukee has agreed to send reliever Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez and a minor-league player to Philadelphia in return for first baseman Ryan Howard.

Though Howard has been on the decline in recent years he was hitting .364 this season for Philadelphia with 2 HR and 6 RBI following a stint on the DL. Rodriguez was 1-0 with 5 saves and a 2.76 ERA.

The Brewers have struggled at first base this season after losing Prince Fielder to free agency and ultimately the Detroit Tigers. Philadelphia, meanwhile, can shed some salary and stock up to assist a bullpen whose 3.74 ERA is 8th best in the NL. The Phillies are atop the NL East with a 5.5 game cushion over Atlanta, while Milwaukee is 8 back of the NL Central and 4.5 back of the wild card.

"This could have tremendous implications for the Brewers," said one NL Central GM we talked to. "If the deal works, they get a cornerstone first baseman who's signed for four or five more years. But if this fails, they have a $20 million albatross for the next four or five years."

[5cards]

Week in Review
Monday, June 18, 2012

Team Stats and Ranks
Team Record: 39-28, 3.5 GB, 2nd
Power Rating: 6th, 105.8, -
Batting Avg.: 6th, .257
On Base Pct.: 5th, .328
Starter ERA: 4th, 3.71
Bullpen ERA: 7th, 3.59
Defensive Eff: 10th, .686

Fans and Attendance
Fan Interest: 90
Owner Mood: Good
Total Attendance: 1,357,967 (17th) (-1.2%)
Attendance per Game: 41,151/46,861

Week's Record: 3-3

Game Log
6/12: vs CHA - CHA 2, STL 4
6/13: vs CHA - CHA 4, STL 2
6/14: vs CHA - CHA 5, STL 8
6/15: vs KC - KC 6, STL 2
6/16: vs KC - KC 3, STL 4 (13)
6/17: vs KC - KC 6, STL 1

Players of the Week
AL: LF Carl Crawford (BOS) - .481, 1 HR, 7 RBI
NL: 2B Neil Walker (PIT) - .500, 0 HR, 8 RBI

Major News
6/11: Phil Hughes of the Yankees shuts out Atlanta. He gives up 2 hits and two walks.

6/11: Chris Capuano comes close to getting the second no-hitter of the season as he shuts down the Angels with just one walk and one hit allowed while striking out 9.

6/14: Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain has a 20-game hitting streak after going 1-for-4 against Milwaukee.

6/14: Desmond Jennings of Tampa Bay goes cycling, having a 4-for-5 day with 7 RBI in the process.

GM's Blog Post

Upcoming Schedule
6/19: STL @ DET
6/20: STL @ DET
6/21: STL @ DET
6/22: STL @ KC
6/23: STL @ KC
6/24: STL @ KC

(Sorry if information is missing - My home computer's remote connection is down this afternoon at the moment so I am relying solely on the league upload that I FTPed in to the website this morning.)

[5cards]

BNN Breaking News
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Guillen Out! Miami Searches For New Manager

Miami (BNN) - It did not take long for Ozzie Guillen to begin a new job search. Less than a year after leaving the Chicago White Sox to join the Marlins, Guillen is freshly unemployed after general manager Michael Hill fired him today.

The Marlins made big splashes in their move to their new ballpark and identity over the offseason, acquiring names such as Heath Bell, Carlos Zambrano, and Jose Reyes in an effort to shake up the power structure of the NL East. However the team remains mired near the back of the pack at 31-40, a full 12.5 games behind division-leader Philadelphia and 8 games behind the wild card contenders.

The team reportedly has a short-list of candidates to take over the vacancy but would not comment on who might be on that list or how long it will be until a replacement is brought in.

[5cards]

BNN Breaking News
Sunday, June 24, 2012

Cox Returns From Retirement!

Miami (BNN) - Legendary Atlanta manager Bobby Cox has agreed to come out of retirement and coach the Miami Marlins. According to sources close to the ballclub, Cox agreed to a five-year contract with the Marlins.

Word of the signing left fans in Atlanta fuming. Requests for comment from the Braves or Marlins were unreturned.

[mpejkrm]

Originally Posted by 5cards

BNN Breaking News
Sunday, June 24, 2012

Cox Returns From Retirement!

Miami (BNN) - Legendary Atlanta manager Bobby Cox has agreed to come out of retirement and coach the Miami Marlins. According to sources close to the ballclub, Cox agreed to a five-year contract with the Marlins.

Word of the signing left fans in Atlanta fuming. Requests for comment from the Braves or Marlins were unreturned.

Every dynasty I do Cox comes back and retires at the end of the season. Same with LaRussa.

[5cards]

Week in Review
Monday, June 25, 2012

Team Stats and Ranks
Team Record: 42-31, 4.5 GB, 2nd
Power Rating: 11th, 101.6, --
Batting Avg.: 9th, .254
On Base Pct.: 8th, .324
Starter ERA: 3rd, 3.67
Bullpen ERA: 7th, 3.63
Defensive Eff: 8th, .686

Fans and Attendance
Fan Interest: 90
Owner Mood: Good
Total Attendance: 1,357,967 (14th) (-1.4%)
Attendance per Game: 41,151/46,861

Week's Record: 3-3

Game Log
6/19: STL 5, DET 1
6/20: STL 7, DET 3
6/21: STL 4, DET 6 <-- Remember how I said we weren't going to be facing Verlander? Seems I was wrong...
6/22: STL 3, KC 1
6/23: STL 0, KC 6
6/24: STL 0, KC 3

Players of the Week
AL: 3B Brett Lawrie (TOR) - .500, 4 HR, 9 RBI
NL: 1B Garrett Jones (PIT) - .407, 3 HR, 7 RBI

Major News
6/18: San Francisco has lost starter Barry Zito for the rest of the season and part of next. Zito has a damaged elbow ligament. He was 4-3 with a 4.38 ERA for the Giants.

6/19: Lorenzo Cain's hitting streak is now 25 games as he was 4-for-5 against the Astros.

6/20: The "Doc" will be out for 2-3 months. Roy Halladay badly strained a hamstring and his loss will be a blow to the Phillies. He was 10-3 with a 2.08 ERA and was expected to vie for a Cy Young award.

6/20: Houston shut down Lorenzo Cain's streak at 25 games keeping him hitless in a 9-5 KC win.

6/23: Cory Luebke shut out the Mariners 2-0 today. He allowed 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7.

6/23: Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is on his way to Tampa Bay. The White Sox are trading him for left fielder Luke Scott. Pierzynski was hitting .267 for the White Sox while Scott was batting just .209. The move allows Chicago to use more of Tyler Flowers, who is hitting .265 this season and is far cheaper than his predecessor. The move gives Tampa a starting catcher over 27-year old Jose Lobanton.

6/23: Reliever Jamey Wright is headed to Oakland. The A's acquired him from the Dodgers for a low-level catching prospect. Wright is 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 19 appearances.

6/23: Nick Swisher is going across town. The Yankees are parting with the right fielder in return for Mets reliever Ramon S. Ramirez and a minor-league player. The Mets outfield has largely underperformed and Swisher, though expensive at $10 mil a year, gives them a performer as he is hitting .284. Ramirez, meanwhile, bolsters a Yankees bullpen that has four relievers on the DL and ranks 6th in the AL. For the Mets he was 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 31 appearances.

GM's Blog Post

Upcoming Schedule
6/25: @ MIA - Lynn (5-2, 3.41) vs. Buerhle (4-9, 4.04)
6/26: @ MIA - Lohse (5-4, 4.12) vs. Nolasco (5-4, 3.15)
6/27: @ MIA - Wainwright (5-4, 2.88) vs. Zambrano (4-6, 6.75)
6/29: vs PIT - Mitre (0-7, 5.94) vs. Carpenter (3-2, 4.40)
6/30: vs PIT - Bedard (7-6, 3.40) vs. Garcia (6-6, 2.79)
7/01: vs PIT - Karstens (6-7, 5.18) vs. Lynn

[5cards]

The dynasty has not been dead... just terribly busy of late. That and I am still trying to get formats for both the blog and the FTP uploads down. It's a bit cumbersome to update 20,000+ files on a weekly update.

We're at the trade deadline. Right now the Cards are 54-48, 6 games out but in third. Milwaukee has passed us and is 3.5 back. We've gotten good work from our starters, but the offense and the bullpen have failed us. Our 3.61 starter ERA is best in the NL, but our 4.15 reliever ERA is 11th best. In addition, we're hitting a measly .248 - 11th best.

A number of moves were made as we approached the deadline. However, Shelby Miller remains with the club.

On July 4 we sent Kolten Wong and Carlos E. Martinez to Tampa Bay for Ben Zobrist. As we were having major issues at second, my hope was that Zobrist, who was hitting .242 with Tampa, might benefit from a change of scenery and give us a bit of pop in the lineup. He's hitting .230 as of the end of the month. Definitely not a major help.

To try and get some help with the bullpen, we traded Adron Chambers and Marc Rzepczynski to Baltimore for relievers Alberto Castillo and Pedro Strop. Castillo was 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA, a save, and a .180 OAVG in 32 starts. Strop was 1-3 with a 6.55 ERA and a .303 OAVG. For us, Scrabble was 3-2 with a save, a 4.04 ERA, and a .241 OAVG. Since the trade, Castillo has made 3 appearances and not given up anything. Strop, meanwhile, has also made 3 apperances and has a 3.38 ERA and a .273 OAVG.

Scott Linebrink went down with a ruptured UCL and is done for the season. Jake Westbrook suffered an "undisclosed injury" and is also done for the season. No tears were shed.

On July 26th we traded minor-league LF Eugenio Velez to Houston for LF Travis Buck. Buck will be a bench bat and hopefully provide us some pop. Holliday and Berkman are still not performing. (More later)

Finally, we sent Mitch Boggs and minor-league starter Joe Kelly to San Diego for reliever Andrew Cashner and minor-league starter Joe Wieland. Wieland replaces Kelly at AAA. Cashner, meanwhile, was 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA and a .187 OAVG in 47 games. With us he's 0-1 with a 22.50 ERA and a .455 OAVG - in 2 games. Not the best way to start things up.

We continue to struggle with offense. Berkman is .239 and Holliday .234. Both have No-Trade Clauses so we can't move them. But both are on the block in a meager effort to get them hitting again. Matheny insists on playing them. I can't overrule him.

Shelby has fallen to fifth on my prospect list. Carlos Ortiz was backed to Springfield and may be backed to Class-A as he is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. George Owens is 1-0 with a 2.76 ERA at Batavia in 3 starts and may soon be ready to hit Class-A. Miguel Gonzalez, our LF, is hitting .333 in 23 AB for Palm Beach, and 3B Fausto Rebeca (love that name!) is .333 for Quad Cities. Shelby, meanwhile, has been promoted back to Memphis after going 4-0 with a 3.48 ERA at Springfield in 7 starts. In his first start he took the loss as he gave up 4 runs in 7 IP on 5 H with 7 K and 2 BB.

I am debating between working through this season and then picking the blog and updates again more regularly or going month-by-month. I guess my desire to enjoy the game got the best of me for the moment.