My hope for 2007

[GoCrazyFolks]

I have noticed Tully and Coop both have made similar posts within posts, but I thought this may deserve its own thread.

I think even the die hard amongst (myself included) are finally admitting that this season just isn't meant to be. So with that in mind here is what I would like to see come out of the rest of 2007.

I would like an official announcement on whether TLR, DD, and WJ are going to remain a part of our organization.

I have never been a huge fan of LaRussa, but he has been a good manager and brought a lot of success to this organization. That said, I hope he is done. I want to see the Cards return to a more balanced attack. I would love to see us with a guy who can swipe 30-50 bags a year.

Dave Duncan is a tremendous pitching coach. I have praised him repeatedly over the years, but the Reyes situation really frustrates me. There is no reason he can't succeed at the big league level. And with more young guys in the pipeline, I have to wonder if Duncan is the right guy moving forward. I think it may be a moot point, because he and TLR have always been a package deal.

Walt is one of the better GM's in the business. I'd love to see the owners extend him.

So the brings forth a couple of pivotal questions. However until we know who is driving the ship next year, I don't think we can effectively move forward.

1) What do we do if at the deadline and for the rest of the year if TLR is to stay?

2) If TLR is gone who should replace him? And what should we do at the deadline and for the rest of this year?

In the interest of not cluttering ths post, I'll give my thoughts in a response.

[Coop]

I hope there is a good response GoCrazy.
The posts we have are very good, but I sure wish we had many more.
This is an important time for big decisions.
Maybe Jose Oquendo should get his shot.
Would Jim Leyland consider, with Tony gone? Probably not.
I wish we had good wins to post about, but these are things Cardinals
fans should have many opinions about.
I check Cards Talk and Bernie's Pressbox.
Posters spend all their time flaming and total negativity on everything all the time. You have to really search for pearls, or even anything positive.
I think almost every post guys have here are good ones.
I am anxious for more.

[GoCrazyFolks]

I'll start by addressing what we have going into next year.

SP
Mulder- Signed
Looper- Signed
Wainwright- Controlled
Maroth - Controlled
Carpenter- Out most of the year
Reyes- Controlled
Thompson- Controlled

RP
Isringhausen- Signed/Option
Flores- Controlled
Johnson- Controlled
Franklin- Signed
Kinney- Controlled

Unsigned Pitchers
Wells
Springer
Wellemeyer
Percival

Position Players
C- Yadier- Signed
1B- Pujols- Signed
2B- Kennedy- Signed
ss- Vacant
3B- Rolen- Signed
LF- Duncan- Controlled
CF- Edmonds- Signed
RF- Encarnacion-Signed

Bench
Spiezio- Signed
Miles- Controlled (I think)
Taguchi- Option
Ryan-??? Controlled
Ludwick- Controlled
Schumacher- Controlled

Unsigned Postion players
Eckstein
Wilson
Bennett

This is a quick look and is very likely to have ommissions or errors. I'll apologize in advance.

[GoCrazyFolks]

Coop,
I agree. I really enjoy this board. I'd really like seeing more on it without losing post quality.

In answer to the first scenario if TLR is to stay;

I honestly don't see there is much to do at the deadline. My plan would be to try to get something of value for the following;

Reyes- I don't see him being successful without some change of manager.
Percival- He signed to help a winner. We defintely aren't it right now.
Wellemeyer- If he still has value as a reliever.
Eckstein- I like David, but if he has value we need to take advantage of it. The question becomes, what type of compensation pick would we get if he leaves via FA.

Reasoning for not trading the following;
Encarnacion- TLR is not going to be happy with a rookie/young unproven player in RF. So we would have to replace him with another veteran, which would be a more expensive player.
Wells- Let's all face it, If TLR is here next year Kip probably will be too.
Springer- He came here for his sons medical care. As long as he is producing I would let him stay. Maybe not a good business decision, but some things transcend the business side of the game.

[GoCrazyFolks]

If TLR is going to leave.

Trade the following at the deadline (if possible);
Wells- He may be able to contribute to this team yet.

Encarnacion- Between Ankiel, Ludwick, and Schumacher I think we can easily replace him.

Eckstein- Again, if you can get more than the compensatory pick is worth, you have to trade him.

Miles- He may draw some interest and with Ryan and Haerther knocking at the door it's hard to keep him.

Looper- I'm still not convinced he is a starter. But should bring a return.

Percival- Same thought as before. Give him a chance to play for a winner.

Wellemeyer- He's not signed and probably won't garner a pick via FA, so why not.

Bennett- I'm not sure if anyone needs a mediocre backup catcher, but I'd ask.

There are a couple of guys who are much more complicated (Taguchi, Spiezio, Kennedy) and I simply don't have time right now to dive into it. If I can I'll broach them later.

[ducksnort2]

Seems like the critical approach now is to identify the key players on the 2009 World Series Champion Cardinals?

I think we have givens at 1B, C, LF.

Several good position player prospects in Ankeil, Rasmus, Schumaker, Mather.

Several starting pitcher prospects in Carp, Mulder, Wainright, Looper, Hawksworth, Reyes, Garcia.

Several bullpen prospects: Izzy, TJ, Franklin, Flores, Boggs, Worrell, Perez, Webber.

We need to give the prospects the right amount of development / coaching / challenge / testing to find out who will be there and what holes we need to fill.

I think anyone other than Albert, Molina, Duncan, and Wainwright can be traded for the the right value.

2008 would be interesting and 2009 would be great again.

We know that Walt/TLR/DD can do this. Another management team could possibly do it too.

[BrotherBri]

I agree that the key is figuring out whether TLR/Dunc/Walt are here or not. Because I don't think TLR will make the appropriate choices with a young roster.

If TLR stays, I agree that Juan E is probably still here, and that if Eck is traded, it will be tough to get a real value back, since I can't see him bringing anything veteran in return. The relievers traded away would have to bring some prospects that can be turned around into a starter ... and I don't know how that is possible. I could see a Reyes plus prospect for Dontre trade. And as a fan, though I like the D-Train, I'd much rather see Juan E gone and a more significant turnover begin.

If TLR steps aside (and PLEASE let it be in early August, so we can get a look at Oquendo as the manager!), I could easily see sending Juan E and Eck elsewhere. Izzy would be another likely departure, although I'm not sure how another team would feel about picking up that option. I do wish Springer were a bit more tradeable (and perhaps he'll allow a trade in late August, when the separation from the autistic child would be less). And I like the chance that Percival can be turned into another value.

What I most want to see -- TLR steps down tomorrow night after we lose 2 of the first 3 to the Brewers -- so I can enjoy Sunday's game being Oquendo's first. Juan E departs, with Ankiel coming up. The Cards work a three-way deal with the White Sox and Braves, with Eck, Vazquez and Percival landing in Atlanta, Reyes and Saltalamaccia landing in Chicago, and Renteria and Garland landing in St. Louis. The Mets take Kennedy for the short term, so Ryan and Miles can split 2B. The Tigers or Indians give us a a real prospect for Izzy, so Franklin takes over the closer's role. And, since this is what I want rather than what is possible, the Mariners take So and return us a pitching prospect (reliever, probably), and somebody takes Bennett.

[Coop]

I'm with you, BrotherBri, about Jose Oquendo. I would like to see the youth movement begin now. I do not consider that giving up at all. I think we have young players that can add enthusiasm and win as much, or more. With high salaries and no-trade clauses, I wouldn't think there would be a large movement of players. I don't think they will be less likely to have a winning streak. With 2 good teams ahead of us, it is a steep hill anyway.
With Tony, we had some good, but he won't try young players, except when he doesn't have anybody else. He seems agitated about everything.
I wish he would choose to leave, now, but I don't think there is any way he will.

[GoCrazyFolks]

Bleacher,
I agree about TLR sooner is better than later. I want a decision, even if it isn't the decision I would prefer.

IMO Oquendo is definitely the favorite for the managers job. Some other options would be Girardi or Pena. I'm sure there are a couple of more people in our organization that deserve a look also.


The following is more for entertainment than practicallity.

As for replacement Pitching Coaches, I don't really have enough knowledge to make an educated choice. I'm guessing our minor league guys would be worth a look. Or how about Matheny (long shot considering the lack of experience).

Hitting coaches (this could be fun); Will Clark, Mark McGwire, Larry Walker, Willie McGee, Rick Eckstein, how about Tony Gwynn, of course I'd always bring back Mitchell Paige (Rolen, Edmonds, and Renterria all had career years under his tutilage, he must have been doing something right).

Your Base Coaches; You could take a few guys from above and insert them at the corners.

Remember this is just for fun, but how about the following;

Manager- Oquendo
Bench Coach- Ozzie Smith/Willie McGee
Pitching Coach- Matheny
Hitting Coach- Tony Gwynn
1st Base- Larry Walker
3rd Base- Will Clark

Could you imagine the first time a player look at a coach and said "Hey, what do you know?"

[BleacherBum593]

Go Crazy - I think you meant to say BrotherBri, not Bleacher

Bri manages to slip in here once every blue moon. He needs to do so more often. His posts are always enlighting & thoughtful. We need more like him.

Right now, as I told EWT recently, I on the proverbial fence post. Part of me says sell off, part of me says we still have 18 games remaining with the Brewers and Cubs and we still have a shot. TLR's teams, with the exception of last year, have been pretty strong in the last 2 months of a season.

My gut says this will be TLR's last year here. He's had a pretty good run here. Will he step down before the end of the year? I doubt it. But, I think Dewitt's emphasis on upgrading the farm system, tell's you where this team is headed in the near future. They'll get younger. As in Oakland, I think TLR will not want to be part of a "youth" movement. Its coming and he'll step aside.

Will WJ go at that point? 60/40 chance that he'll leave the organization at the same time. TLR & WJ are pretty much joined at the hip in their philosphies of how to build a team. I don't see them hanging around as Dewitt puts his "stamp" on the big club.

If that happens, here's a couple of names in the organization that I would like to see considered for the big teams staff. Oquendo seems to have been groomed for a shot as the manager. 4 people who may get their shot under him - Ron "Pop" Warner, the Springfield manager. His teams at Palm Beach/Springfield have all performed well under him. Young and has the respect of all those who have played under him. Derrick May, Springfields hitting coach. May get more out of his players than the guy who's the hitting coach at Memphis - Rick Eckstein. Dylar Miller, pitching coach at Memphis. Great rep as a handler of pitchers. Keith Mitchell, Quad Cities manager. I've been impressed with the way his teams always seem to bounce back after a tough loss.

[BleacherBum593]

Some young players that I have been following this year, who could provide help in the next season or two.

MI - Jarrett Hoffpauir/2B, Jose Martinez/SS-2B, Brendan Ryan/SS-2B-3B
BP - Jason Motte (no ones really talking about him, but he'll be in St Louis 1 day soon), Chris Perez, Nick Webber
SP - Jaime Garcia, Mitchell Boggs, Mike Parisi, Chris Narveson.
OF - Rick Ankiel, Colby Rasmus, Nick Stavinoha, Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick
C - Bryan Anderson.

[GoCrazyFolks]

Wow, Bleacher two posts and both of them point out an incident of me not paying enough attention. I am beginning to notice a trend. I did intend to address that to BrotherBri.

The second error was in the post where I said Haerther was knocking on the door. I intended to say Hoffpauir, which of course you got correct in your second post.

BTW I completely agree about BrotherBri. Add UConn, Gagliano, JModene, Kodiak, and a few others to the list of people I would like to see drop by frequently.

As for Oquendo, if he doesn't manage here next year there is a good chance he will manage somewhere else. He gets enough attention that someone will give him a shot.

Realistically, as for the coaching, I can see Pop Waner. I wouldn't be surprised if Larry Walker at least gets an interview. He is already a special instructor and has openly expressed an interest in coaching. The rest of the post was meant purely tongue-in-cheek. Although, I do firmly believe that Tony Gwynn could potentially be a very good hitting coach. The way he approached hitting was very systematic and intellectual.

[Coop]

My favorite of all-time Stan Musial gave this advice about hitting a slider.
Watch the pitcher wind up, when you see the ball get to home plate,
hit the s__t out of it. Not all great players are great coaches.

I am a fan of Pop Warner.

[tulcard]

Like all of you I too am a fighter till the end. I have made my comments on another thread and stand by them. Sometimes reality hits you in the face and we have to adjust. Let's see where we stand after the series with the Brewers. Hopefully last night is not an indication of the balance of the weekend's results....but we do need to sweep the remaining 3 games.

I'll reserve further comments till this series is over....and yes, BroBri's comments are always well appreciated....it WOULD be nice if he would come around more often....

[Coop]

Izzy says he's staying. He thinks he can be part of something special in St. Louis. I like it.
STLtoday - Sports - Cardinals

Wellemeyer is likely done for the year. Paletta has got him.

A winning streak can go a long way right now.

I sure wish Walt could get anything for "Hustle" One Speed Encarnacion.
Even if he hits, he watches balls go by him and wonders why Jimmy wasn't there in right field to run it down. Running to bases he walks up to the fielders to be easily tagged out. In some games, he helps the others get a win, but in more games than that his blunders cause the whole team a loss.