BenFred Live
Ben Frederickson is here to answer your sports questions, so pile them on!
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If Harper doesn’t resign w/ Nats and doesn’t sign here, wouldn’t it make sense for them to deal Rendon? He’s a perfect guy for the Cards. Hits for some power, good hitter and plays plus defense at two positions - 3rd and 2nd. If and it’s a big if Gorman advances from low minor league ball and becomes a legit everyday starter and becomes a serviceable at 3rd Rendon can switch to 2nd. Wong is a good player when he’s healthy and producing. I don’t see why the Cardinals should pass on a much better upgrade than what’s available on the free agent market because of an A ball prospect and a player who hasn’t produced a complete productive season. We’ve seen spurts but either health or prolonged slumps or both have stood in the way.
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I would be excited for the story. He is, to me, the most interesting player in this free-agent class. Huge success not very long ago. Big red flags at the moment. But he did hit the ball hard and look good in his smallest of sample sizes upon his return. If he crushes it with his new team, how many teams will kick themselves? If he can't stay healthy, how many teams will feel lucky they said no thanks? He's really interesting. If he's a 32-year-old somewhere in between those two extremes, I'm not sure if he's the upgrade -- on his own -- that this lineup needs. And I worry a little bit about his defense. The reviews of that are all over the board.
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I don't get the impression that the Cardianls are really looking to put a FA at 3B for the long haul. I thought they were pretty happy with their pipeline for 3B and just need someone like Donaldson to sign a 2-3 year deal to bridge today to that date in the near future when Gorman can be ready for the show.
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They are quick to mention the multiple talented prospects who are climbing the ranks at that position.It doesn't mean you don't consider an Arenado type if he becomes available. He's a special talent. Again, the talk in Colorado is more about Arenado sticking there. We'll see.Donaldson would be a short-term fix. Moustakas as well. If you feel that good about what's coming.
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If cards were able to get gold Schmidt and accomplish getting the hitter they have dreamed of...wouldn’t it come at the cost of the defense they have spoken so often of cleaning up? Carp at 3B is a bad idea iMO. Feel like they would be doing what they always do..hurt themselves one way to improve another. Goes to the fact it’s hard to improve a team with no real weakness but no “stars”
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quick blues question for you, and i'm interested what other blues fans think too: would you swap jake allen for corey schneider straight up? schneider has been awful since coming back from his hip injury, but he's always intrigued me. jake allen could probably use a change of atmosphere, and the nickname "jersey" jake allen just sounds good. st. lou schneider, not as much, but i wonder what he has left. i don't think we're going anywhere with jake between the pipes.
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Moving on from Allen does not sound like a bad idea to me at this point, but I'm not sure I would want to do it for a guy with injury issues. I'd rather take an unknown than a guy with injury concerns. That said, I'm not sure there would be teams lining up to take on Allen at the moment. He's got baggage, and it's not exactly shrinking.
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I would not expect any trades between the Cardinals and the Cubs.I trust Buster Olney.His report that the Cubs could be opening to trading Bryant moved the needle, but the big word there was could.Teams do certain things to get the word out, to see what's out there.Again: I can't imagine any meaningful trades between the Cardinals and the Cubs, or the Cardinals and any in-division opponent
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Hypothetically speaking, lets assume the Cardinals do nothing to the roster this offseason and start 2019 with the same starting line-up and rotation as they ended 2018. Assuming age-related progression/regression, are the 2019 Cardinals better or worse than 2018 using 2018 WAR as a guideline? Here is my take...
1B Carpenter (4.9) = worse
RF J. Martinez/Fowler/O'Neill (0.0) = better
SS DeJong (3.8) = same
LF Ozuna (2.9) = better
3B Gyorko (2.0) = same
C Molina (1.8) = worse
CF Bader (3.8) = worse
2B Wong (3.5) = same
SP Mikolas (4.3) = worse
SP Wacha (0.9) = better
SP Flaherty (2.6) = better
SP C. Martinez (1.8) = better
SP Gomber (0.1) = better
While the rotation should be better (except for Mikolas who is an obvious regression candidate), there is still uncertainty with health for Wacha and Martinez. Of the position players, three Cardinals had relatively high WAR mainly from defense (Bader, Wong, DeJong) that may not be repeatable although all should improve offensively in 2019. Carpenter is the obvious regression candidate while the RF amalgamation will be higher by default.
So even if adding no one, this team would likely be a 90-92 win team assuming a constant bullpen. What do you think? -
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I get the exercise, but I don't think it needs to be so exhaustive.There's no need for hypotheticals. The team is going to change, but there are only a few areas that really scream for change.Right field. Corner infield, preferably third base. Bullpen. And maybe rotation, if you want to make the argument for quality over quantity there.How the Cardinals improve in those areas is likely going to determine how this team improves, on top of the natural improvement/regression of the returning players elsewhere.There's your offseason.
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This has not changed. The same thing happened in the end-of-season press conference, when everyone screamed about Mozeliak committing to Fowler when he didn't, really. He said he hopes Fowler is healthy and was glad that he's been cleared for more baseball activities. He also said he has a long way to go. He's said, at various times, that Fowler has a future here. And he's said he hopes he has a season like 2017 instead of 2018. Nowhere has he said, look, it's guaranteed the guy is a our right field starter for 2019. And nowhere has he said he's against that. He's leaving his options open at one of the few places on the roster that could be optimized. Smart. People see what they want to see when Mozeliak talks about right field. To be clear: He's leaving his options open when he talks about it.
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I can't win.My point was there are more positions on the field seemingly locked in than open for changes.Those would be: catcher, first or third depending on where Carpenter plays, probably second base, definitely shortstop, right field and center field.Is that more clear?
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The Cards only strength is pitching. Why not spend the money and bring in top flight pitching to make an already good pitching staff great? Then deal a couple of pitching prospects for a slugger at the mid-season break if one is still needed. Point being, build on what you do best; teams with the best pitching have won for the past 100 years.
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The opt-out is rarely used, usually because the player is not worth more at the time of the opt-out than he is before he secures it.That can be used as an argument against such lengthy contracts, for sure.The opt-outs only benefit the player, but rarely are they in the players' best interest when it comes time to consider using one.
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I don't have unique insight there. Just what I read. But it seems to me they have played this perfectly. Try for an extension. Make it known you want him back. Express a willingness to revisit, but not a willingness to wait at the altar. Have to think the Nats would get a chance to counter whatever the best offer is before it's said and done. They have many, many clients with Boras. There's a good relationship there that is mutually beneficial to both parties to keep things as warm and fuzzy as possible.
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Hey Benefred---- What's up big guy? I think the smart move is for the Cardinals to load up on the bullpen and sign Donaldson.. Maybe Moustakas... Brewers could have won the world series if they had better starting pitching.. Cards have it, and then some.. Load up, make the bullpen as bulletproof as you can, add an offensive piece (see above)…. Puts them much closer to the elite teams, I would think.... Can you imagine if they have Hicks, Reyes, Britton, and x reliever (Kimbrel???).. Thoughts Mr. Man???
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I would not spend big on Kimbrel.I see the Donaldson and Moustakas argument but wonder if either is the boost this lineup really needs.Donaldson is if healthy and turning back the hands of time, sure.Moustakas hit like what, sixth, for the Brewers, though he would have led the Cardinals in RBI and finished second in homers.I would just like to see a bigger splash for the lineup.
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In Mr. Hummel's chat yesterday, I was amazed how many people suggested we trade Carlos Martinez, many suggesting that he be a throw in player in a bigger trade. I know he's had a couple of disappointing seasons health wise but why would anyone want to be so quick to discard him? If nothing else, he has been DOMINANT when pitching in the back end of the bullpen. Same with Carpenter. I know it's not typical to have a corner infielder to bat leadoff but he hits from the left side and he draws walks. Who doesn't think we need more of that?!? Yet several seem to think we need to trade him, even if we get little in return. I am all for upgrades to our roster but these are two guys I think we HAVE TO keep. What say you?
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The talk of trading Matt Carpenter makes little sense. You will not get what he's worth. Plus, he's a key member of this team's leadership and all of that. It's silly talk.The talk of trading Carlos Martinez makes more sense. There was frustration there last season on several fronts. With the oddity that was his spring training. Not with the health setbacks, but his handling of them. With his punctuality issues. With his off-the-field distractions. If the Cardinals see Carlos as a declining asset because of these things, they should move him while his demand would be at its highest. And their determination would suggest it's going to decrease. That's what a trade would say. Not saying the Cardinals are there, but the frustration is there. So, that makes a lot more sense.
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In the past four seasons, he has slugged .543 while averaging 32 homers and 93 RBIs. Averaged. Over four seasons. And he just turned 26. I care a lot more about him being on the cusp of his career best and what he did entering that stretch than what he did when he was 19-21 playing in the majors while most of his peers were in the minors.
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Ben, what is a realistic expectation for Mizzou hoops after the game Friday in Ames? I was there and it wasn't good. 25 turnovers. Ouch. Geist played horrible and Pinson played like a freshman. I hope Mizzou does well but I won't be upset with Cuonzo if we don't make the tournament. Jontay was a huge loss and the team has no point guard play. Geist is gonna be Geist and I don't think Pinson is ready to have that role yet.
Also, I sat next to one of Pinson's coaches at Simeon in Chicago and he said a major reason Pinson came to Mizzou was because of Mario McKinney. Apparently Mr. McKinney has become quite the recruiter for Mizzou. -
Geist has been glaringly bad so far.I know Cuonzo loves him, but he has to be better as a senior.If he's going to be this bad, it's a better idea to let the young guns take their lumps.It could be a long season for Mizzou, especially if there are nights Tilmon plays timid.
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