They do not. They saw how it did. That will work again. And again. And for seasons to come.
I have said in previous chats that the Cardinals have the best roster today in the NL Central. That has not changed with recent moves. They still have the best roster in the division, especially for what it takes to win the division. I would suggest the Reds have narrowed the gap on the Cubs as much as the Cardinals. They just had farther to go.
He has not said he would commit to that setup. What he has said is that the schedule will play a part in that decision with all of the off days early and that the makeup of the bullpen would also be a big consideration there. They clearly want to be more aggressive with the bullpen and more static with the everyday lineup. That would lean to carrying the extra reliever, but he's not writing that in cement just yet.
How do they improve the defense, and where will we see Shildt's fingerprints?
According to scouting reports I've read and scouts I've heard, Gorman has the better chance to stick at third base as he advances and Montero may move positions. That seems to be the consensus when it comes to projection. Both could be first basemen by the time they arrive in the majors, both could stick at third -- at this point in their development it's tricky to commit to that certainty. Stay tuned for how they do with the speed of the game at Class AA. That's been a place where we've seen the defensive ability of hitters be tested and the gloves start to separate themselves.
That would be great. I don't see it happening -- though I do know that you can find some pretty good deals for value-added tickets as that's something my friends and parents have done. You have to be willing to maybe go to some off-peak games. You're not going to have much luck getting low-cost tickets and value-added bonuses when, say, the Angels come to town. But Pirates? Sure.
Not necessarily. But those would be some favorites, I guess.
(A lot will depend on the support that the Cardinals get from you, the fans. Voting from the St. Louis region has been lagging in recent years. That's clearly a sign of apathy from the fans when it comes to the success of the team on the field.If this team captures the imagination then it's on the fans to respond with some active voting -- the likes of which we haven't seen in many years around here.)
Interesting question. Wow. And it sure has changed in recent years, for sure. I'd put the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals on the top tier of teams in the NL when it comes to what they've done through analytics to acquire and develop players. Brewers definitely have advanced the most -- maybe of any team in the NL over the past few years. Then I would put the Reds and the Pirates, though for the Pirates it's not for lack of effort. I think the Reds are starting to show more muscle there, and I'm eager to see how having David Bell as the manager really accentuates that beyond the moves they've made. That pitching staff, if it works, should lead to a lot of credit for the analytics the Reds have embraced and how those numbers are being used. The Cubs and Cardinals -- it goes without saying -- are lead by front offices that have been at the vanguard of advancements in analytics. Their results show it.
Changes? Well, first it's hard not to see some kind of labor strife that, after some pain, results in a change to how players access free agent -- how early they do, how they accumulate service time, and how they get access to arbitration to then create a better market for free agency. We should see the end of the stashing in the minors to secure an extra year of control (ala Bryant) and we might see some significant changes to the compensation that drags on free agents.
I haven't recently, no. The model in Atlanta is interesting, and I read about it earlier in the year. Sure seems like something that would catch on elsewhere. Cincinnati for example could use that bump in attendance to meet a more entertaining team, and I'm eager to see how the Reds do that this year -- and how their fan base responds. I imagine the concessions questions will come up as the season gets closer, but I can honestly say that with all of the stuff with free agency and the roster and other things swirling around the team that I haven't asked about concession prices. If that's a failing on my part, I'm sorry. I would suggest if you don't like the price, don't pay it. Bring your stuff. Bring water. I know people who do that to save money. If you don't buy the concessions, they'll notice.
We appear to be steaming toward a work stoppage of some kind, whether it's a strike or a lockout, I'm not sure. Baseball will survive just fine.
Why bother? I'm too busy defending things I do believe -- and I take enough heat for those.
Derrick. Nice to meet you.
Yes. They haven't turned off their phones.
One second for every one of his career home runs. Book it.
It was not. I don't know why I know this, but I do.
Pitch clock has been discussed. That was the last I heard. That discussion is coming up later this month.
For me? It's Machado. I thought he would be overwhelmed with an offer by now given how teams seemed to line up to make their bids on him for a few years now, Philadelphia included. What's going on with the Phillies that they say they're going to spend "crazy money," have been clearing the decks for years to make a play for Machado, and cannot woo either of these guys to make that a done deal? I find that question fascinating.
