It depends on the pitcher. But their scouting report was to jump on Rodon's fastball last night and make him use something else. It all looked so easy as this was one of the Cardinals' best offensive nights in a long time.
The team--and Dickerson--were expecting more power. He is a good contact hitter and good base runner but he might be aced out by the preponderance of DH type players the Cardinals have now and with one more to come sometime this year in Nolan Gorman.
The players have to be retired three years before consideration. This would be tricky if all retire this year because the Cardinals' HOF only inducts two modern players per year. The DeWitts might have to bend the rules one time--or have Wainwright play one more season.
There always has been upside with Reyes and we saw it through much of last season when he was one of the top closers in the league until he was bitten by walks and the home-run ball. I don't think the Cardinals should have any regrets about not trying to move him, nor should they. He was that good.
The Cardinals will have one more season of control of Reyes after this season, meaning he could be a third-time arbitration candidate. If he doesn't pitch much, or at all, this season, he might also be a non-tender candidate at the end of the year, as difficult a move as that might be to make.
Walker will play third base, for the most part this season, but I could see him getting some work in the outfield and at first base. We'll know of Arenado's future plans at the end of the season because he has an opt-out but I don't think he'll be using that and, instead will be around several more years. Goldschmidt is signed for two more years after this one. So, Walker's best best might be outfield in the short term, if he comes up at some point next year. Gorman always is a trade chip but there's no reason to do that. In a couple of years this lineup could feature Arenado, Goldschmidt, Yepez, Gorman and Walker. A very intriguing prospect.
You answered your own question. The Cardinals have flexibility with Woodford and Naughton. They don't with McFarland. Naughton wasn't great. Woodford was, and will be, serviceable.
Hard to say because we don't see all the teams. But, hard to believe any team has three sharper players than those three--and Tommy Edman isn't too far behind. And you haven't mentioned Albert Pujols either. He belongs with the first three.
Generally, teams want their dugouts to be on the same side of the field as their bullpens. Sometimes, this goes back to the initial construction of the ball park and teams make their choices about dugouts, etc., then. There is no great over-riding reason.
I don't foresee Jordan Walker being very available nor a couple of Class A pitchers like McGreevy or Graceffo, who are starring at Peoria.
This is a decision that doesn't have to be made now but, eventually, the Cardinals will have too many DHs.
There used to be more submarine pitchers in the majors, and they were almost like fast-pitch softball pitchers so there isn't really any legislation against it. The theory on pitching overhand is that more power can be exerted and it's all about power these days, whether it's at-bat or on the mound.
Good idea. I wonder if Brummer's steal haunted your first wife, too.
Edmundo Sosa, indeed, is a sparkplug and has shown well in his first two starts since coming off the IL. Sometimes, he goes at a higher speed than he needs to. There is a time to "slow the game down," too.
You wouldn't think so. I think the toll was taken not by the loss but by the long delay before there actually was a hearing and then a few more days before a decision was rendered. O'Neill really hasn't hit much since the first day of the season when he knocked in five runs.
The only trend that really matters is for the Cardinals' starting pitching to be as good as it can be, and Jack Flaherty's ultimate return should help that cause. No matter how inconsistent the Cardinals' offense is, it will be better than that of the Brewers, who always seem to have a bunch of castoffs in their lineup.
The Cardinals would take that. Garcia had several good seasons for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, Reyes has had one.
Unfortunately, there will come a day when there will be no free games.
Slow start with a hitless first two games and then he knocked in three runs with two hits in his third game.
