We'll take these last two at once. They are related. I'm guessing that Dickerson will be moved once he finishes his rebab but he did feel some discomfort in his calf over the weekend so this may be a while. Albert is not going anywhere unless he elects to retire. I agree that his presence here---and that of Dickerson, too--clouds the DH situation but, Albert is staying. Manager Marmol just has to be more careful of when to use him.
Surely, Gomez will be promoted to Memphis before the season is over. But Memphis is stocked with outfielders now in Burleson, Nootbaar, Capel, etc., and even a rehabbing Dickerson when is healthy. .
Not sure about complimentary but complementary, perhaps.
There will be a competition for the Cardinals' catchers' job next spring but I predict Herrera ultimately will win out. Knizner is a solid backup but I'm not sure he's a regular here.
I agree that the Cardinals' trade deadline dealings have been modest, at best, recently. But you would have a hard time knocking the off-season Arenado and Goldschmidt deals, in which the Cardinals gave up little of substance to get them.
Hockey coaches are like what veteran baseball mangers used to be. They just go from team to team.
ERAs aren't the only stats you use for pitchers, especially relievers. I still contend that because of Wittgren's ability to pitch on consecutive days, he is of more value than most of the rest. I didn't say he was having a good season, just that he can help you more.
When a team is down by one run in the late innings, it often is facing the other side's best pitchers. Hits will be harder to come by than they would be if the game were one-sided one way or the other and lesser talent was on the mound for the opposition.
You sort of answered your own question. It certainly is about winning the division first, either getting a bye or a three-game home series, perhaps even against a team with a better record.
The Cardinals did have some success in lower-tiered pitchers they traded for or signed into the season last year. It would have been great, for instance, if Garcia had stayed instead of going to San Diego. That ilk of pitcher is likely out there but names don't jump into my head yet.
All you can do is ask. I did like some of those young Baltimore pitchers but, I'm sure the Orioles do, too.
You're welcome. Regrettably, I have seen that change. Rondon and Woodford qualify in the first category, which apparently isn't the right category.
Leg injuries happen all the time. O'Neill's most recent injury had to do with his shoulder, which I don't think was related to weight lifting. But his injury history hasn't been a good one, especially bad timing because his good hitting approach seemed to have returned.
Pederson would have been a good get, as the Giants have shown everybody and the Braves before them last year.
I'm afraid you know the answer to that one.
Relieving takes a much greater toll. A reliever might work three or four times a week and warm up another time. A starter might go once a week and go five or six innings.
McFarland is one for year. Brooks was for one year. VerHagen apparently had other teams interested, so the Cardinals felt they had to go to two years to nab him.
I don't know enough about him but he is left-handed.
I need two relievers--one from each side. Maybe one starter. But the right-handed reliever and starter depend on the potential availability of Hicks and Matz.
The Brewers actually made their best move early in the season last year, acquiring Willy Adames from Tampa Bay. Milwaukee seems have done better in the lower-tiered acquisitions of players, notably in season, but the Brewers haven't brought in any Arenados and Goldschmidts in the off-season.
No need to have Parsons or Naile. The other two I might look at.
We'll take these last two at once. They are related. I'm guessing that Dickerson will be moved once he finishes his rebab but he did feel some discomfort in his calf over the weekend so this may be a while. Albert is not going anywhere unless he elects to retire. I agree that his presence here---and that of Dickerson, too--clouds the DH situation but, Albert is staying. Manager Marmol just has to be more careful of when to use him.