Again, I believe the lineup is fluid heading into the spring and it could be that way much of the season. Given the need to have the 2021 payroll come in lower than the '20 payroll, the Cardinals would love to find some inexpensive internal solutions backed by some low-cost veteran insurance. I do believe management feels urgency to win this year because it wants Arenado for the big 2022 ticket push. Rebuilding the business will take a lot of work.
When you take a nine-digit revenue hit, you are entitled to cry. You would cry too if it happened to you.
Ryan O'Reilly seems like a no-brainer to take draws in the defensive zone. But that might be it.
Berube loves Sanford when Sanford is on his game and playing big. But that Sanford comes and goes. Hoffman is a volume shooter. To get full value out of him -- offensive zone pressure, shots on goals, goals -- you need to put him a Top 6 roll and give him those reps.
Bauer is a contrarian in many ways, He prefers shorter-term deals that give him the ability to reset his career. Most pitchers would rather take the longer money as protection against the inevitable injury.
Matt Carpenter at second base? Groan.
Molina did a nice job last year. So he's a starting-caliber catcher until he proves otherwise. That said, I don't blame the Cardinals for wanting to go year-to-year with him. The obvious solution is to give him a one-year deal with easily achieved vesting goals to get the second year.
I believe the Cardinals would have no trouble unloading Carpenter in midseason if he was back around the Mendoza Line. Management knows that thousands of weeping fans would not hold a candle light vigil for Carpenter outside Busch Stadium if he got the short haircut.
In these pandemic times, he's treading with a bit more care. He was pretty heavy handed last summer with his attempt to guide the player-owner negotiations for the return to play.
I do not. The Rockies will pay the full $35 million for this season, it seems, then up to $15 million depending on whether Arenado declines to use either of his opt-outs.
Of course, there are games to play between now and the trade deadline.
Ah, barrell jumping. Back before there was 1,000 sports channels, we watched "Wide World of Sports." Guys diving off cliffs. Figure 8 car racing. Barrell jumping. The more dangerous the sport, the better. I'd give it a thumbs up for Blues games if they made Louie do it.
I could see that working as a exhibit at the Cardinals Hall of Fame.
If Dakota Hudson makes it back in one piece, he'd be a candidate. Edman could be moving into that territory.
I don't believe the Dodgers give two whits about what the Cardinals do. That team was always going to go after Bauer. And even that franchise was going to have trouble fitting Arenado into its long-term payroll.
Hiyo! Let's get the Jon Jay Troll out hiding.
Those sweaters we more akin to the uniforms I wore for several years at Burger King #449 back in Michigan. Minus the broiler grease, of course.
Fans don't like Carpenter because he has a hard time hitting the baseball with his bat.
After the job Mike has done in first two years, I don't see him being under much pressure at all.
Again, I believe the lineup is fluid heading into the spring and it could be that way much of the season. Given the need to have the 2021 payroll come in lower than the '20 payroll, the Cardinals would love to find some inexpensive internal solutions backed by some low-cost veteran insurance. I do believe management feels urgency to win this year because it wants Arenado for the big 2022 ticket push. Rebuilding the business will take a lot of work.