Join Jeff Gordon for his live STL sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday
Bring your Cards, Blues, Mizzou, SLU and MLS questions and comments, and talk to columnist Jeff Gordon in his weekly live chat.
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The most obvious fit is David Dahl, a left-side hitter who could platoon with Harrison Bader. If he could stay healthy for a change, he would certainly have the skill set to play every day in the STL. I was surprised Colorado turned him loose when he was goinig to cost just $2.5 million or $2.6 million in arbitration. While the Cardinals might not be eager to pay quite that much for somebody tossed into the bargain bin, this could be a special opportunity. A lower-cost reclamation project would be Hunter Renfroe, a power hitter who really struggled last season for Tampa Bay. But Tyler O'Neill could become a better version of Renfroe if he could finally get 500 plate appearances in a big league season.
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While sports gambling is totally illegal in Missouri and is never done (cough cough), just across the river is the land of recreational marijuana and legal sports gambling. I was wondering what the journalistic ethics of sports gambling for sports reporters is. Are sports reporters allowed to gamble on the sports they cover? I'm sure there are no ethical qualms about you or another post dispatch writer gambling your 401k on the New York Jets losing next week. But what about if you gambled that the Cubs would win the NL Central next year? Would something like that be unethical since it would influence your coverage of the Cardinals?
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I believe that betting on the team you cover would be a terrible idea for all the obvious reasons. Back in the old days I remember hearing the story a scribe from back East going off on a player in the clubhouse after his blunder of some descrption cost his team the game and the scribe a wager.We really haven't had to deal with it in the STL because we haven't have legal gambling. Now it's becoming a front-burner issue. Having all of this wagering above board going forward in sports . . . this will take some getting used to.I had a relative ask me if I could make a profit wagering on teams I know a lot about. That's an interesting question. In theory that should be true, but:1) Sometimes the more you know about a team, the dumber you can be as a bettor. Time after time you believe is doomed on a given night -- especially in hockey -- only to see the team rise up.2) To succeed in sports gambling or daily fantasy sports (which is essentially gamblng) you need make coldly analytical calls and remained disciplined with that process day after day after day, through the good and the bad. Youhave to trust that over time smart bets will pay off. Of course, most people can't do that and that's why sports gambling is a lucrative industry,3) There could be some opportunity for "insider trades" -- the occasaional wager based on critical information that you gained access to, before it became public knowledge -- and that's where the sportswriter has the most potential to get into peril.This is all food for thought.
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I agree that Austin Gomber is a better fit for the rotation than the bullpen, given his skill set. As for having both in the rotation, I see the rotation as being an 8- or 9-pitcher group with guys coming in and out due injuries and such. Kwang Hyun Kim is a crafty guy, but I will be surprised if he can hold up in the rotation over the 162-game grind during his first full MLB tour. He lacks a wipeout pitch and he struggles to work deep into games. He might end up profiling in middle relief.
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Gordo, I know this is not politically correct, but I thought the Sarah Fuller story and her “participation” in the Mizzou-Vandy game was a bit contrived, if not staged. She basically squibbed a kick and ran off the field and the national media goes crazy. I am all for breaking barriers, but sometimes you can overreach and hurt the cause. Those who compare it with the rise of Kim Ng are insulting the true accomplishments of Ng, IMO. Progressives need to acknowledge that the sexes are different and there are things men can’t do as well as women and vice versa, and that won’t change despite attempts to create what they see as “equality.”
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I would have been a much better story had Vanderbilt actually moved the ball down the field and given her a chance to try an extra point or a short field goal. By all accounts she is capable of nailing those after just a week of practice. That's impressive. And, yes, had she filled at safety and gotten a "pick six" her breakthrough performance would have resonated more loudly with some fans.I still thought it was pretty cool.
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The roster is currently at 37. With them stating they want to bring back Adam, Molina, and Brebbia there doesn't appear to be any room to make any upgrades. I know Carlos is a potential trade candidate, but really who wants his contract. I really don't see any way that Carpenter option doesn't vest this season.
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He looks like a Donovan Solano-type, a utility guy who kicked around the fringes of the bigs for a while and then finally enjoyed some success when he got an extended look. As a hitter, Hanser Alberto didn't drive the ball enough or walk enough through the bulk of his career. But he has hit .287 in 2,740 minor league at bats. He is a classic 4A player, a star at the Class AAA level but not quite good enough to stick in the bigs.
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There hasn't been a ton of infield speculation about the Cardinals and infield targets. I mentioned one earlier in the chat. Travis Shaw is two years removed from back-to-back 30-homer seasons, so he might merit consideration. But that's just a top-of-my head assessment. Shaw made $4 million last season in Toronto and he might be hard-pressed to get much more than a tryout this time around. He turns 31 in April, so he might have something left.
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Since the Blues are up against the cap, the team might have to wait until training camp to get something done with Dunn. As for Steen, it doesn't appear the team is counting on him this season. Rather, the team is counting on his salary parking on LTIR so the roster can can become cap compliant.
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The Cardinals still need both players. Not only are they still the most marketable Cardinals, they were among the top performers last season. So why move on from them? It's not like their salaries will be budget breakers. It's the Dexter Fowler/Matt Carpenter money breaking the budget.
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Ravelo was another Class 4A guy. There are better options available in free agency now. Also, Rangel was looking to go make better money in Asia a year ago before the Cardinals opened a spot for him by moving Jose Martinez. I'm guessing Ravelo coulld look to the other side of the Pacific for next season.Internally, Edmundo Sosa could make the team. Although he added more power with his adjustments at the plate, he appears to have a lot offensive ceiling. His big asset is his ability to play shortstop -- albeit with less than amazing range.
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I know I give Moe a hard time but I think he deserves it. Maybe like the frog boiling and water it’s hard to notice until you look back at what you started out. I mean he started out with Berkman Pujols freeze holiday And now we have the murderers row of Bader O’Neill and Fowler with a similar payroll
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If you plan for the DH and sign somebody who can't play in the field, then you've got a problem. The better idea is adding hitters who can also field. Then you can always put one of them in the DH slot. As for Rosario and Schwarber, I believe both are outside of the price range here as I noted earlier. I believe price will be the bigger disqualifying factor than the DH uncertainty for those two.
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I mentioned Franco earlier. Dahl is much better than Goodwin and the injury gamble isn't THAT great since the team has lots of other outfielders. Goodwin would offer more protection that, say, Justin Williams (another Class 4A guy!) but that's not saying much.But, yes, these are the sorts of names that could stand out as the bargain bin shopping picks up.
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