It's a great story. He's worked his tail off. He made a pass the other night that made my jaw drop. He's found a fit and is gaining confidence. His teammates seem to love him. Happy for him, and it's great for SLU, because J-Good is a great ambassador for the program and will continue to be as his star brightens.
There will be plenty of time for that if the team is still in longshot land before the March 3 trade deadline. See if the season can be salvaged first. Give them a chance to right the ship. It's much more fun than scrapping it so early.
Yepez is in the DH mix for next season, for sure. He can fill in fine in corner outfield in bits and pieces. Agree you don't want him out there long term.
There are certainly QBs in the portal who could help Mizzou. Are any of them attainable? Drinkwitz went zero for three last season when trying to land one. Now he risks more if he goes chasing, because losing Cook would be a blow -- if he's not replaced by somebody better. I think Cook has earned the job. Start him in the bowl game, which Mizzou will, and let him be the starter entering next season, with Horn as his challenger. It doesn't need to be labeled as a competition. If Horn is ready, he will force the issue. It's not the sexiest option, but it could be the only realistic one.
There could be some good starters available at the deadline, if you look at the guys who could wind up in the rental zone at that time. Problem is, more teams will be in it because of the expanded postseason, and trade-deadline prices are always crazy high. If the Cardinals didn't like trade or free-agent asks this offseason, they're not going to like them at the deadline, and the same teams that got better this offseason will be competing there at the deadline again, too.
All due respect to Molina, but I think Cardinals fans are goin to be pleasantly reminded that it's nice to have a catcher who can slug.
It would make sense that either Knizner or Herrera goes now, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's Knizner before Herrera. Maybe after this season, if Herrera makes strides this year. Knizner will want his shot at being a primary guy, and there are teams where maybe he could get that shot, especially if he plays will in the part-time job this year.
Welcome to the Bring Max Scherzer Home Movement
I don't think The Cardinal Way addressed basketball-themed "business" trips but I hear you. It was a bad look for the catcher. I don't think, in the end, his odd final season will reflect poorly on his career as a whole, though. Not even a little bit. He should get the deserved treatment of number retirement, statue, all that jazz. He's a lifetime Cardinal, should be Cooperstown Hall of Famer and a champion. He's inner circle Cardinals legend. The final seasons are rarely as sweet as they were for Pujols. See Bob Gibson as an example. We forget the bad endings over time, as we should. And let's not forget this: With the Cardinals' postseason hopes hanging by a thread, and Molina making his last trip to the plate, the catcher did his job.
It's a great story. He's worked his tail off. He made a pass the other night that made my jaw drop. He's found a fit and is gaining confidence. His teammates seem to love him. Happy for him, and it's great for SLU, because J-Good is a great ambassador for the program and will continue to be as his star brightens.
