I am ready for baseball. It is just that simple. Both basketball and football have been awesome, but when you live in or near St. Louis, you just have a natural passion for baseball. That's just how it goes. It's unavoidable, inevitable.
I am an avid sports fan and I love ALL sports. However, baseball is different. I closely follow the entire MLB, but I have a serious relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals. There's no doubt that the Cards are my favorite team in all of sport. The way I see it, the Cardinal fanbase is an illustrious group. The best in all of baseball.
Cardinal fans will pack the new Busch no matter how the team is doing. Over the past few years, even the World Series year, we have had some really tough stretches. I'd be willing to bet that it was still standing-room-only. For those of you that have had the privledge of being able to attend a Cardinals' game, you understand what I am talking about. It doesn't matter the quality of play that the Cardinals are playing at, we still have the best fans in the MLB.
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This offseason has seemed very, very, very pointless for the Cards. At some times... Wait no, all times... it has been boring. St. Louis has signed a whole slew of great baseball players. My boy, Royce Ring, has recently been acquired. He torched the baseball world with an 8.46 ERA with the Atlanta Braves. Let's give him a little credit though... He only played 22 innings all year and those stats are (hopefully) higher than they would be if he hung around all season. To think that an MLB pitcher would allow, on average, a point/inning, is hard to believe. But, hey, crazier things have happened.
We have locked in on a few other players. Khalil Greene leads the pack and he used to be great. He logged in a 27 HR, 98 RBI season the year before last. Not to mention, 36 year old reliever Trevor Miller. He is a career 4.45 ERA middle reliever, which is not that bad considering he's a reliever. We did resign Wellemeyer, Thompson, and Duncan, both on one-year deals. So no problem right? Ehh, I'm not sure.
There are some good things to look at. We still have, basically, the same team that won 86 games last year. 86 games, in some divisions, would have landed us a spot in the playoffs.
The Cubbies and the Brew Crew really haven't done a whole lot either. Chicago actually lost their top prospect, Pie. It seems like all three NL Central contenders are kind of idling right now but I'm not convince that it will stay that way.
When you look at it, we really don't have that bad of a team. Some people act like we are the Washington Nationals here with nothing to look forward to. Not true.
Pitching is going to be our biggest concern. There is talk of the Cards pursuing Randy Wolf, which would be a great move. What we have now though is looking like: Carpenter, Wainwright, Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Peneiro. Carpenter played great last year in the three starts that he did have, and they say that he will be 110% come the start of the season. Wainwright was injured part of 2008, but still recorded a solid 11-3 record. Lohse led STL in most major pitching categories with a 15-6 record and a 3.75 ERA. Wellemeyer was hot and cold with a 13-9 record but had a 3.71 ERA as well. I am anxious to see what Peneiro will do this coming year. He had a great 2007, but followed up with a very rocky '08... So we will see.
The bullpen could be anywhere from the worst, to the best. Every team's ‘pen looks that way before the season just because relievers are rarely consistent. The closer spot for us has yet to be filled. It could be another year of situational closing. I would go ahead put Chris Perez in there and give him the job he will have for plenty of years to come. But some people say Carp should be our 9th inning man. I do not like that change. Why take one of our best arms, put him in the closer role, and have the prodigy closer-to-be throw in the middle innings? Oh, Ryan Franklin you ask? NO. I don't want to go through all that again.
Behind the plate, we have an all-star. Yadier Molina is in his prime. Not only is he the best defensive catcher in the MLB, his batting average as improved from .216 to .304 in the matter of two years. Remember the game when he threw the runner out falling down face-forward? Yeah, I know you do.
At first base, what is there to say? We have the best player in the MLB if you ask me. Two-time MVP award winner, Albert Pujols. I predict his best season so far and another MVP.
In the middle infield, we are really throwing the chips in. Adam Kennedy looks like the starter at second-base and he says that he is ready to contend against anyone who wants to compete with him at the position. Our new shortstop, Khalil Greene, used to be really good but has been on a slight decline lately. He put in a 27 & 98 season two years ago but had a terrible season in 2008 with a .213 average. He is a decent defensive player and is super fast, and often uses his hair as a cape..
Troy Glaus should keep his spot at third that he received last season. I almost screamed when I got a text today stating that he needs shoulder surgery, but thankfully he should be okay come April. Some people complain about his average, but I hate to tell you that it isn't getting any better than the .270 he had last year. Everyone should be EXTREMELY happy with what he did last year. Not only did he defend the hot corner, he gave us his best offensive season since he was considered one of the heavy weights in the MLB.
The outfield is led by centerfield slugger Rick Ankiel, a man with a lot of potential in Skip Schumaker, and Mr. Ryan Ludwick. Rick just needs to do his thing, provide a huge bat, and gun down some more players. Schumaker busted through as a first-year starter and is now expected to do that. Ludwick guarantees that he will pop 50 homers this season and says him and Pujols will go 1-2 in MVP voting. What he needs to do is pull a Pujols-Rolen-Edmonds, and ask Ankiel if he feels like going 1-2-3 in voting.
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If I am the one that you are talking to, I will say that the Cardinals are going to be fine. On the other hand, to be a true contender, we need to get pitching help. The way things are looking right now, I am predicting a neck and neck finish with us and the Cubs come September. Milwaukee is good but I think they will be what we were last year.
I have four words for you Mr. DeWitt and Mr. "Mo", I want some Wolf. You do that, and hello Cubbies.
Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
http://www.thejaystick.blogspot.com/
Shanon Lersh
Brooklyn Decker
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Back in Time: November 20
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Hey, you removed my last comment!! What gives??? You don't expect everyone to agree with you that the Cards are going to compete this year, do you? Wishful thinking at best.
Chitownblues
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I deleted your comment because I would like to keep it with educated responces. Ok?
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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Hey Kemo Sabe!! You mean educated Cardinal responses like this? I think you just lost your argument, and the division.
Chitownblues
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What? That is an educated responce considering he says that the Cards will be fine. You think I lost my argument, and the division? WwTtFf is that supposed to mean?
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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You probably shoud chill, Tony lmao. I told you that they don't take responces like that lightly.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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I mean the the insecure and childish profanity of your r*e*t*a*r*d*e*d buddy. Is that the type of educated response you were refering to? Mabey it is. I have respect for the Cardinals as a team but I just get a laugh at your optimism at how this team will compete with it's broken down rotation. With mirrors? Wolf would not be a bad pickup but he would hardly be enough to turn this rotation around. Besides, isn't Wolf on the verge of signing with the Dodgers as we speak? So much for that idea. The Cheapo Cards do not have nearly enough pitching to compete. This is how you lost the argument.
Chitownblues
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Lost what argument???
You are right with one thing.. He probably went too far and ramifications have been handed down. That is how he does things though, not gonna lie.
I have optimism due to the points I made above. We have a better rotation than we had last year when we won 86 games. With pitching coach Dave Duncan, I always have optimism when it comes to our pitching staff. I agree with Tony when he says that you haven't any clue what you are talking about. Very naive.
10 rings, baby. 10 rings.
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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Can Dave Duncan pitch? I sure hope so. It sounds like you are getting desperate, and with good reason. And you're calling me naive? The Cards always seem to get the most out of a makeshift rotation but it is currently being held together by paper and glue. You guys better pick up a Peavy or someone with real substance or you can forget it. 86 wins seems pretty unrealistic this year.
Chitownblues
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You are clueless, buddy.
You need to stick with sports inside of your beloved Chicago because you know jack shiiiiiit when it comes to sports outside of Chicago. We have a BETTER rotation than we had last year, we have a BETTER lineup, and yet you think that 86 is unrealistic??? You have GOT to be kidding. Someone needs to get caught up on their sports outside of Illinois.
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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Really? Better? You better hope Carpenter doesn't turn into Mark Prior. Enjoy another fourth place finish.
Chitownblues
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Yes, better. You wouldn't know that, however, because you are stuck with a team that blows coooock when it comes to September/October. Second place is the first loser buddy.
Carp is fine, nobody is worried about him. Am I saying that we will beat you guys out in the division? NO. I am saying that we will give you a run for your money, just like last year. It will be a Chicago-St. Louis finish but I'm not sure who is first or second. Probably you guys but it doesn't matter because you all cannot convert when it counts. Milwaukee will be nothing this year.
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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We will. And I hope you enjoy year #101 without a championship.
TenRingsSTL
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OUCH
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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I mean the the insecure and childish profanity of your r*e*t*a*r*d*e*d buddy. Is that the type of educated response you were refering to? Mabey it is. I have respect for the Cardinals as a team but I just get a laugh at your optimism at how this team will compete with it's broken down rotation. With mirrors? Wolf would not be a bad pickup but he would hardly be enough to turn this rotation around. Besides, isn't Wolf on the verge of signing with the Dodgers as we speak? So much for that idea. The Cheapo Cards do not have nearly enough pitching to compete. This is how you lost the argument.
You may laugh at his optimism, but I have at your spelling. Mabey? Really? I figured a **** like you could spell MAYBE* seeing how you always are left saying MAYBE next year at the end of every season. Loser.
CardinalsFan1988
Lowell , IN
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Chitownblues,,,,
I do not do FanNation anymore. I do not have enough time. However, I wanted to stop by to let you know about you totally eating your words.
A couple months ago you (out of all people, a CUBS fan lmao) were talking a ton of smack saying that the Cardinals' rotation equaled paper and glue. You were talking **** about Carpenter and the rest of the staff. Just to let you know, Carpenter is 100% healthy and pitching like he was in '05. He just pitched a one-hitter (7 IP, 0 ER, 7 K) against the Pirates on Thursday, and looked dominant.
The rest of the staff did fantastic as well. The worst performance was from Wellemeyer, who still pitched well all considering. Wainwright was lined up for the win at the Openind Day game I was at on Monday. Lohse went 7 innings also, and only allowed 5 hits. Last night, Joel went out and got a win as well. He pitched a gem, just like Wainwright, Carp, and Lohse. You said that our rotation was "pisspoor" and we would not even come second in the division.
Well, after the first week and simply from knowing the capability of our team.. I respectfully say that you do not know much about baseball - except maybe inside your sweet little Chicago.
If our rotation can stay healthy, I can assure you that we will have one of the top rotations in the league. Possibly better than your beloved Cubbies. In a recent ESPN piece, 3 of the 4 guys agreed with me on this. 2 of the 4 also said the the Cards will end up atop the division; above the Flubbies.
I had a good time watching your boys blow the game yesterday agaisnt Milwaukee. That was too good! I enjoyed it.
*STL WS Rings (10) x 10 = How many years it has been since the Flubbies won the WS*
Wow, 100 years. That's gotta suck!
Chicago Cubs caliber of play in the playoffs = Paper and Glue.
I'd give anything for a 2009 NLCS Cubs vs Cards. My money would be on the team that can actually get the job done in October. Hint: IT ISN'T YOU GUYS!
Have a good one,
Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.fandemoniumsports.blogspot.com
KemoSabe- Tiger is…
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