Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle, writing for the Sporting News, has some very complimentary words for the St. Louis Cardinals coming into the 2009 season.
Here are two excerpts:
“The St. Louis Cardinals also will be competitive. Write it down. Hold me to it. Almost every year, people like me count them out. Almost every year, they prove us wrong.”
“The Cardinals have an impressive organizational confidence. Let the Cubs continue to build a huge payroll. Money guarantees them of nothing. Don’t bet against La Russa.”
Justice also proclaims the Milwaukee Brewers can survive the loss of C.C. Sabathia and most likely Ben Sheets. He doesn’t spill any ink on the Cincinnati Reds or Pittsburgh Pirates between the intro and a 2009 obituary at the very end.
He does slam his hometown Houston Astros, calling ownership “shortsighted” for limiting payroll to $100 million when he estimates it would take $120 million to keep the current team together.
Do the cries sound familiar?
“Instead of getting better, the Astros seem to be getting worse. (GM Ed) Wade didn’t have the minor league talent necessary to pull off a Jake Peavy deal, and if Hampton gets hurt again, the Astros could hit bottom.”
“IF” Hampton gets hurt again? If he is the key to the 2009 Astros, they may as well stop taking season ticket orders now.
No one asked me, but keeping that Houston team together may not be the best thing, anyway.
Apparently, Justice isn’t as cute as the St. Louis columnists or he would come up with a clever name to slam the owner, Drayton McLane. Since “McWallet” wouldn’t be very original, what about “McScrooge”?
I don’t know about you, but I am still amazed the pitching-less Astros found a way to finish ahead of the Cardinals in 2008 and I am pleased that one of their local writers doesn’t see it happening again.
I think that the Astros made a big mistake by non-tendering Ty Wigginton. There is a lot of interest for him around the league, as there should be for a power hitting versatile defender. With the number of teams out there who reportedly want to sign him, I’m sure that the Astros could have gotten something in exchange for him.
Yes, I agree. That was one of the most surprising non-tenders. I wonder how good defensively he is at second base? He surely can hit.
He’s not a plus defender, but given that he can man the corner infield and outfield spots as well to some extent still makes him useful in the field.
Sounds like a La Russa guy if there ever was one. Better if he can pitch, too, since Miles may not be back…
I believe there is a heated boardroom style negotiation going on between Tony/Dave and Billy/Mo over this next move. B/M need to stay “publicly” in harmony with the hall of fame/ though lame duck coach. They are seriously concerned about what open warfare would reveal about their posture and or future plans. Tony knows the score. He is asking for Fuentes because he sees an opportunity to mix and match his 8th and ninth inning with Mott/Perez power from the right, Fuentes from the left. Making him look like some sort of match up genius. Na, thats not Tony!!!!! Yikes. I believe the price for Ankiel will plummet as this negotiation unfolds. If B/M spring for Fuentes, Ankiel is gone, for whatever they can get, guaranteeing an unobstructed shot for Colby where he would be safe from the inevitable Chris Duncan platooning. This establishes the farm system concept that we all will enjoy in future years. Glaus is gone next year for one of the young 3rd base heroes. To be honest if the Cardinals Suck again this year, and Albert has a spirited WBC, he will walk and it will have nothing to do with money. He is in a strong bargaining position to say the least. He also has a hammer, in that he can pretty much just take a TJohn holiday whenever he wants, with full public sympathy, should he decide to pressure for change. ……… These are just possible futures……………………. becoming more probable by the day unfortunately, one of the flaws of the Bicameral Christian Self Hypnosis that Albert espouses. Don’t strain over this rap if it angers you at all. Its just the West Coast.
Doesn’t anger me at all. I just “Glaus” over the parts less interesting to me. Some intriguing theories, though.
I also sense a rub over Fuentes. I do not see what that has to do with trading Ankiel, though.
Unless injuries hit, I would be surprised if the team, even as constructed now, could not at least repeat their 2008 result – good enough not to cause panic in the streets, but not enough to get into the post-season.
Clearly Albert has a bond with TLR, though I am not as sure Albert will want to bolt.
I am really surprised the Post-Dispatch boys haven’t already been hammering TLR about his lame duck status. I sense last time TLR went for a two year deal just to quiet the speculation. I predict if nothing is done one way or another, this will become a distraction during the season.
Ankiel is the door for the unmolested Colby. It is my believe that they see Tony as the only stabilizer for the very unstable RA. If they could just throw Duncan in to any trade this year, allot of there problems disappear. Billy knows that to break the Steinbrenner line against Tony is bad PR and would eventually expose the master plan. He would have to spend like crazy (Wolff) to regain support. I do believe Ankiel is the sacrifice here. Look how sloppily they dealt with Reyes. In the end, just a nuisance resolved.
The Reyes situation was opposite in that he was not favored by the coaches as Ankiel is. In the first case, I would imagine Reyes couldn’t be traded fast enough while trading Ankiel now might not go over as well with TLR. Yet in his defense, TLR was asked that very question in his Winter Meetings interview and said all the right things. Of course, what happens behind closed doors, we do not know.
No dialog is silent Brian. I’ve talked about Ankiel extensively as you know. I believe they perceive that now is the time. Tony announcing the Colby non-call up was doing some dirty work for Mo. Keeping him off the 40 man seriously helped to protect Duncan which was part of Daddy Dave’s negotiation, along with the Lohse move. They weren’t aware till Sunday Morning on the last day that Lohse was a keeper.
Tony wouldn’t do anything to tarnish the delicate self esteem of RA, but I think for Ricks career, a move now is wise. A slow start and a disposal might bury him. A fast start and a disposal injures management. What do you think they will choose? I like Rick, but I think Tony uses him wrong, partly to help disguise his weaknesses…………………… They had open spaces on the 40 man. Couldn’t they have protected the Reys trade kid??? until after the draft at least? Or did they want it to die right here and now?
Okay Brian, I think this may have worked.
Thanks for the follow up email. The site looks great and I know it will be a great resource. Good Luck!
Michael- Long time reader!
Welcome, Michael! (For anyone who gets stuck with the less than straight-forward registration system, I added an explanation that can be accessed via the top link at the lower left of every page. (“How to Register and Find Stuff”) If anyone still has questions, feel free to email me at brian at thecardinalnation.com.)