The other day, I gave a nod to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle as the result of an article he wrote for the Sporting News in which he advised not to count out the 2009 Cardinals. I did that, overlooking his fearless prediction that “The Cardinals might win 90 games or lose 90.” Way to stick your neck out, Richard.
I spoke too soon as Justice is apparently writing a series of similar articles, just substituting the team name. His latest: “Don’t count Astros out in spring training”. This despite the fact he clearly stated that Houston “gotten worse” this season in the earlier article.
Let’s see. Worse than third place means what? Contention? Guess he has to appease the hometown readers.
It is certainly the right time of year to accurately suggest that no team is out of it. Keeps all the bases well-covered that way, I imagine. I am guessing Justice is having a big stack of waffles for breakfast this Sunday morning.
Caribbean Series ends
Congratulations to the Aragua Tigres of Venezuela for winning the 2009 Caribbean Series with a 5-1 record. The Mexican club, the Mazatlan Venados, finished in second at 3-3.
The Tigres actually clinched with a victory over Mexico on Friday, making Saturday’s game meaningless. Venezuela’s Brad Knox, a free agent formerly from the Oakland system, got the Saturday nod. Knox, a starter I mentioned over on Scout.com on Friday (subscription required), was hammered for eight runs in just 2 2/3 innings. He had tossed a no-hitter for 6 1/3 innings his first time out.
The main pitcher I profiled there, Edgar Gonzalez, previously a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is rumored to be close to signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Too bad if that happens, as he would have been an intriguing add for the Cardinals.
Cards Mexican Pacific League recap
Also make sure you hop on over to Cardinals Best News Links to check out Josh Jones’ summaries of winter league action by Cardinals players past and present. Just posted was a recap of the Mexican Pacific League season.
Wolf signs with Dodgers
Arguably the top left-hander on the market, Randy Wolf, signed a one-year, $5 million deal with Joe Torre’s Los Angeles Dodgers. That was very bad news for still-free agent Braden Looper, widely considered to have been the Dodgers’ second choice.
Looper seems destined to be a second choice kind of guy. Most Cardinals observers would admit that the difference between Looper, who was sent packing, and Kyle Lohse, who was offered four years and $41 million to stay, was not that huge.
Now, it is Looper who will likely have to accept a circa 2008 Lohse-ian deal someplace. (Lohse did not have a home this time last year, signing a cut-rate one-year contract with a base of $4.25 million with the Cardinals in mid-March.)
Not that the Cardinals were serious suitors, but one part of me is relieved that Wolf did not sign with St. Louis. I don’t think I could survive an entire season listening to Hungo pronounce the pitcher’s name as “woof”.
Torre and A-Fraud
Speaking of Torre, the timing of the release of his new book, “The Yankee Years”, last Tuesday was impeccable. All week, the furor was at a fever pitch over Torre supposedly savaging his old club, while the grandfatherly skipper hit the talk show circuit carefully explaining his intent. A great way to sell books. One controversial reference was to “A-Fraud”, though not necessarily attributed as a direct Torre quote.
Seems the A-Rod steroid allegations have knocked any lingering rage at Torre off the back page of the New York tabloids while reinforcing the unfortunate nickname of the embattled third baseman.
MLB Network – the other side
One of the places where Torre was most visible was the fledgling MLB Network. His co-author of the book, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, already works there. A great way to sell books. Hmmm.
Yet, the most visible face there has instantly become Bob Costas, who left behind his cable deal with HBO to move over to the MLB Network, also just last week. His first interviews were with Torre and Verducci.
Costas, who has become sports’ answer to Dick Clark, America’s oldest teenager, does have a reputation that enables him to ask at least marginally tough questions, something that is badly needed at MLB Network.
While I like their programming, their four-person roundtables are terribly boring, with four yes-people all agreeing on how good such-and-such signing was. In all fairness, they can hardly be critical of teams and of MLB while ripping their bosses in the process. I guess it was unrealistic to hope the Network would be any more hard-hitting in their coverage than MLB.com, the flagship mouthpiece for the empire.
It must be frustrating for the writers and broadcasters, who are likely intelligent, opinionated people, to be unable to fully speak their minds. Heck, when MLB employees blog, they do it via a company-run blog site. How independent can that be? Big brother is always watching.
It is clearly high-stakes big business for MLB. I wonder if there will be editorial pressure to downplay the new A-Rod steroids scandal on MLB Network. I surely hope not, but have to wonder. Biting the hand that feeds you rarely turns out well.
Cookie WHIPped
Speaking of MLB Network, I spent much of my evenings last week watching the Caribbean Series there. One of the rotating color men used daily was former MLB player and manager Cookie Rojas.
He is clearly old school. When an ESPN graphic popped up the Venezuelan club’s ERA and WHIP, Cookie explained WHIP as hitting with runners in scoring position. Ouch!
Old school, new school contention remains
Since it is time for the fresh start of the new season, a logical column for the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss to write is the annual “Tony La Russa is re-energized” tome.
Buried in it was La Russa’s not-so-subtle reminder that he is still not totally in synch with the new wave Cardinals organization.
“I believe analysis from a computer is useful but should be secondary to what you observe. That may not be the opinion of the people in charge,” La Russa told Strauss.
It’s not a news flash, as La Russa has made similar comments in the past, but it is discouraging to see the organizational tension remains at a level such that the manager feels the ongoing need to discuss it publicly.
Former Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell (pictured) was among the 14 inductees into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Springfield.
The now-49-year-old was a standout as a closer and set-up man for the Cardinals from 1985 through 1992 and has given back as a former player. An excellent choice.
Former Cardinals catcher Mike DiFelice (1996-97, 2002) has retired as an active player to manage the Mets’ rookie team in Kingsport, TN. The K-Mets are an Appalachian League adversary of the Johnson City Cardinals.
The 39-year-old DiFelice spent most of 2008 in Triple-A but did get a final cup of coffee (with dessert?) with the AL champion Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He did not appear in the post-season.
Lefty swapping
The same article linked to above notes the Rays are signing Brian Shouse, apparently to replace now-Cardinal Trever Miller for the left side of their pen. It will be interesting to see which club turns out to have made the best decision. To say I am nervous about the Cardinals’ 2009 relief lefties is an understatement.
First arbitration case decided
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Shawn Hill won his salary arbitration case and will receive $775,000, instead of the $500,000 the team was offering. For the Cardinals, Rick Ankiel is up first, this coming Thursday, with Ryan Ludwick scheduled the Tuesday following, on the 17th.
Gorgen shoulder surgery good news
On Saturday, I had a long phone conversation with right-handed pitching prospect Scott Gorgen. He has a most interesting story about the evolution of his shoulder discomfort through surgery last week. The news is good – out eight weeks instead of the entire season. It is subscriber-only content, but worth the listen if you are a member.
Remember that you’ll continue to see several feature articles each week from me at Scout.com, so make sure you check there regularly, too.
Cubs lead Cards in Koreans, 4-1
Recently, MLB.com ran a feature about the Chicago Cubs’ increase in worldwide scouting, noting the club has invited three young Korean prospects to minor league camp along with another player from that country that was also under contract last season.
The Cardinals signed a Korean of their own last week, Hyang-Nam Choi, assigned to Memphis and also heading to minor league spring training. The 37-year-old cannot be considered a youth any more, however.
Last spring, the Cards had another Korean pitcher in minor league camp, Jai Chul Chung. The then-25 year old stayed around into extended spring training, but did not make a team.
Man, I wish TLR would shut up already!
He has a pattern of public comments that might get a manager with a lesser reputation fired. His views are well known. We don’t need to hear them again, ad nauseum.
Management is taking the organization in a particular direction, right or wrong. He should give his views to them privately so they can be weighed in the decision-making process. But when a decision has been made with which he does not agree, he then has a choice. He can either comply with the decision that his superiors have made or he can find a position elsewhere in which he is more comfortable.
Any player that plays under TLR knows full well that expressing their displeasure with him and his moves publicly is a good way to find themselves either benched or traded. I find it fascinating that TLR doesn’t expect the same treatment from his superiors.
This is not a defense, but simply an acknowledgment that TLR is what TLR is. I don’t think this old ARF dog is interested in learning any new tricks. He knows he is set in St. Louis for as long as he wants to be so apparently doesn’t feel the need to be politically correct. Still, as you note, the P-D does not seem to be the proper vehicle to get the points across.
There was also sniping in the same article about how word was not relayed to La Russa and Duncan about Carp’s surgery until after the fact. I find it interesting that the internal communications seem to be just as much of a problem at times as the external communications are presented. Again, I cannot think of a positive reason that such an internally-focused matter should be in the newspaper.
Another point reinforced in the article that I did not mention is that TLR says he is not going to manage anywhere else. While decisions can change, it would signal to me that he thinking about staying on. He didn’t rule out other baseball jobs, but I have a feeling that he wants to pass John McGraw to become #2 in managerial wins all-time. He may also want to stay just ahead of Bobby Cox. TLR is just over 300 victories short of McGraw currently, so we are talking four more seasons including 2009, if my theory is accurate. At the end of the 2012 season, La Russa will be 68 years old.
woof woof Ha ha Brian!!
I don’t look at it as being ‘politically correct’ as much as I do sheer hypocrisy. His motto seems to be ‘Don’t do as I do, do as I say’.
The best way to lead is by example.
Hi UConn,
I interpreted TLR’s comments about analysis of players differently than you did. The scout vs. numbers argument is almost as old as baseball itself and will likely never go away. A little dissent or cynicism is healthy.
For instance, D. Duncan or one of the other pitching coaches in the organization pulls a young pitcher aside and tells him he can get minor leaguers out all day long but he is going to have to improve his secondary pitches if he wants to pitch at the next level. He can continue to use his best pitch in the tight situations and put up the good numbers that excite all the numbers crunchers or he can start using his other pitches in those situations. In the short term, his numbers might suffer but, eventually, he may have another out pitch so the major league hitters will not be able to sit on the pitch that got him the outs at lower levels.
I’m hoping Mitchell Boggs is one of the guys working on something Duncan may have suggested a year or two ago.
Brian, I liked your comment about woof. Shawn Estes is trying out for the Dodgers this year and Vin Scully will drive me up the wall if I have to listen to him pronounce the guy’s name as S Tease all year long.
Disclaimer: Vin Scully is the greatest announcer ever in any sport and is still my favorite. At 80, he is past his prime, though.
DD, I feel a bit guilty as I know I could never fill up three hours times 162 games with intelligent talk. Broadcasters have a tough job. Vin has always been one of my favorites, but I imagine like La Russa and managing, he has a free pass as long as he wants the job.
You feel guilty? I just compared the man who was voted top sportscaster of the 20th century to Al Hrabosky. You should suspend my account on this site.
Brian, Tony is simple getting out the word that he is available as GM material. Isn’t a way in hell he works for the Cards. As I said months ago. UConn, if private conversations between Tony and Mo/BD could be heard, there would be very little to listen to, save BS, by Tony. He wouldn’t be here this year if it wasn’t for 4 mill and caring for the Duncans. DeWitt doesn’t have the balls to fire Tony outright because that would expose him completely. They both know the score. The question is, will this climate concerning base ball operation cost you Pujols. I say undoubtedly. Tony is a lawyer, he is competing right now. His salary will be part of the wonderful saving BD is going to show you all……………………………… For me personally, I could care less. But if his replacement is as weak as Mo is as a GM, we will be making the Cubs very happy.
Uplifting insights from WCbW: Dewitt has no guts and is cheap; TLR is a mercenary who wants to protect the Duncans; Mo as weak as can be; and Pujols will be gone. All in one little post.
Up lift is to stop the crap Jumbeau. I want to see the kids play! I don’t need Tony. I don’t need Albert. You seem to think that because of your spin responsibilities, that you understand the full arena in which you do this dance. Tony wants to win. All this crap is coming at him at kind of a sad time. The end of his coaching career. DeWitt can easily make his 85million number next year. Its simple. To the extent that he is not taking a reasonable approach this years is telling quite another story. It exposes possibly,I think quite a different plan. Pujols isn’t going to go along with the possible scapegoating of Tony. And Tony will make waves. He may become difficult. What if that smoke screen is what BD is interested in creating? What if he is looking for a clean slate, or a slate that serves all his personal needs or not at all. He will be preparing for a team without Pujols, at the same time he is defining a team with Pujols. His way. I have been talking about this for 6 months. It is slowly manifesting. De Witt is good. He is smart. He is not a sportsman. I enjoy a good play, a good pitch of catch. Winning is Ok, and profitable sometimes. I hate to be apart of a Prison Rape scene at the hands of Zambrano and Piella. Yes, I don’t think DeWitt is even staying in our wing of this prison.
The Cards tried to get TLR some stars he wanted for 09. Holliday was in play, but Beane ponied up an offer the Rockies liked more; such things happen. TLR wanted a lefty closer so the Cards made a strong offer to Fuentes, but he wanted to move to California and that was the deciding factor.
Despite little snippets from Tony, on balance he is a loyal company man, a leader of our team. Tony is reinvigorated and looking forward to 2009. As should we all. Let the games begin!!
Love you Jumbo.
Yeah, if the Cards wanted to pay for an upgrade, they could have and could still do so. It’s not looking terribly likely. They’ve gone with bargain signings.
The whole Holliday thing was silly to begin with.
You can get a starter for a year Nutlaw. How often is that possible. This is good year to win. Cheaply. Holliday was a ruse to get to 85. He can do it with by letting Greene walk.