Information regarding St. Louis Cardinals subjects currently in the news.
Theriot joins St. Louis
On Tuesday, the Cardinals acquired infielder Ryan Theriot from the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Blake Hawksworth. GM John Mozeliak immediately anointed the former Chicago Cubs shortstop as Brendan Ryan’s replacement as his starter there. According to the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss, Ryan is rumored to be headed out of town. Once they pull him out from under the bus, that is.
Theriot is arbitration-eligible and is under team control for two more seasons. More details on his signing are available at TheCardinalNation.com.
Tallet signed
The Cardinals picked up what appears to be a situational lefty in 33-year-old Brian Tallet. He was let go by Toronto after five seasons of both starting and relieving. With decent numbers against left-handed hitters in his career, Tallet looks like he could be ok if not overexposed.
You can find more on him in the same article linked to above. The roster matrix here is current with Tuesday’s moves.
No Type A free agents likely
The Cardinals are not likely to sign a Type A free agent who was offered and declined arbitration, Mozeliak told MLB.com. Otherwise, they would give up their first-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, currently sitting at number 22.
Though the final decisions are not yet in, here are the names likely out of bounds as a result. No major surprises. Paul Konerko (CWS), Adam Dunn (Was), Adrian Beltre (Bos), Jayson Werth (Phi), Carl Crawford (TB), Cliff Lee (Tex), Carl Pavano (Min), Rafael Soriano (TB), Scott Downs (Tor), Jason Frasor (Tor), Frank Francisco (Tex), Grant Balfour (TB).
Fat Elvis sighting
Former Astros first baseman Lance Berkman has been told that Houston, who traded him to the Yankees this past summer, does not want the free agent back. In comments to The Houston Chronicle, Berkman included the Cardinals among a number of clubs kicking his tires. Apparently, they considered him a viable corner outfield candidate.
FOX Sports reports that Berkman wants $7 million for 2011 and will likely get it, perhaps from Oakland. The rub is that despite having bad knees, Berkman does not want to be a designated hitter. It appears that getting in better shape could help his cause.
Pags gone
Catcher Matt Pagnozzi, who saw time with St. Louis in September with both Yadier Molina and Jason LaRue injured, has been signed by the Colorado Rockies as a minor league free agent. Pags declared free agency after having been removed from the Cardinals’ 40-man roster following the season.
A pair of Pirates cut loose
Two Pittsburgh Pirates, third baseman Andy LaRoche and switch-hitting second baseman/outfielder Delwyn Young, cleared waivers and became free agents. Both had been removed from the Bucs’ 40-man roster after being designated for assignment. The two were former Dodgers top prospects. LaRoche had been Pittsburgh’s starting third baseman in 2009, but didn’t hit enough to keep the job.
La Roche could offer third base depth for the Cardinals, but they may spend more for a stronger option such as Miguel Tejada. If they stop at LaRoche or someone like him, it would seem another high-risk gamble on David Freese’s health.
Another chance for Big Mac
33 players are up for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. 14 are repeaters, including Mark McGwire, joined by 19 first-timers. Former Cardinals are in bold.
The complete ballot includes: Roberto Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Jeff Bagwell, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Marquis Grissom, Lenny Harris, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Barry Larkin, Al Leiter, Edgar Martinez, Tino Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Raul Mondesi, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Kirk Rueter, Benito Santiago, Lee Smith, B.J. Surhoff, Alan Trammell and Larry Walker.
link to bios for each candidate
Cardinals post-season shares
With a second-place finish, the 2010 Cardinals get money even though they didn’t make the playoffs.
Share of Players’ Pool: $549,021.64; value of each full share: $9,679.42 – The Cardinals awarded 44 full shares, 12.05 partial shares and 4 cash awards.
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Love the first paragraph.
I’m guessing Brian wrote that line just for you, crdswmn!
ESPN’s Enrique Rojas tweeted this…
“Miguel Tejada said ESPNdeportes.com he agreed with San Francisco for 1 year $6.5 millions. Half million in bonus.”
Tejada was waiting on St Louis………………. I hope you all recognize what is coming next……..
AP is being herded………….. no team in there right mind would give anything for him without an extension agreement…………that being said……….DeWitt would be insane to have AP whining on a third place team about a non-competitive posture all year………………..The message has just been sent…..and that’s to all interested teams………….all the rest is just a formality and a show being put on……………..
The real problem with Theriot………….he has proven that he is not really very good in a number of situations.. He isn’t going to get better hanging with MM………………….. I am not complaining about any of this…………I am happy to see Pujol go……………… oddly enough, we are surely going to loose with a pouting AP………..without him……..I like our chances.
So the Cards buying up garbage players on the cheap and then not signing AP will make BD look good how? Will the fans rejoice at this and come to the games in record numbers?
Look good??????? He will make his offer public…………..its AP that will supply the rational…….
Ok so let me rephrase. The Cards are signing garbage players on the cheap to force AP to leave? And you think the fans will accept this and rejoice and come to the games in record numbers?
Theriot is a TLR special Crdswmn
I actually like this signing from a TLR perspective. Theriot is the type of player that Tony wants and prefers.
I know.
Yeah, not sure that I agree with the conclusions drawn here, but there is little question that this team just got scrubbier today.
When Uribe signed for what he signed for that sent the Cards down a rung or two on the list of who they could afford.
The Theriot signing did not improve the team imo. Lateral move offensively and two steps backwards defensively.
Brendan changing his hitting style to help MM was a disaster…….told you Brendan.
We have beaten the AP situation to death as well WC but the Cardinals misplayed the entire thing imo and now are in a position to have no options but to sign Albert……..for whatever he wants. The thought of getting two draft picks for losing Albert would be tough to swallow but thats where they have left themselves.
Here’s a head-to-head stats comparison. Read as Category (Theriot/Ryan): ABs (586/439), Runs (72/50), Hits (158/98), Doubles (15/19), Triples (2/3), HR (2/2), RBI (29/36), Stolen Bases (20/11), Caught Stealing (9/4), Walks (41/33), Strike Outs (74/60), Batting Average (.270/.223), On Base% (.321/.279), Slugging% (.312/.294), Fielding% at SS (.974/.974), Errors at SS (3/17), Fielding% at 2B (.986/-), and Errors at 2B (7/-). Theriot made 10 errors, 3 at SS (2 fielding, 1 throwing) and and 7 at 2B (2 catching, 2 fielding, 3 throwing). Ryan made 17 errors, all at SS (9 throwing, 8 fielding).
Interesting to note that with almost 150 less AB’s Ryan had more doubles and RBI. Theriot’s career averages are 23 doubles and 44 RBI, nothing to write home about, but not unusual for a leadoff hitter with few RBI opportunities. Significant differences in Theriot’s favor for hits, runs, stolen bases and batting average. FPCT is equal at SS with Theriot making less errors.
Ryan gets love from SABR defensive measurements, but I think this is somewhat deceptive.
Range Factor = (Assists + Put Outs)/Defensive Innings (or 9, or games, depending on the source).
Almost any Cards SS will rank high in Range Factor due to Dunc’s pitch-to-contact strategy and emphasis on generating ground balls. I think Ryan gets credited for range based more on opportunity than other factors. The Cards led the NL in both total chances and assists, with 118 more chances and 102 more assists than the #2 team (Atlanta). The Cards were #4 in put outs, only 8 behind the #2 & #3 teams (Phils and Friars) and 22 behind the #1 team (Giants).
Looking at all SS in MLB with enough innings to qualify for the leader board, Ryan was 8th best in FPCT (.974), 2nd best in Range Factor (5.01), 20th best in Zone Rating (4.924), 7th best in Total Chances (644), 12th best in Put Outs (197), 4th best in Asssits (388) and 5th best in DPs (102).
The disparity between Ryan’s ratings for Range Factor (2nd) and Zone Rating (20th) makes my point. ZR gives a better indication of range than RF, which in the Cards’ case tells us more about pitching strategy than range.
Bill James assumed that a greater number of assists and put outs meant a player got to more balls to make more plays. In some cases that’s likely true, but not necessarily. Just counting number of assists and put-outs doesn’t differentiate between plays made where range is a factor and just having a lot of balls hit right to you that aren’t range-related plays.
Good teams normally don’t win w/ a weak middle of their defense. Some how the Cards managed to get weaker by inserting Theriot at SS. Theriot makes sense at 2B and immediately upgrades your defense for a groundball producing staff…as well as a questionable offensive team needs to rely on defense. One could justify a weaker defense up the middle for offense, however none of our players fit that bill. Skip is bad on D AND a weak offensive player. There is ZERO justification for him at 2B other than Tony trying to be smarter than everyone else. I’d take Ryan at SS and Theriot at 2B as my starters for lack of better options.
On the radio Theriot wouldn’t say if he’d been told what his role would be. He said he’s good buddies with Yadi, and knows Skip pretty well. Said he has the same agent as Albert.
Said he hopes to steal closer to 30 this year, and seems to think Albert will want him stealing to get into scoring position ahead of Albert and Matt.
Oh boy!!!!
Good luck with that thinking Theriot. 30 bags? In front of Albert? Yikes!!
He is buddies with Yadi? Ruh roh, that immediately puts him on WC’s black list.
Does anyone else think the Rockies have lost their mind with the Tulowiski extension? It takes effect after the current contract, which runs 4 more years, then the extension is for 6 more. They are agreeing to pay him about $20M per 2015 thru 2020.
Well the Rockies are spending money to make their team better which is something the Cards aren’t doing so I can’t fault them for that. That said, it seems a little early to make such a deal.
As long as they have a really good doctor to keep him healthy, I’m okay with it. For what it’s worth, he did just win the NL silver slugger and gold glove awards. Given that that isn’t worth much, he’s young, still improving, and is already arguably the best shortstop in the game. Again, if he stays healthy, this will seem like a bargain given that player salaries always seem to rise from year to year.
Bling you may pass out when the cardinals give Albert 30 million + for 8 to 10 years if you think the Tulo deal was bad.
At least they are paying Tulo for his prime years not the years on the downside of his career.
Its been an ok day. We picked up a loogy. Since he had a bad year, he may be cheap. I love those cheapies!
And we added a SS for Hawksworth, who we did not need. The Cards seem to mean business about replacing Brendan Ryan. Theriot is not a superstar.
The Giants are spending their Comcast bucks, Uribe and Tejada for $13.5MM. Too rich for Mo. Time for Plan C.
A quick comment before I go out and face the world of Kindergartners again. The PD now seems certain that BR will be traded. I think it is a mistake, but so be it. My question is what garbage player will they get for him? They will definitely give him away for practically nothing and even though many Cards fans think he has little value, I’ll bet there are some managers who know better. I’d like to see him go to a NL team because I want to see him play, even though it is not with the Cardinals. A Central team would be best (except the Cubs). I would prefer Brewers or Astros.
I for one would like Brendan to know how much I enjoyed his time with the Cardinals and wish him the best.
Brendan will bounce back this year Crdswmn, bank on it. He will not be trying that ridiculous hitting style this year and the wrist will be better. If you are a fan then you should be happy for him. He will be much better off somewhere else, trust me on that.
He will feel like he has gone to heaven went he walks into the dugout and TLR is not there.
I agree RC. I want to watch him and will make every effort to do so.
crdswmn — The Strauss piece just says that Brendan will be shopped, but that doesn’t mean he’ll certainly be traded. Personally, I hope the Cards keep him as a bench player and give him a chance to regain lost mojo.
If the Cards can’t get anything of value for him it would be an absolute waste to just throw him away. There really isn’t a better backup option currently with the club. Ryan is a much better glove man than Tyler Greene and has a better track record as a hitter. Miles is a FA and I’ve heard nothing about plans to him back (though it wouldn’t be a horrible move). Further down the ladder, Solano doesn’t yet seem quite ready for the show either. So there are good reasons to keep Brendan around
If management is going to shop a SS, I’d prefer they shop Tyler Greene. I understand he has little trade value, less than Brendan, but the cost of keeping one or the other isn’t significant enough to be the deciding factor.
Management has made the calculation that Skip has a better chance of rebounding from a down year than Ryan. What if they’re wrong? Keeping Ryan preserves an option that is worth retaining at limited cost. Plus, Skip needs to be platooned vs. LHP. Barring another middle IF addition, I’d rather see Ryan getting that playing time than anyone else the Cards currently have.
HBT…
I’ve got to believe Aaron Miles or a player in that mold will need to be signed unless Brendan is dealt for a player similar to Miles. Greene has little or no chance with TLR imo.
I agree RC, but maybe they’ll hang on to Ryan. Greene has little or no chance because he’s been a poor performer, hitting .222 in MLB over parts of two seasons and making so many errors I’ve nicknamed him ‘Hands of Stone’. The SS job has been handed to him on several occasions, but he kept handing it right back. That’s not TLR’s fault.
HBT wrote, “thats not TLR’s fault”.
Nothing ever is HBT.
Ryan is as good as gone.
Yes, but as RC said, it will be much better for Brendan. I try to think of it that way, make something positive out of it. It may be the only positive because I can’t see us getting much in return for Brendan.
my positive spin is I think its pretty obvious that the clubhouse suffered a bit of dysfunction last yr. Injecting new blood and getting rid of others can only help. There are reports of Ryan rubbing some guys the wrong way and showing up late which some suggest was rubbing off on Colby? I really can’t say either way. However I feel w/ the season so long, that you have to have a clubhouse that can at least tolerate each other for 162 games. Something really really stunk in St.Louis last yr and it was apparent to any fan whose paid attention to the team and how they went to work each day.
I doubt very seriously than anything Brendan did or said was responsible. He may not have helped the situation, but he didn’t cause it. There was more going on.
i agree. But I don’t mind injecting the clubhouse w/ people who are a bit more stable. Mason and Ryan are being made the scapegoats. I think the bigger issue is Tony has lost it and there are no leaders to keep young guys in line. So you need guys who know how to act and conduct themselves.
All jokes aside, Theriot helps the team because he is the type of player TLR likes and therefore TLR will be a cheerleader for him…. this is a positive for the team.
I don’t believe Theriot is better than Brendan but in TLR’s eyes this has got to be addition by subtraction. A good team move.
A few more of these types of subtractions and this team may be able to get over the hump. Just relieving the tension in the locker room would have to be a huge positive and getting rid of the TLR problem players has got to do that if nothing else.
Man an Orlando Hudson sign moving Skip to the OF would be a winning formula in my mind.
what does Hudson have left? Ronnie Belly-lard took his job in 2009 in Sept and in the playoffs. His numbers dropped again last yr. I don’t expect him to improve much from last yr’s line. IF they are dead set on Theriot at SS, I’d love to see Descalso get a shot at 2B w/ Skippy backing him up and backing up all 3 OF spots. I’d be willing to roll the dice w/ Craig in RF w/ Skippy the fall back option using Jay as trade bait.
I don`t see how a sane person sees getting Theriot as a bad move.Ryan is still here and this should eliminate Aaron Miles from a spot.Tallet says LOOGY.
Not a bad day IMO.I still feel Cards will pull off another unexpected deal with a team not mentioned.Cards still have several RH bullpen options and Jon Jay to work with.Who knows?
The anti TLR rants are showing again.Westy ranting as usual……………………lots of bluster and BS.
+ 1 BW.
Where you been RC? Not nearly enough TLR bashing when you’re absent
and hardly any good Colby rumors!
HBT, My Mac just gave up the ghost and went on to that great chat room in the sky so I have been without a computer while I’m at home.
And spent a few days in Tuscaloosa with Colby and 12 other folks fighting our way out of town after that glorious Auburn victory over The Crimson Titty babies. Getting drinks thrown all over us and being cursed at during the game and literally being escorted out by police after the game because we were darn near about to kill some Bama fans. So I’ve been busy but thanks for asking.
Thats unfair HBT. I respect TLR and believe he is one of the best of all time as a manager. Believing that he works better with one type of player verses another is not bashing imo.
Colby has been working on spraying the ball around the field this offseason via the Big Mac approach. Hasn’t been lifting since the plan is to be a slap hitter so there is no need for the added muscle. The goal I hear is to hit .300 and hit more ground balls and line drives the other way.
Alright HBT, you are caught up.
That a boy……….
RC — Sorry to hear about the early demise of your comp and hope you were backed up. Saw the last part of that Auburn-’Bama game. Been in Tuscaloosa, right across Bear Bryant Way from the stadium, but didn’t go in. Sounds like you had a rough time. I’m betting you were being sweet as pie and just minding your own business.
Been to RC too, crossed the Chattahoochee at Columbus and headed down Ft. Mitchell way. One of by buddies here is kin to a founding family of Phenix City, the Godwins.
That’s good news about Colby. Pitchers wore him out on outside stuff last year, trying to get him to pull and roll it over, and getting K’s with the back foot slider. If he starts taking the outside pitch to LF he’ll get more inside pitches to pull. I doubt we need to worry about him becoming a slap hitter… he’ll hit HR’s aplenty whether he’s lifting or not. When he connects, the ball explodes off his lumber with a very peculiar sound.
Never said TLR does no wrong, just don’t believe he’s got horns, a tail and a little red trident. Your observations about working better with certain types of players is fair, but repeated with such frequency as to give a thinking person pause about motivation.
HBT, When me, Cory and Colby were walking out of the stadium I believe we all agreed that it was the best time we had ever had.
You can’t appreciate the absolute hatred Auburn and Alabama fans share for one another. We were right below the student section HBT, in some real high dollar seats. There were just 4 rows of seats and we had access to a buffet of anything you could think of…filets to sushi. Heck they even had beer in their and I’ve never seen beer at a college game. But it was a disaster from the jump. We knew it would get ugly. You see Alabama fans are just natural born elitist jerks.
I was probably hit with 20-25…….32 oz cups of liquored up coke. Its probably the last place you can legally brawl……..at a football game. At the end the cops were saying that they couldn’t do anything to just fend for yourselves. And we did.
We left 20 people on the ground. Crazy stuff. But man was it fun. Childish but fun.
Yea, I’m curious to see this new hitting style at work. What they’re telling me is Colby most likely won’t hit 10 jacks this year but will be more consistent. I’m told that he will look alot like Jon Jay without all the pre swing motion. More like the Skip and Jay stuff to left field. IT will be curious to watch.
Its what Tony has wanted him to do evidently for the last few years. Stop trying to pull the ball and be more like Skip with the other way stuff and working on hitting more ground balls. It is interesting to hear him say he is supposed to inside out everything and hit 80 % of all balls to the left side. Its the one handed swing that Brendan was working on last year. I haven’t watched him hit he has just been telling me about it.
Your killing me…………….
RC — We’ve got a local version of UA-Auburn here… UT vs. Texas A&M… T-sips vs. Aggies, with the T-sips in the role of elitist jerks. A&M has a more rural and military tradition vs. UT, which is urban and effete. That rivalry also gets a little rough at times, but since I went to neither school I just sit back and laugh at both. After all, it’s only football… not something that really matters… like baseball.
Guess you just have to look at 20-25 splash jobs as free drinks and 20 on the ground as a successful day at the office.
It’s all in the perspective.
I think Colby will eventually have more pop the opposite way than Jay or Skip ever dreamed of. Right now, it seems when he goes over there it’s mostly arms. But if he can get the rest of his body into that swing… look out! A guy who hits to all fields is much more difficult to pitch to, much more dangerous and a bigger offensive weapon. I think that’s the goal, not to make him slap happy.
SOB. I just threw up in my mouth if this is true. I get wanting Colby to be more consistent at the plate, but modeling him after skippy is illegally retarded. UGH! Yes, go the other way if you get a pitch outside. Don’t try and pull the ball. But Colby needs to be taught better how to prepare and take each AB. How to take smart AB’s w/o giving one away. Not to be a slap hitter. That is just insane. That said, Colby needs to continue lifting and getting ready for a 162+ game schedule. The idea he’s not lifting is as absurd as turning him into a slap hitter. He needs to be able to go the other way more often, and if he can start to do that more often, he’ll also start hitting more gaps and more HR the opposite way. He’s go more than enough power to hit liners over the the LCF fence.
Welcome to the site, mike!
Thanks. this site is really a diamond in the rough.
Hopefully, more diamond and less rough…
Well Mike, he is on the Cardinals program this year and thats what they want him working on. He’s always lifted with our team as we are a big believer in lifting weights but this year with the different hitting approach they don’t want him too muscled up. The example I was given was they want him to be loose like Rod Carew used to be with the hands and slap those singles past the third baseman. He was joking yesterday that it was gonna be a learning experience this year, hopefully not as painful as was Skip and Brendan’s was last year when they tried the Big Mac hitting style. He weighed in yesterday at 180 lbs and is running 5 miles a day trying to get quicker and lose a little more. Wants to be at 175 by spring training. He is working the abs but nothing else in the weight room.. Gonna try to be a Brett Gardner slap it and run. I believe he was 205-210 at the start of spring training last year so he will be a different player this year thats for sure.
So basically Tony wants him to hit like all the “scrappy” slap hitting little middle infielders he so loves. So instead of playing 3 guys who slap hit at 3B, SS, and 2B, he can turn Colby into one of those guys and have 4 in his lineup. terrific. Batting 5th for your st.louis cardinals…Yadi Molina!! ~barf~ Colby is a talented player w/ great upside. I’d think you could work on his weaknesses w/o trying to completely remake the guy into something he’s not. Just seeing things played out over the past 2 yrs, I can’t imagine Colby being at all happy and there is a fine line between accepting coaching and accepting complete horse crap. Really I’m at a loss of words at how Tony and MO are running things. I’m really not liking how this is shaping up. Tony seems to have really lost his mind and Mo is in over his head inside and outside of the organization.
I wouldn’t stress over it. The 2011 team without the injuries will most likely win the Central Division.
And I’m going to win the lottery this weekend.
I’ve always worked on the principal that when things seem too good to be true… they usually are. And in the same vein, when something seems too silly to be true, it likewise usually is.
The idea that the Cardinals want to convert Colby into a pure slap hitter, IMO, is too silly to be true. Do they want him to stop trying to pull everything? That’s likely, since it’s been a matter of public discussion for some time. Do they want him to hit the ball where it’s pitched, taking outside offerings to LF? That’s also likely and besides… it’s good baseball. Would the Cards like to see Colby fly out less, hit more line drives & ground balls so that his speed can be used to advantage? That’s also likely and again… good baseball.
Unless one believes that Cards management and coaches are completely dumb… which ufortunately some of the cynical here seem to, things that seem too silly to be true ought to be received with at least some measure of skepticism.
HB who are you suggesting is not being candid, Colby or RC (or both)? Because it seems to me you are trying to close the horses’ mouth to defend TLR. Would you believe it if TLR told you to your face? It seems that is the only way to get some things across to you regarding TLR.
You seem like a very intelligent man HB. But your blind loyalty to TLR can sometimes be aggravating.
I’m not questioning anyone’s candor, just the interpretation. I absolutely believe they want Colby to learn how to take the outside pitch to LF. I’m just skeptical that it’s the ONLY thing they want him to do. I’m sure they don’t want to lose his RBI/HR production… I do believe they want him to be a better situational hitter, want him to make better use of his speed, hit for a higher average AND do the things he did before as well.
I think candor is one of RC’s obvious attributes. I enjoy it, in fact, it’s one of the reasons I decided to hang out here.
This is a reply to your most recent post HB. If TLR doesn’t want Colby to lose his HR production, telling him not to muscle up won’t accomplish that. RC stated that as a fact, no interpretation needed.
I don’t think Ruth and Stan lifted weights much either… but both managed to hit a few HR.
Oh please HB you can do better than that. Very few pitchers in Ruth’s and Musial’s day threw mid 90′s fastballs.
All the more reason for staying flexible and quick instead big and bulky.
You mean flexible and quick like Pujols? Maybe Holliday should stop lifting weights too then.
The biggest factor in Brendan’s demise, IMO, was his decision to have wrist surgery right before camp in 2010 without first clearing it with the team. As a result, he missed most of spring training and got off to a truly horrendous start at the plate. He had a BA over .200 on just 3 days in April-May, and one of those 3 days was opening day, when he went 1/4. The hole was so deep he never could dig his way out, hitting a high of .237 at any point during the year before ending at .223. And he compounded his problems, taking his at-bats to the field, further undermining his value to the team.
Reviewing the reporting on that period recently, I couldn’t miss some delicious irony. There was a report about him hitting over the winter with Skip and Mac, with Skip praising his newly developed maturity, improved focus and actually showing up on time for hitting sessions each day. Then, just a few weeks later came the report about his wrist surgery, with TLR and Mo expressing disapproval that he made that move on his own without seeking approval from management.
That’s Brendan Ryan in a nutshell… do something good, then follow it up with something completely boneheaded and inexplicable. The same trait is evident in his appearances at the plate and play in the field. Something good, even brilliant, totally erased by something much less than good or brilliant. He earned a chance to be the starter in 2009, only to throw it all away making a poor decision.
To me, it’s indicative of a man who isn’t responsible and mature… a bad trait for a guy who will soon be 29 years old. He seems like a great person, the kind of guy you want to root for. We all make mistakes. Question is, can we learn from them? Maybe Brendan can learn from his mistakes, maybe he can’t. Either way, I wish him well.
HBT, My guess is he will blossom out from under the stress of his current predicament.
I agree. Ryan used to play with a lot of wrist pain. That’s why he had the wrist operation.
But the Cards need to shuffle the deck, make some changes for the 2011 squad.
Of course, Theriot could get hurt and Ryan take over and have a big season. In baseball, you never know.
Joe Magrane was on the radio today and said Theriot playing everyday would not give you anything more than Miles playing everyday.
An infield of Skip, Theriot and patched up Freese would suck.
They can’t be serious about Berkman.
Oakland is after Berkman. Cards won’t pay him.
Yes that BB-that infield would definitely suck. But that is apparently what the Demon Spawn wants.
P.S. H.B I didn’t want you to feel any withdrawal from the TLR bashing. I ratcheted it up extra special just for you.
crdswmn — Demon Spawn? Do you realize how special that makes me feel? Thank you Nurse Ratchet!
Shouldn’t fail to note that the Cubbies won the Central in 2007-08 with Theriot at SS and that the Cards won the Central in 2009 with Skip at 2B. Interesting stuff in the Stauss chat today on Ryan… broad hints about a possible relocation to Baltimore, talk of ‘impolitic’ comments made, loss of support from veterans in the clubhouse and from Mozeliak, a former booster.
Looks like TLR may have had some assistants in placing young Brendan in the pathway of that infamous bus.
You’re welcome Randle.
I never pay any attention to Joe “I Never Met Any Hyperbole I Didn’t Like” Strauss. But if you like that kind of thing………
The goat is tethered…………………and everyone continues to hook up their ropes. Tony is the source of all of these discrimination’s……………………” he’s gritty, just like Tony likes them”……….BR is Tony’s fault…………and it goes on and on……………….
I’m curious…………….just where do you think this all goes…………… what do you think they will take for Ryan? Does it matter?………Tony wants it……………… you could not do worse than the Cardinals are doing……………. and its all starting to look like some sort of comedy attempt at showing how much we want Pujols……………………….not………. and it was Tony’s idea………..
The Tulow contract is an abomination……………. It likely has a purpose, if you can see it…….Like the Howard deal………………..
BD scrambles up a few dollars from the Ravens owner who holds a 10% Cardinal note so BD can stall any sale of shares until he can bring some gold ashore for his collection of shares………who wanted out? Or is he that strapped? Doesn’t sound so good for Baseball if he’s running on fumes………….
WC, I personally don’t think you can blame Tony for anything that pertains to Brendan, heck or Colby for that matter. Tony’s been doing the same thing for 100 years, why would he need to change?
As a young player you should have to conform to your surroundings. My issue is it will continue to become harder and harder for this to happen from here on out with these young players. Knowing Tony and how he is would preclude me from loading him down with a bunch of young players because you are just setting the team up for failure.
I said two years ago that the Brendan/Cardinals relationship would end badly. I mentioned the square peg in a round hole analogy numerous times. Don’t look now but this is ending badly. Unfortunately there are probably more bad endings to come. The bigger problem is Mo not seeing it coming and getting something of value before all goes to hell. Therein lies the disconnect.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_d4a7f2e1-ff93-565a-9493-af9dce318364.html
Brendan said in the article, “he’s going to keep two hands on the bat for the follow-through on 1,000 swings “to see how it feels.”"
Nice start.
Unfortunately he needs to want out at this point, not continue to try and hang on after the verbal beating he has taken from everybody from Mo, TLR on down to the water boy. The answer to the question of would a fresh start help you should have been, you G D right it would.
I’ll tell you whats annoying to read…..that the club is trying to rewire their clubhouse chemistry. By getting rid of a nobody in the clubhouse? Getting rid of Brendan will have no effect on the Clubhouse chemistry. If you are getting rid of him because he sucked it up last year at the plate..fine, but please stop with the clubhouse chemistry malarky.
Its ironic RCW does not like reading about Clubhouse chemistry, given how much he himself gossips or hints about inside the Clubhouse chemistry and bemoans the lack of “fun.”
No Jumbo but attributing clubhouse chemistry problems to Brendan is ridiculous which is what the Goold article hints at.
Goold is not the only one at the P-D talking about Ryan and the clubhouse. Here are three excerpts from yesterday’s Strauss chat:
Joe Strauss: Actually, Theriot may fill the No. 1 or No. 2 spot in the order next season. Look, Theriot would be replacing the reincarnation of Mark Belanger. He IS an offensive upgrade over a guy who hit .223 last season and was twice benched by his manager for pouting. I’m a Ryan honk due to his spellbinding defense. But those who base their opinion on Ryan’s .292 average in 2009 are missing it. This isn’t solely a statistical issue. It’s also a clubhouse matter.
Joe Strauss: The game was much different then. Shortstop has not been viewed the same since players like Ripken, Trammell and Rodriguez made clear it can be an offensive position as well. To classify this as merely a TLR mandate is missing a number of factors. Those who work the Cards clubhouse know support for Ryan is decidedly mixed.
Joe Strauss: Again, the decision regarding Theriot/Ryan wasn’t based solely on numbers. When clubhouse leaders become dissatisfied with a role player, the outcome is predictable.
You believe Joe Strauss, who has an incentive to mislead and even make things up to create a good story, but yet you doubt both Colby and his father about what TLR wants Colby to do?
You have a been a great addition to this blog HB.
I look forward everyday from a post from you. 
I think Strauss, or any reporter, has a built-in interest to maintain credibility. Without it, he would have a short shelf life in his profession. Not to say he’s infallible. I’m sure he makes mistakes of fact and of analysis at times, and has his biases… as we all do. But I doubt he’s in the business of just making stuff up. If he did and was refuted he would lose credibility… his stock in trade.
I’ve detected no previous anti-Ryan bias from him, so I doubt that is what’s motivating his reporting on this issue.
But since this can’t be proven or disproven, where’s the risk for Strauss?
You think credibility in journalism still matters these days? Where have you been living?
My screen name contains a major clue!
Oh, don’t get me started about Texas.
And here’s another bit from the same source:
Joe Strauss: The club may be saving bullets for another left-side defender. It remains to be seen whether that addition will be depth or a potential starting SS. Mo’ chose his words carefully Tuesday when discussing Theriot, terming him the team’s starting SS “right now.” You forget that Theriot did serve as Cubs starting SS when they won back-to-back division titles in 2007-08. He’s not a stiff. However, it will be entertaining to watch those in the St. Louis media who threw in behind Brendan Ryan now shift stances as it appears Ryan will be moved. Ryan is an often spectacular defender who ranked as one of the game’s worst offensive players last season. Tardiness and impolitic comments eroded his support among field staff and, yes, teammates. Don’t lay it all on the manager. At one point Mo’ was an unshakeable Ryan supporter. That position has clearly changed.
Here is how I see it.
The person inside Brendan Ryan’s uniform in 2010 was Brendan. If he had problems at the plate, it was him. TLR does not get into Ryan’s uniform and hit for him. If he did, we would need to trade not just one, but both Tony and Brendan. (weak joke).
I do not agree with making TLR a convenient excuse for the imperfections of players. This seems a big divide between myself and RCW.
However, neither should TLR be given credit for all the good things done by players. He is just the manager. He does not pitch, hit, or field. The players are responsible for how they perform.
RCW may prefer a more encouraging, nurturing approach to manager. If so, fine, he is entitled to his personal opinion about management style. But I did not see rookie Jaime Garcia have a bad year in 2010, under TLR. I did not see Brendan Ryan have a bad year with the bat in 2009 under the same manager. Players are responsible for themselves and we fans should not attribute every success or non-success to the manager.
As silly as you seem and as off kilter as you are most of the time with your approach to the real world I still would consider my statement and yours on Brendan to be similar. He is responsible for him, not anybody else. Brendan’s problems started when he changed his hitting approach to please Tony and hopefully get on his good side. I’d say it worked out well.
The big divide between you and me Jumbo is you don’t see things as they are but as you want them to be. I don’t think TLR is an excuse for anything player related. Its the players job to conform not the other way around. But to think the way he sets things up does not have an impact on the players is comical on your behalf.
Yes Jumbo’s world is like New York for me. A place to visit but you would never want to live there.
And Jaime has Carp and Waino as mentors, not TLR. Carp and Waino are leaders in every since of the word which is why you have never and will never hear the same issues as you do with position players. Carp and Waino make sure the pitchers are all on the same page. Did you hear Westbrook upon resigning speak at length about the pitchers and how they work to help each other and he liked that.
The position players are like an ant bed that you have just kicked over……running in all directions with no guidance. Mass confusion.
RC, I am commenting on your last paragraph in which you state you believe Ryan should be asking out.
I disagree strongly and completely.
The newspaper guys tried to get Ryan to make the situation worse, but he played it perfectly. He is a Cardinal until he is told he is not. He would gain nothing positive by burning bridges publicly. I give him a lot of credit for keeping his mouth shut.
Even if he wants out, he should not say so publicly.
I agree with you on the clubhouse chemistry “justification.” It makes me cringe. A group of veteran players performed below expectations in 2010. They should take a good long look in the mirror before blaming a goofy shortstop – if that is really what they are doing.
Maybe you’re right but at this point he should want out at the very least.
Maybe he does want out. Couldn’t blame him if he feels that way. But even if so, perhaps he realizes that going through the press isn’t the smartest way to conduct his business.
Those same reporters called Colby after TLR signed back up with the Cardinals and asked if Colby was excited to have TLR back? If they could get along? etc etc…
Colby hung up on every one of them and then changed his number. Thats the best method of dealing with it imo. Don’t even respond with a no comment.
I understand where you are coming from. I’ve been criticized by some for not pursuing this kind of story angle more vigorously in the past. It seems a fine line at times between reporting and trying to make the news.
I hope you never approach reporting a story that way. I count on you for getting the facts, not the garbage the PD puts out.
The issue is……….I think you’re both forgetting………..is that Brendan was given this position by Cardinal “malfeasance”……….. he came in on the KG debouch, which should be stating to smell a bit to some of you by now……………he did not earn that job………. he was a cost efficient mechanism… period……………… Brendan doesn’t know that he can make it in MLB………. we all see the talent, but he doesn’t “Know” that he belongs here……………
I see that RC believes he could work with Brendan………..I believe that……….I could help him………I know the truth of that……………….. Mark M?………..no way………Tony?……….he doesn’t have time to worry about dealing with this kid……….the disparity between this and dealing with AP creates conflict in his “role playing posture”……….I understand that……… he wants a guy that is secure in himself, a veteran…………not some kid dreaming of making the next “highlight reel”………….
BR doesn’t know his future………..he doesn’t know if people will like him…….if he is trying to express his fantasy……..which creates the joy he feels when he is having fun…….which insulates him for the “corrosive” pressures of grown men playing for serious cash………
and finally, he doesn’t know if anyone will love him……..and see the great player he wants to be….. he has no job at present…………what if everyone else feels the same………????????
PS………. kid could be a great player………he just needs a change……and someone that sees who he is……… the vilification is beginning to take its toll…………….it the Big”s………..
“After a few initial hiccups in the field, Ryan finished strong at shortstop, leading the majors with a plus-31 rating in Baseball Info Solutions plus-minus grades. The stat measures plays an infielder makes outside a prescribed zone and subtracts misplays within the position’s defined zone, and Ryan is at plus-56 during the previous two seasons.”
Ryan has a great range………..however……… Because of Dave Duncan’s location tactics, and they are formidable, Cardinal infielders have a huge advantage in placement and “likely locations” a ball is likely to be headed……………. they are the best at this…………… they helped BR, as they will likely help Theriot be a bit rangier………….
“, Ryan has kept a list of things he wants to do at the plate, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night just to jot a note on the back of a business card”…………………..
.I’m really curious as to whats on the front side of that business card………………….
Apparently, he is keeping it really simple or writing in very small print!
I was very impressed with Ryan’s composure in the article. I have said it before and I will say it again, Brendan will improve. Not just on the field but with this maturity and demeanor. There was talk at the end of the season that he had already shown some signs of doing so.
As a selfish Cardinals fan I want Brendan to stay. But RC still has a point. Even if they let him stay and he improves will that make a difference to TLR? Somehow I doubt it. Brendan will never be able to become Aaron Milles.
Blaming players is one of TLR’s tactics. That little incident with Colby for instance. I have no doubt TLR leaked that little gem in order to redirect attention away from himself on to Colby. Only it appears to have backfired on him. Call me WCII if you want but that whole thing was fishy from the beginning and I smelled TLR all over it.
If TLR is concerned about teamhouse chemistry he should take a long look in the mirror. I am sure Brendan got on some people’s nerves, but one player cannot bring down a clubhouse. A manager, however, can.
WCII!
Martini!
Actually, I’m more of a margarita kind of guy, frozen, no salt… blended not stirred.
(And yes, I caught that Cuckoo’s Nest reference! Very funny!)
You are a lot fun to fight with HB.
crdswmn — I prefer to think of it as intellectual jousting, without any rancor. I also enjoy it, and note your intellegence and ability expressing yourself in writing. We are obviously both passionate Cards fans… something we can always agree on… if little else!
Alright WC,
Below is the link from MLb trade rumors about the Tulo deal.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/derek-jeter-rumors-thursday.html
This from the above article on MLB trade rumors, “The Yankees were emboldened by Troy Tulowitzki’s new deal, in that it has a $15.7MM average salary and Cashman and company offered Jeter $15MM per year. MLB is pleased that the Yankees have not gone overboard on their Jeter offer, report Feinsand and Madden.”
So are we saying that the Rockies went ahead and made this deal with Tulo, who is a superior ss to Jeter at this point so as to keep the Jeter salary down?
But it would seem that the Howard deal is just the opposite as it will jack up Alberts salary, not hold it down.
Average salary…………….it is somewhat back loaded, projecting the idea that inflation and salaries will continue to go up…………it’s years going beyond “reasonable” for most modern “insurance” mechanisms…………….that’s all…………… they wanted insurance against someone snatching him in 3 or 4…like NY………. so his agent said………..lets go all the way out with this formula………nice work by his agent.
I’m implying that teams outside the “collude-ers” will try to effect the market to their advantage, …………..Philly comes to mind………… maybe less so here, but Rockies are players none the less.
“There’s no doubt we could roll a club out today,” Mozeliak said. “But I don’t envision the current constitution of our roster to look like this six or seven weeks from now. I still think it’s evolving, and it’s a very fluid situation. I expect that there are going to be some opportunities.
“I think as we continue to look at these things, there are things that will appear or disappear. And our job is to make sure that as we look to solidify our lineup, we’re able to take advantage of some opportunities that may arise between now and January.”
This kills me…………………….it like groundhog day…………
I can’t believe that you all didn’t jump on this………………… what changes is he suggesting??????????
If this isn’t a loaded statement ………..what gets your attention………????????? 6/7 weeks…..dead pool fishing…………..who gets the hook……..????????? or something more sinister??????????
THE 21TH ANNUAL
BASEBALL’S WORLD SERIES OF GOLF
NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 5, 2010
AT PEBBLE BEACH
THE GOLF TOURNAMENT AND
ALL ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE AT THE
WORLD FAMOUS PEBBLE BEACH RESORT’S
HOME OF THIS YEAR’S 2010 U.S.OPEN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE INN AT SPANISH BAY
THE GOLF TOURNAMENT IS A 72 HOLE EVENT
*4 ROUNDS OF TOURNAMENT GOLF
(2) ROUNDS ON PEBBLE BEACH SIGHT OF THE 2010
U.S. OPEN
(1) ROUND ON SPYGLASS HILL
(1) ROUND ON THE LINKS AT SPANISH BAY
WEDNESDAY ALL TEAMS PLAY PEBBLE BEACH
8:30 SHOTGUN FOLLOWED BY
AFTERNOON SHOOTOUTS
WE ARE THE ONLY PLAYERS ON PEBBLE BEACH
THAT DAY.
SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS ARE TEE TIMES
WITH TEAMS PLAYING SPYGLASS AND PEBBLE
BEACH ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
SATURDAY FINAL ROUND SPANISH BAY
8:30 SHOTGUN
FOLLOWED BY AFTERNOON SHOOTOUTS
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES
SINGLE ROOM____________________________ $4995
____DOUBLE ROOM___________________________ $3995 Per Player.
SHARING WITH__________________________________________
___ PLAYER WITH NON PLAYING GUEST__________$5595 Total
Many Cardinals both past and present……….. I see Mark Mulder and KL are teamed up …..Fore….
You’ve heard of “addtion by subtraction”?n With Theroit and Talent, Mo is practicing “subtraction by addition”.
Heh heh.
DUMBNUT ALERT—-Watson is retiring as MLB VP of Discipline. Too late for Jason LaRue.
Does anyone know if Big Mac is doing any private hitting instruction this winter?
Theriot continues to pop up on sports talk radio. Saying all the right things, a real gung ho company man, one for all, all for one, yada, yada. He says he can hit .300 again.
Also, if anyone cares, the Scotty “loans” to prospects issue isn’t going away.