Between traveling, the draft, recent signings and the impending start to short-season play, there isn’t enough quality blogging time for me. With that, here is a short post recapping recent activity on the main site.
Tentative Batavia Muckdogs Opening Roster (subscriber content) – The first 27 players expected to become part of the Cardinals’ initial Batavia roster are disclosed.
Springfield Cards: 5 Texas League All-Stars – Five players from the St. Louis Cardinals system are 2011 Texas League All-Stars.
Cardinals Sign 27 Players from June Draft – The St. Louis Cardinals have signed 27 players from the 2011 June First-Year Player Draft.
Subscriber hot news items in the last 72 hours have been posted about Jesus Montero, Kyle Conley, Packy Elkins, Geoff Klein, Robert Stock, Juan Castillo, Virgil Hill, Oscar Taveras and Allen Craig.
Coming soon
In conjunction with the 2011 draftees, I have been getting player bio information into The Cardinal Nation main player database.
Johnson City, Batavia and Gulf Coast League rosters will be updated as their seasons begin. Batavia’s opener is on Friday, Johnson City has an exhibition game on Sunday and the GCL begins next Tuesday.
Shortly after, I will refresh the Roster Matrix here to reflect all of the above.
Finally, in the next week, I will see four clubs in action: Quad Cities, St. Louis, Springfield and Memphis, and will report accordingly.
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Follow The Cardinal Nation Blog on Facebook.
Happy travels. I assume you’re driving? Tough job, but someone has to do it, right? Nuthin’ like watchin’ some good baseball in the summertime. Try to eat some watermelon…ice cold…it adds to the overall experience. Play Ball!!
Thank you. Yes, I am about 1/3 of the way into a 3,600 mile driving trip.
WOW! If you love the cardinals this is a great trip to get to know the minor league players. Next year Brian you should have a contest and have a winner make these dates with you. It will be a, as Joe Strauss calls it a Hyperventilating prospect geek dream come true.
As the “newbie,” I don’t want to step on any toes or pre-empt Crdswn’s duties, but I saw these “line-ups” for this evening’s slugfest…
1. Theriot SS
2. Rasmus CF
3. Pujols 1B
4. Berkman LF
5. Molina C
6. Brown RF
7. Schumaker 2B
8. Descalso 3B
9. Garcia P
1. Werth RF
2. Desmond SS
3. Zimmerman 3B
4. Morse 1B
5. Espinosa 2B
6. Ramos C
7. Ankiel CF
8. Maya P
9. Hairston LF
Funny…is Riggleman trying to goad TLR by batting the pitcher 8th?
Anxious to see how our next new guy, Brown, performs. Fun stuff. We should win 8-2.
I like Colby batting 2nd. Werth leading off seems odd. I hope Zimmerman is rusty…he scares me.
Posting the lineup is the job of whoever gets to it first FM, so no worries.
Strauss tweeted a few hours ago that TLR locked the media out of the clubouse this afternoon. Said it violates MLB policy to do that. What the heck is going on now? Anybody got any ideas?
Hey the club just lost 3 games to the Brewers so Tony may just be reminding them that they did the same to the reds last year and the reds seemed to take off and the cardinals seemed to fall apart. I personally didn’t think the Cardinals played poorly against the Brewers…..they were just beaten. It happens.
FSMW say it was pep talk meeting by TLR. Strauss says union business. Whatever.
Offense needs to pick it up. Can’t rely on Pujols and Berkman. Getting Holliday back will help. Colby taking a few yard would be nice as well.
Their number 4 hitter rakes……… Zimmerman is back…………..
Thank you Lord for that HR………we need it………
We will need 4 runs….probably 5 to win this game…….the sooner we get them, the easier it will be to make them stand up.
getting closer…..
I missed the swing……………… I like Brown…….he saw a few hittable pitches…….wish he would find one………he is very nervous…………
He is bent more at the waist too….a little more knee flex……….I like it……….
4 innings 70 pitches……………… Watching Skip react that slowly to that ground ball is discouraging………..maybe no play at first……but he should have smothered its……….. they had a behind the hitter shot……..not so good………..we need more runs……..
Hugh break there…………hard to figure that swing with that count………..
thank the lord those middle infielders arent playing for the cardinals…….I say that and Al doesn’t rip them. Go figure…
I’m glad for Brown………………. Molina did a nice job…………. Berkman, right in Werth’s face…..that was good…………….That should be enough to get Garcia through 7………that helps………
We’ve got one that’s out erroring both of theirs put together.
Who needs the Nats MI when we have Therroriot?
Nice hit by Colby. And he has dirt on him and everything.
Garcia’s eating up pitch count thanks to Theriot. Last thing he needs.
great job by Jaime getting out of that mess.
Hopefully we won’t be desperate for Theriot’s bat once Matt and Craig are back. Once Freese is back and in form (or should I say if?) Descalso can play short. No possible way he wouldn’t be better. Too bad MCarp didn’t pan out.
Did Batista just pitch himself off the team? Trever Miller ain`t cutting it either.
In my opinion, Batista is toast, or should be. Same for Trever, although there may be a slight, 18% chance that he can be salvaged somehow. Don’t ask me how…that’s Davey D’s job. Seriously, I think Franklin has much more promise and likelihood of being a positive contributor to this team this year that Jose B. or Trever combined.
TLR’s “smoke” is dissipating, and the “mirrors” are beginning to show some cracks, so it’s high time we shore up our pitching staff one way or another. With the current staff, I’m afraid we won’t go far into October, if we make it there at all…our starters will be gassed and hacked off, and our bullpen will be gassed and hacking off. However, I remain optimistic.
Storm over Tony’s comments last night…………. senile ?……….untimely ? ……..ill advised ?………..
Playing up against a front office posture……….that hasn’t been visible lately? Maybe Mo trying to get Franklin to market “the hard way”…….is starting to chaff a bit?
We carry two lefty specialist, not left handed relief pitchers………… ineffective to say the least……… because Tony likes to play match up baseball late in games………makes him look like a genius……and reminds everyone who invented the strategy…
As you can see…………taxing the starter with poor defense, poor run support………. uses a dwindling resource……….. a very expensive resource………. there are plenty of moves that could be made to win “now”……….. without spending any money………… we’ve seen some minor league arms of late that could likely serve as long men………haven’t we? You can take a loss on Franklin…… someone will at least take on his salary…….shouldn’t cost anything………. Miller or (and) Tallet have to go……. they do not do enough work to justify a roster spot in our current configuration………… Boggs hadn’t worked?????????????????? House is on fire………and the bucket of water at your feet is the wrong temperature??????????…………..
Is there something wrong with all this????????????? Is it possible…….that an understanding between Mo and Tony…….as they hammered out his contract pre-season……….about what resources were available for his campaign……. that he would have to wear those decisions made at that time, all year long………….. I would remind everyone, that Mo/BD buried Salas last year…..and in ST…….and after….because they could….. to cheat a little money out of their agreement with the Mexican league team……………..all based on there insinuation that his talent was somehow substandard……but workable, as a continual elevator boy……….. making it appear that there minor league operation was stocked with band-aids that could support a Major league team with a phone call………. the kid only ended up to be the closer……….because everyone else craped out…..and Tony was apart of that decision making process……………..if Franklin would of halfway recovered, at anytime…..they would have sent Salas back down to restart his 90 day clock again, just to save money and to continue the precedent already “apparently” agreed upon………….
Having said all that………and I believe that is the case……….where do we really stand right now??????
These starters aren’t going to suddenly become rested again………. Garcia and KMac have always been 5/6 inning arms………..Lohse is a perennial 6 inning pitcher…….that 8 inning stuff is gone at this point……… do I need to mention Westbrooke and Carpenter?????????????? So……what is the point here?………. why are sacrifices not being made?…………… is it possible that for “some reason” the Cards aren’t interested in winning this year………. and that fact has been obfuscated by the “unexpected” success of the rotation against some of their “planned” inadequacies………….?????
I believe these things are true……….and what you’re now seeing is the unraveling of a first place team……….. and Tony, as planned (agreed upon), must smile all the way to the end………….. think tethered goat analogy…………… least you all forget……….. the AP game is being won by BD… for at least 100 million large………. and that is a no lose scenario now……….. AP was beaten locally, he plays against the market at this point………… BD is showing us all what life will be like with no “dry powder” for our noses……………………
Westie, I seriously do like reading your comments. I’m not sure, but I’m guessing (hoping) that you have a very finely honed sense of humor and you do humbly laugh at yourself with some of the brilliance you come up with! Regardless, you do make me laugh…a lot! As a follow-up, just one simple question…and a “YES” or a “NO” is all I’m asking for…but feel free to expound if so moved: In your opinion, did L.H. Oswald act alone?
Go, CardBirds!!
You sound like a well educated person Mouse. I believe we already know you here in many of your different permutations…………………… I trust that that is about something…………. this is a practiced dialog. Do all the reading ….. at least 8 months….. and get back to me……. until that time, when you actually seem well “versed” in this dialog, please don’t bother to address any of your questions or posts to me personally……….least it should seem that we all are an unsociable group…… which we are not….
If you would like to impress someone…………tell us what you see in this evenings game….. I usually do it…………….we’ll let this be your day…………. good luck…..
Are you saying that FM is an alias of another poster? Or that FM has a certain type of personality that is also possessed by others? Or are you in fact FM Westie? Not that it matters I suppose, glad to have you both,two different ppl, alias, or split personalities whatever the case may be
While I’m “replying” to westie’s comments, this is NOT addressed to him personally…just generally. No, I am a completely new entity posting on this blog. I was made aware of the existence of this special/unique blog by a common friend, who has gone by the moniker of HBTexas on here, I believe. I find the dialog quite interesting and informative.
“…to impress someone…” is never (well, almost never) a goal of mine. The “fun factor” is all that motivates me. There is nothing in this leisure world as much fun as MLB to me, and anything which detracts from the fun aspect is to be shunned. My present situation and commitments prevent me from being totally immersed in all things Cardinals. I generally am spending time with the family while the games are underway, and am unable to track along with you all. I was doing volunteer work this evening and didn’t get to follow the game at all, other than to see on my Blackberry around the 5th inning that we were losing 5-0. I still have not poured over the stats and game log as I like to do, so for me to share observations or thoughts we be mostly a waste of our collective time. One quick observation…we got our butts beat! Maybe I’ll have some additional observations tomorrow. Good night.
I enjoy westie, but don’t think he cares much for dialogue. I was joking of course FM, I was just trying to figure out what he was talking about. Glad to have someone to share the “fun factor” as you say, like the way you put it.
“Joking” is what I do best…and am rarely very serious…and am TOTALLY un-offendable. You couldn’t offend me if you tried, and if you tried, I’d know you weren’t being serious, so…applying the dialogue from an all-time great movie….”You are one pathetic loser!…no offense.” “None taken.”
Westie, always entertaining and sometimes thoughtprovoking (though I admit I don’t always follow what you are saying in your snippets of sentences/thoughts) I’ll give you props for busting out “obfuscated”. At first, I thought you used that out of context, but looking at your sentence another way it works.
I see the Helicoptors got a little close to the hosue last night Westie.
I’d call it Tony being Tony. He is what he is (unfourtunately).
There is no AP game, it has aleady been decided. Some conspiracyt heorist on the internet told me so.
I wrote a small editorial piece ……….. eaten, apparently, by the spelling police………. hopefully it will surface at some time or another…………
Weakly disguised profanity will do it every time. Not needed to get the point across.
Sanchez sidelined with tightness in shoulder………………….
No real move being made………..just apologies………. “before hand” ……. this time ………….
Lets see……… two lefty specialists……….. two pariah in Batista and Franklin……… Sanchez is unavailable………….. Motte, Boggs and Salas…………….. that ought to do it……….
1. Theriot, SS
2. Rasmus, CF
3. Pujols, 3B
4. Berkman, 1B
5. Brown, RF
6. Jay, LF
7. Molina, C
8. Schumaker, 2B
9. McClellan, p
Tony’s Lucy goosey line up………….. lets score some runs………. I hope Brown gets hot….he has a nice swing………..just needs to back off a bit………..
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/David-Einhorn-could-buy-a-majority-of-the-Mets-f?urn=mlb-wp9587
be sure to read a few of the comments………….. remember, the commissioner is involved here……..
Craig now gone 3-6 weeks with fractured patella. Didn’t they Xray the knee cap after the injury? How do you miss a fracture? This is getting ridiculous.
Reds are scoring runs now with avalanches of singles………..and that is bad new……..
Pujols rolls over one……….jogs to first……….when he remembers that Zimmerman is “weak” throwing to a green 1st baseman……..and he sees the ball skip in for no reason……..he breaks into a limp…….. he is back………….
Kmac looked relaxed…….but they took some shots………he likely gives up a few hits, and at least 1 dong……….. how many do we need?
Yikes
Where is everyone? Is it just me and Westie’s many aliases?
No one really cheered that hr. Almost like it was hit by an opposing team. Mabye e eryone in dc is too busy tweeting their privates.
KMac seemed a little distressed before he made that pitch…………. I’m guessing he had a little puppy barking in his hip pocket…………….. Seems to be a little vague at his release……… by the 5th, that isn’t going to be a lapdog barking…….. if he is still in by the 5th……..he will give up another……… Brow seems a little vexed……. making a big statement on how he would like to turn on something…….thats not so good…………….
Keep in mind that KMac has to wear those zero’s around his neck every inning……….that has always be a weakness of his……… if we just hit singles, where ever he wanted to throw them……we would bury Levon like most do………. but we are special………
Well westie, it’s just you and me, for you, it’s probably the way I feel when I have a conversation with my 3 week old. I’ll try to keep up, though it does seem like you are content just posting your stream of conciousness as opposed to any banter
Do you think pujols was more upset at himself for the low throw or upset that berkman didn’t scoop it or that he wasn’t the one playing first?
I’m just having a hard time getting into this game. We just don’t look good. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got swept by the NATS.
Good to see you crdswmn. Today does have a funny feel. Full moon maybe?
Full moon, too many injuries, gassed rotation, inept bullpen, bad defense, you name it.
Things are a little tough now, let’s hope they pick up. Holliday is back maňana
Colby looks so bad……..Tony takes the bat from him……….and he did.
Ooh. Bad call
I can see where this game is going. I am looking for something else to watch.
Check back in, hopefully I can give you a shout out when we come back to lead
I got nowhere to go, watching the little one
Sorry I couldn’t be the bearer of good news. That got kinda ugly. I think as players come back the pot will be stirred anew and shake things up and our luck will change.
This team can lose ugly, that’s for sure.
Question is………. Lannan on 3 day rest……………… does he sit AP who likely won’t finish the game today………tomorrow?………….you’re looking at Cruz probably……..and Greene………. the swoon is becoming a monsoon………….. and guess why…….. Can’t see Tony risking the 3rd error from AP….it would be hard to use that tactic again if he did……that might already be over……..
Not much to talk about here………… Will Holiday rally his ” gang”……… Lohse will pitch with full knowledge of his BP situation……..he will be aggressive and work fast……….. those are good portents……… as I said yesterday when I called this loser……..I see a winner tomorrow. good night.
I feel for Franklin…………..he knows this is the end for him………and he can’t even finish the inning thanks to prideful players like Tyler Greens………… He couldn’t even hold back the tears………Greene, his tail so far between his legs after that AB he just had, brings nothing onto the field………. where is the character in this ball club………………….. oh thats right………. they all live in the shadow of Super Man now…………. an easy standard for everyone………
Mo will need to make roster adjustments for the bullpen. Holliday will return and that will be very useful.
Good they sent Matt Carpenter back down, for now.
There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the Establishment – and nothing more corrupting. -A.J.P. Taylor, historian (1906-1990)
Regarding the bullpen, Sanchez is reported to have a tight shoulder. This is unwelcome news, since he has been outstanding.
As many as three changes can be considered. Tallet has not been impressive. He could be replaced by Raul Valdes, a veteran southpaw. Greenwood or Freeman could be promoted to AAA, as backfills for Valdes.
Ryan Franklin has had a rough season. Candidates to replace Franklin include Adam Ottavino, who could throw hard for an inning; Victor Marte, in case he could become the new Al Reyes; Fick; Rauschenberger; Dickson; and any other pitcher on the Memphis roster.
If Sanchez needs to be DL’d, two RH pitchers would be needed as callups.
Was glad to see Tony state confidence in AP at third base after the errors. He stated he would play AP at third base in the seventh game of the World Series and hope they hit 27 balls to him. Now that’s confidence! That will be our best line-up until Freese gets back. Hope to see a lot more of it.
Welcome, Leebo.
Thank You! This site is fantastic! Felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I happened on this site. I was directed here from a thread on STLtoday regarding Colby Rasmus wanting to be traded again. Glad that rumor wasn’t true, but happy it led me to this site.
We are a very diverse and sometimes contentious group here. My advice—-wear a hard hat.
I’d like to see Pujols and Descalso on the left side.
I prefer DD at 3B until Freese gets back. Also I am getting pretty tired of seeing Albert jogging to 1st base on those grounders. He looked particularly bad on that groundout to Zimmerman. Hell, even Yadi could have made that closer.
I have noticed that Yadi has been getting down the line quite a bit better this year. Albert, not so much.
Would definately like to see Descalso as maybe a late inning replacement for Theriot.
That was purely theater………..what could he say? He ain’t getting to the world series with AP playing third………….. give that some though………..I don’t expect him to play anymore third this year……….
Concerning your last point…well, expectations unmet.
A pen makrover would be good, but today’s game was already lost before Franky threw BP. McClellan ambushed by his own team. Sounds familiar. Coming up with major league calibre defense is what it will take. Good pitchers can’t be successful with a sub-MLB defense behind them.
I didn’t get to see Brown. How did he look?
Finding out now Craig has a broken kneecap? What?
When McClellan went down, I thought he probably had a torn labrum in the hip joint. That’s not something that heals up, although sometimes one can learn to live with it. An MLB pitcher probably can’t. Time will tell if this is just another time waster by the medical staff. I suspect it is. In trying to adjust to the bad hip he’ll probably hurt something else.
Bling, this is not a great defensive team. When Holliday, Punto, and Freese return, this will help, but its still not going to be a great defensive squad.
Mo has to focus on what is possible to change. Something that needs improvement is the bullpen and happily it is possible to make some changes there. In time, some will be tried.
Can’t argue with any of that, Jumbo.
Meanwhile, I’d like to see some Memphis guys get a chance in the pen.
I’m glad I bailed on that train wreck tonight. Won’t be watching tomorrow night, I have dinner plans.
But you’ll be checking tweets I’m sure.
I’ll check the score on occasion. I need a break from the circus.
What’s that supposed to mean, cw?…you got a date? From one train wreck to another, huh?! Don’t forget your hardhat.
A curious trait of Cardinals fans………is this use of faith………. everyone has faith that Freese (again) will be a difference maker………even though he is proving over and over, that he is actually just an idea……. he just can’t seem to stay around……….and yet…… he will save us………..
I recognized problems for KMac…………. will the 4 days rest and over exertion work for him? Right now………..he would be the BP solution….if that was actually less stressful…. they will likely evaluate that………..if he isn’t, he’s headed toward heavy anti-inflams…….thats not so good.
bad news…….Sanchez is having problems…….they have been protecting him as it is……….. its the old axiom,” if its the way he throws that causes his problem……..it isn’t going away”….. do you sit around and wish…….that what seems apparent…isn’t true…..and base a season on it……. he should go down right now …….