Last week I asked the question, “If the Cardinals could add anyone, whom should they add?”  I was curious to see which active player — with accompanying contract — Cards fans desire the most.

Big thanks to all of you who participated in the poll. We got more than 150 votes, and they were quite interesting. All 19 players I listed got at least one vote, plus there were three serious write-in votes — not counting my Cubs fan friend’s Kosuke Fukudome pick — so the totals were pretty well spread out.

Results (as of noon Friday):

29 VOTES (18.35%): Troy Tulowitzki

15 VOTES: Justin Verlander

14 VOTES: Matt Kemp

11 VOTES: Matt Moore, Albert Pujols

10 VOTES: Clayton Kershaw, Evan Longoria

9 VOTES: Bryce Harper

8 VOTES: Andrew McCutchen

6 VOTES: Dustin Pedroia

5 VOTES: Buster Posey

4 VOTES: Jose Bautista, David Price, Mike Stanton

3 VOTES: Miguel Cabrera, Stephen Strasburg, Justin Upton

2 VOTES: Felix Hernandez

1 VOTE: Madison Bumgarner

Image via Wikipedia

I didn’t really undertake this poll with a clear expectation of how it would turn out, but I was somewhat surprised to see Troy Tulowitzki earn about twice as many votes as his nearest competitor.

On one hand, I can see why. Tulo is one of the game’s best players, and as a shortstop, he plays a high-value position where the Cardinals have little organizational talent. On the other hand, his contract guarantees him another $148 million over the next nine years, going through his age 35 season. If you believe Tulo’s performance during the first half of the contract will make it worthwhile to take on or that he will age in an especially graceful manner, I can see the argument for choosing him.

But remember that in this hypothetical situation, your entire budget is not unlimited, so absorbing Tulo’s contract severely cripples your flexibility. For me, the $74 million he’s owed for his ages 32-35 seasons is too much to ignore.

Some other observations about the results:

• I  found it odd that Justin Verlander, who finished second, outpaced Felix Hernandez, 15 votes to 2. Why? Their contracts going forward are both for three years, with virtually identical money. But while Verlander has been a little more valuable over the past three years, he’s also three years older. I think this result probably reflects Verlander’s outstanding 2011, but I would bet on King Felix being the better pitcher going forward.
• Albert Pujols got 11 votes, tying him for fourth. I find this fascinating. First, his 10-year, $240 million contract is insane. Second, I figured that if nothing else, fan resentment would prevent people from voting for Pujols. Is this sentimentality or a reflection of a belief that Pujols actually would be the team’s best bet over the next decade? If anyone who voted for El Hombre wants to explain in the comments, I’d be quite interested.
• The player I perhaps was most curious to gauge support for was Bryce Harper, the Nationals phenom who probably will make his MLB debut this year at the age of 19. One of the most hyped prospects of all time, Harper has incredibly high expectations and earned nine votes in our poll. I don’t think I would use my pick on someone who has played 37 games above the Class A level, but Harper is a special enough prospect that I think it’s at least defensible.
• No love for Justin Upton or Mike Stanton, who combined for seven votes? Maybe it’s a function of them being corner outfielders and the Cards already having Matt Holliday locked up long-term. But Upton is a proven star at age 24 and is signed for four more affordable seasons. Stanton has unreal power, crushed the ball last season at age 21 and is under team control for five more years. I’d include both guys among my top five choices.
• Nobody used a write-in vote on a relief pitcher. Thank you!

And now, my pick.

This was extremely tough. Obviously, all of these guys are tremendous assets, although some of their contracts make them less so. Some guys I love but ultimately decided against because of huge long-term contracts (Tulo, Matt Kemp). Some guys I love but decided against because I wasn’t sure they had enough time left on their contract to justify the pick under these circumstances (Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw).

In the end it came down to a pair of Tampa Bay Rays, who both fared pretty well in the poll. Third baseman Evan Longoria plays a valuable position, is only entering his age 26 season and is owed a staggeringly team-friendly $39 million over the next five seasons (including team options), a length that ensures good return on investment while ending before Longoria figures to begin his decline. Oh, and Fangraphs’ WAR has him as the second-most-valuable position player in baseball over the past three years, just a touch behind a certain Mr. Pujols.

Starting pitcher Matt Moore has all of 9 ⅓ regular season MLB innings under his belt, but the 23-year-old left-hander demolished minor league hitters  – 13.5 K/9 in Triple-A last year — and is MLB.com’s No. 1 prospect. If that weren’t enough, Moore signed a contract so beautiful I imagine Andrew Friedman putting a copy of it under his pillow every night: 8 years — the last three of which are team options — for $37 million.

Between those two, you clearly can’t go wrong. But as tantalizing as Moore’s deal is, he’s still a pitching prospect, and pitching prospects will break your heart. With apologies to World Series Hero David Freese, I’ll take the safer bet and sign on for five years of Evan Longoria.

Image via Wikipedia

If longtime Cardinals nemesis Roy Oswalt is in fact headed to St. Louis on a modest one-year deal, it not only gives the Cards three of the best players from the 2004 Astros team it beat in the NLCS, but also provides the team with a low-risk, high-reward bet. If Oswalt gets hurt or flames out, it wouldn’t cost much. If he stays relatively healthy and pitches like he has the past few years, he’s a clear upgrade.

This is the type of move a team in the Cardinals’ financial situation should be making. It’s shrewd bargain shopping for John Mozeliak, who must realize any small improvement could make the difference in a division that figures to be a tight race between the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers.

But just for fun, let’s step out of the realistic world for a moment. What if the Cardinals weren’t limited to the Roy Oswalts of the world? What if they could grab any player on any MLB team without giving up anything in return? In this scenario, whom should they choose?

Before we get into it, a few important stipulations: 1) The player comes attached to his current contract; 2) To make things more interesting, let’s say Bill DeWitt has agreed to let you take on any contract, regardless of length or financial commitment; but 3) That’s a one-shot deal and doesn’t mean your entire budget is unlimited. In other words, the more you spend on this player, the less you have to address other needs.

As I see it, here are the main issues to consider, in no particular order:

• Fit: Perhaps you’re of the mind to simply grab the best player, but you also might consider what the organization’s biggest needs are. If you need a refresher on the Cardinals’ current depth chart and minor league system, check out this handy roster matrix.
• Age: If the idea is a long-term asset, a player already in his 30s obviously makes little sense.
• Ability: In the case of a very young player, how do you think he will develop? In the case of an older one, how gracefully will he age?
• Contract: Ideally, you don’t want one that eventually will become an albatross or prevent you from signing other players. But it also wouldn’t be wise to select someone who is close to free agency.

For your convenience, I came up with a list of players who could fit. It’s a mix of big stars and young, cheap players with big potential. Some of them are definitely big stretches for a variety of reasons, but I tried to be comprehensive. Check it out.

Now that you know what we’re working with here, it’s time for some tough choices. Considering all factors, my personal preference is for a young player who either has several years of team control left or is signed to a team-friendly long-term contract. In this scenario, I would prefer a position player (less risk) and one who plays a premium defensive position.

But what do you prefer? Let’s put it to a vote. Remember, the player comes with his contract!

In this poll, I’ve included several of my top choices, plus some other high-profile names I think will make for good debate. Please explain your reasoning in the comments, particularly if you choose, “Other.” I’ll be back next week to look at and discuss the results.

Image by brianandjaclyn via Flickr

Yeah, I’m a little behind on this one – so what, wanna fight about it?

5. Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay go fishing

I’ve been told, over and over and over and over again, that this was a thing. And then Doc saved someone from a snake and Carp busted up his toe. Story! (You can listen to Carpenter tell the real story at Winter Warm-Up here.)

4. Matt Holliday IS GOOD AT BASEBALL

Somehow, defending the baseball ability and honor of Matt Holliday has become a crusade of mine. Maybe it’s because all of the “he’s not worth the contract” and “Holliday should be traded” or “Holliday has been disappointing” is just nonsensical. Maybe I think he’s a dreamboat. Either way, he’s GOOD AT BASEBALL.

See arguments here … and here.

3. Cardinals minor league system rates highly

With or without a first baseman making north of $25mm per season, developing players from within that can contribute – see: Cardinals, St. Louis, c. 2011 – is a critical component of the Cards’ desire to remain consistently competitive for years to come.

To that end, it is meaningful then, to see well-regarded prospect/talent evaluators such as John Sickels rank the Cards’ organizational depth so well and highly amongst all MLB teams.

Obviously prospects don’t always pan out – but the more chances you have with higher odds, the better, no?

2. Organizational reconstruction

Being tardy in compiling this list has afforded me the knowledge that more coaches have departed and the organization continues to undergo a complete makeover from front office to on-field staff to player personnel, with varying levels of impact.

Clearly the departure of a future Hall of Famer will have the largest impact in terms of wins and losses, but what about the mainstays that have retired, prioritized family (and don’t misunderstand that, it’s with good reason), and/or found greener pastures elsewhere?

Having a rookie manager, Mike Matheny, is bound to cause Cardinal fans even more heartburn than the previously infuriating Tony La Russa. Time will tell if Derek Lilliquist can work any sort of magic similar to Dave Duncan‘s well-documented success with reclamation projects and creating superior pitching staffs.

But what of the departure of Jeff Luhnow and some of the other important front-office brains like Sig Mejdal and Mike Elias? This clearly will have an impact on the item we just discussed, continuing to develop the organization’s farm system toward being more self-sufficient, higher-performing, and most importantly – maintaining depth. The Cardinals have a very important position in the draft this year, holding many picks from free agency departures – Dan Kantrovitz should have some fun.

1. Cardinals win the 2011 World Series

Really, this entire list could’ve been made up of moments from the last month or so of the 2011 season, but what fun would that be? A lot, you’re right, but I decided to condense the season into one list item.

The Cardinals won the 2011 World Series. Is there more that must be said? Yes, it’s a fascinating and unfathomable story to hear how they got there, but at the end of the day Game Six of the World Series was one of the best ever (certainly in my still somewhat young memory) and the Cards finished the job in Game Seven.

As was said at the Winter Warm-Up last weekend – that was a great time to put the finishing touches on a celebration of 2011 and the organization’s success. Now it’s time to look forward to 2012, time to do work.

I’ll surely take a beating for this perhaps sounding a bit trite, but I say it with as much sincerity, genuine appreciation, and wonderment as I can – isn’t being a Cardinal fan awesome? Thanks Dad!

Needing a good lift to get out of the cold-weather blues, I am looking forward to many things in the coming months. The crazy whirlwind of events since October has left many question marks, as yesterday’s great post here stated perfectly.

The first and only good part of being stuck in a hotel away from home is that it provides plenty of down time. I encourage anyone in a similar spot to open up this link to get a nice surprise.

This will be the first time since relocating back to the Midwest that I will miss the Caravan, so I expect to read plenty of good reports from fellow Cards’ fans in the upcoming days. As for good news, check back regularly for plenty of Winter Warm-up content as Nick gets the inside scoop!

It has taken some time, but I finally have come around to getting ready for the St. Louis experience that will be heading our way in April. 2012 not only brings plenty of change, but it also offers a nice glimpse into the future while celebrating the past.

Of course without the World Championship this post would have a very different tone, but those are the breaks, right?

Taking stock in the Cardinals, we have every right to believe that a few breaks will go the positive way after a hugely emotional last spring/summer. My WS DVD collection is staring at me, but it is going to take a few more weekends to get into that groove.

I figure right before pitchers and catchers report sounds like a good time!

Bundle up St. Louis faithful because the winds of change are nearly over. It is almost time to start predicting the 25-man roster and planning the first trips to Busch. As great as last season ended, I anxiously await the festivities that ESPN will broadcast on Opening Day.

Even better than that will be in the days before as Springfield will host the big league club and introduce the new team to the Birds on the Bat faithful. And that is exactly what is needed to get over the winter blues.

I was minding my own business on Twitter this morning when the must-follow Sam Miller tweeted a link to this post from El Maquino, the results (as of Thursday morning) of a St. Louis Post-Dispatch online poll. Go check them out.

Are you done laughing yet? Can I continue? OK, I’ll wait …

Let’s get two facts out of the way first: 1) However much he made you curse and possibly destroy small household items at times, Tony La Russa was a great manager who helped guide the Cardinals to many successful seasons and two World Series titles; 2) Dave Duncan was a terrific pitching coach who had a profound effect on the team’s arms and deserves consideration as the first of his occupation to make the Hall of Fame.

With that said, to suggest that the departures of both La Russa and Duncan will impact the Cardinals more than the departure of Albert Pujols is pure lunacy. Pujols is a player on the actual baseball field doing actual baseball player things and doing them better than just about anyone, ever (analysis!). He has been worth approximately eight wins above replacement per season in the major leagues. This is a rare feat. The Cardinals probably have enough good pieces even without Pujols to reach the playoffs again in 2012, but to suggest his exit to Los Angeles of Anaheim doesn’t make St. Louis clearly worse is as nutty as suggesting the team should have brought back Corey Patterson.

As I guessed on Twitter, maybe this poll is less representative of Cardinals fans being misguided than it is of them being angry at Pujols the “trader,” to use the parlance of the seething Internet commenter. It’s probably some of both, but either way, it doesn’t speak particularly well of the BFIB.

Imagine watching a Cardinals game this season. Pujols’ absence will be highly conspicuous, what with someone else batting third, likely nobody hitting like one of the best players on Earth, and all of the players politely yielding to Jose Oquendo’s stop signs at third base.

How conspicuous will the lack of La Russa and Duncan be? Sure, the TV cameras won’t capture TLR glowering behind his shades in the corner of the dugout or Dunc walking out to the mound with a reminder to throw more two-seamers. But on an individual game basis, nothing likely will seem amiss. Over the course of the season, the Cardinals might hit and run less or exhibit other small adjustments in strategy, but it won’t be anything severe.

Now, granted, a manager and pitching coach make their biggest impact behind the scenes and outside of games. I’m not one of those people, if they even exist, who says a manager doesn’t matter. He does matter in many ways, most of which are difficult or impossible to quantify. But you’re not going to find any serious baseball analyst who will tell you that impact is like the 8 WAR/season Pujols contributes (or even the 5.4 he put up in 2011). We have no idea how Mike Matheny will fare as a manager, but chances are the team won’t be significantly worse with him than it was with TLR. This isn’t, say, basketball, where a change in head coach can lead to a complete 180 in style of play.

For his part, Duncan clearly got Cardinals pitchers to buy into a philosophy that seemed to generate positive results for many more guys than not, and his binders full of copious and detailed scouting information apparently will go on leave with him. But the Cardinals have a veteran pitching staff, most of whom have spent at least a year, if not several years, absorbing Duncan’s teachings. Duncan’s replacement, Derek Lilliquist, is qualified for the job, and did it last year when Duncan was away from the team. He’s also smart enough to know not to fix something that isn’t broken, as he told Joe Strauss:

Lilliquist remains a devotee of Duncan’s theories about pitch efficiency, the “pitch-to-contact” philosophy that meshes well with sinkerball pitchers who command the strike zone.

“‘Dunc’ had a successful formula that worked for a long time,” Lilliquist said. “You’d be foolish to come in and try to change philosophies.”

In the end, the Cardinals might miss La Russa’s relentless day-to-day intensity in the dugout and his many years of battle-tested experience. They probably will miss Duncan’s knack for reviving foundering careers and his ability to call up decades of first-hand data.

They won’t miss either as much as Pujols hitting the ever-loving %&*#$ out of a baseball. Period.

Adam Wainwright’s mesmerizing curveball that froze future teammate Carlos Beltran and ended Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS stands as the iconic image of the Cardinals’ stunning, logic-defying run to the World Series title that year.

But if a play were chosen to represent the unlikely nature of that postseason journey, it might have been the one that set up Wainwright’s tight-rope-walking save. Yadier Molina’s two-run shot off Aaron Heilman in the top of the ninth inning counteracted Endy Chavez’s earlier robbery of Scott Rolen and gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

It’s almost hard to remember now just how atrocious Molina was with the bat that season, his third in the majors and second as the team’s primary catcher. Now that the Cards have added another championship to their collection in a season when Molina produced one of the best offensive performances by any catcher in baseball – to go with his well publicized defense – it’s worth looking back at just how far Yadi has come at the plate and just how unusual of an accomplishment it has been.

Going back to the beginning, this Future Redbirds article from 2008 does a nice job of detailing Molina’s progression as a prospect after he was drafted out of Puerto Rico in 2000. Ranked highly due to his defense, Molina held his own as a minor-league hitter given his position and young age but didn’t display much power or patience. And of course, his speed, even then, could best be described as, “Nope.” The best thing you could have said about Molina the hitter was that he put the ball in play. Combined with his prowess behind the dish, this was enough to move him quickly through the system until he debuted with the big club in June 2004.

In Molina’s first two big league seasons, he hit poorly, but not in an especially attention-grabbing way for a defense-first catcher. His OPS+ those two years were 78 and 70, putting him solidly below average (OPS+ is adjusted for league and ballpark, with 100 being average and every point above/below signifying one percentage point above/below league average for that year).

But 2006 was a different story. Over 461 plate appearances, Molina put up a line of .216/.274/.321, giving him an OPS+ of 53. Molina’s offense was so terrible that even his defense couldn’t mask it – FanGraphs credits him with 0.2 WAR that season, while Baseball-Reference puts him at -0.2.

I wanted to give Molina’s 2006 some context in relation to other young catchers, so I searched Baseball-Reference’s play index for backstops who posted an OPS+ of worse than 60 over at least 300 plate appearances in their third season or earlier. Going back to 1947 (integration), Molina was one of 16, including old friend Eli Marrero.

Molina was one of six, including the still-active Snyder, to rebound later in his career with a season of at least 300 PA of league-average performance (100 OPS+ or better) while still at catcher. None of those other players ever recorded an offensive season as good as Molina’s 2011. At age 28 last year, Molina hit .305/.349/.465 over 518 PA, good for a 126 OPS+ (his OPS of .814 was fifth among MLB catchers). That topped the 121 OPS+ of Clay Dalrymple in 1962, a year after he put up a 55.

I find Molina’s progression as a hitter fascinating and even inspiring.

This isn’t a “toolsy” prospect who “figured things out,” allowing his natural gifts to click at the big league level. This is a dumpy-looking, 5-foot-11, 230-pound catcher who runs like he’s pulling a tractor. If Molina making a snap throw to first base to nab a runner is poetry in motion, Molina swinging a bat is a haiku in motion: short, to the point, and not winning any awards.

But Molina clearly worked hard to turn himself into a capable hitter when he didn’t really have to. We’ve seen time and time again that catchers who can (or are at least perceived to) block pitches in the dirt, throw out runners and call a good game can hang around the major leagues for a long time, even swinging a wet noodle at the plate. And Molina, even as a young player, was better at those things than most. He could have coasted on it but he didn’t.

In 2011, Molina walked at a lower rate than in his career mark while striking out at the same rate, and he doesn’t do either very often. He hit line drives at the same rate. But Molina produced fewer grounders and more fly balls – probably a good thing for a runner of his caliber. He accompanied that change with by far his highest career rate of home runs per fly ball, which helps explain him nearly doubling his career high in homers and topping his career-best slugging percentage by more than 70 points. His BABIP was a career high, but just barely better than his marks in 2008 and 2009.

Molina might have been a little lucky at the plate in 2011, and prudence would demand expecting a bit of a regression in 2012 (ZiPS projects him for .284/.340/.397, 101 OPS+).  But there is no reason to believe that at 29 years old, Yadi won’t continue to contribute at the plate as well as behind it. Now Cardinals fans just have to hope that as he enters the final year of his contract, he will continue making those contributions in St. Louis.

If you think back on the Tony La Russa Era of Cardinals baseball (1996-2011), at least one player immediately should spring to mind at each position in the field. Every position, that is, except for one.

There’s Yadier Molina at catcher, Scott Rolen at third base, Edgar Renteria at shortstop (or maybe David Eckstein if you’re a connoisseur of scrappiness), Matt Holliday or Ray Lankford in left field and Jim Edmonds or Lankford in center. Right field has featured a high rate of turnover but plenty of stellar play, from the likes of J.D. Drew, Ryan Ludwick, Larry Walker and Lance Berkman. I don’t think I need or want to explain first base.

The position conspicuously absent from this list is second base. In the TLR era, the keystone was the kid picked last for kickball or eating lunch by himself in the corner. Always pretty much an afterthought. Not much stability or productivity to be found.

Since 1996, nine different players have led the Cardinals in starts at second base for a season. That’s four more than at catcher or first base, three more than at shortstop and tied with third base. Sure, there’s been some ugliness at third as well (see: The Thurston Debacle of ’09). But while St. Louis’ hot corner saw an MVP-caliber season and two more all-star-caliber seasons from Rolen as well as seasons of 3+ WAR from Placido Polanco, Troy Glaus and Fernando Tatis, second base has been shorter on quality.

Image via Wikipedia

Your starting second basemen of the TLR Era were: Luis Alicea, Delino DeShields (two seasons), Joe McEwing, Fernando Vina (three seasons), Bo Hart, Tony Womack, Mark Grudzielanek, Aaron Miles (three seasons) and Skip Schumaker (three seasons). Sixteen players appeared in at least 50 games at the position during that time.

It wouldn’t be accurate to suggest second base was always a black hole during that span. DeShields was really good in 1997 (3.9 WAR) and so were Grudzielanek in 2005 (3.6 WAR), Womack in 2004 (3.2 WAR) and Vina in 2000 (3.1 WAR). The point is there has been no continuity at a position once manned by the likes of Rogers Hornsby, Frankie Frisch, Red Schoendienst and even Tom Herr. Moreover, whatever success the team has found there has been fleeting, and since Grudzielanek left after the ’05 season, the Cards have been willing to turn the position over for three seasons apiece to a guy better suited to being a utility player (Miles) and a converted outfielder with shaky offensive skills (Schumaker).

So why has second base been the Island of Misfit Toys in St. Louis? I can’t answer that. I’ve always had an affection for my old Little League position, but I can’t deny it doesn’t have the identity of other spots on the infield. There are some great second basemen, but sometimes it can be a compromise for guys without the defense for shortstop or bat for third base, or in TLR’s case, for radical experiments in position changes.

This isn’t to say the Cardinals have definitely been wrong in how they have approached filling second base. They just won a World Series with Schumaker, Nick Punto, Ryan Theriot and Tyler Greene each playing at least 25 games at second. But forgive me if my inner Little Leaguer is pining for a long-term solution there anyways. Chase Utleys don’t grow on trees, and if they did, the Yankees would have those trees locked away in a high-tech, heavily-guarded secret underground bunker. But four or five years of solid production from the same player would be awfully nice.

So what are the chances this happens in the near future?

According to this Rick Hummel article, the team non-tendered Theriot, taking him out of the picture, while re-signing Schumaker for two years. However, it quotes GM John Mozeliak referring to Skip as a “super utility” player who will spend more time in the outfield. While the team appears to be working on bringing back Punto as well, all indications are Daniel Descalso will get a crack at starting in 2012, presumably with Greene taking some assignments against left-handed pitchers.

While I like Descalso and think his glove can make him a useful player, there’s no real reason to believe he’s going to hit enough to be the next very good Cards second baseman. His wOBA last season was a paltry .296, and the Bill James projections peg him at .300 for 2012. Even if you think that’s on the pessimistic side, it’s a long ways from the type of guy I’m looking for.

Zack Cox-to-2B pipe dreams aside, it seems clear that if anyone is going to break through at the position in the next five years, it’s going to be Kolten Wong. This year’s first-round pick out of Hawaii debuted at Low-A Quad Cities this summer and smacked around Midwest League pitching for a .335/.401/.510 line in 47 games as a 20-year-old.

Obviously 47 games in Low-A is light years from contributing at the major league level, but scouts seem pretty high on Wong and seem to believe he can move quickly through the system. Baseball America recently named him the organization’s fifth-best prospect (a much higher honor than it was only a few years ago), while Baseball Prospectus’ Jason Parks picked him as the best second base prospect in the minors. Of course, he also mentions that Wong could end up in left field.

If the Cardinals’ roster or Wong’s progression necessitate a switch to the outfield, I’ll understand but also be disappointed. Here’s to hoping that when we look back on the Mike Matheny Era, we don’t have to think too hard about who represents it at second base.

To put it mildly, nothing about this past week has gone as planned. The Winter Meetings turned red hot in a hurry and left every St. Louis fan with a No. 5-sized hole. Now the challenge of moving on without an icon is real, and the only positive comes in watching a new league trying to figure AP out.

Many questions face the Cardinals going forward, but one fewer decision remains after bringing back shortstop Rafael Furcal. While that situation warrants another story on a different day, it does eliminate virtually any chance that John Mozeliak trades for middle infield help.

And honestly, it was always far-fetched to think that dealing Shelby Miller was a wise path to take for the World Champions.

After receiving exactly zero responses, it just goes to show how far the minor league system has come and how good the Cards’ front office has been. While Miller is the unquestioned star, both Memphis and Springfield will be loaded during the 2012 campaign.

To complete this exercise, it really became a ‘what-if’ scenario that had many flaws. Now does not seem like the right time to make a rush decision, but the opportunities will present themselves. And as it turns out, very few players are complete enough to warrant a deal that changes the organization.

Matt Holliday proves the point only because the prospect dealt was blocked at the highest level. No matter how many good or great pitchers you have, very few instances will dictate sending your potential future ace to another club.  If you were the Cubs, for instance, trying to get a title may be one example.

St. Louis will recover right away by sharing the wealth and building a stronger 25-man roster. They also need to replace Jeff Luhnow and prepare for what is sure to be an eventful Draft next June.

But to most fans, the only thing that will matter is how the defending champs rebound next season. There are options out there, many of which are sure to garner attention over the coming weeks. Most are not flashy names, but then again the Birds on the Bat already have a strong nucleus in place.

Originally my goal before XMas was to show just what Miller and Matt Adams might grab on the open market. It was brought about after Nick and I enjoyed some friendly banter here but has also caused a change of heart you could say.

The Holliday deal was needed as was shipping out Rasmus. Normally it is the view of this scribe that most trades favor the team receiving the prospects. While that could just be a product of watching many TLR teams, it may very well come down to the players.

Both 2011 Minor League Players of the Year present a special case and an even bigger part of the puzzle after this tough week. Granted neither one has played an inning above Double A, it still doesn’t take much to envision a September call-up to introduce the future.

The fans have spoken and for once in my life I have no argument. Miller and Adams deserve to get their opportunity to take the franchise to the next level, and they will definitely have plenty of support in doing just that.

For now much of Cardinal Nation may be seeing red, but come spring a new wave will bring this era right back on top where St. Louis belongs.

Image via Wikipedia

On the morning of January 19th, I started collecting links – as many as I can find with minimal effort – that discuss the Albert Pujols contract discussions. Why? Who knows, yet here they are. Oh, and to serve you all, our three loyal readers! The Daily Pujols certainly won’t be a comprehensive list, but between local, national, and blog coverage, maybe you’ll find something here you otherwise wouldn’t. Without further delay, here is today’s Daily Pujols…

Today’s conclusion includes reactions…

Local

Jeff Gordon says Bill DeWitt “sent Albert Pujols packing.” I’m not sure I’d phrase and frame it that way. Yes, DeWitt and John Mozeliak had a plan, and a ceiling they were willing to offer. But Albert packed all on his own.

Greg Leuthen covers both sides of the coin, and now what? for the Cardinals.

Various reactions from Cardinals and local figures.

BJ Rains looks ahead to where the Cardinals might spend all of their newfound payroll space.

Matthew Leach also lays out the tasks remaining for the Cardinals in the wake of being left by Pujols.

David Wilhelm reiterated what many have already said. Paraphrasing: “it sucks, but the Cards are likely better off for it.”

The Alton Telegraph had some hard hitting local reaction. From Facebook, of course.

KSDK has video of Mozeliak’s press conference after returning to St. Louis sans Pujols.

Go read everything Bernie Miklasz has written about the Pujols negotiations. Just do it.

National

There was much rejoicing in Milwaukee.

Astonishment in New York.

Pitchers sleeping better in Cincinnati.

The Red Sox never really tried to find a place for Pujols.

Cards loss of Pujols means Cubs adding Fielder would shift balance of power in division to Chicago? Um…

Lozano called the Yankees about Pujols. Of course he did.

Phillies also glad Pujols is in the American League.

Even Pirates fans are happy!

Gregg Doyel expresses what many Cardinal fans are feeling – it’s not necessarily about loyalty, deserving something, or even necessarily honesty – it’s about the legacy Pujols threw away. Personally, my thinking is very much in line with Doyel’s. Albert had his reasons for choosing Anaheim, the Cardinals had their reasons for not breaking the bank – but in the end, it was Albert’s decision to become “just another great ballplayer” rather than a near-deified legend.

More “all is not lost” from Jerry Crasnick. To be clear, I agree, not mocking the sentiment.

Cliff Corcoran expects the Cardinals to contend in 2012, without Pujols.

Can we please stop the Albert Pujols equals LeBron James nonsense? Please.

Stan McNeal thinks the Cards will come out ahead in the long run, especially without being able to DH Pujols in the later years of the deal.

Long-time Cardinal fan Will Leitch’s reactions, numbered.

How did some AL West execs react?

Blogs

A look back at Pujols by the numbers against his former NL Central foes – and that Houston Astros team that he’s following.

David Schoenfield summed the Cardinal future, and what fans should expect, up quite nicely: “The Cardinals will move on. … Because, in the end, we don’t cheer for stars. We cheer for our team. Trust me, Cardinals fans: You will recover.”

Bloguin’s The Outside Corner assessed Pujols signing impact on both the Angels and the Cards.

Dennis took a more lighthearted approach to figuring out why Pujols would bolt for the West Coast.

A great write-up from Steve Kelley at Review STL. “And when you come back to Busch Stadium for the first time, I hope the fans remember that, too. We gave Craig Biggio a standing ovation, and he was an arch-rival for years. I hope they afford the same to you. And then I hope the Cardinals beat the living $#!+ out of the Angels. We are Cardinal Nation.”

Chicago Now has a great post looking at Pujols’ decision to leave St. Louis and the decision soon facing the Indianapolis Colts over what to do with Peyton Manning. Is the team bound to the same expectations of loyalty as fans expect players to be?

From Viva El Birdos… Both Pujols and the Cardinals made mistakes. Great opinions.

—–

Finally, here, courtesy of @MattSebek, is the full-page “thank you” advertisement in today’s Post-Dispatch from Albert and Dee Dee. It’s a nice gesture, but over-played. Just take your money and go.

—–

Want to read the previous Dailies?  You can find them all here.

Thanks for following along with The Daily Pujols posts, if you have been.  This marks the end, I guess fittingly.

Image via Wikipedia

On the morning of January 19th, I started collecting links – as many as I can find with minimal effort – that discuss the Albert Pujols contract discussions. Why? Who knows, yet here they are. Oh, and to serve you all, our three loyal readers! The Daily Pujols certainly won’t be a comprehensive list, but between local, national, and blog coverage, maybe you’ll find something here you otherwise wouldn’t. Without further delay, here is today’s Daily Pujols…

I gotta be real with y’all – REAL real – I hope Pujols signs somewhere soon. This link-sifting is getting old.

Local

Wondering if Albert Pujols has signed yet? Just refresh the Cardinal Beat blog at STLToday.com every half-hour or so, ok?

Randy Reinhardt says the Cards need to sign Pujols – no matter the cost.

Matthew Leach: Cardinals offer confirmed.

Bernie Miklasz with deep breaths and level-headedness.

More Miklasz, on the back-and-forth, head-and-heart reactions to Pujols contract offers and whether the Cards should or shouldn’t make every effort to keep him.

Fox 2 notes that Stan Musial would like Pujols to stay in St. Louis, as a Cardinal.

National

The Cubs apparently still really like Rodrigo Lopez. Or is it Pujols? Nah, Lopez. But Pujols…

Joe Frisaro mapped out almost the exact strategy that we saw play out today. Out on Pujols, Marlins switch to free-agent pitchers.

THE MARLINS WERE LATE FOR A MEETING!

The “Big 3?” No wonder Pujols distanced himself from that garbage. You all saw what happened to the Heat’s Big 3.

“Fab 4?” *facepalm*

Tom Haudricourt wonders whether Cubs would prefer Pujols or Prince Fielder – answer? Neither is going to sign with Milwaukee.

It would seem as if Pujols and Fielder are too pricey for the Cleveland Indians. Glad we got that out of the way.

Dave Hyde calls the Marlins’ spending spree and pursuit of Pujols “appropriate madness.”

Tyler Kepner discusses what I still think is one of the larger looming factors in Pujols’ decision: “But in Miami, he would be a mercenary, without the bulletproof force field we put around players who spend their whole careers with one team. Only the Cardinals can offer that, no matter how much money the Marlins are willing to pay him.”

Er, the Angels? Say what now?

Yep, the Angels.  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Let him leave! — Tom Verducci.

Bill Dwyre thinks everyone in the bidding war is NUTS.

Blogs

According to Cubs Den, Theo Epstein may be just nosing around in pretty much everyone’s business, waiting to see a good, efficient place to strike.

Dave Cameron of FanGraphs takes an interesting analytic approach to questions about Pujols’ age. How did he compare to others in the minors?

Ozzie Guillen said he would not have been paying Pujols’ salary, had he signed with the Marlins. Thanks for the insight, Ozzie.

Marc Normandin reviews ten-year contracts and how Pujols fits into the “club.”

Here at this very site, Dennis took a broader scope view of the negotiations and those badgering Pujols over making a decision about what’s best for HIM.

—–

Have more Pujols links to share?  Post them in the comments below!

Want to read the previous Dailies?  You can find them all here.

Follow @PitchersHit8th on Twitter and get the Daily Pujols as soon as it’s posted!

Image via Wikipedia

On the morning of January 19th, I started collecting links – as many as I can find with minimal effort – that discuss the Albert Pujols contract discussions. Why? Who knows, yet here they are. Oh, and to serve you all, our three loyal readers! The Daily Pujols certainly won’t be a comprehensive list, but between local, national, and blog coverage, maybe you’ll find something here you otherwise wouldn’t. Without further delay, here is today’s Daily Pujols…

Local

Matthew Leach busts a reality check on us – the Cards have other things to tend to in free agency besides Albert Pujols. C’mon, I’m not buying it. You?

The Commish recalls Winter Meetings of yesteryear and looks ahead to what we might expect out of Dallas, from the Cardinals and their division-mates.

Bernie Miklasz is asking for a compromise – less years from Pujols, more money (AAV) from the Cardinals.

Derrick Goold reports that Team Pujols (and Lozano) is on the ground in Dallas.

Joe Strauss has more on the market developing (or not developing) for Pujols, and uncertainty on whether the Cards’ previously offered deal is still on the table.

Goold adds more from John Mozeliak – the GM has spoken with Pujols directly, on the phone.

B.J. Rains was one of many reporters who spoke with Bill DeWitt this morning. DeWitt said: “”You don’t replace an Albert Pujols.”

National

Dave Wischnowsky says the Cubs signing Pujols or Prince Fielder is only worth it if the team wins a World Series with said player on the team. I guess that makes sense? I still feel like the playoffs are too much of a crapshoot to count on winning once you’re there. Wouldn’t it be just as “worth it” for Cubs fans if they just made the playoffs every year? Every other year?

MYSTERY TEAM ALERT!!!!!

Anthony Castrovince writes the most important thing perhaps anyone has written about the Pujols negotiations to date: “Ultimately, Pujols’ loyalty can’t be measured until somebody else steps up with a serious offer…”

Craig Slater of The Regina Leader-Post breaks some news about Pujols: “Albert Pujols won’t be the next head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders…” Well, so much for that mystery team.

As rumors swirl – and one deal is reportedly already done – about the Marlins spending big bucks at this year’s Winter Meetings, Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reminisces about the last embers going out on a Marlins fire sale in the same hotel.

Jon Morosi still says Pujols re-ups with the Redbirds, and before Fielder signs anywhere. OOOOOOOOOOH.

Scott Miller and Ken Rosenthal both say it’s time for the Marlins to focus on pitching, not Pujols.

And then there was the cat-and-mouse from Theo Epstein regarding the Cubs’ interest in Pujols: Epstein has full authority which could result in a shorter-term, bigger money deal, yet there are plenty of holes in the Cubs roster to be filled, and Epstein has continued to profess building “the right way” for “the long-term” - which means they’re talking to Dan Lozano about Rodrigo Lopez.

Blogs

Some guy named Kent Sterling (who obviously thinks very highly of himself) also thinks Pujols will stay in St. Louis.

At Fish Stripes, Michael Jong terms a Marlins offer to Pujols “ludicrous in a sort of “I can’t believe the team is going this far” sense.”

The Rangers are “not really in” on Pujols or Fielder.

—–

Have more Pujols links to share?  Post them in the comments below!

Want to read the previous Dailies?  You can find them all here.

Follow @PitchersHit8th on Twitter and get the Daily Pujols as soon as it’s posted!

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the next week could potentially change a lot in how St. Louis baseball business is done going forward.

Any way you choose to view it, the Cardinals are stuck until they figure out who will be manning first base in April. As the Winter Meetings kick off in Dallas, no one knows the answer to who signs No. 5 so let the speculation commence!

What is known and was sealed with this announcement, Shelby Miller and Matt Adams both play significantly into all future plans. The duo took home Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, respectively, and now face even bigger expectations.

In the spirit of the season, the defending World Champs are left with this scenario after a crazy week in Texas. A mystery team is high-bidder by a large margin, and St. Louis loses its franchise player. Not wanting to go down without a fight, the front office announces that both Miller and Adams are on the trading block for a limited time.

Here’s your chance to play GM and see if you can top this by Whitey. The Cardinals may have a vastly improved farm system but are shooting for the moon by offering up two blue chip prospects. I know my list of potential targets is small, but is there anyone worthy of such a deal?

For a hint on where this may lead, check out the latest Episode of the PH8 Podcast. The best answers will be showcased with my picks next Saturday in Part 3 so keep the completely off-the-reservation fun coming in the comments below or via @aprfool79.

This part of the offseason doesn’t have to be serious all the time, even if it does worry me just a tad that not even one minor league free agent has been signed. At the late time of this post, it could just be that the Winter Meetings will be more Birds on the Bat friendly than any of figured.

Now how wonderful would that be?

On the morning of January 19th, I started collecting links – as many as I can find with minimal effort – that discuss the Albert Pujols contract discussions. Why? Who knows, yet here they are. Oh, and to serve you all, our three loyal readers! The Daily Pujols certainly won’t be a comprehensive list, but between local, national, and blog coverage, maybe you’ll find something here you otherwise wouldn’t. Without further delay, here is today’s Daily Pujols…

Local

Bernie Miklasz sees through the Cubs’ and Dan Lozano’s ploy to drive up the price of Albert Pujols‘ new contract.  As Bernie mentions, it’s in the best interests of both the Cubbies and Danny to get in bed together, regardless of whether it’s genuine or not.

BJ Rains follows up on what the Pujols negotiations mean for middle infield upgrades for the Cardinals.

Ken Rosenthal made an appearance on The ITD Morning After – read the transcript here.

How do the Rangers fit into this?  A team certainly with a need at first base, plenty of money to spend?  Derrick Goold explores.

Miklasz wants John Mozeliak to play the game with Lozano and the Cubs – set them on their ears by talking up Prince Fielder to the Cards.

National

Phil Rogers makes a few interesting points about a potential Pujols deal getting done sooner than later – by waiting, then eventually re-signing with the Cardinals, Pujols may well weaken the Cardinals’ chances at further improving the team with other free agents.

MLB.com Cubs reporter Carrie Muskat had a quote from Cubs GM Jed Hoyer, regarding free agents: “As I’ve stated in the past, we’re a major market team and we’re going to be involved across the spectrum,” Hoyer said. “I’m not going to address whether we’re on or off individual players other than the fact that we’re in contact with a lot of teams and a lot of agents and we’re doing everything we can to improve the team for next year and the future.”

Anna McDonald explored some financial what-ifs, including one that I hadn’t really previously considered – the dynamic pricing model for tickets actually would stand to improve their financial windfall from potential Pujols record chases later in any contract.  But how much?

Read between the lines.  Theo Epstein still is saying the Cubs need to build from within.

Rick Morrissey makes the argument FOR the Cubs and Theo Epstein signing Pujols, but can’t stop typing before arrogantly bringing up performance enhancers.  Stay classy.

Jeff Passan thinks Pujols’ own “Decision” a la LeBron James would be good for the game of baseball.  Dunno.

Blogs

Marlin Maniac recounts the bidders for Pujols’ services and is another in the camp believing that AP will remain with the Cardinals.

Rob Neyer asks if re-signing Pujols is a good idea for the Cardinals, invoking the name of Matt Adams, as so many have recently. Small nitpick: Neyer didn’t do his homework on Adams, indicating that it was a failure of some sort that Adams didn’t reach triple-A Memphis.  Adams was injured, likely preventing such a call-up.

Deadspin put up a second post on the hi-jinks of Pujols agent Dan Lozano. I wouldn’t read it at work.

Alex Fritz wrote an epic “what-if” post at SB Nation St. Louis.

—–

Have more Pujols links to share?  Post them in the comments below!

Want to read the previous Dailies?  You can find them all here.

Follow @PitchersHit8th on Twitter and get the Daily Pujols as soon as it’s posted!

Image by d-deee via Flickr

On the morning of January 19th, I started collecting links – as many as I can find with minimal effort – that discuss the Albert Pujols contract discussions. Why? Who knows, yet here they are. Oh, and to serve you all, our three loyal readers! The Daily Pujols certainly won’t be a comprehensive list, but between local, national, and blog coverage, maybe you’ll find something here you otherwise wouldn’t. Without further delay, here is today’s Daily Pujols…

It’s been a while since the last time we visited, so I’ve pared back the sheer number of links in the interest of keeping your respective employers happy. Rest assured, we’ll be back with full force ongoing.

Local

Derrick Goold explores how the Cardinals can compete with the various free agency suitors and their presentations to Albert Pujols – I particularly like the first and last suggestions in the list near the bottom.  I also like that Derrick used “FTW” in a post.

John Mozeliak sat down with KSDK for a few minutes to discuss (or decline to specifically discuss) the Pujols negotiations.

The Cardinals offered AP arbitration.

AP is expected to decline arbitration.

Goold follows up on the Lozano/Deadspin mess with quotes from Pujols on vacation in Hawaii.

Jeff Wilson at The Southern Illinoisan plays “What If?”  Dare I say, he didn’t do it as well as Dennis did.

Goold explains the Allen Craig over Albert Pujols listing at first base for Baseball America’s 2015 projected Cardinals lineup.

The Post-Dispatch’s Round Two water cooler discussion tackles “best” offer for Pujols – will the Cardinals offer it?

Matthew Leach addresses Pujols questions in a mailbag at MLB.com.

Leach also writes that as the Winter Meetings start, so does the earnest pursuit of Pujols.

National

A BAR GRAPH!

The Centre Daily Times focuses on Matt Adams’ season and rising stock in the Cardinals’ organization and how his ascension may fit with the organization depending on Pujols’ future.

Tony Andracki at CSNChicago.com doesn’t think Pujols (or Prince Fielder) is a good fit for the Cubs. (NO WORRY, LOZANO THINKS THEY FIT JUST FINE)

Jeff Passan uses quotes like “the interest in Pujols has been surprisingly quiet” and “100 percent certain he’s going back there [to St. Louis]” – is that good or bad?

Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal indicate that the new CBA restrictions on amateur spending and a light free-agent market may be pushing the Cubs toward AP and Fielder.

Phil Rogers says no dice on the Cubs rumors. Who’s telling the truth?

Well, for one, Tom Ricketts says the decision is up to Theo.

Bernie Miklasz nails it on Theo Epstein and the Cubs – smart doesn’t always mean frugal spending. Doesn’t always mean smart either.

ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine says that the Cubs are playing it right by feigning interest in both so they can get a deal on the one they really want. Uh, ok?

Blogs

Did you hear the one about Pujols’ agent, Dan Lozano? Ya know, at Deadspin? This one? (Likely NSFW)

Friend of the site Josh Bacott added his satirical touch to the Lozano story at KFNS.com.

Pip over at Fungoes polled the Bob Broeg Chapter of SABR on when they believe Pujols will sign.

An (as always) entertaining post from VEB re: Pujols’ pending departure (or not) (or yes) (maybe not?).

Getting Blanked has Albert Pujols Paper Doll Cut-Outs. Yep, it’s awesome.

—–

Have more Pujols links to share?  Post them in the comments below!

Want to read the previous Dailies?  You can find them all here.

Follow @PitchersHit8th on Twitter and get the Daily Pujols as soon as it’s posted!

With the promotion of Chris Maloney to the big league staff, the wheels starting turning on how to make the entire organization better. Prized prospect Shelby Miller and his key right arm certainly factor into the decision now that the rest of the chips have fallen into place.

(Ed. Note: the regular Friday posts will return in January, as the holiday season prompted this PH8 scribe to start the giving early! And no, that doesn’t include planning for neck tats

One particular nugget of info stuck with me after taking a quick glance at this press release. The Cardinals as a whole have a great deal of talent outside of the players, and they are going all-in from the top down for 2012. The move to promote from the ranks makes even more sense now in St. Louis given how much the World Champs had to rely on their minor league depth this past year.

That’s not to say a repeat of last spring would be appreciated, but the truth needs to be faced sooner rather than later. Adam Wainwright forced a new appreciation for the job done at Memphis and Springfield, but his injury also took attention away from the AP contract mess.

Said mess potentially becomes a key topic of discussion no matter which way it turns out by Opening Day. The front office made some interesting choices this past month, and new skipper Mike Matheny wasn’t even the biggest surprise. The Double A affiliate in Springfield plays host to their big league counterparts April 2nd, and both clubs may look vastly different.

One key change for certain is who will be calling the shots from the dugout.

Matheny may not have any previous experience wearing the manager cap, but he is used to the pressure of any mistake being amplified on the biggest stage. On the other hand, new SCards head man Mike Shildt moves up the ladder quite a few rungs in what may be the best move of the offseason.

Either way it would be a shock if Miller ended up pitching in that game and not slotted to take the hill for Memphis in his first campaign at AAA. And really, outside of the #5 fun, that is the most intriguing question this winter brings.

The Cards can afford to be patient with their best pitching prospect of at least the last decade, thanks in part to the above-mentioned Wainwright situation. Lance Lynn appears ready to fill in early or at least should get stretched out before moving to the bullpen. With the other four slots locked in, St. Louis did the next best thing for Miller’s progression.

Ron “Pop” Warner gets high marks in the manager musical chair contest, and his prize mirrors that of his new Memphis ace. After deftly passing the torch to Miller during his mid-season promotion to the Texas League, Warner became an obvious choice to take over the Redbirds.

Depending on how the 40-man roster takes shape, Miller should be joined by quite a few of his SCards teammates in Memphis. This newly adopted strategy makes perfect sense now that enough depth exists all the way down to Johnson City. Speaking of the back-to-back Appy League Champs, Shildt may find the road a bit tougher after jumping up in competition.

But that is where John Vuch steps in and makes GM John Mozeliak look even more like the smartest man in the room. By not ‘babying’ his top prospects and best minds, the entire Birds on the Bat franchise is poised to enter the top tier of baseball. Shildt gets first crack at the system which also has a fail-safe in place.

Both Springfield hitting coach Phillip Wellman and new Palm Beach manager Johnny Rodriguez were thought to be on top of the short list to replace Warner. They have the edge in experience coaching at a higher level and also were the more seasoned choices. Instead the more inexperienced candidate with a possible new approach was chosen to make the important transition.

Does that sound like any other recent move by chance?

Shildt and Matheny both made quite an impression to be given the jobs they now own. What they do from now until April is not nearly as important as how they handle the pressure next summer, and the Cardinals have a lot riding on their investment.

With a couple of impressive performances for the two Missouri-based clubs, all talk about the choices will be forgotten. Should one or both stumble, however, how will the front office respond? That is just one of many great story lines the new World Champions face heading into 2012.

The only thing guaranteed at this point is how the reaction will be for both new managers at a certain date in April where the sea of red knows the score.