Voices in my head

Biggest Question on the horizon is come and gone-Mark G.

Now my question is do you like him? Drop me some comments on what you think...as for me the jury is still out. No, I don't have a multiple personality.

Another question for anyone who happens to look at my blog: Matt Leach said in a recent post at stlcardinals.com, "But it's just as possible that the Cards are plugging in a Gold Glove-caliber defender who will outhit the guy who departed, and doing it at about one-tenth the cost." Do you think Molina has that much upside? Why or why not? (Didn't you always hate it when you were taking a test and the question had a yes or no answer and then the teacher tacked that annoying why or why not question at the end?)

In other news Pujols is reportedly doing much better with his heel problem, and Carpenter will be ready to go for Spring Training. Some other Jury (not the one in my head) is still out on Morris' avialability for the start of the season. Which makes me worried that we added that extra year and didn't go after someone else. But John! What about loyalty?!?! What about the ace that was so amazing just a few years ago?!?! So good in fact we started paying him 12M a year!!! Nevermind I see your point....even though his extention is much better.

-CJ and CJ and CJ

Anyone still around?

After grad school fall semester finals and crazy Christmas break in San Diego I'm back in the saddle.

Mulder-Stars of tomorrow for now? Most likely. This trade lost us some serious prospects in Kiko and Danny but the upside for next year has been greatly increased. With a great deal in a cheaper extention with Morris, and Mulder replacing the aging Williams, things are looking up. Mulder's health is to be taken into consideration, but with a healthy Carpenter things should be fine. Especially important is Mulder's addition to the rotation because Morris will be out the first few weeks due to surgery.

Matheny-No way we should keep him for that type of money. Shame though because of his leadership, glove, and healthy clubhouse attitude. Won't miss his bat though. 'Cept for those rare but sweet memories of him coming through in the clutch in late innings.

Edgar-Bummer, but he was "slumping" for him. His stats saw a distinct dropoff in 2004 (an non I'm not talking about his RBI's and yes I know he had to lose his lineup spot) and this could free up some $$ for something brewing.

Eckstein-This guy's persona seems to fit in with the Redbirds. His range is the big "suspect" talk, but if he plays anything like he did with the MLB champs a few years ago he will be a fine and cheaper addition. Question is who will he be turning two with? My initial response to Alomar is "N O !" Don't like his attitude and his stats with the Sox are hidious. Maybe I'm still stuck on the whole umpire spitting incident. So ugly...I suppose I should let it go. How many years has it been since then? Believe he was with the Orioles.

Others-Wow, bid a fond farewell to the Simo-man, Kliner (won't miss your finger though hehe), and Womack.

Walt-Just the Mulder deal? Something doesn't add up here. Look for Jockety to pull off something exciting. Losing $10M of Morris' money and losing Edgar frees up something, interesting to see what he does with it.

Good to be back
-CJ

Here's a couple of good tidbits

• ESPN.com has this: "The Red Sox World Series win was sheer mathematics: Number of days between Red Sox World Series triumphs: 31,459. The fabled mathematical concept, PI (of PI R SQUARED fame): 3.14159. Draw your own conclusions."
• Baseball Prospectus, courtesy of the Cardinals link blog: "We've secretly replaced the National League Champions with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Let's see who notices."
• Random Redbird Reasoning has a great breakdown of our Cardinals.
• Fox Sports has some interesting rumours concerning Randy Johnson and Pedro:"The Cards and D-backs may be close to a deal that would send young pitchers Dan Haren, Kiko Calero and or Rick Ankiel to Arizona for SP Randy Johnson." and "The Cards may have interest in free agent starter Pedro Martinez. Martinez, in turn, says he'd be willing to play for Tony La Russa."
• Musings of a Philosophical Scrivener has a great list of free agents.

Enjoy, but please don't stay away too long.

-CJ

Offseason Stuff

Things have been kinda sparce 'round here lately.

• Williams option was wisely declined. I would love to see him back with us but the $8M + is a bit steep and I like the buyout. The Aging Woody is best kept only if the price is right. My feeling is that he won't be here next season.
• Carpenter was wisely accepted and to no one's surprise, Chris will be a birdie again. With Morris and Williams most likely on their way out it was imperative to keep some semblence of last year's rotation. The key here is firepower. If you have 50 infantry soldiers great! But if I have a tank and 25 soldiers--look out! I think it should be the Cardinal's main goal to open up the wallet and get Johnson. Someone like Radke would be nice (I don't think the Twins are going to let him get away), but he still wouldn't be the big gun the Cardinals need.
• Congrats to Edmonds, Matheny, and Rolen on pickng up brand new Gold Gloves. Well deserved and really un-debated. These three won in their respective positions hands-down!
• Now let us all hope that the impossible will happen: Re-signing Renteria and signing a big name pitcher.

-CJ

Bye Brian

Brian at Redbrid Nation is closing up shop. Tis a shame as that was one of the best Cardinal blogs out there. I admire him for making sure his priorities are straight. Here's to the hard work and labor of love that was the Redbird nation.

-CJ

Sigh...

What a great year. The Cardinals played a great season. Its too bad things didn't end on a high note. I want to say that I was plesntly surprised by the class of the Red Sox. I have always seen Pedro and Manny is pretty arrogant guys, but I was impressed.

I was deeply dissappointed with the Cardinal "faithful" in game 7. When a pitch hit Umpire Merryweather (SP?) in the shin and hopped in pain a very large cheer erupted from the crowd. I thought we had more class than that-- Dispite his bizzare strike zone.

Red Sox won't be back next year.

We will. But there will be several changes.

Not that our bats where any better 9at least after game 1, but it was a case where our pitching sure let us down in the long haul--Carpenter's injury aside. Man I hate being right.

"I want to be wrong. Please let me be wrong. But Cardinal pitching is overachieving and it seems to be only a matter of time before we all come crashing back to this planet we call "Earth." " -CJ July 10,2004

-CJ

In the 6 or the 7

Its all in the number. 1986 or 1987.

-CJ

Almost Pure Bliss!

Been a while, 1987. Here's to better than you. I was smiling like a 5 year old on Christmas morning.

-CJ

Tell No One

If anyone who reads this blog (all 4 of you) lets this get back to my wife that I put this up here, I will take you down. I will take you down to Chinatown. That said, here goes: True story, I couldn't make this up if I tried.

My wife was being her normal wonderful self during the post season and was watching all the games with me. Game 7 ALCS 8th inning. All of a sudden while looking at the TV screen, she says, "Ahhh! I get it." Wondering exactly what this epiphany was all about I asked her. Her quick short reply was, "Nothing." I pressed her about it--curiosity peaked. "No! " she answered, "You'll just laugh at me." Figuring this ought to be good, I quickly lied and reassured her I wouldn't laugh. Being quasi-convinced this was the case she said, "You know that swastika looking thing on the Yankees' hats? Its a 'N' and a 'Y!'"

We need to get to Clemens early. This Rocket is getting old. Haren should be ready to go if Suppan can't keep the ball down. Haren looked mighty impressive in relief of Suppan last time. If you have time stop by your local parish and light a couple for our Redbirds. And, "No!" Camels don't count.

Have you ever heard a louder positive cheer for an intentional walk as Beltran's in game 6?

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

-CJ

"I doubt the series will go past game 6."

I sure hope that I'm wrong. Holy monkey! A dual 1 hitter through 6! I'm glad I'm not a betting man. My only question is: With two strikes to Berkman...why walk him. Talking to my friend Peter White from , Mariner Musings, he simply replied, "It's Berkman." Point taken. But we walked him to get to Kent? Lose lose situation. And don't give me that Kent hits into a lot of double plays if the only time you have watched him play was in the division series. Wow did Lidge make Pujols look silly on that last at-bat! That doesn't happen too many times. From a man who doesn't have cable--I was pretty steamed with the Red Sox. In the time the Cardinals finished their game, it took the Red Sox and Yankees 14 innings. Why am I only mad at the Red Sox, you ask. Well I'll tell you. (Back ground singers) *He's going to tell! He's going to tell! etc.* "Stop that! Stop that! No singing!" Because David "fat man" Ortiz was stealing! What in tarnation!?!!? Sure you can argue that he was safe (though called out), sure you can argue that it caught everyone surprised, but the fact of the matter is its David Ortiz stealing!!!!!! Do the Red Sox want to go home early? But there was an even more inept play. Earlier Damon has a lead off broken bat single.....and what does he do? He steals while Cabreara is trying to bunt. WITH NO OUTS!!!!! It must have been a missed sign or something. This does not appear to be a normal Damon. Maybe he's the anti-Sampson! He SHOULD cut his hair and he'll be back to normal.

"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer."-Ted Williams
-CJ

Bah!

To all those out there who have started putting up your Christmas decorations I say, "Bah Humbug!"

Only thing more annoying than a "two fingered Texan" is a "two-pitcher ball club." That is why I sincerely doubt this series will go past game 6. It still doesn't make me happy that the series is now tied up.

Will someone like the Mariners please sign Beltran? If the Cardinals can't have him, please let him sign with the equivalent of Siberia.

Was that not the ugliest homerun you have ever seen?

Would like to face the Schillingless Red Sox. That's why I'm keeping an eye on the impossible. Every team has their token jerk. Some have more than their fair share. The Red Sox have Manny and Pedro. The Yankees have Steinbrenner (by popular opinion). The Astros have Clemens. We have Tavarez and Kline. While these boys aren't the face of the team as the other said players/owner, they have been very productive this year. That being said I feel that LaRussa made the move to the bullpen too early yesterday. Marquis had plenty left in the tank, and I believe that LaRussa may be a tad overconfident in said jerks. As I heard a man talk about his Oklahoman senator, "Yeah he's an SOB but he's our SOB."

"To me momentum is nothing more than tomorrow's starting pitcher."
-Brian at RedBird Nation

"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base." -Dave Barry

-CJ

Keep Rolen Rolen

After an 0-14 start to the post season it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Rolen was due. Once again the Cardinals eventually broke through againt the Astros' suspect pitching. 4 Homeruns, 2 from Scotty. So here it is, before the World Series starts--my prediction: Cardianls in 5 over the Yankees. Look for Mussina to bring them a win, but the Redbird lineup is too dangerous. "Wait!!" you yell, "What about Clemens and Oswalt?" Look, the fact of the matter is the Cardinals will get through on at least one of them if not both. This would leave the Astros 4-0 or 3-1.

"Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for U.S. Steel." -Red Smith

-CJ

Just a Matter of Time

At the risk of sounding really over-confident: Its just a matter of time. All a matter of the Hot team vs. The Good team. After witnessing the Astros take a 4-2 lead I quickly thought to myself, "They're going to need more than a 2 run lead to stave off this offense." The real question is just a matter of how many games. Clemens and Oswalt might slow down the 'Stros' bleeding, but they have encountered a fatal disease in the Redbirds. The potent poison of choice last night was not the long-ball as the Cardinals often use (Pujols' being the exception). This just demonstrates that the Cardinals' weapon of choice is more a weapon of "Okay, we had a bad night and we still posted 10 runs." All in all most would like to see a better productive start from their number 1. ( I use that title carefully). Hopefully Woody is getting the chinks out now. We'll need his "A" game come Brooklyn time. Yes, that's right the Red Sox will get lucky to force a game 5. For our sake I will be cheering for the Red Sox to wear out Yankee pitching as much as possible. I would love for Mussina to have to make a game 5 start to clinch it. Then again, he'd still have enough time to rest up--probably. If a true miracle would occur I would love to face the Schillingless Sox. There is something creepy about the Yankee's post-season mystique. If you have time stop by the Basilica and throw up a novena for Carpenter. Jesus was a carpenter so there should be some bias there. HA!
-CJ

Was it just me?

Was it just me or

• were the Fox anchors miserable as usual? Especially after the handshakes between the two clubs when they commented, "the Dodgers came out to acknowledge the fans and probably got caught up in shaking the Cardinals' hands." Is it so hard to believe that this was done out of charity and goodness of heart? In just about EVERY sport except Baseball, on the professional level, there are congratulations between opposing teams. Why shouldn't this be the case here?
  
• were the Dodger fans horrible? I wasn't at the game so I might not have a perfect idea of all that went on, but 1) they seemed to boo every pitch that was called a ball...even those that seemed a foot or more off the plate (at least through the first 4 innings) what do they want from the ump?! 2) several fans were cheering and applauding the moment Edgar got beaned between the shoulder blades! This was not applause for him shaking it off. These were cheers for the beaning. While I did hear distinct cheers in favor of it, it wasn't as loud as other cheers so I know that their were plenty of LA fans who are not like this. But I was still shocked at the amount of fans that would cheer for something like this. Its not like we are Yanks in Boston.
  
• was Pujols' homerun a mistake? I'll take it. But it sure looks like he hit pitch out of the strikezone. It looked a lot like a long fly ball. I know of the theory that Homeruns are mistakes. Blah Blah Blah But this was a mistake. Tip your hat to Pujols because it was hit pure strength that put the ball out of reach.
  
• was the Cardinal defense amazing?
  
• was Jeff Suppan a class act?
  

-CJ

Game 2

Wow I hate blogger! I have lost so many posts.

• Fox was pretty annoying with their "Dodge Dakota Pre-Game Show" with that constant "Hit It!" (Insert annoying jingle here).
• Haren looked great! Glad to know that their is hope despite the free-agency of ... errr...let's talk about happier things.
• U-G-L-Y turns out we got an alibi! We UGLY hey hey We UGLY! Doesn't matter though we won. Was that not the closest 8-3 match you have ever seen? I was pulling my hair out in the 4th.
• Will the real best bullpen in the majors please stand up? Its way overdue for the Redbirds' Relievers to get some serious props. "No Cal, you can stay seated."
• Marquis gave up some monster-mashes! (What was up with that really lame monster-movie teaser?) Hopefully he's just getting that out of his system. The league has officially run out of tape measure!
• WOW am I looking forward to Staurday. It is HEAVEN REALIZED through sports for one day! At least for me. "This will be a day long remembered. It will see the end of the Longhorns and will soon see the end of the Dodgers."

-CV (Cardinal Vader)

Astros and Dodgers of the twenty-fourth and a half century!!!

Those looking for a non-early exit from the playoffs should cheer for Astros and Dodgers. Dodgers rotation looks like it took a nose-dive off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Cheering for the Astros is cheering against the Cubs. Despite its health problems the Cubs' rotation is the one of been cringing about all season. With the Cardinals getting a well needed medical rest they should be primed for the post season.

In other news I went 3-4 with 4 RBI's and two runs scored in our 12-11 loss in my first Seminary League softball game. I think my 3 errors (or was it 4) had something to do with us losing. Oh well that's why its Seminary league.

-CJ

Mints on the Pillow and Seasonal Cliches

The quality of a mattress and the softness of the sheets do not rely on the mint that is on your pillow. But you still want the mint. I'd sure like to see the Cardinals close out the rest of the regular season strong. It would give me something to savor as I slowly wake up from the "dream regular season" and arise into what will be a new day of Cardinal sunrise.

Cliches

• I hope LaRussa uses this time to rest all those nagging injuries.
  
• I hope LaRussa doesn't blow it and let his stars get cold on the bench.
  
• Why don't they play Ankiel more?
  
• They are coasting now. It will cost 'em come post-season.
  
• They aren't going to let up.
  

Not sure which ones if any I agree with. Anyone got any other ones?

-CJ

Perspective

Desepite a hurried comeback our Redbirds drop another! What gives? Many Cardinal faithful would like to see more dominance than mere .500 baseball. This SHOULD happen against the Astros and we better take the D-Backs.

That said, I want to ask anyone who reads this to pray for the people in the South in the way of Ivan. Florida and the surrounding areas have had it tough.

"Lord have mercy."
-CJ

A Glitch

I feel like the kid named "Mouse" in the first Matrix movie right after Neo fell during the building jumping scene. "He didn't make it...What does that mean?" I want to be one of the other crew members who says, "Nobody makes the first jump." But this ain't the "first jump." The Cardinals have just lost 3 in a row to possible post season teams. Just a few posts ago I was celebrating how we swept the Dodgers and the Padres. What gives?
Here is the conversation between Mouse and lets say Cypher, talking about the chosen one, namely the 2004 St. Louis Cards.

Mouse: They fell 3 times in a row.
Cypher: Nobody makes it the first time.
Mouse: First time?!?! We're in the middle of bloody September!
Cypher: Maybe they aren't the chosen one.
Mouse: What does this mean?
Cypher: It means that the Cardinals are vulnerable.
Mouse: They might win 110 games and you say vulnerable?!
Cypher: Anything can happen in a Sho...
Mouse: If you give me any of that Short-Series-my-diction-crap, you can cram it up your...
Cypher: Calm down. I'm only telling you this 'cause you need to be prepared. I'm trying to free your mind.
Mouse: Free my mind? Aren't you the bad guy?
Cypher: Shut up and listen! All it takes is the Bad Morris to show up. You know the one who tosses break-less breaking-balls while yelling, "Stop trying to hit me and HIT ME!"
Mouse: So what if he's streaky. Suppan, Marquis, Carpenter, and Williams. 'Nough said.
Cypher: As this season has proven the offense goes limp for a few games, and by chance the defense has saved them.
Mouse: So what are the odds that both fail at the same time? Better they get it out of their system now. They have been strong enough to pull this kind of record off, I doubt they will fall prey to what has happened on this most recent road trip. It would be like Deja Vu.
Cypher: You don't mean?
Mouse: Yes, for the Cardinals to lose in the post-season, it would take a glitch in the Matrix!
-CJ

Annnnnnd We're Back...So Listen Up!

First week of grad school is the excuse for my MIA bit. So I've missed the opportunity to post on a great 9 game winning streak that included sweeps of the Dodgers and the Padres. "Nay," I say! What an exciting time to be a Cardinal fan! Great posts on many weblogs lately! Here is a sampling of some great stuff:

• http://redbirdnation.blogspot.com/

"Cards record through May 26th 23-22

Cards record since May 26th 69-22"

Brian has some great posts lately especially his second most recent on what the Cardinals SHOULD be making.

• http://redbirdreasoning.blogspot.com/

Robb is on a roll! This is some of the best stuff I've read so far and is very refreshing.

"Interesting to note that out of those 5 teams (that have won 110+ games) only 2 won the World Series with 2 others losing the World Series, and 1 not making it there at all. As a matter of fact...the odds of winning the World Series may not be as high as you would expect."

• I could go on but we don't need another Cardinals' links site: http://cardinalslinkblog.blogspot.com/
• On the subject of a dream season, which many of my better counter-parts have pointed out, I would like to address satisfaction. My greatest fear is the 2001 Mariners. I believe that most Cardinal fans would agree that anything less than a World Series Championship would be less than preferable. The Cardinals, to this point, have exceeded EVERYONE'S expectations this year--if anyone disagrees they are lying. Such being the case they have set new expectations in the hearts of the Cardinals' faithful. So we arrive at the impass of hope and faith. I hope that the Cardinals win the Series versus I believe that they will win it all. In the end most fans will grant that the post-season is a completely different animal. However, post-season hopes are directly proportional to regular season performance. Few would admit that they had a strong faith that the Marlins would win it all last year. A good majority will predict happy October tidings for our Redbirds. I will be satisfied with an amazing season regardless of the outcome. Many of you know that I am also an Oklahoma Sooners football fan. The end of last season was disaterous beyond any of the Sooner Nation's expectations, yet it was an amazing season which I am, for lack of a better word, grateful for. It is a dream season. Now it is a dream season. Cardinal fans--Relax! Enjoy the dream season, and enjoy the dream post-season that might come--when it gets here.
• Sweeps of two possible post-season opponents! (Less likely now for the Padres) What great tidings! "Visions of sugar-plumbs" eat your hearts out! Be clear, in light of my last bullet point, that I am not eating the dessert the same time as my other course. I am enjoying it now. But the sweep of the Dodgers gave me goose-bumps! Hmmm I think I should go eat lunch now.
• Bummer about last night, but we were due for a beat down. 10-5 stinks no matter how you spin it. Morris proving once again with his $12 Million contract (I'm sure that the Cardinals are paying this one) he is expendable.

-CJ