Albert Pujols and a Fanbase in Fear…

It seems Cardinals Nation is “a Twitter” with rabid and frantic pleas to sign Albert Pujols as soon as – and “as long as” – possible. I won’t bother trying to catch you up on all the details (but visit the sites/links at the end of this post for all you can stomach), but it essentially comes down to this:  If Albert is not convinced the Cardinals front office/ownership is committed to winning as much as he is…he walks. At least, that seems to be the general consensus.

I agree.

So…this post is, quite simply, a list of the things I will burn in my schizophrenic rage when/if the news breaks that Albert Pujols has joined the ranks of another squad. Enjoy:

1. My “Lucky” Cardinals T-Shirt
I bought this raggedy shirt from Busch II “back in the day.” Somehow – don’t ask me how – I found myself at Busch Stadium without a traditional red shirt to wear before a game. So, I sauntered into the Team Store, found a simple yet sharp Cardinals shirt on the center rack, checked the price tag…and promptly bought the first shirt on the clearance rack that fit me instead. It was $16. The one I put back was $50…for a t-shirt, people. Anywho…it’s faded red with the single, solitary Cardinal sitting on a yellow bat smack-dab in the center. I like it…but it will burn.

2. My Scott Rolen Jersey
I have a confession to make. It’s my fault Scott Rolen left. No, really…it is. You see, I never buy team jerseys. They are WAY too expensive – especially when the player leaves within a season or two of your purchase and you have to do it all over again. I flat-out refuse to drop $175 on a shirt. No way. But one day, I got “lucky.” While wandering through Wal-Mart before class, I found a clearance rack of cheaply-designed Cardinals jerseys. They were solid red button-ups with a white “Cardinals” printed across the front and a blue stripe down each side. Pujols, Carpenter, and Rolen were left…at $15 each. I promptly grabbed Rolen’s (I’m not really a “pitcher” person…and everyone has Pujols, right?) and walked proudly out of the store (after paying of course). I wore it for 3 months before he was traded. Be thankful I did not buy Pujols’ jersey. Nevertheless, I like my Scott Rolen jersey. But it willburn. NOTE: I’m pretty sure I did the same thing to Steve Bono of the Chiefs “back in the day”…but don’t tell him.

3. My Colby Rasmus Bobblehead
One of the best things about having a minor league team within driving distance is the freebies. My wife and I are constantly checking the promotion nights at the Springfield Cardinals stadium (Hammond’s Field) and buying tickets accordingly. T-Shirt night? We’re there. Bobblehead night? Gotta’ have it. I mean, it’s a smorgasbord of free Cardinals merchandise! You don’t pass that up, man. Well…one night last season the team gave away Colby Rasmus bobbleheads. I told my wife, “I gotta’ have it!” So, we made the drive, got there early, stood in line…and got me my bobblehead! It was a great night. And I love my bobblehead. But it will burn.

4. All of My Beloved “Freebies” from the Springfield Cardinals
In one night – and one night only – my wife and I walked away from Hammond’s Field with a bobblehead, four Cardinals t-shirts (including 2 blue 1982 jersey replica t-shirts), two hats, and some kind of bracelet/ruler thingy we got for doing the milk-shake chuggin’ contest on top of the dugout in the first inning (I won, of course…whupped my trash-talkin’ wife’s butt!). All of it…and all of the other freebies I’ve collected…will burn.

There’s more that will burn, of course…I’ve been a Cardinals fan for quite a while and have plenty to choose from…but that’s all I’ll reveal for now. I will, however, tell you about a few items I will NOT be burning:  My Ozzie Smith autographed ball, Ozzie’s Topps rookie card, my Adam Wainwright autographed ball, and my full set of the 2006 World Series Championship DVDs. I’ll keep all of that stuff…because it is a reminder of when I loved and respected the St. Louis Cardinals.

But the other stuff…it will burn.

If Albert Pujols is not a Cardinal in 2012…I may stop watching baseball all together. In fact…I will. Honestly, how could it be any different? If this team does not do everything in their power to re-sign the game’s best player…especially one so beloved by the St. Louis fanbase…how could I – nay, ALL of us! – how could we NOT revolt against the man that orchestrated the downfall of the greatest baseball franchise on Earth…Mr. Bill DeWitt-Idiot?!?!

Okay…that’s enough. Hopefully the rain will hold off enough to get this game in tonight…and we’ll see if the team does ANYTHING to quell the fear running through Cardinals Nation over the next few weeks. In the meantime, here’s those links I promised you.

GO CARDS!

A great piece by Will Leitch of deadspin.com:
http://deadspin.com/5291272/how-the-cardinals-could-lose-albert-pujols

St. Louis Post-Dispatch writers weigh-in:
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/round-two/round-two/2009/06/will-albert-be-a-cardinal-in-2012/

Brian Burwell’s usual “you’re not helping at all, Brian” approach:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/bryanburwell/story/AC51EFAC911211D2862575D7000E773A?OpenDocument

And finally…the man who seems to have started it all…the internet “mad-bomber-what-bombs-at-midnight” when it comes to St. Louis Cardinals outrage…Mr. Bernie Miklasz’s plea to Cardinals’ ownership:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/DBD78F6E69FA9BAE862575D600116C98?OpenDocument

In the 7 Spot, Yadi the Body Steps Up…

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote a statistically well-researched piece (blog…column…article…? Idk.) about Yadier Molina’s recent struggles at the plate. It was well-written, insightful, and full of statistical evidence. You can find it somewhere at www.stltoday.com (I couldn’t find it quick enough, so you’re on your own). But ultimately, I think it missed the point. 

Bernie tends to focus quite a bit on pitch selection, location, and what a hitter does or does not do with said pitch in said location. That’s not Yadi’s problem. Yadi, the great catcher/player that he is, is a victim of Tony La Russa’s wishful thinking and lineup switching. Constantly being misplaced in the batting order has destroyed Molina’s stats and effectively neutralized one of our more consistent hitters in the bottom half of the order. Let me explain:

In a baseball lineup, hitters and batting positions have roles and a purpose. The leadoff guy gets on. The 2-hole (according to TLR) is a damage-potential hitter who knows what to do with improved pitch selection/location. The third spot is traditionally your best hitter/RBI guy – the one you want to build your lineup around and maximize his number of ABs (see Pujols). The 4 spot? Oh, come on…that’s the big bopper…the cleanup guy. In the 5 spot, a power-hitting RBI threat to pick up what the 3 and 4 guys have left behind. Six spot guys are what I call “mop-up” hitters. If, for some reason, the 3-5 hitters didn’t get it done…the 6 spot guy has a puncher’s chance of driving in a run. Finally, we’re left with the 7 through 9 spots. The 9 spot (excluding TLR) is reserved for the pitcher, but the 7 and 8 spots? They are reserved for what I call “complementary hitters.” 

A complementary hitter is a bat in the lineup that must hit but is not relied upon. The heavy lifting in the offense is performed by the 1 through 6 spots (and the 9 spot is a throw-away or sacrifice position). The 7 and 8 guys, however, are seen as a complement to whatever the rest of the offense is able to put together. If they hit, awesome. If they don’t, no big deal. They’re usually on the team for their defense – not their bat (see Cesar Izturis). Their best approach at the plate is to work ABs and try to get on base for the offense to turn over and drive them in. Their secondary concern – to get the pitcher to the plate so the next inning starts in the top of the order. 

Okay…you get the point. Comp hitters are not exactly thought of as run-producers. This is where Yadi comes in.

It’s hard to think of Yadier Molina as a complementary hitter based on the job description I’ve provided – but that’s exactly what he is for the Cardinals. He’s a catcher first – a hitter second. But when he does hit, he’s usually one of the hardest in the NL to strike out. He works at bats. And…furthermore…he hits for a respectable average. Throw that together and a manger may be tempted to bump his line-driving hitting catcher up in the order to get his bat involved in the RBI slugfest taking place in the 3 through 6 spots. For Yadi…such a move is offensive suicide.

Take a look at Yadi’s splits based on batting order over his career and during this (2009) season:

CAREER

4th Spot – 45 ABs  .178 BA
5th Spot – 78 ABs .256 BA
6th Spot – 453 ABs .269 BA
7th Spot – 718 ABs .283 BA
8th Spot – 596 ABs .242 BA

2009 SEASON

4th Spot – 16 ABs .063 BA
5th Spot – 39 ABs .282 BA
6th Spot – 106 ABs .255 BA
7th Spot –  29 ABs .379

Also worth noting, Yadi has 1 HR in only 29 ABs in the 7 spot compared to 3 HRs in 106 ABs in the 6 spot (1 HR in 29 ABs in 7 – 1 HR per 35.3 ABs in 6). Plus, in just 29 ABs – Yadi has 6 RBIs in the 7 spot compared to 9 in 106 ABs in the 6 spot. 

Look…enough…the problem is clear. The more pressure on Yadi – the more TLR expects out of Molina in the lineup – the less he produces. Maybe it’s the pitcher’s increased focus on Yadi in a higher batting position, maybe it’s Yadi trying to do too much…who knows? But whatever the reason, Yadier Molina NEEDS to hit in the 7 spot in the lineup. Hitting him anywhere else nearly neutralizes his bat and all but eliminates a valuable complementary hitter.

With all the databases and charts running around the Busch Stadium clubhouse and manager’s office these days…you would think someone would notice.

Ah well…hey…Carp vs. Lee tonight on ESPN…what a treat, eh?

GO CARDS!!!!

My 2009 Opening Day Roster…

Per Derrick Goold tweeting from Twitter…Chris Perez has been optioned to Triple A to make room for Brad Thompson on the Cards’ Opening Day roster. Apparently the team feels they need an innings guy for long relief during the grueling, one-day-off April schedule. I agree…but not completely.

Here’s my Opening Day roster if the Cards’ front office thought to consult the all-too-knowledgeable staff at Cards ‘N Stuff.

STARTING PITCHERS
No surprise here, so I’ll make it short and sweet.

1. Adam Wainwright
2. Kyle Lohse
3. Todd Wellemeyer
4. Chris Carpenter
5. Joel Pineiro

In that order.

CATCHERS
Again, this is an easy one. The no-brainer guys are:

1. Yadier Molina
2. Jason LaRue

INFIELDERS
Because I want to save the bullpen lineup for last, we’re gonna’ jump right into the position players – starting with the infielders.

1. Albert Pujols (1B) – ‘Nuff said.
2. Khalil Greene (SS) - Again…no brainer. Let’s hope he can carry his hitting into the season.
3. Skip Schumaker (2B) – This time last year…never thought I would say this…but Skip’s the man at second. Good to see him improving.
4. David Freese (3B)- This is truly a positive coming out of camp. Freese is a plus player with strong defense and an exciting bat.
5. Brendan Ryan (Utility) – I just like Ryan’s energy. He has the ability to make things happen on offense, and his defensive versatility has only improved this season.
6. Brian Barden (Utility)- Aaaannnddd…here we go. I know Joe Thurston has become the new thing in camp, but Barden’s my guy. He may have a “limited” bat, but it’s still a good bat. The man is solid on defense, can play anywhere on the infield, and he is a true ball player. You may say his offensive performance this Spring came in limited at-bats (especially compared to his counter-part, Thurston), but I say all the more reason to keep him on the roster. In limited, sporadic at-bats, Barden has done nothing but hit (.385) and get on base (.442 before today’s game). The guy puts the ball in play. What more could you ask of a utility-playing, bench-warming, part-time pinch-hitter?

OUTFIELDERS
Here it is…the big one…the roster configuration where Colby Rasmus does NOT make the Opening Day squad.

1. Rick Ankiel – Guy’s a slugger. Be fun to watch him this season.
2. Ryan Ludwick – All-Star…he’s on.
3. Chris Duncan – This guy is gonna’ be exciting this season. His power’s back, and I think dealing with his injury the last couple years has made him a better hitter (better contact, fewer strikeouts, more walks).
4. Joe Mather- I know his bat has been quiet, lately…but the odd thing is he’s still capable of running up his RBI count. Despite his recent dip in production, he’s a valuable, Scott Spezio role guy. He’s on in my book.

Rasmus is not on. I’m not sayin’ he shouldn’t be brought up near the end of April, but let’s not jump the gun. Let the guy get everyday at-bats to jump-start his season in April and let his arbitration clock start later. Why? Because I want Chris Perez on the team.

BULLPEN
The Cardinals have a tight schedule in April with only one off day and all five starters still in early season form. You need a long relief guy like Brad Thompson on the team…but that doesn’t have to come at the expense of Chris Perez.

1. Ryan Franklin – Looks to be great this year.
2. Josh Kinney – Gonna’ be nasty this season. The arm looks good and the stuff looks filthy.
3. Jason Motte – The man’s a beast. I love watching him take the mound. He makes me believe nothing shakes him…and it’s the hitter that’s on the defensive.
4. Trever Miller – One of two lefty specialists on the team. He’s a must…but he makes me uncomfortable. He has not…I repeat, not…had a good Spring. But…recently…a bit better.
5. Dennys Reyes - The other lefty and a late addition, he could be the best move we’ve made in the off-season.
6. Kyle McClellan - The righty seems to have righted himself with his return to “his” side of the rubber. He’ll be strong again this season…and may end up filling a brief need as a long reliever.
7. Brad Thompson - This guy has made a career of pitching on the bubble. His role the last few seasons is under-appreciated and all-too necessary. Good to see him on the team…but with young relievers like K-Mac, Motte, and Perez…how long will he remain?
8. Chris Perez - Perez was just optioned to AAA…and I don’t like it. The way he’s throwing, and considering the way our bullpen functioned last season, the best course of action here is to plug him into Raz’s roster spot until April is over…then make the tough call in the ‘pen based on performance. But…alas…the team doesn’t see it that way. We have not seen the last of Chris Perez in 2009.

And that does it…my roster preference. To summarize, I went with six infielders, four outfielders, and a whopping thirteen pitchers to help support the Arms Race of April. My roster delays the arrival of Colby Rasmus in favor of Perez’s Opening Day debut, but it’s worth it. With one off day in the opening month, what do we need yet another left-handed outfielder for, anyway?

Anywho…with less than a week ’til Opening Day…

GO CARDS!!!!