After a great series against the cubs, the cardinals have fallen apart, getting beat by houston, and just not being able to handle any tough teams.
The obvious answer is pitching. They have the hitting, but thier pitching staff this season has been thier downfall. What pitchers are going to be available this offseason?
I wouldn't have very high hopes for the pitching market this off season. I've heard things going around here that the Blue Jays won't be able to afford to keep Kelvim Escobar because he'll probably get 8 million bucks a season over a 4-5 year contract. If Escobar is gonna attract that kind of money there can't be much out there, because there's no way Kelvim and his gas can are worth that kind of money.
Kevin Millwood, Sidney Ponson, Bartolo Colon, Andy Pettite and Greg Maddux are on the market. You might see Javier Vazquez moved in trade. Plus potential retirees David Wells and Roger Clemens will also be available. Good year to seek pitching on the market.
Wow...shows what I know. I shoulda known Maddux because of all the talk that he's going to wind up in San Diego and pitch the opening game in the new ballpark, but I hadn't heard anything about the other guys. Good thing someone is paying attention.
Yeah, this is shaping up to be one of the best pitchers' markets of the past few years. When Greg Maddux isn't even in the top few pitchers mentioned (even though he has been here) - I'm talking Millwood, Ponson, Colon - and he'll be breaking 300 wins pretty shortly, that says something for the level of pitching.
I will say this: Maddux (back) in Cubbie uniform would be an interesting sight... and a scary pitching staff.
I have a bad feeling that Escobar will be the latest Blue Jays pitcher (Woody, Loaiza) to go onto greater success once he leaves Toronto.
Now if there's ANY team that needs pitching, it's the Jays. They have no money to go for Maddux or his ilk, but maybe they can sweetheart a deal with the Expos for Vazquez. I seriously think the Jays are one starter and two relievers away from contension.
"When this bogus term alternative rock was being thrown at every '70s retro rehash folk group, we were challenging people to new sonic ideas. If some little snotty anarchist with an Apple Mac and an attitude thinks he invented dance music and the big rock group is coming into his territory, [that's] ridiculous." - Bono, 1997
Actually, Ankiel's still in the system - Double-A, last I recalled. They're (obviously) taking it really slow with him. There's a small chance that he might get called up late next year (or even before), but seeing as how he got the pitching equivalent of the yips (unable to hit the strike zone at all), the slower they go with him, the better it'll be, at least in theory. He's still pretty young (24 or 25), so if he comes back, there's a good chance he can still have 10 good years.
Bud Smith, on the other hand .... I'm not entirely sure where he is right now; somewhere in Philly's system, I think. I think that he might be able to be a #3 starter at some point in the future, but nothing beyond that.
Originally posted by TheCowActually, Ankiel's still in the system - Double-A, last I recalled. They're (obviously) taking it really slow with him. There's a small chance that he might get called up late next year (or even before), but seeing as how he got the pitching equivalent of the yips (unable to hit the strike zone at all), the slower they go with him, the better it'll be, at least in theory. He's still pretty young (24 or 25), so if he comes back, there's a good chance he can still have 10 good years.
Bud Smith, on the other hand .... I'm not entirely sure where he is right now; somewhere in Philly's system, I think. I think that he might be able to be a #3 starter at some point in the future, but nothing beyond that.
If i'm not mistaken, Ankiel just had ligament replacement surgery. They were probably counting on Carpenter to recover in time, can't see why they didnt re-sign Finley either. And honestly I'd say it's more of a bullpen problem than the starters anyway.
Originally posted by TheCowActually, Ankiel's still in the system - Double-A, last I recalled. They're (obviously) taking it really slow with him. There's a small chance that he might get called up late next year (or even before), but seeing as how he got the pitching equivalent of the yips (unable to hit the strike zone at all), the slower they go with him, the better it'll be, at least in theory. He's still pretty young (24 or 25), so if he comes back, there's a good chance he can still have 10 good years.
Bud Smith, on the other hand .... I'm not entirely sure where he is right now; somewhere in Philly's system, I think. I think that he might be able to be a #3 starter at some point in the future, but nothing beyond that.
If i'm not mistaken, Ankiel just had ligament replacement surgery. They were probably counting on Carpenter to recover in time, can't see why they didnt re-sign Finley either. And honestly I'd say it's more of a bullpen problem than the starters anyway.
Finley wanted way too much money for an old guy.
Taken from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Accusations have surfaced about Julian Tavarez doctoring the baseball with a foreign substance that he hides on the bill of his cap.
''It's ridiculous,'' Tavarez said. ''They checked my hat last year, too, and never found anything. They're just trying to get inside my head. But I won't let them.'' Just to demonstrate that no one was getting inside his head, Tavarez decided to ramble on for another hour or two and provide a quote of the year possibility. ''Some people like skinny women. I like fat women. Some people like young women. I like older women. Some people like poor women. I like rich women,'' Tavarez said. ''Some people like clean hats. I like my dirty hat.'' My Blog (thecobicity.blogspot.com)
So the Tigers would lose Porcello for a start and the Red Sox lose Youkilis for Five games? Given that the Red Sox won the game, we're back to even with a slight advantage to Detroit. (Isn't Youkilis dinged up a little?)