Is it Feb 3rd yet?...

[dawgstudent]

Just let this **** be over with.

 

[dawgstudent]

Just let this **** be over with.

 

[Todd4State]

I can always throw a baseball post out there. I almost posted about how happy I was that the Cardinals got Nick Punto.

 

[missouridawg]

However, I hope Theriot, Freese, and Schumaker play so well this year that Punto never sees the field...

Also, apparently Lance Berkman has lost 20 lbs this offseason. I'm not sure what to expect from him, but he has all the motivation in the world with this one year contract to go out, bust his ***, have a great season and earn him his final 3 or 4 year deal for about 5 to 10 million per year, depending on how well he plays. If he can hit .280 with 25 hrs and 90 rbi's, the Cardinals could be in for a good year.

 

[independencebowlmainstay]

I saw David last week in Mobile(have known him since his time @ USA). He is a great guy. Said he is healthy and ready to go. I hate the Cards, but I think he is going to have a great year. A 300/20/90/90 type season.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Shouldn't take more than a couple of days of locking to get the message across.

 

[missouridawg]

but trust, me, I'd be ecstatic with it.

He showed flashes of his potential last year, but injuries always seem to de-rail him. The Cardinals NEED him tostart 140 games this year. If Punto has to start more than 100 games, we're in trouble.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Skip, Theriot, Punto, and Greene up the middle of the infield don't give me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. Keep our fingers crossed that Freese stays healthy otherwise they are in trouble. I just don't know what to expect from Berkman, especially in right field.

 

[missouridawg]

Brendan Ryan, as bad as he was in the clubhouse and at the plate, is a top 3 or 4 defensive SS.... and the Cardinals pitching staff is built around getting ground balls. It could very well be another roller coaster of a year for STL.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

... and the Cardinals pitching staff is built around getting ground balls.

Exactly and they go out and sign Theriot to be supposedly the everyday SS that has horrible range. Add to that Skip playing 2B who still hasnt really grasped playing the position and you have some big time defensive issues.

 

[independencebowlmainstay]

but trust, me, I'd be ecstatic with it.

He showed flashes of his potential last year, but injuries always seem to de-rail him. The Cardinals NEED him tostart 140 games this year. If Punto has to start more than 100 games, we're in trouble.

That's not the stat line he said to me....I didn't ask him. That is my opinion. He really looks good right now. Has added about 8 lbs of muscle, and is really barreling the ball up right now. He was hitting some absolute bombs. That being said, alot of his numbers are going to depend on where LaRussa hits him in the lineup. I would hit him 5th, but that is just me. My lineup would look something like this....Theriot, Rasmus/Jay, Pujols, Holliday, Freese, Berkman, then go from there....I don't know enough about the backend of the roster, but it would look something like that. I would also look at dealing one of the young OFs(Jay or Rasmus), for some MI help. When you have that pitching staff, you have surround them with a defense that suits their tendencies.

The year he came out in the draft, a few scouts I know asked me what I thought, and I told them he was the best bat I had seen that year in person, and I saw every SEC team play. He was the one that I was sure, barring a significant injury, would be a big leaguer. I was somewhat worried defensively, but he has gotten better there, as well. Either way, he is going to be a very good big leaguer. Maybe not an AS, but a certain yearly contributor. However, outside of Wright, and maybe Rolen, there isn't a better 3B in the NL, IMO.

 

[bendog]

...if for no other reason than to get all the tripe off this board.

 

[Todd4State]

... and the Cardinals pitching staff is built around getting ground balls.

Exactly and they go out and sign Theriot to be supposedly the everyday SS that has horrible range. Add to that Skip playing 2B who still hasnt really grasped playing the position and you have some big time defensive issues.

He can also play those middle infield positions as well as third. I do agree it's not exactly the world's greatest middle infield, but all around they're probably no worse than last year.

Maybe they can bring Ozzie out of retirement. He probably is at least as good as those guys are right now.

I figure LaRussa will have a middle infield with Shumaker/Theriot/Punto at second and then Theriot and Punto at SS in some form or fashion.

 

[Todd4State]

over Freese. But I have seen Freese play with the Cardinals and I was really impressed with his hitting in the clutch more than anything. He may get to the top five in a couple of years.

 

[fishwater99]

Or limit to one thread a day for all this BS... It is beyond ridiculous this year....

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

... and the Cardinals pitching staff is built around getting ground balls.

Exactly and they go out and sign Theriot to be supposedly the everyday SS that has horrible range. Add to that Skip playing 2B who still hasnt really grasped playing the position and you have some big time defensive issues.

He can also play those middle infield positions as well as third. I do agree it's not exactly the world's greatest middle infield, but all around they're probably no worse than last year.

Maybe they can bring Ozzie out of retirement. He probably is at least as good as those guys are right now.

I figure LaRussa will have a middle infield with Shumaker/Theriot/Punto at second and then Theriot and Punto at SS in some form or fashion.

No worse than last year? That's not what I would call a glowing endorsement seeing how the Cardinals were terrible up the middle last year.

 

[mredge]

I like the Cards, but Berkman seems to be one of the guys that the end of steroids has really hurt.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

Look, as an Astros fan I hate it that Berkman is suiting up for the Cards this year, but to suggest that someone nicknamed "Fat Elvis" was a steroids user is ridiculous. I don't think there is any way the Puma was on steroids.<div>
</div><div>By the way, he was injured most of last year and he is getting older...that could have something to do with his declining numbers. </div>

 

[missouridawg]

.

 

[WP4]

Berkman will bring a little power at the plate but not what we are looking for or need. As far as the infield goes, I have no clue what LaRussa and Mozeliak are thinking here. Theriot isn't just terrible and Punto is solid on D, but they're not going to be major contributors on a championship team. In the end I guess all I really care about is getting this Pujols deal done. I hope to God they get something done by his spring training deadline so we can just forget about him going anywhere else.

 

[Rezpup]

at least when its over and it turns out well for us, there will be nothing left for them to screw with our naive fan base about. It's gonna be a fun day to watch our rivals try to spin this signing day debacle of theirs.

 

[Todd4State]

it is what it is.

 

[Todd4State]

I feel like he has come full circle. He also played at Rice when MSU and Rice were in the CWS in 1997.

Man, the Generals had the ugliest uniforms in the history of baseball.

The worst ones were the Charleston Rainbows. They looked, well, gay.

 

[alabamadog]

nm

 

[biguglyjoe]

*****

 

[alabamadog]

even though we were all wondering when, not if that was going to happen as far as I remember.

 

[biguglyjoe]

****

 

[chew1095]

NM