mike (Utica,NY): Colby Rasmus was sent down. Do you think he could start off strong like Hunter Pence or Ryan Braun last year in the PCL. Also what's your thoughts on Jurrijens strong spring and the Braves.
Jim Baker: I don't get this move at all. If Rasmus rates the way everyone says he does, don't you make room for him sooner rather than later? According to the depth charts, Skip Schumaker is going to get some time in the outfield now. Realizing he's just a placeholder, why not get Rasmus in there now? The Cardinals are not destined for great things this year, so it's a perfect time to get a rookie into it from the start. Failing that, I think it will end up as Mike foretells, with Rasmus coming along a little later. I'm not saying we're going to see a Pence/Braun-type debut, but it will be good news for St. Louis when he comes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy (New York, NY): Well, if the Cards aren't going to have a good year anyway, what's the harm in sending him down for a while to delay the start of his arbitration clock? 72 wins is just as good as 73, really, right? Is there any developmental advantage to getting an extra month or two in the majors?
Jim Baker: Getting back to Rasmus for a moment...It's not to get more wins, it's to get him big league experience when the pressure is off. I've always felt that high-level players like Rasmus should be in the bigs by 22. If you look at history, that's usually the case. There have been some late entries, like Wade Boggs, but the greats are usually there early unless their path was blocked by another great. (Boggs was blocked, in part, because Yaz was still hanging around.) Andy makes a good point about arbitration clocks, but the Cards can always do what the Mets did with David Wright and Jose Reyes, lock him up early and long.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony (Brooklyn, NY): What are the moves to make for the playoffs "crapshoot"? Big starters/short relief/pinch runners?
Jim Baker: A lot of ink is spilled every year about the moves teams make on the fringes of their rosters heading into the playoffs. Does it really matter? Well, we have seen a manager have no idea what to do with his bench in the playoffs (Bobby Cox), so the fringes CAN matter.
The life lesson the 2006 Cardinals taught us should still resonate, I think. There are examples of teams landing the various components Tony mentions and those teams have both succeeded and failed. I don't know that there is one thing a team needs to get that would ensure success.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim W. (Austin): What sort of numbers do you think Pujols will put up this year? Who will challenge him among National League hitters?
Jim Baker: I see no reason why his EqA won't be in the high .320s/low .330s, regardless of his troubles. One of the men most capable of challenging him is now in Detroit. The departure of Miguel Cabrera to Detroit makes him a bit safer, but Ryan Braun can challenge. If Chipper Jones approximates his 2007 and stays healthy, he's right there in MLVr with Pujols. Ditto Matt Holliday and Chase Utley.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=439
No comments:
Post a Comment