tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65909447701311897932009-11-09T00:05:00.176-06:00Where All The St. Louis Cardinals News & Rumors Links Come To One Spot. I Do The Research, You Do The Readingjrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.comBlogger5000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-50925120929816035252009-11-09T00:05:00.000-06:002009-11-09T00:05:00.183-06:00

A year after doing business at an ostentatious resort perched on Southern California bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Major League Baseball is sticking with a minimalist theme for this week's annual meetings of general managers.STL Today

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-43508454277059220312009-11-08T23:22:00.001-06:002009-11-08T23:23:47.268-06:00

For the third consecutive year, the members of the United Cardinal Bloggers will be voting on various aspects of this past season so as to bestow the Cardinal Blogger Awards. It's sort of the unofficial kickoff to the UCB year, as this was the first project we ever did as a group back in 2007.C70 At The Bat

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For those that have been beating the Mike Cameron drum as a left field option, remember that when you quote his WAR value, it’ll decrease by one when you consider the postion adjustment from CF to LF (from ~+2.5 to ~-7.5). Clearly some of that would be mitigated if he plays CF vs. LHP, and I’m not saying he wouldn’t be an ok option at the right price, just be wary if you think he can post ~4 WAR

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-44013598097269869412009-11-08T23:03:00.001-06:002009-11-08T23:07:15.454-06:00

A year ago, after the Phillies won the World Series, Ruben Amaro Jr. said he was leery of leaving the lineup unchanged. So, he elected not to re-sign longtime left fielder Pat Burrell, replacing him with free agent Raul Ibanez.Delaware Online

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-72574117490173238772009-11-08T23:02:00.001-06:002009-11-08T23:03:37.770-06:00

In other news, I’ve been told it’s not safe to assume the Giants will sign Wagner Mateo, the teenage outfielder who received a $3.1 million bonus from the St. Louis Cardinals in July but had his contract waived after a physical revealed a potential issue with his eyes. According to his agent, he has 20/30 myopia in one eye and recently went to Miami for a consultation — presumably to have laser

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-32149179132879745812009-11-08T12:23:00.003-06:002009-11-08T12:26:08.962-06:00

Jon Jay is the player of the day in our daily report on Cardinals prospects in winter ball.The Cardinal Nation

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-16283848249673657752009-11-08T12:19:00.001-06:002009-11-08T12:35:51.519-06:00

Since we have been on the theme of St. Louis Cardinals pitchers with the bat over the last few days here at TheCardinalNationblog.com, I decided to take a quick run back through an interesting sideline to the 2009 season – the pitcher hitting eighth experiment.The Cardinal Nation Blog

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Digging into the major changes at the Class A level as three St. Louis Cardinals minor league managers will not be back in their roles next season while two new skippers have been named.Ther Cardinal Nation

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-36984228721733849032009-11-08T12:12:00.003-06:002009-11-08T12:14:59.157-06:00

Well, so much for the theory that the groundwork for trades is made at the general manager’s meetings and consummated at the Winter Meetings. Four significant trades were made this week, and we’re only entering our fourth day of the offseason. The GM meetings start tomorrow in Chicago, and there is better-than-even chance at least one deal will be made there. Heck, by the time the winter meetings

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-30180003446178649642009-11-08T11:31:00.002-06:002009-11-08T11:33:57.283-06:00

Jason Bay and Matt Holliday each had more than 100 RBIs this year.John Lackey was a staff ace on the American League's second-best team.Hideki Matsui was a World Series hero for the Yankees. He is getting older and slower, but he can still hit. Come to think of it, the same can be said for Miguel Tejada.For all five, and many others, free agency is beckoning.Fox Sports

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The thought of free-agent left fielder Matt Holliday signing with the Mets is good for a chuckle. Some who know Holliday say he would prefer not to play in New York. Also, his power to right-center makes him a poor fit for Citi Field. The Mets would not be so desperate to upgrade in left if Fernando Martinez had justified talk that he might be a left-handed Manny Ramirez ...Fox Sports

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-12660717365266532009-11-08T11:26:00.001-06:002009-11-08T12:04:09.196-06:00

"I love Miggy,'' Wade said. "Miggy did exactly what we expected and more. If we have an interest in Miggy it's probably in the third base context at this point in his career. We've got to look at the total picture and just see what exactly fits. Some of these things could take some time."Houston Chronicle

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-40697133385297347952009-11-08T11:25:00.000-06:002009-11-08T12:02:24.897-06:00

The Dodgers and manager Joe Torre are in talks to extend his contract for at least one more year, Torre confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.Dodgers Official Site

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-31839775318586082272009-11-08T11:24:00.001-06:002009-11-08T12:32:30.502-06:00

I just saw "Men who Stare at Goats" last night. Weirdest movie ever. I laughed my ass off throughout the thing, but damned if I knew what it was actually about. Accordingly, I got home late last night, so I don't have time for a full post, but I have a couple of things that I wanted to link to that I thought you'd all enjoy.Viva El Birdos

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-60387889453954701742009-11-08T11:23:00.000-06:002009-11-08T12:30:43.371-06:00

Nothing seems to come easily for Andy Sonnanstine. His fastball barely tops 87 and he's forced to get by on mixing pitches and superb control, which is not a way to earn the benefit of the doubt from fans or scouts.DRays Bay

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-75519273292974134722009-11-08T11:20:00.005-06:002009-11-08T11:59:54.785-06:00

7. Mark Mulder, LHP, free agent - It will be an upset if Mulder doesn’t sign with the Brewers. His rehab coach was Rick Peterson, the new Milwaukee pitching coach. Mulder, 32, was beset with shoulder problems the past two years but now appears to be fine and would likely agree to an incentive-laden deal. In the estimation of one scout, the Brewers need four pitchers.Boston Globe

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-72273047342898947602009-11-08T11:19:00.003-06:002009-11-08T11:50:11.919-06:00

The Hernando DeSoto Baseball League will induct its 30th Hall of Fame class Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Butcher Shop restaurant in Cordova. This year's inductees are infielder Phil Schwager, outfielder Craig Smith and manager Winston Smith (posthumously). Redbirds announcer Steve Selby will be the guest speaker. For reservation information, call Larry Rutledge (276-8434) or Gene Brady (274-2268).

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-33381128080649989172009-11-08T11:18:00.001-06:002009-11-08T11:52:21.573-06:00

Pitcher Carl Pavano filed for free agency on Saturday, becoming the fourth of five eligible Twins to do so.Twins Official Site

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-8110704592788529522009-11-08T11:17:00.002-06:002009-11-08T12:57:33.402-06:00

Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock is the latest St. Louis Cardinals great to put his personal sports memorabilia on the auction block.St. Louis Business Journal

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-43406618802640832382009-11-07T22:56:00.000-06:002009-11-07T23:53:36.609-06:00

Alex Anthopoulos finally did away with the suspense and agreed on Saturday afternoon to discuss the immediate and long-term direction of the Blue Jays. It was a topic the new general manager wanted to address when the time was right.Blue Jays Official Site

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The Rockies’ bullpen remains a fluid situation as the team negotiates with top setupman Rafael Betancourt. While it’s unclear whether Betancourt will be back and what price – the team has approached him about a multi-year deal – Josh Fogg won’t be.Denver Post

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-16359914876438697192009-11-07T22:54:00.003-06:002009-11-07T22:56:55.987-06:00

He is 21, he is left-handed and he throws in the upper 90s, and has been clocked as high as 102 mph. He is young and raw and undisciplined, but he could command a contract in the range of what Jose Contreras, another Cuban defector, got from the Yankees years ago: four years, $32 million."I love his arm,'' one GM said. "But he's got a ways to go before he's ready to pitch in the major leagues,

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-66334648014598684152009-11-07T22:53:00.002-06:002009-11-07T23:29:13.447-06:00

“I’m here to talk about the past.” Those are the words Cardinal fans are longing to hear from their fallen slugger. Will Big Mac finally clear the air and put the issue behind him (and the rest of Cardinal Nation)? For the first time in many years, this enlightenment could happen soon, and the Cardinals may get a top hitting coach in the process. So what’s the issue? It sounds like a win/

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-65371651855544217002009-11-07T12:40:00.000-06:002009-11-07T13:06:17.150-06:00

Kleininger Teran is the player of the day in our daily report on Cardinals prospects in winter ball.The Cardinal Nation

jrocke217http://www.blogger.com/profile/17433461981065206329jrocke217@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590944770131189793.post-32249813986527733762009-11-07T12:39:00.000-06:002009-11-07T13:07:44.740-06:00

A team with a player in his "arbitration years" has essentially three options. First, it can go through the arbitration process (using what is known as "Final Offer Arbitration"). Second, it can reach a contract to avoid arbitration, whether it is a long term deal or merely a one-year deal that splits the difference between the amount the player seeks and the team has offered. Finally, the team

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