Cardinals/Marlins Offseason Dance - Stanton Says Nope

[MrCrowesGarden]

By WAR he's getting underpaid. But he ended up getting paid considerably more than the next highest reported offer. That's why being a slave to WAR/$ isn't very useful. I’m happy he’s here but it does seem like the Cardinals had to pay some kind of a premium to overcome whatever hurdle there was— be it St. Louis, Matheny, the other players, etc.

[tlombard]

that's going to happen. we play in the middle of the country...there's not [expletive] to do...there's much better places to raise a family, warmer weather, prettier girls, better night life, better food, etc.

The common line that there is nothing to do in St. Louis gets on my nerves. I used to think that way but then I started venturing out of the immediate area where I grew up (Ferguson/Florissant) and found that there is always something going on and something to do in St. Louis. Most people who say there isn't just aren't willing to leave their little area of the county (sometimes city but mainly county) where they grew up and still live. Everybody I know who say that are the people that will go to the same bar every single Friday night in South County that they've been going to since they turned 21 and will only venture out of that little area to hit a Cards or Blues game a couple of times a year.

[Hoot45]

Move the team to Vegas.

[cardsfantx]

that's going to happen. we play in the middle of the country...there's not [expletive] to do...there's much better places to raise a family, warmer weather, prettier girls, better night life, better food, etc.

The common line that there is nothing to do in St. Louis gets on my nerves. I used to think that way but then I started venturing out of the immediate area where I grew up (Ferguson/Florissant) and found that there is always something going on and something to do in St. Louis. Most people who say there isn't just aren't willing to leave their little area of the county (sometimes city but mainly county) where they grew up and still live. Everybody I know who say that are the people that will go to the same bar every single Friday night in South County that they've been going to since they turned 21 and will only venture out of that little area to hit a Cards or Blues game a couple of times a year.

i was born there, grew up there, went to college there, stayed a few years after graduating college. still have family/friends there and go back 1-2 a year.

when you compare it to other cities...there's really no comparison. I used to travel a lot for my old job (and permanently reside now in DFW)...LA, NY, CHI, DFW are just so much more attractive for a young, rich professional athlete, and it's not even close.

sure, there's stuff to do in STL...but there's no comparison to larger cities where most of the baseball franchises are located in that we compete against for FA.

hell, most of the players for the cards don't even live in saint louis...when you play a majority of your year in a city, and still won't put down roots/buy a house there, it tells you something.

[tlombard]

Of course St. Louis is no LA, NY, etc. but to say that athletes don't put down roots here is a bit off the mark. I'd be willing to bet that just as many put down roots in St. Louis after growing up somewhere else if they want to raise a family as they would any other city. And I wouldn't expect players to put down roots in the city they play in unless they are there for a really long time and start their family there.

Even with baseball being a six month season, they only play half of their games at their home city. The other half of the games are on the road. They get just as many days off on the road as they do in town and what do they get, 22 or so off days a year total? Spring training is not in the home city.

Sure they get more daily living experience in their team's home city than others during the season but to act like they can be out taking advantage of the night life and things to do in their home city during the season when they're playing 6 nights a week before flying to another city is not how it really happens so I don't see how 'what there is to do in a city' factors in very much. If players really don't want to come here it is because of the organization itself and has NOTHING to do with the city itself.

The only argument I'd accept against the city itself compared to others would be if you wanted to talk about local endorsement opportunities or the chance to make cameos and appearances on TV or in movies.

[TimChopsula]

The only argument I'd accept against the city itself compared to others would be if you wanted to talk about local endorsement opportunities or the chance to make cameos and appearances on TV or in movies.

And weather, proximity to mountains/beaches, cultural factors, taxes (better than some places in STL, but also worse than other places).

As someone who was born and raised in STL and who has a soft spot in my heart for the region, the cultural factors are a major factor in me not moving back there.

[cardinalkarp]

I've lived in STL nearly all my life and honestly if it wasn't for family I would have been gone a LONG time ago. Sure, there's a few things to do in STL...but the city itself sucks ROYALLY.

[tlombard]

The only argument I'd accept against the city itself compared to others would be if you wanted to talk about local endorsement opportunities or the chance to make cameos and appearances on TV or in movies.

And weather, proximity to mountains/beaches, cultural factors, taxes (better than some places in STL, but also worse than other places).

As someone who was born and raised in STL and who has a soft spot in my heart for the region, the cultural factors are a major factor in me not moving back there.

I get all of that but the idea that an athlete wouldn't want to play here because of those things it just something I don't buy. Sure, I get why many players have off season homes in CA, Miami, etc. but I don't think they factor in as a reason for a professional athlete wouldn't want to play in St. Louis and that's what we're talking about here, not us living as normal people who have to go into the same place of business 4 days a week year round and don't have the means to have a home outside of where we work for half the year or less. Those are two entirely different discussions as far as I'm concerned.

[Hoot45]

I moved from Virginia Beach to Madison (WI) to Milwaukee to Chicago to St. Louis. I travel American cities frequently for work. Not only is St. Louis my favorite place I have ever lived, but I never find myself longing to call another place home as I travel. Our family is thrilled to put down roots in this city. The quality of life is excellent (and we live within the city limits). People can keep bashing, underrating, and fearing it though because their loss is our gain. Keeps the cost of living down.

Stanton can live wherever the hell he wants.

[Diddy]

Cusumano, Bernie and Goold all addressed there was reluctance on Fowler’s behalf to sign in St. Louis. Yes, they are rumors— but these are pros. And the fact that a servile media said something remotely negative about the Cardinals leads me to believe there’s something to it.

Sounds like a bargaining ploy to me.