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maddash wrote:

Phyrkrakr wrote: Q: Should we do the Cleveland thing, and get young next year, let guys get healthy, and gear up for 2009?
A: Good point, it's hard to make those trades we used to. We could do sneaky things before there was revenue sharing/new CBA, and it's harder to make those deals now. We want to be competitive next year, but we also want to keep developing the youngsters. (He's dodging the question)

I think that's a telling quote. It was one of WJ's strong suits and it, for the most part, has been stifled by the change in baseball. That isn't to say it won't change back, but the last few years it's seems like Walt's mojo didn't work as well as it once did. I think ownership saw the writing on the wall and wanted to switch up gears.

Phyrkrakr wrote:

maddash wrote:

Phyrkrakr wrote: Q: Should we do the Cleveland thing, and get young next year, let guys get healthy, and gear up for 2009?
A: Good point, it's hard to make those trades we used to. We could do sneaky things before there was revenue sharing/new CBA, and it's harder to make those deals now. We want to be competitive next year, but we also want to keep developing the youngsters. (He's dodging the question)

I think that's a telling quote. It was one of WJ's strong suits and it, for the most part, has been stifled by the change in baseball. That isn't to say it won't change back, but the last few years it's seems like Walt's mojo didn't work as well as it once did. I think ownership saw the writing on the wall and wanted to switch up gears.

That's not an exact quote, btw, I was paraphrasing trying to keep up with the audio. That was just me summing up his answer.

Phyrkrakr wrote:That's not an exact quote, btw, I was paraphrasing trying to keep up with the audio. That was just me summing up his answer.

Fat Strat wrote:

I think the bottom line is that until DeWitt unloads the team for an obscene profit, the Cards have become the Kansas City Royals-East. Develop exciting young players, watch them develop into stars after 3 or 4 years, and when it looks like they're going to hit the arbitration jackpot, trade them for draft picks or rookie league prospects. Oh, like Oakland, every now and then you'll sneak in for a quick howdy and exit in the first round of the playoffs because your division is weak, but you're not going to be a threat to win the Series.

Where in the world are you getting this idea? You think that getting rid of Jocketty is going to change this organization's approach to winning, player development, and long-range planning? I seriously doubt that.

Look, you might not have Jocketty in the front office, but it's not like we're going to go in some totally different and crazy direction.

Legynd wrote:Well, FatStrat,

If you insist you have to have a "mid-market payroll," what are you going to do when Albert's next contract comes due? When Yadi is eligible for arbitration? Ankiel already eligible? Who's at short? Who replaces Jimmy and Scott (we're locked into Rolen for several years anyway)? Who's the next closer? Where are the 2 front-line starters coming from?

We're not going to get there on $90 million.

From what I'm hearing DeWitt say, next year's Cards are (with 2009 in parenthesis):

1B: Free Albert (demands trade; we see one of our AAA players moved here
2B: Stuck with Kennedy (still stuck with Kennedy)
SS: Ryan's Head (or another minor league SS)
3B: The Ghost of Scott Rolen's Shoulder (same; can't unload that contract)
C: Yadi (Anderson, ready or not; Yadi would be in arbitration)
LF: Platoon Dunc/Lud (probably same)
CF: The Ghost of Jim Edmonds (Shoemaker or Rasmus)
RF: Ank, unless the Cards refuse to offer arbitration and DFA him (same)

Bench: Spezio, Miles, whoever isn't playing LF, Shoe, Bennett (same with
Shoe or Rasmus on bench and a new cheap backup C)

SP: Wainwright
Looper
Somebody
Somebody
Anybody

Closer: Izzy (hope the guy at AA can do it)
Bullpen: Franklin, Springer, Clowne Troupe (maybe the same)

I just don't see where the improvement comes without a payroll surge. And DeWitt is saying there won't be a significant one; that's what this is all about. Hope the minor leaguers fill the spots; go for the cheap.

Legynd

Legynd wrote: If you insist you have to have a "mid-market payroll," what are you going to do when Albert's next contract comes due?