GDT 9/8/15-Cubs (Hammel) @ Cardinals (Wacha) 7:15 CDT

[Vidor]

People are really upset because Pham isn't getting starts? Pham, he of the .232 batting average? Pham, who cost us a chance to sweep the Nationals when he watched a center-cut fastball whiz by him for strike three with the tying run on third and one out? Really? People are surprised that Jay has his job back over Pham?

He's the shiny new toy. Never mind his miserable game the other day against the Nats.

I am boggled, not so much that a random goober in a chat room complains about Jay getting starts, but because Derrick Goold, a man who's paid to talk about baseball, is surprised that Jay is getting starts over Pham. Jay should get starts over Pham, because Jay is better than Pham.

Of course as mentioned above we're gonna have to make hard choices. If Holliday gets healthy we'll have to decide between a Holliday-Jay-Heyward OF or a Holliday-Heyward-Piscotty OF, then there's Grichuk who can and should play CF every day if he's healthy, and then there's the musical chairs problem we'll have with Moss-THE WHIFF KING-Adams if Adams gets healthy. (I say Moss at 1b, THE WHIFF KING to bench, Adams to his couch.) But Jay/Pham, c'mon.

[Cheddar Tom]

Always amazing how people think that a baseball player, who has been playing every day since Feb., will be able to beat fatigue. Riding in a cushy plane and staying in a 5 star hotel doesn't make your muscles any less sore or able to beat the mental fatigue.

[MinorLeagueGuy]

I'm willing to give Adams 15 AB's, maybe 20. That's essentially 5 games. If he's squaring it up, we can talk roster spot. If he's popping out to an infielder, striking out on pitches in the dirt, grounding out dp's with men in scoring position... Well, what have you done for me lately?

[Cronos]

I'm willing to give Adams 15 AB's, maybe 20. That's essentially 5 games. If he's squaring it up, we can talk roster spot. If he's popping out to an infielder, striking out on pitches in the dirt, grounding out dp's with men in scoring position... Well, what have you done for me lately?

I believe they're doing the same thing with Jay, basically just seeing if he's a viable bench player at all when the big boys return.

[go birds]

Bean, I'm there with you. And I do need a better training regimen. This year I changed my diet.
by Derrick Goold 11:51 AM

Wake up Derrick. There are hundreds of thousands of us who work far harder, travel through airport security instead of taking those cushy charter flights and bus rides that those "overworked" pro athletes do. We have to produce 24/7, sometimes getting awakened during the night and having a real problem dropped in our lap. And you know what, we are on call 365, and are expected to produce at the best of our ability. So if fatigue is such a big issue, perhaps a better training regimen and diet are needed. Face it, these guys have too much time on their hands. Fatigue? Get a life. Fans know better.

This is priceless. #BFIB

ya, its so weird over there. as much as we bicker and go back and forth on things, i feel like GRB discussion is still way above (intelligence) cardstalk

Vidor are you "Bean"?

[letsgocards89]

Not at this point. That's the word from the Cardinals officials.
by Derrick Goold 10:57 AM

Barring injury, do you see any other minor league players joining the team in September?
by TJV 10:57 AM

And before you start to wonder why the 40-man roster is so important at this point, it's because the Cardinals are about to have some traffic issues on it. Adam Wainwright, Matt Adams, and Matt Belisle are all on the 60-day disabled list. The Cardinals must first clear a spot for them on the 40-man roster before they can join the active roster this month. That means letting some of the players on the 40-man go -- not adding a player like Diaz to it.
by Derrick Goold 10:56 AM

He's not on the 40-man roster. Was removed earlier this year.
by Derrick Goold 10:55 AM

Derrick, any chance Diaz will be called up from Memphis?
by Al Lang Al 10:54 AM

Well then. I didn't know you get to add players to the 40-man roster when someone goes on the DL, I thought it was only the 25-man. That could make things interesting soon. I'm guessing that means we'll see none of Wainwright, Adams, or Belisle in 2015 unless they're comfortable with DFA-ing some dudes.

[Jocephus]

re: chats - apparently espn is quitting their chats this week

[Vidor]

Vidor are you "Bean"?

No! I didn't say anything really silly, like claiming we'd be in second place by the end of the West Coast road trip.

Those athletes are too darn coddled. Make 'em ride in ox carts.

[Vidor]

Well then. I didn't know you get to add players to the 40-man roster when someone goes on the DL, I thought it was only the 25-man. That could make things interesting soon. I'm guessing that means we'll see none of Wainwright, Adams, or Belisle in 2015 unless they're comfortable with DFA-ing some dudes.

As I understand it that's pretty much why the 60-day DL exists--you can leave someone on the 15-day DL for forever if you want, but sending him to the 60-day DL clears a space on the 40-man roster.

[jagtrader]

Always amazing how people think that a baseball player, who has been playing every day since Feb., will be able to beat fatigue. Riding in a cushy plane and staying in a 5 star hotel doesn't make your muscles any less sore or able to beat the mental fatigue.

Something to consider when looking at numbers posted by DHs or guys who get to fill in at DH.