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2007
MLB Site Round-Up
By Amanda
This week, it looks like each team’s MLB website was assigned to write a Winter Meeting Checklist and a story about the team’s biggest need. Of course, since they are the official sites, they have to sugar-coat the situation a little. I think these headlines merit a little translation.
Cardinals : “Cardinals Looking for More Pitching”
Translation :Â We’re looking for the next wash-up or second rate reliever for Dave Duncan to turn into a star.
Reds : “Reds go to Meetings looking for pitching”
Translation : Anything we can do to be more like the Cardinals.
Brewers : “Melvin looking at many options for Brewers”
Translation : Option 1: find enough decent relievers to restock bullpen. Option 2: drink more beer.
Astros : “Astros seeking closer, help at second”
Translation :Â If Clemens won’t come out of retirement as a starting pitcher, maybe he’d like to try second base.
Cubs : “Cubs hope to upgrade offense”
Translation : We really think it’s enough to bring back Kerry Wood.
Pirates :Â “Pirates to play it by ear at Winter Meetings”
Translation : We have no idea what we’re doing.
At this point I’m not sure the Reds or anybody else should want to be like the Cardinals, and I don’t mean that as smack talk.
They’ve got a new ownership group that fired one of the team’s most successful GMs ever because he wasn’t listening to their new Moneyball-type front-office honcho. They have a pitching staff that’s in tatters. Scott Rolen does not get along with Yony LaRussa and reportedly wants out. Jim Edmonds apparently has said he’d waive his no-trade clause too, though only for a southern California team. And now they’ve deluded themselves into thinking they can replace Eckstein with Izturis?
“But Izturis won a Gold Glove!” That bunch of hooey and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee. They removed an important piece from their offense, replacing him with a guy whose OBP last year was only one point higher than X-Factor’s BA.
Or to put it another way, the guy they just refused to re-sign had a career batting average of .278 in nine postseason series, with a .333 OBP. His replacement has appeared in the postseason only once, going 3-for-17 (.176) with a .222 OBP for the Dodgers while they were getting their butts kicked (by the Cardinals, no less) in the 2004 NLDS.
My condolences to Cardinals fans. Watching a championship team descend into rebuilding mode is never any fun.
HMZ
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:35 am
http://modernrooters.blogspot.com/
If any of you have some free time, please check out this article I wrote on Jon Lester. I’m hoping for some feedback from fans who don’t like the Red Sox. Thank you to those of you who take the time to read it.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:52 pm