*** Official St Louis Cardinals to the 2006 World Series Thread *** - Page 5

Nate tha\\\' Great · #41 03-29-2006, 08:17 PM

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Have you seen Mike Piazza catch? Seriously, his inept catching skills far outweigh what he can bring offensively. I think that there are a lot of ways a good defensive catcher can contribute -- by de-emphisizing a running game even more, picking off runners, blocking balls in the dirt, knowing his pitching staff and calling a good game -- I know you think that is overated but I would disagree.

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Blues,

I know this is going to come across as a sales pitch, but it's worth reading Keith Woolner's chapter on this in Baseball Between the Numbers. I was somewhat of an agnostic on the point of catcher defense before, but Keith has convinced me that it really isn't all that important. Piazza's defense might be ugly, but it's impact on the final score is fairly minimal.

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Finally, with a lineup like the Cards they do not need a ton of production from the catchers spot, but I do think Molina will be much more productive this year, as he will likely not start with 2 horrible months like he did last year.

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See, this is where I disagree. The Cards have *much* too much dead weight in that lineup. Eckstein ... Molina ... Spivey ... Taguchi ... that's the weakest combination of four hitters that you'll find in any opening day lineup, the Marlins and Royals included. I think this is the year that Jocketty finds that he's cut too many corners.

Jim Kuhn · #42 03-29-2006, 09:49 PM

I think Tony Larussa is one of the greatest managers in regular season history. I also think he is one of the worst post season managers in history. He does a great job in the regular season of giving his players rest, platooning and working the matchups. It seems he quits managing in the post season and stays with the same eight guys.

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4u
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StlCardsBlues · #43 03-29-2006, 10:18 PM

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Blues,

I know this is going to come across as a sales pitch, but it's worth reading Keith Woolner's chapter on this in Baseball Between the Numbers. I was somewhat of an agnostic on the point of catcher defense before, but Keith has convinced me that it really isn't all that important. Piazza's defense might be ugly, but it's impact on the final score is fairly minimal.

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I am skeptical about this as I think it would be very difficult to quantify how much impact a "good" defensive catcher has over a "poor" defensive catcher. And I do think that defense at every position is VERY important, but I am always willing to learn new things and see things from different perspectives, so I thank you for the reference.

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Finally, with a lineup like the Cards they do not need a ton of production from the catchers spot, but I do think Molina will be much more productive this year, as he will likely not start with 2 horrible months like he did last year.

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See, this is where I disagree. The Cards have *much* too much dead weight in that lineup. Eckstein ... Molina ... Spivey ... Taguchi ... that's the weakest combination of four hitters that you'll find in any opening day lineup, the Marlins and Royals included. I think this is the year that Jocketty finds that he's cut too many corners.

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If you are defining weak in terms of power, I would agree, but

Toguchi hit .288 last year with 53 RBI mainly from the 7 spot, not great numbers, but not as bad as you make out.

Eck - I still can't figure out why people are down on Eckstein .294 BA , over .360 OBP and 61 RBI from the leadoff spot -- I really don't consider that weak.

Spivey -- meh, you might be right with Spivey, I'm just crossing my fingers on that one, and I truely do believe that Jocketty is one of the best GM's in the game and will find a quality replacement if that doesn't work out.

And, as I stated I think Molina will be better with a year under his belt, and a better start to the season.

B.

StlCardsBlues · #44 03-29-2006, 10:28 PM

I actually think he "over-manages" in the post-season -- changing the lineup, pinch hitting for a pitcher he would normally leave out there, making too many pitching cahnges, etc. No matter, whatever it is he does in the post-season, we can all agree that it ain't working.

B.

Your Mom · #45 03-29-2006, 11:28 PM

Nate, would it be fair to say the Cubs will have a better overall lineup? What are your projections for Jacque Jones? Also, as a numbers guy, who would you pick to start at 2B?

Cubs should have:
1B: D. Lee
2b: T. Walker/N. Perez/J. Hairston
3b: A. Ramirez
SS: R. Cedeno
LF: M. Murton
CF: J. Pierre
RF: J. Jones
C: M. Barrett

Your Mom · #46 03-29-2006, 11:31 PM

Just a meaningless note about the Cards:

I can't stand to watch a Cards game on TV. Cards announcers are the biggest bunch of homers I have ever listened to. Especially hate Joe Buck.

Love the Cardinals radio guy, think his last name is Shannon. He's hilarious, plus fair to the opposing team. Pulls the one man broadcast better than anyone.

StlCardsBlues · #47 03-29-2006, 11:47 PM

So I hope you are against the Cubs policy of canning the announcers if they aren't huge homers.

B.

MyTurn2Raise · #48 03-30-2006, 02:31 AM

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Cards announcers are the biggest bunch of homers I have ever listened to.

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You must not get White Sox games

Aceshigh7 · #49 03-30-2006, 01:36 PM

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go cubs

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The Brewers are taking the division this year.

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cardinals will win the division by 7+ games

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Keep dreaming guys. Bow down to your defending National League Champion Astros!!!!

We have an improved offense this year plus the good chance of adding a fully rested Roger Clemens to the rotation two months into the season.

The Stro's will come out on top once again when it is all said and done. And as for the Flubbies and the Brewers? They will be also-rans. The Cubs have no pitching and the Brewers are getting better, but still not up to elite levels yet. The Stro's are the best second-half team in all of baseball.

Killer B's forever.

Aceshigh7 · #50 03-30-2006, 01:40 PM

Also, it doesn't get any easier for you guys after this season either, cause we have some great young arms just about ready to break into the rotation like Buchholz, Nieve, and Patton, plus the Astros are going to sign Adam Dunn as a free agent. He is begging to come home to Houston and it will definitely happen as soon as his Red's contract is up. He might slug 60 homers playing half his games in Minute Maid.