2012 Chicago Cubs

[Dan Michler]

Cards signed Berk for 1 more year. I don't think he produces the same numbers he did this year, but he will be productive again.
and Honestly, I watched almost every Cardinal game this year(thanks mlb package thru direct tv) and I dont think I recall Albert winning us 5 games by himself? one in the playoffs, but not too many in the regular season??  and 85 wins in that division may be enough, depending on who signs Fielder. if he is not a Brewer, 85 wins may be hard for Milwaukee to reach?

Doug, you comment frequently on here and Facebook about your concern over the Pujols negotiations.  Example... "Pujols probably leaves St. Louis as well! Not a good time to be a World Champion fan after all?!"   

Now you are making the argument that the Cardinals don't need Albert at all, despite the fact that he's clearly your best player and one of the 10 best hitters of alltime.  They are just as good without him.  And if your an 85-77 team, that is good enough.

At the same time you just pointed out that if the Brewers lose Fielder, they drop from a 96 win team to less than 85 wins.  So, I can deduce that Prince Fielder is a more valuable player than Albert Pujols?

I'm not going to argue against you.  Just read what you said.  Nobody needs to make a counterargument against that. 

[pdga#7648]

I'm not saying the Cards are better without him Dan, but I think they can win without him. you have to remember, that is the weakest division in all of baseball.    I guess I'm just upset he hasn't re signed already Dan. And I honestly believe we have seen his best years. you have even pointed out the decline in his numbers across the board, and he was not healthy this year( he is not a machine. LOL) I just know if the Cards do lose him, that hole will not be left as a hole, they will fill it with somebody.

Do I want him to leave, hell no. but if he does, I don't think Cardinal Nation will struggle to win games is the point I'm trying to make. You all thought they would struggle when Wainwright was gone for the year? how did that work out? and he is the main horse of that pitching rotation!

[tacimala]

78 wins tops if Pujols is gone and they don't make another big roster move.

[Dan Michler]

We all thought the Cards would struggle without Wainwright.... and we all were right!  The Cardinals were the favorite in the division with Wainwright, and instead they finished 6 games behind the Brewers.  Welcome to reality.  A few games in October doesn't change the truth about what happened over the course of 162 games.  The Cardinals weren't a great team, period.

And I agree with Taylor, what big roster move do you think their making if Pujols is gone?  Fielder?  Reyes?  Keep dreamin'.

[pdga#7648]

  A few games in October doesn't change the truth about what happened over the course of 162 games.  The Cardinals weren't a great team, period.

And I agree with Taylor, what big roster move do you think their making if Pujols is gone?  Fielder?  Reyes?  Keep dreamin'.

hang on a minute.  All GREAT teams don't go on to win the WS Dan. It's not what you do thru 162 games, except making the playoffs. Once your in, you have to be considered a good team anyway.  2004 Cards were best in baseball, but were swept by Boston. The Cubs(hard to say) but were the best in baseball the year the Dodgers swept them in round #1.
The Cardinals were playing the best ball out of all 8 teams in the playoffs, so it was what they did in September is how they made it in as 1 of the 8 teams to remain. The entire world saw them outplay the best in baseball, the Phillies, then the 2nd best in the NL, Brewers.  Then being the underdog, they put Texas away in game #6. Everyone knew game #7 was in the bag, after all that momentum carried over.  So they had to be decent to even be in the playoffs. Yea the Braves folded, but thats not the Cardinals fault. They still had to win their games!

Call me crazy, laugh at everything I say, but like you with your Cubs, I will argue all day about the Cardinals, when all you guys act like they are a mediocre team. And make it sound like if they lost Pujols, they would finish at the bottom like the Cubs did this year. Wouldn't happen. If he does leave, I have confidence in the team they have with no pick ups at all, they still finish above Chicago in the standings. So, until the Cubs actually win something of meaning, I don't think you have any reason to worry about the Cardinals? They are winners. and finished as a GREAT team! 

They will not, not sign anybody if he does leave. Fielder? we wouldn't want his fatass. But Reyes on the other hand, isn't going to get what he wants in New York cause they don't get along, so I don't think he stays a Met?? St. Louis needs a shortstop, and a base stealer and he is both. If you can  dream about getting Pujols, I can dream, (less far fetched) about signing Reyes IF AP leaves.

[pdga#7648]

ok Dan. Here is a question for you?
You are the GM in St. Louis. You have Pujols going to free agency. Yes, you got him for a steal the last 10 years, but he could have re negotiated at anytime during those years, but chose not to.  Now you have to look at the next 7-8 years. Do you give him over 25MIL a year after seeing these numbers over the last 3 seasons.....

.327 / .312 / .299 AVG

135 / 118 /99 RBI

47 / 42 / 37 HR

45 / 39 / 29 2B

374 / 350 / 313 TB

124 / 115 / 105 R

He is supposedly 31 now. Your going to pay him over 25 MIL when he is 38-39 years old?  Now who's not so smart if you said YES?

[Dan Michler]

ok Dan. Here is a question for you?
Do you give him over 25MIL a year after seeing these numbers over the last 3 seasons.....

I don't, but St.Louis will.

[CEValkyrie]

[/quote]


I have a feeling Big Z will be back pitching for the Cubs next year.
[/quote]

It comes to no surprise that Little Z will have a chance to pitch with the Cubs next year. He's a good #2/3 pitcher. His salary was just to much to eat. I also saw that Wood will probably be back in the bullpen.

[pdga#7648]

Francona withdrew himself as Cubs manager consideration. he said not the right fit for him!  
even he knows that Theo isn't the answer for a World Series Title!

he wanted the St. Louis job. but then again, who wouldn't?

[stpitner]

he knew that the future Cardinals were not the answer for a World Series title.

[pdga#7648]

better read the article Scott. He wanted the St. Louis job, but it was already filled by Mike Matheny. so Francona knew the Cards will contend now, and the Cubs wont.  the article is on espn.com


http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7242337/terry-francona-ruled-managing-2012-not-chicago-cubs

[Dan Michler]

Sounds like Dale Sveum is getting the job (former Red Sox 3B coach under Francona/Epstein, so another one of Epstein's guys).  Hopefully he gets a better crack at this than Quade did.  It'd be nice to go 1 year without our manager having to deal with a Zambrano meltdown.  Sveum certainly has his work cut out for him with this current squad.  He's been the Brewers hitting coach since 2006, so maybe he can help attract Prince Fielder in the event the Cubs make him an offer.

[tjdub26936]

Bye-bye, Astros, see you at interleague play.

Plus, next year we'll be watching the World Series on Veterans Day:

"Commissioner Bud Selig said owners also approved two additional wild-card teams for the postseason, meaning 10 of the 30 teams make the playoffs. Selig said the specifics are being worked out."

[Chainmeister]

Bye-bye, Astros, see you at interleague play.

Plus, next year we'll be watching the World Series on Veterans Day:

"Commissioner Bud Selig said owners also approved two additional wild-card teams for the postseason, meaning 10 of the 30 teams make the playoffs. Selig said the specifics are being worked out."

OK fans, its game seven of the worlds series.  We've had a dandy with great pitching. Roy  Halliday gets ready to pitch to Jeter here in the first.  Snowball inside, ball one.  Wait, Jeter is saying a few flakes have broken off and hit him. There's a clear splotch of white on Jeter's road grey uniform. He's going to be awarded first base. Now Charlie Manuel is coming out to argue and the Phillie fans are pelting Hunter Wendlestat with snowballs of their own.

[tacimala]

They should probably make the season 182 games as well then, I'm not sure 162 provides an accurate depiction of leadership in a division.

[Dan Michler]

Well we still have the Stros for 1 more year Tyler.  The change isn't effective until 2013.  I'm not sure how I feel about the addition of 1 playoff team to each league.  I think the wild card series is only going to be 3 games, and then we'll still be stuck with the 5 game divisional series.  I would rather the division series went to 7 games.

[Dan Michler]

They should probably make the season 182 games as well then, I'm not sure 162 provides an accurate depiction of leadership in a division.

Ha, good idea Taylor!  Obviously the goal of the playoffs isn't to determine the best team.  The 162 game season already does that.  We know the Phillies were the best in the NL and the Yankees were the best in the AL.  If we wanted a true test to see who the best in 2011 was, those 2 teams should have played a 9 game series for the title.  Having 162 games and then multiple playoff rounds is all about making as much cash as possible.  I think they are pushing it too far though.  The average fan doesn't want to have to pay attention that long.  NASCAR has the same problem.  Why are they still racing in late November?

[tacimala]

NASCAR is also a great example of a season that is too long, they should probably call it good after the first race.

But I digress. Baseball is too long already and the 5 game wild card series is stupid and the fact that the Astros are just going to switch divisions to even up the playing field for the entire league is also stupid. I do like baseball, but man is some of it all stupid. Did I mention stupid enough? haha

[pdga#7648]

what would America watch if the baseball season was only 82 games?  The WNBA?

[Stan the Blue Man]

what would America watch if the baseball season was only 82 games?  The WNBA?

well it wont the MLB and the MLBPA reach an agreement.  but in 2013 they will be two 15 team leagues and interleagues all year.  So i think that they need to get rid of the DH or implement it to both leagues.  and the Wildcard format has also changed