It was the same story for the St. Louis Cardinals tonight, but unfortunately the offense couldn't bail them out of this one. They almost did though, tying up the game at three in the bottom of the ninth, but reliever/closer Ryan Franklin showed the Cardinals' most gaping hole: a guy that can come in and shut out an opponent.
Colorado Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes has had a mediocre season by his standards, going 1-4 with a 3.23 ERA, but he hasn't allowed an earned run in his past six appearances, all one inning stints.
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It's still puzzling to me why the Cardinals haven't taken a look at the crafty left-hander as a legit option to close games. Franklin and Co. certainly aren't doing the job, so if the 'Birds want to make the playoffs, something needs to be done to improve their chances.
Starting off with enhancing our bullpen for the late-game situations is probably an important role. But that's just me.
Either that, or we can be content to lose a plethora of close ballgames when we are in the middle of a tight division race.
Just a suggestion, Mr. Mozeliak...
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about 1 month ago
I've been shouting from the rooftops for the Cardinals to get bullpen help for weeks now. I don't know what management is waiting for because the trade deadline is approaching VERY fast.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, I know you have man! Mozeliak needs to get on his freakin' horse!
about 1 month ago
I agree that the Birdos need bullpen help, but I don't think Fuentes is the answer. We have Perez on the horizon once he learns how to throw a slider at AAA, and we will have to give up too much of our young talent to get him.
George Sherrill at Baltimore could be had at a lower price to the team in terms of prospects and salary. He would also make a good lefty specialist since lefties are batting .178 against him. What beat the Cards last night wasn't the bullpen, it was once again the offense. Any major league team will only be .500 at best if they can only put up 3 runs especially at home.
Playing Chris Duncan at the expense of Ryan Ludwick is just a big of a crime as not making a move to bolster the bullpen. However, St. Louis has a plethora of talent 1-2 years away, and we should not leverage 2009-2011 success this year only.
from about 1 month ago
Their offense hasn't been the problem. With Glaus, Ludwick, Ankiel, and Pujols all hitting near or over 20 home runs each, they produce. Adam Wainwright will be coming back soon and when he gets paired back with Lohse, the Redbirds rotation will be vastly improved. Couple that with Carpenter following Wainwright, and things are definitely looking up.
Bottom line: they need bullpen help.
from about 1 month ago
I like the idea of Sherrill, but I think he may cost us a little too much.
about 1 month ago
I'd take him for my Cubs. With Woody's injury history, and Marmol's recent struggles, the Cubs need help. As for your Cardinals, as bad as Izzy has been, Ryan Franklin appears to be doing a pretty good job, though he has given up more hits than IP and isn't a classic strikeout pitcher.
from about 1 month ago
The Northsiders could definitely use some bullpen help. Wood is made out of glass and Marmol has forgotten where the strikezone is. The big question for the Cubs is what do they have left to give up in trade to Colorado? They are going to ask for a lot, and the Cubs have a very barren farm system. It will be even more salary for them to take on and they'll be facing a cash crunch with so many guys over the age of 30 signed to long term big money deals.
about 1 month ago
Derek,
The players you mentioned aren't the problem, the big problem is three-fold. 1. Sacrificing Ludwick and Schumaker's playing time to give Duncan the chance to strikeout and hit infield fly balls, 2. sacrificing some offense for Izturis's leather, 3. Bullpen over-use due to Pineiro, Wellemeyer, and Looper to remain effective past 5 innings.
I'm not concerned with the starting rotation; Wainwright should be ready to go in about 2 weeks, and Carpenter should be able to contribute. Albeit, it won't be on the same level as '06 right away. The bullpen does need some help, one way to help is for Wellemeyer, Piniero, and Looper to go more than 5 2/3 innings. Second, another lefty is needed. Villone has been steady recently, as has been Springer and McClellan, but they can't shoulder a really heavy load. Brad Thompson has been solid in long relief.
Dealing for Brian Fuentes won't save this team. Colorado will want too much for him, and he is a free agent after this year. I don't think it makes any sense to give up a large portion of our top prospects for a rental. If there can be some sort of trade and sign agreement, maybe, but that will take a large chunk of money to keep him around. I think our best bet is to shoot for a George Sherrill type player for this year, keep our prospects so we can have the $'s to sign Lohse to a 3-4 year deal, re-sign Ankiel to a longer term deal, and go after a solid SS.
This is a good team, but it is really build for '09 and beyond. As much as I want to see up compete for the playoffs this year, I don't want to sacrifice the next 3-4 to do it.
about 1 month ago
I've mentioned several times in other articles I've written and in the Cardinals roundtable discussions that Chris Duncan shouldn't even be playing the majors right now, let alone taking time away from their All-Star Ludwick. His offense reminds me of Adam Dunn: tons of power, but strikes out constantly. However, even Dunn is light years ahead of Duncan as far as defense. Their starting outfield should be Ludwick, Ankiel, and Schumaker: tons of speed and tremendous ability.
I wasn't saying that Fuentes is the answer, all I'm saying is that they need bullpen help. When your bullpen keeps blowing leads after your offense and starting pitching is playing their guts out, something needs to change.
LaRussa keeps putting the same guys out there and they keep letting him down. Maybe he has more patience than me but if this keeps happening they'll shoot themselves in the foot and right out of the playoffs.
about 1 month ago
Jeff, you're right. It isn't going to happen, the Cubs won't be going after Fuentes. Wishful thinking on my part. I'm pretty sure the Cubs aer done, with the possible exception of something small.
about 1 month ago
I just wrote an article on this too. The Cards, if they want to stay competitive, need to keep Duncan on the bench (or AAA). He has finally learned how to play LF, but he still is a liability who strikes out way more than Rick Ankiel without the power or consistency of putting the ball in play.
And about Tony's patience. I know he is a genius. I know he knows baseball better than perhaps any manager in the major leagues, but I don't know why we keep putting in guys we KNOW will let us down. I do not think Perez is our long-term answer. I do not think Franklin is our starter. I do not think Izzy will ever be the same. I do think we need to make a trade to get at least one more solid reliever. Brad Thompson after coming back up has been a shot in teh arm to this team. But wow, it's tough to see every lead dwindle every night.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, we do need a reliever. Perez isn't ready for the big show since he doesn't have a slider, change-up, etc. to compliment his fastball. If he can develop one, he has a chance a being the future closer or a set-up man. Franklin was a good set-up for Izzy, but he doesn't have closer stuff, and Izzy seems to have completely self-destructed.
Jeff Gordon over at stltoday.com has some possible trade candidates, and one of them mentioned is Eddie Guardado from Texas for Jess Todd. That would be a nightmare for the Cards. Guardado is ancient and would maybe only pitch 30 games at the most for the Cards. Todd will be a pro for a long time, and the future benefits outweigh the now.
Baltimore has the Cards by the short and curlies for George Sherrill because they know we need him and they will really bargain hard for him. I don't know what we would have to give up to Baltimore for their All-Star, but it seems to be the best fit.
What are your thoughts about what it would take to get Sherrill?
about 1 month ago
I like Sherrill from what I've seen. I live in the DC area so I feel like I see a lot of his highlights. Not lights out, but certainly better than the bullpen by committee we have. Self-destructed is the best analysis of Izzy I've heard yet. If the Cards had half of his blown saves back they'd be sitting pretty in 1st right now.
And no I don't like that trade on stltoday.com at all. I hate to say look to the future, but I'd rather give us some stability for 2009 and onward then get one guy supposed to fix us now.
But I haven't seen too much on the possibility of us getting Sherrill, any rumors on what they'd want?
from about 1 month ago
According to some stuff I found on mlbtraderumors.com Baltimore is looking for 2-3 prospects w/ a SS or middle IF as one of them.
I'm not sure who the Cards have to give up as far as MIF goes, I doubt they would take Brendan Ryan (even though I like his hustle). The Cards could go as far as Mather/Stavinoha, Boggs/Parisi, Anderson/Motte in some combination. Brendan Ryan could also be tossed in, but that will leave a hole in our current MIF. Pete Kozma is another interesting trade possibility.
about 1 month ago
What about Adam Kennedy? I would rather keep Izturis around then him. I think we have a couple prospects we could part ways with. And throw in Chris Duncan, who, while he has become our outcast, could play OF, or 1B.
And I'd say Boggs/Parisi is our best bet. Boggs I think is good which will sweeten the deal, I've never been impressed with parisi. I like Brendan Ryan, he honestly reminds me of David Eckstein.
from about 1 month ago
I wouldn't mind seeing the Cards part ways with Kennedy, but I don't see Baltimore taking him because of Kennedy's contract (owed $4 million in '09). I agree w/ you, I like Brendan Ryan's hustle, and hopefully he'll become more consistant with experience. A package of Mather or Stavinoha, Boggs, Duncan, and Kozma would get the job done.
I hate to give up Kozma, he's young (1st round draft pick out of high school) w/ solid skills at SS and he's a Class A All-Star this year. He's been hitting well w/ RISP and is carrying a good BA. He's about 3 years away from the big club, but he has the tools to be a solid player as long as he keeps developing.
That package would probably get the Cards Sherrill, but Mo and Luhnow are really unwilling to give up any prospects. All we can do is hope for a move, and not one that brings the Cards Eddie Guardado.
from about 1 month ago
I don't mind Kennedy, personally. That said, it would be nice to go for Orlando Hudson.
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