The Cardinals are not trading Taveras. That was made abundantly clear when they sold as low as possible on Allen Craig.

The FO is perturbed with Oscar because he put on about 20 pounds over the off-season as he rehabbed his ankle injury. Strauss says that the vets might be a little miffed by his work ethic, but I don't believe a word that rumor-mongering dipshit says, just offering you another opinion.

Wong was at 90 wRC+ this year. His biggest issue is plate discipline. As you've seen, he has legitimate pop, and he generates a ton of power for his frame. Despite his struggles, he was a 2.0 WAR player this year. He can provide the team with 10-12 million of surplus value annually.

Frustrating. Know how you guys feel... watching a lesser player with far less upside get PT while another with much higher inexplicably rides the pine. Painful to watch.

Yeah, Wong is going to be a good little sparkplug type player. But with OT... he could be a lefthanded Holliday-in-his-prime type hitter. A lineup centerpiece. Just a different level of talent, as you pointed out.

Right now, I understand not riding Taveras in the OF. I think he needs a full offseason of conditioning and work with the big league club and a chance to hit the "reset" button.

Were the Cardinals fortunate enough to get to the WS, I would hope that Matheny would be smart enough to DH him in the AL park, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him start Bourjos in center, Jay in left, and Grichuk in right, and DH Holliday. It would give the Cardinals an unreal OF defense, but leave a lot of potential power behind.

Yeah, he needs to work on his game and get in better shape thats for sure. The hitting talent upside is soooo intriging. You just can't wait for him to put it together.
OT will continue to ride the bench. Your scenario above is the likely lineup. And I understand that lineup. If we get that far, Against the Royals we would need the best OF defense out there possible.

Wow.

I can't say, as a Royals fan potentially facing that lineup, that I'd be sad to see it.

Jay has been red-hot, but having Bourjos and Grichuk in the lineup is pretty nice (from the opponent's perspective). Especially if it's a lineup missing Molina.

Molina hasn't been driving the ball. He came back to early from the thumb injury. But his behind the plate worth is off the charts. No way Duffy scores from 2nd if Molina is behind the plate.

If it happens, you guys will run all day on any catcher we have back
There not named Molina.

AJ Pierzynski is 8 for 21 vs Tim Hudson. He has caught nearly 15,000 innings. He should catch 9 more in game 3. #StLCards @KSDKSports
— Frank Cusumano (@Frank_Cusumano) October 13, 2014


Looks like AJ should get the start.

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This series is a dogfight. Looking forward to tomorrow night.

Two closely matched teams. Same basic type of team. Both never give up. Going to be a long series.

You going to any games?

I hope the Cards play AJ this series. I saw an interesting spot about him on MLB network talking about how hated he is in the Bay Area even to this day because of how much the Giants gave up to get him in 04, and what was perceived as an apathetic attitude, and eagerness to get out of SF. They say he'll be out for blood, and I'm a big fan of redemption and giving athletes their chance to be great against those who have slighted them. It's why I went bat shit over Alex last week. I'm huge on it.

I could easily see AJ having some career games against these guys.

I also want to congratulate you guys in how you've dealt with Royals fans. A week ago, no Royals fans I knew wanted the Cards to make it to the World Series, but by killing them with kindness I think Reaper is the only one who's left that feels that way. It's been a pretty cool thing to watch on this board, and in my local community. You're some classy mother****ers, and deserve the sustained success you've achieved.

Now go whoop some Giant asses!

Maybe, not tomorrow. I am probably going to hold out for the world series. Then again it depends on the deal I can find. If I hold out I realize may risk saving some money.

Welllllll, I hope you keep your money in your pocket. ;)

Testing out the camera on my new phone...

http://i.imgur.com/4YsfHsP.jpg

Photo is about as noisy as that stadium was after that hit.

LMAO I bet you do.

Fruit Ninja,

I hearing rumors that the Dodgers are shopping Puig? You hearing any truth to those rumors in your part of the world?