I dont think the Cardinals need a total overhaul.

[Duck_walk]

If they obtain a good defensive CF and a strong defensive SS, their pitching will improve tremendously. I would consider moving Diaz to left. Yes, I think outside the box. If u don't, keep your thoughts to yourself.

Martinez, Reyes, Lynn, Waino, Leake can be solid with better defense up the middle.

After years of us pleading, the front office finally committing to a strong bench gave the team a chance this year despite the bad defense.

 

[Nwalls]

Wow you cant be serious this team has so many flaws dont know where to start.
Leake is under contract he is so bad, Wainwright great career but very hittable,
Moss has to go hits home run who cares need someone who can hit for some power
but in a large park like Busch need a doubles hitter. Third base has to be improved.
Adams got to go he is either hurt or not productive. Molina is the heart but must let Kelly
catch some. Broxton, Peralata, Duke, Rosenthal, Wacha, Pena, Wong, Pham, Hazelbacher all
must be replaced to upgrade this roster.Garcia could have a roll. Gyorko could help the
bench, Piscoty is solid, Diaz is solid, Carpenter is solid, Martinez coming off the bench
and backup outfielder. Garcia the pitcher GOT TO GO. Reyes will be a super star, Martinez
great number 2. If they dont make drastic changes to upgrade we will stay light years
from the Cubs.

 

[vbsideout]

Wow you cant be serious this team has so many flaws dont know where to start.
Leake is under contract he is so bad, Wainwright great career but very hittable,
Moss has to go hits home run who cares need someone who can hit for some power
but in a large park like Busch need a doubles hitter. Third base has to be improved.
Adams got to go he is either hurt or not productive. Molina is the heart but must let Kelly
catch some. Broxton, Peralata, Duke, Rosenthal, Wacha, Pena, Wong, Pham, Hazelbacher all
must be replaced to upgrade this roster.Garcia could have a roll. Gyorko could help the
bench, Piscoty is solid, Diaz is solid, Carpenter is solid, Martinez coming off the bench
and backup outfielder. Garcia the pitcher GOT TO GO. Reyes will be a super star, Martinez
great number 2. If they dont make drastic changes to upgrade we will stay light years
from the Cubs.

Agree with most of your post. I do think you have to keep Rosie and Duke. Rosie was injured and Duke was solid. Wong is interesting because he is under contract but wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if he is not part of the team. Don't look for Martinez to be part of this team next year as an OF.

 

[Duck_walk]

With a really good defense, Leake is a much better pitcher. It won't cure Wacha's shoulder and make Grichuk stop swinging at balls in the dirt, but better defense up the middle will cure a lot of ills and give the team more confidence.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

If they obtain a good defensive CF and a strong defensive SS, their pitching will improve tremendously. I would consider moving Diaz to left. Yes, I think outside the box. If u don't, keep your thoughts to yourself.

Martinez, Reyes, Lynn, Waino, Leake can be solid with better defense up the middle.

After years of us pleading, the front office finally committing to a strong bench gave the team a chance this year despite the bad defense.

I'm not sure I'd change much of the roster construction, really. Holiday being gone allows them to pursue an OF'er. Hopefully that OF'er can play CF and has some speed. But might have to get creative via trade. And there are plenty of options for the Birds there...Diaz offers way too much value as a SS to move. And I'd say ditto for Gyorko at 2B or 3B (Marp being at the other spot). Honestly, if the lineup featured Diaz, Marp, Piscotty, Gyorko, Moss, Molina, Grichuk, and some new dude in CF (or LF or RF depending on who it is)...I'd be pumped with that. Pitching is the issue. Wacha now sucks. Waino is old and not getting younger. Reyes, CMart, and Leake are the only viable non-question mark starters. Some depth, but tons of question marks with the depth. Lots of return from injury guys. And the pen needs help, but could get some relief from starters that can actually get through 5 innings.

 

[justaconcernedcitizen]

I feel that you guys are missing the importance of Jose Oquendo coming back next year. He will solidify the defense through his coaching up the middle. Case in point, Skip Shumaker was a terrible 2nd baseman but learned to hold his own under Oquendo. Martinez is the ace next year, with Lynn being the 2 (experience over Reyes). Wong must learn that he is gap to gap hitter with occasional pop, not just a power hitter. Grichuk showed signs of improvement, but still needs plate awareness and discipline, while learning to play better defense in the OF. Greg Garcia at most is a back up on the infield. Gyorko would be wise to go to work at first some in the spring, and Pham must learn to become more assertive in the outfield. Do not be surprised to see Rosenthal in the spring attempted to become a long reliever or possible 5th starter against Leake (I know this is off the wall, but don't be surprised). Diaz needs fine tuning, but may be suited for third base. Carp must go back to 2B or 3B. Molina would be smart to spend time working at first base to prolong his career with the Cardinals.

The biggest issue is this team needing to learn how to run the bases and produce runs through situational hitting. Too many strikeouts for a team that used to take pride in producing runs. Produced runs with the occasional home run will lead to more wins. Defense has to improve as well. When they lose games 8-4 with giving 6 unearned runs, that is terrible. High school teams do that.

 

[oldroundballer]

I feel that you guys are missing the importance of Jose Oquendo coming back next year. He will solidify the defense through his coaching up the middle. Case in point, Skip Shumaker was a terrible 2nd baseman but learned to hold his own under Oquendo. Martinez is the ace next year, with Lynn being the 2 (experience over Reyes). Wong must learn that he is gap to gap hitter with occasional pop, not just a power hitter. Grichuk showed signs of improvement, but still needs plate awareness and discipline, while learning to play better defense in the OF. Greg Garcia at most is a back up on the infield. Gyorko would be wise to go to work at first some in the spring, and Pham must learn to become more assertive in the outfield. Do not be surprised to see Rosenthal in the spring attempted to become a long reliever or possible 5th starter against Leake (I know this is off the wall, but don't be surprised). Diaz needs fine tuning, but may be suited for third base. Carp must go back to 2B or 3B. Molina would be smart to spend time working at first base to prolong his career with the Cardinals.

The biggest issue is this team needing to learn how to run the bases and produce runs through situational hitting. Too many strikeouts for a team that used to take pride in producing runs. Produced runs with the occasional home run will lead to more wins. Defense has to improve as well. When they lose games 8-4 with giving 6 unearned runs, that is terrible. High school teams do that.

I wouldn't bet on Oquendo coming back to the big club. He'll be at spring training but he's said before he could see himself eventually staying in FL and working with young players. That's what he's been doing lately. I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't continue permanently next year. I don't know if there's other reasons or he's actually just ready to quit traveling. He does seem to like the teaching part of it. He'll be good at that. I don't think there's any doubt he was missed on the big club this year. Someone has to step into that role and provide what he did over the years. He was the pride of Card defense. It's no coincidence that this year was the worst we've seen in a long time.

 

[justaconcernedcitizen]

I wouldn't bet on Oquendo coming back to the big club. He'll be at spring training but he's said before he could see himself eventually staying in FL and working with young players. That's what he's been doing lately. I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't continue permanently next year. I don't know if there's other reasons or he's actually just ready to quit traveling. He does seem to like the teaching part of it. He'll be good at that. I don't think there's any doubt he was missed on the big club this year. Someone has to step into that role and provide what he did over the years. He was the pride of Card defense. It's no coincidence that this year was the worst we've seen in a long time.

I hope he comes back next year to the big club and he deserves a huge pay raise in the process. I can't help but think that Oquendo is a little bit bitter for not getting more consideration for manager than he did when LaRussa left.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I hope he comes back next year to the big club and he deserves a huge pay raise in the process. I can't help but think that Oquendo is a little bit bitter for not getting more consideration for manager than he did when LaRussa left.

Yeah, but you can't blame the Birds either. They hired a guy with a ton of experience who seems to be one of the sharpest minds in the game.

 

[vbsideout]

Yeah, but you can't blame the Birds either. They hired a guy with a ton of experience who seems to be one of the sharpest minds in the game.

Now you are just being mean Eags

 

[Neutron Monster]

Wow you cant be serious this team has so many flaws dont know where to start.
Leake is under contract he is so bad, Wainwright great career but very hittable,
Moss has to go hits home run who cares need someone who can hit for some power
but in a large park like Busch need a doubles hitter. Third base has to be improved.
Adams got to go he is either hurt or not productive. Molina is the heart but must let Kelly
catch some. Broxton, Peralata, Duke, Rosenthal, Wacha, Pena, Wong, Pham, Hazelbacher all
must be replaced to upgrade this roster.Garcia could have a roll. Gyorko could help the
bench, Piscoty is solid, Diaz is solid, Carpenter is solid, Martinez coming off the bench
and backup outfielder. Garcia the pitcher GOT TO GO. Reyes will be a super star, Martinez
great number 2. If they dont make drastic changes to upgrade we will stay light years
from the Cubs.

I'm closer to Duck than nwalls. We barely missed the playoffs and we had injuries galore. Let's have some perspective. Calling all of these guys terrible is not based in reality.

I agree that defense is a big need, and CF is an obvious place to start. Defense also has made some of our pitchers look worse than they are, which needs to be accounted for when evaluating the starters.

The rotation needs some thought, but the Cards do have a lot of arms under contract (Waino/Wacha/Lynn/Leake/Reyes/Martinez and Garcia has a decent option that will probably be picked up). I know Mo made a strong play for Price last year, so maybe they still perceive a need here. The FA SP market also is terrible, a trade feels more plausible.

Having another righty reliever who is good is helpful (i.e. better than Broxton). Getting Rosie back would be a big step forward here.

I'm interested to see what they do at 1B. I wouldn't be shocked to see Moss get a qualifying offer for one year.