Of Carp, Ludwick, Peavy. . . and the Big Unit
Happy Thanksgiving to all. I’ll try to answer a few of your questions today and then be gone for a couple of days. Back Sunday. Eat. Enjoy.
Q: I have been a Cardinal fan since the WS of ‘46. Pujols is a terrific player…maybe as good as Musial. Alluding to the question concerning trading Ludwick I am wondering how good Ludwick would be w/o batting behind Pujols? And seeing how the Cardinals could have finished in first place in the Central if they had only blown 19 games instead of 31, the need for a top-notch reliever seems to be their number one need. Maybe they should trade Carpenter if that is contracturally possible? And, I noticed the WS winner this year didn’t have Pujols. Maybe he’s the player to trade After all, how long do you think the Cards can keep him?
A: Richard. First, Carpenter (because of arm situation, huge contract) isn’t going anywhere and GM John Mozeliak might as well saddle up and get out of Dodge if he even deigns to trade Pujols now. I would think the Cardinals would be exploring an extension for him sometime next year. As for Ludwick, I hope he stays, but you can see why he might be a valuable trade chip. And, yes, the bullpen must be fixed. Somehow.
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Q: What do you think about Jon Garland as a possibility? I understand he may be available and had several good years in Chicago.
A: Darren, Jon Garland, a free agent from Angels, is very available, and he has had some good years, including winning 18 games twice. The Cardinals, however, are waiting for a medical update on Carpenter before trying to acquire starting pitching. And, that, by the way, includes Jake Peavy, the San Diego righthander who has lit up the message boards. I don’t think the Cardinals have the right fit for Peavy, what with San Diego needing young starting pitching and some middle infield help.Yes, but worth trying.
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Q: Stove Question
I’m a big Ryan Ludwick fan and would hate to see him traded. But, you’ve got to give something to get something. We have a surplus of outfielders. Ludwick’s trade value will probably never be higher than it is right now. And, the Cardinals have several needs to fill. So, if Ludwick could be dealt for a cost-controlled player or players that would fill a need or needs for more than one year, I think that would make sense. It’s asking a lot, I know. I have seen an interesting rumor, however. It involves the Cardinals and the Rays: Ludwick for Andy Sonnanstine (25 year old, RH starting pitcher w/ 37/124 BB to K ratio in 2008) and Ben Zobrist (27 year old, switch hitting shortstop, w/ 12HR and 30RBI and an .844 OPS in 198 abs in 2008). I believe Sonnanstine and Zobrist would both be under team control for several years. What say you, Commish—is it plausible? Would it be prudent?
Nathan
A: Nathan, I don’t think Zobrist is regarded as anything more than a utility player, albeit a good one. The Cardinals would have to get a better starting pitcher than Sonnanstine, if Ludwick was involved. Ludwick is under team control for several years, too, as he just has reached the arbitration level.
Q: Good afternoon Mr. Hummel;
The Cardinal fan base is quite remarkable. If not for the fans, the game would lose a lot of its glamour. Cardinal fans fill the park up nightly. Putting a contending team on the field generates fan base. What do you think the attendance would be like if the Cards began a trend where they could not/did not make the playoffs? In all of your years covering the Cardinals what have you observed about the Cardinal fan base that strikes you? What are your thoughts about Cardinal fans in reference to other comparable markets that you have seen over the years? In general, do sportswriters love the teams they report on or does their inside observations sour them. Do you have a particular year you really enjoyed covering the Cards? Who was/is a guy you liked/like to cover? I am very interested to read what you have to say. .Thank you very much Mr. Hummel…and the good Lord Bless you with the riches of His goodness! “You sir” are just another reason why I am proud to be a Cardinal fan!
A: Dave, thanks very much. In answering your first question, I would say I’ve been most impressed by Cardinals’ fans traditional recognition of a good play by the opposition or when a home-team player is booed for not hustling, he really is not hustling because St. Louis fans are reluctant to boo unless they see something radically wrong. Basically, it probably is easier to cover a winning team, but sometimes some of the best quotes _ especially from manager Whitey Herzog _ came when the Cardinals lost. As reporters, we train ourselves not to take anything personally no matter what happens with the team we cover.
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Q: First a comment, then a question.
I became a Cardinal fan during the World Series of 1964. I was nine years old. While at school, our teacher allowed us to watch at least some of that day’s game during class. They also had a TV set up in the gym with the game on. I was hooked! I carried around a radio every summer for the next ten years, listening to Jack Buck and Harry Caray/Bob Starr. This probably would never have happened had the World Series been played at night ! Day games pull in young fans that not only can’t watch the late games, but otherwise would never have thought about it!
My question is about Jose Oquendo. Is there a reason why the Cardinal brass have not promised him the managerial job when Tony La Russa steps down? I have a great deal of admiration and respect for our “Secret Weapon,” and can’t understand why St. Louis would just let him go somewhere else. If Jose knew the job was his, maybe he would be willing to wait for it.
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
A: I, too, remember sitting in school and having the World Series radio broadcasts (we didn’t have a TV in school) played over the speaker system. But, with the advertising rates and ratings higher for night games, we’re not going to see any day games during the week. We should, however, have earlier starting times (too bad for the West Coast, which never has a team in the Series anyway) during the week and day games on the weekend.
As for Oquendo, it’s hard to say if the Cardinals would feel obligated to pursue a “name” manager if/when La Russa leaves. I think Oquendo would be a fine game manager but I suspect people wonder if he could handle all the trappings (media, etc.) on a daily basis.
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Commish,
Since we all know the Cardinals are not going to pursue any of the “top” available starters, I would like to see the Cardinals
sign Randy Johnson to a 1yr contract possibly with an option for a second year. This is why _ veteran leadership and he is lefthanded, I know he has issues at times with his back, but
at least it isn’t shoulder problems. What do you think?
Bob Smith
A: Bob, if the price was right, sure. But I would have to construct part of the contract relative to starts made and Johnsn might want more guaranteed money.
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Commish,
Thanks for keeping your finger on the pulse during the off-season. Always enjoy your take on all things Cardinal-related.
I was looking at Brad Penny’s stats and, when considering his 2008 season as a fluke because of injury, the previous two seasons were 16-game winners, roughly 200 IP each, and his ERA taken together was below 3.70. This seems more than adequate for a good No. 3 man. I know he had a $10.25 mm option with LA for 2009, but, if the Cardinals can fill other needs (specifically the bullpen) via trades, how likely would it be to get Penny locked down to a shorter term (2-3 years) with some incentive base? I would guess he’s going to shoot for the longer, four-to-five years / $10-11mm per window, but, with the economy as such and with an injury on his walking year, maybe there’s some flexibility.
The LH pitching gulf aside, my greatest concern in the off-season is the finger-crossing that Carp is going to be a capable #1 guy in 2009. I think we can’t rely on Boggs or Thompson to bridge any gaps over the entirety of a season – and Pineiro finds a way to beat himself too often. With a tandem of Wainwright, Lohse, Penny and Wellemeyer, I’m feeling pretty good. If you put Carp in the mix, that’s a better rotation than 2006. (Granted, if we could find a way to swing Peavy and not give up the world, this would be irrelevant!)
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Jamie Ewing
A: Jamie, I think somebody like Penny might be available even in January after the healthier starters are signed. He then might have to accept a contract laden with more incentives than he would like, but I still think the Cardinals, having been burned in this area recently (Mulder, Clement, even Carpenter) might be reluctant to jump into this pool.
(14 votes, average: 4.93 out of 5)
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Would the Cards be able to trade for Yuniesky Betancourt a SS from the Mariners? He’s young a .280+ hitter and excellent devensively. They don’t have much depth there, but they desperately need outfield help and/or a 1B. Would it be a reach to think we could trade Ankiel and maybe more for him? Or after the season starts trade Duncan if he has reestablished himself?