Cardinals 2012 offseason

The Cardinals didn't do much in free agency during the offseason for the 2012 season. Pretty much, the big news was Albert Pujols leaving for the Angels in free agency. If the Cardinals had given Albert Pujols what he wanted, then they would have their payroll tied up for along time, and couldn't re-new other contracts when the time came for other players (like for example: Adam Wainwright .... in two years or Yadier Molina, who as of now is in his last year of his current deal). After, Pujols left the Cardinals did make moves.

1. They re-signed Skip Schumaker to a two-year deal (he took less money to stay with the Cardinals).
2. They re-signed Rafael Furcal to a two-year deal.
3. They signed free agent LHP J.C. Romero ... (he replaces Rhodes as the second lefty in the bullpen, who the Cardinals won a World Series with .... Romero is younger than him also). Yes, Romero has lost speed off of some of his pitches, but I guess the real question for him is .... can pitching coach Dave Duncan help him out? Romero was also once suspended for steroids, since then he hasn't been that great. But, he can still get lefties out, but if you let him pitch against righthanded hitters .... that's when he gets killed.
4. They signed one of the best outfielders who was on the market, in Carlos Beltran. He showed in 2011, that he still can play, he's also one of the best switch hitters in the game. And is a 6 time All-Star, he was one in 2011 for the first time since 2009. Yes, there are some questions about him heading into the 2012 season, there were also questions about Lance Berkman heading into the 2011 season, he proved people wrong. Now it's time for Carlos Beltran to do the same.

Minor league moves as of now (just depth incase anyone gets hurt or could be September call-ups).
1. INF-OF Eugenio Velez (minor league contract)
2. LHP R.J. Swindle (minor league contract)

My take on the 2012 roster as of now, they could be better than the 2011 team (even without Albert Pujols). Lance Berkman pretty much took over the clubhouse in July, because he didn't like what Pujols was doing to the rookies who were coming up, ever since Berkman did that, the clubhouse relaxed. Furcal even helped by starting the "Happy Flight" chant. And in the 2011 World Series, it was all of the team helping out. Carlos Beltran even got on base a lot more than Pujols did in 2011. Pujols, has even showed that he's on the decline (in the last couple of seasons, he's been hitting into lots of double plays). And some still wonder about his age also. And even with Adam Wainwright coming back, the Cardinals still are the team to beat in the NL Central. Pretty much, the only other team that has gotten better in the NL Central are the Reds. Cardinals and Reds battling it out for the NL Central? I could see that happening in 2012.

As of now, here's the line up and rotation.

Line up: ss - Furcal, rf - Beltran, lf - Holliday, 1b - Berkman, 3b - Freese, c - Molina, cf - Jay, 2b - Descalso, pitcher
note: Allen Craig is out until May, due to knee surgery, it can even take players time to be 100% from knee surgery, so maybe he sees sometime at 1b .... before he sees rf. But, once he does get back, Beltran will share time in cf and rf.

Bench: Skip Schumaker, Tony Cruz, Tyler Greene (out of options), Matt Carpenter (if Mo doesn't find a utility infielder, which he's said to be wanting one or keep Carpenter until Craig is back, since Carp has options and Greene can play some OF if need be), last spot is open as of now (unless the Cardinals find a righthanded bat for the OF who can be on the bench, which they pretty much need).

Starting pitching: Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook.
note: Both, Lohse and Westbrook will be free agents after the season and I don't see the Cardinals re-signing either one, so in 2013 .... Shelby Miller will be in the starting staff (could be a September call up in 012).

Bullpen: Jason Motte, Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez, Mitchell Boggs/Kyle McClellan, Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepcynski, and J.C. Romero.
note: Boggs or McClellan need to be traded, unless the Cardinals wanna go with an extra pitcher to start the season and figure out which one gets traded. If I were the Cardinals, I'd trade Mitchell Boggs and keep McClellan. Since, McClellan can get lefties out if need be.

As of now, if things go the Cardinals way, they should be a 90 win team. It should be interesting to see how new manager Mike Matheny handles the club at first, with his first time being a manager. He might have to learn some stuff at the start of the season, but hang with him folks. He still has lots of Tony La Russa's coaches around him, who can help give him advice (like Jose Oquendo).

All for now, AMF.

Which two rentals should the Cardinals keep?

Going into tonight, which two players should the Cardinals keep who the got in trades in July? Edwin Jackson or Rafael Furcal or both? Edwin Jackson keeps bouncing from team to team, he came up in his early 20's as a top pitching prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers ended up using all of his options, he ended up being traded to the Tampa Rays. And he had to learn on the fly when he was a Ray, thanks to the Dodgers using up all of his options. His best season in the MLB career so far was 2009 with the Detroit Tigers, when he pitched 33 games that season, while starting all 33. Jackson went 13-9 with a career era of 3.62 in 214 innings pitched, 161 strikeouts and 70 walks. He had a whip of 1.26. He then was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 09 season, in 2010 he threw a no hitter as a D'Back. And was later traded that season to the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox then traded him in a three way deal in 2011 to the St. Louis Cardinals. So, he's always had the talent to be a good pitcher, and he's still only 27 years old. The Cardinals had always liked him a lot over his career also, I think their current pitching coach Dave Duncan sees him as a younger Dave Stewart (who was a pitcher who didn't really learn how to pitch until he was 30). Going into tonight game, Jackson has started 5 games for the Cardinals and is 2-2 in 32.2 innings, with 22 strikeouts and 9 walks, with a whip of 1.52.

I've liked him a lot so far, he seems like he can be good with help. It seems like all he pretty much needs to do is learn to be a pitcher, and not get high in pitch counts right away. And when he's on his game he can battle. If I were the Cardinals, I'd keep him if he wants to comeback on a two or three year deal. Then trade off starting pitcher Jake Westbrook, who has been up and down this season.

Now on to Rafael Furcal, the Cardinals needed a shortstop and picked up Furcal for nothing from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pretty much because the Cardinals needed a better defensive shortstop than Ryan Theriot. Furcal has done that so far, playing in 20 games and starting in 19 for the Cardinals, he's made only two errors and has showed that his defense is still there. He's also a great lead off batter when, healthy, even though he's been injured the past few seasons. Going into tonights game, he's batting .214 as a Cardinals, which as a Dodger he was batting .197. The Cardinals hold a $12 million option on Furcal. As of right now would you bring him back? I would, if he's willing to accept less money. A lot because of his defense, and he can get on base if healthy. And maybe in 2012, Furcal will be healthy.

That's all for now.

Bears running back Cedric Benson arrested

Austin, Texas - Cedric Benson who plays running back in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, was on boating trip Saturday night. Austin police found Benson boasting while intocicated on a 30-foot boat. Benson decided to resist arrest, the police then had to use pepper spray on him and then dragged him ashore.

He had 15 passengers aboard, when a Lower Colorado River Authority officer stopped him for a random safety inspection. Benson, then failed a field sobriety test on the officer's boat and became uncooperative when the officer tried to take him ashore.

"When Benson did not pass the test, he presented himself as a threat to the officer and argued about whether or not he would be taken to land to have a follow-up field sobriety test performed on land and refused to put on a life jacket," the authority said in a statement.

This isn't the first time that Benson has gotten into legal problems. Back in 2003, he was sentenced to eight days in jail. That was for a misdemeanor trespassing charge, after he forced his way into an apartment to look for a reported stolen TV. In 2002, Benson had charges dropped against him, those charges were for misdemeanor drug and alcohol.

The Bears, drafted Benson out of the University of Texas, as a fourth round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. But, so far during his NFL career with the Bears, he hasn't done much on the football field. While, at Texas he rushed for more than 5,500 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also, ran for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. He's also been getting hurt for the Bears, he's missed 13 games in his career. Last season, he ended up on the injured reserve in November, that was after becoming the Bears no.1 running back.

John Bale, breaks pitching hand while punching door

Cleveland, Ohio - Royals left-hander reliever John Bale decided to pull a Julian Tavarez on Friday night at the teams hotel. No, Bale didn't punch a wall in the visitors dugout. Instead, Bale broke his pitching hand by punching a door at the hotel, he already had been on the disabled list.

A Royals team offical, has said that Bale had pain in his pitching hand, that was after arriving at Progressive Field for Saturday night's match up against the Cleveland Indians. Then, during the game Bale had x-rays taken. The x-rays revealed a fracture on the side of Bale's hand.

On Sunday morning, Bale flew back to Kansas City, Missouri where he will have his had examined by Royals team doctors, which could happen on Monday. He was surpose to be off the DL in a few days, and the Royals were planing to move him back to the bullpen, after starting the 2008 season as a starting pitcher. So far, this season Bale is 0-3 with an era of 7.63. He has given up 13 earned runs, and allowing 25 hits. He's pitched in 15 1/3 innings.

The Royals signed Bale last offseason as a free agent, after spending three seasons in Japan (2004-2006). The 33-year-old Bale, has also played in the major leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles, along with the Cincinnati Reds. As of right now in his career, he's 3-6 with an era of 4.84, which is in 56 career appearances.

MLB 2008 Predictions

Here are my MLB 2008 Predictions. Note: Some are based on the standings, as of right now.

NL Central -

1. Cardinals (better team than 07, enough said)
2. Brewers
3. Astros
4. Reds
5. Cubs (have no closer, unless Marmol becomes closer)
6. Pirates

NL East -

1. Mets
2. Marlins (wild card, if they keep doing well .. if not then Phillies)
3. Phillies
4. Braves
5. Nationals

NL West -

1. Diamondbacks
2. Rockies
3. Dodgers
4. Padres
5. Giants

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AL Central -

1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. White Sox
5. Twins

AL East -

1. Yankees
2. Orioles (wild card, if they keep doing well .. if not then Red Sox)
3. Red Sox
4. Blue Jays
5. Rays

AL West -

1. Angels
2. Mariners
3. Athletics
4. Rangers

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Awards -

NL Rookie of the year:
Max Scherzer

NL MVP:
Chase Utley (already has 13 home runs)

NL Cy Young:
Brandon Webb

AL Rookie of the year:
Daric Barton

AL MVP:
Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young:
Josh Beckett

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Playoffs -

NLDS:

Cardinals vs Marlins (Cards win in 4)
D'Backs vs Mets (D'Backs in 5)

NLCS:

D'Backs vs Cardinals (D'Backs in 7)

ALDS:

Tigers vs O's (Tigers in 3)
Yankees vs Angels (Yankees in 5)

ALCS:

Tigers vs Yankees (Tigers in 7)

World Series:

D'Backs vs Tigers (D'Backs in 7)

Rick Carlisle to Mavs?

Dallas, Texas - The Mavericks, who recently fired head coach Avery Johnson, have continued talks about their head coaching job with Rick Carlisle. As of right now, Carlisle is the front-runner to become the Mavericks head coach.

Carlisle is a former NBA head coach, he had two successful stints as a head coach, one with the Detroit Pistons and the other with the Indianapolis Pacers. While, with the Pacers he won the NBA Coach of the Year. As of right now, Carlisle is the only serious candidate the Mavericks have interviewed. And those talks continued on Saturday.

"We've had a productive series of meetings," said Donnie Nelson, the team's president of basketball operations. "We're very impressed by Rick -- not just as a basketball coach, but as a man. We're looking forward to continuing our conversation."

The closer that both of the sides talk, Carlisle moves closer to likely coaching both Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and a club that's won at least 50 games for eight straight seasons.

"Ourselves and Rick are gathering some information," Nelson said. "Both sides will analyze the situation and we look forward to continuing our talks."

Carlisle has told Mavs owner Mark Cuban, that he will let Jason Kidd run the team's offense, and taking defense seriously. Defense is somthing that Nowitzki has stressed. Carlisle is also, a former NBA player.

During his coaching career while coaching the Pistons for two seasons, and then four more with Pacers, he has a record of 281-211. His career playoff record is 30-32, and made the playoffs in his first five seasons.


He became the Pistons head coach, back in 2001-2002. That season, the Pistons won 50 games and then, was voted Coach of the Year. The next season, they won 50 games again and reached the conference finals. After, they lost in the conference finals, the Pistons fired Carlisle as head coach and hired Larry Brown as head coach.

The Pacers hired Carlisle as head coach, after he was fired by the Pistons. In his first season with the Pacers, they won a franchise-best record, with 61 games won. He then again, lost in the conference finals and that team is the Brown-coached Pistons; who then went onto win the NBA title.

For his next three seasons with the Pacers, as head coach, the team won fewer games (44, 41, and then 35)making his first losing record of his career and the Pacers first in 10 years. Last season, Carlisle spent the season as a broadcaster for ESPN.

RB Danny Woodhead, hopes to make Jets team

Hempstead, New York - Danny Woodhead, Jets running back who they signed this as an undrafted free agent hopes to make the NFL team and reach some new heights. During his college football career at Chadron State, while playing four seasons, he became the NCAA's career rushing leader. On Saturday, at the Jets practice field he made it
difficult to pick out his small body, with all the big bodies on the field.

"He's hard to find for a couple of reasons," coach Eric Mangini said with a smile Saturday, "the obvious one and he's pretty quick and pretty elusive."

Woodhead is only 5-foot-7 and 1/2 inches. As of right now, he's in the Jets rookie minicamp and is hoping to make a big impression.

"A lot of other people have thought: 'You're the underdog, so you probably really want to do good,'" Woodhead said Saturday. "Honestly, I just think of it as being any other football player. I don't want people to feel sorry for me."

During his four seasons at Chadron State, he rushed for 7,962 yards and compiled 9,479 career all-purpose yards, which became the second-best in college football history. He also, was a a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner. That trophy goes to the nation's top Division II player.

"I just want to keep on playing, just like every other guy in this locker room," Woodhead said. "That's what I'm going to do is work hard and hopefully I can keep on playing football."

Woodhead was hoping to get a phone call during the NFL Draft, last weekend. And no teams called his phone. Then after the draft ended, the Jets came calling and wanted him to sign him as a free agent.

"I wanted to be somewhere, I really did," Woodhead said. "This just happened to be the best opportunity."

People have always counted out Woodhead, because of his hight. Which, he's always has been the smallest guy on the roster. His weight on him is pretty good though, at 195 pounds. That makes him look kind of like a kid lost in a forest when he is around players. Some example for players are defensive end Ropati Pitoitua at 6-8, or linebacker Wallace Artis at 6-5.

"There's a lot of guys that have been small and undersized and been great players in the National Football League," said 6-3, 264-pound linebacker Vernon Gholston, the Jets' top pick, sixth overall. "It's all about your heart and will to win and how well you can pick up everything at this point."

Woodhead might be able to make the Jets, that's if he can play play special teams and learn the playbook. He also, could prove to be a perfect complement to running back Leon Washington, who's 5-8. People should know already though, that he's not a Darren McFadden type.

"I love football," Woodhead said. "If you love to play the game, it doesn't matter. I think everybody is like that. They just want a shot. I'm just trying to take advantage of this opportunity."

"Yeah, he's a little smaller than Gholston," Mangini said with a laugh. "But Leon isn't the biggest guy to get off the bus, but he's a pretty effective guy. I've been around a lot of players that people may consider undersized that were incredibly effective."

Again, Woodhead is use to being an underdog. He had been lightly recruited out of high school by Division I schools. Instead, of going to one of those schools, he decided to stay close to his home and follow his brother, Ben, who was a wide receiver playing for Chadron State. After he did that, Woodhead went on to have one of the most successful football careers in NCAA history, showing all those people who had kept countinh him out because he was too small for the game, that he could play it.

"It's something that people have said in the past, but I've never gotten caught up in it," Woodhead said. "It's never bothered me and I'm fine with how I am, so I'm just going to keep working hard."