Aug 31
John MarecekSaint Louis Cardinals, Uncategorized st. louis cardinals
With the season spiraling out of control for the St. Louis Cardinals, and everyone trying to figure out where to put the blame, lets take a look at some of the issues or non-issues. Not sure what it all means, it’s just numbers, and right now the only ones that really matter are the W’s being put on the Cardinals during this road-trip. Teams that were a combined 75 games under .500 entering play Monday. Anyway, here we go.
-One date pointed to by many is July 31, the day John Mozeliak acquired Jake Westbrook from Cleveland, and sent RF Ryan Ludwick to San Diego. This has been pegged as the worst decision of the season by many, but is this really the problem? While with the Cardinals this year, Ludwick started 68 games. In those games, the Cardinals scored an average of 4.5 (307) runs per game. Since the deal, the Cardinals are averaging 5.3 (140) runs per game in 26 games.
-Last night on the post-game show, a caller laid the blame for the struggles on LF Matt Holliday. Since the trade, he’s batting .301, with 4 HR, and is 2nd on the team over that span with 21 RBI.
-One of the issues has been large gap in production from top to bottom. Since July 31, Pujols (.400), Molina (.365), Holliday (.301) and Schumaker (.318) are all batting above .300, each with more than 60 AB. There’s a dramatic drop from there with Ryan (.258), Jay (.253), and Lopez (.159) the next 3 with as many as 60 AB.
-This team is, and really has been for most of the season, very reliant on Pujols and Holliday driving in runs. Entering Tuesday’s action, the pair has driven in 29% of the clubs 593 runs this season. Since July 31, they have driven in 32%. So even though they are scoring more runs, it’s not the lineup that’s picked up the pace, it’s the big 2 who’ve combined for 45 RBI this month.
-Ludwick didn’t pitch, but what the heck, lets look at pitchers. The bullpen, long a strength, has become more of a weakness in the past month. Among the issues, the loss of Dennys Reyes and Jason Motte, along with ineffectiveness from many. Since July 31, the pen has seen the opposing batting average and ERA’s skyrocket. Over the past 26 games, opponents are batting .296 with 9 HR 49 RBI in 277 AB. Pretty comparable results to the starters who’ve allowed 12 HR and 65 RBI over 620 AB.
I could get into more of why this team is struggling, including some shakiness in the rotation, but I’ve run out of time. Gotta go pick up the youngster from her first day of preschool, one of many things that is more important that a disappointing baseball team, in a free fall from contention. Thanks for reading, take it however you like.
Aug 30
John MarecekAudio, Saint Louis Cardinals, Uncategorized colby rasmus, john mozeliak, st. louis cardinals, tony la russa
Now up at KTRS.COM, Sunday’s Budweiser Baseball Chat with Tony La Russa, and my conversation with GM John Mozeliak.
Among the highlights, La Russa and a caller debate the lineup, and the manager talks up the return of Colby Rasmus just an hour before scratching him from the lineup. La Russa also compares Jon Jay and Rasmus. Very complimentary of Jay, while complementing and critiquing Rasmus.
Mo gives an update on injuries, waiver trade possibilities, and gives hints at the upcoming roster move.
Aug 25
John MarecekSaint Louis Rams
Here’s the official release from the Rams.
E. STANLEY KROENKE BECOMES MAJORITY OWNER
OF THE ST. LOUIS RAMS
ST. LOUIS, MO. – E. Stanley Kroenke has become the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams, the National Football League announced today. The decision was made by a vote by the league’s owners at a meeting in Atlanta this morning. Kroenke will become the seventh majority owner in the team’s 73-year history.
“Stan has been a familiar and respected figure in the National Football League for more than 15 years,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “He is a proven businessman and has experienced success in all of his sports franchises, as well as serving as a responsible community leader. We look forward to him continuing to uphold the goals and values of the NFL as he becomes the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams.”
Prior to becoming the majority owner of the Rams, Kroenke was the minority owner of the team. He was vital in the effort to bring professional football back to St. Louis in 1995. With his real estate development expertise, Kroenke was instrumental in the building of Rams Park, now known as the Russell Training Center.
“We are delighted with today’s vote by NFL owners. It is one of the very high points of our long association with the NFL,” Kroenke said. “We look forward to working with our fellow owners and Commissioner Goodell as the transaction is finalized and in the years ahead.
“The Rosenbloom family deserves our thanks for all their efforts on behalf of a great football organization and a great city.
“Building organizations that win consistently is a challenge that we understand. We are excited about the opportunity as principal owner of the St. Louis Rams.”
“Fifteen years ago, my family entered a partnership with Stan Kroenke and it has been a wonderful relationship,” said Chip Rosenbloom. “Although today is an emotional day and the end of an era for or family, it is also the beginning of a new chapter in the rich history of the St. Louis Rams. We look forward to Stan continuing the great tradition of the organization. On behalf of my sister Lucia and our entire family, we congratulate Stan and the Kroenke family on becoming the majority owner of the Rams.”
Kroenke currently is the owner of the Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the Colorado Mammoth (NLL). He is also the largest shareholder of Arsenal FC of the English Premier League.
The Pepsi Center in Denver, also owned by Kroenke, hosted the 2001 NHL All-Star game and the 2005 NBA All-Star game. This facility also played host to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In 2004, Kroenke launched the Altitude Sports & Entertainment television network. The 24-hour regional sports network is home to the Nuggets, Avalanche and the Mammoth.
Kroenke’s extensive business interests include serving as chairman and owner of The Kroenke Group, a private real estate investment and development company with offices throughout the United States and Canada, with headquarters in Columbia, Mo. Kroenke is one of the nation’s leading developers of shopping centers and commercial real estate.
Kroenke has undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri and is an active supporter of Mizzou athletic programs. In February 2009, Kroenke was enshrined into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Joining him in the class of 2009 was former Rams defensive end Grant Wistrom.
E. Stanley Kroenke, named after baseball legends Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial, was born in Cole Camp, Mo., and grew up in Mora, Mo. Stan and his wife, Ann, have a daughter, Whitney, and a son, Josh.
Aug 17
John MarecekUncategorized
CARDINALS AGREE TO TERMS WITH #1 PICK ZACK COX;
TEAM ALSO AGREES AT DEADLINE WITH 2nd ROUND PICK RHP JORDAN SWAGERTY
ST. LOUIS, Mo., August 16, 2010 – St. Louis Cardinals Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak announced late this evening that third baseman Zack Cox, the Cardinals first round pick (25th player overall) and right-handed pitcher Jordan Swagerty, the Cardinals 2nd round pick (75th player overall) in the June amateur draft have agreed to terms. Cox will report to the Gulf Coast League and Swagerty to Batavia of the New York-Penn League (A).
“We are very excited to welcome these two exciting young players to the organization,” said Mozeliak. “Obviously, signing a player (Cox) to a big league contract was important to get this deal completed.”
Cox, 21, led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks with a .429 batting average (102-for-238), collecting 14 doubles, 9 home runs and 48 RBIs in 59 games this season. The 6-0, 215-pound sophomore was the starting third baseman at Arkansas in both of his seasons after graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Kentucky.
“Cox had a terrific year at Arkansas. We are excited to see him in a Cardinals uniform,” said Cardinals Vice President for Scouting and Player Development, Jeff Luhnow. “He’s an infielder with potential to be an above average Major League player in the not too distant future.”
The Louisville native went 5-for-11 (.455) with two doubles in the Tempe, Ariz. Super Regional against Arizona State in June, finishing the year with 102 hits and a .429 batting average – both Razorback single-season school records.
During his freshman campaign, the left-handed hitting Cox was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and NCBWA Second-Team Freshman All-American and was named to the SEC Tournament Team as a third baseman after batting .357.
Swagerty was drafted out of Arizona State University where he was a finalist for the 2010 Stopper of the Year award, an award given to the top Division I relief pitcher. He will join ASU teammate Seth Blair, the team’s first round supplemental pick who signed with St. Louis last month, as a member of the Cardinals organization.
The 6-1, 170-pound sophomore finished the year with a 2.19 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 37.0 innings pitched and he set the ASU single-season saves record with 14 while earning First Team All-Pac 10 honors.
Swagerty, who also caught periodically for the Sun Devils, batted .352 (19-for-54) this season. He was a prep standout at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Sachse, Texas.
Aug 17
John MarecekSaint Louis Cardinals, Uncategorized
CARDINALS AGREE TO TERMS WITH #1 PICK ZACK COX;
TEAM ALSO AGREES AT DEADLINE WITH 2nd ROUND PICK RHP JORDAN SWAGERTY
ST. LOUIS, Mo., August 16, 2010 – St. Louis Cardinals Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak announced late this evening that third baseman Zack Cox, the Cardinals first round pick (25th player overall) and right-handed pitcher Jordan Swagerty, the Cardinals 2nd round pick (75th player overall) in the June amateur draft have agreed to terms. Cox will report to the Gulf Coast League and Swagerty to Batavia of the New York-Penn League (A).
“We are very excited to welcome these two exciting young players to the organization,” said Mozeliak. “Obviously, signing a player (Cox) to a big league contract was important to get this deal completed.”
Cox, 21, led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks with a .429 batting average (102-for-238), collecting 14 doubles, 9 home runs and 48 RBIs in 59 games this season. The 6-0, 215-pound sophomore was the starting third baseman at Arkansas in both of his seasons after graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Kentucky.
“Cox had a terrific year at Arkansas. We are excited to see him in a Cardinals uniform,” said Cardinals Vice President for Scouting and Player Development, Jeff Luhnow. “He’s an infielder with potential to be an above average Major League player in the not too distant future.”
The Louisville native went 5-for-11 (.455) with two doubles in the Tempe, Ariz. Super Regional against Arizona State in June, finishing the year with 102 hits and a .429 batting average – both Razorback single-season school records.
During his freshman campaign, the left-handed hitting Cox was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and NCBWA Second-Team Freshman All-American and was named to the SEC Tournament Team as a third baseman after batting .357.
Swagerty was drafted out of Arizona State University where he was a finalist for the 2010 Stopper of the Year award, an award given to the top Division I relief pitcher. He will join ASU teammate Seth Blair, the team’s first round supplemental pick who signed with St. Louis last month, as a member of the Cardinals organization.
The 6-1, 170-pound sophomore finished the year with a 2.19 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 37.0 innings pitched and he set the ASU single-season saves record with 14 while earning First Team All-Pac 10 honors.
Swagerty, who also caught periodically for the Sun Devils, batted .352 (19-for-54) this season. He was a prep standout at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Sachse, Texas.
Aug 12
John MarecekSaint Louis Cardinals, Uncategorized MLB, st. louis cardinals
HERE’S THE OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL:
Major League Baseball has issued discipline to five players and the two managers as a result of the on-field incident that occurred in the bottom of the first inning of Tuesday’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati . Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball , made the announcement.
Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto has received a seven-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his violent and aggressive actions during the incident. Unless appealed, Cueto is scheduled to begin serving his suspension on Friday, when the Reds are scheduled to host the Florida Marlins. If appealed, the discipline issued to Cueto will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa each have received two-game suspensions and undisclosed fines as a result of their actions on Tuesday. Baker will serve the two-game suspension on Friday and Saturday as the Reds host the Marlins. La Russa will serve the two-game suspension on Friday and Saturday as the Cardinals host the Chicago Cubs.
Four players have been fined undisclosed amounts as a result of the incident: Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Russ Springer, currently a disabled list player who came onto the field during the incident; and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Chris Carpenter.
Aug 03
John MarecekUncategorized allen craig, boxing, brett favre, lebron james, mike macdougal, st. louis cardinals, st. louis rams
Hello all. Feeling a little better, at least good enough to sit down and blog for a little while. I hope to return to the air this weekend, but until then, this is all I’ve got.
-I can’t believe I just read this about Brett Favre. The first off season there was little coverage of will he or won’t he, Favre has reportedly decided he will not play football this year. If this is the end game, Brett Favre will have soiled his reputation in a third city. What should have been one of the most successful QB’s in NFL history ending his career with dignity, has become a 4 year run of a selfish player playing GM with three different organizations. He held Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers hostage for years before they’d had enough. Then retired and asked for his release from New York before signing with Minnesota. Now, here we are, a month from the season beginning, and he’s on the verge of telling the organization he led to the NFC Title game last year, and the one who was counting on him this year, that he’s out.
While I hate the way Favre has handled his situation the last few years, he doesn’t get all of the blame. The organizations have allowed him to operate on his own clock for what, six years? If you want to play poker with the most important position on your football team, you can’t expect to win every time.
-The people I feel most badly for on this whole Favre thing are the fans. You bought tickets thinking you were going to see a Hall of Famer lead your team to the playoffs. Now you are going to see Tavaris Jackson lead your team to what?
-I’m guessing you were like me last night wondering how in the world relief pitcher Mike MacDougal had gone from released by the Nats to Memphis, and then into a high leverage situation for the Cardinals last night. Tony La Russa said after the game, Kyle McClellan wasn’t available, and neither was Mitchell Boggs. Fair enough. Now I ask you the question, would you have rather seen Hawksworth there instead?
-Maybe Jason Motte shouldn’t be allowed to pitch back to back days. Five of the thirteen runs he’s allowed this season have come on the 2nd of back to back days of work. His ERA on zero days rest this season is 5.87 in 7 2/3 innings.
-Not sure how much longer I can watch Felipe Lopez play third base everyday. With David Freese status unknown at this time, what would be wrong with throwing Allen Craig at third occasionally. I know it’s been awhile since he’s seen game action there, but he may be the best option you’ve got. He may not have a great arm, but one thing he’s always been able to do at third is field the position. Right now both are question marks every night.
-I remember a time when I would get excited abuot major boxing matches. There was a time I hoped to attend one. Now, there’s another one in my hometown, and it does nothing for me. That’s a shame. Maybe one day my excitement for the sport will return, but there would have to be a bunch of changes in how they operate first. I could get into it now, but I don’t think many reading this care anymore than I do.
-Since my friend and co-worker McGraw Milhaven is an alum, I may have to lean on him for this one a little. Someone needs to tell one of the greatest and most respected coaches in college football history to stop talking. Tom Osborne continues to get in front of microphone’s and tell the world Nebraska is ditching the Big 12 for the Big 10 mostly because of academic reasons. Right now, Coach Osborne needs to either shut up, or be honest. Wouldn’t you have more respect for the guy if he said all of those academic things are great, but we are leaving because the school will earn more? I know I would. Be honest coach, we like honest.
-Can’t we all just leave LeBron James alone? Many think what he did was gutless, a cheap shot, and taking the easy way out, and all of that is fine, but do his newspaper ads need critiquing too? He took the ad out in Akron, not Cleveland, and who the hell cares anyway? Hey, at least he made his decision early in the process, unlike you know who (see above)
Thanks for reading everyone. Follow me on Twitter for the show that never ends.
Aug 01
550 SportsnightUncategorized cardinals, jake westbrook, ktrs
Westbrook talked again with the media a little later on Sunday August 1
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Jul 31
John MarecekUncategorized austin wilson, colby rasmus, jake westbrook, jon jay, sam bradford, st. louis cardinals, st. louis rams
Hello all. My apologies for so much time passing by between posts. I had a medical issue pop up that left me in the hospital for a few days, and now meds that leave me a bit loopy. This morning, I woke up feeling great, so I’m here to opine for a few before my next dosage. Although, if none of this makes sense, it’s not my fault.
-Last night, it became official, Sam Bradford is a member of the St. Louis Rams and the NFL. Click the link there for the details, but make sure you are sitting down if you haven’t seen the dollar figures yet. As with all NFL contracts, don’t pay attention to the two big numbers, the guaranteed number is the only one that matters. $50 million is obscene and unfair, but that’s the system the owners have created, and hope to fix in the next CBA. My issue is not so much just cut and dry about the money, but what the money spent could mean.
If you sign a contract like that, what motivation do you have? What kind of career do you need to have to live up to such a deal? If it doesn’t work out, how crippling will this be for the franchise?
Congrats to Sam and his representatives on the deal, most likely the last of it’s kind. Remember, this isn’t Bradford’s fault, he isn’t the one writing the check, he’s just cashing it. It’s his responsibility to prove he’s worth it by succeeding at one of the toughest positions in all of sports. How we determine that, I’m still not sure.
-When should we expect to see Bradford on the field? As long as he has enough of the offense in his head, he should start week 1. I know there are some who think it’s best for a guy to stand and watch as a rookie, but I think we are past that now. Most every QB is going to take some lumps the first time they step on the field whether that be year one or year four. The first time you play is the first time you play, so why not get it over with.
-If John Mozeliak can pry Jake Westbrook away from the Cleveland Indians without hurting the big league club, I’ll tip my cap. He’s not a pitcher that will get fans excited, but I could see him having Woody Williams like success should he join forces with, and listen to Dave Duncan.
-There has been much debate and hair pulling on Twitter recently over Colby Rasmus’ loss of playing time. Look people, I’m a Raz fan too, but you have to be blind not to see why he’s losing time, and you must not be a fan of winning if you want him in there over the other option. Right now, Rssmus is really struggling. Over his last 11 games, he has just 4 hits to 10 K’s. Meanwhile, Jon Jay has come up from Memphis and become the most consistent hitter on the club, batting .466 in 24 games since his most recent promotion June 25.
Fans, Matt Holliday and Ryan Ludwick are going to play the majority of the time, which means it’s going to be a battle for time between Raz and Jay. Prospect status and first half success mean nothing right now. If you want to get on the field, you’d better perform when given the chance. Right now, Jay is proving he deserves the AB’s.
-The Cardinals brought 12th round pick Austin Wilson to St. Louis last week in the same manner major colleges host official visits for high school prospects. I give the organization credit for thinking outside the box on this one and making every effort to sign one of the most exciting position player prospects in this past draft, and one most thought was unsignable. I do have a couple of questions though. I wonder what 1st round pick Zach Cox thinks of all the fawning over Wilson? Remember, Cox has leverage to, and isn’t a slam dunk sign, but I haven’t heard when his recruiting trip is.
Now, another way to view how the Cardinals are operating could be viewed as a bit cynical, or smart. If the Cardinals cannot sign Zach Cox by the August 16 deadline, they will receive another 1st round pick in next years draft. At this point, do not expect the Cardinals to have any supplemental picks in the 2011 draft. They could sign Wilson, Seth Blair (agreed yesterday), and Tyrell Jenkins, while letting Cox go back to school. That would give them three first round quality players in their opinion this year, and they would also pick up an extra 1st round pick next year. Maybe a reach, but the more I think about it, maybe not.
**Golfers, please take a few minutes and check out the information on the Inaugural St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Golf Tournament to be played at the Missouri Bluffs on September 2. Honorary Chairman will be Ozzie Smith, Jackie Smith, and Bernie Federko. All of the info can be found with a short scroll down the website.
Now I’m spent. Thanks to all for the well wishes. I hope to return to the air tomorrow morning at 10 AM with Tony La Russa, but no promises. Either way, talk and type to you soon. Remember, to check me out on Twitter, where the shows never end.
Older Entries
Feed Yourself