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Reversal About Fortune

Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:11 AM
Filed Under: St. Louis Cardinals
The World Series MVP walked into camp yesterday.  But that wasn't the top story.

The new third-place hitter walked into camp yesterday.  But that wasn't the top story.

No, yet again the Yadier Molina contract saga took the top slot.  After saying that he was willing to negotiate throughout the season, giving the blogging class something to discuss for a few days vis-a-vis the Albert Pujols situation of last year, Yadi know has decided, "You know what? Maybe that isn't the best of ideas."

So again, we have a looming deadline over a player that hasn't played anywhere else.  Molina's at least leaving the window open until the first game, unlike his predecessor, but with talks stalled and nothing imminent, it looks exceedingly likely that Molina will hit the free agent market.

Yesterday's roundtable hasn't yet been posted (you are reading the roundtables, right?) but it dealt with what was in the system should the Cardinals need to replace Molina.  That question brings a little more urgency with this most recent news and the most monitored situation in the minors this coming year might not be Shelby Miller but rather what the backups in the system are producing.

As mentioned above, David Freese and Matt Holliday did make it into camp. (No word if they got a squash game going after workouts.)  Freese says he's ready to go, but it's got to be an extra challenge this year.  After spending a whirlwind few months as the new hot celebrity, as it were, Freese has to get back to focusing on the game.  I'm not saying that's he is going to be Rick Vaughn in Major League II or anything, just that he may have a bit more trouble getting his focus on the field.  Most likely, though, once he gets into his baseball routine, he'll be fine.  Though expect him to continue to remind his teammates he hung out with Erin Andrews this offseason.

The first minor injuries of camp have occurred as Lance Lynn and Jordan Swagerty are day to day.  Lynn really doesn't sound like it's a big deal at all and he should be back out there in a day or so.  Swagerty's is his elbow, and while the club just thinks it's some inflammation, those kind of injuries raise a bit more of a caution flag.  Hopefully it is nothing too severe as well.

Adam Wainwright threw again and this time, teammates gathered to watch.  You have to know that the position players that hadn't seen him go yet were anxious to see what kind of stuff he has returning from surgery.  Skip Schumaker and Holliday even stood in against him, which hopefully made them appreciate more the fact that they don't have to do it regularly!

Willie McGee is heading down to Florida as well, though as an instructor, not trying to beat Schumaker out of his roster slot.  (You know you were thinking it too.)  The article doesn't say if that's been a regular occurrence for him or if this is another indication of how things have changed with the new guy at the top.  I know Willie and Ozzie Smith are good friends and we all know what Ozzie's position has been, so I was curious.  If anyone knows, please feel free to leave it in the comments.

This time of year is a great time for people to put out prospect lists.  Our friends at Future Redbirds have a link to Baseball America's list, which has six future Cardinals in their top 100.  When you'd figure an average club would have about 3, that's not bad at all.  It's nice to see some recognition for the farm system after years of it being ranked near the bottom.

If you'd like a more team-specific ones, the good people over at Seedlings To Stars have their look at the Cardinal system up.  They don't rank the club quite as high as others that I've heard, but they still recognize that it's a strong system.  Head over there and revel in all of these names that could have an impact on the Cards in the next few years.

Finally, Derrick Goold is keeping up with the Mike Matheny quotes.  Yesterday's went back a bit....to ancient Greece.

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.--Aristotle

That applies to everything, of course, not just baseball.  As Lent begins today with Ash Wednesday, it can be taken to heart in how you live your personal life as well.  Plus, apparently, I need to blog more often so I can have some excellence in this spot without resorting to a guest blogger that makes me look bad!

Today's Playing Pepper will focus on the Baltimore Orioles, those long-distance cousins of the Cardinals.  Come back later and check it out!

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Heroes
Matt Holliday (5)
Matt Carpenter (4)
Rafael Furcal (4)
Yadier Molina (4)
Carlos Beltran (3)
David Freese (3)
Jaime Garcia (3)
Jon Jay (3)
Kyle Lohse (3)
Lance Lynn (3)
Adam Wainwright (3)
Lance Berkman (1)
Allen Craig (1)
Shane Robinson (1)
Fernando Salas (1)
Jake Westbrook (1)

2011 Top Hero: Lance Berkman (24)
2010 Top Heroes: Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols (24)
2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats
Matt Holliday (4)
Carlos Beltran (3)
David Freese (3)
Rafael Furcal (3)
Jaime Garcia (3)
Tyler Greene (3)
Jason Motte (3)
Marc Rzepczynski (3)
Fernando Salas (3)
Adam Wainwright (3)
J.C. Romero (2)
Mitchell Boggs (1)
Matt Carpenter (1)
Tony Cruz (1)
Daniel Descalso (1)
Jon Jay (1)
Erik Komatsu (1)
Kyle Lohse (1)
Victor Marte (1)
Eduardo Sanchez (1)
Jake Westbrook (1)

2011 Top Goat: Ryan Theriot (12)
2010 Top Goat: Brendan Ryan (14)
2009 Top Goats: Rick Ankiel and Todd Wellemeyer (13)
2008 Top Goat: Troy Glaus (13)

2012 Happy Flights
Happy Flights: 7
Happy Flight Opportunities: 12
Happy Flight %: 58%

Through 5/20

    Cardinal Nation Approval Ratings (March 2012)
    Adam Wainwright 91.9% (down 2.8%)
    Chris Carpenter 90.1% (up 3.2%)
    Lance Berkman 88.6%
    Tony La Russa 88.2% (up 17.4%)
    Yadier Molina 87.4% (up 3.7%)
    Matt Holliday 87.3% (down 3.8%)
    David Freese 85.5%
    John Mozeliak 85.4% (up 13.3%)
    Mike Shannon 85.3% (up 0.4%)
    Jose Oquendo 84.7%
    Derrick Goold 82.8% (down 5.0%)
    Mark McGwire 82.6% (up 20.1%)
    John Rooney 81.5% (down 2.8%)
    Mike Matheny 81.1%
    Bill DeWitt 79.8% (up 8.8%)
    United Cardinal Bloggers 78.9%
    Skip Schumaker 73.3% (up 9.2%)
    Jim Hayes 71.9% (down 4.2%)
    Jon Jay 71.1%
    B.J. Rains 69.5% (down 0.9%)
    Kyle Lohse 68.9% (up 13.8%)
    Dan McLaughlin 68.0%
    Joe Strauss 67.7% (up 10.2%)
    Ricky Horton 67.5% (down 1.6%)
    Al Hrabosky 66.4% (up 3.2%)
    Albert Pujols 54.9% (down 45.5%)
    Colby Rasmus 46.5% (down 35.3%)

    2011
    Dave Duncan 87.9% (up 0.9%)
    Matthew Leach 85.5%
    Pop Warner 76.7%
    Ryan Franklin 72.8% (up 3.1%)
    John Vuch 68.9%
    Jeff Luhnow 66.4%
    Dan Lozano 58.7%

    2009
    Rick Ankiel 83.9%
    Chris Duncan 69.1%


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