I thought he got signed by StL. Guess not?

If you read that quickly you'll think "Patton Oswalt" and wonder how/why a short little fat half elf, half gnome is a pro athlete.

I'm not entirely awake yet. That headline hurt my brain thing.

rickythepenguin: If you read that quickly you'll think "Patton Oswalt" and wonder how/why a short little fat half elf, half gnome is a pro athlete.

No, actually, I won't. Because "Roy" and "Patton" look nothing alike. In both name and physical appearance. And I know who they are, and am able to tell the difference. And I can read.

Sleazy Rider: I'm not entirely awake yet. That headline hurt my brain thing.

I'm not sure why. For after reading it, it made perfect sense to me.

Uncle Pooky: rickythepenguin: If you read that quickly you'll think "Patton Oswalt" and wonder how/why a short little fat half elf, half gnome is a pro athlete.

No, actually, I won't. Because "Roy" and "Patton" look nothing alike. In both name and physical appearance. And I know who they are, and am able to tell the difference. And I can read.

I read it like that, too, and know who both are and what they both look like.

Oswalt is(was?) good, so there must be something wrong with him in that teams are not willing to sign him to a one year deal. Although only willing to pitch for two teams and asking $10 million to do it is a lot (if you are only willing to sign with two teams, you should be willing to take a pay cut when they are not the Yankees), especially coming off from surgery. I am guessing he wants a ring before he retires, although I don't think many people expect the Cardinals to repeat as WS champs.

rally squirrel

machoprogrammer: I am guessing he wants a ring before he retires, although I don't think many people expect the Cardinals to repeat as WS champs.

I have the Cards finishing 3rd at best in the NL Central (and both [assuming there is two this year; don't think that's been finalized] Wild Cards coming out of the NL East).

an pic?

huh.. Yankees hired Jim Hendry as a scout

I'm sure the Astros will pick him up for the 10 million only to trade him and top prospects to the Phillies for some loose change and scrap metal.

Mark Ratner: [karenknowsbest.com image 303x336]
[www.jmorganmarketing.com image 600x750]
/wait, yes you are

bookmarked for October

The Bestest:
I have the Cards finishing 3rd at best in the NL Central (and both [assuming there is two this year; don't think that's been finalized] Wild Cards coming out of the NL East).

Bookmarked for October

Well, seeing as how Cherington is saying it's unlikely & they haven't even met face-to-face with Oswalt, I doubt he'll be in Boston. Besides, don't the Red Sox have some arbitration hearings on the horizon with Ortiz & Aceves before they really know what their payroll looks like for the season?

The Bestest: machoprogrammer: I am guessing he wants a ring before he retires, although I don't think many people expect the Cardinals to repeat as WS champs.

I have the Cards finishing 3rd at best in the NL Central (and both [assuming there is two this year; don't think that's been finalized] Wild Cards coming out of the NL East).

i said a few weeks ago they'd finish second place.

The Bestest: I have the Cards finishing 3rd at best in the NL Central (and both [assuming there is two this year; don't think that's been finalized] Wild Cards coming out of the NL East).

Ok, I gotta ask, what 2 teams do you have finishing ahead of them? Reds, very possible. The rest? Not seeing it.
Cubs? Rebuilding.
Pirates? Still on their 40 year plan.
Astros? Racing Pirates to the cellar.
Brewers? Aramis will not replace Fielder's production and they will most likely lose Braun for close to a 1/3rd of the season. Aramis starts slow in April/May, the same time Braun will be out. You can't win the division in the first 2 months, but you sure can lose it.

I am actually curious to see if Aramis starts off better this year due to playing in the dome. I think it was the cold affecting him since he also seemed to tail off in Sept (and the occasional October).

Serious question to these Cards fans.. where have they improved this offseason?
This is a team last year that only even made the playoffs at the last second due to catching lightning in a bottle and the grace of an epic Braves meltdown.

I easily see the Reds ahead of them. Assuming Braun plays, I see the Brewers ahead of them.
The only team in the Central I see the Cards outright finishing ahead of is the Astros.

MugzyBrown: I thought he got signed by StL. Guess not?

Despite the fact that Mozeliak is denying any interest in Oswalt(who wants to start, and has expressed a desire in the past to pitch in STL), the team is shopping Kyle McClellan in order to "free up some payroll for the possibility of signing a starter"(the company line). Thing is, they already have 5 starters. Wainwright is coming off TJ surgery, though; Carpenter logged a shiatload of innings in '11; Garcia has never thrown more than 170 innings. Lohse and Westrbrook have full no-trade clauses, but even so, I'm thinking that signing Oswalt is in the Cards, so to speak. Unless, of course, the Rangers, or some surprise team(I'm looking at you LAA Angels) comes in and sweeps him away.

/Cards fan for 50+ years

/GP & the Fergs FTW

The Bestest: machoprogrammer: I am guessing he wants a ring before he retires, although I don't think many people expect the Cardinals to repeat as WS champs.

I have the Cards finishing 3rd at best in the NL Central (and both [assuming there is two this year; don't think that's been finalized] Wild Cards coming out of the NL East).

Reality is that the Cards roster for 2012 is better than 2011. I won't have to watch #5 trot to first base on grounders as he is setting a record for hitting into DPs. The new coaching staff is concerning, but, seriously, the Cubs? the Pirates?, the Astros? the no Prince and partial Braun Brewers? maybe the Reds will be decent.
I wish I could find someway to take your money.

1. Cards 92 wins
2. Reds 87 wins
3. Pirates 79 wins
4. Brewers 78 wins
5. Cubs 69 wins
6. Astros 65 wins

coffee fiend: Unless, of course, the Rangers, or some surprise team(I'm looking at you LAA Angels) comes in and sweeps him away.


Angels already have the best rotation in the AL.. can't see what they'd want with Oswalt, and I can't see the Rangers going after another pitcher after spending $111.7M on Yu Darvish.

/GP & the Fergs FTW

FTFM

The Bestest: The only team in the Central I see the Cards outright finishing ahead of is the Astros.


I'll take that bet.

Well the major difference is that Oswalt doesn't have 350 pound men running full speed to take his head off.

ChuckNorrisSays: Reality is that the Cards roster for 2012 is better than 2011. I won't have to watch #5 trot to first base on grounders as he is setting a record for hitting into DPs. The new coaching staff is concerning, but, seriously, the Cubs? the Pirates?, the Astros? the no Prince and partial Braun Brewers? maybe the Reds will be decent.
I wish I could find someway to take your money.

1. Cards 92 wins
2. Reds 87 wins
3. Pirates 79 wins
4. Brewers 78 wins
5. Cubs 69 wins
6. Astros 65 wins


What crack are you smoking? Their '11 roster is way, way better.

Wainright - Won't be close to 100% (it takes 2 years or so to recover from TJ).
Carpenter - Getting old, and is quite fragile, and logged a ton of innings last year.
Garcia - See Carpenter minus the old part.

Pujols is gone. The best offensive player in the past decade.
Berkman had an insane year that he won't repeat without Pujols hitting near him.
Beltran is a walking hamstring injury

And, most importantly, LaRussa and Duncan are gone.

I don't particularly see it as a "sad" situation if your asking price is $10 million and you limit your interest to two teams.

rjakobi: I don't particularly see it as a "sad" situation if your asking price is $10 million and you limit your interest to two teams.

The thing is when you say "I'm only going to play for certain teams", that kiiiiiinda hurts your negotiating position.

ChuckNorrisSays: The Bestest: machoprogrammer: I am guessing he wants a ring before he retires, although I don't think many people expect the Cardinals to repeat as WS champs.

I have the Cards finishing 3rd at best in the NL Central (and both [assuming there is two this year; don't think that's been finalized] Wild Cards coming out of the NL East).

Reality is that the Cards roster for 2012 is better than 2011. I won't have to watch #5 trot to first base on grounders as he is setting a record for hitting into DPs. The new coaching staff is concerning, but, seriously, the Cubs? the Pirates?, the Astros? the no Prince and partial Braun Brewers? maybe the Reds will be decent.
I wish I could find someway to take your money.

1. Cards 92 wins
2. Reds 87 wins
3. Pirates 79 wins
4. Brewers 78 wins
5. Cubs 69 wins
6. Astros 65 wins

So you think the Cards are a better team than last year? How do you figure?

Tony La Russa: Gone & replaced by Mike Matheny = Downgrade
Albert Pujols: Gone & replaced by Berkman = Downgrade
Dave Duncan - LOA & replaced by Derek Lilliquist = Downgrade (indefinitely since there's no timetable on his return).

Now, don't get me wrong. Matheny, Berkman & Lilliquist aren't dogs, but you're talking about the backbone of that team. Matheny, Berkman & Lilliquist all have some mighty big shoes to fill.

Meanwhile in Ohio, the Reds seem to have addressed just aboout everything so far.
They've added Latos who is really damned good and eats up innings and if Aroldis Chapman can get his collective shiat together, the front of that rotation looks really scary. Latos' record may not look all that great on paper, but the Padres' offense is best described as anemic.
They've added Ryan Madson; he's been a helluva closer.
They've added a great left-arm to the pen in Sean Marshall.
They've also got Ryan Ludwick now I think (you remember him). So they've added someone who can hit with power in RF.
Their skipper ain't bad either.
And that's just scratching the surface.

92 wins for the Cards this year is probably a stretch. For the Reds? Not so much.

Agreed - I've got the Reds winning the division this year, mostly by default.

Obviously losing Pujols is a big deal, but Larussa's departure will have an effect, as well. I didn't care for him as a person, but the guy knows baseball.

I don't care is the Cubs dwell in the basement for a few more seasons now that they FINALLY have the combination of ownership that cares to go with executives who understand how to build a winning team.

With Fielder gone, I don't see the Brewers really doing anything for a while.

Chupacabra Sandwich: Star Player gets hurt and misses entire season in last year of contract. The Dbacks paid Webb and got burned.


GREAT point....factually, i think you are a bit wrong as although the Snakes gave him a one year deal, we expressly declnied the long-term extension he wanted because of the concerns we had about his elbow. So while we paid him, we didn't give him the massive deal he wanted. there's a reason he's a Texas Ranger, after all.

actuall....i don't know if we even extended him.....wiki would clear that up. I know he started the opening game, left with injury, and then I think had another 2-3 starts and then was done, but the more i think about it, i think we cut him loose after his "lost" season.

Reds.

rickythepenguin: actuall....i don't know if we even extended him.....wiki would clear that up

Wiki:

Webb pitched on opening day against the Colorado Rockies, but was limited to pitching just four innings. On April 7, 2009, he was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis. On August 3, 2009, Dr. Keith Meister of the Rangers performed surgery on his right shoulder, ending his 2009 season. Despite the injury, the Diamondbacks picked up Webb's $8.5 million option for 2010 after the 2009 season ended. Arizona would have had to pay a $2 million buyout if it had declined the option.[6] He spent the year rehabbing his injury and did not appear in any games in 2010.

we're both kind of right....>i thought we'd completely washed our hands of him, but you were right in that we did pay him. but i was right that we declnied the long-term lock up and let him walk.

i went to game last year and the door prize or whatever was a B-Webb puzzle. it was more than a little humorous. actually i think they were just giving them away in the kids zone area. HEY KIDS WHO WANTS FREE CRAP THAT IS JUST TAKING UP SPACE IN OUR HOUSE.....

"an pic" subby? you english speak good

Maybe the Jays can take a flyer on him since their rotation could use some depth.

/Romero, Morrow, Cecil, then...?

I know none of you farkers care, but I really see the Nationals taking a Wild Card this year in the NL.

LucklessWonder: I know none of you farkers care, but I really see the Nationals taking a Wild Card this year in the NL.

I've got them 4th in the NL East, ahead of the Mets and behind the Marlins.

The Bestest: LucklessWonder: I know none of you farkers care, but I really see the Nationals taking a Wild Card this year in the NL.

I've got them 4th in the NL East, ahead of the Mets and behind the Marlins.

I think they'll give the Braves a run for their money, but I'm an irrational homer.