The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rough few weeks. First, they failed to extend Albert Pujols‘ contract before the spring training deadline. Then, they lost ace Adam Wainwright for the season. In the aftermath, Vegas sportsbooks moved St. Louis from the favorites in the division to third behind the Reds and Brewers. Can the Cardinals compete without their ace in an improved division? If so, how?
It’s not often that a 28-year-old pitcher with a 4.11 career xFIP goes untouched as a free agent. Yet that’s what Jeremy Bonderman experienced this winter. Some teams apparently showed interest, but not to the level that Bonderman apparently deemed acceptable. Even as spring training has begun and some teams have realized needs in the rotation, we haven’t seen Bonderman strongly connected to anyone. As it turns out, he’s thinking about sitting out the season. That seems like a shame for a relatively young pitcher who once showed so much promise.
While we mostly focus on Major League Baseball here on the site, it’s not the only game in town. In fact, while MLB is playing glorified exhibition games in Arizona and Florida, the NCAA is playing games that actually count right now. And, while college baseball doesn’t get the same attention that several other college sports get (especially in March), there is a pretty good reason for each of us to be paying attention to the scores each weekend now – a rule change affecting the type of bats that can be used that may be drastically altering the game at the college level.
The rule essentially governs the type of metal bats that can be used in NCAA games, and requires them to meet a standard of Batted Ball Coefficient Of Restitution. In English, the new bats create a collision between the bat and ball which is not as impactful. When teams began receiving these bats last summer, they immediately noticed the difference, and many coaches predicted steep declines in offensive levels across the sport. There have been about 900 NCAA games played so far this season, so we’re starting to get to the point where we have a decent sample to draw from. Have the bats made a significant impact?
It’s not exactly high times to be a Dodgers fan right now. Sure, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series, but most of the bitterness of the 2010 season is directed at the divorce battle between Frank and Jamie McCourt. General Manager Ned Colletti hasn’t exactlybeen given the complete freedom to make whatever transactions necessary for the good of the big league ballclub, being hamstrung by financial constraints and all. But he was able to tack on to the starting rotation of homegrown Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley by re-signing Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly, while adding Jon Garland, giving L.A.’s rotation a well-rounded staff.
But if you think the additions and re-additions of Jay Gibbons, Marcus Thames, Juan Uribe, and Rod Barajas will bolster an offense with several holes, think again. A left field and backstop sans Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin are the biggest questions for the boys of Chavez Ravine. A lesser question that will be just as publicized is the performance of current closer Jonathan Broxton, backed by an eclectic but mostly capable bullpen. The single most important X-factor that first-year manager Don Mattingly could use? A Matt Kemp revitalization, whose upside could be the difference between a third-place NL West team and a playoff contender.
Of the 41 seasons the Padres have enjoyed, last season may have been the most painful. Finding new ways to show the standings would only serve to find new ways to visually represent the excruciatingly painful time that was last September in San Diego. But if you’re a sucker for punishment, Chris Spurlock at Beyond the Box Score obliges. Now that the team has finally traded away their slugging first baseman and lost their (only?) big bat, they are in rebuild mode, right? Maybe, except that we’ve had that thought before.
The Starting Nine
RF Will Venable* / Aaron Cunningham
2B Orlando Hudson
3B Chase Headley^
LF Ryan Ludwick
1B Brad Hawpe* / Jorge Cantu
CF Cameron Maybin
SS Jason Bartlett
C Nick Hundley
*lefty batter, ^switch-hitter
The offseason for relief pitchers started with Joaquin Benoit signing a three-year, $16.5 million contract after a career year in 2010. Chad Durbin’s one-year pact with the Cleveland Indians for a guaranteed $800k with the potential to be worth $1.8 million effectively ends the silly season for relievers. In between Benoit and Durbin, more than 30 relief pitchers signed major league contracts with guaranteed money surpassing the $200 million mark.
Earlier this winter, reports said Durbin demanded at least a two-year commitment. In a market that saw multi-year deals handed to several middle relievers, it’s hard to blame him for taking that stance. Unlike some of his peers, the early rush on middle relief passed over Durbin and he was forced to accept a one-year offer.
Episode Sixty-Five
In which the guests are hella mopey.
Headlines
The Stages of Adam Wainwright Grief — Explored!
Best Options for a Cardinal Fifth Starter — Wondered About!
The Meaning of Albert Pujols — Almost Explained!
… and other curious explorations!
Featuring
Dan Moore, Viva El Biridist
Dayn Perry, NotGraphs-ista
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Audio on the flip-flop. (Approximately 40 min play time.)
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