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If we're going to throw darts at a board in hopes that the bullpen magically fixes itself, we need to throw as many darts as possible.

And let's not act like a small contract like that is going to affect this team at all.

ZigZagCardsFan wrote:If we're going to throw darts at a board in hopes that the bullpen magically fixes itself, we need to throw as many darts as possible.

And let's not act like a small contract like that is going to affect this team at all.

It’s not the contract or the money but there are only so many spots on the 40 man. Do we want to fill them up with meh? We’ve got several good minor league arms to throw out there if.

Any truth to the rumblings that this FO hasn't commited to really adding a closer because they're bullish on Hicks and Helsey? Are they secretly confident in one or both of those guys playing big roles in 2018?

I don’t know about big roles, but both of their names have come up as guys to get playing time in 2018.

It really seems like a strange route to go for a team that’s sat on a pile of cash and disappointed the last two years. There’s no deflecting the blame if it goes wrong.

Its almost as if they signed Luke as a backup plan, they said as much, in fact. But rather than shell out for a pitcher that might work out but costs a lot, they're hoping a guy steps forward; Hicks, Helsey. Either that, or they know that they still have a trade partner in Tampa for Colome, and if it looks like we might break camp without definition to the role we can just get him then. He'll still be training for the season, so he can jump right in. I'd just like him to spend camp with Yadi.

I would much rather get a big 3B bat (yeah I know that doesn't exist really) in case Gyorko goes back to his pre-Cardinal norms and Arrieta on a one-year deal would rule. I could even stomach Lynn on a (cheap) one year deal.

MinorLeagueGuy wrote:Its almost as if they signed Luke as a backup plan, they said as much, in fact. But rather than shell out for a pitcher that might work out but costs a lot, they're hoping a guy steps forward; Hicks, Helsey. Either that, or they know that they still have a trade partner in Tampa for Colome, and if it looks like we might break camp without definition to the role we can just get him then. He'll still be training for the season, so he can jump right in. I'd just like him to spend camp with Yadi.

I thought it was revealed that they weren't interested in Colome but rather talks were centered around Archer.

ZigZagCardsFan wrote:

MinorLeagueGuy wrote:Its almost as if they signed Luke as a backup plan, they said as much, in fact. But rather than shell out for a pitcher that might work out but costs a lot, they're hoping a guy steps forward; Hicks, Helsey. Either that, or they know that they still have a trade partner in Tampa for Colome, and if it looks like we might break camp without definition to the role we can just get him then. He'll still be training for the season, so he can jump right in. I'd just like him to spend camp with Yadi.

I thought it was revealed that they weren't interested in Colome but rather talks were centered around Archer.

That's what Mo says, or what he communicated back to us through Goold. It makes sense as Colome never did seem like a great fit for what we wanted, especially considering the guys still out there (who we didn't sign, anyway.) Archer, on the other hand, did make perfect sense.

Fat Strat wrote:

ZigZagCardsFan wrote:

MinorLeagueGuy wrote:Its almost as if they signed Luke as a backup plan, they said as much, in fact. But rather than shell out for a pitcher that might work out but costs a lot, they're hoping a guy steps forward; Hicks, Helsey. Either that, or they know that they still have a trade partner in Tampa for Colome, and if it looks like we might break camp without definition to the role we can just get him then. He'll still be training for the season, so he can jump right in. I'd just like him to spend camp with Yadi.

I thought it was revealed that they weren't interested in Colome but rather talks were centered around Archer.

That's what Mo says, or what he communicated back to us through Goold. It makes sense as Colome never did seem like a great fit for what we wanted, especially considering the guys still out there (who we didn't sign, anyway.) Archer, on the other hand, did make perfect sense.

It still does seem strange and I can't quite square it that Colome started following a bunch of Cardinals accounts and then nothing happened. He said it was because a bunch of those accounts started following him. He could also be pulling a Rajai Davis-- or there was something in the works and it fell apart.

I think it's time to just make the move on Darvish. By the back half of the contract, the Cardinals will have tens of millions off the books and will have likely received three years of ace level performance.

Anyone else worried about the left side of the infield?

Dejong has never been considered a great SS in the minors. And with his K:BB ratio, we could see a significant drop off in production. Both on defense and offense.

Gyorko returning to norms? He may not drop much at 3B defense, but he is getting older and then you have to think about how his average will come down if his BABIP comes down to normal. As well as his OBP coming down to career norms of .305. I worry about those two the most. Definitely would like another starter-worthy arm too.