Luvofthegame
10-30-2006, 08:23 PM
By Jeff Gordon
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
10/30/2006
Tony La Russa seems excited about managing the Cardinals for at least one more season.
Rather than go out on top, La Russa wants to spend the 2007 with the reigning World Champions. That’s good for him and good for Cardinal Nation.
(That’s not so good for Jose Oquendo, who might have succeeded La Russa as Cardinals skipper. Instead, Jose will interview with the Padres and ponder whether it is time to leave the nest.)
Of course, the new season will bring a new set of challenges. Job One will be to sustain the team scrappiness that carried the Cardinals through the playoffs.
There could be wholesale turnover of personnel. When general manager Walt Jocketty explores his options for 2007, he will place a premium on personality – making sure that players who stay or arrive fit the “Hard Nine” profile the ’06 team sustained.
The transition to ’07 will be easier given the contributions Chris Duncan, Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright, Josh Kinney and Tyler Johnson made this fall. Each will play big roles for the Cards going forward and each will earn modest salaries next season.
They are the budget-balancing players, as are middle reliever Brad Thompson and left-handed starter Chris Narveson.
But the Cards have many veterans to make a decision on. Let’s put the veterans in order of importance:
1) Chris Carpenter: As the staff ace and leader, he is second only to Albert Pujols on the Most Important Cardinal list. So the team should extend his contract beyond his $8 million club option in 2008 before it throws money at anybody else. First things first.
2) Jim Edmonds: If he is jacked up to play another year or two, then Jocketty and Bill DeWitt need to make it happen. He has played a major role in two N.L pennants and a World Championship. He has played hurt and played hard. He is still a “plus” player defensively and he is a big piece of the team personality. His $10 million option may be a bit rich, but $7 million or $8 would be reasonable.
3) Jeff Suppan: Sure, his price tag will soar. But, like Woody Williams, he would be worth the bigger ticket here. He, too, is a big part of this team’s personality. And with the Cards striving to develop young pitching, having example-setters like Carpenter and Suppan in leadership roles is critical.
4) Scott Spiezio: Unless he gets a chance to play a regular role elsewhere, the Cards need to pony up a few more bucks to keep him. Really good part-time players are difficult to find – although Jocketty does have a knack for finding the right ones.
5) Aaron Miles: By filling in capably at shortstop, he secured his spot for next season. At worst he is a nice utility player. I’m guessing the Cards will save money at second base again, so he could return to his starting role.
6) Jeff Weaver: He made $8.325 million this season, based on his previously solid production for the Dodgers. He pitched like an $8 million man in the playoffs. His regular season struggle in ’06 ought to drive his market value down, so perhaps the Cards could bring him back with a short-term, incentives-laden deal. Jocketty is too smart of overspend on him.
7) Preston Wilson: Sure, he strikes out way too much. But he is an energetic player capable of playing all three spots. For the right price, he could become a handy player next season. With that three-year, $24 million club option erased, it will be interesting to see where his market value settles.
8) So Taguchi: We assume the Cards have scheduled Skip Schumaker to assume his defensive outfield role for next season. But So is the ultimate role player and his strong finish moved him back onto the puzzle board. La Russa loves this guy.
9) Mark Mulder: Because the Cards gave up so much to get him, we’d like to see the team keep him with a one-year rehabilitation contract to see how his shoulder responds to surgery. But given his working relationship with Dave Duncan – or lack thereof – we assume he will move on as quickly as possible.
10) Ronnie Belliard: It was fun having him around, but he appears headed back to Cleveland. I don’t mind losing Hector Luna to rent Ronnie for the summer because the Cards won their first World Championship since ’82. He just didn’t hit enough to merit further investment.
11) Randy Flores: He is a handy left-handed specialist. He held up nicely under postseason pressure. Unless another team offers him silly money, Walt ought to bring him back.
12) Josh Hancock: At times, he was more than OK in middle relief. At times, he was less so. The Cards won’t budget much for this slot, so he could be back.
13) Gary Bennett: He seemed to fit the back-up catching role quite well – at least compared to Einar Diaz. Keeping him makes sense.
14) John Rodriguez: He swings a good bat coming off the bench. He embraces his role on the team. He could round up some numbers as a platoon player, if he got the chance. Why not keep him?
15) Jorge Sosa: He got a $2.2 million deal out of the Braves for ’06, but he is the sort of hurler the Cards would only take back on a make-good deal – either a minor league contract or an incentives-driven big league deal.
16) Jason Marquis: Good-bye! Perhaps still another change of scenery will help him figure it out.
17) The Ghost of Larry Bigbie: Somebody will invite him to spring training, but there is no room for him here.
The budget-killer for 2006 could be Jason Isringhausen, set to make $8.75 million next season as he returns from hip surgery. If he makes a full recovery and returns next season with good zip and excellent command, then great.
But what if he is merely so-so? Then the Cards will have to leave Wainwright in the closer’s role and overpay Izzy as a set-up guy.
Another budget-buster is outfielder Juan Encarnacion, whose salary jumps to $5 million next season and $6.5 million in 2008. Given his evaporation in the playoffs, does he have a future here?
He put up OK numbers during the second half of the season, but he doesn’t fit into the “Hard Nine” personality La Russa cultivated. With Duncan looking like the ’07 right fielder -- after a winter of catching fly balls – nobody would complain if Walt moved Juan.
Trouble is, he would probably have to eat some contract to make that happen.
The same goes for reliever Braden Looper, whose contract jumps to $4.5 million next season and $5.5 million in ’08. He is a handy guy to have, but not for that money.
With $18 million earmarked for Izzy, Encarnacion and Looper next season, Jocketty won’t have much maneuvering room unless he unloads some of that salary.
With core players Carpenter, Pujols, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein due a combined $5.25 million in raises next season, that further limits Walt. Also, it may be time to consider a long-term deal for Yadier Molina to add him to that group.
So the challenge will be considerable, again. Jocketty will have to be as nimble as ever.
But if the Cards can start with a $95 million payroll next season with some room to bump it up as the season progresses, they can assemble another playoff-caliber team.
With the emergence of young pitching, the retooling process becomes easier. The core position players are locked in and there are plenty of capable role players to choose from.
Jocketty will have to fill holes with the right players at the right price. There is a science to this process, but Walt has mastered it.
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
10/30/2006
Tony La Russa seems excited about managing the Cardinals for at least one more season.
Rather than go out on top, La Russa wants to spend the 2007 with the reigning World Champions. That’s good for him and good for Cardinal Nation.
(That’s not so good for Jose Oquendo, who might have succeeded La Russa as Cardinals skipper. Instead, Jose will interview with the Padres and ponder whether it is time to leave the nest.)
Of course, the new season will bring a new set of challenges. Job One will be to sustain the team scrappiness that carried the Cardinals through the playoffs.
There could be wholesale turnover of personnel. When general manager Walt Jocketty explores his options for 2007, he will place a premium on personality – making sure that players who stay or arrive fit the “Hard Nine” profile the ’06 team sustained.
The transition to ’07 will be easier given the contributions Chris Duncan, Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright, Josh Kinney and Tyler Johnson made this fall. Each will play big roles for the Cards going forward and each will earn modest salaries next season.
They are the budget-balancing players, as are middle reliever Brad Thompson and left-handed starter Chris Narveson.
But the Cards have many veterans to make a decision on. Let’s put the veterans in order of importance:
1) Chris Carpenter: As the staff ace and leader, he is second only to Albert Pujols on the Most Important Cardinal list. So the team should extend his contract beyond his $8 million club option in 2008 before it throws money at anybody else. First things first.
2) Jim Edmonds: If he is jacked up to play another year or two, then Jocketty and Bill DeWitt need to make it happen. He has played a major role in two N.L pennants and a World Championship. He has played hurt and played hard. He is still a “plus” player defensively and he is a big piece of the team personality. His $10 million option may be a bit rich, but $7 million or $8 would be reasonable.
3) Jeff Suppan: Sure, his price tag will soar. But, like Woody Williams, he would be worth the bigger ticket here. He, too, is a big part of this team’s personality. And with the Cards striving to develop young pitching, having example-setters like Carpenter and Suppan in leadership roles is critical.
4) Scott Spiezio: Unless he gets a chance to play a regular role elsewhere, the Cards need to pony up a few more bucks to keep him. Really good part-time players are difficult to find – although Jocketty does have a knack for finding the right ones.
5) Aaron Miles: By filling in capably at shortstop, he secured his spot for next season. At worst he is a nice utility player. I’m guessing the Cards will save money at second base again, so he could return to his starting role.
6) Jeff Weaver: He made $8.325 million this season, based on his previously solid production for the Dodgers. He pitched like an $8 million man in the playoffs. His regular season struggle in ’06 ought to drive his market value down, so perhaps the Cards could bring him back with a short-term, incentives-laden deal. Jocketty is too smart of overspend on him.
7) Preston Wilson: Sure, he strikes out way too much. But he is an energetic player capable of playing all three spots. For the right price, he could become a handy player next season. With that three-year, $24 million club option erased, it will be interesting to see where his market value settles.
8) So Taguchi: We assume the Cards have scheduled Skip Schumaker to assume his defensive outfield role for next season. But So is the ultimate role player and his strong finish moved him back onto the puzzle board. La Russa loves this guy.
9) Mark Mulder: Because the Cards gave up so much to get him, we’d like to see the team keep him with a one-year rehabilitation contract to see how his shoulder responds to surgery. But given his working relationship with Dave Duncan – or lack thereof – we assume he will move on as quickly as possible.
10) Ronnie Belliard: It was fun having him around, but he appears headed back to Cleveland. I don’t mind losing Hector Luna to rent Ronnie for the summer because the Cards won their first World Championship since ’82. He just didn’t hit enough to merit further investment.
11) Randy Flores: He is a handy left-handed specialist. He held up nicely under postseason pressure. Unless another team offers him silly money, Walt ought to bring him back.
12) Josh Hancock: At times, he was more than OK in middle relief. At times, he was less so. The Cards won’t budget much for this slot, so he could be back.
13) Gary Bennett: He seemed to fit the back-up catching role quite well – at least compared to Einar Diaz. Keeping him makes sense.
14) John Rodriguez: He swings a good bat coming off the bench. He embraces his role on the team. He could round up some numbers as a platoon player, if he got the chance. Why not keep him?
15) Jorge Sosa: He got a $2.2 million deal out of the Braves for ’06, but he is the sort of hurler the Cards would only take back on a make-good deal – either a minor league contract or an incentives-driven big league deal.
16) Jason Marquis: Good-bye! Perhaps still another change of scenery will help him figure it out.
17) The Ghost of Larry Bigbie: Somebody will invite him to spring training, but there is no room for him here.
The budget-killer for 2006 could be Jason Isringhausen, set to make $8.75 million next season as he returns from hip surgery. If he makes a full recovery and returns next season with good zip and excellent command, then great.
But what if he is merely so-so? Then the Cards will have to leave Wainwright in the closer’s role and overpay Izzy as a set-up guy.
Another budget-buster is outfielder Juan Encarnacion, whose salary jumps to $5 million next season and $6.5 million in 2008. Given his evaporation in the playoffs, does he have a future here?
He put up OK numbers during the second half of the season, but he doesn’t fit into the “Hard Nine” personality La Russa cultivated. With Duncan looking like the ’07 right fielder -- after a winter of catching fly balls – nobody would complain if Walt moved Juan.
Trouble is, he would probably have to eat some contract to make that happen.
The same goes for reliever Braden Looper, whose contract jumps to $4.5 million next season and $5.5 million in ’08. He is a handy guy to have, but not for that money.
With $18 million earmarked for Izzy, Encarnacion and Looper next season, Jocketty won’t have much maneuvering room unless he unloads some of that salary.
With core players Carpenter, Pujols, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein due a combined $5.25 million in raises next season, that further limits Walt. Also, it may be time to consider a long-term deal for Yadier Molina to add him to that group.
So the challenge will be considerable, again. Jocketty will have to be as nimble as ever.
But if the Cards can start with a $95 million payroll next season with some room to bump it up as the season progresses, they can assemble another playoff-caliber team.
With the emergence of young pitching, the retooling process becomes easier. The core position players are locked in and there are plenty of capable role players to choose from.
Jocketty will have to fill holes with the right players at the right price. There is a science to this process, but Walt has mastered it.