Comments on: Deal or no Deal: Potential Trade Thoughts from the NL Central http://calltothepen.com/2010/07/26/deal-or-no-deal-potential-trade-thoughts-from-the-nl-central/ A Major League Baseball Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:26:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Trade Deadline: Roy Oswalt, Fausto Carmona, Stephen Drew, Ted Lilly | Redbird Rants | A St. Louis Cardinals Blog http://calltothepen.com/2010/07/26/deal-or-no-deal-potential-trade-thoughts-from-the-nl-central/comment-page-1/#comment-819 Trade Deadline: Roy Oswalt, Fausto Carmona, Stephen Drew, Ted Lilly | Redbird Rants | A St. Louis Cardinals Blog Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:17:59 +0000 http://calltothepen.com/?p=3336#comment-819 [...] Cards will have to turn their attention to others. Here were my thoughts a few days ago, now up on Call to the Pen. The Cardinals are finally starting to look like the team that was predicted to steamroll the [...] [...] Cards will have to turn their attention to others. Here were my thoughts a few days ago, now up on Call to the Pen. The Cardinals are finally starting to look like the team that was predicted to steamroll the [...]

]]> By: Ryne Gery http://calltothepen.com/2010/07/26/deal-or-no-deal-potential-trade-thoughts-from-the-nl-central/comment-page-1/#comment-815 Ryne Gery Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:15:46 +0000 http://calltothepen.com/?p=3336#comment-815 I agree Wally. I love guys who play defense and scrap their way to a .270 batting average, but that's not Brendan Ryan this year. He's hitting below the Mendoza Line. That's enough to trade him or give up on him. So his fast and aggressive baserunning is worthless because he's never on base. His defense is good, but there are other guys out there like Drew who may be even better. If he was hitting .250, I could see standing by him for his defense, but at .192 that makes two automatic outs in the lineup and Molina has been pretty bad too. The Oswalt deal just doesn't seem likely to me anymore. He is asking for too much with that $16 million option and the Cards do have the Pujols contract hanging over them. If Oswalt can't see the draw of getting out of a losing situation, then he deserves to finish his career with Houston. The Astros aren't getting better anytime soon. This is his chance and the Cardinals or Phillies would give him a chance to win. If he earns that option, then that team will pick it up. If he doesn't and his play declines by 2012, then he won't get it. That's how it should work. These players don't like to earn their money anymore and that's disappointing. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens. For the Cards, if they can't get Oswalt, I would like to see them get help in the middle infield. Drew is the ideal pick and may be hard to get, but they need help if they're serious about making a run. The NL is there for the taking this year. I agree Wally. I love guys who play defense and scrap their way to a .270 batting average, but that’s not Brendan Ryan this year. He’s hitting below the Mendoza Line. That’s enough to trade him or give up on him. So his fast and aggressive baserunning is worthless because he’s never on base. His defense is good, but there are other guys out there like Drew who may be even better. If he was hitting .250, I could see standing by him for his defense, but at .192 that makes two automatic outs in the lineup and Molina has been pretty bad too.

The Oswalt deal just doesn’t seem likely to me anymore. He is asking for too much with that $16 million option and the Cards do have the Pujols contract hanging over them. If Oswalt can’t see the draw of getting out of a losing situation, then he deserves to finish his career with Houston. The Astros aren’t getting better anytime soon. This is his chance and the Cardinals or Phillies would give him a chance to win. If he earns that option, then that team will pick it up. If he doesn’t and his play declines by 2012, then he won’t get it. That’s how it should work. These players don’t like to earn their money anymore and that’s disappointing. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

For the Cards, if they can’t get Oswalt, I would like to see them get help in the middle infield. Drew is the ideal pick and may be hard to get, but they need help if they’re serious about making a run. The NL is there for the taking this year.

]]> By: Wally Fish http://calltothepen.com/2010/07/26/deal-or-no-deal-potential-trade-thoughts-from-the-nl-central/comment-page-1/#comment-813 Wally Fish Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:55:24 +0000 http://calltothepen.com/?p=3336#comment-813 I am always amazed at the love Cardinals fans have for Brendan Ryan. He's a mediocre shortstop on a good team. No more and no less. The Astros probably rejected the rumored offer of Jon Jay and Brendan Ryan for Roy Oswalt because that is a complete joke of a package for a front line starting pitcher who is under team control through 2012. I get that we, as fans, tend to love the scrappy, good fielding, overachieving players, but I'll trade that guy every time if it lands me a pitcher who can anchor my rotation for 2.5 seasons. As for your proposal, I can see Tyler Greene as being more appealing to the Stros than Brendan Ryan, but 32-year old Ryan Ludwick makes zero sense. Houston needs young talented prospects, not declining past their prime players like Ludwick. I am always amazed at the love Cardinals fans have for Brendan Ryan. He’s a mediocre shortstop on a good team. No more and no less. The Astros probably rejected the rumored offer of Jon Jay and Brendan Ryan for Roy Oswalt because that is a complete joke of a package for a front line starting pitcher who is under team control through 2012. I get that we, as fans, tend to love the scrappy, good fielding, overachieving players, but I’ll trade that guy every time if it lands me a pitcher who can anchor my rotation for 2.5 seasons. As for your proposal, I can see Tyler Greene as being more appealing to the Stros than Brendan Ryan, but 32-year old Ryan Ludwick makes zero sense. Houston needs young talented prospects, not declining past their prime players like Ludwick.

]]>