Ok, I guess I can’t vote for Izturis today.

The 2007 Cardinal Blogger Award Ballot:

1. Cardinal Pitcher of the Year
*Adam Wainwright

2. Cardinal Player of the Year
*Albert Pujols

3. Game of the Year
*August 16 at Mil—2 home runs from Molina, 7 scoreless by Wainwright

4. Cardinal Rookie of the Year

*Write-in: Bryan Ludwick____________

5. Surprise of the Year
*Jocketty firing

6. Cardinal Blog of the Year (no voting for yourself!)
*Write-in:C70

7. Surprise Player of the Year
*Yadier Molina

8. Disappointing Player of the Year
*Adam Kennedy

9. New Cardinal Acquisition of the Year
*Joel Pineiro

10. Most Anticipated Cardinal
*Colby Rasmus

BTW: I am ok with Izturis. I see him as a backup/platoon with Ryan. I don’t feel we are going to compete this year so let’s do this!

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           Can you imagine those words? Ever? It would be like a butter knife being rammed into your midsection. It is unthinkable. It is unwritten.

But what would it take to trade Pujols? Is there a deal out there that would/could/should be done that included dealing Albert Pujols.  Cardinal fans believe his is the greatest player on the planet. Just check out the Albert Pujols Club and see how crazy some people get.

Let’s talk negative on Albert for a minute (remember the movie Of Mice and Men when Lennie says, ” nobody talks bad about George”). AP has plantar fascitis and many believe that it only gets worse and his days are numbered very quickly. Is the time now to pull the deal and let someone else maybe get a good year or three before he goes down with injury?

What about the stories that Pujols age is not correct and he is much older than many will admit? Does this mean he is at or past his prime and now would be the time to make a trade.

Money. Albert is pulling down a lot of the financial resources that seem to stifle the Cardinals every off-season to sign free agents. Would it be beneficial to have those resources available?

Lots to think about. Albert is the best but when is it the time?

DEAL or NO DEAL?

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Compelling at times. Opinionated all of the time. Down right mean sometimes. That is what author Bryan Burwell has accomplished in The 100 most controversial, debatable questions for die-hard fans.

His purpose is to provoke a response from the reader. He most definitely does that when he tells you more than once that Mark McGwire was a steroid taker and a cheater that does not belong in the Hall of Fame. But, it is debatable and questionable to most people in and around St. Louis. Bryan Burwell, job accomplished.

Top sports personalities in St Louis has Albert Pujols as #5 and moving towards the #1 or #2 spot near The Man. Most won’t debate that but old school people might want Hornsby in there too. Mission accomplished!

I wanted to throw the book down when he talked of how St Louis isn’t that great of a sports town. His reasons are solid and reasonable but it still breaks your heart to have someone bad mouth what you have been told or possibly brain-washed for years.

All in all this book is a good read for the casual sports reader and a MUST read for the passionate St Louis sports fanatic. It is full of thought provoking discussion points at the water cooler, the copy machine, the diamond or the favorite watering hole. Bryan Burwell set out with a purpose in mind. To get us to think about the storied history of sports in St Louis and to realize we will always argue our opinion on who and what is the best in the city.

Pick it up for your sports crazy fan for Christmas and then watch out as the guys get “in to it” after the big meal.

Grade B+

Buy this book at Amazon.com today!

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I was reading about the reasons that the Cards should attempt to sign Scott Podsednik to a reasonable contract. The main reason given was his propensity for base stealing. Yes, but he has to get on base more and he has to stay healthier than he has been. IF, a big if, the Cards were to sign him and expect him to steal bases, then NOW is the time to move Albert to 4th in the lneup. TLR doesn’t like runners stealing in front of Albert. This would make the opponents have to get 2 outs before they face El Hombre. Podsednik is only worthy of about a $2.5 mil contract. Don’t we have a ton of left handed hitters in the OF?

Juan Uribe. Lets attempt to get him to be our shortstop. A little pop in the bat of about 20 homers per year. Decent arm and range. No better or worse in the field than Eckstein. He either bats 1st or 7th depending on who else is in the lineup.

Scott Rolen. A lot has been written. bottomline… he has to approve a deal. A healthy Rolen is our 2nd best player. Can we wait it out until Spring Training and either be happy or miserable then?

Adam Kennedy. Can we count on him? I liked the signing when it happened.

Chris Duncan. Everybody wants to trade him. Only for very good pitching if he fetches that much.

QUESTION: Anyone gone to Spring Training in the past? I went 3 yrs ago but had a condo in Orlando and drove to Jupiter. That is too far. I need suggestions as to where to stay, eat and other related items. Any help is appreciated.

Enjoy Black Friday as I scour the net for bargains online.

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Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

from Tom and family

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The Cardinals put a claim in on Cody Haerther a few days after losing him in the waiver process and successful re-claimed the outfield prospect.

He may have got a bit lippy when he was picked up by the Jays. Now he has to eat crow.

This is way too weird.

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Ok, I guess it is off-season and I want something to happen Cardinal wise. I check the forum boards, the national news websites, the rumor places and I read about everyone else. At least it feels like it.  I am not really advocating just sign anybody, I am just antsy for some GOOD Cardinal news.

I mean Castillo is signing with the Mets. Glavine is a day away from the Braves. Rivera inks with the Yankees. I want something to happen just because. Makes no sense does it?

One more time. I am not just for signing anybody. I am just hungry for fresh Cardinal news.

Anyone feel this lurking within them?

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We have admired him since he came to us. A small man with a big heart. He plays hards, he comes from a family with medical issues and he always made that a priority to be a family man. A quiet soft talking man. We just admired everything he did. Oh, let’s not forget he gave that awesome car he won to his brother, A great citizen.

That is not the requirement to be the starting shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. The lead-off man to boot. David just doesn’t get it done anymore. Now he is in line for another contract (more years and possibly more money). We need to, we MUST let him go. The lead-off batter that we need has to be out there and better than David Eckstein. Possibly cheaper, possibly not. Brendan Ryan, I believe will not get the chance or enough chances to do that with TLR as manager. I am not a BR fan yet anyway.

So, in recap, we need a better lead-off batter that can play a better than average shortstop. Any ideas? I have one but will withhold that thought to hear your ideas.

Chime in.

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Andruw Jones is being bantered back and forth at  BOTB. I say NO to one year or three year deals. He is going to command upwards of $12 million per year. We can spend that money more wisely elsewhere. Like, maybe, Pitching. Starting pitching. What a novel idea….. to get pitching.

We don’t need another outfielder. Let’s continue with the cheap outfielders for another year (minus Edmonds) and see what production we can get. Duncan. Ludwick, Ankiel and Schumaker can do just fine. I know, I know. Those are almost all left handed batters.  We can find a way to make it better. Here is one for you. Jayson Werth. A righthander with some pop. Can play all the outfields.Good arm and is from the Springfield, Il area. (although that doesn’t really matter)

Werth vs. LHP in 2007 (88 AB):

.375 AVG
.467 OBP
.591 SLG
1.058 OPS 

He made $850,000 from a one year contract. Let’s take a flyer on him.

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Lots of off season stuff being bantered about by some great bloggers. I don’t feel very creative tonight so I am going to point you in the direction of some other Cardinal blogs that are terrific to read.

Erik at Gas House Graphs gives some great stats as to why the Gold Glove awards is a mockery. He does a great job convincing this fan.

Cardinal 70 pipes in on the Rolen rumors that he may be dealt this winter. I agree with him that a healthy Scott Rolen is better than most other players. I we get blown away with an offer, we have to do it.

Always a good read is Viva El Birdos and they also discuss Rolen but in the light that we need young pitching and if he can bring that to the Cardinals they would be better off for the future.

The Cardinals were recently sued by a teenager that attended a game. It seems a “Mean Girls” type message appeared on the message board. Cardinal Nation Globe has some more information for you. This is sad.

I read a new blog. New for me that is. Stan Musial’s Stance discuss how the Major Leagues conducts business. A meeting to discuss what will be discussed at the real meeting. A good read. I will continue to read this one.

there are many more Cardinal blogs out there. This is just a sampling of the best fans in America writing about their passion. The St. Louis Cardinals.

Maybe tomorrow I will be creative again.

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