SF Giants
I have heard two names come up a lot with pitcher Affeldt and 1st baseman Huff being tossed around as ones who may not be with us. If reliever Brian Wilson (the beard) gets healthy next season, will we keep him or go with current reliever Sergio Romo who was just as instrumental in 2012 as Wilson was in 2010? Both the 2010 WS team and 2012 WS team looked quite different so there's no telling where things can go in 2013.
People are talking dynasty as if we are the Yankees or the '90s pitching heavy Braves, but there is so much more left to prove. In between WS titles in 2011 we failed to make playoffs. It could be argued that the Giants did it with two different teams and there was no core like the Yankees or Braves.
Whoever we end up with we have to retain at least some core and not just one consistent player, being catcher Buster Posey, being basically the same player in same role. If we could keep at least two of the same good hitters for next five years, too, and at least one good reliever and two good rotation pitchers (Cain and Lincecum) for the same amount of time, we should be in good hands. I don't expect older guys like Barry Zito to repeat great years from this point out no more than I expected Edgar Renteria (2010 WS MVP) to continue producing.
I'd like to see you guys drop Affeldt so the Cards can pick him up.
. We need a lefty in the bullpen and scrabble just isn't it.
SF Giants have a good shot of being considered a dynasty, but the Yanks barely edge out ahead in terms of measurable winning stats and the Giants are pretty matched with the Cards. I think the Cards edge out in terms of number of post season and world series appearances, but the Giants are 3 for 3 in NLCS wins/appearances (coincidentally tying the Cards number of wins, but we have a few losses to add). With tight competition like this, Einmusiker is right, I think the days of Dynasties are gone. A fan can dream though!
Break break.
The Tigers are a favorite to win the 2013 world series. Bookies are already starting to release odds.
Anyone going to any spring training games ? I went a few years ago to Phoenix and caught a dodgers/a's game. Great environment for a fan of any team and especially baseball. I might try and make a road trip to Jupiter this year to see some of my RedBirds prospects.
In Terms of post season moves for Cards, here is where I rank where we need focus:
1. 2nd Baseman. Would be fantastic if Carpenter could pick it up. He was a much needed bat to replace descalso but didn't have the defensive knowledge to really be placed anywhere of value.
2. SS. Would be nice if Furcal came back 100%, but baseball is a young mans sport and in his mid thirties age, he is showing wear and tear.
3. Shore up the bullpen. First who knows if Chris Carpenter will have his stuff back. Jaime is a head case and has a tendency to get hurt. Lastly we have all of these young guys that are untested as starters for a full year in the majors. We need a guy that can fill in for 5th starter for all these reasons. Oh and toss a lefty into there.
That should strengthen the Cards for 2013.
2014 is going to look ugly as all of our young guys are coming up for Arbitration.