cardsfan

Donaldson only for a year after a physical. That calf will be a continuous concern.

What will Odo likely sign for? Isn't his WHIP a little high and he doesn't go into the 6th inning very often. He's from my area of the country, but, we haven't forgotten the Mike Leake signing. Here we don't have a bandbox so his numbers may look better here at home. Some are talking about him depending on who will be our #4 and #5 starter. Hard to believe Ozo will get more than 3 years and $45 million.

I am curious how or why do you think the Twins hit 141 more homers than last? A couple players were not even Homerun hitters. Cruz was, but, is now old so a good signing. Playing 40+ games against teams that lost 100 had to factor in for sure.

If the Twins were in the pennant race in September 2018 they could argue we would have brought him up for his defense, but, considering how bad a year he had up here we thought he should join us in the spring.

Someone is going to get burned with Cole. He pitches like his last 2 years in Pittsburgh or has some arm injury. Someone mentioned Wheeler. Well expect a 1.35 WHIP or so in the AL.

I wonder if Maddon thinks he can't turnaround the pitching?

Joe ought to take off a year. Always wanted him in St. Louis where he has ties.

Incentive contract only. Can he beat the best teams?

Nicholas Castellanos had 88 Xbh last season with the Tigers and Cubs. He only had a 2.7 WAR. Apparently his defense weighed down this total. What is he going to get in FA? You guys seen him play with the lowly Tigers. Looks like he can't steal bases. There are so many OFers out there would he be worth tying up your OF for years?

Thank you.

I enjoy reading the comments on pitching as an outsider especially the starting pitching. On paper the only starting pitcher you have that I wouldn't want to face is Berrios. Who do you have coming up from the minors? You mentioned Wheeler, but, his team is around .500 when he pitches. It was telling they tried to trade him while acquiring Stroman since they felt they had a chance to qualify for the wild card. You need to develop more young pitchers. You could trade for young pitchers as well. Signing college pitchers seems to be a good strategy that the Cards follow. The success of my Cardinals this century can be looking at how they keep replacing starting pitchers. Every couple years, they've rehabbed injured pitchers like Lohse, Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, the last two a couple of times, or developed college pitchers they've drafted who may last only a few years, and found a couple from overseas like Mikolas and Carlos Martinez. Their major trading mistake was trading Dan Haren for one year of a damaged Mark Mulder. Scherzer probably would have come here for $30 million a year. Cole seems like an expensive signing, but, if he stays healthy may be worth it. I remember all of the gushing over Phil Hughes, Nolasco and speculating signing Garza a few years ago. Signing Starting pitchers as free agents who have injury histories or up and down seasons like Hughes are likely to give you the same. Compare the number of pitching starts of the Cardinals from the pitchers they had on their 2002 team to the 2005-2006 teams, the 2006 to the 2009 team and then the 2009 team to the 2011 team, the 2011 team to the 2015 team and then after missing the post season 3 years barely all 3 years to this years starting pitching. They've almost had to rebuild with at least 4 starters every couple years. And the constant this century just 2 main catchers in Matheny who won 3 Gold Gloves and Molina who has won 9. Keep developing, finding, acquiring starting pitching. You will make mistakes. I don't see one minor league pitcher from Twins who is ready to become another Berrios next year.

Because they rebuild without tanking? Or they've averaged 90.5 wins for the last 20 seasons?

Let's go Nats.

The odds of losing 13 postseason games in a row must be astronomical even if 10 are to the Yankees.

The Cards won by a couple of inches. Ball barely a hit by Molina to tie game and then Ozuna beating the throw to first in the 10th inning. The Braves outscored their opponents by 112 runs; the Cards 102.

I hope.

Is there a daily on-line sports chat in Minnesota like we have in St. Louis? For 3 or 4 hours Monday-Friday the local paper has its sports writers take questions that they select from readers on-line, mostly the Cardinals, Blues and college sports. Our Blues GM actually follows the questions though you won't really know if he is on that day. It's going on now. It starts at 11 a.m. some days and 1 p.m. other days. You have 4 pro sports teams plus college.

Did you see where the Cardinals rank in several offensive categories in the NL? It's been our pitching which turns over every few years since 2000. I thought with your 5 starters you could beat the hated Yankees this year. It's hard to believe that many playoff losses in a row. Now you will have to rebuild your pitching staff. Very good season.

The main baseball forum for the Cardinals is inundated by trolls since it is mostly not moderated. It has fewer and fewer posters. Here a moderated baseball forum one was hoping to have at least a few hundred regulars posting. The same is happening with Facebook's baseball groups. If it doesn't involve Fantasy or gambling maybe the number of baseball zealots is less than thought.

Someone is going to way overpay for Keuchel. If you don't score a lot of runs and you have a poor infield defense don't sign him.

47-16 against 4 teams. Maybe 101 wins wouldn't have happened or the HR record if the Twins played less games against Royals, White Sox, Tigers and Orioles.

I was rooting for you guys to beat the Yankees. What a terrible series. The AL Central is the worst division in baseball. If you get in the playoffs anything could happen. I doubt you would win 100 games in a stronger division, but, making the playoffs you had a chance to go all of the way. Good season. Only one team wins the last game of the year. Hoping it is not mine though lots of better teams to overcome.

Congratulations: Your starting pitching came together and you score a lot of runs. Looks like if pitching holds up you can watch enjoyable baseball for awhile. Still getting used to more strikeouts than hits in baseball. Also, be careful with signing players long-term over 31. At least that is happening here where I live in St. Louis. Its hard to keep winning after 11 consecutive seasons. Baseball has changed. You are lucky not to have onerous contracts.

Not a bad problem to have.

Will be interesting the next 20% of the season. Why the power surge? Stadium? Launch angle?