Cards quiet, Cubs not so much

It’s been a while since anything has happened with the Cards and free agents.  Nothing has really happened of note.  They waived Larry Bigbie and Carmen Cali and moved pitchers Blake Hawksworth (who should be a starter at Memphis next season), Troy Cate, and Dennis Dove and OFer Cody Haerther to the 40-man roster.
The Cubs [...]

Signings

Scott Spezio is back… for two years / $4.5 million + ‘09 option.  That seems like a lot of money to me unless they plan on playing him at second base with Miles.  Of course, he’ll get time in the OF too.  Another scenario that could be brewing is a trade of Encarnacion which would [...]

World Series $hare$ announced

Here’s the link to the complete info…
St. Louis Cardinals (Share of Players’ Pool: $20,016,735.81; value of each full share: $362,173.07) – The Cardinals awarded 48 full shares, 7.133 partial shares and 16 cash awards.
 I’ll be back tomorrow with some speculation on how these got divvied up… I won’t read any actual reports before-hand and we’ll [...]

FA Second basemen number dwindling

Another one bites the dust…  Kennedy’s (and the others) price may be going up.  Loretta, Kennedy, and DeRosa remain the best options.
[EDIT] – DeRosa to the Cubs?  3 years/ 13 million is the offer.  Overpaid?  Yes.  The Cards are running out of options quickly.
Ronnie Belliard – He was primarily brought over to provide offense and [...]

Tell me what’s wrong here

Louisville Slugger announced the 2006 Silver Slugger awards on Friday.  From the article (emphasis is mine):
Silver Slugger Awards were determined by a vote of MLB managers and coaches who selected the opposing players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position in the American and National Leagues. Selections were based on a combination of [...]

Edmonds extension imminent?

According to Ken Rosenthal…
“Edmonds’ average salary in the deal is expected to be comparable to the $10 million he would receive if the Cardinals exercised his option for 2007.”
 I don’t like this at all.  Don’t get me wrong, because I love Jimmy E, but I don’t think he’s worth $10 a year.  I’d buy 7.5 [...]

Ankiel won’t play winter ball

“Ankiel is still expected to be healed in January, a month before spring training begins. At this point, there are no restrictions on Ankiel’s training regimen and he is able to sprint, Cardinals extended spring training trainer Adam Olsen said.”
“Ankiel, 27, said he still plans to play outfielder, a position he didn’t play professionally until [...]

Encarnacion’s next career?

Unconfirmed reports say that Encarnacion wants to acquire the properties to produce farm goods for export. – Dominican Today

Cards Pitches per Plate Appearance

I’ve always liked this stat, as it shows you how patient hitters are.  The 2006 Cardinals were all over the board on this one and there are some interesting things contained here.

TPA
Pit
Pit/PA (AVG/OBP)
2005 (AVG/OBP)
2004 (AVG/OBP)

Duncan
314
1284
4.089 (.293/.363)
4.800 (.200/.200)

Edmonds
408
1659
4.066 (.257/.350)
4.178 (.263/.385)
4.227 (.301/.418)

Rodriguez
212
845
3.986 (.301/.374)
3.830 (.295/.382)

Rolen
594
2319
3.904 (.296/.369)
3.753 (.235/.323)
4.061 (.314/.409)

Spezio
321
1237
3.854 (.272/.366)
4.255 (.064/.137)
3.651 (.215/.288)

Pujols
634
2394
3.776 (.331/.431)
3.886 (.330/.430)
3.614 (.331/.415)

Eckstein
552
2072
3.754 (.292/.350)
4.008 (.294/.363)
3.804 (.276/.339)

Taguchi
361
1332
3.690 (.266/.335)
3.554 [...]

Gold Glove Analysis

As I posted on Friday, Rolen and Pujols got rewarded for their fielding with Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.  Yadi was edged out by Brad Ausmus and Edmonds didn’t get one either.  Let’s take a long at their fielding stats a little more in-depth to see if those selections were merited.
Catcher

Player
TEAM
G
GS
INN
TC
PO
A
E
DP
PB
SB
CS
RF
FPCT

B Ausmus
HOU
138
124
1124.2
994
929
63
2
9
1
60
17
7.94
.998

Y Molina
STL
127
118
1037.1
817
734
79
4
6
7
37
29
7.05
.995

B McCann
ATL
124
118
1016.1
826
778
39
9
6
5
70
21
7.23
.989

I find it completely [...]