cardinalnationhouston wrote:

cardzZilla wrote:

cardinalnationhouston wrote:

Affeldt, Oliver, Choate!

affeldt will probably be pretty expensive. i can't get behind oliver due to he probably gonna fall apart at some point, think he'll be 43 next yr. i do like choate alot.

thoughts on jp howell, or he too much of a soft tosser?

Seems like for years now the Cards do not want to sink $$$ into left handed relief. I have thought all along that this is a tragic error. It really cost them last year as Marc Rzepczynski was just brutal. It does not always show in E.R.A but he failed more times than not to get the guys out that they needed him to. Maybe they move him to starter this year but i am not sure he is worth the roster spot. Affeldt would be expensive but well worth it b/c he is a weapon from the left side. Any of the guys mentioned would be far better than what we had last year. i think it is time to pony up some cash for at least one lefty. I am not excited about Freeman either and Browning is probably gone.

Goes back to JP Howell in free agency. That would be a perfect fit.

Howell throws 86 MPH...

Does his 2007 and 2011 not scare you at all?

The top FA lefty reliever is now off the board. Jeremy Affeldt has re signed with the Giants. Jon Heyman reports the deal to be 3 years $18 Million. With Affeldt, Romo and a host of other good veteran arms is this the end of "the beard" in San Fran?

Randy Choate is just what the Cardinals need on 1 yr. plus option. He's 37, but he is perfect lefty specialist.

i would love for us to sign choate. he was very very good against lefties last yr. burnett could be good on lefties too, but he'll cost at least twice that of choate.

Somebody was interested in Sanchez earlier. He's made several appearances in Venezuela beginning late October. Sounds like he's doing well enough.

i wouldnt say several, and it was in november, not october.

he's thrown 2.2 ip in the past week. BB still a problem as has he has 4 in that span.

cardzZilla wrote: i wouldnt say several, and it was in november, not october.

he's thrown 2.2 ip in the past week. BB still a problem as has he has 4 in that span.

I was including his Parallel league appearances.  He made two such appearances beginning October 26.  Total in Venezuelan Parallel League 3 IP, 4K, no walks,no hits, no runs.

the more i think about it, the more i think i'd prefer to go with a prospect instead of a free agent for the other Loogy.

burnett will cost too much, both in money and yrs. choate, who has been effective, just doesn't throw hard enough. same for howell.

whereas you can have a healthy competition between siegrist, freeman, lyons and gast instead

If money wasn't an issue, would you still prefer Choate over Burnett.  Sean had a terrific year for the Nationals and he is just 30.  I think he is the best LHR available on the FA market and may be better than anyone available via trade.

cardzZilla wrote: i would love for us to sign choate. he was very very good against lefties last yr. burnett could be good on lefties too, but he'll cost at least twice that of choate.

cardzZilla wrote: the more i think about it, the more i think i'd prefer to go with a prospect instead of a free agent for the other Loogy.

burnett will cost too much, both in money and yrs. choate, who has been effective, just doesn't throw hard enough. same for howell.

whereas you can have a healthy competition between siegrist, freeman, lyons and gast instead

Its a good thing TLR is gone. He'd want to run you out of town for saying something like that. Tony wanted veterans, and that was that. Personally, I agree with you as long as one of them can get people out on a regular basis. If none of them works out, we can try to trade for a LHR during the season.

Should the Cardinals consider making an offer to Francisco Liriano to be the top lefty out of the bullpen? Perhaps a move to the bullpen will help him. he could be more selective with his pitches working full-time out of the bullpen.

mbusapp wrote: Should the Cardinals consider making an offer to Francisco Liriano to be the top lefty out of the bullpen? Perhaps a move to the bullpen will help him. he could be more selective with his pitches working full-time out of the bullpen.

No! Franky is very inconsistent, has weight issues and some say a problem focusing. He has mostly been a starter so i don't see how he helps.