Team looks set to me...not too much to fight over in Spring Training either

lineup:
Furcal, Beltran, Holliday, Craig, Yadi, Freese, Jay, Descalso, pitch

bench:
Cruz, Wigg, Carp, Shane, Koz

rotation:
Waino, Carp, Garcia, Lynn, Westbrook

pen:
Motte, Boggs, Mujica, Choate, Rzep, Kelly, Salas



Battles in spring training:

last rotation spot:
-Suitors: Lynn, Miller...long shots Rosenthal, Kelly
-IMO- Lynn seems to deserve this spot based off of last year (regardless of the run support), also he seemed to struggle out of the pen some. Miller has the best shot of all, but i doubt he gets the call as him in the rotation pushes Lynn to the pen, and thus probably Kelly to AAA.
-Winner- Lynn

last 2 RHRP slots:
-Suitors- Rosenthal, Kelly, Salas...long shots Sanchez, Cleto
-IMO- pretty much only comes down to whether we want Rosenthal in the pen or at AAA starting. Same could be said for Kelly. Rosenthal is the bigger weapon in the pen right now but we may have problems in the rotation as the season wears on the old men, i think he goes to AAA and starts.
-Winner- Kelly and Salas

Starting 2b:
-Suitors- Descalso, Kozma, Carpenter, Wong...long shots Jackson
-IMO- Descalso seems the logical choice, but ithink he gets pressed hard to hit in Spring Training as Kozma will be trying to prove he isnt a flash in the pan and Carpenter will be trying to show his bat is worth the defensive learning curve. Wong is a true long shot, but he has hit well everywhere he has went and his glove is good. I think he is ultimately overlooked, despite his potential ST numbers just as i think Taveras may as well.
-Winner- Descalso

Backup CF:
-Suitors- Shane, Adron...long shot Jay/Taveras
-IMO-Beyond Jay getting this spot, meaning Taveras is the starter (or 3 way split between him Beltran and Jay for RF/CF) out of Spring Training, Shane has the obvious lead with his pinch hitting skills and right handedness. Adron will give it his all, but unless he shows something new, this is Shane's job.
-Winner- Shane


AAA depth:
C- Rob Johnson
1b-Adams
2b/SS- Jackson, Wong, G. Garcia
3b- Curtis (plenty up on the MLB roster)
OF- Taveras, Chambers, ONeill

SP-Miller, Rosenthal
RHRP- Sanchez, Cleto, Fornatoro, Rondon, Blazek
LHRP-Browning, Freeman, Gast?

yeah...no responses needed... just spittin facts here  :P

delete this thread if it has no worth

another year and im still concerned about our rotation...

Its very possible that a few months in we could see lynn and garcia not performing to expectations and /or carp hurt.

The bench outside Carp just flat out stinks up the place.

I think Jay is the leadoff hitter with Furcal 7th or 8th. Other than that I agree. Pen should be a strength. Middle infield D and RH bench will likely suck.

we have 28 pitcher in MLB and AAA roster (without CMart Maness Siegrist.... and other).
who are the four that have no place?

I think your assessments for the early season Cardinals is spot on, except I think Adams makes it on the bench for the big leagues.  We need some pop off the bench and really to me, he makes the only sense.   

I think this is the team who starts the season, but I'd be willing to bet that by July Taveras is playing on a regular basis in the big leagues.

I'd add right-hand hitting OF Justin Christian to the mix at AAA.
And if Christian has a good spring, he could replace Shane Robinson as Jay's backup.

Christian would have to have a really great spring being an NRI and all.

per another thread cardinals are looking at bud norris...dont know if they are serious, but it at least shows they are worried about the rotation...

grayssportsalmanac wrote: per another thread cardinals are looking at bud norris...dont know if they are serious, but it at least shows they are worried about the rotation...

It could also mean Mo is considering trading somebody. 

Although it might be worthwhile to acquire Norris and lock him in a closet.

it is so tempting to keep rosenthal up...he was effective...but i personally think we will have some rotation issues at some point...Westy, Gacria, and Carp are big ?s so i think Rosenthal and Miller will be good bullets to throw at it

If this is indeed the roster they go into the season with (and i doubt it) then i think you are pretty close Jags with one exception. I consider Robinson a non factor and think that Chambers could take that spot. I think his speed makes him a better defender and if he can learn to get on base he could be a solid bench option. To me any of Robinson, Jackson, Kozma, Cleto and Sanchez could be traded before the season starts.

cardinalnationhouston wrote: To me any of Robinson, Jackson, Kozma, Cleto and Sanchez could be traded before the season starts.

I agree with the list.  Will likely need a roster spot or two if nothing else. 

.

As things stand now, both rosters (StL and Memphis) are pretty solid (if not stacked).  Barring injuries, trades, or signings, there isn't too much to debate roster-wise.  I like both rosters a lot.  Wouldn't mind adding the Cuban ss, Diaz.

There's no way we let Rosenthal start in AAA.

No way Miller is not in the Rotation in 2013.

blingboy wrote:

cardinalnationhouston wrote: To me any of Robinson, Jackson, Kozma, Cleto and Sanchez could be traded before the season starts.

I agree with the list.  Will likely need a roster spot or two if nothing else. 

.

I don't see any of those guys netting us anything of value in return.

Marte and Browning would seem most likely to go to create roster space. I am hopeful we still sign or trade for an upgrade for the middle infield----a guy who can play both 2b and SS.

Wouldnt Robinson make the roster by default?

---------------------------------------------
--- PadsFS wrote:

blingboy wrote:

cardinalnationhouston wrote: To me any of Robinson, Jackson, Kozma, Cleto and Sanchez could be traded before the season starts.

I agree with the list.  Will likely need a roster spot or two if nothing else. 

.

I don't see any of those guys netting us anything of value in return.

---------------------------------------------

PadsFS wrote:

blingboy wrote:

cardinalnationhouston wrote: To me any of Robinson, Jackson, Kozma, Cleto and Sanchez could be traded before the season starts.

I agree with the list.  Will likely need a roster spot or two if nothing else. 

.

I don't see any of those guys netting us anything of value in return.

Totally agree.