You’ve become whiny. You’ve become spoiled. It’s never good enough for you. You’re like Steinbrenner’s old-Yankee teams. Win a World Series and tell the team they have to do it again the night of the celebration. It’s never good enough for you people.
“You don’t win championships in December.”Â
“What is Mo doing? He needs to be fired?”Â
“We need Davis, Upton, Cespedes, this guy, that guy.”Â
“The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you’re gonna hear about it!”
‘Tis the season. And now it’s time for BFIB to hear about all my grievances. It’s not with the organization, it’s the fan base.
*****For the record I know not all fans are the same. But, it doesn’t matter; not for this.****
You don’t win championships in December
Absolutely true. It backfired on the Nationals and the Padres just last season. And right now all of you are hoping it will turn out the same for the Cubs. It might.
There are no guarantees in baseball. Winning is so rare and so hard to do. This is why teams make the deals they make because they are trying to win. That doesn’t come easy.
You don’t win championships in December, indeed. But, you can lose them in December. When the teams around you are improving and pieces from your roster are gone that shared a large portion of the work load aren’t replaced it doesn’t always work out well.
Right now the Cardinals have come to terms with Jonathan Broxton. Look out!
Heyward might be really, really good for the Cubs. Chances are he is worth his contract until at least 31. I’m one of the people that feel he is worth his contract based on potential and what he has offered on the field. Â Wishing death and injury to him is foolish. You make the entire fan base look bad when you post or talk about that kind of thing.
I tend to side with these fans more often than not on ‘championships in December’. But, this style of thinking is more about scorning the Cubs than anything else. On paper there is no doubt the Cubs got better. It might not work out for them. However – to this point – there is no guarantee the lack of action will work for the Cards.
What is Mo doing?
His job.
Hasn’t this organization earned the right to run things the way they have been? I think it’s been pretty successful and what many teams only hope to accomplish. I know the front-office isn’t going to read this post. They also won’t read about your opinions because that’s not how one of the top organizations in this game does business.
But, you complaining and speculating won’t help the matter.
Last year the Cardinals were decimated by injury and put up the best regular record. They have won and continue to win.
You know what Mo and company did? They let this generation’s Babe Ruth walk. They didn’t get bid happy. They didn’t go all-in. Albert Pujols went elsewhere and the Cardinals have kept winning. That’s bold.
Mo has offered Price and Heyward large amounts of money. Mo and DeWitt are willing to spend large portions of money for the right guy. They still won’t overpay, but they are ready to spend.
If there is no one else they deem to be their guy, they shouldn’t need to spend the money just to do something. The club hasn’t tied itself in large, bad contracts and that’s helped to keep them successful.
You may say Points 1 and 2 are contradicting based-off statements. They are. But, I’m going to believe that Mo will make the teams’ moves on his terms. They might come in June or July rather than December.
The point is, Mo has earned the benefit of the doubt. I’m going to give it to him. You should, too. If he thinks going with internal players are the next best options to missing out on Price and Heyward, then trust him. He’s done a good job.
The Cards are setting themselves up to finish 3rd.
Maybe.
Even if the Cardinals had signed Heyward or Price there was a possibility for this to happen. News flash. The Cubs and Pirates are both good teams.
And maybe the Cardinals are ‘okay’ with taking a step backwards in 2016 and moving forward for future years by avoiding a guy that doesn’t fit their system.
Or, perhaps the Cardinals would use an in-season trade. Here is a list of possible canditates that the Cardinals could target mid-season:
- Freddie Freeman – Sure, Atlanta says they won’t trade him. But, they have shipped off everyone else. They also got a haul for Shelby Miller. I’m sure the Braves would consider it for the right haul of prospects.
- Giacarlo Stanton – You can never trust what the Marlins are going to do. They could get extreme value.
- Jose Fernandez – Same reasons apply
- Josh Donaldson – Toronto’s winning window is small – he could be available mid-season
- Jose Abreu – White Sox with a small window, the right prospects could make something happen.
- Sonny Gray – Oakland listens to everything
- Joey Votto – Highly unlikely. He would need to waive a no-trade clause and the contract is large but…
- Yasiel Puig – Many of you would hate this. It doesn’t make much sense. But, I’m sure he is available.
- Jose Reyes – Rockies would love to be rid of him.
- Carlos Gomez – Approaching free agency.
Most of these guys depend on the year their teams are having. And the haul of prospects. But, the Cardinals are receiving two compensation picks. Every scout, executive and anyone with knowledge of the game will tell you the Cards draft as good as any team. Which means some might be available to trade.
If you can’t purchase your free agent, trade for him.
It worked out for Matt Holliday.
The organization should make a move for the fan base.
No they shouldn’t.
Chris Davis, Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon, Mike Leake and anyone else you want to tie to the organization shouldn’t be signed out of desperation. Mo has recently made comments it’s unlikely they make a big move.
If these guys aren’t ‘their man’ they should pass on them every time.
Moves out of desperation create financial strangleholds. If Piscotty, Pham, Grichuk and Moss can provide similar production at a fraction of the cost it’s genius. Yeah, I know, if it doesn’t work out he’s a moron and so-on and so-forth. Just lean the recliner back a little more, I’m sure you have the answers.
It might not work out the way Mo wants but he knows the players better than any of us, especially the ones in his system.
Do not panic
This organization has earned your trust and many of you still aren’t giving it to them. They offered record contracts and it didn’t work out for the club. Many of you are frustrated and upset.
Stop.
The Cardinals are going to compete in 2016. Mo will make the moves necessary to setup the organization for immediate success and future success simultaneously. He won’t sell out one to get the other.
Anything else you want addressed? Post them in the comments. I’ll get to you.
4 comments
Well said. We have the best organization in baseball. I’m sure we all would liked to have signed Price and/or Heyward, but we weren’t going to engage in a bidding war either. We’ve got a lot of good young talent in the farm system. Some of those guys are going to be ready in the next year or two. Either we sit tight and wait for that or we use them as bargaining chips for good trades. Either way, I trust our front office to do its best.
You are right. Cardinal fans have become too whiny. Monday morning quarter backing is bad for a team like the Cardinals. They have proven themselves as winners-regardless of the odds. Was I disappointed when we did not get Heyward? Yes, I will not lie about that. I sit in section 132 so I could watch the man up close. I knew I liked him for all the right reasons. He did not sell his soul to the highest bidder (sound familiar, Albert?). What does that tell you? That tells us that the Cardinals management, though fantastic with their wheeling, dealing and trading still have a few pieces missing. I am not talking about players, I am talking about the fact that we are loosing good players, for less money to another team. We are talking about chemistry, bonding and Es prit de corps. How do we fix it? WE, as fans do nothing. Again, whiny like a child over a coveted piece of candy or a toy will not get most parents to give in. We, as fans should NOT have our way, every time! Adversity, hardships, losses during the games, gives us the motivation to improve, to improvise, it forces the players to look within and see if there is another angle that would work better. It makes all of us that much better for it. It most of all, makes us more appreciative of the things (players) we have and gives a unique look at potentials in different lights. It usually gives us a rare glimpse into untapped talent and shines the light on an otherwise unknown. These players have all proven, when one falls to the wayside, another steps up to take his place. It will be done again during 2016. So back to the Es prit de corps. That is something the management team will have to WANT to fix. I don’t think that they truly realize that this is a problem. A lot of players want to be a Cardinals, only for our winning stats. Rarely, there is the player that wants to be a Cardinal because he grew up as a Cardinal fan. (Oh wait, I believe I just read where there is one right now as a free agent) I only mention this because, that changes the caliper of the player on the field. Just like the regular fan, who goes to work because of his pay check. How many in TODAY’S business climate can actually exclaim, “I love my job?” Anyone would exclaim that they love their job if the paycheck motivates them. During the 2015 season, we seen the rare glimpses of lackadaisical players on the field. The half hearted swing of the baseball bat. The trot towards a ground ball. Yeah, the player could of had a bad day (one in particular-the entire season) It is the rarer breed of player, that only desires to be a Cardinal above all else that will help the Cardinals team to thrive. It is this pairing, like wines, with cheeses that will give the Cardinals their flare and flavor. Wanting to be on the field is a whole different animal than having to be on the field.
Yeah we moan and whine but that’s what loyal baseball fans do. Whatever we do and say about the Cardinals makes no difference to management. They don’t pay any attention to those of us that whine. They do what they need to do to make a winning team. So, most of us have a right to express our thoughts no matter what management thinks. So in the end we are still loyal Cardinals fans to the end! GO CARDINALS!
An organization rarely wins with its fanbase. When someone is signed, many fans dissect the signing to try and convince others that it was completely foolish. Of course, when someone isn’t signed, the the same happens. Right now, i’m happy with the 2 picks we’ve garnered.
Comments are closed.