And........... <t>Good morning to you as well Husker. Yes it was a beauty of a weekend for Cardinal Nation. Rasmus is starting to really pan out as a #1 pick from Alabama. He can swing the bat for a rookie trying to "figure it out."<br/> Carpenter goes tonight on ESPN2 at 9:00 local so I will be watching.<br/> <br/> On another baseball note anyone besides me impressed with the Texas Rangers and their outstanding record? To bad they are in the same division with the Angels. They have a 20 year old SS named Andrus that has "star" written all over him.</t>
Larry, I've noticed that the Rangers are looking real good despite not having the depth in their starting rotation that matches up with the other contenders. They have a monster lineup, though, with Kinsler coming off the DL and Hamilton rounding into form.
Sid... <t>Correct on their starters but they do have some good looking young pitchers coming through for them which brings me to today being a huge day for many clubs. Tonight is the draft deadline on signing draft picks so it wil be interesting to watch the San Diego State stud pitcher and his Borus demands on the Nationals plus my Cards are expected to sign their top pick a huge high school pitching prospect away from his full ride to Texas A&M (sorry Scott).<br/> The Rangers are in the same boat with their top pick a Houston area HS kid I have actually seen pitch a couple of time and its a must for the Rangers to get him signed over his ride to TCU.</t>
Cards pulling away. That aquistion of Holliday was brilliant. I see that the Cubs have sent Jeff Samarzdja back down to Iowa. If you ask me they are really blowing it with Jeff. They can't make up their minds if they want him as a starter or a reliever so they are bouncing him up and down with apparently no clear plan for his developement. Hard to watch as a fan of the Shark.
I hate to say it, but IMO the Cubs are toast. They simply cannot score runs consistently enough to support their SPs, their relief pitching is as bad as it traditionally has been for the past several years, and they do not have a closer. On the other hand, the Cards are getting great production out of an above average starting rotation, they have made smart in-season moves to shore up their run production, and they have Albert. 'Nuff said.
I don't know, Terry. I think they are giving him every opportunity to show he is ready, but that can be a two-edged sword......He shows that he's not ready, which puts him back at the starting line. I heard a commentator say that he was the best choice in AAA to replace Zambrano in the starting rotation, so it's not like they are rushing him. On the positive side, he's only 24, so he has time to improve on his weaknesses to try to get back to the the parent team to stay. Just my opinion.
It's Pinella not being able to handle the front office. I'm under the impression that they're not taking Lou into the advice equation.
Husker................ <t>Good news of the day...................<br/> <br/> <br/> Cardinals Sign Miller For $2,875,000<br/> <br/> Posted Aug. 17, 2009 3:57 pm by Jim Callis<br/> Filed under: Signings<br/> <br/> The Cardinals have signed first-round pick Shelby Miller for $2,875,000. His bonus is the highest in the first round this year, the second-highest for a drafted player in club history and well over MLB’s $1,386,000 recommendation for the No. 19 slot.<br/> <br/> A righthander from Brownwood (Texas) High, Miller had the best high school fastball in the draft, a heater that sits at 92-93 mph, touches 97 and has tremendous life and deception. He had committed to Texas A&M.<br/> <br/> Imagine the high the kid must be on at this time.</t>