2022 Cubs Spring Training

TarzanJoeWallis 04/25/2024 - 04:44 pm (view)

In 2020, the pandemic year and the year before they acquired Arenado, the Cardinals finished second and were a playoff team. Of the 12 batters with 100 plate appearances, 8 of them were home grown. Every member of the starting rotation (if you include Wainwright) and all but one of the significant relievers were home grown. While there have been a relative handful of very good trades interspersed which have been mentioned, player development had been their predominant pattern for decades - ever since I became an aware fan in the ‘70’s

The Arenado deal was not a deal made out of dire need or desperation. It was a splashy, headline making deal for a perennial playoff team intended to be the one piece that brought the Cardinals from a very good team to a World Series contender. They have continued to wheel and deal and have been in a slide ever since. I stand by my supposition that that deal marked a notable turning point within the organization. They broke what had been a very successful formula for a very long time.
 

crunch 04/25/2024 - 04:33 pm (view)

busch is having a really intense k-filled mini slump.  he deserves better after coming back to wrigley after that hot road trip.

crunch 04/25/2024 - 04:32 pm (view)

i know alzolay isn't having a great time right now, but i trust hector "ball 4" neris even less than alzolay based on what i've seen coming out of their arms.

azbobbop 04/25/2024 - 04:04 pm (view)

Neris reminds me of Don “Full Pack” Stanhouse.

Eric S 04/25/2024 - 04:43 pm (view)

Happ, Busch, Dansby and Madrigal have a combined 25 runners left on base through 7 innings, with Busch accounting for 9 of those.  Seems like a lot. 

crunch 04/25/2024 - 04:16 pm (view)

PCA finally gets a hit!  2r HR!!!

Charlie 04/25/2024 - 04:58 pm (view)

They certainly could be coupled. It could also be the case that a team needs good players at the heart of the team and if they are not coming from one source (development) they have to be sought out elsewhere. I don't see the evidence needed to infer the cause. 

crunch 04/25/2024 - 04:43 pm (view)

bases loaded for the cubs, 0 out...and no runs score.

cubbery.

TarzanJoeWallis 04/25/2024 - 04:23 am (view)

Walker was a complimentary piece who was well past his prime. Edmonds, Holliday, Ozzie Smith and a few others were good trades. Notably, they have almost always been quiet in the free agent market. But the fundamental workings of the organization were always based primarily upon the constant output of a well oiled minor league organization. That organization has ground to a halt. And when did that hard stop start to happen? Right at the beginning of the Goldschmidt/Arenado era, perpetuated by the Contreras signing, followed by the rotation purchases during the last offseason. The timing is undeniable and, in my mind, not coincidental.

Again, we are all saying that player development became deemphasized. I’m just linking it directly to the recent trades and involvement in the free agent market. I don’t see how the two concepts can be decoupled.

Charlie 04/25/2024 - 04:12 am (view)

The Cards also traded for both Jim Edmonds and Larry Walker. It's the developing part that has fallen off. Of course, it could also be the case that there are no more Matt Carpenters left to pull out of the hat.