Cafeoutdoors.com: 2018 Cardinals

Might as well get this post going. The 2017 Cardinals are dead in the water. Its going to take a miracle to get into the playoffs this season. Even if they make it, which is a BIG IF, they won't go far. Shitty Bullpen, Shitty Manager, and Average Starting pitching is what killed the season. 7 guys can hit 20+ HR on the 2017 team, so the hitting wasn't the big issue.

Fowler was not a problem. He played hurt and was on the DL a few times. Will still manage to hit 20 HR and bat .270-280

Carpenter is a toss up. Matheny shifted him around in the lineup. He hits best at the leadoff spot. He always has. MM shifted him around too much. Carp will hit a full 40 points below his normal average and is a perennial All-Star. He had a bad season. I think he comes back next year. One bad year isn't worth shipping him off. Put him in the leadoff spot, and move him back to 3rd. Carpenter or Gyrko will have to be traded in the offseason, if Mo seriously goes after a 1st baseman, which he should. I like Gyrko and his bat has pop, but I think he gets traded. His overall offensive numbers aren't anywhere near Carpenters. MM is set on Wong at 2nd and he did step up this season.

Ship out Grichuk in the off season first chance they get

Ship out Brett Cecil and eat money to get him to go.

Piscotty is a hit or miss spot. He has shown signs of great hitting before this season.. Injuries hit him hard this year. He is signed cheap for 2018 and after that he gets paid $7+ million a year. Cards are outfield strong, as they always are. I think they should hold onto Piscotty for next year to see how well he does. If he does well, you decide to keep him or ship him off. If he does average you can still get rid of him in a trade. His stock is down for trading with his injuries this season. Unless Mo is going after Stanton in Florida to get a power hitting outfielder, then Piscotty will stay. If Mo goes after Stanton, several outfielders will be packing their bags for FL. Piscotty, Pham, and maybe one of the other prospects.

Martinez, Pham, Fowler, Piscotty should be the opening day outfielders. Sierra, Bader, and O'Neill all will be fighting for a spot too. All well deserving of a shot as well. Piscotty could be shipped out for some good pitching or hitting, and one of the 3 young kids could step up. Mo has to be smart.

Keep DeJong at Short. He has earned it.

Get serious with a 1st baseman. Someone who can hit for power and average. Hell Hosmer in KC is an upgrade to anything we have had since 2011. Just find someone who can hit the long ball, and won't strike out 150+ times a season, while batting .270+ and driving in 100+ a season.

Lynn gets resigned.
Starting Pitchers: It depends on if Reyes will be ready and if Lynn signs.
Lynn
Martinez
Wacha
Weaver
Flaherty
Reyes

A true power hitting outfielder or 1st basemen.....or hell, go crazy and get both. Spend some of that $1 Billion TV package money Mo. Get some hitting, maybe a great #2 starter, and fix the damn bullpen. It was awful. Mizzou Football awful. Kim Anderson Basketball awful.

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It’s better to be hated for who you are, instead of loved for who you aren’t.

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