Off-Topic Forum

NATs and Yankees would be a fun World Series and ensures that there is a World Series Champ that has not won it all in this decade.  Astros had theirs in 2017.   Go NATs, as I (my Son as well) spent plenty of time with many of the current Players, assisting them in their development . . .

Yours in The Joyrney  - Felix

Congrats to the Nats (and Expos) fans on finally getting to see your team in the World Series! They deserved it and I'll be rooting for them now. The way they manhandled the STL pitchers and shut down their hitters was unbelievable. I'm just happy that I got to watch the Cardinals in 9 post-season games this year. That didn't even seem possible until August.

And Felix, it's true that NYY has not won in THIS decade, but their last title was in 2009. So they last won exactly a decade ago.

Firstly, sorry your team wasn't able to advance to the "big dance". Secondly it's been crazy with the Cards putting up 10 runs in the first inning of the last series and then to have 7 runs allowed in last night's game... Well like they say ..."there's always next year."

Sadly, the Cardinals team and fans have been having to say that for many years now! After the title in 2011, they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Giants in the 2012 NLCS and lost to Boston in the 2013 WS. I thought their run late this year could rival the 2011 team, but it fell short. That's what happens when a "RC" manager and a young pitcher take the mound in an elimination game. STL should not have had that pitcher start the game in a clincher! Not that they'd have won the series with a different pitcher in Game 4, but he still shouldn't have been out there. Wainwright was awesome filling in for him with less than 3 days rest and down 7-0. If Michael Wacha was on the roster for the PO's, it might have been a different story. But the Nationals starting pitchers just shut down the Cardinals offense. The STL pitchers gave up the runs, not the defense. I really thought that was going to be a great series, but it was about as one-sided as it can get. I was talking to a Braves fan today (face-to-face, not online) and he couldn't believe STL-WAS wasn't a better-contested series either! That Nationals team is really focused right now. If they don't win the WS this year, I'd hate to see what they do to every team in 2020!

For 2020 if it was up to me, the following would happen:

1.) Trade Jose Martinez to the American League while he still has a good bat.

2.) Same for Matt Carpenter.

3.)  Do not re-sign Ozuna.

4.)  Find a way to trade Fowler.

5.)  Sign Wainwright for another year, he earned it.

Monday morning quarterbacking is great isn't it.....

Cardinals are a great Professional Baseball Organization.  I was tempted a few days ago to depart from retirement and go back to work in Baseball as a Minor League Coach for the Cardinals.  Then I came to my senses and remembered the challenging conditions of the grind in Minor League ⚾ .  Sue and I are so enjoying the Retirement Life, back down in Florida.  May actually be able to finally she'd away thosands of duplicate and unwanted cards in Our Sports Trading Card Collection.

Yankees picked a bad time to play horrible baseball and strand runners galore.  Houston appears to be too much and pose a tremendous challenge to the Beloved Nationals.  Such a long wait until the World Series now . . . 

Yours in the Journey - Felix

As a New York state native, although not a city person, I feel like I should be rooting for the Yankees to win. If I followed baseball, I probably would. It would be nice to have a local team actually be successful. [See New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders]

KMack,

I have to disagree with some of those. I do agree that they should trade Fowler and definitely give Wainwright another year. But if they do trade Dexter, then they have a field position for Matt or Jose. They need to keep Jose b/c his bat is potent with that wingspan. If you can take a dozen pitches from Strasburg in one AB and still manage to get on base (plus an RBI), that's impressive! He can easily replace Fowler in the outfield, even though he runs a bit slower. Carpenter really just lost his position with the signing of Goldy and the rise of Edman. Matt is still a valuable player with speed, power and a good glove. A perfect utility player for a team loaded with infielders. WHY would you get rid of Ozuna?! He was really good all season, but his bat went cold in the PO's.

If I was going to get rid of anyone (after Fowler), I'd replace Mike Maddux as the pitching coach. But at the same time, Shildt needs Mike to help him decide who to use on the mound in the later innings of games. That would be null if they could get a true Closer instead of closer-by-committee like they've done for about the last 5-6 years. Shildt has a year under his belt as manager now, so I think he'd be okay without Maddux IF they get a real closer. If they don't, he'll continue to rely on Mike to decide the next pitcher to use when it's time to pull the starter. I think the real problem is starting to be my favorite current player (for the past decade-plus). Yadier Molina makes bad pitchers look great with the way he calls the game. As long as they hit the location he wants, they look great. When they can't hit the location for any given pitch, they give up hits and runs every time. Even after 15 years,Yadi is a threat behind the plate and at the plate. Injuries have been a problem for him the past few years and his replacements are not too good. Weiters was a step up from his past back-ups, but still didn't have the connection to the pitchers or knowledge of the batters that Yadi does. If they don't find a great back-up soon, I dread the day when Yadier retires. Even the greatest pitcher on the planet is no good without a really good catcher! So I guess I'm saying STL needs either a true closer or another starting pitcher.