It's not that big of a surprise. It's been reported for the past couple months that Jocketty probably wasn't coming back, but now it's finally in print. Also, I can guarantee that Dave Duncan will follow LaRussa wherever he goes.

I've been reading a lot of speculation about who might be the permanent replacement for Jocketty and who might be the replacement for La Russa.

and...????

It's very shocking to me that he was dismissed (read that fired) instead of resigning.

Looks like the beginning of a huge offseason for the Cards.

Jocketty and DeWitt have had many clashes with each other the past few years. Unfortunately Jocketty wasn't in the position to keep his job. It is truly sad that he is gone and whoever gets him (Cincinnati, the way it's looking) will have a great man running their franchise.

The speculation about Jocketty's replacement includes former Dodger's GM Paul DePodesta and a couple of assistant GM's/head of player development from some teams with strong farm systems.

The three names that keep coming up as possible replacements for La Russa are Joe Girardi, Jose Oquendo and Braves hitting coach Terry Pendelton.

oh god help us

That's the last thing the Cardinals need...some computer dork who is so into numbers that he reduces players to robots while acting like outside forces and attitudes have no effect on how a player will play. However, I know for a fact that these type of people are what DeWitt wants.

I'm not against sabremetrics per se, but I can't stand these people (like DePodesta) who use them as the end all when it comes to evaluating players.

I've heard more talk about the Dodgers Assistant GM, name escapes me ATM.

Jocketty was great, but part of me wonders if the game since revenue sharing was starting to pass him by a little bit. He used to be good at trading for those guys the small market teams couldn't keep. Since Revenue Sharing, that well had started to dry up a little bit. Still think he's good, but for a team carrying a $100 million payroll, there was FAR too much of it tied up in guys giving you basically nothing performance wise (Rolen, Edmonds, Mulder, Carpenter - not Jocketty's fault at all, Adam Kennedy).

Even he couldn't save that team

Girardi would be a wise move.

they played rather well this season despite their record

Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo make a hell of a 1-2 punch in that rotation

Well, La Russa is sticking around for a couple more years.

Right now Chris Antonelli, the Cleveland assistant GM might be the favorite for the Cardinals GM job. I think he would be a good hire considering what he's done with Cleveland's farm system in the 6 years he was there. Look at who came through that system in that span: Sabathia, Carmona, Martinez, Hafner, Garko, Sizemore and Peralta for starters.

I wouldn't be opposed to Interim GM John Mozeliak getting the job permanently. He's the guy who signed Franklin and Springer last offseason, 2 of the better signings. He also worked out the Pineiro move as well. He's been on local radio quite a bit lately, seems pretty forthright, and understands the situation very well.

Eckstein has filed for free agency. He's the type of player I would like to see a lot of kids molded after. He is a class act and one hell of a baseball player. I would really hate to see him go.

Not me, I dont like his game at all. Its time to get someone with some talent in there.

At least now we know who'll be making the call on him...and everyone else.

Grats to John Mozeliak.

I'd take 9 David Ecksteins any day of the week. I would know that I would always get 100% out of all 9 players.

If all you truly had was 9 Ecksteins, you wouldn't win a whole lot of games. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, but any more than 1 or 2 of him and you could have problems.

Get 100% and lose 120 games.

You and my dad ougt to run a team together. He says that to me every time I complain about Ecks lack of talent.


I want talented players who work hard. They're out there, and somebody needs to earn their fukkin money and find them.

not necessarily, as long as the players play together as one it doesn't matter how much talent they have

think the 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks, with the exception of Eric Byrnes and Brandon Webb and to a lesser extent Jeff Cirillo there isn't a well developed ball player on that team. Although the team is young and all of that can change in the near future. I could mention Tony Clark, but he is definitely on the downside on his career.

I think talent matters a bit more than you're giving it credit for. 120 losses was an exaggeration, but that would be an ugly, ugly team....almost as ugly as a team of Jeff Cirillos.

The 2007 Diamondbacks had a great bullpen that allowed them to win an inordinate amount of 1 run games and win 92, even though their Pythagorean Theorem of wins suggested they shouldn't have won nearly as much.

Desire and heart will only take you so far. Talent is necessary.

I'm not saying that talent isn't necessary because it is. However, I think you guys underestimate just how good Eckstein is. He played his college ball at Florida, which is on the same level as LSU, Wichita State, USC, Texas, and all of the other college baseball powerhouses. The fact that he walked on and earned a starting spot on that team is even more impressive due to the talent that gets recruited to Gainesville every year.

We have to go back to college to prove this guy's a good player?

No, it's just another instance that he has always been looked down upon because he doesn't fit the typical profile...and everywhere he has proven himself to be much better than what people perceive him to be.

I don't care about typical profiles. Dustin Pedroia is my god right now.

I can buy that he's better than what people perceived him to be as he made his way to the majors and even after a season or two, but the pendulum has swung the other way. Every hack sportswriter can't wait to wash his balls. Bottom line is that he's a pretty average shortstop that is a curiosity because he's 5'6".

He's a good player actually. My biggest beef w/ him the last couple years, he's pretty consistently either been injured, or dealing w/ nagging injuries. Only averaged 120 games the last 2 years. We have enough people on the team who have injury issues (Rolen, Edmonds, the SP staff, etc). They'll bring him back if the price is right, and there's nothing wrong w/ that. But he needs to prove he can get other the injury bug IMO.

The Cardinals signed the following players yesterday:

-C Jason LaRue-1 year contract

-RHP Dewon Brazelton-Minor League contract

-RHP John Wasdin-Minor League Contract

LaRue is the new backup catcher.

R S T U V.......X......Z......TUV....V.....X....Z

You slay me, ThreeJ, you really do.


And seriously, are the Redbirds going to make any moves to get this team back on top? Anything, COME ON.

Cardinals signed Cesar Izturis to a one year deal today.

Thats not what I meant.

he's a gold glove SS, can't hit worth a damn but is still a gold glove SS

Thats nice, but if he cant pitch, he wont be much help.

I'm not convinced he's anything more than an average defensive SS.

To me, this is evidence that Brendan Ryan will be the Starting shortstop VERY soon (Tony will be forced to play the kid).

Cards need a SP, badly.

That is a possibility, but I'm not so sure of that. I still seeing the Cardinals trying to re-sign Eckstein and putting either him or Izturis at 2B, and getting rid of Adam Kennedy.

The Miguel Cabrera trade might open up some possibilities as far as a Scott Rolen trade goes.

Anthony Reyes is recieving interest from the Brewers, Indians and Padres among others.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3143441

Please get rid of him. His production is dropping like an anchor AND he doesnt want to be there. Give him away to anyone who will take him and his salary. I dont even care what you get back, take anything. Just get rid of that salary.

That won't be easy. The Cardinals have already stated that they will not take on any of Rolen's contract if he is traded. That right there will hamper their attempts to move him. When healthy Rolen is still a top notch 3B, but that shoulder of his needs to get healed up first.

I think the rift between Rolen/Larussa is only gonna get uglier in the coming weeks as Rolen tries to force a trade. Some pretty stern comments from Larussa the other day are the talk of the town. Rumor is that Rolen will be releasing the note that Larussa sent him after the season. Seems to me the damage is irreperable (sp?).

Honestly, given his level of discontentment, they need to move him. I've heard Capuano for Rolen was on the table, which I think is about as good a deal as they're gonna get (although, I'm a bit of a fan of Capuano as a middle/backend of the rotation guy personally - I might be overvaluing him somewhat).

I think that's a good deal if the Cards aren't going to pay any of Rolen's remaining moneys. At least he can eat innings at a better clip than Kip Wells...and Duncan's proven time and again that if you give him someone with talent...not Kip Wells for instance....he can make them viable and get them lots of free agent moneys...see Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis, etc.

If that is available they need to jump on it. IMMEDIATELY.

it WAS available, but the Brewers wanted the Cardinals to take on some of Rolen's contract

since that is a no, the the deal was nixed

that's not to say they won't change their minds, but don't get your hopes up

Edmonds traded to the Padres for a prospect.

Now just get rid of Rolen.

sure hope there's SOME follow up to the Edmonds deal. Like, more salary dump or something - be big players in the FA market next year or something. Who's the OF right now...Duncan, Ankiel, Ludwick? Rasmus won't be up until midseason I would think.

Yes, it would be nice to know if they had a plan or not. The article I read said that Rasmus would be given the oppurtunity to claim the CF job in spring training.

with Tony as manager, I find that somewhat hard to believe. The kid has a whole lot of pressure on him now though. Hope he can handle it.