Dead Simmons

Perhaps Goldschmidt didn't want to stay in Arizona and made it known he'd leave as a free agent - so the D-Backs got what they could. It's a head scratcher. Nats, BoSox and others would have paid more.

As a St. Louisan I'm of course pretty stoked about this aquisition. In recent years the team has picked up several 30+ something guys that still played well; Larry Walker, Beltran and Berkman come to mind. Who can say when a guy's gonna lose it? The number of guys that continued to be effective at 33 is too long to list. But it's safe to say that Goldy will still be good THIS year. What I don't get is why the D'Backs got nothing for him. I would blame LaRussa (who I will always hate) but he's lost his influence in AZ....is he even still on the payroll?

Yup, not that he cares...but yah. A shame how much of his career has already been wasted on losers. Trout is a bona fide throwback: he's happy with his home in LA, happy with the money he makes and knows he already has several lifetimes worth of it, and happy with his team. Bully for him!

I don't have the numbers on this but my eyes say NO. They make the pat obvious shifts. For the record, I don't like the 4 yr. deal at age 30 for ANY pitcher (unless he's a knuckle baller) Also, there have been so many one year wonders on this team I would think they would be more cautious. I guess the FO thinking is that you can't have too many potentionally good arms.

Why do you feel sorry for Puig? If he is good, the fans will embrace him, just like all other fans in MLB. Because nobody can be good all the time, and Puig's childish behavior grates on fans after a while. He refuses to keep his tongue in his head, admires long drives that don't go out and makes sure that all his gold is visible at all times and is basically a loud mouthed idiot. I'm sure a Dodger fan could list much more. Cards 92 Brewers 88 Cubs 84 Reds 78 Pirates 75

Yipes! You guys could save a lot of time and angst by skipping the first 161 games.

I have a couple Cardinals questions for you. Are you concerned about O'Neill and Martinez getting less atbats, or generally about your team being too RH? Your only LH options are Carpenter, Wong, and Fowler(S)...and frankly Fowler should never play, and even Wong will sit a decent number of games for Gyorko and Munoz. Do you have concerns about the rotation with Martinez moving to the bullpen and Wainwright moving to LR(that's the vibe I got from you)? Mikolas, Flaherty, Wacha, and...? I wouldn't count on 180 innings from Reyes. I feel like the Cardinals have a ton of talent, but it doesn't really fit together as well as it could to optimize the talent. They would definitely get the greatest benefit from the DH of any NL Central club, but that's not reality right now. 1) O'Neill and JMart getting less AB's: Yes, I'm concerned. Fowler is putrid with a bat in his hands, and the Cards always play the man with the biggest contract, the old "shoot-self-foot strategy. 2) concerns about the rotation with Martinez moving to the bullpen and Wainwright moving to LR(that's the vibe I got from you) No. Cards system is rife with arms. I'd never heard of Flaherty and others before last season. 3)Wong will sit a number of games for Gyorko and Munoz I think the addition of Goldie will push Gyorko out of the lineup and off the team. I have no clue what they do to get the best of Munoz, save starts vs. lefties. 4) Cards have tons of talent but can't optimize it. You hit the nail on the head there, Kieth. The GM should have been fired years ago, WITH his flunky, Matheny.

I put zero stock in those "expert' predictions, and of course, fan predictions are jaded by hope and team loyalty. The only thing I would put money on is that no Central team will get a WC. We had 4 teams over .500 last year and Cincy WILL be better. (happy birthday Rockies and Phils/Nats) I can't make a good prediction on the Brewers/Cubs because I don't know enough. What I know the most about is the Cardinals. My gut says 90+ wins. If Carpenter breaks his legs: 95+ wins. On paper the Cards have the best pitching staff in the NL...WHEN HEALTHY...which ain't often. Overall defense is weak, only 3 plus glove men in Bader, Wong and Goldie. Base running is bad. Managing is mediocre and uninspired but a helluva upgrade over Matheny. The hitting is decent, but every Central team is as well. So why will the Cards win 90? Martinez to the pen and Wainwright to pasture or spot duty. Those 2 "Aces" were at 90 pitches in the 4th inning every other start last year (when not on DL). No staff could overcome that! I think the race will go down to the last week AGAIN with the same usual 3 suspects as I think predictions of a Cubs demise is woefully premature.

All I can say is that the Reds will be a little harder to beat next season. I wonder if there has EVER been a division where all 5 teams were over .500

You got me curious so I looked up the two teams' batting from last year. The numbers are really close. Closest of any 2 teams, almost mirror stats. The most lopsided stat was 24 3B hits for Brewers, 9 for Cards (ouch) Of course the main stat, RUNS SCORED there's only a 5 run difference! Over 1500 combined runs and only a 5 run difference??? That's nuts! In spite of the addition of Goldie I still think that the offenses will be a wash. It will come down to pitching. Last year the Cards sucked and the Brewers didn't...especially the pen. Of course the Cards had mucho injuries. If they can get it together next season maybe it will be the Cubs in 3rd place and US slugging it out in Sept. for the pennant.

You don't see them putting Martinez in the outfield and sitting Fowler? If you are right, this is not going to upgrade the Cards offense very much. Fowler makes a king's ransom while Martinez makes peanuts. Our GM insists on playing the highest paid player as it's a bad look for him to be sitting on the bench. It's gonna put Shildt in a tricky position juggling those two: how can you pinch hit Martinez for Fowler in late innings? He's gonna have to sub 2 guys for Dexter as you can't have Martinez out there stumblin' and bumblin' in RF. It's odd that Luke (baby Hulk) Voit was shipped to the Evil Empire. Youth, power, speed and glove... I thought he was a better option than both of them.

I agree with Luke about the 2011 Pujols and Goldie issue. Ball players peak at 27. Albert's true age may never be known. I believe him to be 3 years older than reported. The lack of photographs from his youth and no birth certificate are highly suspicious. Goldie will be a welcome relief defensively at 1b and will certainly hit better than Carpenter, who will hit a tad better (maybe) than Gyrko @ 3b. However the Cards' best hitter in Martinez will be squeezed out by the return of Dexter Fowler, the hitless wonder. All and all it's an upgrade, I guess, but is it enough to keep up with the Cubs and Brewers?

Clinched on the last day of the season....a very long trip. Congrats. Hope you play the Rockies for the pennant. That would be cool.

Way to go boys! Anybody got any nails left?

Is there a name for leading the league in those 4 categories? Has it ever happened before? Ted Williams did it in both of his triple crown seasons. Likely others as well I forget the year, but Musial led the league in 2B, 3B, runs, RBI, well just about everything except HR which he missed by one. (he had a HR erased by rain) Yelich has a chance for the crown if they pitch to him.

That's right! I forgot game 163 is still the regular season!

LA wasted a lotta hits today. 15-0 final

Atta boy! The fat lady is warming up her tonsils

We start nobody tomorrow. The Cards will rally one of the most improbable insane rallies in recent history They HAVE picked up a couple more runs

It's possible but they've become choking dogs this September.

LA's scored 9 already. Good grief!

I really wonder if that happened and they couldn't resume play all night, if the league would do something to adjust the schedule and let them continue tomorrow. That would be the prudent thing to do I would think. So much on the line.

That man has looked at more strike 3's this year than I've ever seen...it's been sad to watch.

Would not an NLCS of the Brewers and Rockies be the most compelling scenario?