How Much Does Hanley Ramirez Cost?

Okay...so the question of the season is...What is it going to take to get Hanley Ramirez in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform? As far as trades go, here are the nigh-untouchables from the perspective of the organization:

1. Albert Pujols
2. Yadier Molina
3. Chris Carpentar
4. Colby Rasmus
5. Adam Wainwright


That's it...you have to think the organization sees everyone else as expendable in the right deal...but - here is a list of additional guys I'm unwilling to part with at this point:

1. Rick Ankiel
2. Skip Schumaker
3. Jamie Garcia
4. Either Chris Perez or Jason Motte (gotta' keep one of 'em)

I would hate to see anyone go, but I really think Skip and Ank have a future with this team...especially if we get Ramirez with Skip's ability to get on base in front of him. So...the question is...what kind of package are we willing to put together to pull Ramirez from Florida?

Just a refresher (in case some of you are unaware), Ramirez is a studly shortstop with a big bat and a high average. He's arbitration eligible after this season, and we all know the Marlins - they've already said they won't increase payroll until the new ballpark is open (about 3 years from now). It also just so happens that many of their big names are also up for arbitration...and keeping Hanley Ramirez would mean saying goodbye to several of them (possibly including Uggla). So...a betting man would guess Ramirez makes the most sense for them to trade away for a group of young players.

Just for fun, I'm thinking something like the following package (off the top of my head):

1. Cesar Izturis (a veteran shortstop with good hands to help them finish the season)
2. Bryan Anderson (great hitter - but unusable as long as Yadi is in the picture)
3. Chris Perez (I'm going with Motte as the future closer - but if not, throw Motte in here instead)
4. Todd Wellemeyer
5. Brad Thompson or Anthony Reyes

That's all for now...I know seeing names like Perez and Anderson in a trade are heart-breaking, but come on...we've got Motte to take over closer duties...a solid relief corp such as Franklin, McClellan, Springer, Flores, etc...and Yadi is solid for years to come...we gotta' get a shortstop with power and they are in short supply (no pun intended)...

Now...having said all of that...once Colby comes up, we are going to have to trade away an outfielder...most likely either Skip (ouch) or Dunc (like him, but...)...so, if it takes an outfielder (other thank Ank or Skip) to close the deal, so be it...(but Barton could prove much too difficult to trade as a Rule 5 guy, not to mention predicting his worth and career at this point)...

Okay, okay...now it's REALLY it for now...

GO CARDS!!!!

Walt Jocketty Is Red All Over...

Walt Jocketty, former General Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2006 World Series Champion team, has been reportedly hired as the Reds' new GM. See the link below for the story (a press conference is scheduled for this afternoon).

Congrats to Walt. His service in the Cardinals' organization is much appreciated, and we wish him well as he assumes the reigns of one of our division rivals.

Of course, you know - this means WAR!!!

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/SPT04/304230046

Brendan Ryan Storms Into Springfield

If last night's performance is any indication of Ryan's readiness - he's ready. Thursday night, Brendan Ryan began the next phase of his rehab assignment in the Cardinals Double A affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals. Leading off and playing short, Ryan set the table for a 20 - 5 barn-storming of the visiting Tulsa Drillers at Hammon's Field.

In his first at bat, the scrappy young infielder lifted a pitch into short left field. From there, it was all fun and games. Ryan finished the night going 4 for 6 with a double, a solo HR, and a stolen base. He did have one strikeout on the night, but let's be fair - every pitch thrown to Ryan in that at bat was 100 mph or higher (that pitcher, by the way, topped out at 103 mph!). Rather than risk reinjuring a healing rib section trying to catch up to such an offering, Ryan wisely stayed out of the way of the slightly wild right-hander and calmly watched the pitches zoom by.

Defensively, he looked good - even great, at times. His range looked fine and he seemed to be moving to balls without hesitation, which is a good sign with a rib injury. On two occasions, Ryan could have clearly stretched out for a ball up the middle but thought better of it - no doubt employing wisdom in a runaway game - choosing not to risk his ailing ribs.

Overall - Brendan Ryan looked great and was clearly the main attraction. Before the game, he stopped more than once to sign autographs with adults and kids, always sparing a moment to speak to the fans. When I caught up with him and cornered him with my son's baseball, I asked him how his ribs were feeling. "They're a little tight, but they're okay." I followed with, "I hate to see you get injured, but it's sure good to see you down here." He responded (laughing a bit): "Well, I was always hurt here, so it kind of fits."

A Quick Note on Bryan Anderson: The young Springfield catcher can sure swing the bat - no question. In fact, he proved that by driving a ball over the wall near the visitor's bullpen in the fifth inning, quickly earning all fans in attendance an Andy's Frozen Custard concrete for only a buck. But I see now what the organization means when they say he needs to work on his defense. He has the talent and the skills - but he just needs to work on his habits and overcoming his instincts. When he blocks balls in the dirt, he's having a hard time overcoming his instinct to catch the ball in his mitt rather than blocking it with his body. The result is a lot of past balls because he keeps wanting to pull his body up a bit when the ball bounces. We'll see...I certainly think it's something that can be taught...and with Yadi in the Bigs, the organization can easily afford to give him all the time he needs.

Well...that's all for now...GO CARDS!!!

"Come On, Boy! We're Gittin' Us Some Beer..."

I bet you're all wondering what we did with that extra day in St. Louis, aren't you? Yeah...I knew it. You've been sitting on pins and needles since my last post.

Well...I'll give you a hint...it costs $8.50 at Busch Stadium and rhymes with "gear"...as in...

"Git'cher butt in GEAR, boy! We're gittin' us some beer!"

That's it! You guessed it...we spent our extra afternoon at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis. And, as disturbing as this sounds, my 8 year old son hesitantly proclaimed THIS as his favorite part of the whole trip. Told you he was my son...

If you've never been to the Budweiser brewery, you're missin' out. This was my second trip, and it was even better than I remember. The tours are approximately one hour and fifteen minutes long, and they start every fifteen or twenty minutes. No appointments, tickets (although you do get a pass upon entry), or money is required. That's right...no money required...the entire tour is FREE! For those of you doing the math in your head, that's exactly the right price for someone who was just forced to drop an extra $115 on an extra night in a down-town St. Louis hotel.

The tour itself includes a walk (and brief trolley ride) through the historical 100 acre estate...I say historical because nearly all of the buildings look as if they were specially designed to blend in with the red-brick look of old St. Louis. This ain't no industrial park, that's for sure. The grounds even include one of the founders' actual third-grade school house, now converted into a small office building once occupied by Mr. Anheuser himself.

Stops and attractions include a view into the actual bottling factory, an informative and entertaining lecture on the process and history of Anheuser-Busch beer, and a lengthy visit to the Budweiser Clydesdale stables. For those of you thinking "Clyde who?," the Clydesdales are those freakishly large horses with the white hair on their hooves that you see on the beer commercials. In the stables (which are beautiful, by the way), you are close enough to spit on those massive hides (although, I do NOT recommend attempting to do so).

For us, the stables were especially interesting because it was those very same Clydesdales we saw the night before at Opening Day. In fact, our tour guide said it was "a mess" getting them ready the day of the game. Even the slightly obese Budweiser dalmatian (cleverly named "Bud") is allowed to roam freely around the brewery grounds.

Okay...now get a load 'a this...I've saved the best for last. After an hour long walk/ride around the brewery, the hospitable folks at Anheuser-Busch understand you might be a bit thirsty, so they've set aside a nice little surprise for those of legal drinking age...FREE BEER! That's right...at the end of the tour, each individual 21 years or older receives two free Anheuser-Busch products (Budweiser, Amber Boch, etc.)! This is no joke, people...FREE BEER! And for those of you too young to drink (or unlucky enough to get tagged as the DD), soft drinks are also offered in abundance.

Of course, there is a purpose to the madness...after getting you all happy-slappy on free booze (fyi, I recommend taking along a non-drinking friend or two so you can bum a few extra beers), the tour concludes by casually dumping you and your wallet off in the same spot you started from...the lobby...right next to the massive and appealing Budweiser store.

It was all I could do to keep from walking away with a new Budweiser cooler (you know, the cool ones with the radios in them...gosh...I've always wanted one of those).

Anyway...needless to say, we had a good time. Check back next time when we explore the many reasons why Harold and Kumar are lying bastards...really...bastards...

GO CARDS!!!

My Cardinals Weekend: First Edition

Pictured on the Left: One rabid Cardinals fan proudly dons his rally cap and beads while unknowingly embarrassing his otherwise normal son. Notice the calm demeanor of every other fan in the background.

Yes, it was Opening Day...sort of...but before I explain the picture on the left, I believe a quick recap of the entire weekend is in order.

The Plan: Having never been to Opening Day in Busch Stadium (or any other stadium for that matter), I was particularly excited about attending my first St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day experience. Of course, I could not simply attend the game and go home...oh, no...that would be much too easy. An event such as this demands celebration...an entire WEEKEND of festivities, no less! And so, a plan was hatched.

On Saturday - Attend the Springfield Cardinals vs. St. Louis Cardinals exhibition game. On Sunday - a spirited drive to St. Louis for family fun and hotel amenities. On Monday - Opening Day at Busch Stadium (after thoroughly partaking of the pre-game festivities).

The Weather: Let's just say, Noah and Chilly Willy would have been proud. Saturday's Springfield game was cold and windy. The rain came early but stopped for good just before game time. Lucky for us, our seats were on the one side of the stadium blocked from the wind - lucky little sh*** we are, huh? Not quite... After Springfield, it was on to St. Louis - as was the weather. The game on Monday afternoon was incredible! Electric atmosphere, hall of fame players in convertibles, Budweiser Clydesdale's on the field, an Albert Pujols homerun, and a 5 - 1 Cardinals lead by the third inning. Wow, what a game! Then...the rain came...and washed the baseball out...So...it was rescheduled for Tuesday night. The weather? Dry and frigid...I'm not kidding...like 42 degrees...in wind-infested bleacher seats. We survived...

The Games: The Springfield game was understandably low-key. The last Spring Training game before the season...Double-A competition...but it was still fun. When will you ever be able to get that close to a game played by Pujols and the Cardinals for 9 bucks a ticket??? The first St. Louis game was a blast...Opening Day atmosphere was in full swing...but the second game, the one that counted, was plagued by sparse fan turnout and cold weather. No festivities were scheduled, and the Cardinals lost by a score of 2 - 1 (without allowing a single earned run - one scored due to an error and the other due to a bases loaded walk). Of course, I had a great time, but it wasn't quite the same for my two cohorts.

The Money: Well, let's see...we spent $300 for 3 bleacher seats...a total of $275 for two nights in a hotel...about $105 - 135 for ballpark food and drinks...and a bit more here and there (additional food, a souvenir, and a half-hour planetarium show). To sum it up, let's see what our contestants had to say about the expense:

Kevin:

"Totally worth it!!! Let's do it again next weekend!!!"

Kim:

"You better remember this for a long, LONG time...'cause we ain't never spendin' that kind of money on baseball again."

Dayan:

"I'm rich!"

Well...that's enough for now...stay tuned for more Cardinals Weekend reports...

GO CARDS!!!!