Holliday Respects Edmonds’ Famous Number; DeRosa Gone
Now, we all know that Holliday re-signed with the Cardinals for a monstrous amount of money, or at least monstrous for the Cardinals. If the Yankees gave him this contract, he would not be respected in New York. However, every true Cardinal fan knows that Jim Edmonds, famous retired center fielder for the Cardinals, wore number 15. Holliday changed his number from 15 to 7 to show respect as a Cardinal. Some people even criticized Holliday for his number choice in 2009, so changing his uniform is good all-around. Of course, Holliday won’t now and never will wear number 5. “I offered Albert a watch. Apparently he has one already,” Holliday joked about this. “I know Jim Edmonds was a big deal here and he wore number 15. So I was kind of hoping to have my own number. Mickey Mantle wore number 7. He’s from Oklahoma (too). I like single digits,” announced Holliday.
Now this leads to our next topic. What about DeRosa? Wasn’t he wearing number 7? Yes, but not anymore. DeRosa signed a 2 year, $12 million contract with the Giants, probably to play third base. Oh well.
Holliday Given 119 Million Reasons to Stay a Cardinal
Matt Holliday announced today, Tuesday, January 5, 2009, that he will be staying in St. Louis for seven more years. Yes!! It took three and a half months and two contract bumps, but it finally payed off. Holliday’s contract was signed at $17 million a year for seven years, $119 million total. This is the biggest contract in club history; $19 million more than Albert Pujols’ $100 million seven year contract. Pujols is earning $14 million a year. Holliday’s contract also includes a $17 million vesting option for 2017, which will kick if he finishes in the top 10 in NL MVP voting in the 2016 season. Of course if Pujols decides to re-sign with the Cardinals before 2012, it will most likely be a bigger contract than Matt’s. Next year may be Albert’s last official year as a Cardinal not including the club option, but we will have Holliday to fill that number 3 spot if Pujols decides to go elsewhere.
Competition for Holliday Getting Stronger
We know that Holliday’s stay here in St. Louis may be shortened by opposing teams wanting the 3-time All-Star as well. The Baltimore Orioles, who have finished last for the past twelve years, want Holliday as well.The Orioles did sign former teammate to Holliday, the third baseman Garrett Atkins from the Rockies. The Orioles say that they do have the money to sign the slugger, but we’ll see. Supposivey the Cardinal’s offer to Matt Holliday was an eight year deal for $16 a year. This would be the highest yearly salary on the team; two million dollars above Albert Pujols and three million dollars above Chris Carpenter. If Pujols resigns with the Cards, this will likely change. The St, Louis Post Dispatch reported that Holliday prefers to stay with St. Louis. Good.
First Comes Penny, Next Comes…
There are three months left until spring training in March, so the Cardinals have a lot of time to make a deal with someone to fill that hole in the depth chart in left field. Of course, the Cardinals are eagerly awaiting Holliday’s response to their offer. The Cards apparently upped that offer as of late. Will this increase Holliday’s chances to say? We all hope so. However, management is very aware of the fact that Jason Bay declined his offer to stay with the Red Sox. This puts a major hole in the Sox’s depth chart. If Holliday does decline the offer, that leaves Bay left. Bay is probably the team’s second priority. The Red Sox have not shown interest in Holliday, which is good, because they can bid higher. There has been talk, however, about the Yankees. The Yankees recently added Curtis Granderson to their outfield, but will they add Holliday? Possibly. I am sure the Yanks will jump after Matt if he happens to decline. Next year, though, the Red Sox and Cardinals may end up simply switching their left fielders, and if that does happen, we will still have a silver slugger in left field. Bays average is a problem, however, batting .267 in 2009. I prefer Holliday, and if you agree, please comment. If you don’t, go ahead and comment also. I would like to see your argument.
Freese Arrested with DWI Charges
This weekend, David Freese, rookie third baseman for the Cards, was arrested with Driving While Intoxicated charges this past weekend. He was arrested after failing the breath test in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Freese also failed to drive in a single lane. “We are still working to obtain all of the details, we are extremely disappointed with David, and he will have to take full responsibility for his actions,” said the Cardinals in a statement. “Our employee assistance team has already been in contact with David to begin that process.” Freese is still in the running for the third base starter spot next year said the club, but he will have to work harder for it.
Unfortunately for the Cards, this is the fourth drug or alcohol situation in the past two years. There was John Hancock’s death, Tony LaRussa’s DUI during spring training, the Scott Spiezio incident, and now this. The Cardinals will have to bounce back from all this and have a kick-butt 2010 season!
Penny’s in the Bag, No Holliday Break For Cards
The Cardinals may not have signed their major priority, and you and I both know who that is, but they did add a really good starter to their rotation. Brad Penny signed a 1-year deal worth 7.5 million dollars. Penny is a starting pitcher that including the Cardinals has played for five different major league teams in his ten year career: the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and now the Cards. The contract was signed on December 7, 2009. Penny’s career win-loss is 105-84. He has a 4.14 career ERA and 1,141 strikeouts.
The Cardinals have also been making a lot of noise about Matt Holliday, who apparently wants to stay in St. Louis. Holliday’s agent Scott Boras has been talking with GM John Mozeliak about the situation. The Cardinals will not get a Holliday break during the holidays. (no pun intended) Management will continue to get Holliday behind Pujols again, although Mark DeRosa is second priority if this deal does not come through. Let’s hope it does!
Herzog, Harvey Hall of Famers
Today, Whitey Herzog was elected into the managerial hall of fame by the veterans committee for managers and umpires. Herzog, as a manager, won 1,281 wins for the Cardinals and had fourteen of the required twelve votes needed to enter the hall of fame. Doug Harvey, former major league umpire, also was elected into the hall. “It’s strange,” Herzog said, “because Doug kicked me out of more games than any other umpire.”
Doug Harvey received fifteen of the required twelve votes to enter the hall of fame. Doug umpired 4, 670 games in a 31-year umping career.
Whitey Herzog led the Cardinals to a win in the 1982 World Series.
Whitey Herzog and Doug Harvey will both be entered into the Hall of Fame on July 25, 2010.
Pujols: Unanimously the Best
Earlier today, Albert Pujols was unanimously named the NL MVP.Yeah! He received all thirty-two first place votes and finished with over 400 total points. Hanley Ramirez finished second and Ryan Howard third. This is Pujols’ third NL MVP and second consecutive. He is now the tenth person in history to win three MVP awards. He became just the third to win three MVP’s before turning thirty. He joined Stan Musial and Barry Bonds in that category. But we both know that Bonds doesn’t count. Go El Hombre!
The Giant Out-Votes the Birds
Today, Tim Lincecum was voted as the NL Cy Young [moan]. He very narrowly beat second place Chris Carpenter and third place Adam Wainwright. Wainwright finished first in first place votes but finished third overall. Lincecum went 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA. He struck out 261, which led the league. This caught me by surprise; I would’ve sworn it would be Wain-O or Carp. Oh well. We still have the best pitching staff in the NL. (R. Franklin-Reliever of the Year, C. Carpenter-2005 Cy Young, A. Wainwright-Led League in wins, 19, J. Smoltz-200 game winner, 3,000 strikeout club, 100 saves.)
Carp Or Wain-O For Cy Young
The AL Cy Young was already named; Zack Greinke. But tomorrow, the NL Cy Young will be named. The two ‘front runners’ are Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Which one will win? It’s definitely tough. In my opinion I say Wainwright. The guy led the league in wins with nineteen, and was in the top five in ERA and strikeouts. I think Wain-O deserves it, but Carpenter led the league in ERA and had the best winning percentage. Overall, give it to Wainwright.
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