The Cardinals are defending their World Series title without Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan, but they’re off to an 11-7 start nonetheless. One general manager recently went out of his way to note that “the Cardinals are a good organization” in a conversation with Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Here’s more from Sherman, starting in St. Louis:
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak says successful organizations can’t rely on one particular person. “To have sustained success, it is about being deep in all areas,” Mozeliak told Sherman. “So you are not reliant on any one person or one area of strength.”
- Sherman wonders if the Mets might be able to spend on a long-term extension for David Wright since they didn’t re-sign Jose Reyes and the contracts of Johan Santana and Jason Bay will expire following the 2013 season (the Mets hold club options for 2014). The Mets have ignored overall organizational depth for too long, Sherman writes.
- When asked about Phil Hughes’ slow start, Yankees GM Brian Cashman pointed out that pitchers such as Tim Lincecum, Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester have also struggled early on. “Based on the list, [Hughes] is in pretty good company,” Cashman said. “I think his stuff has been better than the results.” Cashman doesn’t sound interested in demoting the right-hander to the minors or moving him to the bullpen.
Haha- by that logic Chris Volstad is also in that class by virtue of sucking early on… completely pointless comment
But Volstad hasn’t been good (on the surface) since 2008. Hughes was injured last season, and was an important piece in the Yankees rotation (and future, for that matter) in 2010. That’s why it’s different.
I guess so- with the exception of Waino coming off Tommy John though, (I think) the other guys have been relatively healthy and are just slow to get going, no? Whatever, I guess maybe I misread it as Cashman saying that Hughes is in the same class as them, rather than just in the same situation
Well, I agree, the quote on its own is a lot of words without saying much. But in context I like it. People, especially in major markets, panic too soon. Hughes has nothing more to prove in AAA. Demoting him doesn’t help his development. Unless the Yankees no longer see him as part of their future, they need to relax and give him a chance to work through it.
and Wainwright is coming off Tommy John.. hes just dumb!
Hughes has had his own share of injuries so yeah.
Hughes was never in the same class as those guys to begin with, so it is a bad comparison. I am sure his stats will get better, but Cashman is wrong to compare him to those guys.
I think the greater point is that even really good pitchers have gotten off to slow starts so sometimes you have to be more patient. In no way is he comparing the skill levels of Hughes vs Lince, etc.
What do you expect from a general manager? He has to say that kind of stuff, its his player.
I love how Sherman complains that the Mets ‘have had tunnel vision in addressing needs while ignoring overall organizational depth’ (which I actually agree with in terms of the Minaya regime) and then goes on to talking about what needs they have to address – ‘Ruben Tejada looks like a cost-effective shortstop… So they don’t have to spend money there.’
And then, as though he’s caught himself being hypocritical, he signs off with this bewildering statement: ‘Can the Mets diversify on multiple pieces so as to truly — finally — address their depth problems?’
This article’s an absolute joke.
That’s Sherman for you.
Yeah.. Something about the name of Sherman and attached to burning.. One torches Atlanta and now this one torches everything they write.. Just a brutal piece yet again.
I don’t agree that they ignored it at all. They have Murphy, Duda, Thole, Tejada, Parnell, who all came from within the organization. This ignoring of depth has been overblown due to their lack of developing a star player the past few years. After getting Wright and Reyes nobody of their caliber has been developed. Ike Davis showed glimpses of being a star but then his start this year has been abysmal. But their organizational depth hasn’t been as bad as people make it out to be. People often overlook how many guys on the Mets roster have actually come from within.
I like the depth OK this year – would rather not have Bautista making starts though. But in the past couple of years.. Gary Matthews Jr., Alex Cora, Brad Emaus… these are not guys I want in the starting 9. And yeah there’s the fact that they haven’t produced any stars in the farm system. But I feel like that’s all changing now, so I’m optimistic.
My main point is that Sherman’s an idiot.
I agree with your main point in that case. Speaking about depth though, Mets fielded a team that was completely homegrown players, thats pretty awesome in my view.
A GM is of course going to talk as good as he can about his own personel, but to compare his own people to a Cy Young winner (Lincecum) and 2 others who are proven winners when his guy has only had 1 fair season and that one was not even THAT great is just.. Wild.. Hughes isn’t even close to the same category of Lincecum, Wainwright, nor lester.. Those 3 will right the ship, being early in the season and have been off and on thus far. Hughes has been inconsistent for his entire career.
I think that’s going a bit too far Cashman. What’s next? Eduardo Nunez is the next Derek Jeter?
He’s not?
What qualifies Hughes to be in that company? His 18 “wins” a few seasons ago with a mid 4’s ERA?
18 wins on the Yankees I guess…He’s always been majorly overrated.
20-4. Ian Kennedy’s record since leaving the Yankees.
…but then what would his record be in the AL East as opposed to the light hitting NL West? and yeah we all know it was run support for HUghes, and I’m glad that Kennedy is in a place where he can flourish…he would’ve never had a chance for a big payday in NY…Everyone wins! except Hughes….this year he can’t seem to keep us in games*sigh* (seriously I’d be ecstatic if he just did that I’m not expecting Ace I’m expecting serviceable #5 and my hopes are apparently too high)
Not sure where those numbers are from but on Baseball Reference it says 30-14. Not that it really matters… It’s quite ironic how Kennedy and Hughes were picked two picks apart and have had pretty much the same numbers.
The more times Bay hits the DL, the less angry I am that the Sox didn’t up the ante for him. Since he’s left he’s been nothing but a fourth outfielder at best (that’s of course when he’s even on the field). Strange situation. He was solid for Boston for a year and a half and then his career fell of the face of the Earth.
They redirected the money from Bay to Lackey of course, but Lackey at least offers the remote hope of being a back end SP in 2013 and another couple of years and helped the team in 2010 of course. Bay has been a circling albatross for the NYM from the minute he signed.