The appeals hearing for Jung Ho Kang’s DUI sentence has been set for May 25, Yonhap News’ Jeeho Yoo reports (Twitter link). Kang received an eight-month sentence that was suspended for two years, which theoretically cleared the way for the infielder to return to the Pirates this season, though Kang has yet been unable to receive a visa to return to the United States. Between the May 25 date, any further visa hurdles and some necessary minor league time to get in playing form, it seems like Kang may not appear in a Pirates uniform until the second half of the season (if at all).
Here’s more from around the NL Central…
- The Pirates will use the newly-acquired Johnny Barbato as a multi-inning reliever at Triple-A “and go from there,” MLB.com’s Adam Berry tweets. The Yankees stretched Barbato out as a starter during the spring, so the Bucs seem to have some flexibility in using Barbato as a depth piece for either the rotation or bullpen depending on needs during the season.
- With the Cardinals are off to a National League-worst 4-9 start, GM John Mozeliak told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch) before Monday’s game that all ideas about improving the team are being considered. “In terms of personnel moves or roster changes, I don’t think there’s anything I could go to right now in [Triple-A] Memphis that’s necessarily going to directly change the trajectory of this club,” Mozeliak said. “But I will say that everything is on the table right now, so if we continue down this path, we may have to do something different.” Changes seem to include less playing time for Jhonny Peralta and Matt Adams, while Mozeliak also said the team would consider a position change for Matt Carpenter.
- Reds GM and president of baseball operations Dick Williams took an unusual path to his position, as he explains to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand in a wide-ranging Q&A piece. Williams discusses such topics as not exploring a baseball career until his mid-30’s, his family’s ties to the Reds franchise, Joey Votto’s importance as a franchise leader, and more.
Are the Pirates still paying Kang while he’s going through all this?
No he’s on the restricted list.
they aren’t paying marte either
Unfortunately for the Cards, Matt Carpenter’s glove, range, and arm deficiencies are least damaging with him at 1B. But he doesn’t have 1B power.
So moving him to another position may keep his decent OBP in the lineup, but may magnify their problems with defense.
However, they may not think they have a choice. With this quandary, would it be best to trade him?
BTW, even aside from the doomed Adams-in-LF gambit, Mozeliak has failed to improve the Cards’ defense, which was a stated goal in the offseason and into 2017. The only infielder they have who has a decent glove is Wong, but that’s about all he brings.
i’ve thought trading him while he has some value for almost a year. if not, put him at second base and bat him leadoff. he doesn’t have a position. power output for corner position is meaningless.
They signed Dex to hit leadoff. He’s staying there. Putting Carp at second base is asking for even poorer range and leakier defense. At 3b his arm is a liability.
The only thing true is that Carp has no position. He’s made for DH.
If they won’t trade him (to an AL team probably), maybe play him in LF as a platoon?
MO really left few options with this roster. Not that Matheny could do much with a flexible roster…..
signed dyslexic fowluper to lead off? they also signed the rest of the players to perform. where’s that getting them?
Cards defense is vastly improved from last year and it’s way too small sample size to suggest otherwise yet. Improved at 4 positions (cf, LF, 3b, 1b) and stayed same at other positions. Over course of year our defense will be better than last year.
“Vastly improved” at 3B? Peralta is so chelonian he’s out of the lineup. LF? With Adams? You are joking. With Grichuk? Still below average, with questionable stick.
1B? Even Adams is better than Carp at first. So are 50 percent of other MLB 1Bs. CF? Yes, improved from below average in ’16 to average in ’17.
“Vastly improved” anywhere? That’s either denial or a fantasy. Look at the rankings. Even most Cardinal fans see that the D is not improved. Plus Molina is in decline.
Too much red koolaid makes for delusions.
Adams was dumb and short lived. Grichuk is an average cf and plus LF, much improved over Holliday of last year. Improvement #1. Fowler is better in cf than grichuk, improvement #2, carpenter is defensively a plus 1b as most 1b play there because they can’t play elsewhere on IF, where carp can play anywhere, improvement #3. Peralta, while his bat has been anemic and is risking benching for his bat, his defense is fine at 3b and better than Carp last year. I stand by my previous statement.
Should i try blue koolaid maybe? No thanks
Denial. Check the stats. The rest of the NL hopes they continue such “improvement”.
BTW, how’s Waino doing so far?
Stats of first 13 games? No thanks too small sample size. I thought this thread was about cards defense, but since you brought it up, wainos so far doing about as poorly as Cubs offense. Both will improve as season goes on I’m sure.
The cubs offense is full of mostly young players who have shown an ability to hit ML pitching.. Wainwright is a 35 year old pitcher. I have a lot more faith in one of those righting the ship than I do the other.
What was that about being objective and not drinking the koolaid? Sure
Difference is cubs offense actually was good last year. Waino was bad and is bad. It’s not shocking, he’s old. His time has passed. He will be one of five player over 30 making about $95 million next year, or ~2/3 of Cards payroll. Farm is not what it used to be. Ship is sinking.
“and it’s way too small sample size to suggest otherwise yet”
If it’s too small of a sample to suggest otherwise, why exactly is it a large enough sample to support your argument?
Read my comments. Grichuk better than Holliday historically, fowler better than grichuk, carp has skill set of other positions yet playing easiest position, peralta has history of being very strong and dependable defender. Very few errors. None of that has to do with first 13 games of season, but with past results
So…it’s not. You are assuming that Carpenter will be a better 1b with no actual proof. You are incorrectly assuming Johnny Peralta is a good defensive 3b, You are choosing, to ignore Matt Adams getting innings in lf. And finally ignoring that during his time in CF Grichuck proved to be as good or better than Fowler, who has not been a historically good cf. So the majority of your points are invalid, but nice try on spinning it.
Errors aren’t how you judge a defender. Peralta is not a very good defender at all. fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1738&posit…
Stats to support your argument? Oh yeah, it’s too early.
So all of us will just rely on your “objective judgment”.
Chilling thought, that.
As stated earlier, the rest of the NL hopes that such improvement continues.
p.s. Mr DeWitt called to say thanks for your help in keeping them turnstiles a-clickin’ ! Your kind of fan is the “BFIB” for his wallet.
Adams was only getting innings in LF while Piscotty was dealing with a minor injury. There’s no point in mentioning that in a discussion of the Cardinals’ regular defense.
Peralta was indeed a slightly above-average shortstop just two years ago, so there’s no reason to think a healthy Peralta can’t be a decent 3B now. He just needs to pick it up with the bat…
2 years ago is a very long time ago for 34 year olds in MLB. That’s also just ignoring the fact that peralta was not an above average defensive short stop. fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=fld&#…
unless by 2 years ago you meant 2014? But that’s a pretty terrible argument as well since it’s a pretty clear outlier in his history on defense and that his defense has been bad for the last 2 years. Probably makes more sense in 2017 to value his defense in the current time period when he is 34 then to value his abnormal season from 2014.
Their defense is awful, no matter how you look at it. Their only good infielder isn’t a starter and fowler isn’t that great in cf.
Agree that Holliday to Grichuk is a vast improvement in LF. Unfortunately the Cards didn’t really improve at other positions
Cards haters are loving the slow start. It’s less than 10% of season. Chill out people. Anyone think Cubs will remain with a losing record all season because they are 6-7 right now? Ridiculous, right?
Actually there were a lot of people and projection systems that said the cards were gonna be very meh before the season started.
Kepp thinking it is just people “hating” though.
Are you also predicting the reds, diamondbacks, Yankees twins will all be in playoff hunt? Because they are right now.
Wow, strawman arguments, great rebuttal.
I’m pretty sure hitting 20+ homers a year the last two years (as well as a ton of doubles) counts as pretty good 1B power.
You want more than 20 homers out of your first baseman
As i said day 1, the downfall begins this year. Can’t cheat to win anymore with eyes on you.
in an interview, later to be seen, dewitt said mozeliak’s rear end is on the table, too.
Although I’m a big fan of mo’s, Gis butt should be on the line. All options on table until ship is righted. I don’t feel he’s right blame though. Matheny is one who should be sweating.
Your objectivity on this is blinded by your hatred of the cardinals and lust for their demise. One guy in the organization hacked another organization. That’s illegal and he was fired and put in jail. Cards did not cheat and since paid the price for his actions. So sick of this being overblown by others who love to bring a great organization down.
LOL @ you calling out anyone about being objective!
So basically any company, organization or team that gets caught breaking the law didn’t actually break the law since it was only one person who did?
No they are responsible for their employees actions. Which is why cards were handed punishment even though one guy was responsible. To say they’ve been cheaters for years is disingenuous
Except they have. One of them was picked up earlier this week when the ball got stuck to Molina’s chest protector. Everything will come full circle soon homer!
Of course this is still fully speculative but I’ve been saying they been cheating for over a decade already…before the scandal. The fact that these recent events came to fruition, reenforces my allegations further! Don’t worry though, because someone will catch the Jays cheating too eventually. Who knows when that will happen?!
It’s a non issue that MLB did not even investigate. Not cheating to put foreign substance on catchers gear, even if he did. Lots of catchers do it.
“All is well !!!!”
–Kevin Bacon in Animal House.
–wainofan on MLBTR.
carpenter out of lineup two games in a row. both wins. what’s that tell ya?
Do you really think cards are better off without carpenter, their best hitter, because they won twice in a row 2-1? There’s a reason baseball season is 162 games. Small sample sizes don’t work in baseball. Cards are two games behind Cubs after 14 games. Not where they want to be, but no call for panic. Things will even out with who we have and barring major injuries, without any moves, cards should still be 85-90 game winners and in hunt for wild card. Not as good as winning division but get in the playoffs and it’s a crapshoot. They’ve won WS twice as wild card in past 10 years…
which year did they win the world series as a wild card, besides 2011?
Well since this year just started,and world series hasn’t been played, past 10 years would include 2006. Which the cards were a wc and won the ws. Just sayin
better go back and look at the record books cause st louis won the central in 2006. just the facts, ma’am. as joe friday would say..