Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler admitted to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this week that he felt “depressed” in 2018, the worst season of an otherwise solid career. Only three position players finished behind Fowler in fWAR (minus-1.2), whose offensive production fell off a cliff in the second season of a five-year, $82.5MM contract. Despite a nightmarish campaign which ended in early August on account of a fractured left foot, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Fowler still “truly loves” baseball and is gearing up for a rebound next season. It helps that Fowler still has the confidence of Cardinals president John Mozeliak and manager Mike Shildt, and he has grown particularly close to the former, Goold explains. On the other hand, Fowler suggested he lost the belief of former manager Mike Matheny, whom Shildt replaced in July. In an effort to bounce back to his previous levels, Fowler has enlisted the help of the legendary Barry Bonds this offseason for both workout and hitting advice, Goold details. On Bonds, Fowler said: “My whole mindset is if I’m going to learn from the best, I’m going to do everything that he says to do, and if I fail at it then I can always look back and say I did it. I did everything. I did everything and it’s not in the cards.” Goold’s full piece is worth checking out for more from Fowler.
Here’s more on the Redbirds, courtesy of Goold:
- Cardinals stalwart Yadier Molina underwent surgery Thursday to remove a bone spur from his left knee, Goold relays. After a two-week recovery, Molina should be ready to resume his typical offseason workouts, general manager Michael Girsch informed Goold. A healthy version of the franchise catcher is all the more important to St. Louis after it parted with young backstop Carson Kelly to acquire first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
- The commissioner’s office has suspended Cardinals pitching prospect Griffin Roberts 50 games after a second positive test for a drug of abuse, Goold reports. The 22-year-old Roberts, whom the Cardinals chose 43rd overall in last June’s draft, will serve his suspension at the start of next season. Now the Cardinals’ 10th-ranked prospect at MLB.com, the right-hander combined for 9 2/3 innings at the rookie and Double-A levels last season after the team drafted him.
- The Cardinals aren’t yet sure whether they’ll deploy righty Alex Reyes as a starter or a reliever in 2019, per Goold. Reyes, one of the most promising young pitchers in the sport, saw injuries derail his previous two seasons. The 24-year-old missed all of 2017 because of Tommy John surgery, and after returning to throw just four major league innings last season, he suffered a torn tendon in his right lat and had to go back under the knife. Fortunately, St. Louis expects Reyes to be “close to full speed” when spring training rolls around, Goold writes. Then, based on how Reyes looks in camp (and how the club constructs its rotation and bullpen), the Cardinals will decide on his role and whether he’ll begin the year in the majors.
Whatever happened to those other right fielders they had that were so “bad” they needed to sign an over rated Fowler to an inflated contract?
They signed Fowler to play CF after a season in which they were reliant upon Randal Grichuk at the position and before they knew that Tommy Pham and, subsequently, Harrison Bader could play ball.
Why didn’t they know these things? I thought STL had the “best” evaluators, scouts and development in the game?? ;)
Go away troll
Troll tells truth though.
I’m sorry, Jfactor. Did a legit question make your wool stand on end?
Pham had injuries and an eye issue derail his career for a while. Bader is only just now 24.
Was the alliteration intentional?
So that means giving an over rated, past his prime OF like Fowler a 5 year contract with a no trade clause because Bader was 22 at the time? Not to mention, Pham was 29 and they knew for YEARS about his eye issues, yet they hung on to him like he was untouchable. Admit it, they effed up their OF evaluations. and had to trade for Ozuna and O’Neill to cover their azz. And Pham’s personality made him expendable, and he’s going to kill it in Tampa where he’s free from the arrogant dictator with zero personality, John Mozeliak.
As much as I hate to admit it, as a Cards fan, DaveD is right. But the mess started when Oscar Taveras died and they tried to replace him with Heyward. Then when Heyward left, Fowler was the best option in free agency because he had a good 2015 with Cubs.
Disagree with comments on Mo. The Cards do look for certain personality types like Goldschmidt, etc and Pham did not fit that mold. Not saying good or bad, just that he didn’t fit
Never Never Never ever thought Fowler was a good signing, especially since he was never going to bat leadoff as long as Carp was here. So don’t tell me what I thought. I know what I thought 2 years ago. And Pham is NOT a CF, and he never should have been used that way. He’s a LF who hits circles around Bader. And for 39 games in Tampa, Pham “streaky hit” his way to a 1.071 OPS. Yes Bader is a better defender, but he will likely never hit like Pham. And all this “cost control” means nothing if the talent never plays out. But thanks for the yet again, troll comment, as you continue to show how insecure you are. Because that’s what it is when you use that word to end your comments.
Even ” the best evaluators, scouts and development”,make the occasional mistake. How did JD Martinez get released? How did Justin Turner get claimed off waivers once and then get released once? Show me one FO that hasn’t made mistakes.
So the Cards did a better job developing outfielders than they expected.
How so? They traded for Ozuna to play LF, and have an expensive FA in RF. O’Neill was gotten in a trade, and they dumped Pham, Piscotty and Grichuk. The only homegrown OF they have right now is Bader, and he’s still unproven with the bat. Not sure where you’re going with this?
I understand they make mistakes. My point was simply that all I hear about from the local media is how great the Cards are in that category of development and talent evaluation. Meanwhile, in response to your examples. Turner was given 3 years to prove himself in NY. After 301 games of a .696 OPS, he was not offered ARB and became a FA. As far as JD Martinez goes, I’m guessing the rebuild in Houston had something to do with that, and the fact he can’t play defense worth a damn. It didn’t hurt the Astros in the long run.
You’re all over the place. Cards were stupid to sign Fowler to play center because they had Pham and Bader. Yet Cards can’t develop outfielders so they need to trade for them (btw Sierra was a outfielder used to trade for Ozuna).
Whatever. You have an agenda. We get it.
Since you can’t follow the dots, let me explain this. The Cards claimed they had all this OF talent, yet they acquired Ozuna and Fowler to play the OF. What part confuses you? So now, instead of Pham, Grichuk or Piscotty in the corners, they have $30M wrapped up in Ozuna and Fowler. Meanwhile, Piscotty killed it in Oakland this season and Pham is killing it in Tampa. So, they had these OF developed, then gave up on them, and then went out and traded for O’Neill? So connecting all these dots together, what exactly was their plan the last 2 years?
“The Cards claim.” They had a press release to announce they had OF talent?
They engineered a trade of Piscotty to get him closer to his ailing mother. Bader has a similar skill set to Pham and is 6 years younger.
They had plenty of OF depth and no real impact bat, which led to them collapsing the depth into a pursuit of Stanton. They pivoted to Ozuna when Stanton nixed the trade.
Please, keep arguing with the strawmen you’re creating. It’s cute.
You’re funny. So is your insecurity. Do you have paranoia all day or just when you’re on this site? How is OF depth “plenty” is according to you, none of them have an impact bat? That in itself is the most comical thing I’ve ever read on here. You need to quit listening to the local media. They never had a chance at Stanton. They simply used that facade to please the sheeple and cover their stupidity. So they made 2 panic moves to try and rectify their mistakes…Fowler when they lost Heyward and Ozuna when they never had a chance at Stanton. Lastly, in your delsuions of grandeur, who are these “strawmen” I’ve created? I like that word as much as I like “troll.”
Who, exactly, is making claims about the Cards OF talent besides the voices in your head?
daved I get you wanting to be argumentative for arguments sake. With that being said your claim that they never had a chance for Stanton is just not true. The fact that a trade was in place minus player approval proves this. Yes you will say Stanton didn’t want to come here but until he put the final kibosh on it no one knew 100%. I agree with some of what you are saying though but please remember everyone is entitled to their own opinion and just because you say one thing does not make it fact nor is the case on the other end.
Pham’s Bapip in last 2 months was .484. If it was .290 to .320 Id agree its sustainable. .484 is not sustainable period.
Hey Daved get back on your meds man. “Local media” sounds like you have an agenda. I am in NYC but still follow local media as well as national networks. You are part of a minority of fans who spread this narrative of just complaining and overlooking FACTS, wondering if you also are a MAGAt by chance as it seems you have a lot of hatred. Everyone else has asked you some great follow up and yet you deny and deflect. Let’s go through the FACTS, Taveras death was unforeseen, getting Heyward in a pinch was a great recovery. Would you want to be stuck with that contract after seeing his numbers. Fowler wasn’t a nobody you idiot he was an integral part of the Cubs offense and won a WS also had a good showing in playoffs. And yes you idiot Matheny and MO had talked about him hitting lead off and Carpenter moving down you dummy your opinion isn’t how the cardinals are controlled and good thing. I like my GMs sane and logical. Ironically while we talk about Dexters mental health which dummy affects a lot of star players and doesn’t make anyone immune, including you. If you have so much rage online and project a flawed agenda when reality disagrees with your opinion I suggest finding someone to talk to man. Honestly we’d be dummies to not see some who post here also need help. We’d enjoy these boards more with intellectual and competitive banter not dealing with this troll and mentally deranged behavior. It’s also not fair to put the press in any danger for doing their job. Fox sports Midwest cardinals own a percentage of the network. But Goold, Fredrickson, Hochman, Hummel these aren’t cardinals cronies if you are their articles and follow up questioning as well as bonding on subjects with fans who shouldn’t be content you’d actually see they are definitely exhibiting the freedom of the press. Lay off the trump troll behaviors it’s disparaging. Open your minds and hearts as well. The Fowler bashing doesn’t look good on BFIB that don’t do too well with minorities players and fellow fans. Don’t believe me watch fans and protesters and see how fans treated the protesters who were looking for justice for minorities. It’d be more appealing to FA if they saw this fan base act a lot better instead of feeding deadspin coverage nonstop!
Stick to NY, because you don’t know s–t about the STL media. By the way, the Cards offered Heyward almost the SAME contract the Cubs offered him, so if not for the Cubs, the Cards WOULD be stuck with that contract. THEY WANTED him. As far as the rest of your rant, that’s all it is. Crazy ranting. Much like most liberal Democrats.
Woah daved take it easy man
daved, maybe try to make a point without acting like a jerk. people might take you seriously.
Let’s not forget that they lost Matt Holliday and should have extended Carlos Beltran. When Tavares died; it’s caused a search for the right mix. They wanted a speedy centerfielder too. A guy who could cover a lot of ground; with power on the left and right side.
Murphy’s Law: “Never argue with a fool, people may not be able to tell the difference.”
Daved, Well, at least you got one thing right, Crazy liberal democraps. Bunch of trash that needs to be extinguished in this country. Besides that though…you’re just a nut sack.
Thanks Chris, Now go ahead and suck on my nut sack you fruitcake.
Summary: I think your racist Daved
Let’s see. Since announcing Derrick Fowler will be the starting center fielder and a defensively challenged Carpenter will be the starting 3rd baseman for 2019, Mozeliak put the final nails in the coffin for 2019!!!! Why can’t the owners see that with both players on the field at one time, it makes a far inferior team. Rather than admit he’s screwed up royally, Mozeliak will keep both players, where he could have Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or trade for Arenaldo and and sign Harper. However, Mozeliak won’t make the team any better just so he can save face at the cost of the Cardinal Organization.
Eh. Pretty much every free agent contract is inflated. Cost of doing business.
It is but that is the system, underpaid for the early part of a careerand and overpayed for the ending of the career, its just how its set up.
Exactly.
$1,300/month salary for minor leaguers is a big problem. I’d think this compels young under-the-radar talent to jump at team-friendly extensions. Yelich is a prime example. DeJong could prove to be another.
Teams do not want their good young players to go to arbitration. Especially not a defensively-capable power-hitting SS.
Now that the Cardinals have announced Derrick Fowler as their every day right fielder the Cardinals have dropped out of sight. Fowler is over the hill. Guess the rumor mill feels that if John Mozeliak is that stupid, that there’s no need to include the Cardinals in the Rumor Mill any more!!! Much less a pennant contender. J
I love Derrick Fowler. Great ballplayer.
I feel bad for Fowler. Must be so depressing to make 10+Mil a year playing a little kids game with no responsibility except staying in shape and padding that 401k so he can retire by 40.
Just a shame people have to go through that.
Yeah, but his poor performance now means he has to deal with second-rate masseuses.
Wow two straight bottom feeders of society thinking their opinion matters. Get the hell out of here, garbage people who clearly can’t read and have empathy. I also wonder if race has a place to play in your naive posts. Now do the world a favor and shut the hell up and maybe improve your flawed selves
Hot take alert
Why would race have a roll to play here. Pretty sure they are knocking feeling sorry for a millionaire professional athlete. I don’t agree with them, but I am not going to assume racism.
Didn’t take long for the R card to come out.
Ahhhh, a tolerant, race card-carrying lib calling out people with a differing opinion, saying THEIR opinion doesn’t matter, but HIS does. Gotta love it.
If we wouldn’t be selling low on Ozuna, if it took trading him to make room for Fowler AND Harper, I’d be ok with it. Obviously Harper would have to agree to move to LF since Dex doesn’t have a LF’s arm. Pipe dream I know, but a boy can dream…..
Doesn’t take long for someone to deny race plays a factor in the trashing of Fowler. It’s not all baseball play even on this board some aren’t caring about his mental health. If he were white would he be treated differently? Aww the denial of st.louisans denying there’s racism in the city that still talks of the “great white flight” doesn’t understand the factors in Ferguson and the riots that ensued didn’t help as well as police relations with minorities not improved in all areas. You wonder why some of the best don’t want to come, think about this for a second. I’ve also lived in Dallas, St. Louis and St. Charles, and NYC areas. STL I love you but there’s definitely racism there.
Ahh a trump supporter assuming what I said. I asked if race had something to play in this. Read next time before you assume you dimwit. Stop acting like the LOW IQ illegitimate president. Can’t wait for Misery to become liberal or are you not tired of being duped?
Go away
Nope
I think race plays a factor in your stupidity.
You play your best outfield arm in RF, Fowler should be a LF’er
you act like money eliminates all real world issues. if that’s your world view, you should do some real inner reflection. if not, you’re going to live a miserable, jealous existence
He depressed a lot of Cardinals fans with his performance, too.
You obviously know nothing about clinical depression. Also you’re very sad if money can make you happy.
How do you know that he’s clinically depressed? Did I miss that in the article?
Any depression that lasts more than a few days is labeled as one of the clinical types. DSM4 for reference
I would still hesitate to label. Those conditions are too multi layered and his statement is too vague to state with any degree of certainty that he has a mental disorder.
Just my opinion.
“You obviously know nothing about clinical depression. Also you’re very sad if money can make you happy.”
Are you assuming his mental health condition?
In the famous words of Cyndi Lauper,
Money changes everything.
Your capacity to be compassionate to other humans does not need to be applied selectively. Fowler is well paid for being in the top 1% of professionals in a profession whose market pays very well. That doesn’t stop him from having relatable mental health problems.
You’re totally missing the what depression is and you’re a moron if you think that his living situation prevents him from being depressed.
Id be depressed if I had so much money I couldn’t spend it all
This is the goofiest thing I have ever read, but a sense of sour grapes. I’m going to assume you were one of those high school jocks that were on their way to the too, but an unfortunate elbow/ knee injury destroyed what dreams you had of playing pro ball. How’s that bowling alley job going?
“How’s that bowling alley job going?”
Did you assume his past and his current source of income?
If it’s just a child’s game, why aren’t you playing and making $10 million?
Absolutely!!! Fowler has been so mistreated. Just like any other ballplayer who won’t put out 100% effort. $10 million a year guaranteed for Fowler to just put out 1/2 of an effort and still draw a check. Wow!!!
Imo matheney was a Terrible manager that should have been fired a year earlier. He was the #1 problem! That being said I still think dex did not contribute anything in 2018. Does anybody out there feel great about collecting 17 milliom dollars for doing a terrible job! Or not doing the job at all?! How about some freakin pride in your work! How about at least putting in max effort for the money even if your results are slipping! Anyone could watch dex last year and realize its not there! I feel sorry for him if he is truly depressed, nobody wants to live with that. If thats a problem then see a doctor, get meds and a support group millions of other people have the same thing and dont make the money he does. They take there meds go to work and face the day. Dont want to hear the excuses. He needs to take care of his personal life so he can give a maximum effort to play baseball for the freakin team that pays him 17 million dollars a year! This is only my opinion but thats how i see it
Matheny never should have been hired. There were much more qualified candidates in the high school ranks they could have hired. Problem was, none of those candidates wrote a goofy, self serving “manifesto” to get them that 2nd interview.
“to just put out 1/2 of an effort”
Did you assume his effort level?
$16.5M a year
What I saw from Fowler last year was enough to get him off this roster. Matheny wasn’t a good strategist but for Fowler to imply it was partly or entirely Mike’s fault is stupid. Own your body language Dexter.
He didnt imply it. He said he lost confidence in his manager. Half the team said the same thing.
He’s using it as an excuse for HIS performance. The issue is HIM not Mike. He played horrible and wasn’t trying.
Oh he was trying. And no he is not using it as an excuse. He did an interview just a few days ago that said he just couldn’t get things together. He also said it was no ones fault but himself. I though will blame MM for a lot of things. Any other manager at the helm and the Cardinals would have at least made the playoffs the last 3 years.
This is about Fowler, not Matheny. Any other GM and we don’t have Matheny for the last 7 years. The GM/owner are the problems.
“This is about Fowler” Instantly blames Mo.
Wow says the troll who has no first hand experience of how the team was being managed and dexters effort. I wonder if you are a bigot. I also know you must be a total piece of garbage if you are even backing up MM on his managing of players. Especially when HE failed just like your epic failed post. You moron next time read some facts before you look like a real piece of crap.
It was reported by others in the clubhouse that Matheny would not talk to players that were struggling for long stretches, Fowler without a doubt had a rough year, but Matheny was a terrible manager who needs some sensitivity training.
“you look like a real piece of crap”
Are you assuming his looks?
Sorry gang… Sorry for all the “assuming ” posts… I had diversity training all week. It was tough.
No, it’s called feeling shame for being a drain on society and it’s progress. Trust me I grew up in the Lou and can deal with people who say they are good people but their actions showcase they are hypocrites. Daved who’s your team you root for?
I root for Team Trump
Yes, I’m a bigot. Thanks for noticing.
And here is a flag for inappropriate use of the race card.
No he didn’t. He said, “he lost the belief of former manager Mike Matheny.” Losing the faith OF your manager is completely different than losing faith IN your manager.
Deflection technique
Maybe in that particular take. But there have been numerous times where he and others have said so. Molina even put it on his Instagram account.
Ah. He enlisted the help of a cheater. Hopefully they test him weekly.
Fowler has trained with Bonds in the past, so have many others.
I have no problem whatsoever with Bonds sharing his knowledge, he should and future generations of ballplayers will be better off having learned what he knows. As a Pirates fan though I’d much rather have known that Josh Bell was doing so instead of Dexter Fowler.
Does listening to everything he tells you to do include needles and cream? Best ever…at cheating! Dexter was a bad signing to begin with.
It’s also an indication of Fowler’s lack of character that he’d even consider Bonds as someone to look up to.
You guys are trolls.
You think LaRussa is a role model? Lol
You hearing voices?Who mentioned LaRussa?
Not much gets by this guy
Larussa is a dbag who embarrassed himself on national TV the other day with Mad Dog Russo.
Again, why the LaRussa comments? I sense much triggering here.
As arrogant and egotistical as Bonds was/is there is no doubt he was one of the best all time before the steroid questions. The guy could do everything. There are probably lots of ex-players who were on roids who train current players, but they didn’t have the career Bonds did. Hopefully Fowler can separate the good advice from the bad.
He could do everything, except throw and hit for average.
He was really good but he could NOT do everything. Just sayin.
Yeah just a career .298 hitter and 81st on all time list of outfield assists. You don’t have to have a cannon to be a 5 tool player. I can’t stand Bonds, but I can’t deny his talent.
That’s my point.
When a person says a player “can do everything” the implication to me is that there is no category in which there are scores and scores of others who did it better/more often.
Obviously a prodigious power bat.
He couldn’t hit for average. Whaaaaaat? .298 career batting average? Two batting titles? Seasons where he hit .370, .362, .341, and .336? LOL.
You said it yourself, .298 career BA. Very nice but nowhere near an all-time high in that category. Nowhere near. Also.241,
.261 & .262. As I said earlier, he was really good but let’s not give unwarranted credit.
Drug assisted talent.
Yeah I agree Bonds is a cheater and should never sniff Cooperstown. But he still has skills. In Pittsburgh, before the steroids, he was a star.
Just like your PO does to you? Sorry Fowler has been drug free you should lay off the drugs.
You seem really angry. Go be a SJW somewhere else.
Bonds doesn’t belong in the HOF and the man paid the price by probably ruining his chances of making HOF. Time to move on.
Totally agree. No PEDs user should ever get into the HOF. BB is a game of stats more than any other pro sport and these PEDs users made 150 years worth of stats mean nothing. I think not allowing them into the HOF is the weakest penalty MLB writers could impose on them. They should get a warning from the commissioner and a full year ban the first time and a ban for life the second.
How do you get drafted in June and already fail 2 drug tests?…it’s December
There’s lots of new stwroids out there to try.
Drug of abuse = MJ. If it was performance enhancing he would have gotten a longer suspension and they would’ve said it was a PED not a drug of abuse.
Its weed. I’m sure there are many people that would fail two tests in that time.
They should stop doing weed for test. It is legal in some of the states now, and more states just passed it last month.
That’s true but even in those states that it’s legal you cant use it at every place of employment.
Who says Roberts used at his place of employment?
Lmao. If he was tested and it was still in his system, which it was, then that counts. Any other lame observations?
Weed is banned in MiLB but not in MLB, which is such an unbelievably stupid double standard. It’s medicine and is definitely not enhancing performance.
The argument needs to be taken to Congress not MLB or MiLB.
If our laws didn’t criminalize it neither would baseball.
Not necessarily. There are many performance enhancing drugs that are perfectly legal yet banned in baseball.
Yes but MJ isn’t one of those performance enhancing drugs. MLB classifies it as a drug of abuse.
MiLB has it classified as a drug of abuse because the US Govt says it’s as addictive as heroin and cocaine.
Your right though MLB can ban substances they don’t like. If players want to play in their league and get paid millions they’re gonna have to play by the rules MLB sets.
That’s true. I don’t think marijuana should be illegal. This coming from someone who thinks any form of smoking is vile and disgusting. But just because I dont like it doesnt mean it should be illegal. I do however think even when it becomes legal nation wide it will be awhile before it’s legal in sports.
Weed.. he gets 50 games for weed, whilst a major league guy gets 40 for abusing a woman. The double standards between mlb and milb need to change.
It’s not a double standard. They are two separate entities. Its ridiculous that Russell got only 40 games but it truly isnt a double standard.
Not sure it’ll make a difference to you but looks to be 2nd offense for the weed. Maybe he didn’t get a suspension the first time, maybe he was given a chance to clean himself up.
100th or 2nd domestic violence should not be less than weed.
You don’t need to “clean yourself up” after smoking weed, the faster people realize that it’s almost impossible to abuse weed, the faster MILB removes it from its banned substances list.
MLB players are smoking it nonstop. I can even name names but it doesn’t matter because its not illegal and never should have been.
I can guarantee you that is exactly what Roberts was told to do after the first time he failed a drug test. “Clean yourself up son and everything will be just fine.” Believe me I’ve lived, I know. I’m sure they laid out the consequences for not cleaning up. And yes you need to “clean” your system of the THC which accumulates in the body.
I’m not judging anyone or debating the right or wrong either. Only trying to state the facts of the matter.
Don’t you remember what Sublime sang about?
They have stricter testing in MILB even pot can get you suspended where in MLB it wouldn’t.
Pretty easy, he apparently has a drug problem..
He smoked weed legal in most states and got a 50 game suspension while the cub beat his wife and got a 40 game suspension. Something just doesn’t seem appropriate here!
Fairer > Fowler
fowler=fowluper
Harper and Machado are going to the Yankees. 5/110 each. They owe them that discount. Then they are going to trade McKinney to the Indians for Cluber straight up, the Indians owe the Yankees that much. Then they are going to sign Dallas to a 3/45 deal. He owes them too. Yankees go.
For crying out loud, you guys are ruining this site.
If youre on this site and want to make post, fist ask yourself “Am I a Yankees fan?” If the answer is “yes” then you really need to never ever post here.
You have 1 ring in 18 years, that’s nothing special, your team isn’t special anymore you don’t win titles from buying FAs, you win with a core 4, which you refuse to let happen anymore because it means tanking for a couple years and you’d rather fake it to get to the playoffs then get bounced from them, every year its the same old story.
The Yankees need to rebuild more than anyone. They’re toast.
yet, they’ve made the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. What have the Cardinals done in the last 4 years? And I’m not even a NYY fan, but I severely can’t stand arrogant, STL sheeple fans.
And here is the second place winner.
I love people on here who think they are the comment judges.
Glad you approve because yours are consistently the worst. But then again I think you purposefully troll. No way someone could legitimately make such comments and think they add substance.
Daved, you are ASSuming he is a Cardinals fan. Name like Justin Turner would lead me to believe otherwise, but then again I don’t stalk users, so who knows?
Claims he’s not troll then admits he’s troll.
Please show me where I wrote. “I am a troll.” Can you do that for me please?
“Troll”One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.
daved “but I severely can’t stand arrogant, STL sheeple fans”.
Maybe true but completely provocative.
so what you’re saying is twofold. 1) You can’t find what I asked,. 2) You are weak and insecure. Truth hurts. No trolling. Just stating my opinion that continues to get under the wool of the sheeple in STL fan circles.
You’re a genius and I submit to your genius. I’m weak, you’re strong. I’m insecure, you’re wonderful. But you’re still trolling.
I think you have the impression this site is filled with Cardinal fans. Have of those replying in here aren’t. So your wisdom is not truth, or accurate -therefore trolling.
Or hypocrisy- “No trolling. Just stating my opinion that continues to get under the wool of the sheeple in STL fan circles.”
Another definition for you: Trolling – (verb), as it relates to internet, is the deliberate act, (by a Troll – noun or adjective), of making random unsolicited and/or controversial comments on various internet forums with the intent to provoke an emotional knee jerk reaction from unsuspecting readers to engage in a fight or argument.
When you lose at trolling, you revert to calling someone insecure and weak. Nice.
Thank you Lucy Van Pelt for that $.05 analysis
That is the dumbest comment on here and that says a lot.
Posts like this are why weed should be illegal.
vote bonds in!
These boards are so full of hate now. It really did use to be a place where people discussed baseball. Now it’s just mean spirited comments and attacks.
in what way? I don’t see that at all. I see the random comment that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the biggest problem people have on here is accepting fact and truth about their team, then their only comeback is to call someone a troll. That is the biggest issue on here. If you want pollyanna, rainbows and candy canes, go visit the “stltoday.com” forum pages and enjoy all the pleasures of the local sheeple.
Have you not seen these comments the last 4 months? It’s always “X leave troll.” “Oh look, X you’re a douchebag.” “X is first, wow, no life!” And then comes a swarm of replies and all that. Then JTO always talks about how we should not talk baseball ever because he knows more baseball in his pinky nail than we do in our entire body.
I have thick skin, so what others type on here isn’t all that important to me. When I see something worth responding to, then I respond. If I see something not worth my time, I gloss over it and move on. It doesn’t hurt my feelings, and I don’t feel the need to call someone a troll because of it.
Wow you just proved his point. Must be a Cubs fan.
If you say so.
I do, so glad you agree.
Quit your whining.
That’s why weed should be mandatory for posting on these discussion boards.
Dexter Fowler’s contract looks pretty bad now. I think they need to keep Jose Martinez in the likelyhood that Paul Goldschmidt becomes a FA. Perhaps STL can trade Fowler in a package to TOR for Russell Martin to lead while Yadier Molina is mending.
There is no need to keep a 30 year old Martinez any longer than TODAY. He’s a horrible defender no matter where you put him, and the longer they hang on to him, the harder it will be to trade him.
Fowler’s contract was bad the day it was signed. He came off a great year in Chicago, on a great team, playing in a small park. I knew there was no way he would play good defense in STL in a bigger stadium. He was an absolute horrible defender in Colorado and Houston, and how the front office thought this would pan out to a positive outcome is beyond me? Up the middle defense is so important. Your CF simply can’t be a negative defender. They finally clued in and dumped Willie jay because of his inept defense, rag arm and molasses speed, so why pay another guy like him $82.5M. DUMB!
I completely agree with the essence of what you say. It’s the way you say it that wrankles people. If you dont want people to take you seriously then continue, but if you want a real conversation you may want to include some tact. Just a suggestion because we both know my statement is meaningless unless if you are purposely trolling.
What wrankles is me the constant use of the word “troll” when you or anyone else who uses it disagrees with my point or any point that counters yours. If you want me to take you serious, come up with counter points and omit the word “troll” from your vocabulary on here. It’s that simple. My comments almost always have facts or stats to back up what i say, and then I will throw in my opinion as well;. It’s what a forum. If I wanted to just read 100 comments where everyone agrees with everyone, I’ll just read the comments on Derrick Goold column on the stltoday.com website.
I made a reply that didnt show *sigh*. I wouldn’t want a kumbaya message board. People call you a troll not for presenting facts or having a different opinion. They do it because you call people names and you dont actually have conversations, you tend to demand you’re right and call others names if they disagree.
So let me understand this. People can call me a troll all day long, and the minute I respond with calling them a name, I’m the bad guy? Got it. Thanks for clarifying the hypocrisy and double standard on this site.
Lol. You know what I’m saying and are being purposefully argumentative. You know what I mean. If you dont want to hear it that’s ok. These boards are much better when people have civil disagreements. Not ones like “I’m right you’re wrong, sheeple.”
My instincts tell me daved is a fan of some team in the NL Central other than the Cards.
Yeah I have that same instinct. But that doesnt mean we cant have civil conversations.
No, I really don’t know what you mean. You and others think it’s ok to call people trolls, yet you don’t want to be called out in response. I get it. It’s a double standard. Just as long as we’re clear on that, it won’t be a problem. Stop using troll and I’ll stop calling you and those that use it a moron or idiot. It’s not hard to understand.. You’re like the school bully who likes to dish it out but runs and hides when someone punches you back with your own medicine.
Your instincts need an overhaul.
No I dont call people trolls first. You’re actually twisting the facts now. Call someone a name THEN I will call you a troll.
Knowing what we know about Bonds and his past, I find it amusing that any player would make the comment “I am going to do anything he tells me to do.” When referring to Bonds.
Matheny was a curse for sure. Hopefully Flower rebounds. Working with Bonds helped Ozuna a couple years ago, maybe it will help Dex. I know Ozuna was injured last year but I really think he missed hitting in a line up with Stanton in it. Maybe Goldschmidt will help with that. Can spring training start already!
The FO milked the fans for years, and come 2016, reality began to hit us. We didn’t have the talent to compete in the division and with a rather bleak collection of bats on the farm, they did the only thing they could do to protect themselves. After the cow went dry in 2018, they fired the manager and promoted the top pitchers to replace the garbage in the bullpen.
The managerial change in 2018 did not represent a new direction. It was 100% a PR move to make the FO look competent after they spent the last 2 1/2 seasons dragging their feet.
Saying a guy is a curse when he led a constantly restructuring team to four postseasons and a World Series in his first four seasons as manager, and then two more winning seasons afterwards is laughable. Give him a golden egg like Maddon, Cora, or Hinch were handed and I’m sure he wouldn’t be cursed.
The FO stepping up for Matheny involved them trading a team-controlled pitcher for one year of gold glove right field, then failing to sign every star player they have gone after except Fowler and Leake… who were average players signed to star salaries.
There is definitely a curse in the organization. But it does not have slicked back hair. It wears glasses and a bowtie.
Unfortunately, the coupon he used on Mikolas may have earned him a 10-year extension.
Lol you’re funny. Got any more jokes?
Great rebuttal.
Leake did quite well for Seattle with some defense behind him which he didn’t have here except for Wong. Folks forget Leake was never a power pitcher. He was an innings eater who got opponents to hit a lot of ground balls. We didn’t have a defense to support that kind of pitcher. We are better now but still not much stronger than average on defense. With Carp at 3B perhaps a bit below average. Plugging up the holes in our defense is still a critical fix the team seems to be happy to ignore.
Mikey was a weak manager. He’s a very fine moral and religious guy with lots of BB smarts but he let the players get away with sloppier play every year. When under LaRussa did you ever see the team leading BB or the NL in errors?
The team got weaker on defense every year under him. He inherited a strong team which is why he did well. I don’t see any team jumping up to hire him as their field manager. KC has made him an offer but not as manager.
1 Aledmys Diaz (possibly the worst defensive SS in baseball)
2 Jose Martinez (physically limited from height and injuries)
3 Jhonny Peralta (couldn’t move or throw)
4 Yairo Munoz (our super utility player that stinks at every position he plays)
5 Matt Holliday to name a few more (strong arm and poor mobility)
6 Jedd Gyorko (Only decent at 3B)
7 Dexter Fowler (no hustle)
8 Matt Carpenter (dead arm)
9 Jon Jay (dead arm and limited range)
10 Stephen Piscotty (low IQ OF)
11 Allen Craig (limited mobility)
12 David Freese (so-so defender)
13 Matt Adams (decent 1B defense but unreliable and often injured)
14 Kolten Wong (so-so defender and a headcase until 2018.. everyone knew he was physically capable, just not mentally)
15 Marcell Ozuna (dead arm)
Tell me how the FO provided Mike with the option of defensive stability?
Wahhhhhhhhh, I’m depressed that I got $100 dollars and don’t even have to play every day …. wahhhhhhhhhhh
Just because you have money doesn’t mean you don’t have any problems what so ever to worry about ever for the rest of your life.
Yes your right – but for that kind of money I think I would get over the fact that I sucked and ran out of people to blame for it happening .
Big baby
Who’s to say there wasn’t anything happening in his personal life? If there was, then I’m sure it affected his performance, and the negative performance probably didn’t help. Plus, he wasn’t “blaming” anybody for bad performance.
lol whatever – he sucked . He’s getting paid 18.5 million dollars a year to produce – he didn’t have anything in his personal life to counter his production .
Just like any other job, he had a job to do. And he couldn’t do it . Most people get fired for that
Maybe he kept something behind closed doors for a reason. You never know.
He sucked – 18.5 million, no excuses . If it was that bad of a problem then it would have been known about . Death in the family, (fanacial problems (LOL), but if he was upset because his dog died or someone peed in his Cheerios, he can get over it for 18.5 million
In all fairness to Fowler – I probably shouldn’t be so hard on him . This is all pretty Much MO’s fault for an awful contract on an average at best player .
Now MO, instead of admitting to his mistake, will continue to defend Fowler – will give him every chance possible to play and will defend him in a social level … all instead of saying that he screwed up ♂️
Just ask Jay Z…Mo money, mo problems
Actually Biggie…my bad
Yeah if that’s how you think, you should be depressed.
Did anyone read the Barry Bonds is helping him with workouts sentence and think well he’s getting tested first week of spring training?
so what you’re saying is twofold. 1) You can’t find what I asked,. 2) You are weak and insecure. Truth hurts. No trolling. Just stating my opinion that continues to get under the wool of the sheeple in STL fan circles.
Sweet. Fowler should do well now. He’ll be “creaming” the ball!!!
Living in St. Louis would make anyone depressed. It’s a sh !thole.
With 11 championships.
All of you on here arguing and bringing politics in to these discussions make me want to never read another comment. Please stick to baseball and stop ruining this site.
I’m sure happy we picked up Goldy. It’s great to have a solid glove playing first. He can also hit well no matter where he’s placed in the order.
We still need to find a place to play Carp where his defense doesn’t allow as many runs as his bat produces. I like his grit and willingness to play when he’s hurt but the tough reality is he would be better match on an AL team where he could be a DH. If he were to stay healthy he could be like a JD Martinez for a team like Tampa Bay.
We need a good two way player on 3B like Moose.who is also a good LH bat which we need. 2 problems solved with him. We need a solid LH reliever like Miller or Britton to pick up our BP. Without these changes we may make the post season but we won’t go far. If management really wants to make the team a good post season threat they should go all out to snag Arenado if the ROX are really willing to let him go this year and get something for him rather than losing him next year and getting nothing. He could be a franchise player and show our own soon to be free agents that this is a team with lots of real winning potential. A place they would want to stay and pick up some post season winnings.
Then we face the prospect of losing our best players at seasons end. We have a challenge in front of USPS re-signing them all.. I hope Girsch and Moz can pull it off.
Mike Moustakas – ..962 Fielding %, -4 Defensive Runs Saved, .251 Avg, .307 OBP, .431 SLG
Matt Carpenter – .955 Fielding %, -1 Defensive Runs Saved, .274 Avg, .377 OBP, .470 SLG,
Do we want to trade Marp’s offensive stats for .007 fielding % points?