Here’s the latest from the National League Central:
- Pirates manager Derek Shelton expects recently signed right-hander Trevor Cahill to break camp with the team, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic relays. “I don’t plan on him staying behind in Florida,” Shelton said of Cahill, whom the Pirates inked to a one-year, $1.5MM guarantee earlier this month. The Pirates aren’t yet sure which role Cahill will fill when the season starts, though. The well-traveled 33-year-old has amassed 225 starts in 352 appearances, and he’s coming off a season divided between starting and relieving with the Giants. Cahill wound up with 26 innings of 3.24 ERA ball and posted an excellent 29.2 percent strikeout rate, but he also walked 13.2 percent of the batters he faced, recorded a 4.38 SIERA and logged a personal-worst 33.3 percent groundball rate.
- John Nogowski has made himself a surprising candidate for a roster spot in Jupiter with the Cardinals, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 28-year-old first baseman has an uphill climb ahead of him even after hitting .391/.533/.522 in 30 plate appearances this spring. Thanks to his limited defensive utility, however, there may not be an avenue for the Florida native to make the roster. The Cardinals would basically have to resolve themselves to keeping a roster spot solely for pinch-hitting duties. With Paul Goldschmidt set at first and Matt Carpenter also on the roster, Nogowski wouldn’t even necessarily be the first left-handed bat off the bench. Because of the injuries in the rotation, the Cardinals could choose to go with a four-man bench to help fill the innings, deepening the need for versatility from their bench bats. Also working against Nogowski is that he has two option years remaining, whereas Justin Williams, another left-handed bat, has none. If Carpenter, Williams, and backup catcher Andrew Knizner all make the roster, the Cardinals will still need someone capable of backing up Paul DeJong at shortstop. Tommy Edman would be the backup shortstop if another infielder is not added to the Opening Day roster.
- The Reds are considering using Tejay Antone as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen, writes C.Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Whenever he pitches, the Reds are going to lean on Antone. They don’t expect to get as much length out of their starters as they had in 2020, feeding the thinking that Antone might be most impactful as an innings eater out of the bullpen. Pitching coach Derek Johnson stressed the importance of the bullpen, saying:“I don’t look for our starters to necessarily go out and give us six or seven every time. I think it’d great when and if they do, and that’ll be a bonus, but I do think our games — like they have in the last couple of years — they have been won or lost, a lot of times, in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth inning. Our bullpen has to be solid if we’re going to have a chance.” Amir Garrett and Lucas Sims, two of their prime bullpen arms, have been slow in making their spring debuts, which could also play a part in the Reds’ using Antone in relief.
- As long as he’s healthy, Daniel Robertson appears to be a sure bet to earn a roster spot with the Brewers as a utility player, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Robertson, who doesn’t have any minor league options remaining and was out the past couple of days because of a knee issue, returned to Milwaukee’s lineup Monday. The ex-Ray and Giant signed a one-year, $900K deal with the Brewers in free agency.
Nogowski is right handed not left handed
The odd left-hand throwing, right-handing player.
Four4fore – Rickey Henderson approves!
And no one is really sure if Justin Williams had another option or not.
Hits right throws left
Porsche
There is no substitute
Only for those unfamiliar with Cafe Racers.
I would release Carpenter and his .034 batting average and give the roster spot to Nogowski with no remorse whatsoever.
.034 batting average? Lol wut?
Well after today’s 0 fer4 day, that is Carpenter’s batting average. The immortal words of Harry Doyle describes Matt’s spring:
“One hit,that’s all (he) got, one go**amn hit?”
I think letting him go is the only way Shildt doesn’t play him every day over someone who is better hitter. He had a great career, but you gotta be able to hit to win and he can’t do that anymore I hope I’m wrong thought and that he finishes his career on a better note because he was such a good cardinal.
Yes, he’s no longer even serviceable.
Shildt wont play him over a deserving player. They do not want Carps option to vest. He will not see nearly enough ABs.
Glad to see everyone chiming in. It’s sad but Carp’s career is over. We couldn’t find a spot for Luke Voit either and kept Carp. Time to cut him loose.
And the idea of playing Edman in the outfield to let Carp play 2B is even more ridiculous.
I hope they don’t cut him. He’s a guy who deserved to play his entire career wearing a Cardinals uniform. One of the best clutch hitters of this generation, Ill never forget him coming up clutch against Kershaw in the playoffs. He also has a career batting average of over .470 with the bases loaded. Matt Carpenter was a highly underrated impact player.
He “was” an under rated player. Now he is horrible. Come on man, look at his last SEVEN HUNDRED at bats. They are terrible.
So, @Hippyripper, are you good with a guy costing your favorite team some wins because his hitting ability has fallen off dramatically in recent seasons.? Years ago, teams could keep guys hanging on because they could control the contracts of the guys who they could replace players like Carpenter if need be during the season. Rules have changed. Teams that keep players like Carpenter because of the past lose out on players with the ability to replace them because the players have the ability to move on from being trapped in the minors.
Hippyripper – you say Carpenter deserves to play his entire career in a Cardinals uniform like you believe if they waive or DFA him, another team will pick him up & thus he wears another uniform. I highly doubt anyone would, he has that fork in his back.
Also, why can’t he just save the angst of the ball club & retire; he has to know he’s done; if he’s not willing to retire, maybe he isn’t such a great team guy after all.
I’ve never liked the take that “he should just retire.” He and the team agreed to a contract, and he’s trying his best to fulfill it. He has one chance to be a baseball player, and I can’t blame a guy for hanging onto that chance for as long as possible.
Carp was a beast in the second half of 2018, which was a while ago but also not all that long ago. I’m sure he thinks he still has that ability in him, and whether it’s true or not, I can understand him wanting to continue to search for it.
Any “he owes it to the team/fans” stuff is ridiculous. He was greatly underpaid during his first three seasons, still underpaid during arbitration, and now he’s earning the big bucks to somewhat make up for that. I know he’s earned nearly $70M in his career, but walking away from another $20M would not be easy.
He won’t be playing much in any big league uni if STL cuts him. Minor league deal maybe, would take several injuries or a complete reversal in m Carps part for him to get more than a handful AB’s on any big league roster
Matt Carpenter is just useless. The love affair the organization has with him is ridiculous. Sorry ladies, but even with a beard, he is still $^#&*^ useless. Release him ASAP!
with another 0-4, carpenter will be batting his uniform number. .013
I agree cut Carpenter and have the bench be the following: John Nogowski, Lane Thomas, Andrew Knitzer and Jose Rendon!!
I can agree with that
I’d also like to see a line up like
1 Edman
2 Carlson
3 Goldschimdt
4 Arenado
5 O’Neil
6 Molina
7 Dejong
8 Bader/Thomas
9 Pitcher
I see that line up driving in runs
I dont want to see Carpenter cut though
You are crazy. His last 700 at bats have been horrible. He is done.
Carpenter is useless. How has hasn’t been cut yet is beyond me.
$18.5 million reasons
I would love to see Carlson hit #2. That would be better then #5 or #7(God forbid) like everyone has him slotted.
Adam Frazier hitting very well for bucs ! Going to go soon . Value is up now.
Thought it was a given Cahill will slot somewhere in the middle of the Pirates rotation.
Don’t think he will start there but once he gets a few games in as long relief situations and some piggy back starts to begin the season to build up his arm, that is where he will settle in.
yeah, dont think he’s ready to jump in off the bat.
I can’t believe Carp is going to make the opening day roster. Just cut him already. Anyone could see that he is done.
carpenter will come up with a imaginary injury and go one the disabled list.
if you label knizner a backup catcher, why not label williams a backup outfielder?
if you label knizner a backup catcher, why not label williams a backup outfielder? or carpenter a backup utility player? get my point?