That’s a long way to get to my answer. In my mind, Adams, Kelly, Lynn and Siegrist are all in a group that says “you can have any combination of these guys for your awesome shortstop”. Carlos Martinez, Shelby Miller, Trevor Rosenthal, Oscar Taveras and Michael Wacha are in a category of “I realize it is probably going to take one of these guys, but you cannot have multiples from this group”. In addition, that group may warrant an additional, mid to low level prospect coming back to the Cards.
So, if it takes Matt Adams, Lance Lynn, and Shelby Miller to get a quality shortstop, I’m okay with that. I would hate to lose any of that group, but if it makes the overall team better, go for it. I have to admit, I admire the Royals for having the guts to trade
Wil Myers (and others) for
James Shields. They needed the pitching and were willing to part with a sure-fire prospect to get it.
On the second question, I have to agree with Mark a bit. One of the things I love about St. Louis is the amount of activity I can do without having to pay for it. The zoo, the brewery, the science center, Grant’s Farm, and many of the museums are completely free to visit. I would like to see a company move into BPV that continues that tradition and gives fans a place to visit that is not a huge revenue stream. Maybe an interactive “Kid’s Zone” that allows kids to learn more about the game.
Dan (Dose of Buffa): Here is my list. For better or worse my preferred order of young gun dispatching.
Lance Lynn-Very Expendable because we know what he can do and what he can’t. Lots of wins but little between the ears and a tendency to crumble in a big moment.
Kevin Siegrist-Sure he was lights out this past season until October, but we have a guy named
Jason Motte returning and
Sam Freeman ready to get more innings.
Matt Adams-Sure, he was very impressive for a stretch but was solved once a book came out on him. Will he adjust? No idea. It is enough to make him expendable.
Joe Kelly-Why did he beat the previous two? Kelly is ridiculously versatile and can pitch great at any moment in a game and after not being used for 3 months. Valuable asset.
Carlos Martinez-He may be the Next Pedro but there is no telling when that transformation will be complete. Electric but erratic, Carlos isn’t untouchable.
Shelby Miller-Yes he is an ace of the future and was a solid Rookie of The Year Candidate, but the Cards are grooming these guys like loaves of bread in Italy these days.
Trevor Rosenthal-Closer and Setup beast. Potential starter. The only pitcher to truly befuddle the Red Sox in the World Series. This guy is so good he makes hitters talk to themselves.
Michael Wacha-We saw what he could do with a little summer tutelage and experience and he showed in September and October that he isn’t just a starter of the future but an ACE of the future. He may get hit around more in 2014 but that doesn’t stop this Wacha train was becoming an elite pitcher in the next few years. Killer arm and mindset.
Oscar Taveras-No way do teams get this guy! Keep your shortstops and your plane tickets. Oscar is a guy who can take over a game ala
Yasiel Puig and have the better more respectable mindset not to show up the other team when it happens. His ankle is healed and his bat will soon be unleashed. For all the rookie exposure in 2013, we didn’t get our taste of Mr. Taveras. That will happen. He is untouchable.
If I had to pick one thing to be in Ballpark Village, I will stick with something I have said since the beginning. A movie theater. Since MX Movies on the north side isn’t blowing people’s minds the way it should, give me one right in the heartland of St. Louis city. There’s nothing better after the hysteria of a baseball game than a great movie theater experience. And while it may not be cheap, neither is spending 9 dollars on a beer at a game. If it’s great and provides an experience, I will pay for it. Hit the game and then take the family to a movie. Call me a self prescribed film-addict but I ask for a classy good looking movie theater in BP. Downtown needs to be a hot spot again and a movie theater is a step in the right direction.
John (CardinalsFarm): To keep a long story short, here is how I would rate them from See ya to No way
Kevin Siegrist
Lance Lynn
Matt Adams
Joe Kelly
Trevor Rosenthal
Shelby Miller
Michael Wacha
Carlos Martinez
Oscar Taveras
A couple of points: The first four were easy for me, the last middle two were the hardest, and the last three were the easiest. I hate having Rosenthal so high on the list but there is no one else I would put there.
Taveras is the last to go on my list, and should be the last on yours too. I don’t think many Cards fans realize his potential. Taveras also take the top spot because he is a position player.
As far as part two, like Ben said, I am at a disadvantage because I have not lived in St. Louis since I left for college in 2002. I am hoping the Atlanta Braves, my local team, learns from the BPV when they design the area around the new stadium. There are some good things to learn and some not so good things.
Mark (Cardinals Fan In Cubs Land): Here is how I would rank them from “hurts, but OK” to “not over my dead body”.
Lance Lynn – too inconsistent for my taste
Joe Kelly – good, but not great
Matt Adams – only as part of a deal for a shortstop
Kevin Siegrist – this would hurt a lot, but if it got us something real good in return, then maybe
Shelby Miller – again, would have to get a lot in return
Trevor Rosenthal – only if/when Motte is healthy and then for a king’s ransom
Oscar Taveras – if it came down to him or Adams, I would keep him
Carlos Martinez – Not gonna happen
Michael Wacha – Not gonna happen
For question 2, I would like to see the Old Spaghetti Factory as part of the BPV. I remember going there a lot after Cardinals games when I was younger, but would like it to be closer to the stadium.
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My thanks and appreciation to all that took the time to answer the question. There’s no doubt that it would depend on return, but I think my personal ranking, as in it would cause the most pain to see them go, no matter what the return, would be Lynn, Kelly, Siegrist, Adams (though this is where it really starts to hurt), Rosenthal, Miller, Martinez, Taveras, Wacha. Not scientific, but just more of a gut reaction.
Secondly, as noted above not being a guy that spends time in St. Louis a lot, it’s tough to say what local landmarks should put a new branch in Ballpark Village. Having Ted Drewes over there seemed to be a no-brainer and of course you’ve already got the Hall of Fame scheduled. I’d like to see just some sort of baseball shop that had books, memorabilia, anything baseball related. Would seem to be a good way to kill some time before the game, looking through those shelves and seeing what was in stock.
The Cardinal Blogger Awards come out later this week, so you aren’t done with the UCB yet!
