To any Cardinals Fans

[Porklet]

I do not get to see the Cardinals very often, and I had a few questions regarding current players that simply can't be answered thru articles and highlights:

1. What type of player is Schumaker, and how feasible is it that he can make the switch to second base?

2. How good of a hitter is Ryan Ludwick?

3. Is there any truth to the rumors that Carpenter will be switched to the Closer role? If so, what will that do to out Starting Rotation?

4. Is Ryan going to be our starting SS, and what are his capabilities? The few games that I saw Ryan was playing in left.

5. How good is Colby Rasmus, and why do some people refer to him as a hillbilly or rube?

Thanks for any feedback. I feel fairly certain you won't mind talking about our beloved Cardinals.

[ragecage]

Jeffy help the kid out

[etothep]

5. How good is Colby Rasmus, and why do some people refer to him as a hillbilly or rube?

If he has a thick southern accent (and since he's from Ga, it's a decent chance he does), then that could be the main reason why. As soon as I read this question, I assumed he was born here in the southeast & sure enough he was.

Since I was born & raised in NC, I assume I can get away with saying this without ruffling any feathers

[Porklet]

If he has a thick southern accent (and since he's from Ga, it's a decent chance he does), then that could be the main reason why. As soon as I read this question, I assumed he was born here in the southeast & sure enough he was.

Since I was born & raised in NC, I assume I can get away with saying this without ruffling any feathers

Me too, I was born and raised in Columbia, SC. I had read a post on this forum where the poster used hillbilly derogatorily (if that's a word) in regards to Rasmus. He said it in such a way that I thought perhaps he (Rasmus) had misbehaved somehow or said something untoward. I was just curious.

[BINGLEBOP]

Jeffy is Myspace pals with Colby, so he'll fill you in shortly.

[RedsoxRockies]

Some of these could be answered merely by looking at statistics...

[Porklet]

Some of these could be answered merely by looking at statistics...

Not really, my goal is to learn more about the players themselves. This information is certainly not limited to statistics. In fact, statistics would be a small portion of the knowledge I seek.

[200tang]

1. What type of player is Schumaker, and how feasible is it that he can make the switch to second base?

2. How good of a hitter is Ryan Ludwick?

3. Is there any truth to the rumors that Carpenter will be switched to the Closer role? If so, what will that do to out Starting Rotation?

4. Is Ryan going to be our starting SS, and what are his capabilities? The few games that I saw Ryan was playing in left.

5. How good is Colby Rasmus, and why do some people refer to him as a hillbilly or rube?

Thanks for any feedback. I feel fairly certain you won't mind talking about our beloved Cardinals.

I'm by no means a Cardinals fan, but from reading and looking at stats I'll try my best and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong Jeffy.

1 - I don't know about his second base defense, but he's a very good hitter against righties.

2 - Ludwick is a very solid hitter, THT Season preview has him pegged around .280 / .340 / .500 ; solid above average. Defensively he's average.

3 - no clue

4 - I don't know if he'll be your starter; he's above average defensively, but has yet to show he can hit that well.

5 - I don't know why he's referred to as a hillbilly, but Rasmus struggled last year in Triple-A and suffered a knee injury. He still expects to be a very good hitter in his career; whether he sees immediate success is another story but I assume he should see lots of time in the majors unless he struggles.

[200tang]

Well I just finished my post for my dynasty so I decided to go a 'little' more in depth.

Here's on Schumaker converting to second

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...ip-to-the-schu
http://www.tangotiger.net/scouting/sim2008_7567.html

According to the scouting report he has a great first step and good speed and his 2 closest fielders are Howie Kendrick and Robert Andino who are both decent enough 2B. Whether or not that will translate in to him having a good season at 2B though is anybody's guess.

And as for Chris Carpenter

http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/ind...with-carpenter
http://www.rotoauthority.com/2009/02/closer-report.html

Looks to me like Carpenter's role is undecided and will likely be decided during spring training. Until then it looks like Chris Perez is the front runner though.

[Jeffy25]

I do not get to see the Cardinals very often, and I had a few questions regarding current players that simply can't be answered thru articles and highlights:

1. What type of player is Schumaker, and how feasible is it that he can make the switch to second base?

2. How good of a hitter is Ryan Ludwick?

3. Is there any truth to the rumors that Carpenter will be switched to the Closer role? If so, what will that do to out Starting Rotation?

4. Is Ryan going to be our starting SS, and what are his capabilities? The few games that I saw Ryan was playing in left.

5. How good is Colby Rasmus, and why do some people refer to him as a hillbilly or rube?

Thanks for any feedback. I feel fairly certain you won't mind talking about our beloved Cardinals.

1. Shumaker will be our starting second basemen opening day unless there is some sort of breakdown. He is a very talented infielder, and was so in high school and college. According to everything I have heard from friends that are down there, to reports are that he looks like a pro already at second and that he will handle it just as well as he played the outfield last year, but of course there is a learning curve, so we may need to be patient. But there is a lot riding on this transition working, which it sounds like it will.

2. Ludwick has a lot of upside. We knew he could hit before we got him, it was a matter of staying healthy and getting enough at bats to adjust to the level. Remember, this was a second round draft pick. He has shown he deserves to play, I don't think last year was a fluke, however, many others do. I personally, would not be surprised if he put up similar numbers to last year. I think a .280 average with 25 homers is a reasonable expectation for him. Just can he stay healthy and bat near Albert enough.

3. Carpenter will only be a closer if he can not be a starter. LaRussa has made it quite clear that he will be a starter and will rehab as such. If for some reason he can not handle the innings, then he will probably play more of a long relief role, unless we can't have a closer with any success again this year. I don't see it, some do, some don't. I don't. I think our rotation is underated. If we can get Wainwright and Carp to combine for 40-60 starts as opposed to last season's 23, we are going to be way better then expected. That will take pressure off Lohse, well, and pinero to force success on them. If Carp can't come back, and Wainer has a similar issue, I think our season is a wash. I don't see anyone that can really step up that way again this year like we got last year. Personally, I think Lohse was more of a fluke then Ludwick. I will be pleasantly surprised if he pitches as well this year as he did last year. And I hate pinero, but if he can go .500 I will be happy with it. Our rotation depends on Wainer not having those blisters (which he likely will) and Carp getting back (which sounds like he will)

4. By Ryan do you mean Brendan Ryan? B. Ryan will be lucky to get a spot on the team this yaer, I see him heading to Memphis, unless he really has a hot spring. K. Greene is our starting shortstop, I don't see anyone taking that position from him, unless he gets hurt. You said Ryan in left though, did you mean Ryan Ludwick? Brendan Ryan? Not sure what you were asking. If it's about B. Ryan....he could make it up...I like him a lot, he is my type of player, but I don't see him ever being our starting shortstop unless we have no other options, he is more of a Bo Hart/Joe McEwing type of player.

5. Rasmus is a hillbilly, from Albamba I believe. The guy puts a double negative in every sentence he speaks, I met him last May in Memphis when I was with one of my friends who is the Redbirds organ player, Rasmus isn't the smoothest talker, but he is baseball intelligent. And knows how to adapt, he is a pure athlete, with great defense. I don't know if he will play center, he will have to earn that. But he will be in the majors opening day if Shumaker can play second. If not he will start in Triple A. Either way he will be starting at one or the other, and will not be a bench player in the Majors. I see him getting chances at all three outfield positions and Tony will tinker as he always does to find the best fit. If he can spend the whole season in the majors i see a rookie campaign of .260, 20-25 Homers and maybe 15-20 steals with solid defense as he learns the game. I compare his potential to Grady Sizemore, now wether or not he ever gets that good it's yet to be seen. But he is the brightest young player we have seen since Drew or Ankiel were coming up, so it's exciting to watch. I think he is the real deal, just a bit of a hick, and that is because he is. Our opening day five outfielders will likely be Ludwick, Ankiel, Rasmus, Duncan and Mather/Barton. although I see Mather over Barton because Joey can play third and Glaus won't be there opening day. That gives us three left handed hitting outfielders and two right. Look for Duncan and Mather to play a platoon role with Rasmus until Rasmus shows he can stay in the majors. and look for Ludwick to play almost every day. Ankiel won't sit a lot either.

There is the chance that Rasmus doesn't make it out of spring training, if that is the case, they will probably try and keep him down in triple a for awhile because of arbitration rules and dependent on if the Cards are winning or not.

P.S. If you could hear Rasmus's family talk, you would know what he came from....they seem more like they are from the movie Deliverance. It's not a real shot at them, I'm sure they are great people, they just talk a lil funny in my mind

[Jeffy25]

after reading other people's postings I will add:

Rasmus didn't play as poorly as his numbers say in Triple A. If you cancel his 0-22 streak in the middle he actually batted well above .300 and hit both lefties and righties. He played great D, and was starting to bounce back after a poor start when he got hurt. and it is a one time injury it appears. Remember, at every level Rasmus has struggled at first, and then succeded. His Double A season when he played awesome, he started off something like 4-38 and then tore it up. He will take some time to adjust, but his Triple A season wasn't as bad as it appears.

As for the closer conversation, It'll be Perez or Franklin, Motte will get chances and even Josh Kinney. But I see Perez and Franklin going into opening day.

[DarthJaker]

I do not get to see the Cardinals very often, and I had a few questions regarding current players that simply can't be answered thru articles and highlights:

1. What type of player is Schumaker, and how feasible is it that he can make the switch to second base?

2. How good of a hitter is Ryan Ludwick?

3. Is there any truth to the rumors that Carpenter will be switched to the Closer role? If so, what will that do to out Starting Rotation?

4. Is Ryan going to be our starting SS, and what are his capabilities? The few games that I saw Ryan was playing in left.

5. How good is Colby Rasmus, and why do some people refer to him as a hillbilly or rube?

Thanks for any feedback. I feel fairly certain you won't mind talking about our beloved Cardinals.

1. Skippy has amazing speed and I've heard he is doing well after a couple of games on defense he should be our Second Basemen on opening day against the Pirates.

2. Luddy is a pretty decent hitter he could have more stats but injuries keep him out of the game and his 37 homers weren't bad either. He has .325+ potential and I wouldn't be surprised if he hit 45+ plus this season.

3. Capenter is not in any way going to be a closer. Chris Perez, Jason Motte, Royce Ring, and Ryan Franklin will be competing for the role in 09. Right now i give closer to Perez.

4. Brendan Ryan are you serious????? Greene as Jeffy said is our Shortstop we trade Mark Worrell and some1 else for him. Mark Worrell the reliever who homered in his major league at-bat!!!! Ryan is likely to start the season at Memphis or Springfield. He though could be our back up but i see Brain Barden being the back- up Infielder. With the Glaus injury we have Wallace and Freese already both getting an opening day stop on the roster. Ryan has never played in left.

5. Rasmus i really don't know much out him as a hillbilly I've never actullaly heard him talk I have only seen hilights of him on MLB.com and on Cardinals Pre - game. He is good he hit 29 homers a few seasons ago. He will be our baring some messup our opening day left fielder.

[Jeffy25]

I don't want to say anything negative about hillbilly's are southern speaking people. Although it isn't what I am used to, I don't care what he sounds like when he speaks. Hick or not, he is baseball inteligent.

[Porklet]

Thanks Jeffy and Darth. That was exactly what I was looking for. I am probably mistaken about wathcing Brendan Ryan in left. I was only able to catch 2-3 games. I hope to get the MLB package on satellite this year. Go Cards.

[HoustonGM]

2. Luddy is a pretty decent hitter he could have more stats but injuries keep him out of the game and his 37 homers weren't bad either. He has .325+ potential and I wouldn't be surprised if he hit 45+ plus this season.

That ain't happening. He's a good player and should have a couple more 30 home seasons, but he's not going to be Albert Pujols.