Post by Strategist on Jan 8, 2020 4:32:16 GMT
2018 Review:
Record: 73-89 4th in NL Central. R/G Scored: 14th (NL) R/G Against: 10th (NL)
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: A ridiculous young core of LF Juan Soto, 2B Ozzie Albies, 1B Matt Olson, and 3B Alex Bregman to build their lineup around. Not to mention above average players RF Austin Meadows, and CF Harrison Bader. A solid catcher duo in Alex Avila and Yan Gomes. The only real hole in the lineup was SS. A top 10 lineup for sure maybe even top 5. Definitely good enough to compete.
Rotation: Not the same horses that the lineup had. Going with the likes of Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, Jesse Hahn, Marcos Molina, and Wei-Yin Chen. All below league average. The Cardinals needed to upgrade the rotation to compete with the like of MIL and CIN in the NL Central.
Bullpen: Also not good as only Fernando Rodney Rated out as above average.
GM went dark before the offseason and made no moves for this team. Therefore the team was a mess finishing 66-96. So instead of writing up a lost season for this team I am going to note its future potential.
Future:
Lineup: Bregman probably should have won the AL MVP but still impressive 2nd finish and complete all around player. Soto who didn't even turn 21 until after the season is off to one of the best starts in history and should be battling for MVPs himself very soon. Albies and Olson maybe a notch below those guys but both finished with 4.0 WAR seasons. Meadows also busted out and had a 4.0 season himself but since he has only done it for 1 season I will put him a step below the previous 2. Bader struggled at the plate in his 2nd season but showed that he is one of the best young CF defenders in the game. The lineup has little work to do. With holes at SS and C (due to both being FAs). All this before even talking about their prospects in Nick Senzel, Jo Adell, Luis Urias, Brendan Rodgers, and Drew Waters who are all top 100 guys some as high as top 10 overall.
Pitching Staff: While a horrible sim season the future while not as bright as the lineup is still very good. Giolito had a 5 WAR season and Mike Soroka had a 4 WAR season. Couple those with Casey Mize a consensus top 10 overall prospect and Mitch Keller a top 50 overall prospect and the Cards have the foundation for an elite rotation. The guys won't be quite good enough to count on next season but with plenty of cap space and prospects it shouldn't be that tough acquiring enough pitching to be able to compete for a 2020 playoff spot.
Record: 73-89 4th in NL Central. R/G Scored: 14th (NL) R/G Against: 10th (NL)
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: A ridiculous young core of LF Juan Soto, 2B Ozzie Albies, 1B Matt Olson, and 3B Alex Bregman to build their lineup around. Not to mention above average players RF Austin Meadows, and CF Harrison Bader. A solid catcher duo in Alex Avila and Yan Gomes. The only real hole in the lineup was SS. A top 10 lineup for sure maybe even top 5. Definitely good enough to compete.
Rotation: Not the same horses that the lineup had. Going with the likes of Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, Jesse Hahn, Marcos Molina, and Wei-Yin Chen. All below league average. The Cardinals needed to upgrade the rotation to compete with the like of MIL and CIN in the NL Central.
Bullpen: Also not good as only Fernando Rodney Rated out as above average.
GM went dark before the offseason and made no moves for this team. Therefore the team was a mess finishing 66-96. So instead of writing up a lost season for this team I am going to note its future potential.
Future:
Lineup: Bregman probably should have won the AL MVP but still impressive 2nd finish and complete all around player. Soto who didn't even turn 21 until after the season is off to one of the best starts in history and should be battling for MVPs himself very soon. Albies and Olson maybe a notch below those guys but both finished with 4.0 WAR seasons. Meadows also busted out and had a 4.0 season himself but since he has only done it for 1 season I will put him a step below the previous 2. Bader struggled at the plate in his 2nd season but showed that he is one of the best young CF defenders in the game. The lineup has little work to do. With holes at SS and C (due to both being FAs). All this before even talking about their prospects in Nick Senzel, Jo Adell, Luis Urias, Brendan Rodgers, and Drew Waters who are all top 100 guys some as high as top 10 overall.
Pitching Staff: While a horrible sim season the future while not as bright as the lineup is still very good. Giolito had a 5 WAR season and Mike Soroka had a 4 WAR season. Couple those with Casey Mize a consensus top 10 overall prospect and Mitch Keller a top 50 overall prospect and the Cards have the foundation for an elite rotation. The guys won't be quite good enough to count on next season but with plenty of cap space and prospects it shouldn't be that tough acquiring enough pitching to be able to compete for a 2020 playoff spot.