The storied rivalry between the Cardinals and Cubs has the opportunity to capture the nation’s attention in 2016 as both clubs enter the year with lofty expectations on the heels of excellent 2015 campaigns, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi opines that St. Louis vs. Chicago has added meaning this year with the Cubs prying Jason Heyward and John Lackey away from the Cardinals and the subsequent comments from Heyward and St. Louis skipper Mike Matheny adding to the feud. Morosi spoke to both Ryan Theriot and Mark DeRosa — two now-retired players that experienced both sides of the Cubs/Cardinals rivalry — about what matchups between the two teams were like from a player perspective and about what it would mean for a player to be on a team that finally succeeds in bringing a World Series victory to the Cubs for the first time since 1908.
Here’s more from the division…
- Cardinals right-hander Mike Leake spoke to FOX’s Ken Rosenthal about his free-agent experience. As Rosenthal writes, stories about Leake wanting to sign with the D-backs were indeed true, although one significant detail of his motivation for that desire was kept out at the time. Leake’s father fell off a roof while constructing a cabin in Montana this past offseason, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, and playing in Arizona would have allowed Leake the opportunity to remain close to his father, Rosenthal writes. However, while both Leake and Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart tell Rosenthal that a deal was close at one point during the winter, Stewart said talks eventually “just broke down” between the two sides. Leake, too, discussed his talks with the D-backs. “It got close. It just never came to fruition,” the right-hander explained. “I felt like there were some that wanted it and some that didn’t in the organization.” Leake said the Cardinals were “quiet at first” before coming on “strong” in their pursuit that ultimately landed him in St. Louis. Leake’s parents both supported his decision to sign with the Cardinals even if it meant creating some distance.
- Jordan Walden has thrown off a mound six times since completing a rigorous rehab process on his right shoulder and will do so again today, writes MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. Today’s session will mark the first time the Cardinals have seen Walden throw since his injury. Walden now admits, in hindsight, that he tried to rush back too quickly from his initial injury last summer, embarking on a rehab stint in July that was cut short due to shoulder problems that ultimately ended his season.
- The Brewers have turned over half of their 40-man roster since the final day of the 2015 season, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. While GM David Stearns tells Haudricourt that he didn’t come into the offseason with a set number of transactions in mind but rather with a goal of accumulating as much controllable talent as possible. “We’re trying to aggregate as much young talent as we possibly can,” Stearns explains. “The 40-man roster is a way we can do that so we have tried to use that tool to add some talent. I don’t know if that exceeds my expectations but we’ve certainly been busy.” (Stearns was recently a guest on the MLBTR Podcast and offered more in-depth comments regarding that quest.) Manager Craig Counsell tells Haudricourt that center field is the most uncertain spot on the roster heading into Spring Training. Haudricourt notes that four of the new additions — Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Rymer Liriano, Keon Broxton and non-roster invitee Eric Young Jr. — have experience there.
No doubt, Cubs-Cardinals rivalry will be more intense this year, and no doubt it’ll be a fun race to the finish. And thanks Leake for choosing St. Louis!
Best of luck to you guys. Let’s play ball!
Thanks Larry! You guys too. May the best team win
As long as both teams can keep their guys mostly healthy for the full season… this could be an incredible rivalry year between these too teams. It isn’t often this happens between these two teams, mainly due to the Cubs’ overall ineptitude since the 40s (and yes, this comes from a Cubs fan).. Should be a fun year to keep an eye on the NL Central, as I don’t really think the Pirates have backed down any at all either.
A lot of shuffling the deck by Stearns. The system got deeper, but the 40 man roster likely isn’t as good now as it was at the end of the season and it wasn’t all that competitive then. Key losses: Davis, K-Rod, Lind are certainly better than the key additions, Anderson, Carter, and Hill. Some of the moves were great…others??? I don’t see a starting major league CF in the bunch. If Davis continues his ascent into a premier power bat…that one will sting in the short term.. It’s going to take at least 4 years to get any noticeable return for him.. Hopefully some of the younger players will emerge and they’ll get growth from their rotation this season to make watching them worthwhile.
Why is Garza still around though? Him establishing anything but minimal trade value is dubious at best, so why take a spot that a younger arm is ready to take?
I he still throws hard, last year was a career high babip allowed and second highest homer rate. If he lowers the walks a bit again and they take back danks contract i could see the white sox being a fit.
Why would they take back Danks’ contract? They want to cut payroll and get young controllable players. They’d probably rather take on 2 low prospects than Danks and a mid prospect.
As for the “key additions” Dave brings up, most of what they did was addition by subtraction, freeing up room for guys like Arcia, Liriano, and eventually Phillips while moving Santana to a corner where he belongs. If Santana works out the loss of Davis is minimal, especially since at 28 Davis probably doesn’t have a ton of progression left. And I can’t see Nottingham taking 4 years to pay off, especially if he moves to 1B like a lot of people think.
Garza is untradable right now. if he pitches well this year perhaps we can unload him near the deadline this year or next winter. the Brewer’s can’t afford just to eat that contact. the Davis loss hurt offensively but it will make our team better defensively. Carter will hit .225ish, with 30+HR so I like getting something for Lind in what would have been a lost season. I actually think our rotation is decent, albiet young, but has a chance to surprise. I loved the Segura trade. so far I love how this offseason has gone. I think they could’ve gotten more for Davis but you can’t argue with one of the better catching prospects in the game.
Am I the only one who thinks the cards are gonna scuffle this year?
No you’re not. Lotsa people think theyll falter this year. It remains to be seen
As a Cards fan, I don’t think we’ll scuffle. Team is too strong in pitching/bullpen. And their offense will take a step forward this year with a full year coming from Moss, Grichuk, Piscotty, and hopefully rebounds from Holliday and Wainwright.
BUT, that doesn’t mean we’ll win the division. The Cubs on paper look like they’ll win the NL Central, but so does the Nationals almost every year in the NL East. It all comes down to health.
If the Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant or Arrietta go down for any length of time, they may fall to 2nd place. Whereas if Wainwright, Wacha, Martinez or Piscotty, Grichuk or Holliday goes down, they may fall to 2nd or 3rd. Same with the Pirates with Cutch or Gerrit Cole.
It’ll be one heck of a year, and I’m excited. But don’t count out the Cardinals. Or the Pirates, for that matter. The Cubs may not even make it to the playoffs if they suffer the same amount and severity of injuries the Cardinals and Pirates had last year.
No, and Im not suggesting the Cardinals will scuffle. But it will be a challenge nonetheless, with an anemic offense, but really good pitching, Cards still got a shot.