The (STL) Cardinal Way...

[caulfield12]

http://insidesportsillustrated.com/

 

The St. Louis Cardinals are the most consistent franchise in baseball due to an organizational philosophy dedicated to measured and constant evolution, writes Ben Reiter in this week’s Sports Illustrated. At the forefront of their sustained success is diverse and dominant starting pitching, made up this season by a rotation of Adam Wainwright, Shelby Miller, Jamie Garcia, Lance Lynn and Jake Westbrook—all of whom appear on SI’s cover. The cover is inspired by the iconic October 7, 1968, SI cover that featured Roger Maris, Tim McCarver, Bob Gibson, Mike Shannon and Lou Brock.

 

“When we think of the Cardinals, we think of a distinct organizational culture: Anodyne, diligent, supportive, resolute,” says Reiter. “Mostly, we think of consistency. Their 11 championships have been well distributed. No son or daughter of St Louis born since 1902 has reached the age of 25 without having lived through at least one victory parade.” (PAGE 64)

 

At week’s end the Cardinals sit atop the National League with just nine players from their 2012 championship team. They are there, in large measure, because of a starting rotation that has been historically good. “The Cardinals have ended up with such a rotation by doing what they’ve always done, and what any team or corporation ought to do if it seeks success in the long term. Which is to ceaselessly, though judiciously, innovate,” says Reiter. (PAGE 64)

 

When the game had become power crazy, former longtime St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan worked with the team’s pitchers to mix in ground ball inducing two-seam fastballs since he believed most pitchers only stood a chance by keeping their deliveries down in the strike zone. Wainwright busted on the scene as a closer late in the Cardinals 2006 title run throwing the two-seamer, and continues to use it now as the rotation’s ace and leader.

 

However, when John Mozeliak was promoted to G.M., in 2007, Duncan began to lobby him to add power pitchers to the mix, especially since home runs were on the decline. “We decided to emphasize not just pitchers who were throwing hard, but guys we thought might throw harder in the future,” says Mozeliak. (PAGE 67) Within three years they drafted Lynn, Miller and also added Trevor Rosenthal and Carlos Martinez, each of whom throw around 100 mph from the bullpen and could be future starters—perhaps very soon since Garcia and Westbrook both recently were placed on the disabled list.

 

The Cardinals have evolved financially, too, as they made the difficult choice to not re-sign Albert Pujols before last season. “Losing an iconic player was not easy—it was jolting,” says Mozeliak. “From a very simplistic standpoint, [once we let him go] we knew we had resources to deploy elsewhere.” (PAGE 67) The flexibility led to extensions for Wainwright and Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina.

 

“While an overriding ethos—the Cardinal way—has developed over the years, it is flexible enough to allow the team to capitalize on the game’s changing realities better than any other,” says Reiter (PAGE 65)

 

 

 

This one had the Twins' fans crying in their beers with the 10 game losing streak, the near no-hitter, the lack of financial flexibility with the Mauer deal....and seemingly stuck with Gardy, Rick Anderson and Terry Ryan for the foreseeable future.

 

 

[caulfield12]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/pr...a85b1f5ac2.html

 

This is EXACTLY what the White Sox need...

 

 

"In a simplistic way when we graduate players to the major leagues we're in essence putting a stamp on them that they're ready," general manager John Mozeliak said. "George Kissell or some of the other coaches would take the time to explain why you're doing it. It wasn't just the X's and O's of where to stand and just do it ... it always came with a reason. Sometimes those reasons are open for debate. When you look at the evolution of this (manual) you couldn't whip something up today, put a (cover) on it, and say, 'OK, this is it.' This is something that took decades to form. And it's still changing."

 

Matheny described how they trimmed some bunt defense from last year's version. Ongoing editing is how the Cardinal Way becomes a "living" monument.

 

His chapter on catching is dedicated to Ricketts. His goal was to recall and recapture as much as he remembered from his former coach. A few days before his argument with the ump, Shildt took his catchers aside and read with them the chapter, which dissects the position, from exercises to drills to selflessness. Matheny lists 16 characteristics that a Cardinals catcher must have. They range from a "high baseball IQ" and "good communicator," to "exceptional flexibility in the lower ½ muscles" and "capable of taking blame even when it is unjustified."

 

These traits are non-negotiable, he said.

 

"There's a list of them that I believe are not just important, but critical," Matheny said. "They have to be there or it's going to hurt the team, it's going to hurt your career, and you might as well go somewhere else to another position or another organization if those aren't a part of who you are."

 

That is the overriding sense of the manual. It does have the standard baseball drills in it. A reader can see how Kissell breaks down the infield positions into the 11 different plays a third baseman will see, the 13 a shortstop has to handle, the 12 for second base and so on. But there are also lessons that transcend the field. There are suggestions for the man as well as the Cardinal when it comes to "all things that go into how you're defined," Mozeliak said.

 

* * *

[fathom]

Cards are running out of pitchers. Garcia's out for the year, Westbrook's out, and now Gast left today's game with shoulder tightness. They'll probably call up Wacha now.

[caulfield12]

Cards are running out of pitchers. Garcia's out for the year, Westbrook's out, and now Gast left today's game with shoulder tightness. They'll probably call up Wacha now.

 

 

Wonder if a year from now we're going to be kicking ourselves for not trading them Peavy/Crain/Ramirez in a mega-deal.

 

Even for the Cardinals, that's a LOT of (future) salary to take on (other than Crain).

 

But Peavy/Crain....

Edited May 26, 2013 by caulfield12

[LittleHurt05]

Cards are running out of pitchers. Garcia's out for the year, Westbrook's out, and now Gast left today's game with shoulder tightness. They'll probably call up Wacha now.

 

The last two seasons they lost their #1 or #2 pitcher in spring training, yet still managed to make it deep in the playoffs. Although, it might be tougher now without Duncan recycling garbage into dcent pitchers.

[fathom]

The last two seasons they lost their #1 or #2 pitcher in spring training, yet still managed to make it deep in the playoffs. Although, it might be tougher now without Duncan recycling garbage into dcent pitchers.

 

Yadier Molina does an incredible job.

[caulfield12]

Yadier Molina does an incredible job.

 

Matheny lists 16 characteristics that a Cardinals catcher must have. They range from a "high baseball IQ" and "good communicator," to "exceptional flexibility in the lower ½ muscles" and "capable of taking blame even when it is unjustified."

 

 

How many of these do Flowers and Gimenez have?

 

Maybe 16 if you combine them with all of our minor league catchers...

[LittleHurt05]

Yadier Molina does an incredible job.

 

This article is very long and it's more about Yadier's brother Jose, but it's a pretty impressive study of pitch framing.

 

 

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/927575...e-molina-others

[max power]

Matheny lists 16 characteristics that a Cardinals catcher must have. They range from a "high baseball IQ" and "good communicator," to "exceptional flexibility in the lower ½ muscles" and "capable of taking blame even when it is unjustified."

 

 

How many of these do Flowers and Gimenez have?

 

Maybe 16 if you combine them with all of our minor league catchers...

They are all subjective.

[max power]

I guess what I am saying is that I bet someone in the sox organization thought that at one time, our catchers had all of those skills to a passable extent as well. Or equally determined self-important ones.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2013 by MAX

[kitekrazy]

I guess what I am saying is that I bet someone in the sox organization thought that at one time, our catchers had all of those skills to a passable extent as well. Or equally determined self-important ones.

 

Probably not. The Sox seem to be really bad in developing catchers. I don't think I can even name a Sox catcher after Fisk and before AJ. So they had to get them via free agency. AJ had a high baseball IQ and it came from another organization.

 

This is probably the least glamorous position in baseball after the careers of Bench, Fisk, Munson and Simmons came to an end. I would imagine any organization that has a good hitting catcher converts them to another position. It's probably hard to find a good coach at this position.

 

[kitekrazy]

http://insidesportsillustrated.com/

 

The St. Louis Cardinals are the most consistent franchise in baseball due to an organizational philosophy dedicated to measured and constant evolution, writes Ben Reiter in this week’s Sports Illustrated. At the forefront of their sustained success is diverse and dominant starting pitching, made up this season by a rotation of Adam Wainwright, Shelby Miller, Jamie Garcia, Lance Lynn and Jake Westbrook—all of whom appear on SI’s cover. The cover is inspired by the iconic October 7, 1968, SI cover that featured Roger Maris, Tim McCarver, Bob Gibson, Mike Shannon and Lou Brock.

 

“When we think of the Cardinals, we think of a distinct organizational culture: Anodyne, diligent, supportive, resolute,” says Reiter. “Mostly, we think of consistency. Their 11 championships have been well distributed. No son or daughter of St Louis born since 1902 has reached the age of 25 without having lived through at least one victory parade.” (PAGE 64)

 

At week’s end the Cardinals sit atop the National League with just nine players from their 2012 championship team. They are there, in large measure, because of a starting rotation that has been historically good. “The Cardinals have ended up with such a rotation by doing what they’ve always done, and what any team or corporation ought to do if it seeks success in the long term. Which is to ceaselessly, though judiciously, innovate,” says Reiter. (PAGE 64)

 

When the game had become power crazy, former longtime St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan worked with the team’s pitchers to mix in ground ball inducing two-seam fastballs since he believed most pitchers only stood a chance by keeping their deliveries down in the strike zone. Wainwright busted on the scene as a closer late in the Cardinals 2006 title run throwing the two-seamer, and continues to use it now as the rotation’s ace and leader.

 

However, when John Mozeliak was promoted to G.M., in 2007, Duncan began to lobby him to add power pitchers to the mix, especially since home runs were on the decline. “We decided to emphasize not just pitchers who were throwing hard, but guys we thought might throw harder in the future,” says Mozeliak. (PAGE 67) Within three years they drafted Lynn, Miller and also added Trevor Rosenthal and Carlos Martinez, each of whom throw around 100 mph from the bullpen and could be future starters—perhaps very soon since Garcia and Westbrook both recently were placed on the disabled list.

 

The Cardinals have evolved financially, too, as they made the difficult choice to not re-sign Albert Pujols before last season. “Losing an iconic player was not easy—it was jolting,” says Mozeliak. “From a very simplistic standpoint, [once we let him go] we knew we had resources to deploy elsewhere.” (PAGE 67) The flexibility led to extensions for Wainwright and Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina.

 

“While an overriding ethos—the Cardinal way—has developed over the years, it is flexible enough to allow the team to capitalize on the game’s changing realities better than any other,” says Reiter (PAGE 65)

 

 

 

This one had the Twins' fans crying in their beers with the 10 game losing streak, the near no-hitter, the lack of financial flexibility with the Mauer deal....and seemingly stuck with Gardy, Rick Anderson and Terry Ryan for the foreseeable future.

 

As if we are any better. What's the chances of the Sox organization becoming anything like the Cardinal organization? Maybe.....Reinsdorf still has this fascination of LaRussa. Remember the rumor mill with LaRussa's retirement.

 

 

 

[caulfield12]

Probably not. The Sox seem to be really bad in developing catchers. I don't think I can even name a Sox catcher after Fisk and before AJ. So they had to get them via free agency. AJ had a high baseball IQ and it came from another organization.

 

This is probably the least glamorous position in baseball after the careers of Bench, Fisk, Munson and Simmons came to an end. I would imagine any organization that has a good hitting catcher converts them to another position. It's probably hard to find a good coach at this position.

 

 

You can add a few names in there, like Gary Carter, I-Roid and Piazza....but yeah, it's been barren.

 

I remember Joel Skinner, drafting Kurt Brown, Mark Johnson was a relatively high draft pick we tried to nurture along but he just couldn't hit very well, Ron Karkovice Squad.

 

Even going back to a decade ago, we had to add guys like Charles Johnson/Fordyce from other organizations.

 

Seems we always were bringing in past their prime veterans from other teams like Spanky Lavalliere or Jorge Fabregas.

[caulfield12]

Bumped for relevancy today...

[GreenSox]

His chapter on catching is dedicated to Ricketts. His goal was to recall and recapture as much as he remembered from his former coach. A few days before his argument with the ump, Shildt took his catchers aside and read with them the chapter, which dissects the position, from exercises to drills to selflessness. Matheny lists 16 characteristics that a Cardinals catcher must have. They range from a "high baseball IQ" and "good communicator," to "exceptional flexibility in the lower ½ muscles" and "capable of taking blame even when it is unjustified."

 

These traits are non-negotiable, he said.

 

"There's a list of them that I believe are not just important, but critical," Matheny said. "They have to be there or it's going to hurt the team, it's going to hurt your career, and you might as well go somewhere else to another position or another organization if those aren't a part of who you are."

 

That is the overriding sense of the manual. It does have the standard baseball drills in it. A reader can see how Kissell breaks down the infield positions into the 11 different plays a third baseman will see, the 13 a shortstop has to handle, the 12 for second base and so on. But there are also lessons that transcend the field. There are suggestions for the man as well as the Cardinal when it comes to "all things that go into how you're defined," Mozeliak said.

 

* * *[/i]

AKA fundamentals and actual coaching.

Edit - didn't realize this thread was 2 years old. Still relevant I suppose.

Edited June 30, 2015 by GreenSox

[southsider2k5]

Derrick Goold ‏@dgoold 7m7 minutes ago

Derrick Goold retweeted Robert Patrick

#Cardinals have fired front office official, sources and officials confirm to the PD. News at http://StlToday.com

 

Derrick Goold ‏@dgoold 3m3 minutes ago

BREAKING NEWS: #Cardinals have fired scouting director, PD confirms. Investigation in alleged hacking continues #stl… http://flip.it/3xIwz

[caulfield12]

4. With Correa gone, we can't help but take note of the so-called Brain Drain in the Cardinals' scouting-analytics department over the past few years. When Luhnow left St. Louis, he hired Sig Mejdal, the Cards' director of draft analytics. Other Cardinals employees followed Luhnow, including Mike Elias, Oz Ocampo, Charlie Gonzalez and Brett Strom. (And I'm probably forgetting others who jumped to Houston.)

 

That's quite the turnover. Some of the ideas, concepts and methodology that made the Cardinals so astute in scouting, drafting and player development are now being administered in other MLB organizations (my add, another top guy went to OAK before Correa took his job).

 

5. One way or another, Mozeliak should disassemble much of what's left of the baseball ops to start fresh. The shameful cyber spying has sullied the franchise's reputation, and unless Mozeliak conducts a major sweeping, doubts about the Cardinals' integrity will fester.

 

 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ber...3631c7e6f0.html

Edited July 3, 2015 by caulfield12