Media Minutes: Molina, Holliday, Berkman and Prospects
Over the course of the next few weeks, Redbird Rants will begin posting new weekly features. Earlier today, Justin McClary wrote the debut edition of the Cardinals Minor League Report. For the remainder of the offseason Justin will focus on the Cardinals minor leaguers at each position. Once the season begins, the report will be regularly available on Saturdays.
We are not just writers here at Redbird Rants; we are also avid readers of Cardinals content. Until bloggers are given the ability and license to completely cover a team as those in the mainstream media receive (press credentials), we have to rely on what we read in print or online as well as what we hear on television and radio for an abundance of our information. In doing so, we get to read some very good work provided by columnists and the reporters on the beat. Each Tuesday, I’ll provide some links from media outlets which cover the St. Louis Cardinals that I think are worth a look. We’ll call it Media Minutes.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Roger Hensley’s “Round Two” column asks, “Will Molina follow Pujols out of town after season?” I won’t completely rehash what I wrote last week on the subject, but here is the link to my point of view on Yadier Molina and his upcoming free agent status.
Joe Strauss suggests Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman will take on bigger roles with the club this season. Strauss reflects on the chemistry mix that will certainly change this season with the loss of some key players who often were referred to as the glue of the team. Holliday mentions Nick Punto, Ryan Theriot and Gerald Laird by name when referring to teammates who will be missed from the chemistry perspective. I’d have to agree that is starts with the veteran players. Holliday and Berkman have many years in the league and are widely considered to be respected by the rest of the team. A team with many young players needs the vets to show the way so that no matter who dons the Cardinal red will fit right in.
MLB.com
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has been running his Prospect Watch columns (by position) recently and some notable Cardinal farm hands have been placed in top ten lists. Here are links to each so far. Again, keep an eye on Justin’s minor league report as he is sure to cover these players in detail soon. You can also visit our brethren at Seedlings to Stars for complete minor league baseball coverage. Here is a link to their Cardinals page.
Shelby Miller – Prospect Watch: Top Ten right-handed pitchers
Kolten Wong – Prospect Watch: Top 10 second basemen
Matt Adams – Prospect Watch: Top 10 first basemen
Zack Cox – Prospect Watch: Top 10 third basemen
KMOX – 1120 AM
KMOX has posted a picture of an Albert Pujols Topps baseball card in a Los Angeles Angels’ uniform. Let me be among the first to say, “Who cares, can we please move on?”
FSN Midwest
B.J. Rains wrote recently about Kyle Lohse and the trade rumors that swirled around his name during the winter meetings. Rains’ opening remark says it all, “No deal can happen unless he approves it.” It looks as if Lohse is staying put since he declares he is happy pitching in St. Louis and he alone has the final say thanks to a full no-trade clause.
Belleville News-Democrat
David Wilhelm gives us Holliday’s take on the departure of Pujols and the state of the Cardinals. I’m glad Holliday agrees with me; his quote, “We’ve got to move on.” Holliday also shows his confidence in the team’s ability to win in 2012. It’s a good read to help get into Holliday’s head a bit.
Check back with us next week for more media links.
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