Jason Marquis upset with being moved to bullpen for playoffs - CNNSI.com

[cssmall]

Okay. The point of the Cards season and postseason run is to prove that last year was just a fluke (not the Red Sox championship, but just their showing in WS). Marquis had an up an down season and I believe finished the season with a losing record on the Cards great team. And, he's complaining about being demoted to the bullpen.

This is either a wonderful ploy or just stupidity on Jason Marquis' part. If I were Walt Jocketty and looking at this situation, I would say to myself that: I have Mulder and Carpenter locked up. Suppan and Morris are free agents. Marquis is a young pitcher with a shit load of talent, but an attitude more servicable for a catcher or third baseman. In the minors, I have a really, really good young pitcher who is probably major league ready in Anthony Reyes. I also have a guy named Adam Wainwright. If we lose both Morris and Suppan (honestly, I think Morris will be back), we can still get away with trading Marquis.

I think Marquis needs to be gone and sent to some team like the Royals or the Devil Rays. He's been spoiled with the Braves and Cards, he needs to learn about baseball and he needs to learn how to pitch consistantly. The point of this tirade is this: "if you are on a favorite to win the series, don't bitch too much, because the point is to win."

[GOPisEvil]

1. Yeah, because your season was SO good...give me a break.

Shut your pie hole, pitch when you're asked. It happens every year - managers demote one pitcher. Who are you asking to replace? Mulder, Carpenter, Morris? Oohhh...Suppan...the guy who was NAILS last year. I understand you wanting to contribute, but I bet you'll get your chance. If you blow it, the Cards fans will crucify you. Look up Garry Templeton sometime.

[cssmall]

2. The problem with Templeton and Marquis was that just dogged it!

Templeton had all the fucking talent in the world and just was lazy as hell. Marquis is the same from what I've noticed and then when he gets in a jam, he starts freaking out. You know, we are the best baseball fans in America for a reason though, GOPisEvil, we give people shots when they've burned them elsewhere, look at Mark Witten. But, I would take Woody Williams anyday over this assclown. This, honestly, is a form of entitlement: I was a starter in the season and I'll be a postseason starter too.

I say this, having played baseball: Go out and win some. Have a season someone would be proud of, because he has NO excuse for a losing record on an awesome team.

[GOPisEvil]

3. The guy is an average pitcher at best.

He has moments of brilliance, but then he has games when he just sucks. Woody was a grinder. I miss having him around.

I know what he's feeling, but honestly, the manager has given him a role. Just shut up and be a good teammate. The time to complain is after the season.

Garry was an asshat, but he did give us, "If I ain't startin', I ain't departin'."

[cssmall]

4. That's why the Cards should just dump him.

I honestly think I would trade the son of a bitch.

[GOPisEvil]

5. I think we should wait until free agency shakes out.

Then after we see where we are with the staff, explore a trade. What do we need, though? Maybe a corner outfielder?

[cssmall]

6. I see this happening.

Sanders might retire if the Cards win a series. Hell, he might retire anyway. From what I read, he loves St Louis. Walker is all ready retired, he's just playing out the postseason. I just think he doesn't want to hurt anymore. Edmonds *could* retire if a series is won, I doubt it though.

We have Molina, Carpenter, Mulder, Eckstein, Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen and Grudzielanek in multiyear deals. Eldred, King and Taveras are on their last year of a contract. We have Reyes (who is ready) and Wainwright (who might be after ST next year). Ankiel is a wildcard because he tore up AA during the last two months of the season. He needs an invite to ST, along with Schumaker, Boyd and Gall. If one of those guys shows some talent or if Jocketty, who is awesome with evals, thinks so, I would trade Marquis to someone that needs pitching.

If I were the Cards, I would trade Marquis and a minor leaguer to the D-Rays for Crawford and a minor league pitcher (I would offer that). Or, send him to the Cubs, but I don't think they have anything we could want. Our infield is solid, but our starters, relivers and OF is up in the air for 06.

[GOPisEvil]

7. You're more up on the team than I am.

:D The nice thing about being the Cardinals is that players want to play there. I'm sorta counting on Sanders and Walker not being there next year. I think Edmonds has another year in him, but getting Crawford might be a decent idea as a future replacement.

[cssmall]

8. Well, I'm a baseball FREAK!

I played all my life. And, that is the nice thing about the Cards. Edmonds has two or three more left, but he might just say bye. I hope not, because he needs to get to 400 to get in the HoF according to voters, though Gammons said he would vote for him defensively.

It's a crying fucking shame that Mazeroski took 50 years to get in and Jeff Kent will get in first ballot because of his HRs. :eyes:

Craw was a pleasure to be around, he's a guy that would look great in Cardinal Red. :D