Comments on: Not satisfied with the current product, the Cardinals are trying to change center fielder Colby Rasmus

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:01:38 +0000

Do LaRussa and McGwire understand that running 5 miles doesn’t make you faster? Distance running actually develops slow twitch muscles. It might cut his weight, but running distance every day isn’t going to make him faster. That’s what sprint work is for.

On another note, good to know LaRussa is still a jack-ass.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:33:40 +0000

Because of LaRussa’s behavior (boorish, stubborn, crotchety) the last few years, this story doesn’t stretch the bounds of credibility. Rather, it sounds EXACTLY like an edict that LaRussa would issue; he’s a control freak and would rather be in control of every little thing and lose than not be in control and win (i.e. he’d rather lose his way than win some other way). Add in the FOs strange decision to replace the best defensive SS in MLB with a 2B instead of using him to replace their 2B that can’t field or hit…and it is hard to have confidence in the current regime’s understanding of what wins baseball games.

By: Drew Silva

Drew Silva — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:28:23 +0000

I’m keeping up on it. Strauss has confirmed that it was Rasmus’ dad who made those comments, so I’m going to keep it up. Strauss also called it a “hoax,” but gave no details on what that might mean. The comments had multiple elements. Which parts were of the hoax variety?

Until that can be answered I think the story stands.

By: thoran85

thoran85 — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:21:44 +0000

I believe a few Cardinals beat writers have reported that this story is not true.

…But if it is this would be terrible news to any Cardinals fan

By: PanchoHerreraFanClub

PanchoHerreraFanClub — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:55:56 +0000

If anyone thinks it is a bad idea, a Cubs fan liking pushes it into the good idea range.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:17:08 +0000

Not hitting ten home runs next year may be a little drastic, but Rasmus has got to cut down on his K rate. He’s not going to have a BABIP in the .350 range every year, and when he doesn’t, he’s going to find himself in Carlos Pena territory. We’ll see what happens, but I don’t hate this decision by the Cards.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:46:53 +0000

I know….but how do we know these stretches aren’t the result of lectures from LaRussa or McGwire?
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I think he does what he does…then someone gets in his ear and he starts trying to do what he is asked, but he can’t or doesn’t know how. Colby doesn’t come across as the sharpest knife in the drawer (or even the second sharpest). There are some guys you just point at the field and let play; Rasmus seems to be one of those guys.
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Like the base stealing thing, the guy is super fast and a great runner in general, but he is bad at stealing bases…bad jumps, can’t read pitchers, whatever, he’s horrible at it. Either teach the guy to steal or don’t have him do it.

By: timstl

timstl — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:40:15 +0000

The problem is he already looks lost at the plate for long periods of time. He loses the strike zone way too often, and ends at bats looking lost. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of stretches where he looks great, but he could be so much more. Not to mention his defense– he could be Edmonds, but he’s too frequently just shy of making the great play.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:06:56 +0000

I hope so….but it seems more likely that he’ll be lost at the plate and start taking strikes and swing at balls. Most players can not change their approach much, they do well what they do well….it’s like telling Moyer to scrap his approach and start throwing 98 mph because he gives up too many hits…just because you think a guy SHOULD use an approach doesn’t mean he can…and if he’s not using it, it usually means he can’t.
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Every player should be more selective at the plate, but most guys simply can’t develop the same discipline or pitch recognition as a Pujols or Youkilis just because you think it would be a good idea.
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I think LaRussa should be more supportive of young players and maintain a more encouraging “hey isn’t baseball fun” attitude to help his players relax so they don’t seize up in big moments as is so common for his teams…but that doesn’t mean he is capable of doing it.

By: Tim's Neighbor

Tim's Neighbor — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:28:09 +0000

As a Cubs fan I approve of this message.

By: PanchoHerreraFanClub

PanchoHerreraFanClub — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:24:17 +0000

The ball jumps off Rasmus’s bat. If Rasmus hits .300, homers will be there. Last season he had several 0,1,2 for 20+ stretches and way to many Ks. If Rasmus learns to put the ball in play, his average and power will both raise. The two hole in the lineup (hitting before Pujols) is his for the taking if can hit for average.

His father thinks that this approach will cut down on his dingers. I disagree. I think it will increase them. The more balls he puts in play, the more balls will leave the park. No, that is not true for most hitter, but as I said ball jumps off his bat. Colby’s effortless swing drives balls way out of the park.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:44:55 +0000

Not to mention the oddity of McGwire teaching people to hit fewer homers.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:43:24 +0000

Just because he’s a CF doesn’t mean he shouldn’t hit homers. The fact that most CFs are slap hitters isn’t because that “works better” for them or something, it’s because it’s harder to find someone with two skills (defense and slugging) than one. And it’s what makes it all the more valuable when you get a guy like Rasmus.

Maybe his approach starts backfiring on him at some point. Maybe he turns into Carlos Pena at the plate (the 2010 version), and then you can start preaching fewer strikeouts and more contact. But if it ain’t broke, stop trying to make it hit like a little b*tch.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:43:17 +0000

24 yrs old with the 3rd best wOBA of all MLB CFs, behind only Hamilton and Gonzalez, neither one of which look be CFs next year. Yep, lets screw with his approach. That’s a great idea.
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This is another example of LaRussa trying to impose his will on someone and nothing more. Gee, how well do the three guys that worked with McGwire done? In 2009, Holliday ditched the changes Mac had him make and then started hitting again. They are trying to trade Brendan Ryan, and Skip Shumaker is a disaster at the plate and in the field. Yep, let’s send everyone out to work with Mac and have them change their approach.
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I wonder how joyless the 2011 Cardinals will look, can Tony and Duncan possibly make the team less enthused to play baseball than they were last year? They are off to a good start.

By: professorperry

professorperry — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:27:19 +0000

I was thinking just that. Different body types, but I wonder ….

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:22:51 +0000

Reminds of when the Twins wanted Papi to, as he put it, “hit like a little b*tch.”