It’s only December 17th.
But you’re ready. I’m ready.
I think we’re all ready to turn the page on one of the worst off-season months the Cardinals have had in the past couple decades.
Here’s a timeline.
WARNING – this is not for the faint of heart.
DEC 2: Red Sox sign David Price
The Red Sox came over the top.
We didn’t know it then, but the Cardinals probably lost Heyward and Price on the same day. Price wanted to be a Cardinal, but when the Sox went to 217M (reportedly 30M more than the Cardinals highest offer), he signed with Boston.
The Cardinals signaled their off-season priority – Price over Heyward. They didn’t land Price and Heyward got serious about weighing all his options.
DEC 4: Cubs sign John Lackey
The last real good feeling that Cardinals fans had in 2015 was courtesy of John Lackey. He twirled 7 1/3 shutout innings (including heading into the 6th with a no-hitter) in GM1 of the NLDS.
The Birds had thumped the Cubs and their ace Jon Lester. They had a 1-0 series lead. Not much good has happened since October 9th.
Lackey was pretty much the only serviceable starter that the Cardinals had by the end of 2015. It was always a toss-up if he came back in 2016 to St. Louis, but the Cubs – emboldened by their playoff triumph over the Cards – decided that Lackey was just what they needed.
Lackey agreed. The snowball was gaining speed downhill
DEC 8: Cubs Sign Ben Zobrist
If #Cubs sign Zobrist and keep Baez, they would have two multi-position types. Dream scenario for Joe Maddon.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2015
They did, Ken. They did.
Not only that, he left out that Kris Bryant can play 2 positions (3 if you really get creative) giving Joe Maddon a lineup that is not only deep, but versatile. For one of the most creative managers in all of sports.
Ugh.
DEC 11: Cubs sign Jason Heyward
DEC 15: Yadier Molina undergoes 2nd hand surgery
This one was a gut punch.
Molina hurt his thumb on SEP 20th. He had his second surgery 86 days later. 86 days from now it will be MAR 13th. Assuming it takes about that long to see if everything has healed that needed to heal, it would leave about 2.5 weeks in spring training for Molina to get ready for the regular season.
If this surgery is successful. And if the rehab is successful.
Not to pat ourselves on the back too hard, but we were one of the few places that cautioned this could be a much more serious deal than many people wanted it to be. And we’ll do it again… this 2nd surgery could be a much more serious deal than many people want it to be.
DEC 16: Randal Grichuk undergoes hernia surgery
Grichuk was on the DL list twice in 2015. Once for a back strain. Once for an elbow strain. Between the injuries he missed 49 days. And while this surgery isn’t expected to bleed into spring training, it’s also worth noting that even the Cardinals are worried about his health moving forward:
“He’s a very athletic player, and how he’s used and how he’s preparing is something, I think, we have to be on the forefront of getting him ready to do,” Mozeliak said. “His past injuries have not always been on the field.”
Grichuk’s health isn’t a nominal factor in the success of the 2016 Cardinals. The expectation is that Grichuk will be a middle of the order bopper that can produce instant offense. He won’t be able to do that from the infirmary.
The more injuries a player has the more you worry that he’s going to have injuries in the future.
+++++
That?
Not fun.
Let’s all hope that January is much more pleasant.
Photo: imgur
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