Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Give Luhnow Credit For The Cardinals' Recent Success
Posted 10-13-2012 at 06:44 PM by case44
The St Louis Cardinals are still an elite baseball franchise. That being said, some people didn't think that they would repeat last year's success and would take a step back, what with former manager Tony LaRussa retiring after last season and Mike Matheny coming on in his place.
Guess what? The Cards haven't missed a beat.
So what if the Reds won the National League Central Division in 2012? Good for them, but the Cards didn't fall apart. Look where they are now. They're in the NL Championship Series in San Francisco for Game 1 while the Reds are going home to play a round or two at the golf course. But the key to St Louis' success the last several seasons, plus this one, can be pinned on a fellow that is no longer a part of the franchise but who did create a stable atmosphere in the farm system for years to come.
Does the name Jeff Luhnow ring a bell?
Sure does here. That's right. He's now the general manager with my Houston Astros, but remember what he did prior to his latest appointment. He was in St Louis for eight years directing player personnel in one capacity or another. The minor league championships and two World Series titles should tell you the story (though he had a bigger hand in the Cards' 2011 title). All this is reason enough for Astros fans to get excited about their future. Most championships don't just happen; they happen with a specific plan. Luhnow knows how to draft players and find the right people, and it has shown in the Cardinals' recent teams. If they go on to win the World Series again, you know who you can tip your hat off to. Mr Jeff Luhnow.
When he arrived in the Astros organization last winter, Luhnow had stated that his goal with Houston is to create a sustainable winner. One year after leaving the St Louis Cardinals, there is plenty of evidence that the Cards are testimony to Luhnow's said goal. Because that was what worked for St Louis. And said plan will be expected to work in Houston in a matter of a few years. If the Astros' minor league results in 2012 were any indication, big-time success could come sooner rather than later.
The Astros have had plenty of exciting games with St Louis for many games when they were both in the National League. Will we see Astros-Cards in the World Series sometime?
Don't count it out.
Guess what? The Cards haven't missed a beat.
So what if the Reds won the National League Central Division in 2012? Good for them, but the Cards didn't fall apart. Look where they are now. They're in the NL Championship Series in San Francisco for Game 1 while the Reds are going home to play a round or two at the golf course.
But the key to St Louis' success the last several seasons, plus this one, can be pinned on a fellow that is no longer a part of the franchise but who did create a stable atmosphere in the farm system for years to come. Does the name Jeff Luhnow ring a bell?
Sure does here. That's right. He's now the general manager with my Houston Astros, but remember what he did prior to his latest appointment. He was in St Louis for eight years directing player personnel in one capacity or another. The minor league championships and two World Series titles should tell you the story (though he had a bigger hand in the Cards' 2011 title). All this is reason enough for Astros fans to get excited about their future. Most championships don't just happen; they happen with a specific plan. Luhnow knows how to draft players and find the right people, and it has shown in the Cardinals' recent teams. If they go on to win the World Series again, you know who you can tip your hat off to. Mr Jeff Luhnow.
When he arrived in the Astros organization last winter, Luhnow had stated that his goal with Houston is to create a sustainable winner. One year after leaving the St Louis Cardinals, there is plenty of evidence that the Cards are testimony to Luhnow's said goal. Because that was what worked for St Louis. And said plan will be expected to work in Houston in a matter of a few years. If the Astros' minor league results in 2012 were any indication, big-time success could come sooner rather than later.
The Astros have had plenty of exciting games with St Louis for many games when they were both in the National League. Will we see Astros-Cards in the World Series sometime?
Don't count it out.Total Comments 2
Comments
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I won't count any idea of Astros-Cards out, but it's still a few years away. Luhnow is the right man for the 'Stros, and it's only a matter of time before his draft picks bear fruit. He's fortunate to have inherited good picks from the Ed Wade era and I think we saw some potential with some of those players.
Even though my Cards did not go all the way, I am confident that they will still contend for a number of years to come. I expect another Cards-Giants matchup at this time next year, so they'll be right there.Posted 10-30-2012 at 05:40 PM by malfunction
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Give Houston a few years. They will have at least one more season with 90 losses or more. The first year in the AL will present its own challenges, but Luhnow will have to come up with the right kind of guys, and key positions still need to be decided. I seriously would not expect 100 losses again, but there will still be a losing record in a tough division. The last of the Ed Wade draft picks are going to be coming up to the bigs in the next couple of years. I'm actually looking forward to Luhnow's second draft.
But we'll have Jarred Cosart, George Springer, and Jon Singleton to look at in the next couple of years. I can actually see Singleton starting at first base next season.Posted 11-10-2012 at 04:25 PM by case44
