December 3, 2004
The Pitch on Pitching
By Brian Walton
It’s time to report some more rumors and some speculation about Cardinals pitching, 2005 style.
Zito Offer Made
I have it from a very good source that the Cardinals recently made a firm proposal to the Oakland A’s for Barry Zito offering a package including Jason Marquis.
However, at this point, it is unclear whether the A’s want to move another starter, now that they dumped Mark Redman’s contract (and reliever Arthur Rhodes’ too) on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Jason Kendall deal. Yet, the inclusion of Marquis would afford the A’s a less-expensive rotation replacement for Zito.
The feeling is that Dave Duncan could tinker with Zito and return him to past glory after a difficult 2004. Zito, 26, had a disappointing 11-11 record with an alarming 4.48 ERA, over a run worse than his previous career low point.
The lefty is signed for 2005 at $4.8 million and currently has four years, 72 days of MLB service time. As a result, he could be kept for two more seasons. In comparison, his teammate Tim Hudson will be a free agent after the 2005 season, perhaps making Zito a more attractive target financially.
On Haren and Ankiel
Are they in the rotation mix for 2005 or aren’t they? What are the possible motivations of those making the flip-flop statements?
Back on November 10, I was critical of a Post-Dispatch story by Joe Strauss that reported that Dan Haren and Rick Ankiel were slated for the bullpen. My assumption was that Strauss was short of common sense. But, looking back and thinking about it more, it became clearer that there may have been method behind the madness.
The lack of confidence by Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan in young players is generally accepted, though certainly not acknowledged by either. As I highlighted in my Monday story, “La Russa Return Stuck on Pitching?”, Duncan and La Russa are pleading for two power arms to be added to the rotation.
Some apparently misinformed folks had already penciled Ankiel and Haren into those two rotation spots, vacated by Matt Morris and Woody Williams. That would seem to be the furthest thing from Duncan’s and La Russa’s minds. After all, Ankiel and Haren’s aspirations are squarely in the way of the two shiny, new starters the bosses want for Christmas.
As much as they might want to, Duncan and La Russa can’t directly get rid of Ankiel and Haren via trade. After all, neither is the general manager, though their tenure and stature does provide them far more than the usual level of input on such matters. But, the fact is, Walt Jocketty has made it clear that he wants to keep both young pitchers.
So, given that, what’s the best way for Duncan and La Russa to keep two rotation spots open and to keep the pressure on Jocketty to get those studs? How about exiling the two youthful contenders to the pen three months prior to the first pitch of spring training? That should do it quite nicely.
Now, the strategy may have backfired somewhat, in that Haren’s perceived value could have taken a hit. After all, if the Cards have so little confidence in him to commit him to relief during the off-season, wouldn’t that put a doubt in some other teams’ minds who might consider acquiring him, too?
Perhaps it is all a moot point now, anyway. Last week, a subsequent story by Strauss called out Haren and Ankiel as “potential starters”. It was not directly stated who reversed field and finally recognized what seemed quite obvious to the rest of us for weeks, if not months. But, by its location in the story, one might assume that it was Jocketty who acknowledged the possibility. It only makes sense, as he made it clear that “it may not be possible” to get those two stud starters his manager and pitching coach want so badly.
Rick Hummel’s Tuesday story about Matt Morris’ shoulder surgery provided more clues. “"The Cardinals have shown interest," Morris said. "Walt (Jocketty) has been great about it - if I get my shoulder 'scoped and cleaned up. If I didn't get the surgery, I don't know how interested the Cardinals would be." Jocketty recently expressed his admiration for Morris…” Neither Duncan nor La Russa was quoted in the story, welcoming the prospect of Morris’ return.
So, are Duncan and La Russa using the two youngsters as pawns to try to score a pair of kings? Is Jocketty deftly making counter-moves? It’s not that far-fetched, is it?
