It has been a while since I've felt like putting together a post on baseball. Life's been crazy and there has not been a whole lot to talk about. Yesterday however, the Cardinals made some moves. Blake Hawksworth was sent to the Dodgers for Ryan Theriot (be expecting a Hawk-dedicated post from Ang any second now...) and in another move the Cardinals picked up a left-handed reliever, Brian Tallet.
Where does this lead me... to my Hot Stove hot button, Brendan Ryan. If this is the first time you're reading Cardinal Diamond Diaries, you should know.... Brendo's a favorite. If you don't like BRyan, don't bother reading the rest. Fair warning?
Ok.... here goes... Girl rant ahead:
If you missed
this article in stloday.com, let me hit the highlights – or rather, the absolute lowest of low points. The scribes see the writing on the wall and are reporting that Brendan Ryan’s era with the Cardinals is nearing an end. Mr. Mozeliak and the front office are making it clear that Brendan is on his way out.
Ahem…. Excuse me while I find the words to express my frustration with Mr. Mozeliak and the Cardinals organization…
Okay, first let me get this out….
“WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU MEAN: BRENDAN’S PERSONALITY ISN’T A FIT???!!!”
If Brendan’s loveable, quirky, heart-on-his-sleeve, boy-you-grew-up-with, hilarious, camera-hound, fun-loving and friendly personality is not a fit for the Cardinals then I am seriously wondering how I fell in love with this team. Maybe I’m not a good match as a Cardinal fan? Maybe I’m a bad judge of character. But I loved the team with the goofy shortstop who made us laugh and cry and cheer through the season’s struggles.
Is the true nature of the organization starting to show up – like after dating someone long enough to finally see the true person behind the charade and you discover Mr.(or Mrs.) Right is really a jerk who is actually a slob when you aren't around? Well, I fell in love with the Cardinals, and my heart is breaking to think it was all a figment of my imagination. Give me heart and fire and honesty. If that doesn’t “fit”the team, well….
Brendan has always been one of the main reasons I am glued to the television for every single Cardinal game. I know I’m not alone in that as I meet more and more Brendan Ryan fans.
Brendan isn’t a “fit” for the team??
Brendan’s Gold-Glove caliber defense, his amazing range, his spinning, jumping, and diving plays that put him at the top of all MLB shortstops defensively are something that the Cardinals don’t value?
One last time...The Cardinals are a ground ball pitching staff. I know this because everyone says so. Defense behind that type of hurler? It absolutely matters. Remember what it was like in those games when Brendan's glove wasn’t in the game? It was ugly.
Why does it seem obvious to me that the hole in the middle infield defense was at second base? Was Mo watching a different team than I was? The Cardinals decide to fix the middle infield problem by replacing the best defensive shortstop? Does that make sense? Really??
I have no problem with this Ryan Theriot guy. In fact I am quite sure that I would love him – at second base. I’ve read the various opinions, and yesterday Bernie Miklasz had some great info on the comparison of Brendan Ryan and Ryan Theriot. Link here.
I wish Mo would let me in on the grand scheme. Beginning with the Ryan Ludwick trade and continuing to this shortstop dump idea, I have absolutely NO CLUE what the Cardinal brass are thinking. In this Brendan situation - IF there had been an available player whose defense was great and whose bat was strong, then I may have understood and accepted the decision to upgrade. Instead I'm left wondering how this Theriot fella fixes the problem.
I am new at this baseball circus and I do know a lot more than I did just two years ago. However I catch myself wondering how a gal who has followed baseball for only 4 or 5 years can feel so betrayed and frustrated by a series of moves made by baseball professionals and executives who are in this to make money and win? Have I missed the big picture? We are trying to win, right? If the Cardinal blueprint continues with this type of shuffling without major improvement, getting ‘veteran’ players past their prime and neglecting the potential of young, talented players in the process then I worry this team has bigger issues than just locking up the historical golden contract of Mr. Pujols.
Maybe I have blinders and cannot see the wisdom behind the madness. Oh, I certainly hope that's it.
But for now...
I am a Brendan Ryan fan. I look forward to seeing him on the highlight reels in 2011 and winning his many future Gold Gloves. The Cardinals would be crazy to give up on him now. And I may be crazy for being a Cardinal fan. Time will tell. ;)
Now, excuse me while I go kick the crud out of the Hot Stove…..
When my own mother called last week, legitimately worried that I might be burning all my Cardinal gear in a big bonfire out back, I realized that my previous blog post may have been a tad…. ummm, overly dramatic. 
Happy Thought #1: 
