David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

[dce1228]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

The folks in St. Louis will LOVE this guy. Great signing. And good for Eckstein, too.

[dce1228]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

The folks in St. Louis will LOVE this guy. Great signing. And good for Eckstein, too.

[Mr_October]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

I love this signing by the Cards. He's a perfect fit in STL. I'm a huge fan of his and I'd rather be spending less for Eckstein than sign Renteria or Cabrera to a huge deal. Eckstein isn't the best offensive player but he's a great leadoff hitter and next to none with his defense.

[Mr_October]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

I love this signing by the Cards. He's a perfect fit in STL. I'm a huge fan of his and I'd rather be spending less for Eckstein than sign Renteria or Cabrera to a huge deal. Eckstein isn't the best offensive player but he's a great leadoff hitter and next to none with his defense.

[dieselboy]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

I love this signing by the Cards. He's a perfect fit in STL. I'm a huge fan of his and I'd rather be spending less for Eckstein than sign Renteria or Cabrera to a huge deal. Eckstein isn't the best offensive player but he's a great leadoff hitter and next to none with his defense.

Eh, next to none with his defense? He is a little overrated. He has good hands, and doesn't mess up with a lot of balls, but his range is just a little above average and his arm could be better from the SS position. But he is scrappy and often finds a way to make plays and get guys out.

[dieselboy]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

I love this signing by the Cards. He's a perfect fit in STL. I'm a huge fan of his and I'd rather be spending less for Eckstein than sign Renteria or Cabrera to a huge deal. Eckstein isn't the best offensive player but he's a great leadoff hitter and next to none with his defense.

Eh, next to none with his defense? He is a little overrated. He has good hands, and doesn't mess up with a lot of balls, but his range is just a little above average and his arm could be better from the SS position. But he is scrappy and often finds a way to make plays and get guys out.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Ugh. Three freakin' years? I pray to the baseball gods that they do not start him at SS. I have been rather spoiled in my lifetime by the SS's that have played here, and Eckstein will just not do defensively.

Count me as a Cardinal fan that does not like this signing for a leadoff hitter/ss. If he ends up playing 2B, I'll be satisfied. I just hope that Walt can sign Cora and put him at ss.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Ugh. Three freakin' years? I pray to the baseball gods that they do not start him at SS. I have been rather spoiled in my lifetime by the SS's that have played here, and Eckstein will just not do defensively.

Count me as a Cardinal fan that does not like this signing for a leadoff hitter/ss. If he ends up playing 2B, I'll be satisfied. I just hope that Walt can sign Cora and put him at ss.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

David Eckstein - SS - STL


According to ESPN.com, David Eckstein received a three-year, $10.25 million contract from the Cardinals.

He gets a $250,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2.25 million, $3.25 million and $4.5 million. We were thinking $4 million per year, so this isn't quite so bad. Dec. 23 - 8:55 pm et
Source: ESPN.com
=====

Not that bad, our payroll is expected to increase next year to over 100 mil (due to new stadium) so we can take it with it getting bigger at the end.

The other 3 names I've heard most linked to our MIF are:

Julio Lugo SS from TB (would have to be traded for)
Alex Cora 2B/SS from LA (free agent)
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2B from BAL (would have to be traded for)

So if we get Lugo or Cora they'd be the SS most likely, if we got Hairston he'd be 2B and Eckstein would stay at SS. Barry Larkin has also been mentioned but supposably he is asking for too much money for what he would give the team.

I would love Lugo at SS and Eckstein at 2B.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

David Eckstein - SS - STL


According to ESPN.com, David Eckstein received a three-year, $10.25 million contract from the Cardinals.

He gets a $250,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2.25 million, $3.25 million and $4.5 million. We were thinking $4 million per year, so this isn't quite so bad. Dec. 23 - 8:55 pm et
Source: ESPN.com
=====

Not that bad, our payroll is expected to increase next year to over 100 mil (due to new stadium) so we can take it with it getting bigger at the end.

The other 3 names I've heard most linked to our MIF are:

Julio Lugo SS from TB (would have to be traded for)
Alex Cora 2B/SS from LA (free agent)
Jerry Hairston Jr. 2B from BAL (would have to be traded for)

So if we get Lugo or Cora they'd be the SS most likely, if we got Hairston he'd be 2B and Eckstein would stay at SS. Barry Larkin has also been mentioned but supposably he is asking for too much money for what he would give the team.

I would love Lugo at SS and Eckstein at 2B.

[TheTruth916]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Good pick up for the Cards, because he was the only good SS free. But David doesn't have above average range at SS...it's more average at that spot. But he will get guys out from the SS spot with his corky throwing style from Short to First. He should do fine.

[TheTruth916]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Good pick up for the Cards, because he was the only good SS free. But David doesn't have above average range at SS...it's more average at that spot. But he will get guys out from the SS spot with his corky throwing style from Short to First. He should do fine.

[dieselboy]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Lugo would be solid. He can play SS, 2B, OF, and has really good range, plus a solid bat for a middle infielder.

[dieselboy]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Lugo would be solid. He can play SS, 2B, OF, and has really good range, plus a solid bat for a middle infielder.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: David Eckstein is a St. Louis Cardinal!

Good pick up for the Cards, because he was the only good SS free. But David doesn't have above average range at SS...it's more average at that spot. But he will get guys out from the SS spot with his corky throwing style from Short to First. He should do fine.

Yeah his range at SS does worry me, it helps some having Rolen play next to him because Rolen fields some balls that most 3B wouldn't have a shot at so that will help him out a little if he sticks at SS. I haven't seen how he throws a whole lot, only have watched Anaheim play a little since their WS run back in 02, but once I start seeing him more that would erase my doubts more likely about his throwing.

Lugo would be solid. He can play SS, 2B, OF, and has really good range, plus a solid bat for a middle infielder.

If the Cards could add Lugo to play at SS I think that would be the best fit, he has a strong arm, above league average for range at SS, and would be the person who could come closest to matching Renteria's offense.

Lugo has a high error total for his career but one thing I've noticed is that Edgar Renteria had some bad error totals (26,27,24) in his first 3 years in STL, then his next (and final 3) years in STL he had totals (19,14,11) that progressively got better each year.

The 3 years his error totals started to decline were the 3 seasons he played with Scott Rolen by his side, I think the Rolen factor could help Lugo turn the corner defensively this season.