Colby sitting out winter ball for “personal reasons”
Posted by erik in Colby Rasmus, David Freese, Winter ballApparently Colby is not going to play winter ball, and it has nothing to do with related injuries. According to the P-D:
Rasmus, once projected to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, apparently will sit out.
“I don’t think it’s as much a knee thing as much as it is a personal decision,” Mozeliak said. “It’s not uncommon for a player to sit there in August and wonder about the validity of going. He may believe there’s more value to experiencing his normal offseason program.”
Does this bother the Cardinals? It would have appeared that a couple of weeks ago they really wanted him to find a team to play for this winter being to make up for some of the time he lost competing. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that last thing Colby will be doing is sitting around at home in Alabama playing video games. He’s a noted “workout warrior”; a couple of seasons ago he put on 20 pounds of muscle during the winter. I just wonder how wise a move it is to refuse to do something your employer would really encourage you to do for “personal reasons”. Maybe I’m getting overly concerned about nothing.
The same article says Freese will be playing winter ball in Venezuela. That brings me to remind you all that we will be covering the winter leagues as closely as we can, right now I’m debating whether or not to do a DFR or just a weekly update. We should find out soon about who will be playing where, and that may help determine the amount of coverage that goes into it.
What say all of you?
Sorry things have slowed since the minor league season is ended, I think we all are just taking a little breather before we get into prospect profiles, ranking players, covering the fall and winter leagues and a number of other things that go on during the offseason. Stay tuned.
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Every week that goes by, unless this winter/next spring things take a drastic turn around, the less and less likely I see Rasmus sticking with the Cardinals. Sadly, it’s just not meshing; and I find plenty of fault on both sides..
I agree Alex. I think we’re headed toward another Reyes-type showdown. I can see them moving Rasmus for about 70 cents on the dollar. . .it hurts my heart to say that. But I am slightly annoyed by his diva-like tendencies. . .if my employer wanted me to do something, I’m not going to sit it out for personal reasons. I just think he’s too huge of a talent to lose unless we’re getting another equally talented young player back in return.
It would seem like a good idea to play Winter Ball if the club had Colby penciled in to start the season in St. Louis but I’m sure Colby realizes he is going to be in AAA no matter what, so If I were Colby I wouldn’t spend 2 months in the Dominican for AAA.
Remember Colby played with the World Cup team last year for a couple of months past the season and did well(He was one of two players to make the all tournament team), came to spring training and did well. Where did he end up? AAA. If he goes to the Dominican and hits .500 what does it matter? If he hits .300 in Spring training again, if he has an OPS second to Albert in Spring Training, does it assure him of a spot on the MLB roster? Nope it doesn’t. If Skip, Ludwick , Rick , and Duncan are in Spring Training, Does Colby have a chance to make the team? Nope he doesn’t.
You know what they say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I don’t think Colby will be so gullible as to believe everything the cardinals tell him anymore. There were alot of prospects that got called up this September, but not the Cards number one prospect. Have you watched who has been in the outfield these last handful of games? He probably knows he has no shot with Larussa running the show so why go above and beyond for the Cardinals when they seem to have done little or nothing for him.
What would a September callup for Colby have shown him? Hey kid, you did good last fall, great this spring, sure you had a rough summer but you are the future and we want you to know we are still in your corner. Here is a taste of the Major Leagues, now go to winter ball and get ready to compete for a job in Spring Training.
Nope, We say, We are not gonna call up Colby Rasmus, “He didn’t earn it”, “He’s hurt”(when he’s not), We put he’s in the TLR doghouse on the front page of the STLToday complete with a picture. Bernie says he will be traded this winter, Strauss rambles on and on about the kid.
I can see why he’s upset, heck, I am and I have never met him.
Agree with the other posters, Colby refusing to go to winter ball outside the US is pretty much the nail in the coffin. He’ll be moved. Unfortunately, we are selling low. If we would have traded Colby last winter he would have brought a kings ransom. I can only hope we get a high level middle infield prospect back in return for Rasmus.
Rasmus is still one of the top 10-20 prospects in all of baseball despite a rough season. Even if he is moved, there is no way I see Mo selling cheap like some of you are saying. One thing is certain. I will be a happy man when we don’t have to worry about whether or not a prospect will mesh with Tony or not.
Probably should’ve held out for one of those major league contracts the recent draftees like Alvarez have received. Then this arbitration clock BS wouldn’t be holding him back.
I think it’s kind of funny how Pop Warner seemed to have an annoyance with Jon Jay at the beginning of the year, but they were able to put it behind them quickly and he ended up having a break-out year at Springfield before being promoted.
He started out batting leadoff before Pop got ticked off at him about something (not being a good bunter), was moved down to #6 in the order, before moving back up to #2 and finding his comfort spot.
Quite a contrast between Pop’s “doghouse” and LaRussa’s.
I’m with you, Erik. I’ve been a TLR fan since his Oakland days, but this reading of the tea leaves to figure out who is aggravated with who and his somewhat passive-aggressive handling of players is getting old.
I saw where Rasmus said on his Facebook page that he was 100%, so apparently it isn’t a health thing.
“I saw where Rasmus said on his Facebook page that he was 100%,”
Not a knock on you C70, but Rasmus (and his family) deep dive into the internet pool is the most troubling thing about the whole situation.
Right now, everything should be held damn close to the vest, for the better of both Rasmus(’ camp) and the Cardinals.
shane – highly doubt the arbitration clock is playing any major role in holding him back. TLR is. there is no doubt about that.
Rasmus is still just 21. In the last 10 years, *in all of MLB*, there have only been 5 players his age or younger who played 100 games with an OPS+ over 100. Only 12 players 21 and younger have even been given the opportunity to play 100+ games.
It’s not Mo’s fault (or LaRussa’s fault) if the kid has unreasonable expectations.
Fritz-I’m with you, 100%. Some of the comments from his dad (if that really is his dad, which i’m pretty sure it is) have been a little more than unnerving, to say the least.
Does anyone but me think it is quite enormously stupid to worry about what anyone but the player thinks? Can someone show me the link where Colby said anything negative about anything? Why is he put in some kind of dog house? Is Colby putting on his facebook page, that his knee is 100% troubling to you? and Why?
Really it sounds to me like Mo leaks these little tidbits of info to Strauss and Strauss has been chopping the kid up all year. I actually like that his family has chosen to put their little bits of info out there to fight back at the cardinals PR man(Strauss). Kind of like an internet rumble in the jungle.
I get a feeling that Rasmus will be traded (unless TLR actually does resign after the season) and I’m ok with Rasmus being traded as long as it’s not for a Chuck Finley type player. And while we’re talking about Rasmus I think it’s ridiculous that Tony would rather play Miles in the outfield instead of bringing up Rasmus. I don’t want to hear about the free agency timeclock stuff. We’re out of it, we’re not going to get back in it so if Rasmus is really 100% why not bring him up to finish out the last 2 weeks of the season in center?
Sleepy,
Where has Colby said he should be in the Majors? I’ve read the scout stuff and his dad is his biggest critic and says he shouldn’t be in the majors. It seems like to me that its like telling someone something on one side of a classroom and telling them to tell the person behind them until it gets to the other side of the room. When it gets to the other side of the room its not what it started out to be.
Anyone know if he was given the chance to go to the AFL this year?
Wow! I thought this was going to be a debate about having daily or weekly DFR’s this winter…silly me.
Before I bore anyone with my take on the ‘Colby Watch’, I throw my name into the hat to help with daily and/or weekly winter FR updates. I recently moved to Topeka, Kansas from Joplin, MO so my daily interaction is once again relegated to the www like most of you. Except for fritz and the others lucky enough to be in the Lou or erik, az, anyone else remotely close to a minor league club — my new home has well Royals…fun. So long story short count me in for anything except trying to decipher Spanish! My three years of Japanese only seems to help at certain sushi restaurants now.
Okay, enough chitchat and nice talk — time to get to the real meat and potatoes of this thing. The real CW (Rasmus, not the crap TV channel) is going to haunt this organization for the near future. Unless someone like Lud or skip is traded to make room for our No. 1 prospect, the trade rumors are going to be flying before the snow. I, for one, am not looking to see him traded anywhere. Like many other loyal FR readers, I have been lucky enough to see Rasmus play in person. Of course this was at AA in 07, so the whole arrogant talk was non-existent. At that time, no one would have thought Joe Mather would be first to play for the BOB.
Colby is much like Pujols in that he can take over a game multiple ways. I wanted to comment before about Rasmus striking out more than some people would prefer, but I think that is awesome to have in front of Albert. Give me someone who can draw a walk like Dunn or at least someone who isn’t afraid of playing second fiddle to AP and designate him the full-time number two hitter. Let the merry-go-round of lead-off guys like Barton, AK, Miles, Izturis, etc. hit in the one spot. The position that matters most to me is smack dab in front of Albert. Colby hits for power, he has awesome gap-ability, you have to pay attention to him on the basepaths.
Okay, so none of that is news around here. One way or another I think MO’s tenure here will be made or broken on how he handles this delicate situation. I leave you with my preferred 09 starting lineup (of course this is with everyone healthy. Enjoy!
1. Greene (SS)
2. Rasmus (CF)
3. Pujols (1B)
4. Ankiel (LF)
5. Ludwick (RF)
6. Glaus (3B)
7. Molina (C)
8. Pitcher
9. Placeholder 2B (Cut AK, sign Ellis? Hoff, Barden, Lopez?)
I say placeholder because in the event Rasmus does get traded for hopefully a huge get from someone — I don’t even have a thought as to where — guess that shows how much I want to see Rasmus playing in STL. Sorry enough of the rant. Unless I am mistaken, AP’s buddy Placido Polanco will be a FA after 09. Nuff said!
LaRussa’s at fault here? How? Really…the only time that Rasmus dealt with TLR was in Spring Training, and extremely few people disagreed with Rasmus being sent down. Mo is the reason why Rasmus wasn’t called up, and I’m sure that the antics that went on during Rasmus’ slump at the beginning of the season didn’t help his standing with the organization at all.
This issue has nothing to do with LaRussa. It has everything to do with Rasmus, the organization as a whole, and how Colby and his family preceive he’s being treated.
Lets just hope that he has a good career with what ever team the Cardinals trade him to.
I was at Spring Training this past spring, and at a game in Port St. Lucie during batting practice, LaRussa was talking to a visiting college team and going on and on about what Rasmus was and would become. Since Rasmus was sent to Memphis within days thereafter, and was not in contact thereafter, I find it hard to believe that LaRussa had time or occasion to become antagonistic toward Rasmus.
I am not familiar with what is going on between Rasmus’ family and the team, but I would guess that is with issues other than LaRussa.
As to why he has not been called up in September, I would submit that that can be explained by the fact that he did not have a good season at AAA AND the fact that they are trying to manage the 40 man roster. Bringing him up when he has not demonstrated that he is ready means that he takes a 40 man roster spot from that time forward at the expense of someone they might lose to the Rule 5 draft, a free agent signing and resulting release of someone they do not want to lose or even another Brian Barton type Rule 5 pick which is a good way to add prospects if you can carry a player all year as your 25th player. If Rasmus is lights out in Spring Training in 2009 or has an excellent beginning of the season at AAA, then a 40man roster spot can be created.
Having said that, and I do really hope he blossoms with the Cards, if there was an opportunity to trade him for Tulowitzki, a shortstop of equal promise and more development, they should do it in a heartbeat. I would be shocked if the Rockies would do that without getting much more in the trade.
At least Jocketty ain’t here, he woulda traded rasmus for burnnett straight up 3 months ago
Alot of the TLR v Rasmus stuff stems from Strauss stating that the teams management was ‘very aware’ of what Colby’s dad had said about Tony and also LaRussa’s statement that Rasmus somehow hadn’t ‘earned’ a call up (while Kelvin bleeping Jiminez had?).
I was searching back through FR and found the page where Jim Edmonds was traded.
Joe Strauss had this to say at the time:
“Leading prospect Colby Rasmus will receive the opportunity to jump next spring from Class AA to Edmonds’ vacated position.”
Which was utter crap. He didn’t receive the opportunity. Because, what he did was rake all winter and rake in the spring, only to be demoted anyways. Heck, Juan Gonzalez lasted longer in ST on the roster than Colby did.
I’m sure a great deal of the sourness between the Cardinals and Rasmus are what he probably felt were promises made. He burned through the system at such a young age, worked hard in the off-season to earn a spot that the Cardinals seemingly cleared out for him, played well enough to get that spot and then was demoted anyways. Then, he was shut down before September over an injury which he apparently says doesn’t exist.
If I’m 21 years old and I have the chance to make the big leagues and my employer is keeping me from getting my day in the sun and my paycheck because they don’t want to pay me more money in the next few years, I’m going to be a tad bitter. Especially when my employer has a desperate need for me RIGHT NOW.
HL.
I can’t help but look at the scenario you write and think about how it would be if I were in that situation. I think the scenario you paint could be pretty accurate mainly because I believe his dad did write something a while back that alluded to Colby being disappointed by not making the big club.
Anyway, I think about how I’d feel and what my family might say and think. Honestly, I think my dad would tell me, “this is how it is”. “You have not earned a spot and you just have to keep getting better”. But that’s my dad. Granted, I have no idea what his dad is telling him, but I get the feeling whatever it is, it’s nowhere close to what I think my dad would have told me. Honestly, I really can’t say what my dad would definitely say, but I know he wouldn’t let me get a big head. Back in high school as a sophomore I hit my very first “over-the-fence” home run. Well, I caught hell once I got to the dugout (and my dad wasn’t even a coach) because he didn’t like how I rounded the bases. Felt I had shown up the pitcher (which I had).
Something tells me Colby’s dad might not care about things like that. But, I really don’t know either.
Anyway to paint Tony as the bad guy…
Right, as you can see, my post was completely irrational. And especially since I never mentioned LaRussa after the first few lines.
I don’t have a lot to add beyond what has already been said – but I distinctly remember a post from Goold over at Bird Land on which Daddy Rasmus chimed in, speaking in the third person and all (and he refers to Colby as ‘Rasmus’, which is strange to me), just railing on how Colby was being held back unreasonably by the Cardinals, and why would his knee injury preclude a September call-up – blah, blah, blah.
If I’m Colby, I tell my dad to shut the heck up and let me play ball. If he plays like we all think he is capable, his bat and glove could make all this talk go away pretty quickly.
Chances of that happening anytime soon? I put them at zero or less.
pitcher
Where is the link to this supposed post at the bird land by Colby’s dad?
PH8, This seems to be a careless misrepresentation of the truth. Why people continue to make reckless statements that just have never occured astounds me. I am a reader at scout and Rasmus’ dad has stated just the opposite, that Colby should not be called up. This is the type of comment that continues to stir stuff up and it just never happened. Senseless gossip.
It’s fine to ask for proof and it’s fine to not like gossip, but let’s not get nasty about it. Talk like you would if you were in person, not like you’re never going to meet each other so you can act like a jerk and get away with it. Get a life! I deleted some of the ugly comments.
Well Eric, I didn’t consider that post to be nasty and I do have a life. I have also met Colby’s family last year in Springfield many times and when someone posts something that is untrue about one of our players families it is troubling to me. My response would be to tell PH8 should get a life and not make a statement like he did but that doesn’t seem to matter much to you it seems.
I apologize for misquoting, the comment was actually in regard to his Olympic selection affecting a September call-up, it was prior to his knee injury.
At any rate, here it is:
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bird-land/bird-land/2008/07/rasmus-barden-picked-for-olympics/comment-page-2/#comments
Fourth comment down.
*shurg*
Robert–There were comments I deleted along the same lines, only said in a much more nastier tone. I wasn’t even referring to you.
What matters to me is people not following the comment guidelines and treating each other like scum on my blog. If you don’t feel like you violated those guidelines then you have nothing to be offended about. I was not even talking to you.
Robert – FWIW, I agree that Colby should’ve been called up (I think he should play winter ball, but we can agree to disagree there). The outfield has been atrocious with Lopez and Miles having to be trotted out there.
I also think Freese merited a look, especially with Glaus down for the last week or so.
PH8, I do feel better that you corrected your error, and by the way, that is not Colby Rasmus’ dad. I continue to correspond with the family and they get credit for a bunch of crap that they did not do.
Eric, I apologize, I didn’t see the other post until I went back over the posts.
No prob, Robert. Miscommunications happen from time to time. There were some other bozos who were trying to be the internet police, in a rather nasty manner. I just thought I’d address it so I wouldn’t see it again. It’s all good.
I really don’t care if Colby sits out winter ball and just gets ready for the season. It’s not like he’s going to be goofing off all winter, that I am pretty certain of. My only issue is if the Cards wanted him to do it, and he said no, I find that a little troubling. A lot of guys don’t stay for the full season anyway. Either way, I do think some of this feud stuff could be a media creation. I don’t know for sure. I’m not drawing any conclusions although some of the doom and gloom in here is getting nuts. “I blog, you decide”. Heh.
I do agree with some of the poster sentiments that Strauss seems to be dogging prospects, at least a bit.
Well, Colby’s dad and I have spoken about it a few times and he believes Colby needs to perform in order to reach the majors.
This is what I was told from him about winter ball.
Colby since 2005 has not had much time off, he has worked out nonstop, hit, thrown year round. last year he played some AFL games then the world cup, rookie camp in Washington, winter warmup all the while working out year round. Colby feels that the reason he broke down this year was because he never got a break last off season and when you combine that with the fact that he hasn’t had a break since 2005, he figures time off will benefit him more than playing. Right or wrong it is what Colby believes will be best for him.
Robert – hard to know what to believe on the ‘intarwebz’ these days, eh? I feel confident taking your word that someone was spoofing him there.
Rasmus is a noted workout warrior, right? Erik and Robert, you both probably hit it spot on that regardless of whether he plays winter ball or not, the kid is going to be working. I just hope he gets his fair shake next spring.
Ankiel, Rasmus, Ludwick sounds like an perfectly fine starting outfield to me.
PH8,
I rarely read any Cardinal news anymore. There are just too many people who would rather start a fight than have a conversation. I can understand where people who are close to ballplayers and their families can get heated, but I think this winter is going to be especially bad for St. Louis fans because of the fanatics out there.
Mo seems to be handling the pressure well, but as soon as the last game is over — we all know how crazy the months of November, December, and January will be. Let Colby take some time off and re-fresh. I guess my other concern is about the surgery to AP. I know that isn’t a hot topic for FR, but I wonder is the team will explore a trade for a known 1B or stick with Duncan. Heck, think Ank can play first? Then Rasmus can take over CF…
My gut still says let Colby tear up AAA for a month and come up late April/early May.
[...] Last week I wondered what was the deal with Colby not playing in a winter league, and a lot of you equated that with Colby being as good as gone. Luhnow responds: “I think he’s going to focus 100 percent on being ready for Spring Training and making this club,” Luhnow said. “That’s where his head needs to be. Forget who’s posted what online, or what people are saying about what he’s doing or not doing. He and I had a good long chat, and I believe he’s got the right attitude. [...]