STLCards: Bryce, Manny, or a starting pitcher plus depth?

STL Cards fans: Don't drink the Bryce Harper Kool-Aid

Thursday night, I saw a #Bryce2STL hashtag trending on Twitter.

Time to respond.

First, Paul Goldschmidt IS Bryce Harper for this year, if you will.

Second, especially with that framing, you can never have enough pitching.

And, contra the Mike Shildt bullshit, Adam Wainwright not only is not a sort-of No. 1 starter, he's really not a starter period. Michael Wacha is not a No. 1 starter; he's a recurring injury waiting for a new outbreak. Alex Reyes should not be pencilled in for anything until he hurdles his two serious injuries for more than 25-30 innings.

A rotation that starts off with Miles Mikolas, Carlos Martinez and maybe, say, Dallas Keuchel has a solid foundation. Mikolas should eat a lot of innings, too, and Keuchel can. (I'll have a post next week on a suggested offer to Keuchel, assuming he's still available.)

Jack Flaherty is your No. 4. Luke Weaver, John Gant and Daniel Poncedeleon fight for the No. 5.

Waino goes in the pen for long relief, spot starts to stretch out the four young'uns early in the season and to mop up. Maybe use Andrew Miller as an occasional "opener" on a lefty-heavy team and have Waino follow. Reyes also spot starts after rounding into shape in Memphis. Reassess the 4-5 spots by or before the All-Star break.

A rotation like that also stabilizes the pen a lot.

But, we need another starter, IMO. Waino isn't one and what I said on Wacha. I got into a fairly friendly, but somewhat heated, Twitter discussion on this last Friday with a group of Cards fans, in the hipster / bro / lumberjack division of male Millennials, perhaps, who can think of nothing beyond the imperative of signing Bryce.

Maybe it's the bro and hipster types among Millennial #STLCards fans who think Bryce Harper is the be-all and end-all, I guess? Judging by Twitter responses to me, that's my best guess. Maybe some own stock in a new website, or a Bleacher Report sub-vertical?

— @realDonaldTrump 🌻🚩 (@SocraticGadfly) January 18, 2019

They're intoxicated to the point that they ignore the reality that Manny Machado is much better. (One even pivoted to say that Matt Carpenter said he feels comfortable in the OF, if the Cards needed room for Machado. I'd take Manny well ahead of Bryce, but ... lemme see ... that's the Matt Carpenter with 24 games of MLB outfield experience and none since 2014? Find me a better way to make room for Machado. (Even if WAR is overrated, runs above average, runs from position, and more, Manny is ahead of Bryce on all, which, as much as alleged underpay offers to Machado, may be part of why both are still unsigned. In fact, if 7/$175 from the ChiSox is actually Manny's best offer, I would applaud Mo if he beat that just enough to sign him. Without parking Carp in the OF every day, we'll find a way to make room in the inn-field.)

But, there are cheaper solutions yet that, because they don't involve infield finagling and do address pitching rotation realities, not fantasies.

Anyway, here's a sample Tweet with my quote:

When a #STLCards fan is so desperate for ONLY Bryce Harper he tweets this as an allegedly "ace" rotation to avoid discussing the idea of trading for or signing as a FA a starting pitcher instead of Harper. https://t.co/Pjmm6F0IFL

— @realDonaldTrump 🌻🚩 (@SocraticGadfly) January 18, 2019

No, just no.

First, per above, Waino ain't a starter. Second, Cards fans counting Reyes eggs before they hatch need to Just.Stop.It. Third, Wacha's an injury waiting to happen, as noted. If you seriously think Waino is a starter (other than Mike Shildt making him one in a lineup) you've already damaged your credibility with me.

As for "fill"? Give Curtis Granderson a cheap contract as a backup LH corner OF. That's especially important if Dexter Fowler doesn't bounce back.

NB: The Reds possibly adding Sonny Gray further underscores the value of good pitching arms.

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And, if you have to salivate over Harper, at least be realistic about his value. Oh, and hit the poll at right as to when you think Harper will sign, wherever that might be.