SB Nation St. Louis: All Posts by Bill Hanstockhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-08-14T19:39:29-05:00https://stlouis.sbnation.com/authors/bill-hanstock/rss2012-08-14T19:39:29-05:002012-08-14T19:39:29-05:00Brian Fuentes' Departure Leaves Cardinals With Few Left-Handed Pitching Options
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<p>On Tuesday, newly-acquired <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> reliever <span>Brian Fuentes</span> was placed on the restricted list for personal reasons and has left the team, with <span>Trevor Rosenthal</span> being recalled to take his spot on the roster for the time being. Fuentes' departure may have come at the worst time for the Cardinals, who are suddenly thin on left-handed pitching.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sulia.com/channel/st-louis-cardinals/f/ed85b55c-51f7-461e-a45e-9b8952922931/?source=twitter">Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports</a> that with the trade deadline behind them, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak has said that the chances of picking up a "quality lefthander" before the season ends are quite slim. To make matters worse, St. Louis has only two left-handers in the bullpen in <span>Marc Rzepczynski</span> and Barret Browning. <span>Sam Freeman</span> is also an option at Triple-A.</p>
<p>Left-handed assignments may be interesting down the stretch for the Cardinals if Fuentes remains out for any extended amount of time.</p>
<p><i>For updates, stay tuned to <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a>. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to <a href="http://vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals blog Viva El Birdos</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/">AZ SnakePit</a></i><i>. For more news and notes from around the world of professional baseball, visit <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-cardinals/2012/8/14/3243380/brian-fuentes-departure-cardinals-pitchersBill Hanstock2012-03-31T16:27:38-05:002012-03-31T16:27:38-05:00St. Louis Rams Salary Cap Situation Heading Into April
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> are working on assembling an improved team in 2012 as they continue trying to rebuild for the future. Their miserable 2011 season left them with plenty of positions they need to address for the fall and they will be looking to take advantage of the 2012 NFL Draft, which is just a month away.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/30/salary-cap-situation-for-each-team/">Jason La Canfora of NFL.com recently ran down</a> the salary cap situations of each NFL team as of March 30. Here is what the Rams are looking like as free agency continues and the draft draws closer.</p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>St. Louis Rams</b></span><br> <b>Current contracts:</b> 46<br> <b>Previous year carryover:</b> $3,533,551.00<br> <b>Adjustments:</b> $1,351,548.00<br> <b>Adjusted cap:</b> $125,485,099.00<br> <b>Team cap:</b> $121,170,443.94<br> <b>Cap room:</b> $4,314,655.06<br> <b>Team cash:</b> $94,940,524.94</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, that $4 million in cap space doesn't leave the Rams a lot of wiggle room to make any significant splash in the free agent market. The team may attempt to free up some more space before all is said and done.</p>
<p><i>Stay tuned to <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a> for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>. Visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation NFL</a> for more news and notes around the league.</i></p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/3/31/2916854/st-louis-rams-salary-cap-situation-heading-into-aprilBill Hanstock2012-02-11T14:59:23-06:002012-02-11T14:59:23-06:00Rams GM Search: St. Louis Hires Les Snead, According To Report
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/2/11/2792111/rams-gm-search-george-paton-vikings/in/2469365">The news came out on Saturday afternoon</a> that one of the two finalists for the vacant <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> general manager position, George Paton, had accepted a position as the assistant general manager for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>.</p>
<p>A short time later, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/alexmarvez/status/168434787932061697">Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reported</a> that a source indicated the Rams hired the other finalist for the job, Les Snead. Snead was formerly the director of player personnel with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> organization.</p>
<p>Paton was rumored to be the early favorite in the process, but his promotion within the Vikings organization took him out of the running immediately. The Rams will hope to install a new GM in time for the NFL Scouting Combine and before the start of free agency in March.</p>
<p><i>Stay tuned to <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a> for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>. Visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl" target="_blank">SB Nation NFL</a> for more news and notes around the league.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/2/11/2792178/rams-gm-search-les-snead-hiredBill Hanstock2012-02-11T14:20:17-06:002012-02-11T14:20:17-06:00Rams GM Search: George Paton Out Of The Running As He Becomes Vikings Assistant GM
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> had reportedly narrowed their search for a new general manager down to two final candidates. <a target="_blank" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/2/11/2791555/rams-gm-search-george-paton-vikings-les-snead/in/2469365">The early news on Saturday</a> was that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> director of player personnel George Paton had emerged as the favorite to get the job.</p>
<p>Later on Saturday,<a target="_blank" href="http://blog.vikings.com/2012/02/11/george-paton-promoted-to-assistant-general-manager/"> the Vikings officially announced</a> that Paton had been promoted to be Minnesota's assistant general manager.</p>
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<p>"George has been an integral part of our personnel department since he arrived in 2007," Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said on Saturday. "His work ethic, leadership , professionalism and keen eye for identifying talented football players will continue to be a major asset for our organization as we take on the challenges of competing in the NFC North and winning the Super Bowl."</p>
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<p>Now that Paton is out of the running, it may be an inevitability that the other finalist for the Rams job, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> director of player personnel Les Snead, will be offered the GM position.</p>
<p><i>Stay tuned to <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a> for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>. For updates and perspective on the Minnesota Vikings, head on over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dailynorseman.com/">The Daily Norseman</a></i><i> or <a target="_blank" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Minnesota</a></i><i>. Visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl" target="_blank">SB Nation NFL</a> for more news and notes around the league.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/2/11/2792111/rams-gm-search-george-paton-vikingsBill Hanstock2012-01-15T13:21:08-06:002012-01-15T13:21:08-06:00Jeff Fisher To St. Louis Rams Could Mean Good Things For RB Steven Jackson
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> are looking forward to next season, which will be their first under new head coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher spent over 16 seasons with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Tennessee Titans</a>, where he built a reputation as a proponent of a staunch run-first offense. That reputation will likely carry over to his new position in St. Louis, where at least one Rams running back can stand to benefit from a new style of play.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalfootballauthority.com/2012/01/st-louis-rams-jeff-fishers-arrival-is.html">Robert Neely of the National Football Authority posted a column on Sunday</a> where he discusses the possibilities of a reinvigorated running game under the Fisher regime. Neely points out that Fisher made superstars out of running backs Eddie George and Chris Johnson while at the helm of the Titans, both of whom turned out monster yardage for years.</p>
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<b>More</b>:<a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/1/13/2705324/jeff-fisher-st-louis-rams-2012-head-coach-miami-dolphins-nfl" target="_blank"> St. Louis Rams Target Jeff Fisher, Seal The Deal</a>
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<p>The Rams already have an incumbent yardage-producing running back in Steven Jackson, who has passed the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last seven seasons of his eight-year professional career. He's also versatile, which may also appeal to Fisher. Both George and Johnson caught their fair share of passes in Tennessee.</p>
<p>Jackson will be 29 in the upcoming season, as Neely points out. If his body is still up to the task, Fisher could target Jackson as the new workhorse of the St. Louis Rams in 2012. It is a safe bet that the new head coach will be taking a good long look at the veteran and seeing how the running back fits into the plans for his new team.</p>
<p><i style="background-color: transparent; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more on the Rams, check out <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Turf Show Times</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">St. Louis Rams</a> blog.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/1/15/2709272/jeff-fisher-st-louis-rams-rb-steven-jackson-new-head-coachBill Hanstock2012-01-15T12:56:46-06:002012-01-15T12:56:46-06:002012 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Huskies DT Alameda Ta'amu Could Be The Second-Round Pick For The Rams
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<p>In the many mock drafts that have appeared in the best few weeks since the NCAA football season has drawn to a close, most of the analysts seem to agree that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> will likely use their No. 2 overall pick to select one of two players: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38278/matt-kalil">Matt Kalil</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37330/justin-blackmon">Justin Blackmon</a>. Since the first round seems to have been discussed to death, let us turn our attention to who the Rams might select in the second round of the draft.</p>
<p>The Rams certainly need help on both the offensive and defensive lines. If they do indeed select offensive tackle Kalil in the first round, that would shore up a much-needed slot on the O-line. As the Rams will have the first pick in the second round (the No. 33 overall selection), the best option at that time may be 4-3 defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38743/alameda-ta-amu">Alameda Ta'amu</a> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a>. Here is what <a target="_blank" href="http://www.drafttek.com/CMDRound2_33-48.asp">Robert Occhipinti, Rams analyst for the mock draft website Draft Tek</a>, has to say:</p>
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<p>Again we see the Rams selecting Alameda Ta'amu with the first pick in the 2nd round. The new Rams regime will be built around the Bill Belichek philosophy of dynamic use of draft resources to improve the team by superior scouting and increased trading for additional picks in current and future drafts. That being said, the Rams could very well trade this pick and end up with Alameda or another of this talented group of defensive tackles later in the round or even fill needs at other deep positional needs such as CB or OG. If they do keep this pick, however, Ta'amu or Osemele would be the logical options. Ta'amu has the size the Rams crave inside to help a pathetic run defense from 2011 but as previously stated does not have the long arms vital for individual contributions in the pass rush. Ta'amu can and will be an asset against the pass, but more as a space and block eater than a pressure and sack guy at the next level.</p>
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<p>Ta'amu had his stock drop a bit due to injuries in 2011 and a less-than-impressive showing in the offensive shootout that was the Alamo Bowl, but he remains a top prospect at his position.</p>
<p><i>For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more on the Rams, check out <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> blog. For more details on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, be sure to drop by <a href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/">Mocking the Draft</a>.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/1/15/2709238/2012-nfl-mock-draft-washington-huskies-dt-alameda-taamu-st-louis-rams-second-roundBill Hanstock