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LCS game thread: Friday October 10

Game 2 of the NLCS; Game 1 of the ALCS. enjoy the baseball, enjoy the weekend.

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so, serious question about the dodger's lead-off man

it seems there’s a rising tide of VEBers interested is us signing rafael furcal. over his career he’s shown himself to be perfectly capable of league average offense, a very nice value from a shortstop—and i’m going to go ahead and assume he wasn’t going to sustain a 160 OPS+ had he not been injured. how good is his defense? i honestly have almost never watched him play and am not nearly as familiar with the sabr-type fielding stats as a lot of you guys. how about his speed and base running? i did get to watch the game last night but not very closely (had other stuff going on). is he really a more attractive option than others like a ben zobrist or jhonny peralta type? figured i’d ask here since this isn’t worth a fanpost (and nobody seems to read the fanshots…)

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 4:34 PM EDT   0 recs

how good is his defense?

tune in tomorrow! (wink! wink!)

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 5:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

An alteration of the question

How good is his defense post-back injury?

"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."

--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS

by bgh on Oct 10, 2008 5:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

good question

and one I won’t really be able to answer. No one really can yet.

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The reason he's more attractive

is because he’s a legitimate leadoff hitter. Plain and simple.

As for defense, I too am at a loss when it comes to defensive metrics but from watching him play he seems to be a pretty decent shortstop. He has a strong arm and seems to have pretty good range. I think he gets a little erratic at times and screws up some easy plays (like a lot of talented shortstops) but will be a benefit over the course of the season with his bat.

Also, he’s very fast.

And before i hit “post” I see that HC has given us a little primer for tomorrow on this topic. Hopefully, it’s a legit primer and not the one Strauss gave us a couple of weeks ago that really didn’t tell us anything. Just kidding HC. I know you’ll deliver a ton of info.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 5:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

he can do everything a leadoff hitter is supposed to do

get on, takes his fair share of walks, doesn’t strike out much (which is a positive because of his speed), bunt for a hit, steal a base, score from first. etc.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 5:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks, lb

have a great weekend yourself.

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 5:08 PM EDT   0 recs

i hope this continues and lb is going to be our own tommy lasorda

the revered, loved legend who comes back occasionally to spew more wisdom…in 10 years on VEB we will be telling a new member about the old days when lboros ran this ship….fantastic

by VolsnCards5 on Oct 10, 2008 5:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

lboros should be brought in as a "roving blogging instructor"

he’ll give pointers to new bloggers. you’ve got good instincts kid, you need to work on your patience a little and do some more research with every post, there’s no need to be so aggressive when your skill set is so strong.

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 5:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

New rule proposal

Can we institute the “Courtesy Runner” rule used in high school so I don’t ever have to watch Brett Meyers run the bases again?

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 5:17 PM EDT   0 recs

Jeff Suppan

circa 2004 would hope so.

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And the Phillies have just opened up on Billingsley

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 5:23 PM EDT   0 recs

note to self

step one: learn to throw chad billingsley’s curveball
step two: throw it to ryan howard
step three through n: repeat
step (n+1): profit!

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 5:28 PM EDT   0 recs

I guess I've never really looked AT Greg Dobbs

but I almost thought that was Skip Schumaker playing third base for the Phils.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 5:41 PM EDT   0 recs

This is what happens when pitch to contact

goes horribly, horribly wrong.

Ok, so maybe Billingsley isn’t a big PTC guy.

by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2008 5:53 PM EDT   0 recs

What is this 4 pitchers this inning?

Something tells me we aren’t gonna see another 2 hour 37 minute game today.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:09 PM EDT   0 recs

yeah

this series is quickly falling apart in the dodgers’s faces.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Manny! Manny! Manny!

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:24 PM EDT   0 recs

manny being manny

that is, homer to left

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 6:24 PM EDT   0 recs

Tell Lasorda to stay away

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:24 PM EDT   0 recs

i hate booing other players just for being good.

if the guy has said mean stuff about your city or something, that’s one thing. but so often fans in various cities boo guys because they’re awesome. if the other team sucks, what’s there to be proud of? wouldn’t you rather the competition be worthy? i just don’t understand it.

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 6:25 PM EDT   0 recs

to be fair

we cards fans booed ’em when he came to town.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

oh, i'm aware that cardinals fans do it sometimes too

i have long given up on the canard that we are perfect baseball fans. but the phenomenon in general just bothers me. it’s like, how dare our opponents field a competitive team! don’t they know we deserve to automatically win?

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 6:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I don't get it either

but good luck wondering aloud about it.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

i dislike manny ramirez for the same reason i disike phillie and asstro fans.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ten gallon hats

and cheese steaks?

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." -Wes Westrum

by nomar34 on Oct 10, 2008 8:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

True

I was at one of the Dodger/Cards games in August. People were booing Manny but not because he hit a homer (which he did). He was booed because he was dogging it. For example, he walked (not even jogged) back to home plate from first base when a ball was called foul. No one seemed to appreciate that behavior and they let Manny know it.

by cardsgirl95 on Oct 10, 2008 7:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm not buying it

Why would our fans care if he’s “dogging” it? They boo’d him because it’s popular to boo Manny Ramirez.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 8:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

because we like to see baseball played the right way?

that type of behavior is insulting to the people in the stands.

the enemy's gate is down.

by SleepyCA on Oct 10, 2008 8:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh I forgot

Cardinal fans are the smartest and best fans in the history of baseball. Fans who won’t put up with a player who would dare to “dog” it, but if you wanna buy steroids or HGH and you wear the sacred Birds on the Bat and you’ve got any ol’ lame ass excuse then all is fine.

But, that’s all I’m gonna say about it. Because this is now the second time this discussion has come up about Manny and apparently the same stupid double standards still apply.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 8:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

drop the attitude

fans EVERYWHERE should boo when someone dogs it.

the enemy's gate is down.

by SleepyCA on Oct 10, 2008 9:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I've got an attitude?

Because I pointed out a double standard? Seems some people will never admit they hold Cardinal players who hustle to a much lower standard.

Whatever.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 9:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You win

I’m not going to play this “gimme a name” game.

Was hustle the right word to use? I don’t know. It only popped into my head because Juan Enc was so despised by so many because he didn’t hustle or didn’t care or some other reason.

But, it should be obvious I’m making a point about Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus and Ryan Franklin who fans don’t seem to get offended by (unless your talking about Franklin trying to close games) like they are so up in arms over Manny. And many of these fans would love to see Brian Roberts acquired in the offseason to play 2nd base, but can’t believe Manny should ever be allowed to step on to a baseball field because he doesn’t “respect” the game.

And I still have no idea what that means. I guess not understanding that concept is what has given me an “attitude”.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 10:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

your post was dripping with sarcasm

and you launched a completely non-sequiter attack on ankiel, glaus, franklin, etc in order to mock your own home team’s fans for booing a lazy player. But I apologize; i should have responded to the argument, not the sarcasm. Just in a crabby mood, I guess.

Anyway, I’m certainly not saying that Manny doesn’t belong on a baseball field- I would have even loved to see Mo make the trade to bring him in this year. We’d probably still be playing if he did, and I’d be cheering for him as much as for anyone else. but if Manny isn’t going to respect the fans and if he isn’t going to respect the game, then the fans certainly have no reason to respect him as an opposing player. Boo away when he comes to town, best fans in the history of baseball.

(the fact that juan enc was despised by fans for being 1/5th the slacker that manny is certainly doesn’t help your argument any, btw. Not to mention the fact that we have no proof that Manny never did the things Ankiel, glaus and franklin did; his peak certainly came at the right time. he just didn’t get caught.)

the enemy's gate is down.

by SleepyCA on Oct 10, 2008 11:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

nothing upsets me more

than going to a game here in Houston and listening to those classless Astros’ fans boo Albert. Why do they do this? Because he’s good. There’s no other reason. I don’t pay a lot of attention to all the Manny Ramirez drama, but Albert’s got nothing like that. It’s just an innate lack of class. I don’t agree w/ booing Manny or Barry Bonds either but at least the booing often isn’t just b/c the player is good. I would hope Cards’ fans don’t boo Derrek Lee, for example. Lack of class!

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 8:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

this is what i was trying to get at

obviously there’s a lot of baggage to manny so his situation is more complicated. but houston fans booing albert was actually the exact example i was thinking of (maybe i should have mentioned it…)
also i’ve been at games at busch when people threw back home run balls from the opposing team. that’s totally lame, and very chicago-like.

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 8:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

it's idiotic

give it to me. I’d love to have it.

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 8:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Brett Meyers is pissing me off right now

everything he hits finds some hole on the field where no one can make a play on it.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:36 PM EDT   0 recs

+1

i bet you 700 billion bailout internet dollars it ends up being more runs.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll take that bet!

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah, i kinda sandbagged that one, didn't i?

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

just a little

i guess i owe you 700 billion dollars. better consult missur bush.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

actually you should refuse to pay me 700 billion internet dollars

so then I can raise it 860 billion internet dollars and then you say “ok, that’s better”.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

okay

how about double or nothing?

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

nope

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 6:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

new meaning to "pitcher's duel"

What the hell. So, does this validate pitcher batting eighth?

"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT

by Yadi2Second on Oct 10, 2008 6:37 PM EDT   0 recs

"the reigning national league mvp"

i shudder a little every time i hear that…

by mattybobo on Oct 10, 2008 6:38 PM EDT   0 recs

ugh.

if albert pujols doesn’t win the mvp this year i will cease watching baseball.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 10, 2008 6:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

that's just crazy talk

if he loses , take solace in Valatan’s view that he will be cheaper to re-sign that way. I just hope Val is right

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Oct 10, 2008 7:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ummm

ryan madson is pretty nasty

by VolsnCards5 on Oct 10, 2008 7:43 PM EDT   0 recs

but did tim mccarver just say he threw the best changeup on the phillies staff?

i don’t know a whole lot about pitching, but if his changeup is better than cole hamels’, then he should be starting

by VolsnCards5 on Oct 10, 2008 7:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Tim McCarver

is the greatest sportscaster the world has ever seen.

For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!

by miniboscorino on Oct 10, 2008 7:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

it's not

and Tim’s an idiot!

by chuckb on Oct 10, 2008 8:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The Dodgers have to be thinking

2 freaking innings? We outplay them for all but 2 freaking innings this series and we are down 2-0?

by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2008 7:44 PM EDT   0 recs

I'm rooting for the Dodgers

but deep in my mind I know the Phillies have the better chance to beat either the Red Sox or Rays in the WS. So as a NL fan it wouldn’t kill me to see the Phillies advance to the WS…especially if it’s the Red Sox in the WS.

We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.

by KYCards on Oct 10, 2008 7:55 PM EDT   0 recs

I'm praying the Rays

run circles around the Red Sox, Papelbon closing out another series is not something I want to see again.

For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!

by miniboscorino on Oct 10, 2008 7:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The key for the Rays is to just play ball and not let stuff get into their minds

like the Angles, Rockies, Indians, Yankees and even the 04’ Cardinals did when they played the Red Sox in post season.

I’m not saying the Red Sox are not a good team but they have really benefited from other teams thinking too much about situations and in turn they have choked.

We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.

by KYCards on Oct 10, 2008 8:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

trouble: invited

Check.

"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT

by Yadi2Second on Oct 10, 2008 7:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Lidge walks the first batter!

me likey.

defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.

by effin fisk on Oct 10, 2008 7:59 PM EDT   0 recs

you know what would be great

If Albert secretly called up the Dodgers and said hey, you know that Lidge guy? I have some helpful tips.
Such a helper.

"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT

by Yadi2Second on Oct 10, 2008 8:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Shut up Tim, you spoil the mood.

For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!

by miniboscorino on Oct 10, 2008 8:03 PM EDT   0 recs

How many times has Lidge blown a save against STL?

For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!

by miniboscorino on Oct 10, 2008 8:04 PM EDT   0 recs

I didn't know Nomar won a game with a walk off in La?

For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!

by miniboscorino on Oct 10, 2008 8:07 PM EDT   0 recs