In Which the Author Struggles Mightily to Find Suitable Subject Matter

Writers block? Really??

If that’s what your writer’s block produces, I’ve got 3 graduate papers that I’d love to introduce you to.

I agree with your NL MofY assessment. Others did more with less. Then again, the Central was a pretty tough division this year, and the Cubs won it. ughhh

My first memory of Cardinals baseball is seeing Darrell Porter jump into Bruce Sutter's arms on October 20, 1982!

by 82Special on Nov 19, 2008 9:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The only explanation I can find about their signing of Affeldt is that they’ll try to sell him by midseason, luring a prospect from someone. Who cares how much he costs, when you’re gonna pay him a quarter of the contract, getting back a prospect? Let’s see if that will pay out.

GO CARDS!!!

by SuperSeve on Nov 19, 2008 9:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if the signing...

wasn’t because they made him a lower offer than they expected him to take, and he accepted. I think he easily could have gotten either 2/$10mil or 3/$12 mil. He’s a type B, so there’s no risk in signing him right now, which brings me to my next point. Would it be worthwhile to do a thread centered on available type B free agents that the Cards might be interested in, and/or type A’s that we know WILL get offered arbitration…particularly LHRP’s and MIF’s? Perhaps this belongs in the hot stove thread, but these are the guys that might be snatched up in the next three weeks.

by cardzfanbub on Nov 19, 2008 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's probably it

the Giants made a low offer to see if they could land a bargain, and they did (unless, of course, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, but why would they do that?). and perhaps we wanted to move to the sunny climes of Cali, which doesn’t sound like a bad option right about now.

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ever been to San Francisco?

It’s not exactly the picture of what many think of when they think of sunny California. It’s cold and rainy a lot. And there aren’t any beaches. Oh, and there are homeless people EVERYWHERE. San Francisco, in a lot of respects, is becoming what Times Square was back in the 80’s but on a much larger scale.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I've been very near San Fran

in the month of May, it was very nice out. but I’m sure it’s not always like that. I suppose SoCal kind of takes over the collective unconscious view on California

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the Beach Boys had a lot to do with that I assume.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wish the allll could bee Callliiifornia girrrrls

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!

by gdm426 on Nov 19, 2008 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Living in San Fran

I’m an old St. Louisan who has lived in San Fran for the last 8 years. It can be cold in the summer when the fog rolls in, that is if you think 55 is cold. The difference is that Sept thru November we regularly have temps in the ’80’s and the abundant beaches; such as Ocean Beach, Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Santa Cruz, etc… are a very nice place to be. Pac Bell is one of the best parks I’ve ever been in and the weather is pretty damn good, certainlly none of those scorching STL summer days I don’t miss at all. And by the way it almost never gets colder than 45 in the winter and we consistently have days in the 70’s. No, it’s not southern cal but if you’ve spent any time in LA we NoCal folks thank the lord we’re not like them. As for homeless people, couldn’t agree more, they are a consistent problem. Hopefully some day we get them out of here!

SF CARDS FAN

by norlanski on Nov 19, 2008 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yup yup

I happened to love the weather in SF. When it gets above 80 I get angry. In fact, these past few days have been too hot for me in the 70s. And despite my undying hatred of the Giants I do love going to that stadium, plus we’ve got the As just a BART ride away, so life’s not bad, despite what O’Rilley might have you believe.

Pujols for Secretary of Defense.

by davethebutcher on Nov 19, 2008 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If San Francisco wasn't so screwed up

I’d love to move there. The weather is exactly the way I like it and it’s absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, I think the overall agenda of the city government is ruining the city. Too bad. It is/could be/should be the most beautiful city in America.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not the lefties that are the problems

it’s the yuppies restricting housing supply, making rent unobtainable for everyone.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 9:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's starting to happen here in Austin, TX

the HOAs are basically making it impossible to build new apartment complexes. it’s going to be thousand dollar rents on one bedrooms in ten or fifteen years.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my friend from Austin

was talking about that the other day. he couldn’t find a job there either, even though he’s from there. wacky

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 20, 2008 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no need to worry

I just need 250 words or so that mention the words Pujols, Cardinals, and some variation of hate for cubs to distract me from whatever work i’m supposed to be doing. you could probably fill in the rest with styx lyrics and i wouldn’t notice.

agreed about pinella though. shouldn’t moy go to somebody who got his team to overperform? maybe a team riddled with injuries and unknowns that somehow battled the odds to stay in contention most of the summer? you know…like the yankees.

by spencegrif on Nov 19, 2008 10:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
Mata ahoo Hima de
Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
Himitsu wo Shiri tai.
You’re wondering who I am – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

Cardinal or Mannequin – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

With parts made in Japan – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

I am the Modren Mang.

I’ve got a secret
I’ve been hiding under my skin

My heart is huMang
my blood is red
my brain I.B.M.
So if you see me acting strangely
don’t be surprised

I’m just a Mang who needed someone
and comewhere to hide
To keep me alive – just keep me alive

Somewhere to hide to keep me alive.

I’m not a robot without emotions – I’m not what you see

I’ve come to help you with your problems
so we can be free.
I’m not a Hero
I’m not a Saviour
forget what you know

I’m just a Mang whose circumstances went beyond his control

Beyond my control – we all need control.
I need control – we all need control.
I am the Modren Mang – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

Who hides behind a mask – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

So no one else can see – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

My true identity.
Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
Domo – Domo

Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
Domo – Domo

Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
Domo Arigato
Mr. Roboto
. . .
Thank you very much
Mr. Roboto
for doing the jobs that nobody wants to

And thank you very much
Mr. Roboto
for helping me escape
Just when I needed to. Thank you
thank you
thank you

I want to thank you
please
thank you

The problem’s plain to see: Too much Cubology

Cardinalsto save our lives
Cardinals de-huMangize.

The time has come at last – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

To throw away this mask – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

Now everyone can see – secret
secret – I’ve got a secret

My true identity – I’m Pujols
Pujols
Pujols
Pujols!

"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."

by StLHugo on Nov 19, 2008 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

yeah totally

Something about tony larussa arbitrarily slighting young players, a plea not to overspend on a veteran pitcher set to decline, and a moan about jo-el piniero’s contract.

i am satisfied.

by spencegrif on Nov 19, 2008 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As far as manager of the year

Lou Pineilla in no way deserved that award. On paper, the Cubs were by far and away the best team in the National League. They had the highest payroll and they still didn’t win nearly the number of games they should, nor did they do well in the playoffs.
Frankly, I think that Cecil Cooper should have received a great amount of consideration. Here was a team that greatly outperformed, relative to their pythagorean, and I think he had them playing pretty good baseball, particularly down the stretch. Also, I think some consideration should have gone to La Russa, he took a team of basically nobodies, with the exception of Pujols, devastated by injuries to the pitching staff, and to their star player for part of the season, and still put together a team that was in contention in September.

by ckeiner on Nov 19, 2008 10:22 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

Excellent points!

That Lou won MOY with a team that was supposed to win it all and didn’t is a joke. While I enjoy seeing what happens with these awards, I tend to take them with a grain of salt. The winners are chosen by a select few who think they are the greatest baseball experts ever. I hate to inform them but I see better analysis here on this blog than I see in their articles.

Before the season it was all about the Cubs winning it all, well, we are still gladly waiting! The Rays were gonna have another bust year and on and on they went. To me there is only one true award that counts and that is the one the Philadelphia Phillies won. Hopefully the Cards will win that this year.

I gave you a rec for your excellent points. Great job!

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.-Rogers Hornsby

by thegashousegang on Nov 19, 2008 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Problem with that is voting ends w/ the regular season

so any postseason expectations can’t be accounted for.

"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."

by StLHugo on Nov 19, 2008 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

How can you give a guy an award for doing exactly what was expected of him? I don’t know…I just thought TLR, C. Manuel, Cooper, and Sveum (ok that’s a joke), all did a better job with what the teams they had to work with than Sweet Lou. Put me in charge of the Cubs roster and I could probably win at least 85-90 games, or at least I’d like to think so ;)

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Nov 19, 2008 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Definitely

I’m sure any of us could have managed those Cubs to 85-90 wins.

HOWEVER, I doubt many of us would have gotten the Cards to 86 wins.

Two goldfish are in a tank. One of them turns to the other and says, "You man the guns, I'll drive!"

by thegodfather on Nov 19, 2008 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Then why give AP the MVP?

Isn’t he expected to do what he did year in and year out? Don’t be a hypocrite

"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."

by StLHugo on Nov 19, 2008 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Expectations & the Average Joe

The argument here is that, given the talent that the Cubs had available, an average MLB manager would have been able to steer that team to 90-95 mins. Piniella is an above average manager, getting them 2-7 more wins than average manager would get. A greater case could be made for LaRussa, who coaxed 86 wins out of a perceived 70-75 win team. Maybe somebody did a better job than Tony (I didn’t look that hard), but I think it is clear that Lou did not do the best.

Shifting that to Pujols, it is not a matter of what we expected out of him, but how he compared to the average player or average first baseman.

That said, the Cubs do deserve my pity, but never my support.

by Solanus on Nov 19, 2008 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Albert was the most deserving candidate though...

IMO there were other managers out there who did a better job with their teams than Pinella did. And giving a manager an award is alot different than giving a player an award since there are less ways to measure a manger’s success. The easiest way to is by wins. With the roster the Cubs fielded they should have won 95-100 games and they did. Not many expected the Cards or the Astros to win 86 games. Now it’s not just the manager who has a hand in this, obviously the players are the most intrical pieces of the puzzle but the manager arranges those pieces accordingly.

I believe TLR did more work with his pieces and exceeded expectations, whereas Lou did do his job which was win the division and get the Cubs to the playoffs. If I felt Lou deserved the award over Tony or Cecil, I would agree with giving it to him. But, I felt he didn’t do anything out of the ordinary to stand out and deserve the award other than criticize Fukudome. Albert on the other hand was a clearly deserved his award. There’s a big difference between the two and I don’t appreciate being called a hypocrite.

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Nov 19, 2008 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Really...

could you? You wouldn’t be tempted to do what it takes to lose 85-90 games? You are a better man than I am.

by cardzfanbub on Nov 19, 2008 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well this is true

the fact that it’s the Cubs would weigh heavily on my conscience when it comes to winning. Let’s say I am managing the Reds with the Cub’s roster and I win 85-90 games. That sounds much more appealing.

Or

Oooh how about this: I win the 90 games as the Cub’s manager then, come the playoffs, I do the biggest tank job in baseball history ensuring the futility of Cubdom lives on. I like that one even better…. :)

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Nov 19, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

but that’s been done. In fact it’s been done so much that I wouldn’t even enjoy it if weren’t happening to the Cubs.

by cardzfanbub on Nov 19, 2008 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do more than simply enjoy it.

I take off my clothes and roll in it.

(did I say that out loud?)

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You did.

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 8:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Larussa......

would have gotten consideration if his team wouldn’t have crumbled during September. Then he started playing people like he was managing a church league softball team with his series of outfield lineups. It became a joke and I’m sure the voters saw it as such.

Why is it that Larussa’s team’s seem to fall apart late in every year?

by Waxing Gibbous on Nov 19, 2008 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The opposite was true for the longest time before 2006

It used to be “I can’t believe how much La Russa’s teams surge late in the season”

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Older players........

run out of gas. And Tony has really become attached to playing older washed up guys and the results have been a collapse in September.

by Waxing Gibbous on Nov 19, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who were the old guys on the Cardinals this year?

Russ Springer?

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention that there were plenty of veterans on the 2002 squad, for example.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There's a problem with the "expectations" argument...

Who sets these definitive expectations anyways? And what is an expectation? Essentially, it’s a prediction, and it has no bearing on any results. Teams don’t win simply because they’re expected to win.

Don’t discount Pinella simply because the Cubs were the hot pick to finish tops in the NL and to go to the World Series. He’s not the magazine writer throwing the Cubs on the cover and anointing them the best team before a single game has been played.

Look, Lou would admit his team has plenty of talent. But he still got them over a course of six months of daily grind to finish with, by far, the best record in the league.

Does this mean the manager of the team with the best record should win Manager of the Year every time? Of course not. It just means that you can’t discount a guy for “just” living up to expectations, and not passing them, when people gave him the highest expectations possible!

by IsThisHeaven on Nov 19, 2008 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Joe Torre even deserved it more than Pineilla

Not sure how the manager of the team picked as the cream of the crop of the NL did anything special

by saladdays on Nov 19, 2008 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Torre did do a fine job

But barely winning the NL West when no one seemed to want to win the division hurt him. They also didn’t begin to make the push until ManRam came along so his presence would have been seen as more of a benefit to the Dodger’s success than Torre’s more than likely.

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Nov 19, 2008 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No love for Charlie Manuel?

…oh, wait; the Phils were “the team to beat” according to Jimmy Rollins. Guess he was right!

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Nov 19, 2008 10:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Da Sawks..

….just traded Cereal Boy Coco Crisp to the Royals for Ramon Ramirez; I wonder who we cud have gotten for one of our outfielders…

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

by The MooCow on Nov 19, 2008 10:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Going to be an underrated trade based on the stats

Ramirez had the 3rd lowest contact% against in the majors last year. Don’t know anything else about him but that’s a good start for a reliever.

Kosuke Fukudome: $48 million .257 .359 .379
Skip Schumaker: $Free .302 .359 .406
Skippy needs a new publicist, but I heart Ben Zobrist

by joker24 on Nov 19, 2008 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Royals have a traffic jam at OF

Cubs have supposedly expressed interest in Teahen, FWIW.

by mojowo11 on Nov 19, 2008 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why wouldn't they just play DeRosa in the RF

and put Fontenot at 2B if they’re going to do that? Teahen isn’t any better than DeRosa with the bat, and they already have both of those players next year.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because they are desperate to add a left-handed bat to the team.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know...

But playing Fontenot at 2B solves that problem, and his counting stats would be similar to what they would get from Teahen. Why are they looking to trade for a guy when they could just pay up for Ibanez or Dunn and get the job done? It’s not like they really care about they’re defense anyway…

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They can't afford Ibanez or Dunn.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They can afford just about anyone they want

It’s whether they want to look like the Second City Yankees is the question. The Cubs have a ridiculous revenue stream for a major league franchise. I’m surprised they aren’t making a run at Sabathia to be totally honest.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 20, 2008 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't call it a sham, but...

What does Joe Mauer have to do to get a little MVP consideration? It’s hard to argue that he’s underrated, but I don’t think enough people really appreciate all that he brings to the table.

by billymartin on Nov 19, 2008 10:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No kidding

What else does the guy have to do to get noticed?

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

playing somewhere otther than Minneapolis

is a start.

I'd rather my sister be a prostitute than my brother a Cub fan.

by _pistol_ on Nov 19, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hitting more than 10 homers in a season in the homer dome

Would really help his cause….contact hitters, no matter where they play, just aren’t going to get MVP consideration.

I don’t understand the love for Mauer — given his stats this year, if he was MVP, Pudge should be a 5 time MVP, and Bench probably should have won at least 3 more. He’s a really good player, but I don’t think that he’s a cornerstone/franchise type of player.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's a point

counterpoint

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's your counterpoint?

That Ichiro won the All-Star Game MVP</strong? Weren’t we talking about league MVP?

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ichiro DID win the league MVP in 2001

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/stories/2001-11-20-al-mvp.htm

Sorry, I sent the wrong link.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And the fact that he beat out

Giambi that year is a travesty, even though Giambi was certainly juicing back then. Giambi’s OPS+ that year was 198, playing in Oakland when it was still a pitchers paradise. His season on 2001 was better than Albert’s this year, and was beat out by a guy who had 242 hits for a team that won 116 games. Oakland finished with 102 wins and got beat by the Yankees because of that stupid Derek Jeter play where Giambi’s brother didn’t slide.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know. And you have to factor how nutso the press was about Ichiro that year.

I’m just saying that there is a relatively recent case of a slap hitter winning MVP.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He did when

But comparing his season that year, when he led the league in steals as well as batting average, and played on a 116 win team and was the media darling all year long, to Mauer’s this year just doesn’t jive.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

title

voting

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

someone gave Steve Kline a 10th place vote that year.

Bizarre.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

they liked his hat

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot how gaudy the Boone bros #'s were

during the juiced era.

I'd rather my sister be a prostitute than my brother a Cub fan.

by _pistol_ on Nov 19, 2008 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you are not comparing Mauer

against his league you are comparing him to the greatest players ever…against the rest of the American League in 2008 (or 2006) he was as valuable as anyone else maybe more so…and HHH Dome isnt exactly a homer dome like it used to be…it was the 9th hardest to hit HR in this year…

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." -Rogers Hornsby

by nomar34 on Nov 19, 2008 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that is according

to ESPN Park Factors, BTW

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." -Rogers Hornsby

by nomar34 on Nov 19, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So he's the MVP

Because of the lack of a better candidate then? I suppose you could make that argument, although I’d trade Sizemore’s season for his any day.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

if you look in yesterday's thread

i picked Sizemore over Mauer for the MVP too but someone has to win the MVP and Mauer was as good as anyone offensively and the best defensively at the toughest position i dont see why that is so hard to get him being a legit candidate…show me 5 players that have better numbers than him overall?

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." -Rogers Hornsby

by nomar34 on Nov 19, 2008 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pudge and Mauer

I don’t think that is a good comparison since Mauer would have won an MVP in a year without any other obvious candidates. All of Pudges big years came when at least one prominant player was having a huge season.

The St. Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champions!

by Zubin on Nov 19, 2008 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Last chance for beefs, huh?

Well, just in case you haven’t already had your fill of ignorant, homerific baseball writers, check out the column that the P-D reprinted from the THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, written by Phil Sheridan. This guy is one half-step above Tommy from Milwaukee on the ignorance scale.

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Link?

Two goldfish are in a tank. One of them turns to the other and says, "You man the guns, I'll drive!"

by thegodfather on Nov 19, 2008 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Philly View

"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."

by StLHugo on Nov 19, 2008 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just sent him an email

And pretty much destroyed his column point by point. If I get a response from him I’ll post it here.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Nov 19, 2008 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yah i just read that before coming over here,

now that pissed me off a lot more than that idiot’s junk from the brew crew

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!

by gdm426 on Nov 19, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At one point he seemed like he was complaining about the "seamheads"

in the BBWAA and their VORP and OPS and whatnot. It was really strange. You don’t often see a writer start with an idea that’s correct (that there are big problems with the BBWAA) and then proceed to press a thesis, and use arguments for it, that are all completely wrong. He pretty much embodies all that is wrong with the BBWAA mentality. Is that irony?
The only things I liked about the article have to do with the amount of power the BBWAA has vis a vis player’s careers, and the fact that the same entity ignored the steroid era for the purpose of their award and is now turning into some sort of moral judge when it comes to the hall of fame. I think that’s kind of ridiculous. Otherwise the guy demonstrated baseball un-knowledge.

by mattybobo on Nov 19, 2008 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I emailed him too

Sent it out just a little bit before yo posted this, so he probably got them around the same time. I provided him with a link to BtB’s top 50 ranking and let him know that if he wants to complain about something, he should be complaining about the lack of love for Chase Utley.

"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum

by scoot on Nov 19, 2008 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...seriously?!?

Imagine Howard’s 2009 arbitration hearing. It will be different because he finished second in this voting as opposed to first.

Oh, I feel so bad for Ryan Howard…poor soon to be multi-millionaire. (Plus he’s already got one MVP trophy)

And

The group-think association argument for Pujols, if I’m smart enough to get it right, is that he single-handedly kept the Cardinals in the wild-card race. That is brilliant, except it ignores the presence of Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus (so much for “single-handedly”) and the fact that the National League wild-card race was a watered-down farce.

A watered down farce? What about the AL East? The only challengers the Phils faced were a collapsing Mets. The Cards had to go against the Cubbies, Brewers, and a surging ’Stros.

And Hmm…Chase Utley, Pat Burrel, Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins, and Shane Victorino….enough said. (Oh, and I forgot Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge…silly me)

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Nov 19, 2008 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yah, someone needs to tell him Rick was hurt the entire 2nd half

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!

by gdm426 on Nov 19, 2008 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gracias

That article made me angrier than the Brewers writer. It’s just so blatantly ignorant. I wonder if this guy realizes that he is looking at the baseball “world” from about a 6-inch square window. He only sees the very few things he wants to see and everything else is obscured. He ignores every single rate stat to cite HR, RBI, and R. 2 of which are about the most team-subjective stats possible.

Two goldfish are in a tank. One of them turns to the other and says, "You man the guns, I'll drive!"

by thegodfather on Nov 19, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Class is in session

How To Sound Like You Know What You’re Talking About, Vol. 1
Taught by Professor Phil Sheridan

Step 1: Decide who you want to win. State they should have won as fact.

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard was the most valuable player in the National League in 2008.

Step 2: To support your statement, make an absurd statement. State that as a fact, too.

But Howard got hot in September, hitting 11 home runs and driving in 32 runs to carry the Phillies into the playoffs. That’s the very definition of "valuable."

Step 3: Say more insane stuff. Sound outraged.

Imagine Howard’s 2009 arbitration hearing. It will be different because he finished second in this voting as opposed to first. That alone is reason enough for the association to recuse itself from this annual charade. [Editor’s Note: Note the grace with which Sheridan ignores the $200,000 bonus Pujols gets for winning the MVP.]

Step 4: Ask an interesting and possibly pertinent question, but ask it sarcastically. Don’t answer it (you’re being rhetorical, which means you already know the answer). Also, don’t ask that question about the guy you wanted to win. That might totally shoot your point in the foot.

Replace Pujols with an average NL first baseman and what happens? Do they drop all the way to fifth?

Step 5: Emphasize that you are logical. These are logical things you have said. You have arrived at the above facts using logic.

That takes care of the logic.

Step 6: Remember to laugh — a major media outlet is actually PAYING you to write this stuff!

by mojowo11 on Nov 19, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 13 recs

just wondering

by average NL first baseman, does he mean someone like Howard?

7 rec comment - November 12, 2008

by emrfg8 on Nov 19, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At least this guy doesn't have a vote.

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Somehow I knew

that when you started out by saying you had writer’s block, it would be a good post.

Anyway I disagree with Lou being MOY for a few reasons:
1) Cubs
2) Team had huge payroll and underperformed
3) Cubs
4) Most managers could have gotten that team as far as Pineilla did.
5) Cubs

Two goldfish are in a tank. One of them turns to the other and says, "You man the guns, I'll drive!"

by thegodfather on Nov 19, 2008 11:19 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

So what happens...

if the Cubs didn’t win the number of games they were supposed to? Does Lou get fired a la Willie Randolph? He was basically given the best award for his job, just by keeping his job. Congrats. I believe there were quite a few managers who were able to do that.
Why not more consideration for Jerry Manual in NY (I hate NY, but still). He took a team that was tanking, lit a fire under Delgado and was able to get the team to be in position to choke once again. If Randolph had been replaced with someone else, would the Mets have even been in it in September? Would the Phillies have ran away with the Division and further discounted Ryan Howard’s Most Amazing Season Ever (scratch season, I mean September).
In case anyone is confused, I’m saying Lou was a horrible pick by doing what was expected, and not exceeding the expectations. I would have been content giving the award to TLR, Torre (I didn’t think the Dodgers would be good at all coming into the season), Jerry Manual, Cecil Cooper in Houston (same argument for him applies to Ryan Howard though, who knows how things would have finished in Houston of El Caballo had not been injured).

by Jumsy on Nov 19, 2008 10:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And the Red Sox fans have killed baseballreference for today

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I got to it just fine

http://www.baseball-reference.com/

"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."

by StLHugo on Nov 19, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

huh.

Now it’s working for me again.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my MOY logic

Cooper – nope.
Yost, Sveum – nah.
Randolph, skinny Manuel – not a chance.
Torre – 84 wins.
LaRussa – 4th place.
large Manuel – maybe.
Piniella – I guess so – for lack of a better choice.

my knee-jerk reaction was to think it was just more cub-love from the media. But i can’t come up with a valid alternative other than charlie manuel.
Meh.

I'd rather my sister be a prostitute than my brother a Cub fan.

by _pistol_ on Nov 19, 2008 12:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't either

I tried the other day to come up with a better candidate and couldn’t do it.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they figured

that since the cubs are such a popular team, they had to give them some kind of reward to remind them of their season. or something.

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is writer's block contagious?

Because I can’t…………..I mean it’s just not……………cough, cough………..yeah, I’ve caught something.

Come on RB you know your not supposed to come to work when your sick, this umm………….sucks.

"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin

by That's a Winner on Nov 19, 2008 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

For a moment

I thought WCBW had returned with his stream of consciousness style. Despite WCBW being very bitter, I do miss his posts. I do appreciate his passion for the Cards even though most of his posts are way beyond me.

born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red

by totalloser on Nov 19, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From what I heard

his passion wasn’t for the Cardinals at all but instead for a certain pitcher the Cardinals just re-signed.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

i'd really like to know what he thinks about that

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!

by gdm426 on Nov 19, 2008 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever it is, we wouldn't be able to understand the way he wrote it

Kosuke Fukudome: $48 million .257 .359 .379
Skip Schumaker: $Free .302 .359 .406
Skippy needs a new publicist, but I heart Ben Zobrist

by joker24 on Nov 19, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant!

You just got rec’d for that insight, TB! My only question – was the passion for the pitcher or the pitcher’s agent?

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you.

And, in my understanding, it was for the pitcher.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When is the deadline to offer arbitration?

And while I’m asking questions, when is the Winter Meetings? If memory serves me correctly, its around the 2nd week of December, but I’m not positive on the exact dates.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

are they beyond the turkey?

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dec. 8-11, I think

n/t

by sdrone on Nov 19, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

and arbitration is either December 1st or the 7th. I’m not exactly sure of the terminology on this.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it is saying

that by the end of December 1st a club must offer a player arbitration. Players offered arbitration by their former club have through December 7th to accept the arbitration offer. If the player accepts, they are no longer a free agent. If they don’t accept then the former club will get pick(s) if that player signs with another club.

by nmstar on Nov 19, 2008 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So, technically, it's December 1st.

Because if a player was offered a contract by another team on December 2-7 and accepted, he’d be refusing the arbitration and the team would obtain draft compensation.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How about a new award?

I always thought there should be an award for the best “utility man” each year; Leatherman should sponsor it.

The St. Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champions!

by Zubin on Nov 19, 2008 1:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hmm.

The baseball equivalent of the NBA’s “6th Man Award”.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And only TLR should be on the selection committee

Miles would rule that award.

"I believe he’s been reincarnated, that he played before, in the twenties and thirties, and he’s back to prove something." - Former teammate Mark McGwire about Albert Pujols

by cardzfan24 on Nov 19, 2008 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well

we could research utility guys and figure out which one was the best… Miles might win that this season

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DeRosa is pretty money

Stat Whore

by FlimtotheFlam on Nov 19, 2008 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For a post about lack of things to post about...

This wouldn’t be a horrible idea for a next post… maybe have a few odd awards to assign? For those who weren’t, but were.

Utility Man
MVRelief Pitcher
MVBase Runner
Whitey Ball Award
Most Reliable
Worst Everyday Player of the Year

It's not what you do, It's who you do...

by pattimagee on Nov 19, 2008 8:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

miles might win 4 of those

maybe even 5, if you consider him “reliable”.

god, i love baseball. -roy hobbs

by SleepyCA on Nov 20, 2008 4:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah

I always think of him as a 2B

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 9:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

charlie manuel shoulda got manager of the year

piniella was handed an outstanding team which performed extremely well, then was given someone named Harden to harden their resolve, and then he blew it in the playoffs. so he gets manager of the year? what the hell…

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 1:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Postseason doesn't get voted on

The votes are in before the postseason begins, I believe.

by saladdays on Nov 19, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know I know

but still, he obviously had some effect on the team to get them from underperforming at the beginning to into the playoffs. he didn’t have the team Piniella had all season, but he still got them to take first place in a heated race. therefore, he should win

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, was that link removed that quickly

Or am I going crazy? If so, good job mods, i’m impressed

Pujols for Secretary of Defense.

by davethebutcher on Nov 19, 2008 5:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

now I want to know what I missed

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 19, 2008 9:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It was someone saying check this article out

and it had absolutely nothing to do with baseball
and it had no point to it just a bunch of off topic ramblings

by bearcatcardfan on Nov 20, 2008 12:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ah

didn’t miss much then

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 20, 2008 12:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My email to the Phillies writer:

Dear Mr. Sheridan,

———Personal information about my background here——-. I am a Cardinals fan. However, I also like to believe that I am unbiased when it comes to who I think postseason awards should go to. For instance, Molina didn’t deserve a Gold Glove this year, and neither did Troy Glaus. I can also then say, with 100% confidence, that Albert Pujols did indeed deserve the MVP. I am writing you this email because I believe your article about why Howard deserved the MVP was substandard.

In the article, well after the first claim that “Ryan Howard was the most valuable player in the National League in 2008,” you finally begin to discuss why you think he deserved to win. You claim that Howard’s hot September which was followed by a Phillies playoff appearance is the very definition of valuable. Would Howard have been the MVP if you switched his April and September? Did you ever consider that if Howard hadn’t put up an OPS+ of 89, or a slash line of .234/.324/.508, in the first half, the Phillies wouldn’t have needed a monster September from him to make the playoffs?

Next, you say that Ludwick, Ankiel, and Glaus were just as much contributors as Pujols. However, you fail to recognize that Ankiel got injured, and the Phillies had an even better supporting cast of Utley, Rollins, Burrrell, and Werth. This also ingores pitching. You must know how many saves the Cardinals bullpen blew this year, and you very well know that Lidge blew 0. If you give the Cards and the Phillies both league-average closers for the entire year, the Cardinals are playing in October and the Phillies are sitting at home. So by your logic, Lidge should be MVP.

You make a sarcastic (I believe) remark about how the Cardinals finished 4th and losing Pujols might have made them (oh no!) 5th. This is unfair. The Cardinals played in the toughest division in the NL and they were only 1/2 a game out of 3rd. They were also only a whopping 6 games behind your Phillies. The real question here is how many more games would the Phillies have won with a season of Pujols instead of Howard? If you don’t think you’d rather have Pujols than Howard, you’re kidding yourself. That seems like an accurate barometer of an MVP to me. Would I rather have Howard or Pujols play on my team? I think any knowledgeable writer/coach/fan would say Pujols. By the way, the Cards were 11.5 games behind the NL-leading 97 win Cubs, not 15.5. The Phillies were 5 games back of the Cubs.

You then ignore every single rate and sabermetric statistic in favor of the largely team-dependent RBIs and runs. As if Howard’s 5 more runs means anything in the big picture. Sure, his homers make a difference, but that is the ONLY individual category that Howard has Pujols beat in. How can you expect a guy who gets walked 104 times, 34 of those being intentional, to lead in RBIs? Here’s another stat. Pujols had 115 ABs with RISP, while Howard had 175. Pujols had 116 RBIs while Howard had 146. That means Howard had 52% more RISP opportunities but only 26% more RBIs. There are no decimal points here either. Still think he deserves the MVP?

My final point is that Howard won the MVP award in 2006 on a non playoff team. I don’t think that you clamored to support Pujols when this happened (tell me if I’m wrong). You can’t decide on your idea of what makes someone an MVP only when it suits your desires. If you want the MVP to go to someone who made the playoffs, then it should always go to someone who makes the playoffs. You can’t be a homer and make exceptions when it’s your guy that wins the award. I don’t think the award needs to go to someone who makes the playoffs. I thought Howard and Pujols were evenly matched in 2006, so as a Cards fan I would say Pujols, but I’m not going to complain. Howard had a great year in 2006 and deserved it. He didn’t deserve it this year, and thankfully he didn’t win it. He should be happy with his well deserved World Series ring.

I would really appreciate a response. Thank you for your time,

-name here-

Two goldfish are in a tank. One of them turns to the other and says, "You man the guns, I'll drive!"

by thegodfather on Nov 19, 2008 5:45 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

That is an excellent letter!

You used facts, you pointed out the discrepancies in his position, and kept the tone polite and respectful. Well done. If you get a reply, please share it with us.

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 8:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, I certainly will share it

I doubt he replies though, or even reads it for that matter. It may have too much logic in it for his taste.

Two goldfish are in a tank. One of them turns to the other and says, "You man the guns, I'll drive!"

by thegodfather on Nov 19, 2008 9:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, RB-as far as the Giants signing Affeldt as the first order of business.....

I happen to think it’s not that odd at all. I understand their needs are massive. They knew they wanted to add a lefty reliever, saw the one they wanted, and signed him. That’s out of the way now. It’s one thing they DON’T have to worry about. Perhaps it paves the way for them to use some of their other pitchers for a trade.

They haven’t been a good team for awhile now, but they still have healthy attendance and they have to at least appear to do something. Honestly, it’s just a small move, but it’s a good one.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Nov 19, 2008 5:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thats wierd RB!

I have been listening to a new cd last few days thats the soundtrack to once Upon a Time In The West and it ROCKS!

"Even when the rain falls, Even when the flood starts rising, Even when the storm comes, I am washed by the water!" -NeedToBreathe

by Calhoun on Nov 19, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

anybody else happy the Cubs reupped Dempster for 4 years?

looks like another prime bad contrat for them or for the new owner actually

by vances law on Nov 19, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

a contrat is a type of contract by the way

by vances law on Nov 19, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Especially when it basically takes them out of the Peavy sweeps.

I think that makes it even better. He had a career year last year (that had a weird home/road split), he’s 31, and they just signed him up for 4 more years which will put their payroll around 130 million meaning all that talk of Bobby Abreau, Raul Ibanez and Adam Dunn pretty much went bye-bye.

Plus, they’re stuck in the mud right now with the sale of the franchise and some are speculating Zell is going to hold on to the team for another 3 years or so because of the shitty economy.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cubs have under contract for 2010

1. Carlos Zambrano 18.75 mil
2. Aramis Ramirez 15.75 mil
3. Alfonso Soriano 18 mil
4. Derrek Lee 13 mil
5. Ryan Dempster 12.5 mil
6. Ted Lilly 12 mil
7. Kosuke Fukudome 13 mil

That’s 7 players for 103 million.

Kosuke Fukudome: $48 million .257 .359 .379
Skip Schumaker: $Free .302 .359 .406
Skippy needs a new publicist, but I heart Ben Zobrist

by joker24 on Nov 19, 2008 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jason Marquis 9.875 mil

That’s 8 players for 112.75 mil.

Also, Mark DeRosa 5.5 mil
Rich Harden 7 mil

That’s 10 players for 125.375 mil.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought this was the last year or Marquis' contract

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Nov 19, 2008 7:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is

Stat Whore

by FlimtotheFlam on Nov 19, 2008 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah crap....

I don’t know what year it is………..

all 3 guys I noted are all free agents after this year.

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Yankees of the National League! Bunch of rotten scoundrels if ya ask me...

It's not what you do, It's who you do...

by pattimagee on Nov 19, 2008 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope they're the current Yankees of the National League needing 3 FA pitchers to fill out a rotation

Kosuke Fukudome: $48 million .257 .359 .379
Skip Schumaker: $Free .302 .359 .406
Skippy needs a new publicist, but I heart Ben Zobrist

by joker24 on Nov 19, 2008 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They need four

the moose is gonna retire.

by vivaelpujols on Nov 19, 2008 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oquendo

An Article on ESPN says the Mariners hired Don Wakamatsu to be manager.

I’m happy as a person would like to see Oquendo managing the BotB.

by JBrew on Nov 19, 2008 6:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe some day the Secret Weapon will manage,

but right now we need him to keep our infield D up to Cardinal standards.

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 8:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well said

And you didn’t even mention the defense.

Imagine you are Albert. (Wow, isn’t that cool) You watch McGwire have one of the most magical seasons in baseball history and breaking a record that many thought wouldn’t be broken by a mile. You see the press award the MVP to Sammy Sosa???? Both players had huge counting stats, but McGwire had the big advantage in OBP in the rate stats. The reason given was that his team was a playoff team and Mark’s wasn’t.

So big counting stats and the playoffs are the key. (Albert takes note.)

The next several years Albert has huge counting stats and leads his team to the playoffs but misses the MVP to Barriod Bonds due to Bonds’ rate stats and cranium size.

So, large heads and rate stats are what matter…and that playoff thing helps also.

2006 Pujols has superior rate stats and leads his team to the playoffs. He loses the MVP to Howard due to his large counting stats.

Pujols wonders out loud in Spanish why the guy who had the better rate stats and on a team that made the playoffs lost to the other guy. The media trashes him for questioning their logic. He later apologizes to Ryan Howard for thinking out loud.

2007 Pujols has superior rate stats and counting stats, but his team misses the playoffs and Rollins is awarded it based on his overall contributions to a playoff team. Things like speed, defense, and having a ridiculous number of plate appearances are also factors.

Pujols wonders why speed and defense didn’t count for him in 2006.

2008 Pujols has rate stats and defense stats that dwarf his competition. His team doesn’t make the playoffs and the media talks about how he should give the award back because his team didn’t make the playoffs and that he himself said that was a criteria back in 2006. Ryan Howard still gets 12 first place votes despite hitting .251 with 199 strikeouts and playing horrendous defense.

The only way I vote for a guy with a .251 average and 199 strikeouts for MVP is if he has an ERA under 2 and wins about 25 games.

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Nov 19, 2008 7:35 PM EST reply actions 7 recs

Very nice

and rec’d!

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Weren't people justifying it based on defense and positional difficulty, too?

re: McGwire/Sosa. I seem to remember that Sosa was all right defensively in the late ’90s and then collapsed horribly.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 19, 2008 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone else noticed

that shortstop Tyler Greene and right-handed pitcher Matt Scherer from Triple-A Memphis were added to the 40-man roster today?

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 8:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Which brings the total # on the roster up to 37.

by cardsgirl95 on Nov 19, 2008 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and room enough

for a couple of impact free agent signings!

by nmstar on Nov 19, 2008 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

link

by azruavatar on Nov 19, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

scratch that

2 second search. lazy robot.

link

I understand Greene but Scherer is nothing more than a AAA reliever.

by azruavatar on Nov 19, 2008 9:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I assume they put Greene on the roster because of Rule 5 status, right?

Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.

And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!

by Tackle Box on Nov 19, 2008 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's why both of them were moved to the 40 man

I just don’t see any need to protect Scherer. He’s like the 8th best reliever in our minors right now.

by azruavatar on Nov 19, 2008 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know the old saying...

One man’s 8th best reliever in the minor leagues is another man’s treasure/low cost signing?

by Jumsy on Nov 19, 2008 10:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOOGY signing

Per Bernie

"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum

by scoot on Nov 19, 2008 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vomit

or Cromit. Whichever you prefer.

Is the goal to sign as many old Astros relievers as possible?

That’s right, we’re coming for you Dan Wheeler!

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Nov 20, 2008 12:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta have some lefties

Miller isn’t a bad player. He’s certainly not a world beater but if this removes Flores from the pen, I’ve got a 20 (real money*) with Miller’s name on it.

*Seriously, I’ll write his name on my 20 and give it to him.

by azruavatar on Nov 20, 2008 12:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You and I both know he'll be joining Flores

the bullpen is ‘fixed’ now.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Nov 20, 2008 12:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

please no

no flores, sayonara ranflo

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 20, 2008 12:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Im fine with it as well

As long as Mo is working toward signing another LOOGY. My fear is that by adding a couple of F.A.T. guys already, that this move will be viewed as the final piece to the left side of the bullpen.

"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum

by scoot on Nov 20, 2008 12:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

i definitely think this will be the “final” piece. between manning, ostlund, and miller its pretty obviously how Mo plans to fill the lefty side of the pen.

like i said in a different thread, i guess this is fine as long as it leads to a more impact signing at one of the other areas. if they are trying to stretch payroll, out of MI, SP, and LHP, i would definitely prefer the skimping in the pen. that being said i do realize what happened to our pen this year…

"Sorry about him, he's dealing with being an inker. " - Chasing Amy

by FutureMan on Nov 20, 2008 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Mo is planning a last minute steal

of Peavy. Cause Lord knows we can’t afford Sabathia, Burnett nor Lowe.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Nov 20, 2008 12:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that wouldn't be the worst thing to happen I suppose

this line is dedicated to '09

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Nov 20, 2008 12:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

as time goes on

the price for peavy should start to lower.

if we plan on keeping kennedy as our second baseman we could possibly have the payroll room for both peavy and furcal.

"Sorry about him, he's dealing with being an inker. " - Chasing Amy

by FutureMan on Nov 20, 2008 1:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

there is a glut of quality pitching on the market. Particularly if you throw Peavy into the mix. With those four guys plus Ben Sheets availible, someone is going to sign for below market value. It’s a matter of finding them and inking the contract. The longer Sabathia holds out, the better, as the big spenders are going to be focusing most of their attention on him at first.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Nov 20, 2008 1:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At least we're signing them from...

when the Astros had one of the best pens in baseball…and not the last couple of years.

by stlfan on Nov 20, 2008 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So I guess this was a move

so we can save money to sign an even bigger “impact” SS??

I swear if we re-sign Izzy for the bullpen I am going to really question what Mo/Dewitt are trying to do with this team. And then wonder how much longer it will be until the team is up for sale IF it starts to look like they are not even trying to compete with the Cubs or even the Brewers and Astros for that matter.

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

by KYCards on Nov 20, 2008 5:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs