First Week Observations
by chuckb on Apr 6, 2008 10:22 AM EDT
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Some first week observations:
- First of all, it’s a very good start – very unlike the one the Cubs and Astros are having. No matter how early it is, it’s always good to say we’re tied for first and on a 4 game winning streak.
- The offense is somewhat of a mixed bag to this point. 22 runs in 5 games – less than 4.5 runs per game when facing the likes of Kip Wells, Matt Chico, Aaron Cook, and Odalis Perez is not exactly uplifting. Surprisingly right now, we’re 13th in the majors in slugging. With only 4.4 runs per game, I’d have expected we were much lower. We only have 9 2B’s (tied for 14th) and 3 HR’s (tied for 22nd). Those will come along, I suppose, but that helps to explain our relatively low R/G.
- The best thing about our offense is our OBP – 2nd in the majors (.379) just below the Mets. That’s largely caused by our extremely high walk rate. It’s hard to say, b/c it’s so early, whether it’s the beginning of a trend or just caused by the fact that we’ve faced some pretty bad pitchers. I don’t know if there’s been a change in our hitters’ approach but if so, and it’s a trend, it’s definitely a good one – one that should lead to a lot of runs being scored. So far this year, the Cards are averaging 1 BB for every 7 PA. Last year’s rate was 1BB/12.27 PA – a tremendous improvement. Last year, the Rockies’ pitchers gave up 1 BB in every 12.49 PA and the Nats’ pitchers gave up 1 BB in every 10.92 PA. Last year, the best rate of BB/PA in the majors was the Red Sox’ 1BB for every 9.33 PA so our 1 in 7 is probably unsustainable. Still, if it’s part of an improvement to our offense, it’s a good one and one that’ll lead to a lot more runs being scored.
- This just in: our bullpen isn’t good. I think this has been discussed ad nauseum, most notably in Azruavatar’s series here and here and here. If the first 5 games are any indication, it’s going to be a long year when we see them. McClellan’s done a pretty good job, though he got away w/ some pretty bad location on Friday night. Still, everybody does at one time or another and those outs count just like the hits count that come on good pitches. Even so, he’d hardly be described as the savior if the Nats had hit a couple of those hanging sliders hard and the Cards had lost Friday’s game.
- Anthony Reyes is neither as good as he looked in his first appearance, nor as bad as he appeared yesterday. He’ll get a couple more opportunities to improve his trade value or make LaRussa and Duncan think they’d like to keep him. I’m betting it’s the former.
- Like Reyes, the starting pitching isn’t as good as it has appeared the first time through the rotation. The combination of Lohse, Looper, Thompson, and Wellemeyer have given up 2 ER in 22.2 IP. They’re not that good. They pitched well but they were also facing the Nationals – a team w/ 3 middle infielders in their starting lineup, one of whom starts in LF, and another of whom, their leadoff hitter, is Christian Guzman. The Rockies, on the other hand, have started the year in a major slump. They’ve scored 8 runs in 5 games. It’s not all b/c of our starting pitching.
- I’m encouraged by Ankiel’s 2 BB in 21 PA. It’s early but this would lead to more than 50 BB for the season – a distinct improvement.
- Relax. Troy Glaus will be OK. As poorly as he’s hit, he does have 2 BB and a 2B in 5 games. He won’t hit for a high average but he will hit for power and be a solid #4 or #5 hitter behind Pujols.
- Pujols – 6 BB and 1 K in 5 games. Don’t worry about the fact that he has 0 HR and only 1 RBI. Pujols is starting out strong – much better than last year’s start. Based on the BB’s and K’s, he could be approaching Bondsian numbers.
- I like the way Barton swings the bat and would like to see him be able to be in the game past the 6th inning.
- Cesar Izturis – say what you want to about him and he did cost the Cards 2 baserunners yesterday by getting caught stealing and by getting picked off. Inexcusable! It’s not as though he’ll make it up by hitting homers. That said, he does have 5 BB in 5 games. It’s an unsustainable rate for a guy who won’t be pitched around, but it does display a pretty good batting eye and patience.
Springer’s hurt, and didn’t pitch well Friday. I guess it was b/c he was hurt and not b/c he was misused by Tony in an 8-3 game. Our lefties have been OK, but then they’ve pitched to a grand total of 8 batters. Franklin’s been scary as well. Izzy, thank goodness, has done fine, though he gave us a few tense moments on Friday.
It’s been a very good start and I hope it can continue. LB addressed, a month ago, the early season schedule and how auspicious it is for the Cards. They need to take advantage of it. I think our expectations are lower this year, so a pretty good year would be exciting in St. Louis.
Let’s finish off a sweep today. I’ll be up later to add an overflow thread if one is needed. Hopefully, it’s good stuff we’re discussing.
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smoke and mirrors?
I have the nagging suspicion that it's smoke and mirrors. But then again, smoke and mirrors can keep a team in contention in this division.
I don't believe
the bullpen's that bad... it would help them mightily if the starters can pitch at least six innings every night; a seven-inning stint by someone not named Wainwright would help.
I won't bother with statistical analysis at this point (Small Sample Size Alert!) -- Glaus and Schu need to relax; shouting, "RELAX, DAMMIT!!!" doesn't help. Another lefty today? Yeesh! Does C. Duncan get a start, or does TLR leave Barton in the 1-hole? (I haven't seen the lineups, so don't know...)
These Cards look like they'll battle ya, at least!
"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
I agree that the bullpen is not that bad ..
and it will only get better when Wellemeyer and Thompson are eventually moved back to it ... Wellemeyer & Thompson are better than Jiminez and Reyes ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Because I am not just a Cardinals fan, I'd like to add some observations from some other teams.
I like that the Cardinals have a lot of fight in them.
I'm not as worried about Franklin as much as everyone else seems to be.
Mr. Reyes said in a post game interview he hung a change up......"lesson learned" he added. I'm not going to worry too much just yet as long as he's throwing strikes. Maybe his luck is about to change.....his mistake didn't really cost us anything save a little heartburn.
Wainwright is nails.
The Nationals have a lot of fight in them. I love their reliever Saul Rivera. He looks even smaller than Tim Lincecum....
Nick Swisher has walked SIX times in 2 games.
Detroit looks really bad. Dontrelle recorded 7BB/0K's yesterday.
Gagne and Wood both recorded saves yesterday after blowing up first time out.
Jenks already has 3 saves.
Without Oswalt, the Astros are nothing. He has gotten off to a very shaky start.
Jake Peavy is nails.
The Angels started the season without 2/5's of the starting rotation. Did anyone even notice? They are off to a good start.
Jim Edmunds got his first hit as a Padre yesterday...good for you, Jimmy Baseball.
That's all I've got. A sweep would be nice.....
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Fun fact re: Edmonds
San Diego radio yesterday reported that when Edmonds was announced, the PA announcer said "Centerfielder, Jim Edwards".
Shout out to VEB?
That's funny....I often typed "Edwards" last year....sometimes my mistake, somtimes responding to someone else's mistake.
That is just too funny!
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
I wonder if they spell it "Edmunds" as well.
by The Classical on Apr 6, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
YIKES, see, I'm doing it again! Sorry, Mr. EDMONDS! I know better.....
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Fun with sample size!
Add the 3 inning/5 run almost Opening day and we are scoring 5.06 runs per game against the likes of Francis, Wells, Chico, Cook and Perez.
Adding Francis didn't really dress up that list, did it?
Weren't Izturis "picked off" and "caught stealing"..
..the same thing?
I remember the pick off, and then he ran to second, where he was tagged out. But unless it was during a bathroom break, I don't remember another play in which he was caught stealing...
Yes, it was
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait a minute.
You downplay our pretty good offense because it came against "bad pitchers." Then later you more or less say that our pitchers are "bad pitchers" too. So now other teams' bad pitchers get the credit for our run scoring, and other teams' bad hitters are given credit for the success of our starting pitchers. Geez, let's throw our boys a bone here!
I think they are just setting us up for the big fall
but I did say on the original opening day that it wasn't out of the realm to expect this team to start the season 18-11.
Even still, a win today and it isn't out of the realm to start this season 11-3.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 11:35 AM EDT reply actions
Patience ... long season
I think we might want to be a bit more patient on both the positive and negative sides. My impression is that we have too many Eeyores on VEB (gloom and doom, sky is falling) and a smattering of Tiggers (Ank for MVP, WunderBrad is Derek Lowe). How about more of a Pooh approach: to be fair-minded and prod along with cautious optimism? Let's not panic on Glaus, dump on Iz2, crown Ank, fret over Antonio King's future, give up on Skip, blame LaDunc for any and everything, etc... Hopefully, there will be a lot of changes in the pitching staff as folks return, and maybe even some trades in the works. As many have already expressed, it sure is exciting to see how this thing will turn out with all the unknowns.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
A calm, reasonable approach. Yes. That makes sense.
And even a "Pooh" reference! That's awesome......
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Amen to that, Totalloser ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
well said
all the good lessons in life, can be extracted from cartoons
I'd rather my sister be a prostitute than my brother a Cub fan.
And children's books......
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Dont you know that...
A metric b-load of negative comments from the high profile posters at VEB is intended to prepare us emotionally so we won't be crushed when the sky finally does, and it surely will.....fall.
Its called the VEB High Profile Poster Postulate (HPPP for short). Its positive thinking from a negative perspective! The Y2K mindset! We can best hope that the team does'nt know how bad they're supposed to be on paper.
"Anthony, you have everybody all stirred up again, I want you to cut that out....right now!" Anthony Reye's Mom
by cardschinmusic on Apr 7, 2008 4:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Getting off to a good start helps a lot.
I don't know what to make of the Central Division....getting off to a good start allowed the Brewers to hang on almost until the end.....they were so awful on the road and had a long bad streak. It's a long season.....anything can, and will happen.
I'm not going to go all doom and gloom-too many games have to be played.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
I gotta admit Jillsinmo
you may prove me wrong about those Reds. They've looked really good so far, it'll be interesting to see what Volquez does today.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the shout out......
I have no statistics to back any of my GUT feelings that they are the dark horse to finish first. Just things seem like they could fall into place for them this year.
I do not think Dusty Baker is a good manager. But he has been able to take BOTH teams he's been employed by in the past to the top in his first year. I guess that's before he breaks his best pitchers. However, I think Arroyo and Harang are pretty much unbreakable...at least they'll have part of a starting staff left.......
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Cincinnati is a pretty good baseball town
that hasn't had a lot of success of late...I, too have a feeling, that the Reds, either because of Dusty or in spite of him, will have a good year.
The days of the N.L.Central being a private hunting ground for the Cardinals is long gone...I don't see anyone running away with this division. The Cubs and Brewers are good, but hardly bulletproof teams. That will play in the Reds' favor, and perhaps the Cards, if they can stay close.
Their fans have been suffering the lack of a winning season for a long time.
You should go look at their SN blog....they all sound like they are at the suds and Buds laundromat, or drunk in their parents basement.......funny stuff.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Oh, yes, Jill...
I've been turned on to "Reds Reporter" for awhile now...they are hilarious.
It has been interesting to check out the other baseball sites on SBN...the absolutely funniest one is Grant on "McCovey Chronicles"...as bad as the Giants project to be, Grant takes the pain away for their fan base..."Halos Heaven" is another one I enjoy...with the thousands of posts we get here, there never seems to be anybody around at "Federal Baseball". the Nationals SBN blog...interesting.
Too bad about no one at the Nationals site.......
I do not want to jinx the Cardinals, but the Nats are chock full of interesting players....Dukes, Belliard, Young, Zimmerman, Milledge........there is actually some fun to be had watching this season unfold for those fans. They need to get with the program. And how about that Nick Johnson? I think he could hit blindfolded......
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
FWIW houston
here are the current photos for the SPs
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_458709.jpg (lannon)
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_346798.jpg (lohse)
I'd rather my sister be a prostitute than my brother a Cub fan.
Thanks, pistol
Looks a lot better now, though I was hoping there was some symbolism for today's game in the big X where Lannan's face was supposed to be.
pujols-ankiel-glaus
I'm guessing that a lot of the offensive underproduction will calm down once glaus gets up to his regular form and pitchers notice that the 08 lineup is not the same as the 07 one, where they could pitch around albert and get to injured & ineffective hitters.
On the pleasant surprise side, my favorite fact of the new season is that molina seems to be continuing his offensive improvement. I wish him a gold glove and 10 HR this year.
i'm happy about the start
but i saw the word "unsustainable" a lot in the post. that makes me think we're not as good as we have seemed in the first week.
by stlcardinalsfang on Apr 6, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply actions
I think it's safe to say...
our pitching won't remain this good all season. I don't think ANY team has sustained pitching like this over a whole season :P Not since the deadball era
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Input on speed from others?
I've got to check Comcast, but it can't be my provider every time. This new web setup seems to load REALLY slow. Even the homepage is slow; if you're loading a display of 500 comments it's killer.
I assumed it was Comcast, but surely my neighborhood headend isn't overloaded at 11am on a Sunday.
Speed OK for me.
Chicago Comcast user. Speed OK this morning. Have had intermittent problems with slow load times but not today. Biggest complaint is that I can't go through an entire MLB.com webcast without losing the connection at least 3 times. But don't know if that is the fault of Comcast, the internet in general, or overloaded MLB servers.
by O'Fallon Park on Apr 6, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it is MLBTV
I have had that problem for 3 years. Drop offs 3 or 4 times a game. There was a Cardinal game the other day that it dropped off
for or five times at the end of an inning. Also seems like I get a lot stills and sound blips on games coming out of St. louis also.
I noticed
a dramatic improvement after adding *.sitemeter.com* to my adblock rules. might try that?
Well the girls would turn the color of the avocado when he'd drive down the street in his El Dorado
Weird...
Great minds and all that. I just did the same thing earlier today, as well. Noticed it was taking forever by observing the status bar.
Much faster now.
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
If What We're Seeing Now
holds and we can get Mulder and Carp back anything is possible. We're in a weak league and an even weaker division. We just need to play solid, hard, error free baseball and it could be a pretty fun summer.
I'm going to suggest to all that we just put Mr. Mulder out of our minds.
Sure, he could prove me wrong, but very few pitchers come back remotely close to their old selves after the type of surgeries he's had.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Exactly
Don't ever want to see a repeat of last August. If he goes on rehab and shows he has his old velocity, control and movement on his pitches, it's one thing. But if not, I would rather see the pitchers we have, as they look like they are improving with every start.
by O'Fallon Park on Apr 6, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
The starters have been good
but the question of Mulder over any of them will be answered largely based on the performance of the starters leading up to his return. We probably need to let them get through a couple of turns through the rotation before assessing their value relative to a healthy/rebuilt Mulder.
As Mentioned Here Before
if some of our pitchers can keep their performance at anywhere near this level we'll most likely have some interesting trade options later in the year if we're still in the hunt for the division.
I Almost Hit Delete A Couple Times
to remove Mulder's name from my post. Anything we get from him this year: innings, quality starts, or wins is just gravy on top. But of course I hope he proves me wrong. But I won't be holding my breath.
I'm not sure
he'll pitch when he's ready but, in my view, there's nothing that leads me to believe that he won't be worse than what we're running out there at the time. I'm no Thompson or Wellemeyer fan, but Mulder may actually be worse than they are at the time. If so, that gravy's rotten.
is it cheating....
if paletta puts a bionic shoulder inside of mulders regular shoulder?
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
He struck out 4 batters yesterday
for 7 of the outs he got. He also gave up 5 hits and 2 Unearned runs in 2.1 innings but without knowing when and where those hits came, the 4 ks (even against minor league talent) is a sign of improvement.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
+1 ...
It would be so cool to see Mulder comeback effectively ... I just afraid to hope for it ... his re-hab so far (if you can believe what the team is saying about it) is encouraging ... we'll see ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
What did his velocity look like?
I haven't seen the report on that, and I'm curious if they even tracked it. The biggest issue with shoulder injuries is getting the strength and range of motion back in the joint. This will be the biggest challenge for Mr. Mulder and Mr. Clement, both. A sinker-baller that can't throw the ball in the high 80s to low 90s will probably have trouble in the bigs.
Averaged 87,
hit 89 several times.
Not the Mulder velo of old yet, but pretty encouraging nonetheless.
No Es Bueno!
by the red baron on Apr 6, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
That sounds reasonable.
He is in the equivalent of early spring, so you would expect the velocity to be down a little while he is still building back his arm strength. If he gets that up 2-3 MPH over the course of the next month, then he should be in pretty good shape. I'll be crossing my fingers.
error-free baseball
would be nice. A strong defensive improvement over last year will add a couple wins over the course of the year.
I Know It Is Early
very early, but as I look at how some other teams have come out to start the season playing error free baseball will win us a lot of games this year.
A good start
is always better than a bad start. The expectations for this season were so low, it would seem the better this team plays, the more of a jump we have on building something great for the coming years, when the fruit of the Cardinals' system begins to mature and become ready for the big show. And if the "experts" and the "insiders" are surprised, then they will just have to be surprised.
It's nice to have options. With the POSSIBLE surplus of pitching (and it is just that: possible...we don't know how Mulder, Clement, Carp and the others will turn out when they return) the Cardinals will have some decisions to make...and that has got to be better than having to damn near drag volunteers off the street like it seemed we had to do in '07.
Re: the bullpen...
I can see the possibility of a decent future here which may only come as a result of injuries since TLR might have other ideas about how to shore up the pen rather than look to the minors. But, we have some good live arms at Triple A and AA. I could see Motte, Perez and maybe Worrel (longer shot) and Kinney contributing from the right side before the seasons over. Jimenez is already coming up...damn.
Then theres when and IF other previous starters return (more righties, of course). Of Wellemeyer, Thompson or Looper, somebody will see some time there if not traded.
The left side offers no real immediate solutions, but Villone and Flores seem to have energizer bunny qualities. Im not counting on Johnson. Other help on the left side will have to come via a trade (or the dreaded scrap heap) and we have a few chips, but hell everybodys looking for LH relief.
"Anthony, you have everybody all stirred up again, I want you to cut that out....right now!" Anthony Reye's Mom
This is a big game for Nats and K-Lo
Nats will be playing hard today trying to avoid the sweep which would essentially nullify their fast start. Kyle will need run support today, I would think at least 4. If they come early, so he can stay aggressive, I like his last chances. If we put up zero's through the first 4 innings, there may be trouble.
Westcoastbirdwatcher
by westcoastbirdwatcher on Apr 6, 2008 1:06 PM EDT reply actions
Since when....
does TBS show Red Sox games??!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 1:07 PM EDT reply actions
since they dumped the braves to have a "game of the week" on sunday afternoons
so they could show the sawx and yankees more often.
by stlcardinalsfang on Apr 6, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah.......that's what happens because Mr. Turner and Turner Broadcasting no longer own the team.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Today's lineup ...
Barton, LF
Ankiel, CF
Pujols, 1B
Glaus, 3B
Ludwick, RF
Molina, C
Kennedy, 2B
Lohse, P
Izturis, SS
Same as yesterday ... LaRussa repeating a line-up ... what a surprise ... perhaps we won't leave 18 on base today ... I agree with his starters ... but I'd like to see Ankiel 4th, and either Glaus or Ludwick in the 2 and 5 spots ... it's a good lineup, though ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
This'll already be our 4th start
facing a lefty, counting the Francis game which, of course, doesn't count. One of the problems we had two years ago, when we slumped badly down the stretch, was the odd circumstance that we faced so many more lefties than any other NL team and that we were bad against lefties. Barton helps, but still I'd like to see a lot more righties. I guess, though, I'll take Perez, Chico, and Lannan over most teams' righties.
Barton helps yes ..
But so does Ryan ... and remember ... Ankiel has a reverse split against lefties ... he bats around .299 against them ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Ryan Ludwick, that is ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I figured Glaus would get the day off today
what happened to the "might sit out once a series" thing? I'm guessing TLR wants to wait until we finally face a righty in Houston to give him a day off.
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
I'm sure TLR asked him if he wanted the day off...
but the guy is a competitor, and probably doesn't want a day off while he is on the snide.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
its going to be nice to be able to actually watch this one
stupid saturday blackouts
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
+1
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
But ... Grrrrrrrr ...
it's a Nationals broadcast ... guess I'll be listening on KRTS ans watching Extra Innings ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I need my Mike Shannon fix anyway ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
so is this game not on fox sports in stl
i didnt see it on the guide, are they even getting it?
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
cool
just curious
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
stupid nats announcer c alled this a rubber game
we won the first two buddy
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
TLR & AK reconcile??
interesting to see AK in against a lefty. Is this recognition that AK has actually stepped up early this season both in the field and at the plate?
Mr. LaRussa and Mr. Kennedy.
Mr. LaRussa laid down a guantlet to Mr. Kennedy at the winter warm-up. It appears as though Mr. Kennedy has answered the challenge. It is still early, but he is definitely providing more during these first two series than he seemed to at any time last year.
Hoping for another good start form Lohse ...
He has pretty good historical numbers against everyone but Lopez and Milledge ... and Milledge is a very small sample size ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Horton
I really can't stand Rick Horton. I believe he thinks the fanbase is comprised totally of 60+ yr. old women. That's the way he describes situations. I guess that's nice for a Sunday game. But who needs nice?
Yep...
Anyting positive regarding something like baseball really sucks...how dare he have fun, be a nice guy in this day and age?
"Anthony, you have everybody all stirred up again, I want you to cut that out....right now!" Anthony Reye's Mom
by cardschinmusic on Apr 7, 2008 4:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd like to see ...
Mr. Lohse get through 6 innings today. The bullpen got a rest yesterday, but I think they could use another light day. I think they can stretch Mr. Lohse out a little more today.
one of the coolest things about the non card broadcast
is hearing the other team's announcers praising the stl fans, i love hearing it everytime
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
Who
is on the Nats broadcast? Bob Carpenter and...
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
Bob Carpenter
and Sutton.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
no idea
but he likes saint louis
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Milledge does like to bat against Lohse ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
His line against him in the past is ...
,500/.600//750 .... it's more than that now ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Kyle Lohse is really liking this
pitch to contact philosophy.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
Have the Cardinals trailed at all in games
that have won?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
I don't believe so ...
DOMINATION .... ha ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I can only remember the Cards
Trailing one time after the Rockies beat up Franklin on opening day. Dont think they have trailed in a game won.
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
Oh.
It would be sweet to see a Milledge/Yadi showdown right here.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
im on 671 in florida
and its the nats broadcast
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
sorry
should have clarified. I meant that if you can't get it on Extra Innings, the game is on 671. Not the Cards broadcasters. My bad.
aint no thing
but my hopes were alittle up though, i like home cooking
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Don Sutton just said
"This is a crew that isn't very excitable, they keep the game under control"
Are you fucking kidding me? Does he not know who Phil Cuzzi is?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
Lohse
Has been leaving some pitches up and over the plate. Agreed?
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
wanna try not complaining about something today?
I dare you
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
No
I left my Cardinal red tinted glasses back in the 8th grade.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL!
Up on that high horse?
"Anthony, you have everybody all stirred up again, I want you to cut that out....right now!" Anthony Reye's Mom
by cardschinmusic on Apr 7, 2008 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Great catch there, Rick ...
Got a very good jump ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Yeah!!!! Yadi nails another one !
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Yes Sir
Yadi 1 - Milledge 0
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
he is quite attractive
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
Perhaps this t-shirt would be of interest to you
http://www.rinawear.com/yadis-hottie-cards-gear-p-512.html
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
Let's jump all over this kid ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
I didn't check my schedule
is today 10 run Sunday?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
Yes sir,
we need to start those up again this year.
Per Rotoworld
A finesse lefty drafted in the 11th round out of Siena in 2005, Lannan was called on to major his major league debut last July and held his own in six starts despite a 10/17 K/BB ratio. That he didn’t get another five or six starts was solely the result of his having reached his innings count for the season. He went 12-3 with a 2.31 ERA, 92 H and 74/42 K/BB in 124 2/3 innings at three levels in the minors. Lannan works at 86-89 mph and has a couple of major league offspeed pitches in his curve and change. Since he gets an above average number of grounders, he has a chance of making it in the majors as a fourth or fifth starter. Still, another three months in Triple-A could do him some good. The Nationals will probably look at some of their more veteran starters early on before turning back to Lannan when injuries strike.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
about Lannan
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
you know im in
name the rules
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's see....
what do you think...
On base = drink
Score = two drinks
Barton loses a hat = three drinks
Franklin gives up a fly ball = finish your Franklin
Opposite team HR = finish your Franklin
Additions, subtractions?
that
sounds like fun
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
That's a good lead-off ... thanks Mr. Barton ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
I'm doing the Brock
go-go-go-go chant for brian.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
looking back at the pickoff
Pujols had great position, made it hard for milledge to get back to first. It's the little things.
YEAH!!! How about that SPEED from Barton ...
Way to got Rick!!
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Barton is so fast
he should never sit. Speed doesn't take the day off.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
pujols took the first pitch strike
i think he just likes to change it up to keep pitchers on their toes
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
He didn't even lose his hat, either ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Pujols moves Ankiel over ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
someone just said
its the little things
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
that's a nice way of looking at it.
It looked like he got fooled a bit to me.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
he was fooled
out in front
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Why?
Why is Milledge hyped up so much? I have never been impressed with him... Only thing he has that I like is his speed.
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
Barton+Ankiel=instant offense
i like the combination of those 2 leading off a game!!!!
Dammit, Troy ... can't wait till he gets on track ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Lannan
Already looks frustrated.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
Barton
seems to be an extra base machine too which is great for a leadoff guy. He had a ton of doubles and triples in spring and seems to be locked in so far in the regular season.
Yeah, he's having control issues, isn't he ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
That's alright ... we're gonna get this kid ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Ryan has lined out to third base...
3 times now in the past 2 games.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 2:35 PM EDT reply actions
seems Ludwicks
been a little unlucky the last few days. hitting it hard and not finding holes.
still think he's one of the 3 best OFs
on the team and needs to keep starting regularly
Ouch ... runner on third and one out ...
Glaus and Ludwick strand Ankiel ... Oh well ... we're up one ... go get'em, Kyle ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
had the ball up and over the plate. they were getting good wood on it.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
fair enough. hope you're right.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
i'll be just as upset.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
yea
they way Loshe looked in the 1st, hard to disagree.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
no, dude, wellemeyer and b. thompson are going to be 1,2 for the cy this year.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
Lohse is solid
he'll keep the game in hand.
efficiency is lohse's question
I'm more worried about how far he'll get into it. If he finishes 6, I'm happy.
Edison Volquez
is taking up right where Johnny Cueto left off. The Reds have a very formidable starting rotation.
Also, i'd like to say I love having both Cueto and Volquez on my fantasy team.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions
its funny the guy said that he is surpirsed adam dunn
is on the list for most seen pitches per atbat because he strikes out so much
if you strike out thats at least 3 pitches seen einstein
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
Dunn
Wont swing at pitches an inch out of the strikezone the only problem is umpires call them all the time.
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
Ughh....
Come on Yadi, need a better throw
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 2:41 PM EDT reply actions
Sheesh
Kearns just stole a bag on Yadi?
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
he stole it on Lohse technically
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Dangit!!!!!!
Yadi you can do better then that!
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
not a good pitch though.
I guess this is what we'll be dealing with... with Loshe.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
That was a BIG pitch ..
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Still
The throw beat him to the bag if it was jsut on target
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
that is because yadi
run shit
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
ha, yea. you butched that one.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
see what i did there? nevermind.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
dangit
no edit button................
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
He's pitching around Lopez ...
I don't blame him ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
So much for that ... good job Kyle ..
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Beautiful
Although Lohse could afford to be a bit more efficient. Going to 3 balls on alot of hitters
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 2:45 PM EDT reply actions
man
even after this start im not hoping for too much out of these starters
get the results while we can
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
yep .... let's do it guys ...
get the kid early ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he's 'pitching through it' right now ...
he's going to settle in ... the guy's got real ability ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
LANNAAN!
that's a great name to heckle. I wish I was on the third base line right now.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
WOW
I love Ricky Horton but Jay Randolph makes me wanna shoot myself lol....
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
how can you like Horton?
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
i think he does good research...
but his voice is terrible. And, like I said earlier... I think he believes the whole fanbase is comprised of 60+ yr. old women. That's the way he describes everything.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
really "nicey nice" -- like everything is just "dandy"
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
i guess you have to grow up following him.
Probably why I love Ripken on the TBS broadcasts, but everybody else says he sucks.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
I like Horton, too.
Randolph is kind of a nostalgic thing for me. I grew up listening/watching him, so it's nice to have him back.
I like Rick
...plus one for Rick...a positive announcer and guy in this day and age, how dare he! Even his autograph looks positive!
"Anthony, you have everybody all stirred up again, I want you to cut that out....right now!" Anthony Reye's Mom
by cardschinmusic on Apr 7, 2008 5:01 AM EDT up reply actions
HE IS AWESOME
How can you not like Ricky?
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" -RIP Charlton Heston
Looking at Lannan's location
If I'm TLR, I tell everybody to take, take, take, until they see something good. He'll tire himself out and make worse mistakes.
that was just terrible
i noticed it too
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Lohse can't locate today....
looks like we'll be seeing Kelvin Jiminez today , eek
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 2:55 PM EDT reply actions
time to work around a runner in scoring position
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
That was a big strikeout ..
Get Milledge, Kyle ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Lohse's backdoor curve ..
looks really nice. He's not getting the call consistently, and his fastball has been up a little. It looks like he has good stuff, but today isn't his best.
Beautiful Job K-Lo
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions
lohse
is not a strikeout pitcher looking at his stats. why did this guy think he was worth a huge multi year deal?
and he gets the job done
but im going to go through a lot of franklins with all these guys in scoring position
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
This is our inning ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
How about them Blue Jays and Rays...
although it looks like the Yankees will win today, both the Jays and Rays have been beating up on the Sox and Yankees this week.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions
They want to make sure they have everyone's attention early on.
They improved their teams, and folks better take them seriously IMO.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
After the walk,
it seemed like Kyle settled in.
Lannan isn't half bad....
he has some nasty breaking stuff
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:03 PM EDT reply actions
Looks like he's got a chance to develop into a nice pitcher.
Work on your command, son.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
agree
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Barton hits the ball real hard...
but right at Milledge
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:04 PM EDT reply actions
THE NATURAL GOES THE OTHER WAY
OFF A LEFTY
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions
YES
I love Rick
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
left-center?
he's got big-time power and he mashes off-speed stuff. I don't know why people don't throw him fastballs -- I guess b/c this guy's tops out at about 87.
Anyone think ...
we've potentiallly got a bit of a Gerhig/Ruth thing going here with Ankiel/Pujols ... that may be over the top ... but man, it's fun to watch these two guys ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
he will
i hope
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Good eye Troy
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:08 PM EDT reply actions
man
what is up with this strikezone
i saw at least two in the zone on that at bat
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
Find a hole this time Luddy
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:08 PM EDT reply actions
yeah ... it'll happen ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:10 PM EDT reply actions
thats going to be a trend
pitch around both of them. That was a terrible at bat by Ludwig.
Westcoastbirdwatcher
by westcoastbirdwatcher on Apr 6, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions
Let's hope for a quick inning ...
from Mr. Lohse ... be nice to get 7IP from him today ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
I've noticed
A lot more curveballs from Lohse than he usually throws. Think this little addition by Duncan/Molina could be helping him?
...as he throws another one.
look at ank take charge out there
i like the communication
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
I like the way Rick took charge on that fly ..
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Lohse needs to stop falling behind everyone
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions
Troy "Scott who?" Glaus!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions
That's it !!! A GREAT play from Glaus ...
Rolen-esque ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Let's see a lot more of that !!!
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Boy, that'll really help Lohse ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
4IP so far, 60 pitches ... not bad ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
favorable or unfavorable?
cause I can see in September: "Glaus started 150 games for St. Louis this year, as compared to Scott Rolen who started 87"
i know its redundant
but man he is so damn slow
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Double
I'll take a double like that from a catcher every day of the week.
Rooting on the Cardinals one off-season transaction at a time!
YADI!
Jimmy steps in to lead off the bottom half of the inning... with nobody on base... It could happen... just not tonight.
Yadi!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply actions
Yadi's lookin' good ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
there was only one out when lohse was up...
but i agree, not the time for a bunt
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Scouting on Umps
I'm watching the Nationals feed on DirecTV (no Cards feed in my market) and the commentator just brought up the idea of teams scouting umps and posting a sheet in the dugout to inform players before a game of the preferred strike zone of the home plate ump. He was wondering why teams don't do it.
Anyone ever hear of the Cards or any other team doing so?
Would it even be beneficial or just distracting?
i think that sounds like a great idea
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Did You Know?
That the Red Sox are opening a series in Boston?
And Boise?
And Birmingham?
In a way, I'm glad I don't have Extra Innings so this commercial only drives me crazy today and not all season.
Rooting on the Cardinals one off-season transaction at a time!
How about that?
directv online said this game wasn't on so I didn't even look. Thanks for the tip, Colin!
Yeah...
....I looked online too and was bummed when I didnt see it on the shcedule. I was watching the Reds Philles games on TV thought to see Volquez's first MLB start and randomly changed the channel to find the Cards game - nothing like a pleasant surprise!
Washington Nationals...
...stranding runners with the best of them. Can't we just get one win out of this weekend? Good to see Cards fans are watching...not sure anyone watches the Nationals....
by Patrick Reddington on Apr 6, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions
we need to scoop all the wins while we can
take them from the cubs, we will all agree to that
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You had a nice turnout at the season opener...
I hope it's the beginning of a bright future for baseball in the Nation's Capital.
"The only thing you know about pitching is that you can't hit it." Bob Gibson to Tim McCarver
by player2bnamedl8r on Apr 6, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know...
but it's a hell of a lot cheaper just standing outside the White House...
"The only thing you know about pitching is that you can't hit it." Bob Gibson to Tim McCarver
by player2bnamedl8r on Apr 6, 2008 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
we'll trade you cesar izturis for Ryan Zimmerman!
Act now and we'll throw in Todd Wellemeyer for free!!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
another solid start by a starter
i think we are goign to get spoiled at this rate
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
The StL broadcast ...
was just doing a name that former Cardinal. It was Steve Lake, and they showed him taking a big hit at the plate. Does anyone else miss catchers that actually block the plate?
No on the Zimmerman offer...
Lo Duca for Molina?
by Patrick Reddington on Apr 6, 2008 3:33 PM EDT reply actions
Molina?
No way, but you can have that Pujols chump!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Molina is calling a quality game.
He settled Lohse down big time in that inning. Ump is really squeezing both pitchers.
Westcoastbirdwatcher
by westcoastbirdwatcher on Apr 6, 2008 3:34 PM EDT reply actions
atta kid barton
man he is getting it done so far
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
base hit
cant give an error on a diving catch
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice hit by Barton...
almost a nice catch by Mackowiak
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions
LoDuca has a noodle arm
why isn't Barton trying to steal?
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions
Tony doesn't let you steal
if a LHB is up.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, that was a bummer ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Man...
SF must be hating themselves for that Barry Zito contract, he is just flat out terrible now
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions
Up there for the worst contract ever
Why is that I can see these things coming, but major league GMs can't?
my guess for worst contract
is mike hampton, is he ever going to play again
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It's amazing.
Of the A's big three, Mr. Hudson seems to be the only one I would even trade a bag of used balls for right now. Hopefully, Mr. Mulder will show some return this year.
This is the Big inning for Kyle ...
Third time through the lineup ... lead-off hitter up ... get'em dude ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
at least wait
unless it costs us a game before you complain. Believe it or not, he knows what he's doing.
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
Right
Skippy has better defense. Only 1-2 ABs left for the LF. Good chance it will be a different pitcher.
2-0 ball game
offense > defense
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
well
at least they are both getting time and atbats
could be worse
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't tell me
Barton pulled something on the DP?
I hope so
if the alternative is a dinged-up Barton.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
it is a defensive sub
no hoping needed. TLR has done it the last 3 games
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Skip is like those relatives that just won't go home
go home Skippy.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
I wouldn't shed a tear
if you left either Mr. Doom and Gloom. Do you ever say anything positive? That's a serious question.
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
Did I hurt your feelings?
This is the second time you've made it personal about me.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Your negativity
has pissed me off for 2 years and I can't hold back anymore.
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
My negativity for two years?
Ha. Nice try.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey man.. it's your call
But your constant ripping on Skip and even talking crap about Lohse for giving up two hard outs in the 1st is stupid. And of course you are no where to be found when he throws his ELEVENTH straight scoreless inning.
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
I'm right here
how am I not right here?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
compromise
you continue to be negative and I'll ignore it. Happy everyone?
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
Your mischaracterization of me
is hilarious.
But whatever keeps you content and posting is fine with me.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
the fact of the matter is...
if he was ripping on ANYONE but your boy, you wouldn't have a problem. You are just exremely bias and hate anyone who questions him.
untrue
I"m doubing Skip myself right now (if you couldn't tell by my sig). It has to do with him doubting just about every move made my TLR. Lohse is dealin, everyone's hitting, we're winning, and we're 4-1 yet we still have negativity. Some people can never be happy.
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
Agree to disagree...
You are a skippy supporter, not a bad thing... just the way it is. Also, being 4-1 is great, but we have been quite fortunate and if you look beyond the scores we still have some big problems with this team. This starting pitching dominance will not continue, and the lineup is really on par with last years. Picking up hits here and there, but unable to string hits together. Not saying we can't have a good year, it's just too early to proclaim a division title.
Hope that helps.
I want you to get up, run to your window, open it, and scream,
I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!
No Es Bueno!
by the red baron on Apr 6, 2008 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
i wouldnt call that negativity
i agree...skippy needs to go home, or away or something. he's not a major league starter!!!
Yeah, but defensive replacements in the 6th inning
is a bit of a stretch. He'll get almost as many ABs in this game as Barton more than likely.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
You really need to
hold back, that is. Criticism of ideas is welcome here. Personal attacks aren't. If you don't like someone else's negativity, perhaps it isn't he that should leave.
I also want to point out
that this forum is one in which we can honestly discuss and debate the Cards and all things baseball. Every comment doesn't have to be a "rah, rah, rah -- Go Cards!" comment. We're fans, but it's OK to be critical of them as well.
lets just have fun
and play the franklin game
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Good start ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Great! two out ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
what a great curve ball that was ..
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
3 times better than a quality start ....
so far ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
by Cardinals4Ever on Apr 6, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Kyle Lohse
you are a wonderful man
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions
Barton's defense
is that bad??? He's got plenty speed, can he just not catch a ball?
someone whos seen him please inform
He has a noodle arm...
Skip is the superior defensive player. I don't like the move this early in the game though.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
i knew his arm was bad
but i dont see that being a reason to take him out every game in the 6th. its pathetic. so Barton can hit like a machine, but his arm is SOO bad that he'll have a defensive replacement his whole career???
way to completely overreact :)
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Remember, it's still early in the year
TLR has always been one to spread the playing time around. Maybe not even a bad idea, with Schu needing to get untracked offensively. If he's still making moves like this in July, I'll be a lot less sanguine about them.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
haha. gotta love it.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
I think that was huge ... 1-2-3 in the 6th ...
5 in a row set down and pitch count at 88 ... one, and maybe two more innings ...
Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...
Atta boy Troy
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions
Ah
I thought that one might get out.
In the unlikely story that is Rick Ankiel, there has never been anything false about hope.
troy
has some power
was it me or did it seem that they were playing really shallow
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
barton
for those who have seen barton play, how is his defense? i know he's probably not as good as skip but why does tlr always take him out after the 6th?
ya....its insane
to thik the guys arm is soo bad that he cant play after the 5th inning!!!
He looked alright
At the game I went to. But he hasnt have enough plays durring the course of the game to gain Tony's trust. At least not on the defensive side. It's clear he has his trust as far as ABs go.
the guy seems
to b a contact/extra base hitting machine
damnit yadi
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:50 PM EDT reply actions
we;ve left a bunch of guys
on third this opening week. We gotta start taking those extra runs on better!!!
Ughhhhhhh
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:53 PM EDT reply actions
Why was Glaus going on contact?
We aren't very good baserunners early on this year.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
That's not Glaus' call.
He does what he's told on that one. Point taken overall, though. The baserunning has been pretty shaky.
Good point
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
tough call though
could easily have pinch hit at this point for Lohse. Give uncle rico a shot!
Bullpen has been roughed up, and ...
Mr. Lohse could use to be stretched out. He seems to have found a groove, and the Cards have the lead. If you can get another run great, but I would give up the starter, myself.
christ!
seems every other inning all series we've left someone on 3rd like that
Houstoncardinal
talking about the runs per game, I'd be interested to see what our RPG was against LHP last year compared to early on this year.
Anyway to find that?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
I thought Kearns got all of that
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 3:58 PM EDT reply actions
KL is getting a lot of outs on fly balls
Those may not stay in the park anywhere except at home.
I disagree
Other than the Kearns fly ball right there, there hasn't been even one to the warning track.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Lohse was a hell of a pick-up
I bet there are MANY teams right now kicking themselves for not signing this guy when they probably had a chance!
What is best about it is that on July 31st
if he can keep this up, he'll get us quite the bounty.
Even if we are in contention, if Mulder/Carpenter/Piniero provide quality pitching, Lohse becomes expendable.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Really MASN guys?!?
Lohse looks like Kile?!? Really? That's the first guy you think of? He doesn't look like Hancock?
I just think it's poor taste.
thats it for lohse... tony goes to the pen here
Westcoastbirdwatcher
by westcoastbirdwatcher on Apr 6, 2008 4:02 PM EDT reply actions
What a surprise...
Schumaker grounds out to 2nd
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions
We got lucky there
staying out of the DP. Nice to see the runner in motion.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
with skip so far
it should be that way everytime
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
depends on how you look at it.
Skip wasn't swinging most likely if Izturis wasn't running.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
ill trade 10 run sundays
for a winning season
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Here's what I've got Hardcore
I'm not sure I can find out how we did in games started by lefties w/o looking through each boxscore individually. I can tell you this: last year we scored 220 runs in 1621 ABs against lefties -- 7.37 AB's per run. Overall, we scored 725 runs in 5529 AB's -- 7.63 AB's per run. This means last year we were better against lefties, not just lefty starters though, than we were against righties.
I would have never thought that
thanks for digging it up.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
not when its albert
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, they seem to do it all the time.
It's one of the issues I have with modern managing. These managers that don't have the guy leaving IBB or pitch around a guy, instead of the guy coming in.
Imagine yourself a second baseman
and seeing THAT bearing down on you at full speed...
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Troy...
why can't you hit a double when it matters :/
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions
He's 6 foot 4
6 foot 6 with the fro.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I've often debated
which he was at his smarmiest, Caddyshack "Night putting with the Dean's daughter" or Fletch "Sugar, Mr. Poon?"
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
BTW, what kind of name is Poon anyways?
Comanche Indian.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
We are
stranding runners in scoring position at an alarming rate.
yes we are
lets look at it as half full....we are winning anyway and eventually we'll sart getting some hits with RISP.
Get your Franklins ready
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:16 PM EDT reply actions
oh god
its franklin time
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I really hope the Giants laydown for us next week
like they are for the BrewCrew.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Sheets will be on the DL by June
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Not so sure.
Sheets injuries seem fluke-ish....inner ear infections, pectoral muscle, broken bone...nothing that seems arm. I think he's due for a huge year.
Some guys are just injury prone though...
and that's why Sheets will be on the DL by June. You can set your watch to it.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Always a good time
whenever Big Z implodes.
Lohse's line this year
13 IP 7 H 0 R 0 ER 4 BB 5 k 0HR 0.00 ERA
So far it seems to be money well spent
Atta boy Franklin
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:21 PM EDT reply actions
As much as most of us
are expecting a (relatively) poor season out of the Cards, I sure am glad I don't have to watch and root for the Nats' lineup day in and day out.
I wouldn't mind rooting for Zimmerman
over at 3B.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
I'd love to have him but Willie Harris, Belliard, Mackowiak and some of those others! Yikes!
We need more former Reds
do you think they'd give up Zim with Lohse as a starting point to the deal? Who else played for the Reds that we have?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
The giants
Gosh they are horrid, too. It's kinda like the Nat's lineup without the flashes of upside.
The pitching staff would be bitter-sweet, though. Cain and Lincecum....then, Zito.
Tough times for SF
At least Zim and Johnson can hit
If you really want something to test your patience, look at San Francisco's lineup...
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
nice
franklin didnt make me drink this time
atta boy
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
2 up 2 down
Tony is a genius.
[/wife rolls her eyes.... hates sarcasm]
Here's the deal, I'm the best there is, plain and simple, I mean I wake up every morning and I kiss excellence, and nobody can hang with my stuff, uh, you know I'm just a, just a big hairy American winning machine.....
Is your wife typing for you
as you dictate to her?
Man, I'd really like to dictate her! Zing!
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you think I said my wife......
No that my native american friend. pronounced wee-fey.
Here's the deal, I'm the best there is, plain and simple, I mean I wake up every morning and I kiss excellence, and nobody can hang with my stuff, uh, you know I'm just a, just a big hairy American winning machine.....
wow, thats a nice start to an inning
please get him in
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
Ludwick triples again
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:25 PM EDT reply actions
Should have been a double and E8
But we'll take it
shhh
we need all the triples we can get, we were by far in last place last year in triples
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Finally, a Sac Fly when needed
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions
Edmonds in a Padres hat on gameday...
makes me kinda sad
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions
agreed...
I saw Rolen wearing a Jays uniform in a spring training game on ESPN, definitely hard to take. Thing with Jimmy is, he'll be retired in a couple of years, and everyone will still think of him as a cardinal.
who's pinch hitting?
please be uncle rico
Here's the deal, I'm the best there is, plain and simple, I mean I wake up every morning and I kiss excellence, and nobody can hang with my stuff, uh, you know I'm just a, just a big hairy American winning machine.....
Derrek Lee homers...
Albert needs to catch up, Lee already has 3
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:27 PM EDT reply actions
No worries
Ankiel's keeping pace.
Besides, the Cubs aren't keeping pace with the Cards these days. Nice to have a rotation with an ERA under 1.00.
True...
I gotta admit though, the Fukudome signing has looked brilliant so far. The guy , as of now, is looking like the second coming of Ichiro.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
How do you folks feel
about the Baseball Prospectus guys' call for a Cyclops-like thing to call balls and strikes?
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
i like the human element too
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Apr 6, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I've been wanting robot umps for years...
a ball-strike machine would be a start.
It doesn't take out the human element, it simply places it where it belongs - on the players. No one goes to the game to see the umps, yet they constantly inject themselves into the games
its izzy time
how many franklin's are drank with a save?
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
Belliard, the rover, makes the play
I miss that.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
I didn't mean I want Belliard over Kennedy
I meant I miss using the rover as an extra OF.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 6, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
The announcers today have dyslexia
I've heard "Lasedge Millings" and "Paul do Luca" today.
Also, awesome play by Ank.
Ok, I'll say it again
Ankiel will get MVP votes.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
I've got to gloat...go back to community projections..
I placed him 4th in MVP voting...I may have underestimated him....I knew everyone else was.
mattnj
Rick is amazing
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:34 PM EDT reply actions
Not the best analogy
'Cause then Seal shows up packing heat and blows you away.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I loved watching Jimmy Ballgame, but ..
it's a lot of fun watching these younger guys play. The injuries made it tough to watch Jimmy at the end.
Where on earth was Iz2 playing??
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions
Diving for that ball and making the play
to end the game would have taken the "suck" right out of his nickname. Nothing or no one sucks on this team right now...I believe they have the best record in baseball,
mattnj
Izzy wouldn't be Izzy
with out "In Play, No Out(s)"
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
Winner! SWEEP! YA!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:36 PM EDT reply actions
Well played Cards...
Good luck this season. Beat them Cubs...
by Patrick Reddington on Apr 6, 2008 4:38 PM EDT reply actions
Same to you guys
Beat up on the Mets, Phils and Braves
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Right back at you.
Get those Mets and Phils!
worst case scenario...
if he continues to pitch well, but we fall out of the race, we can flip him for a prime prospect come the trade deadline
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe...
but don't forget, through 2 games last year, Wells had an ERA of 1.39. 2 runs in the first start, zero in the second (where he only gave up 1 hit in 7 innings)
Time to test our starting pitchers in the bandbox...
known as Minute Maid Park.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions
Woo hoo!! Izzy with the save for the Cards and
my fantasy team!!
On to Houston. LEt's keep it rolling!!
"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."
Now it gets interesting.
What will the Cards get out of the second starts from Mr. Wellemeyer and Mr. Thompson? Especially, in such an hitters' haven as the Juice Box.
and Looper...
i'm nervous. Astros have a better team than the Nationals, although not as good as the Rockies. But they'll be pitching in warm weather in a small stadium, which definitely is going to benefit the hitters.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Weird standings
Cards are tied for 1st, Cubs tied for last
O's and Jays' are 1 and 2 in the AL East, Yanks and Sox are 4th and 5th
Royals are 1st, Detroit is last
Fla is 1st, Mets and Phills are 4th and 5th
Small sample size, but how often do you see the "better" teams almost all pulling up the rear?
5 in a row
did we hit that mark all of last year? taking into account spring training, the rainout and our disappointing but winnable loss the next day... I'm having a harder and harder time believing we're not going to be very watchable this year.
It's been discussed ad naseum, but I'm loving the chance to see some young guys getting out there and showing off their non-arthritic joints and smiles. Ankiel is fast becoming a 'drop everything he's up to bat' type of player - even for my wife.
Can anybody tell me why Mr. Lohse couldn't get tossed a bone all winter? That move is looking brilliant. How many more starts like these does he have to throw before he has already "earned" his contract.
salary demands
he couldnt get a bone because his agent had him wanting at 4/40 contract (correct me if i'm wrong). no team thought he was worth that, even us. so far, i'm glad we got him, nonetheless!
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Apr 6, 2008 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
We ended the season
with a 5-game winning streak in '07. And I agree, the "watchability" factor for this team is very high. Even if they don't succeed in putting one in the win column, they should be very entertaining to watch.
At least as long..
as Skip is just a defensive replacement, not the lead off hitter. Watching him hit weak groundballs 4 times a game would reduce the watchability a lot...
Because...
he was basically an average pitcher (literally when it comes to ERA+, anyway) and wanted a 4 year deal worth at least 10 million a year.
I don't think he budged on that until the Cardinals signed him, and even then teams apparently wanted to give him shorter deals (2 years), but he wanted a 1 year, so he could do well and try to cash in again.
Cards won't have to face Oswald
in Houston and Berkman was removed from yesterday's game with some kind of injury... don't know if he is out for anytime but hopefully he won't be !00%. We need 'em while we can get 'em.
So
Wouldn't it probably be best at this point to put Ankiel 4th behind Pujols. Aside from the fact that he's our 2nd best hitter right now (I will never say anyone is better than Pujols) you go RLR with Glaus at 5. Get Ludwick or Duncan in the 2 hole and wouldn't that work?
R Barton
L Duncan/Ludwick/***cough***Rasmus***cough***
R Pujols
L Ankiel
R Glaus
R Molina
L Kennedy
R Pitcher
S Izturis
Holy smokes Batman that's actually a pretty good lineup now that Kennedy has returned from the grave and Ankiel=legit.
With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch
I think ...
you will probably see something very similar to that when facing a RHP. Mr. LaRussa will continue to alter the lineup when facing LHP. It seems like Mr. Ankiel has been entrenched in the #2 hole because of the inordinate amount of LHP that the Cards have faced recently. I know it is unpopular, but I think you will still probably see Mr. Schumaker start some of those games against RHP at least through the month of April. I don't think Mr. LaRussa is willing to give up on him, yet. IMO, I don't think he should. I think you still need a successful Mr. Schumaker through the first 2 months of the season.
Perhaps
Ankiel is doing so well because he has Pujols behind him. If the hope is to get more protection for Pujols, we might see Rick's numbers go down.
Protection is such an overused concept...
while I don't believe it's completely false, people make way too much out of "protection".
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 6, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
It doesn't look like ...
Mr. LaRussa is going to play Mr. Barton anywhere but LF. The fact that he continues to get pulled for a defensive replacement seems to indicate that Mr. Duncan and Mr. Barton are currently the platoon in LF, and that you will probably see a platoon in RF of Mr. Schumaker and Mr. Ludwick. IMO, I don't think Mr. LaRussa is ready for an OF with both Mr. Barton and Mr. Duncan. Which weak arm would you like to put in RF?
Dunc's arm isn't weak
or at least not as weak as Barton's. His defensive shortcomings in the outfield are more a matter of his ... creative ... routes on fly balls, etc. This means that in principle, he'd be the one of the two who'd be better in right. In practice, it was hard enough for him to get used to left field that learning another outfield position might be too much for the poor lad's brain.
One thing sure: if Barton keeps hitting like this, the brain trust is going to have to confront a playing-time problem that will get that much worse as soon as Raz is pronounced ready for the Show. It's not a bad problem to have, but it'll have to be dealt with.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 6, 2008 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I beg to differ.
Mr. Duncan's "creative" routes are certainly an issue. His biggest strength is his speed. His arm reminds me of Ron Gant. You expect more out of a guy that size, and he is "extremely" inaccurate with his throws. That would make it very difficult to justify moving him to RF, IMO.
Is this the Wall Street Journal?
It happened on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1982.
by Glenn Brummer stole home on Apr 7, 2008 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm a new cardinal fan
Maybe its time for a change. I would like to see Ankiel stay in front of Pujols. He is good enough to bat third. Pujols is the only true number 4 we have. Thats not a demotion. Its an admission that the team has just a few sticks. They're pitching around him without a thought right now. Glaus is a dead pull hitter it seems; rolls his wrists early every time. He also seems to be pretty easy to pitch to. I'm sure every scout out there is recognizing his lack of flexibility. Not much protection for anyone. I put him at 6. Rasmus or Kennedy at 2. I really don't see Duncan being a solution for anyone's problems. Sorry, he is in the wrong league. We need another bat . There was some pathetic situational at bats taken today. Also, Duncan's lack of speed makes him a terrible 2 hitter.
Westcoastbirdwatcher
by westcoastbirdwatcher on Apr 7, 2008 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
So,
is that a Colby Jack? Sounds good on a cracker right about now. I see that AMarti hit his second homer of the young season, also off of Sir Sidney.
Way to go Sidney!
You're finally HELPING the Cardinals.
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 6, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
We pile on Ponson
but he was pretty effective in his time here with the Cardinals. He struggled in interleague play.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 7, 2008 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Whoever is doing Monday's post
can they ask Cardinals fans to identify this game?
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
June 7th or 8th
Only time we've hosted the Orioles for a day game since Pujols started playing for us. Given that, it should be relatively easy to find which one was Turn Back The Clock Day or whatever.
That said, the Cubs do deserve my pity, but never my support.
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