Game 8 overflow thread
by lboros on Apr 8, 2008 10:16 PM EDT
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Printnow let's give la russa some credit. he's going out of his way to give reyes a chance here. he lets the kid bat for himself; he lets him go right after berkman instead of pitching around him. tony's taking some risks on the kid.
c'mon boys, lets get ol' a rey a relief win.
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Go ahead Geary
walk the guy in front of Pujols.
Make him pay, Albert!
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
Very well
I'll give Tony credit for this as long as he promises to never bat Izturis leadoff again :)
Knock one out, Rick
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
sweet, another one of those patented pujols infield singles
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:20 PM EDT reply actions
Today = best day ever?
I finished my thesis today (after 6 hours of straight work) and came home to find that the Cardinals had just tied up the game and ARey was mowing them down.
C'mon Cardinals bring it all home for your favorite robot.
wow, congratulations!
what's your thesis? sounds remarkably liberal-arts for a robot.
e'rebuilding mang
Congrats
You need to celebrate Mike Shannon style, which could make for an interesting DFR tonight :)
by mikedallas45 on Apr 8, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I can hear Mike now...
"ol' azruavatar's done it again folks, and you know what that means. Time to reach for an ice cold bud light."
Free Colby
by Oregonian Redbird on Apr 8, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
this weekend is going to be fun
I have every intention of playing the drinking game from one of the previous game threads.
thanks all
FUCK YES TROY GLAUS.
It's for an engineering masters degree, nycbirdo, so it's not liberal-artsy at all. I had to write a program to optimize a bunch of power (as in your local utility company power) variables. I've been working on it for 6+ months and it was basically the only thing between me and graduation at this point.
Congrats
Sounds technical. I bet you're about to get paid like whoa.
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
that's awesome
of all of my friends who studied engineering, only one even graduated undergrad, so good on ya. that s is effing hard.
e'rebuilding mang
Congratulations!
I got my BSME in '99- I was waaaaaaaaaaaaay too burned out on school to attempt a masters
"Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey.
The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
- Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw, on his plans for his $75,000 salary
Congrats AZ
so now you are going to graduate, what's next? world domination?
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
congrats azru
what kind of engineering? i'm in grad school for nuke engineering now and i'm definately getting burnt out. way to stick with it.
Congratulations!
I just turned in my thesis last week.
Nice to be finished and have it out of the way, isn't it?
"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."
Hmm
Pujols took out Towles's leg for no good reason on that slide
he's just a towel...
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Good reason:
There's still a runner out there on the bases. If the ball gets by Towlie, the runner gets another base.
Glaus comes around!
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:24 PM EDT reply actions
Come on Boomhauer...
they are IBBing Kennedy to get to you
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:25 PM EDT reply actions
Ohhhhhh
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Glaus just hit one to the gap
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
AK intentionally walked :)
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions
Damn, thought the Mullet had one there
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions
now what? leave reyes in?
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:27 PM EDT reply actions
It's not like he has much choice...
Reyes is pretty much the long reliever, he has to stick with him until the 8th.
Wow
I just saw the replay of that double. Towlie sure is getting beat up this series
Highlights on Gameday
Did you watch it through the link on Gameday, I guess they have this new thing where they show you important plays like 2 min's after they happen...
by duncans_army on Apr 8, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Good old Gameday
It was especially fun with Houston's unemotional cyborg announcers.
by hannah_in_va on Apr 8, 2008 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
they do indeed
my favorite of these so far was that play kennedy made behind second the other day.
e'rebuilding mang
my sentiments exactly...
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
i hope you're right
i definitely have favorites, and right now i like a lot of guys. i'm hoping i still do when they're no longer a .700 team.
e'rebuilding mang
as long as they're outs...
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
woooo! another catch for dunc
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:32 PM EDT reply actions
sounds like Franklin
is getting lit up. Bare down kid, one more!
Ok Skippy... you're starting. Now START HITTING!
nice job FRANK
those balls were smoked though.
never the less, good work.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
They were all over Franklin...
but he got out of it.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
the trifecta
are we really about to watch miles, iz2, and schu back to back to back? are they going to line up defensively like when a girl comes up to bat in slowpitch softball?
How about
All three ground out to 2nd?
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
it would be nice to blow it wide open, but we do have a closer.
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:36 PM EDT reply actions
No, best
is if Izzy makes it dull and routine.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 8, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
alright boys
i just spent $55 bucks on some new Cardinal hats for the season. don't make me look like a fool wearing them around this summer.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
aw, c'mon. cardinals are the best team in history!
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Who's a fool?
I don't see how anyone can ever call you a fool for supporting the home team. I don't see why you'd stopping wearing hats even during a down year. Now, if you were from Florida, that might be different...
Free Colby
by Oregonian Redbird on Apr 8, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
there's far to many flub fans out here in ohio
i heard a ton of crap last summer from them all.
guess what shut them up the quickest? all i had to do was hold up 10 fingers.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
cubs fans are a joke. sure, there's a few smart ones, but most of 'em just say "Cardinals suck" with no basis whatsoever
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
i almost never get that
i usually get cursed at & flipped off.
there must be something about my face that their fans love to hate.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
True.
I get that from Cub fans all the time too. "Cardinals suck!", they don't know why, they just know they do.
stupid family friends
ive been in and out the last 3 innings
lets get the W boys
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
Injured
I think it's anal fissures (something to do with the anus...not even joking)
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
Better than
a Felix Pie twisted testicle
"Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey.
The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
- Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw, on his plans for his $75,000 salary
BTDT
and you would not believe how much that hurts.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 8, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I would
On a more positive note, you can say that you truly are a flaming asshole......
Dave
best to be on the safe side
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
come on IZZY!
lets make this quick & easy what do you say old chap?
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
2 run lead is so much better than one run lead
i would say twice as good
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
dos mas por favor
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions
solamente uno mas
The 2007 St. Louis Multiple Personality Disorders...Alternately;(Punchless) Judies; (Pitchless) Lounge singers; & sometimes...World Champions
His breaking pitch isn't as nasty as it's been
But he's still got great movement on all his pitches
by cloistermaximus on Apr 8, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
This would be anthony Reyes first win since ???
...the nixon adminiistration?
The 2007 St. Louis Multiple Personality Disorders...Alternately;(Punchless) Judies; (Pitchless) Lounge singers; & sometimes...World Champions
Question for anyone watching on tv
What was the La Russa/Duncan body language like during and following Reyes' three innings?
Free Colby
by Oregonian Redbird on Apr 8, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions
best way to say 'good job' to arey
i don't think there would be any DOUBT that tony has no problems with him if that happened...
by urgeernieball on Apr 8, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
here's to...
happy endings all year
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
by urgeernieball on Apr 8, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
glad to hear it
He's been needing positive reinforcement for a long time - it could do wonders for his psyche
Free Colby
by Oregonian Redbird on Apr 8, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
AND THAT'S A WINNER!!!!
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Winner!
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions
Aw Yeah! keep those L's at 2 for now
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:47 PM EDT reply actions
Great win
Way to come back, boys! Great pitching Anthony!
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
Izzy!
I am so sorry I said all those bad things about you in 2006.
What a good game.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down and that foot is me
Thompson might not have got the win, but he did have an rbi
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:48 PM EDT reply actions
yeah, I'm liking the thompson for 3, then reyes for 3 or 4 innings combo
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
how freaking great does Izzy look this season?
i cant remember the last time his stuff looked so good.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions
maybe he turned into a cyborg
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
sweet
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that they are probably going to be better than the cubs. the chances of the cubs being good two years in a row are slim and none
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
did you see the cubs line for monday, they blew a 7-0 lead in the ninth and won in xtra
against the Bucs, they had a gazillion walks
H O LY S H @ !
Corey Fing paterson just tied up the game. 2-2 now in the top of the 9th.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
of course he is
ESPN doesn't employee just anyone don't you know.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
damn, I've got to get a better job so I can afford to watch the cards this year...
Ankiel is Jesus!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 8, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if Albert will get some chin music tomorrow...
for that slide on Towles.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions
speaking of sick Reds....
How about that Johnny Cueto, he is a strikeout machine.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Jr strikes out, onto the bottom of the 9th
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Should have bunted
he could have bunted down the 3rd base line for a double. The runner could have scored from first with a solid bunt to third base with that defensive alignment.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
i was thinking the same thing
i saw Oritz do that late last season vs B-More i think.
of course knowing Jr, he probably would have blown his hammy half way between 1st & 2nd
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
He did it earlier in the game
apparently they didn't feel like doing it again.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
i didn't see that
i've been flipping in between a bunch of games all night long when i wasn't eating. this EI thing can be pretty addictive.
thats just bad baseball. i mean if a team is just going to give you a hit & you don't take advantage of it, that speaks volumes of your baseball IQ.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
With the choice of Dave Weathers or Cordero
I chose to fall on my sword.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:07 PM EDT reply actions
He's Valverde good
if that's what you mean.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
no you mean mark wholers
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
flammable
inflammable.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Story from the game...
To me, the story of this game was A-Rey.
How did he look so dominant in his first and third starts of the season while looking helpless in the save opportunity?
Can we chalk that up to psychology? The thing that's so baffling to me is that his velocity was 4-5 mph less in the game that he was pitching for the save.
Surprised me to see him recover like that tonight. If anything, maybe Springer's DL stint will give us a little longer look at #23 in the bullpen. I'm assuming Jimenez is the odd man out once Pineiro returns and Thompson (presumably) gets sent back to the pen.
its his mo
glimpse of brillance suckage...except one thing the flashes are closer between now..in the past they were weeks or even months apart... dare i say maybe hes making progress?
anymore win or lose if i see that he has pitched well i get encouraged for him i hate to see people just go out and fail when you think they can be something
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
Just checking in...
Watched the game tonight here in LA and was impressed with
1) Troy G. starting to look good in that #5 spot in the line-up
2) Izzy really using the knuckle-curve at the out pitch tonight and as the announcers mentioned perhaps having LaRue behind the plate being the reason for that.
3) ARay....3 innings of really nice pitching...would still like to see him a little more around the plate..but nothing but praise for the kid on this one.
4) Kennedy knocking in some BIG runs....man if this guy could become a solid #6 behind Glaus...what a huge addition that would be to this club.
i wonder what Dunn's beef
with Billy Hatcher is?
for those not in oh or wi, Dunn just smoked a line drive over Hatch's head who is the Reds 1st base coach. Hatch had to hit the deck to avoid massive brain damage.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Dunn had 2 hits stolen tonight
by Price Fielder's belly.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't watching the Mil/Cin game.
Could you explain how Princey's belly stole two hits from Dunn?
Ha, they didn't
he just made two pretty good plays to rob him.
It's just fun to poke at Prince's fat (pun intended). Especially now that he is wearing the high socks that make him look even larger.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions
that's too bad
i was imagining Prince's belly getting smacked by two line drives & the balls disappearing into the fat forever.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
I was
imagining something along the same line as that!
This one's about over
if Dusty's got some magic plan for getting a DP, now is the time.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:27 PM EDT reply actions
ball game. Brew Crew wins
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Ovah
Boo Dave Weathers.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll say one thing,
Gagne makes you appreciate Izzy even more.
seems to me
that a lot of closers are making me appreciate Izzy lately...
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
by urgeernieball on Apr 8, 2008 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome to see Doug Davis pitching a shutout...
his last start before getting surgery for his Thyroid Cancer.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 8, 2008 11:31 PM EDT reply actions
Good win for the Cards
Like someone else said, you just want to cheer for this team. Well, you'll cheer for the Cards anyways because we're fans, but the whole roster seems to be made up of park rats that love the game--a sum is greater than the individual parts thing, if you will.
Win, lose, or something in the middle, this is going to be a fun team to watch as long as they approach the game with this attitude and approach.
The young guys are hustling to stay in the big leagues, and the vets seem to be rejuvenated watching these guys play the game with a little leaguers enthusiasm.
"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."
I hope the balance of this team stays long enough
to by accompanied by one of Pujols White-Hot weeks. They could really be fun to watch if he gets in a groove.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It's funny that a guy hitting .350
and drawing a ton of walks isn't considered in a "white hot" zone.
I agree with your assessment, BTW, but man, Pujols is unbelievable.
"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."
Surprising...
that Albert's getting so many walks with more protection this year. Better plate discipline/not having to expand his zone?
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
by urgeernieball on Apr 9, 2008 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Or maybe protection doesn't really matter that much
With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
What contributed to the change in attitude of the team? is the the winning? the new players? the old players gone? new blood in the GM's chair?
I'll admit I loved seeing ScoRo at 3B, but I'm wondering if he was a bit of a clubhouse cancer...
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
by urgeernieball on Apr 8, 2008 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
LaRussa lost the team last year
very early. I have a feeling that Edmonds became the de facto 'players manager' in that the players came to him for day-to-day advice or took what he said more importantly than they did LaRussa. If memory serves me right, the team had that great surge in the second half when the youth took over the everyday positions. Pujols and Molina have always been 'LaRussa' guys, so has Miguel Cairo (gag) with the callup of Ankiel (a favorite) and young, inexperienced guys like Ludwick, Ryan, Barden, Skippy...Tony had 'sway' again in the clubhouse and it probably created a more enjoyable work enviroment for the team.
They probably pull that comeback off last year if two things don't happen, the Ankiel/HGH story and Pujols getting injured.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 8, 2008 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
oops..
my reply is right below this..
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
by urgeernieball on Apr 8, 2008 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it's an element of all you mentioned
I hate to disparage Jockety, Rolen, et al., but Jockety had issues getting along with Luhnow in the front office, and it caused tension, which I'm sure lead to a lack of communication. You can make a case that Jockety had reasons for his feelings, but he needs to be a mature adult about it and be professional. When the GM freezes out the head of the minor leagues/chief of scouting (please correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Luhnow's titles), you have people afraid to voice their opinion fully because you don't want to draw the wrath of the guy that has great influence over whether you have a job. It's human nature. Mo taking over rid the front office of that and now there is a free flow of information and opinions regarding players and veterans versus youth, and I think it was reflected in this year's final roster makeup.
Rolen's relationship with TLR deteriorated to the point they weren't talking, and were sniping at each other through the press. This had to have a ripple effect through the clubhouse. I really hesitate to call Rolen a cancer, but when a marquee player and the manager are openly feuding, human nature says players will take sides. There is blame in this issue to share all the way around, but you get rid of one and you get rid of the issue. I will always appreciate what Scott Rolen did as a Cardinal, but it was a good move for him and the Cardinals that he went elewhere. And good on Mo for getting good value in Glaus.
And winning breeeds good attitudes. Someone else mentioned that it will be interesting to see how the new veteran leaders step up when this team slumps, and how the young guys will react.
"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."
Good points!
I guess I'm just glad management and Mo made the moves they did to bring harmony and respect to the franchise's.
I'm getting more impressed with Mo each day.
It seems like these guys are able to bounce back (granted a VERY small sample size) from a loss and have a relatively short memory though. SO maybe we can hope to avoid detrimental slumps.
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
by urgeernieball on Apr 9, 2008 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Good points!
I guess the DUI and all of the other misfortunes that happened early in the season didn't help the team keep/gain respect for TLR. It's interesting to look at the psychological aspect of the game! I guess the team is really no different than a normal work place though... the players need to have respect for the manager and energy for the task at hand!
Here's to TLR keeping this going!
"We don't have a chance without Anthony..." TLR on ARey's outing 04/08/08
Oh Heck, I have to stop in and say it.........
Fantastic pitching there, #23! I absolutely loved the sequence of pitches he threw Berkman for his last out. He stranded a runner at third.....did you all notice that? I'm grateful to you Mr. Mozeliak for forcing field management to do the right thing, and to you Mr. LaRussa for using him in situations that mean something. I have been encouraged all spring because he's a command and control guy, and he has walked exactly zero so far, and only 3 during spring training. He may never be the star I thought he would be, but he sure looks like he could be one of those guys who takes a little longer to be a good pitcher. Fingers crossed.....please no more AAA for the guy, no matter what happens. Small sample size, I know. But it's a good looking sample so far, no?
Good night all.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
anthony owes you a big hug
for all the support you've given him over the years... I absolutely love how you've never backed down from supporting the guy, no matter how mean all of us were to him...
And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill...
And quite a few of you have been really mean to me for it, too.
You all know where I stand and a lot of my anger was fueled by the Cardinals and their management constant dispargement of the guy. You can say whatever you want about his pitching, but I've seen nothing that tells me that he's not a decent human being....he didn't deserve that. It was like they were picking on the guy who they knew would never say a word...........
Now, if they want to get rid of him, they should give him a spot start against the Brewers. He does well against them. Me, I'm like the Deadspin guy, I believe in Reyes.
I apologize for boring you all again and breaking my pledge again--I'm down to about 1 time a week now......it's hard, almost as hard as quitting smoking
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
I thought about you Jills
when Reyes came in. Glad he did well. Makes me feel good when you are happy.
fun fact:
ryan braun hasn't taken a walk yet this season. he's making Ankiel look absolutely Bondsian wrt plate discipline...
And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill...
Seriously....What type of projections can we be looking
at? This team in no way, shape or form is looking like any of us thought. We've seen more in the first 8 games than we saw the first two months of last year. What an interesting team! I might be just a bit emotional and getting way ahead of myself here but it appears these guys have chemistry..... This Houston team looks vastly improved(especially offensively) but could have easily lost both games so far...
mattnj
Calm a bit
Unless you seriously think we're going to have the greatest pitching season in the history of the major leagues, people are going to start scoring a lot more runs off of our mediocre rotation, which in turn will pressure our bullpen (which hasn't looked all that great, with the exception of Izzy). The offense is exciting, sure, but they're not really scoring all THAT many runs and I think that we're hitting pretty close to what we can expect from this lineup, if not a little better. When the pitching comes back down to earth, this team is going to start losing some of these 1-run games that we're winning right now.
Not to be a black cloud or anything.
That said, I'm excited about this team, too. I have no doubt that this team could finish .500 or a little better in 08 and improve next year.
our offense is is hitter better than we should expect?!
Albert is no where near his usual production, neither is Troy Glaus. Chris Duncan, as little as I like him, will do better as well. Schumaker will be replaced so his void will be filled with either Barton or Duncan or Rasmus.
Our lineup is capable of producing much more than it currently is.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 9, 2008 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
i shouldn't post when tired...please try to decipher the title of that last post
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 9, 2008 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
So maybe I'm just a pessimist
But I don't expect Molina to continue with the 118 OPS+. I expect Ankiel to return to Earth -- he may be a power hitter, but I can't see him maintaining a .345 OBP or a .704 SLG. Albert may not be producing the power he usually will, but his OBP is over .500 right now, which I think we can agree will probably not last.
For every that should pick it up a little (Duncan, Glaus) there's a guy who should taper off (Molina, Ankiel, Ludwick). I realize it's more my opinion that anything.
I dunno. Maybe we'll start scoring another half run per game if Pujols and Glaus really pick it up. But I think we lose that and more when the pitching starts being human again.
I guess I just think it's a bad sign that when our starters are 5-0 with a 1.21 ERA coming into today, we've still played so many close games.
*Shrug.* Black cloud.
Ankiel return to Earth?
He's almost a complete unknown. He's doing something very few players have ever done and is really only in his 3rd full season of doing it.
Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 9, 2008 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions
He's not a complete unknown. He's got a small sample of data, yes, but nonetheless the data is there. I'm also judging by what I see when I watch him play, and I include the funk he was in at the end of last year. That's why I made a point to say that "I realize it's more my opinion than anything."
Right now Ankiel's OPS+ is up in the vicinity of Pujols' career OPS+. Call me crazy, but I just don't see Ank being the hitter that Pujols is.
I've yet to watch a game
in which Ankiel hits, and not say "how did he do that" at least once. It's insane. For instance, in his last AB today, he swung at an up and in fastball and managed to rip a line drive just foul down the first base line- he struck out a bunch of pitches later, after a couple of swings at terrible pitches, but really, very few hitters can turn on a pitch like that and hit it as hard as he did. His bat speed was just wicked on that swing.
By all rights he should have struck out on that pitch, but he almost had an extra base hit. i don't think Jim Edmonds was that fast, even in 2004.
Rick isn't as good as Albert- he certainly doesn't have the discipline- but as a pure hitter, he has a potential ceiling that is as high as any I've seen. He has a very good chance to be a left-handed Vlad Guerrero. And if he learns to take pitches, watch out.
And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill...
Black cloud is an understatement...
Seriously, where is the fun in looking at things like that?
If you find a 20 dollar bill on the ground, do you grumble about it, because well...you'll probably lose 30 dollars over the next year, so you're still in the hole
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 9, 2008 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions
What?
The money analogy is terrible. I don't have an ability at picking up money that can be predicted. It's pure luck.
And I know it's not "fun" to look at things realistically, but it is, well, realistic. I'm having as much fun with this little run as anyone else -- I'm glued to the TV, I'm praying to see Barton in the lineup, I was at Opening Day and Opening Day v2.0. But that doesn't mean that I think it's going to continue, and it's just unrealistic to expect it to. It's possible to get a little giddy as the Cards rip off a bunch of wins in a row while at the same time knowing that it won't last forever.
Realist? nah. Pessimist? Yah.
...just a bit outside....
by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Apr 9, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
For the record, mojo
I agree with your assessment.
And despite AMC's protestations otherwise, I also agree that your assessment is a realistic one, rather than "pessimistic."
Our pitching will undoubtedly stop overperforming eventually (probably once we start facing better teams that aren't slumping), and I, too, expect our mediocre-to-decent offense to remain roughly the same, since (as you noted) there's a fairly even balance between current underperformers and overperformers. But who knows, maybe their hot streak will defy realistic expectations and they'll continue to overperform. It's certainly happened before, and it's part of what makes baseball so intriguing.
No matter what happens, though, this sure is a fun team to watch!
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
look at the teams we've been playing
The Rockies (who seem to be in some sort of funk), Washington, and Houston. All of these should qualify as teams that we should beat, if we're a halfway decent team.
Of course we should all still enjoy the ride, but let's not get ahead of ourselves since we haven't really played anyone that great yet.
But I also can't help but thinking that this team is playing awfully similarly to the team that made that improbable run in the 2006 postseason.
If we're still playing .600+ ball in a month or two, I'll get more excited about the future, but at this point I'm just enjoying this team in the here and now.
I'll give you Wash and Hou...
no one really expected them to be good. So as a minimum, we should win at least half of those games against "like" competition.
But Colorado is the defending NL champion, and save a rainout and/or a bad throw we sweep them. I'm sorry, but after the home opener last year, that's flat out impressive. Now at the end of the year Col could revert back to being Colorado, but right now, taking two out of three from them with a patchwork rotation, and throttling Helton, Holliday, Tulowitzski, et al, is falt out impressive.
I do completely agree with your last sentence--I am enjoying the ride for as long and as far as it will take me. The logical mind tells me this will end sooner rather than later, but the fan in me hopes it goes deep into October.
"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."
Good sign?
The bullpen went 5 IP giving up 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB. Most of that was Reyes, which is a good sign in itself, but although Franklin got hit hard, the job got done.
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
Home town treatment
I wish Glaus' first time being a game winning cardinal was at Busch. I really believe he is deserves the feeling of being in the eye of a sea of red. If any of you are at the next home game, give him the treatment that anyone who wins one for the redbirds deserves!
ugh
you know, there is a happy medium between blind optimism and rabid pessimism.
it was a good win. hopefully they'll go out and get the rubber game.
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