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Game 44 Open Thread: May 16 2008

Birdos_avatar_tiny by lboros on

Tampa Bay Rays @ St. Louis Cardinals


Sonnanstine Looper
5-1, 5.07 5-2, 4.21

rays are an interesting team. they don't seem to excel at anything in particular --- 7th in the league in obp, 7th in slugging,. 5th in scoring, 4th in era . . . . . turns out where they excel is on defense: they are 2d in the a.l. in defensive efficiency ratio (.716), 2d in double plays, and 2d in fielding percentage.

the cards may be catching a break in drawing sonnanstine, a pitch-to-contacter whose fastball averages 87 mph, per fangraphs. he features a cut fastball, a la greg maddux, and batters apparently have trouble squaring it up ---- his line-drive rates have been below average since he came into the league last year.

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Just goes to show...

stats aren’t EVERYTHING. Go Cards!

by birdman3000 on May 16, 2008 7:14 PM EDT   0 recs

Take Perez Spot

So who is going to take Perez’s spot on the bullpen in Memphis? Fernando Salas is rocking down in Springfield with a nice 23 IP 8BB and 37K’s putting down a WHIP of .91 and ERA of 1.96.

Anyone know anything about this guy?

by FlimtotheFlam on May 16, 2008 7:21 PM EDT   0 recs

The Running Rays

they are a very fast teams that goes from 1st to 3rd as well or better than the Angels do.

Yadi better have his cannon loaded.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 16, 2008 7:22 PM EDT   0 recs

speed & defense

I seem to remember the Cards used to do that. Might could get nostalgic. Naah, the Rays’ uniforms are just too ugly, so for now I’ll settle for that Yadi-to-the-Mang pickoff move :-)

by random on May 16, 2008 7:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

the cardinals recent slip

you could easily point at the defense not being as good to explain it as much as the bullpen, RISP, etc.

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 7:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

our defense

seems to be a lack of concentration over lack of talent.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 7:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

what are you seeing?

I’m pretty well limited to Gameday & would appreciate your view. bad breaks by the outfielders? infielders going to the wrong spots on cutoffs & relays? Izturis screwed up a few early in the year, is that still going on?

by random on May 16, 2008 8:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I can recall a few off hand

Albert and the foul ball he should have caught, wasn’t an error and was lack of concentration not talent.

iz had one error on a awful throw that didn’t cost us a run, but his arm is usually golden so concentration, not talent.

Kennedy gets a lot of shit, but the reality of it is when he’s healthy he’s generally + defender at 2b, his drop the other day was concentration. I can’t recall the last dropped popup he’s had, most of his errors are the off the hop variety.

By my standards we have one of the best infield defenses in the game, and while Skip is overrated and Duncan is underrated, our OF isn’t that bad either.

We have the talent, but at times we have some stupid plays. Which means lack of concentration, due to too many high stress innings I’d say.

Seems like every day is game 7 out there.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

another, Izzy’s throw. now, he’s a headcase this year, but it’s not like he makes errant throws all of the time.

Off hand Izzy and Adams are the only run costing high leverage situations we’ve had. But there are 40 games played, and I don’t remember them all

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks, AE

Thanks for the detail. I’m largely in agreement, though I’m not yet ready to say the bad play is caused by stress. If it is, it won’t be something we haven’t seen recently.

by random on May 17, 2008 2:35 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

we led the league

and were #3 in all of MLB in going first to third last year. Goold had an article about it last week.

We’re also #1 in RZR by a very large margin, so our defense is pretty good too. Only three teams in the NL are within 40 POINTS of us, defensively.

And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill...

by SleepyCA on May 16, 2008 8:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Exactly

which backs up my original point and supporting replies.

We are damn good defensively, and anytime we have issues is lack of concentration, because over 40 games it’s quite clear, the talent is there by a margin.

I would even say that if we didn’t have this defense, we’d be even worse off than we are, I can think of quite a few high leverage web gems we’ve had. Rick’s assists, Skips, and Glaus come to mind. Alberts great snag and Iz makes his look so easy but some are baffling where he gets to. (remember the over the shoulder assist? slick)

Even Ryan has quite a few gorgeous grabs in his limited role.

from 1 -25 we have a solid defensive core.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yadi's cannon

should be ready since his wallet is a little lighter after his temper tantrum.

by sbentley on May 16, 2008 8:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Lineup

Schumaker-9
Duncan-7
Pujols-3
Ankiel-8
Glaus-5
Molina-2
Kennedy-4
Looper-1
Izturis-6

Not a big fan. We need defense against a team like Tampa and Duncan doesn’t provide that. It also takes Ludwick out of the lineup and thus causes everything else to be jumbled.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 16, 2008 7:25 PM EDT   0 recs

I don't like it either

WTF happened to batting Kennedy 2nd? We need Luddy in there.

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans

by Mr Redbird on May 16, 2008 7:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

here's my latest suggested lineup

Schumaker/Barton
Kennedy
Pujols
Ludwick
Ankiel
Glaus
Molina
Pitcher
Izturis/Ryan

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 7:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

this is a good night to sit luddy

it seems like guys with good offspeed pitches are his achilles heel…

And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill...

by SleepyCA on May 16, 2008 8:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I think it's safe to say

Looper is a better hitter than their pitcher

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 7:42 PM EDT   0 recs

by most metrics

Looper has been damn good vs waino as well, maybe he can get the occasional PH.

(this isn’t saying he has more power, just has been productive)

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 7:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Vegas has the Cards

personally, I feel like there going to kick our ass. New stadium, big crowd, Albert Pujols.
Maybe the yankees tired them out….......NOT

Westcoastbirdwatcher

by westcoastbirdwatcher on May 16, 2008 7:45 PM EDT   0 recs

I think it should be a pretty even matchup

hopefully the Pirates just took us off guard (at least we won’t make some of the same mistakes)

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 7:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

well we carried the lead/got the lead into the 8th all three games with one to write home about.

can blame it on various things, but for 21-24 innings we absolutely beat down the pirates, only to watch them walk over us late.

it felt like the old rocky movies, where we threaten and beat up on them, only to lose everything late.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 7:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

heh

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 8:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

but aren’t we supposed to be Rocky? it really sucks being ivan drago.

(though drago bears a striking resemblance to rick ankiel, now that i think about it)

And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill...

by SleepyCA on May 16, 2008 8:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

vegas has the cards

because we’re the home team, we match up well on paper. so we’re getting the slight favorite due to being home and our success we’ve carried. nothing else.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 7:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe the absent DH will panic there pitching.

Philly is kicking Toronto’s ass.

Westcoastbirdwatcher

by westcoastbirdwatcher on May 16, 2008 7:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

they’re a young team, but they’re built the way they are to grind into weaknesses in the large cash division they’re in. this year it’s coming together on that process.

but I don’t know how well they’ll fair in interleague ball, but I have to say that they’re more NL than we are AL. They may do quite well with it

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 7:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

plus wouldn't probabilities dictate

that since we have been losing more lately, we’d regress back to the mean

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 8:04 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

they would, by all indications, but from a vegas point of view it’s on a game by game basis, and the matchups at hand play more of a role. If the bet was based on play during all of May, it would be something else.

Every sport has a home field advantage in the market, basketball tends to have a 5 point addition to the spread assumed for home teams.

In this specific matchup, it’s fair to say that the teams are pretty balanced all in all and the slight edge would go to the home town team who has a solid record at home.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rasmus to replace Duncan

Who will have been traded to the Giants to play first base as a left-handed hitting power bat

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans

by Mr Redbird on May 16, 2008 7:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ah yes

duncan for lincecum

by jeff_abs on May 16, 2008 7:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

My guess would be Mather

The only one who liked the Cardinals so much he became a St. Louis Cardinals football fan.

by coachnick39 on May 16, 2008 7:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

if our lefties

don’t get their shit together, I’d like to see the other Flores come around.

He has a K/BB rate better than Motte, or Perez and even Worrell. Hell his whip is .99 at the moment and while he’s had a couple of games off cue, everything else looks fine. Can do the one out approach, or two innings. For lefties, I like’m

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:04 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Lets win

a whole bunch of games in a row starting with this one yah?

Losing is a disease

by ANDYAK47 on May 16, 2008 8:05 PM EDT   0 recs

+24

The only one who liked the Cardinals so much he became a St. Louis Cardinals football fan.

by coachnick39 on May 16, 2008 8:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I love that show

24 is a good show

Losing is a disease

by ANDYAK47 on May 16, 2008 8:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That pic makes looper look like

Jason Statham

I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2

by punchinjudy on May 16, 2008 8:10 PM EDT   0 recs

Yeah

If Jason Statham bred with Frankenstein.

by spants on May 16, 2008 8:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

holy crap

almost on franklin #3. I ate a lot today too, i’m going to explode

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 8:11 PM EDT   0 recs

You might not wanna explode until

after the debut of Overlord

The only one who liked the Cardinals so much he became a St. Louis Cardinals football fan.

by coachnick39 on May 16, 2008 8:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

well

I can always go get more franklins

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 8:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

wont that speed up the explosion?

The only one who liked the Cardinals so much he became a St. Louis Cardinals football fan.

by coachnick39 on May 16, 2008 8:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

franklins?

OK, so I’m going to show how much of a newbie I am. Where did the Franklin thing come from?

by sbentley on May 16, 2008 8:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Watch him pitch

you’ll want a beer

The only one who liked the Cardinals so much he became a St. Louis Cardinals football fan.

by coachnick39 on May 16, 2008 8:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

so what are izzy’s then? queludes? valium?heroine?

by sbentley on May 16, 2008 8:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Tums, Malox, Rolaids

Extra strength

born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red

by totalloser on May 16, 2008 10:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

good start

BOOOOOO Izzy...yeah I said it. BOOOO Izzy

by poohrat on May 16, 2008 8:17 PM EDT   0 recs

+1

Losing is a disease

by ANDYAK47 on May 16, 2008 8:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Crawford

is a stud by the way

Losing is a disease

by ANDYAK47 on May 16, 2008 8:18 PM EDT   0 recs

+1

BOOOOOO Izzy...yeah I said it. BOOOO Izzy

by poohrat on May 16, 2008 8:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder what bradens

era would be minus that SF start

Losing is a disease

by ANDYAK47 on May 16, 2008 8:19 PM EDT   0 recs

From a glance

just under 3

giving up 7 in 3 innings really skews what he’s done this year, but the last 2 games he’s given up 4, but in a much longer stint.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

he's hittin Molinas glove thats for sure

BOOOOOO Izzy...yeah I said it. BOOOO Izzy

by poohrat on May 16, 2008 8:21 PM EDT   0 recs

Thatta boy Loop

Losing is a disease

by ANDYAK47 on May 16, 2008 8:23 PM EDT   0 recs

that worked out well, but

he threw a lot of pitches

hopefully, he can improve on that soon

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

by 82Special on May 16, 2008 8:24 PM EDT   0 recs

had a statham swagger

as he left the mound

I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2

by punchinjudy on May 16, 2008 8:24 PM EDT   0 recs

it will be really interesting to see how Tony uses the bullpen tonight

well, maybe “interesting” isn’t the most appropriate word

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

by 82Special on May 16, 2008 8:25 PM EDT   0 recs

is perez rested and ready to pitch tonight?

by sbentley on May 16, 2008 8:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know

but I’m pretty excited to see how he does

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Good to see Silent George Hendrick

back in St. Louis even though he’s a coach on the Rays.

by KYCards on May 16, 2008 8:25 PM EDT   0 recs

dunc jr.

should renew the goat curse on the cubbies with that pic

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 16, 2008 8:28 PM EDT   0 recs

Duncan having a good game is...

bittersweet yeah I like to see him get hits and rbi but it also means we see him the next day.

BOOOOOO Izzy...yeah I said it. BOOOO Izzy

by poohrat on May 16, 2008 8:28 PM EDT   0 recs

the strike zone on Gameday tonight looks pretty inconsistent

how does it look on TV?

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

by 82Special on May 16, 2008 8:30 PM EDT   0 recs

so far so good

BOOOOOO Izzy...yeah I said it. BOOOO Izzy

by poohrat on May 16, 2008 8:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks

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

by 82Special on May 16, 2008 8:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

not too bad,

but hes started giving the corners and you know how that can be..that said i only saw one pitch to skip that probably was a ball

I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2

by punchinjudy on May 16, 2008 8:32 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd rather get the corners now and adjust

than them get added in the 8th.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

true

just saying it can be hard to be consistent when doing it

I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2

by punchinjudy on May 16, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

this rays pitcher is a quick worker

BOOOOOO Izzy...yeah I said it. BOOOO Izzy

by poohrat on May 16, 2008 8:30 PM EDT   0 recs

Let's optimistically assume the Cards will win tonight...

Anyone want to venture a pick for player of the game?

My pick is Glaus.

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

by 82Special on May 16, 2008 8:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Mine would be looper.

Rick, Albert and Glaus are all odds on for the BAMF award though.

I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang

by AdjustedExpectations on May 16, 2008 8:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs