Viva El Birdos: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Around SBN: Check out our NFL Scoreboard: scores, schedule and blogs Bar-right-arrows

Game 50 Open Thread: May 23, 2008

Birdos_avatar_tiny by lboros on

St. Louis Cardinals @ Los Angeles Dodgers


Wainwright Lowe
3-2, 3.25 2-4, 5.34

seen in today's editions: piniella tells edmonds, "start getting some hits ya bum. "

also: bernie miklasz appears on the latest edition of BP Radio, downloadable here .

0 recs | Comment 478 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Pirates will lose to Cubs again

Why don’t the Pirates just forfeit these games and hold intrasquad contests for the hometown fans?

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 8:35 PM EDT   0 recs

you never know

they need to treat it like a playoff game and throw the kitchen sink at them

for us

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 23, 2008 9:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

What does Lou expect?

Jimmy hasn’t hit for years. His “career” in Chicago will not end well.

by RabidBuffalo on May 23, 2008 9:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Could there be a worse lineup?

2B Kennedy
LF Duncan
1B Pujols
RF Ludwick
3B Glaus
CF Ankiel
C Molina
SP Wainwright
SS Izturis

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 9:42 PM EDT   0 recs

Don't answer that, I can think of one

2B Kennedy
LF Barton
1B Pujols
RF Ludwick
3B Miles
CF Skippy
C Molina
SP Wainwright
SS Izturis

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 9:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

or the always great...

2B Kennedy
LF Looper
1B Wainwright
RF Barton
3B Miles
CF Wellemeyer
C LaRue
SP Reyes
SS Izturis

Actually, Wainwright batting 3rd might make that okay.

by longhornscardinals on May 23, 2008 9:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

now replace Molina with LaRue

and you’ve got something there…

I have a love/hate relationship with the Cardinals' middle relief corps.

by madding on May 23, 2008 9:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

awww

and Skip and Brendan were so excited about playing in LA. Got to wait another day, though Skip’ll probably step in for Duncan at some point, assuming we take a lead.

by infallibleopiniongenerator on May 23, 2008 9:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

came in as a defensive replacement?

i’m pretty sure he’s stepped in for Duncan before, though maybe i’m thinking of the thousands of time’s he’s replaced Barton in the top of the third.

by infallibleopiniongenerator on May 23, 2008 9:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yes

ummm… I think there a lot of teams that wish they had Duncan, Pujols, Ludwick in the 2,3,4 spots (at least with Ludwick pounding the ball like he is now)

"Give a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a night. Set him on fire and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life."

by BigMOman on May 23, 2008 9:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I didn't mean in baseball

I meant using our 25 man roster.

And others were right. I forgot LaRue. He’s played some 1B, maybe we could put him at 1B and leave Molina in.

2B Kennedy
LF Barton
C Molina
RF Ludwick
1B LaRue
3B Miles
CF Skippy
SP Wellemeyer
SS Izturis

Smells like a winner.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 9:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Replace kennedy

with Ryan and I like it a lot.

Love Ank in the 6 spot.

by enoscountry on May 23, 2008 9:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ugh

Didn’t think I’d ever say this, but we’d be a lot better off with Izturis in the leadoff spot.

Oh man, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

by lightbulb on May 23, 2008 10:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rasmus bunting for hits

man, this kid was so hot with Team USA. What the heck happened?

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 9:55 PM EDT   0 recs

dude

anything to get back on track.

by longhornscardinals on May 23, 2008 9:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Do bunt singles really help that?

Does it improve his swing or does it just inflate his batting average.

I’m not arguing against him bunting because it helps the Redbirds win but the Cardinals need him driving the ball.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 9:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i mean if bloop singles can help get someone on track

maybe bunt singles can too, just getting on base has to help mentally i would think

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 23, 2008 10:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Only thing I can think of...

Is you can watch the ball into the bat on a bunt. Never worked for me. My favorite anti-slump technique is to look for a pitch on the outside corner and try to hit the second baseman with it. It’s for right handed hitters, but a little earlier in the season I was considering naming it “the Schumaker approach.”

Smartass comments & sandlot expertise aside, I suspect the only way to starting driving the ball is to look for a pitch & put a swing on it. I don’t care if Rasmus never bunts for a hit again as long as his slugging percentage is up.

by random on May 23, 2008 11:12 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I've been noticing that, too

I don’t get it at all. Although it did work out the other night, when he bunted to Narvie, who threw the ball into RF.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Bigger question

why was Bryan Anderson bunting in the very next at-bat?

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:12 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I have that game on DVD

I’ll never EVER forget that. Anytime anyone mentions Dusty Baker, I’m popping that baby in.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 10:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Genius

That’ll keep him from clogging up the basepaths.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

effing insane

If I’d paid to see that game, I might think of looking for batteries to throw

by random on May 23, 2008 11:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

not watching

but i do have gameday up for it.

by StLHugo on May 23, 2008 10:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

please describe it for us

"Give a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a night. Set him on fire and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life."

by BigMOman on May 23, 2008 10:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Screencap?

I’m having a hard time picturing this. Maybe I don’t want to see this.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Imagine this

<<<<<<<>>>>>> with the pitchers mound in the middle and stretched out long ways.

Female parts.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 10:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Houston is going to intentionally walk Utley

to load the bases with 2 outs to pitch to Howard. This, of course, with a 2 run lead. They are putting the go-ahead run on base and allowing a HR hitter to give them a 2 run lead. Interesting.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 10:12 PM EDT   0 recs

"I love la"

not really but a great video montage in Naked gun 1…Lakers get a great no call as Kobe mugs Duncan at the end of the half…

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

by punchinjudy on May 23, 2008 10:28 PM EDT   0 recs

not sure if the theme starts in this or not

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-S-eeInJVk&feature=related

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

by punchinjudy on May 23, 2008 10:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

this should be mentioned when we play in LA...

IMO

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

by punchinjudy on May 23, 2008 10:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

oh no

jose valverdie just got hit on the side of his face down in houson

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

by gdm426 on May 23, 2008 10:31 PM EDT   0 recs

and he's OK

he’s even staying in the game. thats on tough dude.

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

by gdm426 on May 23, 2008 10:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Too dumb to feel pain?

With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch

by joker24 on May 23, 2008 10:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Or too proud to show it

Papa Grande is a real character

by random on May 23, 2008 11:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

with a pitch?

"Give a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a night. Set him on fire and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life."

by BigMOman on May 23, 2008 10:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

wow

just showed it on BBTN

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

by punchinjudy on May 23, 2008 10:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Liner glanced off his glove first

thank goodness. Slowed it down a bit before hitting him in the head.

by lightbulb on May 23, 2008 10:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

and he even got the save

H-Town wins.

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

by gdm426 on May 23, 2008 10:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Brian Barton / Joey Bombs

On the pre-game show, Strauss mentioned that many in the Cardinals organization are interested in bringing up Joe Mather and the Cards are trying to work out a trade with the Indians to get full control over Barton.

The Indians obviously have a ton of leverage there and wouldn’t make any but a badly lopsided trade in their favor, but suppose we traded Barton to, say, the Padres?

Barton had a poor series out there, but he’d fit in well in the park with his speed and gap power. They have very little chance of contending for much this season with the early-season hole that’s dug for them. Barton’s got SoCal ties… The Padres could use some help in the outfield.

We could trade Barton to the Padres, they’d just inherit his Rule 5 status. (I think there’s also the possibility of another team blocking the trade as he passes through waivers.)

You’d think that someone would be interested, since he fell to us in the draft only because of questions about his knee. He’s in a rough stretch, but has shown some ability.

I hadn’t seen this option brought up, thought I’d float it to see what youse think.

I’m getting anxious to see Mather with the Cardinals, but would hate to lose Barton unless the potential trading partner had someone of similar potential to offer a little further down the road. It’d also be a personal bummer because last weekend I bought a friend of mine a Barton t-shirt jersey for her birthday (she’s got a crush on the dude.)

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:34 PM EDT   0 recs

Barton STILL doesn't have 100 MLB PA

Why would we just give him away to some team? There is plenty of room for Mather on this team if you DFA Kennedy.

I just don’t understand why they would trade Barton to some other team?

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 10:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It'd be better

than returning him to the Indians for nothin’. I don’t see Mather replacing an infielder on the roster.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I guess

but why call up Mather to leave him on the bench too?

If you call up Mather to be an OF, he’s still going to sit the pine behind Duncan, Ludwick, Ankiel and Skippy. If you call him up to be a utility player (by DFA’ing Kennedy) you’ve freed up some ABs (by removing TLR’s ability to pencil in Kennedy) and given him more of a chance to actually play.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 10:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Why not?

If I recall correctly Mather can play the corners to a reasonable degree. So you have

Mather, Glaus, Ryan, Miles as a potential 3rd
Ryan, Miles on second
Iz, Ryan, Miles on SS
Pujos, Mather, Duncan on first

Kennedy is looking like a liability more and more

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

by AdjustedExpectations on May 23, 2008 10:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Aaron Miles should never be listed as an option for 3rd base

Ever. He shouldn’t be listed for SS with Ryan on the roster.

With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch

by joker24 on May 23, 2008 10:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He shouldn't

but the reality is that he’s played both positions this year, So Tony will have the option to put him there as he’s already done it.

I’m being “Tony practical’, not what I would want to see.

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

by AdjustedExpectations on May 23, 2008 10:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I know

Just the principle of the thing. Here’s how I’d do it:

Mather, Glaus, Ryan, Miles as a potential 3rd
Ryan, Miles on second
Iz, Ryan, Miles on SS
Pujos, Mather, Duncan on first

With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch

by joker24 on May 23, 2008 10:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

if it means Mather, I’m fine with it. Hell, I’m fine with the idea of Miles on 3rd (which he hasn’t looked that bad, and Ryan hasn’t looked as comfortable as he has on SS/2nd) if it means getting Mather up.

Having a guy hitting that well in AAA when we have Kennedy up here is getting frustrating.

Time for some aggressive promotion.

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

by AdjustedExpectations on May 23, 2008 10:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Joe Mather

played 2 games at 3rd in 2005. All 1B and corner outfield since.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

he looked good at third

in the spring. He got a lot of time there.

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

by SleepyCA on May 24, 2008 4:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

agreed

but can’t help but laugh at the DFA kennedy.. at least uve moved on from your Iz2 bashing(which was warented)

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

by punchinjudy on May 23, 2008 10:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

not what im saying

it’s funny cause it aint gonna happen and u know that

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

by punchinjudy on May 23, 2008 10:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That's

Kennedy’s job.

May he make a case tonight.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

.245 .291 .294 since April 9th

What that isn’t a case for staying with the team?

With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch

by joker24 on May 23, 2008 10:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

0-1 tonight

Get rid of him.

And Duncan.

And Pujols.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If you've read anything SleepyCA

has said over the last few days about Kennedy, he has shown nothing in 400+ ABs with the Cardinals and sans a hot streak (that involved slapped singles the other way against the shift) hasn’t hit this year either.

Most metrics have him as a pretty average IF too.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 23, 2008 10:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm on board

In today’s morning thread, I was pitching the idea of picking up Marcus Giles, who can at least hit an occasional HR, to platoon with Miles at 2B. That after DFA’ing Kennedy, who I’m surprised didn’t work out better for us.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

His points and Mather’s play have changed my stance. I hoped for a decent year post injury, but it’s looking unlikely.

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

by AdjustedExpectations on May 23, 2008 10:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes hitting like shit for a month and a half

In addition to what he “did” last year is equivalent to Duncan/Pujols going 0-1.

With no evidence to the contrary, Colby Rasmus is clutch

by joker24 on May 23, 2008 10:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That was sarcasm

thought I laid it on thick enough to be recognizable.

by liam on May 23, 2008 10:49 PM EDT