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Game 37 Open Thread: May 9 2008

Birdos_avatar_tiny by lboros on

St. Louis @ Milwaukee


Wellemeyer Parra
3-1, 4.07 1-2, 5.86

what's jeff luhnow up to these days? Future Redbirds has a Q+A w/ the cards' player development chief. it's a good read. an excerpt:

If we wanted a "sexy" pick, we would read Baseball America, read Keith Law’s articles, and pick based on their opinions. But we don’t, and neither do any other clubs, because while the journalists are doing a good job of expressing their opinions based on the information they have, we have to live and die with our selections and the future of the organization is impacted by these picks. If the journalist is wrong, he just admits it (maybe) and keeps writing about the next guy or the next draft. They will still sell papers or get eyeballs. If we are wrong, we’ve missed a huge opportunity to make our organization better, and nobody wants to do that.

 

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Go get em Wellemeyer

be a stopper!

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on May 9, 2008 6:58 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I'd rather take a sexy pick with a 25% chance of being a bust

than take a average MIF that has a 100% chance of being nothing more.

It disappoints me that the organization won’t ‘shoot for the moon’ in the draft. Go get a Bonus Baby golden arm and if he busts, so be it.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 9, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

yes, but who decides

whether a guy has a 25% chance or a 100% chance of either? How do you know that Kozma wasn’t a “shot at the moon”? Just that he wasn’t Porcello?

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

by SleepyCA on May 9, 2008 7:25 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I really hope Kozma's wasn't an attempt to shoot for the moon

elite SS’s come in the mold of Reyes, Ramirez, Tulo, Rodriguez, etc. Kozma might be an above average hitter and defensive player but I would hope they would take the best TALENT availible when the pick comes up and not just the best player at the position you want.

I think Kozma was a reach where they took him. I’m not saying he is garbage but they should have taken Porcello.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 9, 2008 8:16 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

+1

We’ve already got average middle infielders.

Whatever we do in the middle infield, we have to go whole hog. Play it conservative elsewhere (bullpen, #4, #5 starter, etc.), but do it big at shortstop. Given that the few SS who are power hitters are unlikely to end up here, our SS is likely to be our leadoff for the next several years and will get more leadoff hits than anybody.

by tom s. on May 9, 2008 7:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I don't think we have a top 15 MIF

Our SS is near last and our 2B is at best average.

by DriverZn on May 9, 2008 7:32 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Apparently

you haven’t been reading CarsWin’s posts. :)

And, top 15 would be about average, if it were near the bottom of the 15….

by bgh on May 9, 2008 7:33 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If you think that will continue...

Izz2 isn’t going to maintain his production so far. He simply isn’t that good as an offsensive player. He has not had a WARP3 above 1 since 2005. There is no reason to think he is suddenly playing at a new level.

His best ever season was a WARP3 of 4.8 with his typical being 2-3 when he was a regular and “productive” many years ago. None of this points to him continuing his current performance.

by DriverZn on May 9, 2008 7:45 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I am with yo 100%

I’ve been with you on this since the day he was signed. My friends and I call him “Izsuckis” in text messages. My proposed nickname for him was “Mendoza the II.” At a Memphis vs. Iowa game, after Jimenez made a routine play, I yelled, “DFA Izturis and call up Jimenez!”

His career OBP is .297. He is clearly playing above his head, but his April production alone might have been worth signing him. He has exceeded any and all of my highest expectations for him in this young season. He got us through Ryan’s injury (not that Ryan is or will get a significant amount of the time at SS). At least we didn’t have to sit through a month of Grit Miles at SS…

by bgh on May 9, 2008 7:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

what average MIF??

we have a bunch of below average middle infielders. i was a big critic of the kozma pick when it was made, but after seeing him in person i’ve becoming a believer. his swing is much better than what carlos gomez broke down in his draft video. he has a very good eye. and he plays excellent defense. it also doesn’t hurt that he has a pretty sexy .868 OPS in his first go at full season ball.

as a kozma konvert, i urge fans to give him a chance. there were 26 other teams that passed on porcello for similar reasons…time go let it go.

Amaury translates into "Punisher of Spheroids" in the lost tongue of Atlantis. Marti means "Belgian Waffle."

by erik on May 9, 2008 7:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i've become

a believer. i have no excuse not using the preview button. alas…

Amaury translates into "Punisher of Spheroids" in the lost tongue of Atlantis. Marti means "Belgian Waffle."

by erik on May 9, 2008 7:55 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I am with you

I was mostly disappointed when they drafted him, but I have done a 180. I just have to find a way to get over to see him before they ship him out of the q.c. .
Yep, Kozma makes me giddy.

"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman

by mattyfrommo on May 9, 2008 8:07 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Bernie parotting LB

In yesterday’s “Bernie’s Extra Points,” it’s almost as if he cut-and-pasted LB’s morning post from the other day.

A sample:

One of Jason Isringhausen’s problems this season is his diminishing ability to get hitters to swing and miss. He’s making good pitches, but isn’t finishing off hitters at the same rate.

As always, I have statistics.

Let’s take a look at Izzy’s career as a Cardinal in two areas: (1) the percentage of swings and misses, and (2) his strikeouts per batters faced…

Bernie’s about twelve hours behind VEB. Good work, LB.

Hopefully Izzy gets a few swings-and-misses this evening and we can get off on the right foot vs. the Brew Crew.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 7:24 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

that's the 4th or 5th time that has happened this year

Bernie and the others at the P-D better send LB a nice Christmas card this year.

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

by SleepyCA on May 9, 2008 7:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

The should include a commission

...for research and publication.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 7:30 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Luhnow comment

“If we wanted a “sexy” pick, we would read Baseball America, read Keith Law’s articles”“

One can see the satire in his voice as this quote comes out. Love it. Hey Keith Law, Luhnow and Cardinal nation are flipping you the international Sicilian sign of greeting. Our esteemed Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has been known to use this hand gesture from time to time:
http://www.jjraymond.com/oddsandends/2006/scalia.html

by jjray on May 9, 2008 7:50 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

hmmm

do you think Looper will have his increased day game stats if the roof is closed? we’ll see if this reverse vampire theory works. I hope he debunks it!

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 9, 2008 8:00 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

what I meant by that was

hopefully he doesn’t need sunlight to increase his stats

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 9, 2008 8:01 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

and I was referring to Sunday's game

sorry for one of the most confusing posts ever

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 9, 2008 8:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

and what in the hell is with the rogue fans?

How does FSN keep finding Cub fans at Cards-Brewers games, and Brewers fans at Cubs-Cards games?
Maybe it is just me, but that last thing I would want to do on a weekend is go to a Cubs-Brewers series.

"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman

by mattyfrommo on May 9, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

+infinity

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

by coachnick39 on May 9, 2008 8:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

they are like cocroaches everywhere

seriously though one yr even when the birds were not playing the cubs there was some drunk cub fans there annoying us b4 game time… SOSSSSAAA.. in the height of the Big mac sosa feud but not nec the chase yr…and they are here on the west coast too…i blame WGN…

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

by punchinjudy on May 9, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Comparing Cub fans

to pests – I like it!

by cardsgirl95 on May 9, 2008 8:23 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I think that maybe

he is being a little too tough on the cockroaches

"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman

by mattyfrommo on May 9, 2008 8:24 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

boom!!!!

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

by coachnick39 on May 9, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

PUJOLS

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

We need the Colonel tonight

We need his 105 pitches spread out over seven or eight innings instead of the standard five. So many games in a row, coupled with Lohse’s short outing yesterday, mean we’re in even greater need of a deep start.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Albert

obviously does not like NOT being the team leader in homeruns

"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman

by mattyfrommo on May 9, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Albert = HULK

he’s better when he’s angry.

by effin fisk on May 9, 2008 8:13 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

so close...

wrong part of the park

by TxCardFan on May 9, 2008 8:12 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I was really thinking that would come from one of our female counterparts

oh, you meant a different kind of hot.

Amazing how a Pujols homer can put me in a good mood.

"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman

by mattyfrommo on May 9, 2008 8:15 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

you better listen to your boy billy zane

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

by punchinjudy on May 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

you think you're too cool for school

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

what is this a school for ants?

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

by punchinjudy on May 9, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

damn molina

normally money on those

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

welley has his back

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:20 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Only a wasted pitch

Which, with Wellemeyer, is unfortunate, but at least he mitigated the opportunity for the Brewers.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

figured he'd show Piniero how to pick up your teammates

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

by coachnick39 on May 9, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

al messed up again?

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

by punchinjudy on May 9, 2008 8:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

+1

And Lohse.

Rather than stare down or crumble.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 8:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

he was out

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:22 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I know Tony regards SS as an everyday player, but

he needs to start proving he can hit lefties. I like the .333/.406/.500 Skippy a lot better than the .212/.297/.242 Skippy.

Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...

by giveml on May 9, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Col. Wellemeyer

...about on pace for 100 pitches and 5 IP.

Lets grind the ‘pen some more.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

he is also on pace for

9 balks

"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman

by mattyfrommo on May 9, 2008 8:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Hahaha

Too true.

Luckily, he hasn’t shown a pattern of 9 balks per game.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 8:29 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Skip was positioned as close to the track as possible

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

by coachnick39 on May 9, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

maybe i have'nt been paying attention this season,

but are these the unis the brewers have been wearing all year? i think they’re better.

"Heh, Heh, Heh, Heh" -Mike Shannon

by jjwp on May 9, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Fridays and some sundays only

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

by coachnick39 on May 9, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

ah

"Heh, Heh, Heh, Heh" -Mike Shannon

by jjwp on May 9, 2008 8:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

oh damn

come on welley, get us out of this one

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

there we go

no harm no foul

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Albert

the other night some were upset with him and some izzy, but he did get robbed of hits twice and once of XBH…

Lately he has been tagging the ball even on outs. Most of this was Wed, nto sure what he did yesterday. Hes even hit some of his routine ground outs very hard…I say this to think maybe hes ready for a tear…if you keep hitting it just right at people and hard eventually some will fall..

I know he hrd tonight just thought id mention it

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

by punchinjudy on May 9, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

thats how you take a hbp

like a man

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on May 9, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Some more runs

It’d be nice to plate a couple more right after they blew a prime ducks-on-the-pond situation.

by bgh on May 9, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

c'mon Ank

join the 7HR club with Pujols and Luddy tonight

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 9, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

watch out when this cardinal

offense puts it together

Ankiel is Jesus!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 9, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

positive energy only please!!

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

by coachnick39 on May 9, 2008 8:34 PM EDT to parent up