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Game 83 Open Thread -- June 29, 2008

Well, today it's Looper v. Bannister as the Cards try to take the series from the Royals.  As I've noted several times, the Cards have been very good in terms of winning series in which they've lost the first game.  It's flukish, but it's something.

Also, here is where I'm going to say something derogatory about Braden Looper.  4 weeks ago to the day, I was pretty hard on Looper , going on and on about how horribly he was pitching. Now, for the entire month of June, he's 3-1 w/ a 2.67 ERA and a .638 OPS against. He's still not striking anyone out (15 in 33 IP) but the big difference is that he's only walked 4 batters this month. (knock, knock, knock on wood). I'm counting on the fact that my harsh, yet honest, words about him (as much as the reduction in his BB rate) did the trick.

So here goes -- Braden's not very good. His K/9 is too low and he's overpaid. Oh yeah, and he's been helped out by the Cards scoring 31 runs in his 5 starts this month. What else? He's hit 3 batters in his 5 June starts! Intolerable. And his OPS at the plate in June is a measly .819 (Damn! Can he play 2nd base? ... but I digress.) He's terrible. Now let's go get some runs and another quality start from Looper.

looper

bannister

9-5, 4.22

7-6, 4.47

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Since it appears to have worked yesterday

Anyone else get the feeling that we’ll see Mulder by the 3rd inning?

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 29, 2008 1:54 PM EDT   0 recs

Hope not because that means Looper got rocked

but the reverse psych worked yesterday

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 1:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

game on ksdk so it looks like I'm reduced to watching the royals broadcast

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:04 PM EDT   0 recs

you lucky bastard

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jun 29, 2008 2:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

FTA satelite is the best

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah, Skip

never slide into first

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:12 PM EDT   0 recs

Come on Albert. Homerun

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:13 PM EDT   0 recs

Damn! He is awesome

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:15 PM EDT   0 recs

....before i go and dig up a radio...

does anyone know if the tv and radio delay are the same, or is one greater than the other? I can’t deal with another 8 1/2 innings of Randolph. Maybe I’ll just crank some tunes and mute the game…

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jun 29, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

Here we go again...

Albert gets on almost every time and we can’t seem to find a way to drive him in

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

If Looper's completely wild today

Im blaming it on houstoncardinal

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:21 PM EDT   0 recs

can we find looper's spits when he walks the first batter?

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:22 PM EDT   0 recs

good luck with that search

it took me 3 f-in weeks to find Garcia’s splits in the minors

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 29, 2008 2:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

There's a strike!

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:23 PM EDT   0 recs

and there's a walk!

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

that list of pitchers with

BB/9 innings was very impressive….I guess Loopers not due for another one the next 9 innings..

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jun 29, 2008 2:25 PM EDT   0 recs

Damn, great play from Skippy and LaRue

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:27 PM EDT   0 recs

The Stache is tough!

way to hold on!

by TNTinCO on Jun 29, 2008 2:27 PM EDT   0 recs

Holy sh*t that was an awesome play

good thing yadi wasn’t in or he may of aggravated that concussion

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:27 PM EDT   0 recs

Someone should tell the Royals that those unis would look better

if the ‘Royals’ was all white with blue trim instead of all blue with white trim.

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 29, 2008 2:28 PM EDT   0 recs

baby blue as a team color

should be against mlb rules… i’m just sayin’

When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

by RosevilleRedbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I like the baby blue royals just not the baby blue cards

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I like the Royals unis too

I just think the script should match the numbers and nameplates.

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 29, 2008 2:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Where is everyone?

Valatan actually shows up for once and there is only like 5 other posters here.

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 29, 2008 2:32 PM EDT   0 recs

It is a day game on Sunday

Maybe people are having BBQ’s or something. it’s probably nice in the midwest (100 degrees here, though)

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And these KSDK games...

reach a much smaller viewing area than FSN games.

by LukeMP1186 on Jun 29, 2008 2:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I was wondering the same thing

I don’t generally post much, but am feeling pressure to contribute since no one else is.

by TNTinCO on Jun 29, 2008 2:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Duncan sucks

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jun 29, 2008 2:34 PM EDT   0 recs

I didn't buy any beer for today's game,

and now I’m regretting it. What the hell was I thinking?!

by mikeonthecards on Jun 29, 2008 2:36 PM EDT   0 recs

LASH!!

When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

by RosevilleRedbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:36 PM EDT   0 recs

CHESTY!!

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:36 PM EDT   0 recs

that one definitely needs to be added to the list

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 29, 2008 2:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Did Jason LaRue just go oppo home run???!!!??????!!!?????????????!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

"Regression to the mean is so much more fun to watch when it’s a Cub who is regressing." SleepyCA

by joker24 on Jun 29, 2008 2:36 PM EDT   0 recs

He has hammered bannister this year

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:36 PM EDT   0 recs

Seriously

LaRue!
I still say he was holding that offense back until we needed it

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 29, 2008 2:37 PM EDT   0 recs

keep this up and we may see Mulder today

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:37 PM EDT   0 recs

Ryan is slow

that was a low pitch and he took forever to get it down to 2nd

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jun 29, 2008 2:38 PM EDT   0 recs

yeah, I wonder if he just got a bad jump

the broadcasters were certainly slow to say ‘Ryan’s going.” And of course, they don’t replay the play from a booth’s eye view.

Also, does it freak anyone else out to have an opposing player named ‘Buck’?

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

and why would we be freaked?

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 29, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

surprising out margin

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you haven't grasped the situation!

by sportsman on Jun 29, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He got gunned by a long shot

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:38 PM EDT   0 recs

So, coming into today

if you take out LaRue’s awful April, he is hitting .298 with an .831 OPS. That’s pretty damned good for a backup catcher.

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 29, 2008 2:39 PM EDT   0 recs

you keep making my points for me

Thanks

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 29, 2008 2:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

nice stat. good find

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:40 PM EDT   0 recs

does anyone elses's mlb.tv shut itself off over and over again?

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jun 29, 2008 2:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Mine is doing the same thing today.

Some days it just seems to have trouble.

by six on Jun 29, 2008 2:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice play by grit there

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jun 29, 2008 2:44 PM EDT   0 recs

car?

that looks like some sort of spacecraft.

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

by madding on Jun 29, 2008 2:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

what is it?

for those of us stuck at work (yay for 80 hour weeks) and watching on gameday?

"If thats bad luck, lets DFA our luck away." -DriverZN

by SleepyCA on Jun 29, 2008 2:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It's a Lamborghini

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jun 29, 2008 2:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

oh, lol

I wonder what he did with the bentley?

You see lamborghinis all the time in southern california; they are the most annoying thing around. Gawdawful loud.

"If thats bad luck, lets DFA our luck away." -DriverZN

by SleepyCA on Jun 29, 2008 2:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

best guess

lamboghini gallardo.

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you haven't grasped the situation!

by sportsman on Jun 29, 2008 2:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So it'll probably run for 3 weeks

before going on the DL for the rest of the year. Oh wait, that’s Yovanni Gallardo…

by effin fisk on Jun 29, 2008 3:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

took a long time for am to

aim that ball in the dirt. sure hope the chances at 3rd today are minimal

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you haven't grasped the situation!

by sportsman on Jun 29, 2008 2:48 PM EDT   0 recs

agree

but i have more pre-throw anxiety with am

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you haven't grasped the situation!

by sportsman on Jun 29, 2008 2:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He could of saved a few more kids teeth in the DR

if he would of bought a chevy

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by Bahamaredbird on Jun 29, 2008 2:48 PM EDT   0 recs

haha

I am listening to phantom of the opera and watching the game. It is pretty entertaining and better than listening to the royals broadcast team

They say I look like yadier molina

by ANDYAK47 on Jun 29, 2008 2:49 PM EDT   0 recs

I like the royals broadcast team

Lefebvre and Splittorff are a good team

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 29, 2008 2:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Damn, that Ryan caught stealing looks bad now

nice rip though Skip

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jun 29, 2008 2:50 PM EDT   0 recs

yay, BB for Pujols!

"Them Cubbies can kiss my ass" -Dizzy Dean

by Molina4MVP on Jun 29, 2008 2:51 PM EDT   0 recs

IBB in the 3rd inning?

Geez! Hate that play. They’ll regret it.

by houstoncardinal on Jun 29, 2008 2:51 PM EDT   0 recs