Game 101 Open Thread -- July 21, 2008
The Brewers began the year as the only other team in the majors batting the pitcher 8th but have since changed their minds, moving Jason Kendall and his sterling 76 OPS+ to the 8 hole and the pitcher back to the bottom. The team is right behind the Cards offensively – averaging 4.73 runs per game to the Cards 4.78. They’ve been a little better at home on offense while the Cards have been much better on the road. I guess we should expect more offense if this were being played in Miller Park, huh?
Like the Cards, the Brewers have had some troubles on the mound. Presently, they’re again just behind the Cards, yielding 4.46 runs per game to the Cards 4.45. Their bullpen ERA is 4.20, just ahead of the Cards’ 4.21 which put the two teams at 10th and 11th in the NL, respectively. The Brewers Defensive Efficiency Ratio is .697 to the Cards’ .698. They’re 1 game behind in the standings (even in the loss column) and their Pythagorean record is 51-47 to the Cards’ 53-47 – again, even in the loss column. Both teams are exactly 4 games better than their Pythagorean records say they should be. Sounds like two extremely evenly matched teams.
Historically, this has been a team that has struggled away from home but their 24-26 record so far this year is 4th best in the NL. The Cards are 30-21 at home (and are, incidentally 27-22 – best in the NL on the road).
Tonight’s starter for the Brew Crew is Seth McClung – a guy who’s become one of two pawns in the Brewers' Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde experiment. They are platooning starting pitchers -- starting Dave Bush at home and McClung on the road. Bush has been awful on the road and solid at home while the reverse is true for McClung. This experiment is based, partly, on McClung's 40 whole innings in Milwaukee and 35.2 innings on the road. Uhhh...small sample size anyone? Maybe it's based more on Bush's splits who, at least, has a pretty sizable home/road split for his career -- involving 390 and 345 innings, respectively.
McClung does walk too many and has given up too many homers but has struck out 7.7 per 9 IP. His GB% of 40.2% is low and very similar to his career numbers. If it’s warm tonight, the Cards could get some balls in the seats. Tomorrow it’ll be Suppan and then their big boys, Sabathia and Sheets. And, in case you missed it, the Brewers have a new man at the keystone to go along w/ their new ace as they added Ray Durham yesterday. Let’s win this one, boys. The pitching matchups only get tougher from here.
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5-5, 4.16 |
3-4, 4.52 |
P.S. There is, apparently, no picture of Seth McClung on file -- thus, the X. I mean this as no intentional slight towards Mr. McClung and will take full responsibility should this insult lead to a Brewers' wipeout of the Cards tonight. Please Cards and (gulp!) Mr. Pineiro! Please bail me out!!!!
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Comments
Why
did you white out the picture (sarcasim)
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on
Jul 21, 2008 7:10 PM EDT
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Lineups per Gameday
MIL
Weeks 2B
Hardy SS
Braun LF
Fielder 1B
Hart RF
Hall 3B
Cameron CF
Kendall C
McClung P
STL
Schumaker RF
Miles 2B
Pujols 1B
Ankiel CF
Glaus 3B
Duncan LF
Molina C
Pineiro P
Izturis SS
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on Jul 21, 2008 6:53 PM EDT 0 recs
It's borderline criminal that Duncan is starting over Ludwick
boo cubs, hooray beer
by Raconteur on
Jul 21, 2008 6:54 PM EDT
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He's a huge dude, I might add.
6’6, 250, I think.
by KeepOnRolen on
Jul 21, 2008 6:54 PM EDT
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When's the last time you saw him?
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on
Jul 21, 2008 6:56 PM EDT
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Only met him twice.
3-4 years ago at his family’s ranch in West Virginia
by KeepOnRolen on
Jul 21, 2008 6:58 PM EDT
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I used to live in WV
Charleson, to be exact. I wouldnt have figured there to be much ranch land in WV
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on
Jul 21, 2008 7:00 PM EDT
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It's a pretty sweet set-up
Cutting horse ranch.. about 125 acres, IIRC.
by KeepOnRolen on
Jul 21, 2008 7:09 PM EDT
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4th Cousin
Hey, how are you Seths cousin? I know him very well.
by RUSHPREZ on
Jul 21, 2008 10:13 PM EDT
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Doesn't appear that way
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on
Jul 21, 2008 6:58 PM EDT
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good evening
biggest series of the year. let’s do it!
by stlcardinalsfang on Jul 21, 2008 7:03 PM EDT 0 recs
biggest series on the year
so far…...
/simpsons movie
by FunkeeC on
Jul 21, 2008 7:03 PM EDT
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Just seen on FSMW feed...
Ryan Braun is the #1 Cardinals killer this year at .485. Let’s pitch to him with nobody on 3 times tonight and that’s it!
by stlfan on Jul 21, 2008 7:06 PM EDT 0 recs
Why is it that I hate every team we play in the Central this year
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on Jul 21, 2008 7:07 PM EDT 0 recs
Usually
I can love playing the likes of the Reds, Brewers, and Pirates,
But man, its seems like I have angst everytime we play someone from our division.
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on
Jul 21, 2008 7:08 PM EDT
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doubtful
i haven’t seen her to a fly over state monday night game in a while
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:09 PM EDT
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got a question for you guys
Are Tom and Matt Pagnozzi related?
by pujols05 on Jul 21, 2008 7:08 PM EDT 0 recs
slightly OT
Tommy Herr’s son plays for the Reds’ AAA team in Louisville… an infielder, but shorter and heavier than dad, and not as talented.
by the Tewk on
Jul 21, 2008 7:19 PM EDT
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he was
a springfield card a couple years ago
"I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t believed it.’" ~Shannon
by sprfldcard on
Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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whose doing the game on ESPN?
i figure it’s steve phillips so i didn’t even bother to look.
by stlcardinalsfang on Jul 21, 2008 7:10 PM EDT 0 recs
yeah
or orel (sp?)
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on
Jul 21, 2008 7:10 PM EDT
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and orel
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on
Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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him along with hershiser & oneil
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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can't stand any of 'em
thank god i can still have my dan and al in HD
by stlcardinalsfang on
Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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yeah
that’s so much better
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on
Jul 21, 2008 7:17 PM EDT
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Yuck
Not pretty Schu
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on Jul 21, 2008 7:10 PM EDT 0 recs
dude is fast
seriously
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:12 PM EDT
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Let Iz2 take care of him
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on
Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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or get him to ground out
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on
Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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someone want to do a play by play for the first two innings
it would be appreciated
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on Jul 21, 2008 7:12 PM EDT 0 recs
sure,
my dad always told me i had the perfect face for radio
big prince is down 0-2
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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Sure...
First pitch flyout by Weeks. Double to left by Hardy. Ground out to short by Braun. Fielder at 1-2 right now.
by stlfan on
Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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3 yadis = 2 princes?
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on
Jul 21, 2008 7:12 PM EDT
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huh
no. I dont care if prince fat ass is veggan he is still huge
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on
Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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just shows
that heredity is just as much or more apt to determine the body type of someone
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on
Jul 21, 2008 7:19 PM EDT
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now i have the spin doctors in my head.
thanks very much.
e'rebuilding mang
by nycbirdo on
Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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if you, want to call me baby
just go ahead now
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM EDT
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No People in the Seats!
I know it’s an early start and all…but c’mon St. Louis. Show up early after the walk-off grand salami by GRIT yesterday.
by stlfan on Jul 21, 2008 7:12 PM EDT 0 recs
it's 120 degrees outside
cut em a little slack
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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im in houston and I teed off at 1:30 today
they should be in the seats – but no sports franchise is worse about that than our rockets.
by rlgosnell on
Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM EDT
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well down in HTown dont you get a breeze off the gulf?
i’m also curious, do you have the humidity that the STL has? i always thought texas had more of a dry heat humidity wise
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:18 PM EDT
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houston is 95-100 and 100% humidity from may to september
no theres no breeze. we’re 40 miles from the gulf and theres so much damn concrete everywhere that it fries the air if there is.
by rlgosnell on
Jul 21, 2008 7:21 PM EDT
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Reason #234893475
I would never live in Houston
"It's such a beautiful sport, with no politics involved, no color, no class. Only as a youngster can you play and as a pro can you win. The game has kept me young, involved and excited and for me to be up here with gems of baseball"- Jack Buck
by CurtainCall on
Jul 21, 2008 7:40 PM EDT
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mlb.tv you mean?
the answer is yes
e'rebuilding mang
by nycbirdo on
Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM EDT
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er, at least in nyc.
should probably qualify that.
e'rebuilding mang
by nycbirdo on
Jul 21, 2008 7:15 PM EDT
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javascript:launchGameday({gid:’2008_07_21_milmlb_slnmlb_1’,mode:’gameday’})
by pujols05 on Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM EDT 0 recs
espnhd or fsn with hrabosky and dan-o
hd just looks so spectacular…
by rlgosnell on Jul 21, 2008 7:15 PM EDT 0 recs
2-2 to big prince
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Jul 21, 2008 7:15 PM EDT 0 recs
strike that horse turd out
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on
Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM EDT
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not a lot of players
who dress like slobs
Cubs blow
by Where is that Juan guy on
Jul 21, 2008 7:17 PM EDT
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CB Buckner
Is horrible. Good calls on Fielder there…they were balls…but overall…horrible. (sorry for the ellipses).
by stlfan on
Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM EDT
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ball 3 was clearly a ball
it was on the white of the RH batters box
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on
Jul 21, 2008 7:17 PM EDT
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Got through Braun and Fielder once
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
Track 'em Tigers - An SB Nation Blog for Auburn Tigers fans
by Mr Redbird on Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM EDT 0 recs





