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Game 90 Open Thread -- July 6, 2008

Adam1_tiny by houstoncardinal on in News

A quick word about Ankiel's at-bat yesterday: Wood never threw him a fastball. Ankiel has struggled against fastballs since he came into the league, according to Josh Kalk's pitch-type stats --- a batting average in the low .200s with just a modicum of power. He's better against off-speed stuff --- murders changeups and hits for great power vs curveballs, although his average against them is low this year. --- LB.

When we last saw Wellemeyer, he was taking a Jason Marquis-like pounding from the Mets -- 12 hits and 6 ER in just 5 IP. It wouldn't have been a surprising start a year ago, but it kind of was this year. I really don't want to say that 3 starts can be a "pattern," but his worst 2 starts of the season have come in his last 3 outings. In those 3 starts, he's gone 13.1 IP w/ 24 H, 3 HR, 5 BB, and just 8 K's. I don't know if he's hurt, but he's clearly not the same pitcher he was through the season's first 2 months. What's interesting, and a little scary, is that his season-high innings pitched before this season was 79.1 -- last season. In '06 he threw 78.1 IP. Before the start in which he was injured, he threw exactly 80 innings. Go get 'em, Todd. I'll be the first to admit that I thought you belonged in the bullpen. Keep proving me wrong.

 

marshall

wellemeyer

0-2, 4.87

7-3, 3.86

 

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Ank struggles against fastballs?

I would have never guessed that. It always seems like it’s fastballs that he crushes and breaking balls that drop off the table that he can’t touch.

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jul 6, 2008 1:51 PM EDT   0 recs

Breaking Stuff gives him trouble

At least, i think. I’ve watched practically every game this year, except those on the Coast and blacked out Saturday games. He’s taken some Preston Wilson-like swings.

by greenwichvillagecard on Jul 6, 2008 1:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That's what I see also

which is why I was surprised that the stats show Ankiel struggling against fastballs.

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jul 6, 2008 2:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Based on "eyeball"

rather than stats, I’d say Rick has trouble with the fastball in and above his hands… ya better get that heater in, however, or he’ll hurt you! From what I’ve watched, Ank can crush the down-and-in fastball.

Sometimes location is more important than pitch-type; “Pitch f/x” stats can tell us more..

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Jul 6, 2008 2:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

For what it's worth.

here’s Kalk’s stats on Ankiel for this season… he’s hitting .279 on fastballs he puts in play, with a .341 BABIP overall.

Other tidbits: Ank’s swung and missed 24% against all sliders recorded in this data, and 28% against all changeups… albeit he’s hit three of his 10 recorded bombs against the change. NOT all pitches are recorded with Pitch f/x, so I can’t really tell if my “eveyball” estimates match up with the data! (Oh, well…)

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Jul 6, 2008 2:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

"on fastballs he puts in play"

apparently he swings through a lot of fastballs

by lboros on Jul 6, 2008 2:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Not so much, according to Kalk...

22 swing-and-misses in 301 fastballs recorded (7%)... he’s fouled off 73 fastballs (24%) of the 301 recorded.

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Jul 6, 2008 3:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

he's swung at 24 curves this year

and put the ball in play 12 times, or 50 percent. 1 in 6 swings produces a base hit

vs the fastball, he has swung 153 times and put it in play 58 times, or 37 percent . . . . 1 in 9.5 swings produces a base hit.

by lboros on Jul 6, 2008 3:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

more data from kalk

against fastballs greater than 90 mph (and wood gets it up there at about 95) ankiel has swung the bat 102 times and produced just 7 base hits . . . . vs 17 swing / misses

by lboros on Jul 6, 2008 3:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Saying Wood "never" threw him a fastball

isn’t much of a statement, considering (a) Ankiel’s a lefty and Wood’s a righty and (b) he only threw two pitches to him.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:04 PM EDT   0 recs

if that stat is correct

then maybe some opinions were a little off

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

red in chi, considering that the fastball is wood's best pitch

and it’s ankiel’s worst, i would think wood might just go right after ankiel with heat. he did the cards a favor by going with off-speed stuff

by lboros on Jul 6, 2008 3:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Mulder starts on Wednesday vs Philadelphia

The only real positive you can have going into that is the Phillies are only hitting .249 vs LHP. Of course, that doesn’t help much when you look that they have the second highest slugging percentage vs lefties in the NL.

So, maybe what TLR is thinking is that since all Mulder gets is dinked and dunked, he’ll be ok because the only contact the Phillies make vs LHP is hard.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:09 PM EDT   0 recs

They need to know what they have

Why not test him against the best? What doesn’t destroy you makes you stronger and all that…

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

we have to find out at some point

what he will be able to do this season so y not

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Philly

Manuel started Hamels on Thursday, despite the Mets series, to get more starts in before the break. I think he’ll go Tuesday. Then we throw Mulder Wednesday. That’s rough.
Which leads me to my question? Will Garcia make starts before September, or is LaDunc committed to keeping him down? Anybody?

by greenwichvillagecard on Jul 6, 2008 2:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

There has been almost no organizational chatter anywhere about

bringing up Garcia, Mortenson or Todd (AA). Then again, there never is any-with the sole exception of Rasmus, I think-in advance of people actually being moved.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

why can't we find that out while he's in a bullpen

this is the front office trying to save face. it’s bad management.

by azruavatar on Jul 6, 2008 3:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Lineup

per STLToday.com…

1. Joe Mather, LF
2. Rick Ankiel, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Ryan Ludwick, RF
5. Troy Glaus, 3B
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Cesar Izturis, SS
8. Todd Wellemeyer, RHP
9. Brendan Ryan, 2B

Ank’s the only lefty batter…

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Jul 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

that could be

an extremely powerful lineup… 5 guys in a row who could hit it out at any time.

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

by SleepyCA on Jul 6, 2008 2:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

No kidding

that lineup is loaded with power potential from 1-6.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

im anxious to see how mather does today

his first at bats against the cubbies

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Barton to DL?

Can that happen? I thought he wasn’t allowed to go to the DL. Sorry for the stupid question. It will be nice to see Joey Bombs in HD today. Stinks this could have been Colby’s first game..can’t wait for that.

by birdsonthehat on Jul 6, 2008 2:25 PM EDT   0 recs

yes, it can happen

My understanding is that he can also go out on a rehab assignment afterwards, letting him get some more regular ABs. Rule 5 players must be on the active roster for a certain amount of time, but I think it’s only 90 days and, if so, Barton is now past that.

by DCGreg on Jul 6, 2008 2:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i thought rule 5 guys

had to be on the roster for the entire year

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

No, just 90 days

he can go on the DL if he is hurt. They can’t make you play with 24 guys.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Makes you think

Barton might develop toenail fungus or something while staying at the Memphis Red Roof Inn.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He won't be back for 45 days

He will miss 15 days on the DL and then take a 30 day rehab assignment, in which he won’t get any playing time because the Memphis OF is already loaded.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Less loaded

without Mather, though.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Not by much

Robinson
Stavinoha
Rasmus
Haerther

Still makes him in a 5 man rotation, if Jay isn’t up by then.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Is Haerther in danger of a demotion?

Don’t hear much about him nowadays.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I think you're right

he’ll be back in time for roster expansion.

by enoscountry on Jul 6, 2008 2:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

according to foxsports

Brewers are real close to getting sabathia with LaPorte being the centerpiece

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:32 PM EDT   0 recs

excellent

Plays right into TLR’s “we get no respect” schtick this year.

Pujols obviously will get added and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ludwick sneak in.

by DCGreg on Jul 6, 2008 2:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know what that means exactly

could be an insult, but it looks like players were getting it to many first-timers.

by enoscountry on Jul 6, 2008 2:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That .474 OBP just snuck in

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

by joker24 on Jul 6, 2008 2:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

so what cardinals

made the team and where are you finding this info.?

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It's on TBS

only Pujols and Ludwick made it. Pujols a managers selection and Ludwick voted in by players.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

o i see

i dont have tv so ive been looking all over the interent

by cowcards on Jul 6, 2008 2:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If Dumpster made it

Lohse should have made it. Another case of popularity and stupidity over knowledge. The All-Star Game has gotten pretty ridiculous. Maybe they should just award a permanent trophy to the AL and do away with it.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

despite our starting pitching

having the best ERA in the NL?

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 6, 2008 2:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Cards are getting zero respect

this year
on ESPN radio gameday yesterday, they referred to the cards using a “smoke and mirrors’ strategy, whatever the heck that means. Then went on to say its a better team than the one that won the world series in 2006. a two-for one insult

I guess having the best defense in the league, second best offense and top third pitching counts for little.

as I said in the last thread we’d get two if we’re lucky

by vances law on Jul 6, 2008 3:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

we should get more respect, we have three guys with around 18 home runs, plus a power hitter who is a little bit underachieving in Glaus, and if Duncan starts cranking ‘em again, we’re right up there (not to mention our high team OBP, etc).

And a team’s defense always gets overlooked, even though it’s just about mandatory to play fundamentally sound baseball in order to do well.

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 6, 2008 3:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

We might get to vote Lohse in

on that “fan pick” the last player weird thing MLB does.

by enoscountry on Jul 6, 2008 2:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I voted

but didn’t do the write-in thing. I just figured Lohse would have made it since he has 10 wins and almost had 11 yesterday

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 6, 2008 2:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Write-in would NOT have helped...

fans don’t get to vote for pitchers.

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Jul 6, 2008 3:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ah yes

guess I knew that already

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 6, 2008 3:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Cubs

Soriano
Fukudome
Soto
Zambano
Dumpster
Wood
Ramirez

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:37 PM EDT   0 recs

7 Cubs

We better pound their heads in today. It’d be nice for us to be in 1st place at the ASB, the Cubs in 3rd and the announcers have to explain how a 3rd place team has 7 All-Stars.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 6, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ridiculous

Big Z is the only worthy pick. The rest are all borderline at best, and Fukudome and Wood are clearly not deserving. The cubs deserved about 3-4 this year only.

I hate all the publicity Soto is getting and Yadi is an All-Star, Gold Glover here getting NO RESPECT WHATSOEVER!

by Egyptian on Jul 6, 2008 2:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

what, no marmol?

A travesty of justice! He needs to pitch in 163 games this year.

I’m absolutely fine with no STL pitchers making the ASG. Take that well-deserved break, fellas. Might even save mo some $$$ come negotiation time.

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

by SleepyCA on Jul 6, 2008 3:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

Rest is good

by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 6, 2008 3:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Congrats Ludwick

boo cubs, hooray beer

by Raconteur on Jul 6, 2008 2:43 PM EDT   0 recs

Absolutely!

I am really happy for him.

And for us. Helps his trade value if necessary.

by Egyptian on Jul 6, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Plus he gets a little star

next to his name on his Baseball Reference page. Can’t take that away, even if he turns into Roger Freed tomorrow.

by Red in Chicago on Jul 6, 2008 2:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I loved Roger Freed!

and the semi-legendary grand slam.

by random on Jul 6, 2008 3:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The team with the 2nd best record in the NL

Has zero starters on the all star team (though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pujols start at DH).

I don’t know if that’s a testament how our team is a total group effort, or if it just shows how flawed the all-star voting system is. Little bit of both, maybe?

Kudos to Ludwick though.

by stl tyler on Jul 6, 2008 2:46 PM EDT   0 recs

The voting system is the problem.

I don’t think it is lack of respect around the league. Pujols is one of the most respected players in the game and certainly in the NL. The fan vote is just a stupid marketing gimmick.

by Egyptian on Jul 6, 2008 2:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Then why was he not a player selection?

"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 6, 2008 2:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Adrian Gonzalez is an excellent player

and a hell of a guy. My guess is the players knew Pujols would be named, but figured it was up to them to get Gonzalez in.

by random on Jul 6, 2008 3:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The team with the best record in the game has 0 starters as well

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

by joker24 on