Game 113 Overflow
by the red baron on Aug 2, 2008 8:30 PM EDT
Email
PrintBlanton has been extremely hittable this year. Let's all hope the Cardinals are piling on the runs.
292 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Damn, what time did this game start? I just got up to the gloom . . . Blooper looking good?
Just not good enough. . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Looper has been good
minus a couple mistakes. We’ve made one of the worst pitchers in the damn game look good tonight though.
boo cubs, hooray beer
one more here, and a few more in the 8th for an Izzy-proof lead???
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Queston: Better to have Yadi's speed or Kennedy's power?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Yadi's speed
You don’t have to run fast, or far, to be a bad ass.
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
by dan on Aug 2, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions
do we have some comeback magic in us tonight
When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom
Is anybody else tired of hearing about "eating innings?"
So, what you’re saying is, the guy sucked; but not so bad that I had to take him out? Great!
considering our BP
inning eater isn’t a bad thing, and if sucked is a term to put on loop for tonight, I’d highly disagree
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
No, ...
Dan and Al were talking about how Blanton was 5-12 with the A’s “but he pitched a lot of innings” Like that was some kind of valid consolation prize. Pitching a lot of innings, by itself, is as worthless as W-L record.
sorry
i avoid dan and all to a high degree. so i thought that was termed towards the cards. disregard
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
better than sucked
and cant get at least 6
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Oddly enough
I can’t fault any of our three walks tonight.
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:05 PM EDT reply actions
OH YEAH YADDA!!!!
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
damn molina is such a badass
seriously if he doesnt win a gold glove this year im just going to have a hissy fit
im going to have a fitty hiss
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Sweet! Na lap fondee - sweet dreams, eric
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
That pair has a real gift when it comes to pickoffs
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions
Get some runs Cards!
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions
the Fox team today
mentioned “Isringhausen back as closer” in analysing the Cards.
Bad news travels fast?
Bet Eric and Charley Manual are having a nice chat. . . ..
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
atta boy Mini Me
come on IZ2
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
nice hit grit
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions
WTF Izzy2 as a pinch hitter? Pulling our best clutch hitter??
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
I'm all for Izzy2 execution!
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Explain to me ...
why would one pinch hit to sacrifice bunt? I don’t understand the great genius that is Tony LaRussa.
at the major league level
a hitter should be able to bunt.
"..and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped." -Sir Belvedere
but that's not reality
just because they “should” doesn’t mean they “do”.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
It wasn't that it didn't work ...
it was that his attempts were so utterly feeble. I have seen relief pitchers handle the bat better in that situation. The fact that they don’t work every time is another reason not to pull your best defensive CF available in a 2-1 ball game.
more than that
he burned a position player to bunt. A job that piniero or thompson or whoever could have done.
"..and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped." -Sir Belvedere
he never should have pulled Skippy
there’s no excuse for that
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Ank?
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Big Miles
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Little Miles.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
Kennedy. .. .Albert to second and Yadi to first. We've seen this demon before. . . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
SKIPPY never should have been pulled
he can bunt too Tony
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
TLR's use of the bench this year has been stupefying
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:14 PM EDT reply actions
good mother of mercy
IZ2 you are terrible
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
look, at least
he did not hit into a double play
When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom
I wonder if there is a stat on foul bunts
because Iz sucks at bunting, horribly.
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions
why would he pinch hit for Skip there?
don’t get it
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
lhp?
was stupid nonetheless
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
That was truly beautiful from the great baseball genius.
You weaken your defense to bring in a guy that is not particulary adept at sacrificing. He can’t even move the runner, and now you have Nick Stavinoha in the OF instead of Skip.
he did
all we have is rick
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
so, do they pinch hit for Mather
I do not think they can though
When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom
Anybody listening to the Philly broadcast?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
he can't tonight anyways
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
ah, thought you meant skill wise
and thats partially true as well, lol
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Cesar
If Cesar Izturis never sets foot in a Cardinals uniform again it will be too soon. He could quite possibly be the worst player I have ever seen in my life. He’s absolutely attrocious
I would put waivers out on every SS in baseball.
Heck, can you put waivers on minor leaguers?
Seriously, even though the non-waiver deadline is past, we still need to be shopping for something else at SS.
Whoops didn't finish. wonder if the other guys can figure that one out?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
what the hell is Tony thinking?
he sure has backed his ass in a corner tonight
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
joey bombs or bust
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
in his defense
he never should have been asked to do that. Tony never should have pulled Skippy just to have IZ2 bunt when there’s no one left to play the OF
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
No.
All thanks to a stupid decision by the manager. Even if he gets the bunt down there, it is still an awful decision by the manager. He weakened the team for the 9th with his decision.
It was a stupid decision
but, any halfway decent baseball player can put down a sacrifice bunt
boo cubs, hooray beer
Yep. He screwed up that whole inning.
Mather’s DP didn’t help, but that inning was probably over anyway once he missed the bunt.
He should at least get a couple days off for that. .... But he won’t.
What a pathetic at bat
I’d have to agree at the very least that this at bat was the worst I’ve seen this season.
mather’s was fine, imo,
all of those were nasty sliders
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
good contact
just right at the ss
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
for a guy with Iz’s skillset, he’s bunted for shit all year. To PH with him keeping that in mind, that’s flat fuckin’ idiotic
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Izturis, by a long shot, had the most pathetic at bat I've seen this year
Mather can’t be faulted. He’s been great this week. He can’t be expected to come through EVERY time, of course.
Particularly when half of them are Kennedy and Izzy2
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Why does Ryan sidestep your wrath?
What has he done to warrant being excluded? I’m no Aaron Miles fan, but he is the only MIF earning his money on this team.
This...
Has been a truly stupefying game. What the hell? Other than Studwick’s homer and Looper not sucking, what the hell has gone right this game?
Duncan did not appear
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
shut the hell up Al
he’s actually defending Tony’s stupidity
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
because Tony backed his ass into a corner
by burning Stav as a PH, and for some reason burning IZ2 trying to bunt Mini Me over instead of letting Skippy bunt
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Al's struggling trying to explain this one.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
How can you possibly justify that move - unless you're from Budapest or something. . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
believe it or not, it was a tie
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
tie goes to pujos
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
this time it did.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
What's the source of the quote?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Thanks, . . ..
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Pujols vs. Lidge
Too bad Mather couldn’t come through. That double play left him with three men left on base for the game. But, hey, he can’t get a big hit EVERY time up.
Now it looks like the 9th inning is set up perfectly for the drama of Albert facing off against the revived Brad Lidge. Great theater.
Do your thing, Albert!
we hope
last time they faced lidge won
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
he got shafted earlier in the game as well
to keep in mind, hbp
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
but he can take smart AB's.
that was a terrible AB and a terrible approach. Runner on. 1 out. greatest hitter on the planet on deck. his job is not to drive in runs in that spot. It’s one reason i dont like TLR’s philosophy of putting power bats in the 2 hole. especially in front of pujols.
if the sac gets down
it is not an issue
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
I usually give Tony the benefit of the doubt
but seriously…..wow. Tony knew that by PH Izturis there, Kennedy would be put in lf.
I’m speechless right now.
It's not the worst thing in the world
I bet he looks better than Duncan going after fly balls.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
The craziest part is that even if it works ...
the most likely outcome is a tie ballgame and possibly extra innings in which you would need Skip.
He was giving away the game in the 8th. Either we get the lead that inning, or we lose.
lol
and to continue to pile on, by bunting he was playing to tie, not to win…
"..and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped." -Sir Belvedere
If he's gonna make an out, might as well get the guy in scoring position.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
I have no qualms with the decision to bunt. It was the right decision.
It is the stupidity of ending the game right there knowing that we have come back against Lidge in the past. I know he is pitching well, but Tony lived or died in the 8th! Now, even if Pujols takes Lidge deep again, its just extras and we probably lose anyway.
Just think how much better this team would be
If we had a starting SS that could play almost every day
If the Phillies don't score this inning
we will tie it up in our half. I foresee it.
boo cubs, hooray beer
i hope you trying optimism
works
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
its happened a few times this last week
gotta keep everyone on their toes
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
that's a Big IF with Frank on the mound
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
hey Tony, just think
if you would have done this all game, the score would be tied right now
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
ohhh you got lucky there Frank
alright big boys, let’s go home a winner
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
there is only on man that is capable
el hombre
Lidge is perfect in save opportunites this yr
he is truly lights out again
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
Pujols v Lidge - One of the better baseball pics of all time shows Ralph Branca
striking out Bobby Thomson – the year afer he gave up the famous homerun
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Maybe Tony will pinch hit for Albert - Izzy still available - recall he batted in a key situation recently
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Lidge did win this battle earlier in the yr
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
i have never yelled more
during a baseball game then at that moment
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
i like watching it with all the different calls
and languages
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
As cool as that video is
it’s SOOOOOOO much cooler with sound. (or the lack thereof)
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
aw hell Albert
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
How anti-climactic
What a terrible time to swing at the first pitch, Pujols or not.
boo cubs, hooray beer
dude
isn’t that absolutely sick when you think of it. pujols is TWO years YOUNGER than ryan ludwick. god i love that he is gonna be around for quite some time still.
we all know
the only reason albert’s good is because of those accommodating lighting stanchions at busch stadium. oh wait, his career road OPS is like 1.92928282911345…..
No Big Macs?
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
it's 110 degrees outside
how could he not be?
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Old Abner snoozing here. . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
calling a glaus shot
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
why?
there have been several games where they gave him tons of run support and he blew the lead
he gets no sympathy
boo cubs, hooray beer
you have a cold, cold heart
not even a little sympathy?
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone care to speculate what our record would be with someone like Lidge on our side?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
ok sleeping giant
jack a dong
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:38 PM EDT reply actions
Classic Shannon on the foul back by Ludwick
“The guy right next to him – or is that his wife?... Fun at the ol’ ballpark!”
OK, here we go
so you wanna be a hero Rick?
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
where's wonderboy the bat?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Great approach by Glaus.
Got to make Lidge throw you something other than the slider.
Hope Rick watched Glaus’ approach there.
rick has one motto
hit the hanger
i take your signatures and use them as away messages
by ihavebadknees on Aug 2, 2008 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
well he just took it
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Ankiel
get a hit
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions
Lidge should put Ank on
and pitch to AKennedy
Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2
wow lidge has looked
sporatic at moments
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
Maybe walk Ank to get to Kennedy now? Even if this goes Xtras, look what we have left?
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
just say hooray beer!
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
how does knowing Ankiel will strike out not make me a cardinal fan?
He had 2 strikes, he looked awful swinging at the previous pitch. We’ve seen that same at bat play out about 50 times this year.
boo cubs, hooray beer
Ank never had a chance
Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2
Yes he did.
It was 1-0 and Lidge threw a hanging slider. Pull the trigger, tie the game.
Instead, Ank, swung at the junk slider 1-1 (which everyone in the ballpark knew was coming) and got the hole. Then, he had to protect and swung again.
i like sticking a fork in my eye
better than peeing on the electric fence…
"..and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped." -Sir Belvedere
Don't Wiz On The Electric Fence
by BLAMO!
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
thats probably the one that cost the chance at the win
if youre going to bunt then just bunt with skip
well,
if ryan is already on second i agree. but ryan was on first at the time so you need an XBH to score so i understand it.
although he backed himself into a corner with his moves tonight
he had to go for it there with Rick. he just should have told him dont swing at the junk.
facing lidge is just like facing a knuckle baller, if it low let it go, if its high let it fly.
and Rick didn’t do that.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
I totally agree.
Like Glaus, Molina would have had a great at bat.
He won’t win the game right there, but he has a much better chance of extending the inning.
I don’t think Tony would have pulled Molina had Glaus already been on second.
crap
time to win one tomorrow I guess
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions
Will be interesting to hear Tony justify the moves on this one. . . .Oh, well good to be in touch with VEBdom again.
All things considered better to be on line (even in a loss) than to experience a second-hand win from Phnom Penh. . . .
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
he wont have to because no one will call him on it
thanks again cojonesless STL media! you guys are great!
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Absolutely right!
The local media is so damn scared of him, they won’t question him openly. Maybe Miklasz will take some sissy cheap shots from the paper in the morning.
TLR doesn't have to explain anything.....
He’s managing the team, he calls the shots. Period.
I’m sure he was thinking he needed an extra base hit to score Ryan, not knowing he’d get WP’d to 2nd. If he had known that, he might have left Molina in, just needing the single. You guys really not think like that? Seems legit to me.
Then why, pray tell, do they have postgame press conferences?
If that is your attitude, then they shouldn’t have them. He should stand there like a statue, and he should ignore every question. Why does the team force him to be available for those?
The fact is, you’re wrong on this one. His employer makes him available, which means that his employer believes he should have to explain himself. Those press conferences are sad, in that all those guys with microphones, tape recorders, and notepads refuse to do their job because they are scared of getting thrown out.
Your point on Ankiel for Molina is absolutely correct, IMO. I know Rick has a penchant for striking in big spots late in the game, but Yadi cannot be relied on to supply an extra-base hit in that situation. It is a risk/reward decision, and I think LaRussa made the right call regardless of the outcome.
The issue I think he needed to explain was why in the H@## he replaced Schumaker with Izturis. First, I think it is absurd to pinch hit for a guy in order to sacrifice bunt, much in the same was it irritates me when a manager brings in a relief pitcher to IBB the first batter. It is poor player management in both cases, plain and simple. In this specific case, it caused the Cards to have to put a 2B in the OF because they had no other options in a one-run ball game. Even if the decision panned out, it would have been a tied ball game. That is the most important time to have your best defense on the field. LaRussa answered that he thought Izturis had a better chance to get the bunt down. I would have like a follow-up question to determine what he was basing that on, as Izturis has not shown any evidence that he is a better bunter than your average relief pitcher. If Schumaker is that bad at bunting, then someone needs to take him behind the woodshed and teach him how. That is inexcusable, IMO.
really a heartbreaking loss right there
considering what we got from looper
When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom
yeah
we shoulda won that one… I mean c’mon, Blanton shut us down? unbelievable
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Well we let Howard beat us again with a HR.
Would still be tied if we wouldn’t give him something to hit. Ah well…
You do realize that we scored 1 run, right?
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure do... read what I said
WE WOULD BE TIED 1-1 if not for the HR by Howard…he kills us..is there anything more to say??
No
just seems odd to bitch about Looper getting beat by one pitch when we got dominated by a mediocre pitcher. That’s all
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah nevermind...not going to get into another arguement again tonight
Have a good one! We’ll get them tomorrow!
It wasnt as much the pitch itself as the location of the pitch that was called when he hit the
homer. Full count, 2 out you try to get him to chase away & if he doesnt, & Burrell beats you then so be it. And Im sure that it was TLR or Dunc that called the pitch & location & it was inside because thats where Yadi set up. Howard’s been killing you all season, especially Loop, so let someone else try to beat you. All this said, the O didnt hold up its end tonight.
by buzzburton33 on Aug 2, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
There are soooo many other issues that caused this loss.
Howard did well, but I guess you could say the same thing about Greg Dobbs. (Say it with me now, WHO?) The team didn’t score any runs. Ultimately, even the assanine move to pinch hit for Schumaker wasn’t the fatal blow. Overall, they got beat by a better team tonight. They didn’t get beat by a single player.
Skip could have been hurt for all we know, and with Rick on the roster and hurt, makes for a shit situation.
However, I’d bet it’s more of Tony thinking Iz could lay down a bunt, must be remembering some other Iz as this one has been shit for it all year
I use statistics much as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – as support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang
by AdjustedExpectations on Aug 2, 2008 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
He better have been.
That is the only valid reason for Schumaker being lifted there. I doubt that is what happened here, though. It sounds like you see it the same way.
LaRussa just said he thought Izturis was the better option, so there goes any other theories. It was a terrible decision, and a textbook case of over-managing. It still probably didn’t cost us the game, but it was horrible.
not a terrible game
of course you want to win every time they play, but this loss is not an excruciating bullpen melt down like we’ve seen. The pitching was great today, the problem was the offense- we didn’t do shit and made blanton look like a cy young winner.
Molina has an OPS of roughly .800 in late and close situations
Ankiel has an OPS of roughly .300
Interesting decision Dr. Larussa
boo cubs, hooray beer
although, technically, us not coming through in the bottom of the 9th was my fault
I tried being optimistic and saying we would come through. Clearly we only come through when i’m a pessimist.
boo cubs, hooray beer
you canceled that out though
when Ank came up and said it was inevitable that he would strike out. that probably didn’t help
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
not even my pessimism could save Ankiel from striking out there
to stop that strike out, you would’ve had to somehow rupture the space time continuum and alter the future.
who has a delorean?
boo cubs, hooray beer
where's Superman when we need him
to spin the earth backwards?
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
at least Ankiel is getting experience
in striking out late in close games
strikeouts from left-center
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 2, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Night guys.
I’m off to different pastures. It has been fun, as always. Hopefully, we can all appreciate what great baseball a 2-1 ball game is. Looper pitched well, and we saw some great plays.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Giancarlo Stanton busts Marlins Park scoreboard with tape-measure grand slam (VIDEO)
- Baltimore’s tradition of fans shouting ‘O!’ during national anthem sparks interleague feud
- Chris Perez follows rant against Cleveland fans with even better rant against Cleveland fans
- Pitcher Clayton Richard gets key pinch single in 13th after coming in 0 for 16
- Livan Hernandez welcomes ball boy to the bigs with shower of sunflower seeds (VIDEO)
