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Game 137 Open Thread -- August 31, 2008

wellemeyer

rodriguez

11-5, 3.87

7-6, 3.94

 

 

Wellemeyer had 5 straight outings w/ game scores above 50 before stinking Tuesday evening against the Brewers.  The Astros should be a pretty good matchup for him b/c he's been very good against righties this year (.681 OPS against) and for his career (.727).  It stands to reason -- his best pitches being a good, hard fastball and a good, hard slider.  The Astros' best hitters, save Fat Elvis, all bat from the right side of the plate.  <p>

Wandy is a conundrum.  He's been much better for his career at home than on the road but has only a slight platoon split.  Still, I imagine we'll see Mather and/or Stavinoha in the OF.  He's pitched twice so far this year against the Cards in the Juice Box and given up 0 ER.  But that's misleading.  In his <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200806080.shtml"> last start </a>, he gave up 5 unearned runs -- all of them in the 7th inning.  We could be looking at a pretty good pitching matchup.  <p>

I'll be at the game, so I won't be patrolling the threads.  I'll get an overflow thread up around 2:45.  Hopefully we'll have lots of good stuff to talk about.

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Phelps in LF, Skip in CF

no Mather, no Stavvy

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Phelps in LF

i’m not very surprised.

by adiueordie on Aug 31, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I bet he was

he’s probably trying to figure out where homeplate is from there.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:08 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

i wonder if

he even has an outfielder’s glove?

by adiueordie on Aug 31, 2008 2:10 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

good 1st AB

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 2:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

BTW--great post this AM, HC

thanks for keeping perspective.

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Surprise

Surprise

Milwaukee already beating Pittsburgh.

Just to draw HC’s ire, Pirates record vs division foes:
Milwaukee: 1-10 (1-11 after today’s certain loss)
Chicago: 4-14
St. Louis: 7-7

If that isn’t a sign we are a 3rd place team, I don’t know what is. Our chief rivals in the division are 24-5 vs Pittsburgh, we are 7-7. Ouch.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

brew crew...

the brewers are certainly good, and especially with Sabathia/Sheets are a pretty scary team, and they aren’t playing much above their pythagorean… but how the heck are they 25-11 in 1-run games? That just seems incredibly lucky…

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

good lord

pirates already losing, after one inning.

McLouth has an OPS of .640 since they traded bay and Nady. Sigh.

C’mon, luddy…

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sometimes I love stats

Hunter Pence drops a ball that should be caught (“If it’s in your glove, it should be caught”), scramble around and gets credited with his 15 OF assist.

So, his stats will look better because of no error but an OF assist added to his stat sheet.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:15 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yeah, he made a really great play, didn’t he?

by adiueordie on Aug 31, 2008 2:23 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

glaus .722 OPS vs LHP this year

not good.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Why does it always seem we litter the bases

with runners, burn through the best parts of our order and never seem to get runs in?

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

perception?

you put a ton of runners on… you strand a ton of runners…

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 2:28 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lesson learned.

That type of situation, where the other team throws the ball over a few times usually baits Tony into changing his plan of attack.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Is there a place where I can search

for ‘League Leaders in groundballs right at the 2nd baseman’? Skippy has to be leading by a wide margin.

Conversely, is there an archive that I can see where Scott Rolen ranked in ‘League Leaders of Weak pop-ups to the 2nd baseman (with or without the bases loaded)’?

Inquiring minds want to know.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wellemeyer, no location

he got away with being awful in the 1st inning while missing spots all the time, this inning he is getting rocked.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 2:34 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Good pitching, Colonel

way to get out of the lead-off double.

Let’s get some runs, guys!

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 3:10 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

good thing skip dove into first...

someone needs to take him aside and explain it to him… Maybe have him run some sprints to first and time them and then show him some videos? Has anyone ever done that?

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 3:15 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

sept callups

“I’m expecting Flores is the only one [on Monday], and then more guys Tuesday,” La Russa said. “The reports have been good. He’s been throwing the ball well.”

Hooray.

by adiueordie on Aug 31, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

perhaps he meant “well enough for batters to make good contact”

by NorseKaiser on Aug 31, 2008 3:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

thanks iz2

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

hope Barden is one of the "guys"

TLR is looking for on Tuesday.

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 3:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Well, it's been a fun season

I will see you all next spring unless something big comes along in the offseason.

Go Arizona!

by Red in Chicago on Aug 31, 2008 3:31 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Who got tossed?

Luddy?

"A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while."- Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh

by CurtainCall on Aug 31, 2008 3:31 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ludwick needs a kick start

ice cold in the Juice box

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 3:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He's like

some frozen concentrated orange juice.

by madeintaiwan on Aug 31, 2008 3:37 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

2 k's in a row

on pitches 8+ inches outside.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 3:32 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Then he hurt himself apparently

bizarre innings

"A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while."- Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh

by CurtainCall on Aug 31, 2008 3:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

only way to get APU out

these days

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 3:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It's nice that the site has come back to work

now the homeplate ump can put his ‘manhood’ away. We all see it, it is quite large…now let’s get back to making the ‘right’ calls.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 3:38 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Molina should lineup a foot off the plate

and have Welley throw fastballs out there for the first 6 pitches.

If they aren’t all called strikes, I’d get run.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Um...that strategy would actually take some decent coaching there HL,

7 pitches, 1 borderline outside

Although now hes pounding Miggy outside

by buzzburton33 on Aug 31, 2008 3:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sure the Pirates suck

but it’s really sad that they have completely bent over for the Brewers and Cubs this year. But I guess they did the same for us a few years ago as well. Their total suckitude this year has been a great advantage for the 2 teams above us.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

hey can someone tell me how wellemeyer's looking

seems like he is pitching well… though I know some balls were smoked earlier in the game.
Has he settled in or something?

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 3:52 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

miles, showing how it's done in grit 101

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

by RosevilleRedbird on Aug 31, 2008 3:54 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He's pitching better

but to me he doesn’t seem all that sharp.

by madeintaiwan on Aug 31, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

do not uderstand why we have Cesar in the leadoff spot against righties now

he is like 0 for his last 12

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

in all honesty,

he has to bat somewhere, the difference is marginal (even over a season…) and certainly situation dependent.
main thing is that we just need better MIF batters…

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

2 on, 1 out in the 7th

full bench, you could have PH an OF’er and put Lopez in to play short in the bottom half of the inning.

We need runs,or we lose.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 4:13 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Agreed

also, by batting him leadoff instead of in the 9 hole, you give him 1 extra AB to fail, IMO

by buzzburton33 on Aug 31, 2008 4:17 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

oh I agree with the PH proposition,

I just don’t think it matters if Iz2 is in the leadoff or last spot…

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:18 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Plus, it was a missed opportunity to get into their bullpen

if we send Ankiel up, they will have to bring in a LHP. Then, that LHP would have to leave when Pujols bats.

Just a bungled situation, trusting crappy MLB players to go against the norm in situations isn’t a good idea.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 4:28 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hey David Newhan

that buzzing noise in the background is your alarm clock.

It’s time you WAKE UP AND REALIZE YOU ARE DAVID NEWHAN…whoever the hell that is.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 4:09 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

C'mon Albert

bail the Colonel out here

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 4:21 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

or strike out with a weak check swing

and then glare.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 4:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

wow!

I don’t know…..I just hope the Cards can finish the season strong. My only real incentive at this point to watch is to see how Albert is doing.

by ICbirdfan on Aug 31, 2008 4:23 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Luddy will be happy to leave HOU

he’s been terrible at the plate here

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

where is j-rod when you need him?

that guy loved minute maid park.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 4:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

what a waste

7 ip, 4 hits, 0 BB, 4 SO from welley…
and we have the tepid bottom of the lineup as the only chance for a win…

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:28 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Villone hits the lefty

the last guy he was going to face.

Way to be good at your very minimal job, Ron.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 4:29 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

on a serious note...

I’m really looking forward to next year, but is there ANY way to repair the middle infield situation.

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:33 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

to be honest...

I don’t know why next year is really any better? there are still a lot of holes.

by ICbirdfan on Aug 31, 2008 4:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No kidding

plus, the likelihood of Ryan Ludwick putting up 40/110 again isn’t very high.

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 31, 2008 4:36 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not to mention Tony doesn't seem to favor Rasmus very much

so unless Mo trades Skip we won’t be seeing our “center fielder of the future” at least for most of the first half of 2009.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 4:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

we don't need to get that much better...

I mean, we could easily get to the postseason with just a few more wins over this season. And who knows how much a full season of Perez is worth over izzy/franklin…
but specifically is there any MIF (not like a hanley ramirez or arod or anything) that we could trade a marginal prospect for and wouldn’t cost us 10 mil per year?

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:40 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Maybe he can pull out some post season magic

against the Cubs. That might be what Arizona has in mind??? But I agree pretty ho-hum.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 4:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

my god franklin sucks

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh goody our friends the Astros

pretty much putting in the final nail to our season. Break out the party favors and cazoos.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

leave Franklin in Houston

Just don’t let him on board

The only game in town

by rebrak on Aug 31, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

agreed, where is K mac

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:37 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

josh kinney should be back sometime this week

i’m guessing he can do better than franklin, at least.

by adiueordie on Aug 31, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

not only has the guy given up 9 home runs on the year

but they have all been big

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

i think his main problem is the BB's though

11 bb in 80 innings last year
27 through 64 this year…
I bet the inconsistency in finding the strike zone doesn’t help with the HR either

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:42 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Plus, Bosox lost today; Rays up in the 8th

all ESPN mourns.

Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

by gocards62 on Aug 31, 2008 4:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Now that I do care about

I would love it if Boston chokes the final month and the Twins or White Sox get the WC.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 4:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Speaking of Red Sox & ESPN

has anybody heard that hack that’s always on Sports Center that calls the Red Sox the “Nation” alll the time? The dude is so in love with them that he brings them up in highlights of games not even involving the Red Sox including a college football game highlight last night… and the “NATIONwide” car race. I had to turn it off….it would make any fan outside of Boston puke.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 4:48 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

umpire sucks

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

looks like he's mailing it in

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Aug 31, 2008 4:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

he should be fined for the calls he has made the last two days

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

really, you think so

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yeah i mean...

the cubs and brewers play each other a lot in the last few weeks, and we play the cubs a couple of times as well…
though I understand the frustration… the brewers really haven’t slipped much at all, and we’ve been dropping the close games. Worst game for the brewers in the last few weeks was probably the second game of the series vs us…

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yeah, another bad call from the umpire

When the time comes for me to not be bothered by losing that is when I know it is time to retire my fandom

by ANDYAK47 on Aug 31, 2008 4:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

CC throws a one-hitter

any legs to the punditry saying he could win the cy-young?

by duncans_army on Aug 31, 2008 4:52 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If he can shut down the Cubs for the 2 times he might face them in Sept

and it causes the Brewers to somehow win the Central…I think it would give him a great chance, but Webb would have to fall apart the final month as well for this to happen.

by KYCards on Aug 31, 2008 4:57 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Bad series for the Birds

If anyone can look to a turning point in this season, since it was talked about this week, to me the TP might be Santa’s failure to get Pence on the barehanded play in game 1, whether or not he would would have made the out by gloving it, who knows, but IMO that play was huge. That, coupled w/ the fact that the Cards continue to let guys like Pence hit 70 points higher against you than they do against any of the other teams…season avg=.262 & avg against Stl=.333, I believe thats right although since he came into the league, he seems to have lit up the Cards

by buzzburton33 on Aug 31, 2008 5:02 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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