road killed
by lboros on Sep 4, 2008 9:20 AM EDT
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Printbefore the road trip began i noted that the cards would face 4 lefties in 6 games, a difficult task for them: "since july 1 the cards have faced left-handed starting pitchers 16 times (including last night) and gone 8-8 despite scoring just 51 runs total --- 3.2 a game." the sad update to those stats: 8-12 record, 62 runs (3.1 per game). that injury to brian barton may have been more costly than anyone realized: he’s one of only 5 position players on the team with an ops of .750 or better vs lhp this season --- and one of the 5 is felipe lopez, who only has taken about 25 plate appearances vs southpaws since joining the cards. the others (if you’re wondering) are pujols, luddy, and molina.
since august 1 the cards have a losing record (14-15) despite being +23 in run differential. for some perspective, they were only +28 through july 31 (the first 111 games), yet they were 11 games over .500 . . . . . in other words, they were pretty damn lucky through the first 4 months, pretty damn unlucky in month #5. it all comes out in the wash: at the moment their pythagorean record trues up perfectly with their actual record, 75-65.
after the cubs acquired harden and the brewers added sabathia, it was argued the cards needed a splashy acquisition to keep pace. the trade deadline passed and nothing happened, but wellemeyer got healthy and carp / wainwright returned (sequentially) to the starting staff. since then the cards have lost 5 games in the standings to both the cubs and brewers, but you can’t blame the starters. here’s how the rotations stack up since july 31:
| ERA | IP | H | BB | SO | HR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| brewers | 2.75 | 202.2 | 175 | 48 | 150 | 20 |
| cardinals | 3.39 | 178 | 165 | 43 | 115 | 25 |
| cubs | 3.97 | 186 | 176 | 68 | 162 | 20 |
stl’s starters have outpitched the cubs despite the addition of harden, and while they haven’t been dominant like the sabathia-led brewer rotation, they’re clearly not the reason the cards have tumbled so badly in the standings. can’t really blame the offense either:
| R/G | AVG | OBP | SLG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cubs | 5.5 | .284 | .363 | .455 |
| brewers | 5.3 | .267 | .342 | .446 |
| cards | 5.0 | .298 | .355 | .461 |
the cards’ run output is pretty low, relative to their inputs --- they should be right up there with the cubs --- but 5 runs a game is still plenty. we can’t even really blame the bullpen, which before yesterday had gone a month without blowing a late lead. indeed, no part of the team has played poorly over the last month. they just keep finding ways to come up short. of their 15 losses since the trade deadline, only 1 has been a blowout (ie, by a margin of 5 runs or more) --- the 12-0 drubbing by the brewers. 6, including yesterday’s, have been by 1 run; they have no 1-run victories during that stretch. i have no explanation to offer for this because i think nothing explains it; it’s just one of those things. the 2006 cardinals went through a very similar stretch in september when they let the astros back into the race, repeatedly losing close games; in october, the ball bounced their way and they won the same cliffhangers.
the other similarity to 2006 is the astros ---- now as then, they’re closing fast, to within a game of the cards. houston has compiled the long winning streak (8 and counting) that the cardinals needed. are the astros still in it? not quite, even though 16 of their final 22 games are against sub-.500 teams (pitt, cin, atl, colo). like the cardinals (who face tougher opposition) they’ll need to close with a 16-6 rush or something like that to even have a chance, and since they have no games left with milwaukee they’ll need a lot of help . . . . sound familiar? too little, too late for them.
i could care less if they pass the cardinals. 3d place, 4th place . . . . does it really make a difference?
items:
- palm beach mimicked the parent club in their playoff opener last night, blowing a 5-run 8th-inning lead to lose to daytona, 10-9. all of the comeback runs were unearned, thanks to back-to-back errors by brian cartie and pete kozma . . . .
- danup’s formula to create albert pujols: take five months’ worth of david wright, then pile on 5 weeks of a .500 batting average. ht, BTF.
- if albert maintains his .360 average, he’ll finish with the 19th-highest BA in franchise history. if he can add 5 points (don’t put it past him) he’ll move up to 15th.
- troy glaus needs two more homers to become the 4th guy on the team to reach 25 hr this year. name the last quartet of cardinals to do that in a single season (no peeking at B-R).
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nope
Sanders didn’t hit 25 that year. If I remember correctly, he finished somewhere in the low 20’s.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
25 Homers
Would be 2001 with McGwire (in his injury plagued final year), Pujols, Edmonds, and Drew (in his only fully healthy season in St. Louis.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Drew hit 27 hr in 109 games...
that guy oozes talent…man that was a good team, if it wasnt for those meddling D’backs who knows what might have been.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." -Wes Westrum
in the 3rd game of the season in 2001
we had McGwire, Pujols, and Edmonds on the bench while the Mighty Larry Sutton hit third and played first base, very nice. An amazingly enough we lost 11-2 to COL. I love Baseball-Reference!
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." -Wes Westrum
2001
isnt that the season david wells broke drews hand with a pitch?
he may have hit 40 otherwise
Pujols is the greatest Cardinal in my lifetime.
by bigcardsfan5 on Sep 4, 2008 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Me too
my daughter still cusses at Wells anytime she hears his name.
by ArkansasTravs on Sep 5, 2008 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions
That's the team
that I wish could have gotten healthy. Had Mac been able to come back in August of that year, like expected, that team could really have gone places. Pujols probably would have ended up playing 3B in the playoffs instead of 1B, putting an outfield of Lankford, Edmonds, and Drew out there and allowing Polanco to come off the bench as a pinch hitter. With the addition of Woody down the stretch and a playoff rotation of Kile, Morris, and Woody that team would have been tough — the only thing they were missing was a closer.
Also, Pujols put up a .329/.403/.610 while making a whopping $200,000 that season — talk about some bang for your buck…
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Actually
I still think they make the move to get Woody even with Kile in the fold. Look at the rest of the rotation that year — nothing to write home about. That deal gets done either way.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
in the 2001 playoffs they had both kile and woody
kile died in 2002; he was on the 2001 playoff roster and started game 3 of the nlds vs arizona. woody started game 2.
only .365?
if albert maintains his .360 average, he’ll finish with the 19th-highest BA in franchise history. if he can add 5 points (don’t put it past him) he’ll move up to 15th.
If Albert goes 30/30 to finish the season, he can hit .400
I wouldn’t doubt him ;)
I peeked at b-r
but I did it to verify what I thought about Troy Glaus. His reputation when he came here was as a LHP killer. In 2007, he slashed .361/.476/.759/1.235 against them and in 2006 he was .292/.413/.635//1.048. For his career he has a .957 OPS against them. Yet, this year he is hitting .224/.335/.406/.741. I don’t know if luck explains the difference as his BABIP v. LHPs is only .243. He would be having a monster year if he hit his career norms vs. LHPs.
I think this must somehow be Dave Duncan’s fault.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
That's the trouble with averages sometimes
they even out everything too much. While the starting pitching was (overall) good during August, there were a handful of games that were lost because the starter couldn’t make an early lead stand up. (For instance, Looper’s game in Houston when, spotted w/ a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st, he promptly coughs up 6 to the ‘Stros.) There were other games, such as yesterday and the 8-6 loss Monday, in which the pen slowly gave up the lead. And still other games in which the offense returned to the April pattern of stranding 1.5 runners per inning (e.g. Sunday’s game in Houston).
So, EVERYONE is to blame. Kind of ironic in a TEAM sport, huh?
I blame myself for our horrible August
but don’t worry clan, I’m taking full responsibility for our 17-5 Division clinching finish!
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 11:19 AM EDT reply actions
now there is a man
with accountability!
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." -Wes Westrum
Hope not...
or maybe I do…. If they could catch the Cubs, now that would be funny!
Question: How is it that the Astros seem to do this EVERY year?
by ArkansasTravs on Sep 4, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Could be...
Although it’s been a couple of different managers for them. I think it’s just that they seem to get off to slow starts every season and then start playing up to their potential late in the year. That, and they seem to always get healthy and not have any devastating injuries in the last three months for most of this decade.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
HA!
that made me laugh. and to think, I get to fly around in this “clean, healthful, houston air” all the time. hooray for helicopters!
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Sep 4, 2008 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
carlos lee disagrees
he was on a huge power binge when he went down (a couple of hours too late for houston to claim Adam Dunn, lol).
the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.
wouldn't have mattered
Dunn still would have ended up with the D-Backs wouldn’t he? They had a worse record than Houston at the time. It’s not like Houston has a boatload of prospects to send in return either.
He’s the only significant injury I can think of in the second half of the season for them this decade, and they have played significantly better baseball in the second half by nearly every metric in every season since 2001.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
If Mozeliak finishes behind
Ed Wade he should resign.
by vinniefromjersey on Sep 4, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions
credit to Ed Wade...
he played to win. And they’re trying valiantly to make it happen.
by longhornscardinals on Sep 4, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
False hope for the Stros.
They finish with a flourish this year only to create false hope. Next year they’ll be back to the mediocrity that was most of this year, possibly worse. Even if they sign some pitching, their farm system is terrible and they’ll have a lot of holes in their rotation. You think Brian freaking Moehler is going to be this good again? In that park?
Also, the last quartet of Cards to hit 25+ homers (and I have to think it’s only happened this one time…) was 2001: Pujols with 37, McGwire with 29, Edmonds with 28 and Drew with 27. I still think we would have at least won the pennant, if not the whole thing had we gotten past the D-Backs. Blast. That was one of my favorite teams ever.
by mattisnotfrench on Sep 4, 2008 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
stuff
after reading through the post and comments, couple of things I wanted to say:
1. if we are not going to finish 2nd, i’d prefer to finish as low as possible for the slight edge we may garner in the draft.
2. late inning performance and failure to win our share of 1-run decisions must at least in part rest with tlr. i was glad he re-upped early on when i thought he would be good for the young players with his rigid attitude about attitude and his experience would be good for them to experience and it might help attract free agents. for me, though, the bloom is off the rose. watching things more closely this year w/ EI, i see a man who uses his past success to indulge himself by employing irrational strategies because preserving his eccentric/genius reputation has become more important than doing things to actually maximize winning. from reyes to batting the pitcher 8th, i see rigid eccentricity becoming the dominant motivation.
3. the change in glaus’ productively against LHP has a component of context in terms of batting in a line-up that has difficulty against LHP, which effects how he is pitched.
4. last, my feelings about albert hitting 3 or 4 is one issue, but i think not enough credit is given to the effect of who bats behind him, not just in front f him. with ap’s obp, pitchers need to pitch to whoever is behind him. in short i think it does luddy as much good to hit behind ap and before and has had a very significant on his rbi total. not many pitchers are willing to pitch around/walk tow batters in a row.
we are toast now, so here’s hoping we get the jelly we need over the winter and have a complete sandwich by next spring.
lastly thanks to all, i’ve very much enjoyed reading veb during the season for the first time. here’s to an interesting, successful hot stove season
"No matter where you go, there you are" Buckeroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension
#2 is just wrong
batting the pitcher 8th is a good idea. It leads to more runs scored over the course of the season. It’s the adherence to convention (IE needing a “leadoff man”) that drives me crazy.
- makes me physically sick, as a sports fan. Tanking is for basketball players.
the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.
pleasantly disagree
the pitcher 8 may work in some situations and with some personnel, but i don’t see it as beneficial for our group. it freely admit this is an opinion, but is a reasonable subject for research over the leisure period this winter.
"No matter where you go, there you are" Buckeroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension
Totally disagree on this point for a couple of reasons.
- In the late innings of close games, the pitcher very rarely comes to bat anyway.
- When the pitchers spot comes up after the 6th inning, there’s usually a better hitter hitting in that spot than either of our middle infielders, who we’ve had to start all year
- Batting the pitcher 8th would work much better if we had 3 good OBP players in the 9,1,2 spots. We don’t — it’s not the fault of the strategy, it’s a fault of personnel, and TLR doesn’t wholly control that aspect.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Late innings of close games, the pitcher very rarely comes to bat anyways
unless you are Tony LaRussa and you love to give away outs by having your relievers bat for themselves.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh please...
I know you can’t stand LaRussa, but that statement is ridiculous. If they’re batting for themselves there’s a strategic reason (i.e. lefty leading off the next inning, or extra inning games with a shortened bullpen) or the Cardinals have a short bench, which they’ve had for a ton of games this year because of Ankiel’s not going on the DL and having to carry extra pitchers on the roster.
In no way can you make me believe that he’d rather have a relief pitcher batting instead of a position player like Mather or Phelps. That just ain’t true and you know it.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Yet it keeps happening
Hell, he has a 30 man roster to choose from and he did it just the other night.
He tells them to play a hard 9, but only gives them 26 outs to work with when he lets relief pitchers bat for themselves.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
While I don't advicate tanking the season for a better draft pick
I seem some parallels to constantly dumping guys for prospects simply because they’re at their highest trade value. Both strategies work well at bringing in cheap, young talent. Of course, I guess if you trade off all your talent for prospects, then you’ll probably not be very good so you might get a pretty good draft pick as well. So, that route might have a double winner.
fwiw, i’m being sarcastic.
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 many of our good-hitting pitchers
Were on the DL? And someone’s numbers tanked this year, I forget who. I wanna say Loop.
Like say, with A.D.A.M. on, our monster 7-8-9 makes more sense. =cough=
- Y.2.2
I come bearing good news
Lohse as of right now is a Type A free agent and Looper is on the Fringe of Type B.
per
http://tigers-thoughts.blogspot.com/2008/08/projected-elias-rankings.html
I was just about to post this.
damn you FlimFlam (to the)!!!
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.
btw
Rich Harden middle of the pack Type B.
And I don’t think Looper will make it into the B rankings. Close but no cigar, unfortunately.
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.
fortunately or unfortunalely as the case may be
i dont think it will matter much as i see us way more likely to give looper a deal than lohse.
i dont think it matters
because dollars to doughnuts we sign him back.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." -Wes Westrum
So.....
We just have to offer him a 1 year deal through arbitration, right? I can’t see any way he’d accept one year.
Interesting
On this list, Furcal falls short of both type A and type B. I wonder if the Cards could get him on a club friendly deal of 3Y$25M or something of that sort, and then sign Felipe Lopez to a cheap deal to play second base. Then they can keep Kennedy as the utility MI and lefty off the bench since he’s already signed. We don’t lose compensation picks, and we get a huge offensive upgrade at both positions.
I’m not saying he’d accept that deal, but he’s been banged up all year so are clubs really going to offer him a 5 year deal in the offseason?
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Hilarious MLB.com headline Alert!!!
Cubs remember 1908 September run
Really, which ones? For that matter, which 105 year old fans remember that run?
They talking about the blue haired women with the pins on their hats keeping score.....
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'm sure John McCain remembers...
he’s like 137 years old…
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
I wonder sometimes
What if a Cardinals fan were to attempt to enter Wrigley with a goat? How would that work exactly… and whose head would explode…
(no goats were harmed in the making of this comment)
- Y.2.2
Felipe Lopez...
I like what I have seen out of him so far. I like him at 2B. Maybe we can keep him huh?
"Why does he keep saying that?"
I really hope so
I think he’s the prototypical 2 hole hitter on a LaRussa club, but I like him better in the 6 or 7 hole with the current team — hopefully we can get a SS that can lead off so that Colby can be penciled into the 2-hole next season.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
yeah
I think we may have our 2B guy for next year. now who will play shortstop….
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
If Lopez Stays
Than Miles or Kennedy has to go, I am tired of all these MIFers
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 4, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
isn't Miles a free agent after this season?
I know Kennedy will still be around.
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, Miles is a free agent
but the general rule of thumb is that he has a permanent spot on the team because of LaRussa or something.
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.
yeah well
Moz might just put his foot down for that one. there’s no reason to have that many mif’s
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
iztoo, kennedy, lopez, miles
drop miles, replace iztoo is what I would do… but then again, iztoo would still be around, so we’re probably stuck with 4 mif’s if we don’t sign a new SS
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
*if we do sign a new SS
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
or is Izturis a free agent next year?
excuse me while I think out loud.
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
you mean this year?
yes, he’ll be a free agent after this year.
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.
so that's interesting
looks like we’ll be looking for a new shortstop.
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
don't necessarily get your hopes up
there’s not much out there that isn’t old, hurt or old and hurt.
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 know
but there’s gotta be someone better than iztoo
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
personally i think they all should go far far away
not one of them is a good every day MI player. and that’s what the Cards need. i’m sick of this patch work crap they keep throwing out season after season after season. get some legit every day players in there already MO. please?
and above everything else, drop AK like the girl that cheated on you & lied right to your face when you confronted her about it MO. i refuse to sit through another season of his weak pop ups & clutch K’s with 2 outs & RISP.
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
realistically
we will sign an improvement in only one of the two areas, 2b or ss. which would you prefer? I’d prefer finding a good SS
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that AK and Izturis aren't.....
Though Izturis would probably be fine if we weren’t so weak at 2B too.
But Miles is great as a backup, and Lopez is at least intriguing at 2B.
why would you play Izturis at 2B?
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd love to dump AK.....
And resign Miles (for the bench) and Lopez (for 2B).
Then if we could go land Furcal…..
he would get hurt and be out for the year yet again
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm with you
till Furcal. Miles has better intangibles (helps the younger guys, good against armed robbers) than most anyone on the bench.
- Y.2.2
yadi has the best arm
why move him from catcher? don’t make sense
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
lol
Not that I don’t doubt he could rock as a second baseman (since he’s badass)… my nick refers to his throws to second. And when he steals second. Which apparently is his thing now, so I figured less chance of jinxing.
- Y.2.2
ah
that makes a lot more sense :)
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
still have to pinch myself
When he doubles or steals second. It’s like an alternate universe where Molina leads the team in infield hits…….
- Y.2.2
And almost a Type B Free Agent to Boot
I think though if he was offered arbitration he would accept it
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 4, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
as much as I like grit
I’d rather have Lopez I think
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
It's rather dangerous...
to judge a player by what he’s done in a month or so with a team, as opposed to the whole of his career.
I’m not saying Lopez is the worst player ever to play baseball, but he’s certainly not going to continue to hit the way he has with the Cardinals.
Especially as he’s clearly reverting to mean – he was truly awful for much of the season, now he’s hitting well. By the end of the year he’ll probably be around his career numbers.
That said, I’d still rather see him back than Izturis. There’s about a hundred points of difference in their OPS in their career.
we'll still have Kennedy to throw in there if he doesn't work out
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Dangerous to judge a player by what he's done in a month or so with a team?
Nonsense! Just look at Joel Pineiro!
Um…I mean…
Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
"Just because nobody understands you doesn't make you an artist."
and look who he is directly behind.
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.
Well if we do sign him we should expect
a slash line of .260/.330/.400
or 30 doubles, 15 HR’s and 20 SB.
or an off year Edgar Renteria with more ink.
Is that good? Really, is it, because I don’t have an answer at this time?
Renteria hasn't hit 20 homers since 2000
and hasn’t stole 20 bases since 2003. Plus he’s 33.
Personally, If that’s what I’m choosing between, I’d rather sign Lopez to a 1 year deal to play 2nd.
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 will care less about baseball
if the Cardinals finish behind the Astros in 4th place
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions
+1
Ive already started hearing from my Astro-fan friends, that the Cards are gonna finish behind their beloved *blech, ’Stros.
Oh, how I want to laugh in their faces.
Of course, I’ll always have the argument that they cant talk trash for another 11 years.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Sep 4, 2008 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Baseball Prospectus
Has an article on Ludwick
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8032
Pretty even handed.
Big Z to miss series w/Cards
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3569470&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
Tendinitis in rotator cuff
Proud sponsor of the Official 2008 StL Cardinal theme song: "Beautiful Day" by U2
oh darn
it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 4, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
This reeks of Mark Mulder
I hope the Cubs got that contract insured.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Big Z has already logged about 2,356,797 innings--and he's only 27!
He’ll be fine. He better be— I don’t know any other pitcher that enjoys their work more than him. I literally think he’ll die if he can’t pitch, for real, dead in the ground.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
The problem with him, is he doesn't take care of himself
and this isn’t the same “fat and lazy” stuff people said about Dunn.
There’s enough stuff going around the media in Chicago I can safely say this. And its based on a couple of things. First, when he had cramping issues and the media asked him why he wasn’t hydrating he told them he didn’t like drinking water or sports drinks and preferred to drink coffee. It got to the point that when he’d come off the mound between innings, they’d have like a dozen bottles of water waiting for him and he’d only drink it if the trainer made him.
Then, I heard Matt Abbatacola talking about this the other day on 670 The Score (from inside sources), he was told Zambrano refuses to work out or change his diet even when the team has expresses concern about his weight and conditioning.
The consensus is that he just does whatever he pleases. He loves pitching and has as much desire and drive during the game anyone could want, but he doesn’t take care of himself and doesn’t seem interested in doing that anytime soon.
He refused to get an MRI two days ago because he didn’t want to be injected with the dye. He finally had it done because I think the team “persuaded” him. But, ultimately, they never really tell him what to 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.
Tackle Box
I heard the same thing on 670 the score this year and last year… Apparently he pounds Coffee, Mountain Dew, and energy drinks earlier in the day prior to starting.
He looked like he came into the season in better shape this year, but I have heard the same thing about him not caring for himself…He just has a bigger build like Yaddi and Albert, he just needs to take a bit more time caring for himself.
I really enjoy watching Big Z, he is just fun to watch. One hell of a ball player, all around.. He is really fast for a guy his size and he can swing it.
There are so many oops' there
I’m not sure which one we are going for.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It shows that he is up for NL not AL
Hence him in the blue box not the red
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 4, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
OT: Stan Musial
Is Stan in failing health? I’ve been wondering this since I didn’t see him among the old-timers at the All-Star game and haven’t seen him on TV at the Cards’ games in recent months. (Maybe I just missed him.)
Anyway, it has me concerned, so I’d appreciate any update anyone can provide. Thanks.
Not sure
But I know he was at the game when the Dodgers came in town. He gave Joe Torre a “fist bump”.
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 4, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
He is pretty old
I thought the last time I saw him (which might have been that Dodger series) he didn’t look like himself. Almost as if I wouldn’t have recognized him it hadn’t been pointed out to me. I’m not exactly sure what it was, just different. Definitely older, but I couldn’t tell if it was poor health.
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'm pretty sure I said that
but thanks for emphasizing.
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.
Brewers 3 outs away from losing to San Diego
with Peavy and Young still due in this series.
Maybe this season isn’t over yet.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 10:52 PM EDT reply actions
Over
Cardinals now only 4 games back. Would be 2 if we could have held a lead vs the DBacks this week.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
We really need to take advantage of the teams ahead of us losing, especially MIL.
HERE WE GO, CARDINALS! clap! clap!
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Sep 4, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
oops
HERE WE GO!
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Sep 4, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Hooray!
Here’s to the Brew Crew keeping their shirts tucked in!
speaking of which
I love CC’s performance, but isn’t he a PERFECT brewer player? Watching the video of his one-hitter, I just couldn’t get over the fact that he looks so natural in that sloppy uniform. he practically untucks himself while pitching, every pitch.
the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.
Ben Sheets' shirt
is nearly untucked by the time he leaves a game as well. And don’t forget ol’ Derrick Turnbow. Has any player ever looked more unkempt in their uni? I can’t think of one. Well, maybe Manny being Manny.
you tease us
5 games back… but that’s better than 5.5.
I just realized why these last games against AZ hurt especially bad. my only chance to see the cards play again this year is if the dodgers make the playoffs, and losing hurt the dodgers as bad as it hurt us. sigh.
Best sweep the next time around…
the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.
Whoops
I think I had already counted yesterday as a victory in my mind.
Damnit!
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 4, 2008 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Parity?
no team on pace to win a 100?
maybe the Astros weren’t crazy being buyers
seems like the only time we gain ground is our days off
It would sure suck to catch the Brewers only to lose the wildcard to the Stros
Please
do not speak of such things.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Sep 4, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
personally
i respect the hell out of the astros for not giving up, ignoring the pundits and the common “give up if you are more than 3 games out at the deadline” meme, and I would much rather be beat by them than the brewers, who I don’t respect at all. The brewers built their team by sucking for two solid decades and collecting draft picks, and their success will be ephemeral.
(yeah, it sucks to be poor, but if your strategy is based on using poor performing teams to collect assets to become good for a few years, you’ll always be poor. In tonight’s game, in the middle of a stretch run, there were empty seats just a few rows back of the third base line).
Anyway, if the astros made the playoffs, and the cards did not, they’d become the team I was rooting for.
the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.
Something is a'foot with Tony LaRussa
apparently Strauss will have an article about it tomorrow.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 5, 2008 12:28 AM EDT reply actions
Apparently not
talk about a ‘blah’ article. All Strauss does is confirm that LaRussa wants ‘impact’ help in the off-season and that the clubhouse was upset by the lack of movement by the front-office at the deadline.
by Hardcore Legend on Sep 5, 2008 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
the last part was surprising
his suggestion that duncan could perhaps be coaching elsewhere next year if a better deal is offered.
that would be pretty strange, especially if they face each other. talk about mind games…
With the gameplan against Ryan Braun this year
somehow being throw fastballs middle in…I’d love to see Duncan’s gameplan to pitch to Ludwick. “Middle in fastballs, all day long. No way he’ll hit it,” as the 4th homer of the series leaves Busch III…
I think all the article did is confirm
that TLR is an asshole. As usual, the guy who has never made a mistake in his life points the finger at everybody else: ownership, the front office, the farm system, even his current roster. Speaking of MO he has the audacity to say, “He’s a smart guy. There are 30 teams and he’s got one of 30 jobs. He’s working his ass off to prove he deserves to keep it.” Maybe TLR should focus his energies on working his ass off to prove he deserves to keep his job.
This whole Don Tony persona is getting so old. I wish we could find a way to keep Duncan and let Tony move on to the alleged GM opportunities. What a great gig for a guy who is “not a long range thinker.” Like we could be so lucky – the only thing he is interested in is padding his managerial win total.
There, I feel better now.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
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