Once more, for those in the back
by chuckb on Oct 10, 2009 12:17 PM EDT
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PrintLost in all the talk all summer about Ryan Franklin’s metamorphosis and how his use of the cutter rather than the slider has changed his career was any sort of discussion about how Franklin was pitching over his head. He simply was never as good as he was pitching and some regression should have been expected. He pitched extremely well in 2007 as well and regressed at the end of the year. And boy has he regressed this year. The pen was, in my opinion – and I mentioned it several times here and elsewhere – our biggest area of concern entering the playoffs and they haven’t exactly redeemed themselves in the first two games. They’ve given up 3 runs (only 1 earned) in 3.2 innings while yielding 11, yes 11, base runners in those 3.2 innings.
The irony now is that our chances are dependent on another pitcher who made a huge leap forward this year and has regressed somewhat as the year has drawn to a close. Joel Pineiro’s regression hasn’t been as dramatic as Franklin’s, but after being nearly unhittable most of the summer, Pineiro’s August ERA was 4.19 and his September/October ERA was 4.98. After giving up 3 home runs in the first 4 months of the season, he gave up 3 in August and 5 in September/October. His walks are slightly up as well, but the biggest problem is that he’s not getting the ball down like he did earlier in the season. My guess is that Tony will have little patience with him today. I wouldn’t expect him to pitch deep into the game and we could see John Smoltz or Kyle Lohse early – and for multiple innings – today.
Though Tony and Duncan have to this point been mum on the subject, rumors abound that the plan is to bring Chris Carpenter back on 3 days’ rest should we reach game 4. Carp’s never started a game on less than 4 days’ rest in his career. It is, however, almost inarguably, the correct decision. Doing so allows the team to use Adam Wainwright on 4 days’ rest in game 5. The bottom line is this – we have to win 3, 4, and 5 in order to advance and which 2 starters do you want going in games 4 and 5 – Smoltz and Carpenter, Lohse and Carpenter, or Carpenter on short rest and Wainwright. I’m going w/ door #3, w/o a doubt. Maybe Carp will only be able to go 5 or 6 innings but 5 or 6 innings from Carp should be better than 5 or 6 from Lohse or Smoltz.
Finally, for all the talk about the Cards’ offensive ineptitude over the first 2 games, our offense hasn’t performed all that badly. We’ve batted .300/.379/.422 over the first 2 games. An .800 OPS against the Dodgers’ pitching is nothing to sneeze at. Ryan is clearly overmatched at the plate and belongs hitting at the bottom of the order, particularly against righties, but the others have performed fairly well at the plate. The possible exception is Pujols, who’s just 1 for 6 w/ a single and 3 walks in 2 games. We also have 7 extra base hits but all that offense has just manifested itself into 5 runs. We haven’t gotten the hits we need w/ runners on base and we do have just 1 homer in 2 games, but if we keep getting runners on base, we’ll be ok. We need to put a better hitter in the 2 hole – not Colby, I don’t like sticking our only 2 lefties right next to each other in the order -- and get more runners on base in front of Albert and then get a hit or 2 behind him. Hopefully JP can get us through 5 or 6 innings w/ just a couple of runs given up. If we can get it to game 4, I think we’ve got a decent chance. If not, there’ll be lots of time to ponder what might have been.
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The Fist
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I'm pretty sure all we talked about this summer, in regards to Franklin,
was him regressing at some point.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
He probably happened upon this community
and must have been convinced of his own suckitude
by LandSickness on Oct 10, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
don't you love how perfectly timed
his regression was with his contract extension. Yay, Mo — way to prematurely lock him up when you totally could have done it in November!
On with the (good) youth movement!
Why are they postponing it......
It’s not gonna warm up until April.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
make them play
that’s what the Twins are going to be doing for half their home games next year.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 10, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
If I was the Rox,
I would want to go…that’s the meaning of home field advantage, right?
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
exactly!
wimps.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
Game rescheduled for
tomorrow @ 8pm MDT, should be much warmer with the sun down.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
of course!
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
'Duk, haha.
No snow is being predicted for Sunday, but the temperatures at Coors Field could measure below 40 degrees by game time. (No word on if the stadium will be “cold-activated,” whatever that means.)
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
That oughta cool the Phillies off a bit.
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Oct 10, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
When you walk outside
and the mountains on your Coors can turn blue, that’s not good weather for baseball.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
MLB should do something about this
baseball is not meant to be played in such cold weather. Either shorten the regular season, cut down the number of extra days off during the postseason, or make the DS a best-of-three and/or the LCS a best-of-five, something, anything to keep people from having to watch baseball when it’s in the 40s & 50s in late October/early November (November FFS!).
stadiums in cold weather climates should have retractable roofs
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
wait, does that mean we're the only game today?
so everyone can… watch a fine example of a baseball game and the “best fans in baseball” … eff.
they better give Holliday a standing ovation.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
ohhhhhhkayyyy.....
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
This is more disturbing
than the young Stalone photo that I posted months ago.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
Which seems to be lost
in the hinterlands of SBN.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
Ah....there it is.....
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
You're an odd Bird, aren't you?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Oct 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
and... no.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 10, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
It is an album cover
I was shocked to see this cover – easy the worst album cover of all time. I just thought the fist and the balls to the name of the album applied to the game today.
by birdsonthehat on Oct 10, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Hairy legs
and man skorts should never be relative to the game.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I do agree with that.
But if it comes to winning tonite..
by birdsonthehat on Oct 10, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
If a woman has that much leg hair
I really don’t want to see the rest.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I am in full agreement about door #3...
If we get past today, give me Carp one more time.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
and hopefully several more times after that
by LandSickness on Oct 10, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
the argument for Carp in game 4
is compelling, mostly because it makes room to use Wainer in the (if we get there) ultimately crucial game 5, away from home.
But the utility (non) of Smoltz has me puzzled; if he wasn’t planned in as one of the three starters, then why was he not used in the first two games out of the pen? Especially in Franklin’s spot Thursday night [Tony falling into Izzy syndrome again?]
This down two games to none could have been forseen and in my opinion Smoltz should have been told “you’re the number one pressure situation guy.”
We have three bulldog, eat nails for breakfast pitchers – Carp, Waino, and Smoltzy -use the crap out of them!
Re the 2 hole, my eye tells me use DeRosa; he seems to be coming around again. Also, tho’ it is a blow to my cynicism, I think AnK and Santa will perform better in Busch. I hope so; if Pu doesn’t snap to it, we may need a litle heroism from one of those two dead-weights.
Santa's PA's made me sad.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
agreed
smoltz has to appear in some games. izzy syndrome needs to be over already. franklin clearly has lost his mojo. from what i’ve seen, he’s throwing nothing that could be considered a swing-and-miss pitch. his curve is short and doesn’t bite downwards very hard, his cutter barely moves, and the split has seemingly vanished.
Tony apparently said that he was happy with the way Ryan threw the ball
in his first postseason role as Closer. Said something about that he made some really good pitches and was pleased with his overall performance. Which he did……. right up until his meltdown.
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Oct 10, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
ugh, just fucking ugh
LINK. Sure, this isn’t the most extensive statistical breakdown, but it gets the point across: The Cardinals are not playing terribly. FFS, we might be playing better than the Dodgers. We should be 1-1, and its not even that big of a stretch to say we should be 2-0. Let’s just keep it up tonight, hope that some of those hits we keep racking up are timely for once, and pray that we can come through at the plate with 2 outs a time or two. And pray in a general sense, not to the GOBs. Why? Because fuck ‘em, that’s why/
PS: I believe in Jo-el
nice pinch hitting.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
2 things
- Those pinch hitting numbers are the difference in the series.
- Their bullpen is fucking GOOD.
If we’re going to win tonight, we better jump all over Padilla early and get him out of the game and hope that Joel goes 7 strong innings to minimize the number our bullpen has to pitch. This would also take us into game four with their bullpen hurting and ours set up for a short rest start by Carp.
"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 have a radical idea.
We’ll cross the streams.
There’s definitely a very slim chance we’ll survive.
I thought for sure the title was going to be "Once More, into the Breach dear friends!"
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
A day may come when the courage of men fails ... but it is not this day!
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Oct 10, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I was saving the other Henry V
but what the hell, We Band of Brothers!
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Who knows?
“Someday we might look back on this and decide that saving Brendan Ryan was the one decent thing we were able to pull out of the whole God awful shitty mess”
"Who is John Gall?"
by iron duke75 on Oct 10, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Why did Branagh stop doing Shakesspeare flicks?
He’s clearly better in them than he is anything else, and he always seems to get the tone right.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Did he intentionally stop?
Or is it just that studios aren’t interested, etc?
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
I dunno
Pacino made “The Merchant of Venice” without him, and that was a pretty decent movie, it also happens to be my favorite Shakespeare play.
I would think that with the success that Branagh had with Henry V on a short budget that he would be able to do just about any play he wanted to do. All of his Shakespeare films have made money for studios, that’s the key to keep getting to do what you want to do. I just get the feeling that he isn’t interested in doing them anymore.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Merchant of Venice is pretty awesome
I actually have that movie and have yet to finish watching it. Bad bobo!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Yad will save us.
Calling it now.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
he doesn't merit an 'I' anymore?
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
There's no I in team.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
Jordan's speech might be petty and all
But the whole “yeah but there is an I in WIN” was awesome. Only he could pull that off.
Not afraid to nitpick
I just dislike the whole
“Players win championships” bullshit. He clearly means that “I win championships”, when it’s pretty obvious that he couldn’t win SHIT without another top 50 player, a parade of All-Star supporting casts, and two of the best coaches of all time — Jackson and Tex Winter.
I can see Jerry Krause just sitting back and laughing at that whole speech, thinking “See the fucking guy I had to put up with for years?”
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Sometimes you want to see a guy give an awesomely stupid speech.
Like Rickey’s HOF speech which was so lame and blah would have been great with some 3rd person ranting or some such.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
but there is a "me"!
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
You want a hot bat
In your two hole?
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2009 1:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 5 recs
HL, you made that sound so dirty.
/LOLed my ass off.
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Oct 10, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
easy there buddy...
haha
I have a good feeling about this - Ben Crenshaw, in a press conference on the night of Sept. 25, 1999. The American Ryder Cup team was down 4 points and came back and won the following day. It was, and still is, the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
Let's get it together boys, and let's shock the world!
Even if you are hit, you can still fight back
That’s not just bull shit either. The kind of man that I want in my command is just like the lieutenant in Libya, who, with a Luger against his chest, jerked off his helmet, swept the gun aside with one hand, and busted the hell out of the Kraut with his helmet. Then he jumped on the gun and went out and killed another German before they knew what the hell was coming off. And, all of that time, this man had a bullet through a lung. There was a real man!
If we’re going down, let’s go down like this
^sorry to compare athletes to soldiers, I know it can bee seen as disrespectful
^^sorry to compare the dodgers to nazis, they’re not quite that bad
"We will fight them on tj\he ground, " We will fight them in the air"
Uh! Uh! we seem to be having some problems there.
Screw off PD.....
Leave our BOOG alone.
AVENGE BOOG!
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
aw man, why'd you have to do that.
the damn media has leached off Boog all year long. he’s too nice to shove them off. f’in press.
AVENGE!!!
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
I can see that happening.
Is something going to go their way tonight? Granted, they deserve ever so much blame…but still. SOMETHING has to go right tonight, right?
by mattisnotfrench on Oct 10, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
the way our offense has been
that’s entirely possible.
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
great article, chuck
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions
lineups per Bernie
Schumaker 4
Ludwick 9
Pujols 3
Holliday 7
Rasmus 8
Molina 2
DeRosa 4
Ryan 6
Pineiro 1
Furcal 6
Kemp 8
Ethier 9
Ramirez 7
Loney 3
Blake 4
Belliard 4
Martin 2
Padilla 1
maybe Tony's listening Chuck
We need to put a better hitter in the 2 hole – not Colby, I don’t like sticking our only 2 lefties right next to each other in the order — and get more runners on base in front of Albert and then get a hit or 2 behind him.
Raz can offer Holliday protection or at least another shot to drive in Albert after the IBB
Love it.
I’d switch DeRo and Yd, but other than that, I love it.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
luddy in the two hole?
brilliant
i guess tony realized that you want offense in front of albert and not defense
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
This confirms it. For 162 games, Tony was screwing with us
f’in LaRussa
"There's a lot of things we say that don't make sense to our viewers. Okay, primarily me." ~Al Hrabosky~
by YesWeOquendo on Oct 10, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
now
to switch dero and yadi and switch holliday and albert and we’re golden
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
yep
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
You mean DeRo is playing 5?
I have a good feeling about this - Ben Crenshaw, in a press conference on the night of Sept. 25, 1999. The American Ryder Cup team was down 4 points and came back and won the following day. It was, and still is, the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
Let's get it together boys, and let's shock the world!
When the chips...
are down, it’s Rasmus over Ankiel. 80% of this board didn’t believe it. LaRussa plays the best guys in October.
And thank god Ryan is finally moved down.
The beard is back!
This is true, and it makes me fucking ecstatically happy.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
According to BJ Rains and FSMW tweets
Carp will start tomorrow’s game should we win today
I have a good feeling about this - Ben Crenshaw, in a press conference on the night of Sept. 25, 1999. The American Ryder Cup team was down 4 points and came back and won the following day. It was, and still is, the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
Let's get it together boys, and let's shock the world!
hmm...
no likey…. Better Carp on full rest with Wainwrighti in the pen for Game 5 and let Smoltz take Game 4
I think he’s letting his loyalty get the best of him. He wants to give Carp a do-over.
The beard is back!
No, he wants his horse in the gate......
5 innings of Carp is better than 5 innings from anyone on our staff not named Wagonmaker. Nothing to do with do over. Just because Carp has never done it before (start on short rest) doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.
I’ll take Door #3 Chuck.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
TLR via Leach
“If we were playing on Monday Game 5, we wouldn’t do it,” La Russa said. “Because then you’d have to pitch him and Adam both [on short rest]. But … there is an off day Monday and Adam will be fully rested. It’s an edge that you play. It’s fair to say that we’re always careful with our pitching, and careful with Chris, and we’ll be extra careful. [We just want him to pitch] as hard as he can, as long as he can. If that’s five innings, six innings, fine. Whatever he’s got, it helps us compete in that game.”
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
cc sabbathia
the brewers pitching c.c. sabbathia on short rest last year pretty much ruined him for the post season. carp is hardly as, well, robust as c.c. i don’t think this is a good idea when you could use a smoltz/lohse combo.
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
The Brewers abused CC
down the stretch, this has not been done to Carp. We’re talking about one time here, not every other start since Sept. 1.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
agreed
i agree that they abused c.c. but carp didn’t look sharp last game and i’d hate to have him get injured again.
i’m just being a sissy, i know.
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Sissy Boy!
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I'm always wary of guys that wear pink shirts.
Or that have limp rag handshakes.
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Oct 10, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
they pitched C.C. on short rest nearly every freaking start
we are asking him to do it once.
He’s a salty veteran, he can handle it! :)
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
he's a salty veteran
with a history of season ending arm injuries.
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
this is Chris Carpenter we’re talking about. How many serious injuries has he had in the last five years?
These are the kind of Carp
things that we just don’t talk about.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
FLAGS FLY FOREVER!!!!!
Remember, that’s what everyone said when we traded the Walrus for 3 months of Matt FlyballintheBallsiday.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Also....the fact that Carp isn't as "robust"
as CC is not a bad thing IMO>
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
short rest always makes me extremely nervous
I think, with our backs to the wall, and seeing how Carp’s previous outing was so uncharacteristic, that maybe this one time it’ll be OK (provided we win tonight knock on wood haha), as long as Tony has the quick hook. If Carp looks as iffy as he did in Game 1, yank him and go with Smoltz/Lohse. If you only get three innings out of Carp, so be it.
but we are talking about tony
tony has a ridiculous warrior complex with his pitchers.
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
But Carp is
a ridiculous warrior
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
by RiverRat on Oct 10, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If this is the case
then Smoltz should be the first righty out of the pen tonight. Sorry Hawk, Mac, and Boggsy, but I’m going with the guy who’s been there just this one time.
"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.
Except for the nonsense about guy that’s been there.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Well
all things being equal, and I think that’s the case with those other three guys in terms of how good they are right now when compared to Smoltz, I’ll take the guy who’s been in tight spots before. If I thought Boggs, Mac, and Hawk were heads and shoulders better than Smoltz I’d take any of them first, I just don’t believe that to be the case.
"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 just want smoltz because he's more predictable than the youngsters and more talented than Franklin.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I think Tim Lincecum is more predictable than Vincente Padilla or Oliver Perez.
Despite the fact that he is much less veteranish.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
So, like Carlos Zambrano or Carlos Marmol are probably better than Smoltz (debatable but let's go with it, right?)
I’d rather have Smoltz, because those guys are also prone to flying off the handle and giving up 6 run innings. On the other hand, Ryan Franklin is pretty much guaranteed to go out there and throw ten 88 MPH cutters at the outside edge in every AB, but I just don’t want to see his face because he couldn’t get a K to save his firstborn son.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
If this is to be our "Feel Good, Optimistic Thread",
Then here it goes: I still believe in Mat Holliday. For all the scathing things that have been said over the past two days, I still believe in him. As Danup said 980 times out of a 1000, he makes that catch. This just happened to be one of the 20 that he didn’t. He picked a damn bad time to do it but, c’est la vie. I can’t speak as to what he saw, cuz I’m not him. None of us are. It’s easy to say a high-schooler could have caught it, maybe not. If you had to look into the lights and pick out a white ball in the lights mixed with all those goddamned white towels, you might have dropped it, too. I’m just glad that it didn’t carry farther and bust him in the face, cuz then we get Dick in LF. No thanks.
I have great faith in Joel. I have faith that he will channel his inner Christy and will throw that beautiful sinker and the Dodgers will beat it into the ground and Boog and Skip will gobble them up.
We have done something in this series that we haven’t done all season long…we have hit lefties. Not just hit them, HIT them. The problem is that we hit them right at people, but this is an improvement. And we aren’t talking about replacement level hacks. Maybe not the Phillies lefties, but not hacks.
I have faith in our bullpen, just not Franklin as closer or KMac in general. I would rather see Sauce and Smoltz come in as the de facto closers. Smoltz cuz he knows what to do and how to do it, and Sauce, I would have Yadi set up on the inner half and tell Sauce to throw that ball as hard as he can right in on their hands. Saw that friggin bat off at the handle. It’s either him or Stab.
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Oct 10, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions
for the love on pinata
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
that picture cheers me up immensely.
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
Off to Busch!
Lets do this!
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
Enjoy Fritz.
Also, FYI….if this ends badly, I’m blaming you.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
question
someone, possibly spants, posted that the birds have about a 15% chance (1:7 odds) of winning this series, down 0-2. we are the vegas favorite today with joel, and I have to believe that in a game 4 at home with carp toeing the rubber we would also be the favorite, as well as a game 5 in lala with waino. a poker “buddy”, a loud-mouth who seemingly lives for and is powered by schadenfreud, allowed me to goad him (with my somewhat mock assurances that the birds would rally for the series victory) into a 1000 dollar bet at 15-1 odds on the series. as implied, this was calculated on my part, and I am satisfied with this gamble. just curious, if anyone knows, where did that 15% figure come from?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
According to my calculations...
if we have a 50% of winning each of the next three games, then there is a 12.5% of taking the series. But I think we are decent favorites in all three. If we have a:
55% of winning each game, then we have a 16.6667% of winning the series
58% of winning each game, then we have a 19.5% of winning the series
60% of winning each game, then we have a 21.6% of winning the series
In any case, 15-1 odds is stupendous assuming you can pay the mortgage.
The beard is back!
Home team probs
If you assume home team has a 60% chance in each game, the Cardinal 3 game sweep probability is
.6 × .6 × .4 = .144
www.mpgillusion.com
I posted that we are about 7:1,
although it’s more like 7.5 to one or 15:2 that we will win according to .6 .6 .5 that I imagined (could easily be higher or lower depending on how bad you think Padilla sucks and how much Jo-el figures to regress, but if I was betting I’d say it’s better than .6 on game 1, worse than .6 on game 2, and better than even with Waino in game 5). I’d say you got very good value there since BP has us almost at 5:1.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
vegas betting line tonight
is about -160 in favor of STL. Which I think is kind of crazy.
Strangely, I can’t find updated series odds anywhere. You’d think if you can bet on which team will hit the first home run, that you’d be able to bet on the good guys making a ridiculous comeback…
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
That's not that crazy.
It’s vincente padilla, after all.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
and, uh, "hi guys in the truck"?
check out the cardinals home page right now… “Cards put money on Pineiro to keep them afloat”.
Of all the strange titles for game 3.
Screenshot-ed in case they change it: link
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
Let me get this straight
You have a friend that can afford to pay you $15,000 in cash if he loses this bet, AND gave you double the stated odds of said event happening? A sucker truly is born every minute…
If this guy works in finance, please let me know for what bank or fund so I can stay far, FAR away from investing any of my money there.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
he is not a friend
but a stereotypical guy who acquired his money the old-fashioned way. he will draw it out if it comes to that but eventually pay up as the bet was made at the poker table in front of all. that is an afterthought to him, however, as he sees no chance of losing, literally. for me, dropping 1000 would hurt, but not nearly as much as the loss.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Line up--me likey
Schu 2B, Lud RF, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Rasmus CF, Molina C, DeRosa 3B, Ryan SS, Pineiro P.
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
fellas
if this is the last game of the season, at least it’s been entertaining. But three in a row against the Dodgers isn’t out of the question; we know the team is capable of it cause we did it once this year already.
One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s much cooler here in KC than it is in STL. I wonder if there’ll be one of those notorious Midwest temperature swings during the game, and what (if any) effect that’ll have on the game. I would suspect the cooler it is, the more successful Pineiro will be @ keeping batted balls down.
My haiku for today:
Dodgers have won two.
Cards have their backs to the wall
Beat the damn Dodgers.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
by RiverRat on Oct 10, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Mine?
We’re back from the beach,
with all of our matching towels.
No rock LOBsters, please.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
My hope for tonight, in haiku form:
Jo-el, a contract
not inked, threw balls aplenty
many of them sinked
by mattyp on Oct 10, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
rec'd
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
i’ve just been sitting around all day waiting
by cardsfansouth on Oct 10, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
me too
5pm start time is weird to say the least
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey guys Im at the game
It’s like a funeral here nobody came early no energy I hope we can charge up and support this team. This city needs a win. I got my rally towel and a good feeling! Let’s do this!
by cardfan124 on Oct 10, 2009 4:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
warm up everyone's seats for them ;)
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
It's pains me that
the Cardinals didn’t realizes that Franklin has been pitching over his head. It’s so obvious!
Additionally, I think he would’ve continued to pitch over his head if not for the extension. Through interviews, Franklin conveys himself as emotional and thoughtful. He worries over things. Extending him probably put even more pressure on him than letting him earn his off-season contract.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
apparently smolts would have pitched the 10th
via espn. too bad we didn’t get there.
i’m hoping franklin can right the ship tonight.
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
smoltz, that is
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Oct 10, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
it pains me to realize
that Ludwick should’ve been batting second since game 1
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
One hour, guys!
Go watch some Hulu and get your Franklins!
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
I've got to watch the first
hour in our customer lounge……I am not happy at all about working right now.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
lol
i put the phoenix “twenty seconds till the last call” song on mp3 when i sat down with my coffee this morning. Just realized it’s been repeating for almost 3 hours…
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
I'm just rocking out to Queen
in honor of Jo-el (who looks a lot like Freddie Mercury when he’s got the mustache going)
Why are we not batting the pitcher 8th
and Molina or Ryan in the nine hole? I don’t get it, because that makes a lot more sense to me than to have either of those guys, especially Yadi, hitting in front of the pitcher’s spot.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
one of my pals who's in urban planning
is attending some High Speed Rail Association event…. 2 hours on train to stl!
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions
although I'd probably be 50 by the time any such train would exist
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess it is only 17 years from now
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
that guy has really weird teeth
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
gonna go watch @ a bar again
hopefully the frigging college football borg hasn’t completely monopolized the place and I can get at least one TV
well done Chuck, as usual
i had a horrible feeling Franky would be a big reason the Cards didn’t play deep into October. now those fears are confirmed. i just can’t believe Tony didn’t learn his lesson in 06. we’ve got the best pitcher who’s ever pitched in the post season, and Tony refuses to use him. Smoltz should be the closer from here on out, if we need one. but no, no he won’t. ugh. i know Tony feels like you have to dance with the date you brung, but when she’s pasted out face first in the punch bowl, it’s time to find a new dance partner.
but if, and that’s a big IF. IF Pinata can keep the Dodgers off the score board for the first few innings, i think we have a chance tonight. but if they score early, it’s all she wrote.
give em hell gents.
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
relevant information
The Cardinals are undefeated when I wear the “RESPECT THE REDBIRDS STACHE SHIRT.”
I had a dream in which I glimpsed the boxscore for tonight’s game after 1 inning. A rather serious number presented itself in the bottom half.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Oct 10, 2009 5:39 PM EDT reply actions
Bob Gibson is probably my favorite baseball player
definitely top 3
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 10, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions
I’ve waffled, what with the factors both parties have mentioned. But put me in the start Carpenter in game 4 camp.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Oct 10, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions
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