Four things about Chris Carpenter and three about Ted Wilks
by DanUpBaby on Oct 2, 2009 5:13 AM EDT
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PrintIs this the best year Chris Carpenter's ever had? Well, no. But it's an interesting addition to his baseball card. Looking back on his career I was a little surprised to find that his new ERA crown is the first desirable black ink—he led the AL in earned runs in 2000—he's ever gotten, and when I was young and got most of my baseball and basketball information through completing sets from Topps et al that was usually the first thing I looked for. It's going to be a weird, gaudy year for people learning about him, thirty years down the line, on whatever futuristic version of Baseball Reference exists by then. (I wouldn't doubt Sean Foreman if he announced a flying car addition due next week.)
II.
Is there a less likely grand slam hitter on the Cardinals than Chris Carpenter? I'm including the relievers in this hypothetical, and, after some deliberation, Matt Pagnozzi. Since his injury, in particular, he's swung from a place at the junction of fear and indifference. Slap is too active a word—so too swat, wave, poke. The pitcher throws the ball in and occasionally, due to a confluence of weather patterns or a blinding glare off some fan's sunglasses, the bat has fallen off his shoulder. When he hits the ball, too, he rouses himself into the most perfunctory jog I have ever seen.
And I can't blame him; not only did he miss a month of starts due to a swing in anger this year, he just doesn't look like a guy who could hit a baseball. Look at the swing in the AP photo up there—it's a nice follow-through, but it is not just perspective that makes him look a little like a tall, gangly version of Brett Wallace. He's built like a pitcher, not a hitter.
But what a swing it was. I'll say this for Chris Carpenter—he is not the kind of bad-hitting pitcher who looks like a cartoon out there. The one that sticks in my mind is Al Leiter, whose swing had the bat gyrating in mid-air at the same time he was making wide MC Hammer crab-steps toward the pitcher. Carp's home run swing was dead silent all the way through—his feet stay totally planted, and he doesn't pretend to have some timing move with his hands. He just swings through on a fastball and barely manages to resist fist-pumping until he's past third base.
III.
Really, though; as great a comeback year as it is, and I can't think of many better than this one, I don't think there are many ways to claim he's been at his Very Best. Even discounting the matter of innings pitched—he just missed the league lead in 2005, with 241—he's replaced one strikeout per nine with an incredibly low home run rate, 0.3 per nine innings.
Like we said with Adam Wainwright's strand rate, that has happened, and since Brendan Ryan is (so far as I know) not responsible for the home run rate it has been a direct result of his pitching. But if I had to pick him at his best, at some hazy combination of results and presumable true talent level, it wouldn't be here. I'd rather have the strikeouts.
That said, the Cy Young Love Triangle has come full circle:
Carpenter clinched the ERA title with five shutout innings Thursday at Coors Field — and hit a grand slam, too. That was enough to convince Lincecum, who said the Cy Young should go to the Cardinals' ace.
"I'd like to see Carpenter because of the way he came back and put up some crazy numbers," Lincecum said.
I, personally, would be fine with Chris Carpenter winning the actual Come Back and Put Up Some Crazy Numbers of the Year Award, but at the same time I have never won a Cy Young Award, so what do I know? Lincecum (and Wainwright, for that matter) have just pitched too many innings, innings that both theoretically and, this season, literally are filled by replacement level pitchers when Chris Carpenter misses those starts. But I won't deny that Carp's numbers are crazy. 17-4? Who does that, aside from Ted "Cork" Wilks?
IV.
Here's what I wrote for the Maple Street annual some time in February: "If he pitches 20 times, that's 20 times the Cardinals don't trot out Mitch Boggs. If he doesn't, he doesn't." Chris Carpenter had shoulder problems last year. He's 34 years old. Before all the awards and wins he was a mediocre pitcher for six solid years, and then he missed a year due to some other arm problems. If he had gone 12-8 with an ERA under four I would have considered this year an unqualified success. If he had made 12 good starts and had generalized arm problems the rest of the year I wouldn't have been stunned.
But 193 innings from which the Cardinals had no business expecting above-average production were filled, instead, by a guy who was as good as any pitcher in baseball. His stuff seemed better than it was before the layoff; his fastball is two miles an hour faster than it was in 2005, and his curveball and a newly integrated slider seem ready to appear in any count, at any point in or out of the strike zone. He still pitches with the same blank mastery of the zone; he still throws for the outside corner like most pitchers do for the outside. He might have beaten the crap out of Ryan Ludwick.
Yesterday he drove in six runs. This is a good year.
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To me Carpenter
having such a outstanding comeback year is THE reason we are going to the playoffs.
Without Carpenter our rotation would have been really shakey other than Adam and I would say we would have at least 9 less wins without him and would right now be in a dog fight with the Cubs to see who is going to the playoffs.
Carp being Carp (for almost the full year) is right there next to Albert being the team’s MVP and is the reason we won the Central and are heading to October baseball. Without him I think we would be seeing the last Cardinals game of the year this Sunday.
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
I forgot to add
That I think having Carp going out there and being the ACE that he is was a HUGE factor in Wainwright having the year he has had. Adam fed off of Carp’s VERY strong comeback season and it has in many ways helped him have his (Adam’s) potential Cy Young Award winning season.
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
To me Carpenter
having such a outstanding comeback year is THE reason we are going to the playoffs.
In a way, I think I kinda disagree – we might, in our most optimistic of daydreams about the forthcoming season back in the spring, have hoped that Carp might be more-or-less fit, get near to 200 innings, and be the dominant pitcher he was last time he was fit. It seemed, at the time, a pretty slim chance but there WAS at least a chance that if he stayed healthy he could be as good as he had been in the past, and most of us had him pegged to pitch maybe 100+ innings with maybe a <4 FIP, which’d probably be good for 2 wins or so.
The one thing that no-one, nowhere could even have dreamt might happen in their wildest subconscious, was Joel Pineiro turning, in one season, from replacement-level laughing stock to the 8th best pitcher in the NL, having a massive career year in the process and producing as much value in one year as he had in the previous 5 seasons combined. In many ways, for me, that bolt from the blue has been the one outlier that’s really put us over the top.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Oct 2, 2009 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions
and no one saw the man stew coming. no one.
the other reason why one probably shouldn’t tempt the GOB.
"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
Pineiro has been a big piece too
And really, I don’t think we make it without either of them .Pineiro pitched line a number 2 pitcher while being our number 3 guy. That was huge.
But there is a reason why we go to the playoffs when Chris Carpenter is healthy. And we sit and home when he is hurt.
With Wellemeyer being attrocious,
the health and effectiveness of Carp, Wainwright (who only made 20 starts and threw 132 innings last season), and Pineiro (who had a 5.15 ERA/4.17 FIP over a mere 148.2 innings last season) have been the keys to our success, because even the New Look Lineup has not been that consistently good.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I always forget about Wainwright's 2008.
It doesn’t seem like he should be 27 either but this is the first year he’s been both durable and excellent. He’s been excellent as a reliever but I refuse to call any reliever durable and he’s been durable in 2007 but not quite excellent.
If he continues to pitch at 80-90% of what he’s done this year, his contract extension is going to be a huge bargain.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
Wagonmaker's contract is the anti-Lohse.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
The anti +1 movement
gave way to the hollow rec movement.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
remember these recs, if at all
not as violent swings-and-misses, but only as the hollow recs, the stuffed recs.
"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 2, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I long for the days of the
feather in the cap movement. I think I;d be much more motivated to be clever if I knew there was a potential hat feather for me involved.
by mattyp on Oct 2, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
you use hats?
"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 AM a little surprised that - maybe because
He’s had a few bad games recently – so many people have been discounting what joel has done. For most of the year, he was pitching better than adam. Not until adam’s ridiculous late july-august tear did he really pitch better.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Oct 2, 2009 11:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Without Carp's season
Mo probably (almost certainly) doesn’t go out and get Holliday, DeRosa, Lugo, and/or Smoltz either. The Cards are sellers by then.
Healthy, effective Carp + A.D.A.M. + Pujols = all in.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Oct 2, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A very good point.
You don’t know how long it might last (knock on wood), so you’d better double-down on a healthy Carp when you have him.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
interesting reading as always
Just wanted to elaborate on one thing….
“If he pitches 20 times, that’s 20 times the Cardinals don’t trot out Mitch Boggs. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t.”
….
But 193 innings from which the Cardinals had no business expecting above-average production were filled, instead, by a guy who was as good as any pitcher in baseball.
It’s not just that Carp’s starts mean Boggs (or whoever) doesn’t start. Carp is averaging just shy of 7 IP per start. Boggs/Thompson/Welly are definitely not doing that. So that means Carp making (almost) a full year’s worth of starts means the bullpen innings are down.
In 2009 Cards starters have thrown 986 2/3, vs. 955 in 2008. The relievers have thrown 426, compared to 499 last year. So Carp hasn’t just made the rotation better, he’s helped keep the bullpen from getting overexposed (a major stumbling block last year and the year before), which I reckon keeps the team in the game in late inning situations more often.
Could we amend that preseason statement to reflect the reality of the season?
Because Carp pitched 20 times, the Cards didn’t trot out Todd Wellemeyer.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Extactly...remember 2007?
Where are the Cardinals with a healthy Carpenter and no 7-17 “effort” from Kip Wells
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Oct 2, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
OT from last thread
Is anyone alarmed that Colby Rasmus is being socialized into adult behavior by Brendan Ryan?
"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
Hmmm, guess I'll have to read the game thread
I’m clueless as usual.
Not really
I’m sure most of the players still have a little bit of the high schooler still in them. Boog definitely has a lot of the kid left and it is in full display nearly every night (yet tempered enough to take care of business). I think Rasmus may feel more comfortable around Brendan because of it. I remember Boog and Colby doing superstitious hijinks during an extra-inning game earlier this year.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
I can't believe it
every time I hear that he is almost 30. Good for him, I’m only 24 and pretty much already completely disillusioned, depressed, and cynical towards the world. Guess that might be different if I were a professional ahtlete, though.
I googled Brendan Ryan to check his age (I thought we was 27)
and the second recommended search after “brendan ryan cardinals” is…
wait for it…
“brendan ryan girlfriend”
LOL!!!!11
(He is 27, btw)
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
"we" should be "he"
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
*all* ballplayers will google up "___'s girlfriend" on the first page.
every one of them. try it.
"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
Rick Ankiel must be a special case
rick ankiel injury (sigh)
rick ankiel stats
rick ankiel throw from outfield (FTW!)
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Chris Carpenter
stats
google cash (what is that?)
cardinals
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Colby Rasmus
stats
espn
jersey
This doesn’t seem to be working as you said it would (SSS, I know), which lends credence to my theory that lots of girls must be trying to find out if Brendan Ryan has a girlfriend—which I still find hilarious.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Okay, one more
Jason LaRue (yeah, I know not many people will be inquiring about his availablility)
sausage race (AHHHAHAHA ha ha hahah aaa…)
mustache
baseball
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
I think it's funny that mustache is the second.
It should be first, but I guess nearly getting trampled by the sausage race is pretty epic.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Okay, I found one that fits with your pattern
Skip Schumaker’s first recommended search is “wife.”
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
That's because she's hot according to boys right?
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I am confused by your reply.
Did you get SBN-ed?
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
No.
Skip’s wife is hot so boys look her up more than him. Probably also girls but that’s why it’s first because it’s combined.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Sorry--comprehension fail on my part
That does makes sense, and is entirely possible.
But I think it’s funnier (and fits better with the VEB meme) if it comes up first because women want to know if he’s available.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Hmm.
She does look pretty good for having just popped out a baby
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
I didn't see this...
can you throw a link up Y2S?
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
no link, just a general observation.
andi_k may have a longer list of instances.
"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 think it's fitting, and I agree with Solanus below.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
or above, as it were
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
aye, twas more tongue-in-cheek than anything.
do you have an extensive list of instances?
"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 was thinking...but I'm at work so I have to be careful about obviously dicking around
I can’t think of too many specific instances—just a general observation that Colby really likes Brendan, and Brendan seems to have taken him under his wing.
The only things I can think of are the handshake and Colby texting Boog so much during his appearance on the postgame show at the Aqua Bar that Brendan said something about it to Pat Parris.
When I am able to reflect deeply on the subject without looking over my shoulder to ward off nosy coworkers, I will give an updated report if I can think of anything else.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Dan sharing a taxi with them was a hilarious image.
"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 bet it was a hyper-chatfest between Boog and Dan
You know, it really was
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
check out what I found.
you’ll sniffle.
http://mets.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=2&c=649099
"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 2, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ohh. I love it.
I had forgotten about the bachelor party story. I vaguely remember hearing about that when he got called up.
- sniffle *
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
fantastic post.
"The outfield is deep and playing him straight-away, and the infield is the same, except first, second, third, and short are playing him to pull."
-Mike Shannon
Hmm
I’ve been away for a few days. What’s with SB Nation and these hover ads all the sudden? Sb Nation just lost serious cred with me. Nothing I hate worse than hovering ads that cover the text and scroll when you scroll.
Hey Ump!
Which I can do
And I can stop it with IE as well. It’s just the point that SB is turning into ad central. I guess you have to pay the bills though.
Hey Ump!
That's it...
we can only bitch so much for a free service.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I'm going to
guess that those ads that take over the site are cost-adjusted to the number of visitors the site gets, not the number of clicks the ad receives. I could be wrong, but if this is the case, then I have no qualms about blocking these ads. SB Nation would be getting paid regardless of whether I block the ads. If the ads are based on clicks, well, SB Nation is doing it wrong.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
I don't. You can adjust your filters, though I never have to.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
Firefox & ad blocker plus...
I see none of this.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
"Ballgate" Update
Arroyo has blamed his old ballcap (as pointed out by the VEB community, due to its gray underbill).
“The reason he’s saying that is because I’ve been using this hat all season,” Arroyo said. “That’s what happens from playing games in every other park, where there is so much mud on the balls. That black stuff comes off on my fingers every day.”
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
if that were the case
there should also be a ton of ‘dirt’ on the top of the bill. Anyone see any images of the top of his cap from that game?
I was watching, and the top of his bill WAS incredibly dirty.
I didn’t DVR the game, so I can’t pull up any photo, but I specifically remember the top being near-black.
Yo MLBPA, I'm really happy for you, and I'mma let you finish, but Albert is the most ridiculous player of all time. OF ALL TIME!
Rasmus Girl Move Over
6 is still a serious number. But now we got a new Cardinal Song Remix “I got a Feeling”
That is awful.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I hate them
and I hate how catchy the original is, and now I am going to have to listen to this all the time.
"I remember once talking to one guy on the Cardinals and asking him what Pujols was like as a teammate. He said something that’s really special, if you think about it. He said: "Albert is so good that you feel like you let him down when you screw up." I thought that had to be the ultimate line that could ever be said about a ballplayer. I build my baseball team around that ballplayer."
by Smokin Turkeys on Oct 2, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I am an unexplainable thirst for Fergie
I am a 16 year old girl and she is a 19 year old boy on a motorcycle
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
that is funny because she look like a boy dressed like a girl
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
It's perfectly normal
I’m sure plenty of totally straight women have girl crushes on, say for instance, Joan Jett because she is so bad-ass. I think this is probably sort of the same thing.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
I hate this.
…but it’s like a trainwreck.
Yo MLBPA, I'm really happy for you, and I'mma let you finish, but Albert is the most ridiculous player of all time. OF ALL TIME!
I'm starting to hate the world after hearing that
Wow. I can’t wait to see the cheesy Fox montage on tv.
Just read yesterday's 10@10 from the excellent Goold.
Number 10 struck me. Goold discusses the number of stadiums John Salvo has seen a major-league game in (57), and asks:
How many ballpark stamps do you have on your passport?
Why doesn’t MLB put out “Fan Passports” and allow for fans to have them stamped at stadiums with each stadium having its own, distinct stamp?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Good lord Babe Ruth has 119 extra base hits in a season
That’s just nuts.
That would be awesome.
I’d have to go back to some though. But I haven’t disliked any so I guess that wouldn’t be bad.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I tried doing this with baseball caps
I bought the home team’s hat in each stadium I visited. I think I got up to about 4 before I stopped.
So yea, I think this is a great idea.
by brackenthebox on Oct 2, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
recommend patenting the idea
6ly, you could have something valuable here.
I just save ticket stubs from concerts, ball games, etc.
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
I've said it before, and I'll say it again
(at the risk of annoying people): With Greinke, Lincecum, Hernandez, and Halladay all out of the playoffs, I think it’s pretty clear that the Cardinals have the two best starters on any of the postseason teams, AL or NL (and probably 3 of the top 10 or 15 with Jo-el). With the premium placed on great starting pitching in the postseason, I really think we’re in the best place of any playoff team going into the postseason (though the Yankees’ offense is SO good, and their pitching is so solid, that they’re in just as good of a place, probably).
at first I thought this was a homer-ism
and the yanks big three were better than the cards big 3….going by FIP it’s a different story…(I’ll do xFIP later considering the launch pad the yanks pitch in)
Sabathia 3.34
Burnett 4.31
Joba 4.84 = 12.49
Carp 2.77
ADAM 3.15
Pinata 3.22 = 9.14
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
:headshot
xFIP (HR/FB adjusted FIP) still puts the cards big 3 at an almost 3 run advantage:
Sabathia 3.89
Burnett 4.50
Joba 4.73 = 13.12
carp 3.47
ADAM 3.48
Pinata 3.27 = 10.22
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
i do wonder what that's worth....literally
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
I'm sure it's worth something,
but I can’t imagine it being worth a full 3 runs. I won’t claim that Pineiro has been better than Sabathia this year by any means, but I’d say he’s definitely at least as good, and probably better, than Burnett this year. Joba, frankly, isn’t even worth discussing; right now, he’s an average major league starter at best. Pettitte is (or should be) still their #3 guy, to me.
The plethora of groundballs produced by the cards' top 3
would seem to play well in Yankee Stadium. The ball flys out of there so easy to right, rick ankiel,if the GOB allowed the cards to play in the W.S., could easily be the W.S. MVP
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
so the general rule of thumb is, IIRC
1/2 run increase in ERA for moving from the NL to the AL, based on quality of competition, DH, etc. So for 3 individual ERA’s added together, it works out to about 1.5 runs per 3 games.
Alternatively, the average game the yankees have played has features 38.5 opposing batter PA’s this year. Using viva’s metrics, there would be an average of 115.6 PA’s over 3 games, or about 10*115.6/600 = 1.9 additional runs from competition quality.
We still come out on top, but it’s a lot closer. Of course, if we play the yankees, it’ll be top 4 pitchers… which is disadvantageous for us.
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
Baseball Prospectus did a (subscription required) piece on this very topic.
It’s entitled, “”http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9574" >Fab Fours; Picking the Best Playoff Rotations." They declare the Cardinals’ staff to be the best in the playoffs, using “”http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=538399" >Support Neutral Winning Percentage," which, as you can probably glean from its name, gauges pitchers independent of run support.
Here’s Goold’s summary of the piece from yesterday’s installment of the daily must-read 10@10:
8. Baseball Prospectus recently ran the numbers on the pitching staffs that are headed to the postseason, and the conclusion from the thinkers (a/k/a "spreadsheet guys"): The Cardinals are the best. (Subscription may be required, sorry.) Writes Christina Kahrl: "The Cardinals are the obvious class of the league, but the Phillies deserve to rank right with them when you consider that they’ll get to start a series with Cliff Lee and could elect to start (J.A. Happ) instead of (Pedro Martinez) or Joe Blanton." To arrive at this conclusion, BP uses some esoteric numbers that essentially drop the pitchers on an island and calculate how often they would win independent of run support. They call it Support-Neutral Winning Percentage (SNWP). The Cardinals, as a staff, have a .535 SNWP, edging the LA Dodgers .534 and Colorado’s .515. The article breaks down the number to the four probable postseason starters, and the Cardinals’ climb to .575, and No. 2 is Detroit .562. The trouble with the article is this: Pitching is not support neutral. Ask Carpenter. Ask Smoltz (pre-Wednesday). Cardinals may have the best playoff-bound pitching staff regardless of the support, which is swell. But support matters.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Link fail
Here’s the link to the Baseball Prospectus piece:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9574
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
The really exciting thing, to me,
about this is the fact that the article even states,
Admittedly, this exercise credits fourth starters overmuch—they’ll only ever start one game in any post-season series, after all.
Considering the fact that the Cards have what I would wager to be the biggest dropoff from 3rd starter to 4th starter of any of these teams (admittedly, this is just an educated guess, but I feel fairly confident in this assessment), this would seem to help the Cards’ case even more.
Doesn't that depend on how the previous series go(es)?
For instance, couldn’t a number 4 wind up starting twice in either the LCS or World Series if the LDS and/or LCS goes the maximum number of games?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
In theory, yes...
…but knowing that TLR is our manager, I would wager that even if every series goes the distance, he’d probably start either Waino or Carp on short rest in the NLCS, and then the other in the WS. (Unless I’ve done my math poorly, I believe that it’d only have to be one in each, yes?)
Not This Year
Even if the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series each go the distance there is no reason to start your #4 guy more than once in each series this year.
Also, if the Cards can get out of the NLDS in 4 games or less they can roll out Carpwright in the first 2 games of each series, even if the NLCS goes 7 games.
by Hal Laniers Pants on Oct 2, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
so just like all the other sports writers
he uses mainstream stats to prove his points when spreadsheet guys disagree and then vice versa? Excellent objective writing, sir.
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
whoops, am i thinking strauss?
They all blend in to me besides Posnanski
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
You are thinking of Strauss, or, maybe, Bernie.
Goold generally gives a well-rounded presentation, or links to pieces that use newer statistical approaches with a summary that doesn’t advocate or disagree with the new approach’s methods. Sort of an “I link; you decide” approach.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
your Posnanski mention prompted me
to reread his Musial article. Couldn’t find it on his site, but here it is posted on another site. Highly recommended read, one of my favorite baseball articles ever.
by mattyp on Oct 2, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That's a great piece.
Everyone should read it.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
HFS
was just reading the wikipedia article on Musial. After a sub-par 1959 season, he requested a pay CUT due to his performance. It wasn’t an empty gesture either—he was granted a $25,000 pay cut and he played for it, determined to prove that the previous season didn’t represent his true ability and resolute to earn his money like any other joe. I’m just in awe of this guy. Could you imagine any player today doing something like that? Stan really is in a league of his own.
Albert Pujols?
"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
Mark McGwire left millions on the table when he thought he could no longer play
But it seems like no one remembers that
by FlimtotheFlam on Oct 2, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Also not the same thing, but an act of integrity nonetheless.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
Big difference to me.
McGwire had millions already and was hurt. Let’s not start romanticizing these guys.
by Tom_Lawless_Bat_Flip on Oct 2, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
careful
people like to use the “well X amount is ‘enough’”. There are many many bankrupt athletes that strongly disagree with that sentiment.
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
I don't think there's anything romantic
in appreciating that he didn’t decide to take the money and sit.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
re: the steroids issue,
he kind of did. who knows if it’s hyperbole or not, but the quote is out there.
besides, mattyp only said one had to imagine it.
"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
...and it got me grounded
so no, stretch armstrong wasn’t awesome…he was an asshole who got me grounded
kids today
would put that on youtube and be internet famous
"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
yep!
but again, it’s not unimaginable. least, it’s not to me.
"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
Stretch Armstrong
Great memories from when I was 7. Weren’t there versions of Stretch where he could stretch even further than before?
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
Let’s not get carried away.
by Tom_Lawless_Bat_Flip on Oct 2, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
highly doubt it
and not a chance in hell he’d request a proportionate cut — 25,000 was 1/4th of Musial’s salary that year.
yeah, the union would never allow it these days
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
Um, of course your support matters
But pitcher’s cannot control their support. Why is this so hard for people to comprehend? I mean, seriously. Fucking hell…
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Oct 2, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually
Carp supported himself pretty well yesterday.
But I get your point!
by Hal Laniers Pants on Oct 2, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
What a moronic point.
BP tried to find the best rotation in the playoffs. Idiot sportswriter misses the entire point by bringing support into the conversation of best rotation.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
ode to Ted Wilks
It always make me feel good when an old timer that I remember is paid tribute and I remember Ted Wilks well. Especially from the 1949 season.
He was a hell of a relief pitcher. The equal of a premier closer of today if he had been used as a closer is used today.
Look at his stats for 1949. he appeared in 59 games but pitched 113 inning but was only credited for 9 saves, which means he pitched more than one inning in most of his appearances and was brought in into any close game in the late innings whether the team was ahead or not either to hold them or close them.
In 1951, he appeared in 65 games, pitched 100.2 innings but recorded only 13 saves. Of course there was no such stat as saves then, so these figures had to be created by computer after saves became a statistic later. I can only assume they are accurate.
Any way I have fond memories of Ted Wilks and the 1949 team because ’49 was the first year that I was able to listen to the Card games on The Game of the Day broadcasts on the old Mutual Radio Network.
The Cardinals and the Dodgers were hooked in a dogfight for the pennant that year and the network either had Cards or Dodgers games just about every day. Every day for the last couple of weeks of the season that the Cards would be on I would play sick and miss school or if I couldn’t convince my mom that I was gravely ill, I would head for the radio as soon as I hit the door home from school, but the "49 season only ended in heartbreak for me as the Cards lost by one game to the Dodgers on the last day of the season when they were beaten by Pittsburg, which were the doormat of the league while the Dodgers beat the Phillies.
I was devastated and the following day (Monday) at school I went into the Principals office and cried. He consoled me. He was a Card fan too. I only tell this to give credit to Ted Wilks. He pitched his heart out that last couple of weeks of the season. I don’t know if they make ‘em like that anymore.
by ridgesee on Oct 2, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Ted Wilks was called "The Cork"
…’cause he was the “stopper”!
"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
by The Ol Goaler on Oct 2, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Got a question to get out of the way before the playoffs
What the heck prompted the “(stab)” part of the Hawk call?
original nickname is The Knife
and I have to add that to the next glossary update… if I didn’t already.
"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
Nickname from VEB
or nickname friends/teammates gave him?
Thanks for the answer.
Chicago loses at sports. Sun rises in East.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Oct 2, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Were you watching on ESPN?
It was funny to see the couple of blue ‘W’ signs drop sheepishly as the news came in.
With that said, I hope they get the next one —Chicago can do it and do it well.
I once shot a man just to see him die...then I got distracted and missed it.
Crap. I wanted Chicago to get it.
But as long as Rio wins, I wont be disappointed. .
"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
Those of us in Chicago mostly didn't
It would turn into a cronyfest with our mayor.
it would also pump in incredible amount of jobs and money to your economy
which is why countries and cities fight over hosting them
You often hear that, but there's not much definitive proof that it's a net economic positive
Here’s one example of the counterargument (from yesterday’s morning edition).
The money quote:
“There has never been an Olympic Games that has made a profit,” says Robert Barney, director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies at the University of Western Ontario.
by brackenthebox on Oct 2, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is false, if you believe Mitt Romney.
"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
and who doesnt?
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
Where's the
“\sarcasm”?
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Oct 2, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
not true....
with the number of outside vendors and what not descending onto the city the local businesses do a whole lot less business than one might initially suspect…and we all know all the building contracts would just go to Daly’s friends anyway, so local contractors gain nothing as well.
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
Daly's friends live outside of Chicago? They aren't his constituents? Huh.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
ehh phrased that poorly
I meant the contracts will go to his cronies who will obviously scratch his back back. The honest contractors wouldn’t have gotten anything out of it.
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
As a former resident of "downstate" Illinois...
I’m glad Chicago didnt get it, because Chicago usually finds a way to pass on its burden to the rest of the state. At least Blago isnt the GUV anymore, he really would have stuck it to the “downstaters”.
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Oct 2, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
And as another downstater
I wish they would have, because I like cool things.
"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
I didn't realize South America has never had an Olympics before.
Kind of a no-brainer in hindsight.
"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
Except,
they are hosting the “summer” games during the South American “winter” season…
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
itll be october like austrailia probably
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Oct 2, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
mean temp in rio for jun-aug is 72
I think they’ll be fine
by brackenthebox on Oct 2, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Not a bad "winter," then, is it?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
HOLY CRAP!!
My wife just suprised me with tickets to tonights game!!!
Getting ready to head to St. Louis to see Wainwright win #20!!
It’s also my first game at the new Busch!! :) :) :) :) :)
Oh yeah it’s Ozzie Smith bobble head night!!!
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
You owe your wife a shit-ton of flowers my friend.
I think it’s pretty established that if Wainwright wins #20 tonight, he wins the Cy Young.
by cloistermaximus on Oct 2, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
are you in Kirksville?
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
I am
Skipping class, because it was too cold to get out of bed. Some drunk asshole (me) left all his windows open last night..
I have a nephew who goes to school up there
Apparently it’s Missouri’s Siberia.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Oct 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
i'm pretty sure maryville has it beat
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Oct 2, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
oh screw you
what I would give to be back at Busch on an October night, downing beers and watching the birds. So jealous, but have a great time. I do have free tickets to the NLCS if we make it though. I’d have to fly in for each game on the day of and then fly back that night, however. Still kinda thinking about doing it…
I have tickets to tonight's game....
But something has come up and I can’t go, so sadly I won’t get a chance to see Wainwright pitch for win number 20. If anybody is interested they are up on stubhub. Coca-cola scoreboard patio, 2 tickets.
If anybody wants to buy them from VEB let me know and I’ll knock down the price to 70.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Any takers?
It’d be a shame to let these tickets rot
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Any takers?
It’d be a shame to let these tickets rot
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
SBNATION is indeed not working well today
Sorry for the double post, I only clicked it once. :(
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Wish I could. Got some other plans, though.
"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
That would be the deal
But I just got an e-mail from stubhub that someone bought them. Sorry.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
hey uh...
is there a reason SBN has erased one of the overflows?
http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2009/8/17/992928/game-120-overflow
there might be more missing.
"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
it's happening!
"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
there are some other overflow threads that don't seem to exist
no time to look for them, though… and yeah, my memory’s not great. stuff seems to be Haren’d when I check “explore full archives”.
"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
Cool pic of Albert destroying a ball.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
by RiverRat on Oct 2, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
the ball is melting into the barrell....
ELIMINATED
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
More than that.
Scott Rovak posted it on his blog in late August.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
eh, was being a bit facetious there
its just been awhile since the Mang has crushed a home run ball. Hopefully he’s saving it up for the playoffs
anybody care to use their telestrator to draw the straight line from his shoulder to his knee?
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
The laws of physics at work.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
i was told there would be no physics.
"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
I was told there would be no laws
looks like we’re both out of luck
by brackenthebox on Oct 2, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
My hard-sphere-centric view of the world has been shattered
by one Albert Pujols
by brackenthebox on Oct 2, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
So has Tony's.
Yo MLBPA, I'm really happy for you, and I'mma let you finish, but Albert is the most ridiculous player of all time. OF ALL TIME!
is he levitating the ball with his mind?
has he been taking glare lessons from Lugo?
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
is he levitating the ball with his mind?
has he been taking glare lessons from Lugo?
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
sbnation not working well today
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That is 6ly terrifying. 6ly.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Oct 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
intense, isn't it?
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
dang
kinda feel sorry for the ball there
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I just cant stop
looking at that pic, its a perfect swing!
c'mon guys
Albert Pujols is ridiculous
"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
Why didn't you eliminate the ball?
I did.
Oh. Carry on.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Oct 2, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
looking at tie breakers
let’s see if I have my week-end rooting interests right:
obviously the best outcome for us is to sweep the Brewers and have both the Dodgers and Phillies tank. But it seems to me, as of Friday morning, our ‘advance on Poland’ target [forgive the awful metaphor] is the Dodgers.
BECAUSE we have the tie breaker advantage over LA and not over Phil. We have to make up TWO games over either of those clubs to do us any good re home field advantage in the first round, and it seems more likely (as far as getting ‘help’) that the Rockies will punish the Dodgers than Florida will help us out against the Phils.
So, tonight, I’m thinking the obvious # 1 is to beat Milw, but priority # 2 is to root for the Roks in LA. Yes/no?
The Rockies are tied with us,
2 GB of LA for the NL’s best record. So, if the Rockies beat LA out, and claim the NL’s best record, they would push LA to the Wild Card and, as of this posting, we would start the postseason in Denver with the Wild Card Dodgers flying to face the second-best record Phillies. If you want to play at home, you should cheer against the Dodgers and the Phillies, but, for us to make up 2 games, we’d have to go 2-1 and the Dodgers 1-2, which tie us with both the Dodgers and the Rockies. If the Dodgers go 0-3 and we go 3-0, we are again tied with the Rockies. I’ve confused myself. Is this right?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
yes, I wasn't clear
I didn’t mean for the Rockies to sweep, just to win 2 of 3.
You are right, the Rockies have the tie-breaker advantage over us, and if indeed the worst scenario is to open in Denver, then we root for LA to win one.
I don't know who that guy is, but
I think the premise of that article, in true Joe Morgan fashion, is that Tony La Russa shouldn’t have written that book Men At Work.
Me, I’ll take the two pennants and the World Series championship he won on accident.
But his shirt is so gay!
"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
Holliday is an MVP?
what an odd article.
"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
Thought provoking even.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
Hmm...
the thought it provoked for me was “Drivel.”
That's not very funny, clever, or well-written.
And I’m as big a fan of the side-note parenthetical as the next VEBer. I don’t really understand any of his taunts, at Peter Gammons, at Billy Beane, at Tony La Russa. Apparently this individual forgot that the club’s de facto ace, Chris Carpenter missed the entire 2004 postseason or that Scott Rolen missed a significant portion of the 2005 season. At any rate, I firmly believe that, in the Wild Card era, it is basically this: Get to October and hope that luck is on your side. That said, I’ve often wonder how one accounts for the epic collapses of TLR-managed clubs: 1988, 1990, 2004.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
it's written by people who *only* watch the postseason, IMO.
and a postseason dictated by FOX.
"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
lets not forget blowing the 3-1 lead in the 96 NLCS
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Oct 2, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
wow
if that’s the same Charles Pierce that I’m thinking of, he’s a terrific writer….but that was just horseshit.
Of course, these were the McGwire-Canseco A’s, so it’s possible that neither team ever got the dosages quite right. (The Oakland Triple-A affiliate should have relocated to Medellin during that period.) But since moving his law degree and (as far as I know) his ballet school T-shirt to St. Louis, La Russa holds the distinction of bringing into the 2004 World Series against the Red Sox perhaps the least well-prepared 105-win team in baseball history.
Look, the 2004 WS was an epic choke job, but it’s not quite fair to bash Tony’s Oakland team for roids and then turn around and not notice that that 105-win team lost to David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Besides, while all of the national media was fixated on the (admittedly gripping) NY-BOS ALCS in 04, they completely missed the equally insane HOU-STL NLCS going on at the same time.
(Pierce, according to his Wiki entry, is from Massachusetts….)
As I noted above,
The 2004 club lost its best starter for the playoffs, yet still managed to beat an otherworldly Houston club in the NLCS. What’s more, that Boston team had it going, they won 8 consecutive games as they came back vs. NY and then swept us.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
how many times in postseason history has a team won eight freaking games in a row? That shit never happens.
People just always forget how good Houston was that year. Clemens, Oswalt, Pettitte, Berkman, Biggio, Beltran, Bagwell, Kent, Lidge while he was still invincible….that was a hell of a team.
Didnt the Reds go
undefeated in the postseason one year?
No excuses. No injuries. No "better luck next time"
Do it, and shut the f—- up.
-Reggie Jackson
Um...
The White Sox won “eight freakin games in a row” the very next postseason.
by Hal Laniers Pants on Oct 2, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
this just in: Chris Carpenter will f* your sh* up
This seems like just the post for such a compilation. Probably incomplete… inquire for links and references.
Word or phrase you use too often?
(cannot be printed on a family blog)
- Only Jason LaRue is man enough to hang out with Chris Carpenter.
- During the pre-season starter’s meeting, each pitcher was asked for his goal for the season. Chris Carpenter said: ’We’re going to be on the same page from Day 1.’ We’re going to go out and watch sides. We’re going to do things the way we used to do it. We’re going to do things as a group. The St. Louis starters have been a team-within-the-team all season long.
- Any starter who misses a teammate’s side session can expect to pay a price.
- During a hot tub soak, Chris Carpenter listened to Skip Schumaker’s doubts about switching to second base, and proceeded to call him his “All-Star second baseman”. This season, Schumaker has been brought in as a defensive substitution at second base.
- Around May, Chris Carpenter detected a flaw in Adam Wainwright’s mechanics. Adam Wainwright is now a contender in the NL Cy Young race.
- Chris Carpenter only went along with the mustache conspiracy on the condition that he won the next start.
- Chris Carpenter is so intense during his starts that he shows few emotions besides smoldering rage.
- Only Adam Wainwright is cyborg enough to imitate Chris Carpenter’s rare shows of emotion… and live.
- Once, Chris Carpenter applied a tag at first base, did not get the call, and ran back to the mound to prevent himself from taking out the first base umpire.
- Minutes later, Yadi had to restrain him when the ump eyeballed him walking back to the dugout. Carp was snapping: “Are you looking at me? Why are you looking at me?”
- Chris Carpenter does not tolerate foolishness from the media.
- Chris Carpenter is annoyed when his teammates take too much time tossing the ball around between batters.
- Chris Carpenter is annoyed by ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ for the same reason.
- Once, Homer Bailey caused a delay of game as he strolled out from the bullpen. Carpenter was not happy. Minutes later, an Albert Pujols line drive met up with Homer Bailey.
- Once, a fan fell out of the stands and Albert Pujols had to save his neck, and Chris Carpenter was annoyed by that delay.
- Mark DeRosa was leery of his reception in St. Louis because the last time he saw Chris Carpenter, he was screaming at him from the mound during an interleague game.
- Chris Carpenter entertained the notion of giving up his number to John Smoltz. John Smoltz took another number.
- John Smoltz credits Chris Carpenter for identifying some of his mechanical flaws and pitch-tipping.
- Chris Carpenter watched Shelby Miller throw from Dave Duncan’s traditional spot in the pitching coach’s absence. He also began working with Mitchell Boggs on his delivery.
- Once, Chris Carpenter had a four minute half-inning. Minutes later, he hit a grand slam to end this station-to-station nonsense.
- Chris Carpenter called that shot.
- Last but not least: we don’t talk about Chris Carpenter.
Unless it’s a certain situation late when you can lose the game or change the game I’m going to come after you. I’m not wasting pitches. I’m trying to get strike one, strike two, strike three as fast as I can, or get you to put the ball in play and let my guys work behind me. When you do that it puts (the defense) on the offensive. You’ve got to make a decision what you’re going to do. That’s when it gets fun.
"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 2, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 18 recs
Chris Carpenter has no need to strike men out.
Opposing batters are so intimidated by him that they simply wet their pants, declare themselves out, and say, “Thank you, Mr. Carpenter, may I have another?”
Meanwhile, Chris Carpenter is annoyed with their lack of manliness.
delay of game.
next batter is screwed.
"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
Could only imagine how pissed he'd have
been yesterday if he were on the mound when the ump got hurt, considering how angry he already was.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
blessing in disguise
got him back in the right mindset.
"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
and a rec for you
"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
Cy Carp
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
About the Cy....
I’m worried about Carp and A.D.A.M. stealing votes from eachother, thus allowing Timmeh to take it from the both of them. Any thoughts?
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
little Timmy deserves it anyway
"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
why just cause he is on crutches?
he will get over that polio some day
by FlimtotheFlam on Oct 2, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
GOB bless us everyone
"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
my thought is that any of the three deserve it
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Carp vs. Chuck Norris
Draw, or one outright obliterates the other?
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
can we throw Hurricane Ditka into the mix as well
by brackenthebox on Oct 2, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
carp would bean norris, it'd bounce of chuck's chest, hurling back to carp
carp would catch it, bean him again….and they embark on this Sisyphean battle for the rest of time
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Eventually Carpenter would get angry that there was such a delay in his quest for obliteration that....
(Blank)
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
:( Boog.
"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
Poor Boog
Maybe he could then get on Carp’s good side by handing him his trusty luggage, courtesy of Ryan Ludwick, and then proceed to pretend Chuck Norris is a Kip Wells fastball.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Oct 2, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
speaking of Boog
it’s AMAZING how much changes in a couple of years. 2008.
(Worth noting that among the reasons Boog’s taken this long are the injuries.)
"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
another gem from lboros
who is clearly our master in all things. from oct. 2007:
i don’t see anybody predicting a gold glove for this kid, but he’s clearly a step quicker than eckstein and has a vastly stronger arm. he can get to a ball in the hole and throw a man out, something eck can’t do anymore. i think a convervative estimate is that ryan is 10 runs better than eck with the glove — and if that’s true, that wipes out most of the 11-run advantage we’re projecting for eckstein with the bat. it makes the players pretty much dead even in terms of bottom-line run contribution.
i know many of you will find that conclusion hard to swallow. and i’ll acknowledge there’s a high degree of short-term risk involved; ryan has a much higher chance than eckstein of being utterly useless in 2008, a complete washout. so based on eckstein’s provenness, i’ll artibtrarily assign him a 2-game advantage over ryan for 2008. but carry it one year further down the road, to 2009 — which player is more likely to be utterly useless that year, 27-year-old brendan ryan or 34-year-old david eckstein?
"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
Are you saying that a 0.5 WAR as a 2Bman is "worthless?"
WAR does not factor in grit, because grit is intangible.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
reply to me or lboros?
"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
Not really either.
I suppose I could say, “By quoting to LB’s rhetorical question about who is going to be worthless come 2009, are you suggesting that David Eckstein, with his 0.5 WAR, a year removed from a 0.1 WAR, is ‘worthless?’” It was meant as a fairly tongue-in-cheek comment as the sentiment expressed by LB I wholeheartedly agreed with at the time. In fact, I even advocated for Ryan to be installed as the starting SS heading into last season.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
ah. i'm slow.
line of the thread was mostly that VEBers were having these back-and-forths one or two years before the events of this season. they’re not going to be 100% right, but as projections go, it’s pretty interesting which bits are spot on, which gambles paid off and which washed out.
"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
My take on SS pre-2008
I don’t like self-quoting or self-linking, but here is a window into my past mindset. It was more anti-Cesar Izturis in nature, a signing that I never liked.
TLR seems poised to cut Jimenez, which is perfectly acceptable, yet [to] name Izturis the starting SS despite being blown out of the water this spring offensively by Brendan Ryan (even if Ryan hasn’t exactly set the world on fire) while Ryan also at least matches Izturis with the glove, an area in which Izturis is supposed to be far superior to Ryan. We can get into discussions about the Bo Hart-esque small sample size and how that contributed to his ‘07 success as well as how he might be exposed as an everyday SS in ’08. That does not bely the fact that an exposed Ryan would be as good as an Izturis playing to his full potential as evidenced by 2,751 career Major League AB. It is also worth mentioning that Ryan is significantly cheaper with Izturis slated to make $2.85M this year. Does anyone really believe that Ryan can’t put up a .295 OBP for a little more than 1/3 the cost of Izturis?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Chris Carpenter is a daggum monster.
It’s been awesome watching him pitch in St. Louis. I just wish he’d been healthy in 2007 and 2008. If only.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Oct 2, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
nice list Yadi
rec’d.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
And reply fail.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
(blame the site)
"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
I was getting sick of it scattered all over the place.
(the other reason for quote-dumping is the P-D regularly stuffs its articles into the difficult-to-find pay archive, so I like to clip full quotes as often as possible. for discussion and editorial purposes, of course.)
also, I’d fanpost this, except I’m terrified there’s something I missed, at which point you’ll find me luggaged tomorrow morning.
"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
You should FP this though,
at least when it’s complete, because this thread could be deleted at any time….
/F’n SBN
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
no kidding
I’m already going back in and saving some of my FPs to my drive, including the comments. Just in case.
"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 do care
I forgot about it. It is Sweden right?
by FlimtotheFlam on Oct 2, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
yessir....on Versus right now
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
is this regular season or preseason/exhibition
whatever the hell they call it in hockey. 1-1 now, by the way
and 1-1 now.....
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
sob....down 1-2
they give up a short handed goal
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
**channel changed**
i swear I’ve never watched a game where the blues looked good, though I admit I watch pretty infrequently
If anyone has Direct TV you can get NHL Center Ice for free
My buddy just did this.
- Call 1-800-DIRECTV
- After you verify your phone number say, “CANCEL SERVICE”
- Once you are transfered to a rep, POLITELY tell them you are a huge hockey fan and you’re very disappointed by losing Versus.
- They should offer it to you it via credit
by FlimtotheFlam on Oct 2, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
3-3!
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
that’s a 4-3 lead folks!
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Did anyone see...
… that the unfortunately and possibly redundantly named Dick Pole was fired as the Reds’ pitching coach.
Is it possible that he’s the first guy to be fired for not adequately rubbing the opposition’s balls?
by punditmoi on Oct 2, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
wow
"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 doubt it.
Probably because of the rotation’s poor season. Not that Volquez’s injury was his fault, but Cueto fell off as the year went by and Arroyo was not good.
I’m sorry, but the whole “Ballgate” drama makes me giggle because we’re posting things like:
Is it possible that he’s the first guy to be fired for not adequately rubbing the opposition’s balls?
And I know that we are talking about baseballs used in a sports competition, but it’s funny.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Oct 2, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely
As a controversy, it’s pretty lame, but it’s irresistible from the standpoint that it taps into my inner adolescent. The 12-year old boy in me keeps smirking over the fact that it’s all about balls, their relative slickness and whether or not they were properly “rubbed up”. Add to that a key player named Dick Pole and it’s just too much.
I grew this for the playoffs, just to be sure. What do you think?
Free Milton
by all4tookie on Oct 2, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
need to spell "STL"
"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
you've got an octopus on yr face
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Oct 2, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Today's Lineup!
Schumaker – 2B
Rasmus – CF
Pujols – 1B
Holliday – LF
Ludwick – RF
Glaus – 3B
Molina – C
Ryan – SS
Wainwright -P
Yo MLBPA, I'm really happy for you, and I'mma let you finish, but Albert is the most ridiculous player of all time. OF ALL TIME!
That's a strong lineup.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
glaus getting hot would be pretty sweet.
Ryan really needs to bat ninth, though. Pujols needs 5-10 RBI’s in the next 3 games.
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
I agree with Boog at 9
said it a couple weeks ago..And a hot Santa could be enough to make this team a monster in the playoffs.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
PIXIE DUST
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions
pegacorns?
"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
With Bacon Wings.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
the internet is a weird place
I'm like a polygon, I'm edgy.
"OHHHHH!!!!!!! IT TASTES. SO. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!"
-BOOOOOOOOG
by slu on Oct 2, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
too late for me
that cooler weather rolling in…. makes me think Santa has presents for us.
even though Santa also seems to have a gut.
"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 is a lot of delicious barbecue in Memphis
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Glaus sucks
He is terrible and will never be healthy and definitely won’t produce in the playoffs and probably doesn’t even remember how to use a baseball glove he’s been out so long so yeah whatever forget about that guy, right GOBs?
Yes, yes, just like Franli sucks
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
that's what the other teams are saying. yep. yep.
"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
but we can say he's.... intriguing. right?
"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 think that's safe.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
Bonderman suspended 3 games. other twinkie / kitty fall-out
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4526873
too bad it wasn’t into post-season. that’d learn ’em.
"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
sooooo. Boras.
uttered the words “no-trade clause” with regard to Matt Holliday.
What are we thinking?
…tell us how you really feel.
"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
imho if a man gives you a nice home town discount
because your grassroots pie baking campaign worked so well, it would be just plain rude to go and trade him after.
On the other hand, if he holds out for every last penny, he gets traded to NY after 3-4 years.
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
Well said.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
From Goold:
a new addition to the outfield wall:
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
Very nice.
Except, why is the secondary MLB color gold?
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
IMO, because otherwise there would be too much white
and black lettering, even on a white background, doesn’t show up as well from a distance as white lettering.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
it's their "autumn" colors
I’m still meh about it.
"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
oh. I didn't notice that.
Well, now you know how I feel about white lettering from a design standpoint.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
does anyone have the commercial yet?
Because… it just occurred to me that it was probably the last airing on FSM. (advantage because it was at the same time. or was an adv.)
"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
DVRing--need to teach self how to get from DVR to video file.
Inexperienced with digital editing—no laptop.
Taking digital media class in January—will probably buy a laptop because my degree program is web application-heavy. Can you wait that long? : )
Will figure this out eventually—long-term goal
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
yeah... I'm not recording anything
everything I’ve recorded this year has been a losing game. so I stopped.
"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
Once I figure it out, I will get it posted somewhere. Fanshot, maybe
But you may have to wait a while.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
The Cat is in the Truck! The Cat! Is in! The Truck!
"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
lol.
"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'll drink to that.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
you left the basement?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
to be fair....
I own the basement, and the rest of the house for that matter. I like to watch baseball in my home theater room with the surround sound way up and center channel (dan & al) way down.
so why haven't you invited the rest of VEB over
hmmmmmm?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I’m not sure the wife would appreciate me inviting a college-age lady over for watching baseball while she’s out.
What if she's there?
And I make friends with her?
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I knew there was something 6ly wrong with you
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I think I haven't had a good beer.
My dad says that makes a difference. I’ve only had cheap frat beer.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
and there is the problem.
if it’s less then 6$ a six pack, it probably sucks.
(of course, if you like Keystone, you like Keystome. Whatever makes you happy.)
"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
It does make a difference.
Try a Belgian abbey-style ale; I think you will like it.
The Bud Light of Belgian-styled ales is New Belgium Trippel (makers of Fat Tire). It’s a good place to start if you want to branch out from Keystone, etc.
New Belgium Trippel is like my Bud Light—my go-to beer. Never fails me. Also, it’s almost 7%, which makes me happy.
"I think those scorers must be from Mars or Venus. Or maybe they're just from that book." --Mike Shannon, 7/09/2009
"POOL TEMPERATURES FUCK YEAH"--tgreenfield, The September 10th-11th VEB Off-Topic Explosion
nonsense
it’s pretty meaningful to A.D.A.M.
"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
It should also be intriguing for Santa.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
intriiiigggguiiinnngggg
[tents fingers]
"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
Wierd mind meld.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR Passan
i'm in rare form.
either that, or I can blame ghostrider for not being around.
"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 think that's Freese petting the dog.
"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
Is McGwire's 62nd HR
Joe Buck’s best call? I’m inclined to say yes.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
I hadn't see extended highlights of that night in a while
The media has put those clips in a closet for a while b/c of PEDs. But that was really a magical night. I love how all of the Cubs players were congratulating him on his way around the basepaths.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
man, some of the names at home plate greeting him
Ordaz, Kelly, and Aybar. Wow! Sometimes you need a visual to remind you just how sucky that team was
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I am partial to the "that's a World Series winner" call
just because
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I normally don't either
but I liked that one because I thought he was both paying respect to his dad, and reminding us that Jack was still a part of all this.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Colby, Luddy, and Yadi are the only guys above .300 vs. Looper.
oh, and both Greenes.
have fun, Adam!
"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
Fulton NY
Danup, you probably won’t read this after 300 plus replies but I have some interesting (to me anyway) information about your dadup’s and Wilk’s home town and nearby environs. First of all I believe that Fulton was the eventual home of a woman named Elizabeth Cotton. She was, among other things, a folk/blues singer and guitar player who wrote the folk song stapel, “Freight Train” made popular by Peter Paul and Mary and sung by a gazillion other “folk singers”. She was also (I know this because I also bang away on the guitar) the inventor of a particular style of guitar finger picking appropriately called “Cotton Picking” which has been very influential amongst mostly white folk singers to this day.
I know some of this because I’m from a town not too far away from Fulton called Hamilton New York. It’s a very small college town and it is the home town of a baseball player whose name is similar to Ted Wilks. His name was “Hooks Wiltse” and he was quite a good pitcher for the Giants in the early part of the century. He won over 160 games in his career but his most dramatic moment in baseball came as a first base coach. He was, in fact, the first base coach when Fred Merkle pulled his infamous “boner”. You’ll remember that Merkle was the runner at first base who was vilified for not going all the way and touching second base when a teammate drove in another teammate with the run that would have won the NL pennant on the last day of the season. The run had crossed the plate but the ball was retrieved by the Dodgers in the outfield amidst a crowd of celebrating Giant’s fans. It was delivered to second base and, since it was a force play, Merkle was out and the run didn’t count. The game couldn’t be resumed so a playoff was held and the Giants lost. Merkle was forever cast as the dumbie who lost the pennant. Fact is though that the first base coach should have exhorted him to go to second and touch the bag but Hooks Wiltse failed him. This piece of history was unearthed by a doctor in my home town and presented at the town’s bicentennial in 1995. Yep we were founded in 1795. For the most part nothing historical has happened there in 214 years and I doubt that many of the inhabitants were interested in this event. It is, though, one of the more famous events in baseball history and it wouldn’t have happened but for the failure of one of it’s favorite sons to do his job.
Fulton, New York
“City with a future” indeed. Those signs came down a long time ago.
When did dadup leave Fulton? I drive past it every day to and from work. I have worked with many people from Fulton in the past 25 years, and my sister has lived there for about ten years. I never knew about the Cardinals connection, tho.
Oh, and Hooks Wiltse is on the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame. And Hamilton is a beautiful little town – been to many Colgate/Clarkson hockey games there.
"Yeah, you can write, you can feel, you can think. Whaddaya want, a medal?" - Paul Westerberg
he'll be very impressed that I managed to start a fulton conversation on a blog about the cardinals
My dad’s whole family is still up there, so I’ve been around a lot. I don’t think I knew what irony was yet but when I was seven or eight and we went up there I already found those signs hilarious.
Thanks Edbird
Didn’t know that Hooks was memorialized in ‘cuse. You’re right that Hamilton’s a beautiful town but that whole area is pretty. I’ve lived in Minnesota for many years and miss those rolling hills of New York. My father taught at Colgate and I had a cousin who went to Clarkson. I’m not a hockey fan but I know that’s been a good rivalry over the years. I spent many years there and here in Minnesota straining to catch the Cardinals’ games on KMOX. Thank God now for satellite radio. Danup, next time you’re out there you should cruise the foothills of the Adirondacks. Great country!!!!
too depressing to post elsewhere... Saturday baseball
12:10pm MIL vs STL, Villanueva vs. Lohse (KSDK)
3:10 pm KC vs MIN, Greinke vs. Blackburn (FOX)
6:05 pm CWS vs DET F. Garcia vs. Figaro (MLBN)
9:10pm COL vs LAD, De La Rosa vs. Kershaw (MLBN)
"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
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