Baseball's back, baby!
by chuckb on Feb 26, 2009 7:00 AM EST
218 comments
Still, all in all, it was a good day. Skip had 2 hits. Rasmus went 3 for 6 w/ a double and a walk (I count walks in my statements about them reaching base – Rasmus had 2 hits plus a walk in 6 PAs. That’s 3 for 6 in my book). Ankiel was 3 for 4 w/ a double on what Goold called a generous call by the official scorer. Blake Hawksworth and Royce Ring pitched well. Yes, I know it’s just 1 exhibition game but it’s good to have signs of optimism.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, jd is legend has our first power rankings up and he made much of my heresy (or is it blasphemy) at ranking the Cards just 17th – lowest among us all. Apparently the rest of my ranking sucked as well since my average error was the greatest. Maybe it’s just that no one else appreciates the true genius of my rankings. Whatever it is, I really don’t want to be known as the resident pessimist but, in all honesty, I just don’t have a lot of confidence in the Cards’ starting rotation. If they don’t pitch well, we’re going to be in trouble. (I also don’t have a good feeling about Glaus’ ability to stay healthy this year – contract year or not.)
So I wanted to take a look at the division’s starting rotations and their projected WAR. To help me calculate WAR, I used Sky Kalkman’s (of BtB fame) WAR spreadsheet. I used BP’s projected starting rotations from their depth chart page and took the average of the PECOTA and CHONE projections for each pitcher’s ERA and IP.
The results:
| Team | WAR |
|---|---|
| Cubs | 13.8 |
| Brewers | 9.4 |
| Cards | 9.9 |
| Reds | 11.1 |
| Astros | 7.7 |
| Pirates | 7.6 |
0 recs |
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Reds
I can’t see that team overcoming their team defense, its quite horrid. Phillips Votto and Bruce rate as solid defenders, but the left side of their infield is the worst in the majors. They’ll make up some runs in the outfield with Dunn and Griffey gone but Taveras hasn’t been an asset for a few years.
Encarnacion -12.6UZR/150
Keppinger -23.7UZR/150
Taveras -6UZR/150 last year and -9.7 in ’07
CHONE has them for 82 wins next year, is there a defensive component involved in the projection or is it just pitching and batting runs?
by Bullet Bob Gibson on Feb 26, 2009 8:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
?
I still haven’t figured out why everyone thinks Figgins is such a projection Aficionado
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
defensive configurations ARE included
the article “power rankings and more” on his site anaheim angels all the way, provides a link to the projected standings.
by ball in play on Feb 26, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
they will improve at SS
Alex Gonzalez was out all last year with a knee injury. His defense is much better than Keppinger’s, and keppinger played through a lot of pain last year, so even Keppinger is probably better than keppinger was last year.
The Reds could have a great team, if everything goes right, or they could lose 100 games. So much depends on Harang and their young talent…
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Harang
was so bad last year. He’s been so good and so durable leading up to that. I agree that a lot will depend on how he holds up – and how well Volquez, Cueto, Bruce, etc. perform in their second seasons.
by Toddius on Feb 26, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Volquez can be scary good
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
ManRam
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Feb 26, 2009 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
how's their bullpen?
it could be cubs, us, and reds this season, hopefully brewers will bow out
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 27, 2009 1:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Other Observations
I am down in South Florida for Spring Training (perhaps getting laid-off was indeed a blessing in disguise!). A few other observations:
- I was not as high on Hawksworth’s appearance as Goold or the box score suggested. But luckily our rotation is set, so it doesn’t matter right? <\sarcasm>
- Mather looked uncomfortable at third, especially in making throws to first while warming up before the start of each inning. But the one time he was tested, he performed fine.
- Ankiel, Schu, and Rasmus all stroked the ball well – they looked very comfortable at the plate. Between them and Ludwick and Pujols (and even Greene?), it would be fun to watch how many extra-base hits this team could amass in 2009.
The high-point of the day for me was getting to see all the prospects in person for the first time. Tyler Greene just looks like a baseball player, whatever that means. I always imagined he was a scrawny little guy, but quite the opposite is true. Low-point for me was an ill-timed trip to the bathroom that resulted in me missing The Hitman’s spring training debut. Here’s to hoping he’s in the lineup today (I’m off to Fort Lauderdale now to catch today’s game).
by Fred Head on Feb 26, 2009 9:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Enjoy the game
hope you find a job you love soon.
by Toddius on Feb 26, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd really like to know your impression of Schu
at the keystone, especially if you watched warmups. It’s difficult to put much faith into to TLR’s accolades, and I haven’t heard any other first-hand impressions. Any input would be much appreciated!
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
by cardzfanbub on Feb 26, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think I'm ok
with take a HOF manager’s accolades. No offense to Fred Head, but I think TLR might know a little bit more about the game.
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What!?!
TLR doesn’t know his ass from his elbow. I played little league (led league in homers!), pony league, high school, and even pitched a little D1 ball. You mean to tell me that TLR, Dave Duncan, and MO (augmented with a full staff of scouts and number crunchers that have access to much better info and more advanced metrics than me) know more baseball?
I call bullshit.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Feb 26, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, but you have McGee genes
so you don’t count
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The only problem with TLR
is that EVERYTHING he says has a hidden intent. He will hide the bad and show the good if he wants or highlight the bad and hide the good if he is trying to railroad a player. So while TLR may know Baseball I don’t always trust what he says because what he says isn’t always what he sees.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rolen, AK, etc.
I think he even at times did that with Edmonds and others. If he wants to get a point across he will point out negatives, sit them for “being lazy” yet play other people doing the same things.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rolen and AK
Rolen has had problems in other places for one thing and AK sucked here. If I was TLR I’d have been fed up with AK as well. For 7 years we’ve been complaining about AK and now he is the second coming of Oquendo or Ozzie. Get a grip.
by UNCDubya on Feb 26, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Did I ever say he was the second coming?
I was just saying that he railroaded them, he defended Juan E yet pointed out every fault in AK at the end. That is all I was saying. Also AK wasn’t here for all 7 of the last 7 years so I am not sure who from STL was complaining about his Angels days.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Steve Kline, Ray King, Anthony Reyes, Colby Rasmus (if he plays like he did last year in ST and fails to make the opening day roster this season – good will with Colby now could go a long way down the road).
by Jumsy on Feb 26, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Colby
has done nothing at the MLB level, keep that in mind please. And I think you are placing erroneous blame in most cases regarding the other players.
by UNCDubya on Feb 26, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
but he did a ton
last spring, and that’s the point Jumsy made.
by chuckb on Feb 26, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
is TLR infallible?
I agree with a lot of what LaRussa does, but there seems to be people that think he can do no wrong. And while it is nice that you think we are placing erroneous blame, how is that any different than some of us acknowledging the fact that he slips up at times? It is opinion, no?
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
and....BEN SHEETS!!! **
**not that BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment, just BEN SHEETS!!!
(BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment)
by mattyfrommo on Feb 26, 2009 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't say that he's infallible
But I think there are some of us in this community that use any and every opportunity to take swipes at Tony. If I think that he’s made a poor decision I’ll point that out, but the constant bitching and whining about decisions that get made by one of the most successful managers in the history of the game, who sees these players perform on an everyday basis and has shown to be a pretty fair judge of talent over the course of his career is a little unsettling. We can crunch numbers all day, but we don’t have an educated eye that can see potential like a trained baseball mind can, nor do we understand what motivates professional players to perform at a high level. La Russa and Duncan do both of those things at a very high level.
There’s a number of players listed above….seems to me just about all of the veterans have had their best seasons under Tony and Dave, and haven’t been worth much more than a bag of baseballs since they left — Kline and King being prime examples of this. Say what you want about Anthony Reyes, but I think he’s been living off of 1 World Series start for a long time, and I don’t think that he’s going to ever truly be any better than a #5 starter, and he hasn’t show that he’s even that good yet. As far as Rasmus goes, Tony’s said very encouraging things about him throughout the offseason and I think he’ll get every chance to win the job. However, the club has the most crowded outfield in terms of talent in all of baseball, even without Skip Schumaker in the mix, and I have a hard time passing up the the thought of a healthy outfield featuring Duncan, Ankiel, and Ludwick. How many teams in the big leagues can say that they have three 30 HR, .500+ slugging players in their outfield?
I feel like some of us don’t know how good we have it, and have had it since 1980. Whitey, Torre, and LaRussa…that’s a pretty damn good run of managers there.
There are only a couple of other managers in the history of the game with a track record like his. I’m sure that John McGraw and Connie Mack weren’t infallible either — but they’re the only two guys ahead of Tony on the wins list, and he has a shot at catching McGraw if he decides he wants to extend his career for another 4 years or so.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on Feb 27, 2009 10:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with that entire comment
I do think he has slipped a bit though. He is a great manager, but his reluctance to bench an injured player these last few years is infuriating.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
and....BEN SHEETS!!! **
**not that BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment, just BEN SHEETS!!!
(BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment)
by mattyfrommo on Feb 27, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It has nothing to do with his knowledge of baseball...
it’s whether or not he’s telling you what he sees or what he wants to see.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
by cardzfanbub on Feb 26, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
that
and whether he’s telling you what he sees, or what he thinks will encourage the player and excite the fan base.
Fred Head can say “Skip sucks at second”. TLR can’t. I trust Fred Head a lot more than I trust TLR, even if TLR’s innate skill-evaluating skill level is higher.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
HOF manager’s accolades
Nobody disputes that TLR can judge ability, it’s his statements to the press that come into question. The dude is an habitual propagandist.
by jjray on Feb 26, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Skip Schumaker is the cult of personality at 2nd base
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Somebody mentioned in yesterday's thread that Wellemeyer reads physics books
This is unsurprising to me, and I’ll explain why. In physics and chemistry, an ion is a certain kind of atom or molecule. Two well-known types of ions are the anion and the cation. Less well-known is the Tadallion, which is a rare particle with unexpected (and unexplainable, according to some theorists) electric starting potential. While the Tadallion is observable in nature, there is no consensus on whether it is positive or negative, and disagreement between empirical data and various predictive mathematical models furthers the confusion.
by mattybobo on Feb 26, 2009 9:40 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
the acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
actually the acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s/s
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
by Eckstreem on Feb 26, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
bah
I think what Regalia meant was 9.8m/s^2 he just forgot the ^ but you knew what he meant ;)
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yes, thank you.
It is the only thing I remember from my 1 semester of being an engineering major.
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
gravity accelerates?
cool.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no it is a constant acceleration gravity itself does not change
Chuck Norris hit a Home Run
with his beard
by bearcatcardfan on Feb 27, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
gravity can't change itself
but amauri marti could change gravity, if he was subject to the law of gravity. which he isn’t.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 27, 2009 12:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i thought The Tadallion was an alien?
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
ManRam
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Feb 26, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wha?
Fire Joe Morgan was a him?
That just blows my mind.
by arch support on Feb 26, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't it
A number of hollywood & TV writers, and a couple of their friends? I think Ken Tremendous was one of the main writers on The Office.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Feb 26, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Ken Tremendous was one of the main writers for "The Office
by dcfcblues on Feb 26, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And made cameos as Dwight's brother "Moz"
He’s also married to Regis Philbin’s daugther.
(Its totally not creepy that I know that much about him)
by Ray Lankford on Feb 26, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dwight's cousin...
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
by nomar34 on Feb 26, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and it is Mose...
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
by nomar34 on Feb 26, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Feb 26, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Im getting giddy
Ank Ras Lud is going to be a lot of fun to watch if thats the starting OF. Plus, if Mather-Greene-Skip-Mang start in the IF, the team will be fast, athletic, and young. 1st to 3rd all season.
by njnick on Feb 26, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Offensively
that lineup is a juggernaut – I can see 6 guys who’ve a decent shot at OPSing .800+ and 2 guys (Yadi and Greene) who should exceed .750.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Feb 26, 2009 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup?
Skip
Rasmus
Pujols
Ankiel
Ludwick
Mather
Molina
Pitcher
Greene
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pujols, Skip, Ankiel & Greene aren't traveling
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
or were you talking for the season?
by STLRegalia on Feb 26, 2009 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Season
I was talking about during the season, since that is what the discussion was about.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
For now I'm taking Tony at his word about batting Rasmus #9...
even if it doesn’t make sense. Greene’s OBP is pretty horrendous making me think Tony will put him 6th or 7th (I prefer 7th cause he can move over quicker on a sac bunt than Yadi). We don’t really have a guy that fits TLR’s 9 hitter role (decent OBP, low SLG, some speed)…the one caveat is that I have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes right down to it.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
by cardzfanbub on Feb 26, 2009 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting output from Baseball Musing
So in looking at the analysis I got from Baseball Musing the 7th best lineup (5.642 runs/game) is:
Pujols, Mather, Molina, Ludwick, Schumaker, Ankiel, Greene, Pitcher, Rasmus
Move Pujols to 3rd, Molina to 5th and Schumaker to 1st and you get a lineup TLR might consider.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Huh...
I’m not sure I see him batting Yadi ahead of Ank (maybe against a lefty?), but I see your point.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
by cardzfanbub on Feb 26, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I should have emphasised "might"
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think we do...
We don’t really have a guy that fits TLR’s 9 hitter role (decent OBP, low SLG, some speed)
Don’t we? His name is Skippy Shoemaker.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Feb 26, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If only
He could bat 9th and 1st, though that may cause some problems.
by ajo080s on Feb 26, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Except Skip projects far better than Colby in both OBP and SLG.
.374, .457
.325, .425
That’s Skips 3 yr average against righties and Colby’s projection. Colby doesn’t have bad splits but Skip does. I cannot project Colby against righties only and Skip’s projections are way low due to his ineffectiveness against lefties.
by ajo080s on Feb 26, 2009 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup analysis
I ran this through the lineup analysis tool:
http://www.baseballmusings.com/cgi-bin/LineupAnalysis.py?Player0=Schumaker&OBA0=.359&Slug0=.406&Player1=Rasmus&OBA1=.346&Slug1=.396&Player2=Pujols&OBA2=.462&Slug2=.653&Player3=Ankiel&OBA3=.337&Slug3=.506&Player4=Ludwick&OBA4=.375&Slug4=.591&Player5=Mather&OBA5=.370&Slug5=.570&Player6=Molina&OBA6=.349&Slug6=.392&Player7=Pitcher&OBA7=.203&Slug7=.298&Player8=Greene&OBA8=.260&Slug8=.339&Model=0
That lineup gives 5.4 runs per game, our best lineup is Pujols, Mather, Ludwick, Schumaker, Greene, Ankiel, Pitcher, Molina
For this tool I used an average of Mather’s MLB and AAA stats and Colby’s AAA stats, all from 2008, for the pitcher I averaged Lohse, Wainer, Welley and Piniero
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i think you left Raz out of the leadoff
on the lineup you listed…otherwise it thinks Mather and Schu are our best hitters…
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
by nomar34 on Feb 26, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had ras in the 2 slot
I also used his fairly bad 2008 AAA numbers
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ah I see it now
Rasmus should have been 3rd in the lineup I posted
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Edit Lineup
that should have read:
Pujols, Mather, Rasmus, Ludwick, Schumaker, Greene, Ankiel, Pitcher, Molina
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I started a fanpost about this very thing.
It really changes quite a bit between lefties and righties, as we have way more options than those listed above. Also, its tough to say about the younger players, none of their projections are very outstanding (mostly .750 ish SLG). The basic consensus to me is that when you formulate a lineup with our current roster, no matter really who you play, except for Duncan’s defense, we can create a lineup that scores 5-5.5 runs a game with decent speed and very good defense against either LHP or RHP. And we can really stack a lineup against righties!
by ajo080s on Feb 26, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But
Glaus will be in there when he comes back.
by saladdays on Feb 26, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes he probably will
But I was thinking opening day
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
projected team WAR for rotations
is how many players deep…….5, 7, ?
by ball in play on Feb 26, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Per a poster on cards talk
Today’s lineup vs. Baltimore, start time 12:05 p.m. CT:
1. 2B Joe Thurston
2. 3B Joe Mather
3. CF Colby Rasmus
4. RF Ryan Ludwick
5. 1B Chris Duncan
6. C Yadier Molina
7. DH Brian Barton
8. LF Jon Jay
9. SS Tyler Greene
Scheduled to pitch: Kyle Lohse (starter), Chris Perez, Brad Furnish, Ian Ostlund, Charlie Manning
Orioles:
1. 2B Brian Roberts
2. SS Cesar Izturis
3. RF Nick Markakis
4. 1B Aubrey Huff
5. 3B Melvin Mora
6. DH Craig Brazell
7. CF Justin Christian
8. C Chad Moeller
9. LF Nolan Reimold
Scheduled To Pitch: Danys Baez (starter), Matt Alberts, Chris Ray, Bob McCrory, Andy Mitchell, Alberto Castillo
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thurston 2b
Mather 3b
Rasmus cf
Ludwick rf
Duncan 1b
Molina c
Barton dh
Jay lf
T. Greene ss
Lohse p
by adiueordie on Feb 26, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Is it just me
or am I the only one that thinks our offense will be better than last year and will make up for our sort of mediocre (at worst) starting rotation?
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I think the offense will be about the same.
We lose Glaus for a month. I think Luddy will regress a bit. I hope I’m wrong, but I think Greene will dissapoint.
OTOH, if Ank is healthy all year, and Skippy can play 2b while Razzle shows his potential, they should help some.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
by Eckstreem on Feb 26, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Even Greene dissapointing
will be better than what we had last year
by saladdays on Feb 26, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not saying it will be the greatest offense in history
but the there’s definitely a lot of potential for it to be a run-scoring monster
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I really like our O this year. A lot.
by njnick on Feb 26, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I like to imagine Wallace being there and productive
Against righties you could potentially have:
Skip (.374,.457, .831)
Duncan (.377, .525, 902)
Pujols (.422, .617, .1.039)
Ludwick (.378,.581, . 959)
Wallace (.366, .489, .855)
Greene (.279, .424, 703)
Molina (.309, .345, .654)
Pitcher (.155, .175, .330)
Rasmus (.325, .425, .750)
That’s pretty fun 1-5. This is offense oriented only, nothing to say about Duncan vs. Rasmus D.
by ajo080s on Feb 26, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Great "quote" Chuck
I like the idea of a glove for the foot. Oddly enough Victor Martinez has been working on a prototype. I don’t think all the bugs have worked out yet, but it looks promising.
It didn’t take long for the king of quotes Ozzie Guillen (he inherited the tittle when Ricky Henderson retired) to give us a this one.
“I hope I die on the field,” he says. “I hope when I walk to change the pitcher, I drop dead and that’s it. I know my family would be so happy that it happened on the field. They wouldn’t feel bad because that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. You die on the field — good luck, get him out of here, next man.”
As long as it’s a heart attack and not, say, a deranged groundskeeper acting alone, that would be OK. To Guillen, it would be the perfect way to go out.
Guillen may think his family would be alright with that but he might want to talk to the family of John McSherry and the fans, many of them children, who watched the Umpire collapse in Cincinnati on opening day ‘96. For McSherry it was a weight problem that made many Umps have to rethink their own personal health. In that article concerns about his weight were commented on by a soon to be retired Cardinal middle infielder also named Ozzie. I usually enjoy Guillen’s colorful quotes but to me this one crossed a line. It’s only been 13 years, he was an active player at the time and should remember this tragedy. I hope someone reminds him of it and the insensitive nature of his gaff.
"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin
by That's a Winner on Feb 26, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Guillen is talking about himself
How is that insensitive?
I called myself an a$$hole today. I didn’t think about the guy who did same thing in his cube 12 years ago.
by sdrone on Feb 26, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I respectively disagree
To follow your analogy a longtime coworker died at the company picnic playing a pick-up football game with some of the employees kids. Everyone morns, grief counselors are called in to help people deal with the sudden loss. Then someone who was working there at the time of the death 13 years later at the company Christmas party makes the statement that he wants to die the same way and he means it. That, for me, is beyond insensitive.
"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin
by That's a Winner on Feb 26, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
13 years later. seriously
No offense, but If he says “i want to die playing pickup football” I’d guess you’re the only one offended. Would you also be offended by someone saying “now that’s the way to go?”
Anyway. Not really sure why this is bugging me.
by sdrone on Feb 26, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Probably be the only one, but
I agree with you, on both comments…despite the Carlin quote :-)
by phesto on Feb 26, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
C'mon it's a joke
Someone has died in every manner—-it’s a joke. It’s a joke. It’s a joke it’s a joke it’s a joke.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Feb 26, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you want to criticize Guillen for insensitivity,
what are you doing talking about this quote? How about taking aim at the slurs and insults and childish bullcrap otherwise?
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
by hazel on Feb 26, 2009 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Are you serious?
You want to talk to Ozzie Guillen about being insensitive? Why don’t you line up Bob Knight and Bill Parcells for some talks while you’re at it.
by Hal Lanier's Pants on Feb 26, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A tragedy?
One man dying is unfortunate. It’s no tragedy.
I didn’t even remember it until you mentioned it again. Lots of people die everywhere every day. Just because one was on a baseball field doesn’t make it a tragedy.
by rencelas on Feb 26, 2009 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
By Merriam-Webster's definition it may not be a tragedy
But I wouldn’t try and explain that to his family. To them it was probably just as usable a word as any for when a loved one dies. A family tragedy it was.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Feb 26, 2009 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Back to the original point
If I reference wanting to die in a hail of gunfire drinking straight from the $1500 bottle of Louis XIII cognac with a kilo of blow and multiple 25k “call girls” on the run from the cops for blowing up Wrigley field, should we apologize to the family of someone who died similarly? In fact I should probably also apologize to the hypothetical hookers by putting them in the line of gunfire.
Or was it not clear that Ozzie and I were being jokingly hyperbolic?
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Feb 26, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What effect does diving into first have?
I think one of the major issues that is often ignored in this debate is whether the slide ends at the bag or starts at the bag. If it ends at the bag, I can certainly see how that would take longer to reach the bag than running through it. However, if the runner dives and hits the bag right as he hits the ground, and then slides through the bag, would it make that much of a difference? Would it even slow him down, and not speed him up? I’m no physicist, but the ways I’m picturing sliding through the bag as detrimental are that 1) you have to account for the extra time it takes to get your upper body down to the ground and 2) you stop pumping your feet, and thus are “coasting” (for lack of a better term) to the bag. The second point is alot like Michael Phelps’ very close win against Cavic (?). That last stroke pushed him past the “coasting” Cavic.
For those of you who are physics experts, can you tell me if I’m getting the idea here?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not a physics expert
nor do I play one on TV. I also did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Therefore I will not answer your question. However, I will point out that, sometimes, in the event of an off-line throw to the firstbaseman, diving into the bag is much more effective at avoiding a tag than going through standing up.
by Hal Lanier's Pants on Feb 26, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed - Helps avoid the tag
The dive is only helpful in avoiding the tag from the 1st baseman or pitcher covering. In those instances, it can often help However, if there is no danger of a tag, it is a complete waste. Do Olympic sprinters dive over the line? Nope- because it is proven not to be the best way.
by southsidepat on Feb 26, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
they also wear short-shorts
and would be diving on cinders. Ow.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not to mention...
If and when you dive one would typically you take a horizontal leap usually consisting of more power than just a step on a run and that would speed up your path toward the bag… Your length of the body over the ground would increase as well… Although the lengthening of the body and friction of the body on the ground would definitely slow you down. In college we posed the same question… a few of us on our team took a stop watch and timed ourselves and for the most part – if you slid correctly our times decreased (not by much)… our coach told us that the issue with sliding wasn’t so much speed but for every time you would have to go headfirst into a raised bag with a giant firstbaseman jumping to catch a ball would increase your chances of getting hurt. I wouldn’t want our players to slide headfirst all the time, but in dire cases (not spring-training) maybe it wouldn’t hurt to slide.
It's not what you do, It's who you do...
by pattimagee on Feb 26, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Please don't use the sprinter reference as a reason not to dive
Olympic sprinters don’t typically dive because it doesn’t matter when your hand crosses the line, it’s your torso. If it was your hand they would dive all the time.
In fact they do dive on occasion. You may want to ask Christian Smith of Oregon about it. He got to go to the Beijing Olympics this last year because he dove for the finish.
I will strongly disagree and say that diving for first is faster than running through. I would also not be a fan of doing so because it exposes you to a much greater injury risk of breaking your hand/fingers and getting stepped on. Sacrifice some speed but play it safe.
by birdo rojo on Feb 26, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I still have to disagree.
I happened to run track for 4 years in high school and coach the sport for an additional 6 years. I just so happened to run and coach the 800M. So, I’ve done a bit of reading and research, as well as attended camps and clinics, on the subject. The video quality and angle is such that you really can’t tell anything from it, but it was probably more of a case where the runner was diving/falling out of pure exhaustion. That is not uncommon in middle-distance races. Even though it is common, it is not the fastest way to get across the line. Besides, the 800M is a middle distance race; it is hardly the kind of all-out sprint I’m talking about. The 100M, or maybe the 200M are the only things comparable to a dash down the line to 1st base.
On both the 100M dash and the 90 foot run down the 1st baseline, physics just don’t back up the dive. I’m hardly an expert on the physics, but here is an expert’s take:
If you don’t want to follow the link, here’s the part that sums it all up, “On other bases you have to touch and the base and stay there. On first you don’t have to. There, running is faster…. Some major leaguers swear it’s faster to slide into first but the physics don’t back that up.”
Pat
by southsidepat on Feb 27, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm
Hard to disagree with the Wash U physics professor.
But man it just goes against everything that I feel. Personally, I qualified for the NCAA championships in the 110M hurdles my junior year due to a dive across the finish line.
I definitely ended up with some serious road rash and a sore shoulder but it was worth it.
Ah heck, who knows.
by birdo rojo on Feb 27, 2009 8:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Friction
Even the slightest slide generates more friction than running and thus starts to slow momentum. What a slide is good for, as Hal pointed out, is avoiding tags. The reason you slide into other bases is to avoid tags and because you can’t over run them. At first you can run full bore gaining speed the entire time past the bag, you can’t do that running into second. Once you begin the slide you begin to slow down or at least you stop gaining speed.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ahh, but he said dive and not slide.
That may be a bit different. I know sprinters are starting to do some sort of “dive” across the line now. That is a whole lot different than touching a target that is laying on the ground, but it does work.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
by Eckstreem on Feb 26, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Diving head first through the air...
is good enough for Superman, and he’s pretty fast.
by sluggerbird on Feb 26, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Comment about Skip diving
IMO, last year there was a perfect illustration of why Skip still dives despite coaches trying to convince him he shouldn’t. It is just what has already been mentioned here.
Don’t remember the game, but Skip was trying to beat out a grounder, and for some reason he didn’t dive. Sure enough it was a high throw, and the first baseman spun around and tagged him right at the bag; if he dives, he’s safe.
That doesn’t mean he should always dive, but I got the feeling that was his try out of the alternative. Results were negateve, so’s he sticking to his old method.
by phesto on Feb 26, 2009 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Except you start your slide way before you actually dive
You’re changing how you’re running 2-3 steps before you actually dive.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Feb 26, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
where are you getting the gameday links for ST?
they don’t seem to be on stlcardinals.com or mlb.com unless i’m completely missing them. Thanks for posting the link, though.
by bmorgan on Feb 26, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The URLs are predictable
so I wrote a script last spring that reads the week’s schedule from ESPN.com and generates them. I post them at my old blog and just now put them in a fanshot here for all to enjoy.
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You know, I had always wondered if you just figured out the URL routine
You get 1000 internet dollars for being awesome.
by mattybobo on Feb 26, 2009 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Same here
I figured it out in 07 but found Liam’s blog the easiest source. The problem for me was the “team name” for the Cards is not STL but instead SLN, for the Cubs it is CHN for the Mets NYN, etc. Those things threw me for a loop for a bit.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on Feb 26, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
All the namecodes are the same as retrosheet uses. Unfortunately, I don’t know what the WBC teams are called, so some of those links are broken.
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Now that I look at it, I guess it's not that difficult to "crack the code"
What is the significance of the 1 at the end of the URL?
by mattybobo on Feb 26, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
To differentiate games of a double-header.
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow. That was actually my first guess.
I guess you gotta put that in there, even if it’s only a few times a year.
by mattybobo on Feb 26, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
FYI, today's game is apparently broadcast on KTRS and through MLB audio
I was under the impression KTRS wasn’t doing their first ST game until Saturday, but they have the game link up at the MLB audio page. In past years they’ve made ST games free, but I had to log in to this game.
by BTown Birds fan on Feb 26, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Eh, maybe it's not on after all. Once the noon news was over the feed cut out,
and now I get the MLB error message when I try to re-start it.
by BTown Birds fan on Feb 26, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I tried this too
And am now listening to an interview that is about career opportunities in hospitals….. Anybody else have this problem?
by Woodwork on Feb 26, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I am excited to see how Jon Jay does today
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Left 3 on base again
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nevermind
I missed Yadi’s 2-out 2-RBI hit
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
joe thurston stinks.
where’s my skippy!
Colby with another walk and SB. Nice.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Brian Roberts
Stinks, too!
Skip for Silver Slugger!
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Colby Rasmus
batting in Stan’s spot in the order…
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 1:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Apparently Mather made a great defensive play
by bmorgan on Feb 26, 2009 1:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I was wondering why I'd ever need to use Twitter,
and now I know.
by sluggerbird on Feb 26, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's more about Mather's play per Leach
“We’re under way at FtL Stadium, and Joe Mather just made the best play I’ve seen this spring — diving to his right to corral a hard shot from Nick Markakis, he throws from his knees and gets Markakis. Very impressive.”
by bmorgan on Feb 26, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
great
so now we have FOUR good third basemen
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here is another
Joe Mather got jammed and took it within 15 feet of the CF wall. That’s strength.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I guess that pretty much guarantees him a roster spot
He can fill in the OF and 3B….a utility guy who can hit go figure.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Feb 26, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
cesar!
imagining him in a different color uniform warms my heart.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 1:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I would rather have him than K Greene
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cause K Greene sucks
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i'll take K Greene over Izturis any day of the week.
by dcfcblues on Feb 26, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Kahlil has some great upside
but yeah, Izturis ain’t as bad as we think
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I bet with Schumaker manning 2nd
He will be missed a lot
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
His upside seems to never be compared to his great downside
He was negative 18 runs last year with his bat and his glove is not even good, (-9.4 UZR/150 in 09) . What is there to like about him?
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not that impressive really
He was worth 1.5 runs with the bat and -2.7 UZR/150. So his big season he just sucked less.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
that's not really true
Look at the WAR for the two players over their careers:
Iz2 PA WAR GREENE PA WAR 2002 468 -0.3 ---- 2003 593 -0.6 ---- 2004 728 3.6 554 3.6 2005 478 0.1 476 1.6 2006 208 -0.4 460 2.7 2007 337 0.0 659 2.7 2008 454 1.7 423 -0.6 Total 3266 4.1 2572 10.0
With the exception of last year, the player on the right looks like a much better player. Will he bounce back and become the player he was previously? We can’t say for sure. But it’s a low-risk bet with massive upside and the downside is about half a win worse that what Izturis is likely to do.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
My hope for Greene
is that the move away from PetCo and the reduced proportion of the load he’ll be carrying offensively will get his approach back to the way it looked in the minors.
From what he’s said in ST coverage, it sounds like that’s what he’s trying to do.
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
injury too
he should do better this year
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
granted, the injury was self-inflicted
but a guy that is frustrated to the point that he breaks his hand punching a wall is probably not going to be properly focused at the plate.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
sounds like our last closer
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tavarez was not the closer.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
by hazel on Feb 26, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Come on Chief Justice
don’t let me down!
by Hardcore Legend on Feb 26, 2009 1:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I hope he gives Alberto Castillo a life sentence
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Does he have a chance to legislate from the bench this year?
by notmorganfreeman on Feb 26, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Winnar
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oof - that wasn't a pretty inning
But at least there was a Cesar Izturis at-bat to stop the bleeding.
by BTown Birds fan on Feb 26, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
that's good, kyle
get it out of your system.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Excited
for Ostlund to be getting his first game action—second lefty out of the gate, right?
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
didn't appear to fare very well out there
by dcfcblues on Feb 26, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not at all
Our pitchers are having some problems.
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We are going to run out of pitchers this ST
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They've already got a few reinforcements on the way
Trey Hearne and Mark McCormick are joining the fray. TLR even thought about borrowing some Orioles pitchers.
by bmorgan on Feb 26, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Party Pooper.
Good thing Hawksworth has his game back together.
As every year, I wouldn’t mind seeing Chris Gissell in camp, but it looks like he’s back in the Chinese leagues.
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If we are bringing up all these pitchers from the minors
Why are we not bringing up Luke Gregerson who won the Set Up Man award in Venezuela this Winter?
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 2:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Would anyone be interested in a Free Hotel Room in Downtown Saint Louis?
So I found a way to get a free hotel nights stay downtown Saint Louis (Wyndham Mayfair) on Saturday August 15th. We are playing San Diego that weekend. Would be anyone interested in a free hotel room? I was going to write a fan post about it but was not sure if anyone would be interested in it.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Anyone could get their own rooms
They would be nice rooms too. The top room at the Mayfair
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
I am intrigued. I definitely want to go toa game this summer, since I haven’t seen the new ballpark in person. and I can afford it now, if I get a free room!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That was my thought
A lot of people are broke so a free hotel would come in handy. It is because Wyndham hotels have a Best Rate Guarantee. If you can find a place online that has a cheaper rate than on the hotel’s web page than they will give you the first night free. So if you stay only one night than the stay is free. It took me awhile to find a free hotel in downtown Saint Louis.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not a good day for the Cardinals
Thank God it’s only ST
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
At least Todd got his job done
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Feb 26, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Thurston, CF.
fascinating.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
And promptly jacks one into the seats.
Huh.
by cloistermaximus on Feb 26, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
anyone try the game day mini? It is perfect for web surfing and keeping an eye on the game.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Feb 26, 2009 3:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
getting our @$$ handed to us by Balti
ain’t that cool
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
first road game in ST
That’s not our opening day lineup. Bad baseball is better than no baseball, gell?
by liam on Feb 26, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
capiche
I’m just having a bad day
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 26, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Lohse getting lit up a little may be a bad omen.
That’s about all I take from this game.
It’s not just this start, it’s just that I don’t know how he’ll perform now that he’s got his money.
Todd and Perez did good, a few of the bargain bin lefties got lit up but w/e.
by TheBirds on Feb 26, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Only one of the bargain bin lefties got lit up
Royce Ring did fantastic yesterday, Charlie Manning did well today.
Ian Ostlund stunk.
Not worried at all about Lohse after one spring training start.
by dcfcblues on Feb 26, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Feb 26, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was talking about Fiske and Ostlund
Fiske is lefty right?
by TheBirds on Feb 26, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
err Furnish
how did I make that slip up?
by TheBirds on Feb 26, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Samsonite! I was way off!
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Feb 26, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
fiske and furnish are both LHP
if that helps ;)
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
by SleepyCA on Feb 26, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
MLB Network did a video segment of Chris Duncan
trying to do defensive drills in the outfield and butchering them.
Yeah, he’s an above average outfielder alright.
by Hardcore Legend on Feb 27, 2009 12:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
i'm really pissed off at DTV
i have their basic package just for EI & MLBN is not included. i thought their deal with MLB meant the channel was on all their packages? now i’ll have to fork over an extra $20 bucks a month to get MLBN.
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
ManRam
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Feb 27, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
really?
man, that would be hilarious… just don’t want to see it happen in the regular season, doh!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 27, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was wondering if anyone saw that and was going to comment on it
My favorite part was that, while the clip was playing, the commentators were making fun of him, and then after two failed sliding attempts in a row, began laughing out loud.
THAT’S when you know you are bad. Your fielding attempts make people laugh.
by Ray Lankford on Feb 27, 2009 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
so did you hear the one about Manny turing down $45Million?
again! just stop LA. Scotty is playing you big time. walk away, just walk away.
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
ManRam
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Feb 27, 2009 1:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agree Manny & Boras are clowns.
After the whole JD Drew debacle I would think LA wouldn’t want to have anything to do with Boras anymore. At some point Boras is going to burn too many bridges and he is going to have a tough time getting any of his players the contracts he thinks they deserve. At some point GMs are going to get tired of his games.
We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.
by KYCards on Feb 27, 2009 1:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hate doing this but I have to
So after 25 years when is that going to happen?
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Feb 27, 2009 2:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's more wishful thinking on his part...lol
He represents too many high caliber players and has too good a track record. Short of baseball changing it’s free agency rules, Boras will continue to be a major factor in the game. Drew Rosenhaus still has a job despite being despised by every NFL GM, why would Boras be any different?
If my kid was a top prospect in high school and was going to get drafted in the top 10 picks, I certainly would consider contacting Boras to represent him (although he’d probably contact me first, hopefully). My son would get enough money to put himself on easy street just in the signing bonus alone, so he’s never have to worry about flaming out and having nothing.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on Feb 27, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Manny being manny
is gettin kinda lame
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 27, 2009 1:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently
The Giants are now sounding out Boras.
Add Manny and all of a sudden they look like potential favourites for the NL West. Scary rotation, they just need someone who can hit. With their solid-looking outfield they might even be able to find a few ABs for him at first base, should help nullify his appalling defense.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Feb 27, 2009 7:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ryan Ludwick looks like...
wait for it….
wait for it…
Screech, aka, Dustin Diamond.
I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck
by bukowski on Feb 27, 2009 8:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why are the mets batting the pitcher 2nd?
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Feb 27, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
chuckb, your WAR spreadhseet is not public.
Bring Back The Old Logo!
by jacob on Mar 3, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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