Viva El Birdos Theater: Skip dresses as a second baseman, marries at the end
by DanUpBaby on Mar 16, 2009 6:00 AM EDT
Email
PrintAS HE LIKES IT
A VEB Play in One Act
DIRECTED BY KENNETH BRANAGH
ENTER an old man.
MOZELIAK
If in my words a somber note you find—
it is not the squalorous tone of those
who, in the darkest hour, wandered Womack-ward.
Or armed with best intent picked out prospects
to stoke the fires roaring in a Hot Stove.
It is the pale cry of a man deceived
you detect in hidebound reminiscence;
I, a scout of the highest discernment
fooled by the tools of an infielder's trade,
the feat of a man, and the glove on his hand.
I've lasted all these years on bottled rage;
my story, never put to soothing page.
But when those jerseys I do see
They spark a haunting reverie—
Scene: La Russa's office.
ENTER La Russa and Schumaker
LA RUSSA
Skip, you've been into my office bidden;
despite the task remaining as yet hidden.
SCHUMAKER
Curious I have as ever been,
but inner grit keeps ungood thoughts within.
But still we Cobblers, scrappy though we be,
Must sate our need to know eventu'ly!
So pray tell if it is within your purview,
the secret way in which I am to serve you.
LA RUSSA
As you're aware, kind Skip my faithful servant,
the Prez is gone, and no one knows where he went.
SCHUMAKER
Our myst'try spot the Keystone, descended
once more into a bay of braying pigs!
But a shepherd such as I—
LA RUSSA
You doubt me?
SCHUMAKER
When 'tis my duty, bound and sealed, to
Hustle the farrest outer fields, do
I have any place within this drama?
LA RUSSA
Yours, I promise, fairest Skip, is the lead—
A role in which you chew the scenery,
and with the Gen'ral Mo none the wiser,
turn the twin-kill, masked, for none to see.
SCHUMAKER
A deception, here—and I a Cobbler,
bound by blood to truth, to grit, to hustle.
Pulled at both ends I snap here in the middle—
Quiet, song of the Italian siren!
Your glove I'll wear, although it virtue deadens,
because my—
LA RUSSA
Reason another day, Skip;
explaining is the tool of smaller minds.
Come to the field, the morrow, as always,
and loose our plan upon the inner fields.
HOFFPAUIR
A plot, and I, here, by chance, hear something—
the fates spot me cleaning out my locker,
and give me this with which to refill it.
To Mozeliak I ride, on the next Greyhound.
Scene: Palm Beach, Florida.
THURSTON
Here afield, a day's new battles burgeon,
for second base awaits the strongest person.
I say—Greene, is the morning breeze afoot,
or have you toed the batter's box too soon?
GREENE
You're light on your feet, Joe, or should I say,
your feet behind me lack that worryin' tone...
BARDEN
Hello, fellas, but aren't we presuming,
that the Italian hasn't a new scheme
with which to retire the three of us?
THURSTON
Your worry is touching, if somewhat misplaced—
no other's around, out to carry your spear.
Your spot is still safe, on the next Memphis van,
but—
GREENE
—who is it out there, that mustachioed man?
SCHUMAKER
Dear friends, a humble infield man am I,
near-twins we are, to any layman's eye.
Our tunics soiled, our fandom young women—
our hustle, we comrades, a hundred and ten!
THURSTON
He tries too hard—
GREENE
And even that banter
smacks of a familiar teacher's pet.
The Colonel came with his concerns, relayed
through plot-bound messengers: we pitchers, locked
in our dread dalliance with contact pitches,
detect a rotten stench within the air.
All grounders through him seem to roll for hits,
familiar—
ENTER Mozeliak
MOZELIAK
No! I'm too young for this— —
CURTAIN
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Comments
Courage, man; the infield hole cannot be much.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
by hazel on Mar 16, 2009 6:53 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
No, 'tis not so deep as Center,
nor so wide as a wagon gate; but ‘tis enough,’twill serve: ask for
me to-morrow, and you shall find me a waived man.
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
by Mr Clean on Mar 16, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was hoping someone would use my favorite line.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
it's a long offseason
brings out strange things in the baseball-obsessed
"Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." --Churchill
It's 4:00 AM my time
uh… don’t ask me why I am up.
vivaelbeñsheets
by vivaelpujols on Mar 16, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions
It's OK, my sleep is comically messed up
I tend to wake up at 5 AM, do stuff, go to class till 2 PM, take a nap till 9 PM, go out/hang out till 1-2 AMish, sleep till 5 AM rinse repeat.
Not afraid to nitpick
Submarine Duty
Can’t be worse than working on a submarine. Wake up at 5 AM, eat, go on-watch for 6 hours, eat, do training/maintenance/whatever for another 4-5 hours, go to sleep, wake up at 11 PM, eat, go on-watch for 6 hours, eat, do stuff for 4-5 hours, go to sleep, wake up at 5 PM … rotate that through on an 18-hour day; sometimes you get to sleep, sometimes you don’t. The only way that it works is that you don’t see the sun for 2-3 months, so it’s just numbers on a page. Takes about 3-4 days to get used to the real world when you get back into port.
That said, the Cubs do deserve my pity, but never my support.
College student?
Because if so I totally understand that.
Other than the waking up at 5 AM thing… it took getting married and having a firstborn for me to ever wake up that early regularly.
Ding ding ding
It just started happening where I’d wake up at 5 and a patterned developed. I’m still getting like 10-12 hours a sleep a day it’s just in messed up intervals. Don’t ask me…and I’m still rockin a 3.85 GPA baby.
Not afraid to nitpick
Makes sense
Freshman year I ended up going to bed at about 2 AM on average. Lots of mini-naps during the day (mostly outside of class). It’s an environment that lends itself to crazy sleep schedules.
Well, I have two kids myself
Was going to school and work for most of that time too. I had to wake up some in the middle of the night early on, but after a couple of months it wasn’t bad at all. All kids are different I guess.
+2
Look, I don't ask for much. All I want from the 2009 season is for Carp and Adam to combine for 420 IP and go 1-2 in the Cy Young voting, and for Albert to win the MVP again. Oh, and for the Cubs to never win another World Series as long as I live. I really don't think that is too much to ask.
Shakespearian Trash Talking
I surmise that young Thurston is quick with the rapier and rapier wit alike.
by arch support on Mar 16, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
way over my head
i am but a simple caveman….maybe i’ll understand tomorrows post.
Milt Thompson FTW!
you know
you could say money on your car insurance by switching to geico…..
Cardwash Definition: Birds on the Nat.
They'll be a sparks notes...
at your local Barnes and Noble store in a week…
It's not what you do, It's who you do...
Or to put it more concisely:
A Herr! A Herr! My kingdom for a Herr!
Brilliant
A play! A play is the thing to capture the conscience of the king!
by cloistermaximus on Mar 16, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions
I would like to see another play cover the transformation of Ankiel from pitcher to outfielder please.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
that's more Norse saga
Or noh play. …that has some unfortunate connotations, though.
"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 Mar 16, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
should also mention
On top of possibly killing Albert, I’m worried about the receiving side — of Yadi’s pickoffs. I’ve witnessed them practicing it between innings and the 2B still messing it up. With PR advancing, Yadi hasn’t had time to school Skip in my favorite defensive play. See nick.
"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 Mar 16, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
meet me at the Muny! the Muny in Forest Park!
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
miles, belliard, luna bring
an 06 world series ring
should i indulge a pre-season doubt
before i allow the first half play out
if necessity demands a move be made
i shall believe our chances won’t fade
by ball in play on Mar 16, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Ah, the Bard...
(no, not Josh Bard, dammit!)
Alas, poor Hoolie! I knew him, Horatio… appearing at the keystone to receive the shortstop’s toss; and by some alchemy sending the sphere on to first base and vanishing as a Phantom before the foe’s baserunner could reach his feet or legs, so as to break up the double play!
"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
by The Ol Goaler on Mar 16, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
He was
poetry in motion.
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 Mar 17, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Branagh
I assume he plays TLR?
"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
whether tis nobler afield to suffer
the swings or errors of replacement talent?
by DanUpBaby on Mar 16, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Or to take Schu against a see of double (-plays)
and by proposing, botch some
by mattybobo on Mar 16, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
indeed!
* 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)
Much Ado About Nothing
Favorite Scene:
“Officers, what offense have these men done?”
“Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly; they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.”
Now this is only the second best piece directed by Branagh. Bravo Mr. UpBaby!
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
I somehow made it through unscathed
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Can you Dr. Seuss-ify that one for cretins like me?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
"How the Skip stole Second Base!"
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
"Hoffpauir Hears a ...."
Damn, what’s a good H-word that can go here???
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Schu Who?
From the people of Whoville:
He fields ground balls in dirt and rocks,
He fields them barefoot and in socks,
He tries his best to turn the two,
The Grinch’s heart melts for Skip Schu Who
He hits and runs and steals a base,
Only right handed pitchers will he face
From outfield to infield his talents grew
The Grinch’s heart melts for Skip Schu Who
He hits in front of Albert and Ank
His fielding percentage we hope won’t tank
Errors, oh yes, he’ll make a few
Yet, the Grinch’s heart melts for Skip Schu Who
SD
by Gibby45 on Mar 16, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Nice!
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Is TLR the Grinch?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Gibby that was neat. I like it better though without the Who after Skip Schu...
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
what the heck is Joker Marchant Stadium?
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions
at the risk of becoming a banned voice...
……danups poetry and this thread is exhibit D (or E or F or something) for how much this previously wonderful blog has………changed. You all know exactly what I’m talking about, and if I’m writing it, silent others agree. They just didn’t take the energy to say so.
But hey, if your readership is up, by all means, ingore me. Hell, ban me.
Just trying to help.
watching from Belgium
no bans for non-trolls
but you’re welcome to e-mail me about the change in site direction—which is certainly true to some extent, since I’m not and can’t be Larry—if it bothers you.
let's just have waffle pay larry
$500 a post
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I have a better deal
if I’m, say, 20% of the blogger that larry is, I generously accept his offer of $100 a post.
Honest question...
Is the problem too much off-topic stuff? I would assume that there won’t be as much time for this kind of post (I admit this sort of thing has become one of my favorite parts of the blog) when the season actually starts. There’s only so much analysis you can do in the off-season. And at least this post wasn’t really all that off-topic; it could be taken as an opening to discussion about the state of the whole Schumaker experiment now that we’ve actually had some spring training games to digest.
I agree you will probably see less of this during the season but I have to say this is a choice post.
Keep em’ coming Dan.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
I agree with Waffles, to a point.
DanUp, I really like your writing style. This was a bit of an aberrant post for you, though. You usually lead off with a great off-beat humorous bit, then follow that with some real meat that is quite interesting. Thus you rock the entertainment and the enlightenment all at the same time. I just didn’t see the enlightment of the post today.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Can anyone
explain to me why we need enlightenment 365 days a year? This was an excellent post, IMO; a literary plus, which is all-too often a rare (red)bird in these heathenesque times. Keep it up, DUB.
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
i personally have no idea what you're talking about.
i’m also not sure why you feel that you’re likely to be banned for speaking up. or why you’re apparently leery to say exactly what you’re thinking — if you’re thinking “less iambic pentameter, more baseball” then just say that.
by tom s. on Mar 16, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
sort of agree with him.
I like Dan’s writing, but I can see his point. I’ve been spending more time lately on other NL Central SN blogs just because I’m more likely to get baseball news there.
And the reason for being cautious about speaking up is there are several who will always jump on you if it’s not in line. (Take the usual fanpost police for example).
That said, I’d still rather read Shakespearian (sp?) Baseball than column after column on WAR. But that’s just me.
SBN is kinda becoming World of WARgraph
I still think they’re fun but I’m sure I’ll get tired of it eventually.
I check into Beyond the Boxscore once every 2-3 weeks
It’s cool, but enough is enough at some point, and I love stats!
what baseball "news" aren't you getting?
Everything “baseball” that could possibly be discussed has been, like, five times. Even the mighty lboros did hot stove haiku posts this time of year; this time last year the front page articles were a discussion about a ficitious baseball tournamount. It’s the dog days of the off-season and things like this are a fun diversion from the boring-ness that comes from discussing the same things over and over and over. If there’s “news”, it’ll get discussed in the comments or in the hot stove/spring training update fanposts.
As far as the passive-aggressive “fanpost police” remark, you’re as free as anyone else to present a compelling case for what you think the standards for fanposts should be. If you want to argue to lower the standards, make the case.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
+2
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Personal Preference
I guess I just like how some of the other team blogs do daily org updates as well as division updates to go along with the usual musings. Like you say, it’s possible everything like that is discussed in the hot stove thread, which I typically avoid. So I guess if I have any suggestion it’s to get some of that discussion on the front page. I think there have been a few minor league/org type posts since Larry stepped down so that’s good, hopefully there will be more. I mean I guess everyone probably reads the P-D to get the spring updates, info, etc… just be neat to see some here.
You may call my comment on the fanpost-police as passive-agressive, but you can’t say it isn’t true. I’ve seen several commentors in the past post something that wasn’t worthy for whatever reason by a handful of people. My thought it always, ’is it really hurting anyone?" Apparently it must. Anyway, no point in arguing it I guess, as neither of us is likely to change our opinions on that issue.
It is hurting someone because
it is pushing valuable content down the line and off the page.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly
thus hurting said valuable content by evicting it
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
If that's the case
the moderators have the choice to delete a wasteful FanPost making this a non-issue.
Getting two tickets to an execution is like getting two tickets to NASCAR, except you KNOW Jeff Gordon's gonna die.
yeah
it’s really not that big of an issue imo
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
This morning I scanned the post looking for info
I didn’t read it because it didn’t seem to contain any substance. Thats ok, just not everyone cup of tea I guess.
I have similar problems as you with posts like waffle's
I don’t see anything wrong with “constructive criticism” posts, as long as the criticisms are accompanied by some recognition of the fact that we’re not paying a dime for this product and DanUp et al. aren’t being paid a dime (as far as I know) for producing it. But saying that “this previously wonderful blog has………changed” really doesn’t contribute anything at all. It’s criticism, but there’s nothing constructive about it because it’s vague to the point of meaninglessness.
Also, the “risk of becoming a banned voice” and “ban me” comments strike me as kind of self-involved and martyr-ish. As far as I’m aware the only people who’ve been banned from this site in the 3+ years I’ve been posting here have really had it coming – multiple over-the-top angry/confrontational posts and multiple ignored warnings to chill out. Pretending you’re at risk of being banned for a single rather tame (if also rather pointless) post like this one is just silly.
by BTown Birds fan on Mar 16, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I should add, the ban comments aren't just silly
They’re also not very fair to the folks who run the site, because it makes it sound like they’re some sort of tyrants.
And there was one person who was banned without over-the-top angry posts, but he was a special case – bizarre stream of consciousness posts, egregious overuse of ellipses, and a very personal, not-so-subtle pro-Kyle Lohse agenda to most of his contributions. Wherever you are, westcoastbirdwatcher, stay strong!
by BTown Birds fan on Mar 16, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Was he really banned?
I always thought he got high and just sort of wandered off.
[/South Park]
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
He got banned
???
"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
Yes
he was banned because he railed on and on about Larry being part of the Cardinals coverup conspiracy on the Lohse situation and that DeWitt and George Bush (et al) are longtime friends and they work in cahoots, etc.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
My theory
I always thought that he did not speak English as a first language and that all of his comments were translated via an internet translation page and then posted because they were just slightly off.
"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
not true
I read this site for months before making a single post, one day got into a good debate over the value of Carlos Zambrano. I made exactly 3 posts with not a single personal attack or profane language and was banned the next day. I even emailed the “Leader” with the exact transcript of what was said and nothign was done. I was basically banned for saying I thought Zambrano was one of the top 20 pitchers in the NL. It was clear I was not agreed with which is fine, but it’s things like that that lead me to creating multiple screen names and not caring anymore if I offend someone, because you dont follow the masses you “may” get banned but not for inappropriate language or personal attacks
I'm with you HL...
I really have a difficult time believing Retire’s story. I’ve seen many a warning on this site for personal attacks, and maybe one or two for obsessive obscene language. I’m not sure I personally know of any bannings as a result. I’d also like to see this banned discussion with no personal attacks or profane language.
I have seen many people not “follow the masses” and in my experience that is encouraged around here because it creates good discussion.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
i appreciate
those, that post their opinion, knowing it doesn’t “follow the masses”. sure, there’s a risk of getting gang tackled, but not so much on this site. i appreciate the manner of respect the members of this board show when disagreeing. i too, believe it’s encouraged of each memeber to state their opinion, just so we can know we’ve looked at each issue from every possible angle. reminds me of cross-checking, without the bashing. well done, all.
by ball in play on Mar 16, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah,
I find it really hard to believe that Retire51 was banned just for politely expressing an opinion that Zambrano is a really good pitcher. And I’ve seen some other posts by him that definitely fall into the “over-the-top angry” category.
by BTown Birds fan on Mar 16, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
its because i dont give a shit and made multiple screen names and was actually trying to get banned but it just shows it all a bunch of shit because they will pick and choose who they want as long you follow the leader
Sadly, that's not even remotely true.
What you were banned for under your previous screen name of doug_4409 were comments made along the lines of these:
"wow sad majority od cards fans
are reminding me of typical stupid cubs fans"
“but i was there for the series clincher and didnt see you there…… I wouldve noticed a fat dork that deosnt know baseball you dont find those at busch too often”
"seriously is this a site for cardinals fans?
ive never met a group of dumber people in one place in my life"
The thread was in relation to you arguing that Derrick Lee was a better defensive first baseman that Albert Pujols, and the problem had absolutely nothing to do with the substance of your argument. You believe that D. Lee is a better first baseman that Albert, that’s completely fine. However, engaging in personal attacks, childish name calling, and insulting other posters because you don’t like the statistics they’re using to make their own arguments will, in fact, get you kicked right the fuck off, over and over and over again, if necessary.
Here’s the link, if you’re interested.
Just so there’s no misunderstanding.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the ace-est of them all?
by the red baron on Mar 16, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
sadly, the following is true
I WAS banned for the comments that started this mini thread…..until I sent this following email to danup:
“just waiting…
…for you to admit to your threaders that you did indeed ban me….
feedback—unpleasant or not—comes with your territory
and I’ve obviously been clear as to what direction I think your site has gone”
Then, magically, I was allowed back on, but with yet another warning.
This’ll be my last post, which should please some.
Go Cards.
watching from Belgium
wow. that makes sense. danup would definitely ban you for harming his ego.
then, because of the enormous leverage you have (being banned and all and having no access to the boards), reconsider and let you back on after you DEMANDED that he come clean to his readers.
please.
I'm not here to talk about the past,
but for what it’s worth waffle was warned in the first place and has been nothing but warned, as a look at the software logs would verify, and I sent him an e-mail saying as much. That, I think, is all that needs to be said about this within the medium of public blog comments.
hah!
so he’s that guy! I’d rather be a dork than a db, but in case that’s your thing, you can pinch my bicep and find out I’m really not all that fat.
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
oh and let it be known
that the name calling was because he INSISTED that Pujols was not all that great at defense.
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
and then he started saying we were like Cubs fans when I said that pujols was better than D. Lee
doesn’t make much sense
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I did not INSIST Pujols is not all that great on defense
Once again that is my problem with you on here…I believe Pujols is one of the top 5 defensive 1st basemen in the majors and probably top 3, although I may have said you were all Cubs fans but once again it is okay for people to attack someone that was “banned” because that person didnt go in line the rest. You shouldnt come here for information, its much like the WWF for entertainment purposes only. I do get good entertainment here but really saddens me that the outlook I’ve had towards Cardinals fans has soured greatly since reading here. I used to be able to say Cards fans were the most knowledgeable fans in baseball and be proud to be apart of that and mean it when i said it. But anymore I’m just not sure that’s true
by vivaelbirdos44 on Mar 19, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
and thats definitely not true
but did enjoy the link
"not a single personal attack or profane language"
After baron revealed that you called someone a “fat dork” below, you have to admit that your credibility in terms of evaluating your own behavior is pretty much shot at this point.
I've actually enjoyed the site's evolution
I like the broad range of posts this site offers. We can go from a sabermetric-thick discussion one day to a fictional Shakespearean dialogue the next seamlessly. In my opinion, this makes VEB one of the most unique and enjoyable sites out there.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I too enjoy the nice mix we have...
but like Waffle I’d like to see a synopsis of everything going on in Spring Training. Player performances, position battles, etc… Maybe some bold prediction of how things are going to shake out.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
Of course...
I can’t say I would take it quite as seriously from our current group as I did from Larry. He just seemed to have a great perspective on the team. He also had some connections that I don’t think our current group has.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
VEB is different
It’s true. That is both for the better and for the worse. I miss LB and wish he’d do one post a month or so, but I also enjoy DanUp and greatly enjoyed today’s post. (Of course, I should confess that I paid a fair sum for tickets, then flew from France to England, and rented a car and drove from East Midlands to Stratford on the wrong side of the rode to see Ian McClellan as Lear in King Lear on closing night.)
Frankly, there isn’t much new in Birdland. There was the nice P-D story on Khalil Greene, but the two dominating storylines continue and are rehashed in Strauss’s story today for the P-D: (1) Who will close?; and (2) Will Skippy be our second baseman? The Fanpost section has had some very good discussion of both questions—particularly analyzing second base. With the extended ST this season due to the WBC, it really does feel overly redundant to reevaluate the same old position battles over and over (as the P-D does). I’m okay with a post like today’s and feel that it fits perfectly a day like today.
"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
Not only do you get Shakespeare...
you get Dr. Seuss. Where else can you get all that plus baseball? I’ve been reading the site for years but have posted only in the last several months. I’ve experienced nothing but polite discussion. I have to get my daily fix of VEB.
FWIW, chuckb did that
on saturday, and DanUp did something similar on Friday, and again the week before, etc.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
looking back I see you are correct..
and I read both of those posts.
I guess it’s just that when LB had an opinion it carried a LOT of weight with me. He seemed to have as much knowledge about the Cards as anyone not on their payroll.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
What weight
lboros’ opinion carries with you as compared to DanUp’s (or chuckb’s or red baron’s) would seem to be an issue with you, and not necessarily with DUB, cb or rb. The point was made above that these guys are not getting paid, but I think most of us will agree that we consider our lives to be richer because this site still exists, even tho lboros has left the building.
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
That was not intended to be a slight...
towards the current contributors at all. They all do a great job, and this site is by far my favorite on the interwebs. I think that most of the daily readers who have been around a while would agree that with the loss of LB this place lost more than just a great leader.
Sometimes I wonder,
"Why is that frisbee getting bigger?"
...and then it hits me!!
by cardzfanbub on Mar 17, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Ok.
Since I wasn’t on here b4 LB left, I don’t know what I’m missing. What I do know is that I highly enjoy what I read here, even tho my grasp of sabermetrics is miniscule.
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 Mar 17, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
no one is saying that it's not the same around here since LB retired
but to say it’s worse is a damn lie & a punch in the shamrocks to Dan, Chuck, & Red. things will never be the same around here without LB. but that’s not a bad thing. life goes on, the sun still rises in the east & sets in the west. and VEB will always be the best place on the web for all things St. Louis Cardinals.
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Mar 17, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
well said
you never know what you are going to get when you come here. It definitely keeps VEB from becoming just another blog. I always get my hardcore baseball info fix, and I get entertained on top of that! What more could one ask for?
* 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)
Cry "graph it!"
and let slip the blogs of WAR
by mattybobo on Mar 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Hilarious!
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
the guy is on a roll
* 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)
+whatever number goes here
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions
i can't honestly believe anyone has a problem with VEB
this is the single best site for anything related to the St. Louis Cardinals. if you can’t find what you are looking for here, it doesn’t exist.
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
by gdm426 on Mar 16, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
my problem is that nbody hear has the guts to satnd upand say that dewallet
is just too cheep ot put a reel team out on the field!!
do you all ever stop eating all the grabage that MO and his flunkies feed you?>? are you happy to watch abunch of lozers who couldn’t make the JV team at Podunk High take the field while dewallet counts his monney??
FIRE MOZILEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/sarcasm
did you copy and paste that
from the p-d boards? … cuz i bet there is a post over there saying that.
I got a kick
out of this comment on the official team site under the “Barton headlines list of Cardinals cuts”
LaRussa needs to think about designating Rasmus because he will not be the answer to any of the Cardinals needs. He has speed but if he does not get on base he is not an asset.
Now I am a huge Rasmus fan, and even I think it wouldn’t hurt him to get some regular ABs in Triple A. That being said, the above poster is a …well, Mom always said to say nothing if you can’t say something nice. For once I am going to listen to her advice.
* 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)
My mom never said that, so I'll say it
The guy is a Grade A Moron. He is not getting into Bovine University.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
You don't expect me to swallow that tripe, do you?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the ace-est of them all?
by the red baron on Mar 16, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
A certain agitator at this site - for privacy's sake let's call him
Red B. No that’s too obvious…let’s say R. Baron.
by BTown Birds fan on Mar 16, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
t. red baron
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 17, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
8th in baseball last 10 yrs, cheap?
total end of year payrolls (1999-2008)
maury brown, 3-13-2009
@ The Biz of Baseball
by ball in play on Mar 17, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
you can find relevant normal info, and you can find things that you didn’t even knew existed here. what more do you want?
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't go to VEB to talk about sabermetrics
I go here to talk about the Cardnials. There are plenty of other blogs that provide insightful and complex views on stats, I don’t need (or want) VEB to be one of them.
vivaelbeñsheets
by vivaelpujols on Mar 17, 2009 7:25 AM EDT up reply actions
hath an outfielder not hands?
hath an outfielder not gloves?
do we not field the same bouncing grounders?
sway we not back and forth below wind-blown fly balls
even as infielders do? when line drives strike us in the chest,
do we not bruise?
Khalil Green is on Fire!
If he keeps this up throughout the year we may have to build a statue for Mo…
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
At what point should we start to get worried about Lud?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
Not that I know of
But he is batting under .150 this spring…
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I know
it is worrisome, but he’s sort of a streaky hitter, and it sounds like he did some conditioning in the offseason that may somehow be throwing him off, I think he just needs to adjust, best time to do it
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I do agree with you Cards!
I play a lot of basketball in leagues around Paducah, KY. Recently, I got back into lifting weights after about a year of lay-off. The weight training threw my jump-shot off for 3 weeks. It really does take a bit to get your body used to conditions that you haven’t performed under in the past. Maybe Luddy has developed 2-3 extra mph on his bat speed and he is still getting used to that.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
it's like me trying to bowl while sober
I have to adjust to not being drunk while bowling.
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you legally allowed to bowl sober?
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Bowling is still illegal in my hometown
It’s a holdover from prohibition. Bowling and drinking were just too damn intertwined.
If that’s not evidence of the requirement for bowling drunk, I don’t know what is.
on a day full of hilarious comments
that one there just might take the cake.
Illegal Bowling? Man , I wanna be there when they run in someone for having an illegal alley.
* 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)
It's like the guy in Beerfest
“I’m better when I’m drunk!”
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I would love to see the effect
of a 2-3 MPH increase in bat speed! For a guy with pretty impressive bat speed to start with.
Anyone know what the range of bat speeds are in MLB?
by MdRedbirdFreak on Mar 16, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
between 1 and 100
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
1 being Cesar Izturis
100 being Randall Simon (although he rarely makes contact and usually just screws himself into the ground)
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
or whacks sausages
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
I know what you're talking about
But that still sounds gross
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 17, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm beginning to think
that the Kahlil G. trade is even more underrated than I thought it was
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
I really like the lineup today
skip, ank, pujols, dunc is kind of a scary way for the opponents to have to start against… then all the sudden you have to pitch to the number 2 slugger of ’08, and then a raking shortstop, and finally it lets up a smidgeon, only to find yourself up against a double leadoff
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions
double leadoff
created two leadoff doubles
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree.
There is nothing you could do to that comment to make it any better.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the ace-est of them all?
by the red baron on Mar 16, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I need to get off here
my face is starting to hurt from all the laughing
* 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)
Yes I think we got as good of a line-up as you can have without having to many egomaniac big name players.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
does Thurston have a nickname?
He deserves one. That was sweet.
"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
Thirsty Joe
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
i've heard him called "the millionaire" here
for thurston howell iii
Look, I don't ask for much. All I want from the 2009 season is for Carp and Adam to combine for 420 IP and go 1-2 in the Cy Young voting, and for Albert to win the MVP again. Oh, and for the Cubs to never win another World Series as long as I live. I really don't think that is too much to ask.
*seen, rather
Look, I don't ask for much. All I want from the 2009 season is for Carp and Adam to combine for 420 IP and go 1-2 in the Cy Young voting, and for Albert to win the MVP again. Oh, and for the Cubs to never win another World Series as long as I live. I really don't think that is too much to ask.
This is Top 5 greatest thing
I’ve ever read on a blog. The amount of effort to write in iambic pentameter and to develop said plot, absolute greatness.
This deserves a DIGG.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
What is a rec'd, or rec?
Does it mean “This post is recommended”? To whom?
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
next to the username of the poster, you'll see three things:
a button labeled “up”, one labeled “reply”, and one labeled “actions”.
click on actions. one thing you can do is “rec” or recommend a post, so that others will read it. it’s most important for fanshots and fanposts (you can rec the whole fanshot or fanpost) — if they get enough recs, it will go to the top of the list. but if someone makes a clever comment, you can rec their comment. it doesn’t do anything except turn green (or blue?) once it gets five recs. it’s more a form of moral support – “I see what you did there and I appreciate it.” Check out mattybobo’s 2b or not 2b comment above — it got several recs.
It turns green after 5 rec's
unless your monitor is having problems — then it might be blue…
IMO, we need to do more of this, especially in the game threads when someone has a good insight on a particular moment in the game.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
or makes us spit our beverages all over the screen
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
indeed
I’ve been a DanUp brown-noser for a while, but this post deserves a ton of appreciation, and I’m thrilled to see, for the most part, it’s getting it.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Mar 16, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
OT: anyone see the wacky quote from Julian Tavarez?
http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2009/03/julian_tavarez_the_washington.html
He compares signing w/ the Nationals w/ looking to pickup a woman at a bar at 4AM while wasted. Classic.
youneverknow
the similie works, because tavarez is - in a baseball sense - exactly the kind of guy you'd find
trying to pick up a woman, drunkenly, in a bar at 4am.
this is a fine time to test the meddle of our bullpen
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions
Not to be pedantic,
but it’s the bullpen’s mettle we’re testing. I think you thought of “meddle” because Tony LaRussa is involved.
by MdRedbirdFreak on Mar 16, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that post
deserves a medal. When I see meddle, I think of the Pink Floyd album.
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
is meddle/mettle/metal/medal the only four-part homophone in english?
there’re probably others. can’t think of them.
maybe if you're from the ozarks
Chuck Norris hit a Home Run
with his beard
by bearcatcardfan on Mar 16, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
heeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyy, i'm from there
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
well i have family from there and thats how they talk
Chuck Norris hit a Home Run
with his beard
by bearcatcardfan on Mar 17, 2009 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Chicago, actually
The North Side.
How many VEB members were born and raised in the heart of Cubs territory?
I was born and raised in between chi and stl
but live in chicago since ’97
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
No,
There’s also:
1. carat (A unit of weight for precious stones, equal to 200 milligrams)
2. caret (A proofreading symbol used to indicate where something is to be inserted in a line of printed or written matter)
3. carrot (A biennial Eurasian plant (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) in the parsley family, widely cultivated as an annual for its edible taproot)
and
4. karat (A unit of measure for the fineness of gold, equal to 1/24 part. Pure gold is 24 karat; gold that is 50 percent pure is 12 karat)
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 Mar 17, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I like how you gave the definition for carrot
I was unsure of what that one was
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 17, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Well
I figured if I did it for the other 3, I oughta do it for that one, just for kicks.
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 Mar 17, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
There's also
right, rite, wright and write, although wright is usually used as a suffix, and not as a word by itself,
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 Mar 17, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Or part of the last name of a badass pitcher
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 17, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I can never understand you Jamey Wright fans.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
and a douchey 3rdbaseman
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
i had no idea it was a kind of parsley
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
That said, Dan
MomUp still knows you stole that book report of Richard the III your junior year. You’ve done nothing to assuage yourself of that burden.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions
you've gotten
to the very core of my blog inferiority complex. Someday she’ll be proud—someday they’ll all be. You’ll see.
My gameday has been frozen on Albert at bat in the top of the 7th for a while
Anybody know what’s going on?
The end of Bobby Seay's career?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeppers
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Al Hrbosky just destroyed
what was left of Anderson’s prospect status.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions
?
?
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Ouch.
That was brutal…
-- Aidan Sonoda
In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas.
by Aidan Sonoda on Mar 16, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
The pitching staff says
that he doesn’t help them out, has stone hands, doesn’t call a good game and his attribute is offensive.
Whereas apparently they all want to go steady with Pags.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Made me want to puke
I guess it is important for Al to be TLR’s minion.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
If we can take Al at face value
I think the pitching staff is a little too big for it’s britches this year.
Of course, I don’t take anything Al says as being at face value, true or even cognitive English.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I couldn't believe
Al said something to the effect of, “the major league coaching staff sees a lot of offensive potential in Pagnozzi and don’t really believe in his minor league numbers.” Now I am somewhat willing to yield to the eyes of experienced baseball men, but to see offensive potential in Matt Pagnozzi makes me think they need to start drug testing the coaches. It is utter fantasy to think he can hit big league pitching.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
6 years of proving he can't hit in the minors
and he is all of a sudden going to reach his offensive potential in the majors? I did not know it was possible to slug .284 in the minors for a career (and you know, have a career).
* 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)
A Catcher's Grit
I saw him hustle and grit his way to a double, barely beating the throw in Tacoma in ’07.
Tracking the Cards' playoff chances daily: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/Cardinalspsodds.php
by ColinMacLeod on Mar 16, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
he's just been taking it easy
now he’s starting to get serious
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
The crow flies at midnight!
Evident the Wash!
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
skip is really hitting the ball well this ST
5 doubles now….showing of the gap power…i really hope he sticks at 2B…it would be nice to have an average 2B who can really take hold of the leadoff spot
Conversly, our corner OF'ers
Ludwick and Rasmus aren’t hitting the ball well at all.
It’s like shifting sand, man.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
just gotta figure out which outfielders to play at the right time
and in what position
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
mather has a ~.680 OPS this spring
Allen Craig should count, though.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
rasmus is striking out a bunch
when he is making contact he is hitting well enough…he’s not having the spring he had last year, but i think considering he is 21 he’s swinging the bat pretty well…2-3 months of AAA is probably in order…then at the trade deadline, when we ship ankiel off, bring him and let us get this show started
Nitpicking a bit
Razzle is actually 22. I only know this because he’s just about a year older than yours truly.
Sandman
great graphic novel.
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 Mar 16, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I *love* Sauce time
"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
Thanks for the cool breeze!
It was most cooling on my mustache. Please, cool me again!
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
rockin the goggles
more steampunk crazy instead of Stache crazy. and aerodynamic
"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
Perhaps the greatest thing ever on Conan.
Either that one, or “That bear just masturbated away my kid’s Christmas.”
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the ace-est of them all?
by the red baron on Mar 16, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL
I miss Conan already, jimmy fallon just isn’t doing it for me
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
he's gawd awful. tired for 1st as most douchest man on TV
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Hrbosky in fine form
“The fans get all excited about Motte and Perez because of the plus fastballs and that good when everything is going good. But what happens in the first week if they blow a few games and never get it back?”
/paraphrase
Well, in my experience with Dave and Tony, sometime in June they’ll lose their jobs as closer.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions
Bummer
I had been looking forward to re-upping mlb.tv again for 09. You’re doing a fine job at making me think twice. If only they could get the audio feed to have the same delay as the video…
There's a device you can buy that does that, I think
Can’t remember what it’s called though… anyone?
That's different
I use that the delay/not listen to the voices in my head that tell me what a failure I am.
He also pulled out one of my favorite stupid baseball cliches
About pitchers not wanting their team to get out to a big lead. I mean, who would want that? Completely saps the competitive spirit.
who gave up those last 2 runs?
was it Boggs?
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions
+1
for sarcasm
Chuck Norris hit a Home Run
with his beard
by bearcatcardfan on Mar 16, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah salas should be sent down immediately for losing that game.
ok not really it is only spring
Chuck Norris hit a Home Run
with his beard
by bearcatcardfan on Mar 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought it was Boggs.
I was only half paying attention.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
TLR
just wanted his buddy to win one
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I was sort of surprised to see
that we’re still 11-6 or something after that… I know it really has no significance, but that’s gotta put us near the top of the standings for ST
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
So, my browser at work decided to fail
While I was actually doing something important no less. Can anybody update me on the game?
We lost
in similar fashion to yesterday.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
But don't worry folks
www.mlbtraderumors.com says the Mets just signed Junior Spivey to a minor league deal.
bad news
actually, you knew this was coming.
sent down: brian barton, craig, boggs, ottavino, and manning.
secretly, barton was not sent down, but up. as in on Endeavor — just a few miles away . . . .
poor allen craig. mitch boggs,we may see you again yet. otttavino, well, we’ll always have italy.
tweeted by goold.
wow
i guess allen craig never had a chance, because he did everything you could have asked for.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
If Barton is going down
doesn’t that pretty much guarantee that either Raz makes the roster or we carry four MIs again?
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
hoping it means Razzums makes the roster
but it will depend how this Skip thing goes
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
it's a sad day
I will have to retire my avatar soon
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
i'm thinking the latter.
because who remains in the outfield against a leftie? you gotta put barden in at third and put mather in left. you can’t possibly leave skip or dunc in left against a leftie.
I hope you're right
but Skip did get 133 PAs against them last year.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
I would not bet against you on this
it would explain why Thurston has been getting time in the OF
so now Barden needs to get some OF time, right?
* 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)
what!?
Barton? that pisses me off, but then again, his batting average wasn’t so great… but Craig, that’s hard to justify
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
where was Craig going to play?
They weren’t going to keep a backup 1st baseman in the major leagues. And he didn’t play an inning at 3rd base during ST, so they obviously didn’t think he could handle the position on the major league level (at least right now)
ok
true… he was just tearing the cover off the ball, I didn’t really mean it as a criticism, just as a counterpoint to my complaining about Barton being sent down
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 16, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
fair enough
i’d like to hear a subjective take on craig’s defense at 3rd, b/c iirc his defense wasn’t that bad per UZR. His bat seems to be for real, but if he can’t play anything besides 1b, his value to the org. is a lot less.
It is probably at least partly due
to Freese being the 3B in Memphis and Wallace in Springfield. They have to play him somewhere else or trade him.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
but if he was capable of defense at 3b
wouldn’t it make more sense to play him there? A good hitting 3b is more valuable than a good hitting 1b
I agree
but where are you gonna find PAs unless somebody gets moved?
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
during the regular season
I have no idea… but they would have given him a chance at 3b in the spring, at least, if they thought he could do it.
Don't disagree
I don’t understand how they can be so sure he can’t hack it without seeing him play.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
The point being
I guess, if he was as good or better than Bombs at hitting this spring, isn’t it likely that his D at 3b would have been better than Joey’s? I got the impression that this was his natural position, whereas Mather is a natural OFer?
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 Mar 17, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
that would be my inclination as well
I just don’t see why he didn’t even get a chance at 3b. Unless he’s really bad at it, but it’s not like Mather has a bunch of experience there.
Craig had always played there primarily in the past, and Mather hadn’t. Craig ripped the cover off the ball in ST, but was a 1b. Hmmm….
found a discussion of Craig on FR
defensive metrics had him at +5 and +3 at 3b last year (at Springfield).
Erik posted this from BA Prospect Handbook:
"His range is limited, his arm is no better than average and he doesn’t look smooth when throwing, but he makes plays and the Cardinals think he can stick at the hot corner"
so, in conclusion, I don’t think that answers anything except that the Cards must not think he can stick at the hot corner anymore. Since he didn’t play there at all in ST.
I don't understand sending down Barton
who is playing where? I’m so confused?
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
so the OFs left are
Luddy, Ank, Dunc, Rasmus, and Jay.
Did I miss anyone? I just can’t imagine Rasmus or Jay making the team. I think this does sound like more IF’ers in the OF.
* 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)
So, does this also mean
they will be keeping 13 pitchers?
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
the year La Russa realizes he's going to retire
is the year he finally goes all out and pencils the bullpen in for 35 starts.
so who takes over the mop-up role
even with 15 pitchers, we still need someone to take Miles’ role as the mop-up guy.
* 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)
Chris Duncan
Admit it, the mental image is pretty hilarious. He’s about 7 feet tall, but he throws like a non-gender-specific person who sucks at throwing (I know better than to upset the ladyfolk around these parts).
Maybe Jay made the team?
And Rasmus too? Mather as a right-handed back up. Thurstan to spell him?
So says, Titus Pullo (formerly The Dude)
Yeah, I'm guessing that is what we are looking at
Left Handed:
Rasmus – OF
Jay – OF
Ankiel – OF
Duncan – OF/DL
Schumaker – OF/2B
Right
Mather – OF/3B
Ludwick OF
There are 7 OF’ers still on the roster. Skip and Mather will still make the team as IF’ers as it stands now. That leaves 5 OF’ers, 1 RH – 4 LH.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 16, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
lhsp's were credited with a 14-23 w/l record in 08 vs stl
19 no decisions….leaving ahead 6 games, behind 7 games and tied 6 games.
our bullpen was very instrumental in our poor TEAM record, when a lhp started.
by ball in play on Mar 17, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe he won't keep
as many outfielders b/c two of his infielders are OFs.
Roster mix
The already on the team group is:
OF: Ank, Lud, Dunc
IF: Albert, Skip, Khalil, Bombs
C: Yadi, Stacheless
SP: Carp, Wainer, Lohse, Colonel, JP
RP: Franklin, Miller, Reyes, McClellan
That leaves seven spots with no additional catcher or starting pitchers. The pretty certain ones are:
OF: ??
IF: Thurston, Ryan
RP: Motte, Kinney
That leaves Rasmus, Jay, Barden, TGreene, Perez, Thompson, Ring, Manning, Hawksworth, Todd, Boggs, and Walters still in camp to fight for three positions.
I think TGreene has a chance to push Ryan out. Of course, we could carry five MIs counting Skip, too. I don’t think Barden has much chance and I really don’t like the chances of either Rasmus or Jay. Two pitchers will likely make it, at least for a while, and I would bet on Thompson and Manning for those positions. Who knows?
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
I'm thinking
your right on the pitchers. especially with 34 games in the first 35 days of the season.
my votes are for Perez, Hawksworth & Rasmus
i think it will be Thompson, Perez & Barden
Glaus
Perhaps TLR is as optimistic on the date of Glaus’s return as the third baseman is. In which case, Mather does become a righthanded OFer by May.
Doing a really quick once-through of our April opponents and their CBS Sportsline projected rotations, we can look at their lefty starters.
Our opening series consists of 4 games vs. Pittsburgh, which will mean a lefty starter in three of our first four games this season. So, a righthanded hitting OFer for LF would be useful.
Next, we have 3 games vs. the ’Stros, a club that will likely have two lefties, Wandy Rodriguez and Mike Hampton, in the rotation.
Thirdly, we play the Diamondbacks of Arizona. They will probably only have one lefty, Doug Davis, in their rotation.
We bookend our rematch of the 2006 “Greatest Ever” NLCS against the Metropolitans with a three-game and four-game series against the Cubbies. Each of these vaunted rivals possess two starting LHP. The Metropolitans have Santan and Oliver Perez for their starting southpaws. Chicago has Ted Lilly and Sean Marshall throwing in a southerly manner.
We end with a three-game set against the Braves, who have Tom Glavine, and then transition from April to May with a four-game set in the District versus the Senators Nationals, who have Scott Olsen and John Lannan as projected starters who are left-handed.
So, we could have a platoon need for a righthanded outfielder depending on how the matchups breakdown with our opposition’s starting rotation.
"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 revoke my statement
You are right. That was amazing. High drama and two exceptionally talented clubs. I’m just still annoyed that the 2006 NLCS was not included in its entirety on the 2006 World Series Champions DVD.
"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
nor is it available to buy, at any price
MLB is really dropping the ball there, imho.
"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd
luddy, ankiel and rasmus hit both lh and rhp's
i hope we don’t move mather to LF vs lhsp’s and start a barden, ryan type bat at 3B just because they are rhb’s. if i have to choose between rasmus, ryan and barden, i’ll want rasmus starting in the outfield, leaving mather at 3B until glaus returns vs lhsp’s.
for me, rasmus adjusting to mlb pitching, is better than ryan, t. greene or barden.
by ball in play on Mar 17, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
On second thought
Maybe Tylor Greene made the team. Against lefties, then, we would play:
Pujols, T. Greene, K. Greene, Ryan
Lud, Ank, Mather
Against righties:
Pujols, Skip, K. Greene, Mather
Lud, Ank, Dunc/Rasmus
So says, Titus Pullo (formerly The Dude)
by Titus Pullo on Mar 17, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
good god
we need to do better against pittsburgh this year, hopefully they won’t have a good start
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Mar 17, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
2009 cards commercials
the cape one and the yadi one are my favorites. the sutter one is pretty great too.
My personal favorite
is the one with K-Mac eating the chicken wings.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Mar 16, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
i loved the hurricane albert 1
Chuck Norris hit a Home Run
with his beard
by bearcatcardfan on Mar 16, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
Love that dude
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
awesome
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
perhaps too obscure for the shakespeare fest, but I have to share.
Exeunt, pursued by a Cub.
by tom s. on Mar 16, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
From the good news comes in ugly packages dept....
Luis Perdomo had his first bad day in his tryout with the Giants.
Entered with runners on first and third, gave up a double to allow both to score. Then walked three more batters and allowing the runner on second to score on one of two wild pitches in the inning. He struck out Quinlan, but was lifted after 1/3 IP, 3BB, 2WP, 3RA.
Keep it up, kid, we want you back!
does anyone know
how the Giants bullpen situation is looking?
I think it is time to wander back over to The McCovey Chronicles and check it out
* 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)
I've been following it
They’ve got three or four guys fighting for one spot. I’ve liked our chances to keep Perdomo, but he’d been performing very, very well until today.
I should have known
Well maybe he will slip up a bit more in the ext couple of weeks. I hate to wish that on the guy, but it would be nice t have him back.
* 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)
just an FYI
David Kopp (Cards minor leaguer) is blogging. I don’t know how often he’ll post, since the only entry was about a week ago. But thought this might interest some people
Could be the difference between 98 and 100 losses
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 16, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think so
Pudge is basically done offensively. They have a guy named J.R. Towles, who despite his struggles in ~200 at bats in the majors so far, has a very good minor league track record. He could easily match Pudge’s production with a lot more upside, at 1/3 of the price. The Astros have so start thinking of rebuilding, so it would make sense to try Towles as the long term option.
vivaelbeñsheets
by vivaelpujols on Mar 17, 2009 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Watching the replay of the game
who is doing the game with AL? That isn’t Dan.
* 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)
If Floppy gets on base here, Yadi has another chance to be a WBC hero!!
by BTown Birds fan on Mar 16, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions
Damn you, Floppy!!
Yadi will just have to hit a three run HR leading off the 9th (he learned that trick from Pujols).
by BTown Birds fan on Mar 16, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
what word best describes this thread? BRILLIANT
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
you should have put the BRILLIANT under the picture
It would have been more suspenseful.
vivaelbeñsheets
by vivaelpujols on Mar 17, 2009 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions
it was 3am & i was pretty much typing with my eyes closed
we are all lucky that’s the right pic & i spelled brilliant correctly
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
that's what i was going for
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Do I have this right
that these players are still in the major league camp?
T Greene
B Barden
J Jay
J Thurston
B Hawksworth
R Ring
PJ Walters
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 Mar 17, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions
Yes
I believe that’s correct.
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