Local Carpenter Reunion
by DanUpBaby on Apr 10, 2009 8:30 AM EDT
391 comments
One down, thirty-something to go.
Ideally.
He looked wonderful—he pitched wonderfully. His arm held up. There's not a lot more to say about Carp's performance because it was so typical, so like his performances back when every pitch didn't end in a curtain call and a sigh of relief, that the sheer fact of it is enough. After the hittability problems the Cardinals pitchers have had over the last few days the balls just seemed to fall differently off of hitters' bats against Carpenter, didn't they?
He's 34 years old. His pitching arm could fall off at any moment. I don't know what's going to happen, whether he's going to stay this effective or stay in the rotation or what, but for now: one down. There were times last year when I doubted he'd get this far.
Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to look that gift horse all the way in the mouth and talk a little about Dennys Reyes. You'll remember, back when the Cardinals first decided to go to Dennys, that I offered the conditional, safe thumbs-up for which I plan on becoming famous:
When Reyes was released by the Padres that July he'd made 344 appearances and was pushing thirty. In every year but two he'd shown a pronounced inability to retire right-handed batters, but it took until 2006, a year he began in the minor leagues, for somebody to limit his exposure to them. In 2006 he faced just two more righties than lefties; in 2007, twenty more left-handers; in 2008, fourteen.
If that's the Dennys Reyes the Cardinals want, they wisely looked past his early wanderings to determine that they could have him.
So far Reyes—there are almost too many great Denny's nicknames to exclusively use one, and I, personally, always get the Super BIrd, so I hesitate to choose just one—has faced three lefties, two righties, and a switch-hitter, which is alright. But the point of this line of reasoning, obviously, is that Heartland Scramble was brought in to face Nate McLouth (good) and then Ryan Doumit and Craig Monroe (???) with an enormous morale game on the line.
In general, I think La Russa is going to do an excellent job manipulating his suddenly useful lefties. And I like that he's not committed to one ninth inning pitcher. But if you're going to carry situational pitchers, you might as well not be committed to one ninth inning pitcher at a time, either.
Dennys Reyes is not, as Dan'n'Al are already fond of saying, a versatile reliever. As is so often true at the margins in baseball, where players become associated with things they can't really do because what they can do isn't interesting, he is the exact opposite of that. He's not quite Mike Myers, but he shouldn't face a righty with the game on the line unless the other pitchers in the bullpen are, or are on fire.
Okay: La Russa's an idiosyncratic guy, and while Doumit and Monroe both had the pop to make that a very miserable afternoon, they aren't murderer's row. Keeping The Diner in there, now that it's worked, makes the bullpen seem steadier than it would if La Russa had gone to Motte or McClellan with one out. But whether that was worth the risk or not is an open question.
I have to be brief this morning—I've got five more pages to write today to stay on research paper schedule. Tonight: our first look at new, improved Joel Pineiro. I predict fewer standing ovations.
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Pineiro
I saw him pitch v. the Astros a couple times last season and he pitched well against them. I hope he carries that forward to his starts v. them this season.
GO CARDS!
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Apr 10, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm optimistic
I expected him to be a great deal better last season. If he can get his shit together, we’ll have a good, deep rotation and can routinely rack up wins against other teams’ back-of-the-order guys like we did in ‘04. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a sweep that’d put us better than double-over-.500, which is what I’d like to be reaching for all season instead of this 5-games, 10-games over stuff.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hated that
5-10 over ping pong game almost all of last year. It got really annoying. Just when it looked like they were about to make a run… lose 2 out of 3.
by Scarecrow7775 on Apr 10, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tony needs to get hip to rate-stats
even Al Hrabosky pointed out once that the way to the playoffs is to just win one more game per week than you lose. I’d rather shoot for winning two games for every loss, but I’m unmerciful to the fans of other teams.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't blame TLR
I like his “win the series” mantra. I think that’s a manageable goal for players to grasp. Got 3 against whoever? Ok, lets win the series.
It somehow makes sense to me. It’s graspable or something.
by Scarecrow7775 on Apr 10, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Win the series is good
if you take two games of a three game series, you’re 2-1, and 2X.500
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like that...
But I also like his “Don’t lose a series mantra”. If you’re down 2-1 in a four game series, win the next one and get even. It’s the whole game within a game, within a game, within a game series that I’m fond of.
I guess as someone that manages a team of 22 employees, I find it intriguing the way that TLR is able to keep his teams focussed on what’s important within the game (situational hitting, knowing time-score-situation) and outside of the game during the course of the season (win each series, focus on the off days on the next opponent, prepare for each game of each series with the same focus on doing things right and exploiting the other teams weaknesses).
"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 Apr 10, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree w/you'all
The season is long. So having short term goals to motivate players keeps them from burning out.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I suppose
that’s the difference between “competing” and “winning”
by Scarecrow7775 on Apr 10, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like to think
that if you compete well, you’re going to win more often then if you don’t compete as well, and you’re going to feel a lot better about winning and losing when you leave it all out there and play the game the right way.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on Apr 10, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
who are the Astros throwing at us today?
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the ghost
of Mike Hampton
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can’t believe I thought he would be a super-good pickup last off season.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You weren't the only one
I still would have liked the idea – much like Chris Benson or Pavano this year. Guys that have demonstrated some effectiveness at some point. If you can buy them low enough rolling the dice is a good idea in my opinion.
by birdo rojo on Apr 10, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ponson was good at one time
and that didn’t work out well at all. I think Misters Ponson and Wells have soured me on the reclamation projects for awhile.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of Mr. Ponson
he’s starting the Royals’ home opener today against the Yankees. How the hell did he beat out Bannister and/or Hochevar?
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not as impressed with Dayton Moore
as I thought I would be. Signing Guillen made me shrug. Trading for Jacobs made my jaw drop. Giving Ponson the roster spot over Hochever was just pure lunacy.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It gets worse
Horacio Ramirez is starting for them tomorrow.
And then there’s Kyle Farnsworth and Willie Bloomquist.
At least he drafts well. They’ll have a great AAA team, one would think.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's not working
with much of a budget. You have to sign guys that are willing to play in KC.
by Toddius on Apr 10, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Moore
is working with a slightly different model than lots of clubs. And with what he’s working with, he at least has pieces in place to make a run. The Royals are in a lot better shape than they were in a few years ago.
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but Farnsworth?
a 2yr/ 9.25M contract to Farnsworth? It doesn’t matter if you sign guys that are willing to play there if they suck. They would have been smarter giving that kind of money to Professor Farnsworth.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good news, everyone!
I have some very bad news!
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
by the red baron on Apr 10, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
what about
Carp, Piniero, Wellemeyer, were all reclamation projects for the cards….
…as were looper, kile, and countless others.
Cardwash Definition: Birds on the Nat.
OHHH YEAHHHH!!!!!!!
by cardwash on Apr 10, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't go messing up my anger
with logic.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 11, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was DEAD wrong on that one
I suggested at one point that we trade So Taguchi, Aaron Miles, and Jason Motte for Hampton in the 2007-08 offseason. (They needed a backup CF and a backup MIF at the time and hadn’t seen Motte pitch yet.)
In conclusion, I’m glad Mo doesn’t return my phone calls.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
knowing the Cards he'll still probaly throw a no hitter
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson
by gdm426 on Apr 10, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sadly enough
there’s a lot of truth to that
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know it's just a joke
but the Cards haven’t been no hit since 1990 – by Fernando Valenzuela. Hopefully we make it to 20 years – and hopefully it doesn’t happen at the hand of Mike Hampton.
by Toddius on Apr 10, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't he dominate us on opening day 2001? (maybe 2000, 2002?)
I feel like he got traded to the Rockies, demolished us on opening day at Coors one of those years, and everybody said he’d be the best pitcher ever for the Rockies, and his 80-year, $35 billion contract was worth it.
Oops.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
more like the corpse
of Mike Hampton
by Willie McGee's Twin on Apr 10, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still wish we could swap Piniero for Looper...
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Apr 10, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll go out on a limb
and say that Pineiro will handle the Astros offense better than Looper does against the Cubs’.
In fact, I’ll put 20,000 internet dollars on it, since I may have been a little giddy when I bet the 10,000 that Greene would finish the season over .350 and need to make my money back.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So far
Reyes has looked good. His stuff looked so good yesterday that I would have kept him in there against anybody.
As for Carpenter, it is amazing how he can be out for so long with injuries, as he has in his career and always come back sharp as a tack, just like he never missed a start. It is truly amazing; I have never seen a pitcher that can do this.
by ridgesee on Apr 10, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Reyes
I will now channel my gut. Am I the only one who feels comfortable when Dennys comes into the game? The way he looks tells me that he must be good at his job because professional sports would not tolerate a Flores-esque year (nay, month) from a guy who has Dennys’s physique. And he seems to have great confidence and control in his stuff, working quickly, and peppering the zone with pitches that move. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a competent LO3OGY that I might be overreacting.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think he did the trust fall
But yeah. A sight for sore eyes.
"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 Apr 10, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That trust fall was awesome, if somewhat misguided (judging by last season's results)
Did Wainwright do it this year?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't know, but it made weekend SC
In their opening montage. The only part of ESPN that matters.
"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 Apr 11, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Imagine if the Blue Jays
had kept Carp. Him and Halladay at the top of the rotation? Yowza!
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 10, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Carp wasn't Carp until
he got with Duncan.
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 Apr 10, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll give Dunc some credit,
but just a little. Carp is starting with a shitload of talent and there are other good pitching coaches out there. Plus, Halladay’s a similar pitcher and he could have learned from him.
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 10, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I give Dunc and Matt Morris credit
I believe they taught him the cutter that became a legit out pitch.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Apr 10, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve said and continue to say Matty Mo’ should be on the staff. He should be allowed to work himself through like the Secret Weapon has. I’d love to see him as a pitching coach for us one day.
I’ve heard/read a lot of stories that Matty Mo’ is a master at finding tipped pitches.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
bench coach extraordinaire (how the heck do you spell that?)
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like that
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes!
i knew i deserved that 5th grade school spelling bee trophy!
so what if it was only out of 15 people
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Somone else who's good at picking up tells
Jimmy Ballgame.
He’d bring some insight into destroying the Cubs as well.
From Odysseus to Mo.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was good to see him at Bush
The camera showed Jimmy with his family at Bush. I am glad that whole media flop with TLR and Jim Ed is over with. It would be silly if that lingered.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He had an interview
w/ KSDK last weekend and was still pretty critical and a little bitter towards Tony. Oh well.
It was cool to see his kid wearing a cards jersey.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bummer
I am sorry to hear that.
Thumbs up on Jr. wearing Card’s paraphernalia.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he co-hosted the ITD Morning After on Monday
and it was great. He had a lot to say about La Russa, the opening day lineup, his thoughts on Skip, McGuire, his mysterious hamstring injuries every March, which Cardinals team he thought was the best (this surprised me) etc…
You can listen here. Scroll down to the Monday April 6th clips.
by adiueordie on Apr 10, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
direct link
http://www.insidestlaudio.com/ITD_Audio/040709-10Email.mp3
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
isn't that
just the last segment?
and for tuesday’s show, not monday’s?
by adiueordie on Apr 10, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
coaching staff of
Matt Mo
Mark McGuire
Mike Matheny
Any other M&M combos that have contributed to improving the current team?
by spencegrif on Apr 10, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mark Mulder
By not being on it.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
mam.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well played, madame
and apologies for my assumptions
by spencegrif on Apr 10, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duncan is machine at reclaiming pitchers
He doesn’t get enough credit for this. Hell, Jeff Weaver was amazing in red. Need I say more.
by thinkbluebleedblue on Apr 10, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
another myth
Weaver w/ the Cards —
5.18 ERA, 4.86 K/9, 1.73 HR/9, 5.71 FIP
He was awful — positively awful.
He pitched fairly well in the playoffs that year and people think that he was great as a Cardinal. He simply wasn’t.
by chuckb on Apr 10, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sucking during the regular season
allowed him to surprise the Tigers. (everything is a TLR/Duncan conspiracy)
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was terrible
absolutely terrible. but had like 2-3 ICE COLD games.
by spencegrif on Apr 10, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
please!
Carp’s always had super stuff. He’d have been a great pitcher in Toronto or anywhere else. They foolishly gave up on him. The idea that Carp wouldn’t have been Carp w/o Duncan is positively laughable.
by chuckb on Apr 10, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not following
Carp (baseball-reference):
ERA ERA+ WHIP BB/9 SO/9
STL (6yrs) 3.07 141 1.087 1.9 7.6
TOR (6 yrs) 4.83 98 1.510 3.4 6.3
I can’t dispute that Carp always had super stuff, because I am not sure how to quantify/assess “stuff”. But I look at the results of his stuff, and there is a significant difference. I think your point is that having Dunc was a necessary condition to Carp having success. But I am not sure why it would not be plausible to say that Dunc should get some credit for the change in results (I understand that you were not addressing this question).
Again, I don’t disagree that Carp always had the stuff or potential. But why did he blossom in STL? What were the most important factors? If only I knew the answer, I would be paid bucks as a consultant.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops correction
I meant to say:
“I think your point is that having Dunc was a necessary condition to Carp having success is laughable. "
Which I agree. Dunc is not the only decent pitching coach in the majors, and other factors also had an influence, perhaps an even greater influence.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never said he was bad before he got with Dunc
I just said he wasn’t “Carp” until he got with Duncan. There is a positive effect of StL – see totalloser’s numbers above.
And I’m not sure, that after 6 years, that would qualify as giving up on him.
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 Apr 10, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 cents
I wasn’t able to watch the game yesterday, but I listened to it. It was great watching the recap video. Hard, electric stuff. Late live movement. Beauty.
I was a bit surprised to see Reyes get the call. I sort of assumed it would be Motte. You know, get him back up on the horse and all that. I think he’ll be a good to great pitcher so I think it’d be nice to seem him get a chance asap after his first outing. Granted, the stakes yesterday were higher than one would expect from the forth game of the year against a perennial cellar dweller… but if that was Tony’s rationale, then why Reyes?
Well, it all worked out, so that’s all the fretting I’ll allow myself.
I find myself hoping against hope, common sense, and two guys with hangovers that JoPin will have a good year.
by Scarecrow7775 on Apr 10, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I hadn't thought of Dan's point
that using Reyes for the whole inning was a gamble that made the bullpen look more, not less, solid.
I expect Motte will be getting any of the save opps in this Astros series. After the switch-hitting Berkman, I don’t see any lefties to get concerned about on their roster.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been wishing that they would have done this for years. I don’t mind the closer role, I understand why it’s there.
Any other time during a game you pick matchups, in the ninth – Tony/Dunc hasn’t been. One set guy.
When they did it last year they used Izzy a ton of times early on (I’d have to look up exact count, but I think he was used 12+ times in April last year alone).
Motte will get plenty of chances, but using a LOOGY there was an easy call. Motte’s had a bit of exposure already with the Pirates, it was a one run game, and it was match up based.
Though I have to say I probably would have had Motte pitch to the PH, but Reyes seemed to be breezing through – so I can’t complain
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
One thing bugged me about
watching the game on TV…did anyone else notice that there was one break where Al was in EVERY commercial? The only thing he wasn’t shilling for was Dr. Johns, thank god.
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 Apr 10, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that's SOP on FSN
Your either going to see al or dan on most of the local commercials. I was actually kinda shocked some one ponied up the cash to get whitey to do the carpenter local
"Chuck Norris CAN divide by zero"
by elirock83 on Apr 10, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not living in St. Louis,
I don’t get to see the local boys do the games. I recognize that Al = Al Hrabowsky, the mad Hungarian. Who’s this Dan guy?
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 Apr 10, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks.
So, from the comments on this blog, you guys aren’t real fond of their abilities, am I reading that right?
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 Apr 10, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually like Dan,
but can’t stand Al, so I usually turn the music up while watching games.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Dan, too
And I’m a big fan of Ricky Horton, although he’s not too popular around here either.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i also like ricky..
I guess we could be in the minority here, though.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I, too, like Ricky and Dan
Al just brings Dan down.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Treat them as a pair
Some VEBers, including myself think that they are ok as a team. Dan plays with Al’s mind sometimes which is funny to see.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Ricky a lot
and Dan’n’Al don’t bother me, honestly. I just think they’re prone to making typical announcer mistakes, like assuming Dennys Reyes is versatile because he is pitching to a right-hander at that very moment.
by DanUpBaby on Apr 10, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
or thinking that K. Greene
will probably be a defensive upgrade over Izturis.
It took me a while to put together Al’s catchphrase of “You know, it really is,” and your use of it when channeling them in your posts, but it clicked the last time — good stuff.
by phesto on Apr 10, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it could be worse
we could have bob brenly
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
eeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
CF
I imagine Rasmus excited to be back in CF yesterday, then realizing around the third inning that he should have brought a lawn chair.
by bobeans on Apr 10, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Channel your excitement
Think about it this way. You should be excited that he could have brought a lawn chair because Chris Carpenter was Chris Carpenter for seven innings.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Reading the P-D's story...
Rasmus wasn’t the only OFer who could have brought a lawn chair:
Carpenter allowed one hit to 26 batters faced while using only 92 pitches, more than two-thirds of them strikes. He threw seven pitches in the first inning, eight in the second and at one point retired 14 consecutive hitters…Carpenter struck out seven, walked two and only needed one outfield putout versus the Pirates’ lefthanded-heavy lineup.
It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if at some point infielders must play in the outfield
it should be when carpenter is starting
by adiueordie on Apr 10, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does Rasmus sit tonight?
With a lefty on the mound, the only given OF starter is Lud. I’m guessing it’s Rasmus’ turn to sit.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
Seriously... what were Rich Harden's parents thinking?!?!?!
by stltrav09 on Apr 10, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If the currrent rotation holds up
It’s his turn off.
by Evilfrog on Apr 10, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if that rotation holds up
I am gonna…I don’t know what I am gonna do, but I won’t be happy doing it.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But it could be worse
It could be Ank, Dunc, Lud 4 out of 5 games, then Rasmus takes over for one of them at a time every 5th game
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you make a good point
why does the “it could be worse” logic make me feel better? I don’t like that at all.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just think
We’ve faced two lefties, and we haven’t seen Brendan Ryan in the OF yet. Small victories.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
and looking forward
we have Hampton, Wandy, Doug Davis, and probably more Lefties on the horizon…so it shouldn’t be much longer
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Rasmus
could always come in late in the game as a sub for Dunc on defense and sneak in an AB or two.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Apr 10, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im guessing that duncan sits tonight
since rasmus is good against lefties. then rasmus might sit the next one or two
by huts04 on Apr 10, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duncan has no business
playing against a lefty…period. He’s always been terrible against lefties and offers next to nothing defensively. As I said prior to opening day, even if Rasmus is awful vs. lefties he’s at least a plus defensive player and should start over Duncan.
by chuckb on Apr 10, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hoping for a shift from Piñata to Piñadequate
The guy did have a couple nice years for the Mariners… Of course, he got progressively worse for them too. But FIP thinks he was unlucky last year. tRA thinks he sucked, hard. Somebody in a thread the other day brought up the question of whether we’ll see an improvement from Piñeiro to match a regression from Colonel… if Todallion takes a step back it sure would be nice for Piñata to step up a bit. Or maybe they’ll just both be good? Think you two could handle that?
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Or
Joel (Joe-L) to Joel (Jole).
I do think that he’ll be a bit better than last year, but overall [Welley + Piniero 2008] will be > [Welley + Piniero 2009].
The Godfather himself has decided to grace us with his presence. This is his damn house. He sleeps 20 feet away.
by thegodfather on Apr 10, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like it if you were wrong
but yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to be wrong too
It’s possible that Welley just needs to get it together and then he’ll be dominant like he was last year. If that’s the case the rotation will be solid. If not, well, more franklins.
The Godfather himself has decided to grace us with his presence. This is his damn house. He sleeps 20 feet away.
by thegodfather on Apr 10, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dennys' Nickname
Has to be “Moons over my Hammy”! fits his look perfectly!
by thp0344 on Apr 10, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
"The Diner"
It works so wonderfully because it harkens the diner, Denny’s, and that which Dennys undoubtedly frequently is, the dinner.
From Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: din·er
Pronunciation: \ˈdī-nər\
Function: noun
Date: 1815
1: a person who dines (as in a restaurant)
2 a: dining car b: a restaurant usually resembling a dining car in shape
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Are you saying Dennys resembles a dining car in shape?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm cool with any name
as long as it doesn’t lead to the Grand Slam!
by thp0344 on Apr 10, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I, too, am a big proponent for
The Diner. That’s a fantastic nickname for Dennys.
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
although his original nickname
The Big Sweat still has appeal.
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Somebody, in the game thread i believe,
suggested “Moons over my LOOGY”. I vote for that one since it’s not just a menu item.
I also like the diner
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
AlxFritz
I believe is the Author of “Moons Over My LOOGY”.
So far, that is my favorite one.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Apr 10, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
rooty-tooty-fresh-n-loogy?
help me out here? was that the dish? was that even a dennys dish?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Apr 10, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think that was an IHOP dish
or Google thinks that anyway
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there you go. ah well.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Apr 10, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Denny's versus IHOP
theoretical situation where Reyes pitches to Alfonso Soriano.
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I never left there
feelin’ like hoppin’.
They should call it “I-Need-A-Wheelchair”
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This guy's going to be fun
So what was The Big Sweat thinking after the save?
Reyes, who turns 32 this month, is on his eighth team since his previous major-league save. That last one came when he struck out pinch-hitter Eli Marrero. After Rick Ankiel tracked down Monroe’s fly ball in deep center to end Thursday’s gave, Reyes asked for the ball.
He’s keeping it because it was from a save. “I’ve got three of those balls,” he said. “I’m only a little behind Trevor (Hoffman). I’ve got about 550 left to get.”
To be exact that would be 551 left to get but it’s one more that Hoff has this year and he’s got ten years to catch up. I wonder which will come first, another Reyes save or Trevor’s debut for the Brewers? With Tony calling the shots I leaning toward Reyes.
"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin
by That's a Winner on Apr 10, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You're not leaning toward Reyes
It’s his gravitational pull that’s sucking you in
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
That gets a rec!
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Apr 10, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just thinking....
Looking at stats from the starts presented so far in the NL…. I would classify Carp’s outing as the 2nd best of this young season from around the league, second only to Lowe’s impressive opening night start.
7.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 7K, 2BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, .042 BAA. (I know it’s early, only one start, early season caveats. et. al. yadda yadda yadda) but he leads the league in BAA, and trails only Lowe in WHIP.
I think considering all of the caveats, and what this start could possibly represent (crossing things which should not be crossed, polishing and gently rapping on the finest piece of wood around, holding breath) that this will likely be one of the most impressive starts made this year in the NL. Carpenter wasn’t just adequate, he wasn’t just the Carp of old, he was Carp at his best. 94 mph fb, 91 mph slider, good riding movement on his pitches beautiful command.
I like where this could lead
Carp, Wainwright, Lohse, Wellenmeyer, and (a pissed off chip on his shoulder walk year) Pinata.
by streamman on Apr 10, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wonderful prose
Carpenter wasn’t just adequate, he wasn’t just the Carp of old, he was Carp at his best.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i thought carp threw a sinker, not a slider
does he throw a slider, too? or are these the same pitch and i just never knew?
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Apr 10, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he
throws a cutter that sits at 90mph.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
doesn't a Carpenter have to have a cutter?
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Whatever it is
He was sawing through that lineup.
…
too much?
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
...brought the hammer down?
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
ok, ok... last one i swear...
the outfielders during the game looked…. board?
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but their lineup doesn't have a lot of Studs.
I just think he took a Measured approach with each hitter, and together with Duncan’s Blueprint for how to get them out, avoided Screw-ups and Nailed down the victory.
by Ray Lankford on Apr 10, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Hahahaha
That sums it up pretty well
The Godfather himself has decided to grace us with his presence. This is his damn house. He sleeps 20 feet away.
by thegodfather on Apr 10, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carp is my idol.
I even named my 11 month old rottweiler after him in good faith looking forward to this season.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OBEY MY DOG!
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What name did you give it?
Carp? Chris? Ace? Cy?
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carpenter is one
of his middle names. Kimbo Tank Hoss Carpenter Smoke Von Putz…. Kimbo = big & black, Tank & Hoss – his dad and granddad, carp, Smoke = Tony Stewart, von putz – my family’s name from wwwaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy back. I went a little overboard, but it just came together so i ran with it.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at one of the exhibition games in Memphis
and the drunk guy sitting in front of me told me he named his dogs Yadi, Skip, and PuJo. He said that poor PuJo didn’t make it.
by WyoCardsFan on Apr 10, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not enough grit
i have a dog named Yadi as well
by adiueordie on Apr 10, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lets start a club!
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to $hit in the cereal here....
but man, it was still one game, right? Look, I’m as thrilled with the process and results as everyone else. Carp. Was. Nasty.
However, in the interest of cosistency (yes, did that on purpose), maybe we should just enjoy it and not make too big of a deal about it. Call it not wanting to jinx it, whatever.
I mean, when a bunch of folks were decidedly excited in the other direction (see Opening Day), they were mostly knocked back because “it’s only 1 game” and thus apparently those results and fan emotions shouldn’t weigh so heavily. I think we’d do well to use the same approach here.
[ducks]
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's no levelheaded rational thinking in baseball!
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Health (particularly with Carp) is slightly different than performance
Expectations are important here. I expect the bullpen to blow over ten saves a season. Against the backdrop of nothing, a ninth inning implosion is magnified on Opening Day. However, whenever we get a dominating start from Chris Carpenter, it is something to write home about in celebration. In short, we cannot compete for the playoffs without a healthy Chris Carpenter. The falloff from replacing him with that proverbial Replacement Player is so dramatic that we would be all but crippled, especially given what a significant share of our payroll he receives. Every start we get from him is much more important to the big picture, 162-game season than any appearance by a reliever.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I fully agree with you
I tried to make every inclusion to allow that it was only one game/start (without actually saying it ,granted) and an early one at that.
AND I fully expect there to be those moments where he will struggle, and I expect there to still be / come the time at which Carp will miss a turn or two through the rotation (Hopefully no more) due to soreness/shoulder crankiness. I simply just wanted to point out how special of a moment I really think that yesterday’s start was. Especially considering what Carp and the Cards went through to get it. And you are right, I don’t want to Jinx it either.
You sir are correct, we should temper our emotions here in the same direction, and that is back to a modicum of moderation. I was one of the people that was excited to be at the game Monday and able to just delight in the fact that Sauce was up and tossing (can you really call what he does a toss) in the bigs and getting the opportunity to ride out the storm he created. So I guess I should find something negative to say about Carp’s start yesterday….
uhhhmmmm???
The fu#&er missed hitting his homerun in the 3rd, damned you Carp, if you are going to make us pay you for the last two years I expect you to hit a homerun everystart
I seriously have a hard time finding something negative to say…
But, you are right, we should temper our emotions.
I just feel so warm and fuzzy inside.
by streamman on Apr 10, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
totally understandable...
I just feel like people get shat on when they get upset and post and this is a glaring example of the same logic people used to crap on the angry fans’ opinions on Day 1 basically being tossed out the window because, well, we LIKE this outcome, so that logic need not apply anymore.
Not trying to pick a fight. I just tend to point out stuff like this a lot…yeah, it makes me tons of friends.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
like Khalil?
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Khalil kinda creeps me out...
not sure if I’d hang with him. I don’t know what it is.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's got the face
of a man who knows what it’s like to kill somebody. Just has that look.
by arch support on Apr 10, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
aaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaaaaa
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there is a big difference though
getting all pissy over one blown save is , in my opinion, goofy as hell.
Beiing excited that Carp seems to back is to be expected.
Plus happy emotions are always better than negative ones. They make you live longer. Living longer means more baseball.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only thing that could make me happier
than Carp being back is if I hadn’t missed the game because my radiator exploded while driving into Chicago for a conference yesterday morning.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"being excited that Carp seems to be back is to be expected"
And again, I was excited too. Carp. Was. Nasty.
However, by that rationale, “being UPSET that MOTTE seems overmatched is be expected.”
Same sentence, just replace one emotion with a negative one, one player with another guy who was incredibly hyped throughout the off-season, and each guy’s “seems to be ____” status as of one game and they’re equivalent thought processes. The only thing is that for some, one of these is irrational, unfounded, goofy as hell, whatever and for the other it’s, well, just being an emotionally invested fan.
I can certainly recognize the perspective that this might be apples-to-oranges to some, given Carp’s history and potential to absolutely dominate. But man, the way people were blasting Cards’ fans for being upset that a guy who was touted as a key contributor to the team as he completely imploded with a 2-run lead in the 9th inning of Opening Day (after our BP’s struggles last year) was at best misguided and and maybe more accurately, a bit hypocritical IMO.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beyond getting pissy
over one blown save, people were acting as if that was the end of the season. Showing excitement over Carp doing well hasn’t led to anyone claiming we’re going to win it all.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WE'RE GOING TO WIN IT ALL!
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 Apr 10, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why should we temper our emotions?
More than anything, I think people are celebrating Carp’s triumph over his myriad injuries. He didn’t just pitch; he pitched beautifully. Some of us dreamed that day would come, but figured it wouldn’t.
If Carp keeps pitching like that, we have a chance. Hope is alive, and I do not want to temper that emotion.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
see right above....
Again, not trying to pick a fight.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looking forward
Saturday’s Wainwright v. Oswalt matchup should be great.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes it should
If Carpenter stays healthy we will have a lot of good match ups against team’s aces this year.
by Evilfrog on Apr 10, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Get some help
I’m load testing a server for the UofI today, we’re hoping to get 100 connections, but would ideally like to get 500. So if anyone’s willing to open a browser to a pageand leave it open for the next half hour:
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yup
We’re trying to see whether more resources need to be thrown at the server to handle 500 or so connections reliably, so far, very good. We peaked at 135 from the media developers listserv, but I’d like to see if I can max it out now that the official test is over.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm surprised nobody has
mentioned Wallace’s big 2 HR, 6 RBI game last . Could he make it to STL sometime this year; get in the 3rd base mix if Glaus doesn’t rehab sucessufully.
by ridgesee on Apr 10, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I certainly hope so
Wallace will have to be making AAA pitchers suffer before the ASB. Having him at AA is just unfair to the rest of the league.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah,
I think Wallace’s stay at AA is gonna be short.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dammit
I gotta get to some of these games then before he leaves.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Apr 10, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I wish it were nicer outside
The Godfather himself has decided to grace us with his presence. This is his damn house. He sleeps 20 feet away.
by thegodfather on Apr 10, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope they keep him there until at least the all star break
Give him at bats. Give him games in the field.
AAA for the rest of the year and maybe a sept callup. I’m fine waiting for 2010 to see him in our infield, if needed.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he continues to pound AA
might as well get him to AAA sooner than later. And he damn well better be in our infield in 2010. I think if they are willing to sacrfice D up the middle with Skip’s glove and bat, if Wallace’s glove is adequate we sure the hell better see him in the lineup next year.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeez
Right handed pitchers would have no chance against that lineup. Seriously they can go Schumaker, Rasmus, Pujols, Ludwick, Wallace, Ankiel, Greene, Molina Pitcher. Good god.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Apr 10, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Better sub Duncan for Ankiel
Ankiel won’t be back, I fear. Still, RHP would be laid to waste.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brett Wallace will
be the solution to the “protecting Pujols” so-called dilemma. He’ll be our #4 hitter by the end of 2011.
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 10, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And who says
Greene will still be here next year?
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 Apr 10, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i wonder if it would be worth bringing him up
then we would have his bat off the bench and he could work with oquendo and pettini on his defense everyday it might be better for him in the long run. im sure he could at least handle playing defense in the big leagues anyways
by huts04 on Apr 10, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not so sure
In as much as I respect Oquendo and Pettini as great coaches, the dude needs in game training. Just working on 3B on the side while he sits on the bench does not make any sense to me. September call up is probably an appropriate time unless we actually need a regular 3B. I think the triumvirate of Freese, Thurston, and Ryan will be ok (w/Mather up sometime soon?).
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
by totalloser on Apr 10, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like how Dennys give us a veritable cornucopia of nicknames to placate our hunger
Heartland Scramble is classic DanUP
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm looking forward to more in the future
If he ever pitches 2 innings? I’ll have the two strikeouts, two groundouts, two fly-outs breakfast please.
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just hope we never have to use the nickname
Grand Slam
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My saying for Denny's
I hope we never use my saying for Denny’s – “You don’t go to Denny’s, you end up at Denny’s”
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
by Solanus on Apr 10, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
man i'm hungry
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson
by gdm426 on Apr 10, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
I could really use some breakfast right about now, but then again I’m about to go to lunch
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the by
pooches in the park tickets went on sale this morning for any of you dog owners>
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Are you taking Yadi again this year?
by cardsgirl95 on Apr 10, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
poor doggie
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Have you really gone to this?
Is it cool? My wife and I are big dog people and are moving to STL in May. Does the dog get to stay there for the whole game? It sounds like the makings of a trainwreck. I’d be interested in if it’s cool and worth the cash.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We went last year and it was great.
They have us in the scoreboard patio, mvp deck area. The dogs stay the whole game. Buffet, drinks, doggy swimming pools and treats. I didn’t see any trouble last year.
by momup on Apr 10, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cool...thanks!
That’s all I was waiting for…just 1 person to say it is a good time and that the dogs stay the whole time. I bought 2.
Me, my wife, and our Golden Retriever Mia will be there…..
Just a warning: She has like 3 extra bladders that she only uses when she’s excited and meets new people/dogs. There is a good chance she pees like 30 times before the National Anthem.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe she can leave her mark on the field.
They have all the dogs and owners walk around the warning track before the game. I will try to get Danup to go with me but I think the only thing that might entice him to come is the unlimited nachos.
by momup on Apr 10, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unlimited nachos?
I need to borrow someone’s dog.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HA!
Yeah, the unlimited buffet and food/beer sold me. Oh, and quality time at the ballpark with my family! That is great too.
I did this unlimited patio thing one time (my own bachelor party) and my God if I didn’t make every effort to get my money’s worth of everything. I even think my Best Man and I made a quick “fan-shot” appearance on the TV broadcast….his wife told us that she saw us with cheese just all over our faces, probably following several beers.
Sounds like a great day though.
by goodymobb on Apr 10, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you say unlimited beer?
/books flight to St. Louis for dog day at the park, steals one of TLR’s dogs, will return after game
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All-inclusive areas are the way to go
They were discounted with a promo code during the offseason, I bought some for around $65 bucks apiece. That’s just like four beers and a plate of ‘chos and you’ve already turned a profit.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if you sign up for e-mails from the Cards site
you can get them a lot cheaper than that. I’ve had offers for $40 and $50 respectively.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
also worth keeping an eye on stubhub. while there’s quite a bit of ‘making a buck’, a watchful eye can nail some solid deals under a ‘they just want to get rid of them’ mantra
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw that
I saw a few rows back behind home plate for $40 or so for weekday games.
That’s an insanely good deal, even if I have to pay extra for beer.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just had the email
forwarded on to me from a friend on the Rolen pack. It sounds like he’s holding out on me.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
$90
ticket and unlimited beer and food. at least that’s what I paid for the section in centerfield. it was the rain delay game against HOU that Lee hit the HR to win.
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did the unlimited beer last through the rain delay?
And if so, has your liver forgiven you yet? I know mine wouldn’t have…
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they cut off beer at 10:00
but being the resourceful beer lover that I am, took 3 of the water bottles(i want to say 32 oz ea) and filled them up cup by cup and was thus able to have beer til midnight. My liver forgave me, but it was a close call for the rest of my body. somehow I ended up outside club buca at 3 am yelling my area code (217) because some dangerous looking fellas were yelling their’s (314 vs 618)
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
256 mf'er!!
We keeps it real in the N. Ala.!
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does TLR come out to
meet the pooches?
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 10, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't see Tony
Quite a few players were out on the field and in the tunnel. They stopped to talk and pet the dogs. My sisters Great Dane was quite a hit with them A few got their cameras and took a picture with her.
by momup on Apr 10, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If people were as well behaved
as those dogs were last year, it’d be the most polite crowd ever.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually got stuck at the Pooches game
a couple of years ago, by mistake. Now, I happen to be one of those people whom dogs immediately begin barking and growling at as soon as I look their direction, possibly because of the pure evil and all, and I cannot stand to be around the things. Worst game experience of my life, but even have to admit, there was remarkably little actual bad behaviour by the canus crowd. (Reactions to me personally notwithstanding.)
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
by the red baron on Apr 10, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dogs can sense evil,,,,,,,,
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson
by gdm426 on Apr 10, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
... and bacon.
- So, to ease his pain, you're supposed to take him to a ball game?
- Yes.
by SleepyCA on Apr 10, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
How has Schumaker been at second?
I’ve been away from baseball the past few days.
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not an auspicious beginning.
So far he’s thrown wide to second to ruin a double play, thrown wide to first for an error, and failed to snag the grounder that ended Carp’s no-hit bid yesterday. But it’s early yet.
by santiagofish on Apr 10, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The grounder wasn't so bad though
it was the missed double play that really cost the no-hit bid to end yesterday. That was for the best though, I would have hated to see Carp pulled with a no-hitter going , and I would have hated more to see Carp get the CG no-hitter and then have his arm fall off (and you just KNOW that would have happened).
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FWIW
TLR was quoted after the game saying Carp was done after 7 no matter what
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and he should have been
no need to tempt the GOB
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but the GOB hate it
when you pull a guy in the middle of a no-hitter.
There’s always a price to pay…
- So, to ease his pain, you're supposed to take him to a ball game?
- Yes.
by SleepyCA on Apr 10, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I guess we got two birds with one stone
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
skip knew this
that’s why he strategically “missed” the groundball. much like he strategically didn’t hit lefties last year and has Tony sit him against most lefties. that way, when it counts this post season, he’ll surprise the other team by crushing lefties and making web gems on a nightly basis
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i hope
the opposition isn’t reading this…….
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Apr 10, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
damnit!
sorry skip, i let the proverbial cat out of the bag
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Could be worse
but he’s been far from perfect. He made a mistake starting a DP the other night. I also think diving for the groundball while Carp was pitching was a mistake. From the looks of the replay he was way to close to dive. I am glad to see he’s not afraid to dive though. He’s always going to give you the effort. His instincts will come with playing the position, hopefully.
by Toddius on Apr 10, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that Skip's exploits running down to first have proven he isn't afraid to dive.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 10, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think given the early nature of his conversion
and the difficulty of what he is trying to do… he has looked passable for this early in the game, and has shown some potential promise. rebounded well two night ago after making the error, to make a couple of respectable plays.
but then again skip is one of my favorite cards right now (I don’t know why but I always loved him coming up out of the minors and was ecstatic when he broke with the big club the first time). I am also wearing rose colored spectacles today as well.
by streamman on Apr 10, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he has made a few errors
but has also made a few really good plays that I was surprised he could make this early in his 2B career
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Schumaker doesn't seem...
good enough to have value if he’s a butcher at second. Shouldn’t we send him to triple-a for a year and try again in 2010? That would freeze his service time, but we would be giving away his age 29 season…
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Should read...
good enough with the bat to have value…
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We would be giving away
Skip Schumaker entirely. He wouldn’t clear waivers, far worse 4th 5th outfielders out there.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
10@10
Goold’s new Birdland daily feature is a must-read, IMO. Today, I thoroughly enjoyed this paragraph:
During their season-opening home stand, the Houston Astros celebrated the 10 years of Minute Maid Park (nee Enron). That included an ovation for Jeff Kent, whose home run against the Cardinals in the 2004 NLCS is considered one of the most memorable homers in the building’s history. Perhaps the most memorable wasn’t hit by an Astro at all.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i never get tired of that.
i need that as wallpaper for my computer.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Apr 10, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pujols' thoughts
(paraphrased with slight translation differences)
I’m gona blow that mother-effin train up. why the eff do they even have a frickin train in this amusement park
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Mallpark"
I’m not sure who came up with this term, but I read it somewhere. My friends and I call the Astros’ stadium “Enron Mallpark.”
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Nice article
Still, he used “begs the question” incorrectly. Boo(-urns)!
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you look closely
you can see the pile of excrement slowly settling into the bottom of Lidge’s britches in that there pictograph
by streamman on Apr 10, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My local Best Buy used to show that clip in HD
all the time to promo FoxSports HD. I’d KILL for a Blu-Ray copy of that game. I have it on regular DVD but I need it in full 1080p.
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 10, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I used to go to Best Buy
just to watch it in HD
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yahoo Power Rankings...
Check out those rankings and be sure to look at the Astros line…According to the author, the homerun above still hasn’t landed. Priceless!
by OldieWan on Apr 10, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh my God!(says andy pettite)
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Apr 10, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Man Joe Struass is such a hack
Major League Baseball announced Thursday the 50-game suspension of minor-league pitcher Deryk Hooker after the former seventh-round draft choice tested positive for a performance enhancing substance.
While every other source says it was a “Drug of Abuse” which is
1. Cocaine
2. LSD
3. Marijuana
4. Opiates (e.g., Heroin, Codeine, Morphine)
5. MDMA ("Ecstasy")
6. GHB; and
7. Phencyclidine ("PCP")
per MILB
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Apr 10, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And they wonder why newspapers are going the way of the dinosaur...
Some shoddy reporting there.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kind of glad
This was pointed out nearly right after a post praising Goold.
I don’t understand what’s happened to Strauss in the last few years, but it’s disappointing.
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really wanna know who takes GHB for their own pleasure
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Apr 10, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I knew a couple people in college that did
It didn’t take as much to get drunk when you took it. The worst part it was mostly girls taking it than going out. I took it on accident once. Someone spiked a friends drink that I ended up drinking. I knew something was wrong when I couldn’t walk or function after one drink.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Apr 10, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Note to self:
Stay away from your friends.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
by Alxfritz on Apr 10, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I tried that once.
I figured i could take adavantage of myself, but I passed out and don’t remember what happened…
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All you know is you woke up the next morning
And you saw your right hand gathering its clothes trying to sneak out. You offered to cook it breakfast, but it said it had to get to work. You found that odd, because it was a Saturday.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Did you have that awkward "hug" where you tried to go in for the kiss?
Hate that.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sentiment brings me back to college
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've never been able to make it happen
But I’ve always really, really wanted to make that sort of a situation happen the morning after halloween with the costume and all…
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Apr 10, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
rec'd in effec'd
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
by the red baron on Apr 10, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can even make a +1 verbose
"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin
by That's a Winner on Apr 10, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the lefty never would have done that
lefty’s always stay for breakfast
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson
by gdm426 on Apr 10, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Repost of what I posted on FR but still relevant
Ok I did some digging and found out what a "Drug of Abuse" is
1. Cocaine
2. LSD
3. Marijuana
4. Opiates (e.g., Heroin, Codeine, Morphine)
5. MDMA ("Ecstasy")
6. GHB; and
7. Phencyclidine ("PCP")
per
http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/pdf/jda.pdf
Now this is the MLB contract not the MILB contract since I could not find it. So I don’t know the differences between the drug testing but in the MLB. They only test for Performance Enhancing drugs (ie. Steroids) and Stimulants (Ephedrine) not Drugs of Abuse per
"B. Drugs of Abuse
Except as set forth in Section 3.A or Section 5.B (as to Stimulants) or Section 3.C or Section 4.E, Players shall not be subject to testing for the use of any Drug of Abuse."
Now lets say somehow a MLB player gets busted with a bag of pot by someone in the league. It is against the rules they just don’t test for it. Here is their suspension
"at least a 15-game but not more than a 30-game suspension, if the Prohibited Substance is a Drug of Abuse (including a Stimulant)"
So only 15 games in the MLB vs 50 games in the MILB. It is obvious here who has the better union. But it gets even better apparently Marijuana doesn’t even count
"A Player on the Administrative Track for the use or possession of marijuana shall not be subject to suspension. The Player will be subject to fines, which shall be progressive and which shall not exceed $25,000 for any particular violation."
Now if Hooker would of been on the 40 man roster he would of fallen under the Major League rules and not the minor league rules and would of suspended for 15 games instead of 50 games. And possibly not even suspended if it was Marijuana.
Man Drug Laws are confusing as hell.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Apr 10, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He wouldn't have even been suspended
He failed a drug test. They don’t even test the union members for Drugs of Abuse so unless he walked into the drug test with a baggie on him he’d have been fine. MLBPA=powerful.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Apr 10, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe the cocaine enhanced his performance - just not on the field.
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
by akaitori on Apr 10, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peyote maybe?
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on Apr 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
woh
where did that come from?
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don't know where it came from
but i’ll hop on board & enjoy the ride
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson
by gdm426 on Apr 10, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Follow the half naked native american Jim
You’re the lizard king. You can do anything.
by cloistermaximus on Apr 10, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
happy good friday
I have done my good deed for the day… I just found $5 and put it in the tip jar at my local eatery (it would be funnier if it was Denny’s though)
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Brandon Inge
just made a web gem in the shallow outfield. He’s playing 3rd base today. That was awesome.
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
and the Rangers announcer
just said Kris Benson was pitching on 920 days rest.
by bmorgan on Apr 10, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT, a question for our
sitemasters: Where does VEB rank in the SB Nation blogs in terms of visit/hits, whatever? On one hand I rarely have the courage to read 750 comments in a game thread, but isn’t it damned impressive that we have that many? And routinely hit 300+ comments on a normal morning thread?
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 10, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Often wondered that myself. I'd bet we have one of the more robust comments/post rates in the system.
Obviously Lookout Landing is huge. I’ve seen a couple DRays Bay gamethreads, and they probably have the highest number of ridiculous photoshop images in one thread.
by mattybobo on Apr 10, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd say top 10-20
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It has an Alexa rank
by Toddius on Apr 10, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And a google page rank
by Toddius on Apr 10, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how does hot chicks with douchebags rank?
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know,
but that’s a pretty funny idea for a site. You just helped the Google PR a little by linking to it.
by Toddius on Apr 10, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm over there almost as much as over here
i wish i could come up with half of the random crap he does
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've never been
to New Jersey, have you?
by liam on Apr 10, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
only through the eyes of DB1
but i went to school in chicago, which is almost as badly infected
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no, it isn't.
you’re severely underestimating new jersey.
by adiueordie on Apr 10, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What impresses me here isn’t the amount of comments, but the fact that if you count the individuals who make the comments over a week, it would be a sizable amount.
Some only hang out in fanposts, some on morning threads and some just on game threads. But it’s generally not 10 people with 100 comments a day, it’s really a fairly large community.
Where it rates, not sure
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here is why I was happy for the split in the Pirates series:
The Cardinals have won just two of their last seven games against the Pirates dating back to last season.
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Some quips from Spfd.
Sold my tickets to see the Cards last night (who would have thought in ST that Carp would be pitching 4th in the rotation – sigh) but caught Springfield’s game and its rain.
I caught Wallace late last year, so it isn’t my first exposure, but it should have been. He was, by all accounts a man amongst boys. I’ve been lucky enough to see quite a few minor league games, but nothing like that.
I don’t think they can pitch to him. He may get El Hombre treatment in AA. His HR off Kometani was frankly off a damn nice pitch and he just followed it.
Jones makes Colby almost look like Yadi, wicked fast (especially out of the box). It’s nice to see him starting to come around. Seems a lot more patient and isn’t nearly as jittery in the box.
Elvis H. is someone to keep an eye on for a couple of years down the road. He looks like he picked the wrong sport, but he can throw. In way he reminds me of Thompson with his sinker (Thompson before the shoulder issues a few years ago – which is a totally different beast to the sinker you see today) with a better fastball to package it with.
Once Elvis was in the building it was ground ball city. Very nice to see.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
by AdjustedExpectations on Apr 10, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Another Goold Birdland link to pass along
Goold links to a really cool slideshow of photos from behind-the-scenes on Opening Day. Pujols helping Musial with his jacket is priceless. Clydesdales being petted by Cardinals players, Cardinal greats, and more. Really neat.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Apr 10, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for posting that.
It made my day.
And I say England's greatest prime minister was Lord Palmerston.
by tangledbrett on Apr 10, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those photos
are enough to moisten the eyes of just about every (non-robot) Cardinal fan.
by MdRedbirdFreak on Apr 10, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
awesome
Is it weird that I would rather the payroll be more like the Marlins than the Yankees?
by ForesterShane on Apr 10, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Such wonderful pictures
what I wouldn’t give to be in St. Louis on opening day…
if you can’t trust a southern lawyer cooking a kosher meal in a dumpster,
well, then, the world has grown far too cynical
by RosevilleRedbird on Apr 10, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel like a traitor
but it looks like I’m going to be going to wrigley twice before i go to busch this year, and the game at busch is against the cubs, so all 3 of my first games this year will be cubs games.
the two at wrigley are Marlins and Giants, so I was thinking Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval T shirts…or could I make it out alive with cards gear?
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't think of it as being a traitor.
Think of it more as you are a missionary try to bring truth to the heathens.
And I say England's greatest prime minister was Lord Palmerston.
by tangledbrett on Apr 10, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
met too
but I’m no traitor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
t-shirt idea
My avatar is something I made in word last april. how much does it cost for the rights of the Cubs’ logo? I figure I could sell a few at least
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is just me or isn't it ironic
We are talking about the resurrection of a Carpenter during Easter Weekend
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Apr 10, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it's like rain on your wedding day.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Apr 10, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
a free ride and you've already paid
by STLRegalia on Apr 10, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
10,000 spoons, when all you need is a knife
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A man and his wife go on a 2nd Honeymoon
in the Holy Land for the summer. A few days into the trip, the wife dies rather suddenly. Her body is taken to the coroner and the husband is called upon to retrieve the body and make arrangements. The coroner tells him that for $5,000 he can have her body shipped back stateside or for $100 they can have a beautiful ceremony and lay her body to rest here in the Holy Land. The coroner says many people find it a wonderful final goodbye.
The man pauses a moment, thinks and says he’d just rather have her body shipped back to the US.
The coroner is puzzled. He tells the man, it is so much more expensive and really unnecessary.
The man replies, "I know but a long time ago a man died here, was buried and come back to life 3 days later. I just can’t take that chance.
by Hardcore Legend on Apr 10, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
MLB TV
So I came home tonight, all geared up to catch Carp’s first meaningful start in 2 years; my 2nd favourite all-time cardinal.
And, of ALL the games played yesterday, it’s the ONLY one not available on MLB.tv. So annoyed. And I can’t even see why – can’t be any sort of wierd blackout issue as I live in england.
F*** you very much, MLB.tv….
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Apr 10, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Archived games aren't supposed to be blacked out.
I’m pissed about it, too.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the live games
are working, but they’re having their usual archiving problems.
MLB.TV support sucks really bad. It’s not like this is the first year they’ve done this.
Of course, it’s not like anyone else can provide the service, so you’re stuck with MLB.TV shoddiness.
by phesto on Apr 10, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I was out of town all week
and in meetings until late each night, so I haven’t been able to watch ANY games yet; I got hope late last night hoping to watch that one, and was denied. Boo. The only game that sort-of works is opening day, but after about 5 minutes the flash player crashes and I have to restart it.
I really hate the new player, btw. I have a multi-monitor setup with my laptop set to output to my TV while I surf/play games on the laptop’s LCD, and now the player won’t stay “full screen” on my TV when I move the mouse. Incredibly stupidly irritating.
- So, to ease his pain, you're supposed to take him to a ball game?
- Yes.
by SleepyCA on Apr 10, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Goold's twitter
I don’t know if any of you are following goold’s twitter (if not, you definitely should), but after the sixth inning, he tweeted that Carp was taking a no-hitter into the 7th or something along those lines. Isn’t that about the biggest sin a sports journalist can commit? He just went ahead and jinxed the whole thing. The next inning skip fouled up that double play and carp gave up a hit.
Leach (who you should also follow) was much more professional in this regard, saying (paraphrased) “If you aren’t watching the Cardinals game right now, you really should. Just saying.”
by spencegrif on Apr 10, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Goold
was simply serving as Tony’s paid mole jinx… because he didn’t want to have to take Carp past the 7th or top 100 pitches with him.
by streamman on Apr 10, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
strategic jinxing
tony IS a genius
by spencegrif on Apr 10, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dang
wish I could watch the game tonight, go Cards!
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 10, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Me too, man
Oh wait…I’m going.
HAHAHA IN YOUR FACE CHITOWN!
by mojowo11 on Apr 10, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i probably shouldn't watch tonight
we are 0-2 this season when i watch & 2-0 when i don’t
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson
by gdm426 on Apr 10, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Cole Hamels is pain free...
and ready to go for the start of the season."
In the third and fourth innings the Rox were 10 for 14 off him with 6 xbhs. See you on the DL Cole…
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
But it didnt' hurt when he gave up those hits!
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Recently traded him in a package for Miguel Cabrera in fantasy baseball
Just in time for Miggy to hit 3 HR in 3 days.
by mojowo11 on Apr 10, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meanwhile...
BLooper is doing the rope-a-dope. Warning track line drives to all the right places. 97 pitches through five and if the pen holds up he gets the win over Harden.
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Harden's not exactly lights-out today, mind you
Though he’s racking up the strikeouts, as usual.
by mojowo11 on Apr 10, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, he kind of has
Though he barely got out of a bases-loaded jam one time, which was probably clouding my perception.
by mojowo11 on Apr 10, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blooper...
Ponson, and Marquis all pitching simultaneously this afternoon. Takes me back to the summer of eight game losing streaks.
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 6:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ug
That was the worst stretch of fandom I can remember.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Luckily
It was followed by the best stretch of fandom I can remember.
And I say England's greatest prime minister was Lord Palmerston.
by tangledbrett on Apr 10, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least we still won the division
I remember the 9-game losing streak in 2007 right after the Ankiel HGH news. We were like a game out from the Cubs, and by the end of that streak, we were out of the playoffs.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup
PD Headline “Not Ideal, but Khalil bats 2nd”
Skip Schumaker, 2B
Khalil Greene, SS
Albert Pujols, 1B
Ryan Ludwick, RF
Chris Duncan, LF
Yadier Molina, C
Rick Ankiel, CF
David Freese, 3B
Joel Pineiro, P
by OCCardsFan on Apr 10, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
At least
Freese is getting a start. Rather see him batting 2nd than Greene.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on Apr 10, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes or Ank
Again I’m not sure why you start the Cobbler against a leftie. He should only be playing against RHPs in my opinion.
by OCCardsFan on Apr 10, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow. short of bumping ludwick for rasmus and freese for thurston, we have as many lefties
as you could put out there against hampton.
Both thurston and rasmus have better leftie splits than duncan or skip, to boot. Very odd lineup. are we just assuming that something breaks on hampton in the first inning?
this lineup is just a mystery to me.
Dear Derek Goold:
Next time you’re in Tony’s office, please check behind the door for a dartboard with player names, jersey numbers, and/or photo’s attached.
kthxbai.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Apr 10, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a dumb lineup...
And where’s the game thread? Back when lboros was in charge of this thing the trains ran on time.
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
?
The game doesn’t start for an hour and forty minutes…
by LukeMP1186 on Apr 10, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
did you just call larry mussolini?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Apr 10, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Cranky?
Have some easter candy. It’ll brighten your spirits.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And watch one of my favorite commercials of all time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnzFRV1LwIo
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That.
Was. Awesome.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
My day really is better than it was before watching those.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So much I would change about that lineup
Oh well. Let’s beat Hampton into the ground.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marmol v. Braun:
Ultimate douche-off LIVE on WGN…
by LukeMP1186 on Apr 10, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Marmol wins...
3-2 Cubs into the 8th…
by LukeMP1186 on Apr 10, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa
They have outfield seating in Kansas City now!
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Miles...
looks taller as a Cub for some reason. But he just killed a scoring chance with a GIDP, and Len Kasper, as usual, called it as if his dog had just died. I’ve missed bashing all things Cubs.
by LukeMP1186 on Apr 10, 2009 6:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
vertical stripes...
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A valid point...
but they’re on the road.
by LukeMP1186 on Apr 10, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stamp a big FAIL! on my forehead
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Apr 10, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy way...
to speed up the game: one pitching change per inning. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
2006...
was a long time ago, Bill Hall. You are a bum!!!
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For cripe sakes...
the faithful at Miller Park have had the misfortune of seeing Pinella’s fat a** waddle out to the mound four times in the last two innings. This madness must end.
by guayzimi on Apr 10, 2009 7:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Podermo got claimed by the padres b4 he cleared waivers
no big suprise, but will their bullpen be filled w/ ex card farmhands by the end of the year?
by FunkeeC on Apr 10, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In play, runs!
Do the Cubs have any bullpen left?
by notmorganfreeman on Apr 10, 2009 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is Koye Hill insane?
That wasn’t even close.
by LukeMP1186 on Apr 10, 2009 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lol at the Cubs
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Apr 10, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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