Early Season Offense
by chuckb on Apr 18, 2009 11:22 AM EDT
in St. Louis Cardinals News
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PrintBelow is a table showing Cards’ offensive peripherals for the season’s 1st 12 games, the Cards’ performance in ’08, and the Major League average in ’08.
| Cards ‘09 | Cards ‘08 | ML Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVG | .299 | .281 | .264 |
| OBP | .376 | .350 | .333 |
| SLG | .490 | .433 | .416 |
| ISO | .191 | .152 | .152 |
| BABIP | .326 | .315 | .303 |
| wOBA | .374 | .341 | .328 |
| BB% | 10.9 | 9.3 | 8.91 |
| K% | 16.4 | 17.5 | 19.7 |
| LD% | 17.3 | 21.4 | 20.2 |
| GB% | 44.0 | 44.4 | 43.9 |
| FB% | 38.7 | 34.2 | 36.0 |
| HR/FB | 12.1% | 10.9% | 10.1 |
| O-swing% | 24.2 | 25.2 | 25.5 |
| Z-swing% | 69.4 | 67.7 | 65.5 |
| O-contact% | 63.0 | 62.0 | 61.7 |
| Z-Contact% | 90.6 | 88.5 | 87.9 |
| Zone% | 48.2 | 51.5 | 51.1 |
| F-strike% | 59.4 | 58.2 | 58.9 |
Clearly right now the offensive numbers are great but most of them just won’t be maintainable throughout the course of the season. Our current batting average, on base %, slugging %, isolated power, and wOBA are all not only higher than we produced last year, but they’re also higher than any team produced all of last season. However, we’re also walking more and striking out less than we did last year. That may be maintainable and, if so, our offensive numbers should increase across the board.
Interestingly, our LD% is down from last year and our GB% is almost exactly the same as it was in ’08. In fact, we should think that our LD% will rise considering the fact that it’s about 3% lower than the major league average in ’08. The big difference w/ our batted ball data is that our FB% is up about 4% from last season, when we had a below average FB% (not necessarily a bad thing, btw, since fly balls end up as outs about 85% of the time) and our HR/FB is up from 10.9% to 12.1% so far this year. Last year’s percentage was slightly above the major league average but only 5 teams had a higher HR/FB% in ’08 than the Cards have this year. More fly balls and more of them leaving the park means more runs…obviously! Can we count on our homers leaving the park at the same rate as they have for the first 2 weeks? I doubt it but as we hit fewer fly balls and fewer of them leave the park, it’s possible that an increased LD% will help compensate for the loss of runs from our HR% declining.
Though we’re seeing a higher % of first strikes than we saw last year, and higher than the major league average, the % of pitches we’re seeing a below average % of pitches in the strike zone. This means that, although we’re seeing a lot of 0-1 counts, we’re ending up ahead in more counts and walking more (we knew that already) or seeing better pitches to hit in 2-1 or 3-1 counts. Ah…the advantages of seeing more pitches, but I digress…We’re swinging at fewer pitches outside the strike zone – a repeatable skill, I hope – and fewer pitches overall. If this represents better pitch recognition, it’s a repeatable skill and will help us throughout the season. If, however, we’re swinging at fewer pitches outside the zone b/c we’re ahead in counts, once we start seeing better pitchers we may start swinging at more pitches outside the zone – protecting the plate in 1-2 counts. Overall, we’re making contact at a slightly higher rate than last year and higher than ‘08’s major league average. Maintainable? Perhaps, unless it falls when – again – we see better pitches who pitch ahead in counts and get us swinging at 2-strike pitches outside the zone.
These numbers are certainly subject to small sample sizes – that’s the point, we’re trying to see what’s maintainable and what isn’t – as well as representative sample criticisms. We simply haven’t faced enough tough competition to believe these numbers won’t regress somewhat. On the other hand, our LD% should rise as the season progresses. The % of first-pitch strikes we see should fall some and, to the degree that our O-swing % is a function of a repeatable skill and not simply us taking advantage of bad pitching, that’s a maintainable skill that will benefit us against good pitchers and better teams throughout the season.
Tomorrow we’ll look at our pitchers and see what’s maintainable. Hopefully, the last inning and a half goes a little bit better today than yesterday. 4th day game in a row today. Ironically, the streak ends on a Sunday! Strange early season schedule.
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I find myself really liking this year so far
1. Carp can pitch. The injury wasn’t his elbow or shoulder.
2. Ludwick is right back at it.
3. Duncan is healthy and mashing.
4. The Skip experiment has worked so far
5. Colby is playing and playing well.
6. I’m very pleasantly surprised at how well (over his head?) Barden has been playing.
Frankly, I’m not worried about the pen YET. I was thinking it might take a couple of months to figure out. I was annoyed that Young Pitcher gave up that home run yesterday. But I’m glad he’s back in the majors.
'Pen
I’ll take the bait (kidding). It’s TLR’s use of the bullpen that perplexed me. Why in the blue blazes did Miller throw an entire inning, facing many a leftyhanded batsman? He blew the first “save” (?) of the game because TLR put him in a position to fail. It made absolutely no sense. Why on earth didn’t TLR piggyback Mitchell Boggs onto Walter’s start? It made no sense.
As for my (second-)favorite Redbird reliever, Chris Perez. He broke my heart by walking Aaron Miles. I mean, sure, he is gritty, but there is no reason not to pump fastballs in on his hands. I agree wholeheartedly with TLR’s assessment on this:
“He can’t walk Miles. That’s a pitching mistake,” La Russa said.
Walking Miles allowed Soriano to win the game when Perez got too much of the dish with that slider. He’s got to start that pitch on the outside corner and have it end up in the lefthanders’ batters’ box. He didn’t and Soriano crushed it.
That said, what more could we ask for than Pujols and Ludwick getting PAs in the 9th with runners on base? Our bats just couldn’t bail us out one last time. It’s a dangerous road to overly rely on bludgeoning our way out of our staff’s blunders.
"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
From the looks of the box score
Miller’s wasn’t a blown save (I am assuming since Walters was never in line for the win).
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Apr 18, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Of course
It was the fifth inning, so he would have been in line for a so-called “win” if he could have preserved our lead.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I just don't have a problem with Miller.....
pitching to those righties.
You probably don’t want to bring Boggs into the middle of inning if you can help it. Boggs is a starter, and probably was going to be more effective starting an inning. PLUS…..TLR didn’t know what he was going to get from Boggs. What if Boggs couldn’t go two innings? We’d need those other relievers to be available.
We know that K-Mac was probably unavailable, but we have no idea about Franklin or Motte.
You had to save Perez/Reyes for the 8th and 9th, as well as Franklin assuming he was in line to get the 9th.
There was no reason to believe that Miller couldn’t get 1 of 2 righties he would have needed to face out. Or 1 of 3 even. If that happens, we still leave the inning with the lead.
And even though Miller let the cubbies tie things up, STL went right back on top. I’m not a huge fan of looking back at scenarios like yesterday’s game, and pointing towards Miller and saying THAT was the reason we lost. Had I asked everybody before Miller started that inning if they’d take a one run lead in the 8th, they’d have said yes. Maybe if Miller gets pulled, and we only give up a run, or none, we don’t score the additional runs we did, and we still lose. NOBODY knows. I just think it is silly to look at something like that in the 5th inning, and try to pin the loss on that. We had PLENTY of chances after that to win the game.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
by SoonerfanTU on Apr 18, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't say THAT was the reason we lost.
Righthanded hitters have hit Miller .296/.384/.450/.833 over the course of his long MLB career. This was a nonsensical move, in my opinion. You know what Miller gives you against righties and what he gives you is ineffectiveness.
"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
It seems as though you're defeating your own argument
since the probability is that he will get roughly two of three right-handed batters that he faces out.
He failed, but the decision (if it was necessary to get an inning from someone other than Boggs) wasn’t a failure.
batting vs. pitching
Batters fail over 2/3rds of the time becuase pitchers fail 1/3rd of the time
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Apr 18, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
If Albert failed 2/3 of the time
he would be Ankiel…
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
While I agree with you that we had plenty of other chances
there is an inherent problem in letting Miller face righties, especially when they are some of the best hitters on the other team (Ramirez and Lee). I wouldn’t mind it as much if he faced Theriot because he was sandwiched between two lefties, but Miller has no success in retiring RH batters. On the year, RHB are 6-10 against him and LHB are 1-12. Small sample size, yes, but this is indicative of his career, too. Miller gets paid to get out lefties, not to get out Ramirez and Lee.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
And what I'm saying is.....
We might not have really had any other options. Say you bring in Boggs, and he gets you out of that inning, but struggles in the 6th. That means we’d have had 3, maybe more other relievers, one of which was another LOOGY, to get through 3+ innings, and our pen would be FRIED today.
I agree that in an ideal world Miller and Reyes wouldn’t face righties. I’m also smart enough to know that there are going to be PLENTY of days where that has to happen. Sometimes those situations will be in blowouts. Sometimes they’ll be early enough in games that even if things fall apart (like yesterday) that we still have opportunities to come back. And sometimes, they may have to face righties late in close games. It is going to happen, and it happens that way with EVERY team that has the same bullpen makeup that we do. Get used to it, it isn’t anything knew, and we really didn’t have any other options yesterday.
And think about it, the stats posted above say that on average, only one of those righties are going to get on base against Miller. TLR played the odds, and it just didn’t work out this time.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
I don't like those odds at all
Playing those odds (letting Miller face Ramirez & Lee) is going to contribute to us losing games (and it did yesterday). I would have much rather gone to Boggs in that situation. The lefties coming up were Fukudome and Hoffpauir. Fukudome has been playing well, but Lee and Ramirez, the righties coming up, are much more dangerous.
You think we didn’t have any other options; I think Boggs is a better option than Miller in THAT situation. And that is not what ultimately lost us the game, but it didn’t help. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
playing the odds
if TLR was playing the odds than he should have gone with the pitcher with better numbers against RHB’s. That is the ultimate playing the odds.
Miller 2008 (RHB) – .286/.383/.400 (70 AB’s)
MIller Career (RHB) – .296/.384/.450 (901 AB’s)
Boggs 2008 AAA (RHB) – .198/.273/.317 (275 AB’s)
I for one would have much rather had boggs in the situation.
"Sorry about him, he's dealing with being an inker. " - Chasing Amy
And again.....
I’m assuming Boggs wasn’t an option b/c it was the middle of the inning. And besides, if one of the two were going to make a BIG mistake, my guess is it would have been Boggs. Miller didn’t pitch all that poorly, give the cubbies some credit.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
What I'm saying is
is that Boggs should have started the inning in the first place (but I also don’t see how it makes any difference whether he starts the inning or not). The lefties coming up weren’t all that dangerous, and the purpose for Boggs being on the team is to soak up innings right now. Walters only threw 4 innings, so Boggs should have been the logical choice. Miller didn’t pitch horribly, but he also didn’t get outs. The odds favor Boggs in that situation.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
Okay
Boggs is a starter, and has been his entire career. You really think it will be as easy on him to get brought into a game with runners on, and to have limited time to warm up, etc? Really? In his first action of the year at the ML level?
As for him starting the inning, I don’t think there was a right/wrong answer. Tony probably was hoping Miller could get through it (facing the lefties), and that that Boggs could pitch the next inning or two against mostly righties. If you flip that, Miller would have to face righties in the 6th or 7th inning. Besides, as I said above, I think Tony was concerned that he didn’t know what Boggs would give him. Tony had to be prepared for a scenario where Boggs would come in and bomb. You probably don’t want him doing that against the 2-4 hitters.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
The crux of the problem
Is that the starters have to start taking us deeper into games. The Carp thing you can’t control, and that kinda got the bullpen thing rolling, but Pineiro, Waino, and Walters didn’t help the bullpen recover really either.
If your starters aren’t giving at least 6 almost every game, and occasionally working into 7 and 8, then you’re going to have to compensate for that with some less than ideal bullpen matchups somewhere. Particularly when you aren’t getting off days.
by Merry CRasmus on Apr 18, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
It is early in the season, yet.
You kind of expect starters to have a little trouble going deep in games in their first two starts. The problem is that a team that has 7-8 pitchers in the bullpen has so many specialized relievers. You have two pitchers that can only pitch to batters on one side of the plate. We replaced Kinney and Thompson, situational RHPs, with a guy that can’t pitch with guys on base. We have three one-inning, end of the ball game pitchers. That leaves McClellan as the only guy that we can bring in, so if he had to do it yesterday, we’re boned.
LaRussa’s unwillingness to use either Franklin, Motte, or Perez in this kind of early, high-leverage situation is what led to him over-exposing Miller. It’s a mismanagement for this game, but apparently he believed it was more important to protect Boggs, Perez, and Motte from failure in a roll that one of them should have been able to accomplish.
This argument
that Boggs “can’t pitch w/ guys on base” is ridiculous. What is that based on?
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
Not my argument.
I’m just relaying the argument from above to counter Soonerfan’s argument. If the idea for why Boggs wasn’t brought in was due to the fact that he shouldn’t be brought in to the middle of an inning, then he isn’t a good replacement for Thompson or Kinney.
ok
Say that is true, that they wouldn’t consider bringing him in in the middle of an inning. Why was he warming up w/ Miller on the mound, then?
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
To play devil's advocate, ...
perhaps they believe he needs the extended warm-up time to be ready to start the next inning. That would make it more analogous to starting a game.
For the next inning?!?
If Boggs was going to be in the pen all year, then I’d agree, he probably needs to get used to warming up quicker. He probably isn’t though. I’d imagine, at worst, he is in the pen as protection for PJ only as long as PJ is in the majors. If Carp were ready in two weeks, I’d guess that both PJ and Boggs would go back down, at the same time.
Again, I don’t get why this is a suprise. We babied Parise, Garcia, and Boggs the same way last year. I’m sure there are others too, but I’m blanking on names.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
Sure
But now it has stretched out to 4 straight games. Well Wainwright, not as much as the others.
So the bullpen is stretched thin. Chances are that somewhere along the way we’re going to have to absorb some matchups that, taken in a normal context, wouldn’t make sense.
by Merry CRasmus on Apr 18, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I would still rather have Boggs face tough righties in the 5th inning
than a guy who has a history of not being able to get righties out. You don’t agree w/ me or the numbers that back that up, and that’s fine. I just hope Miller or Reyes don’t lose too many games for us facing tough righties.
When it comes down to it, the Cubs line-up is not very conducive to throwing a LOOGY. Their only dangerous lefty is Fukudome, while they have Ramirez, Soto, Soriano, Lee, and Bradley (switch-hitter) from the right side. It is what it is.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
I don't get that argument at all
While Boggs might not be able to pitch effectively when coming into a game in the middle of an inning, we don’t know that. There is proof that Miller is not going to be effective against righties. Are we supposed to never give Boggs that chance bases on theory alone?
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
You don't get it?
We did the same thing last year with a few guys. I’m sorry, but a mediocre rookie, regardless of which hand he throws the ball with, isn’t really an improvement over a veteran lefty. Unreal that this has generated so much discussion.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
Boggs is definitely an improvement over Miller
against RHB. What about that don’t you get? Just because Miller is a “veteran” doesn’t make him any better than his numbers.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
Unreal indeed
If Franklin would have been up and ready, I doubt you would have had a problem with keeping Miller in to face the righties.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Thank you for the LaRussa perspective.
Once again, just because he’s a veteran, doesn’t mean he will be more effective in that situation. If anything, being a veteran means that he has an established track record in these situations. His established record indicates that he will most likely fail if put in this situation. Surprise! He did!
I think he made a mistake by burning a situational pitcher that early in the game. If Boggs is a starter, then he is also the best option for long relief, which is what was needed after the starter only went 4 innings. Boggs should have started the inning, and Miller should have been saved for a higher leverage situation against those LHBs.
We had Reyes for the "higher leverage" situation.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
Reyes is Miller with more belly.
Neither one should have been put into that position. See tonight’s game for details. If Boggs is “protection for PJ,” as you say above, then he should’ve been the one that was brought in at the beginning of the inning. If you are going to use Miller, then have him face the lefties and replace him with Motte, Franklin, or Perez. All of those guys have been groomed as relievers, are right-handed, and are all more effective facing RHBs than either Reyes or Miller. Boggs being a starter means that you aren’t looking for situational RHB matchups, so he should be better equipped to pitch the entire inning than Miller, who is a situational LHP.
"Got too much of the dish"?
The pitch was out of the strike zone. Soriano just went down and got it. Sometimes you have to give credit where it is due. Other times, swinging at bad pitches will get you in big trouble.
by StanTheManFan on Apr 18, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
That still doesn't
excuse him missing location. The ball was supposed to be towards the outside half — if you can, go back and look at where Yadi is set up behind the plate: He’s on the outer half.
Soriano is really a fairly easy hitter to get out if you just hit your spots. You bust him in on his hands off the plate and get him thinking about getting started early on a ball in, then you throw him soft stuff away and let him get himself out swinging through sliders. You know, like Walters did to him the first couple times he was up. That’s the scouting report on him — he’s a dead fastball hitter that punishes mistakes. He’s also a very good low ball hitter, so you should be throwing him anything low and over the middle of the plate or he’s going to crush it. I wince whenever someone who has good breaking stuff throws him a fastball that gets any part of the plate. That should never, ever happen.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
No love for Jelly Walters?
I was hoping to hear from some that watched the whole game.
He looked good they few frames I saw on Baseball tonight.
Also Tony paid him a nice compliment this morning in the Post.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
Fastball
His changeup is sick. Just disgusting. And a joy to watch in HD. That said, his fastball consistently sat 84-88 mph. That’s not fast enough. His hare needs to be faster to fully leverage his tortoise. If he threw 88-91 with it, I’d be rapt with anticipation for his next start. As it is, I’m intrigued to see it.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
if we could fuse Jelly with Sauce...
"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 18, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
According to Gameday his fastball sat at 89 all game, not 84-88
MyBrute - Where tiny gladiators rule the internets
I was watching game day and it looked like he was sitting at 88-90 with his Fastball?
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
the stadium gun had him in that area
86-90
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
that's what it was on WGN's gun, too
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
Not to mention Z was sitting at about 90 on Game Day also. So if 90 on Gameday is 84-88 then Z is gotta be hurt.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
Your hare vs. tortoise argument doesn't work.
The differential between his 84-88 (your metric) to his change-up (which sat in the 75 range) still gives a 10 mph difference. That is enough to make that pitch, especially with the movement it has on it, to be effective.
I'm with you Red
Walters has earned another start. He was shaky out of the gate … but that is not to be unexpected. He struck out 7 over 4 (including Soriano 3 times). He has earned another start IMHO.
How fun have the first two games of this series been?
I know we lost yesterday, but I am thrilled to see another two Cards-Cubs games this weekend. What an early season treat…
"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
yeah
those first two games were very very entertaining. I very excited to be going to the game this afternoon, sitting around Bartman territory with my blue Cards jersey on. Go Cardinals! should be another crazy game
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Apr 18, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I made it yesterday
and hopefully i can find a reasonably priced ticket today too. I’ll be there sunday as well. If I get a ticket by bartman territory, i’ll keep my eye out for a blue cards jersey.
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
I'll be in section (I think) 239
VEB shirt, batting practice jersey, The Wife and 2 kids wearing red.
239 is down the RF line
LF is Bartman territory
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
oh my bad,
i thought you were Chitown…
I’m dumb
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
Cubs worried about their pitching?
harden got rocked Thurs., Marshall and Z were hit as well. Lou is having to use his ’pen too.
Proud sponsor of the Official 2009 StL Cardinal theme song:
I think we will win today
We have done well coming back after tough losses – TLR won’t let this bunch sulk. We need Lohse to come out and give a solid 7 innings of pitching. Also, I now don’t know what situations Perez and Motte can be used in. If they won’t be put into high leveraged situations, I’m not sure what good they serve us
I think so too.
I like our chances whenever Lohse is on the mound, just hope he can give us a few more innings than he usually does.
I was like how can he go more than he usually does pitch into extras?
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Apr 18, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope he doesn't give us more innings than last time out...
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
Does anyone know how Lohse does with extra rest?
Some pitchers do worse with the extra day. WW
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
Ok I found it and he pretty much looks like the samepitcher no matter what
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Apr 18, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
sounds good
hope he can keep it up and not be a victim of the longball at Wrigley.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
Anyone seen lineups for todays game yet?
I’m not finding them at stltoday or mlb.com
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
Matthew Leach at MLB.com gives it as
1. Schumaker 2B (7-for-18 vs Dempster)
2. Ankiel CF (1-for-4)
3. Pujols 1B (8-for-30, 2 HR, 3 BB, 0 K)
4. Ludwick RF (5-for-10, 1 HR, 1 2B)
5. Duncan LF (2-for-4, 1 3B)
6. Molina C (4-for-12, 2 BB, 0 K)
7. Greene SS (1-for-10, 4 K)
8. Barden 3B
9. Lohse RHP
We’re lucky to have Matthew reporting on this team - and I’d say that even if you WEREN’T a reader of this blog, M. :)
by StanTheManFan on Apr 18, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
looper
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Apr 18, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks
and what you say is true about this blog. I think it’s pretty great that the best info comes from people that aren’t in the clubhouse everyday.
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
That is a mighty powerful looking line-up. We should produce a few Dingers today I hope.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
two minor squabbles i have
I always wanna see colby, and Barden still batting 8th. At least move him up to 7th. Hitting behind Khalil is not going to give him the most RBI opportunities
"All baseball fans can be divided into two groups: those who come to batting practice and the others. Only those in the first category have much chance of amounting to anything."--Thomas Boswell
Saturdays are the days that I hate Bud Selig.
I live in NY so i buy extra innings to see the Cardinals. But of course, Fox blocks all the day games so I can solely watch the Yankee or the Mets, or the Red Sox.. Ill be watching basketball I guess. It is so frustrating. For the most part the Cards play day games on Saturday so each Saturday i have no choice but to follow on Gameday. Thanks Bud!
Yeah. Even worse is every time they play the Mets and I think I will get to see the game in Ct they block it out.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
I have no idea but usually all the Mets game are on cable but when the Cards play them they don't show the game.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
you should hit the reply button to the right of the time stamp
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Apr 18, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Question
Does anyone know if I buy the Internet MLB package – will i be able to see the Cards/Cubs today if my IP address is in New York area? I could use it at work too so might not be a bad idea. Thanks.
i think you're right.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Apr 18, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
oh wait, this guy is right
I forgot today was fox day
MyBrute - Where tiny gladiators rule the internets
you won't be able to watch the game
It’s a fox game… if you don’t get the regional broadcast, you can’t watch it.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
You no I have been thinking that if we had an elite closer wouldn't we be 11-1?
The only game that we would have lost would have been Welleys meltdown againsts the Pirates.
We have the chips to deal for an elite closer is there anyone out there that is or might be availble that would be worth dealing for?
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
What are the "chips"?
If you’re talking about trading Wallace for an elite closer, I say no thanks.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
Motte/Perez(won't need them if you get a closer)
Anderson, Jay, Robinson, Boggs, Mather, Barton…etc
Pick and match and we could put together a nice package for someone looking to rebuild.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
For who, though?
There aren’t that many “elite” closers out there. And those that are truly elite are closing for contending teams and there is no way they’d be dealt.
Here are those I consider elite: Papelbon, Rivera, Soria (no way the Royals deal him), Nathan, Lidge, K-Rod. None of those guys are even remotely available.
"I think he's the best hitter of all time. I think there has never been a better hitter than him. And I know I didn't see them all, but I just don't think there could be." - Adam Wainwright on The Mang
it is possible
But even the elite closers are not automatic. I am not making excuses for the bullpen either, I just think that maybe we should wait a little more than 2 weeks in before we get too concerned. The young ones are taking their lumps, but Franklin, KMac, and Reyes have looked pretty sharp so far.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
i would say 9-3
as the only situationwhere an elite closer would have saved a game was opening day
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Apr 18, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Not completely true.
If you have the closer roll already defined, then Perez, Motte, or Franklin could have been available for yesterday and the game in Arizona.
Cool post Chuck!
I was wondering about this last night and checked our ba/obp/slg from this year and last and babip but I had no idea our LD% was so low. Thanks for have such a detailed outlook for us… That is why I love this site!
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
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