merry month of may
by lboros on May 1, 2009 9:50 AM EDT
274 comments
happy may day, ev’yone; what a great month april was. i'm filling the chair for dan while he gets the last of his undergraduate assignments out of the way. some random items:
i) boggs tossed another nice game. i'd like to say his slider was unhittable, because when the nationals swung at it they almost always missed; he got 6 swinging strikes on the pitch, vs only two balls in play. unfortunately, one of the latter was zimmerman’s home run in the 1st inning . . . . . . but never mind that. seems fair to say it’s a big-league pitch. boggs also got some swing-misses on his high fastball, including one by adam dunn to start off the 6th inning. that pitch was clocked at 93 mph, so don’t chalk up the unhappy events that immediately ensued to fatigue. boggs was still bringing it.
austin kearns swung through another fastball right before the hbp, which was the only real mistake pitch of the inning. the triple and double both came on pitches at the bottom of the strike zone -- a sinker to flores, a changeup to anderson. not great pitches, but neither was terrible. the fastball to zimmerman that ended the 5th was far worse, a fastball belly-button high down the middle; zimmerman drove it to the wall and nearly put the nationals ahead right then. indeed, that was a far more troublesome inning in my estimation; boggs hit cabrera, an automatic out if ever there was one (19 strikeouts in 20 career at-bats, or something on that order), and had to face the top of the order with men on base. he kept throwing his slider in the dirt, which enabled the nats to sit on his fastball; johnson whacked one for a single, and zimmerman almost blasted another one over the wall. boggs was lucky to escape that frame with the lead intact.
all in all, a very encouraging outing. boggs now has 4 walks vs 15 strikeouts this year; i'd a lot rather have him in the rotation than (for example) jon garland. i'm looking forward to his next outing.
ii) the game-tying and game-winning hits came from a man i derided in the Maple Street Press 2009 Annual as "the automatic out" in clutch situations. if you haven’t seen that article (and for shame, if that’s so), last year ankiel was beyond bad in high-leverage situations: in his 30 highest-leverage at-bats of 2008, he only got 3 hits and struck out 18 times. before last night, ankiel was sucking in his key 2009 at-bats, too: 1 hit in his 10 highest-leverage situations to start the year, with 3 whiffs. his woes last year were mostly due to overagressiveness vs breaking balls; luckily for rick, he saw only fastballs in the 7th and 9th last night. he did show some discernment during his 7th-inning at-bat, when the cards trailed 4-3 and had the tying run on 3d with one out. the first pitch was a borderline fastball, just outside; ankiel let it go, got the call, and went ahead in the count. that forced the pitcher to keep throwing fastballs, insofar as the sacks were jammed.
so far this season, in 18 at-bats deemed "high leverage" by baseball-reference (leverage index of 1.50 or higher), ankiel has 5 hits (.278 average), including 2 doubles, and only 3 strikeouts. signs of growth; may they continue.
iii) tyler greene became the 5th member of the 2005 draft class to play for the cardinals; indeed, fully 1/3 of last night’s lineup (boggs, greene, rasmus) came from that draft. if bryan anderson and daryl jones make it to The Show (as seems likely), they’ll bring the 2005 tally up to 7. the last cardinal draft to produce as many as 7 big-league players was the 1999 draft, which yielded 8 (including pujols, chris duncan, and coco crisp). only 6 of those guys broke in with the cardinals, though. the last draft to produce as many as 7 cardinal players was the class of 1991, which graduated 10 guys to st louis: dmitri young, allen watson, brian barber, john mabry, doug creek, allen battle, mike difelice, mike busby, john fracatore, and rigo beltran. . . . . ok, so quantity does not necessarily equal quality.
iv) the cardinals finish april with a 3.65 era, extending a run of fine first-month performances from the staff. the challenge has been to pitch well after april:
| april | after april |
|
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3.65 | ??? |
| 2008 | 3.41 | 4.36 |
| 2007 | 4.20 | 4.73 |
| 2006 | 3.35 | 4.76 |
| 2005 | 3.38 | 3.50 |
the last time they pitched well all year was 2005 -- which, not coincidentally, is the last time they went through a whole year without a significant injury on the pitching staff. the 2009 team has already suffered the injury (carpenter), so if things hold to form we can expect the staff to begin unraveling any day now . . . . . but maybe this year will be different. maybe (fingers crossed) the farm system has now had time to produce the depth that was lacking in previous years. in addition to boggs, the cards can look south and bolster the staff with clay mortenson (1.45 era at triple A after his win last night), jess todd (1.46 era in relief), or big-league vets brad thompson and josh kinney. even blake hawksworth might become an option; he threw a gem the other night and has posted much better peripherals so far this year (0 hr in 22 innings, 6 strikeouts per 9 innings) than we’ve seen from him at triple A. we can hope there’ll be no mike maroths this year, nor any kelvin jimenezes, randy keislers, jorge sosas, or (praise god) "rehabbed" mark mulders to muck up the warm-weather pitching line.
having said that, the rotation merits close watching. wainwright still hasn’t found a groove, wellemeyer’s struggling like crazy, pineiro could turn into a pumpkin at any moment, and boggs still has everything to prove. in spite of the rotation’s terrific april line (13-2, 3.26 era), i'm holding my breath until carpenter returns. and will keep holding it every time he pitches, sneezes, or bends at the waist. . . .
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i am also holding my breath
it’s a long season, and i am a little afraid to get my hopes up; not sure if this team can keep it all together through September so we can play in October.
but it’s been fun to watch so far…
and welcome back lboros- it’s good to hear from the godfather of VEB
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 May 1, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
lb is back!
Glad to have you back man, and great take on the game
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
It’s great to have you back.
by StanTheManFan on May 1, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree wholeheartedly
Glad to read your insights. A wonderful post and fitting that you, author of the referenced Ankiel article in the Maple Street Press Annual, which every Cardinals fan should own, should draw the straw to chronicle a game in which Ankiel had the tying and go-ahead ribbies. I hope you can drop in a few more times this exciting, young season.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 1, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa there BGH!!!
Let’s wait and see how the team plays before we invite the man back to his own blog! If they lose, I vote that we barr him from any further front-page or commenting here.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
by Eckstreem on May 1, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was Greene's last AB a hit, an error, or fielder's choice?
by spencegrif on May 1, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hit
I believe it was a hit and an error on the second runner scoring
by brafi on May 1, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I liked the dugout TV shot
Showing three or four players yelling to the Umpire for ball that Greene got the hit on. Plus the greeting Greene got back in the dugout after he scored……. a lifetime dream came true last night for the kid….. very nice.
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on May 1, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its things like that
that make this team a winner. I some times think chemistry gets a little over played, but this team has a lot of it. Watching the bench, when they show it, everyone is envolved, they all seem to pull for each other. When you have 25 guys actually pulling for each other, teams always seem to do more than you think they can. Its one of the reasons i think this team will make the playoffs.
"Chuck Norris CAN divide by zero"
by elirock83 on May 1, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
kind of the "anti-vet" theory..
people (and by people, i mean hack announcers) always seem to be big on having veteran players that bring good chemistry and leadership… but honestly, when you see teams like this year’s cards team, many of the young teams in oakland, the rays of last year, and many of the marlins teams over the past few years, i feel like you see youthful, happy, exuberant teams that are having a great time playing the game.
…. and now back to a purely statistical look at the game that counts smiles and high-fives as zero runs…
by duncans_army on May 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hack Announcers and, I'll add, Talking Heads
The MLB Network crew is the absolute worst when it comes to this. These former players think “veteran presence in the locker room” is worth millions of dollars and I just don’t get it. This effervescent enigma was forever dashed in my mind by Tino Martinez, the quintessential veteran clubhouse guy who came from the vaunted Yankees Dynasty and proceeded to be a whining, sulking cancer. For every Reggie Sanders, there is a Tino Martinez. Likewise, as you point out, many successful teams have quite a passel of youngsters. The 2007 Red Sox had quite a few spring chickens themselves, and continue to bring up homegrown youths.
"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 May 1, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll see your 07 Red Sox
and raise you an 08 Rays.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
by scoot on May 1, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Duncans_army mentioned them, I thought. I was just supplementing the list with a big market, high spending club to bolster the point.
"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 May 1, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would that ball have gone foul if they had let it roll?
I just saw the sportscenter highlight so I couldnt tell.
by OCCardsFan on May 1, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no... would have stayed fair
looked to be about 4 feet from the line and I don’t remember seeing any spin on it pulling it towards the line. I’m sure someone can post a pic or video of it.
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on May 1, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
I thought it looked like it went foul after the 3b muffed it
by OCCardsFan on May 1, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It did
but it would not have if he hadn’t pushed it that way.
I was a bit surprised that they gave him the hit, but, I guess, it was so slow it would have taken the perfect play to get him at 1st and there probably was no other place the 3b could have gone with the ball if he had come up with it cleanly.
by ArkansasTravs on May 1, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last Night
Last night was the first time I have gotten to see the Cards this year. I was very happy that Boggs was pitching and that both Colby and Tyler were in the lineup. I was impressed with all three – Colby had an unremarkable game, I guess, but thought he just looked comfortable out there, so hopefully this is the start of a long career in Cardinals red for him.
Boggs seemed to get a lot of swings and misses, which seems to be something our guys have lacked this year (not sure if this is true, but the number of Ks has been low in most games, I think). I was confused why Tony wasn’t having him sacrifice in one at-bat with a man on second, but it looked like Boggs could handle the bat pretty well. Think he hit a soft liner to center for an out.
I thought Greene hit the ball well all night. He had some great speed as well, which is something I am liking about this team this year. He had a nice steal of third and really hustled down the line on an infield groundout. He did have what looked like a sort of lazy toss to Skip on a potential double play, but I think he was caught between the flip and taking it to the bag himself. Looked like it would have been a tough turn anyway, but that was the only thing I saw that kind of disappointed me.
My favorite play of the night was the steal by Albert. He was 2/3 of the way down the line before Cabrera delivered the pitch. It was awesome!
Also enjoyed turning to my Cub friend in the first after Cabrera threw behind Albert and telling him, “you don’t want to make him angry”, and watching the ball fly on a frozen rope out to the bullpen in left-center.
Can’t wait to go Sat and Sunday and hopefully see a sweep! Just gotta get the rain to stay away
by brafi on May 1, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was there too and I'll
second your observations. I was a little surprised by the steal of 3rd in the 9th — that’s the kind of thing some hotheaded opposing managers might take offense at — but it was nice to pull out the win in the 9th.
I was very impressed by several hitters (Ank, Duncan, Thurston, Rasmus) who fell behind in the count and patiently worked walks. Granted, the Nats’ pitchers were pretty awful with their control, but credit the Birds’ patient approach. (Did the Nats’ bullpen actually throw 90 pitches in the last three innings? Yikes!)
Having had to watch the Daniel Cabrera clown show ruin Orioles games for 4 years, it was nice to see a situation in which his ineptitude benefited my team. After a while I felt sorry for Flores, who spent all game flopping around to block all the balls in the dirt from Nats’ pitchers.
by MdRedbirdFreak on May 1, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After we traded Edmonds for Freese
a friend of mine was just irate that the Cardinals were gonna be fielding ‘a AAA team’ for years to come.
Haven’t talked baseball with him yet this season, but am looking forward to it. Great to have a reliable farm after all those years of praying for a Chuck Finley or the miraculous Andy Benes to come out of retirement.
by liam on May 1, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My friends like that are a dwindling type
I can’t hardly stand to talk baseball with these types. To them, merely because someone has thrown big league innings before, they are automatically a better solution than someone from Memphis. This is particularly bothersome in Des Moines, where we see a ton of AAA baseball and have witnessed, to take a couple recent examples, Geovanny Soto and Micah Hoffpauir, come through en route to Chicago.
What’s more, I just have to ask. How did your friend not recognize Jim Edmonds’s decline? I mean, I am a huge Edmonds fan and was an apologist for him when he went to the Cubs and through all of that media-hyped drama. But, still, how could you watch him and argue that he was not a “AAA” talent at the end of 2007?
"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 May 1, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I too was there
The steal that Albert had caused the whole stadium to erupt in laughter. It was quite hilarious.
All the wild pitches by Cabrera seemed tough on the National fans. They all seemed to hate him. I can’t imagine having to deal with that all season. The kid just can’t seem to figure out his stuff. Oh well.
The most important thing of the night however, I must say ‘Congratulations Mr. Tyler Greene!’ Not because he started in his MLB debut. Not because he picked up an RBI on his 9th inning AB. Not because he actually got to come around and touch home plate. But because, his father and girlfriend we sitting a few rows up from me at the game. And man, he has got an attractive woman to keep him company. All that said, I hope he can continue to fill the Middle Infield role we need him to.
Got tickets tonight. Hopefully Wellemeyer can find himself and we can figure out this Zimmerman kid.
by Pujols Is A God on May 1, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wonderful Surprise!
No, not the Cards 16-7 record….. it’s an lboros post. Sweet.
Double digit walks, 2 hit batters, 5 WP’s, etc………. I would have been very upset had the Cards lost last night. Sigh….. hope the Cards find their hitting strokes in timely situations. Glad to see RA have a late inning hit.
Go Cards!
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on May 1, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
FR
Is everyone else getting page load errors on Future Redbirds?
by JBrew on May 1, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I haven't had that issue this morning.
by VinegarBend on May 1, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Google Reader it
That might work.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 1, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you are going to .net right?
I wonder sometimes how many people still go to their .com address.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still do every once in a while
I’ll admit that.
by mattybobo on May 1, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
the .com opens fine, but no dice on the .net.
Oh well, I’ll read up when I get home.
by JBrew on May 1, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't bother
the DFR was poorly written.
by Hardcore Legend on May 1, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm fully expecting the rotation.....
to come back to earth a bit, but I’m hoping the bullpen settles down some as well.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
by SoonerfanTU on May 1, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm somewhat more optimistic about the rotation
While I agree wholeheartedly with you that Pineiro and Lohse will come back to earth a bit, I think that Wainwright and Wellemeyer will lift themselves off the ground a bit. Wainwright has been effective in his outcomes, but he’s had to scrape and grind. Friday vs. Chicago was better, but the Atlanta start was less than impressive. My hope is we get a return to late 2007/2008 form as the summer heat sets in. I think that The Colonel’s stats aren’t all bad and that some of his luck simply has to change.
"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 May 1, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From the games I've seen
It seems like when Welley misses, it’s over the heart of the plate. He’s not throwing too many balls, I don’t think, just a bunch of meatballs. He’s also had (what seems to be) a few more bloop hits fall in than he should have had. I hope he turns it around too, we sure could use it.
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For what it's worth
tRA has him pitching very well so far.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Welley has been visibly frustrated by his performance so far (which hasn't been atrocious by any means)
so I think he will right the ship, and at least be a good #4
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It has been frustrating
It’s frustrating because, as joker cites, he is not pitching poorly. The results are poor and, frankly, unlucky. He is striking out one fewer batter per 9 innings, a fact that I’m sure is thrilling to Dave Duncan. But, his walk rate is lower, his K/BB is identical to last year. The difference is that he has a .430 BABIP (!) compared to .273 last season and .294 for his career.
The Colonel’s SLGA was .416 last year and this year it is only .495. Why do I say “only” .495? He has not allowed a HR. He has allowed 37 hits this young season, and only 9 XBH, for an XBH% of 24.32%. Last season, Welley surrendered 178 hits total. Of those, 25 were HRs, 47 were doubles, and 1 was a triple. So, 41% of his hits against were XBHs. There are two divergent ways to look at this: (1) Oh, no. It’s going to get ugly when his HR rate corrects to career norms and his XBH% levels out (up); and (2) There’s no way his .430 BABIP will continue and the absurd level of singles will maintain. I fall in the second camp. As always, time will tell and we’ll get our first observation this very evening.
"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 May 1, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I felt like maybe he was unlucky but I'm surprised at how much evidence there is to support the notion.
Encouraging.
As an aside, I wonder how many “career years” just happen because the player never reverts back to the mean? I mean, we always assume a regression will come, and it always does, but sometimes it seems like it just takes longer than the current season for that to occur.
by mattybobo on May 1, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brady Anderson?
"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 May 1, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I check the box score and Boggs has 9 Ks in 6 innings
and all I can think is “THAT’S HOT.”
Man I like to see that type of thing from a Cards pitcher. I assume it won’t last, but this guy sure is interesting. I don’t know enough to know how/when he might come back to earth, but DANG.
by sdrone on May 1, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Saturday vs. Chicago
I was very impressed with his stuff. Low 90s fastball and getting swings-and-misses. Of course, I was in the stands, so location was difficult to gauge. I’m very, very excited about him being in the rotation. He looks like a different pitcher this year and I’m looking forward to see how the rest of his starts go.
"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 May 1, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought Boggs threw
some great curve balls last night but lboros talked about sliders mostly. I guess I just never learned for sure when a curvball becomes a slider.
by ridgesee on May 1, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Blaine
Boyer’s curve made an appearance. It was lovely.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I noticed that too
and it seems that all the Cardinal pitchers are throwing some good curves. I think Carpenter has influenced this.
by ridgesee on May 1, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Am I the only one that’s giddy by the three fireballers?
Now, assume all three get and keep their shit together.
We have three power pitchers with completely different secondary pitches, and if Boyer’s curve returns to its earlier form all three pitcher’s secondary pitches are out pitches.
I love that.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watch the Velocity
Assuming the pitcher is throwing 90+…
If a pitch is low to mid 70s (especially around 72), it’s generally going to be a curveball.
If a pitch is higher 70s (especially around 78), it’s generally going to be a slider.
A curveball will also tend to have more hump and more of a vertical break, but those aren’t hard and fast rules.
by thepainguy on May 1, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boggs throws what’s generally called a slurve, so it’s quite reasonable you’re seeing him throw a curve even though it’s a slider.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
1999 Draft
Knowing that Pujols went number 402 in that draft still doesn’t prepare you for seeing the list of people who went before Albert.
by graffin on May 1, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
1999 First round notables
http://www.mymlbdraft.com/1999
Draft#:1
Josh Hamilton
Draft#:9
Barry Zito
Draft#:10
Ben Sheets
Draft#:16
Jason Jennings
Draft#:21
Larry Bigbie
Draft#:30
Chance Caple (Cards pick)
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chance Caple
What a bust he turned out to be. I think he never advanced beyond single A.
by graffin on May 1, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
topped out in High A at Peoria
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=caple-001cha
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Palm Beach*
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
worth noting, maybe:
the guy drafted the pick before albert was the same guy who not only stopped the cubs’ 9th inning rally yesterday, but started the explosion in the 10th.
unless there are two alfredo amezagas.
by Phizzle on May 1, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
only one in BR
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/amezaal01.shtml
Started with ANA in 2002 (so didn’t take him much longer than AP either) and is now with FLA after stops in COL and PIT.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, looks like it's the same guy.
amezaga’s really short wikipedia article confirms.
by Phizzle on May 1, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I felt bad for the Nats Announcers last night
At the end of the game they said:
“And the Cardinals win it on a nightmarish pitching peformance from the Nationals — 10 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 4 wild pitches and a balk.”
That really really is atrocious. Glad our guys weren’t too “agressive”
by OCCardsFan on May 1, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I actually felt sorry for the Nationals by the end
At least, the position players.
"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 May 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
definitely
their offense is nothing to scoff at. zim and dunn are having great starts, and some of their other guys like nick johnson and kearns are playing ok. i wish dukes would get hot.
but yeah, aside from jordan zimmerman, their pitching is a nightmare.
by spencegrif on May 1, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish Dukes would get hot
…starting Monday
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
their announcers are pretty funny
definitely not homers.
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on May 1, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
being a nationals homer sounds like an especially futile kind of existence.
i suspect that a lot of the traffic that the nats get are from out of town transplants coming to watch their childhood teams play the nats. DC is just one of those cities that nobody is really “from” (and, yes, I realize that lots of people are in fact from DC, but there is a larger than normal transplant and transient resident population).
they lack the ability to convert transplants to DC because they lack the success and the rep that successful teams from other transplant cities, like New York, have.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair though..
A lot of those walks happened on ball 6 or 7, because of aggressive swinging. Thurston’s walk was one that stood out in my mind.
by DiscoJer on May 1, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Defense
The team has been great, but the defense is what worries me the most so far. We are leading major league baseball in errors and are 6th worst in UZR. I don’t think we are this bad, but we may not be “plus”.
Schumaker seems like he’s doing well, then I check out his UZR in my latest blog and it is a -4. There is still time to learn, but this is something to watch.
Great analysis lb. I especially liked the pitching review of the recent Aprils. You should try this blogging thing more often. If you can learn your capital letters, you may have a future in this business. :)
by MRCARD on May 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This is why I'm not a huge fan of defensive metrics.....
Our defense certainly seems MUCH better to anybody that is actually watching the games, then the metrics suggest.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
by SoonerfanTU on May 1, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to me
Our OFers have taken bad routes on several occasions, Schumaker doesn’t have much range at 2B, Greene has botched a few semi-routine plays, Pujols hasn’t been as dominant as usual (outside the ridiculous cutoff throws for outs) etc.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"MUCH better"
I’m assuming that you mean “MUCH better” compared to what the metrics show? Because, to my watching eye, we are much worse than last season when it comes to defense. Greene has displayed poor range and stone hands so far at SS, suggesting the metrics which show him as a substandard defensive shortstop may be correct. If this proves true and his walk rate returns to career norms, there is no reason to bring him back and maybe even reason to go with Brendan Ryan. If we’re going to have a .230 BA/.310 OBP shortstop, we might as well have one that can field the position well. As joker points out, Skip is not good at 2B, but, if this makes any sense, he has been better than I thought he would be. Also, Albert’s defense has not been good. Of course, I suspect that he will still he finish the year with 10 or fewer errors. Also worth noting, how many horrible throws from hot cornerman Thurston has Albert saved?
"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 May 1, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, you're obviously wrong
Talking heads on TV and radio have told me that Thurston is doing a fantastic, magnificent job playing third. I mean, sure, he had never ever played it professionally until this year, and Barden has always played it quite well, but I’m convinced that Tony continuing to put him there is a good idea.
by mattybobo on May 1, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Greene sported a normal BABIP I think we'd be singing a different tune
He’s not just walking more, he’s striking out less. I think he’ll be fine with the bat.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right on BABIP
But, I’m worried about the BB% staying up and K% staying down. He is chasing a lot fewer pitches outside of the zone and even swinging less in the zone. This is heartening to be sure, but will it continue?
What bodes well is that his FB%, LD% and GB% is about the same as last year when his BABIP was 50 points higher. So, it’s not like there is a reason to suspect that it won’t creep upwards.
"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 May 1, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's the point
His we-know-for-sure-it’s-controllable skills have been much improved outside hitting for power. The dinks and dumps will come and the average will creep upwards IMO.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And it's hard to say
how much his sore forearm is hurting his swing.
by MdRedbirdFreak on May 1, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair...
The defensive metrics have Pujols at 7.3 UZR/150. He’s still been good, just not quite as good as the last 2 seasons. His range has made up for his miscues. (RF is 10.2)
by MRCARD on May 1, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Errr
Defensive metrics are inferential statistics and require large sample sizes to be reliable. I seem to recall the creator of UZR saying something like 3 full seasons of data being required to overcome the noise inherent in these kinds of measurements. I don’t think there is any problem with using a seasons worth of data to draw some soft conclusions, and looking at a players career numbers has proven to be pretty reliable, but to use UZR, PMR, +/- to make judgments after one month is folly. Particularly for Schumaker who’s on a learning curve and, to my eye at least, has been much better the last few weeks than he was his first few starts.
-- Aidan Sonoda
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart - 4/9/09
In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas.
by Aidan Sonoda on May 1, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I LOL'd when I read the first
paragraph of the WaPo’s story about last night’s game. The first sentence is brilliant:
Washington Nationals pitchers threw 173 baseballs in the general direction of home plate last night. During a 3-hour, 18-minute insult to accuracy, Washington’s pitchers walked 11 batters, pegged two and threw four wild pitches. All of 53 percent of their pitches went for strikes. Among the many that didn’t, some bounced 10 feet in front of home plate, like John Stockton bounce passes. One sailed behind Albert Pujols. One actually bounced through a batter’s legs, a hockey shot through the five-hole.
by MdRedbirdFreak on May 1, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
That is awesome. Managed to slip in references to two other sports without stretching it too much, which just goes to show how ridiculous the Nats’ pitching was.
by Forsch31 on May 1, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great tidbit from Goold
As if we would expect anything less from the MUST-READ 10@10:
Manager Tony La Russa blew his chance at a record Wednesday night in Atlanta. His starting lineup that night was the same lineup he used April 11 against Houston, according to the media relations staff.
There goes his shot at using 162 lineups in 162 games.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 1, 2009 12:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And Goold references
Philip K. Dick in the 10@10 title.
by vv.cards on May 1, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do [K-Bots] Dream of Electric Sheep?
"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 May 1, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So who is the 5th
player from the 2005 draft to play for the Cardinals…
Rasmus, Greene, Boggs, Stavinoha,……..? I’m missing one. HELP I’m missing one! runs away crying
by mtzxc on May 1, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Boggs
Has he taken some off of his FB? It seemed like when he came up last year he threw a bit harder ie… touched 94 with is FB that had movement… I know it’s still early and lots of guys around the big leagues seem to not be letting it fly quite yet. I have noticed a handfull of guys down a bit velocity wise.
I think maybe taking a bit off the FB is being done in hopes of being able to control it a bit better. He seems to struggle going in on batters at times as his FB tends to sail a bit when he trys to locate it on the inner half.
Last year when I saw Boggs pitch in Kansas City all I could think was this guy has big league stuff like #3 or #2 starter stuff if he can improve his control some and improve his off speed a bit more.
I hope Mr. Boggs continues to improve.
by ICbirdfan on May 1, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's touched 97 and has pretty regularly been reaching back for 95-96
I’ll admit to drinking the Haterade® on Boggs before the year, but the discovery of that slider (curve?) command has me starting to believe.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I did not know he was touching that velocity wise...
When I was watching off and on last night I saw a lot of 90-91……
by ICbirdfan on May 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was last season....
sometimes the mph on the tv is less than on gameday…
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always liked Boggs due to pure stuff.......
I know you have to utilize the stuff, but you you can’t magically gain stuff….
I like Boggs better than PJ Walters just due to plain stuff. PJ needs to execute to a “T” just to survive. The better the stuff the more you can get away with which is obviously huge at the MLB level because guys tend to tatoo mistakes as PJ has found out.
by ICbirdfan on May 1, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I liked Boggs after that gem he pitched last year against the Bo Sox.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on May 1, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
I spent most of my typing here making a case and defending Boggs but his stuff alone has won me over. The guy has such a natural whip to his fastball that his secondary stuff doesn’t have to be brilliant for him to have success. Now his slurve is more refined and looks a lot better, and he can locate a change up as a show me pitch.
The change up will be the thing that defines Boggs with it #3 type of pitcher, without a ROOGY that will be dominated by lefties.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't that hopeful with him
He seemed too hittable in the lower levels. I’ve had him pegged for the pen eventually because I didn’t think his secondary stuff was good enough. He got my attention in the PCL last year though, and what I am seeing now looks pretty darn good. I think my opinion has gradually changed to where I now can see what the other side was seeing all along.
by Merry CRasmus on May 1, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
jaime is really a 22nd rounder?
i guess that stuff about drafting position players first and pitchers for depth in later rounds is right.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
680th overall
http://www.mymlbdraft.com/2005/round22/
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not necessarily
Just for fun, of the top ERA+ leaders in 2008, 17 were drafted (as opposed to international free agents) and 11 of those were first rounders. Just 3 were drafted after the 3rd round (Lee, Shields, Webb).
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Garcia
was, as I recall, a well-regarded prospect who had had a bad year and put on a lot of weight. The scout who followed him around was apparently instrumental in the Cardinals taking a shot with him.
by DanUpBaby on May 1, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My recollection
He wasn’t eligible for the Rule 4 draft for some reason. His agent talked him out of playing in the Mexican league, as it’d make him ineligible the following year, so he took a year off and put on a little weight.
by liam on May 1, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait...
Stav Infection started in the organization at the same time as Raz…and made the bigs sooner? I call shenanigans (on the organization, not you, mtzxc)
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's 4 years older
I think age had a lot to do with it. They had time to allow Rasmus to season.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point
Didn’t think about that
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least Stav didn’t do a damn thing once called up. Raz if I recall correctly was on the DL at that time
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a great April for the Cards
and topped off with an lboros post no less! it looked like the team would be very shaky after the pirates series to start the year, but after battling the Cubs so well, it looks like we might be the real deal. good to see Boggs pitching so well, and Ankiel to start getting out of his slump and/or bad habits (stop swinging at everything, Dicky Rick!)
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did anyone else get annoyed with Al...
what a loaded question…but did anyone else get annoyed when he kept calling Greene the #1 pick in the 2005 draft? Even Dan was saying it for awhile before one of them finally just said “1st round pick”.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good catch
I thought I was going crazy and imagining them saying that.
by mattybobo on May 1, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn, VEB has a deep bench
I wonder when that houstoncardinal guy resurfaces? Great job of pinch-blogging LB. From the emphasis in your post I take it you had two major points: Maple Street Press 2009 Annual and The Show, interesting.
Contrary to popular belief CBSSports does have a baseball writer, and he talked to Mo. We get some insights into the Cardinals rehab regiment for Carp.
Keep the Sudafed coming: Carpenter, who suffered a torn oblique muscle in his April 14 start, isn’t expected back before mid-June. The Cardinals just hope he won’t be sidelined much longer than that. They figure they’ll know more on a timetable next week, when they come home to play Philadelphia and Pittsburgh during a brief, four-game stand, and Carpenter is re-evaluated. The next step in his recovery will be determined from there. “Right now it’s a situation where he’s healing,” Mozeliak says. “Don’t cough too much, and don’t sneeze.”
So the medical staff has told him no cigar bars and avoid pepper at all costs. He’ll be back to his old self in no time. (and by old self I mean one pitch away from serious injury) CBS also has this guy apologizing to Ryan Franklin. Anybody else want to join him?
"There are three things the average man thinks he can do better than anybody else: build a fire, run a hotel and manage a baseball team."- Rocky Bridges
by That's a Winner on May 1, 2009 2:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
houstoncardinal is chuckb i beleive
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was being sarcastic methinks
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't be sure
he may have missed that post
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know I did
I came one day and was like “Who the F is chuckb?” Had to check the threads to find out for myself.
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the cardinals are
ahead by three and a half
let’s have a good may!
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Cubs are 5 games out of 1st place
for the first time since July 17, 2007.
Let’s hope that number never shrinks.
by Hardcore Legend on May 1, 2009 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
in related news
marlins are already up 1-0 in the 1st.
by Phizzle on May 1, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the Cubs by some miracle ended up 10 games out
by the 4th of July, what would they do? They’ve got nothing to deal to get better. They’ve got a bunch of older guys with large contracts in a market that no one wants to take on payroll. Jake Peavy isn’t going to solve their problems.
Would Sweet Lou get fired? I mean, they are clearly in full-out win now mode with very little coming up in the farm system. There could be a big firesale midseason getting ready for FA next year.
by Hardcore Legend on May 1, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, how i would LOVE a cubbie fire sale
nothing would piss those fans off more than a fire sale.
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they would trade josh vitters for an all-star pitcher who would get TJ surgery less
than a montha after the trade.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
probably
and then josh vitter would become the next dan haren.
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They
could trade Smajdzgksdjglsdkjg.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he would get a lot in return
they could probably trade him for jake peavy straight up.
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they were smart they'd do Samardjzijadazmatazz for Cain and Lincecum
by mattybobo on May 1, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's the equivilent of us trading josh kinney for cain and lincecum
i kinda like that idea actually!
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For what?
He’s a reliever who is throwing 92.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's
like the only guy who isn’t old and signed to a huge contract. Plus I just wanted to type “Smajdzgksdjglsdkjg.”
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Samardzija isn't that bad of a name
funny though
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Samardzija has a no trade btw
The 10 million dollar draft contract that just keeps on giving.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah.
I was entirely unaware that he had a no-trade. That’s a bit ridiculous, no?
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course
Not quite as ridiculous as giving a mediocre draft prospect 10 million instead of drafting/signing—-which they could have done with the 2.5M and something I am on record saying they should have done at the time—-Kyle Gibson and Matt LaPorta that year (with just the bonus money they gave thim THAT YEAR ignoring the remaining 7.2M). But yeah, a no-trade clause for that mediocre prospect is pretty ridiculous.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Samardzija rhp
5 years/$10M (2007-11), plus 2012 & 2013 club options
* 5 years/$10M (2007-11), plus 2012 & 2013 club options
o signed Major League contract with Cubs 1/07, giving up football
o $2M signing bonus
o no-trade clause
o total value may reach $16.5M with exercise of options
o must return bonus & much of remaining $10M if he returns to football
* drafted 2006 (5-149) (Notre Dame)
* signed 6/06, $1M signing bonus (may increase to $7.25M if Samardzija chooses to play baseball over football)
* agent: Mark Rodgers
* ML service: 0.066
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you could probably trade micah hoffpauir to somebody.
or they could trade the Riot and put miles at short. >snark<
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
someone with even more consonants in his name?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your gun is slow
Or he has a sinker. The kid has velocity.
by sdrone on May 1, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not this year Granted it’s 56 pitches but he hasn’t flashed 98…
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Surely you'd be happy with the 94.8 to 95mph
those graphs show.
by sdrone on May 1, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
click on the velocity charts.
it shows a drop in velocity. noticeable. and not just a sample size issue. his appearances show that his velocity in all three appearances is slower than all but three appearances last year.
that looks like either he’s changed techniques (like motte) or that he’s injured. not sure which, but something is happening. his peak velocity in those appearances isn’t even comparable to his prior velocity.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nice to be spoiled on a friday afternoon
i don’t think the rotation can pitch nearly as well as it has the first month. pineiro will not continue to pitch this well nor will lohse. the cardinals have had pretty good luck with (insert pitcher here), but you can’t expect that to continue either. eventually, boggs/walter/whomever is going to get bombed in consecutive starts at some point. it’s going to interesting to see how the cardinals respond should that happen.
the x-factor per se is the performance of todd wellemeyer and chris carpenter. if wellemeyer can find his groove from early last year, he could easily offset the drops in performance that will surely come from pineiro and lohse. and if carpenter is back, that prevents boggs or walters from getting shelled and having their confidence shaken. however, if carpenter comes back and pitches at a high level, boggs is still making quality starts, and wellemeyer still hasn’t found his groove, do you send wellemeyer back to the ’pen and have boggs continue starting?
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Harden's velo is down...
That’s a shame.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
oh
darn
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
looks like his control
is off as well.
by hex706f726368 on May 1, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heads up!
Game 5 of the 2006 W.S. is on right now on MLB Network
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i don't seem to remember what happened in that game
can you fill me in?
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what a sweet, sweet picture
i miss the old scott rolen.
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly
old Scotty was already gone by the time this photo was taken.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he looks kinda like izzy here
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's just
the ear angle.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes
his last moment of fame was being absolutely robbed by endy chavez. so sad. screw you he-seop choi!
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll always remember some of the those playoff game home runs he had
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the two against clemens were monumental
so were soup and jimmy
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
booyaaa!
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
was that the one that was the laser beam off of the signage down the left field line?
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Scott
Alex Cintron had a pinch hit AB last night. I still can’t stand that guy for running into Rolen during the AZ playoff series. I think that was the first year we had Rolen, but could be wrong. Such a little guy and he started all of Scotty’s shoulder problems, I think
by brafi on May 1, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He-Seop Choi was really the start I think
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It really is a shame that happened. Scotty was one heck of a ballplayer.
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
by Red Blazer on May 1, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll just say that it was the greatest moment
i’ve ever witnessed as a baseball fan and something that no one alive today remembers the Cubs achieving
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope that the Cubs' streak surpasses the oldest person alive one day
So that NOBODY ON THIS PLANET can say they were alive the last time the Cubs won the World Series
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, it'll happen
do you really think the cubs are going to win a world series before, say, 2020?
by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
generally speaking...
the oldest living person is usually around 115-116 years old….so it looks like we’ll have to wait until around 2023-2024….but yea, I think it’ll happen, and it’ll be hilarious
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 3:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i love how molina is leaping
and waino is barely off the ground… waino is a big boy
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea...
i didn’t notice that at first, but Molina looks like he has some “hops”
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Molina isn't leaping
He’s tiptoe-stepping on that World Series sign that for some reason was in the middle of the diamond.
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 May 1, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
8 straight balls from Harden to walk in a run
That’s really unfortunate.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on May 1, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You know Dan... it really is
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
oh, no! harden losing his control?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
somebody last night put up the worlds smallest violin
and it made me laugh…. if i knew how to post pics on here i would
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its easy
Just find the link to the image (right click and copy image location in firefox, I think IE is similar) and then open a comment here on VEB, then click on the picture icon (looks like a tree) then past the link (ctrl-v is paste in windows) and then hit preview to make sure it worked.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ok ill give it a whirl
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nope
i suck
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hit preview first
that way you can see if the image shows up before hitting post
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ha
i did… and that is what it showed… and yet i still hit post and it didnt work
what is the definition of insanity again?
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW this is what it should look like
After you click Ok this is what should be in your post
<img src="http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-3363624dt.jpg"/>
that code is for the Wainwright Molina picture above
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its ok man
im at work and i probably shouldnt be trying this stuff out now anyways… thanks for the help though!
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YAY!!!
you actually made me almost spit water onto my Caterpillar issued laptop
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whenever you find an image you like
Right Click it → Copy Image URL → Click on the picture of the tree → Double Click Box → Ctrl + V → Enter
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on May 1, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Graham Taylor's picture on gameday looks straight out of a high school yearbook
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think if Boggs has solid command of his pitches he looks like the real deal to me.
I don’t know what happened to his stuff over the offseason, but it just seems more electric now. He looks like he could be a middle of the rotation type guy if everything works out.
Greene’s stance is a lot funkier than I expected, I hope he jacks a dong because I bet it looks really cool when he really connects.
I really hop Welly has a good game tonight, the Nats have a tough pitcher on the mound. I’ll be reasonably happy if he keeps this game close because there is always the Nats BP.
by TheBirds on May 1, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
judging by last night
welley could throw left handed and still keep the cards in the game enough to battle back against the nats bullpen
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the real question is who is your reliever AFTER you burn up tavarez and wells. who is so awful
that they’re your third, fourth, fifth choice AFTER those guys?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe they can bring dibble down from the booth
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
kid has a lot of upside!
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If wellemeyer continues to struggle...
How many more starts does he get before he comes down with a mysterious injury? Does Mortenson get the call? or does Welley get the Kip Wells treatment and be allowed to still get 25 starts?
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll answer my own question...
When Carp returns, welley hits the DL…boggs stays in rotation
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think they have to get more catastrophic. if he's not legitimately injured, i think he has a relatively
long leash. if he starts pulling the 2-inning starts regularly, you have to think about it. but even bringing up a reasonable pitcher from memphis is going to involve some bumps. wellemeyer as a shaky but functional pitcher is better than parachuting mortensen in for a spot start.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comparing Wellemeyer's start to Kip Wells is a bit unfair
Wells walked 4.32 batters per 9 innings. Wellemeyer is walking a mere 2.45.
"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 May 1, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they haven't been bad enough to warrant a removal from the rotation
if he gets worse though, who knows.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
3 of the 4 have been really bad...
thinks would look a lot worse without his 7 inning 1 run performance against arizona…I don’t think he’s in any danger right now…but if he has bad starts in 2 of his next 3 or 4 and carp is coming back and boggs is pitching well, things could get interesting.
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t go along with the Kip comparison.
So far Welly’s stats show him being unlucky as opposed to completely awful.
Boggs will most likely continue to be a insurance 6th man the entire year, even with Carp back.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
fyp
Boggs will most likely continue to be a insurance 6th man the entire year, even especially with Carp back.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
was merging his second post thinking Boggs would stay for Welly. Under no terms would I think Boggs would harm Carp’s starts
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no, i meant we will especially need a 6th starter ready and waiting as carpenter comes
back.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
heh, I see.
agreed.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
though a rested Carp come Sept. may not be a bad thing, of course we need to be in a position where Sept is counting for something.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so i have the cubs/marlins game on gameday
and i noticed that big z has a better batting average than 6 of the cubs starting position players in today’s game
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
z was taking grounders at third at one point.
true story.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow...
im going to the game tommorow at wrigley… maybe ill see him catching for soto
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was is bad, can we help?
Someone brought up a Larry Walker trade in one of the fanposts recently. I wonder if maybe Zimmerman could be that for the Cards.
Zimmerman for Motte + Freese?
Young and good players for a very good 3B w/ a long term deal.
Thoughts?
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can you
imagine being a Nats fan and them trading away Zimmerman?
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not like they have that many fans as it stands
and w/ Motte they might actually win a few games
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mean,
I would do that trade. But the Nats will not.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
were they that much worse off in montreal?
was the attendance so bad there that what they have now is an improvement?
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know.
But you don’t want to lose the few fans you have, right?
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no i agree with you
im just saying it doesn’t seem to me to be much of an improvement over my memories of seing games on tv at montreal
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure it's not.
Classic underachiever.
by spants on May 1, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i guess on the brightside they have lovely monuments to highlight during the breaks in the action
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Never happen
They just signed Zimmerman to an extension.
"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 May 1, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think that if im a nats fan i can handle anything
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I'm the NATS GM...
I start the bidding at Wallace and Perez + other bullpen help
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since we figure Wallace is out from the cards
How about Mather, Perez and Kinney?
just trying to figure out what we think it would take
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats not going to work...
you might as well just offer them perez, because their reaction would be about the same. Players who are struggling MIGHTILY at AAA (this includes Freese, Mather and Kinney) are not exactly gonna be deal makers for the NATS to give up their best player
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
why would wallace be out in a zimmerman trade?
where’s wallace going to play in st. louis with both albert and zimmerman on the roster?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly...
it becomes a matter of whether you think Wallace’s bat is going to be far superior to Zimmermans….if there is not much offensive difference and the money is available…a Wallace for Zimmerman trade won’t seem that absurd. I think Zimmerman has a lot of “Rolen” in him defensively, Its just a matter of whether he’ll be a consistent .290 25 hr 100 rbi guy
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
unfortunately he also has a little rolen in his shoulder.
zimm will likely be a much better defender than the walrus. a shoulder injury in a 25yo worries me, though.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
also...
wallace is only 2 years younger than zimmerman
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could say "what fans?".... oops I did
Zimmerman makes 3.3M this year, how long would the Cards have him for? The Mang contract goes way up soon, so could the FO afford it?
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on May 1, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His Deal
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11649864/rss
The deal reportedly is worth $45 million over five years. It runs through 2013 and replaces the one-year, $3,325,000 contract Zimmerman agreed to in February, avoiding arbitration.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
by StLHugo on May 1, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zimmerman...
signed a 5 year 45 mill extention which overides that current 3.3M
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thanks for update.....
I don’t think I would do the trade…..
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on May 1, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
me neither...
but I don’t thinks its a crazy idea for the nats if they get Wallace and relief help
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No thanks.
I like Zim, but we have a nice development path going to have a cheap but solid bat carrying 3b for years to come. No need to have 3B having the same issues the OF currently is.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well im gonna get back to work
later guys
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on May 1, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what is this "work" of which you speak?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup! Get yer lineup 'ere!
From the P-D:
2B Skip Schumaker
3B Joe Thurston
1B Albert Pujols
LF Chris Duncan
RF Ryan Ludwick
CF Rick Ankiel
C Jason La Rue
SS Tyler Greene
P Todd Wellemeyer
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 1, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually now its Yadi
He was sick yesterday, but according to Strauss now feels better.
by OCCardsFan on May 1, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
interesting lineup......
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think I would have went with a ‘less punch, better d’ alignment to protect Welly and take control of this series. Don’t mind Yadi sitting though, if we’re gonna rest those knees, let’s do it in this series.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you think maybe...
3B – Barden
LF – Rasmus
1B – Pujols
RF – Ludwick
CF – Ankiel
2B – Thurston
C – Larue
SS – Greene
P – wellemeyer
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flip Colby and Rick’s defensive assignment
Flip Green and LaRue’s batting order.
and that’s exactly what I was thinking.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we really should have rasmus in center with wellemeyer or boggs on the mound.
let duncan out in the field when we have pineiro and lohse lobbing sinkers all over the place. if there are only 5 balls that get to the outfield, it hardly matters who’s there.
i wonder if yadi has the flu, now.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The more I read that, the more I like it.
Our roster acts as if it’s built on splits, but to be fair it’s largely a mirage. We’re not as good as we seem to be against lefties and unless Mather really comes around, we’re not going to be either.
But we do have a roster where we can inject thump should we need it, or we can have a solid defensive set in the infield, or outfield.
it may not be a bad idea at all to have defensive alignment shifts based on the type of contact our pitchers create.
possible on Yadi, with a couple having it, I can’t see why it wouldn’t be a strong possibility.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
could be a good angle to use with a player like craig in the lineup -- if he can
carry over his bat to the majors, play him where the hits aren’t going. if there’s a sinkerballer on the mound, play him in the OF; if welly or boggs are out there, put him at third.
might be a good guide to use when ryan comes back also; use his D with pineiro and lohse; use a bat like barden or greene at short in other games.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not only would you gain with a more consistent playing schedule. You’ll be used to the pitcher you’re playing D behind. Which is something largely overlooked.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what are our best defensive arrangements?
pujols/thurston/ryan/barden/ankiel/rasmus/ludwick?
and our strongest offense —
pujols/skip/k.greene/barden/ludwick/ankiel/duncan?
is that about right?
the only tweaks you’d have to make there is an offensive preference for thurston at second and rasmus in the outfield against LHP, all other things being equal.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GB (Pin, Lohse)
Pu’/Thurston/Ryan/Barden ~ Duncan/Ank/Luddy
Rest
Pu’/Thurston/Greene/Barden ~ Ank/Ras/Luddy – LHP
(Think Ras will clean up his splits? LHP is crushing him thus far)
Pu’/Skip/Greene/Barden ~ Ank/Ras/Luddy -RHP
Offense Based
Pu’/Skip/Greene/Barden/Dunc/Luddy/ Ank OR Ras
Can make a case for Ras’ OBP vs Ank’s thump.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Core problem with this is that Skip may only play two games out of 5 (if we face a LHP vs Waino/Boggs/Carp/Welly).
Which clearly isn’t enough, and doesn’t give TLR the typical “lead off” guy with trust that he clearly has investment in.
I picked Ank in left over Skip in left though one could make a case for Skip when looking at the best defensive arrangement
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HATE Thurston in the 2 hole
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
by jd is legend on May 1, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd rather see Duncan there...
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Strauss Says Yadi is in
He showed up feeling better from the flu and is now in.
by OCCardsFan on May 1, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
USAToday has Yadi in, as well.
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 May 1, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
excluding T. Greene and the pitcher
that group has an average OBP of .404 for 2009… I was very surprised to see that Ank’s OBP is higher than Luddy’s
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was suprised to notice..
that barden is tied with Ankiel for 3rd on the team in Games Played behind Pujols and Duncan
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
games played or started? b/c i think barden's gotten a ph in almost any game he hasn't started.
but his total AB are still not that high.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just games played...
nowhere near the leaders in starts
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually, he's trailing thurston by 18 PA's.
that burns me up a bit. he’s 300 points of OPS over Thurston and a better defender, and he’s trailing him for PA’s?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How many of those PA’s have been where Thurston was on second? I don’t think many, but it could be some of them.
One Century down, next on its way. Cardinals '09 : Preserving the Cubs tradition.
In Albert I Trust, In Colby I Believe.
by AdjustedExpectations on May 1, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
also Barden has an ops
of 1.262 against RHP compared to .833 against lefties
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
one more interesting split...
Thurston…is batting .393 at home and .154 on the road in equal PA’s
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how about innings played?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And
Ankiel’s OPS is over a hundred points higher than Rasmus.
by Evilfrog on May 1, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've been surprised
by Rasmus’s apparent complete lack of power. On a few occasions it looked like he crushed the ball, it just sort of dies in the outfield.
by DiscoJer on May 1, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's still early in the season. some hitters don't get going until warm weather.
honestly, he’s doing very well for a recent ML debut.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on May 1, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
whenever he gets ahold of it
he hits it at somebody… his power will get better.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 1, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: You guys ever listen to Baseball Podcasts?
If so which ones do you listen too?
The only one I listen now is the one off the ESPN MLB page w/ Eric Karabell and Peter Pascarelli
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on May 1, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It's been 75 years....
From everything2.com
maybe I should have done a fanpost, but oh well.
The Gashouse Gang is the nickname given to the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals, a ragtag group of major league baseball players if there ever was one.
There are two commonly circulated origins of the name:
One story says that the team couldn’t afford more than one uniform per player. After a particularly grimy game against the Boston Braves, the team boarded a train up to Brooklyn for an early doubleheader, and had no time to launder their uniform. The next morning, as the team arrived in the hotel lobby, one newswriter claimed they resembled the gangs of the Gashouse district in Lower Manhattan. The name stuck to describe the scrappy, reckless play of the team.
The other story says that Frank Graham, a reporter for the New York Sun, was talking with Leo Durocher about the team. Graham commented half-jokingly that the team might be good enough to play in the American League. Durocher responded, “They wouldn’t let us play in the American League. They’d say we were just a bunch of gashouse players.” Graham, and eventually the rest of baseball, used the name from then on.
Whether or not either story is true is irrelevant; the name was certainly apt. Featuring notorious hardasses Durocher, Burleigh Grimes, and Ducky Medwick, the team also had the dugout pleasure of:
The Dean brothers, Dizzy and Daffy, both a tad kooky, plus similarly named Dazzy Vance;
Fast-talking catcher Frankie Frisch, who spent hours before the game learning intimate details about the opposing batters, to distract them come game time;
Bill Walker, Jack Rothrock, and Jesse Haines, the resident poker players on the team, and often found in the dugout playing cards;
and a smorgasbord of walking nicknames: Tex Carlton, Spud Davis, Ripper Collins, Flint Rhem, Pepper Martin, Kiddo Davis, Buster Mills, and Red Worthington.
Despite the team’s general lack of presentability, they managed to scrap together a fantastic season, going all the way to the World Series and defeating the vaunted Detroit Tigers in seven games.
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on May 1, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How cruel...
MLB network follows the 2006 world series with a look back at the 1985 W.S.
"Greene over to Schumaker, on to first! Double Play!!"
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on May 1, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have the '06 WS Game 5 Broadcast TIVO'd
I’m in the 9th inning right now and am so nervous. It’s like being there all over again.
SF CARDS FAN
by norlanski on May 1, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I watch the 06 NLCS game 7 once a month...
…and cant stand watching Beltran come to the plate thinking hes ending it
I have this weird problem where I keep reading "intentional" as "international", and confuse myself thoroughly when wondering why Pujols doesn't have more IBBs.
by all4tookie on May 1, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yadi out again?
Is he the latest victim of the flu bug?
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
by stltrav09 on May 1, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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