I have nothing nice to say
by chuckb on May 14, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
in St. Louis Cardinals News
Email
PrintTodd Wellemeyer has always had some pretty strong platoon splits. For his career, there’s a 74 point OPS difference between righties and lefties. His career slash lines against righties are .248/.333/.400 and against lefties they’re .271/.356/.451. So far this season, however, the platoon splits are more like the Great Schism. Well, that’s not entirely true. Righties are hitting him this year better than lefties ever have (.319/.364/.431). Lefites, however, are turning him into Esteban Yan. They’re mashing the Colonel at a .351/.413/.564 clip. That’s an OPS of nearly 1.000 for left-handed hitters.
Now, a week or so ago I postulated that things would even out as Wellemeyer saw more righties and fewer lefties. Essentially, I chalked up his problems to small sample sizes. Tuesday’s game against the Pirates encapsulated Wellemeyer’s problems against lefties. Wellemeyer’s had 7 starts so far this season, 4 of which have been pretty bad. Tuesday Wellemeyer was relatively successful against righties. In his 4.1 IP, righties were 2-9 against him w/ 2 BBs and 1 K. Lefties, on the other hand, belted him at 7-13 w/ a 3B and 2 HR. He did strike them out 3 times but when the BA is over .500 and the SLG is 1.154, those 3 Ks don’t mean a whole lot. The bottom line is that if lefties continue to pound him the way they have, it’s going to be a really long season for Wellemeyer.
I assumed that things would begin to level off – that he would face more teams w/ more righties and fewer lefties and, as a result, his performance would begin to look somewhat better. But if lefties continue to pound him all over the park, wouldn’t you put every lefty you could in the lineup against him? He may not see righties much more frequently than he is right now simply b/c managers may choose to play those platoonable lefties as often as they can.
Now, it’s rare when I find the witty give-and-take between Dan and Al to be particularly worthwhile – in fact, I quite often mute the TV and listen to some music while I watch the game. But Tuesday night Al mentioned something during the game that stood out. He mentioned that he thought that Wellemeyer’s curveball didn’t have a lot of bite – that it seemed to be rolling as it approached the plate. The significance of this is that, b/c he’s been facing so many more lefties, he’s throwing many more curveballs than in year’s past. It’s still not a major part of his repertoire – 3.7% this year – but he rarely threw one in the past and if he can’t get it over for a strike or hitters are crushing it every time he tosses one up there, it could be a much bigger problem than it appears to be.
Wellemeyer’s problems are symptomatic of the Cards’ problems this month. Since May began, the Cards have yielded 61 runs in 11 games – 5.5 per game. We’ve really only had 2 good starts – both of them, strangely enough, by Wellemeyer. Since May 2, we’ve given up 59 runs in 10 games – nearly 6 runs a game and have only given up fewer than 5 runs twice, in the 2 games against the feckless Pirates at Busch. Now we’re looking square in the face at being swept by the same Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Clearly, the team is really scuffling right now. Not only is our 2nd best (best?) starter on the DL, but we also have 3 of our starting 8 on the DL. They’re also our #2, #4, and #5 hitters so it’s not like the injured players are particularly fungible. Thurston and Barden have come back down to Earth and, for the time being anyway, we’re going to be starting either Shane Robinson or Nick Stavinoha in the OF. Maybe we’re better off putting Skip back in the OF for a week or so (until Ankiel’s healthy) and starting Barden or Thurston every day at the keystone.
Unfortunately, hitting and pitching aren’t the only problems the Cards are dealing with right now. The defense has been atrocious. Only 1 team – Washington – has a larger gap between the number of runs the team has given up per game and their ERA. We’re currently yielding 4.61 runs per game but our team ERA is just 4.16. This means that we’re giving up nearly .50 unearned runs per game. The biggest culprits, according to fangraphs, so far have been Skip (in both the infield AND the outfield), Khalil Greene, and Chris Duncan. Now, say what you want about UZR and small sample sizes and all the rest, but it’s inarguable that the team has taken a step backward defensively. We’re 11th in the league in defensive efficiency and, as I mentioned, 15th in unearned runs given up per game. Perhaps it’s too early to blame specific players, but the team, as a whole, isn’t as strong defensively as it was a year ago and it’s not just b/c Troy Glaus hasn’t taken the field yet.
I’ll have a game thread up in time for the witching hour. If we get swept by the Pirates, I may have to toss back a few Franklins!
300 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
that picture
sure is getting a lot of use.
He’ll think twice next time he rubs his forehead.
On with the (good) youth movement!
hopefully
he’ll think twice next time he tries to regress to the mean too!!
"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
Just out of curiosity...
How’s our boy Braden going so far?
Did he take the regular nosedive-after-leaving-the-Cards route?
I once shot a man just to see him die...then I got distracted and missed it.
check out this recent fanpost
for all your former Cardinal wonderings. It’s quite well put together
"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
Loop is doing okay. He is on pace for 15 wins right now.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/player?statsId=5966
*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*
"Scuffling" does not mean the same thing as "struggling"
This is one of my biggest pet peeves in sports broadcasting. Someone a few years ago (I’m guessing it was Karl Ravech, as he seems to be the biggest perpetrator of this,) misused the word “scuffling” to describe someone or some team who was actually struggling, and now EVERYONE says it.
OK, glad I could get that off my chest. Carry on.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
I know what it means
Do you?
“1. to struggle or fight in a rough, confused manner.
2. to go or move in hurried confusion. "
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scuffling
If you think that doesn’t describe the way the Cards are playing right now, you haven’t been paying attention.
I do.
The first definition describes an altercation, and the second typically describes a manner of walking.
I haven’t been able to watch the games this week, but have there been brawls I haven’t read about? Or were you referring to the pitchers walking a lot of batters hurriedly/confusedly?
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
I think
in a metaphorical sense the usage is fine. The team is certainly wrestling some demons.
Classic underachiever.
Metaphorically is fine...
… but I don’t think most of the broadcasters I hear saying it are using it that way.
Ravech, Kruk, and a lot of play-by-play men use it as if they think the words “scuffle” and “struggle” are interchangeable. And they aren’t. At least not yet. If enough people buy into the misuse, that will become a new definition for the word. And I will become an angrier, older man.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
Well,
broadcasters are stupid. We all know that. Man, I thought I was pedantic. :P
Seriously though, language is always evolving, words are always expanding their meanings and others just disappear. It’s just the way it is. Might as well accept it.
Classic underachiever.
Accepting it is how we end up with presidents who can't pronounce "nuclear"...
And I realize I am being pedantic. I can’t help it.
(Most of my comments here are slightly tongue-in-cheek, but the misuse/abuse of “scuffle” really is a pet peeve of mine in baseball broadcasting. It doesn’t seem to have seeped into other sports yet, but it is only a matter of time…)
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
Okay,
now the “nuclear” thing is TOTALLY different, and you know it. At least these two words are somewhat similar in meaning.
Mispronunciations drive me nuts because some people (I’m looking at you, dear husband) so badly mispronounce words that I have to guess at what the hell they are saying. Or the mispronounce something so that it is another word and takes on a vastly different meaning.
At least with struggle v. scuffle, we know what they are trying to say. They’re just using the wrong word.
Classic underachiever.
Ha ha
“Nucular” used to bother me a lot, than I just learned to except it. I made a conscience decision to not worry about it. It doesn’t effect me nearly as much anymore, and its made my life much better.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
by birdjam on May 14, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
rec'd
"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
You missed a few.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
by birdjam on May 14, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well played...
I didn’t notice a single one of those when I read your comment. That’s how pervasive the problem is!
I only caught "except"
I suck
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 14, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah Mr. Spants!!
get your pronunciations together!
:D
"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
My buddy that I work with KILLS me with mispronunciations.
He said the other day that he was gaining weight because he leads a sedimentary lifestyle.
He also mentioned an army private that went AOL.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
the common ones that I hate are
“asposed” in place of supposed
and
“supposably” in place of supposedly.
"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
It's "definite"
Not “definant”
Drives me up the wall
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 14, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
"For all intensive purposes"
I wish our favorite baseball team weren’t playing at a level that made us want to talk about annoying word (mis-)usage…
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
ugh,
I’m pretty sure 90% of English speakers don’t even know that it’s supposed to be “for all intents and purposes.”
Now this begs the question: “Is our children learning?”
"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 definately agree with you.
Also, apparently the automatic spell-check for comments, which makes squiggly red lines underneath incorrect words, doesn’t include the subject line.
My husband
does this kind of thing on a daily basis. It’s funny to me, but he gets tired of me laughing all the time.
Classic underachiever.
You know, the whole "Nucular" thing kind of annoys me
but not because people say it wrong. I’m certain there are tons of people out there who mispronounce “foliage” but foliage does not come up much in discussions of foreign policy. Foliage and nuclear just happen to be two words that people mispronounce all the time because, guess what!, they’re easy to mispronounce. I got really really tired of that meme. Our current president says “Pahk-i-stahn” but unless I’m mistaken also says “Aff-gan-i-stan” the way the rest of us say it. Isn’t he being inconsistent? Nobody seems to care. Ah well.
What really ticks me off are incorrect idioms. Supposedly well-spoken politicians and other public figures use “begging the question” incorrectly about 99% of the time and nobody bothers to make fun of them for being dumb (except me of course) I’ll grant that “stomping grounds” and “chomping at the bit” are now accepted, and both make sense, but “stamping grounds” and “champing at the bit” are, I believe, the original phrases. Nobody seems to know this anymore.
"Chomp" vs. "champ"
I thought that it was just a variation in dialect, meaning that both are correct depending on where you are geographically?
"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 think you're probably right
I am not totally certain that “champing” and “stamping” are the original versions, but they’re certainly correct. Chomp and stomp do make sense but I believe they’re the products of more recent variations. You tend to hear people these days say that a man is “stomping his feet” rather than “stamping”, etc. I have used them in conversation before and had people either try to correct me or give me weird faces as if I said it wrong. There is actually a city of Stamping Grounds, Kentucky interestingly enough, and I think it is related to the origin of the idiom.
They are supposed to be pronounced the same
And I think the spelling “chomp” was just a misspelling of “champ” originally.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
According to Garner's Modern American Usage
Champ is the original and better term. It means to bite our gnaw, while chomp means to take a bite out of and consume. Champing at the bit “is slightly more common than the variant phrase, chomping at the bit.”
Yup
It only kinda makes sense to say “chomp” as chomp is similar to bite, which is similar to champing and gnawing.
is that anything like, say...
gnashing of teeth?
sorry…too many Bible College papers in one week.
"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
idioms
I could care less! Actually the phrase should be “I couldn’t care less.” This is often misused.
…and i do care about idioms, mattybobo, I care alot a lot
"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
so is bootylicious
but that doesn’t make it any less shameful.
"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
by albrtfn on May 14, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
YES! That always baffles me.
Especially as, here in the UK, we use the phrase “I couldn’t care less”, so it’s not as if it’s even a universal thing. I wonder how it got converted?
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on May 14, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't know where this fits into the discussion,
so I just randomly replied to a comment.
A pet peeve of mine is when people type things out like they sound, not how they are spelled. Number 1 offender: Lose vs. Loose.
I always like to see that graph
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
nice analyis
complete with break lines and everything.
"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
Champing at the bit?
That doesn’t make any sense. Horses don’t champ their bits, they chomp them.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
Wrong they champ them
Again from Garner: “The original and better term for what horses do to their bits is champ. … What one champs is not actually eaten, but just bitten or gnawed nervously. But to chomp something is to take a bite out of it and usually to consume it …”
Is it wrong, or just a regional accent?
People pronounce words different ways in different places, sometimes adding phantom syllables. It’s not really wrong or right, just the way it is. Because really, even until the 1920s, spellings weren’t even fixed (read Lovecraft or Erle Stanley Gardner or even Chandler. They use different spellings of things)
The English, for instance, add an extra syllable (and L) to Aluminum (al-loo-min-ee-um). I had an English Chemistry professor in college, I’m sure he knew that technically that was the wrong pronunciation, but he said it British anyway
I've always wondered about aluminum/aluminium
There are plenty of elements on the periodic table that end in both “ium” and “um” so there’s not much of an argument for one over the other, although Wikipedia tells me that aluminum came first (actually alumium and alumina came first, or something…)
It makes no sense ever to pronounce “nuclear” as “nucular”; it’s simply wrong. I can totally forgive it, but there’s no argument for pronouncing it that way. At least with aluminium they also spell it differently, so it’s not even a matter of pronunciation.
Broadcasters "stupid"?
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, man. Those guys are trying to make a living just like you.
they aren't trying
they are getting rich off of being mediocre
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I used to do radio
It is really easy to say something stupid, like reading off copy about a change to the legal limit for alcohol and saying it 10 times higher than it actually was (true story).
I almost always edit my comments several times before I ever hit POST. I consider myself (or, more correctly, considered myself at one time) to be pretty smart, but I would look like any one of these dim-witted texters that slam out a message every few seconds if I didn’t. Same thing works for broadcasting live sports; to sound intelligent and say everything correctly in real time is much harder than it looks.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
yeah
but it’s not rocket science (and they are probably getting paid similarly)
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
once you are a celebrity, you get free stuff. not bad! p.s., I am mainly talking about people on tv, radio broadcasters are not paid nearly as much, as far as I know. it seems like the more knowledgeable you are, the less chance you have of being a tv announcer.
what I really think would be for the best, would be to have different types of announcers to choose from, once the internets and the cable tv world collide
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Only so much you can say over 162 games
I’m one of the first to knock broadcasters for saying dumb things, but if you step back and look at it, it would be very easy to make mistakes when you talk for three hours a night for 162 nights a year for a living. I don’t think it’s as easy as some (self included) believe it to be.
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 14, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd hate to have some of the
stuff I say recorded and scrutinized by a group of intelligent people.
then you should be
a cubs announcer
"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
by albrtfn on May 14, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
As a former play-by-play man in college, I can say that it's not that hard
If you do your homework and are prepared, you can easily fill a full broadcast with interesting commentary and descriptions. Sure, there are moments where you get hung up, but it all comes down to preparation.
"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
You're exactly right
But it’s not fair for everyday people to bash these guys for just trying to do their job. My question is, how would it feel for somebody to come and watch you do your job every night, and then tell you how much you suck?
They
are above criticism? Because they call baseball games?
Night in and night out people bash Dan and Al. I make one comment and people are up my ass. Jebus.
Classic underachiever.
peeople seem to be on edge today
just ignore it and move on
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
I just think it's part of watching a baseball game
regardless of team or announcers. It’s kind of a favorite past-time of mine to listen for the stupidest thing possible the broadcaster could say.
"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
just the same as everyone else who works in media, makes
ten times the average american salary, and has no appreciable practical skills, training, or education beyond that relating to a boy’s game played with sticks and balls?
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
I have someone that does that.
It’s called my boss and co-workers. Clients enjoy doing it also. I still manage to sleep at night.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
Really?
I think they could find plenty of worthwhile things to discuss or inform. Instead, they spew the same old nonsense and conventional “wisdom” night in and night out. Baseball fans are evolving and the quality of broadcaster is not. In fact, the broadcasters are getting worse.
I know that everyone can’t be Vin Scully, but do they all have to be Joe Morgan?
Classic underachiever.
The only people who don't make every play in their direction an issue of extreme melodrama,
are Rasmus, Pujols, and Yadi. Pineiro was pitching not-too-terribly, but the defense and the bloop hits would not stop screwing us over.
The offense looks absolutely clueless. I cannot hate the mantra of “be aggressive” any more. Be passive! Do not bear down….calm down. Do not change your approach. It was like watching fish play poker. Ohlendorf throws one strike, and then three batters in a row go down swinging at junk.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
Bloop Hits
I’ve only gotten to watch three of the games against the Pirates this year. Unfortunately, all three have been losses to the Pirates because of bloop hits. How do the Pirates keep winning? I don’t believe I’ve seen them hit more than 5 balls hard all year, yet I’ve seen the Cardinals give up 39 hits and 18 runs in 3 games (26 innings.) That’s a 1.5 WHIP and 6 runs a game (if you take out any walks/hbp/etc.) Ridiculous!
Clearly, you need to stop watching us play the Pirates
IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT!!
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 14, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
It was like watching fish play poker.
“Metaphor’s I’ve Never Heard” for $1,000, Alex.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
in poker
fish = pejorative term for a poor player, as in, “this table’s full of fish”.
I played pretty much professionally on the internet for a few years :-)
More or less given up except for some occasional fun these days though.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on May 14, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it derives from the term
“shooting fish in a barrel”.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on May 14, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Or maybe from referring to good players as "sharks"?
I don’t know, just hazarding a guess.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
maybe yup
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on May 14, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Which is funny...
… because I think that term originated as a misunderstanding/mis-hearing of the term “card sharps.”
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
Why do I feel like
former professional internet poker players end up trying to describe baseball sabermetrically by using math?
I, too, played 20-25 hours a week online before Bill Frist and his douchebaggery “family values” ruined all the fun by keeping the donkeys at home games for the next 20 years (No, this is not a political statement, but a factual one. When you tag your “family values” onto a bill about pharmaceutical science because you know it can’t stand up on the floor on it’s own, all the while knowing that it’s not “family values” you’re defending, but Native American casino owning tribes who supply a large portion of your campaign funds for re-election — well, you’re a douchebag) You can win online just by knowing the odds and playing straight percentage just due to the ridiculous amount of hands that you can play in the span of 4 hours (my four hour record was 1400 hands in a four hour period while MTTing 6 cash games at one time, for all you non-internet players, you generally play a max of 200 hands in a casino in 4 hours). After this I realized that girls were interesting and that I needed a life.
I feel like this is why I’m consistently challenged to explain baseball problems and questions by resorting to math.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
I used to play omaha primarily
and was pretty good at it too, in a fairly straightforward way. I too have a bit of ADD and therefore always played at least 6 tables, occasionally as many as 9 or 10, between the 100 and 500 PLO and PLO8. Good times. There was a time in my life when I was in full time employment and making about 5 times as much playing poker as I was at work, per hour.
I think you’d find now that the games have tightened up significantly, I could still make a comfortable living doing it but I’m somewhat out of practice now and, like I said, much of the easy money’s dried up. Also, it’s pretty anti-social. I’m glad I did it but happy to be focussing on other pursuits right now….
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on May 14, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't help but think of Twin Peaks here
In the first season, when Agent Cooper and Big Ed go undercover at the One-Eyed Jacks casino.
“When gambling with the Bureau’s money, I always try for a 10 to 15 percent return.”
"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 hear you
Back then I was making 4X my salary playing Omaha and Hold ‘Em cash games online but had very little social life to speak of. Then I got into a better job, finished my degree, so I moved on with my life. I still play tournaments and live cash games occasionally at the local casino, but that’s more for fun than as a money making venture. I just got burned out playing 20 hours a week and then having to jump through hoops just to get money to and from the sites really put the nail in the coffin.
It’s still really hard to explain the spike in my taxable income for those 3 years I was playing heavily though and I just got through explaining a ton of it while purchasing a home with my fiancee.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
that legislation
was the end of my “Paradise Poker” days.
I tried multi-tables a few times, but seemed like I did better just focusing on one table to get a better read on how the others played. I’m talking mainly ring games here, not tournaments though.
The metaphor extends further in that,
for instance, a fish is easily put on tilt through bluffs or odd plays, and they become very predictable in some cases, and like a fish the cards at the dish would see one strike and then act as though that pitch was coming every time.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
Skip to the OF
I couldn’t agree more Chuck. I do think Skip needs to go to RF for the time being, until Ankiel comes back. Thurston/Greene/Barden can play 2B and 3B depending on the matchups, and if Brendan Ryan comes back to replace a pitcher and/or T. Greene, then he fits into the 2B slot with the 3B platoon staying put.
I think this is our best option both defensively and offensively. I personally am pleasantly surprised with Skip, though his defensive metrics are far from stellar. Fact of the matter is, our roster has three “outfielders” with MLB service time and/or talent (Duncan, Schumaker, and Rasmus). These are the three that should be playing, even though they all bat from the leftside. This also gives two above average defensive players in CF/RF which is needed.
The only potential downside I see is whether or not TLR thinks that moving Skip off of 2B for a week will be a detriment to his development/psyche. In my opinion, I think a Major League player should be able to handle a switch for 7-10 days, while taking some grounders during practice/BP to stay sharp.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
I agree that we should be shifting Skippy back to left
However, TLR does not, per the Beat:
With the St. Louis Cardinals strapped for outfielders as both Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick have gone on the 15-day disabled list, manager Tony La Russa admitted there was a thought of moving Skip Schumaker from second base back to his natural position in the outfield.
But La Russa said tonight, "(Schumaker) has made a lot of progress at second base. At some point, we’ll get the guys (Ankiel, Ludwick) back and I don’t want to mess around with him. Plus, I’m anxious to see Shane (Robinson)."
I’m “anxious” to see Shane, too, but not in the same way:
full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous
"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
Link to the Commish's post:
I forgot 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 that is the case, can we get a promise from Tony...
that Schumaker will never be an OF defensive replacement except maybe for Duncan?
Maybe that's the definition he was using
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 14, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
The construction of the sentence is important
TLR uses “Plus” at the beginning of the sentence, before “anxious,” and “to” after “anxious,” which means he is:
earnestly desirous; eager (usually fol. by an infinitive or for): anxious to please; anxious for our happiness.
Were he sharing my mindset, he’d have used “Minus” before and “about” after “anxious.”
"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
Humor FAIL
(on my part)
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 14, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Defensive Importance
was illustrated last night as the Pirates made plays at SS and 2B while Greene and Schumaker did not. Additionally, everyone talks about how you can get away with a weak defensive player in LF, and while that is true to some extent, the benefits of having a quick player with excellent range is a benefit and it was illustrated over the last couple of games with the Pirates LF’der.
I’ve also seen enough of K.Greene to beleive that something is missing – he shows no heart and you can say it is burning inside if you want but the truth of the matter is that he is not getting it done – defensively or offensively. Schumaker is burning inside with desire and maybe he gets better but his range is the issue and I just don’t know how much you can improve that. I agree that Schumaker should be moved to the outfield – but I think it should be a permanent move. Thurston, T. Greene and Ryan are all better defensive second basemen.
I wonder
how much of Greene’s apparent range issues are due to his positioning. He’s positioned between two out of position players. I wonder if they’ve got him standing somewhere else to accommodate that.
Classic underachiever.
It sure would be nice to see a natural 3B out there, yup...
Gee we wouldn’t happen to have anybody on the team right now who has played 3B for most of his career, would we? No, Tony? I could have sworn we did.
A comment on the defense
I just wanted to mention that you were mixing your stats there. Unearned runs have nothing to do with UZR, they have to do with errors. That makes the biggest culprits Greene (with 6) and Albert (with 5).
UZR is a measure of overall effectiveness in the field. But has no bearing on the difference between earned runs vs unearned runs. What it does impact is plain old runs. The better the UZR the less total runs will be given up, however, it is still possible to have great UZR ratings and still give up lots of unearned runs. Using Albert as the example, he is above average according to his UZR rating, but by committing 5 errors, he is surely behind a few of those unearned runs that have scored.
Sorry for being picky.
Both are problematic
Our unearned runs and our poor UZR positions.
"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 agree
Both are problematic. I just wanted to say that unearned runs have nothing to do with UZR, that’s all. Our defense is terrible. There is no argueing that fact.
by stickman179 on May 14, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I SEE
balls going under his glove and very limit effort to even try to get to balls. He makes nice plays and then just seems to take a couple of plays off. I have noticed it more with balls hit up the middle – last night was a good example as he made two nice plays in the hole and then missed on a ball up the middle that he clearly should have had.
Reply button
please.
I take your point. But you make no indication that you’ve considered mine. Unless you’re not responding to me…
Classic underachiever.
Wow
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
by SoonerfanTU on May 14, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
he likes world of warcraft
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
SFTU ...
That’s so close to being a direct insult – let me try that again.
SoonerfanTU must be a Knight Elf Mohawk.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
/roll eyes
you can’t even spell Night Elf right, bah!
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
/hangdog expression
Dang. Never played it myself. I’m more of a City of Heroes kind of guy.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
always wanted to play that game
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Still pretty decent
The game just hit 5 years old, but they still seem to have quite a bit left in the tank. I still play it from time to time (I’m am mostly playing Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, & GTA4 right now), but my Evil Twin is really into it. He really digs comic books and superheroes, so that game is like crack for him.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
does your evil twin also like baseball?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
He’s not the complete stat geek that I am (he could care less about WPA – meaning he does understand & appreciate it, but doesn’t get my fascination about it), but he watches games with me and can speak intelligently about it.
He still plays MLB 2004 on the PC; loves developing prospects and making trades. But he can’t get into Out Of The Park Baseball – guess it’s just asking too much of him, plus the lack of graphical options turns him off.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Regarding UZR
I know nothing about it but I understand that a guy can play in a limited area and not commit an error. Pujols is a great example of the opposite – he has tremendous range and takes away a lot more than he has given up even though he has a high error total.
And sometimes.....
A ball getting through the infield is better than throwing it into the dugout.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
by SoonerfanTU on May 14, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
A ball through the infield has just as much of a chance of getting thrown away as a ball stopped by an IF'er
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 14, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not either
It was just a flawed argument by SoonerfanTU
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 14, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
sooo, OT
anybody else get the piss scared out of them by the US Cellular breaking couch audio ad. at the top of the page? Sheesh. My speakers were on loud from watching a movie. Scared me almost as much as the thought of Stavinoah playing OF, or anywhere for the Cardinals for that matter.
"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
Haven't heard that one yet
I can’t stand internet ads with audio. If you want audio in your ad it should be turned off with the option of turning it on, not the other way around.
I have noticed that a lot of video venues (cable/satellite, internet video of various kinds, etc.) seem to have this weird difference between content volume and advertising volume. In these instances it always seems like the ads are much louder than the content, which doesn’t itself surprise anybody. That’s another annoying trend.
Also, I really hate radio ads that play during the morning/afternoon commute time that have honking horn and siren sounds in them. That just seems like it’s asking for trouble.
And oh yeah, I really really really do not like getting our butts kicked by the pirates.
Yeah stupid ads
almost makes me want to watch a soccer game….except it doesn’t.
"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
wow
that really worked?
Is it that easy DanUp?
We have the best writers/mods a Cards fan could ask for.
"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
the SBN guys tend to be pretty good
about removing ads that dance, sing, or otherwise do things an ad should not do.
good to hear
thanks!
"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
taking a step back
Yes and yes…yes we’ve taken a step defensively, offensively and any other ly you want to mix in there. At this rate, Moze should trade ALL the veterans and just make it official…we are the Marlins…only without the good young arms and solid defense. How formidable…Thurston, Barden, T Greene, Stavinoha…I’d be shaking my cleats. Formidable indeed. Good job Moze. Way to defend those prospects who aren’t big league ready. That’s the job of the GM…to build the farm teams at the expense of the big league club…talk about cart in front of the horse.
It's frustration at a time when the prospects are struggling
That said, it was never Mozeliak’s intention to play these guys. When you lose Ankiel, Glaus and Ludwick, however, you’re going to be forced into some concessions.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
it is so obvious
when Ankiel, glaus, and Ludwick go down we should trade T Greene, Barden, Stav, and Thurston for Longoria, Upton, and Ibanez!
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
problem solved.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on May 15, 2009 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't get it.
Is Mo performing poorly because he’s had to bring up minor leaguers to replace injured players? I’m pretty sure every team has to do this (see Ransom, C.) The players listed are role players (or outright minor leaguers) only playing because of injury.
Any team that is missing its #1 starter, and 3 out of its 4 best hitters is going to struggle some. Hopefully we can tread water until our better players return.
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 14, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
mommatried posted similar garbage yesterday
However, he targeted ownership and pleaded with them to cut the strings and let management (Mo, or, “Moze”) do their job. Today, it is all the GM’s fault. He has a consistent and rational view on just whom to burn at the stake for the current week and a half rough patch. As an aside, the Yankees are in a similar pinch as us, with Jeter, Matsui, and Posada all injured. Their starting lineup last night featured Francisco Cervelli at C, Ramiro Pena at SS, and Brett Gardner in LF. So, 1/3 of the Yankees’ starting lineup were young former farmhands called up when the injury bug bit. Yes, the Yankees, they of the highest payroll in baseball. What a shock, then, that the Cardinals, after suffering injuries to Ludwick, Glaus, and Ankiel pencil in a starting lineup with young former farmhands in it. No club can handle injuries to one-third of its starting lineup without resorting to calling up minor leaguers. It’s the nature of baseball and has been since Branch Rickey invented the farm system.
"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
Moze!
HAHA. Moze, Moze…what are you doing? Stop that. Put that woman down!
by Hardcore Legend on May 14, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
mommafailed AGAIN!!!
Wow, lightning does strike twice.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...and I'm wanting an Allen Craig call-up!
by RunninRedbird on May 14, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
thurston and barden are not really prospects btw
they are more like AAAA players. I thank them for their great start to the season, getting us some wins under our belt. now we have to deal with injuries. simple.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
mo sez: i haz boughted u sum vetruns.
but tehy broked.
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
The Cards are playing like shit
And it seems like the team that will be playing for a while will look a lot like the Memphis Redbirds. However, they’ve run into an awful lot of bad luck that will hopefully turn around soon. Consider, the team BABIP is at .295, which is 20 points lower than last year. 3 of the top 4(?) best hitters are out. Those three guys combined for 12.9 WAR last season. Carpenter is out. The outfield depth has disappeared because Mather is sucking/hurt, Barton is gone, and Craig is struggling. The 3B depth isn’t as deep as we thought becase Freese is struggling and Wallace isn’t ready. The new team motto is “who needs defense?” Motte (1.3) and Perez (1.5) have both lost some velocity on their fastballs since last year. [OMG!] they killed [Josh] Kinney. Wainwright and Wellemeyer can’ figure things out. That’s a lot to go wrong.
The list of things that have gone better than expected is much shorter: Albert is Albert, Molina is pretty darn good, Rasmus has gotten some playing time, and Ryan Franklin has yet to doom us all.
The Godfather himself has decided to grace us with his presence. This is his damn house. He sleeps 20 feet away.
For everything to be going so badly right now.
You just have to wonder how good this team will be if/when all the pieces finally get together on the field at the same time…
I have a feeling we will see everyone healthy and playing well together for extended time this season. There’s still a long way to go.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...and I'm wanting an Allen Craig call-up!
by RunninRedbird on May 14, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
if everything gets together
we could be even better than what our April was like
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think
that 4 teams in the NL central with winning percentages above .578 will continue for the rest of the season. Hopefully once we are healthy we will be one of the teams in the mix. We have 2 series against each of the other 3 before the all-star game, which should shake out the mix a bit. The out of division series in June and July after the all-star game give us some favourable matchups to win some series.
by kkkkathmandubirdsview on May 14, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
From reading the board...
Not very. Haven’t you heard, we can’t play defense.
"Stats are for losers," Muschamp said after last week's victory. "I like winning games."
Well this is assuming
Skip moves back to the OF. And We platoon Barden/Ryan/Thurston at 2B. Of course.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...and I'm wanting an Allen Craig call-up!
by RunninRedbird on May 14, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd add Wellemeyer to the mysterious fastball velocity drop
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Its not a mystery, it happens to almost every pitcher under Duncan
Its what he teaches.
yeah
I try to keep ignoring that fact
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure if this is readily available
but could a pitch f/x-er compile the slash stats for Motte’s fastball versus his slider? He’s throwing that slider 20+% of the time and I hate it. I want to know if that’s past prejudice or justified.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
at least his slider has been better
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
well
at least there is a slider… wasn’t the worry that he just had a fastball?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Given his gas, he needed a mediocre off-speed pitch
As long as said pitch wasn’t straight and wasn’t the same speed, it would prevent hitters from sitting on his heat. I don’t get to watch every game, but in some of his recent appearances that I’ve seen, when he throws the “slider” the batter rolls over it because he’s expecting a 96-mph heater. He doesn’t have to have a Randy Johnson-esque slider, just something that gets the job done.
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 14, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
not to be dismissive
but I’m curious if the numbers agree with this rather than a collection of subjective opinions.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
my opinion means more than some number
because it’s mine and I value it more.
sarcasm aside, sometimes I think that some of these “numbers” can be used like lines from the bible. Depending on how you interpert (how the heck do you spell that word) it, you can make it mean anything you want.
(but I understand your a robot and only deal in numbers)
I'm not sure what you're after, Az
But, last season he threw his fastball 89.4% of the time and his slider 8.8% of the time, according to FanGraphs. This season, he’s throwing his fastball 72% of the time, his slider 21.3% of the time. Batters are making more contact against Motte this season as compared to last. On pitches inside the zone, that rate has gone up from 77.1% to 83.8%. On pitches outside the zone, that rate has skyrocketed from 30.8% to 76.2%. His overall contact rate has risen considerably from 69.9% to 82%. His K/9 has been halved from 13.09 to 6.75. His BABIP is up 70 points from .250 to .320. That said, his FIP has risen from 1.04 to 2.84.(For comparison, Joe Nathan’s FIP was 2.79 a year ago.) Likewise, his ERA has risen from 0.84 to 3.38. All of this having been written, he threw 11 innings last season in the bigs and has throw just over 13 innings this young season. The true measuring point will be in July and August, when he’s been subjected to the big league grind and has much more film for opposing batsmen to view in preparation.
"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
What I'm really after is
whether the fastball or slider is what hitters are making him pay for. Someone with a pitch f/x database would have to sort all the outcomes of at bats from sliders and fastballs and quantify the run values being produced off of each pitch.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
sounds like a job for
beyond the boxscore
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm hoping Khalil is just off to a slow start
and will rebound on both offense and defense… if not, he could be a problem. Duncan is Duncan, he won’t be the best outfielder but his good eye at the plate and occasional power should make him valuable to the team. Skip is confused, but at least he’s got his average back above .300
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
I pointed this out at the end of yesterday's game.
For all you ledge jumpers, this is the BABIP of the cards for May.
.242.
Only the Padres have a worse BABIP. Though it seems like we are playing like crap (and probably in many senses we are), there’s an enormous luck factor here. We are putting balls in play, and they aren’t going for hits. Not likely because we stink (the worst season-long BABIP last year was .280), but because of dumb luck. So, please, next time you are tempted to say “our offense sucks! we will never score another run! evar!!!!!” please think of this.
thank you.
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 14, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Note: please ignore the Cardinals walk rate for May
this has nothing to do with our struggles.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
sure, it does. we have a terrible walk rate. that's another part of the puzzle.
RB’s criticism of three awful at-bats taken at the end of the game the other day was totally accurate.
saying “we aren’t showing enough plate-discipline and we aren’t walking enough” is a good, solid criticism. saying “we are teh suck and we will never score any runs” is not.
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
OT
what are the meanings of “teh” and “pwn” I have yet to catch on to their meanings. do I just sound out “teh” as to give the word “the” a slang feel?
I think "teh" is just "the" only typed too rapidly
Hence the error. “Pwn” is just “own” where the typist missed the “o” key and hit “p” instead. It’s similar to “zomg!” instead of “OMG”; zomg occurs when you accidentally hit the “z” key instead of shift. I love how these common internet mistakes at first are used to make fun of people, and then just used as a fun substitute for the actual word, punctuation, or what have you. I mean, half the time I see “pwned” these days it’s not used all that sarcastically or anything, it’s just an internet variation of “owned”.
I am also a fan of “!!1” for emphasis.
teh is just a common misspelling of the that became part of 'l33t' speak
pwn is similarly related to own
Meanings
pwn is a mispelling own, often used in gaming to say “I owned you” and since o and p are next to each other that quickly became pwn. Teh is just a mispelling of the, it is often used to show stupidity of the comment following
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
i verified it first...
i know the origins but i felt compelled to check with a slang dictionary first…reference time is teh suck
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
right, we need to be more aggressive
aggressiveness is all that matters right?
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
what we are seeing here
is a balancing out of the stats, because we were close to leading the majors in offense in April, and our starting rotation wasn’t as good as what April made it look like
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
our babip for april was .320 which is on the high end of reasonable.
we also, to echo azru’s point from above, walked twice as often in april as in may.
but our april success was not an illusion driven by some sure-to-regress BABIP — if we’d had a .370 BABIP for April, that would be the kind of performance that was an illusion. our April offense was actually pretty solid baseball from a talented team.
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
"Our April offense was actually pretty solid baseball from a talented team."
Is this the accurate statement or would “Our may offense was actually pretty crappy baseball from a not-as-talented-as-we’d-thought-or-were-led-to-believe team” be more accurate? Not trying to start an argument and I don’t even necessarily adhere to the second description of our team. I’m just pointing out it may not be fair to take our good month and say it was a good team playing good baseball, then throw out our bad month. The answer won’t be revealed until well down the line.
Here’s hoping we get back to April form, and early May is the aberration.
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 14, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
we'll need Ank and Ludz to get back to April form
and for Barden to play more, and for Thurston to be more like his early spring self.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
that's why i noted that the BABIP in April was not ridiculous: .320
while the May-to-date BABIP was: 242.
We could finish the season with a .320 BABIP or better — in fact, last year four teams did. The fifth best team was . . . the Cardinals, with a .315 BABIP.
I’m sure, however, we AREN’T going to finish with a .242 BABIP. The worst BABIP for all of 2008 was the Reds, with a .280.
The long and short is that the 2009 Cardinals are much more likely to look like April Cardinals than the May Cardinals.
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 14, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Here's hoping
that you are right!
by kkkkathmandubirdsview on May 14, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Rates
APRIL
Walk Rate: 11.7%
LD%: 19.4%
GB%: 42.2%
FB%: 38.4%
BABIP: .320
HR/FB: 9.8%
MAY
Walk Rate: 5.7%
LD%: 19.9%
FB%: 40.4%
GB%: 39.7%
BABIP: .242
HR/FB: 12.5%
"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
that's such a gaping difference in walk rates
sad
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
C'est Francoeurienne.
Et, très mauvais.
"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 14, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
En français, s'il vous plaît
I was trying to work out in my head what the French equivalent of BABIP would be, but I realized that I had already used up all of my brain cells at work today & gave up. (“Mr Johnson, may I be excused? My brain is full.”)
The fun part is trying to remember all of the ALT-commands to get the special characters. I used to have a handy cheat sheet at my desk but that was, like, 4 jobs ago.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
I have one for Spanish on my monitor at home.
I know very very little French, and really, the only sentence I can utter is “Je ne parle pas français”. I used babelfish and copypasta.
I know a French phrase!
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 14, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
That's all you can say!
That’s all you can say!
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Just enough to get myself in trouble
I use, “Je ne parle q’un petit peu de français”, which means, “I only speak a little bit of French.” I’m completely out of practice, but I would like to think what I can say is done rather well. Reading & writing are right out, though.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Its all Albert's fault
April 18BBs in 105 PAs, 17%
May 4BBs in 43 PAs, 9.3%
Thurston is still around 12%
Duncan is down from 16.7 to 6.7….ouchies
Colby is the worst, down from 12.9 to 0…..yeah 0BBs in may
Greene is down to 3.2
Schu is at 2.5
yeah the BB rate is killing us
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
damn
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
In 11 games this month, our #2 hitter breakdown:
Rasmus: 5 games
Thurston: 4 games
K. Greene: 1 game
Robinson: 1 game
In May, here are each of their OBP’s:
Rasmus: .324
Thurston: .308
Greene: .226
Robinson: .231
Nobody’s getting on for our best hitter. Nobody’s getting on, PERIOD.
(small sample size caveat, etc.)
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 14, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
It is a big difference
But let’s say our year-end BABIP turns out to be .280. That means we’re somewhere in the middle of what we’ve seen in April and May. What I’m trying to say is I’m not convinced that our April performance is indicative of our true talent level, BABIP or no BABIP.
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 14, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Consider
that Albert’s BABIP in 2009 is .263. His BABIP in April was .286. His BABIP in May is .207. His career average for BABIP is .318, and so far, 2009 is his lowest BABIP by 29 points.
Imagine what would be happening if Albert’s BABIP was in line with his career average, or his projected BABIP, which was around .330 I believe. Same with Khalil Greene. Ryan Ludwick’s May BABIP is .174, compared to .304 for April.
There is definitely some bad luck afoot.
Classic underachiever.
who broke the mirror?
ok fess up who did it?
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
this probably means
that we will not be unlucky later in the season (I know it’s a stretch)
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think it's a stretch.
Based on the talent levels of the players, there should be more hits. They’ve had many hard-hit outs this season. Many.
Classic underachiever.
I was being sarcastic
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
it wasn't directed at you
it was more directed at people who don’t think luck is a factor. sorry for any confusion.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
that could happen too
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
if the world and baseball worked like that, we would discover that
carpenter had a sudden twinge in his side because he is sprouting four more arms from his right side, each of which will pitch 200 Cy Young-caiber innings this season.
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
sure
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
would he be allowed to switch arms during the game?
each inning? each batter? each pitch? or would each arm be considered a different pitcher and have it’s own number? 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4
Hopefully they'd let him pitch multiple balls at once
Fastball in one, curve in another, etc. If he throws three at once and they’re all strikes, you could strike a guy out in one fell swoop, something only Bugs Bunny has been able to accomplish in baseball history (and he did it three times in one inning, that guy was amazing).
The problem with this conclusion
is that I feel like most of the lineup isn’t hitting the ball all that hard, which would explain the drop in BABIP. From what I can see, the LD rate is about the same, so I’m guessing that the difference is on ground balls (fewer getting hit hard through the infield) and fly balls (fewer going over the fence).
I think the team was a bit lucky the first month and has been a little unlucky this month, part of the problem being that the walk rate has plummeted in the first two weeks of May. The true talent of this team is probably somewhere in between.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
maybe they just need to get over the flu
Hand-washing is your friend.
"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
offense will be ok, starting pitching is what worries me
I mean at this point, the only starting pitcher I have confidence in is M. Boggs (with hopes that the Wagonmaker will fix himself sometime soon).
youneverknow
speaking of
he’s pitching today, I wonder what to expect… he’s as good as anyone right now to save us from a pirate sweep off the old plank into shark infested waters. I’m not really worried about Wainwright or Lohse, it’s Welley and Pineiro that have me concerned the most.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Lohse
I agree. After I typed that, I realized that I’m less concerned about Lohse (although I’m sure he’s gonna be as good as he was his first few starts). But Piniero and Welly are big concerns right now.
Obviously, if Carp can come back healthy that’s a huge boost (cue the as good as a mid-season trade jokes), but the guy is pretty fragile to count on.
youneverknow
Anyone else wonder if Lohse's knee incident was his "Henry Rowengartner" moment?
As in, the kid from “Rookie of the Year” is unhittable until he goes out, trips over the ball, and re-injures his arm, then he resorts to floaters.
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 14, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
hope not
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
weird
I have been speaking in rhymes on here as of late. must be this pirates series melting my brain.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Change of pace
Let’s take a step back from wailing, teeth-gnashing, and breast beating to marvel at this awesome, baseball-related optical illusion: How a Curveball breaks.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
The article says
last weekend.
Guys like Bradley are exactly why we can't have a pumpkin patch anymore.
thanks for the link, liam.
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
That was awesome
while reading the description I thought the ball was curving then I looked at it straight on and saw it going straight…freaked me out till I finished reading.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
2006 flashbacks anyone
Anyone else feel like it is 2006 again? Great April, followed by piss poor June, but this time it is May? I would love that ending though.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
yeah
it could happen… we get all the majors pieces in place for the second half, go on a tear at the end, sounds good to me!
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks JP!
1 internet dollar for the person that gets that reference
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
give that man 1 internet dollar
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
Jaco Pastorius?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
little JP from angels in the outfield
said “it could happen” throughout the entire movie, and it did happen
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
maybe Joel Pineiro is doing the same thing...
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
can someone make him mad again?
I think Pineiro isn’t as pissed off as he was before.
"People call me El Hombre," Pujols said. "But only Stan is the Man."
yeah
we need to get angry joel back… someone give him a grundy and tell him he will never ever pitch in the wbc
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Meanwhile, in the visitors' clubhouse at PNC Park in Pittsburgh...
Jose Oquendo approaches Jo-El Pineiro, who is munching on a Baby Ruth candy bar as is his custom before taking a whirlpool the day after a start.
Oquendo: “Nice pitching last night, Pinata. Five doubles. You wanted to know why I didn’t want you to start for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC? Well, there it is. Yadi and I were talking last night after the game and we decided that you were a disgrace to our homeland.”
Pineiro (throwing down the Baby Ruth): “Oh, yeah, Jose Oquendo! I’ll show you and all of Puerto Rico!”
Pineiro then storms into the training room for the soothing, calming waters of the PNC whirlpool tub.
"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 14, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't really go on a tear at the end of 2006
Unless you’re talking about the playoffs. We were 12-17 from September 1 to the playoffs that year.
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 14, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
more just hoping
that we go on a tear at the end of this season, wasn’t being too exact with that comment there
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
If the cubs can score runs with injuries
then I have hope that the cardinals can do the same thing. Only difference is that they appear to know how to take a walk
their bench
has miles on it, that must be the difference
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
well
they have a ton more grit off the bench
4B - beer baseball bands blog
rocknroll ain't noise pollution
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 14, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Lineup Up
Cardinals lineup:
Skip Schumaker 2b
Shane Robinson rf
Albert Pujols 1b
Chris Duncan lf
Yadier Molina c
Colby Rasmus cf
Tyler Greene ss
Joe Thurston 3b
Mitchell Boggs p
Minus, I’m anxious about Shane Robinson batting #2 again.
"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
+1
why joe thurston? with all the mucking around tony does, why is joe thurston the constant?
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 14, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions