Wednesday Grand Slam Open Thread
by the red baron on Aug 5, 2009 10:28 AM EDT
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PrintI'll apologise to everyone in advance for the rushed nature and lack of real content in this post. However, I find myself in a rather tight spot this morning, with several obligations conspiring to leave me with absolutely no time to turn out my usual epic. I feel just awful, and promise to make it all up to you at some future date by finally breaking that 10,000 word barrier I've been building toward.
With last night's grand slam, Albert brought his season line with the bases loaded to 7-9, with 5 home runs, 24 RBIs, and one walk. That's good for a line of .778/.700/2.444. That's a 3.144 OPS, or a 652 OPS+ if you prefer it that way. Compared to that, his line of .375/.364/1.000 last year seems positively pedestrian.
More importantly, Albert's two home runs and five RBIs last night moved him back ahead of Prince Fielder for the RBI lead, and gave him a bit of breathing room over Mark Reynolds for the home run lead. Reynolds had crept to within two, with 32 round-trippers to Albert's 34; Fielder now trails Albert 97 to 94. It's probably too late in the season for Albert to make a real run at the batting title, and thus, the Triple Crown (Hanley Ramirez currently leads the NL in batting average at .340, against Albert's .321), but it's still quite likely Albert could lead the league in the other two categories. Not that these things particularly matter, of course, but I'm already gearing up to argue why Albert deserves the MVP award this year, rather than someone who plays in Philadelphia. No idea who it's going to be, but it's almost guaranteed to be a Phillie. Just seems to be how things work nowadays.
Actually, while we're on the subject of post-season awards, here's a topic for everyone: if the season ended today, who are your award winners? The MVP I don't think there's really much of a competition; Albert wins in a landslide. The Cy Young, on the other hand, is much more intriguing. I think it's basically a two-horse race at this point, between Tim Lincecum and Dan Haren. Lincecum has a slightly better ERA, a better W/L record (he's 12-3, for god's sake), and a much better K rate. Haren, on the other hand, has the edge in total innings, leads the league in WHIP, and has the best K/BB ratio in the NL. Right now, I think I have to give the Cy Young to Lincecum, but it's a close call. Incidentally, Chris Carpenter now leads all of baseball in ERA, but I think he'll be largely left out of contention due to his lower innings totals. Still, if he continues on the pace he's currently setting, Carp could inject his name into the conversation at the very least.
That's it, everybody. Talk amongst yourselves, try to come up with more interesting things than I was able to toss out today, and I'll have a game thread up this evening. Sorry again for the abbreviated post, but I've got to get out of here, folks.
Take care.
Whoops, almost forgot.
The Baron's Playlist for the 5th of August, 2009 - Spencer Krug Appreciation Day
"Paper Lace" - Sunset Rubdown (Actually, just go and buy the whole Dragonslayer album)
"The Same Ghost Every Night" - Wolf Parade
"The Partisan But He's Got to Know" - Swan Lake
"Bushels" - Frog Eyes
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i love the GOB quote, fyi.
there’s no way that Steve Holt! could be ever considered a mistake.
"...and pujols has given st louis the lead"
Albert Pujols is Ridiculous!
Philles announcers about Toronto:
"Well they go out West after this series, this weekend, against the Tampa Bay Rays"
yes, albert has already won the
2009 MRP award. Sort of a prologue to the MVP. Like the golden globes to the oscars.
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 Aug 5, 2009 10:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Re: the MVP
Doesn’t hurt a bit for Pujols to have a game like that in New York City. Not a bit.
Unless things go way south for...
AP there is no way he gets snubbed for the MVP in 2009. I don’t think there is any major media outlet that doesn’t refer to him as baseball’s best these days.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
Lousy game last night
to be on the FSM surcharge list of games that some of us did not get to see.
last night
might be the straw that breaks my back into switching to direct tv
Big Brother is watching...
DirecTV
is better than cable, and not just from a cost standpoint. Don’t worry about the cable companies’ propaganda about how often the picture is lost, either. If the dish is installed correctly, you’ll only suffer signal loss briefly during torrential rainstorms, if even then. The rare loss of signal is well worth guaranteed access to every Cardinals game.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 5, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not worried about losing signal
it’s the whole process of calling Direct TV, having them come out, canceling my cable, returning the box, do I keep the Comcast Internet?, now I have to learn all the new channels…I’m a lazy guy…
Big Brother is watching...
You should be worried...
unless you live in an area that doesn’t get any snow or sandstorms. Rain won’t kill it all the time, but snow will kill your signal AND then you have to go out and clean off the damn dish if it’s sticking to it. If you have a 2 story house that could be a real bitch. I have a 1 story ranch, so it’s not that big a deal for me…
"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 have never had problems with snow
heavy rain & lighting, yes. snow, never. and i live in ohio. we get a thousand feet a snow per year
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
Those torrential rainstorms will happen
during the games you most want to watch, fyi. That’s why I went back to cable.
Costs are relatively comparable, as satellite has gone up over the years.
I had problems with both rainstorms and snow. Snow was easily swept off at my old 1 story house, but not with a 2 story house.
I’d like to compare quality side by side to see if the satellite broadcast looks any better. That would probably depend on the quality of your TV as well.
As someone who works in the cable industry
and has DirecTV on the side, I can tell you that my cable companies HD pictures are much better than DirecTV’s, but it all depends on the compression ratios that your cable provider uses as to the quality of the picture you’re going to get.
The TV set is totally independent in the process — if it’s 1080p the picture should look the same at the proper compression.
If your HD pics look like a matte finish on a photo, the compression that your cable provider is using is high, causing the picture to have more taken out of it in order to transport it. Examples:
- DirecTV uses an MPEG-2 compression for it’s HD signals, as does Mediacom Cable (which is who I work for)
- Most online streams in HD are compressed to MPEG-4, otherwise the files would be too big to stream through your broadband connection.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
It's not even the HD...
DirecTV compresses a lot of their normal channels. Really noticeable on older shows, particularly black and white movies on TCM, and just about everything on Chiller (the horror channel)
I only have it because I can’t get cable where I live. (Sigh, living in a rural area in the US is like living in a 3rd world country, basically, can’t get cable, can’t get broadband, hell, the road was only paved 20 years ago).
So true about rain at the worst times
I missed the 5th, 6th, and 7th last night because of rain.
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Aug 5, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Who do you have Youneverknow???
Charter is going the way of the dinosaur, and I have a personal hatred of DirectTV ( I could rant for hours)!! Personally, I think At&t U-verse is the shit. When I switched from direct to uverse, I noticed that even the regular non-HD channels are clearer than Directs. Give it a try if you can get it in your area
I've heard of that
Not sure if it’s available in Decatur…maybe I’ll check it out
Big Brother is watching...
Be aware
that you cannot watch 2 HD shows at once on different TVs or record one HD show and watch another on ATT Uverse.
Starting a few months ago there does appear to be an option to do it, but it does not work – at least in Chicagoland.
I have Uverse in STL
and I can watch 2 HD simultaneously or watch one and record one.
Also I can watch live TV in SD, and record 2 HD channels simultaneously.
Albert Pujols is ridiculous.
I have Mediacom cable, Cardsray
I have not switched to satellite partly because Mediacom also provides our internet. When Qwest makes fiber optic internet available in our area, I think I will make the switch. The fiber optic is reputed to be 20 MB/s as opposed to 7-8 MB/s via cable. That seems like the logical time to rethink all our media input, including TV.
I’ll say this for Mediacom. Des Moines used to be all Cubs on TV. When the Cubs went to Comcast several years ago, Mediacom picked up FSM and in all honesty, while I hate to lose 20 potential games a season, I still can’t complain too loudly when I now get to see 125 or so. I’m disappointed that the local station that used to carry the Sunday games dropped them this year. I love Sunday afternoon baseball.
More than anyone anywhere ever wanted to know.
by Youneverknow on Aug 5, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Careful with the Qwest fiber...
Currently, Mediacom (who I work for) offers a 20MB/s (2 MB upload) service right now for a premium price ($59.99 a month). Qwest’s fiber internet for the same price will cost you double that and all you get is increased upload speeds, so unless you’re running a web hosting service out of your basement there’s no reason to bump the cost.
Also, by the time Qwest launches that service (and probably before), Mediacom will be launching our DOCSIS3 network, which will allow us to deliver speeds up the 100MB/s down and 50MB/s up for a little bit more than what we’re currently charging for our MAX service now (price point is scheduled to be somewhere in the $79.99 to $99.99 range, but is subject to change).
FWIW, Mediacom currently has about 4X as much fiber in our plant as Quest does in theirs and ours is easier to maintain an much more reliable than theirs is. It will be a cold day in hell (or they’ll get purchased by Verizon who might roll out FiOS) before they can outflank the Mediacom in terms of internet speeds. Our broadcast model is just better than theirs is, so they’re constantly competing in a losing game…
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Also
I am currently a test house for DOCSIS3, and it kicks holy ass. I’m able to stream HD video for two different Roku players in my house as well as surf the web with everything hooked up to an 8 port switch running to the modem, and i’m only running 60MB down right now. I can’t imagine what I’ll be able to do with another 40% capacity (but I’m sure the Japanese and Koreans can since they’ve been there for the last 5 years).
"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 need you to explain to me why my Mediacom Internet is so craptacular
The people at the local office (and yours truly) are clueless.
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Thanks, fourstick
I don’t know whether you will wander back into this thread to even see my reply, but I appreciate the info.
Mediacom and I have an interesting relationship. It has taken a turn for the truly weird lately. It’s hard to tell how long this marriage will last.
Are you speaking for all areas
served by Mediacom or just your area? I am in mid-Missouri and was a Mediacom internet customer for about five years. I am now a CenturyTel DSL customer. It seems to be rougly comparable in speed and a little more reliable service.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
What about Wainwright's chances for the Cy
the voters like the whole “wins” thing. He is tied for the most wins. 6th in ERA. tied for 5th in K’s
I think Lincecum is the front runner, but if Wainwright keeps it up, you never know.
Big Brother is watching...
I think Chris Carpenter...
is the biggest reason WW does not and will not get any Cy love this year. Carp is seen as the ace therefore no one else will get any looks.
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
Awards
NL:
- MVP: Albert Pujols
- Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (wanted to say Adam Wainwright :P)
AL:
- MVP: Joe Mauer
- Cy Young: Zack Greinke
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
agreed
I think they’re all relatively easy choices, actually. You could make a case for Haren (I suspect Cain might’ve got a vote or two due to severely out-performing his FIP, but ultimately he’ll probably be a distant 3rd or 4th, tangling with Carp), but I think the other 3 votes are pretty clear.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I completely agree with these..
If Mauer would have played the first month of the season, I think he would have a great argument for best 2009 season. He is approaching Albert’s ridiculousness.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
Mauer is pretty ridic this year
Morneau is almost as good. That they play on the same team is mind-bottling. How are the Twins not any better? I may have to change my tune about Ron Gardenhire…
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
The twins O has been great.
Their pitching just middle of the pack, and their fielding awful.
15=/=25
Doesn't help that they lost Slowey for the year, either.
He was awesome in the first half.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
is mind-bottling the same as mind-boggling?
or is there no such thing as mind-boggling, and I’ve been saying it wrong my whole life?
Big Brother is watching...
“I think mind tastes better from a can” – Someone on VEB much funnier than me
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
I don't like the aluminumy taste
would much rather have it from a glass bottle.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 5, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
i was wondering the same thing
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by hoofhearted-pujols on Aug 5, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
/Blades of Glory
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I knew I'd heard it somewhere.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
mind-bottling. I like that.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
They are going to need to eventually move him to 1B or DH
He’s one of the elite hitters of the game, don’t shorten his career by leaving him at catcher. Unfortunately, they already have a great 1B.
Hey he could play 2b.
It’s been done before.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
not by a 6'5 230lb man
who only figures to get bigger.
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
Agree.
Utley and Pujols is a closer race than you might think, but Pujols is just ridiculous.
Haren can’t really touch Lincecum this season IMO.
Mauer should win his first, though I think he deserved it over Morneau a few years back. Jeter could get some votes because he’s Jeter, and then there’s the obligatory Rex Sock, Youklis, plus a bunch of Rays (Longo, CC, Zobrist).
Verlander is close enough to make a run, but it’s gotta be Greinke so far.
15=/=25
Surely the lineup that's surrounded...
Utley all season will factor into the voting. Howard, Werth and Ibanez are all having solid to great seasons. Pujols had been the only above average hitter on this team until Holliday and Lugo came along and Ludwick got hot.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
12:10 EST
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
thanks
might catch some of it after work then!
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Day games vs. New York kill me...
I live in the city so my opportunities to see the redbirds live are limited anyway, but to schedule day games I can’t attend are torture. Although I guess I’d rather get teased with the possibility than be an ocean away.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
were you at citi last night then?
that’d have been a rather awesome game to attend…
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah,
By far the best Cardinals game I have ever been to. Seriously amazing.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
I'm going to be in NY for a couple of days in the coming weeks
I’m definitely going to Citi for a game. Sadly, Yankees are away every day that I’m there
Any other must-sees that a normal tourist might not do?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Hmm...
I don’t know what is on your agenda (I’m assuming Statue of Liberty, Stock Exchange, Empire State, Central Park, etc), but definitely get some museums on there. MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, and Guggenheim are all spectacular. Are you looking to get even more off the tourist path than that?
I’d also recommend mapping your meals out with the places you want to go vs. your budget so you get the biggest bang for your buck – can’t come here without getting the most out of your meals.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
Yeah, definitely those things + Museums
Food is an interesting one I hadn’t thought about. Any suggestions on great, cheap food?? One of my favorite things to do in LA is just go drive around, find a random restaurant, and chow down
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Cheap is kinda hard to come by,
But I’ve got some good recommendations. What’s your email?
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
There is a great little Italian place that's damn cheap for NYC
in the East Village called Cucina di Pesce.
There is a great place in the West Village famous for its cheap burgers and beer called the Corner Bistro.
And please, for the love of god man, have a few drinks one night and stop at an Artichoke Pizza on the way home
Other than that, yeah, do the museums (esp. Natl History and Moma). You could also walk the Brooklyn bridge and stop for pizza at Grimaldi’s on the side. Then, if you’re sick of the touristy stuff, catch a cab to brooklyn Brewery, buy your self a bunch of tokens and spend the afternoon sampling beer (protip: make sure to tip the bartenders. Just a buck or two, and they might slip you a free beer or two)
All good calls..(love Artichoke)
For burgers..Burger Joint (Dive burger/beer place hidden in a nice hotel) or Shake Shack
Trendy comfort food..Cafeteria (open 24/7, get the Mac Attack)
Thai – Peep – make sure to check out the restroom
Mexican – Diablo Royale – try “the Ricky”
Pizza/Pasta/Wine – Otto
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
BTW, St. Louis connection
Danny Meyer, the chef who created Shake Shack, attended John Burroughs HS in St. Louis. He’s about the hottest chef in NYC right, I hear, with his group opening top-rated restaurants all over the city
dim sum around chinatown is usually pretty cheap and good.
There are some cheap delis to. Otherwise everything is pretty expensive.
15=/=25
take the 1-9 to the very tip of manhattan and go to the cloisters.
should be beautiful in the summer.
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
EDT....
lol time nazi.
Philles announcers about Toronto:
"Well they go out West after this series, this weekend, against the Tampa Bay Rays"
Love it. Is it EDT until the next solstice?
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
No
First weekend in November I believe
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm on GMT so, basically, I don't care :-P
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I popped into mindhacks.com today
and giggled at the first article. David Eckstein couldn’t be reached for comment.
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
Did you take the survey?
You really should — it’s priceless. Almost deserves it’s own FanShot really.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Rumor Alert:
Prior to Albert’s at-bat in the 4th inning his chief programmer “personal trainer” discovered a player on an opposing team had evidently hacked Pujols’ programming and switched his difficulty level to “Mere Mortal”. The “personal trainer” quickly remedied this situation by flipping it back to “Baseball God”.
by ADMDrayson on Aug 5, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
WTF are the blank spaces in the sentences about the Cy Young award?
must be a problem with FF 3.5
Are you somehow having
links blocked? Looks fine on mine.
Philles announcers about Toronto:
"Well they go out West after this series, this weekend, against the Tampa Bay Rays"
Heh. I'm joking
Referring to a certain pitcher….
my bad...tis early.....
and I actually don’t even register the blank spots any more.
Philles announcers about Toronto:
"Well they go out West after this series, this weekend, against the Tampa Bay Rays"
That throw was insane
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the secret ingredient of that throw
and something that’s not often mentioned about Yadi’s skillset, is how quickly he gets the ball out of his glove. The reaction/pick time from it hitting the leather, to being in his hand, to getting his arm back is absolutely miniscule, and all done so smoothly and efficiently.
It’s not just that he throws harder than any other catcher, it’s that he’s throwing a couple of milliseconds SOONER, as well…
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it's all a hoax
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
no.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I heard he made a point so patently reasonable that it blew everyone's minds.
And then disappeared to embark on a Tibetan pilgrimage.
15=/=25
knifed spants, kicked fang in the junk, dude's been busy
watch your back HL
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
Dear Baseball,
Don’t run on Yadier Molina.
Many thanks.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Fixed:
Dear Baseball,
Please run on Yadier Molina.
We can always use free outs.
Much love,
Cardinal Fans
I just remembered BBTN circa 2004ish
when Edmonds turned in a few beauties on the same day and Web Gems became Web Jims for a day. Classic.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
What a game.
After the game, I told my buddy that, on this evening, Yadier Molina secured the Gold Glove and Albert Pujols secured the MVP.
"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 love that I have no idea what the hell you're talking about
Big Brother is watching...
by STLRegalia on Aug 5, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pujols BABIP
this year it is nearly 40 points below his career average…my feeble mind cant comprehend what he would be doing if it was to his career norm. Albert Pujols is Ridiculous. that is all…
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
He is hitting a lot more flyballs than usual this year, if I recall
hence the higher HR totals, but lower BABIP. Perhaps he’s elevated his swing a tiny bit.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
he is hitting more flyballs
up 10% from last year and is LD% is by far the lowest of his career at 15.7%…his HR/FB ratio is not the highest of his career though.
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
Flyballs have the lowest BABIP of any ball in play
so that might explain some of the BABIP difference.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 5, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
HRs aren't considered in BABIP, right?
That could partially explain why
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
nor LD's that leave the ballpark
and he has a bunch of those.
the end of every half inning IS a turning point. -Evilfrog
It seems that opposing pitchers
are trying to get him out up in the zone a lot more. Any pitch f/xers care to comment?
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
crappy left the cards have never faced before
2 or 3 hits for the cards today?
Big Brother is watching...
I think we have faced him before
earlier in the year. It sounds familiar.
Albert Pujols is ridiculous.
Wednesday Lineups:
per P-D:
Cardinals
1. Lugo SS
2. DeRosa 3B
3. Pujols 1B
4. Holliday LF
5. Ludwick RF
6. Ankiel CF
7. Molina C
8. Thurston 2B
9. Lohse P
Metropolitans:
1. Pagan, CF
2. Cora, 2B
3. Wright, 3B
4. Sheffield, LF
5. Murphy, 1B
6. Francoeur, RF
7. Schneider, C
8. Berroa, SS
9. Niese, P
I don't mind Thurston playing once every few days to spell a player
He’s likely a much better defender at 2nd than he was at 3rd anyways
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
"ugg the AAA lineup"
-Mets fans everywhere.
We should be fine.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
Dude hasn't started in like a week
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
And thank God for that.
I agree with mysterui that him playing once in a blue moon to spell a regular is fine. It’s when he gets into the lineup more than once in a blue moon where I get frustrated.
"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
anyone remember that young CF, that was amazingly good, we had once?
nah, me neither…
"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." - Red Barber
The one who catches flyballs hit to the warning track?
I vaguely remember a player like that…
"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
Jim Edmonds?
He’s been gone for two years
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
No, no, no.
Young CF…
"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
shane robinson?
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by hoofhearted-pujols on Aug 5, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Toolsy lefty?
D’ya mean that “something something Drew” guy?
by santiagofish on Aug 5, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Tony Danza.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
well played
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
damn well should've
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by hoofhearted-pujols on Aug 5, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
That he is.
I’ve doubled my in-person viewings of Games In Which So Taguchi Played this summer.
"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 always pulled for So
I’m surprised he’s still trying to crack into the big leagues.
Does he really have a shot at this point?
Lineup
Does anyone else not like DeRo in the 2-hole?I just think he’s way better suited hitting 6th or so. His OBP isn’t good enough to be in the 2-hole and we need other people on base when his higher slugging percentage. I think last night is the perfect example. Lugo should have been in the leadoff or 2-hole, because he has a better OBP. Am I crazy or is Tony right there?
He may not be OBP'n...
all that great for us right now, but he does have a higher career OBP than Lugo, and has been over .370 the last two seasons.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
Just sayin
Lugo’s OBP is 359 for the year, Skips is 351, and DeRo’s is 324. And Skip and Lugo don’t hit homeruns. I don’t think there’s any reason to have anybody but skip and Lugo in the 1 and 2 holes. I’m no LaGenius, but if I was to construct a lineup I would have my two highest OPB/leadoff types 1 and 2 (Skip and Lugo). My two highest average hitters at 3 and 4, so 1 and 2 can are on base and can score easily when one of the 3 and 4 inevitably get a hit (Apu & Holliday) and two “sluggers” in the 5 and 6 slots Ludwick and DeRo. I just don’t see why you would hit Lugo down in 6 or 7 hole like last night. But then again….I’m no LaGenius?!?!
I think it completely depend on handedness of the...
SP.
Definitely plug Lugo and Dero into the 1 and 2 holes vs. a lefty. Against a righty you lead off with Skip and it doesn’t really matter who in the two hole.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
Philles announcers about Toronto:
"Well they go out West after this series, this weekend, against the Tampa Bay Rays"
what is that?
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by hoofhearted-pujols on Aug 5, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
There is a related fanshot up from 4 months ago that reads:
“Chris Carpenter Looks Like He’ll be “out for awhile”…God I about had a heart attack.
Last night's game was epic.
The ups and downs had the feel of a playoff game. You had Yadier showing his defensive prowess (or, that he “knows squat,” to quote ESPN the Magazine) with the best throws to second on a steal of the season that I’ve seen. You had Pujols spraying lasers off his bat all around Dept. of the Treasury Field and into its bleachers. That ball into the Big Apple Well was a mammoth blast and the grand slam was as clutch as Jeter (which is the highest degree of clutchiness in the minds of sportswriters). Then, throw in the see saw nature of the scoring, that we tied it off of K-Rod (who I’ve grown to dislike considerably since he became a Met), and the fact that we were watching at a bar and being heckled by Cubs fans until we tied it and Pujols whacked the grand slam, which made them silent because they know that comebacks like that are the product of juggernauts and that the St. Louis Cardinals are picking up steam. Hopefully, the rest of the season is as fun as last night.
"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 keeps me in amazement about last night is
Going into the 9th we had our 7-8-9 hitters due up against a legit closer. You aren’t supposed to come back from those types of games. It is hard enough to do it with the heart of the lineup.
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by hoofhearted-pujols on Aug 5, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
The Mets' bullpen is cursed
Cursed I tell ye!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
matty, your total posts would be at about 10% the current level if the simpsons had never
gone on air.
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've never liked K-Rod
I always thought he was overrated, and I don’t like his mound shenanigans
Chlorophyll? More like borophyll!
by jd is legend on Aug 5, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Does he get +1 or -1 for having a team-colored glove?
Along those same lines, I think it would be awesome if Colby ran out there with red glove if he ever played. But if any non-Cardinal did it, I would think it was the epitome of douchebaggery.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
doesn't piniero use a red-glove?
what a bag!
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Aug 5, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he does.
Its pretty common with relievers I think, not so much with starters. And no position players I can think of. I can’t decide if its cool or not.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
"I'll Believe in Anything"
After seeing Rick go 3-5 with 3 hits off of lefties.
Mmhm love me some Krug/Boeckner.
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die.
2 hits off a lefty. krod is a righty
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by hoofhearted-pujols on Aug 5, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
SHIT
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die.
by lunchboxbomb on Aug 5, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
One of the best of the decade for sure
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die.
by lunchboxbomb on Aug 5, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
No one here will like this
but Sky Kalkman over at BtB put together a pretty good argument for Tim Lincecum for MVP w/ Pujols third. I’m not saying I’m all in b/c I’d still go w/ Albert — and not b/c I don’t believe pitchers ever deserve it — but it’s worth a read anyway.
That was posted before the results of last night's game, right?
I’m willing to bet Albert is back ahead of Utley by that methodology. Wasn’t he using fangraphs WAR mostly?
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
he used WPA for hitters
and while Albert picked up .327 points last night, I doubt it propelled him past Utley or Lincecum. Maybe by October.
If Albert has to lose MVP to a Phillies player, it better be Utley.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I don't like that he used WPA...
I understand that he has to add a “clutch” or “when it mattered” aspect, but WPA sucks sometimes – ARod got like a .720 WPA added just by having Castillo drop that fly ball a while back (and Castillo doesn’t get equally punished in UZR). Has to be a better way.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
Oops
I kinda skimmed over the article itself.
Anyway, Albert is 2nd only to Fielder in WPA according to Fangraphs (5.02 to 5.11) and Utley is at 4.07. In WAR Fangraphs has Albert tops among hitters at 5.6, Utley second with 5.4. So I’m not sure how Utley could still be ahead of Albert either way.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Defense at a premium position
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
WAR includes defense - so Albert wins if you look at just that...
But if you judge hitting by WPA and then add the defensive component, Utley has just enough to take control. Its a pretty subjective metric choice.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan [Braun] help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy." - Doug Melvin
His AL is even more insane and in the face of common wisdom
as Franklin Gutierrez is ranked second behind Greinke because of his exceptional defense and his knack for being at the plate in big instances this season. He’s had more late and close RBI situations than nearly anyone else in baseball and has come through on a good many of them, thus his high ranking.
"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 miss B Ryan
While watching the game last night I found myself having an even greater appreciation for Ryan’s defense at short. There were at least 3 plays last night, where I envisioned a diving Ryan come up with the ball the Lugo was still multiple steps away from. I like Lugo’s bat, but his glove at short is scary. Last night gave me a hint at why the Sox wanted him gone even though he can hit.
Probably right. JoEL wasn't good at all last night
but perhaps a weaker IF defense hurt him. and our OF d was pretty bad, too.
"...and pujols has given st louis the lead"
Boog :(
AVENGE BOOG
"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
tv link up
over at sticktv.net Won’t work on my work comp because I’m stuck with shitty IE 6 and none of the required plug-ins. ::sigh:: Oh well, guess I’ll just have to go out for a beer or two at lunch and watch it.
tv link up
over at sticktv.net Won’t work on my work comp because I’m stuck with shitty IE 6 and none of the required plug-ins. ::sigh:: Oh well, guess I’ll just have to go out for a beer or two at lunch and watch it.
Not very Mac friendly =(
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
SB nation has gone bonkers
slow, slow, slow servers.
Prince Fielder break those too?
AVENGE BOOG
"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
My playlist today at work
Courtesy of radioparadise.com (just the highlights)
Ray LaMontagne – Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame)
The Audreys – Long Ride
Patty Griffin – Let Him Fly
Oi Va Voi – Refugee
Buena Vista Social Club – El Carretero
Louis Prima – Jump, Jive, An’ Wail
Plus a trio from the iPod on the way in:
Chris Duarte – Big-Legged Woman
Gomez – Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol
Madeleine Peyroux – Blue Alert
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
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