Game Magic #4 Open Thread
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals, Sep 20, 2009 8:05 PM EDT
Link to Holliday's home/road splits at fangraphs. Lots of numbers.
The team intends to add 4 minor leaguers Friday. One may be (gasp!) Allen Craig. One will almost certainly he who cannot hit -- Matt Pagnozzi. Jaime Garcia will not be among them.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that discussions between Mark DeRosa and the Cards on an extension have been tabled. Perhaps the Cards have backed off on the idea of giving him the Lohse-treatment. Maybe they've learned something from it?
Ryan Franklin is doing a great job! He who shall not be criticized starts Monday against the 'stros. I guess we need to find out if he belongs on the postseason roster.
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This is the earliest game thread evar!
I once had a friend with whom I would argue about whether Wainwright or Zambrano was the better pitcher. These days, those arguments are sort of a gimme.
Breakin’ out the brooms tonight.
Goddamnit chuck
I thought there was a game on now, so I checked MLB Extra Innings and I couldn’t find it. I actually called up Time Warner, and they told me the game was on at 8. Thanks for making me feel like a jackass.
haha
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Haha
I’d be blaming Chuck if we lost tonight. Maybe early game threads are gonna be a bad thing
I bleed Cardinal red.
is mlb.tv lying
or is the game really not for anoth 6.5 hours?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
yeah its on the WWL
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And we won. Big.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 20, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
and damn, chuckb
why are you being so sensitive about people refuting your claims about lohse. it’s just a discussion. not everyone is going to agree with you
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
by prophetjohn on Sep 20, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree
I think Chuck is just really buzy this week
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, thanks, but i didn't bring it up
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
I'm saying in general.
And in this thread, you did bring it up.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
The guy...
routinely tells people to go fuck themselves almost every time he puts up a post. Why is “bringing it up” worse than actually doing it.
Women.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Look,
I said “Let’s drop it.” Let’s. LET US. Move on. Let it go. All that jazz. PJ was the one who asserted that he didn’t bring it up.
Further, I don’t think it’s fair or appropriate for you to bring my gender into this. Because I’m suggesting we move on? Please. If you guys want to keep this up, then go ahead. I’m sure Chuck has gotten the message and at this point, the dead horse is being beaten.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
unless i'm missing something
he’s the one that keeps putting passive aggressive comments in the game threads because people were contesting the validity of some numbers. someone here is just trying to inhibit discussion
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
And what makes you think engaging him is going to change anything?
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
why is changing things the point?
this is a community built around discussion. that’s why i’m here. to discuss things. i don’t think i was being inflammatory or anything and i don’t have a problem with chuckb. i appreciate the collaborative effort to have something for me to read every morning. i don’t always agree with what’s said, though
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
At this point, it's not about discussion.
You made your point yesterday. Many people agree with you. You can keep re-making the same point, but no new ground is being covered. It’s just going around and around.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
yeah, i obviously missed some big event yesterday
the last i checked there was a comment to my post by red baron and no one else was really talking about it. peeople are way too sensitive about this for some reason
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Sorry, man.
Thought you’d read it. It didn’t go on forever, but there was hostility, bewilderment, passive-aggressiveness.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
i see
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
okay
i read the what i assume to be the relevant parts of that thread. i’ll just say “wow” and leave it at that
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Apologies for the gender reference...
still, look at the main post. Yet another sarcastic “numbers” reference. As if anyone who disagrees with Chuckb hates numbers. I think it’s legit to call that out.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Apology accepted.
But…
![]()
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Sep 20, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd
and stolen.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Sep 20, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
you two need to get on the internet more?
still, it is almost always hilarious
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Yeah, I totally stole that from someone here a long time ago.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
I'm just stealing it forward
(?)
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
by The Continental on Sep 21, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions
what/who are you even talking?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
um
“he who shall not be criticized” with a link to a kl article seems like bringing it up to me. and that’s the second time he’s done it. just trying to figure out what the big deal is
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
I'm not blaming you.
I apologize. I just think this is going nowhere.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
As one of the commenter in yesterday’s thread which caused some of this, I agree that we should just move on.
I choose a poorly worded subject line and didn’t explain my thoughts well. VEP, in his fanpost, did an excellent job of saying what I was thinking.
i didn't read much of yesterday's day thread
did things get really out of hand or something? i feel like i’m missing an important piece of the puzzle
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
gah
Its no thing.
Now, the talk about gingers yesterday, I think we just need to put to rest the notion that they are equal “human-beings” that deserve equal treatment. I’m not drinking at any ginger-friendly water fountains, lets just say that.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
There are some gingers of the female variety that exceptions should be made for
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
yeah, true
but then you flush them down the toilet, and they create nightmares in our sewer systems
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I bet even that one guy was adorable as a baby ginger
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
wow
i can’t tell if thats a man, a woman, or a fungus.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Can someone explain what the hell you people are talking about?
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Okay,
but 6ly…i’m confused.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
scary
the eyeliner is just wtf
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Well at least the Rams are on now....
Not that they have been worth watching lately. Maybe they will actrully beat the redskins.
someone on NFL Network's pregame show
picked the Rams (when asked to make their league-wide “outlandish pick” of the week.)
Here is an interesting discussion about Home and Road Stats
I know this is something that we have argued about here in relation to Matt Holliday.
Yeah
And he already had an option for next year
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
I didn’t think it made much sense… although it does set a precedent that if you come and play for the cardinals, you will be rewarded if you do well. so that could be a good thing I guess
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
but thats what we did w/ Carp and Edmonds, too
and neither of those really worked out.
Shut up, Fritz™.
I'm not happy about the Franklin extension
and I never was. He was already going to be around next year anyway, and the team just paid him more. And how has he done since getting the deal done? He’s played like garbage, to say the least.
I bleed Cardinal red.
I thought we didn't up his pay any...
We just added a year. That’s what I remember at least. I’m happy with that… it’s not like we’re overpaying him that much… even if he is slightly worse next year he’s still worth it… 2011? Too early to tell I guess, but it’s less money over 2 years than we put out for Kaheel this year, to put it in perspective.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
2 nationally televised games in a row?
What gives – have the Yankees and Red Sox stopped playing and I just haven’t been paying attention?
yeah they were both declared in the playoffs and allowed to take the rest of the season off
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
thats great
I can’t wait to see those two play for the world series title. And by world, I mean the very upper northeast area of the United States.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
it would be nice
but would baseball fall of the planet without them?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
only 4 players
Does it drive anyone else crazy that we are only bringing up 4 players?
We will clinch soon, so it would be best to get the regulars who have nagging injuries some time off. IMHO we also need another LH power bat off the bench and should call up someone with speed for pinch-running.
Here are my propsed call-ups:
Mark Hamilton (LH power bench bat)
David Freese (spell DeRo at 3B)
Allen Craig (RH power bench bat)
Shane Robinson (pinch runner)
Jarrett Hoffpauir (seems like he deserves a shot given his play during his earlier cup o coffee)
Jaime Garcia (LH arm of of pen, maybe spot start)
Royce Ring (another LH in the pen)
Josh Kinney (RH pen arm)
Matt Pagnozzi (3rd catcher)
Tyler Greene (defensive replacement MI/pinch runner)
That would be a rather large number
I’m too lazy to check, but isn’t the average more like 4-6? (and I mean average across the league)
I just hope that Craig and Freese are both among the four. We need to play one of them at 3B every day to see what we might have going into next year. That would also let DeRo rest his wrist for the playoffs.
by ArkansasTravs on Sep 20, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't mind seeing some pitchers just for fun
Again, though, I don’t think I understand all the rules about September call ups and how it affects the arb clock.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
is craig on the 40-man?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Free Allen Craig?
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
where is the milk carton?
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
two spots left on the 40
without putting someone on the 60 day DL (Glaus). Only nine games to play once the call-ups arrive. Three position players mentioned in the post-dispatch article for PH duty may allow Tony to stay with two catchers and not expose Pagnozzi to us. I would rather have another LOOGY & a 1B sub than a third catcher to fill in for LaRue during meaningless games. The team also has two off days remaining in the schedule.
well, we can
i don’t see much reason not to
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
that man stew recipe comment
reminded me of a hilarious onion article about cc sabathia and prince fielder imagining eachother to be delicious ball park snacks. hehe. http://www.theonion.com/content/news/c_c_sabathia_prince_fielder_keep
by krippledmaster on Sep 20, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
How about Evan MacLane?
Lefty, did pretty well in the playoffs. He’s 26, throw him on the 40-man, bring him up, see if he can contribute.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 20, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It costs the club about $2500 a day per player for each one of them to be up
With them being up for 9 games so it is $22500. So if it called up 10 players it would cost the club $225,000
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
good point
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
damn
that does start adding up when you get to thinking about it. that’s like 1/4 a Tony Graffinino
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd be happy with a one man call-up
as long as that one man wad Allen Craig!
I am beginning to believe Craig must have participated in animal sacrifices in ST. Mo just doesn’t wanna piss Tony off.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Allen Craig = man wad.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
I am not sure what I meant by that
but it might have been Fruedian Slip
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Fruedian=Freudian?
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 20, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd like to see another lefty up- if we have three lefties in the pen vs PHI that would be great IMHO.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
need to DL someone
in order to get another lefty in the pen for postseason. At this point in time, only the 25 man roster as of Aug 31 plus Lohse, Welly and Glaus are eligible for the postseason. This is also the current active roster Pick 25 of the 28 for the NLDS.
it could be any minute
where are we setting the over/under?
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, I hope it's not rained out
it’d be nice to see Wainwrights national visibility raised.
Shut up, Fritz™.
rain issues today in STL?
upper 70’s and beautiful out here. which is why i’m inside playing on the computer
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
which sucks because I should be getting paid to watch sweet airplanes do tricks right now.
instead I’m watching stupid football in my office.
Shut up, Fritz™.
was wondering if the air show would be on today or not
but it is light rain, just not sure if it will clear up by 1900 for the game
"Come test me every day if you want," says Pujols, "Everything I ever made in this game I would give back to the Cardinals if I got caught."
the Redskins will score less than 10 touchdowns this season
I’m willing to bet on that.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
i'll bet 1000000000000000000000000 internet dollars on the over
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm just wondering if I should bench santana moss in my fantasy league
he didn’t do shit last week
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
as long as Jason Campbell is throwing the ball
I’d say yes.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Jason Campbell is terrible.
But most football people seem to ignore the numbers because he’s…. uh… well I think it’s the same thing going on with Jamarcus Russell… either way neither of those guys will ever do anything at QB in the NFL… but they can throw the ball really far!
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
Campbell can't even throw the ball really far
And granted, while he’s not exactly a top tier QB, he’s still better than about half the guys in the league.
Favorite quote of all time, after Doug Williams led the Skins to the Super Bowl: reporter: “so, how long have you been a black quarterback?”
Williams: “pretty much always”
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
not enough
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
i think chiefs raiders has ya beat
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
What he said^
"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does all the work"
-Mark Twain
You're giving it too MUCH credit.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 20, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't worry about Franklin
He is just timing his supliments
The St. Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champions!
DeRosa
What’s with the articles about DeRo wishing he was still with the Cubs? I wonder what Tony thinks about this?
Sure DeRosa hasn’t exactly said he still wants to play for the Cubs….but his “words” seem to indicate this.
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
yeah what
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
just sounds to me like he isn't stupid enough to say anything to piss off a potential bidder
Those Ivy Leaguers are crafty.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I don’t really have a problem with anyhting he said. He sounded like he said he wouldn’t mind going back to Chicago, he wouldn’t mind staying in St. Louis, and he wouldn’t mind going anywhere else either. I think the question was specifically about the Cubs and whether or not he had any hard feelings about being traded and he said no. At least that’s what I got out of it.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Maybe I'm too old shool
But it’s kind of tacky talking about maybe going back to the rival of the team you are playing with now…as your team is currently playing them. Save it for the off season.
And by articles I meant both St. Louis Post & Chicgo Sun Times pieces on DeRosa. I wasn’t trying to make something up here.
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
I agree that it's tacky.
But I ain’t mad at you, Mark!
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
It's hard to leave it til the offseason
When the Chicago press keeps asking you about it. The Return of DeRosa was a major headline for the Chicago media this series, so of course they badgered Mark with questions about a triumphant return to Wrigleyville. He basically said he’d think about it, just like he’d think about everything else. I think his answer was about the best you can do to keep everyone happy and not burn any bridges.
Exactly
what was Mark supposed to say, “Shut the Fuck up!” ?
I think this is just Of the Rose’s way of sidestepping the question.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Well I didn’t read the one in the Post Dispatch. I assumed the one in the hicago newspaper was because the interviewer specifically asked him about the Cubs. I don’t really know how you get out of saying anything about going back to your rival when that’s the question. I guess you could say no comment.
I agree though it is tacky to just go around talking about going back to your rival team.
I didn’t mean to imply you were making things up. If there’s another article I just haven’t read it.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"hicago". Was that on purpose
or a mistake, or a Freudian slip? Because, I like it. “hicago”, as in, hick town, but not even capitalized, because it’s rinky-dink. No offense, Cards Fan In Chitown, just messin’ with the little bears fans.
There was Gibson in the Reds' dugout, visibly manhandling about three Reds and tossing them bodily out of the dugout and onto the field...He was the toughest athlete mentally I ever saw, and the greatest competitor. JACK BUCK
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Sep 20, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I love the city of Chicago but sure you can go with that from now on.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
yeah, chicago is great
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
The only thing I've seen mentioning this...
was WWL said that DeRosa wouldn’t rule out a return to the Cubs. I didn’t know there were actual ARTICLES about it though.
Any idiot would know that.
Well, SBNation's Daily Dish did a post about it.
http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2009/9/19/1037819/mark-derosa-open-to-cubs-return
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
Why anyone would agree to run that blog is beyond me. . .
MLBTradeRumors has that market cornered.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
That guy has been competing for a while
He ran Eli’s Trade Rumors for a while.
And when I say competing, I mean “competing.”
I'm really surprised how much Chigaco is cradeling Mark DeRosa cock
He’s a decent player, 2-3 WAR, and is 34 and past his prime. Yet if you go on BCB and search for “DeRosa”, you get like 2000 posts lamenting the fact that he was traded.
they have to have some sort of reasoning for why this season ended so terribly
What, you expect them to admit that this Cardinal team was just simply superior?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
hah, I was checking out BCB after the Scales-assisted HR
and one post indicated we seem to be “getting all the bounces” this season. Bwahaha…your recently called up, career minor league utility infielder actively swatting the ball over the wall in a bout of hilarious ineptitude while being played completely out of position by your manager doesn’t exactly equal a completely random happenstance that cosmic chance saw fit to educe out of the ether and lay most felicitously at the feet of the St. Louis Cardinals.. At some point, you just have to admit you’re just not very good.
The sad part is that could easily describe Joe Thurston also
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
But Thurston is no longer starting ;)
"Come test me every day if you want," says Pujols, "Everything I ever made in this game I would give back to the Cardinals if I got caught."
I think he's useful in that he can be a 2-3 WAR guy in many positions
But yeah, this is mostly the Cubs fans seeing a fan favorite leave, then seeing the team collapse, and throwing in some imagined cause and effect to fill the gaps. The Cubs’ have much worse problems than the absence of DeRosa (no matter how magical his clubhouse presence is) — see: Soriano, Alfonso.
too bad DeRosa isn't going to an A
imagine getting the Cubs first round pick after they give Mark a four year contract
That would just be delicious.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I wish Robert Palmer was still around
I could go for “Addicted to Love(-ing this Team)”.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Have you heard the Glee version? I’m obsessed with it! So good.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Show on FOX.
Terrible show.
Only to be viewed by choir kids.
by Ghostrider520 on Sep 20, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
No. It’s a sitcom about a Glee club at a high school. It’s hilarious. It’s super corny but that’s the point.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
it is hilarious
sometimes i think i need to watch it twice to catch all of the lines.
jane lynch is awesome.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
Okay, this is a little bit too much for me
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Is that the same kid foru times? That’s really scary. He’s talented but that’s creepy.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
All that's missing is some jazz hands to gay it up a little more.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
O goodness a 5th version appears at the 1:40 mark.
Who fed him after midnight?!?!?!?!
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
This is pretty cool
DAVID GREGORY: On a lighter note, before I let you go, Mr. President, you were brazen this summer at the All Star game wearing your Chicago White Sox (LAUGHTER) jacket out there to throw out the first pitch. Hate to break it to you, but doesn’t look so good for your White Sox here. So I want to know who is your pick to win the World Series?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know — I am — I think mathematically, the White Sox can still get in the playoffs.
DAVID GREGORY: They can, mathematically. You’re an optimist.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: So— until they are eliminated, I will make no predictions.
DAVID GREGORY: Oh, come on.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I’ve got say, though, that the — the Cardinals have been— been coming on strong. And Pujols isunbelievableridiculous.
DAVID GREGORY: He is.
Cross out and emphasis mine.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
He picked UNC to win the National Title in college basketball...
And I believe UNC won…
Soooooooooooooooo…..
You draw the conclusions…
by Ghostrider520 on Sep 20, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I also heard him say that he was going to win the Elections in 2008
You draw the conclusions
Cardinals win the WS per Nostradabama
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Obama is such a frontrunner*
*Not trying to get in a political discussion just saying concerning sports it appears that he is
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, if he would have picked his home state
he would have lost in the first round to Western Kentucky, so I can’t blame him for going UNC.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
i don't think you could blame anybody who ever watched a college basketball game
with going with UNC. although I picked Mich State to win it, and they would have if it weren’t for those meddling kids
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you see his whole bracket?
He basically picked the higher seed in every matchup.
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
So he's like everyone else?
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
And I make fun of people in the RL bracket group that do it
It’s just no fun. The fun of doing the brackets are picking the upsets and bragging about it to your friends like you actually knew what was going to happen.
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
And I do like him as much as it seems like I'm ripping him
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I fairly sure ripping his college brackets is apolitical.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
He must be held accountable for his bracketing practices!
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Not like me. I pick Clemson and schools with funny names. I actually won my family’s pool this year though.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Southern Basketball represent!!!?
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't worry, he has an in with the GOB
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
Obama picked us?
Cool. He was right about UNC… could he be on to something here?
I bleed Cardinal red.
Can someone tell him that
Blaine Gabbert might be better than Chase Daniel and that Sam Bradford is hurt, so MU could have a chance in the Big 12 and could win it all if they get past the Big 12 championship (assuming they get there?) Maybe he could pick them, too…
We're gonna get rolled by Texas
The defense that took the field against Bowling Green would get utterly chewed apart by McCoy and Gabbert would be running for his life the way the O-line played.
Not afraid to nitpick
Haha yeah
I’d give us a better shot this year than we’ve had the past couple of years. Gabbert has the tools to win that kind of game by himself so long as he can actually throw when he’s on the run something he didn’t show against BG. And we try more than two passes longer than 10 yards despite having theTALLEST GUY ON THE FIELD WHO IS ALSO THE FASTEST GUY ON THE FIELD WHO ALSO HAS THE HIGHEST VERTICAL JUMP OF ANYONE ON THE FIELD receiving throws from a cannon armed QB.
Not afraid to nitpick
Hey, you, with the facts...
…knock that shit off.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 20, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
question: why is FIP?
I know I’m one of the lesser stat-oriented people on this blog. But as far as stats go, I think that ERA is probably one of the better things out there to measure pitchers, along with WHIP, since the goal of pitching and defense is to avoid letting the other team reach base and score runs, and these two things seem to measure that pretty well. Obviously, there is no perfect stat for predicting anything, otherwise I’d be spending a lot more time in Vegas than I am here. But FIP? I finally looked up how it is calculated, and while it seems to be an ok thing for judging a pitcher’s performance, I don’t really see why it exists. I mean, I think I should start publishing my own ExPatIP numbers, except I’m only going to multiply the HR rate by 11, and adding 3.75 to the result. And I’m selling this formula to bookies. Just a thought, and yes, I am trying to stir up some trouble.
I didn't think we did stats here.
Thought I read something about that yesterday…
by Ghostrider520 on Sep 20, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
the wisdom is
that fip accounts for hr, bb and k because those are the only things that are exclusively within the pitchers control. whip and era place the outcome in the hands of the defense also. era isn’t perfect and neither is fip. i like to look at both along with babip and gb/fb/ld% to get a good look. imo, era isn’t as bad a stat as some people here will lead you to believe
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
see, i hate the thinking that K, BB, and HR are that big of things for pitchers
Which kind of goes along with the whole LaDunc pitching world, but getting batters to not hit the ball very hard consistently is a pretty great skill for pitchers. And while ERA will be affected by the range of the fielders behind the pitcher, I can’t imagine that it can be affected enough to make any real conclusions. I have no idea how you would correct this for different fields and fielders, but it seems to me that ERA as a stat is, more or less, “good enough for the women I sleep with”. And I don’t see how making up some new metric is really adding anything to the discussion about pitching talent.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
fip is definitely useful
but over the course of 200 innings, i think most of the discrepancies of era and canceled out. and the little bit that’s not can easily be classified as noise
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
No
What about defense? What if a pitcher is in front of an amazing defense and the same pitcher was behind a horrible defense for 200 innings. Which one would have a lower ERA most likely.
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
obviously the one with the amazing defense
but most teams typically have their bad and good fielders. at least to the extent that era is a valuable stat on not to just be thrown out the window. i mean, fip is supposed to be on an era scale and normally (normally) will be pretty closely correlated to era. obviously there are exceptions
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Teams still have different levels of talent on their defenses.
According to ERA, JA Happ is better than Dan Haren.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
and that's obviously not true
there’s a huge discrepancy between era and fip for happ. that’s why it’s good to look at both
at the same time, i think fip undervalues danny haren. 2.77 seems closer to his talent level than 3.23
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
FIP regresses him, as it does everyone,
but the relationship of Haren’s FIP to Happ’s FIP is much closer to the actual gap between their talent levels.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
again, i agree
i think you guys are misunderestimating the extent to which i value era. it’s not a great stat. i look at fip way more often when trying to value a pitcher. however, i usually also look at the era and look at the difference. knowing that if the era is considerably lower or higher, there could be a margin of error in the fip. like with haren, i think his era better represents his talent level than his fip. gb pitchers also get cheated by fip, k pitchers are over valued by them, too
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
That makes sense
ERA is just a piece of a puzzle. I look at a lot of different stat’s to judge a pitcher
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
just my own assumptions
feel free to point out where i’m wrong, but according to fip, the only good thing a pitcher can do a record a k. so a guy who k’s a lot of batters is going to be valued higher than jo-el assuming they allow similar numbers of bbs and hrs
no?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
same thing with game scores, whoever publishes those
How a perfect game can get a lower score than somebody else’s game just doesn’t seem right. But, comparing a score of 97 to a 98 versus a league average and trying to argue over it seems kind of pointless. I think its pretty obvious that both pitchers had a helluva game. But, its one of those things, does it actually bring anything new to the discussion about a good pitcher or a good game?
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Game score is dumb
It’s meant to be a quick’n’dirty estimate of how good a game it was nothing more. That’s just for fun, not fo serious yo.
Not afraid to nitpick
A rough look
The average K-rate of pitchers who were underperforming their FIP by >.3 was 6.68. The average K-rate of pitchers who outperformed their FIP by >.3 was 6.28 which would be well within the confidence interval.
Not afraid to nitpick
i never want to see the term "confidence interval" here again in my life
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
once p and z scores get outside my alpha regarding K rates
I start thinking some of these things might be a bit off. Agree or disagree within my assumptions.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
see, that's exactly it
maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. but i don’t see any point in quibbling over who is the 4th and 7th best pitcher in the league. i don’t think you can doubt that neither is not a top 15 type pitcher right now. but is the FIP thing really making anything obvious that isn’t by any other measure? i personally don’t think so – it is just as useful for comparison, but not any better or worse, really. just unnecessary in all is my thought.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, there are exceptions
Some pitchers pitch better with runners on base and allow fewer hits on balls in play.
The problem is that it’s impossible to identify those pitchers based off of a single season. Using FIP regresses everyone to the mean, so it’s probably a little to extreme, but it’s much better than ERA.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
agree
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
That's not true PJ
Over 200 innings, anyone can get really lucky or unlucky. Take a look at Jarrod Washburn this year, or Ricky Nolasco.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
with the defense behind them, though?
the ball only takes a funny hop right over the ss glove so many times a season
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
are you telling me
that a .360 babip is sustainable over 200 innings? because i disagree
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
depends on LD%
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I blame Jose Vidro.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
my understanding
is that babip is way more difficult to deviate for a pitcher than a hitter. at the end of 200 innings, most pitchers are going to fall into the .280-.310 range
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
what constitutes a line drive?
what are the ball velocity and angle things for this? and how does it take into account where the defense is playing?
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
So far, gameday stringers and baseball info solutions stringers are responsible for assigning the batted ball types.
Hit F/X will probably be used within a year or so. BABIP is very dependent on velocity
Stringers seem to have some effect on the classifications, but they get the Hit FX data to use for their work.
This article is an excellent overview of batted balls from a Hit FX perspective.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Or Todd Wellenmeyer
I mean, he keeps managing to hit guys right in the bat.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
And sadly, that's not the pitcher's job
because if it was, he’d be the best pitcher in the league
I bleed Cardinal red.
But he's just so unlucky to keep doing it over and over and over and over
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
but not only right in the bat
but in the fat part of it, when he does throw it in the strike zone. definitely bad luck, he’ll get back closer to the league average next year
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
FIP, xFIP, tRA are supposed to be more reliable numbers to predict future numbers on.
This is because it’s perfectly possible for someone like Livan Hernandez to put up a good ERA for a few starts or someone like Smoltz to get shelled for a short time. Based on ERA you would want one of them going forward, but based on peripheral stats, one of them is more likely to put up a lower ERA in the future.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
This is gonna get lost in the thread
But the LaDunc pitching method meshes exactly with the theory behind FIP. He’s (without knowing it) basically advocating lowering BB and HR rates at the expense of the K rate. If you can improve 2 things and only hurt one you’re probably doing well for yourself.
And while ERA will be affected by the range of the fielders behind the pitcher, I can’t imagine that it can be affected enough to make any real conclusions.
If you don’t believe in FIP I dunno how you’re gonna like UZR, but the spread between the best and worst defensive teams is usually about 130 runs which is roughly .75 runs per game. That’s basically saying a 4.50 ERA pitcher on the Mets would have been a 3.75 ERA ERA pitcher on the Mariners. So yeah, it’s quantifiably significant when a #4 pitcher turns into a #2.
Not afraid to nitpick
just thinking
that if I had a pitcher in the middle with a 4.15 era, I would gather that he’s about the same pitcher as the 3.75 guy or the 4.50 guy. take out a bad inning here or there or a bit of bad luck, and everything would probably be about the same.
just going to take a long time to convince me that FIP adds anything that we can’t figure out through a simple look of ERA and other numbers. i’m a confrontational learner.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions
ERA can be influenced by luck
If you have a player, say J.A. Happ, who’s pitched 150 innings of 2.80 ERA ball (or whatever) than a lot of guys would be all over him. However, if I told you that his FIP was a 4.5 (or whatever), that would mean that he’s actually been pitching rather poorly and has just gotten lucky. Than you probably wouldn’t like him as much.
You’re right, that over a large sample size, like 3-4 years, ERA and FIP will tend to match. However, even in a full season, ERA can lie and pitchers can get lucky or unlucky. When that happens, you end up trading promising prospects for Jarrod Washburn.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions
ERA is terrible for evualating a pitchers skill.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Tell him why so that we don't start WW III
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Why can't people evaluate using numbers anymore
Oh wait is it too soon
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Does this sentence make sense?
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Attempting to be slightly ambigous English fail!
But seriously why can’t we as site use numbers besides ERA anymore. Too soon? (Does that help?)
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
not really
it’s not perfect, but it accurately displays how many earned runs a pitcher fives up per nine innings. obviously that falls into the hands of completely shitty way that errors are evaluated, but fip completely ignores runs scored in any manner other than a home run or four walks
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
PJ, ERA can be very far decoupled from a pitcher's skill through defense and luck.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
it can be
not denying that. just saying, it’s not a throw away stat or one that you only look at for shits and giggles like rbi and w/l
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Okay, typewriters can also be used to write letters, and the postal service can be used to send them.
Most of us are going to continue to use email, however.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
that's kind of a pointless analogy
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
What you're arguing (and feel free to dispute my characterization), seems to be,
that ERA is sometimes somewhat useful. This is true, but FIP and other measures are more useful. Compared to RBIs, ERA is much more useful as a predictor of future performance as well as the value of the player during the time he accrued those stats. That said, FIP predicts future talent and value with more fidelity than ERA. In this way ERA is to FIP what the postal service is to email. Yes, the postal service (ERA) is better than smoke signals (RBI) but it’s just not as useful as FIP.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
yeah
i guess this is a fair characterization of my point. i still don’t like the mail/email analogy. it’s effectiveness v ease
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
i mean, the technological disparity between ERA and FIP isn't the gulf between post and email.
But one of the nice things about FIP (as opposed to tRA or some of the more advanced measures with various adjustments etc.) is that it can be pretty easily approximated by just a cursory glance at K/BB, IP, and HR allowed. If ERA is easy, FIP isn’t that much more difficult. I still can’t calculate tRA, for instance.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
no
fip/era we are comparing effectiveness. mail/email, we’re comparing ease
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
how?
where are the studies on this? I want p-scores, by cracky!
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
ERA over a huge sample size, like 1000 innings, may be good
Because pitchers do have an ability to control timing and BABIP somewhat. A large sample size helps illuminate those pitchers. Even then, you have to adjust for park and defense.
However, in any sample less than that, any shmuck could get lucky and put up a good ERA.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
However, in any sample less than that, any shmuck could get lucky and put up a good ERA.
Talking about Kyle Lohse again?
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
i'm just guessing here
but i’d wager that they track pretty close to each other for the majority of players. makes sense that fewer walks and fewer HRs equals fewer runs scored.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Good guess.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
i think about 1/3 of things i've posted today involve gambling talk
I’m not a habitual gambler. But I do love the craps table.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
eek. isn't craps one of the biggest house advantages in the entire casino?
Gotta gamble against other people to really win some money.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
roulette and blackjack
only way to go.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
And preferably with
someone else’s money
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
roulette has bad odds
what is it with the double green on the wheel, something like a 6.x% house advantage? blackjack and craps are better, assuming you play both by the rules
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Depends on European or American style
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
monaco does play the one green rule, right?
that definitely changes things
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
no
Craps, played right, has the smallest vig in the entire house. If you play right, the house has about a 2.5% advantage on you.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Explain- I'm going to vegas soon.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
the craps table is full of sucker bets
If you want to play boring, put money on the “don’t pass” line all day. The house has about a 1.5% advantage on that, but its boring and everybody will hate you. You can play the pass line and deal with a house advantage just a hair above that.
If its your first time at the table, find a cheap one, play the pass line, and pay attention to what the other gamblers are telling you. Put $5 bets on the pass line, if everything comes into play make sure you double on that, and get a feel for things. Generally, if you only play the line and play the Come when you get comfortable. Absolutely DO NOT play the field, big anything, etc. These are sucker bets.
The thing to craps is that it is as fair a game as you can find, but be prepared for some heartburn at some points. Its pretty easy to have a a lot of money on the table and not be getting much back per roll, or could lose it all, but tough it out and don’t play stupid and you’ll be just fine. I suggest practicing on some sort of video game or something ahead of time.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
There's only one thing I've ever seen work
Go to the hot table and bet exactly like expatcardfan below. I used to play with a guy who would go in an out of four/five casinos before he would find a hot table, go right to it, bull his way to the front and bet just like below. He won constantly. Said he didn’t understand it, but he believed the good karma from all the screaming wiped out the house advantage.
Could’ve been a fluke but he never lost when he followed this logic.
Just win
you're obviously not looking at the same ladies at the tables as me
Jalen Rose won me $10 at a table in Vegas once. C Webb was there too, but he didn’t win while I was there.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Had a former dealer say the same thing...
At a company party casino event.
He was showing us how to work the table, but I doubt any of us were sober enough to be remembering any of it.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
its prett much true, even considering the Vegas vs. A City variations
But, the main thing is that there are a million stupid bets on the craps table that people get suckered into playing, because they’re cute and simple to understand (house will pay 30x for a six the hard way. but there is a 1/36 chance of doing that. you do the math, as one example of a stupid bet). If you do things right, the table doesn’t have much of an advantage on you.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
So can FIP and xFIP
Help me in the never-ending debate of Gibby in 68 vs Martinez in 2000 vs Koufax in 66 vs Maddox in 94 vs Gooden in 85 vs Clemens in 97?
Sorry but I don’t even know where to look it up. As an old guy, I used to rely on ERA but I’m tracking ERA+, which has caused me to re-evaluate (much as I love Gibby). But I rely on you guys for the heavier stuff.
There wasn't batted ball stuff for xFIP back in the day
And I’m sure the equation for FIP would change dramatically given the differences in the run environment so it wouldn’t be all that practical IMO. For example Gibson would be underrated by modern FIP anyway because his career BABIP was .278. That and HRs would have been much more important relative to BBs or Ks I would think.
Personal opinion, on a rate basis I don’t think anyone can touch Pedro’s ‘99/’00, but Gibby did his in 300 innings. Either way, it’s dominance to the point that you couldn’t say “he could have done better”.
Not afraid to nitpick
again, its one of those nitpicking things, i think
all of those were dominant performances by great pitchers. and while i’m not going to bother looking it up, i’m pretty sure Maddux ’94 is better than Alan Watson ’94. i also think that ERA will back this up pretty well.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
FIP is a way to judge pitchers with taking luck and defense
Out of the equation. xFIP takes it a step further with taking lucky/unlucky HR rates out of the equation.
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
If you want to use ERA to evaluate if a pitcher is good,
let me blow you mind real quick. If you want to predict a pitcher’s ERA for next year and you only get a choice between this year’s ERA or this year’s FIP, which should you use? FIP has a higher year-to-year correlation than ERA with ERA. FIP does a better job of predicting your chosen stat than the stat itself.
Why is that?
FIP is a more “stable” statistic and does a better job of isolating a pitcher’s skill. ERA, which also attempts to isolate a pitcher’s skill, is less able to block out the “noise” or random variation that occurs in player performance. So, if you want to know whether a pitcher is ACTUALLY pitching well rather than the APPEARANCE of pitching well, choose FIP.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
ok, i'm thinking of some numbers i want to put together for this
and i need some help. i’m thinking a few pitchers who are obviously great who, off the top of my head i’d think have very different FIP kinds of numbers (Maddux, Randy Johnson, Andy Pettite are what are coming to mind from my lifetime), some good pitchers (Frank Viola, Tim Wakefield, and Kyle Lohse are coming to mind, and I think we could fill this list up almost endlessly), and some bad pitchers who have hung around a long time (jesus, i don’t know where to start here – Odalis Perez is my first pick, but I don’t even know where to go from here). But I really want to see some sort of evidence that FIP can tell me who a better pitcher is than ERA. And I’m really not going to believe it until I see some more evidence.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know what more can possibly be said
ERA is influenced on a massive level by defense alone. +/- .35 is due exclusively to defense.
ERA is influenced massively in the short term (a season or two) by luck i.e. BABIP or HR/FB% or LOB%.
A guy has a 4.00 ERA over a season and you have very little idea whether he’s utterly worthless (Armando Gallaraga, 2008) or a legitimate ace (say Roger Clemens 2002). You have a much, much better idea with a 4.00 FIP because as azru says it’s actually relatively stable year to year because it measures things that a pitcher actually controls.
Not afraid to nitpick
I think it freaks people out because
it’s only more stable year-to-year because of the # that they add to the total…(if that makes any sense.)
You need to google FIP on the hardball times or the book blog
and read some of the initial theory laying it out. I’m not sure how else I can describe it and convince you. The math is out there, I promise.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
http://www.purplerow.com/2009/4/1/817712/fip-why-you-dont-deserve-that-era
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/statpages/glossary/#fip
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_independent_pitching_statistics
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
This seems like tailgating before an LSU football game
Normal tailgate time…for a night game.
The fans tend to get a little overprepared.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
At least we(Cards fans) don't become the worst fan base after overpreparation
(Insert Your Own Joke)
by AWolfAtTheDoor on Sep 20, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
speak for yourself
its in other teams’ interest if i’m passed out by gametime
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm going to do some twitter pruning tonight
so many fucking football posts all of a sudden.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
fack the puck...
seriously, chad ochocinco? at Lambeau?
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
he was my first pick in my fantasy draft. love that man
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Just so I can make you all want some, this is what I am eating atm

Mwahahaha
"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does all the work"
-Mark Twain
Where do you stand on cilantro?
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
cilantro is evil
it’s grown in the devil’s garden
(not that you asked me)
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
only if you want it to taste like soap
actually, the whole cilantro taste bad to some people is supposedly genetic. everyone in my family has the same experience… so maybe it’s true.
"He ran hard, but he didn't run fast. He runs like he's mad at the ground." - opposing broadcaster describing Yadi's speed.
MLB.com is now trying to jinx the Cards
They’ve got a magic number counter on the Cards homepage.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
I can read the headlines now:
“Lincecum awful in key start vs Dodgers”
Carp will win the Cy.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Wainwright dominating tonight
pushes him into the lead, i do believe.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
post season tickets
For those who registered for Friday’s random drawing, has anyone heard yet? The Cards said chosen applicants would hear on or before September 21st. With my luck, I’ll get the opportunity to buy tickets to the third home game of the NLDS and the Cards will start on the road.
I got tix to the NLDS out here in LA
Not sure if they’ll be playing the Cards or not, but i figure it was worth buying tickets on the chance that they would.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
I believe the e-mail goes out tomorrow or tuesday.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
feel free to bash my masculinity....
but does anyone else think goldschlager is the shizzit (that’s rap for shit)?
I did about twelve years ago
Then I drank a whole fifth of it at a ball when I was 20 and had the worst hangover of my life.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
ha, well i am 20 and will duly note that
and on bad hangovers, nothing worse than one from wine in my experience
Red?
Probably a sulfite headache
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
yeah.....
but i was somehow so dehydrated the next day the muscles in my arms were aching and soar……just miserable on top of the pounding headache……of course i irresponsibly mixed it with various other libations that night like any underage drinker should
wine will do you in
more than 3 glasses in a night and i’ll be sluggish the next morning. 4 gallons of beer, though, and i can figure out how to make it through. some things just hit people differently.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
O, the folly of youth
I remem…ok, so I don’t.
But I learned to pick an alcohol and run with it all night (Beer / Wine / Liquor).
That, and Waffle House is possibly the best drunk food ever.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
false
any pizza place that delivers till 3 AM is…and nothing like waking up wondering why you thought between 5 guys you needed two 20 inch pizzas……..
I live across the street from a pizza place that's open until 3 AM
And there’s amazing Thai food down the street open til 2:30. Mmmm late night food.
Jack in the Box
But I still contend El Rancho in Columbia is the best drunk food I’ve had. Nothing makes me happier than a trip to the Rancho.
Not afraid to nitpick
I know people who swear by the tacos
as being the hangover cure.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
el rancho is DA BOMB
and when im talking late night 20 inchers, im talking wise guys…i would never eat that pizza sober….but drunk its incredible
El Rancho is great
I remember those days. I have no idea what I ever ordered – I just know we went back and forth in broken english and spanish, and I got a styrofoam thing of food, and I was happy.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
As far as I know there's 3 things on the menu
Steak nachos, steak burrito grande and a steak burrito super grande. I came within like 3 bites of finishing the Super Grande once; I was hungry.
Not afraid to nitpick
between the alcohol and language barriers
i have no idea what i ever got there. but i was always happy.
favorite drunk food ever, though? the drunk gyro from the guys in the truck in KC in Wesport.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
There's a gyro place just off Bourbon St
Never miss it when I’m down there. Great little mid-drunk pause before the big push.
I so read that in the wrong way the first two times I looked at it
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
gotta be careful with that
or it might cost you $600 a couple of weeks later
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
wow
mind is usually in the gutter, but thank you for finding a new gutter for it
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Wine is the best drunk out there
and, if you’re not careful, the worst hangover out there as well. Gotta stay hydrated.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
Mad Dog 20 20
The only proof I’ve ever found that there is a devil.
by Tom_Lawless_Bat_Flip on Sep 20, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
MD 20/20 is flavored 89 octane
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
ha ha
(could we trade for him with the Cubs eating all his salary? That’d be great.)
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
How well do you think Bradley and Tony would get along?
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
He's handeled crazy before
maybe not Milton Bradley crazy, though.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
i want to see LaRue and Bradley hanging out sometime
I’d even buy a beer for both of them
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
We can trade Thurston and Franklin for him!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I usually despise reading comments on newpaper sites
but this one from Andy was gold:
I’m starting to think this team isn’t going to win the World Series this year, either
Gold Jerry, Gold!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
whoaaaaaa
hahaha, the cubs are such a joke this season
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Here's
the interview that got him suspended.
Bradley claimed to have no opinion on where he bats – “In the lineup,” he said of his preferred spot – and the only time he became expansive at all was when he was asked if he had enjoyed his first season in Chicago.
“Not really,” he said. "It’s just not a positive environment. I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment. There’s too many people everywhere in your face with a microphone asking the same questions repeatedly. Everything is just bashing you. You got out there and you play harder than anybody on the field and never get credit for it. It’s just negativity.
“And you understand why they haven’t won in 100 years here, because it’s negative. It’s what it is.”
Asked whether he was talking about the fans, the media or even the Cubs organization, he replied: “It’s everything. It’s everybody.”
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
I think he has a couple valid points there
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
wow
and he didn’t do well with the Philly fans, either, right? And somehow he did great in Texas, where they don’t watch baseball?
Somebody trade that man to Florida asap.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Milton's a mess
but so are Cubs fans, because apparently they treated him badly. In a way, though, it’s hard not to – because he’s the MLB’s Chad Ocho Cinco – a big distraction who’s also a team cancer.
I bleed Cardinal red.
Ocho isn't a team cancer
His team likes him, his QB likes him. He’s a diva star receiver like every other star receiver but the “cancer” thing is overboard. Plus he’s a consistently elite player Bradley isn’t.
Not afraid to nitpick
Someone is going to get a wonderful deal trading for Milton Bradley.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
yeah
they will have to give him away. after this debacle everyone will know that hendry wants him out of the org something fierce
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Bradley for Wells < 1 heartbeat
but yeah, somebody is going to get out cheap on that deal, i’m guessing. let’s put him in Washington.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, they need more outfielders.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Or somewhere in the American League.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
Japan
like you wouldn’t watch some reality series following Milton around playing for a Japanese team
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I would watch any Milton Bradley reality show.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
That's weird that you suggested that.
I almost said, let’s trade wonderbrad for him with the cubs covering the contract, and let holliday walk for draft picks. Then the cubs can resign Derosa and get his decline phase while Bradley bounces back for us. Then they’ll talk about how Bradley was just “trying to light a fire” under his team, and how gritty and leaderish he was.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Milton would win the 2010 MVP for the Cardinals...
We sprinkle all our new acquisitions with magic pixie dust according to BCB.
V, b.
Comeback player of the year at least...
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I'm shocked to hear you say that
Even as a joke, if it is. Do you seriously want a team cancer who’s also not very productive?
I bleed Cardinal red.
Meh
the term team cancer is overused , IMO. That entire team has issues, it isn’t just Bradley. And Bradley can be VERY productive when healthy and happy.
As much as the media portrays Pujols to be surly, I can’t think of a severe clubhouse cancer the whole time APu has been here. I just don’t think he would allow it.
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I agree. I wouldn't touch Milton Bradley with a ten foot pole that was only indirectly touching Bradley through 5 or 6 other pole-holders
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
So I didn't keep up with the game thread yesterday...
But seriously, one of the Fox crew actually said that Ankiel was a good hitter (then tried to backpedal a bit)… maybe tonight on the WWL they will look at Molina’s SB #’s and call him “blazing fast”….
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
Alfonso Soraino and Colby Rasmus
have near identical OPS’s (.726 & .724, respectively), which is where the comparisons stop.
Soriano compiled a -11.5 UZR while “playing” left field, while Rasmus is currently at 11.4 in center field.
For the season, Colby has been worth (per fangraphs) 2.4 WAR, or an approximately $10.8M, while making the league minimum. Meanwhile, Alfonso played at a -0.8 WAR, worth approximately $-3.6M, while earning $16M.
Soriano, 33, of course, is owed $60M over the next five seasons and has a full no trade clause. Rasmus, ten years his junior, is cost controlled for the foreseeable future.
One is likely to continue to improve over the course of his tenure with his current franchise, the other I’d be willing to bet is not. I’ll let you chose whom.
And while I don’t know of any Soriano Girl, we most certainly DO know of Rasmus Girl (GEIGER… LETS GO!)
In conclusion:

"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 17 recs
one of Fritz's best comments evar!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
that got serious fast!
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
I messed up my math on that Soriano contract, me thinks.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
Yeah he's owed....
wait for it…
wait…
$90M!
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
He gets paid
09:$16M, 10-14:$18M annually
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I kind of like that I messed it up
it’s even more shocking now!
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
Rec'd
I think we all can approve of these stats.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
"Colby's got that super swing..."
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 20, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone here should volunteer...
to take a drink every time a VEB poster bitches about Joe Morgan tonight.
Who wants to die?
V, b.
god, the Jeter MVP thing
Again, how can Mauer not be the MVP? Not even from a stat standpoint, but the guy is just mashing the ball, and kept MN in the running as long as anybody could have. Kind of like Albert last year – yes, STL fell off, but with Albert they stayed in the running longer than they probably should have. Same with Mauer this year. I think that is valuable.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Like we need more evidence
of East Coast bias. Jeter’s a fine ambassador for the game, but he’s not even the 3rd best everyday guy on his team
Jeter is leading the league in HustleClutches, though
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions
just checked
Jeter would be 4th on the Nationals this year in OPS
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
But could he pitch for them?
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
just checked
Jeter would be a solid #3 starter in their rotation, as well
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
stupid WAR
I blame Yadiensky Betencourt for artifically inflating Jeter’s WAR numbers due to Y’nsky’s suckness.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Regardless
The article proclaiming Jeter the MVP was based on Jeter breaking Gehrig’s hit total. Hard not to make fun of that.
does anybody else wish the internet existed
in 1987? can you imagine the Ozzie vs. Dawson discussions? and just guessing, but Daryl Strawberry probably deserved the MVP more that year.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you really want to off a community member?
That’s pretty much what would happen. Toss in Phillips and it would be over by the 4th inning.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 20, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I think this was Luke taking a dig at gdm
not in the jason larue way, but still a dig
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Angel Villalona, 19-year-old Giants prospect
has been detained in connection with a murder that occurred in the Dominican Republic on Saturday night, according to a report by the Associated Press.
A police spokesman in La Romana, in the east region of the Dominican Republic, told the AP that Villalona, 19, is the prime suspect in the shooting death of 25-year-old Mario Felix de Jesus Velete.
“The incident occurred Saturday at around 11 at night, and the main suspect is Angel Villalona”, said Adrian Urbaez of the Dominican National Police.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2009 6:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This will make for an interesting edition of "Prospect or Suspect"
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I had a Giants fan try to tell me that he was going to be better than Pujols last year
I got a good laugh out of that.
At least someone died for this.
Where’s the blood for the Tim Alderson trade?!!?!!
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I'm not sure if this was alread mentioned before, but if you have DSL through AT&T you can watch the game free
At ESPN 360. Cool! I’m pretty sure it’s an exclusive ESPN – AT&T venture, but it’s worth a shot.
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
I can get it...
and I have some rinky-dink provider.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Wow. At least trade him for Rios or someone else with some upside.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
If they had Wells and Soriano's contract
It would destroy the Cub’s in years to come
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
its ok
they have all that newspaper money coming in
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
De-stroy
They’re already gonna be bad for awhile, that’d just make me jump with glee. Who on that team is a rebound candidate aside from Soriano and Ramirez? Even if they rebound and no one else happens to get injured, they still aren’t good enough. This was their last shot at contention and it blew up. Now they’re stuck with an aging core depending on players in their 30s to rebound and ZERO prospects.
Not afraid to nitpick
Actually, they have a lot of players having dissapointing years
Fontenot, Soriano, Bradley, Ramirez, Soto, Gregg.
IMO, the Cubs still have a lot of talent, even if they are old. They could easily be a contender next year. Unless… you know, they listen to Al and trade Bradley for Wells.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
That would be the greatest trade ever
Like turning a turd into 5 turds
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
As soon as we discover the alchemical formula for turning turds into gold...
…you’ll eat those words!
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
if life gives you turds
you make turdinade.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess Fontenot and Soto too
Bradley is gonna be gone, Gregg is a FA and even if he’s not it’s not like he was ever that good.
On the other end Lee is likely to regress from this year, Lilly isn’t gonna throw up a 3.02 ERA again nor Randy Wells 3.06.
If Carpenter is healthy they aren’t going to compete with us, and even if he’s not Harden (if they re-sign him) would have to stay healthy because they have no starting pitching options from the farm.
Not afraid to nitpick
it is kind of sad
That really looked like a team that should have been contending for the last couple of years, but now its on the nadir with nothing to show for it. I almost want to cry for my Cubs loving friends. Granted, its crying in that “I’m laughing so hard I’m crying” kind of way, but still – that is frustrating as hell to follow a team with a front office that seems like its trying to do the right thing, but just failing.
How old is Ramirez? They should move him for some prospects and start rebuilding now.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
It's not sad at all.
As long as the Cubs are losing, or better yet, being humiliated 3 out of every 4 or 5 games, I’m a happy man.
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
They've soured on Zambrano, it seems
Funny how when things are going poorly and your adorably emotional former-ace-caliber pitcher isn’t an ace-caliber-pitcher anymore, his antics stop getting laughed off as “Z being Z” and start being criticized as the actions of a “horribly overpaid, childish prima donna.”
The irony being this is probably Zambrano's best rate year in awhile
He’s been overrated as an “ace” for years now.
Not afraid to nitpick
Tonight's lineup (per the Commish)
Schumaker 2b
DeRosa 3b
Pujols 1b
Holliday lf
Ludwick rf
Ankiel cf
Molina c
Ryan ss
Wainwright p
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Doesn't really matter, I guess
But you know it’s always smart to play the guy who will likely be gone next year instead of our future all star center fielder.
by vivaelpujols on Sep 20, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
do you ever get the feeling
that TLR just considers it a personal challenge to march out as many lineups as possible in a year?
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
That explains the pitcher hitting 8th so much more clearly.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Someone wants to make sure
I have to go to more than tomorrow’s game.
Gonna have to call a few more folks and get Tuesday and Wednesday tix lined up.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
corkney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but at least we’ll get to here how impressive ankiel’s transformation is again
little known fact:
Ankiel used to pitch. who says it first – Steve Phillips or Joe Morgan?
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
let's stick to how many plate appearances (total, both teams) before it happens
I’ll put the line at 11.5. Who wants to take some action on this?
/Way too many gambling references today.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
This would be horribly gut-wrenching if I were a cubs fan:
Hendry told Bradley in his hotel room he was suspended for the rest of the season. Bradley is unlikely to return in 2010.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I bet Bradley is going to have a lot of value
In the off season
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I am sorry
I meant to put on my sarcasm font
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions
No value, sure
but an awesome buy low opportunity if the Cubs eat some of that salary.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
I bet they have to eat at least 15M to move him
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Don't know if it has been mentioned
But Lincecum was bad today, and Wainwright has a chance to make a Cy statement tonight.
"I remember once talking to one guy on the Cardinals and asking him what Pujols was like as a teammate. He said something that’s really special, if you think about it. He said: "Albert is so good that you feel like you let him down when you screw up." I thought that had to be the ultimate line that could ever be said about a ballplayer. I build my baseball team around that ballplayer."
I like the placeholder ESPN is using on the 360 player right now

Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
this IS the game thread!
Look up!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
You're a game thread!
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
that's what she said?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
oh wait, that doesn't work very well
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
that's what she said.
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I guess I expected this
but I had blocked it out.
by LandSickness on Sep 20, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do they make them look up at the camera
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
is what I was thinking, also
They look so strange
by LandSickness on Sep 20, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
To show more of the playing field behind them.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
If by "high" you mean "Burrell from The Wire," I agree 100%
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
wouldn't your liver be failing if you had to work with those two?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I thought Az was the only one like that
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Phillips just described A.D.A.M.
As if he’s humanity’s last hope
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
Phillips is an idiot
He said so himself in a Cards ESPN game earlier this year… remember?
I bleed Cardinal red.
Me, specifically, no
But I’m currently suffering from a steak-induced coma
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
the more i hear about the Milton story
the more I love the guy. not even remotely kidding, and i’d pick him up in a heartbeat if we got a good deal on him
I can't believe people are talking about it being a good idea to pick him up
It’s like a weird inside joke that won’t stop!
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
Let's hope Mo doesn't read this and get an idea in his head.
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsh on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Sep 20, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Bradley is one of my favorite players in baseball
Now, lets not confuse “favorite” with “best”. But I love the guy – he’s a bright kid, he seems to have a pretty good grasp on what’s wrong with the teams he’s with, and in general he seems to have a bit of talent. If we needed a corner outfielder next year and got him at a bargain, I’d do it immediately.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions
This is the second time you've suggested that Bradley is bright
He’s an MLB’er, and no brighter than the rest as far as I can tell. Do you have access to his SAT scores or something?
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
It's generally regarded that Milton Bradley is one of the smartest players on his team
And he’s almost universally considered a future GM candidate. He knows how to diagnose organizational problems within a year of arriving with a team.
Not afraid to nitpick
His diagnosis is always "too much negativity"
As much as I hate the Cubs, and I really, really, REALLY hate everything about them, they do not seem like a negative club. They seem like they have decent enough camaraderie, with a seasoned leader in D. Lee. Bradley would be an unwelcome addition to our club. Period.
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
But Bradley would provide a welcome fresh take for Mozeliak to bounce ideas off of
He just gets into a situation and innately knows what’s wrong. And every situation he’s in is wrong. He’s basically of the best GM prospects in all of organized baseball. I think he’d be a great pickup for that reason alone even if he may or may not be able to hit anymore and inflames every situation he’s in.
Not afraid to nitpick
i dont think his argument is pure
negativity in the club. I think he is talking about the fans as well, cultivating a culture of losing with negative things like blaming a guy who tried to catch a foul ball and a goat for 100+ years of futility
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
Hannibal Lecter
was also considered bright, but I don’t see him ever becoming an FBI agent.
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
FOLLOW ME!
FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM!
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
if you were Fox, would you let them touch your $250,000 dollar camera?
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
I don't think it's the actual camera...
Just where the camera is located. KSDK uses the same shot as FSN.
V, b.
Come on Scales, do something funny!
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
no Colby?
what, does he have athlete’s foot again or something?
I have a love/hate relationship with the Cardinals' middle relief corps. | Cards on Cards
how long until joe morgan mentions juan marichal?
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Sep 20, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions
I need to confiscate the laptop
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
Comment FAIL
Wife has laptop, so I’m on desktop and no TV
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
Haha... they're trashing the lineup
already at BCB.
“Good to see Scales and Fontenot in the lineup. Wouldn’t want to play Fox or Baker, they actually might get hits”
I bleed Cardinal red.
waiting for my wife to finish getting ready
So we can watch the game at a bar.
tick tock. tick tock…
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
i really hope you knew about this going in
i’ve also found that if your special ladyfriend discovers that you’ve been joking about how long it takes for them to get ready, it doesn’t end well.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
my wife is so late to everything
it has become standard practice to not tell her when things actually start. Friends/Family tell me, and let me decide what time to tell her things start. Generally 30-60 minutes earlier than the actual start time.
Finally finished your hoodie
Mailing it off tomorrow
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
im on the verge of telling my special lady friend that we need to be at things a half hour before we actually need to
ill get in trouble… but im desperate at this point and i hate being late for everything
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I also dislike Tardiness
My friends do that though. Like last week we were supposed to meet somewhere at 9. So I showed up at 9 but no one else showed up till 9:30 or 10.
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 20, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions
it's hard to be that
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions
yes thats right jon miller
pujols was asking crybaby carlos how to hit
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Sep 20, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions
If Jon Miller were split from Joe Morgan I'm pretty sure he'd be awesome
He might not know what he’s talking about but he’s good at describing plays.
Not afraid to nitpick
Totally agree
He’s got a great broadcaster’s voice.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
Miller is pretty good
You underestimate how much his broadcast partners bring him down
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Holliday wooooo
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions
GD is showing Z's release point
as being all over the place. Is it, as seen on the tube? Seems like something to watch, if it is.
Are they debunking lineup protection on ESPN???
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
They're talking about Holliday hasn't been beneficial
for Albert’s numbers.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
nice play fuku
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions
You guys are way ahead of the ESPN feed
By at least 1 minute or more
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
I am watching on comcast espn
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
that was one helluva play
glad he was able to get up. looked ugly for a sec.
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
damn you KFUK
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Sep 20, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions
anybody think that, at some point, big z will be a cardinal?
kinda of a one-tough-dominican deal?
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions
I don't think we like Cubs trash as much as they like Cardinals trash.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
What is it with you people?
First Bradley and now Zambrano? We don’t want them!
I bleed Cardinal red.
geez...
you guys are really touchy
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
We just don't like people suggesting stupid moves
It’s like rubbing salt in the Annyday Arenhay trade.
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
sorry for suggesting something stupid
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry. The phrase "suggesting stupid moves" was a bit hysterical on my part
I’m just confused why people are discussing taking on two of the most bi-polar players from our biggest rival.
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
its ok
i just didnt suggest a move… i was just wondering… like i used to wonder about khalil greene someday playing for the cardinals (in the same sense as ozzie smith) and then big z (in the same sense as joaquin andujar)
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
i didnt realize that wondering about a player's team in the future was suggesting a move
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Here's why
They’re both cancers (well, Bradley anyway) who don’t usually perform very well. I don’t think we need players like them on our organization, which is considered one of the best in baseball.
I bleed Cardinal red.
nah
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
as ankiel cringes
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions
You're gonna have to close your eyes a lot over the next few weeks.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
because it was a similar play
duh
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 20, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
very edmonds-esque
looks terrible… but he’s ok
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
tvants feed working for anyone else?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
why use TVants when you can have this pretty awesome feed?
by hr on Sep 20, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
not everyone
has access to espn360
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
well, ill be damned
i guess at&t is one of the isps that can get it, so i can get it with my phone’s internet
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
orly sorry man
hope p2p works out for you :(
Go Cards!
by hr on Sep 20, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
WHAT????
everyone’s swinging because they know they have good pitchers?
WTF????
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
Leave it to ESPN announcers
to come up with the crap that makes no sense. They’re geniuses at that.
I bleed Cardinal red.
Symptamatic of having to talk for 3 hours
When there really isn’t that much to talk about.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
And God forbid they shut up for 10 seconds.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
Everyone has some dinner plans tonight I guess
for 8:00pm.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
When watching the game on the computer it's hard to comment, I guess.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
Well I sacrifice the fullsscreen for y’all. Feel special. And the HD nexdef quality.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Wainwright looks fantastic tonight
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
It's been a lot of fun
watching Soto return to earth this year.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
I still don't get it
If it’s a good pitcher and you get a fastball where you want it then you swing.
So other pitchers you don’t?
Well, the argument is that, if he's a good pitcher,
he has some nastiness later in the count, so you take your chances on his fast ball. In Waino’s case, they don’t want to face his curve — which, of course, is more likely to happen if they swing at his early fast balls and don’t get a hit.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
it's not understanding what plate control means
Every hitter should look for their pitch in their spot. Clemens or Welly. It doesn’t matter.
OT: National Anthem
I’m pretty sure that whomever is singing the national anthem at the Giants/Cowboys game just said “the rocky red glare.”
That's not the lyric?
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Sep 20, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Scott Stapp at the 2004 WS sung God Bless America
And I am utterly convinced he sang “…to the ooooooceans white with FOOOOOOOOOOOO”
There was no M.
Not afraid to nitpick
What's the logic for no Rasmus tonight?
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
School night.
Needs to be in bed by 9:30
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
by TBender on Sep 20, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
he screwed up the bunt yesterday?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
there needs to be an intervention
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
there needs to be an in-HER-VENT-ion
amirite?
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
thanks jon miller
i didnt know there were 3 molina brothers in the majors
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Sep 20, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions
Bush league, Z
Bush
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
I want him dead
I want you to get this fuck where he breathes! I want you to find this nancy-boy Carlos, I want him DEAD! I want his family DEAD! I want his house burned to the GROUND! I wanna go there in the middle of the night and I wanna PISS ON HIS ASHES!
one of my favorite movies ever!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
This is made all the better
by the baby face avatar.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
the answer is... nothing
the question is: what is the difference between Rick Ankiel at the plate and Tino Martinez at the plate?
Good
I like to see some fire out of the skipper
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Sep 20, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions
boog's stache looks good in HD
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:33 PM EDT reply actions
alright i take my "stupid" suggestion about Zambrano back...
if he can’t take his abs seriously… i don’t want him
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions
My take on Zambrano (if the earlier comment of signing him was serious)
is that he hasn’t had a WHIP under 1.25, nor a K:BB over 2 since 2005. Since then, he’s led the league in walks twice. After those two seasons, he didn’t reach 200 IP for the two straight seasons even though he’s the “ace” in Chicago.
No thanks.
i didn't even suggest signing him or trading for him
i just wondered if he would ever be a cardinal… how is that stupid on my part? hell we have schu playing 2b and ankiel playing CF
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
you don't see how it's stupid by asking if we should give up legit prospects
for our biggest rivals most overrated pitcher who just happens to be a lazy nut case?
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
look at what i said... i don't remember actually suggesting we trade for him
i just wondered if anybody else thought that, AT SOME POINT, he would ever be a cardinal
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he will be our closer in 2016
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
hey all other batters, take notes, this is how you take at bats vs big z
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
i honestly wonder how much instruction from hal mccrae waino gets..
it would explain that last AB
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly
maybe thats why he wasn’t swinging away at the first pitch
SlamalamaJackADongWick cares very little about your draft pick standing-by gdm426
by FredbirdisaDork on Sep 20, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I've always had the dream
For a pitcher trained himself to get REALLY good at just fouling off pitches. How awesome would that be?
Not afraid to nitpick
Holy shit, Morgan made sense again!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
first with the line-up protection
then with the abs thingy. Okay, the abs thingy might be a reach, but still!
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
i wanna take that curve ball out behind a middle school & get it pregnant
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
by gdm426 on Sep 20, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
But then it would miss the first part of next season on maternity leave.
And we will blame you for our bad start.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
Because when I was teaching Middle School we had kids
at school doing things they should not have…if you’re going to exaggerate, go all the way and say a Kinder Care or something.
humor can be completely separate
from reality
by LandSickness on Sep 20, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Almost every other comment is a movie/TV reference. Keep that in mind.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
you three above disappoint me
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I suppose 30 Rock isn't for everyone
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
just enough to enjoy that line
I can understand that
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Hmm, interesting
seeing as I wasn’t disagreeing or anything close to not recognizing the quote.
Whatevz
by LandSickness on Sep 20, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I suppose I read your post wrong
People who don’t enjoy 30 Rock disappoint me
Lighten up, Francis - Sergeant Hulka
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Pregnant curveballs?
Now I’ve heard everything!
"In 2035, 25 young men will be able to call themselves world champions. Some of those guys haven’t even been born yet. And some of them are Asian." -Mike Shannon
he has
a good breaking curve ball
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Yah, the one that doesn't break isn't so good.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Musial
hahahaha
and miller mentions marichal in the 3rd
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher, 2010 watch it go to fire!
by First mammal to wear pants on Sep 20, 2009 8:42 PM EDT reply actions
whoa
was there a Jose DeLeon reference that i missed?
by Expatcardfan on Sep 20, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
They were talking about Spahn going 16 innings.
I still remember DeLeon’s 11 inning.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198908300.shtml
by Tom_Lawless_Bat_Flip on Sep 20, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
He caught the ball past the runner
That was bizarre
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Sep 20, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
It was like he was late to the bag
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
oh, bullshit
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
i know, nobody cares about my fantasy team
but, I’ve won 14 weeks in a row, and I’m headed to the championship. With a save from franky or marmól, I beat the guy who finished the regular season 10-0 this week. (without, i win by a paltry 9-0)
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
fantasy baseball is a drain
both my teams were hopelessly out of it come june……i suppose i couldve started streaming pitchers like crazy but, ack!, that takes commitment…..
congrats though.
Yeah, I really don't think he's an idiot.
Just over-exposed.
He’s the Aaron Miles of broadcasting.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
I like how Morgan says "the Cubs"
Testicle-exploding shit storm, circa 7/12/08 - We will never forget!
WAINER
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
holy shit
the man getting props on national tv!
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.

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