16-3 would even be a good save percentage
by DanUpBaby on Sep 8, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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PrintIt's hard to imagine this team without what it's gotten from Chris Carpenter to this point. Are they good enough to justify DeRosa? Holliday? Fangraphs, impersonal though it is, has pegged Carp for 4.6 wins above replacement, a $21 million dent into the contract that began 2009 with the Cardinals $19 million in the hole.
As late as that April 14 injury I was convinced that any value he added to the 2009 Cardinals was a welcome bonus. That's how I wrote him up in the preseason book, and though his first start had gotten me more excited than I wanted to be that squib game was all it took for me to lose the newfound confidence. I know it wasn't supposed to be serious—I know it wasn't the result of throwing a pitch—but between the Cardinals' reputation and Carpenter's was there anyone out there who wasn't a little suspicious that he'd be back?
But since then... well, since then he's thrown 21 starts unabbreviated by injury; 19 of them have been quality starts. 15 of them have gone at least seven innings, nine of them have involved no more than one earned run, and now four of them have brought together 32 scoreless innings, 36 strikeouts, four walks, 13 hits. He's really good. He's really, really, really good. He's not the bonus innings, he's the innings, qualified, as of yesterday's start, for the year-end ERA title. Without him this team is probably a lot warier about going for broke on a left fielder, especially when it involves trading their fifth starter.
Day off #1: Accomplished. La Russa frames Franklin's day(s) off like this:
"This series is going to be one where our starters hopefully will pitch effectively and get into the last part of the game, [but] we can't push them ridiculously," La Russa said. "Our offense will have to score some runs. And there will be some guys like [Brad] Thompson, [Todd] Wellemeyer, [Mitchell] Boggs, whoever, some of the other guys who are not the normal guys will have to get some outs."
Of those guys I expect to see the most of Brad Thompson, who's been basically invisible since his stint in the starting rotation back in the 2009 Cardinals Malaise Era. Here's another gimmick stat—in WonderBrad's eight games as a regular short reliever, throwing one inning, he hasn't walked a batter. This is a career-long thing, and shouldn't come as a particular shock; when you put a guy like Thompson, who has trouble missing bats (4.7 K/9) in the bullpen, into the rotation, where he has to face the same guy more than once with his one-and-a-half pitchers—his fastball/slider/changeup all seem to move like the same pitch thrown at different speeds, and if it were a particularly impressive one that would be a great trick—he's going to become super-hittable (3.6 K/9, another .25 home runs per nine.)
I'm not saying Thompson is the answer to any question except "Who could be suspended for five games without anybody ever noticing?". But his career spent at the replacement level might be an unfair representation of his value.
(I can't finish this blurb without divulging my own self-interest, here; Brad was the first in a long line of spotlighted non-prospects, and as a long reliever he has become so anonymous that I'll always have my first impression of him as a useful middle reliever with a remarkably loopy "sinking" fastball.)
#
ITEM: I BLAME THE DERBY
Albert Pujols, pre-ASB: .332/.456/.723
Albert Pujols, post-ASB: .320/.433/.611
Joe Mauer, pre-ASB: .373/.447/.622
Joe Mauer, post-ASB: .356/.415/.580
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Wonderbrad
Leave it to me to post about PK in a post about Carp…but I seem to remember that Brad had a ridiculously long scoreless innings streak in AA or AAA in about 2004 or 2005. That was the first time I remember hearing his name.
A harbinger of things to come
during that scoreless streak was that at its end, over the course of the season (i.e., not just during the streak) he had given up exactly as many home runs as hit by pitches. I remember being impressed by that stat. “You hit a homer off me? Take this!” THWAP!
by StanTheManFan on Sep 8, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
in many respects, a cautionary tale
not to get overly excited about relief pitchers who get by with impressive results in the mid-to-high minors without overwhelming stuff or big K/9 totals (also known as the Casey Mulligan Paradox).
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 8, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: in many respects, a cautionary tale
Wonderbrad was a starter in AA when he has is consecutive scoreless innings streak. He wasn’t transitioned to the bullpen til he made the team.
I still think he deserves a shot as a starter
Maybe not here, where we expect to win in the here and now, but for a team that’s still a couple of years away, he could develop into a perfectly decent middle to back end of the rotation guy. He just needs to work on consistency and the ability to pitch well past the 5th inning, which he’s never going to get a chance to do as the our emergency starter/long relief/mop up guy.
agreed.
"The outfield is deep and playing him straight-away, and the infield is the same, except first, second, third, and short are playing him to pull."
-Mike Shannon
I disagree
I actually think he’d be better as a bullpen guy, and a bullpen guy only. His FIP and ERA are much better as a reliever than as a starter. It’s the occasional runs of 3-4 starts when he’s got progressively more and more beaten up that’ve hurt his value over the years – there was once a point (2006) when he was a decent 6th/7th-inning-type guy who could get groundballs, didn’t walk anyone, and provided maybe KMac-type production cheaply.
His problems come because he has poor stuff. Once through the lineup he might be OK, but you can only get by on smoke, mirrors and a mediocre sinker for so long before someone starts really tagging it. He doesn’t have the stamina, variety or the ability to pitch to good lefties that is required of a major league starting pitcher.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 8, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Albert's slump started before the Derby AAAGGGHHH
Then pretty much every single time he was close to getting stroke back, the other team would IBB him. The numbers, even I understand them, I will not trot them out again… he beat Harden and I think he beat Garland, and the rest of it was slump dating back to the first Milwaukee series before the ASG.
The latest slump was his “usual” slump that Dee Dee can fix in five minutes. In fact we watched him fix it against the Pirates. He was talkin’ to himself like he was Boog on a mission.
Joe Mauer was simply inundated by celebratory post-Derby pasties. “Home Run Derby” … lies, DanUp, filthy lies!
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
haha, that was fun.
I should’ve put more all-caps.
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
AP was looking seriously tired in the Chicago series.
Everytime they did a close-up of his face, he just looked gassed to me.
And I don’t blame Mauer for not passing on tha pasties…those are too damn good to pass up.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Sep 8, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
After yesterday's game
Chris Carpenter is the 5th best pitcher in WAR on fangraphs at a pearly 5.0 — yesterday’s game was worth .4 wins alone. The Cardinals have three $20M dollar arms right now.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
We've recouped $25 million in value...
of the $31 million spent so far under the misguided extension . I wonder about the $33.5 million due the next two years… He’s so good he might only have to be healthy for one year to earn his money.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
"the tournament"?
Did you get dumber overnight?
(And no, it does not.)
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
You must be referring to "The Circus"
where all the clowns are in October.
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 8, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Although, this one's probably more appropriate
since his grandson pitched for the Angels this year.
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 8, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought that was only for classic-rock radio stations.
right after Zepp-tember.
"Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it." - Whitey Herzog
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Sep 8, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Careful now...
the Rockies put a copyright on that word after 2007… ha.
"It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again." - Terence Mann.
by Futility Infielder on Sep 8, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
This has been fun to watch.
It’s great to accumulate this value as an organization and even better to watch Carp pitch at a level that, essentially, erases the last two seasons. Of course, it doesn’t actually do that, and this is, IMO, reason no. 1 to go and acquire Holliday. It’s been stated in comments this season, but, since we have a healthy Chris Carpenter, shouldn’t we go for broke? Mo has answered that with a resounding “yes.” If the guys you are giving half of your payroll to are producing like guys who should be given half of your payroll, then you should probably be in a position to win it all. And the Cardinals are in that position, CC and his gang of mottley Yanks notwithstanding.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I know this is going to sound ridiculous
But I like our chances against the Yanks in a World Series, especially if Piniero pitches at home and WW, and Carp are throwing at Yankee Stadium. Sabathia hasn’t ever been a lights out pitcher in the playoffs, and Burnett walks a ton of guys. Pettitte is the guy that concerns me on their staff, since he’s a salty pitcher in the postseason and is a crafty lefty who the Cardinals seem to struggle with.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
This is the most top heavy roster the Cardinals have had
likely since 2004. Assuming that Pineiro (4.7) and Wainwright (4.4) make it to 5.0 WAR for the season, the Cardinals will have 4 players worth 5+ WAR for the first time since 2003 when Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen and Renteria all posted a 5+ season. In 2009, the Cardinals will have their pitching trio plus Albert — note that this doesn’t even include Matt Holliday who has just breached the 5.0 mark for his combined A’s/Card’s 2009.
This team is really good as currently constructed.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
HOF!
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Carp's game yesterday
…is tied for the 2nd best pitched game in baseball this year according to game score (93).
Also moved him ahead of Wainwright on ESPN’s Cy Predictor. They’re now 1-2.
I assume Buehrle's is first?
Going to be kind of hard to top it.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 8, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions
I believe Jonathan Sanchez's
no hitter got the highest score. Kinda funky, eh?
"I believe he’s been reincarnated, that he played before, in the twenties and thirties, and he’s back to prove something." - Former teammate Mark McGwire about Albert Pujols
Gotta love statistics sometimes.
There’s a reason its called a perfect game.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 8, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
That makes sense though
the only reason his wasn’t perfect too was because of an error that he had no control over. Plus, he struck out 11 guys and didn’t walk anyone, while Beuhrle only struck out 6.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Strikeouts
raise that Game Score. Buerhle had six strikeouts, while Sanchez had 11 — and walked nobody.
by Michael_68_1999 on Sep 8, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Can someone give me a quick recap of where Thompson's nickname, PK, came from?
I’ve deciphered that it means Puppy Kicker. I’d like to hear the origin though, thanks.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 8, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions
June 13, 2007
in the aftermath of an 8-1 loss to Kansas City:
Cardinals starter Brad Thompson (4-2) worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, walking four with no strikeouts.
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this frustrated,” Thompson said. “I’m almost to the point I want to find a puppy and kick it pretty much. You’ve just got to learn from it. You’ve got to do something to get your mind off of it.”
by Michael_68_1999 on Sep 8, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
If only...
there were some kind of… glossary…
by Andyfantastic on Sep 8, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
ey it's not that easy to find
you have to look for it to read it
Go Cards!
by hr on Sep 8, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
i blame me for this
it used to be my sig, but i gave up on the kid. i feel bad about this, like i’ve let everyone down
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
greed will do that to the best of us GDM
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
Albert's 2nd Half Issues
Are minor. When last I checked, Pujols is STILL in the Top 5 for batting average, HRs and RBIs. Lets keep this in perspective.
As for Mauer… he’s fallen off a bit, but that was to be expected. Catchers wear down as the year progresses. Virtually no one thought he had a shot at .400.
Pujols is still put up a OPS over 1.000 in the 2nd half
And that is supposed to be some kind of drop off?
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 8, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
My thoughts exactly
If I had the same kind of “slumps” that Pujols and Mauer have, I’m pretty sure I would be, at this moment, surrounded by a harem of Victoria’s Secret models whilst swimming in my Olympic-sized pool filled entirely with bacon.
yeah
who wants to be surrounded by VS models?
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
that entirely depends
on whether or not the bacon has been cooked
there we go
"The baseball gods are waiting to see if any part of the ballclub disrespects them," La Russa said. "And if we do, they'll slap us hard."
continue to resist
that’s a NSFW picture that will be deleted if it’s posted.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
bacon is too safe for work
well, unless it’s one of those nude images of kevin bacon
The bacon bikini picture
is NSFW (and disgusting besides).
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
not kevin bacon
not that there is anything wrong with that
or hanging out with Tila Tequila at 3 o'clock in the morning.....
"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"
-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.
How Best To Sequence The Rotation...
Now that today’s P-D says Smoltz will stay in the rotation, Lohse will join this weekend, and Welly/Boggs/the ghost of Christy Matthewson will be available to spot start in order to set the rotation for the playoffs:
What’s the best way? What’s the risk/reward to taking our best guys out of their rhythm? If Carp or Waino get an extra day rest here or there does that hurt or help?
It seems to me as though an extra da rest would be a good thing over the medium-to-long term yet might disrupt rhythm and prep in the short-term.
Thoughts?
by airhad on Sep 8, 2009 11:02 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
eh?
the ghost of Christy Matthewson will be available to spot start in order to set the rotation for the playoffs
pineiro won’t just be taking his normal turns?
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
So Troy Glaus
I’m sure i missed this some how with all the warcraft i’ve been playing in my mom’s basement lately but….how come troy glaus is turning into our everyday third basemen? I thought he was irreparably damaged never to throw from third base again?
He flashed his arm a couple times even. Have i just totally missed the conversation surrounding this completely unpredicted turn of events?
If I put in my raffle ticket for cardinal x-factor as Mr. Glaus do I get bonus points when it pays out?
They haven't talked about it at all that I've seen/heard
I’m guessing a new titanium arm. It’ll last about a month and then we’ll all turn on him viciously and the media will be a big asshole until his dad gets upset. Fortunately, his father doesn’t work for the Cardinals.
Future Redbirds - tracking Cardinal prospects for Cardinal Nation
we have the technology
I'm going to anticipate Albert being walked if Babe Ruth is hitting behind him -Holliday
During the broadcast yesterday...
Dan and Al talked about it a little in passing. I’m not sure if they were speculating or if Tony had told them. But the point they were making was that with DeRosa hurting and with the division being pretty well in hand (sorry gob), that Tony wanted to give Troy every opportunity possible to get his approach at the plate down. They were saying that the best way to get his timing, etc. back was regular playing time, and Tony hopes this playing time will have him ready for big ABs off the bench in the playoffs (again, sorry gob).
He hit it good. He hit it good.
yeah i mean
The guy can hit. His bat was never seen as the impediment to returning to the team. I don’t think it’s a stretch to expect better production out of his spot in the six hole than joe thurston, khalil green, and possibly to compete with mark derosa for at bats.
The thing that has me most stupefied was that three weeks ago we were talking about a guy who couldn’t make a relay through from the outfield without the threat of his arm falling off. He was playing first on his minor league rehab if i recall correctly.
If Glaus actually comes back and can play third base with anything approaching competence it’s a pretty crazy coup, isn’t it?
How is this not a huge story?
I dont get it either.
He made a great play on a back hand at the line, made the throw just fine.
A fully armed and operational lineup
of Schumaker/Lugo, Rasmus, Pujols, Holliday, Glaus, Ludwick, Molina, Ryan/Lugo, is pretty sick. I stress “operational” though.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Don't forget DeRo
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 8, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm doing my best not to prod the GOB
But say you imagined a lineup where you could have an extra hitter in there because of some dumb rule.
Not afraid to nitpick
I see what you did there.
GOB, don’t look this way (DH).
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 8, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Double header?
I’m not familiar with this DH term. Someone needs to sacrifice a live chicken for this conversation. KFC doesn’t work.
Not afraid to nitpick
Actually, the initials for _____
You know, that thing we traded to Oakland for some lefty? Wait, what happened up there?
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 8, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
the conversations always remind me of
http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a25c39213015f49011301a95177006f
There is no such thing as cavemen.
Best part is the resemblance to the geico caveman...
…of someone.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
I'll check over at the neighbors and see if they would care to contribute
a live chicken to the cause. I’m fresh out myself.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Sep 8, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
oh come on that has to be done
I would put the over/under on it going green at about 8 minutes.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 8, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions
My quick and dirty attempt
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 8, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
You've prompted me to go on a rant...
I am not a big fan of that logo. I don’t know why, I’m just not. I love it on the jersey with the full bat and both birds, but I don’t like that one. Unfortunately for me, 95% of Cardinal merchandise is plastered with that logo rather than the one on the hats. This drives me crazy, because I’ve been looking for a nice car decal of the hat logo for forever, and I can’t find a decent one. Gawd!
/end rant
V, b.
I actually really like that logo
Go figure
"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 really don't know why I don't like it...
But I like the old one that it replaced so much more:
V, b.
Same here.
Unfortunately, it’s on my license plate.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
yeah
much prefer the stl logo over that one
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Yeppers
I also prefer the Birds on the Bat .
rant on man, rant on!
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I am gonna rec it though, cuz it is still awesome
now it would be down right scary if Carp’s face was superimposed on that fully operational deathstar.
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
The superlaser is actually positioned exactly where Piñeiro grips his sinker.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
in the WS...
You cud keep DeRosa at 3rd and bat Glaus as the DH!
:=8D
My hovercraft is full of eels!
:=8O
THE GOBS!!!!!!
Dang cow’s; watch out for the GOBS!!!!!!
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
tlr believes in the GOBs
and he’s a lawyer.
"The baseball gods are waiting to see if any part of the ballclub disrespects them," La Russa said. "And if we do, they'll slap us hard."
stop being scarred of those bastards
respect them, always. fear them, never
pretzels pretzels pretzels pretzels
There is a difference......
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
It's not a big story
Because the minute you discuss something like this, the GOBs pull the rug out from under you.
I’m adopting a Franklin Sucks approach to this: what? Troy Glaus? Oh, he’s hurt and ineffective, whatever.
yeah i can understand that sentiment
from a superstitious board of internet posters…but my comments are aimed at the more traditional media.
The dude we’re paying 10 mil a year who’s been hurt all season comes back, after having been told he could not play third base all year, is playing third base on consecutive days and…….looking good doing it.
You know, just something that someone might want to write an article on if their day job involved covering a local sports franchise on a salary. Or perhaps an announcer could investigate so as to provide conversational fodder that doesn’t involve making incessant snide comments about customers at the games they’re being paid to watch.
But, but...
There’s football on now! Nobody really cares about baseball, they just watch it until football starts. Right?
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I guess they're waiting until he does another start or two
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm going to agree with mojo here.
Glaus is risking the chance of his arm falling off everytime he throws. I can’t believe he’s out there fielding balls.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 8, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
He's not really healthy until he's hitting HRs and doing Ozzie-style back flips...
At the same time.
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
It'd take the pitcher a bit of time to adjust to the inverted strike zone.
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
A week of two ago,
right at the end of the rehab stint, Glaus said he suddenly could throw again. I’m too lazy and need to leave for a meeting to try and look up the link, but it was in a P-D article.
Maybe he wasn’t blowing smoke when he said that!?!
by ArkansasTravs on Sep 8, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Carp's start yesterday was almost good enough to make me forget football game in STL saturday...
…almost…
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
What a game that was!
Equally exciting and unexpected. I’m glad I stayed sober enough to remember it.
He hit it good. He hit it good.
I'm just hoping Mizzouri is that good
not that Illinois is that bad. otherwise it’s going to be a long season.
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
We were 5-7 last year
and didn’t make any huge additions. i think expectations were way too high to begin with. And losing Ford and Benn in the first freaking possession did not help anything.
Shut up, Fritz™.
I think that was more Missouri oriented
Chase Daniel was really good for what he had to do and our system’s success is 85% determined by the QB alone. There isn’t a running game to sit back on, and while Gabbert was a top recruit, no one really knew anything about his ability to carry that load, especially when you lose a gamebreaker like Maclin on top of it. Plus on defense, the D-line has always been something of an issue and Hood was gone as well.
Maybe 6.5 was a little hefty but I don’t think it was unreasonable to be favored before the game. After the 2nd “drive” that line looked ridiculous, but going in…
Not afraid to nitpick
Benn looked to be in a lot of pain
more than anything, I’m still trying to figure out why the new OC didn’t try anything deep. Juice has always been better throwing it deep, yet they just kept trying to control the clock. They were dead and not given a chance to come to life.
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
Mizzou ran 2-deep rush 4 basically the whole game
Juice just couldn’t hit the 5-15 yarders that were open.
Not afraid to nitpick
it hurt not having benn,
but when you’ve got a 6’5" receiver, it should be mandatory you throw at least one deep up for grabs. That fumble hurt and so did the INT, but the fumble was a good play by the D and the INT was a missed ball…oh well, back to drawing board I guess. (and now I don’t have to worry about what to say in my sig)
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
Zooooooooooooooook...
Look, Zook lost 15 games in 3 years at the University of Florida.
He took over a program full of talent, and didn’t struggle to recruit on his own at all.
The guy is a shitty coach.
V, b.
Then Urban Meyer came in
and won a National Title with the talent that Zook recruited plus one Tim Tebow, Football Jesus.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
sign
it didn’t work, due to the injury, but I saw a sign in the crowd that said:
Sippin’ on Benn & Juice
laid back
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
+1
Here’s to hoping for it just being a bad day for the Illini.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Sep 8, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Ya Gotta Wonder...
…why colleges not in that group of 10 or so teams allowed to win the national championship every year (Miami, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Notre Dame, etc) even bother playing…
Sorry, but I always feel that college basket is much moore interesting than college football. At least in college hoops anyone in the field of 64 at tourney time has a chance to win it all. Poor Missouri cud go undefeated, and they’d never get the national championship.
Seems hardly worth the bother…
:=8/
My hovercraft is full of eels!
:=8O
It all depends
If USC, Florida and, say, Kansas all went undefeated, which team gets left out? The answer is pretty obvious IMO.
"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 go to USC
And they’re showing the game at our basketball arena. Apparently they’re showing it in 3D, which ESPN has been experimenting with
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
but to win the Big 12 you'd have to beat the South
but since College football is popular in the South, I can see how they wouldn’t be too happy. Damn yankees
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
If Kansas beats Texas, Oklahoma, Mizzou, Nebraska and the South Winner (prob Okie State in that situation)
Which they won’t, they’d have done more than anything USC could muster with the Pac10.
Not afraid to nitpick
I didn't realize Kansas had Oklahoma and Texas from the South this year...
That’s a bitch, but I would agree in that scenario.
V, b.
I think every North school has 2 of the 3 out of Okie State, Oklahoma and Texas
Plus the Big 12 championship game.
Not afraid to nitpick
But wait...
USC would also be beating Ohio State AND Notre Dame on the road out of conference. That’s to go along with beating Cal and Oregon on the road in Pac 10 play, along with winning their other 7 conference games.
So I retract my agreement, and contend that USC would have the more impressive resume.
V, b.
Notre Dame is going to end up sucking eventually
[/Posted just to prod ND fans]
Not afraid to nitpick
Well guess what
Kansas doesn’t have the name recognition that the Gators and Trojans have. Sadly, that’s part of the state of college football right now. My favorite team was on the short end of the stick five years ago in a similar situation; Auburn, Oklahoma and USC all went undefeated, and while Auburn won the SEC and beat 4 top 10 teams along the way, they were left out because they started the season #15 while OU and USC were #1 and #2.
If Kansas, USC and Florida all go undefeated, Kansas is SOL.
"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
Only once have 3 teams from BCS conferences gone undefeated...
And you know who got left out that time. So I wouldn’t be so quick to assume they’d get it right.
V, b.
There is no "right"
When three teams from major conferences (that’s not even including a Utah or Boise State, who could argue that they should have a chance) all go undefeated, they all have an argument to make. I believed Auburn was more deserving than Oklahoma in 2004, but that shouldn’t preclude Oklahoma from NC discussions. The system as it is currently set up is flawed, flawed, flawed.
"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 agree it's fucked up...
But my main point was that it’s been very rare to have 3 BCS schools go undefeated, so Kansas (or whoever) would have a batter chance than you might think if they ran the table.
V, b.
As long as it's Kansas getting effed over,
I have no problem with it.
Shut up, Fritz™.
by Alxfritz on Sep 8, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think most of us can agree with this logic
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
I'm going with the hypothetical here, not something that I think will actually happen
"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
not true...
(although I hate the BCS just as much as everyone else). Mizzou had a chance to play for a national title as recently as 2 yrs ago. I remember because I was in grad school at WVU at the time. All of the stars were aligned perfectly for a WVU/Mizzou National Championship game and they each shit the bed in their finale, setting up yet another clash of the traditional powerhouses.
that was a rough afternoon in St. Louis
but I felt a little better after putting myself into a coma at Maggianos
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
I just hope
that Blaine Gabbert won’t haunt me for life. We are naming our son (due december 3rd) Blaine, and I just hope I won’t be reminded of him everytime I say his name…or maybe he’s destined to be a QB? (I’ll settle for place kicker)
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
I get the feeling that was probably a bad choice for an Illinois fan
I’ll say it again, the throw on the 3rd and 19 conversion 28 yard bomb off his back foot with the blitz in his face can’t be made by more than 10 QBs at any level. He showed pretty much everything you could possibly want in a QB, huge arm, accurate enough, made a couple really nice reads, plus he’s a huge guy who can run. Handling the pressure on the 1st drive was the only “oh shit” moment, but once he calmed down—-the guy has Heisman physical tools.
Not afraid to nitpick
I had never heard of him until a month or so before the game
and we’ve had the name picked out for awhile
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
Um, the Cyborg Simms is more frightening IMO
Run Vince run! There's a tarp chasing you! Run! It's right behind you!
yeah
that is very creepy
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
That Cris Collinsworth
is giving me a very strange sexual look from the left
by LandSickness on Sep 8, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
It's like he's a middle-aged man who has been married since he was very young,
and now since he’s split up with his wife, he has forgotten how to make a sexy face.
by LandSickness on Sep 8, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Victory
I broke my glasses, a van backed into my car at the parking lot where I went to fix my glasses (closed due to sickness, thanks small town), the Cardinals better fucking win or there’s going to be consequences. Sorry if Pujols is injured tomorrow from my baseball bat for not going 5-5 with 11 RBIs.
Hey, look on the bright side
Well, actually, I guess you can’t look on the bright side without your glasses. Nevermind.
HA HA
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
I'll go ahead and mention it now...
Because we’re going to need to discuss it quite a bit later on.
That Manny Parra is one attractive individual.
V, b.
I just looked up his picture here at work and got yelled at
Too handsome, it turns out. His gorgeous visage borders on pornographic and is thus NSFW.
Anybody interested in
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 8, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions
No
The difference between Uggla and Skip would not be worth what it would cost to attain him
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 8, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
The way Schumaker has developed defensively not really
Schumaker + Lugo as a lefty caddy isn’t that far off from Uggla and we don’t have to give anything up.
Not afraid to nitpick
It's like keeping our starters
without giving anything up!
It really is.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 8, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
not reallyyyyyyyyyyy
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
if we're going to drop the farm
on a florida marlin, i say we go for that guy who doesn’t play hard
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
his name is daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannn ugggggggggla.
BTW, do you think the marlins are kicking themselves for not trading him last off-season when his value was a million times higher?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Worst. Thread. Ever.
I assume you and I are thinking of the same thing. That was an awful, awful thread that was fortunately blown up.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 8, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I had almost forgotten about that thread
way to go
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
...and yes, they're kicking themselves
I would be.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 8, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's trade for Josh Johnson.
Isn’t he coming up on arbitration?
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Wasn't someone talking about a campaign for powder blue alternates next year?
Paul Lukas mentioned this on Uni Watch today:
I’ve seen all the new MLB designs for next season and can report that another team is going to have a powder blue alternate jersey, plus one team is adding a powder blue alt cap. And no, I can’t say anything more than that, so don’t ask.
Hmmm. Doubtful it’s the Cardinals, but interesting nonetheless. I just hope that if the Cardinals ever do bring them back, they wear them on the road where it’s appropriate. Toronto wears theirs at home and it makes no sense.
V, b.
K.C.
The Royals should go to a powder blue away uniform, like Bo and Brett used to wear. I also think that the Blue Jays should go with powder blue on the road. Of course, I also think that they Blue Jays should have blue caps, but what do I know?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Kansas City already has a powder blue alt jersey...
He’s insinuating that it will be a different team.
V, b.
I'm arguing for a full powder blue uniform to be worn on the road.
Not their half-[topped] attempt at harking back to a better time. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy the black has been dropped from their color scheme. But, they should go whole hog on this powder blue resurrection. As should the Blue Jays.
As for the new club, who should it be? Quite a few clubs sported the powder blue away uniforms.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I got you...
I’m just saying that, judging by his wording, it’s highly unlikely that the Royals are the team he is talking about.
V, b.
Orioles
"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
Yeah, that was partially me
Though my twitter efforts stalled after taking a trip outside the country and forgetting about it until, well, now.
That’d be cool if it was the Cards of course.
"But as the leadoff guy that inning, my job is to get on base and let guys drive me in." - Albert Pujols 8/20/09, base-clogger.
Given their recent marketing of powder blue stuff I wouldn't be the least bit surprised
Not afraid to nitpick
Alternate uniforms.
I am very much against the alternate uniform, especially for tradition-rich clubs. I don’t like Boston’s at all and I don’t think that the Cards should make a practice of wearing such uniforms. I also hope that they don’t wear powder blue road uniforms or anything like that. I’d be okay with a commeorative wearing of them, like for every Saturday home game or something, but, even then, I’d prefer that they wear the v-neck whites with red, white, and blue stripes to powder blue. I think our uniforms as of now are pretty classic and classy and I’d hate to see a drastic change, like a third jersey top or going to powder blue on the road. I love all three caps, the road grays, and the home whites, and think that is enough.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Good point
Although I’d like it if they went to these for every Sunday home game and these for every Sunday road game. They actually match the alternate Sunday hat much better than the current home and road unis do, and I love the look of those jerseys with the red piping down the button runs.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
guessing at lineup tonight: lugo/ryan/pujols/holliday/ludwick/glaus/molina/raz/smoltz
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
But, Ankiel is red hot right now.
We need to play the hot bat.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
he'd better hit 8th then
given his lack of success vs. lefties.
Proud sponsor of the Official 2009 StL Cardinal theme song: Reason to Believe
I was being a bit sarcastic.
I wouldn’t be at all suprised to see a three-righty OF some game in the near future with Ludwick in CF, Holliday in LF, and DeRosa in RF. Then, an IF of Glaus at third, Ryan at SS, Lugo at second, and that one guy at first…
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Otherwise known as the "hack pathetically against Cliff Lee lineup"
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Hmmm.
I’d always just called it the “hack pathetically lineup.”
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm thinking about hypothetical baseball that happens next month
Oh look, some wood. I will knock on it. Phew!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I bet if DeRosa was healthy...
Tony would put him in right, Ludwick in center, and Glaus at 3rd. Go all righties.
V, b.
Whoops.
I should have kept reading before posting my comment above.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Guessing a TLR lineup is pretty much a crapshoot
So I’ll go with:
Lugo 6
Thompson DB
Pujols 3/4/9
Holliday 7
Glaus 3
Rasmus DeRosa 8
[Nobody] 2
Ankiel 7
Duncan 1
Things of note:
- Ankiel and Holliday will take turn in left field, obviously. It’s good to give Holliday some rest down the stretch, but he needs constant playing time to stay hot. This seems like a good compromise.
- Thompson won’t actually play the field, but he’s in the lineup to bunt just in case Lugo hits a double to lead off the game.
- DeRosa expresses boredom with third base on a conceptual level. Tony says now that he mentions it, he’s kinda bored of playing DeRosa at third base. Raz gets scratch, Mark of Rose to center field.
- Pujols will hold down the entire right side of the field. I can’t see this being a problem. He fields most of the ground balls to the second baseman anyway.
- Pappy Duncan finally loses patience and decides to show the whippersnappers how it’s done. My guess at his line: 9 IP, 27 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 strikeouts, 27 ground balls. Oh, and Duncan doesn’t need no stinking catcher.
- Pappy Duncan has no interest in covering first base. So Glaus will stand on first base all game so Albert has someone to throw to as he fields all the ground balls hit to the right side.
Anyone see any holes in this prediction? I was going to say Franklin would probably start at shortstop, but I hear he’s getting a day off.
King and his court?
wouldn’t Duncan just need four infielders?
So
Glause, Holiday, Ludwick, Pujols. and no catcher. everyone Hit Hit Hit!!!
It's official now: The Brewers are VERY annoying
Happened to check Deadspin today. Good lord.
It got under my skin more when they were good...
Now they’re 15 games out, and they just look like buffoons when they pull crap like that. It’s still obnoxious, but people couldn’t give a shit about their ballclub.
V, b.
It is silly.
But they were at home and if their fans like it, why should anyone else really care. It is better than untucking your jerseys at another team’s stadium. :(
Yeah, I'm surprisingly not bothered by it
I actually think it’s kind of funny. The difference is context, as you say. This is a celebration of a walk-off, which is entirely different from showing up the other team at their stadium.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I thought it was a little funny, actually
Probably a bit over the line, but done in fun.
I loved when Al tried to say that was a horrible thing to do. Pot, meet kettle. You guys will get along great!
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 8, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Weirdest double play ever: Steve Hill (Springfield Cards catcher/DH/1b/LF) tags out two baserunners at home on the same play.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Didn't something similar happen in Rookie of the Year?
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I thought it was in Major League...
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Sep 8, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it was.
Also, one time, during Lankford’s second stint in the Stl, I remember a game where Pujols was running behind him and they were trying to score on the same play.
Pujols was practically pushing Lankford ahead of him down the 3rd base line, which is hilarious because Lankford was once (twice actually) a 40 SB guy. They should them in the dugout afterward (they both managed to score standing, but it was close) and Lankford was sweating buckets and trying to catch his breath.
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
It was Rookie of the Year...
Henry is on 2nd, and the batter hits a long fly ball that Henry just stands and watches in awe. Meanwhile, the runner from 1st starts bearing down on him and Henry realizes he better run. They slide across the plate right behind one another.
V, b.
Are you sure?
I thought one guy slid (or slud, if you prefer) to the catcher’s left and then the other to the catcher’s right?
Ah, and I thought it was in one of the Major League sequels’ montages, not the original.
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
They may have done something similar...
But I’m positive that it was in Rookie of the Year, too.
V, b.
The player to each side of the plate
was definitely Major League. Google images is failing me at the moment. IIRC, it was one of the paper spinning snapshots when they started to win.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
I think I remember that too
Then there’s the Bugs Bunny cartoon with the conga line on the basepaths. I would think it’d be really easy to tag those guys.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
That was the one with the
“powerful, paralyzing, pachydoimic pitch”.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Sep 8, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Lankford/Pujols play
I think Pujols got an awesome read on a ball from second and Lankford had to hold at third to see if it was caught or not…if I remember the play correctly.
It'd be even weirder if that happened in a game of some importance in the majors
Say…in the playoffs…
Maybe in Game 1 of the NLDS, Mets and Dodgers 10/4/2006
LoDuca tags out Kent and Drew at home.
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
Couldn't find a good picture, since Drew was tagged out like a full 5 seconds after Kent
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
i remember that...what was drew thinking
he was out by a mile
"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister
Yea, LoDuca almost didn't see him coming it was so unexpected.
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
Wasn't he showing the ball to the umpire
when Drew came barrelling in?
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 8, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
They think
Chris Carpenter deserves the Cy Young, the 2nd best team in baseball, and thinks Prince Fielder/Brewer’s are douche bag’s for what they did at the plate
by FlimtotheFlam on Sep 8, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Cy Carp
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
That is enough.
But the rest of the staff is pretty nice to have around as well.
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
i heard about this one guy
that we traed jd drew for
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Tonight's Lineup via FSN Tweet
Lugo 2B
Ryan SS
Pujols 1B
Holliday LF
Ludwick RF
DeRosa 3B
Molina C
Ankiel CF
Smoltz P
....my quick smells like french toast...
Just FYI
Just wanted to post this, GOBs permitting and all.
According to ELO on BP (ELO is apparently some measurement/balance of current and recent performance often used in soccer that BP adapted to baseball), the Cardinals are currently the best team in the NL.
Just barely, and it still makes the Cardinals the 4th best playoff team overall, but it’s something to think about.
Pretty much FML any time Todd Wellemeyer touches a baseball or Joe Thurston runs the bases.
Everytime I see that measurement
I want to add an EL to the end of it.
by Cardfanintherock on Sep 8, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to listen to "Showdown"
and recreate the Munson v. McCracken bowling scene in Kingpin.
Shut up, Fritz™.
Lineups for tonight per
Cardinals
2B Julio Lugo
SS Brendan Ryan
1B Albert Pujols
LF Matt Holliday
RF Ryan Ludwick
3B Mark De Rosa
C Yadier Molina
CF Rick Ankiel
P John Smoltz
BREWERS
CF Corey Patterson
2B Craig Counsell
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
3B Casey McGehee
RF Jody Gerut
SS J.J. Hardy
C Jason Kendall
P Manny Parra
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
I'm calling the Cykiel right now....
Note the time.
And you spelled Smoltz wrong in your sig.
Sponsored by Slick-Rick 'Stache Cream
No one ever...
makes mistakes here, they’re just memes.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Name's Bob...
I live in trailer #27, Bountiful Pastures Drive, Guayzimiville, IL… You should come over and watch a game with me and my cats some time.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
No I did not....
It’s Smotzl or alternately Smoltzinski……
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
Smotzl is the Aztec god of preferring the National League
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Sep 8, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Those crazy aztecs
they sure had some pretty specific deities.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 10, 2009 4:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Hardy is back!!
I just noticed that. He’s got to be steamed. He’ll be tipping Parra’s pitches all night.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Why in the world
is Dick in the lineup? Reynolds is finally starting to hit lefties…
I bleed Cardinal red.
Nah...
I’m not big on chocolate. But you can always find a code online for free Cinna Stix, so I got those instead.
V, b.
wat
I’m not big on chocolate.
wat
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
The ironic thing is...
I love just plain chocolate devil’s food cake with no icing. That’s about all the chocolate I eat outside of Reese’s. But that stuff at Domino’s is supposedly “crunchy” on the outside and has the chocolate liquid “lava” on the inside. That is not my thing.
V, b.
The chocolate on
Reese’s is legally chocolate, but that shit isn’t chocolate.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
Yeah...
I’m in it more for the peanut butter anyway. I remember when they briefly came out with the ones that were reversed, and I could never find them here.
V, b.
That peanut butter is delicious.
Walgreens usually gets small batches of those limited runs.
"I’m going to come after you." - Chris Carpenter
they were pretty dang good
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Me neither.
The only desert I really like is cheesecake.
Which is ironic, since I’m fat.
Shut up, Fritz™.
I could probably live on beer and cheesecake
not for very long, but damn…it would be a glorious last few days
"Ludwick, I could kiss you on the nuts!" - the red baron 7-29-09
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
The only desert I like is the Kalahari, personally
I’m somewhat partial to the Nevada, but Las Vegas kinda ruins it for me.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 10, 2009 5:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Really worth it huh?
I’ll have to try one. Any favorites?
"Obviously, tipping pitches didn't help" - John Smotzl
"If you disrespect the Baseball Gods, you'll get slapped." - TLR
I always just get the chicken alfredo...
I haven’t tried the others, but I’m sure they’re equally orgasmic.
V, b.
John Kruk says...
Carpenter/Wainwright are the best 1-2 punch going into the playoffs… (ok, I’m with you so far, John)… but by playoff time Lester/Beckett could eclipse them… huh? You mean Josh “mr. inconsistent” Beckett and John “remember that time I pitched that one awesome game” Lester?
…
Maybe I’m biased but I would not even put them in the conversation… but for what it’s worth, I think they’re better than the over-hyped Lee/Hamels.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
I think the Phillies will probably be the weakest playoff team
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
You serious?
"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
Excuse me
You 6?
"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
yep
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Disagree
I think the Dodgers are the weakest, and the Phils are the strongest. They’ve hit their stride, and the Cards may be their biggest obstacle to a return trip to the WS; however, the Cards have a hard time hitting or getting out lefties, which Philly is loaded with. As of right now the Phils are my favorite for the NL pennant.
"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
Lidge is gonna get blasted in the playoffs
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I dunno
I’d say the NL WC will be….I think the Rockies are beatable (Jason Marquis? really?) and SF’s offense is as bad as their pitching is good….
ok
if the Rox make it, then they will be the weakest, but I think the Giants will be in there, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to face them in the wild card round. although in a 7 game series, they wouldn’t be that frightening.
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
if the Cards end up facing the Giants
I go with the Cards….the pitching ends up being mostly a wash.
Lincecum vs Carp—push
Cain vs Waino—push
Sanchez vs Pineiro—tough one….maybe a push, maybe a slight advantage to the Cards.
But the Cards offense definitely >>> the Giants offense. Frankly, we have Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday and they don’t. I think we could beat them in a short series.
true
but I’d rather face the phillies. Cliff Lee hasn’t been doing that well as of late, Hamels is not that great this year, and Lidge has been blowing saves left and right
Positronic Upgraded Juggernaut Optimized for Logical Sabotage
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 8, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions
i dunno
i can’t forget what they did to us that series when we got holliday
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Pujols was in the middle of his non-hitting streak and we sent Lohse and Wellemeyer against them.
Not exactly a recipe for success.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Sep 8, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Lincecum is better than Carp
Wainwright is better than Cain.
So, ultimately, it works out as a push, but they have the advantage in one of those, and we do in the other. I think you’re probably right that Pineiro is better (atm) than Sanchez, but that’s probably close too.
I’m not particularly scared of the Giants.
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 10, 2009 5:02 AM EDT up reply actions
they're the best now
but once an arbitrary date passes, they won’t?
and i dunno if they’re the best 1 and 2, anyway. carp and ww are both better than cain, but lincecum is by far the best pitcher in baseball. one of the best in a long time
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
if you place any stock in fip,
he’s .12 better than greinke and .47 better than carp
and his 2.24 fip is actually up .14 points since i last looked
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
I would agree Lincecum is the best pitcher in baseball
…but not by a large margin. Clearly the best, still, and I hope he wins the Cy Young (though it’s looking more and more like a fairy-tale win for Carp). If he doesn’t get it this year… he will probably just win it the next 3 years.
But I think there’s a pretty big drop-off from Lincecum → Cain. Like, Cain is the #12 or so pitcher in the NL. I would even put Kershaw in front of Cain, even though that kid only seems to go 5 innings per start.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
I think Lincecum should absolutely win the Cy this year
but Carp is sure trying to make it interesting.
I’d take Cain over Kershaw, although maybe in the next year or two Kershaw will get his shit together. Seems like he hasn’t dominated the way he was projected to since he started facing ML hitters….he’s walked a bunch of guys, for example.
waino cruising to 20 wins with a sub-2.50 era
will also put a lot of heat on lincecum
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
re: Lincecum
ERA+
Greinke 197
Carp 193
Lincecum 184
Cain 171
Hernandez 163
(…..) 162
Waino 156
Happ 155
Wells 154
Wandy 148
Lincecum is one of the best. I’d put Carp, Greinke, and Halladay up there with him. And Cain and the one guy in AZ whose name I can’t quite bring to mind.
yeah, but
you’re at least indirectly placing a lot of stock in ERA, which i don’t agree with
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
OK, let's do FIP then
FIP (ERA-FIP)
Lincecum 2.24 (.10)
Greinke 2.36 (-.14)
Carp 2.71 (-.55)
Vazquez 2.82 (.36)
Verlander 2.86 (.43)
Lester 3.04 (.40)
Pineiro 3.05 (.23)
Halladay 3.05 (-.07)
Josh Johnson 3.06 (-.01)
Cliff Lee 3.09 (-.03)
that list does look a little different, admittedly….
if you go on down
kinda amusing that according to FIP, neither waino nor cain are the no 2 pitchers on their teams.
pineiro – .305
ww – .330
sanchez – .383
cain – .390
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
Pineiro is having a ridiculously good year
anybody know where I can look up run support? Cause the Cards had that really awful stretch in mid-season where they just plain stopped scoring runs….he’s 14-9 now and he ought to be chasing 20 wins just like Wainwright.
Pineiro leads the majors in BB/9 (.980, next closest is Halladay at 1.266—not even close ), HR/9 (.343; Carp is 2nd w/ .378), and GB% (61.2; 2nd is Lowe at 56.5; again not close).
go to "game logs" on the B-R player page
for pineiro, link
it's Clydesdales vs Goats. Actually sums up Cards vs. Cubs quite nicely. -all4tookie
run support is rs under more batted ball on fangraphs
dunno if that’s total or scaled or what
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
He went something like 9 straight games without a win I think
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 8, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
more re: Lincecum
we could do this all day….by WHIP, Barry Goldwater is leading the majors @ 0.95, Carp is 2nd w/ 0.97, and Lincecum is 3rd w/ 1.02.
Unpacking that a bit, we see that Carp is 4th in the majors in BB/9 (1.62—Pineiro is 1st w/ 0.98, which is astonishing). Lincecum is 29th @ 2.47. So Lincecum walks nearly one more batter per game than Carp. Hits per 9 innings aren’t listed on FG, but doing the math, Carp gives up ~7.07 H/9 and Lincecum is at 6.74: pretty close.
Kind of leads you to expect that Lincecum is striking guys out more often than Carp, and that is indeed the case. Lincecum is leading the majors in K/9 (10.47). Carpenter is way, way down on the list w/ 6.97 (which surprises me).
FWIW, Carp’s BABIP is .267 and Lincecum’s is .298. More food for thought….
Beckett's struggling badly right now
and Carp & Waino are pitching PHENOMENALLY.
I bleed Cardinal red.
Waino's last start wasn't exactly a killer outing
Just to be fair. I think he’s fine, but he’s coming off his first hiccup in a long time.
Predictions are tough...
especially about the future… Look at Sabathia. He sucked last year in his 3+ playoff innings.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
I think you're being unfair to Lester
That guy is dirty. His K numbers are insane right now.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 8, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
mets fans are booing beltran
wtf?
i boo them. booooo
Of course, hope means being cut down on some street corner, as you run like mad, by a random bullet.
It's because Steve Phillips thinks Beltran doesn't make winning plays.
Like that one time A.D.A.M. threw him a dirty piece deuce. Taking that pitch wasn’t a winning play. Because of that play, he sucks. That’s the, ahem, logic I guess.
Actually I don’t know why Mets fans boo their best player. Stupidity I suppose, frustration perhaps.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Sep 8, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions
isn't David Wright their best player?
Felonius Monk - bitching to contact since 2008
by Felonius_Monk on Sep 10, 2009 5:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Rotoworld
States that Rasmus is out with a Heel and might not be back until after the weekend. Yikes!!!
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