roster moves
by tom s. on May 29, 2010 10:09 AM EDT
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Printwell, there's nothing to clean the foul taste of two ugly losses to the padres out of your mouth than scoring 15 runs in 18 hours.
all the enjoyment of yesterday's game and we still ended up in second place to the reds. the reds lit up wandy rodriguez - so it wasn't a total loss for the cardinals - for eight runs, then tagged the houston bullpen for seven more. backup catcher kevin cash pulled an inning's worth of work for houston, giving up one run.
high on the list of great outcomes in the past couple games -- including boog's 4-4 effort (now with bonus dinger!) and the first inning yesterday -- was pj walter's win without him allowing a run. i personally like pj walters a lot - though my expectations of him are low - and his tragic story this year make him impossible to root against. seeing him bounce back to win his first ML game is great. all in all, i'd prefer a healthy kyle lohse, but walters and today's finally official starter, adam ottavino, both are interesting pitchers, and i would not be shocked if one of them ended up a tolerable fifth starter.
speaking of new folks, we caught our first pro glimpse of fernando salas yesterday. there was nothing not to like in his perfect ninth, even pitching around a throwing error by felipe lopez. the rumblings were that salas was up only temporarily, pending ottavino's interjection in the rotation. i'd be sorry to see that happen. i'd much rather see hawksworth put on the DL for a time.
the other option seems to be demoting joe mather. joey bombs' return from wrist ailments has been conditioned on him demonstrating that he can still produce the power that gave him his nickname. wrist injuries are especially debilitating for hitters (see derosa, mark - .194/.279/.258 in 2010). so far, mather has not shown us anything to be interested in - a .191/.208/.277 line is nothing to be proud of.
the sample size remains small (50 PA), so i'm not ready to write him off, but it seems appropriate to let him work out his issues in memphis. his primary function has been to spell colby in center against lefties, but his .203 wOBA in 24 PAs versus lefties this year doesn't make him anybody's platoon partner (colby rasmus - .207 wOBA v. lefties this year in 25 PAs; .216 career in 146 PA), assuming you put any faith in mather's numbers so far. while the sample size doesn't mean much, i approached mather this off-season with some serious reservations about the likelihood that he would return and be effective. at minimum, his hitting has not reassured me.
i am perfectly content to let ludwick and jon jay fill in in center as needed, even though jay's roaring start at memphis has not carried over to the majors and ludwick defense in center is below average. if mather goes down, i would rather see an interesting position player come up, like tyler greene or allen craig. for all the handwringing about aaron miles, i could handle his arrival provided that he remains a bench player.
in the interim, though, the resurgent offense should give some reassurance to cards fans out there that we can get through the next two weeks without brad penny. hopefully, over the next three or four starts walters and ottavino will make good showings, and we can look forward to a decent lohse replacement from the farm this summer (does anyone not think that lohse's recovery time will be measured in months plural?).
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The month to two month recovery time for Lohse seems wildly optimistic to me.
I mean, sure, they may be just taking a shot in the dark, but that leaves little room for pleasant surprise and a lot of room for disappointing setbacks.
As for Joe Mather, it wasn’t the lack of power or the low batting average that unnerved me. His O-swing and contact rates are in bad Tyler Greene territory. You have to do at least one thing right with the bat, whether it’s power, patience, contact, but Mather had none of these and in addition to zero HR, and posted a Stavinoha-esque 10:1 BB:K ratio- less walks than Allen Craig had in a fraction of the playing time. SSS warning applies, but the only redeeming quality of Mather’s 2010 was the slide that sent a thousand people reaching for towels, and I’m not sure that’s a repeatable skill (except on RB).
I'm one of those "I don't care how you killed the cow; just serve me a great steak" guys. If the results are logical and easy to understand, I'm pouring some A1 sauce on that formula and eating it. UZR qualifies. -Bill Simmons
Thing is, there's practically no history to go on.
Will Carroll points out that Lohse’s problem is also what afflicted Noah Lowry — but Lowry apparently had some other stuff going on too. (Pity. I saw him pitch in SF — distantly since our seats were at the top of the third deck, but still — and was impressed. But that was before the injury, or the syndrome.) If Lohse doesn’t have the other stuff (and if he does, we’re clearly screwed, so no point in speculating about it), there are simply NO previous examples of this thing that we can use to guess at what’s coming.
StanTheManFan
Contributes any way he can.
He's normally a nuclear physicist
Except when writing for this list.
by StanTheManFan on May 29, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps no MLB pitchers,
but the condition is not so singular in other athletes and professions. I suspect that bouncing back in two months to pitch about 100 pitches every fifth day could be fairly characterized as optimistic.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 12:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
On Mather
in a few of his recent at bats, I remember Mather putting a pretty good hit on the ball – a long fly out in one and a double to the base of the wall in left center in another. So, maybe his power is slowly returning. Of course, if true, this might be taken as another reason to send him down, so that he can get more playing time.
even adjusting for batted ball luck
mather has a .252 wOBA. pretty awful
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm excited to see Ottavino today
He was the noteworthy recipient of an lboros exclusive scouting report, and apparently did OK in the World Baseball Classic, which is of course the single most predictive of samples to which we have access. The WBC is the only time I’ve ever seen him pitch, so of course that means I know next to nothing about him (I was being sarcastic up there with the predictive sample stuff, clever huh?) Wasn’t he a first round pick as well? He’s gotta have talent, so whattaya say he puts it all together in an unlikely fashion as a major leaguer, huh?
Am I remembering wrong or did we use a lot of pitchers yesterday despite the big win? I missed it almost entirely so I am going by my glance at the online post game stuff.
I think it’s entirely sensible to send down Mather and let him get more regular work while calling up Craig or Greene. I don’t know who else we would call up.
As someone who enjoys peoples’ names being pronounced correctly, and as someone who shares his last name, I am pleasedthat it sounded to me like Dan McGlaughlin said “Tyler Call-vin” and not “Tyler Cole-vin” like most people assume it is pronounced (can’t blame them). At least I think he said it that way. My grandmother is very prickly about this.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
He did pronounced it "Call-vin."
You incorrectly spelled McLaughlin, but I assume you pronounced it properly and thus avoided your grandmother’s ire.
You can read it in any tone you like.
Damn it!
I even Googled his name to get the spelling right and I still did it wrong! I think I have some sort of short term memory problem.
But thanks for confirming for me.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
We're not so different, you and I...
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Oh, god.
Not the, “We’re not so different, you and I,” speech. Why are villains constantly saying that?
Death needs time for what it kills to grow in.
by the red baron on May 29, 2010 3:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Maybe it's because villains and heroes are two sides of the same coin.
Or maybe it’s because together think what they could accomplish? Why, if we join together we could bring order to the galaxy!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
F'n Astros
So I thought I could at least indulge in a bit of schadenfreude by watching Bud F. Norris get lit up by that unstoppable Reds offense today, but apparently he’s on the DL (No doubt to return and no hit the Cardinals in his next start). Instead the ‘stros trot out Moehler and Paulino (0-7!!!), who are completely terrible. So, the Astros will get swept by the team we’re trying to keep pace with after sweeping us at home. I swear they built that team just to be a thorn in the Cardinals side, since it seems we’re the only team they can beat. What dicks.
by cloistermaximus on May 29, 2010 11:07 AM EDT reply actions
Fear not
I don’t know how much they hold up to sabr-scrutiny these days, but BP’s adjusted standings are updated daily so they are way more convenient than the BtB power rankings. Cards’ W3-L3 is 28-21, behind only the Padres (wow) in the NL. The Reds are at 25.6-23.4, barely ahead of the Cubs’ 25-24. They are playing over their heads. Even the BtB rankings from three days ago (ie, no including our last two days of awesomeness yet) have us ahead of the Reds and only behind the Padres and Phillies in the league.
We are a better team than the Reds. I will keep repeating this to myself until we have a comfortable lead in the division.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
the only problem is that
they get to play the NL central too. I mean, we can be “better” than them, but things could get close if we keep dropping games to the Stros and Bucs of the world.
BP's pyhag records
reflect what clubs throughout baseball history typically have had for their records when scoring as the Reds and Cards have. Obviously, if we continue to lose—that is, be outscored—our pythag and real W/L record will be worse. What the BP adjusted record reflects is Cincy’s good luck—they have done very well in 1-run and extra inning games. Moving forward, one would expect this luck to even out.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 1:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
hopefully all their bad luck wasn't used up in that one 9th inning vs. braves
speaking of the braves, they just got a no-hitter from todd redman at AAA. they also have that chris resop at gwinnett they have to do something with. i don’t know anything about redman – could be a journeyman with a fluke or a real prospect they wouldn’t part with – but i’m wondering if we couldn’t deal for a guy like one of these. the braves could probably use a bat – how’s hamilton doing?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
'Stros only beat us
"They're so stunned they didn't even boo!"
John Rooney 5/3/10 referring to Philly fans on Cards 5-run 7th inning
So, which New Young Pitcher seems to have more MLB potential,
Walters or Ottavino?
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 11:10 AM EDT reply actions
"Potential"? Probably Ott.
Much bigger fastball, more ability to miss bats. That plays in the Show.
Of course, whether he ever REACHES that potential is a very open question.
StanTheManFan
Contributes any way he can.
He's normally a nuclear physicist
Except when writing for this list.
by StanTheManFan on May 29, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
ottavino
former first round pick, great stuff
walters FB tops out at 89
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Thank you, guys.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Also Walters
only has 2 pitches. He’s going to get murdered the third time through the lineup. So Walters is a fifth starer who can’t go deep into games. The Cards have better options than that. I like PJ the man but he needs to develop another pitch. Perhaps a splitter in the 85 range would make him a viable 5th starter for the Cards. I noticed that his FB touched 91 a few times in San Diego, which was encouraging.
Walters has a breaking pitch.
Not sure why you think he’s just a fastball/changeup guy — that isn’t accurate.
Think; It's not illegal yet.
Haven't seen him
throw his curve for strikes. It seems like a show me pitch. But I’ve only watched him pitch his few stints in the bigs and during ST. If you say he regularly throws the curve during his minor league starts then I stand corrected.
Beat me to it.
It’s a slider or slurve, isn’t it?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 1:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i wasn't going to try and classify it
but if i had to, i would have called it a curve or slurve
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
2009 version of soriano aside
would you classify his breaking ball as average, above, or below?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
i have no idea
i’ve barely seen him pitch. based on what i’ve seen, i’d say he’s got really good movement, but needs to better locate which he hasn’t traditionally done
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
otto
walters has ok stuff, but not near as good as otto.
Best moment I've ever seen at a Cards game in person
@zoomzoomj88
Cardinals pitchers hit grand slams . Do yours?
Boog's reviving the 'stache!!! Woohoo!
by zoomzoomj88 on May 29, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Ottavino. He's always had stuff, just needed beter control, which he has improved over the last two years.
Walters just seems like 5th starter (at best) or bullpen material. No shame in that – but he doesn’t have the upside of Ott. To me, Ottavino can be an Andy Benes-like pitcher (with more sinkers, courtesy of DD).
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Just put in for custom license plates
by FlimtotheFlam on May 29, 2010 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
someone here should get
CDGAF
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
or CDGAFALP
or NCAYFT
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
NCAYLP!
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Is colby a bust?
In Hazel’s fanpost on Loshe(which was excellent, btw) he mentions how he won’t talk about how Colby Rasmus is a bust. Is that thinking in line with most cardinal fans? Do most people see Colby as a failure?
I ask, because I am under the impression that he’s having a pretty good year. His OPS is .900, which is solid. Most of that is because he has shown a much better eye this season(BB% from around 7 to almost 16) He is striking out a lot more, but, to my eye, some of those Ks have been due to bad umpiring(i know, not a great excuse). His SLG% is up from last year as is is ISO rating. Heck, his wOBA is .381, which gets him on the first page of ML leaders in wOBA over at Fangraphs.
His UZR is bad this year, which surprises me a bit. Anyone have any ideas why it is so bad(-22.1)? I know he cannot throw the ball home, but that should not affect his UZR, right?
Colby is a streaky hitter, his current BA is on the tails of a mini-slump, though he has shown the last couple games he may be coming out of that. I just feel like, when the season is all over with, he’ll have put up a .275/.375/.525 type line and defense will be better, which is very solid coming from a 23 year old second year player…am i off base here?
"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
absolutely not.
He’s only got 1.3 seasons under his belt. It’s way too early and he is far too young to consider him a bust. The kid has shown streaks of brilliance that leads you to believe that as he matures and adjusts, he can be a solid producer with solid D. Too many people are expecting immediate results and aren’t allowing time for his development. The tools are there and he’s shown it. It is only a matter of time before he strings it all together on a consistent basis.
by stxcardsfan on May 29, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
he was making fun
of some boston fan that came here trolling
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
oh ok
gotcha…i thought it was weird
"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
by VolsnCards5 on May 29, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
if his May is a cause for pessimism
then it’s only fair to look at his April as a cause for optimism. Colby was probably one of the top 5-10 position players in baseball in April: 1.171 OPS, 214 OPS+, .463 OBP, 6 HR (although some of that was surely a product of a .405 BABIP). I think I’ll wait until we’re a bit more removed from that monster performance to start talking about him being a bust.
it's very hard to call any starting Major League Centerfielder
a bust. Howerver; someone people seem to think Colby should be any All-star by now.(his second year). This might be a little bit to optimisitc. Though if he has a June like his Apirl he might be there.
you do know this whole bust thing started as sarcasm directed at one single poster
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
All-Star
I think should be an All-Star this season, or, at least that’s how I voted on my ballot…
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 1:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No, Colby is amazing
I don’t really trust that UZR number at all either.
by vivaelpujols on May 29, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I think part of Colby's weakness on defense
this year (what little there is), has been due to poor positioning. There have been a few times where it looked like he was playing too shallow and balls sailed over his head. But that wouldn’t really affect UZR, correct?
i remember a game in philly
where he was shifted way over toward right, and the lefty hit what would have been an easy catch otherwise, just to the left of dead center. that must have gone as a negative for colby, but maybe the pitcher was supposed to throw inside and missed his spot badly and threw an outer-half strike. seems pitchers missing spots could have a negative impact on a fielder’s (particularly outfielder’s) UZR, as positioning is synced with the game plan on how a batter is to be pitched. probably better to play behind a staff that is good at executing the game plan.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
OPS around .900 with solid defense is Beltran territory
Colby’s fine.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
He's been a bust to date?
in an absolute way?
He leads this team in stolen bases, is 2nd in HRs (to the greatest active player), is 2nd in OPS (to the greatest active player), 2nd in walks (to the greastest active player) and leads the team in runs.
WHAT A FREAKING BUST!!!
by Hardcore Legend on May 29, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Let’s compare his stats to others on a team that has sucked at hitting the ball for much of the season. That proves a lot.
Just b/c you are the best out of a group that has blown, doesn’t make you good.
But his stats ARE good.
You’re not only calling bust way too early, you’re also doing it with very little reason.
He's 18th in the National League
as far as WAR for OF’ers. He was 16th last year amidst all his sickness.
And whether or not the rest of the team has been awful, he’s been better than all but 1 of them.
by Hardcore Legend on May 29, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
if he's a bust to date
your expectations must be beyond all-star – HOF?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Seriously...
you have to stop baiting
He leads NL centerfielders in on-base % and slugging… and his strength is his defense.
Tis better to lose bunting than win with dingers alone...
if you think he's baiting, why answer?
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, its sooner...
he’s the resident baiter. Every site has to have one.
Tis better to lose bunting than win with dingers alone...
So it's fine to use "numbers"
to support his OB% and slugging, but b/c his defensive metrics are bad, you just say it’s his “strength”? Laughable. At best.
He hasn’t had a terrible season. But expectations by MANY were much higher, especially this season. He still can’t hit lefties AT ALL. He was suppose to be a higher average guy. His numbers look better than they really are b/c of the “false” power. Once that evens out, and people stop walking him (ie, it’s not some great eye by Colby), he’ll become pretty darn average. NOBODY thought Colby was going to be some walk machine that did nothing but hit for power and K. He is still mucho inconsistent at the plate, makes too many bone-headed plays, and has the only two OF errors on the season.
But yea, he’s the having the “breakout” year many predicted. He’s part of the MV3, as many predicted. Not really.
Did anyone really expect him to have a higher average?
I’ve heard a lot of Sizemore comparisons, and Sizemore’s career average is .272. Colby’s BA this season is .268. How do you determine, other than IBBs, that a pitcher is walking a batter rather than a batter working a walk?
I kind of don’t care that Colby can’t hit lefties very well. He won’t face them that often, and he’s hitting .291/.417/.581 against rhp. That’s a .998 OPS against rhp and a .900 OPS overall. I think that’s pretty much what we were all hoping for. He’s been quite streaky, yes, and he’s in a particularly rough spot right now, but to say that he’s not having a “breakout” year is just ridiculous. Not all young players can be Albert F. Pujols.
As for Colby’s defense, I’ve mentioned a few times that the Cardinals had Colby one-hopping his throws instead of letting him throw to/through the bag. Colby requested that the Cardinals allow him to practice throwing to home plate instead of just to second base, and that they eliminate the one-hop throws. They agreed to allow him to make those changes. Sounds like the team trusts him.
The other plays that are/appear bone-headed… We’ve been spoiled by Jim Edmonds. Colby is still quite young and I’m confident he’ll work out the kinks. And multiple seasons of UZR data will need to be collected before we have a truly accurate picture of Colby’s defense. This season is still young enough that he can right the ship.
You can read it in any tone you like.
defensive metrics are much more inexact science than
(H + BB) / PA
or TB / AB
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
and peoples expectations of him being high are probably unfair
if he’s “pretty darn average,” well, that’s not very darn bad. it’s, dare i say, average. which is useful and not at all a bust
he’s also 23
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
Actually,
I was mentioning that because I think it’s histrionic overreaction of the most obnoxious and moronic degree. A .900 OPS from a premium defensive position by a cost controlled player is amazingly valuable. Colby is probably among the 50 most valuable players in the league because of his combination of productivity and cheapness.
I'm one of those "I don't care how you killed the cow; just serve me a great steak" guys. If the results are logical and easy to understand, I'm pouring some A1 sauce on that formula and eating it. UZR qualifies. -Bill Simmons
His salary....
doesn’t have anything to do with his performance vs expectations. So you can leave that part out.
I realize what his OPS is. I guess what I’m saying, is that I think it is a bit “hollow”. It includes one really, really good month, probably the best month he’ll have this season. The walks will come down, the power will come way down…..and the numbers that will be left, to me, will be disappointing.
His salary DOES matter.
It’s not as if the Cardinals are paying him several million to play in this “hollow, disappointing” way.
So you think May is going to be the like the rest of his season? I was actually surprised by his April as he’s usually a slow starter. But hey – any chance to be completely pessimistic based on nothing but a hunch, right?
You can read it in any tone you like.
Not it doesn't.....
Every player in the league, or nearly all players in the league, that are in their second season are making what Colby is making. When somebody says “to date”, second year salary is ASSUMED. Good Lord.
There are more stats to back up Colby coming back to earth then the other way around, agree?
I do not agree.
I’d like to see why you think that. You still haven’t said. You’re just talking about hunches and his strikeouts. We’re talking about one month.
You can read it in any tone you like.
who's going to get sent down?
sounds like it might be salas now.
per espn: “Manager Tony La Russa wants to protect his bullpen and isn’t sure how many innings he’ll want from Ottavino Saturday. The Cardinals used four relievers Friday, though one of them – Fernando Salas – will probably be the player sent down to make way for Ottavino. Brad Penny (back) will probably return in the coming weeks, but with Kyle Lohse (forearm) likely to be done for the season, Ottavino can stick around for awhile if he impresses.”
i’m not going to be able to catch today’s game (or tomorrow’s, for that matter) b/c i have to work. hope otto impresses today! go cards!
Best moment I've ever seen at a Cards game in person
@zoomzoomj88
Cardinals pitchers hit grand slams . Do yours?
Boog's reviving the 'stache!!! Woohoo!
The smart move is to send
Mather down or DL Hawksworth. Tony possesses a proclivity to out think himself. If we send Salas down and get ourselves into another extra innings game, then Salas can’t be brought back until the waiting period expires which means less desirable options such as Kinney. They won’t miss Mather for 15 days and getting steady PT at Memphis can only help him. For the rest of the season, I’d like to see the Cards rotate Craig and Mather between STL and Memphis so each gets exposure on the big club while also getting PT in Memphis.
i think you can get around that waiting period by DL'ing someone
the dodgers recently did this – sent a starter down between starts, so 4 days
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Exactly. They can always DL Hawksworth then if they needed to.
But he just pitched, so I don’t know why they would DL him.
You can read it in any tone you like.
i guess if we needed salas back it would be because the pen got spent
so maybe hawk had to go 3-4 innings in a game and wouldn’t be available for awhile, so they just DL him with the groin, which they could sell. but i really have no idea – this has been the most bizarro roster period, like the KGB is running the operation.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
it is the KGB
or was this sorta expected? seems like out of left field
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
I didn't expect Salas to stay up, but it was confusing after the news that Mather had been sent down.
And then Mather wasn’t sent down. We knew Ott was going to make this start today. So, I expected Salas down, Ott up.
You can read it in any tone you like.
what?
stl_cardinals
[STLtoday] Cards back in swing, beat Padres 8-3
about 2 hours ago via twitterfeed
really?
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
Over/under 5 innings for Otto today
I’m optimistic —over. The pen also needs a rest.
"They're so stunned they didn't even boo!"
John Rooney 5/3/10 referring to Philly fans on Cards 5-run 7th inning
push
i’m optimistic, too
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
pujols/lidge gif?
stat!
i’m iwning an astros fan and a still jpg just doesn’t give the effect i need
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
Cant find it, but sad-catcher is still fun to watch.
Note: Above comment may contain gratuitous amounts of sarcasm.
BOYCOTT HASS AVOCADOS
Hey Houston,
Suck it; you suck
by vexedtechie on May 29, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
That's even funnier in a side view.
The camera was like twenty feet away.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on May 29, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
MacLane is a good command left hander
who’s had a really good year in Memphis. He lacks any kind of outpitch with little more than an assortment of average pitches. If he can’t spot them, then he’s going to get hit hard. He’s almost certainly up to provide innings in case Ott falters early. Meet your new long-man: Evan MacLane!
Think; It's not illegal yet.
i am really
really not high on maclane. as far as i’m concerned, he is not an MLB pitcher
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
oh, look at this age 26 season at AAA memphis
4.57 FIP!
so glad salas is back in memphis!
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
at least he was better in the past!
’08 AAA – 156.0 IP 4.94 FIP
’07 AAA – 59.3 IP 5.55 FIP
’06 AAA – 125.3 IP 4.25 FIP
woo!
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
by prophetjohn on May 29, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Short-term
I really dislike it, but I think MacLane is an insurance policy for if Ottavino or Walters gets knocked around early. TLR has a long man to protect the bullpen.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 1:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not going to try and sell him as a world beater
but he’s shown exceptional control this year with a 5:1 K:BB rate and a 3.78 FIP. Whether that’s sustainable . . . probably not.
Think; It's not illegal yet.
i like evan too, but i would have thought
He was a very silly use of a roster spot. Anyone know if he has options left?
If it gets tight, lohse and robinson can go on the 60 day, but I don’ get the move at all. Congrats to evan, though.
"We were men - flesh and blood - and we played baseball in the sunshine. We hit doubles off the wall, slid hard into second base. We had fights, and we made love. We sang songs and prayed on Sundays. . . . We felt pain. And we felt joy. There was a lot wrong with the world. But we weren't sad, man. We had the times of our lives." Buck O'Neil, from "The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America."
by tom s. on May 29, 2010 2:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
more likely rewarding a good soldier in a very low leverage situation
if he has to mop up for ottavino, game’s probably lost anyway.
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
so if otto throws a lot of pitches after 5
leaves in a 4-4 ballgame, maclane wouldn’t be the guy tony turned to, right?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
I'm thinking, probably like you, that there's not a f'in chance in the world that Maclane enters the game in that situation.
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
just wanted some reassurance
the thought made me slightly nauseous
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
crossed my mind. if they can turn him
And stav into something useful, more power to them.
I could understand better if we were playing a lefty team like philly, that he’s there for handedness.
"We were men - flesh and blood - and we played baseball in the sunshine. We hit doubles off the wall, slid hard into second base. We had fights, and we made love. We sang songs and prayed on Sundays. . . . We felt pain. And we felt joy. There was a lot wrong with the world. But we weren't sad, man. We had the times of our lives." Buck O'Neil, from "The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America."
by tom s. on May 29, 2010 2:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
what could he really get for stav and maclane?
a good bullpen arm? like salas?
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
a steak dinner?
no one’s giving up anything for an organziational lefty soft tosser and a right-handed, slow, strikeout-prone, defensively-challenged, AAAA LF.
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
sugar shane could probably just be outrighted off
who’s gonna pick him up?
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
can you drop a guy from the 40 when he's on DL?
i’d think the union would’ve gotten some rule against that.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
well, i didn't see that one coming
i guess tony is looking for a split-start today, unless otto rocks.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
MacLane hasn't been as good this year
as last.
He’s only up incase Adam gets shelled.
by Hardcore Legend on May 29, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Last year at Memphis he went on a run that was actually quite good. His numbers last year with Memphis were slightly better.
by Hardcore Legend on May 29, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
This is true
but his K rate was higher, his opponent BA was lower, his BABIP was also lower.
I’m trying to remember but I believe he may have started out on fire last year at Memphis and tailed off at the end.
by Hardcore Legend on May 29, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
He was the winning pitcher at the PCL Championship Game last season.
I, for one, am pulling for him. I went to that game and met his mom after the game.
Currently selling signature space. All offers considered.
by RosevilleRedbird on May 29, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
i think i remember that story
did you tell it here afterward?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Fernando Salas has the makings of a hell of a ROOGY
All of his stuff seemed to dive low and away from right handers.
Something more than a mere ROOGY...
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 1:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
gahhhhhh!!!!!
f’in Fox blackout today. I hate watching through proxies. This really needs to end – what sense does it make to black me out when the game isn’t even being shown in my region… as if I’m gonna watch the Orioles and Jays play just because they’re on.
AMEN!!
Makes no sense to me at all.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 29, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Watching with a proxy through Boxee is pretty painless
I just set mine up, it took about 2 minutes to get going.
it is, but its on a delay (at least whenever I try it)
I hate watching when I’m a minute or two behind
i'm really having a conversation
about whether cliff lee or oswalt are better pitchers in 2010
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
Cards have made some moves
RT @dgoold: Cards do both. They add Ottavino and MacLane to roster. Option Mather and Salas. #stlcards
RT @B_Walton: Evan MacLane assigned uniform number 62 #stlcards
....my quick smells like french toast...
Twitter: @mstreeter06
VEB, come to my aid!
I’m nearly out of beer and wine. What should I get?
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 2:05 PM EDT reply actions
a summer beer is in order I should think, for memorial day weekend
Sierra Nevada summerfest is quite delicious
Evilfrog, you are no help at all.
See if I share any of my Paulaner Okoberfest or Sierra Nevada Summerfest with you!
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
hey, was it you had posey in fantasy?
looks like he’s been called up.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
I like the Schlafly Helles style lager a lot
And their summer Kolsch might be my favorite product of theirs.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Sounds like one I need to try.
I like their Kolsch and love their APA. Time to try something new.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Scary stuff in NY/CLE game
Pitcher David Huff got hit in the face off an Arod line drive. Just got taken to the ambulence. He didn’t move for a long time. He did give a thumbs up after being lifted on the stretcher. Yankee Stadium fans gave a standing ovation as he got carted off the field. Prayers to Huff and his family.
....my quick smells like french toast...
Twitter: @mstreeter06
MacLane...
… is probably up as insurance for Ottavino, as suggested above. He just went six innings and 81 pitches on Wednesday, so if he’s used today, it’d be on two days’ rest. I assume today is his day to throw between starts, so perhaps he could be used for a couple of innings if necessary.
If not, he probably gets sent back down for his scheduled start on Monday against Albuquerque, and the Cards make another move prior to the start of the Cincinnati series – either calling up another pitcher (Parise? Hill? Brown?) or a position player (Craig? Miles?)
FWIW, Ryan Kulik was called up from Springfield to make tonight’s start for Memphis in Ottavino’s place.
i could see that
if ottavino shows well, swap maclane for craig
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
unfortunately
my guess is it will be Miles, not craig
40-Man
Was MacLane on the 40-man roster prior to this?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on May 29, 2010 2:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No, but by my count there were only 38 on the 40-man before these moves.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
nope
still not showing on the 40-man according to the official site
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
poaching three MEM starters at once must
Make managing a challenge at the AAA level.
"We were men - flesh and blood - and we played baseball in the sunshine. We hit doubles off the wall, slid hard into second base. We had fights, and we made love. We sang songs and prayed on Sundays. . . . We felt pain. And we felt joy. There was a lot wrong with the world. But we weren't sad, man. We had the times of our lives." Buck O'Neil, from "The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America."
by tom s. on May 29, 2010 2:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Right -
hence the Kulik callup from Springfield to Memphis. There were apparently three other moves for Springfield, but I don’t know what they were.
Not sure about MacLane’s options status – IIRC, he may have been either on the Mets’ or D’backs’ 40-man rosters at some point in his time with them, but never got the callup – still, if he was, and was sent down, that would be at least two of his option years right there. This year, then, may be his third and last option year, which means that yes, we can send him back down tomorrow (for his Monday start vs. ALB) if we don’t need him today, and call someone else up, possibly Andrew Brown, righty reliever who we recently picked up from Washington:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brownan01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brown-001and
He’s pitched five scoreless innings already in two games for Memphis, including three innings (I think) yesterday; his use in multiple innings yesterday may be why MacLane, and not Brown, got the callup today.
Brown missed all of 2009 with shoulder surgery and was released by Oakland in February of this year; he signed with Washington and got into a few games at AAA Syracuse before he was sold/traded/not sure to Memphis about a week ago. He does have ML experience, with Cleveland and Oakland from 2006-8, and apparently used to be able to bring it – he’s got 572 K’s in 545 minor-league innings, and 78 K’s in 86 major-league innings. But he’s also been a bit wild – 46 walks in those same 86 ML innings.
He’s 29 and Memphis is his 11th pro team since he was drafted by the Braves in 1999. He’s also been in the Dodger, Padre, Oakland, and Cleveland organizations prior to his time with the Nats and Cards this year, and – here’s an odd tidbit – he’s been twice traded for Milton Bradley; once by the Dodgers and again by San Diego. And, he went from Atlanta to the Dodgers as a throw-in when LA got Brian Jordan.
this reminds me
how little i know about AA, especially the rotation
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
reds
some guy named Sam LeCure made his debut yesterday, pitched 6 solid taking homer bailey’s spot. also, volquez threw 60 pitches at GABP yesterday under the watchful eye of jocketty, who said he looked great. i believe he’s headed to extended spring training now.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Isn't Volquez......
… still under suspension for PED’s?
that suspension will be over by the time he's ready to pitch
pretty sure that was the deal…asinine.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
as expected boog the odd man out today:
lopex, luddy, apu, holliday, rasmus, freeze, yadi, schu, otto
cubs:
Fukudome RF, Theriot 2B, Lee 1B, Soriano LF, Byrd CF, Fontenot, 3B, Soto C, Castro SS, Silva P
(these from bcb)
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
i kind of expected boog to start
i like this lineup, though
maybe swap colby and freese
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
it's been colby then freeze against righties - tony's been consistent on that i believe
you didn’t think lopex would start today? because i think he’s a starter now, and tony is gonna play schu against righties, though if he’s not leading off i don’t know why it has to be every righty. i prefer boog to get more time than schu, but i don’t think he will.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
i dunno
i just expected boog to start after his 4 hit game 2 days ago
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
would switch boog for schu in lineup and move lopez to 2b
but otherwise, this is my preferred lineup
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
man
thank you, bret cecil. my fantasy team, along with cain’s one hitter is looking good this week
(and still losing to that damn cow)
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
did you have ely against the cubs?
f’n xavier paul looks like lonnie smith out there, except i liked lonnie.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
i know they're playing turkey
but where’s the match being played?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Someone asked yesterday who was next
Dennis Hopper, 74, died of complications from prostate cancer this morning.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 3:25 PM EDT reply actions
I don't think "Hollywood" and "bad-ass" come together too often
but he was definitely both.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
That really sucks
Bret Michaels dodged fate.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
their graphic
showing the top HRs per month was titled “cranking out the juice”
not sure that’s how they really want to phrase it
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
He had a bunch of good years...
then a bad year, then a good year, then a bad year, now another good year. His performance has tracked his babip and injury situation… If it weren’t for The Contract, he’d be a good to very good player who’s rarely talked about.
Tis better to lose bunting than win with dingers alone...
i'n AL noob
and only know about him because of The Contract
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
well, to be fair, it's not like this thread is filling up
by Willie McGee's Twin on May 29, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
it was actually football?
wow, i guessed right!
i was just bein’ an ass, though
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
that was strength and balance
just found the match in time to see it.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Nice tribute to Jose Lima on TWIB just now.
Showed Jose tutoring Vin Scully on proper handshake technique. Quite a character.
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 3:54 PM EDT reply actions
Oh look,
I never would slip you Mickey! It is merely rhinoceros horn. This makes the champagna bubble.
VEB: WWGTD
by The Continental on May 29, 2010 4:02 PM EDT reply actions
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