Things We Can't Know, Things We Can
by DanUpBaby on Jul 8, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
Email
PrintA Thing We Can Know
The Cardinals have lost two really ugly games in a row. Really, really ugly. The bullpen's been terrible in both games, the starters have been acceptable but shaky, the offense has been excellent.
Things We Can't Know
I'm not saying any of this isn't real, and I'm not even saying that it's irrelevant if it is.
But we can't know if the team's listless or unmoored, or at least those of us who are bloggers with no clubhouse sources can't. It's hard to observe; working from perceived listlessness seems so often to be little more than reasoning after the fact of ugly losses. I don't think I've ever seen someone call incoming listlessness on a team that's on a five game winning streak; in general it seems like we project our own tiredness with a team and its performance on the team itself.
That says a lot about the way a team has lost; like RBI and pitchers' wins and batting average, it's an excellent descriptive metric. Two regular losses—Hawksworth gives up four runs in five innings and the bullpen adds an insurance run somewhere along the line, then Garcia isn't quite sharp enough to hold off the Rockies in game two—are easily shaken off by a fanbase, and two like this aren't. But I don't think that tells us anything about how well a team will do in the future; our problems aren't theirs, even if their problems are ours.
So maybe Tony La Russa breaks into LeBron's press conference tomorrow to do a heel turn and smash a steel chair over Mean Gene's head, or maybe Albert Pujols comes right out and says that he isn't hitting very well because he saw that Matt Holliday's paycheck and they've started sitcom-feuding over it. (Joe Mather and Brendan Ryan have painted a thick white line across the center of their apartment, and neither is allowed to cross it.) But even when clubhouse whispers do come out their utility is limited; the team might be losing because it's sad, but it seems reasonable to believe, until proven otherwise, that the team is sad because it's losing.
Things We Can Know
The problems we can know about manifest themselves in runs scored and runs allowed. If you go to the Cardinals' Baseball-Reference page and look at it as though you hadn't watched a single game all year, it's easy to see why they're so disappointing. You could run it off in bullet points.
- Albert Pujols hasn't been Albert Pujols. He's actually better than he was at this moment in 2007, and he's still been one of the best players in baseball, but for several years running we've adjusted our expectations of the Cardinals based on Albert Pujols being on his own tier. That costs the teams runs and wins relative to our expectations.
- Matt Holliday and the runners in scoring position thing. Okay, maybe you have to watch the team to be up on this one. I never believed that this was a Matt Holliday issue, and I think over the last few weeks it's been proven that it wasn't, but the runs were real, and the opportunities were really wasted.
- Three of the Cardinals' starters haven't hit at all. We're halfway through the season and Brendan Ryan, Skip Schumaker, and Yadier Molina have combined—thanks entirely to Baseball-Reference's high opinion of Yadier Molina's defense—for 0.2 wins over replacement players. Depending on how optimistic you were about each player that's three more wins we expected to exist that just do not.
- Jeff Suppan, Blake Hawksworth, Adam Ottavino, and P.J. Walters have combined to become, in terms of games started, the team's fourth starter. That's thirteen more starts from guys who are basically replacement level.
We can disagree about the causes; I don't think any of these seem like clubhouse malaise so much as they do injuries and players who were fair bets to underperform, but for me the why isn't even what's important. The reasons the Cardinals have underperformed aren't a big mystery—they're right there in the numbers, and two losses, however terrible they were to watch, have done nothing to make any of them worse.
So look at the numbers and determine, for yourself, whether they seem like problems the Cardinals are going to continue to deal with for the rest of the season. I don't think they will, at least to this degree, but I can't be sure about it.
456 comments
|
2 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm firmly in the camp that wants to simply let the games play out as they will.
Tony is most certainly ‘not’ a great game manager. He makes questionable decisions regarding lineup, bench and bullpen management, and because Tony LaRussa.
What he ‘does’ do well, in my opinion, is keep the team on a relatively even keel, maximizing our wins throughout an entire season. I don’t think games like these last two will really hurt the team in the long run more than any other two losses would have, and I think that will largely be because of Tony. One could argue that these losses were because of Tony as well, I guess. Worst case scenario, things even out.
I’m honestly pretty happy with this Cardinals team. Albert may not be quite Albertian at the moment, but he’s still hitting fairly well. Holliday looks to be emerging from his early-season funkitude. Rasmus is providing more power and patience than we reasonably expected. Ludwick had looked more like ‘08 version than ’09 when he was healthy. Wainright has been a stud, Garcia has outperformed all reasonable expectations. Carp is (probably) healthy, and if his decline is a low 3’s pitcher, I’ll take it. The bullpen, TESS sessions aside, has been a real strength. Franklin, Motte, K-Mac, Boggs have all been quite good.
Our weaknesses of course, are pretty crippling, but not entirely insurmountable. Penny should be back relatively soon, and honestly, I’m okay with Hawksworth as our 5th starter, while we let the guy who is actually on contract past this season get healthy. Our LOOGY’s have been pretty underwhelming, and the manner that Tony uses them in is debatable, but I think it may be an issue of small sample size, to be honest. I expect both to be better going forwards. Our middle infield is obviously a bit of an offensive black hole. With Freese healthy, I’m okay with a 4-headed monster of Boog, Skip, Lopez and Greene manning the middle. Play matchups, keep them fresh, ride the hot hand. Whatever.
The only true complaints I have?
Aaron Suppinoah. Or something like that. Aaron Miles needs to not be on this roster. Ditto to Stavinoha. I don’t ‘like’ Jeff Suppan on this roster, but I’m okay with it until Penny returns.
I’m not a TLR apologist, really. But while I dislike some of his decisions, we need to step back off the ledge, take a few calming breaths, and let them play the games. We aren’t out of things by any stretch of the imagination.
With that being said, I’d really, really, really like to see a morale boosting win tonight. Go Cards!
Agree with most
I don’t have a problem with the majority of what you’ve said. Whether this is a case of blaming losses on a manager and giving credit for wins to players is something that can’t really be realistically determined without Tony pinch hitting for Albert with Miles.
That said, there do need to be some changes made. Miles and Winn both need to be released. Stavinoha needs to go be fat somewhere else (AAA), and he should really take Boog with him until he remembers how to hit and throw accurately. Jay needs to stay, and Rasmus needs to play every day. Also, both Salas and Sanchez need to be called up (wtf Evan McClane?).
This is by no means over. Yeah, we’ve lost a bunch of games we shouldn’t have, and apparently cannot hit unnamed pitchers. Big deal. We haven’t been able to hit a soft tossing lefty for as long as I can remember, and even with the added losses our record holds up favorably to the majority of teams in the NL. We aren’t the Padres of a couple years ago, struggling to win a division with a losing record.
Also, is anyone else not surprised at all by the setback of Penny? I know Bernie and others found it fashionable to rag on the medical staff in the past, but it really does seem that the Cardinals truly have no idea when people are going to be healthy again or how to manage a recovery schedule. Every single 2-3 week injury turns into a 6-8, and when it becomes 6-8 it becomes “unknown or potentially season ending”.
Hm.
I don’t really ‘mind’ Winn on the roster, although his horrible defensive display the other night changed my opinion on him a little bit.. Not really sure Sanchez should be called up yet, either.
My preferred roster construction, assuming we get people back, and healthy, in fairly short order:
C: Molina
1B: Pujols
2B: Schumaker
SS: Ryan
3B: Freese
LF: Holliday
CF: Rasmus
RF: Ludwick
Bench: Anderson, Lopez, Greene, Craig, Jay.
SP: Wainright, Garcia, Carpenter, Penny, Lohse
RP: Motte, Franklin, McClellan, Boggs, Miller, Reyes, Hawksworth
I’d like to see the 4 middle infielders each receive almost equal playing time. Something like….
Boog: 60% Playing time at SS
Skip: 40% Playing time at 2B
Lopez: 35% Playing time at 2B, 15% Playing time at 3B, 10% Playing time at SS
Greene: 25% Playing time at 2B, 30% Playing time at SS
Freese: 85% Playing time at 3B
I like Freese, but spelling him with Lopez makes the most sense. Tack on an
Albert: 95% Playing time at 1B
Craig: 5% of Playing time at 1B
or something, I guess.
I’d like to cut Molina’s innings back a bit during regular season, and to be honest, I value Anderson a good bit more than LaRue as the backup (who should be playing more than the backup currently is).
Regarding the Outfield, our three starters ‘should’ be starting damn near every game. I would use Jay to spell Colby in center (occasionally) when starting, and as a late inning defensive replacement at random outfield positions (after pinch running/pinch hitting) in games that are decided.
Craig should get all Corner Outfield spot starts when giving Holliday/Ludwick days off, and be the primary bat off the bench in pinch hitting scenarios of moderate to high leverage.
Starting rotation is obvious….when healthy.
Bullpen, there could probably be some quibbling, but I like the one listed, again, assuming everyone is healthy.
Of course, everyone is ‘not’ healthy, at the moment. What do I suggest?
SP : Wainright, Carpenter, Garcia, Hawksworth, Suppan.
Penny replaces Suppan, as he’s likely to be back first. Lohse replaces Hawksworth.
RP: Franklin, Motte, McClellan, Boggs, Miller, Reyes, Salas
Hawk goes to the pen and Salas to AAA, when injury replacements are accounted for.
There isn’t really any ‘room’ on a healthy roster for Miles, Stavinoha, or Winn. Okay, so currently, we have Ludwick and Freese down. I’m okay with running only 5 IF on the roster in the time being, I think, in Pujols, Schumaker, Ryan, Lopez, Greene.
Winn is the obvious replacement for Ludwick for the time being. And… that leaves one spot. Um…13 pitchers? No, I guess I’m not really a big fan of that. Mather? He doesn’t really have a place either. Huh. I guess Stavinoha OR Miles are justifiable currently. Not….good options, mind you. But justifiable. Probably Stav, strictly as a pinch hitter for relief pitchers, when other options are used. I guess.
I also may not have slept last night, and be slightly hung over when I post this. I apologize for it’s rambling nature, and nonsensical content.
by Voxx on Jul 8, 2010 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
honestly
I really like that, from top to bottom.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
this is excellent
but I think right now the obvious replacement for Ludwick is Craig… He’s a middle of the order bat, better than Stav, and can be yanked late for Jay defensively during his starts
nicely done
and Yadi really needs time off I think
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Brendan Ryan
still no options.
In other news, haircut.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
(oh, actually... my bad. other news is that there's no mustache.)
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Yes I noticed that last night.
Either way, he is having a bad year.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan (Musial) by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
ya don't need to tell me twice
adjusting swing that doesn’t need it to surprise wrist surgery which leads to almost no spring training to adjust swing which turns into a slow start to the season, which manifests into panic, defensive mistakes, sudden underwear purchases, add in a triple and single disallowed like it’s FIFA, and he’s just making too many adjustments for too little gain. the fact that he’s spent most of his career before 2009 with a rep of not much glove, lots of pop — yeah, that might be a bad year.
and all he’s got to do is believe it’s not a bad year. BABIP really screws with him sometimes.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I'm not sure I quite swallow the Boog panic yet
this is the kinda year I expected from him, except with slightly worse luck. I honestly don’t think he’s hit any worse than last year. He’s hitting linedrives, he’s walking at a decent clip, he’s not striking out horribly or hitting a lot of popups. He’s just doing what poor hitters do when they also experience some shitty luck.
Skip, on the other hand, is looking increasingly like a 25th man on the roster, going forward. I really think we should look at using him more or less exclusively as a bench player when Freese is back (Lopez or Greene to play 2B) and then look to replace him with a Greene/Descalso platoon next year. I just don’t think he’s a major league second baseman, I think we’ve got left-handed, defense-first corner outfielders covered with Jay/Winn (and maybe Henley) and I’m pretty much ready to cut bait, to be honest.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
well the thing is
we know he’s not striking out horribly.
he rather clearly thinks he is.
and when that translates into defensive miscues, the part of his game that he really doesn’t have to think about — I feel fairly justified in mashing the panic button, or at least waving at it in a casually resigned way.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
If Schu is a defense-first OF. . .
then he is the Aaron Miles of that genre. He is underwhelming defensively, and is downright below-average in CF.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't think Felonius said that
He said we had that position covered with Jay/Winn.
Schu has had a down year at the plate so far, but he’s doing better lately and he’s under contract for next year so I expect we will be seeing him get the majority of time at 2B unless his bat disappears again.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 8, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Mather and Boog
stay wrist strong, guys
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
The issues we see this year are the same that we see every year with this team. UnAlbert-like slump, injuries to starters, the bullpen blowing wins, and some cold bats from players that you expect cold bats. I can’t think of a season in the past five years in which this hasn’t been the story line.
They are about where they were last year at this time, so I’m not too worried.
what worries me about this team compared to last year's
last season in the second half we were a team capable of winning 5 out of 6, 7 out of 8 games. with cinci right there with us, we are going to have to do that at some point again and i don’t see it happening. this team refuses to sweep and has refused to gel thus far. in my opinion, they can’t just hope cinci falls apart (tho they will b/c of baker), Mo need to make the team better. I’m not talking blockbuster trade but this team can be improved
I agree
Wasn’t the last time we won more than 2 games in a row all the way back in april when we swept 4 from the braves? That is ridiculous….it seems like a lack of focus/motivation thing to me, I don’t think they r capable of taking 5 in a row or 7 of 8 this year. And while I do agree, there was a whole lot of good things to take from the offense last night the bottom line is good teams win close games late in games and esp on the road. And we just have not proved as of yet we can do that.
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 10:06 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
TLR's ridiculous "won the first two games" lineups in 3-game series don't help matters, mind you...
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
The Cardinals
last won three in a row June 2-5 (the finale in the Cincinnati series and the first two against the Untuckers, all at home).
Before that, it was five in a row, the last in San Francisco before the four-game sweep of Atlanta.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Last Season's title
was built on a 33-11 run from the Duncan trade through the Milwaukee sweep. (7/22 – 9/9). The Cards were 51-46 when the Duncan/Lugo/Holliday roster moves went down. The stretch run was horrible for a playoff team closing out the season 7-14.
On the lighter side of things
- John Jay looks like a major league player. This can only be considered a good sign.
- Felipe Lopez 2010 is starting to look a little more like Felipe Lopez 2009. Also a very good sign.
- Matt Holliday looks like Matt Holliday again.
- In the last two games our offense has 27 hits and 16 runs.
- Jason Motte is still striking out 10+ hitters per 9. Mr. Franklin better keep an eye on his job.
- We have good relievers in the minors (Sanchez, Salas) that could come up and help shore up a shaky bullpen if needed.
It’s frustrating losing games like that, especially when it happens to a bullpen that has been fairly solid all season up until Tuesday night at 10:30 PM CST, but lets not rule out all the positives that the last two games have given us as well.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
by fourstick on Jul 8, 2010 9:08 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Part of the frustration
is that the offense finally breaks out and the pitching staff loses two high-scoring games (one of which started by Hawksworth). I just wish we could put together a complete effort for a stretch. Thank goodness I went to bed before the coup de grace each of the last two nights.
"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 Jul 8, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
It was the bullpen that lost both games
Our starters performed fairly well in terms of allowing runs. Also, our defense was absolutely pathetic in both of the last two games. So you can’t put it ALL on the pitching staff, although the bullpen deserves a lions share of it.
Thing is, if we continue to score 5+ runs per game, we’re going to win 70% of those games with the pitching staff that we have.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
You're right,
but, what I’m saying is that, for about two months, I’ve been thinking about how great we would be if we could just get our offense clicking. Then, our offense clicks and the bullpen implodes two games in a row. I feel like, “If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. Lets put it all together, please…”
"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 Jul 8, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah
it’s the “timing is everything” post from yesterday. For like 2 months, we were screwed if we gave up 3 or 4 runs (I think I read a stat that we only had 2 wins in 9-inning games where we gave up 4+ runs). And we also had a shit-ton of 1-0 or 2-1 losses.
Now, the offense bangs out the hits/runs, yet we still find a way to give the games away.
Timing is everything indeed.
yep
partly luck, partly execution. But in many ways we’ve played a lot better than our record. I’m sure we’ll find a way to start winning some games eventually.
I’m personally a bit worried about the Penny situation. I just think our chances of running out 4 or 5 wins on the bounce are badly reduced if our 4/5 pitchers are Hawk and Suppan for the rest of the year. In fact, I’d say we’re probably one pitching injury away from pretty much being out of contention.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
We are now 3 games back…certainly not insurmountable, but clearly the Reds are clicking and they have reinforcements on the way (and maybe a big trade). They’re not fading away like a lot of folks thought/hoped they would.
So this pattern of W, L, W, W, L, W, L, L, W, L, or whatever clearly won’t allow us to catch up if this lead gets much bigger. I mean, we basically HAVE to win when Waino, Carp, and Jaime start because those last 2 spots are shaky at best.
It doesn’t leave a lot of room to throw away games, which again, is why all of those “throwaway lineups” on the 3rd game of a series just irritate us to no end.
It's still early
plenty of time for the Reds to fall away a bit. Barring a trade, I’m not sure they’ll greatly exceed .500 over the second half, which means that we can still win it if we play to our potential, even with the proviso that Penny and Lohse are probably done for the year.
That said, I would say this morning for the FIRST time this year, we’re not favorites to win the division, and are probably slight odds-against to make the playoffs.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
BP actually now has the Reds as the odds-on favorite
but it is so dependent on a such a short span – we’ve lost like 20 something points in the last 7 days and they’ve picked up 24. I still think if Penny comes back strong and the rest of our starters hold up, we win the division.
Y'know. . .
As I checked the stats, I would have agreed with you about the Reds, but as I look at the Reds line-up, I don’t see any real candidates for regression other than Ramon Hernandez and maybe Scott Rolen from a health perspective. Otherwise, all of those players’ offensive performances look sustainable:
Joey Votto’s batting line appears real, and right in line with a normal career arc. Ditto Jay Bruce and Johnny Gomes on the good side, and O-Cab on the bad side. Brandon Phillips is about what he has been, same with Drew Stubbs being both nothing special and young enough to have volatility on both sides of his current batting line.
That is an offense that is the best offense in the NL, folks, and it doesn’t appear to be doing it with smoke, mirrors, or unresonable Brady Anderson 50 HR career years.
On the pitching side, Arroyo, Cueto, and Harang are doing about what you would expect given age and aging/development curves. Leake is probably due some regression and may be hitting a wall (3 non-quality starts in his last 5 outings). The 5th starter is a disaster, like 90% of the league. The bullpen is fine, if perhaps a bit lucky.
It looks like to me, barring bad injury luck from the Reds, that the Cards are going to have to win this division rather than just being the last man standing.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm betting that Lohse will be back before Penny
Probably still fairly late in the year, but it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if that happens.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 8, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Garcia's starts
The Cards now have a losing record when Jaime starts (8-9). All five of his no decisions have been lost. What is weird is that of those five no decisions, four have been lost in the opponents last at bat.
Mets 4/17 in 20 innings
Padres 5/26 in 13 innings
Brewers 6/6 in 10 innings
Rockies 7/7 in 9 innings
The other no decision was against Florida and the bullpen lost that game in the sixth.
And thus demonstrates the idiocy of W-L
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Jul 8, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
True,
The Rockie broadcast had a graphic up last night show the top 6 or 7 in ERA in all of baseball with a column for ‘All Star’. Jaime of course was the only No. Reverse a few of those bull pen walk offs and all the sudden people would demand he be there.
I agree. . .
MLB should decide playoff participants on Pythagorean record.
I keed, I keed.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, it is a silly stat.
Another example of its silliness, from Future Redbirds:
Arquiemedes took the hard luck loss after giving up 2 unearned runs in 3 innings. It seems like he was pulled after the rain delay. He struck out 3 and walked 2.
The team gets shut-out and Arquiemedes loses after giving up two unearned runs (zero earned runs). So, basically, the batters don’t score, the fielders don’t field, yet Arquiemeded is the “loser.”
"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
A guy named Arquiemedes is never a loser
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
wasn't that the name of Merlin's owl in Sword in the Stone?
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Spelled Archimedes, but you are correct.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
If we're talking about a Greek mathematician, it is,
but not if we’re talking about the pitcher in the Cardinals’ system.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Referring to the owl in Sword in the Stone
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
Who, I believe is named for the Greek mathematician, if I'm not mistaken.
"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
Disney will now sue me.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
great great movie by the way
one of my favorites
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I should watch it again
it’s in the “watched it when I was too young” amnesia box
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
i wouldn't put surf ninjas in the same category
Sword in the Stone was one of those 60s era animated disney movies that i loved as a kid, hated as a teenager, and now love again as an adult
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
WAIT WAIT
Tell that doesn’t look like Dennys Reyes
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
with the mask?
hmmm.
who’s got the fully shopped picture?
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
i dont know about the mask
i was referring to the really fat cheeks
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
you've seen the mask, right?
The Continental found the original.
I’m not sure who shopped it in Cardinals colors.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I stand corrected
and your telling me that they don’t get along?
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
huh what?
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Referring to our team not having fun
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
except I'm saying the exact opposite
wtf.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
how... how was this so unclear?
I just unloaded a dozen comments on it.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
He was being sarcastic
Step up yo game, son!
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
just for that, I'm posting
I’ll do it! I will!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
...Is that Dave Duncan on the right?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
The pictures are intentionally blurry
To disguise the fact that they all are the same person.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
paging Evil Frog!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Frankie names everyone in the clip...
I think that’s Mason. I have to watch it again.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
yes you are right
I know that it is spelled differently… I just recognized the name phoenetically (spelling?)
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Except that,
in both games the starter didn’t get through the sixth inning. Our bullpen has been good this year, but it’s at its best when it only has to cover 3 or less innings. Of course, pulling our freshest reliever last night after facing two batters didn’t help. Motte has been very good most of the year and it’s unfortunate that he left one up and over the plate last night. The most frustrating part of this series to me, despite the fact that it’s been the rightie, Ianetta, who hit both walk-offs, is our inability to get out their left handed hitters. Our LOOGY’s continue to struggle and that, right now, is killing us.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 8, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm going to try this from now on
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
Plus....
- Skip is slowly climbing out of his hole; I firmly believe he will be hitting north of .286, and with an OPS of .750, by the end of the year.
- Getting Tastee and Cowlick back into the everyday line up will do wonders for our hitting and D
- We are a Carp injury away from kissing the season g’bye; with Penny and Lohse unable to start, and with Hawk, PJ, Soup, and Otto unable to stem the tide I believe the FO will make a run at a starter, probably sooner than later. But WHO, that is an-udder story.
- KMac, Motte, & Boggsy have developed into a very nice set-up/righty reliever corps; I am getting a little cowcerned about Miller & Denny’s from the left side. Hawk needs to be back in as long guy in the ‘pen; MacDougal might actually help things, and even has ’closers experience’, FWIW, esp. if Dunc can work his magic. Even after the last couple of games I am still bullish on our ’pen.
- Even with 2 starters down and 3 under-performing, we’re still hitting pretty well, as long as it isn’t against soft-tossing lefties. MO would like to bring in 1 moore bat; hopefully he can bring in someone who clubs lefties and we can DFA Winn, who has been moore of a loss for us. For all the hate that Miles has gotten, Winn has been worse.
Fortified with Misty Mundae dvds, I still feel pretty good about the club’s chances, but god forbid anything happens with our Big Three in the rotation. I’d be happier with a Jake Westbrook-like addition, followed by some anti-lefty lumber. We shall see.
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
I'd be happy with a addition by subraction of the usual suspects.
Starters = good
Bullpen = good
Offense = 2/3’s great
Defense = good
Bench/Platoon = dude, seriously?
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
No Mike McDougal. . .
thank you very mooch.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I Dunno....
…his career GB% is 58%, and career FIP is 4.04; I think he usable, just not as a closer.
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
Hey now......
keep my name out of it! :)
...there's more than one?
is there a herd?!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Jul 8, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
HFS......
304 UID and 11 comments. You are the best lurker of all time. OF ALL TIME!!!!!
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
that's impressive
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
Here every day
I was the first guy to post about the Ray King for Aaron Miles trade back in the day. I’ve been in self-imposed exile since then……
I only see Skip getting to .750 OPS territory if he brings his average all the way back to .300
He just doesn’t slug very much, and his walk percentage is actually down a bit from last year. The last two years he’s been an above average hitter by wOBA and OPS+, but I’d be ecstatic if he managed to just get back to average (something like a .320 wOBA) by the end of the year.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I don't see any way Skip gets back to a .750 OPS this season
He’d have to have a .360 OBP to do that, which means he’d have to have an OBP of .400 or better for a two to three week stretch. I just don’t see that happening, and he won’t get the playing time to do it anyway. When Freese comes back, Lopez should get the majority of second base starts anyway.
Just say no to Mike MacDougal. With Salas and Sanchez at AAA, why would we bring up a journeyman who’s having trouble getting anyone out? Oh, right, because TLR runs this team. Sorry, I forgot.
The FO can’t make a run at a starter AND a bat. It’s one or the other. I think I’d have to go with the starter, assuming Freese and Ludwick are healthy after the break, because I just don’t see anyone on the market that we can afford that can add as many marginal wins as someone like Westbrook would to the back end of the rotation. I get the sinking feeling we may not see Brad Penny again this season, and if we do, it’ll be September at the earliest. That means we need some help on the pitching staff.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Pedro Martinez
I understand why we thought he wasn’t a stopgap several weeks ago when Penny went down, but if Mo had signed him up then, he probably would have been ready to pitch by now.
Why not sign him, see what he’s got left and also look for a MI bat?
I think Pedro makes a ton of sense, actually
I believe I said that at the time we were discussing it as well.
I think he’d be a very good pitcher at Busch III, he doesn’t cost anything besides the dry powder we currently have on our payroll, no long term committment, and was excellent in his postseason starts last year, proving he can still pitch big in big games.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I'm not so sure
I think he’ll go to the highest bidder that has a chance at the playoffs. The Cardinals could very well be that team.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I agree.
I think Pedro wants to pitch on the October stage and win another ring.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
i dont see how the cardinals have any better chance than the phillies at this point
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Utley being on the DL, I think gives us a better chance than them.
It would be like our losing Rasmus, Pujols, or Holliday. Utley may be even more valuable because he plays second base, and well, yet hits like a first baseman. He is an incredible talent.
"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 Jul 8, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
hopefully people know who he is, already.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
ludwick + freese + penny + lohse > utley
in terms of loss to the team
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
That's true. I also think:
Ludwick + Freese + Penny + Lohse > Utley + Polanco
"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 Jul 8, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, so i guess my point was, i don't see how we're really in a better spot than the phillies
unless luddy, freese, and penny all come back healthy. and utley doesn’t
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Our division, um, stinks outside of us and the Reds.
They have the Braves, Mets, and Marlins who are better than every team in our division not in Cincy or St. Louis.
That makes the road much tougher.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
The Mets blow.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 9, 2010 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Our division is a 2 horse race at this point
Theirs isn’t.
Our best three position players are healthy, their best player is on the DL for at least 6 more weeks.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
MacDougal was erratic at best even when he was "good"
He’s not the answer, esp. not with Sanchez and Salas down on the farm.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 8, 2010 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Salas needs to be a permanent fixture in the bullpen now.
I’m happy to let Sanchez have a few more months in AAA at least, though, unless Franklin completely falls apart again.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea, as much as we like to hate him
mini-me has done alright with the bat. Well, alright for a slap-singles hitter, that is. I DO NOT want to see him start in the field. Tuesday night was painful to watch.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 8, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I would be okay with our future closers being named BoggMotte.
It’s far too easy to game-plan for Jason Motte. He’s proved to be awesome in long stretches, but (especially on opening day!!) he can also blow a game open with one pitch. But Boggs has finally gotten his head wrapped around this bullpen thing. Why not bring on Moggs.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I really like Boggs
but I think, as happens on occasions, we’re slightly over-rating him as a community and the positive reinforcement of everyone thinking he’s really good is kindof underlining that.
Motte’s been really impressive, though. I’d stick with Franklin for the time being, as he’s been generally OK except the other night (and I’d rather have my best bullpen guys in “free” bullpen ace roles, or to mop up the closer’s messes, than having them as strict 9th inning only guys), and maybe have Boggs as my go-to guy in the 7th inning. KMac remains fairly mediocre, IMO.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
FIP
Boggs: 3.61
Motte: 3.79
Now, xFIP has Motte better:
Boggs: 4.14
Motte: 3.48
Motte is walking a bit fewer per 9 innings, while striking out a ton more (10.16 to 6.81).
"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
its killing me that our offense is finally picking up and our pitching, which was always great and lacking run support, is now doing worse
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
defense
Good post. There’s obviously something wrong with this team, but metrics don’t reveal emotional problems. They do, however, reveal defensive problems, which to me is the crux of the on field issues.
Last night, as an example, if Greene gets the double play Garcia may have been able to go six or seven. The night before Winn screwed up a single that scored the tying run from first base (and the whole world is still laughing at his throwing Reynolds’s fly ball over the wall). Word out of NY was that he was released because he couldn’t field and they preferred to go with young guys who could. Ludwick being out hurts the defense as much as the offense. Ryan is hitting .198 with 12 errors and Greene has played 9 games at ss with 3 errors in those 9 games (and some others at 2B). Miles has a range of the length of his tiny body to right or left and Skip’s defense has regressed from last year. The middle infield defense is killing them, and they’re backed up by the erratic defensive play of Rasmus, especially his throwing. Caesar Izturis (3 errors so far this year, .245 average) looks like an upgrade in every way.
Anybody have an estimate of how many games they’ve lost on defense so far?
Despite all that they’re only 3 games out in a woeful division with almost half a season left.
by vinniefromjersey on Jul 8, 2010 9:21 AM EDT reply actions
As fans, this is the sort of stretch that causes me to freak out a little and panic
However, I’ve mostly got my bearings back by now and have stopped. So I sure hope the Cardinals do not freak out and panic. If they want to make some appropriate adjustments to the roster, that’s fine and good (most people here have been calling for that sort of thing for a while anyway).
But I really hope they don’t blow prospects on a “veteran reliever to provide stability” or something like that. Clearly there are going to be calls to make moves since we are now just past the halfway point. I am kind of worried that two of five starters can’t seem to really make it past the fifth inning, and Garcia only went 5.1 last night. This is only going to keep putting pressure on the pen.
Dear Brad Penny; please get healthy. For real this time.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
And of course now I see we actually signed Mike MacDougal
I thought MooCow was just throwing that out there as a possibility. Not sure what the point is of picking someone like him up. Putting up FIPs of 5 in the minors does not give me much confidence, even as a Duncan Project. Hopefully he doesn’t end up syphoning innings and leads while sending down an effective youngster…
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I think it's a no-risk move on a normal team
however, I DO worry that on a team like the Cards, that has a proclivity for promoting veterans over talented youngsters, he’ll take innings away from (say) Salas. Fernando Salas right now is a better pitcher than Mike MacDougall and should be treated as such (same situation as Miles/Greene, and, I’ve got to admit now, probably Winn/Jay/Craig). Guys like MacDougal (and to a lesser extent Miles) should be minor league, bench or back-of-the-bullpen depth, with the possibility of a promotion to a more prominent role (in MacDog’s case) if he figures something out (given his impressive stuff) in Memphis.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
The fact that this is (bc)blue is amusing.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
would like to recommend this fanpost
http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2010/7/4/1551704/hitting-without-men-on-base
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Embrace the wonderful, timeless world of Misty Mundae....
…she’ll take your mind off even the worst loss – although it took the Director’s Cut version of Spiderbabe fer me to get over last night. Tonight I have Lords og the G-Strings ready to fire up on my dvd player…
;=8)
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
Jesus.
is this the new “nertlerb”?
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
U can take away..
…my bacon, pegacorns, and nertlerb, but Misty Mundae lives forever!!!
;=8D
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
Are you her agent or publicist or something?
It seems odd that a porn star would have a cow for an agent, but I suppose stranger things have happened.
NOT a porn star....
ok, maybe a soft-core star, but she does horror moovies as well!
:=8)
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
I fucking love following porn stars on twitter
Jesse Jane particularly….well mostly cause she looks identical to my last gf.
They don’t tweet anything really zany…I just think it’s funny and I don’t know why.
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
And didja know....
…that she was born in East St. Louis?
http://www.flixster.com/actor/erin-brown
:=8)
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
and your a DR!
oh no!
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
So, you're a Dr. Pepper kind of doctor?
"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 Jul 8, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
if he's a Dr. Thunder kind of doctor, can he play for the Cards?
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I had a Mr. Pibb. Mr. Pibb is a replica of Dr. Pepper...but it's a bullshit replica, 'cause dude didn't even get his degree!
by jd is legend on Jul 8, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
don't you play one on tv??!
oh no!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
memesplanation (for the general public)
This one’s not ours.
video: Joey Bombs explains Dr. Thunder
video: Dr. Thunder receives his t-shirt. watch for that cameo!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Does it just kill anyone else
that Stav has a McDonalds cup in that video?
somewhat off track...
here is Skip Schumaker sitting in front of a computer. now you can pretend he reads VEB. maybe even … your comment.
http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/pages/video?PID=IsBKIvaDDnms9WR5Tu1k3NTahf101aIH
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
who needs to "pretend" when you have photoshop
by brackenthebox on Jul 8, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 8 recs
good work, sir.
wow, he has OCD baseball player tan.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
think we should make one for the robot, or is there already one?
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Talking to a Braves fan from Atlanta this am.
He said
The Cards score 16 runs and lose 2 games. With their pitching? That’s just Coors field being Coors field. That place must drive visiting managers crazy.
So outsiders aren’t concerned. FWIW
"I've had pretty good success with Stan (Musial) by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
s'true
I think we forget that sometimes… baseball just does this. There are some fundamentally recognizable problems, as DanUp says, but sometimes, dude, baseball does this shit. the Cardinals are not magically immune to the GOB. the true measure of a team is how they respond to it.
I will be rather concerned about the team failing to capitalize when things do go right, though. that’s on them.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Yeah
I noticed when reading the tangentially-related fangraphs post on reliever WPA blowups that the Reds coughed up a game that they had a 7 run lead in the last couple of innings earlier this year, thanks to Mike Lincoln (who is way worse than anyone in our pen, including Felipe Lopez), Masset and Cordero.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
How they respond
indeed, this is the key. After Tuesday night’s debacle, I was convinced that this was destined to be a 1-5 or, at best, 2-4 road trip and that we would enter the ASB at least four and maybe 5 or 6 games back. I sure hope I’m wrong.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 8, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
still two losses
and losses are bad
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
well Pennys injury isnt as bad as they thought
Still a huge setback but it def looks like he will still pitch again this year.
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 10:11 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
what's wrong with him?
the roto sidebar doesn’t work on my computer…
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 8, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't possibly believe he strained a lat and that's going to keep him out for the year
That’s a big muscle, it heals on its own and….that’s it. It’s pretty straightforward.
Not afraid to nitpick
well yea and i guess thats the good news
Bc the cards thought the other day that he developed a new injury in addition to that. But they say the MRI is negative, so they r shutting him down for a week and then they will re-evaluate him. But who knows, he was also suppose to be out 2 weeks. So 2 weeks with Penny = 2 months, so shutting him down for a week prob means shutting him down for 1 month?
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 10:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
this
why in the world has it already taken this long to heal? Did it partially detach? At the time of the injury, it was described as tweaked, IIRC, and now it’s been two months. His complaint Tuesday was about some other muscle though, so who knows? I’ll believe that he’ll pitch for the Cards again when I see him on the mound in a game.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 8, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
except "this year" might be August.
Cards decide to shut down Penny P-D
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
As a converted Rockies Fan
But a person that spent the first 30 years of my life a Cardinal fan, I am sad to see what the Cards are becoming. They are becoming the Red Sox/Yanks of the NL. Going out and trading their farm system for high priced vets, exploding their payroll, etc. I have watched the Rockies do a fundamental change in their mentality over the last ten years. The Cards sorely need bullpen help but have no talent in the minors to fix it. Last night they used a “minor league fill guy” in a game on the line situation and got smoked. I have watched the baseball economics over the last 10 years and you have to invest heavily in your farm system to become a stable organization. The Reds have done it over the last 4-5 years and it is starting to pay off. I think mid tier teams like Cards, Rocks, Reds have to. Holliday deal cost the Cards plenty. You now have 16-20 million a year tied up in one guy for seven years. He has some of the worst home/road splits during that time. He become public enemy number one here once he hired Boras in 2006 and we all knew he would be gone. In the near future your going to have to throw 200 million plus at Pujols. Here in Colorado we struggled for years with Helton and Walker taking up nearly half the payroll by themselves. It was not a pretty sight. You get in these situations and inevitablly there is exposure within your ball club (SP, BP, bench, etc). The Cards have a wonderful fan base, St. Louis is by far the best baseball town anywhere, the Cards have a colorful and wonderful history. That history dates back to Branch Rickey and his exploits in the 20’s. They have been a model of consistency over the last 90 years. My fear is they need to go back to the things the Cardinals have done over the years. Develop from within, obtain the necessary piece occasionally. But as a mid market club, they cannot try to win an arms race with the Boston’s and New York’s and you cannot have 2-3 players taking up over 50 percent of your payroll.
by PinchHitLancePainter on Jul 8, 2010 10:24 AM EDT reply actions
Bullpen
It’s not sorely needing fixed, just managed a little better. Injuries to starters have moved Hawksworth out of the pen to fill in starts. That’s left the pen a little thin combined with Tony’s constant double-switching mid games makes it look worse than it is. Salas and Sanchez are indeed minor league talents that will help.
Also, a good portion of the roster is home grown so I don’t buy your Yankee/Red Sox comparison. Holliday sure… but last night Jon Jay, Rasmus, Greene, Schu, Pujols and Molina did just fine as home grown players. Holliday and Lopez were the only outsiders that started.
yea i disagree with the rockies fan too
Most of our guys are home grown, its not like we went out and got pujols in free agency. We have a lot of home grown talent on our team, guys that we DID develop and as a mid market team ur right that is what we have to do, as well as lock up those players once they do develop into stars. And yes, if it takes a free agent or trade to put us over the top that’s what we should do.
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:02 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yea the bullpen has been fine all year
Its just two really bad games in a hitters park against a team that can score a lot of runs. We really had to stretch our bullpen out the last two nights. What I could not figure out though is why we called up maclane and not Salas? Salas has been great and I think he should be here permanently. The thing that worries me if anything about the bullpen is our LHP. Miller was so good as a LH specialist last year and he is just not gettin the job done, Reyes has looked even worse. No need to panic over the BP though, I think we will be fine, and as much as these two loses have really hurt I actually think there are some good things to take from it and maybe the offense will really get going. At least we were happy for 7-8 innings of each of those games, unlike one of those 1-0 loses where wainwright gives up one run but we leave 14 on base and can’t score.
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:09 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think the reasoning on maclane
is that he’s used to pitching more innings and they wanted a long guy with Otto on the DL – of course, if you give up a homer in the bottom of the ninth to the first batter you face, you won’t be around to pitch many innings – Salas is clearly better
LH
I also wonder if MacLane was brought up to spell our existing LOOGYs who can’t seem to get a guy out. Tough spot last night for him though, I won’t judge him on one batter on the road in the 9th of a tie game.
really tough spot to put a guy in his major league debut. really tough.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
He was kind of
Tony Banksed
Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.
I meant to say Garcia is homegrown, too. Stupid bumpy road.
Regression, bitches.
by spants on Jul 8, 2010 2:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You ruined Colorado's weather Spantalones
Time is the best teacher; Unfortunately it kills all its students
you speak of what you do not know
we are in a much better position, farm-wise, than we were 4 years ago
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
ner?
this sounds like someone watching too much FESPN.
stay a while, it’s not that bad.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
not to mention...
uh, the roids era is over. this “fundamentally sound baseball” thing actually wins games now.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Love the handle, PHLP.. .
but the analysis, not so much.
I didn’t like the Holliday signing for the Cards either, as I think he is overrated, but he is the only high-priced FA signee on the Cards’ roster. Ludwick was a minor-league FA signing. Carpenter they got for peanuts off the scrap heap before re-upping after he proved himself. Wainwright was acquired as a prospect in a trade for a veteran player, the exact opposite of the point you are trying to make. Pujols, Schumacker, Ryan, Rasmus, Molina are all home-grown talents. More importantly, none of the guys traded for deadline help in the past 5 years would have integral roles on this team right now.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
unless Barton could handle 3rd, Luke Gregerson/Chris Perez could close
or Danny Haren could somehow replace Lohse/Penny
Time is the best teacher; Unfortunately it kills all its students
Scratch Barton/Haren I missed the 5 year window
Time is the best teacher; Unfortunately it kills all its students
If Daric Barton could handle 3B. . .
he would be playing there for the A’s.
I suppose Perez could close out games for us, although I prefer Franklin at this point. . . Perez still walks a few too many batters for my taste.
Point well taken RE: Gregerson.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Um
They are becoming the Red Sox/Yanks of the NL. Going out and trading their farm system for high priced vets, exploding their payroll, etc.
wat
Our farm produced our catcher, our 1B, our 2B, our SS (if Ryan is still that), our CF, and much of our bullpen. Freese came in a trade as a minor leaguer. Carpenter was not a high-profile FA signing, he was a reclamation project. Wainwright came from Atlanta, but graduated from our system. Jaime came from our minors. Lohse was a bargain-basement signing that got a bad extension. Ludwick was bargain basement. Franklin was bargain basement.
Holliday is the only player on the entire team that fits the description you’ve laid out. Sorry if I don’t feel like we’ve quite turned into the Yankees yet.
Our farm produced our catcher, our 1B, our 2B, our SS (if Ryan is still that)
And if Ryan isn’t, then it’s probably the home-grown Tyler Greene.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 9, 2010 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions
fresh greene is good for the digestion
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Watch the Fat Weird Cow Guy do Archaeology at Fort Monroe....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIaQJpACoo4
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
Hmmm...
I just read a story about a Dutch adult film actress offering an Upton to all of her 20000+ twitter followers if the Netherlands win the World Cup
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 10:47 AM EDT reply actions
I know its low brow... and I know it has nothing to do with the Cardinals
but it made me laugh and, after the last two nights, I thought it might do the same for the rest of you
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't get it
She is offering them a Justin?
Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.
thats it
must be a dutch thing
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
help
Can someone please point me in the direction of a website that keeps track of swinging strike statistics? I’m hoping to break it down by game per team.
You could derive this from Fangraphs Plate Discipline data
I don’t know of a site that keeps track of swinging strikes as a stat though.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
by fourstick on Jul 8, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
thank you
The most granular I can get from fangrapshs is the last 7 days. I guess that will have to do. Thank you for the suggestion.
by hex706f726368 on Jul 8, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Bart Giamatti said it best:
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game is fashioned to kick you in the avocados in Denver and other mystical places.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
by TBender on Jul 8, 2010 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
On Pujols
a few stats on his comparative performance this year:
1. 42 strikeouts so far this year – most any year since his rookie year was 69.
2. 16 GIDP this year – most any year was 27 in 2007 and has averaged 20 per year.
3. 39 extra-base hits this year – about his usual pace for 05-09 (he had huge years in 03-04).
4. SLG of .560, which would be a career low (.561 in 01 and .568 in 07 – otherwise, all years are over .600).
5. wOBA of .405 this year – career low of .402 in 2002
6. 57 walks this year – similar to the pace of last year (an all-time high) of 115
7. 50 runs scored – only one year in his career has he scored fewer than 100 runs (99 in 07).
So, Albert’s striking out more than usual and has too many GIDP’s – otherwise, he’s on track to have one of his low-production years, though not abnormal for his career.
damn didnt even realize we have a day game
That’s prob a good thing, I don’t think we could get out of Colorado any sooner. And I don’t think I can stay up late to watch us loose another game like this
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:12 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
luckily for me
I’ll be out of town this afternoon so I won’t have to watch the Coors effect any more
Just read Bernie's article
Assuming he’s not overblowing things(which is a big assumption) the news that team has poor chemistry and isn’t gelling is very disheartening…It must be pretty serious of Mo is considering making a trade for a “gel guy”
These are major league ball players making at least $400/year, if not tens of millions…if poor chemistry and clubhouse cliques are getting in the way of them performing up to a reasonable standard, someone needs to suck it up…and what the hell is Tony doing…isn’t that one of his main jobs, keeping a clubhouse loose and friendly? I find my self getting more and more disappointmed by LaRussa by the day
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
How do you determine who is a gel guy?
Is there an obscure BR page that lists grit and gel?
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
i was wondering that too
but bernie alluded to the fact that mo might be looking for that type guy
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
apparently reggie sanders was a gel guy
if that helps you determine characteristics
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
yeah i heard something about that on his radio show
I guess I just don’t know how you look for that thing… maybe they can bring Derosa back to pinch run and bring the boys together
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I think DeRosa has free time
on his hands. Maybe he will stop by.
Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.
If it's Grit and Gel
Look no further than Mark Grudzilanek, who, all kidding aside, would actually be a good pick up for this team, imo.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Does he still have gap power though,
that’s the question. Dude was a doubles machine.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
In OOTP terms. . .
probably a 6/10/3/5/5. In his prime.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Jimmy is huge GEL
Is there anyway we could talk the Brewers into giving him back. Who’s idea was it not to sign him in the first place? TLR/Mo/????
"I've had pretty good success with Stan (Musial) by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
i think jimmy wanted a chance to play full time.
that being said, i heard the other day when the brewers were in town, he went on someone’s radio show and said he really wants to come back to stl. he seemed to be laboring for that in the offseason, as well.
he would provide intangible leadership qualities, and he would be an excellent late innings defensive replacement. and then he could retire a cardinal.
he’s still my all-time favorite cardinal (except for john mabry) so i’m biased as to what his actual worth here is.
if nothing else, adding jimmy maybe forces out winn.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
yeah but remember who is getting starts...
Aaron F Miles… Nick “Dr. F Thunder” Stavinoah… etc.. etc… If he comes here and takes time away from Rasmus it won’t be good
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
is=are
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
my thinking is this: tony is not playing rasmus like he should be, even with winn and stav being the backups
if rasmus is only playing 6/7 games regardless, i would rather see jimmy taking his spot than anyone else.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
i just don't want to get my hopes up again.
it seemed really likely that they would sign him this previous offseason and they didn’t. and now we have fucking randy winn, who is fine, but no jimmy ballgame
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
So...
Are Half Shirts, Eyeliner, and random acts of selling it components of GEL?
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
please take with liberal amounts of sarcasm
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
eyeliner??
i don’t know, i just remember during the 06 WS, there were a lot of stories about how edmonds stepped up and led the team emotionally, and played a huge factor in the team chemistry
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
game ball, etc.
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
i know i know
i love jim edmonds… i was being silly
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Where does he play?
Jay is a better bench bat than he is at this point, and he’s not cracking our starting OF with a healthy Ludwick. That would be the worst trade of all time. He’s trying to get to 400 homers and cement his HOF candidacy.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Bernie
is no longer the guy asking the manager questions at the end of the game. I don’t know how often he gets to talk to the players either. Just the way he runs his show makes me believe that he relies heavily on Strauss for inside news.
Goold's the one you want. he has more direct quotes from the players.
and for the love of God, when you mention a story, provide a link please. it takes twenty million clicks to find the exact story.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
sorry
i thought that was the story Danup was talking about in the main post…so i figure most had already read it or knew where to find it
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
...still have not found it. lol.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
here's the link
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
hmm.
I think Bernie’s point is there’s a lot of pressure on the second-tier guys, and there’s a lot of pressure on the normally buoyant first-tier guys, and someone’s gotta lighten up before Skip goes on a rampage with a hockey stick. We see Adam Wainwright trying to buck up the troops, but the other go-to guy is Brendan Ryan, and he is in his maelstrom of sockless despair.
and if I know Mo… what he means by “fun” is “winning moar so we don’t jump off a bridge”.
every clubhouse has cliques. every. one. but I think it’s silly to think the clubhouse that universally decided awful mustaches were going to be a great idea has suddenly fallen apart.
let’s put it this way — this is not happening in the Cardinals clubhouse:
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I wish someone bigger than Z would just deck him one of these days
Not many are bigger than Big Z though. So there’s that.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 8, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
and if you mean the 'listless' section, DanUp's talking about our own comment section.
I think.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
this
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 8, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
man... i would have expected batttleship or something
They make more money in an hour than I do in a year and they are playing connect 4?
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
they banned battleship after the unfortunate small fire. someone's lucky mitt was never the same.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
yeah but I would have expected maybe tecmo bowl for the original nintendo
even stratego is a cooler game than connect 4
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
(I love stratego btw)
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
omg i totally thought that said
“i love strange”
my immediate thought? Me too….me too.
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
well that goes without saying doesnt it?
full disclosure: I have no idea if this is a cultural thing or not
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
they really look forward to it, man.
the man stew is restricted from the usual activities of you and I. thus Joel Piñeiro’s exit interview with the STL press was punctuated by a triumphant announcement that he won Fantasy Football, in your faces losers.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
And when relying on Strauss for anything
a salt mine full of grains of salt is required.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Whatever anyone thinks of Strauss
I’d think we could all agree he isn’t a glass is half full guy. I think he is naturally predisposed to seeing turmoil and drama where others miss it. All it takes is listening to him on the radio for a few, or reading one chat, to see that.
I’m sure sometimes that makes him right, and sometimes not. If the clubhouse has issues, Strauss will be the first to report it. If the clubhouse is as tight as ever, Strauss will be the last to see it.
by Merry CRasmus on Jul 8, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
That
and he tends to really dish it out on players he thinks have slighted him. Especially one Albert Pujols. If there’s anyone in St. Louis that doesn’t like Albert it’s probably because of Joe Strauss and his continuing quest to knock the game’s best player down a peg.
Grow a fucking pair, Joe. If you didn’t talk shit about them all the time the players would respect you more.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
link 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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
i have not read the article
But Bernie talked about this on the Radio last night. He essentially was talking about that he knows zero about inside the clubhouse. He is not inside the club house when the doors are closed. This is just idle speculation.
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
he mentioned somewhere else(Q&A) that he got the insight from strauss
As one team member conceded during the past homestand, “We don’t have fun. It’s different this year. Look at the Reds. They have fun playing the game. We miss that right now.”
Chemistry is overrated in baseball, many believe. It’s more a product of winning than the other way around, many of the same folks insist. But this team’s persistent lack of executing fundamental play underscores the mentality of a team that isn’t having fun.
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
Really?
Lack of executing fundamental play is evidence of not having fun? Really? I’d say it’s bad managing.
"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
ha
i thought that as well…the first part of that quote was the more important part for me…the rest was strauss trying to sound smart
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
Manager hires the coaches and controls the drill work.
Same difference.
"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
this is completely true
But the Manager haves the ability to change coaches if he feels they aren’t teaching correctly.
Just for the record
I think Clubhouse Morale matters. It is something we can all relate too. When morale is high at my work, we work better.
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but. . .
it can’t be quantified, and therefore can’t be analyzed intelligently.
/sabremetric though circa 2000
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that it does matter,
and I think that your labeling it “morale” as opposed to “chemistry” means that we look at it similarly and that winning precedes morale, rather than the other way around.
"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
baseball is odd in the sense
they can have bad chemistry and good morale.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I don't know how much I buy into this
All I know is that the all star break couldn’t come at a better time
Spun another way
The St. Louis Cardinals of 2010 have scuffled so far this season and just lost two consecutive games in the most devastating way possible. This is a group of hyper-competitive athletes who hate to lose and each of them seems to be frustrated as a result. Unsurprisingly, this individual frustration at their inability to win has caused some tension in the relationships between them. Fortunately, a string of five wins in a row would greatly improve individual morale and magically, people would get along better in a less stressful environment.
Not afraid to nitpick
or as the PD would call that excerpt
the worst application writing sample ever. Sorry Joker, you’d never make it at the PD
this could be true
but strauss seems to think its been a season long issue
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
That's because
Strauss doesn’t look for positives in his stories. Negatives sell newspapers (or twit followers).
sorry... not steamed at you, steamed at the pot-stirrers who call themselves reporters.
requoting myself from here, all the links are over there:
granted, this is mostly via bj rains, who investigated shelby miller’s sitting out a spell by calling his mom.
1. [corrected tweet, the first "loose clubhouse" one was deleted]
Not sure why I said Wedding Crashers….La Russa was watching Step Brothers. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 4:41:10 PM via web
2. Another loose clubhouse today….players were laughing and joking while Ryan Franklin tried to catch popups from the pitching machine.
The pitching machine shoots out 100 MPH knuckleballs straight into the air, which make for harder fly balls than they will see in the game.
The infielders and even Ryan Franklin wanted to get in on the fun today and try to catch a fly ball. A lot of laughs and cheers all around.
Tony La Russa finally stepped in and said "that’s enough" and ended the drill before somebody got hurt.
- 4:49 PM Jun 16th via web, 4:53 PM Jun 16th via web, 4:54 PM Jun 16th via web, June 16, 2010 4:58:08 PM via web
3. video (warning: bullpen)
screencap (no, really. bullpen.)
4. VERY loose clubhouse again. Dance party to ‘Thriller’ and then Molina dimmed the lights when ‘My heart will go on’ by Celine Dion came on. 1:20 PM Jun 20th via web
5. Fortunately, Chris Carpenter is the same.
Carpenter needed all of six minutes to warm up in the bullpen….must be a hot night. 7:09 PM Jun 18th via web
Often seen in the company of small children and Jeff Suppan, fwiw.
//////
I don’t think cliques and chemistry are the problem. Not when these guys go out of their way to praise each other in post-game, and say a whole lot about how much they like each other.
I think what the reports mean is team morale — which comes from winning games.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
...What's your twitter account?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
don't have one.
will not have one.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
SO from the end of Bernie's article. . .
Mo is looking to sign a stand-up comedian?
Or a practical joker?
Awesome. Howie Mandel is probably available on a minor-league deal.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Aaron Miles can't even do THAT?
he’s useless!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Isn't Yakov Smirnoff currently in AA Springfield?
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
I'll bet
the atmosphere in Memphis’ clubhouse is better than in St. Louis.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
it's all that winning.
47-39 .547, first in the PCL American North. Overall just behind Tacoma and Fresno.
They’ve tasted the beer of victory…
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I'd LOVE one of these!
And I’d pay for it, too.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I would if it was actually a ring, but i looks like it's a figurine
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
can you give me a link?
i can’t find the article you’re referring to on the P-D’s website
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
so Lebron is going to the heat.
He will make it official tonight
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:31 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Tis the rumor
Which is funny. A team with dual-alpha dogs who do very similar things, no ability to defend the paint and a non-existent bench where Wade/Bosh/LeBron would have to play 40+ minutes every night would not even do well.
Not afraid to nitpick
they have a bench
his name is michael beasley!!!!
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
really?
i heard they had the money to sign all three, since they are apparently taking less money…but the nba salary cap is really screwy, so who knows
"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
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
Signing LeBron to a Max deal would put them about 4M over the cap with Beasley
Those three guys would be idiots to have gone to Miami if they were going to take less than the Max because Chicago with Rose/Noah would have been an infinitely better base than Beasley/Chalmers assuming they could trade Deng.
Not afraid to nitpick
no they can sign all 3 but they have to take a little bit less than max each
Lebron is actually leavin 30 million on the table himself (compared to re-upping with the Cavs), he will have to sign a 5-yr 90something million deal with the Heat. I think it was 99million but I’m not positive
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
chris brussard or whatever his name is
Yea I really don’t see how its gona work, they def have to trade beasley. At least BOS had rondo and some role players Miami literally has no one else on the team. Idk how they play together, plus its wades team. The craziest thing is what they r talkin about on the radio, that lebrons camp leaked the story that wade n bosh were goin to miami instead of them all doin it together, just so he could have his own ‘its all about me’ anouncement. Oh yea, then say its for charity just not to make it look so outrageous. And u know what, even if they do win a title so what, lebron will never go down as better than Jordan, or even Kobe for that matter if he teams up with wade n bosh.
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
...or even Wade?
That’s a stretch, but if he does go to Miami and it’s high-pressure crunch time in the last seconds of a game, I’m giving it to Wade.
if any of u guys like bill simmons he has a good article
That just posted, I can’t post the link from my cell but its on the front page of espn.com
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 11:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i wouldn't give a fuck if I was Bosh and Wade
Lebron, Bosh, and Wade would be unstoppable. Lebron would probably have to even take a pay cut to be part of that. So if Lebron is leaving money on the table to play with me. I take that as a compliment.
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree with this.
I think they would suffer from the Disease of More.
Bosh and one of the other two can coexist easily, because he’s a natural second banana. I think Miami would actually be better off just having Wade and Bosh with Beasley, someone like Ray Felton at PG, and then filling in the rest of the roster around them with guys like Matt Barnes, Aaron Gray, etc. They’d save a ton of money and will be the best team in the East just with that core, imo.
I just don’t think that two guys who are at their best with the ball in their hands are going to play well together. One is going to have to sacrifice for the good of the team, and this being Wade’s team, I think that’s going to be LeBron.
I consider LeBron to be similar to Magic Johnson. Creates plays, can finish at the rim, runs the team’s offense. You would never have paired Magic in his prime with, say, Michael Jordan, because both have to have the ball a lot to be at their best. If LeBron takes the Dennis Johnson role on the Heat (plays stellar defense, makes plays, averages a 20-12-7-2-2) I think that team can be successful, I just don’t think he’ll do that.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Yah...I thought the best place for LeBron was actually going to be New Jersey,
with Mutant Russian Mark Cuban holding the purse strings and Jay-Z in the ownership mix, and the team moving to Brooklyn. Then the Brooklyn thing went to shit and they hired Avery fucking Johnson as their coach. Epic coach hiring fail. That’s like telling all the marquee players in the league that you have no respect for them. If Dirk hates playing for a guy, I can’t see any other superstar wanting to play for him either. It’s almost as bad as hiring Byron Scott….nice move Cleveland. Hire a coach that’s had his own team quit on him twice.
Now I actually think it’s the Knicks. Donnie Walsh is a saavy GM, James Dolan will spend whatever it takes to win, and you play your home games in the best basketball arena in the history of the world. You’d be playing for a great offensive coach that can utilize your skills better than anyone in the league since he tailors his entire offensive gameplan around what you do best, which is get into the lane and create open shots for other people. You’d have one of games best finishers at the PF spot, they already have one great shooter and they have Eddy Curry’s expiring contract that they could move to acquire other key pieces. You’d be leading a team that would have a legit shot at scoring 125+ every night out as well. I mean, it fits his talent and motivations perfectly.
If they added LeBron, flipped Eddy Curry’s expiring deal to Philly in a sign and trade for Mike Miller, signed Ray Felton or J.J. Redick with their MLE, and brought back David Lee, you’ve recreated the 2006 Suns, only you now have a 6’8" behemoth that can dunk on anyone in the league running the Steve Nash role. I don’t see how LeBron doesn’t average a 34-10-12 surrounded by that supporting cast of shooters.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I still say it's Chicago for winning
Redick again on the MLE. Rose (who can guard 2s) Redick LeBron Boozer Noah is a dirty starting 5 with then Deng coming off the bench against 2nd liners is pretty killer.
Not afraid to nitpick
True
But they’ll have no cap flexibility and a 2 year window before Rose becomes unrestricted and most likely leaves for a max deal someplace else. Unless Reinsdorf is going to pay 3 guys max money for 3 straight years and pay insane luxury tax prices. I don’t see him doing that, especially if the rumored lux tax changes to the CBA go through, with the tax percentages stepping up as you go further and further over the cap.
I think Chicago would be better off spending that cash on Mike Miller, Matt Barnes, and right now and building around a Rose, Miller, Deng, Boozer, Noah core of players. Leaves money to keep Rose with a max deal in a couple of years, to extend Noah after this season, and with enough cap room to still land a max player in the near future.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I just don't think that Rose and LeBron can be their best on the same team
The same way that Wade and LeBron would struggle with that, and Rose doesn’t have a jump shot, so he’s even worse off than Wade is if he doesn’t have the ball. At least Wade can knock down an open three if you feed the ball to him.
I just think a Felton/Redick – James – Gallinari – Stoudamire – Lee lineup is a lot more potent than the Chicago lineup you have there. Plus they could go out and get two good veteran bench players and could use Curry’s expiring deal to acquire another guard or wing player either now or at the deadline next year.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
might as well put Lebron at 2
Deng can guard the other 3 and Lebron can guard the 2. Lebron – Deng – Noah is a lot of length
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
They'll have a bench, and probably a solid one.
They’ll have two MLE’s to use even if all three guys go there, which they can use to fill out a seven man rotation. Wade and Bosh have stated they’d take less than a max deal if LeBron joins up. Roster spots 8-14 can be filled by total scrubs as Wade, Bosh, and LeBron will average around 40 minutes apiece I would imagine.
- Beasley will get dealt in a SNT for Bosh, which is the best possible scenario for both teams actually.
- They’ll sign a PG that can hit threes (Nate Robinson, Ray Felton, Jordan Farmar, Luke Ridnour, Eddie House) or go with Chalmers, who’s already on the roster.
- Use 1 MLE on Redick or Mike Miller, who can play the starting PG spot since they’ll never have to handle the ball and Wade can guard opposing PG’s if Miller is the signing.
- There are a shitload of good rebounding big men on the FA market this year, and a lot of them could be had for <$4M per season: Aaron Gray, Kurt Thomas, Etan Thomas, Louis Amundsen, Jarron Collins, Jason Collins, Sean May, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Craig Smith, Jamaal Magloire, Josh Boone, Brad Miller, even Shaq. The best case would be to use an MLE on Craig Smith and start him at the PF and then try and get Kurt Thomas for cheap and someone like Amundsen or one of the Collins twins for depth. You really just need a big guy that can rebound, defend, block a few shots, give you six fouls, and finish near the rim off of passes from the other three guys.
If you have those three in the fold, this is what I’m doing if I’m Pat Riley:
- Use 1 MLE on Craig Smith, signing him for 5Y$25M
- Use 2 MLE on J.J. Redick, who can hit threes and defense PG’s serviceably. 5Y$30M
- Sign Aaron Gray for 3Y$10M as a backup center.
- Sign Eddie House as a bench gunner shooter for vet minimum.
- Sign Matt Barnes to a 3Y$12M deal as a backup swingman.
Starting 5: Redick, Wade, LeBron, Smith, Bosh
Rotation guys: Gray (C/PF), Barnes (SG/SF/PF), House (SG), Chalmers (PG/SG)
Rest of the bench: Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnado, Da’Sean Butler
I think Pittman will be a good rebounder/shotblocker at the C position, and Butler will be a serviceable 10 min-per-game guy.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
That'd be WAAAAAY over the cap from what I've seen on ESPN here
From what I saw that Tom Penn guy do, signing LeBron is going to put them 2M short of the cap after trading Beasley. They get one MLE this year and literally EVERYONE else has to be at their minimum salary save an extra 2M.
I think they could spend 16M much better than getting LeBron since they have Wade. They do the same things, combining them is going to result in less than the sum of the parts not to mention the odds of an alpha dog clash.
Not afraid to nitpick
Are you using the new, higher than projected, $58MM cap?
"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 Jul 8, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
He had LeBron putting them within like 12k of the old cap, that’s where the 2M is coming from.
Not afraid to nitpick
Okay, I just wanted to be sure.
I don’t have cable, but I caught some of this “capology” stuff over the weekend (amazing how ESPN creates so many new sciences, isn’t it?) and it was just weird. Then, this week, the new cap number was released by the NBA, so I thought that might be the discrepency. Carry on. You two know far more about it than I do.
"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 Jul 8, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
NBA teams can go over the cap to fill out a minimum roster.
So effectively, they can fill out a roster if Lebron heads to the Heat by signing a bunch of vets.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
The cap figures work with those signings
If Wade and Bosh take $13M instead of $16M each, and Bosh is acquired via sign and trade, because they’d then have two trade exceptions to use when building the rest of their roster.
They have what amounts to two MLE’s this year then, the actual MLE, and the trade exceptions would equal enough to get Smith at that price — whether he’d sign for that is another question.
I worked out the figures last night when I was discussing this with the only friend of mine who’s into the NBA as much as I am. They end up just over $68M with the two MLE’s being the difference of $10M.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Huh?
The team trading away the high salary is the one that gets the trade exception. The Heat don’t get a trade exception out of a SnT with the Raptors for Bosh.
Not afraid to nitpick
Oops...read that wrong. My fault
Still:
Wade: $13M
James: $16M
Bosh: $13M – $1M trade exception for Quinn = $12M
That’s only $41M so far. The cap is $58M for this year, and they’re going to sign at least 3 of their rookie players for around $5M combined
Smith: $5M
Redick: $6M using MLE, so it doesn’t count against the cap.
Gray: Bi-Annual exception: $1.672
House: Vet minimum doesn’t count against the cap
Barnes: Barnes $4M
Chalmers: $1M
That’s $22.672M there, which puts their salaries at $63.672M – $6M (MLE-Redick) = $57.672M
Bam. Done.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Catching up on Cardinals stuff
…what the hell was this Joe Strauss twitter business about last night?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
all the flirting on twitter went too far, and they got all snippy with each other.
DanUp people were upset about mom and dad fighting
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
then someone took a shot at our fake names
at which point it got ugly.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Wha?
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
I think the point it got ugly
was when he said “some like chess, some like checkers. Looks like you’re a chutes and ladders guy.” when i said i’d rather read the “towel boy” anyday
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
Strauss calling DanUp a "towel boy" is just incredibly unprofessional, though
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Strauss called Dan a "towel boy"?
Fuck Strauss and his poor writing.
"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
This really happened?
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
"@danup Look out!! Towel boy in the ring!!"
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Certified member of the #getoffmylawn crowd
/dididoitright?
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
yup.
it’s somewhere in the game threads.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I wouldn't be too alarmed until there's whispering.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
must be some kind of stl media hazing
look at how they treat bj rains
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
bj rains is a classic case
of asking for it, though.
otoh, that means DanUp is makin’ it!
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
did he delete his tweet
where he called dan a towel boy or something? all i saw was dan’s sick burn and then everyone else being like “well, he’s a better writer than you are and he’s half your age, chump”
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
holy crap i just read through that
he knocked out danup, albrtfn, and zoomzoom in the span of like 10 min.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Strauss is not a dick to Erik Manning though
Erik though is a pretty insightful stat and minor league guy though. Not exactly Strauss’s strong points
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
to go along with the intellect, wit, humor,
writing ability and professional decorum where he’s already surpassed him. Come to think of it, hasn’t Dan been published in the WSJ? That beats the PD, I’d think.
my office subscribes to the WSJ!
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
And yeah, Dan has a career ahead of him
Joe Strauss is a shitty Joe Rosenthal.
by vivaelpujols on Jul 8, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why do my P-D Google Reader feeds no longer work?
"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
Because TLR
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Jul 8, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
...I laughed.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
oh ya know...
they changed the site recently, so all the links are different.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I thought that might be it,
but I couldn’t find the feed for Bird Land when I searched for it on Google Reader.
"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
yah, Bird Land is part of it.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
How do I re-subscribe to the Bird Land feed?
"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
oooh, you know what?
it looks like they un-blogged it.
which means, potentially, all the archives going back who knows how many years are due to be deleted off the internet…..
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Those swine.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
that's why I'm all for content backups.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Lineup
Lopez 3B,
Rasmus CF,
Pujols 1B,
Holliday LF,
Jay RF
Molina C,
Carpenter P,
Schumaker 2B
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I don't know what's worse at this point
The fear of seeing “Miles 2B” or “[Pitcher] replaces [pitcher], batting 8th”
Not afraid to nitpick
oh wow
I don’t know whether to be happy, or to be pissed it can’t be like this all (most) of the time
Sweet
Didn’t know we could roll without a SS. Probably a decent idea. We’ll give up some outs on the field, but avoid them at the plate.
That wacky TLR.
This is all FSNMW's fault
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
TLR, baseball innovator.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
Updated
Lopez 3B,
Rasmus CF,
Pujols 1B,
Holliday LF,
Jay RF
Molina C
Ryan SS,
Carpenter P,
Schumaker 2B
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
poor Boog. can't even break the lineup when he's in the lineup.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
good lineup
i won’t be able to watch today’s game, but i’m hopeful that the cards right their ship. just hoping that lightning don’t strike a 3rd time.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Jeff Passan is an asshat
Tired of the yearly TESS. I blame Tony.
Good Lineup
Cal Eldred knocked out LaRussa and did the lineup today.
by WizardofOz1982 on Jul 8, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
So will we see Good Carp
Or the Carp feeling the effects of a ball off the forearm … which is a situation which sounds so familiar, I just can’t place it …
Kyle Lohse, you can put your hand down now. You might hurt yourself again.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
If bad Carp shows up again today,
it’s going to be a long second half.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Hopefully Jiménez is still bad Jiménez
If he’s back to April/May Jiménez it will be a long (but quick) afternoon.
by BTown Birds fan on Jul 8, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
with as much as Carp is throwing his curveball this year
I have a bad feeling about this game
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
I want you all to take a good look at what is happening in Cleveland
A franchise spent the better part of 4 years trying to do everything in their power to build a winner around one of the greatest talents all time in a small market, only to put themselves in financial and personnel situations that should that player leave, places a great burden on the team.
A player, born and raised in the area, considered a fixture in the community is about to bolt to join a team that doesn’t even need his talent to be a legit contender.
This is the nightmare that could face all Cardinals fans come 2012.
by Hardcore Legend on Jul 8, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
...You're the worst person I know
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
*shrugs*
then we just build around Holliday.
the NL Central’s gonna be up for grabs for a long time. even if the Cards aren’t the perennial division winner, the wild card is not a guaranteed loss.
I ain’t panicking until the pitching dies. I love Albert, I’m honored to be a fan while he’s playing for the Cards, but I don’t think we’re burning everything down to keep him.
now, whether we’re burning everything down for Dave Duncan — that is a whole other kettle.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
if Holliday I think you mean Rasmus
I honestly believe Rasmus will be a Top 5 player in baseball very soon.
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I believe a core of
Rasmus and Holliday would be fine for the next few years. Depends on the other pieces we get. As long as duncan is around we’ll have decent pitching. (may vary from year to year, but overall)
the really scary part is if in the next two years
the fans who fill Busch Stadium decide it’s not worth it to them to keep showing up. those record-breaking box receipts are what allow the team any kind of flexibility in the shark tank.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
People will show up
There’s more talent in the organization coming up to keep this team around the top of the division for some time to come. We moved from Bob Gibson to Ted Simmons to Ozzie to McGwire to Pujols, and we’ll move to the next hero wearing the Birds on the Bat.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Nick Stavinoah?
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Except. . .
FWIW, Ted Simmons never won anything in STL, and far less than capacity crowds showed up to watch him play.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 8, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Brandon Dickson!
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 9, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Could be
I just think the NBA works much differently than the MLB, because one true superstar in the NBA is the difference between 12 wins and 50 wins. The MLB just isn’t like that, and the Cardinals have nothing in common with the Cavs, because Pujols leaving wouldn’t cripple our franchise — we’d still have a couple of 5 WAR players (Holliday, Rasmus) and a couple of good starting pitchers in the fold, as well as a lot of payroll flexibility to improve our weak spots if he leaves. Cleveland has none of those things.
He could make the most money staying on his own team, but wants to win titles and doesn’t have any. He’s only been to the Finals once. Pujols has a title already and has been there twice, and the current team is built to win for at least the next 3-4 seasons of his prime. You can’t say that about LeBron, who could make the playoffs with just about any supporting cast, but can’t get to the Finals and win championships all by himself.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Yeah, there are similarities,
but LeBron James is 25 years old. Albert Pujols will be 31 years old. We’ve already gotten the best seasons of Pujols’s career, while Cleveland will watch LeBron’s from afar, after he put on an hourlong television special to commeorate stabbing them in the back. Albert Pujols is a great talent, but, this season, he ranks fifth in wOBA for first baseman in MLB. There are a lot of very good hitters who play first base. We may be seeing the beginning of Pujols’s decline from otherworldly to excellent. Losing Pujols would be nowhere near as detrimental to the Cardinals’ efforts to win a World Series title as losing LeBron would be to Cleveland.
"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 Jul 8, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, not really
Pujols was most certainly NOT born and raised in the St. Louis area and the Cardinals organization won’t die if they lose Pujols. It’ll be sad and a lot of “fans” will probably move on, but there will still be some pretty good pieces in place. Besides, the Cardinals have been a flagship franchise in the National League since the 1920’s. I don’t see them turning into the Pirates if Pujols walks.
VivaElBirdos: Celebrating glorious mustaches since 2009
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 8, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
haha Bernie is taking calls on his show for the first time and here come the morons
…Someone was just sayin why haven’t we called up shelby miller for our bullpen yet
by mick311 on Jul 8, 2010 1:11 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
AJ says he's not ready yet.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
He's still
learning to “pitch to contact.”
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
He's not doing a very good job of that, apparently
What’s his K/9 at now? 13?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Dave Duncan will fix that.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Jul 8, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
shelby miller is going to be on the bernie show coming up later
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
thanks for the headsup
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
A couple moderation notes from last night's thread.
1) I’ve had some of the Reds commenters e-mail me with apologies so if they come back, play nice. I’ve unbanned one specifically because of a mea culpa he took the time to send.
2) I know it’s hard but don’t feed the trolls when they show up.
3) I’ve got no problem with anyone talking shit about another team here. If you want to say that the Reds aren’t very good or that they’re going to collapse or that the Cubs are the Cubs, go right ahead. But when you go to another site, be cognizant that it is another team’s site primarily for their fans. Don’t get worked up about what they say in their threads about the Cards. If you want to go and engage in smart, witty discourse there, I’d encourage it but let them vent in their own space like you get to vent in your own space.
4) If you troll another site, it will not go well for you here. None of the moderators has the desire/time/energy to be in every thread and if you start trolling it will only lead to counter-trolling. Don’t start it. Seriously.
That said, by and large, everyone has acquitted themselves well after two really ugly losses. (One might refer to them as fugly losses if you were so inclined.) I appreciate that . It makes you look emotionally stable (even if you aren’t) and VEB a better place to hang out. Comment on, amigos!
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
by azruavatar on Jul 8, 2010 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
not gonna lie
I kinda enjoyed the Angry Robot banning the hell out of the jerks last night
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Too bad I went to bed early.
Had some more cleaning up to do today.
Silly humans, this world is for robots.
I went to bed shortly after your reign of terror ended
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
i generally think it is a bad idea
To go to another teams Game thread. Pre-Game is normally fine
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
didn't you go to BCB during Rich Harden's perfect game attempt last year?
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah but that was skillful trolling
And for the perfect game to end right when I said it was classic
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 8, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
wait, which matty are you?
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
aw, I should have known
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Don't call me emotionally stable
I WILL CUT YOUR DAMN FACE OFF
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 9, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Very astute article danup
1. Wow, the last two games were comedically bad bad bad timing, the offense goes on a tear and the bullpen implodes at the same time. this has to be an anomaly right?
2. since Yadi has been hitting like Larue, why not give him more time off? it’s a long season
3. I feel sorry for MacLane, what a bad way to start in the majors. I am still really not liking Tony’s bullpen management and I still don’t get why he must have Miles on the team
4. Penny setback, who knows what will happen with Lohse, piecemeal starters for the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation, I was really hoping we wouldn’t have to deal with this year. I’m pretty confident that we would be ahead of the Reds if we didn’t lose both of those guys
5. Albert needs to stop pressing and be himself plate discipline wise…. other than that, he’s been freakin awesome
6. Holliday, well, he is exemplifying what he usually does…. he is a slow starter at the beginning of the season. now he’s probably going to be pushing .900 to 1.000 OPS
7. So what do the strength of schedules look like between the Cards and Reds?
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
all i know about #7 is that the reds have less home games than the cardinals in the second half.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
and i just heard that bernie said that the reds pitch better on the road
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Every team pitches better in parks not named Great American Ballpark
Of course, every team hits worse in parks not named Great American Ballpark, too
in other news
Coors field generates lots of runs!
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
Albert Pujols' career line is way out ahead of his Coors line
which I find weird
.295/.380/.582/.962
Time is the best teacher; Unfortunately it kills all its students
So basically
Jonny Gomes is screwed. Excellent.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
yeah, and its their hitting that has won them games.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Records to date:
Cincy:
27-19 home
22-18 away
86 games played (46 / 40 split)
St. Louis:
27-15 home
18-24 away
82 games played (42 / 42 split)
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
Err...84 games for St. Louis (History major)
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
didn't know that we were doing that poorly on the road this year
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Well...a little better bullpen performance this week and it's 20-22.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
there is THAT
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
So it looks like there is a significant Home / Away split for Cincy to make up after the ASG
Warning: Gut analysis, no science. I tend to think that for this anything more than a series is significant.
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
I'd still like to know who they are playing in the second half
and how tough the teams were that they played in the first half…. I don’t really have time to look it up at work, anyone feel like doing a fanpost?
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Because I'm avoiding work:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/schedule/_/name/cin/half/2/cincinnati-reds
Other than playing Pittsburgh and Houston a bunch, it looks pretty tough. A couple of long road trips and tons of games against the NL West.
by mattisnotfrench on Jul 8, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
and we're done with the NL West
if that ends up being a really tough division to play, that would really play into our favor.
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I can't wait to drop the "and tomorrow you get to face this year's untouchable"
j/k
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
someone who wants a heart attack?
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't care
I would love to try this once.. just like the deep fried twinkies that I see at the state fair
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I've always wanted to try the deep fried snickers bar deal
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
on failblog.org I saw a picture of a deep fried butter stand
ill try and find the link
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
here you go
http://verydemotivational.com/2010/06/24/demotivational-posters-deep-fried-butter/
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd really like to try that burger that's on a krispy creme donut
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
haha
the heart attack cafe… God I love this country
When a reporter asked Gaylord Perry's 5-year-old daughter if her father threw a spitball, she replied, "It's a hard slider."
by FredbirdisaDork on Jul 8, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
in the UK the big thing is fried mars bars
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
BacTurducken
>Pitcher Change: Felipe Lopez replaces Ryan Franklin, batting 7th, replacing third baseman Felipe Lopez
Adam Wainwright reaches on force attempt, throwing error by Aaron Heilman. Jaime Garcia scores. Brendan Ryan to 3rd. Adam Wainwright to 2nd. None out.
that looks amazing
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
hooked on phonics, moran
throuw
Cardinals Baseball 2010: Why have only one 25th man when you can have four?
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Jul 8, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The group in charge of making the MLB schedules must be on drugs.
Why would we have 2 off days in a row and only play Colorado once (today) before heading to Houston for three games?
Whoah hey there
We had three off days in a row, because there was no game on Monday. Don’t understate the problem here.
now if only Tony didn't wear out the bullpen arms
by making them throw batting pratice durring their off days!
we don't go west of Houston ever again, this regular season.
Lick that shoulder—you're in the doghouse now.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
OT: home run pool update
so, thanks to many VEBers, i am leading the homerun pool i entered before the season started. and you’re allowed to change one category a month, so this month I changed my write-in guy from konerko (who was HUGE in April and won me $50 that month – thanks Flim!) to Holliday, who already has 3 HRs for the month.
anyway, things are looking good, other than ryan braun being douchey AND not hitting dingers. thanks to all who helped.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Couple of things
1) Via WAR, Pujols in pace to be about 3 wins worse than expected, so that’s obviously dissapointing. I personally don’t think we have much to worry about going forward. His defense has taken a hit via The Metrics, but to the eye he looks just as good. His offense should improve going forward as well.
2) As of last night, the Cardinals have played like the the second best team in the NL via their component stats.
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2010/7/8/1558701/btb-power-rankings-week-14-before#comments
They are underperforming their Pythag and their Pytahg is underperforming their componenent W%. It’s weird, based off of components, we should be a 94 win team. We are actually on pace for 87 wins. Again, this isn’t something that I am too worried about going forward.
3) The Reds, on the other hand, are playing like an 86 win team via componenents and a 92 win team via actually record. Clutch hitting or whatever you want to call it, I don’t see how that continues.
I’m still not worried about this team at all.
I was just about to bring up the fact that those defensive metrics are not very accurate imo
but you covered that
/leery of WAR
*now with more veterany veteranness and a higher grit factor
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 8, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
For team defense, the metrics are fine
It’s seperating individual defenseive prowess where the problem is.
wow
I’m going to assume (and hope) he and Tango had some prior issues that are only now being worked out in public.
Public is Sheehan’s favorite place to work out prior issues.
--
Dan Szymborski
BTF
Dan on ESPN Insider
Wow. Just WOW.
If there’s one guy I can think of that shouldn’t be telling anyone about “sports information” it’s Joe Sheehan. Mainly because I rarely find anything Joe Sheehan has to say very interesting at all, which is part of the reason I don’t subscribe to BP — nearly everything I get there I can get somewhere else for free.
I think that’s what this whole thing is about — Sheehan put together a model of “sports information” in which he makes a tidy profit charging people for content (i.e. the old, mainstream way), while Tango (and the sites Tango talks about in his post) gives nearly all content away for free and much of that is info that Sheehan has always tried to charge people for. While I’m not the biggest fan of Fangraphs in general, I do appreciate that I can read everything there free of charge if I want to, although I’ve donated money to these type of efforts in the past, which allows me to send my money to support content that I really enjoy and I feel is worthy of my dollars, whereas Joe can mail it in (and often does, imo) and still keep my dollars until I get fed up enough to stop subscribing.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Five tips for Showtime’s second season of ‘The Franchise’
- The 10 best things about being a Detroit Tigers fan
- Surprise! A’s finally end the Yoenis Cespedes derby with $36 million deal for Cuban star
- The time Whitney Houston sang to Jim Bowden
- Pitchers and catchers! Mariners get early start in Arizona
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
