Jake Westbrook, the bullpen, and David Freese
by DanUpBaby on Aug 3, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
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PrintI couldn't watch this game live—I'm back from vacation, but not back-back—so in the land of the angry the marginally concerned man is king of mellow observations.
Let's start with the good news: Jake Westbrook pitched really well! 10 groundouts, one flyout; seven strikeouts, one walk; lots of good things, not a lot of bad things. 100 pitches in six innings—that could be better. Two runs in six innings is at the high end of possible Westbrook projections, but once it actually happens it's never enough; that seventh inning seems so easily within reach.
And typically the Cardinals' bullpen won't walk four guys and allow eight hits in three innings. There's a tendency among even the most orthodox sabermetrically inclined bloggers to ignore small sample size warnings at their smallest, when a bullpen meltdown occurs and it's better copy to get worried than to say that sometimes players don't play particularly well.
The particular players might not play particularly well ever, of course, which is the real source of complaints. Aside from Mike MacDougal, who remains an indecipherable Dave Duncan experiment, the personnel here wasn't so very egregious; Jason Motte has been one of the Cardinals' best relievers, and Trever Miller isn't supposed to have trouble retiring Angel Sanchez or Michael Bourne.
Meanwhile, La Russa's penchant for the inexplicable double switch or in-game substitution is legendary and rarely as damaging as it is frustrating. Losing Colby Rasmus so as to get Randy Winn an extra at-bat is pointless, and bringing up Nick Stavinoha instead of Allen Craig, who is now hitting .319/.388/.559 in Memphis, is absurd, but the bullpen lost the game, and once they did it they kept on doing it.
Speaking of losing things, and continuing to lose things, we come to David Freese's rehab setback.
Rehabbing third baseman David Freese encountered a setback Monday night during his first game with Double-A Springfield and will be reevaluated Tuesday in St. Louis.
After doubling in his third at-bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, Freese was attempting to score on a base hit when he pulled up rounding third base and reached for his right ankle. He was tagged out on the play before witnesses reported he walked off the field with a limp.
Come onnnnnnn.
I've seen this rehab setback before; one month from now, the Cardinals will trade David Freese for Jake Westbrook.
Freese going down is less problematic than it was last month; Skip Schumaker has an .807 OPS since the break, Brendan Ryan is punching singles through holes like he has a particularly Calvinist understanding of regression to the mean, and Felipe Lopez has been pleasant to watch as an everyday leadoff hitter. But the simple volume of setbacks has become irritating, and it is borderline incredible to watch a professional baseball team struggle to get players back from bad sprained ankles and hamstring problems.
According to the official site's initial report, it's a separate injury. This leaves me less indignant and more flummoxed, which is at least a better word.
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from what i understand,
couldn’t they not bring allen craig up yet?
"Heh, Heh, Heh, Heh" -Mike Shannon
whatever it is...
the day he’ll be eligible to come back is tomorrow.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
tlr is probably scrambling to find a reason not to bring him up as we speak
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
Since i'm a betting man...
No way I’m going to take that bet.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
But, then we couldn't have activated Stavinoha...
"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 Aug 3, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
which was stoopid.
He should have taken Luddys spot, allowing Craig to come up for Greene. Which makes me think that Craig is not coming up on Wednesday.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
In order for him to take ludwick's spot
we would had to have been short a player for that day.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Plus
The plan wasn’t to DL greene. Greene was DL’d after it was decided that he was going to be optioned.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Isn't Stavinoha out of options?
Not that it would matter to me. I couldn’t imagine anyone picking him up, and if they did, it wouldn’t be a big loss – but if Tony likes him…
i convinced the guy sitting next to me at the game last
night that stavinoha is not a good hitter, regardless of the situation. and then he grounded into a DP.
"He’s in his own world out there. He says he doesn’t cuss. I disagree." - Skip Schumaker on Jason Motte
STOP TRYING TO TRADE SHELBY MILLER!!
excellent timing
btw, there should be some kind of a VEB meeting point at Busch
e.g. during the 7th inning stretch at the team store or at the bacon-wrapped hot dog cart on the 3b side or something so when you go to a game you can go by there real quick and if there’s someone else at the game too, you can say hello, shake some hands and at least connect faces to the nicknames
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
And have rational baseball discussion
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
For some reason I read this as baseball relations.
That works to, just sounds very Lewisnkyish.
by Cardfanintherock on Aug 3, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
For some reason I read that as
Lebowski-ish.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Ludwick...gone...Westbrook in
Greene gone…(DL’d Sunday)….Craig in..(bypass 10 day waiting period)
or am i missing a rule?
if greene didnt get hurt…who was going to make room for Stavinoa? Since Greene was DL’d why not take adv. of 10 day bypass rule (besides the fact that Stavinoa was preferred by Tony)
by guillermozeliak on Aug 3, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
They mixed up the order of the moves.
I think it was Stav up, Ludwick gone, Westbrook in, Greene DL’d.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
i know this is nitpicking
but we got westbrook on saturday…..greene dl’d on sunday
whatever…the whole Ludwick/Westbrook trade thread made us realize that craig couldnt come up till because of the 10 day rule…and then when the opportunity actually happened with the DL….it stil didnt happen…plus we still wouldve blown yesterdays game too
i see what ur saying…i guess thats why im not a manager
by guillermozeliak on Aug 3, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
two things
1) You are missing the order:
Ludwick gone, Stavinoha up. This is so we didn’t have a short bench the night we traded Ludwick. We could have done Ludwick gone, Westrbook added. But we didn’t to prevent that.
Following day was:
Greene Optioned Westbrook added. But before Greene can be optioned he stated that he was hurt and needed to go to the DL, so it was Greene DL’d Westbrook added.
I guess at that point they could have done, Greene DL’d Craig up. Stavinoha optioned Westbrook added. But sending Greene to the DL was a last minute thing.
2.) Still no evidence that Stavinoha is preferred to Craig by TLR.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
also,
listening to the Radio about an hour before the game. TLR stated that they knew the move, but didn’t want to tell anyone because the player hadn’t been informed yet. So there was no way to add Westbrook and Craig onto the roster without a short bench. (which would have been DL Greene → add craig, and Option Stavinoha, DFA miles or Winn -→ Add westbrook.)
Since the decision to DL Greene came so late, they really couldn’t have acted on it without having to deal with a short bench. Of course, if they would have dealt with a short bench against the pirates we may not have seen Stavinoha PH into a double play after seeing one pitch last night.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
So apparently the threshold for this team...
… is somewhere between Pirates and fire-sale-gutted Astros. That’s not particularly encouraging.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
by birdjam on Aug 3, 2010 7:40 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
you know
we did sweep the mets and take 3 out of 4 against the Phillies last homestand right?
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
I thought we swept the Dodgers?
Which is more impressive since they’re a decent team. But we lost two of three to the Mets, which is more depressing. Blargh. Maybe I should have just not made this comment…
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
we lost 2 of 3 to the NYM in NY, which is the only place their offense works.
not so bad really
Chicago series was more blah.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
yeah...
I don’t know why I typed mets. I’m going to drink more coffee.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Coffee good!
Mets, Astros bad! Cardinals still lose to bad teams! Need more coffee for understand.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Aug 3, 2010 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It's amazing to see us spank the Pirates
and then get our asses handed to us by a depleted Astros team that was already bad. It is just one game, but as we get through the last third or so of the season the opportunity to make up crappy games and get ahead of the Reds shrinks ever more (psychologically at least, it only shrinks by a game at a time like always).
a particularly Calvinist understanding of regression to the mean
Nice. My wife, who majored in Theology in college (pre-med too, she’s smart) would appreciate this as well.
Brett Wallace’s Tyrannosaur-like thighs are pretty much just as impressive on FSMW as they are on FutureRedbirds videos.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
interesting descriptor
since t-rexes had tiny useless arms, and wallace has massive useless legs. this is even according to bagwell, his hitting coach, per dan and al last night. he just swivels on his hips when he swings.
At this point
I’m not sure how much it matters when Freeze comes back, or Lohse, or Penny, or Greene or anybody else.
Can’t Tony go on the DL for awhile, or Skip or Miles? It wouldn’t hurt at all.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
the double switch for Rasmus was just inexcusible
Hurt both the defense and offense.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Should we compile all of the questionable Managerial Moves from Lastnight?
Like trying to get 2 innings out of Motte. Or bringing in McDougal as the fireman that bit of brilliance didn’t work out. Nothing about the handling of last night’s game made sense.
by Birds on the Matt on Aug 3, 2010 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't criticize him for trying to get two innings out of motte
Since this last month have on at least 3 occasions criticized him for pulling Motte to soon.
I would have rather seen McClellan instead of McDougal. But there would have been many people asking for McDougal if McClellan got hit too.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Yeah, sometimes the bullpen just sucks
McClellan still gives me memories of those walk off homers. But I have to admit, I only kinda followed the game once it became apparently the pen was trying to give up the game. So I will defer to others on this one.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
i was actually applauding the fact he gave him two innings
because iirc that giant franklin implosion loss we had to the rockies and that really close game to the… mets where we had a six run lead and almost lost, motte was pulled out way too soon
and then when crazy didn’t do too well i though well hell, that’ll never happen again, finally looks like tlr learned something and then they give him a reason to go back to his old ways
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
I don't think I will ever ask for MacDougal,
despite his wonderful, if no longer accurate, nickname. This is a pitcher who has walked 4.77 per nine innings for his career. He has not had a walk rate lower than 6.29 in the big-leagues since 2006, the last year he was effective. If Mac the Ninth never pitches in a Cardinal uniform again, I will be okay with it.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Breathing through his eyelids, not thinking, garters...
I don’t think any of it would help Mac.
"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
Is his pitching arm hexed?
"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
Candlesticks always make a nice gift
…
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
If I wasn't a diehard Card fan
I would still read this blog. You guys crack me up.
MacDougal is awful
he should be the last man out of that pen. In fact, he should be in Memphis.
“Proven closer”. Jebus. I thought this team were smarter than that BS.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 3, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
OF THE BANANA VARIETY
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
It would have made sense
if Motte had been able to go two complete innings. This was a rare misread by TLR on bullpen durability in the opposite direction from his usual leanings. For that reason, I can’t really criticize him for it. If we get on his case for over-managing the pen, can we really get on him for letting ’em pitch and having it blow up?
StanTheManFan
Contributes any way he can.
He's normally a nuclear physicist
Except when writing for this list.
by StanTheManFan on Aug 3, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
looks like no Freeze till next year.
and is Mott injured now?
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on Aug 3, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Who has an unicorn I can barrow?
Most amazing thing about this is I just read the headline and knew which beat writer wrote it.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
There is probably a grain of truth in there somewhere.
But which of the sentences that might be moderately truthful is hard to gauge. Reading that does increase my aggravation with LaRussa however. He micromanages to the extreme. It’s no wonder that players feel anxious playing for him.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
I understand being frustrated
La Russa publicly stated he would sit Ludwick once each series when the 2008 Silver Slugger and All-Star right fielder returned from a strained right calf.
The manager’s cautious approach was influenced by Ludwick’s reluctance to sit out after what the player considered “a cramp” before aggravating the strain in Kansas City on June 25. A subsequent mishap on a treadmill extended Ludwick’s down time, which included a three-game rehab assignment at Class AAA Memphis.
I also remember criticizing TLR for playing Ludwick and aggravating the injury by giving him a PH.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
and wtf is that supposed to mean
“The only thing he wanted to know was, ‘How long before I can get back to where I was?’” La Russa recalled. “The answer, before he got traded, was, ‘As soon as you’re on time you’re back there.’ And whether people agree or disagree I believe in playing the roster, so sometimes guys sit.”
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
Perhaps
He meant with his timing? Though if that was the case I don’t know why he didn’t stay down in Memphis.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
timing in his swing and to extent catches
mainly his rhythm. Which could easily be a tick off after missing such long period. And while this may not be evident in the few chances he gets during a game, a manager should see it during batting practice and any drills that they run.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
he's ready or he's ready for memphis
again my tlr truth-o-meter just registered another zero
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
Well
I think Tony meant that as soon as his swing was back to where it was before the injury he’d be there full time. Obviously it’s worded in a very odd way and if timing is what TLR had intended, I don’t understand why Ludwick wasn’t just kept down in Memphis for a few more games.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
because an off timed Ludwick
is better than a on time Winn or Stavinoha.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
thanks guys
that’s what i guessed it meant but sometimes i’m not sure
especially considering the i’m-scratching-floppy-from-the-lineup-cause-he-didn’t-make-it-to-wrigley-on-time, things can get confusing
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
true no doubt
and more i f’in told you so
rags on cloby to play hurt, but rags on greene for not telling him about his wrist (no win sit. for a rook, or anyone else for that matter)
tension with luddy, you bet, despite the denials by team and doubts by many on veb
no pitch lmac last night because he warmed 3 times the day before, yet sends motte our for an extra inning after having pitched the previous 2 days (which includes warming up)
throw in the winn bs, the stav bs, etc
jmo and tlr will sink this ship, btrout not not
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
...
“In Colby’s case, Colby’s been struggling. Now he’s better,” La Russa said.
That’s not really criticizing Colby.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
i do not believe that, basically my tlr truth problem at work
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
your theory is bullshit
no truth, all speculation
“tlr truth meter” is basically you just guessing what he thinks
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
what else is there to do?
guessing is all there is with TLR. You can’t use logic.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on Aug 4, 2010 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions
there is no reason for TLR to lie
because he does not care about what you think.
Miles, in at third for his defense
I don't know if he lies or not,
and I don’t know if he cares what anybody thinks, except maybe Duncan. He sure doesn’t care what any of us think.
I’m just saying that I have a hard time figuring him out sometimes because sometimes he seems to defy logic.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on Aug 4, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
i'm not saying his logic isn't faulty
Just that I don’t think he is lying to us to justify his moves like some people have suggested. (not you.) He just doesn’t care if the media or the fans agree with his moves. So why would he lie?
Miles, in at third for his defense
I agree with that.
Sometimes he reminds me of Mike Martz that way, except Martz could be even more abrasive than Tony.
Tony will say that he tries to give the team it’s best chance to win and then do something that leaves me scratching my head…like letting Albert sit on the bench with the All Star game on the line…when Albert was Red Hot. He said he was saving him in case of extra innings. It was do or die at that moment.
He wasn’t lying. He thought he was doing the smart thing.
Starting Miles at 3rd gives the team it’s best chance to win?
I guess he thought so.
I don’t think he lies. He’s just not always right.
One thing that I think he does do though is not take the blame for some of his moves when they backfire (he has, but not very often).
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on Aug 4, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey good news at the bottom of that page!
Cards signed a washed-up lefty pitcher. I assume for when Reyes explodes (literally).
Somehow I have felt that signing Nate Robertson was inevitable
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I believe so
The article says they got him thinking he’d provide lefty relief depth and insurance against Lohse having more problems. Also, he can opt out if he’s not called up by Aug. 23rd.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I took the signing to mean that Suppan will be DFA'd after Lohse is activated.
Robertson would then be the rotation insurance arm in Memphis.
"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
Nah, they'll just send Garcia down
/kidding
/maybe
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
by jd is legend on Aug 3, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
FUUUUUUU.....
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 3, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
he's just as good as westbrook has been this year, really
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
But, Robertson was pitching in the NL and Westbrook in the AL.
What is the acceptable assumption as to FIP when switching from the AL to the NL?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Just mentioned this in another post, but http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/teams/ (archived) shows a single year with the AL putting up an average 4.45 FIP against the NL’s 4.19. That’s a difference of roughly 6%, so a 4.4 (x)FIP would rate to come down to 4.13 based on an AL → NL conversion alone. I’d like to see more years of data before specifically settling on 6%, but that intuitively seems pretty fair to me as well.
I think folks were reducing Westbrook's FIP to 4.20 on Saturday, so that's about dead on.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
"Are you in the market for a FIP reduction?"
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Does insurance cover those?
Or are they considered “cosmetic?”
Cardinals Baseball 2010: Why have only one 25th man when you can have four?
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Aug 3, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
And bernie's take
* Of course Ryan Ludwick wanted to play more. He’s an intense guy. He loves to play ball. He wanted to be out there every day. That’s one of the qualities that made him so endearing. So it’s no surprise to learn, via Joe Strauss, that Ludwick challenged manager TLR on playing time on Friday. As I mentioned over the weekend, Ludwick “bristled” because La Russa wanted to ease him back into the lineup after missing a month with a strained calf. The anti-TLR crowd will undoubtedly get aroused and blow this out of proportion. But a couple of things must be pointed out.
1 — I believe a reasonable person would understand La Russa’s caution. Ludwick injured the calf on June 22. On June 26, he said he was fine and persuaded La Russa that he was ready to go. Ludwick promptly reinjured the calf and had to go on the DL. So if you’re the manager, wouldn’t you be a bit careful in easing Ludwick back into the lineup? Makes sense to me.
2 — For all of the caterwauling and attempts to portray Ludwick as a victim of TLR, the facts are clear: Ludwick played a lot, Ludwick was a regular, Ludwick had more plate appearances than any STL outfielder since the start of the 2008 season. From 2008-2010, only Albert Pujols had more plate appearances in a Cardinals uniform.
Monday night, I looked up the monthly plate appearances by individual Cardinals since the start of the 2008 season. Folks forget that Ludwick wasn’t a regular at the beginning of the 2008 season, but that changed quickly. In ’08 he had the most PA by a Cardinals outfielder in May, June, July, Aug. and Sept.
And at no point from 2008 through 2010 — except when he couldn’t play while on the DL — did Ludwick rank anywhere less than 3rd among Cardinals outfielders in plate appearances in a month. (Only three OFs can play at once, you know.) Ludwick led all STL outfielders in plate appearances in 2008 and 2009. This season, Ludwick had the most plate appearances by an OF in April, and again in May. And then he got hurt in June.
Did Ludwick want to play even more than he did? Absolutely. Understandable. He’s a competitor. But it’s ludicrous to suggest that he wasn’t a regular player here. There’s no evidence to support that argument.
I didn’t like trading Ludwick and criticized the Cardinals for it. But I also think some folks have lost touch with reality in pushing the notion that he was sentenced to the bench. It simply isn’t true.
I think my views of the whole thing lie closely to Bernies on this.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
by Evilfrog on Aug 3, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I understand what Bernie is saying,
but look at the outfield situation for the Cards until they got Holliday. TLR was using Schumaker, Ludwick, Duncan, Ankiel, Joe Mather, and Brian Barton in the 2008 outfield. Bernie wants to discount injuries when they happen to Ludwick, but Duncan and Ankiel missed a fair amount of time with injuries in 2008. Schumaker had only 23 fewer PAs than Ludwick, despite posting an OPS 201 points lower. Again, in 2009, we had injuries, and a four-way outfield rotation before bringing Holliday onto the team. Ankiel, Duncan, Rasmus, and Ludwick split time. Ankiel crashed into a wall and missed a lot of time on the DL because of it. Duncan was traded to clear the way for Holliday. Rasmus slid into the center field slot and had just 19 fewer PAs than Ludwick. It isn’t quite as clear-cut as Bernie makes it out to be by selectively picking and choosing when we should explain away playing or not playing due to DL time.
I agree with TLR being cautious with Ludwick after his time on the DL 100%. I wish the Cardinals did this more often. This is one of the few times in which I agree with their handling of a player coming off the DL. But, I have problems with the way TLR has handled Ludwick, especially in 2008, after the All-Star Game, when TLR benched Ludwick to seemingly put him in his place.
"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 don't think TLR would have been as cautious with him coming out off the DL
if his recklessness wasn’t what sent Ludwick to the DL.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
yeah, bernie's argument is a bit specious
Ludwick’s not ranking lower than third in PAs by a Cards OF is a sign that he’s a regular, but not an everyday player. He’s a right-handed hitter … in a platoon situation he would see more PAs, especially when the other options were Ank, Dunc and Schu. In any month in which he wasn’t on the DL for any time, he probably should have always had the most PAs of any Cards OF, barring Holliday since his arrival.
don't left-handed hitters in a platoon situation see more PAs
since there are more right-handed pitchers?
Ludwick has a reverse split, but TLR didn’t play it that way
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
you misread
3rd on the TEAM, not 3rd out of OFs… kinda a big difference there
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
no
And at no point from 2008 through 2010 — except when he couldn’t play while on the DL — did Ludwick rank anywhere less than 3rd among Cardinals outfielders in plate appearances in a month. (Only three OFs can play at once, you know.)
ooo but
Ludwick led all STL outfielders in plate appearances in 2008 and 2009. This season, Ludwick had the most plate appearances by an OF in April, and again in May. And then he got hurt in June.
that’s seriously different sounding though…. saying 3rd in OFs was just general to make a point that he was a regular starter but the follow-up tells me, he played more than a regular starter
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
bernie bs to me
if lud was ok to play, he was ok to play
the only reason they were being ‘cautious" was because jay was hitting .400
an injury like luds does not re-occur because he played 3 days in a row, but because it wasn’t strong enough to run hard at all (see freeze, d.). re-injury could happen any day that he didn’t properly stretch.
it’s just patronizing bs trying to make tlr look rational
he was trying to get cloby going and jaybird was raking. so he decided he would "rest’ lud 1 day in 3
just like lud should have been a regular in 2008 way before he was, tlr didn’t view him as a guy he could count on for whatever reason; certainly wasn’t how he played when he played
if he did view him as “core”, we probably would have kept him, traded for and signed lee or halliday, and not holliday.
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
it's all about the rbi's
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
holliday better than lud and 8M bucks?
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
let's see
assuming holliday get exaclty as many PAs as last year, he’s a 6.5 WAR player at his current pace. adjust a half win for a potentially fluky year with UZR: 6 WAR
at 4.4MM per win he’s worth 26.4MM. minus the ~16MM that’s actually coming off this year’s payroll for him, he’s at $10.4MM surplus value
doing the same for luddy (assuming he’s the exact same player in 2011 as 2010), he’s at 4.4 – .5 WAR = 3.9 * 4.4MM = $17MM – 8MM = $9MM surplus.
not only is holliday by far the better, younger player, he’s the more valuable financial asset
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
if you want to go that route
lud is only masking 5.5M this year, so make that 13m surplus on this scale, 3m more than holliday
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
getting the most at bats in that group is not the same as being a regular
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
I don't know if they showed the Freese video in St. Louis
He stopped running before he got to home plate and just bent over. The catcher walked over to tag him. The guy can’t get a break or else the Cards have a lot to learn about injury management. It’s good to know it’s a separate injury I guess. I’m not counting on Freese.
And I remember the years when they Cards had 100+ win teams. They were surprisingly healthy.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
if the Cubs put Ramirez on waivers
do we make a claim?
"They're so stunned they didn't even boo!"
John Rooney 5/3/10 referring to Philly fans on Cards 5-run 7th inning
No
Because that would be the logical thing to do and we all know how the FO and Tony feel about logic.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions
The dude's a former Hank Aaron award winner!!!1
But all kidding aside, I would be tempted to. And that makes me feel a little gross.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
And after taking a closer look, I would really really want us to claim him if he's put on waivers
He had a crappy half-year, but he’s been hitting much better the last month or so. He’s not that old (32 or 33 I think) so I would think he’d have some good baseball left in him.
No idea what the financial side would look like though.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I would say absolutely
Who knows. It’s the Cubs. They could be paying him a gazillion dollars a year.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
Wow
I went ahead and looked him up on Cot’s. He’s making 15.75 million dollars this year. Also has some interesting options/opt out possibilities.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
If the Cubs waive him and the Cards claim off waivers...
…there shoudn’t be any financial implications on the Card’s side. The Cubs pay out the contract, and the Cards get him for the pro-rated minimum for the rest of the season.
That presumes it goes down as a straight waiver claim. If there’s some kind of maneuver where the Cubs pull him back and then work out a trade, then yes, finances become an issue.
the Cubs will want to clear salary
they’re shopping Big Z already.
Chone Figgins also a BIG contract, which the M’s want to move.
Mike Lowell might be a good alternative.
"They're so stunned they didn't even boo!"
John Rooney 5/3/10 referring to Philly fans on Cards 5-run 7th inning
My understanding of a waiver claim
is that the team claiming the player is then responsible for the contract. Cards might be willing to pay the remainder of this year, but I can’t see them risking having to pay next year if he exercises hsi option.
Correct.
When a team claims a player on waivers, the team can arrange a trade with the team for that player, the other team can pull the player back, or the team can do nothing and allow the claiming team to assume the player’s existing contract.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Gah, that's right.
If the player gets waived and then signed, the old club is on the hook for the contract. If a new club claims him, they get the contract.
It’s still early – brain not firing right.
Well, poop
I would want no part of Ramirez’s contract.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
A good breakdown
of the process is here.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good link
Now curious about how player options work with it.
Leaning toward “it’s the claiming team’s problem.”
Think of it as claiming the contract, not the player.
I’m almost positive that the claiming team ends up with all the baggage, now that my mind is out of it’s muddle, pre-10 a.m. state.
should, yes; would, not too likley
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
at 15M for 2011
I’m not so sure I’d jump all over that.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
claim, not necessarily take him
if the cubs waive him, they eat his entire salary
if we claim and trade, we can get them to pay a large chunk
if not, let it go
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
If the Cubs put him on waivers, the claiming club takes on the contract,
barring the Cubs pulling him back and working out a deal.
If the Cubs DFA him, they eat the contract.
I'm out of champagna. How about some 7-Up and Mad Dog 20/20?
by The Continental on Aug 3, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
A-Ram has a season wRC+ of 78
But he put up 119 in a shortened June, and 160 in July. He also stated that he intends to exercise his 14.6M 2011 player option. I don’t know if the Cubs or a claiming team would be on the hook for that player option, but it seems to me that either way would make it unlikely: the Cubs don’t want to pay for nothing, and the claiming team doesn’t want to pay a lot for potentially little.
I think that Mike Lowell is a more likely veteran 3B to both go to and clear waivers.
Personally, I’d like to see Craig at 3B for now.
ARam's contract is an albatros
There’s no way in hell, after the season he’s had, he doesn’t pick up the option (and he’s already said he would). I don’t want that contract, the cubs don’t want that contract, and hopefully the Cardinals don’t want that contract.
And Mike Lowell makes me nervous but he’s a safer financial bet than Ram.
I wonder if the Mariners would be willing to give up Branyan (yeah, I said that out loud). Or maybe Casey Blake when the Dodgers realize they’re out of the race? Wes Helms? Ty Wiggington?
The 3rd base market is a little thin.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Quite frankly,
I don’t think Branyan, Helms, or Wiggington is a better defender at 3B than Allen Craig would be. And while I like native Iowan Casey Blake, I don’t see Coletti getting rid of him. After all, didn’t they just ink him to an extension?
"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
Blake.
According to Cots, the last contract he signed was in ’08. He signed through 2011 with a 2012 club option. He makes 5.25 next year and the club option is for 6M with a 1.25M buyout.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
I think he grows an instant beard too.
Which is good for playoff morale.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Blake's auto-beard
would offset the negative energy put out by Colby’s “mustache”.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
apparently this is a meme I'm not aware of
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
fixed
stupid British comedy
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
by STLRegalia on Aug 3, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
What's up your bum?!
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
You need to leave this page and
go watch this.
/I hope that link is correct, I can’t click you tube @ work.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Since it's a link to a Monty Python skit
no thanks. I can just sit here and watch my cat snore and be more entertained.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
What the hell is going on here
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Even I'm surprised to be saying this
But shouldn’t Mather be on this team now? He can play adequate third base, which Lopez cannot. He’s hitting fine and seems to be back after the injury. It has to suck to be Josh Kinney or Joe Mather and not be on the team at this point
Josh Kinney has to be > MacDougal, right?
Maybe I’m just really not OK with relievers that have a hard time throwing strikes, but I don’t like this guy at all.
"If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice" - Ichiro
Neither Kinney nor MacDougal any longer have the control to pitch in the big-leagues.
"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 dunno about Mather...
He had a good June, but a very bad July. I would just call up Craig when he’s eligible, give him at least an inning to try playing third base (oh wait the entire organization has decided that will cause a rupture in the space-time continuum, erasing the history of baseball and causing cricket to become the national pastime, with Pujols still becoming the greatest player in the country) before Mather. I’m sure his defense is good, but his hitting just doesn’t look to me like he’s back to effectiveness.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Aug 3, 2010 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
For the love of God
Email that entire thing to John Mozeliak. He needs to hear it
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Aug 3, 2010 9:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It's just bizarre
I mean, every time people complain about Craig not getting any more chances at third, someone points out that it’s not like it’s just TLR who feels this way. And they are correct to point that out. It’s the Cardinals organization in general. To which we reply that if Stavinoha can make starts in the outfield and Aaron Miles can make starts at the middle infield, surely they can spare a start at third for Craig just once to see what happens. I figure the worst that could happen is a black hole forms beneath the arch and releases an otherwordly creature with frightening properties beyond our understanding. If that does happen, at least it will give Judd Nelson and Kristy Swanson one last chance to resurrect their careers.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Aug 3, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Do NOT play with the roster like that, man.
If we ever end up starting Craig at third, Lopez at short, Miles at second, Winn in center and Stav in right, the Grimorum Selig is unlocked and we’ll end up releasing Cthullarussa.
by dronemc on Aug 3, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Ha.
Cthullarussa. Needs photoshop. But you get a rec.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
Wow.
A shoutout to the St. Louis filmed abomination that was the Sci Fi channel’s Black Hole. I wish there were something better than a rec I could give to this.
Interesting side note: my friend Chris, who used to post around here very occasionally as Shadybird, worked as a prop guy on that film.
Semper fidelis tyrannosaurus!
by the red baron on Aug 3, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Last night was quite an unpleasant surprise
I saw us up 4-2, went to mow my lawn and came back to the wrong to winning, by a lot. Holy WTF I’m never mowing my lawn again.
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Aug 3, 2010 9:01 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I will never mow my lawn
after a Cardinals loss ever again. My yard looked like Roger Maris’ head the year he hit 61.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Cleary Evilfrog is the only one whose yardwork is a good luck charm.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
it's going to be hot out today...
but I think i need to trim the hedges or something.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
impressions from last night's game
- St Louis is fuckin hot
- so hot there is a gross misty fog at night, i never really noticed that
- jeans should not be worn there again before september
- i always wear jeans to games before september
- it’s nice when balls fly around the field during practice, when they leave in my bag
- the better part of our pitching staff is quite fetching
- there are two Stan statues – duh
- thepainguy has a very nice looking camera i did not get the chance to ask more about (sorry i couldn’t say more than two words to you, i was being rushed)
- bleacher seats are actually not bad
- Jake Westbrook got a nice welcome from the crowd several times
- speaking of the crowd, how the hell does the wave go around the stadium (all three decks) 7 or 8 times without stopping
- the dugout DGAF about the wave
- Mike MacDougal needs to eat a sandwich, a giant giant sandwich
- Randy Winn’s warmup routine in the outfield looks quite dangerous – as in i’m two seconds away from putting myself on the DL for 15 days
- i need a Motte jersey
- when something doesn’t go the way ppl want, the phrase now seems to be “bring back Ludwick”
- i hate losing
- i hate losing even more when it’s to the Astros who just had a freakin firesale
- i miss Luddy
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
it was actually nice out last night...
tonight’s going be hot.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
This summer has been brutal at times
That’s why when I go to the games I hit up the Champions Club….though I’ve been in the Commissioner’s Box and the first row behind home plate, twice this year.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, rub it in why don't ya
i go to too many games and concerts to be paying crazy money for every event
that, and somehow my full time job here brings in half of what i used to make working part-time in europe..
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
Love the McDougal sandwich comment but now I want a giant giant sandwich
Also I’m not a fan of the wave myself but I’ve never understood the kill the wave thing here, what did I miss?
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Aug 3, 2010 9:06 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
...
you forgot: DFA winn
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
FDA Winn!!!
Seriously, I believe stavinoha is better on defense than Winn.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
i actually don't mind winn
but every time he moves i hear wood creaking noises in my head
also, i noticed Hunter Pence can take a lot of verbal abuse
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
This is gross and funny at the same time
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Yep, welcome to the Lou in summertime.
As my brother would say, it’s like a swamp without the alligators.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 3, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Did you say St. Louis Soup?
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
by jd is legend on Aug 3, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
thought i'd share these
Carp’s shoes say “CARP” on them. seem they were produced for him. everybody else’s shoes said nothing. i was really hoping there was a fanshot in there haha
okay, so at first i thought hazel was being doctor-y and apparently the tv cameras do add some pounds, because Mike MacDougal is in person actually really scary thin. suddenly i am really glad we don’t play on the top of a mountain or we’d have to chain him to the ground. chicago is known as the windy city right? what do we do with him there?
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
didn't he pitch a year for the White Sox?
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
He wore heavy shoes.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks a lot for the ticket
Even though the game went to crap, I don’t blame you for that entirely.
Plus I got a really nice view of the Pujols HR to LF from an angle I’ve been trying to get more of. When I get done with it, I’ll fanpost the clip so all can enjoy it.
Oh, and the phrase around me was, “Ludwick would have made that play.” It started out logically and then was taken a bit far as things fell apart.
Thanks again.
my pleasure
next time i have an extra you’re the first person i’m thinking of
maybe then we actually talk for 5 minutes before i have to run off
maybe we win that one too for a change
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
thepainguy is a trained killer
of marriages
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
by STLRegalia on Aug 3, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
the ladies love STLRegalia
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
you
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
I was there too
everyone was blaming Westbrook. “We traded Ludwick for another guy who only goes 6 innings… blah blah blah”. It’s ok though, he was one of the ones doing the wave.
Though, about the wave: it was nice to see how “LET’S GO CARDINALS!” chants eventually overcame the wave and ended up defeating it.
"He’s in his own world out there. He says he doesn’t cuss. I disagree." - Skip Schumaker on Jason Motte
STOP TRYING TO TRADE SHELBY MILLER!!
better than the 4 innings that soup and hawk were giving you.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Hard to believe that people were NOT gushing over his performance
and the fact that the starters would soon be supanless and hawkless
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
7 Ks 1 BB and 13 groundballs to 1 flyball
Whoever doesn’t like that performance should go beat themselves with a hammer.
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Aug 3, 2010 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I had a dream that Allen Craig started third base for us.
"What exactly is that thing? A pessimism meter?" - Bruce McCurdy
Did that dream
Suddenly turn into a nightmare of awful unnecessary double-switches?
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
heh
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I mean, seriously
If tony wanted to do a double-switch for right field, I’d rather have Miles and his stubby arms at second and Skip in RF….it’s not quite as bad.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm almost certain that Miles is part T-Rex
But, like, a Miniature Poodle sort of thing.
by Mulliganstew on Aug 3, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Tyrannadoodle?
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
by jd is legend on Aug 3, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
That's a job for the photoshop bitch.
You're the fail to my win?
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 3, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Were you along the 1st base line
half way up and eating a hotdog? I had that same dream!
SD
by Gibby45 on Aug 3, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Everything that Goold is reporting says that Craig will absolutely get a chance at 3rd
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
only because I guaranteed that he never would
so you can all thank me when he does
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Sorry to go off-topic
But….is anyone else pissed that Edinson Volquez was able to serve his suspension for violating the PED rule of MLB, while on the DL? I realize that he came off the DL a little while ago, but it just popped into my head for some reason this morning and I thought I would ask.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:17 AM EDT reply actions
Sorry
Just read the fine-print rules on how he was able to do this. NVM.
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Aug 3, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
well..
It’s designed to hurt the player not the team. So i’m okay with it in that sense. However; I wish it would be changed so that it hurts the team also. (easy for me to say since it’s the rival of the team i rout for) But I think this discourage teams from “looking the other way” on things like this.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Maybe you're not
Worried about the Bullpen, but I am. The Cardinals relievers rank 21st in MLB in FIP, with a 4.21 mark, 21st again in xFIP with a 4.44 mark and dead last in K/9 with a 6.41 per 9.
Yet bullpen ERA is 7th lowest in the majors with a 3.43 mark. I’m not surprised when they melt down, I’m surprised when they don’t.
By the way, our best reliever by xFIP has been Kyle McClellan, who only trails Ryan Franklin in FIP, although I guess Motte is close enough to both marks that it’s just squabbling a bit
to point it out.
Is FIP as reliable of a metric for relievers as it is for starters?
Doesn’t the innings pitched component skew the stat at all?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
It's not as reliable
’just like everything else it becomes less reliable as the sample size decreases. Pick your poison however, low strike out rates, very poor LOB numbers, and the fifth lowest BABIP in the bigs. Anyway I look at it, I see regression written all over it.
There's an deflation component as well
Relievers are generally brought in with favorable platoon matchups, and only face batters once.
The low strikeout
rates are baffling to me. Why don’t guys like Boggs strike more people out?
that's the only thing I could think of is that he is trying to get grounders instead of Ks
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
So does Westbrook but he struck out 7 last night.
it’s more in execution (especially when you throw as hard a Boggs) than anything else.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
and facing the asstros
"He’s in his own world out there. He says he doesn’t cuss. I disagree." - Skip Schumaker on Jason Motte
STOP TRYING TO TRADE SHELBY MILLER!!
Both Westbrook and Boggs faced the same hitters last night.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Could be because his slider isn't really a swing and miss pitch.
You saw it on Sunday. It was getting mashed all over the park.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought Boggs's slider was a plus pitch.
In fact, it’s been called a “wipeout slider.”
"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 Aug 3, 2010 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone should do a Pitch F/X on Boggs comparing his slider movement as the year has passed...
"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 Aug 3, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3344&position=P#pitchtype
His rate values at Fangraphs indicate that his FB and SL are positive, and that his changeup is quite negative. Hard to assess pitches in a vacuum, though, because even a crappy change can improve the performance of other pitches.
Boggs is known for a heavy sinker, a la Fausto Carmona or Chien-ming Wang
Hard throwers with a lot of sink. High GB rates, low K rates
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
One reason it IS advantageous is that it gets rid of all the inherited runners bullshit
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Yeah.
But I would like to see something that considers leverage as well.
Because you could have a mop-up guy with a sub 3.00 FIP, which really isn’t indicative of his performance as a reliever.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I really, really think we should've been in on Chad Qualls
I think he’s a major bounceback candidate in the 2nd half and the ~60% GB rate he’s been rocking the last couple of years in Arizona would look good in the Cardinals pen. If we’re going for a cheap way of adding some potential goodness to the pen, I’d MUCH rather see him than MacDougall.
I think it’s high time Fernando Salas had an extended run, too.
And Mike MacDougall can get the hell off my team.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 3, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
+1 for Qualls
3.80 xFIP
8.01 ERA
54.4% GB rate
His walks are way up, but that might be correctable. His BABIP is through the roof.
Woulda been a nice pickup.
Sooooo.....
if Chone Figgins clears waivers (if he’s waived at all), he has a 4 year/36 mil cowtract: is he worth trading for? It seems he cud solve a lot of line-up problems at once (play 2nd or 3rd, hit lead-off). What cud we trade for him – clearly, the Mariners need young talent, but I think a combo of 3 ready or near-ready players cud do it. I bet we cud package something like Skip/Mather/Kyle Mac and get him. What say all of you?
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
That's a lot of money to spend on someone for this year.
Because you would have to assume that Freese will be back next year (if not this year). Unless Freese is cursed, which is a reasonable assumption at this point.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Not if we...
..traded Skip and started him at second, used him at third only while Freese is in the deep freeze. He used to play 2B; we cud play Craig or Flop at third in the meantime. He has a career OB% of .360, stolen over 300 bases, and been worth over 19 WAR in his career.
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
Craig will never play 3B for the STL cardinals
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
He might...
…it is in the realm of statistical possibility that maybe, just once, just for ONCE, he just…might…squeek in…JUST ONE TEENY Game…at third, just an inning, a third of an inning.
Would you believe a couple of practice grounders off a fungo??
Would you believe his avatar will on MLB The Show 2010?? An Alternative version, wherein Bud Selig has been replaced by a hand puppet of Ruth Buzzie??
Rats…
:=8/
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
SO you're saying there's a chance?
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Aug 3, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions
If the FO just traded Luddy...
…partially on the justification (whether they say so or not) that they don’t want his 8-10 million on the books for next year, I’m pretty sure they won’t take on Figgins’ contract for similar reasons. Especially not when they’ve got cost-certainty with Skip for next season.
I don't get it
$9 mill a year for this?
AVG OBP SLG OPS OPS+
2010: .238 .334 .288 .622 74
Career: .286 .360 .378 .738 96
Sounds worse than the Lohse contract!
So says, Titus Pullo (formerly The Dude)
Isn't that the same as Skip's?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Skip's defense is a lot worse
And certainly his upside is a lot lower with the bat.
But yeah, that Figgins contract looks painful right now.
Calvinist?
What’s Calvinist about either slapping singles or regressing to the mean?
Salvation by singles alone, perhaps?
So says, Titus Pullo (formerly The Dude)
I assume it was implying
that Boog was pre-destined to regress.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Or at least he is hitting as if he were.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Maybe he had some sort of conversion experience
He found total faith in his own regression. I’m not sure how this interacts with the doctrine of Sola Grittura.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Sola Grittura,that's the Miles Doctrine, right?
Application to Boog would be most unorthodox
So says, Titus Pullo (formerly The Dude)
The Brewers scored 18 runs last night by slapping singles
something like 24 of ’em.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
by Tackle Box on Aug 3, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Post-season success
While I think more should have been received for parting with Ludwick, adding Westbrook (if last night’s was the Westbrook we traded for) is going to help us in the post-season. Westbrook’s 2-run performance is a dramatic improvement from Hawksworth.
That being said, hopefully Westbrook is NOT Calvinist.
It's quite possible that Westbrook
won’t even be in the playoff rotation. He might give this team a better chance to get to the playoffs, but if they get there, Ludwick will be missed.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Again. No way he isn't pitching in the playoff rotation.
He looked better than Garcia last night.
by Mulliganstew on Aug 3, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think that LaDunc will choose one pitcher over the other
based solely how one of those pitchers pitched on August 2nd against the Astros.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I do think he looked better than Garcia though
And, I think, there’s no way someone who looks just as good or better than Garcia is going to lose time to Lohse.
by Mulliganstew on Aug 3, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
That's quite a comparison based on one start.
Westbrook’s FIP this year is 4.51 vs. 3.41 for Jaime. In fact, Westbrook hasn’t had a season in his career that comes close to what Jaime’s putting up. Also, I’m not ready to put him ahead of a healthy Lohse. The next month will make these things clearer.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
4.51 was pre Duncan pixie dust
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Also homing at Progressive, also in the AL
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor
Progressive = 0.869 HR rate
Busch = 0.751 HR rate
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/teams/ (2009?)
AL FIP = 4.45
NL FIP = 4.19
There are two immediate FIP-impacting things for a Progressive-to-Busch conversion: fewer HRs because of the park, lower FIP because of the league.
In terms of actual run outcomes, you’re also looking at a CLE team UZR/150 of -8.3 (worst in the MLB) against an STL -0.3.
PFs, year-to-year FIP, and certainly year-to-year UZR are all subject to variance but I’d line up all those items first, then consider Duncan.
(this is to say nothing about Westbrook v Garcia, BTW, just adjustments)
So you're saying he's gonna win the Cy Young
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
More or less, yeah.
But on the reals AL → NL would make Westbrook’s “NL xFIP” about 4.1 rather than 4.4. Loose-adding park, defense, Duncan, Molina, TJ recovery, contract audition, contender, etc. factors I think a 4.0 STL ERA seems reasonable. Give him 6IP/game and that would be about 2.6 runs per start.
speaking of luddy
Ludwick is a rare player to be traded at the deadline from a first-place team to a more-in-first-place team, from a lineup that needed offense to a lineup that needed more offense.
"I’m lucky," said a grinning Ludwick, who in his career has now been entrusted with forcing strikes to Albert Pujols(notes) and Gonzalez. "If you’re going to be traded, that’s how you want to do it. The energy around this ballclub is kind of amazing. It’s no wonder they’ve won so many games. … Reminds me a lot of the Rays a couple years ago."
src
sigh…
well, he seems happy and like he fit right in, no tlr micromanaging and in the way of playing time
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
how can the Birds get some of that energy?
They gave away a big part of what they had with Ludwick maybe. I imagine TLR’s intensity helps to squash some energy. Part of the TLR tax, I guess.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
This might be irrelevant, but I really miss the Boog/Joey Bombslides chemistry
They seemed to make everybody else laugh; they definitely made us laugh
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
they looked to have that energy
when Colby took second on that blooper to right field. Ryan’s aggressively going to second on the throw when Colby scored. (also when Jay got out trying to go to third.)
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Lopez was an absolute hack at 3B last night.
If Freese is out for another 2-3 weeks (hopefully not), the Cardinals need a better defensive option at 3B.
You have to wonder if that is what happens for him all the time and why he is never with the same club two years in a row.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
Totally agree.
Especially recently.
He had a really bad strikeout in the last game against the Pirates where he looked like he just wanted to get back to the dugout and chill.
Last night he muffed a grounder and turtled on a line drive (that wasn’t hit that hard, mind you) and his reaction was like “I wonder what I’m going to have for dinner after the game”.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
How about Gotay?
Seems he is doing ok in Memphis. Or, Stav? He moves like a goalie … just put him over the line and tell him to be sure nothing gets to the corner!
SD
Stav needs to be fired
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
TLR and Bob Brenly have the same career winning percentage.
"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
Bob Brenly has a lower years-per-WS-title average too
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
by jd is legend on Aug 3, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
And is more personable.
"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 don't know about that.
All of these baseball managers spend so much time in the sun, that they tend to be pretty leathery.
"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
and the mustache
I heard a caller on The Score here in Chicago a couple weeks ago trying to make the argument that Brenley should be the next Cubs manager based on the mustache alone. His point was all great Chicago coaches had mustaches.
Ozzie Guillen…. mustache
Joel Quinneville ….mustache
Phil Jackson….. mustache
and of course
Mike Ditka…. mustache
When you look at it this way, it’s hard to argue with.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Sweet.
My grandma should get an interview then.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
I agree.
You can’t really argue with this logic. I’ll head down to Sec Taylor and see if Ryne Sandberg has started growing one yet.
"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
bob brenly is a tool though
and when he talks about baseball he sounds like an idiot
The Redbirds are of the highest priority to me... As it should be
MacDougal strikes me as Jason Motte...
…with less velocity and worse control.
He’s got the biggest head jerk I’ve ever seen, and that’s got to be fixed.
He looks like he was panning for gold in the Old West and he fell into some sort of fast forward time machine.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
This made me laugh
Also reminded me of that episode of Star Trek TNG. Maybe MacDougal lost everything to Data in a poker game and can’t afford giant sandwiches.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Aug 3, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Any initial impressions of Westbrook's mechanics?
Apologies if you have talked about it on VEB already.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
It looked to me last night like he was slinging the ball at times.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Me too
His throwing just looks a little unusual to me and I’m not sure why.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
He cuts his delivery short
He’s also funky in some other ways.
His arm action is OK, but I need to look at the video I shot.
TLR on espn radio a minute ago:
“i dont know why we lost that game last night, we only scored 4 runs, we could of added more runs.”
…..really? those 4 runs had you a 2 run lead in the 8th before you switched in an inferior defensive player and asked McDougal to save the game for you.
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 10:35 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Is he unable to recognize that a reliever who walks over 6 batter per 9 innings shouldn't be in the game?
Or, that Randy Winn has lost all coordination with age, making him unable to field any outfield position?
"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
Don't question Randy.
He’s a proven veteran.
Though it might as well be Randy Quaid out there, for all the ability Winn still has.
I will give it to Al, though
he bashed Winn’s defense
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
I don't mind Al calling players out,
but the Colby bashing is out of control with that guy. We’ve discussed this before, I think.
"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
fuckin' the ability to identify adequate samples
how does it work?
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
by prophetjohn on Aug 3, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
but Macdougal pitched fine last night
he gave up 2 weak groundballs, 1 got through because Skip was playing behind 2nd base and the other was a slow chopper up the middle. The fly ball he gave up should have been caught and would have been caught if Randy Winn could play any defense…. also, he only gave up 1 walk and that was intentional
The Redbirds are of the highest priority to me... As it should be
tlr lives in his own, separate reality
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
Last night in Springfield
Got to attend the AA game last night, first time since early in the season, a few notes:
As anyone who has seen video can attest, the Freese injury wasn’t pretty. He was able to limp off under his own power which was encouraging, but after slowly walking from around half way home to a few feet from home when the catcher tagged him, he stood doubled over by the plate for an extended period and then slowly limped with an attendant straight to the clubhouse-without going back to the dugout. It was such a strange night for him.
Coaxed a walk early (desperately wanted to swing at anything close, but the pitcher wasn’t having it) and then would have been thrown out straying too far from first if the throw from right hadn’t been about 18 feet over the first baseman’s head. The catcher caught it and doubled off Pham who inexplicably had run from second to nearly home without retreating after the catch. Freese appropriately, given it was his first game back took it easy going back to first, and again, would have been doubled off easily with a decent throw.
Nothing noteworthy from his second ab (he was the dh), but in his third ab he hit an absolute laser to the base of the wall in center. One of the hardest hit balls I have seen in a while. The ball litterally launched off his bat and hit the wall 1.5 seconds later. He coasted into second, again appropriately, and the throw from center given how hard he hit it and how deep the CF was playing was actually alot closer than it should have been. Then the baserunning debacle. He was really hustling around third (with the home team leading 4-2) and diaster struck. I was watching the relay, and didn’t see whether it was a misstep or what caused the problem but saw him pull up out of the corner of my eyes and swore far too loudly with children around. My wife couldn’t understand why I was so upset.
Takeaways. His swing looked good, he didn’t appear uncomfortable in the box at all (maybe a little anxious which was to be expected), and if the leg is o.k., he may not be that far away, but damn, this guy sure has the look of a cursed, tragic figure.
A couple of other quick hits. Alluded to Pham earlier. He looked alot like DJ did when he was playing so well a couple of years ago. Very fluid and rangy. I hadn’t seen him yet, but he took good at bats, looked comfortable and athletic in the field, and given his age and how he hits lefties, he might be able to handle Memphis next year with an eye toward spotting him against lefties in 2012. That would be an agressive timetable, but he was alot more polished than I expected. Looked very good. Scruggs hit a 416 ft bomb to right center and looked very nimble at first. Carpenter really hustles, is skinny as hell, and took the second best series of at bats (followed up by Pham , Hill and Scruggs).
Don’t be mislead by the lines of Swauger (sp?) and Kozma. Neither looked all that impressive (and the former hit two home runs, one of which was a cheapie down the line). Kozma made a brutal fielding error early on. The fine gentlemen around me kept saying it was a bad hop and they couldn’t believe it was scored an error. He didn’t range much to his left and it just went right through him. We keep straining to find something encouraging there and I just can’t see it. I think the current powers that be are doing a hell of a job drafting useful talent (at least for the margins of the roster). I literally can’t understand this one, and he does not look ready for Memphis next year.
Sorry for the length of the post, don’t get a chance to contribute all that much and love reading the site.
by Enigma35 on Aug 3, 2010 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 16 recs
"I Will Not Pay for this Record, it is Scratched"...
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
by The MooCow on Aug 3, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously, this should be green.
Not enough good, crunchy info gets greenified. This is an excellent report.
I'm out of champagna. How about some 7-Up and Mad Dog 20/20?
by The Continental on Aug 3, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I saw them play two Sundays in a row
Some thoughts…
1. Pham has a huge, accurate arm from LF. Saw him gun down a guy at home plate. Had him by 3 or 4 steps. Very athletic but raw.
2. I’m not impressed by Kozma. Decent glove, but Boog’s is much better. Shoot, I saw Brett Wallace play 3B and I thought he looked better; at least more intense and prepared. At the plate, the word that comes to mind for Kozma is indifferent. Looks like the guy is coasting to me. I don’t see any fire. He might make a decent 2B, but he could also wash out.
3. Carpenter is like an eager puppy. Also looks like a ballplayer. Needs more skills, but I like his attitude. Kozma looked like a washed up old man next to Carpenter (attitude wise). Of course, in TLR’s eye’s Carpenter may have too much enthusiasm and too little grit.
4. Hill pounded the crap out of the ball 2 weeks ago when I saw him, but I’m not sure his swing will scale. He’s just OK behind the plate.
5. Additon’s delivery is funky and he had control problems but managed to pitch around them.
6. Scott McGregor intrigues me. Not huge velocity wise but the guy seems to know how to pitch.
7. Francisco Samuel’s mechanics are clean and he can really bring the ball.
by thepainguy on Aug 3, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Carpenter is a very skinny eager puppy.
I hope he makes it to the bigs
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
Everybody knows that in n out has the best club
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I've seen Additon pitch once
I think he’s got the potential to be a future LOOGY just because of his goofy delivery, but I didn’t see him as a rotation worthy guy, did you?
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Chad Bradford like?
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
could there ever be an Additon by Subtraction situation?
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
by STLRegalia on Aug 3, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
This is what bothered me the past 2 1/2 years regarding TLR and Luddy
from the Burwell piece today:
Despite his consistent production, Ludwick couldn’t do enough to convince La Russa that he was someone he could chisel in stone as an everyday starter.
dfg
Milt Thompson FTW!
Ludwick had the most PA's of an outfield last year
Would have had the second most this year behind Holliday had he not been hurt.
Burwell doesn’t even watch baseball.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Plus, no one plays everyday besides Pujols, Molina, and Holliday.
So if his definition of “everyday starter” is playing in all 162 games, that’s not going to happen.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
That's true,
but Ludwick didn’t approach the level of playing time that an Edmonds or an Encarnacion. Which, I think, might be the point. Remember how TLR sat Ludwick after the ASG in 2008? Classic TLR.
"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
yes, stating he had the most PA's means nothing!
TLR switchs his guys around so much getting the most Pa’s doesn’t mean he’s a regular. Just means he got sat the least. BIG differance. Luddy got sat way too much. There was no reason for him to not play everyday with maybe 1 day every 2 weeks off.
Milt Thompson FTW!
he should have acheived "core" status
even Skippy was viewed that way going into this season.
Milt Thompson FTW!
Agree on the PA counting methodology
With TLR lineups, “a plurality of PAs” seems to me a dubious metric; better to look at the average PAs of core players (Pujols, Molina) and contrast with that.
Ludwick <> Edmonds
Edmonds was near HOF caliber, and Ludwick wasn’t.
As far as Encarnacion, JE had 598 PAs in his one full season with the Cards, while Ludwick had 617 PAs in 2008 (and in 2009 he missed time on the DL). So in fact Ludwick played more than JE did.
Dave
by SydneyDave on Aug 3, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
"Core" Players
I was comparing him to other players that were called “core” by TLR and played the OF. Obviously, Edmonds in his prime was putting up 6- or 7-WAR seasons (with an 8.3-WAR MV3 ’04). That was incredible. Ludwick is a 2- to 3-WAR player with a 5-WAR ’08. Edmonds is on another level, clearly, and a bad comparison.
But, I think Ludwick’s playing time is very comparable to Encarnacion’s, who TLR dubbed “core.” Encarnacion was a 1-to-2 WAR player and not very good. It was a shame that Aaron Miles swung so late on a pitch that he blinded Encarnacion. Prior to Miles accomplishing a feat that engineers, architects, and mathematicians had previously thought physically impossible for a MLB player to do, JuanE was on pace for over 600 PAs in 2007. Ludwick’s playing time was handled similarly to Encarnacion’s.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
JEncarn "Core"; I don't think so
He was on a pace for 600 PAs in 2007? Nope.
JE had 307 PAs when he was injured on 8/31, so he wasn’t on a pace for 600 PAs. He missed the first 34 games on the DL.
Plus, if he was a core player, why did TLR sit JE for 7 games earlier in the season? At the time, it was perceived because JE was not giving a full effort. In fact, JE had sat three of the five previous games and was pinch hitting in the 6th in the game he was injured.
So he wasn’t on a pace to have 600 PAs in 2007—not even close.
Dave
I'm going by what TLR said.
We’re going by TLR categorizations, not yours or mine. I have read multiple quotes with him referring to each of Encarnacion and Edmonds as a “core” player and this Goold story confirms it:
Manager Tony La Russa uses the word “core” with such reverence that when he dubs one of his players as a member of the Cardinals’ “core”, we take note.
In a casual conversation with reporters last season, he called David Eckstein a “core” player and that sent the scribbling class rifling through their notebooks to see if he had ever said that before about the shortstop. Juan Encarnacion has, at times, been designated as a “core” player. He was called that few times after signing and a few more times last season when he was collecting 37 RBIs in May and June and spending some games in center field.
When talking about the club’s offensive woes this season, a growing anxiety first apparent in spring training that continued through the series sweep at Pittsburgh, La Russa offered a more select definition for his “core”:
At least a $10-million salary.
“The games count,” La Russa said last week. “It’s one our core guys, the three of them, to be themselves. That’s all we need. It they’re just themselves and you can get (complementary) contributions, you have a solid offense. We just need our $10-million (players) to be themselves.”
That’s quite a burden for three bats.
Too much.
By La Russa’s definition of the offensive “core” of the Cardinals is “Jim, Scott and Albert,” he said. Jim being Jim Edmonds. Scott being Scott Rolen. Albert being El Hombre. Of that “core” trio, only one was in the lineup Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. Rolen missed the game, as he’s missing today’s game, with back spasms. Edmonds made a late-game appearance as a pinch hitter, sitting for a second time this season against a lefthanded starter. (He’s in the lineup today.)
While TLR seems to allow his definition of “core” eb and flow with production, Ludwick never made the cut.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
He wasn't a member of the Ten Millionaires club.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Don't get me wrong,
I much prefer the Ten-Millionaire cut-off. However, I think you’d have a hard time arguing that Lohse is a member of the “core” and Wainwright is not.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
wainwright?
i heard that chump just got his first career shutout this season
there’s a reason lohse makes that money; he earned it
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
tlr zeroes my truth-o-meter regularly
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
a word of warning: don't watch espn right now.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I can't
so tell me all about it. I’m guessing either Ludwick highlights or last night’s lowlights
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
worse.
handegg. minnesota. that ought to give you a clue.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
here's the worst part.
about 5 minutes after they announced it on SC, they put up a banner that read:
“Favre plans to retire. Continuing coverage – ALL DAY”
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
He's positive this time.
Unless he changes his mind.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
But he's pretty sure he's 100% positive.
But there’s about 25% of him that still wants to play.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
He's comfortable in Wrangler...
right now, in the summer heat.
>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.
Holy crap...
He’s the reason I started watching football… A real hero on and off the field. Thanks for making an already bad day, worse.
I am sure the Walrus can play RF...
Don't worry.
In the near future, your spirits will be lifted by rumblings that Favre is mulling a return.
"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
you're surprised?
if you’ve been watching the circus the last three years, this is old news.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I'm pretty sure that it's been more than three years
It feels like about twenty years.
"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order. Like they should be."
I'm right there with ya. The main reason I started watching and adopted the Pack as my team.
…I has a slight sad today.
Note: Above comment may contain gratuitous amounts of sarcasm.
BOYCOTT HASS AVOCADOS
Hey Houston,
Suck it; you suck
This baseball team fucking pisses me off worse than my ex wife.
And I didn’t think that possible.
by RollBirdsRoll on Aug 3, 2010 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
TLR has made some of the worst decisions i've ever seen this season.
and it’s not like they’re one-time deals either. over and over. (i’m looking at you, randy winn!)
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Has anyone checked the manager's office for evidence of lead paint or mercury?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
worst decisions ever? it's not like he's started a land war in Russia
….just a garden gnome in the MIF and a inanimate object in right
by mattyp on Aug 3, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
repeatedly putting winn in right for jay
when jay is clearly the better defender. and a ball is hit in winn’s direction, he fumbles it around, and at least one run scores. reminds me a lot of duncan. i wonder, between duncan and winn, who’s worse.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Jay was in CF
I’m against the double switch of Colby last night. But I’d much have Winn in RF and Jay in CF than Jay in RF and Winn in CF.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
i'd rather have colby and jay in the OF
than winn in the OF at all.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I'd rather have Winn on the Reds.
The cubs don’t need any more help being horrible.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
He would fit right in with Miguel Cairo.
In a way, I wonder if Jocketty signed Cairo just to mess with TLR.
"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
Cairo
Springer, Isringhausen, Rolen…….
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Don't forget Mike Lincoln.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Even Napoleon would say
Devez-vous toujours essayer d’être le gars le plus intelligent dans la chambre?
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That reminds of a time with my ex-wife
I gave her a great orgasm and than she had the nerve to spit it back in my face
by FlimtotheFlam on Aug 3, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
you don't have an ex-wife, I'm pretty sure
sorry, last night’s game was a bit too sobering (well, in reality it had the opposite effect on me) and today I feel like ruining people’s jokes
Interesting ideological thought there...
Can one have a sobering experience when one is inebriated?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Depends on your definition of ideological thoughts.
"What exactly is that thing? A pessimism meter?" - Bruce McCurdy
Some of my most profound moments of my life
Was when i was drunk/high/tripping
by FlimtotheFlam on Aug 3, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't get it
I’m gonna have to ask the cool kids at school what this means. And what the heck is an “orgasm”?
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
You can't be serious.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait a minute, I know this one...
One of you ask the other, “is he lying to me right now?” and based on what he says you can figure out which side of the island is the cannibal side. I love riddles.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Aug 3, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The cat is dead.
>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 Aug 3, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
silly...
you dont bury survivors
Cardinals Baseball 2010: Why have only one 25th man when you can have four?
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Aug 3, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Even if you get it right,
you just end up falling into the oubliette.
by dronemc on Aug 3, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Mike Lowell
could probably be had without giving up much, and he should pass through waivers. He’s old, which TLR would like, and he gives us a hedge in case Freese takes a long time to come back (or doesn’t come back).
And Mo loves ex-Redsox.
He's only had 80 ABs this year.
I don’t know if the Cardinals want to bring in a guy who needs to find his swing in the middle of a pennant race.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
And I question whether or not he can actually play a serviceable 3B anymore.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
third base question is consent with Lopez
Lowell’s OPS+ has been on the plus side of 100 for like the last 6 seasons. (feel free to correct me if i’m wrong, it was a few weeks ago that I looked at that.)
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Even so,
his injury may have taken such a toll that we shouldn’t expect above average production from him.
"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
Yeah.
How many 36 year old third baseman are playing in the majors right now?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Rolen is 35.
Before anyone says anything.
:)
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
i don't expect him to be great
But hopefully can fill in 3rd base enough that we could use Lopez differently. And just DFA mile.
of course, I judge every move with the possibility of DFA’ing mile as result.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Mobility would be the big issue.
He’s been bothered by hip problems. Boog has huge range, but that would be a lot to compensate for.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Lopez is having issues catching balls that hit him in the glove.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
by Evilfrog on Aug 3, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
so did winn.
/cold
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I enjoy how all of our roster proposals include DFA'ing either one or all of the following:
Miles, Winn, Suppan, and/or Stavinoha.
"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
and only one of those were on the team at the beginning of the year
If it was only Stavinoha I can deal.
I also could deal with Suppan in the fact that we tried something else first, that didn’t work, and he really did give us what we wanted. But now we have a shinny new Westbrook and hopefully a refurbished Lohse back soon.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
I agree.
With Westbrook, though, we really should have DFA’d Suppan and kept Hawksworth in the rotation. Hawksworth, with all his problems, is a better pitcher right now and has much more potential (obviously) to help the club going forward this season and in future seasons.
"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
Suppan still might not pitch again
His next start (thursday) is an off day in which Lohse is pitching. Cardinals can skip him, wait to see how he pitches, then decide if if they want to cut DFA suppan then.
I’d rather see hawk coming out of the Bullpen than suppan. Which he is available to do now. And starting I really think Hawk is only slightly more desirable than soup.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Suppan is starting Aug. 8th.
The team announced it yesterday, I believe.
"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
Yes, but with good reason,
per the P-D (scroll down to the bottom and bring a unicorn):
Last Saturday’s start was not the last for Jeff Suppan with the Cardinals. La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have scheduled Suppan for an Aug. 8 start against the Florida Marlins.
Originally projected to return to the rotation on Aug. 10, Lohse probably will be activated to make an Aug. 13 start at home against the Chicago Cubs. The shuffle allows the Cardinals to position Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia and Adam Wainwright to face the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park Aug. 9-11.
"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
Cutting back on his workload is not
the worst thing in the world, either.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
We aparrently have a whole clubhouse full of guys who need to find their swings in
the middle of a pennant race.
Just sayin’.
by RollBirdsRoll on Aug 3, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
But when you bring someone in, especially that late in the season, you expect it to be someone who is an improvement and can offer immediate impact.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I would not be surprised if Lowell is on the team soon
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
If grit had a face
it definitely would look like Mike Lowell.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Since everyone here needs to lighten up and laugh about something...
My two best friends (G & D) and I went out for a night of drinking, because G was back in town for the weekend. He is thinking about moving back, as he’s been living in Chicago for 2 years.
Anyway, we rarely drink, let alone drink as a whole. Well, like most people, after 5 hours of drinking we began behaving poorly. After making a series of bad decisions involving pictures of unsuspecting bar patrons, shots for a bachelorette party we didn’t know, and too many shots, we make our way home with a DD.
I don’t remember this, but apparently someone thought it would be HILARIOUS if we opened the door and all pushed me out. Just to see what happens.
What happens is I spill out of the car, smashing my face on the cement. I now have a black eye so bad that old women looking to buy small electronics ask if I’m okay.
Last night sucked, but it was one game. TLR makes fucking ridiculous decisions, and I think THAT has a much better chance of hamstringing this season than our current roster does. My face hurts.
This is the most disappointing story I have ever read.
Why is there no mention of hooking up with some bachelorette party strange?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
it's not really all that funny...
but more of a ’that’s what you get for being hammered’ moral.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I thought so
And I was the dude with gravel in my face.
I was drunk enough that it happened, not drunk enough that it didn’t hurt. Boys will be boys and such.
Of me laying face down in the parking lot?
Or my face in several different colors?
Because I think we have both.
How was it in comparison to kindred's user pic?
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
Check it
http://www.sbnation.com/users/kindred
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
ouch.
apparently you tried to fight the curb and lost.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
That was my beach weekend....
…except for the face-plant on the highway. Secrets in Ocean City, MD has a drink called “Pain in the Ass”, which is layer upon layer of pina colata and rum runner in a huge frosty glass. I had 5 of ’em before dinner even got served. Then we ended up at Dogfish Head in Rehobeth Beach and drank a bunch of brew specials & infused vodka, ended up on the boardwalk late at night at an all-night pizza joint eating slices and doing shots of Jameson, and finally we ended the night getting pulled over on a sobriety check just outside of town – and being told to get home.
A night for the ages, but the next day I was useless…
:=8)
Big McLargehuge!
:=8O
NEEDS MOAR ROCKSTARK
>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.
Rocstark.....
Resident party dude and skirt chaser.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
His stories tend to go like this, and end up with an unexpected and unnecessary-for-VEB twist
>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.
...
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
A simple procedure
I think David Freese needs to get bionic legs from the knees down, or better yet, robocop legs.
by YepYouGuessedIt...CardinalRed on Aug 3, 2010 1:45 PM EDT reply actions
lt. dan style
"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 think we can do even better than that:
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
by mattybobo on Aug 3, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wow, 2020???
That is so far in the future. Matt Holliday’s contract will have expired for three years by then! The Cubs will have gone 112 years without winning a World Series!
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
I know right? Haha.
And Super Baseball 2020 was one of my favorite games as a kid.
'Hold my stones!'
Fire Tony LaRussa
I think I played it on a friend's Super Nintendo when it was still really new
I was blown away at the time. However, I keep coming back to RBI Baseball. I like the sequels but the original is the best.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
for us more recent video gamers (no offense to you oldies)
the mvp baseball series is one we go back to.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
I must say
The latest installment of The Show is pretty awesome, although it has a steep learning curve.
Heh.
I’m not even that old, but I am not up to date on baseball games. Still playing through Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy. I just got started early (seeing my dad make St. Basil’s Cathedral lift off like a rocket in Tetris for the NES is one of those important childhood memories that is rather formative).
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
During what year is Blade Runner set? 2019?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I loved that game
They had a team full of ninjas!
Last nites loss was LaRussa's fault
and as soon as i think of proof, i will prove 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
The proof is in the game thread and above here.
Taking out your best defender to put in a worse defender / bat was the stoopid move.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
tony larussa
soooooper genius [redacted]
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Actually, you shouldn't redact that...
Last night’s double-switch-and-bullpen-circus-o-rama is exactly why he gets that appellation.
>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.
true, but i was tempted to call him
an effing moron.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
moran
get it right
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Trever Miller pitching to Hunter Pence
QED.
Adios Esposito.
Adios Sarge. Say a prayer for Surf Boy...wherever he is.
Mo was speaking to Berine yesterday
And stated that he expected Jay to “regress to the mean” and is more of a .270-.290 hitter. I was relieved to hear that, meaning the front office didn’t really trade ludwick thinking that Jay was going to burn up the outfield along with Colby.
Bob Ramsey took issue with Mo saying that he expected Jay to “regress to the mean.” I screaming at the radio explaining why that wasn’t cutting down one of his players.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
That is an actual quote, right?
I hope so, because that’s really cool.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
as close to a quoute I can get
But he used the phrase “regress to the mean” and then went on to say that they project jay to hit .270 – .290 from here on out. Don’t remember the exact wording on projecting Jay.
Anyway, isn’t time for another Mo report card?
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
I think it is time, since he just finished his summer project
Anyway, cool info. Thanks.
Albert Pujols does not have "down" years. He has "~6 WAR" years.
Auto link
http://www.101espn.com/post/54258_the_bernie_miklasz_show_note_monday_82/audio
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Based on his saying "regress to the mean" and his stance on Craig,
we know he reads VEB, right?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I have no doubt that the front office keeps track of VEB in some capacity
Mo probably reads it sometimes, but I doubt if he has time to read it every day. It must be an interesting read for an insider, given how much they know that we don’t about various situations.
I really don't think that the GM has time to read blogs
Maybe the lower-level guys, and somebody like Tony Blengino would obviously keep track of Fangraphs, The Book Blog, THT, etc., but the GM is constantly making calls, etc.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Mo has mentioned us in interviews before.
Someone might have passed it along to him, of course, but he is aware.
Semper fidelis tyrannosaurus!
by the red baron on Aug 3, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
The Report Card, right?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep.
Very first one I ever did.
Semper fidelis tyrannosaurus!
by the red baron on Aug 3, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
it's probably more likely
that he just has a strong grasp on basic player evaluation
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
that right there is bipartisanly funny
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
I was considering one for this Wednesday,
but I think I may wait another couple weeks to see if there are any waiver wire deals coming down. Something like that could affect things. I do want to grade this year’s GMing efforts, though, before the season is over.
Semper fidelis tyrannosaurus!
by the red baron on Aug 3, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
after jaybird's 1 for 8
what else can he say?
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
That's what we need to get Jay going again
Someone needs to make a video “Jay Fire Burning in the Outfield”
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
Apparently a Y2S impersonator frequents the PD boards
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Nice, Y2S's was better. And do they have a statue to Tony LaRussa over at the P-D Boards yet?
Their undying love for him is kinda creepy…and a little confusing…
'Hold my stones!'
Fire Tony LaRussa
p-d guys are p-d guys
we shouldn’t pay much attention to them.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
These are my new friends, I named them after my favorite gritty guys, Aaron Miles and Nick Stavinoha.
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
You think it's creepy?
Are you aware he’s a genius? Or a hall of famer? It’s not creepy when he does it.
"I have my dog Allen Craig
locked up in the back. I don’t take him out to play very often. He’s not a Proven Pet™."
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
heh heh heh
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Hypothetical Baseball Situation of the Day!
Question: If the Royals, Orioles, Indians, and Mariners combined their rosters into one team, could that team win any of the divisions?
Here’s their lineup, off the top of my head:
C – Wieters? (poor Carlos Santana)
1B – Butler
2B – Roberts?
3B – Figgins?
SS – A. Cabrera
LF – Choo
CF – Gutierrez
RF – Ichiro
DH – Markakis
SP – Felix
SP – Greinke
SP – Carmona
SP – Vargas
SP – Fister
CL – Soria
(Sad fact: Greinke is the only starter on the Royals with an ERA under 4.74.)
I’m open to suggestions of replacement players, I just made this lineup up without doing any research. I also don’t really know enough about their bullpens to make a combined pen, except that none of them have a good bullpen. I have to think you could pull together a pretty decent pen from the four teams combined, though.
A lot of those hitters are doing pretty awful this season, but in any case, it would score something like 4.7 runs per game.
The rotation looks pretty good, but I can’t say Fister and Vargas inspire much hope in the back end.
The defense, however, looks pretty damn solid.
How many games does this team win in a full season?
That's probably a 90-win team, I'd say
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
i would say
it’s the sixth best franchise in baseball
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
You watch your mouth, pal
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I'm not your pal, buddy
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
FIGHT!
/pre-emptive
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Okay I got a little unlazy
Assuming 8 relievers (because whatever) and trying to mix in two lefties, I guess the bullpen would look something like:
(xFIP is in parentheses.)
R – Brandon League (3.47)
R – Jim Johnson (3.77)
R – Jesse Chavez (3.35)
R – Juan Cruz (4.02)
R – Koji Uehara (3.62)
L – Mark Hendrickson (4.11)
L – Rafael Perez (4.22)
CL – Joakim Soria (3.35)
This would give their pen something like a 3.50-3.75 xFIP on the year, I guess
Which would rank among the Top 5 bullpens in the majors, easily.
Can’t say it’s a lot of guys I’d trust to give me sustained success, though.
What about Luke Scott?
Isn’t he OPSing in the high .900s?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
no point
TLR is gonna use jay/stav as a platoon unless craig comes up, then it becomes jay/craig. team needs a 3B before going to OF.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
oh, you're talking about something else...
nevermind.
/f’n zoomzoom
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Does Scott's offense offset Guti's defense?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I think if you're moving Ichiro to CF
And moving Markakis to RF (where he is very, very good), the defensive drop-off is marginal.
More audio from 101.1
http://www.101espn.com/post/54295_burwell_and_stelton_show_note_tuesday_8310
Burwell and stelton question Tony about Ludwick.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
hehehe
Tony gave ludwick a “David Eckstein award”. I don’t know why that amuses me.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
the 'you played really well, you're a fan fave & clubhouse fave, but i'm not having you on my team anymore' award?
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
truthiness: not a tlr strong point
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
yeah we get it
you believe TLR is a lair. You’ve mentioned that before.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
he's not stupid, so what's the other choice?
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
except david eckstein... you know...
asked for a three year contract when he was a mediocre player turning 30+….. it was eckstein’s fault really
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
Gaw tweets
BlakeHawksworth:
Lunch http://yfrog.com/afydmj 14 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
that’s the picture from the link
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
looks like I've found a replacement for muscle milk
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Is it made by Kool-Aid?
Also, I made the mistake of going to Hawksworth’s twitter account… yikes. Forgot he’s Super-Christian.
Ive been busy all day....
Any word yet on Freeses injury?
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 3:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
"Progressing Nicely."
Repeal The LaRussa Tax.
by Michael_68_1999 on Aug 3, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Progressing nicely?
What is that supposr to mean? Any word on the severity or timetable?
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 3:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wasn't sure....
I thought I had heard that before that’s why I guess I thought that would actually be something the team would say
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 3:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah the team actually does say that...all the time
so it got to the point that “progressing nicely” doesn’t mean anything at all.
but yeah, i have not heard much today about what is happening with Freese after last night’s re-injury.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
...
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Aug 3, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dude I got your back
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Really? What were you looking for?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
still vague
We won’t know more about the severity of Freese’s injury until we get to the ballpark later today. Witnesses Monday night in Springfield reported Freese slowing up while rounding third base on a base hit and reaching for his right ankle. He then limped to the Cardinals clubhouse, where the Cardinals later called it a "strain of the lower right leg." Freese will be reevaluated in St. Louis today and we should have more information later this afternoon.
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
can someone explain to me how the waiver process works?
a team puts a guy on waivers and any other team can claim him. if they do claim him, they have to claim his salary/contract, as well, correct? and what happens if no one claims him? and how does a trade happen like that? and how is waiver wire order determined?
i just heard that both adam dunn and carlos zambrano are on waivers.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Block Quote incoming
Teams can still deal after the July 31st trade deadline passes. This MLBTR Glossary entry explains how trading in August works:
Teams have to pass players through revocable waivers to trade them after the July 31st deadline.
Players acquired after August 31st can’t play in the postseason.
Teams will often put most of their players on waivers to determine interest, since they don’t have to give up every player who’s claimed.
Unclaimed players can be traded to any club in August (or even September).
Teams don’t have to trade players who are claimed. They can hand the player and his salary over for nothing.
If a team places a player on waivers after he is claimed, but not traded, the team loses the right to pull its player back. In other words, the waivers are revocable at first, but not revocable afterwards.
Clubs have two days to deal claimed players, but they can only negotiate a trade with one team.
If only one team claims a player, he can only be dealt to that team.
If more than one team claims a player, he can only be traded to the team in his league with the worst record.
If a player’s only claimed by teams in the other league, he can only be dealt to the team with the worst record.
Adam Dunn is one big-name player who has been dealt in August.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
will there ever be another Larry Walker-esque pickup?
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Pick uo Dunn! Maybe we can get Albert to play some 3rd base! Haha
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 4:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wonder....if we had brought back Troy Glaus this year
Does anyone think he would be playing 3rd base right now? Or is his shoulder just completely shot?
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 4:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
he is now a first baseman
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I know....
I was just seeing if anyone knew if he was still capable of playing there if he had to….
We could of brought him back for close to nothing. Hes only making 700k this year. Even if he couldnt play 3rd he sure as hell could of been a good bench bat
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 4:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah but Stav is our professional hitter
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he was only interested in a 1B job
His arm was pretty much toast, I think. I doubt he would have signed to be a bench bat, anyway. What could we have offered him that would interest him more than the starting 1B job for the Braves?
thanks...i'm embarrassed to say i'm not sure i really get it yet.
basically, you put a guy out there to see if there is interest. if someone claims him, then you can either give the player to that team (salary and all) OR revoke the waiver and see if you can negotiate a deal with the team…if a deal doesn’t work out, you can put him back out there, but you can’t revoke him a second time.
if there is more than one claim, you have to negotiate with the team in your own league that has the worst record, even if there are teams in the other league with a worse record. so, for example, say dunn is put on waivers. the only teams to claim him are the cardinals and the royals. the cardinals win because they have the worst record of the NL teams that claimed Dunn. yes?
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Alex Rios was an example of just giving the salary to another team
The Larry Walker trade was an example of us trading prospects for a player
Don’t know about the irrevocable waivers part…
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by far the most common thing tha happens is that...
a player gets put on waivers, ets claimed, team pulls player back, no trade is made (or even discussed) and the player is not put back on waivers.
through this process, many teams will put their entire teams on waivers. If someone gets claimed, fine, they just pull them back.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Aug 3, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
doubtful, but maybe
I don’t know what the Cards’ policy is – it wouldn’t surprise me if they put the whole team on waivers. There’s really no reason not to do it.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Aug 3, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, now that i understand this process, it's really not a big deal that adam dunn or carlos zambrano, or whoever else is on waivers.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
correct.....You'll seesome teams putting their
entire roster on revocable waivers, just to see what kind of interest is out there.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
So I just talked to our Advance Video Scout (who is like third-tier in importance: GM first, Special assistants second)
About doing the MLB Scout Development Program, letting him know that I was interested in doing it. He said that they sent one person last year, and that he had no clue if they had plans on sending anybody this year, but that he would definitely ask Tony about it. We exchanged non-Mariners contact info, and he wrote a reminder for September 1st to contact me back about this.
I don’t think I’ve ever been this fucking excited/giddy about something in a LONGGGGGGG time
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
so, you're gonna be a scout?
does this mean that you’re gonna start telling us to leave our spreadsheets in our mothers’ basements and actually watch the game?
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
Yes. Aaron Miles might not be toolsy, but he scores an 8 in the sixth tool: Grit
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I would think a good scout would use both stats and observation
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
More like shitown amirite
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
sure
I own some shit
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
some shit owned me last night
i was up from like 5 to 6 with intense lower abdominal pain
just when i thought i was good and went back to bed, had to go right back to the bathroom.
totally on topic
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
I had laryngitis last week and was pretty sick
voice returned to normal. then Sunday night it has been getting worse, today I can’t even talk really
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
razzums would never do that
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
If you have the chance to be an area scout
Don’t do it. Being an area guy is all the shit parts of the “baseball life” without any of the goodness. Driving 6 hours to hope that a potential 12th round reliever gets in the game against a D-II school isn’t too fun.
Not afraid to nitpick
I'm not going to say I WON'T do it, but that would be sub-optimal for me, sure
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Getting better, but it's the assistant GMs or Luhnhow guys who really start having fun
Not afraid to nitpick
This is true. Long hours for everybody in that department though
Part of me wants to be done at 5:00 and go home and play with the kids
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I'm going to the game tonight....
I win tickets in a sales contest at work and it is the champions club….ive been to alot of games but nevet the champions club, I hear its nice. I cant think of a better night, its brutal outside.
Anyone have lineups yet?
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 4:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
please no miles, stav or winn in the starting lineup
please!
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I will, free food and drinks too....
Im actually 14 & 3 in games ive been to this year and havent lost the last 5 gamez ive been to. So hopefully I bring more luck.
Somehow ive only seen Garcia twice, he wasnt very good either of the games I went to though, we won one, lost one.
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
champions club is nice, you can hang out with Gibson
Blaine Matthew Burns: Albert Pujols' biggest fan (his first words will for sure be "Albert Pujols is RIDICULOUS")
Cardinals lineup: Lopez 5, Jay 9, Pujols 3, Holliday 7, Rasmus 8, Molina 2, Schumaker 4, Westbrook 1, Ryan 6
btw, Freese is playing at starting at DH tonight for SGF.
FML
I looked it up on Twitter and just copied and pasted whatever came up first.
by jackhammerslam on Aug 3, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
That looks like last night's information.
Unless we’re getting our money’s worth from Westbrook and making him start every night.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, read above.
It is last night’s info. I tweeted for the lineup and just copied BJ’s from last night without looking that it was last nights.
by jackhammerslam on Aug 3, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
nice
now maybe tony leaves in Colby and he gets it right
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
getting their money's worth out of westbrook, i see
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
ALLEN CRAIG RECALLED AND PLAYING RF AND BATTING 5TH TONIGHT
Party tonighttttttttttttttttttttttt
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Aug 3, 2010 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
miles also leading off
Miles 3b
Rasmus CF
Pujols 1B
Holliday LF
Craig RF
Skip 2B
Molina C
Garcia P
Ryan SS
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
do you think he did that just to mess with us
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
fuck
Miles at third :(
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait wait wait
Miles playing 3rd?! He can barely beat good runners at 2nd!
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
fixed
Miles playing 3rd?! He can barely beatgoodbad runners at 2nd!
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
no worried
ludwick ph for jaime
luddy to RF
craig to 1B
albert can rest
..oh wait…
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
So who the eff was optioned?
Rains is tweeting that Stav is still with the big club.
MacDougal?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
he can accept an assignment
which is pretty much what he did by signing with the cards
by Willie McGee's Twin on Aug 3, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
dgoold
Craig up and batting fifth. Stavinoha optioned, it appears. #stlcards
..i miss ludriguez-wick..
by d-dee on Aug 3, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yesssssssssssssssssss
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Now it's just Miles.
…and Soup, and Winn.
by jackhammerslam on Aug 3, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
depends really
Lohse can’t come back? Give me soup.
Freese can’t come back? I guess I’ll take slappy.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
one down, 3 to go...
although I could deal with Winn I guess as long as he never starts in CF
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
HA!
Note: Above comment may contain gratuitous amounts of sarcasm.
BOYCOTT HASS AVOCADOS
Hey Houston,
Suck it; you suck
So does that mean Stav was DFA'd or just optioned?
I’m still confused about whether Stav has options left
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
yeah, we've been flip floppy on that here
i think at the beginning of the year we thought he didn’t, and a few weeks ago changed or mind. Kinda like Craig’s eligibility date….
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
I think we ultimately decided he had options left
So this is just a trip to the minors for him, not a DFA.
I didn't think they'd do it.....
Congrats Mo…that was step one in rebuilding the fans faith in this team.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
HALLELUJAH.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Anyone find it odd that Allen Craig couldn't merit a call-up
and now he gets called up and is batting 5th!?
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Tony has batted Craig third before
which is why I don’t buy the argument that Tony hates craig.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
you will unsurprised that i am also unsurprised about this
TLR can’t play Craig when he ain’t on the roster.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Aug 3, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
I never thought he hated him, but it sure says a lot when you call a guy up and he is hitting in a production spot in the line-up. As in, maybe he should’ve been up here the whole time??
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I've always agreed with your sentiments on TLR/Craig
I never saw the argument that he dislikes him or even prefers Stav to him.
I think at this point it's clear TLR actually likes Craig a lot
And it’s Mo who was screwing that up. Miles on the other hand….
Not afraid to nitpick
Tony knows how bad Miles is at 3rd base.
This is his way of providing “input” to the FO. “Get me a 3rd baseman”.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
miles... miles. DAMMIT.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Miles at Leadoff
Flagged. Inappropriate.
Adios Esposito.
Adios Sarge. Say a prayer for Surf Boy...wherever he is.
No Greene, no Freese
Lopez needs a breather.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Aug 3, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
actually
Mo’s interview with Bernie state that Craig would be available to be recalled today. Apparently that’s why he is the gm and we are in our parent’s basements. Because he can count.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
Wait, wait.
I found the flaw. I had a type-o in my spreadsheet formula.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I must have put a decimal point in the wrong place or something.
Shit! I always do that! I always mess up some mundane detail.
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
damn it feels good to be a gangsta
ah – men – a – na – jad. ahmenanajad. it is not that difficult.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Aug 3, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Can we get a FOUND milk carton?
"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 Aug 3, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It's a good sign that they a) traded Ludwick and b) called Craig up as soon as he was eligible
I think he’s probably here to stay.
He doesn't have anything else to prove at AAA.
Time to hit at the major-league level or move on.
Which is a nice way of saying shit or get off the pot.
by Ghostrider520 on Aug 3, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
makes you wonder how long they've been planning on trading ludwick
you know, getting all those regular ABs in AAA
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
I think this is appropriate
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Aug 3, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I figured they would do that
Craig has been raking
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
i thought he had to wait 10 days and that was tomorrow?
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
f'in class
hopefully i get out by 7 so that in can listen to the game on the way home
if not, i guess i’ll be waiting until 10pm to start the game again. stupid MLB blacjouts. let’s go, jaime
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
twatter
Maybe TLR will have substituted Miles in a double-switch by the time you get to a TV.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
that double switch would have been so much better
if it was Craig instead of winn.
Or if that PH was craig instead of Stavinoha.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
It probably should have just been a straight PH, IMO.
Holliday in LF, Rasmus in CF, and Jay in RF is our best defensive OF alignment, IMO.
"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 Aug 3, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
it was a horrible move and cost us the game. I think Jay makes that caught that winn duncaned. I think Rasmus would have also taken a hit away. And we also wouldn’t have seen Stavinoha hit into that DP. Rasmus only has what, 2 DPs this year?
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
True. True. True.
You read my mind
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hmmm, interesting.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Padres were originally trying to trade for Jake Westbrook and keep him for themselves. What if the Indians already had a deal worked out, and demanded Ludwick from the Cardinals for him, essentially forcing Mo’s hand. Probably a conspiracy theory that isn’t true, but it would explain the situation somewhat.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
Prophetjohn posted the same thing yesterday.
Makes sense though
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
what do you mean "conspiracy theory"?
This is how the trade actually went down. The Padres traded Kluber for Westbrook and some dough and then traded him, $2MM (some of which came from the Tribe) and Greenwood to the Cards for Ludwick.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Aug 3, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
You missed my point completely.
I am saying that the Padres already had a deal for Westbrook in place before we did, and they offered Westbrook only for Ludwick. They do this because they need a power OF bat more than a starter, and the know the Cardinals were hot for Westbrook, so essentially, Mo could only acquire Westbrook for Ludwick.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
I didn't miss your point.
I’m saying that what you’re saying in your OP is actually how the deal went down, not a “conspiracy theory that isn’t true.”
The Padres did already have a deal for Westbrook; they did offer Westbrook (and cash, and a low-level prospect) to the Cards for Ludwick; and they were prepared to keep Westbrook if the Cards didn’t fork over Ludwick.
The Cards did not get Westbrook from Cleveland; they got him from San Diego.
by Willie McGee's Twin on Aug 3, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Ahh, sorry, I fail.
Just got home from work :P, and my head feels like pudding.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
you aren't the first to suggest this. It does make sense.
They worked out a trade for Westbrook first, knowing that they really wanted to Ludwick. Then they held Mo’s feet to the fire.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
I apologize if someone posted this yesterday.
been thinking about it the last couple of days and it made sense to me anyway.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
Yeah great minds think alike and all.
Some minds are slower because of all the pudding.
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
Ahaha, indeed sir, indeed.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
I am assuming no news on Freeses MRI yet
Is bad news, esp with how overly optimistic the team has been with injuries so far this year.
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:07 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Ok we will DL the whole team and move Memphis to St. Louis
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
"Did you see that chick in the stands?"
“She’s got some great ideas.”
by mojowo11 on Aug 3, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
"Stiffness" is 1000x better than "pain"
Every pitcher in the big leagues has “shoulder stiffness” to varying degrees.
Not afraid to nitpick
Help me out here ...
I really thought last night’s game was lost on the Carlos Lee DP ball that went into right field. What was with that alignment? Schu is holding Bourne on at 2nd? Bourne is the Astros third run? Who cares? You give up a dp and the chance to kill the tying run to hold a runner at 2nd when that run is “meaningless?” Who called that? With the pitcher throwing to the outer half of the plate? Talk about monkeys humping a football! That was the game right there!
SD
Tony also says Craig playing third is a possibilty, even though hes never played a game there, hes worked out there.
Um, let’s try it tonight against the lowly ‘Stros, Tony. It’s not like he can be worse than f’ing Miles!
Yes yes yes yes yes yes ye
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I'm guessing since he was just called up today that they won't press it
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
craig would get called down, spend time at 3B at memphis, then get called back up, IMO
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
before he played 3rd
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
who knows
we’re in a bit of a spot at third so they might give him a try for a game or two
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I would hope so....
We can’t afford to send him down with this old washed up bench of ours right now. We are in a VERY bad spot at 3rd. Aaron fucking Miles is starting at 3rd tonight! Im sorry that is just such poor roster management. I cant believe thete isnt anyone out there or available that could come in and play 3rd for a couple weeks for us? Is Lowell on waivers yet? Isnt Hank Blaylock available, I could be wrong but didnt he play third base at some point.
I know neither of those guys are very good but there has to be plenty of options out there that could fill in temporarily. This shit with Miles just should not be happening. Yea how much worse defensively at 3rd could Craig be than Lopex or Miles? Lopez was awful last night.
And to top it off Miles is also leading off, wtf tony! Anytime Mo seems to make us all happy with a roster move like replacing Stav with Craig, tony has to offset it with frekin Miles. How far has skip dropped? isnt Norris a righty? & miles is leading off over Skip?
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
oh no, it it Bud Norris
I have to get out my jinx picture. Would it work twice in a row?
"I told myself from the very beginning: 'If he's going to throw a shutout, then he's going to tie,'" Wainwright said. "He was not going to beat me today."
poor roster mgmt.
unfortunately it’s been happening all season long. if tony still had some sense in him, he would not be doing the things he has, imo.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
roster and line up i think is more fair
miles does not need to start or bat 1st
that is tlr
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
It's not like AFM ever played 3B before he got a few crappy innings in a few years ago
Not afraid to nitpick
Gametime temperature at Busch should be about 95 degrees.
Heat index of 106. A bit warmer than that on the field, no doubt.
Nice and toasty is how the Mexicutioner likes it
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Astros lineup.
Bourgeois, cf
Sanchez, ss
Pence, rf
Lee, lf
Keppinger, 2b
Feliz, 1b
Johnson, 3b
Castro, c
Norris, p
No Bourn. Woo! No Walrus, either.
heh
there’s a restaurant with excellent sandwiches by depaul in chicago called the bourgeois pig
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Feliz at 1B = el oh el
His only value is his defense at 3B, so playing him at 1B is totally laughable.
it's nice having teams like the astros and pirates in your division
now the cards have to take advantage of that
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Tony's gotta be pissed in the clubhouse today...
with Mo optioning his best friend Nick Stavinoha.
'Hold my stones!'
Fire Tony LaRussa
just tell him that Suppan is Stav
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Suppan in RF, I can see it now.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
That's what I'm saying....
So to get back at him tony puts Miles at 3rd and bats him frekin leadoff!
by mick311 on Aug 3, 2010 5:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
he's a firecracker sparkplug grit factory
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I was seriously suggesting that Nick Stavinoha...
a career AAA player…was his…best friend.
'Hold my stones!'
Fire Tony LaRussa
well I for one find that to be
a preposterous suggestion
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Aug 3, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
so pissed, in fact, that he decided to bat craig 5th in defiance!
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
but obviously he's going to tell the top of the order to go 0'fers tonight
so that Craig bats with the bases empty thereby reducing his RBI and ensuring that his salary remains low and also TLR writes letter’s to any prospective girlfriend detailing the fictional and horrific reasons why it’s best not to date Allen Craig.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Aug 3, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I can assure you
Mr. Craig isn’t laughing.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Aug 3, 2010 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
but TLR
is doing the maniacal, fingers-steepled laughter thing
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Aug 3, 2010 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
You KNOW
Tony is pissed about Stav losing his “tough out.” But I think in this case Tony is sitting Felipe for his defensive fail at 3B last night. Doesn’t make it right, but that’s what I’d say.
I’ve been thinking a lot today about Tony. You know, in the past, his over-managing (at least in my opinion) was more due to him making too many decisions based off of past match-ups and situations. Now I feel his over-managing is due to emotions getting in the way.
Example 1) Colby strikes out, probably not in the right way. If anybody else had struck out he would have said the Stros were making pitches. But probably thought Colby looked indifferent or something, sooo he pulls the absolutely fcktarded double switch.
Example 2) Floppy misses a gball due to being a wuss, thus miles starts tonight.
Overall, I think he believes this team lacks the gritiness, toughnes, ability to play a “hard 9” or whatever you want to call it. Personally I’d call it a lack of older dudes with kids who are mature and don’t jack around. TLR is like a study hall liason. So, he has tried to reach for the past with Soup and Grit as well as get a very workmanlike guy like Winn. I mean, he will play the young “unproven” guys, but will never give them the “starting” label because he doesn’t think they’ve earned it yet. So, he sits them every now and again to humble them and then the “proven” guys can show them how it’s done.
I don’t think he used to do that as much, then again when have we ever had this much young talent on a team with TLR? I don’t know. The great TLR teams were mostly constructed with players acquired in one of Walt Jocketty’s miracle trades, in most cases considered to be “proven” in Tony’s mind. Sorry about the rant, but I think TLR has really just lost it.
Flip has a swollen knee
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
a lot of this is speculation and conjecture
there are a couple of things going on here:
a) rasmus has been hurt. you have no idea whether the strike out or his nagging injury or both led tony to do the double-switch.
b) when is the last time felipe lopez did not start a game? everyone needs a break now and again, especially a guy who signed as a bench player, played most of the season as a back up dude, and is now suddenly an everyday player? if there is ever a good time to rest him, its against houston.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
Hey, it's that time of day where only west coasters are here!
After work for Missourians, before the game…
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I am not a weast coaster.....
Don’t make me fight you.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
+1
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Oh, sorry. Only West Coasters and losers*
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Aug 3, 2010 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Everything west of the Mississippi is "west coast" to us easterners
"Very accomplished bunter" - Rick Horton about Aaron Miles
tony has indeed lost it
back in the early to mid 2000s, i would bet that tony would not be pulling the ‘proven vet’ moves. you never saw the cards picking up someone’s scrub and hoping that they would be a good player. since 2006, however, it’s been the same ol’ story we’ve all known and loved hated. i am sick of it to the point that i find myself very frustrated by tony’s mistakes, and even though the team is doing well record-wise, in the standings and all, wishing we had a different manager.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
Almost all of our 2B in the 2000s were off the scrap heap
So Taguchi is a scrap heap player. Reggie Sanders kind of is. Garret Stephenson. Brett Tomko.
You’re wrong.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
but most of those guys performed well
miles, soup, and winn are the other side of the spectrum. unfortunately, the cards are finding this side more often than the taguchi-sanders-tomko side.
Albert's grand slam, 7/3/09
Waino's CG, 7/4/10
@zoomzoomj88
Fire Tony LaRussa
The Cardinals need to hire a baserunning coach. Hello, Larry Walker.
brett tomko performed well?
no. his worst career season was with STL.
see, the thing with scrap heap guys is that you’re taking a chance on them. not all of them can work out.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
edit: i mean he was worse in STL than he was in all the seasons before he came there.
the seasons after that he continued to be pretty terrible.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
That might be, but he's pulled the "proven vet" thing his entire career here
And probably back in his Oakland days as well.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Hold on
It may have came off I had issues with the pitching moves, and I really don’t. I think with all options considered Soup was not a bad deal. I shouldn’t have mentioned him. Furthermore, those crappy starters you speak of happened because of crappy farm system with no good, young arms. The org has handled pitching very well under TLR, aside from depleting system of young arms.
My beef is position players and how they are used in this new organization model (promoting from within). First of all before ‘06 we either had Fernando Vina, Tony Womack, or Marke Grudzielanek at 2B. Bo Hart in ’03 was only playing because of the injury to Vina. Those are not scrap heap players (save from Womack, but he was hitting in probably the best cardinal line-up ever). Since then we whiffed with AK and converted Skip last year. You don’t think Tony didn’t lobby for AK?
Not to mention, my complaint is his lack of trust in “unproven” players nothing to do with scrap heaps. All these guys I mentioned above he would call “proven”, except for maybe Hart and he had no other choice then.
Regardless, Tony has never had so many young promising players to work with.
I didn’t know about Lopez’s sore knee and I’ve never heard confirmation that Colby is hurt. So, that kind of makes my examples less convincing. But I still think Tony is really struggling in putting together everyday line-ups with so many young guys that he doesn’t “trust.”
Jon Jay seems to be a exception, not sure how to explain that one other than when you’r hitting .370 and Lud is hurt, now gone, it’s hard to sit you. Plus he’s sitting tonight.
he has a predisposition it predict the future based on the past
rooks have no past, hence no future
I may be in a rut, but at least I know where I'm going
...to DFA TLR
I have high hopes that Mr. Craig
will continue to swing a sweltering stick and find himself the focus of many a “young sparkplug sparks local 9” articles.
by infallibleopiniongenerator on Aug 3, 2010 5:54 PM EDT reply actions
101.1 ESPN had boog on the fastlane
archive isn’t up, but should be up sometime today.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
good news re motte
per BJ:
Jason Motte said he had an MRI today on his right shoulder after feeling pain last night but said he is fine and available tonight.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
His velocity was crap last night.
Apparently Tony couldn’t see that from his perch in the dugout.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
He was sitting 93-94 on the TV cast, I think
At least in the second inning, didn’t notice during his first inning.
ya..I never saw anything
over 94, which is not Psycho Motet speed.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
He touched 96-97
And I think he was throwing a lot of sinkers in there that he really turns over. He’s gone back to the secondary pitches recently it seems, he threw 4/5 cutters in an AB a couple games ago.
Not afraid to nitpick
yep his velocity was fine the first inning he pitched (not 99-100 but high 90's)
the second he was sitting low 90’s
FUCK
David Freese out for the season
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
I'm actually fine with Lopez at 3rd the rest of the way
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Skip has actually been hitting pretty well over the last month
And Boog’s back up into “Not historically bad” territory
Call up Tyler Greene when he gets back healthy, and we’re in okay shape
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Greene has a wrist injury and this is the Cardinals
Therefore his leg will need to be amputated at the knee.
Not afraid to nitpick
If his weiner needs to be amputated at the knee
I wouldn’t think he’d be able to have played baseball with that kind of an obstruction
Not afraid to nitpick
But good for him.
And the ladies.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
https://twitter.com/BJRains/status/20256184051
follow me on twitter @nickg105, @Rams_Fan_Voice
by stlcardinalsfang on Aug 3, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
eh, just got back from the gym.
heads a little out of it.
follow me on twitter @nickg105, @Rams_Fan_Voice
by stlcardinalsfang on Aug 3, 2010 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
nvm...BJ tweeted it.
Any word on what it actually was?
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Tendon damage in the right ankle
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
a VEB'er I am not following on twitter
and which of you MF’ers is Colt Hurst?
I am pleasantly pleased, thankyouverymuch, but not with Johnny Mo!
@B8H8R
I’m not exactly active…I think I’ve made aboot 20 tweets in the last year.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
yeah, me too.
follow me on twitter @nickg105, @Rams_Fan_Voice
by stlcardinalsfang on Aug 3, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Suuuuurrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeee
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
dgoold
Freese will have surgery to repair tendon damage in right ankle. Mozeliak says it’s “season ending”.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
He's starting tonight.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
by RiverRat on Aug 3, 2010 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i would say this forces the idea that craig should play third base
but craig is as much of a defensive liability at third as lopez is and isn’t THAT great of an improvement over lopez with the bat. and tony would never go for it.
however, as much as i love skippy, you probably could make the argument that skippy and lopez could split time at second with lopez filling in for boog occasionally while making craig the starting third baseman.
follow me on twitter @nickg105, @Rams_Fan_Voice
by stlcardinalsfang on Aug 3, 2010 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions
fair enough. i guess it won't be happening.
tlr MUST fend off the temptation to start miles at third more than three times going forward (it should never happen, but i’m willing to be nice here). anymore than that is costing the team more runs than it can afford in this race.
follow me on twitter @nickg105, @Rams_Fan_Voice
by stlcardinalsfang on Aug 3, 2010 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks for this.
it clears up a lot of questions. the matter should be settled now, IMO
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
And dgoold gives Kary Booher the big "fuck you"
“And, yes, to those asking, Allen Craig now enters picture as an option at third base. Will be eased into position for look-see. #stlcards”
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
those crazy cardinals
everyone here knows craig is no hot corner-er
I am pleasantly pleased, thankyouverymuch, but not with Johnny Mo!
Miles is a massive liability at 3B and he is getting PT
His first step blows and has a below average arm for a 2B.
Not afraid to nitpick
= out forever
going forward, the Cards pretty much have to assume he is never gonna be a consistent contributor to this team. Dude is made of glass.
you know what makes me sad? besides Freeze
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
…whoops sorry wrong cut and paste.
Fire TLR.
dammit
epic fail.
there’s supposed to be a link in there about Mark Prior getting signed by an independent league team.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/orange-county-flyers-sign-mark-prior.html
Fire TLR.
hey, looking there
answers to why the organization doesn’t think craig can play third.
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
you know, poor freese
looked like he was going to finally break through. i can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to go through what he’s gone through over the past two years.
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
broke, broken and hopefully not through. . . but it does not look promising at this point.
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
Minor Leaguer Mike Schlact blogs about what it's like for them during the trade deadline
I wonder what it’d be like if Colby did one of these…
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
by mysterui on Aug 3, 2010 7:35 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3C_wLCZ18M
this thread is all Aaron Mile's fault.
by Evilfrog on Aug 3, 2010 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Liam makes me wonder
is Carpenter the 3B at Springfield or Memphis?
I am pleasantly pleased, thankyouverymuch, but not with Johnny Mo!
Springfield.....Howard (?) at Memphis
is a hack.
Asshattery: it's an epidemic.
Also, Dave Concepcion.
Well time to move him on up
to the top…of the depth chart
I am pleasantly pleased, thankyouverymuch, but not with Johnny Mo!
good metaphor for today. Just below the jump line on this post . . an ad marked
“Historic Low”
followed by a discussion of Miles at third.
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
As usual, I will use a gif to express myself (I'm on the left) (The news is on the right)
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
That dude in the middle is hilarious.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
I've finally just accepted the Aaron Miles thing as some sort of a fun diversion
I mean how impressive is it that he has a .350 BABIP and a .303 wOBA. It’s hard to even appreciate how one can be that bad while actually getting lucky.
Not afraid to nitpick
are we getting a game thread?
also…LOVED the montage
"Did you just grow a mustache?"
"While SPINNING."
no more game threads season over...Miles at 3rd seals it..
You fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye
Puking in Bangkok is fairly common - but usually you have had the pleasure of Thaiing one on the night before.
Hurling over Miles – the proper gesture – is a new evil and one that has no precedent or rationale
An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.
HL Mencken
I think I'm to the point where I just expect the worst from Cardinals injuries
Freese out for the season? that’s totally to be expected
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 3, 2010 8:46 PM EDT reply actions
good news is if Holliday gets some luck back in the rbi department or gets more clutch
and if Albert goes up to like .320 or so, that would mean a crazy end to the season for those two. also we are starting to see the beginning of the Pujols/Holliday years, there’s a lot of history yet to occur. definitely seems like we are trying to get younger with lots of prospects but there’s some questionable veterans around such as Miles, Larue, and Winn. everything seems like a transitional phase. but since we’re in the NL Central we are still competing.
chief justice
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 4, 2010 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Jesus H. Palomino Christ on a set of green cedar crutches...
I just tune in and we’re losing to the damn Astrholes again? WTF?
Fuck this.
If the Cardinals aren’t gonna bother trying, I’m not gonna bother watching.
I’ll be in Civ 4 if anyone needs me.
Good for you, Colby. You're not giving up.
I LOVE this trade for the St. Louis Cardinals! -- Buster Olney.
The MLBN guys like the Reds for division champs -- and Kevin Millar is such an asshole.
I LOVE this trade for the St. Louis Cardinals! -- Buster Olney.
Boggs, Reyes, McDougal
Dingleberrys on parade. These guys need to be cut ASAP. While Mo is at it Winn, Miles and Skippy can join them. Man there is so much dead weight on this team.
Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now"…long pause…then an "aahhh". --Mike Shannon
Miles is the only pitcher who did anything last night.....
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Just got around to reading this
and I’ll rec anything that gives a nod to reformed theology.
That is all.
"...football games always make me thankful for two things:
1. Teams that pass the ball downfield.
2. Baseball games. "
--DanUpBaby
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