St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Moments: The NL Finally Wins With A Cardinals Assist
The National League's 13-year run of All-Star Game non-wins happened to coincide with my development as a baseball fan, and I was never really the league-jingoist type but I think that kind of environment does something to a child. My league always lost the All-Star Game; they mostly took a beating in interleague; thanks to the Yankees and the Red Sox they weren't especially popular among casual fans. If anyone defended my league it was because of something it didn't have.
Winning in 2010 didn't make up for all that implicit failure, but it felt pretty good—even better, in fact, because some Cardinals and erstwhile Cardinals helped make it happen. What better way to exaggerate the importance of a single team to an entire league than a run like the one the NL All-Stars had in the seventh inning, where, down 1-0, Scott Rolen and Matt Holliday singled back to back to put runners on first and third with one out?
After Chris Young fouled out and Marlon Byrd—Scott Cooper sighting—drew a walk to load the bases, Brian McCann, who had replaced starter Yadier Molina earlier in the game, doubled to right to score all three NL Central All-Stars and put the senior circuit up for good.
Then Adam Wainwright comes in to pitch the seventh inning, the last of the NL starters to see playing time, and earns two strikeouts to get around a first-and-third situation of his own and extinguish the AL's final threat.
It's the Scott Rolen appearance that really does it for me in this All-Star Game; watching him hit back-to-back with Holliday is like finally getting a chance to see the alternate-universe MV5 where they're paired up with Albert Pujols, James "San Francisco" Edmonds, and a J.D. Drew-derived cyborg on the most successful dynasty in baseball history.
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Speaking of TLR not really deserving our denigration
I was at the Padres@Giants game the other night that went 13 innings. Bud Black got Heath Bell up five times, and never brought him into the game. Twice he had Bell throwing alongside another right-handed reliever. One of those times, the Giants were up in the bottom of the inning during a tie game, which makes it especially stupid.
Most of the time, Bell was throwing in the top of the frame in extras, just so he could be ready if the Padres happened to get a run and Bell would be ready to come in for the save in the bottom of the frame.
Say what you will about TLR’s tinkering, he’d never be that stupid with his bullpen. Bell probably threw 75-100 pitches in the pen and didn’t even end up pitching in the game. It was madness.
ouch
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
They need to be careful with him.
I want to trade them Pete Kozma and BJ Rains for him.
The Roger Dean Project was swell while it lasted.
Rainsface?!
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 8, 2011 5:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
They Should do an All-Star Line-up..
…of hot dogs from each represented team. I wanna see how Dogder Dogs and Philly Franks and AZ’s Sonoma hot dogs get along…
;=8)
Griebenschmaltz!
Do the Cards have a special dog? I've never been to Busch....
…maybe a Ray King Dog – ya know, extra fat and porky??
;=8)
Griebenschmaltz!
Which, I believe, is an all-beef frank.
...and his name was Eduardo Sanchez, and the name of his slider was Death -DanUp
by The Continental on Jul 8, 2011 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone else excited to see Descalso at short?
2011 WAR watch: Theriot = 0.7, Boog = 1.5 as of Jul 4
Bilingual Twitter
for anyone unaware
Schumaker 4
Freese 5
Pujols 3
Holliday 7
Berkman 9
Rasmus 8
Laird 2
Lohse 1
Descalso 6
Still not a werewolf.
i give up
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
And, oh.
WELCOME BACK LAIRD.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
I keep thinking that Schu must have really picked it up
like, I dunno, in the last month or the last 10 games or SOMETHING. But every time I check, that’s not the case of course.
That said, what if TLR can solve our long term shortstop problem by himself? Maybe DD can play a good defensive shortstop, he has a good arm, and we’ll have a SS who is a clutch hitter.
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
Agreed! I have more faith in Theriot hitting the baseball with the bat than danny D
The Roger Dean Project was swell while it lasted.
And there's the rub
Sigh. T.H. Eriot just keeps on hitting.
Excellent point! I've been disappointed with Theriot's lack of diving into first base this year.
Now that Mark Hamilton, he’s beast at it.
The Roger Dean Project was swell while it lasted.
He's not that small.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
Tony's eye is feeling pretty good, evidently
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
by nota bene on Jul 8, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
For one, Lairds back?! Hooray
For another Schumacker leadoff?! Boooooooooo!
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 8, 2011 5:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
crazee tony is in da hizzie!
.273 .351 .488 .838
by Oedipa Maas on Jul 8, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
wow what a terrible lineup even though there are good players
i don’t understand and what the fuck is Dirty Dan doing playing shortstop
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
Why not?
He’s the best fielder on the infeld, sans perhaps Punto. If Dirty Dan can play SS effectively, that could change his future because a good fielding SS, crap bat is actually pretty valuable.
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
i am totally ok with this
i am just really confused, has he ever played shortstop, anywhere?
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
It doesn't hurt to try it out.
Well that’s not true. But I think you know what I mean.
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
Don't forget he subbed a few
for us at SS earlier this year.
ugh he actually has a decent bat now
.285 wOBA with elite defense at SS…… WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY???
Although Cleto seems like a legit prospect so it’s not the end of the world.
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
I cant wait for game 120 when we see this....
Schumaker – 9
Greene – 8
Pujols – 5
Holliday – 7
Cruz – 3
Craig – 4
Descalso – 6
Motte – 2
Still a few hours before game time
so lets keep this thing rolling.
What is the best Queen song?
All i want to do, is get close to you and wake up in the early morning dew
Did you ever explain how you're in England but
you’re a Cards fan? You probably did and I missed it.
Oh great
now everybody has to read this again
All i want to do, is get close to you and wake up in the early morning dew
As unoriginal as it makes me, I'm a sucker for Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Roger Dean Project was swell while it lasted.
Muppets version.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
Can't decide.
I’ll just throw some out there that are great:
Innuendo
Was It All Worth It
Who Wants To Live Forever
Keep Yourself Alive
Stone Cold Crazy
Love Of My Life (especially some of the acoustic / acapella versions they did live)
Another One Bites The Dust
Hammer To Fall
One Vision
Scandal
And even with that list, there are still a huge number of great songs left on the table.
/queenfan
...and his name was Eduardo Sanchez, and the name of his slider was Death -DanUp
by The Continental on Jul 8, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Like I said, a lot still left.
Don’t Try Suicide, Stormtroopers In Stilettos, Under Pressure, and on and on and on….
...and his name was Eduardo Sanchez, and the name of his slider was Death -DanUp
by The Continental on Jul 8, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Fat Bottomed Girls
But not Bicycle Race
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 8, 2011 5:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Radio Gaga
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
I don't think you can pick..
Their two greatest hits albums have 17 songs each, and still doesn’t cover all their greatest songs…
Why they aren’t as popular in the US as they should be is beyond me. Their Game album was pretty huge, and so was Flash (the soundtrack). So was Radio GaGa. But after that they disappeared off the radio…
It took the popularity of Glee to get them back on, sort of. At least some of the songs. Somebody to Love
I Want to Break Free
my 3.5 year old niece’s favorite is “Killer Queen”, she requests it any time she’s in a car.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
sorry if nexdef, but the garcia rumor mill is in full action
from the mothership:
An employee of KTRS radio, which is partly owned by the club, posted Thursday on his personal Twitter page that Garcia and the club have reached agreement on a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $27.5 million with options for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
General manager John Mozeliak and Garcia both addressed reporters on Thursday afternoon. Neither would even confirm that discussions are ongoing, though likewise neither did they deny it.
.273 .351 .488 .838
Nexdef'd, but will still probably cause copious towel usage again.
...and his name was Eduardo Sanchez, and the name of his slider was Death -DanUp
by The Continental on Jul 8, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I assume this is paired
With alternate universe Wainwright, Haren, Ankiel, Garcia, Carpenter rotation, along with Wilson/Molina/Kennedy rounding out the IF and Luke Gregerson closing games.
http://fuckyeahnouns.com/alex%20fritz
by hazel on Jul 8, 2011 6:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Can't have drew and waino
It would rip open the space-time continuum
"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
Trevor Rosenthal Update (as of 7/3/2011)
68 2/3 IP, 83 K, 31 BB/HBP, 26 ER, 3 HR, 2.70 FIP
by VolsnCards5 on Jul 8, 2011 6:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
im sure it didn't suck too bad
getting paid nearly $50million to play 82 games in 3 years.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
to injure his foot to the point of probably it never being the same... and he has years left to age.
no thank you- i will take my average male height, lack of significant health problems, and comfortable middle class life.
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
because Yao, even with his health problems, will still be happier than most people because he doesn't have to work again
Also he’s still a famous basketball star so he can get poon.
in terms of the happier than most people thing.
have you tried being 7’5" before?
on the latter point, yes.
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
have you?
Why would you assume it’s so bad? What you have to duck to get into a room? Slightly more health problems than the average person with top notch health care.
I’m pretty sure most people would rather be 7’5" and get to do whatever than want all day than be 6 foot and spend half your life in a cubicle.
well, you're right, i haven't
and maybe i agree with your comment- but i think people at my standard of living and above (i am not trying to make myself sound awesome or something here- i just want to set a level of happiness) might not prefer this. but this is completely unobjective, so it’s a pointless comparison
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
people who are that tall (athletes or not)
tend to have major medical issues….humans aren’t meant to be that tall (think of how many standard deviations above normal 7’5" is—dude is head and shoulders taller than Wainwright FFS).
They get circulatory and skeletal issues that most people don’t have. It’s a little bit more than just bumping your head more often.
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
Oh I know, I'm not trying to say money makes it better.
But I’ve got a friend that’s 7’0, and Yao Ming doesn’t face the same difficulties my friend has: not fitting into cars, beds, normal clothes, showers, houses, etc.
Still not a werewolf.
Tallest dude on record was 8'+.
He died from the infection of a blister on his foot that he couldn’t feel. This was in the days before penicillin.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"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 Jul 8, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I was just looking at that Wiki article
dude was 8’11". And he was from Alton!
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
Robert Wadlow is the tallest person who ever lived
that there is disputable proof of.
Grit != flat out sucking.
I knew he was well over 8 but wasn't sure.
Forgot he was from Alton. I think he got the blister from playing tennis. Bet he had a helluva overhand smash.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"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 Jul 8, 2011 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions
nope
needed leg braces to stand.
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
so much for my 10yr old memory.
I haven’t looked that up since grade school.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"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 Jul 8, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
we are getting into Buzz Killington territory here....
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
robert wadlow?
makes it clearer if you say he was just about 9’…. ridiculous
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
this.
also, he will have access to the greatest medical treatment that money can buy. Plus, if he can’t walk anymore, he could just ride a suped-up Segway around.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
"Comfortable middle class life" is a pretty damn big assumption these days
Also, while money doesn’t solve all of life’s problems, it makes many things easy.
i agree- i am not sure that everyone would make this decision
i am reasonably sure, however, based on my life to date, that i will be considered middle-class or above for the rest of my life
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
OT: anyone been to Amerisports bar in Ameristar casino lately?
Am I hearing that they no longer have table service?
Thinkin’ about goin’ up there to watch the Cards and then donate some cash to the blackjack dealers.
Programming Note: David Freese has a .438 BABIP.
His wOBA is .374. I’m a little worried for his future performance.
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
With a .337 BABIP, Freese has a .271/.331/.364
That’s with a .337 BABIP mind you. That’s… concerning. He’s going to have to start walking or find some power that he had in the minors.
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
what's the highest career babip for a reasonably slow guy? anyone have any examples they know offhand?
i’m gonna go look but this is harder than a stats search…
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
Manny Ramirez had a career .338 and he's pretty slow
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
Though those are two potential Hall-of-Famers*
And David Freese… is not
*Not bringing PEDs and just using stats
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
oh for sure
i am not trying to say Freese will do this. you just got me thinking. it does seem that Freese could sustain a somewhat higher than normal babip because of how he hits, but i can’t imagine it’d be even .330 let alone the range we’re talking.
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
i wish they gave more explanation of their algorithm
how much of that is a product of him being regressed to his similarly ridiculous career BABIP and how much leag ue average?
BABIP and strikeouts seem to be pretty correlated
So I would bet if the BABIP/LD rate starts to go down, so do his strikeouts.
does that indicate free swinging?
his O-swing % is up, but so is his pitches/PA….
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
Not neccesarily free swinging
I would think it indicates really hard swinging. He’s certainly hitting plenty of line drives, I just assume the power will come soon. It’s only been 400 PA.
130 PAs so far
how long is it supposed to take BABIP to stabilize? Anyway, he’s only got 2 HRs and 9 walks in those 130 PAs….
Maybe he’ll have fewer bloops, but he almost can’t walk any less than he is. Not sure about the homers….looking at his career #s, he has all of 7 HRs as a big leaguer (434 PA = 1.61% HR/PA)….funny, I don’t think of him as being such a punch & judy hitter….he hit 26 dingers in 08 in AAA, 10 in 56 games @ AAA in 09….
A testy Pujols when asked by @JoeStrauss if he thinks this injury will affect his future "that’s a stupid question, Joe," then walks off.
me too man
i got a reply asking for more information on one application today!!
"Small but fierce?" -John Rooney
nice
i suppose i could survive quite a while without working given my current situation, but it’s cool to have cash flow when the source of it doesn’t make you want to drive your car off a bridge
Radio bobble heads seem to think
that the benching of Theriot is a message. And that Punto isn’t there because of arm concern.
Grit != flat out sucking.
So Victorino is DL'd
And the reach him on all-star team with Ethier? McCutchen is getting SCREWED.
"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
Trevor Rosenthal Update (as of 7/3/2011)
68 2/3 IP, 83 K, 31 BB/HBP, 26 ER, 3 HR, 2.70 FIP
by VolsnCards5 on Jul 8, 2011 7:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
replace, perhaps?
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"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 Jul 8, 2011 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Yesh
"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
Trevor Rosenthal Update (as of 7/3/2011)
68 2/3 IP, 83 K, 31 BB/HBP, 26 ER, 3 HR, 2.70 FIP
by VolsnCards5 on Jul 8, 2011 7:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
any ideas why there aren't a full complement of badges available
All i want to do, is get close to you and wake up in the early morning dew
things looking very very bad for Baltimore
SP Britton’s line: 0.2 IP 6H 7ER 2BB 1K, Boston still batting in the first.
All i want to do, is get close to you and wake up in the early morning dew
They should've just left him in.
Now they’re burning an additional starting arm on a game they’re not coming back from.
And it was really entertaining, to boot.
Still not a werewolf.

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