Game 153 Open Thread: September 23, 2006

Perspective. And through it, peace of mind.

Sure, I get upset, and frustrated, in the moment as I watch Wainwright, and then Looper cough up multiple runs to blow yet another tight game (why can't we get Orklando Palmeiro out?).

But I've seen enough games this year, and over my lifetime, to know that incredible, thrilling victories come along with ugly, disappointing losses, and that, if all teams were equal and the law of averages worked out, the Cardinals would be World Champs once every 30 years.

We're going to lose a lot---65 to 75 times in the average Cardinal year these days---and you just have to take a mental step back and realize that a loss is a loss, and this team---no matter how flawed or uninspired they may seem---will be playing postseason ball in October.

Think about that: Fans of 80 percent of the teams will not be watching their favorites after next weekend, but we will. Again.

They ran a graphic last night showing the Cardinals recent yearly results, and since Pujols' arrival the Cardinals have failed to go to the NLCS just once, in 2003.

We all want the championship, and as fans, really, none of us will be satisfied, especially with some of the great players we have, until we get one.

But some might say that you're not really satisfied until you're dead or you just don't care.

So yes, I might get "negative" when the team blows a late-inning lead, but come on, how bad is it, really? Bad enough that I actually get ANGRY, angry enough to type four-letter words and broadcast to the world the depth of my anger?

And if I'm that angry about a baseball game---something that I supposedly enjoy and choose to spend chunks of my life following---how do I feel about TRULY upsetting things, and what is my reaction to those?

If I justify my anger BECAUSE I spend so much time following the team, and I CARE so much that when they do poorly I get upset, then maybe I need to change my hobby to something in which my side always wins---like closed-range "hunting" or playing Scrabble against my 9-year-old niece.

Nobody likes to lose when you play a game, but handling losing with dignity and perspective is part of playing (and being a fan), and if you can't do that, that's your right, but it sure is unpleasant to be around you.

Manager         Years  Average Wins% Made Play-offs
LaRussa           11      88           45%
Torre           5      79            0%
Herzog           10      85           30%
Schoendienst   11         85           18%

LaRussa include this year w/ 84 wins
Torre average wins without 1994           
Herzog average wins without 1981           

Sorry about the poor format, did this in excel then pasted it here.  Now looking at the data, why would you be ready for a new era of Cardinal baseball?  One that makes the post season as much as 45% of the time?  Breaking down these numbers you can argue that it is "easier" than ever to make the play-off since Herzog and Red did not have the ability to make the wild-card and Torre was given an 89 cent team from an AB ownership that enjoyed the net income and did not care about winning, but seriously, LaRussa looks good here.  Give Red and Whitey a nod for a WS win each, and Whitey another for 2 other WS appearences, but again, the LaRussa era Cards have had their chances.

Good WS chances:
1996 - up 3-1 games over the Braves and the Cards get greedy at home (or stupid) and pitch Todd on 3-days rest, result: loss 14-0.  Cards get outscored 18-1 over the last two games (oh god was that hard to watch) and crush my dreams of a WS (and yours too)

2004 - do I need to recap this?  Swept like a dirty floor...ug.

Others - lost 2005, 2002, and 2000 NLCS (or worked in those series however you want to put it)

So, to get to the point here...is it Tony that has lost us these chances or got us there?

The great debate.

They'll average 88 wins and make the postseason.

Granted, not every TLR team has had those exact ingredients, but they're routinely stocked with at least a handful of superstars and benefit from an above-average payroll.

Most teams in baseball do not enjoy those advantages.

What has TLR and Co. brought to the table to complement the advantages of superstars and high payroll that then translates into increased success beyond what you'd expect, given what you start with?

I'd say, not much. For every amazing Dunc success story, like Woody Williams (subsequently mismanaged horribly), there is a failure, like Sid Ponson. There's the great trade, like Edmonds for Bottenfield/Kennedy, but then the duds like Mulded for Haren/Calero/Barton.

I know that TLR cares a lot about winning, but his micromananging and button-pushing results in, I believe, players who are reduced to pawns at the mercy of the great puppetmaster. The players perform without joy or emotion (save the pandemonium of the occasional walk-off hit) and find themselves by the end of the year drained of the energy, fire and enthusiasm that seems to characterize many successful October teams.

The team reflects the personality of the manager, so they become uptight, neurotic, paranoid and afraid of failure.

That is the mark of a TLR team. That they win 88 games a year and make the playoffs can be mostly explained with one word: Albert.

Like it was said earlier, "look forward to a new school of Cardinals baseball"... so why not put Oquendo at the helm.

Loss #16 for the Quister.

Now that stupid Quister is off the hook, and our bullpen gets to blow another one.

24-7

HA!

Way to pull that pitch on the outside corner.