Rockies v. Phillies/Angels vs. Boxos game thread: 3 October, 2007

by Valatan on Oct 3, 2007 2:48 PM EDT in St. Louis Cardinals News

Update [2007-10-3 16:18:18 by Valatan]::Walt Jocketty is no longer the Cardinals' GM. Diary here


Francis	Hamels
17-9, 4.22	15-5, 3.39

GAME TIME 2:00 CDT

So here's a matchup of the two young dueling aces for today. Looking at that Jeff Francis mug shot always freaks me out, as he looks a whole lot like my little brother. The Rockies have won the VEB poll pretty decisively, so I guess there's not a whole lot to say other than 'let's go, rockies.'

Lineups:

COL	PHI
Matsui, 2B	Rollins, SS
Tulowitzki, SS	Victorino, RF
Holliday, LF	Utley, 2B
Helton, 1B	Howard, 1B
Atkins, 3B	Rowand, CF
Hawpe RF	Burrell, LF
Spiborghs, CF	Helms, 3B
Torrealba, C	Ruiz, C
Francis, P	Hamels, P


Lackey	Beckett
19-9, 3.01	207, 3.27

GAME TIME 5:30 CDT

And later today, you get the matchup of two AL cy candidates. I really think that Boston is too well balanced to lose this series, but we'll see what happens. I am very curious to see what happens when JD Drew makes his postseason debut for the Red Sox.

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Comments

Gameday Link

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/y2007/gd.html?2007_10_03_colmlb_phimlb_1

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Go Rockies!

I'm so glad that there is a clear favorite for me to root for this year in the playoffs, with the Cards being out of it. I'm a Colorado native, so I've always been a Rox fan, but they haven't exactly been in contention when the Cards weren't.

This year's Blake Street boys are a very exciting team to watch, and a great model for building a team Tulo at short, the awesome corner outield pair (Holliday/Hawpe) and their good/great young pitchers (Jimenez and Morales) will be a great core for years to come. The Rox are a model of building from within.

by roebirds on Oct 3, 2007 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

That Philly lineup is a Murder's Row

if Victorino and Rollins changed spots, you could get taken deep by:

Rollins
Utley
Howard
Rowand
Burrell

In fact, I'd just move Howard up to the 3rd slot and put Utley #2.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Oct 3, 2007 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

Murderers Row

I remember a Cards line-up that featured a MR tag; circa 04'- 05'. Oh, the good ol' days.

Oh how wonderful it will be when the offseason comes. Lets sign some guys and get back to respectability in the NL Central!

by yer dog first on Oct 3, 2007 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

2004

The most common Batting order from 2004 with HR in ():

Womack (5)
Lankford (6)
Pujols (46)
Edmonds (42)
Rolen (34)
Renteria (10)
Sanders (22)
Matheny (5)
Pitcher

You also had this as your second most common lineup:

Womack
Walker (17 total 11 for Cards)
Pujols
Rolen
Edmonds
Renteria
Sanders
Matheny
Pitcher

Ah now that is what I remember as the MV3

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

we'll have it again next season

Ludwick
Pujols
Duncan
Ankiel
Rolen

All with 25+ HR/(.500+ SLG) power, with the possible exception of Rolen... the numbers might not be quite as gaudy, but remember that we play in a normal-sized ballpark 50% of the time. Away from Bandbox Field, Rollins loses 50 pts of slugging %, Rowand loses 83, Utley 119, and Burrell 162.

by SleepyCA on Oct 3, 2007 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

what about the Ks

I get your point, but Howard's Ks happen more often than hits, let alone HRs.

He's a classic #4 in my mind - mostly up with 2 outs and runner on. He either gets a hit or gets a K - getting contact and moving the runner over is not a concern.

by enoscountry on Oct 3, 2007 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Reverso Postseason

beyond the obvious geographical connection, anybody find it ironic that we pick the team that ended the season hot and won the wild card?

these were exactly the areas that haunted us the last three years. Not to say the Rockies are the 04 Astros, but I'd say we've built up admiration for teams that fit the alter-ego mode.

by enoscountry on Oct 3, 2007 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Its not just us

The Rockies are a feel-good story. As long as the play they with be the team that "neutral" fans root for.

The St. Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champions!

by Zubin on Oct 3, 2007 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry...off-topic...it's about hockey

Reading through these daily posts has helped while away down-time at work, and I'm wondering, does anyone here know if there is maybe a Blues-centric blog/forum where I can get this same kind of daily dose of statistics, shared opinions/insights and constructive argument? Because with the season starting tomorrow, I'd like to have a discussion option better than the Dispatch boards.

I once shot a man just to see him die...then I got distracted and missed it.

by TheDuke32 on Oct 3, 2007 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

P-D Boards

Not so much discussion going on there...

Cheeseburger in paradise.

by joker24 on Oct 3, 2007 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Blues blogs

http://www.checkingline.com/
http://www.stlouisgametime.com/

by redrey on Oct 3, 2007 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Blues Blogs

Much obliged.

I once shot a man just to see him die...then I got distracted and missed it.

by TheDuke32 on Oct 3, 2007 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I can think of something else to say...

Lets go Phillies!

by JMedwick on Oct 3, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

And with that

Matsui grounds out to start the 2007 post season.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

Francis strikes out the side

Nice 2 3 pitch ABs, 3 Ks, good way to open it up for his team.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

The first day of the playoffs

is always one of the best days of the year.

by Baseball addict on Oct 3, 2007 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Even without the home team in it.

by cardsgirlinAR on Oct 3, 2007 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

francis

9 strikes in a row to strikeout the side pretty impressive

by zolak16 on Oct 3, 2007 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

NAILS

no other way to put it.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Oct 3, 2007 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Alright Todd!

Way to hustle on that one!

Oh how wonderful it will be when the offseason comes. Lets sign some guys and get back to respectability in the NL Central!

by yer dog first on Oct 3, 2007 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Todd Helton has waited his whole career for this

reminds me alot of Larry Walker's last ditch effort at the postseason by coming to St. Louis.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Oct 3, 2007 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

not a good matchup for Hawpe here

by Baseball addict on Oct 3, 2007 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

rockies

rolling 2-0 woohoo?

by zolak16 on Oct 3, 2007 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

nice job

Yorbit!

by _pistol_ on Oct 3, 2007 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

10.80 ERA

Man the pitcher on the mound sucks ;)

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

why didn't we take

matzui off the garbage heap in 06?

Wasn't he traded for like eli marrero or something?

by enoscountry on Oct 3, 2007 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Correct

Right up there with the Jennings trade as one of the best trades the franchise made, I think.

Anyone but the Cubs.

by Scarlet the Cardinal on Oct 3, 2007 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on T(ROY)

Even his name shows him as the ROY!

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

bases loaded, 2 outs, 3-2 count, and two young stars against each other, how much more drama can you get?

Well walking that rookie to get to holliday maybe.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

did you hear

the Phillies fans booing already.
Unbelievable.

by _pistol_ on Oct 3, 2007 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Hamels don't look too good

by _pistol_ on Oct 3, 2007 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

I've never seen

David Aldridge doing any sport other than basketball before.

by Baseball addict on Oct 3, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

alyssa milano

tbs also has other non-baseball people announcing, including alyssa milano according to their website:

http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,117544,00.html

by enoscountry on Oct 3, 2007 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I am very excited

to see the Rox here. GO PURPLE!

Anyone but the Cubs.

by Scarlet the Cardinal on Oct 3, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Rowand

is going to be overpriced - no way he hits 27 hrs in a different park.

17 at home and 10 away this year.

I'd go for Hunter or Jones before him.

by enoscountry on Oct 3, 2007 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Jones is going to be waaaay overpaid

One center fielder who had a higher OPS than Andruw Jones in 2007?

Jim Edmonds.

We better not give this guy the 7y ~20/y contract that Boras is after.

by stl tyler on Oct 3, 2007 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

TBS HD is magnificent

I feel like I've been lost all these years watching baseball without it.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Oct 3, 2007 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

saw that for the Rox-Padres

game on Monday. I agree the HD quality was tremendous.

by _pistol_ on Oct 3, 2007 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Going for the Phillies

But really, I'm going for the winner of this series. It makes me glad that one of these two teams will be in the NLCS (hopefully against the D-backs).

Re-acquire Edgar Renteria

by Mr Redbird on Oct 3, 2007 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

WALT OUT AS GM!

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/32456B7DBB9EEC44862573690069E6D7 ?OpenDocument
The Cardinals and general manager Walt Jocketty have "parted ways," according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Well,

that is the all-time thread jack of all threadjacks! Wow...

by glennrwordman on Oct 3, 2007 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Two Diaries now up on it, please use one

Lets not thread jack this thread now.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

This game has become....

a pitchers duel after that nasty 2nd from Hamels.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 4:25 PM EDT reply actions

Back to back

Back to back Homers make it 3-2.

by StLHugo on Oct 3, 2007 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

Such a good game

ashame that organization news had to screw it up.

by enoscountry on Oct 3, 2007 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

KOA, Rockies Radio

KOA is piping in some ridiculous crowd noise (am I listening to WGN) during the commercial break over MLB Radio. Any idea if this is normal?

Rooting on the Cardinals one off-season transaction at a time!

by ColinMacLeod on Oct 3, 2007 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Noticed this too.

Sounds like there is some exciting stuff going on between innings.

by Just Rope Ball on Oct 3, 2007 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Hamels

Think they should take him out now, looks like hes out of gas

by zolak16 on Oct 3, 2007 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

This is a good game

Not quite the shootout it was supposed to be.

Day games'll do that.

by stl tyler on Oct 3, 2007 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

Vegas Line for Time of Game

I wonder if Vegas has a spread on average ALDS game time vs average NLDS game time. A second line could throw out any extra-inning games since they could skew the bets.

Going purely by instinct and without any research, I'll throw out ALDS -15 minutes.

Trayton

Rooting on the Cardinals one off-season transaction at a time!

by ColinMacLeod on Oct 3, 2007 5:48 PM EDT reply actions