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Game 124 Open Thread: August 23, 2007

Birdos_avatar_tiny by lboros on in St. Louis Cardinals News

vandenhurk

reyes

3-4, 7.36

2-12, 5.61

very short on time this afternoon --- just have a few minutes to rush up a game thread. the cardinals have won 10 of their last 12 at home; they've only swept one home series all year, may 22-24 vs the pirates. albert's in the lineup tonight, ouchie and all; ankiel's hitting 2d and playing left; molina gets a day off; duncan in lf, ryan at 2b. the cubs lost 4-1 this afternoon, so a win pulls the cardinals to within 2 games for the first time since april 18. . . . .

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2 games
We can totally do it, I feel good about tonight!
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 7:01 PM EDT reply actions  

How's the weather in St. Louis?
It's horrible here in Chicagoland..
"We're too talented to let this season go down the drain." - Adam Wainwright

by stltrav09 on Aug 23, 2007 7:28 PM EDT reply actions  

I'm one of those odd fellows
who actually enjoys storms and this is pretty impressive.  Although I got stuck driving in that first one (right around Batavia).  I've never driven in a storm that intense EVER.  There were trees falling down and all kinds of things flying through the air.

Couldn't see a thing except the taillights ahead of me.  Had heard tornado sirens about 15 minutes earlier so I figured I'd keep driving because it was obvious I was sitting right in front of really bad things and I didn't want to stick around too long.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Near Batavia?
me too.. 88 West near Farnsworth is where I got the heavy end of the storm
"We're too talented to let this season go down the drain." - Adam Wainwright

by stltrav09 on Aug 23, 2007 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

It's coming our way
I'm in South Bend, we'll see it in about an hour.
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Fabyan Parkway and Kirk Road
Northwest "corner" of Fermi Lab.  

Ok.  Technically, I think that's Geneva, but I was turning south on Kirk.  That storm hit me broadside.  Took forever to get to Naperville and all I could to keep her on the road.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nice to see a fellow chicagoland
Cardinal fan.  They seem to be few and far between here.  I'm in Dekalb now for school btw.. GO HUSKIES!
"We're too talented to let this season go down the drain." - Adam Wainwright

by stltrav09 on Aug 23, 2007 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

Awesome
I graduated from NIU in '99.  Good luck this semester.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nicer in STL than CHI, that's for sure
Man, that's one HELL of a storm line moving through upper IL.

Here in STL it's a steamy 95 (feels like 99) even at 7pm.

But it sure beats what you guys have up there.  Watch out for the stray flying cow or old woman on a bicycle.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Aug 23, 2007 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

We should get this game in
only 10% chance of precipitation.  
"We're too talented to let this season go down the drain." - Adam Wainwright

by stltrav09 on Aug 23, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

Watch those last comments
People up here are REAL touchy about cows.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

What
do you have against cows?  Are you against Iowa?  Is that it?  I love cows!

/being silly

"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh boy!
Duncan AND Slick Rick in LF! Is Edmonds' range back that well that he can cover CF and RF though?
"The Phillies honored PR man Larry Shenk for 44 years of service. Shenk told the crowd he had one request: 'Don't boo so much.' The crowd promptly booed."

by Mr Redbird on Aug 23, 2007 7:40 PM EDT reply actions  

Duncan needs all the help he can get
with that 'lower body' injury. I like this move by LaRussa.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

What is that TV website?
Stupid game is stupid blacked out here at the happiest place on earth

by bretsyboo on Aug 23, 2007 8:13 PM EDT reply actions  

I think
it channelsurfing.com

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

At this pace
He will throw 1260 pitches through 4.

by ZiggyG on Aug 23, 2007 8:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Hanley Ramirez: Boneheaded play three straight
nights.

MVP, my foot.

Hanley, stats notwithstanding, if you want consideration for this award, get your head in--how shall we say it?--a more natural position, and don't let Armando Benitez vote.

by kwhiteside on Aug 23, 2007 8:22 PM EDT reply actions  

Ramirez ...
thank God he likes to run.  He's given us a couple of very important outs in this series.

by Leo on Aug 23, 2007 8:22 PM EDT reply actions  

I'm glad to see
that his 6 pick-off attempts finally paid dividends.

by ZiggyG on Aug 23, 2007 8:22 PM EDT reply actions  

Interesting WPA Note
Ramirez's BB+SB+2nd Out = .003
Uggla's 1st Out (w/ runner on 2nd) = -.041
Cheering on the Cardinals, one pitch at a time.

by ColinMacLeod on Aug 23, 2007 8:24 PM EDT reply actions  

Reyes threw that last pitch down and in
at 94 mph.  Was that legit?  He was throwing 88 up in the zone.

Seemed that he also got squeezed on the inside corner 3 times.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 8:26 PM EDT reply actions  

I really wish he would try a game
Without the 88-90mph pitch.  Thats the one that seems to get hammered.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

No it's not
he gets beat most often on his offspeed pitches.  He throws those w/ runners on base and those are what get hit.

by chuckb on Aug 23, 2007 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

it was the
4 seam fastball that got sent for a ride this time around.  He threw 3 change-ups to willingham and missed badly with all 3.
"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

Way to Start It Eck!
Let's keep it going Ank!
Cheering on the Cardinals, one pitch at a time.

by ColinMacLeod on Aug 23, 2007 8:27 PM EDT reply actions  

it seems fairly arbitrary
the k to ankiel was legit, though.
"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

Poppy
well, at least Poppy didnt pop out.  Still, a ground out stinks!
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 8:37 PM EDT reply actions  

DOH! for Ankiel
(How much would we be blasting JuanE for that E-9?)
Cheering on the Cardinals, one pitch at a time.

by ColinMacLeod on Aug 23, 2007 8:42 PM EDT reply actions  

quite a lot
and rightfully so.  Thank goodness Reyes did a good job of pitching out of the jam...
"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

can somebody explain
pitch #5 in treanor's at bat? gameday shows a ridiculous curve path
The Cards at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas

by texbird on Aug 23, 2007 8:44 PM EDT reply actions  

It wasn't
I don't know what pitch #5 was since I'm not charting, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

Wow, that was awful Ank
Edmonds crossed him up but still, no excuse.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 8:47 PM EDT reply actions  

Anybody know
how I can watch this game, without paying of course?  Im stuck in Texas and we aint playin the 'Stros!
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 8:49 PM EDT reply actions  

Shoot me an email
andrealeigh203@gmail.com
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

i'm in texas, too...
and there just ain't no way to watch.. and you won't be able to listen either, without some kind of military-grade short-wave radio. learn to appreciate the gameday (mlb.com). also, after the game you can watch the entire thing at mlb.com, also.
The Cards at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas

by texbird on Aug 23, 2007 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

Where
are you in TX?  Im in Houston.
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

Austin
but spend a lot of time in Huntsville, north of Houston
The Cards at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas

by texbird on Aug 23, 2007 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

I thought
there was a way to get them on the radio.  A radio station in Norman, OK.

Couldn't tell you how to do it, though.  My boyfriend has all that insight.

As I live in Austin, the only way I see Cards games is if I go to my father's place and watch on Extra Innings or go to a sports bar downtown.

by erinroseparade on Aug 23, 2007 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

might work in Dallas
but no luck down in Austin. here are the list of stations http://www.ktrs.com/programming/cardinals_radio_network.html
The Cards at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas

by texbird on Aug 23, 2007 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

He was...
listening to it via the internet though.  

Can't imagine Dallas able to reach a Norman station.  Is it not insane that in NE Oklahoma (practically in both Kansas AND Missouri..) that they get FSNSW??  I was stunned.  Oklahoma = Cardinals.  That's just how it is.

by erinroseparade on Aug 23, 2007 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Get a slingbox...
Get a friend in St. Louis with a Slingbox. My brother lives in Dallas and logs into my cable service via my Slingbox to watch the Cards.

by swmrnbk on Aug 23, 2007 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Duncan needs to play
just not in St. Louis right now.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:49 PM EDT reply actions  

Is this a test for Reyes?
The defense has sure put him in plenty of situations early on.

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 8:57 PM EDT reply actions  

As if
he needs any more testing....

by erinroseparade on Aug 23, 2007 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

Eddie Degerman
at Palm Beach seems to have a no-hitter through 7.

by DCGreg on Aug 23, 2007 9:01 PM EDT reply actions  

Gameday
is incredibly slow.  Foxsports gamecast is keeping me more up to speed for cryin out loud!
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 9:02 PM EDT reply actions  

someone
cue the circus music.....

by FunkeeC on Aug 23, 2007 9:03 PM EDT reply actions  

Nice Rick
R-E-S-P-E-C-T

by Big Red on Aug 23, 2007 9:05 PM EDT reply actions  

puh-lease
The only person in baseball with a better arm than Rick is Amaury Marti. And well, that is just a given.

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

44 assists in 356 games...
...I'd be hard pressed to pass on Francour

by Ignatius J Reilly on Aug 23, 2007 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ankiel
I havent seen him throw, except as a pitcher.  But, I cant stand the Braves.  Soo, I go with Ankiel!  Go CARDS!!
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

WOO
Between Ankiel and Reyes's K, this is amazing.
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 9:08 PM EDT reply actions  

Son of a....
dammit
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 9:13 PM EDT reply actions  

Refresh on gameday,
anyone know how to adjust it from next Christmas to sometime more game time friendly?
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 9:13 PM EDT reply actions  

The 1.5 errors come back to hurt
Cannot give the other team 5 outs an inning.  Ugh

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:14 PM EDT reply actions  

mlb should
institute a rule where the highes run inning for each team wouldn't count, and reyes would win the cy young.
Curse you Endy!!!!!

by boisebird on Aug 23, 2007 9:14 PM EDT reply actions  

no kidding.
this is hard to take.  i like the kid.  i just irrationally like the kid and i hate to watch him screw up.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

playing to the level of our competition
sigh...
"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 9:16 PM EDT reply actions  

Well, this inning is on the defense.
Yes the HR sucks but we cannot ask our pitchers to get 4 and 5 outs an innning.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

that's what I'm saying...
Reyes DID pitch himself out of the jam, twice; his teammates just didn't pick him up.  It felt like I was watching a bad softball team play that inning.
"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

I like Reyes
but is it too much to ask that he pitches his way out of trouble just once?

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 9:17 PM EDT reply actions  

have to agree...
sure ...Rolen and Duncan didn't make it easy but that is two GS's in a row...he's got to make better pitches in these situations..

by Timbo02 on Aug 23, 2007 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

Are we still going to ask the rhetorical questiosn
about why Tony treats him and Wainwright differently?

by Valatan on Aug 23, 2007 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

I believe ..
he has.  Some errors are inconsequential.  Those, however, were not.

by erinroseparade on Aug 23, 2007 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

ohk
how about he makes me happy and does it when I am watching. I still love the guy, he did set the tone for the WS.

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

All right, boys.
It's the freaking Florida Marlins.  Let's go out and KICK SOME TAIL!

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:20 PM EDT reply actions  

If this were Little League, Anthony's mom
could say "Well, the rest of the kids made mistakes that got Anthony into trouble."

Unfortunately for him, this is the Major Leagues and giving up bases loaded homeruns are your own damn fault.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 9:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Cause he gave up 2 very well hit balls
his defense didn't catch them but it wasn't like they weren't smoked.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Heard in the booth: "Quick, we're getting
our rear ends kicked in, cut to the cute kid in the pro shop."

by faninexile on Aug 23, 2007 9:21 PM EDT reply actions  

ugliest little brat
i've ever seen... the mom was kind of cute though.
"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's a long time to wait
maybe put him in the pen and pop out WonderBrad.

What does Reyes throw besides fastball and change, again?

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Considering 2 of the 3 men on base
Were there on balls that should have been outs.  He had already gotten what should have been 4 outs.

No pitcher will look good with that level of defense behind him.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm just thinking out loud
I don't know that I've heard of him throwing anything effective besides fastball and change.  Maybe he'd do better in the bullpen.  Watching that AB on Gameday that led to the home run, it looked like he didn't have many good options.

I was ROOTING for that high fastball, but obviously that's what what's his name was waiting on from him.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

that's what it was
anecdotally it seems that when he can throw the high fastball OUT of the zone and get a swinging strike, he does well.  When he gets into a position where he has to throw it in the zone (ie bases loaded + 3 balls) he gets hammered.  

Willingham just did a great job of fouling balls off until he got one he could hammer.

"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

hindsight is 20/20
I'd go ahead and throw it up and out...I'll take the walk!

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thank you.
Now if more of you would take this attitude...

by erinroseparade on Aug 23, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is a good hitting Marlins
team, I figured they would score a few runs this game, but I hate that we are giving them extra chances with our errors. And they took advantage just like we did a couple of nights ago.

Duncan is clueless now at the plate and on the field.  I'm getting kind of worried about his future as a regular now (at least the rest of this year), hopefully he can snap out of it soon.

by KYCards on Aug 23, 2007 9:22 PM EDT reply actions  

His defense
isn't helping Reyes, but it might be a little more engaged if he threw strikes on a regular basis and pitched to contact.  85 pitches through three.

by CardsFanInPa on Aug 23, 2007 9:26 PM EDT reply actions  

Hey....
that's not Cy Young on the mound out there....they can come back on these guys..

by Timbo02 on Aug 23, 2007 9:26 PM EDT reply actions  

I agree
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?!  HELL NO!
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

I love that line
now where in the world did you get it?

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Seriously?
It's from Animal House (which I suspect you know : ) ), but we did have a pretty funny diary on here last week where some kid didn't get an AH reference and was kind of snotty about it.

Then some girl on Deadspin got all uppity about an AH quote too.  Haha.

"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

alowed
that is how they spell allowed here in Iowa. Man I gotta move, or maybe use that preview thing more.

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

I posted the "Germans bombed PH" line
based on a "Cardinals are screwed!" post by Hardcore, who I think was joking... Then we get a history lesson on how the Japanese were the ones who bombed PH. I think my reply was a little untactful, which is why I didn't respond afterwards. No need to start a war, for no good reason anyway.
Call up Jarrett Hoffpauir!

by player2bnamedl8r on Aug 23, 2007 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

or
" Did the Japaneese sit down with Pearl Bailey before the bombed her?"

by Timbo02 on Aug 23, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Vandenhurk
Is it just me or does the guy seem really hitable?
The St Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champs!

by Zubin on Aug 23, 2007 9:31 PM EDT reply actions  

yeah
most of these outs have come on pretty decent contact, really

by Valatan on Aug 23, 2007 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

Come on El Hombre!
Hit a loooooong fair one!
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 9:31 PM EDT reply actions  

ok Jimmy....
up to you now
Dont give up boys!

by yer dog first on Aug 23, 2007 9:32 PM EDT reply actions  

Please Jimmy
drill one over the left feild fence.
The St Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champs!

by Zubin on Aug 23, 2007 9:32 PM EDT reply actions  

Yeah
it was real pretty going 3-1 to the pitcher on pitches that weren't even close.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

1-2-3
....good to see...and so damn frustrating!!

by Timbo02 on Aug 23, 2007 9:39 PM EDT reply actions  

man....
Dunc just looks lost out there...

by Timbo02 on Aug 23, 2007 9:43 PM EDT reply actions  

D'Artagnan is warming up?
in the fourth?  Really?  Tony's decided that he's the long reliever today?

by Valatan on Aug 23, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions  

Willingham
has 20 HRs this year (thanks Anthony) and 19 are ageinst RHP.  So, I guess when Anthony loads it up, we'll use the LOOGY.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm honestly asking
why is Anthony Reyes a better option, at this point, than Brad Thompson.  What the hell happened to WonderBrad? He never pitches anymore.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions  

Dude,
If rolen didn't make the error this is a 1-0 lead for us.

If you want people to pitch to contact, the defense has to be able to catch the ball.

We basically gave them 3 extra outs so far this game and 2 of those came back to haunt us.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

from another point of view
it'd be 2-1 them after Willingham hit it the next inning.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Probably 1-1
Depending on how you look at the non-catch from Duncan.

And 1ER in 5IP is a problem?  Even 2ER?

Good start, no.  But its not reyes fault we are in a 3 run hole.  1 or 2 are on him, not all 4.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh, absolutely.
He gave up a home run and that's on him, unless you want to write it down to nerves.  2-1 or 1-1, both would be much better than what we got.

I'm really not trying to argue.  I very much respect your point of view.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Reyes vs. Thompson
Thompson FIP 5.92, Reyes FIP 4.40.  
Cheeseburger in paradise.

by joker24 on Aug 23, 2007 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

reyes
hasn't thrown a 2 seam fastball yet this game, that I've seen.  He's gone up there trying to strike every batter out.  He hasn't had the stuff to do it.

The defense let him down, but it's not pitching to contact that got him in trouble.  It's having to throw his fastball in the zone because he can't throw his change-up for a strike tonight and doesn't have a good slider/curve/etc, walking 3 guys in the first 3 innings, and not having a good enough fastball to be able to throw it in the zone.

"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 23, 2007 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

if if and buts
were candy and nuts.....I couldn't resist. I am gonna go ahead and give Reyes a break on this one, But no more grand slams allowed this season. I think we can all agree on that.

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Does anyone else agree that...
with Reyes on the hill & the fact that he gets no run support, to give the kid a better chance for a win, wouldnt you @ least try to give him the best defense on the field tonight? On top of the fact of KNOWING that the Cubs lost earlier in the day & its a good chance to gain a full game. I just think that its a bad move by TLR to give Duncan OR Bennett the start tonight. Dunc is struggling & god forbid since Yadi's been hot @ the plate, you would give him the day off. I understand that its the dog days & the players are tired, but give me a break, they play BASEBALL for a living & make LOTS of money to do so. And by the way, youre in a pennant race! I know that the only way to make Loopus in left field play better is to give him the reps, but with a struggling pitcher that needs confidence you CANNOT give him the start IMHOP. Granted Reyes got himself into way too many jams, not to mention the boot by Rolen, but that big inning should never have happened. I put this one on TLR.

by buzzburton33 on Aug 23, 2007 9:49 PM EDT reply actions  

I like Bennett catching Reyes
But you can argue over the rest.  Not sure whats wrong with Duncan.  He just seems to have fallen apart.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lack of playing time, IMHO...
Young guys like Duncan will get real rusty if they sit on the bench a lot.

by DiscoJer on Aug 23, 2007 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

To expand on my point
start Dunc w/ one of the other 4 guys when a righty is pitching. As for Bennett, I like the guy, but with Yadi's arm, he makes it harder on the baserunners when ARey walks them.

by buzzburton33 on Aug 23, 2007 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

and now he's destroyed their best hitter.
quite a strikeout, on gameday, anyway.  This dude with the bill ironed flat is intriguing.  There's GOT to be some pitching coach in the majors who's at least had a passing thought, "Maybe I could iron him out after we traded for him 50 cents on the dollar?"

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:53 PM EDT reply actions  

That would be the Mets pitching coach.
He seems to do well with pitchers like Reyes.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

And since it seems pretty certain that
Laduncetty is sticking around, Reyes will not be back next year. It's a damn shame he gave up a grand slam, but I would not classify it as falling apart--he didn't.  Yep, there was a walk, and the homerun--had the defense done their job, the inning would have been over.  Those runs were all unearned.  He almost got out of the inning.  He battled Willingham--who fouled off a few pitches until Anthony got one up.  Too bad.  Everyone will look at another loss for him, and say good riddance.  But I agree with you Driver Z that Rick Peterson would be able to get the best out of him--I actually (gulp) think the Cubs would like a crack at him-he's a less insane version of Jason Marquis, and they get wins out of Ted Lilly with his fly ball tendencies-and they were extradordinarily patient with Rich Hill as he figured out the big leagues-he's had some of the same problems Reyes has-they waited him out.  I'm sure they are glad they did.   As I'm typing this, Thompson has just given up a three-run homer on ONE pitch.  So go ahead and get rid of Reyes, and everyone will be happier and we'll never lose a game or have a grand slam hit against us again. And when Mulder, Wellemeyer, Carpenter, Maroth all come back we will never lose a game again.  I'm sure they could trade him for some broken veteran that  Duncan will fix.  Then no one will have to wait out the frustration of development of the young.  

by jillsinmo on Aug 23, 2007 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Poll: which is a worse play
following a lead-off pinch-hit single:

--bunting for a base hit?

--a hit and run with a starting pitcher as the runner?

by tdawg on Aug 23, 2007 9:56 PM EDT reply actions  

That bottom half of the fifth
took less time than a commercial break!

by faninexile on Aug 23, 2007 9:56 PM EDT reply actions  

That's fucking brilliant
We get a gift on Wainer's basehit, so we have our best contact hitter not named Pu put down a first pitch bunt, try the hit-and-run with a pitcher running that hasn't worked all week and then Eckstein flies out.

STOP BUNTING BRENDAN RYAN!!!  He's the 2nd hottest hitter on this team, please treat him as such.

And stop the freaking hit and run.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 9:57 PM EDT reply actions  

We finally agree on somethign today
Its just Tony being Tony.  That inning was a discrace.  2nd of the day.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

We're just not in the mood
to score runs tonight. SP with 7-some ERA, might as well be untouchable.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe we're trying
 to make HIS mother feel better.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I guess
Tony is the last one to see than Brendan can hit in the major league level.

Wasted inning there, going to be hard to comeback when Tony pulls crap like that.

by KYCards on Aug 23, 2007 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

We've got
4 innings left.  Everybody gets to bat, Ankiel, Pujols and Edmonds twice.  We are not done tonight.
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 10:03 PM EDT reply actions  

is there a reason...
that Gary Bennett always LOBS the ball back to the pitcher?...it's almost like he has a phobia or something..

by Timbo02 on Aug 23, 2007 10:03 PM EDT reply actions  

Bizzaro world
Our starter lowers his ERA from 5.61 to 5.33 in 5IP without giving up an ER.

Our RF shuts the other teams running game down cold.

We are facing a pitcher with a 7+ ERA.

Yet we are losing and everyone is in a bad mood.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 10:04 PM EDT reply actions  

not too long ago
we'd be congratulating ourselves on at least taking the series.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

wow
they are not taking extra bases, indeed.  Singles to Rickie are like walks.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:06 PM EDT reply actions  

well a rey
back to same old stuff..he had some help this time 2 e's ick..but again the big inning..

last 2 starts hes back to same old guy..im not giving up though i hope he can string another 4 games of solid stuff together

07 Cards more drama than a daytime soap

by punchinjudy on Aug 23, 2007 10:06 PM EDT reply actions  

To make the night even worse,
THEN TLR puts in Flores...I SWEAR he WANTS to leave STL.

by buzzburton33 on Aug 23, 2007 10:07 PM EDT reply actions  

Here, Brad
Flo just stepped in something, could you wipe it off his cleats for him?

The life of a relief pitcher.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thompson as a starter
5.37 ERA

Reyes 5.33

I don't see how you can chose one over the other.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

just an idea
07 Cards more drama than a daytime soap

by punchinjudy on Aug 23, 2007 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, Thompson's homerun rate is
absolutely frightful-he gave up his 20th tonight, and he strikes out almost no one.  When his sinker works, he's a good choice.  When it doesn't sink, it's just pound cake, and he's got nothing else.  I'm not opposed to him starting occasionally, but I'm not sure he's the answer.

by jillsinmo on Aug 23, 2007 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Jeez
Why pull the starter...he's got a hit and he's whipping us like red-headed stepchildren; he doesn't get to do this much.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:09 PM EDT reply actions  

if kip pitches well
and a rey starts to slide long term again put thompson in rotation and a rey in pen
07 Cards more drama than a daytime soap

by punchinjudy on Aug 23, 2007 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

maybe not
07 Cards more drama than a daytime soap

by punchinjudy on Aug 23, 2007 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Please stop worrying about Reyes....
I will bet my first born he's traded before the start of next season--maybe even by August 31. He did do one absolutely astounding thing on his way out tonight--he had an eff-u strike out of Mike Jacobs to end the 5th inning.  It's his statement on the way out the door.  I know you all can't wait for him to go, but I'm going to miss him. I just happen to think he's much better than he's shown-it's like a hitter in a year long slump.  Just be patient.  You'll get your Mulder, Maroth, Wellemeyer, Duncan project and Carpenter back. Maybe they'll try to sign Johan for 2009. And don't be surprised if Reyes goes on to star on someone else's mound.

by jillsinmo on Aug 23, 2007 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Brad could be our 3rd starter!!!
He sure pitches like the one we have.
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 10:14 PM EDT reply actions  

Clearly
WonderBrad is tired of all the pissing and moaning about Reyes on this blog, and he'd like it to stop, thankyouverymuch.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well we have
Wainwright 3.97

And then a mess:
Looper 4.90
Wells 5.24
Reyes 5.33
Thompson 5.37

Pineiro is too early to really call either way.

by DriverZn on Aug 23, 2007 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well.......
that sucks.  A lot.
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 10:15 PM EDT reply actions  

All right, boys.
It's now time to bat around.  That 7-ERA Cy Young candidate is safely off the mound.  Send their bullpen crying home to mommy.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:15 PM EDT reply actions  

It's not going to be an easy weekend
either I'm afraid. Atlanta is coming in here fighting for their lives as well and they can put some crooked numbers up on the board. And we are going to face some tough pitchers.

I hope this game didn't take most of the wind out of the team's sails.

Let's hope Arizona gets on another hot streak against the Cubs.

by KYCards on Aug 23, 2007 10:19 PM EDT reply actions  

Go Zombies!
Bounce back from 8-1 manhandling!

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

That
was really really nice.
Call up Jarrett Hoffpauir!

by player2bnamedl8r on Aug 23, 2007 10:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Ankiel!
Whatta throw!!!
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 10:34 PM EDT reply actions  

the ump
was even excited over that one

by mattyfrommo on Aug 23, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions  

Oh my god
I saw that too!  HEE!
"Jimmy told me, 'If you keep it right there at two runs and no more, we'll win this game,'" Wainwright said. "'Me and Albert will get the job done."

by Andie203 on Aug 23, 2007 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

Webgem!
Niiiice
Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 23, 2007 10:37 PM EDT reply actions  

jeez, Bennett
I have this horrible feeling I wouldn't look any worse standing up there.

by lordsummer on Aug 23, 2007 10:42 PM EDT reply actions  

Good news!
Reds and Braves are in the 12th inning.. Braves bullpen might get as chewed up as the cardinals by the end of the day.

Bad news..Cardinals got Vandenhurked.  Again.

At least it's not a shutout.

by cloistermaximus on Aug 23, 2007 10:47 PM EDT reply actions  

Interesting
I'm pretty sure what my girlfriend did to me last night could be classified as 'Vandenhurked.'
"The Phillies honored PR man Larry Shenk for 44 years of service. Shenk told the crowd he had one request: 'Don't boo so much.' The crowd promptly booed."

by Mr Redbird on Aug 23, 2007 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm...I'm sorry.
Whatever you mean by that, it can't be good.

by lordsummer on Aug 24, 2007 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

That's it, guys. Get all the shittiness out of
your system tonight. That's your error quota for the next week....

by BTown Birds fan on Aug 23, 2007 10:56 PM EDT reply actions  

I missed the game tonight...
due to class, and looks like I chose a good one not to watch. I hear Duncan looked abysmal out in LF and  even Rolen get in on the craptacular action.
- Y. Molina stole third

by TriplePlay on Aug 23, 2007 10:58 PM EDT reply actions  

Let's go Denny Graves on their ass
"The Phillies honored PR man Larry Shenk for 44 years of service. Shenk told the crowd he had one request: 'Don't boo so much.' The crowd promptly booed."

by Mr Redbird on Aug 23, 2007 11:03 PM EDT reply actions  

Good thing -
the Cards were able to stage two slightly uncharacteristic late inning rallies in the other games  - or else we're looking at a REAL dismal home stand against a bad team. What was the name of that pitcher who shut us down in game one? Barone?

by Urban Pawnee on Aug 23, 2007 11:08 PM EDT reply actions  

Can you even IMAGINE
what an 11 run rally would look like?????

by faninexile on Aug 23, 2007 11:21 PM EDT reply actions  

This is not a bad start
Where is MrRedbird tonight.  We need his MOJO!!!

by faninexile on Aug 23, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

He was Vanderhurked
And I'm assuming it wasn't a good thing...
Call up Jarrett Hoffpauir!

by player2bnamedl8r on Aug 23, 2007 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well I guess we were due
for a butt whoopin'.  We hadn't had one of those in awhile.

Let's just hope we get some quality starts against Atlanta, they are going to be a tough team to face and a good challenge to see if our comeback in the division is for real.

 

by KYCards on Aug 23, 2007 11:40 PM EDT reply actions  

Anthony Reyes could be a great pitcher
If he would stop giving up grand slams.

How is Mulders rehab going?

by cloistermaximus on Aug 24, 2007 12:29 AM EDT reply actions  

I'll take the blame on this one
My fiance went to the game tonight. The Cards have not won with her in attendance since April of 05. She ruined Wainwrights start against the Dodgers the other week, too. We still have tickets for the Cubs and Astros series in September. If this race is still on, I'm not letting her go.
Boooo-urns.

by Alxfritz on Aug 24, 2007 2:03 AM EDT reply actions  

Dammit
There goes our freakin' Pythagorean again...

Well, we can't win every game, right?  So let's hope they got all that crap out of their system tonight.  Cuz aside from a couple of plays (I'm lookin' at you, Rick!  Wow!), they royally sucked tonight.

We need them to shake this one off and show back up with their A-game tomorrow.

For the record, put me in the camp that feels 1) Reyes pitched VERY poorly tonight, 2) but his defense totally reamed him, and 3) that one unfortunate pitch to Willingham looked to me like a misplaced 2-seamer.  It was 89 mph, and Bennett's glove was at the bottom of the zone, and the 2-seamer rode up to just above belt high and said "hit me, plz, kthxbye".

I wonder what the outcome might have been if he had been allowed to throw another 94mph 4-seamer at the letters?  I guess we'll never know.

Oh, and can I just add that it was amazing what a difference there was having Bennett behind the plate rather than Yadi.  I mean, it's like a whole 'nother game.  I hope Yadi had a nice rest, 'cause I want him starting every game from now until the end of September...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Aug 24, 2007 2:04 AM EDT reply actions  

according to gameday
the pitch that willingham hit was 91 mph right down the middle.  the sequence went:

76 (changeup waaay low and away, totally wasted pitch)
89 (low and away fastball swinging strike)
75 (ball inside)
89 (swinging strike in exactly the same place as #3)
91,  90 (fastballs low and away, fouled off)
76 (changeup low and away)
91 (fastball inside, fouled)
91 (fastball, boom)

The last couple may have been 2 seamers, but if so he was throwing them very hard.  I was under the impression that Reyes' 2-seamer was slower, but he may have put a bit of extra oomph on it (which may have been what caused him to miss location so badly?)

He only threw 3 93 mph pitches all night, all 3 to Jacobs in the 1st inning; after that he never got above 91 the rest of the outing, so I'm not sure where you get the 94 mph from...

Bennett did look awful, didn't he?  I got the impression he was totally mailing it in.

"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 24, 2007 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

MPH
The 89mph came from the FSN gun when I watched that painful at bat again on my DVR.  But you're right, Gameday does show 91 for that pitch.

I believe he hit 94 a few times, and I just confirmed it with the Gameday log.  In the 2nd against De Aza, and 2 in a row to Hermidia immediately after Willingham's slam in the 3rd.

It also shows that he hit 93 several times, including 3 to Jacobs in the 1st (pop out to short), 1 to Hermidia's in the 2nd (called strike 3), and 4 to Jacobs in the 5th (swinging SO).

I'm not sure why so many of his fastballs are in the 89-91 range, because the 93-94mph stuff certainly seemed to be much more effective (not surprisingly).

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Aug 24, 2007 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

I see a few possibilities.
  1. He is having mechanical problems which make keeping the velocity up difficult.
  2. He is being advised to back off a bit for better location (like Wellemeyer was)
  3. The slower pitcher are the slower 2seam pitch.  I looked at the movement and it really doesn't have much so if its a 2 seam, it sucks.
His fastball just doesn't seem to have any sink.  Thats not necessarly bad.  However, whatever they have him doing isn't working.  

Of the options above my money is on #3.  He is going to a pitch that he just doesn't throw effectivly.  Why, I don't know.  It simply makes no sense.

by DriverZn on Aug 24, 2007 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

re: 94
that is interesting.  i just went back and checked, and it does say he hit 94 against de aza (that's as far as I went cuz I really need to crash).

What is really strange is that I wrote down all of the gameday data earlier for the at bats up to the GS (in preparation for a post that i decided not to make) and somehow completely missed the de aza at bat.  Got all the rest, just not that one. I did write down the 93 to hermida and just missed it when I reviewed- put a capital L on top of it to show that it was "low" and it looked like a 91.  ack... (there was also a 92 to hermida that got an "H", lol)

"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 24, 2007 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

after watching the clip about a dozen times
i've come to the conclusion that the pitch was higher than gameday said it was; I think he threw exactly the pitch he was meaning to; it just got hit.  Willingham is a good hitter, and he was having a good day, and reyes was not, and willingham worked the at bat until he got a pitch he could hit.  If anything I'd say the at bat says more about willingham than it does about reyes, because anthony threw a couple of good pitches before making a mistake and Willingham fouled them off or took them instead of swinging and missing them.

Anyway I can't quite catch the moment, but someone who has windows on their computer (and doesn't need to wake up at a gawdawful hour tomorrow) might be able to get a screenshot of reyes' actual grip on the ball- the highlight clip ("willinghams's slam") has a slow-motion piece with the ball leaving his hand, but mlb.com has fixed the feature that used to allow you to advance their streaming video frame by frame with mplayer, and I can't quite get a fix on it.  sigh...

"and we're grasping at rainbows, holding on till the end..."

by SleepyCA on Aug 24, 2007 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

Reyes problem wasn't with the last pitch
it was with the 3 he threw before that.  Instead of just putting Willingham away with a fastball up or a changeup down, he piddled around with his fastball and allowed Willingham to get back into the at-bat.

Anthony appears to a have a problem with control that is different than Wainwright's.  Wainwright loses his control when he a) falls off the mound too hard to the left or b) loses his release point.

Anthony loses his control (on ABs he should just be throwing strikes ex: the pitcher) because his mechanics go completely to shit.  His arms are flying all over the place and the ball is coming out like a frisbee.  Instead of dropping and driving to the plate, he kinda wobbles his arms and sidearms it towards homeplate.

For a guy that just keeps giving up the 'big hit' all the time, when he sees the opportunity to end the inning, he should get mean and just finish off an at-bat.  Throw a hard fastball up or kill them with a changeup down.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Aug 24, 2007 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

I downloaded the XML file
I might have time to do one of the baseball analysist breakdown of his pitches, their movement, and the results over the weekend.

by DriverZn on Aug 24, 2007 3:36 AM EDT reply actions  

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