20 September morning thread: The Long Cut Cardinals Battle on--Magic Number = 6

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 11:48 AM EDT in News Comment 87 comments

First, you might have noticed that I've been a bit absent from this site as of late--it's because I've been here for the past weekend, and then in recovery--a good time was had by all.

Now on to the Cardinals--here we go again. This most streaky of all teams swings high on the pendulum again, mathematically eliminating the Brewers from the division title in the process.

What's best is that Weaver looked good against a lineup that had a few decent lefty bats (though the entire Brew Crew offense has been struggling in the 2nd half). He controlled the strike zone, allowed 5 baserunners in 6 innings, and even got a few strikeouts. He's proving himself to be a truly better option for the playoff rotation than Mr. Marquis.

The thing that's getting me, however, is that this team is starting to look good again--it seems like the wins are blowouts, and the losses are narrow. Perhaps the team is turning it around, and peaking at the right time, or perhaps I'm just allowing myself to hope again--maybe this team can actually put things together, right at the time that they need to.

maybe.

Or perhaps the mental picture of Derek Jeter swinging through a Wainwright curveball for the last out of the season is too sweet an image to get out of my head, and I'm being delusional.

Either way, it's fun.

Finally, Izzy has opted for hip surgery and will apparently try for a comeback next year. Let's hope him the best.

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Boy are we a fickle bunch

"The thing that's getting me, however, is that this team is starting to look good again..."

A few losses in a row and we'll be back to the negativity. This is definitely one of the more roller-coaster seasons I can remember.

by jimstllax on Sep 20, 2006 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fickle??

Maybe we are fickle, but its easy to see what the difference between a good team and a great team - during the regular season. Simply compare this team to the teams from the previous few years. There's no consistency to the play of this team because of the unreliable starting pitching.

That being said, the post-season is our potential playground if we get hot at the right time. If youngsters get hot and veterans become motivated, anything is possible.

by _pistol_ on Sep 20, 2006 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Austin City Limits, huh?

I'm jealous. What cool bands should we be made aware of?

The 26th Man

by 26thMan on Sep 20, 2006 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I put a mini-review below

Some of the best fun was showing up early in the morning, and just browsing from smaller act to smaller act.

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ACL

I'm jealous, too. I got to go a couple of years ago and it was fantastic. I do hope they've gotten their act together regarding concessions, however. When I was there I waited in line for (I shit you not) 2.5 hours, only to be told they were almost out of food and I could only have 3 mini-pizzas instead of the 7 I'd been waiting all that time for. It didn't spoil our enjoyment of Nickel Creek's awesome performance, but I certainly left hungry for more than just music...

by punditmoi on Sep 20, 2006 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The concession lines weren't horrible

but we also snuck in a ton of our own food

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go ahead, make me feel older

My daughter just called and gave a rave review of what she saw in Austin. She said it was payback for all those years I sent her lousy CDs from SXSW.

The cat is fine, thank you.

by Intheway on Sep 20, 2006 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When do you think we'll clinch?

Saturday is the earliest we possibly can. My guess is Tuesday.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Sep 20, 2006 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Although

I doubt it's possible, I am hoping for Sep 30th.

But only b/c I have tix to that game and I love to spray strangers with champagne. Ah, hell... maybe I'll do it anyway.

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2006 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet, Alex

I'll be at that game too. In the unlikely event the rotations aren't shuffled between now and then, it'll be Sheets v. Soup.

by liam on Sep 20, 2006 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

look for the non-descript white guy wearing a red t-shirt reading "Joe Pettini Would Like More of Your Whiskey, Please."

That will be me.

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2006 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mine says:

"Like Ernie Hays, I prefer tulips on my organ to roses on my grave."

by liam on Sep 20, 2006 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aren't we all

non-descript?

The 26th Man

by 26thMan on Sep 20, 2006 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping for a clincher...

in Houston since I will be at the game on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Never thought I would be rooting for the Cubs this weekend. ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

by Cards67 on Sep 20, 2006 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're harmless

It's okay to root for them from time to time... it's like cheering on your little brother's stupid friend.

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2006 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping

for Sunday. That way I can go to the game here in Houston and watch it happen in front of 20,000 unhappy Astros fans.

by chuckb on Sep 20, 2006 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, ACL

Good times...I went in 2004 and had tix offered to me for this year, but opted out.

I trust Wilco and Jack Johnson were there as usual... any other face melting acts, Valatan?

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2006 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ACL

Valatan-

Day one didn't look that sexy, day three looks good (Son Volt, Flaming Lips, Kathleen Edwards, Ben Harper), but day two choices would've been hard for me. All these played between 4:30 and 9:30:

Los Lobos
Shins
Guy Clark
Calexico
Aimee Mann
Kings of Leon
What Made Milwaukee Famous (Saw them on the ACL tv show...wow)
Willie Nelson (bet he had more than a pound with him last weekend ;) )

Best in show? Pleasant surprises?

Um, oh yeah...baseball.

More Skip and less So, please, Tony.

youneverknow

by meat on Sep 20, 2006 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um , damn

Flaming Lips would have been worth the cost of a plane ticket right there. Please tell me it was the weirdest moment of your life.

I'm sure Kings of Leon rocked as always...

and Sun Volt would have been pretty damn interesting to see, too.

Oh... and yeah... baseball... Go Baseball!

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Sep 20, 2006 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kings of Leon...

are amazing.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Sep 20, 2006 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Flaming lips show was completely rediculous

and very entertaining--a confetti cannon, two each of seven foot tall inflatable santas and spacemen, 10 guys dressed up as santa, 10 laides in purple cheerleader costumes, and pretty much every superhero you can think of was on stage--I'll post a picture on my blog when I get home.

Son Volt put on a very good show--they basically played Okemah with a couple of extra songs on top.

MUSE was rediculously good, especially considering I knew nothing about them coming in, and my friend dragged me to the show, rather than camping out for Petty

We were front row for Thevery corporation and Van Morrison. Van pretty much played for the two hours straight without pausing, and his voice hasn't deteroiated at all--awesome show. Thievery Corporation also put on a really good show--the song from the Garden State soundtrack was the worst song of the set. They mostly replaced guitar with an electric sitar, which was totally awesome.

It rained right before the Kathleen Edwards set, so I got to get up really close, and she and her band put on a really fantastic show--a lot more intense than I was expecting.

Other pretty sweet shows were a jam band called Galactic, a rock act from France called Phoenix, and a mellow Finnish band called Husky rescue.

Lowlights were mainly the beer slection and the Shins set, but that was mainly due to the very jerky crowd that had gathered there, the heat, and the huge crowd (estimate of the sat crowd = 300,000). I'm still tired, but am amazingly un-sunburned, considering that I was shirtless in the Texas sun for 8 hours a day for three striaght days.

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like a good time

That guitar player for Kathleen Edwards is reeeeally good.

Flaming Lips = beautifully gifted nutjobs. Surely, Wayne did the crowd-surfing-in-a-bubble-routine?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredwilson/246587445/

(link to pic)

youneverknow

by meat on Sep 20, 2006 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally Jealous...

Would've loved to see Ben Harper, Van Morrison, Son Volt, Matt Costa, even Gnarls Barkley... especially in an atmosphere like that!

by ArachNerd on Sep 20, 2006 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phoenix is criminally underrated...

... i'm glad you enjoyed them.

by kindred on Sep 20, 2006 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know anything about the festival

But why weren't the Asylum Street Spankers there? Mighty amusing band local to Austin.

by liam on Sep 20, 2006 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No idea

but I'll check them out next time they're in the chronicle.

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hah

I live in Austin and (as you can tell by my user name) go to UT. ACL is amazing.

Hope you all enjoyed the city.

by longhornscardinals on Sep 20, 2006 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually live here

I'm a grad student at UT

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm

an Austinite too. didn't go to ACL this year but I could hear alot of it from my porch. I am going to Houston tomorrow to catch the Thursday and Friday games. great seats for Friday's game a couple of rows back behind the batter's box.

by satori21 on Sep 20, 2006 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

nice to have another 78704-er here

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

never knew so many of ya'll were from Austin. Guess I'm not the only displaced Cardinals fan.

what are you studying Val?

by longhornscardinals on Sep 20, 2006 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

physics

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ouch

by kindred on Sep 20, 2006 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yikes

thats rough man. finance/gov't undegrad here. last year though.

and dunno about both of ya'll, but im 78705. work is 78704, though.

by longhornscardinals on Sep 20, 2006 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitching

This pitching staff has been hot and cold all year. It always seems we see 5 QSs in a row, then 3 blowouts, Carp win, 2 blowouts, 5 QSs in a row, etc.

by SirVLCIV on Sep 20, 2006 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Delusional

Yeah, right, Jeter swinging through a Wainwright curveball. I'll settle for Delgado doing it in the NLCS.

by raisin on Sep 20, 2006 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

... And yet, it's such a beautiful mental image that I can't stop thinking about it! Drat it all...

by redbirdbrain on Sep 20, 2006 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know!!

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad to hear I'm not the only one

who has those daydreams...

I always picture it at Busch though...the top of the 9th in Game 5 (I really don't see us sweeping in four. Hell, I don't really see us in the WS; guess that's why it's called a fantasy). It's always either the Yanks or the Tigers...Carp on the mound (Don't ask me why he's pitching Game 5; my fantasy, my rules). The other team's 3,4, and 5 guys are up, and Carp strikes out the side to complete his 14 K, 3 hit masterpiece. The fans rush the field, the Busch theme plays on the organ, and the scoreboard says in huge letters "WE WIN!", just like in '82...

Oh, and sometimes I'm naked...don't know why...

:-D

"Paging Dr. Kenneth Noisewater..."

by iron duke75 on Sep 20, 2006 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only thing better than

Jeter striking out would be Albert hitting a walk-off against "the greatest closer to ever live"(muahahahahaha!), Mariano Rivera...

by cardsrul on Sep 20, 2006 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sticking with Jeter in my fantasy

Rivera has actually been almost as good as his hype--Jeter isn't even the best SS on his own team.

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that one

draws an evil laugh from me

by Elle on Sep 20, 2006 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i really like that image

but can i get it with a stupid train in the background?

Rabid Redbird

by gthedamned on Sep 20, 2006 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So now we're completely missing

at least 1 of the 3 requirements for winning playoff baseball

Defense (I'll give us a pass on this one)
Strikeout starting pitchers (uh oh)
A good closer (oh crap)

by sdrone on Sep 20, 2006 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they'll do it!

We haven't had a nice hotstreak yet. It's time to do it. After we clinch in Houston, it's time.

I'm not that worried about those 3 requirements. We do have 1, we have 2 and 3 is the only suspect we don't have.

Weaver is capable of being a strikeout master(haha I never thought I'd say that), Carp is a beast, Soup not as much but is capable, and Reyes definitely can do it, however his head is turning into Ankiel.

Lets go cards! :D

by lynx on Sep 20, 2006 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The thing about our streaks

is that I'll see someone (Rolen, for instance) start killing things.

And then the next game the pitching staff makes me hurl.

It's hard to get on a streak....

by sdrone on Sep 20, 2006 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dring to Milwaukee tonight from Cubbie-land...

Very glad that Soup's pitching instead of Marquis! I just hope that Senor Stud is in the lineup tonight. I don't know if he injured his wrist on that DP throw from Miles last night (as a game recap speculated) or will be given precautionary rest or just a day off after the blowout. (Big Mac used to notoriously take games off when I atttended!)

Anyhoo, will love to give my thoughts when I return tonight.

by Big Rev on Sep 20, 2006 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of the Wainwright Curveball....

That Prince Fielder AB was a thing of freakin' beauty. Two perfectly placed curveballs followed by a high fastball. Real high....Over his shoulder high. He couldn't lay off it.

by Schnake on Sep 20, 2006 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's to hope...

I posted this comment back on 9/11:
http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/comments/2006/9/11/9352/99617/50#50

Since that time they are 5-2. I think the above will be true if we can sweep or take 2 of 3 from San Diego next week.

"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer." - Ted Williams

by WiscCard on Sep 20, 2006 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, wrong link...

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/comments/2006/9/11/9352/99617/7#7

"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer." - Ted Williams

by WiscCard on Sep 20, 2006 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

pendulum

When the pendulum swings and cuts!

sweet, hope you enjoyed ACL, V

by lookit55 on Sep 20, 2006 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

...pendulum...

When the big door swings open and shuts!
Yeah, we'll be middle aged children but so what?

GBV! GBV! GBV!

by Speedy G on Sep 20, 2006 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last game of the season...

is it still scheduled to be carp? If so, I wonder if they'll let Narveson take a stab at a start. (Assuming nothing is riding on the game like homefield advantage). There is no way Carp will be pitching the last game of the season.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Sep 20, 2006 1:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

TLR stated this...

that he wouldn't give Carp the last start of the season just to pad numbers for a Cy Young bid.
I'd like to see Narveson get a start too.

"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer." - Ted Williams

by WiscCard on Sep 20, 2006 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No reason not to, really

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More MVP Debate Ammo

There's an article on ESPN.com today (I can't post the link - I'm having trouble getting ESPN to come up right now) describing Albert's amazing season of fewer K's than homers. Just for kicks, I decided to compare his multi-HR games to his multi-k games, and see how those numbers stack up against Howard's. The numbers are way lopsided.

3-HR games:
Pujols 2
Howard 1

2-HR games:
Pujols 2
Howard 5

Okay, so slight advantage to Howard in these numbers. But what about strikeouts?

2-strikeout games:
Pujols 4
Howard 40

3-strikeout games
Pujols 1
Howard 7

4-strikeout games
Pujols 0
Howard 4

Anyway, to keep this post reasonably short, I've put the rest of the data on my blog (shameless plug) which, unfortunately, hasn't been updated much recently.

The Cardinal Curmudgeon

by lawman3842 on Sep 20, 2006 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

part of the article:

It's on ESPN Insider by Jayson Stark, so I'll be expecting ESPN to raid my house tonight:

Now let's put this season in a perspective that frames it against the rest of the mad-hacker times Pujols lives in.

Pujols has whiffed as many times this year as Royals catcher Paul Bako, a man who has hit zero homers.
Pujols has struck out 37 fewer times than Houston leadoff man Willy Taveras, a man who has hit one homer.
Pujols has whiffed 52 fewer times than Rockies outfielder Cory Sullivan, a man who has hit two homers.
Pujols has punched out nearly 100 fewer times than Indians shortstop Jhonny Peralta (142 Ks), a man who has hit 12 homers.
Pujols nearly has fewer strikeouts than A's sub Antonio Perez (40 whiffs), even though Perez is a man who has only gotten nine hits all season.
Pujols has fewer strikeouts this season than 43 different players have run up since the All-Star break -- a list that includes Emil Brown, Ryan Freel, Felipe Lopez, Jorge Cantu and Eliezer Alfonzo.
And Pujols has whiffed fewer times all season than Reds basher Adam Dunn has whiffed just in his last 117 at-bats.

Ohbytheway, one more thing: If we include Ryan Howard this year, in the 21 seasons of at least 50 homers in the last quarter-century, the average number of strikeouts by the men who did it is 134. Meaning that Albert Pujols could beat that by (gulp) 90.

by Just Rope Ball on Sep 20, 2006 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

by effin fisk on Sep 20, 2006 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Antonio Perez

In what situation would you ever use someone who has 40 k's and 9 hits?

by MichiganBird on Sep 20, 2006 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Platoon advantage

TLR might use him as a RH pinch hitter for Chris Duncan if a lefty were on the mound.

by madridbend on Sep 20, 2006 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

even more ammo

with credit to 1st&3rd2death at birdsonthebat for doing the legwork:

Just to let the numbers speak for themselves in terms of RBI opportunities:

# Runners on Base
Pujols 390
Howard 463

# Plate Appearance with runners on base
Pujols 274
Howard 322

# Runners in scoring position (not plate appearances, actual baserunners)
Pujols 184 (124 on 2nd, 60 on 3rd)
Howard 229 (158 on 2nd, 71 on 3rd)

% of baserunners driven in:
Pujols 20.5%
Howard 17.9%

youneverknow

by meat on Sep 20, 2006 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reds/Stros game on right now...

Who are we rooting for? Astros I assume?

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Sep 20, 2006 2:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

it matters anymore

The Cardinal Curmudgeon

by lawman3842 on Sep 20, 2006 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'd have to check the standings

Cincy is 7 back
Houston is 8.5 back.

Go Stros!

Redbirds Fun
The Kentucky Democrat

by cardsfan84 on Sep 20, 2006 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

4-0 Stros

Luke Scott has a HR and a 3B.

Redbirds Fun
The Kentucky Democrat

by cardsfan84 on Sep 20, 2006 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely must...

root for the Stros so we can celebrate at Minute Maid on Saturday or Sunday and gain some measure of revenge for game 6 last year...

by guayzimi on Sep 20, 2006 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm w/ you

besides, if we have a chance this weekend, i'm gonna buy a sro ticket and go by myself if I have to and watch it happen. I'd love to be there for that!

by chuckb on Sep 20, 2006 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clemens gets his final win in Houston

One of the most dominating pitchers to ever play the game.

Will he finally retire.

It's the 7th inning so I'm guessing the pen can hold it.

Redbirds Fun
The Kentucky Democrat

by cardsfan84 on Sep 20, 2006 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

State College Spikes...

left us for the Pirates. Didn't know that.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Sep 20, 2006 2:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i was reading the other day

that it would likely happen

Redbirds Fun
The Kentucky Democrat

by cardsfan84 on Sep 20, 2006 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus Pujols is

a better fielder than Howard.

by Red in Chicago on Sep 20, 2006 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If howard gets the non-steroid

single season record, then I have trouble seeing how they don't give the MVP to him--he's at 57 right now, and has 11 games to play. The choice between the two gusy is mostly flavour at this point, anyway.

by Valatan on Sep 20, 2006 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Howard

I don't know about MVP for the non steroid single season record. Don't get me wrong, if he hits 62, then RYAN HOWARD is the single season record holder if you ask me. But put Albert on the Phillies team and Howard on ours. Tell me whose better? ........Phillies I think...

Play hard, play to win, but make it fun!

by Edmonds is baseball on Sep 20, 2006 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dream On

Someone doesn't know how to shut his mouth...or maybe he's just in NY:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2595523

[dream]
A-Rod...in a city that doesn't want to see him fail...two best players in game hitting 3-4...at his natural position...a GG left side infield...for 15 mil...
[/dream]

A diamond is just a lump of coal that performed well under pressure

by joker24 on Sep 20, 2006 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice dream

If A-Rod were here, he wouldn't be expected to be the best player on the team, and his 2006 stat line would look pretty good if he can still play SS. If he wanted to stay at 3B, though, I'd pass to keep Rolen.

by madridbend on Sep 20, 2006 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stros will likely win

Though Fernando Nieve gave up two runs in the 8th when he loaded the bases.

Redbirds Fun
The Kentucky Democrat

by cardsfan84 on Sep 20, 2006 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

in houston

people are assuming this is Clemens' last home start. You'd have to think he'd retire after this year. I can't see there's any way he's coming back.

If we win tonight and Houston closes out the Reds today, our magic # goes to 4 for each team, w/ the Reds off tomorrow. We could finish it this weekend here in Houston. I'd get so much sadistic pleasure from that (plus I'll be there to see it happen!)

by chuckb on Sep 20, 2006 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gosh

Maybe Roger would like to tack on one more year...

with a real team. You know, like the Cardinals.

I can see a one-year $8 MM deal or something like that.

by Red in Chicago on Sep 20, 2006 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

is he only going to pitch 8 games?

Because he's making $1 mil a game with his contract with the 'Stros right now.

by dontEATnachos on Sep 20, 2006 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Chicago

that's called a starter for the Cubs.

by Red in Chicago on Sep 20, 2006 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Howard vs. Pujols

It's amazing how many people still seem to think the Cards have their 2004 offense, and that Howard is more of a one man show than Pujols. This despite pretty much all the numbers indicating that Philly has the better offense this year, with or without Howard/Pujols included in the stats.

It seems to be one of those myths that keeps getting repeated until (almost) everybody believes it. Hopefully MVP voters inform themselves a little better, but I bet if the season ended today Howard would be MVP on the basis of that myth and his HR/RBI totals (and in spite of Ks, defense, his team not making the playoffs, etc...).

by BTown Birds fan on Sep 20, 2006 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And the future gets brighter

MLB.com reports that Phil Garner says Lidge is his closer for next year.

The cat is fine, thank you.

by Intheway on Sep 20, 2006 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But will Garner

be around to make that call?

by cardsrul on Sep 20, 2006 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!!!!!

Lidge might be good.... Yeh Yeh whatever. I don't care if he gets 60 saves next year. I just wanna see him pitch to Albert some more. It gives me so much pleasure

Play hard, play to win, but make it fun!

by Edmonds is baseball on Sep 20, 2006 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

they'll trade him

I expect the Astros to do a lot this offseason. They'll need to replace Pettitte and Clemens (though Pettitte may return) and fix their offense. I'd think that Lidge has as much value as anyone on their team + they'll figure they can replace him w/ Dan Wheeler.

by chuckb on Sep 20, 2006 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the big deal about Home Runs?

This MVP thing is all about homeruns? So what if Howard breaks the record? I do recall a certain Cardinal doing that in 97' and not getting MVP... and in retrospect, then nobody was scrutinizing performance enhancers. I was an usher at busch in 97 and watching that Mark clobber the ball was amazing, but to put so much emphasis on it? Here's what I see trying to be objective as possible. Albert Pujols is the guy I would want bottom of the ninth. He will give me the best at-bat possible. He might pop out, but he won't strikeout. (That much..) He has carried the Cards on his shoulders. The only reason I won't be sad if Howard gets it is because he's St.L grown. The where'd you go to high school sort of thing.

Be Selective

by OKCardsfan on Sep 20, 2006 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs