sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
OK, I went to the 19 inning marathon yesterday and only lasted 15 or 16 innings. They quit serving beer in the 7th and all concessions are shut down by the 8th or 9th. Add to that the fact the game had taken on all the excitement of a chess match... Enough was enough!!
Keeping in mind the run of 2011 and the fact that you never say never, this team is maddening to watch. Other than a few hiccups here and there, the pitching has been pretty darn good overall. The starting pitching has particularly good, considering we lost Carp early. What is killing us is the middle of the order all going cold at once and all getting hot at once. We beat teams 15-2 and 11-3 then can't muster more than a few runs in the critical games against the Pirates...
I had seats pretty close to the Cards dugout and I can tell you this much. Beltran is hurting. He looks to me like he's a matter of days away from the DL. His right leg is not good. He lips on and off the field. Also, Descalso is not a MLB ball player. Not sure what Matheney sees in this guy but he needs to go and give up the roster spot to a real player. As expected Matheny is making some rookie manager moves. Taking out Craig (probably the best hitting player right now) to have Descalso pinch run was a bone-headed move. It isn't like Craig is a sloth. What made it even more painful is they never sent Descalso to steal???? WTF? Why take your best hitter out of the game, for a pinch runner, if you're not going to have him run? But let's be real, that game wasn't lost due to Matheny. That was a simple case of the 3,4 & 5 hitters choking for a about 12 straight innings against an over-worked, taxed Pirates bullpen... Other than Jay's play in the outfield and Yadi's play behind the plate, that was about as unispired as I've seen guys play ball.
All-in-all, I give them a 50/50 shot at one of the wild card spots and then you see what happens. Even if they don't make it, they have a pretty good foundation for next year and Matheny will be that much better, hopefully, learning from his mistakes...
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
RafeHollister
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 672
Loc: Webb City, MO
Current High Scores in:
| |
|
|
|
Pitchers Hit Eighth blog post from today. Pretty much asking the same things as you.
BTW, the author of this article is a good friend of mine and was a roommate at UMR. The blog is a good read and Dennis has some great analysis.
--------------------
Both how I'm livin' and my nose is large.
|
sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
Good read and he backs it up with waaaaay more stats than I am ever going to look up (come to think of it, I'm rarely going to look up any stats). One huge factor he left out was that Jay was on base three more times after he took Craig out for Descalso. All three times, he was followed by the worst hitting position player on the team. And the salt in the wound was that the guy he was hitting for is the hottest right now.
We're all geniuses after the fact and I would like to think Matheny learned from this. The only thing that concerns me is that he has been regularly playing Descalso, batting around .220 over Skip Schumaker, batting over .300. Descalso has a better glove but hardly enough to justify his weak bat. And to make matters worse, he's batting .100 or less with RISP. In short, he's brutal. Reminds me of when LaRussa kept running Chris Duncam out there when he couldn't hit water, if he fell out of a boat (turned out he was injured but it was the same results).
Again, the real cuplrits in that game were Hoilday, Beltran and Freese. IF you didn't know better, you'd look for a Black Sox-like scandal. All three can't hit mediocre pitching for 12 innings?
Let's hope they have an epiphany here on their day off and come back on a tear...
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Matheney has made numerous mistakes in all areas of management throughout the season as we should of expected. So did Tony by the way but there's no doubt MM's learning curve has been a factor on the team record.
The teams been consistent all year...it can't win more than 4 in a row. And you are right, it's at the feet of the offense. If you look at our stats we are league leaders in a bunch of categories but we just can't play consistent baseball.
Frustrating to watch a good team fail. No I don't count them out we are now holding the seat for the second wild card team.
Lots of ball to play yet.
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
These three series will tell a story. Two against divisional foes (one being our wild card challenger) and the other against the team with best record in baseball. If they can come out of these 9 games anything over .500 you have to call it a successful road trip.
What should worry Cards fans more than anything is injuries and some of these guys breaking down. It's late in the season and they're all hurting. It won't take much to put Furcal, Beltran, Molina, Freese etc. on the DL. Hopefully Matheny can get Molina some days off and keep him going.
Go Cards!!
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Nice win last night.
Magic # down to 1 for the WC playoff game in Atlanta.
Cards have done a good job the last few weeks shaking off a lot of bad habits and playing winning baseball. Some one has been on their heels the whole time and it's the Dodgers who at the end here won't go away.
2 games left against the Reds/Dusty and man would they like nothing better than to stick it to us.
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
The Cards defense has improved dramatically the last several weeks. Pitching is good. Hitting is still spotty but good enough. We need Holiday to get back on track and it looks like Beltran is coming around. I heard his post season stats yesterday and they are very good. Of course he was much younger then...
I can't see them losing the next two to the Reds and I can't see the Dogers sweeping the Giants. The Giants would love nothing more than to spoil the Dodgers chances. Then again, I couldn't see the Cardinals even making the playoffs last year... 
If the Cards make it into the playoffs, I wonder if Albert will come an watch the games? 
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Off to Atlanta for Selig's one game folly.
You can flip a coin on this one. Maybe edge to the team that bats last.
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
Quote:
last_stand said:
Off to Atlanta for Selig's one game folly.
You can flip a coin on this one. Maybe edge to the team that bats last.
Play 162 games and beat a team by 7 or 8 games in the standings and you could lose to them in one game... Dumb.
On the other hand, look how many more people paid attention and went to games becasue of this stupidity.
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
So, what do we get today? The Cardinals that can put up a dozen runs or the guys that make Bud Norris look like Cy Young? I have to think they'll get to this young pitcher. Even as good as he is, he's still never pitched a playoff game. Certainly not one that has the do-or-die consequences this one has... Hopefully, he'll feel that pressure and squeeze that ball, just a little harder or try to throw the perfect pitches and get in trouble.
I feel pretty good about Lohse. His post season track record is not good but hopefully he's learned and matured from his post season experince. I'm sure both pitchers will have a very short leash!!
Go Cards!!!
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Forget the coin toss comment. I don't like this set up.
On the road, facing a razor sharp pitcher with a brilliant CURRENT performance level, strong offensive and defensive opponent and a closer who pretty much makes this an 8 inning affair.
Wait a minute, like the time George Costanza did everything the opposite of usual, this might be perfect.
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
|
|
Go BRAVES!!! 
--------------------
God Bless our Troops!
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Fork you bubba.
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
|
|
Words hurt . LS. 
--------------------
God Bless our Troops!
|
dabs
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 5971242
Loc: New Money, USA
Current High Scores in:
| |
|
|
|
Infield fly rule  Replacement refs in the MLB now
|
HAUS
member for now
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 4053
Loc: Paradise
|
|
that display of class in Georgia this evening was damn near as shameful as the HR derby in KC this year..
--------------------
Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day..
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Now I know why they have those fences on all the nascar tracks....bwaaaaaaaaa.
Not exactly a Fall Classic but we are playing at home on Sunday!
naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa na na na na naaaaaaa.................bwaaaaaa
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
|
|
I bet you have a Fat Head of Chris Berman over your bed.... 
--------------------
God Bless our Troops!
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Off to Washington with a 1-1 split. Man I am still not over how we took the game one loss. I can only pray Matheney learned a lesson there.
Cards bats came alive today only problem is we have seen this before and all too often they go cold just as fast as they heat up. Somebody's gotta win 2 of next 3 and it's prolly gonna take some firepower to do it.
But hey, at least I don't have to listen to that forking tomahawk chop song anymore. bwaaaaaaaaaaaaa
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9625
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
|
|
Quote:
last_stand said:
Man I am still not over how we took the game one loss. I can only pray Matheney learned a lesson there.
Dude, I have not slept in two days....all I do is pray!!!
griffin
--------------------
"The Irish are one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." - Sigmund Freud
|
dabs
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 5971242
Loc: New Money, USA
Current High Scores in:
| |
|
|
|
Quote:
griffin said:
Dude, I have not slept in two days....all I do is pray!!!
griffin
You can pray for another two days straight - Albert is not going to come back
|
sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6193
Loc: Missouri
|
|
Quote:
dabs said:
Quote:
griffin said:
Dude, I have not slept in two days....all I do is pray!!!
griffin
You can pray for another two days straight - Albert is not going to come back
Albert who? Oh, you mean that guy that used to play for the Cardinals but is sitting on his pile of cash in LA, watching the playoffs from his mansion? That Albert? I think I remember him...
LS - you ca blame that one on Matheny and he deserves some criticism. But that game was lost, just as much, in the 7th. When you have bases loaded and no outs, you have to score. To make it even more frustrating, that was the meat of the order. It wasn't like it was the 8 & 9 hitters that needed to come through.
The trip to DC comes down to a simple question: Will this offense continue to hit or will they go dark, like they did so many times this Summer? I have little doubt the pitching can and will keep them in games. If they continue to hit, we take 2 of 3 (then listen to the howling, from the Nats fans, about Strasburg).
--------------------
"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Quote:
sptsman said:
LS - you ca blame that one on Matheny and he deserves some criticism. But that game was lost, just as much, in the 7th. When you have bases loaded and no outs, you have to score. To make it even more frustrating, that was the meat of the order. It wasn't like it was the 8 & 9 hitters that needed to come through.
As bad as the 7th went for us, we came out of the 7th WITH THE LEAD. OURS TO LOSE.
Up 2-1 in the top of eighth, 2 out, your set up man just having come around....so what do you do?
You DO NOT bring in a lefty who has been suspect in the past month. You stay with your set up man. You win or lose with your set up man or hell bring in your closer. No one thought otherwise, other than Mike Matheney. And believe me, I was screaming at the tv when he pulled that bone headed move.
I like Matheney, but he tinkered that huge game straight down the toilet.
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
|
|
Quote:
dabs said:
Quote:
griffin said:
Dude, I have not slept in two days....all I do is pray!!!
griffin
You can pray for another two days straight - Albert is not going to come back
God is pretty busy right now with MIZZOU...very little time to deal with Last Stand's prayers......besides , everyone knows God is a Braves fan! :tomahawkchopgraemlin:
--------------------
God Bless our Troops!
|
last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
|
|
Quote:
Bubba said:
Quote:
dabs said:
Quote:
griffin said:
Dude, I have not slept in two days....all I do is pray!!!
griffin
You can pray for another two days straight - Albert is not going to come back
God is pretty busy right now with MIZZOU...very little time to deal with Last Stand's prayers......besides , everyone knows God is a Braves fan! :tomahawkchopgraemlin:
Hey Bubba...........
http://themadjewess.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ababy.jpg
--------------------
Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
