I am returning as a panelist for a new season of FOX Sports Midwest’s weekly live blogs with the first to be held throughout Monday’s Cardinals-Astros home opener. Join in the discussion with the FSM personalities, the Globe-Democrat’s BJ Rains and yours truly.
You can participate via FOX Sports Midwest’s website or once the event begins, you can enter your comments and questions right here in the “CoveritLive” area below.
2009 National League wins leader Adam Wainwright faces Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez as the Cards try to get out on top in their effort to win their third consecutive series to start the season.
Monday’s first pitch is scheduled for 3:15 P.M. Central. For details on all the Opening Day festivities, click here to be taken to TheCardinalNation.com.
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I hope Rasmus gets the start againts the lefty today. Can’t make a part timer out of him.
He deserves to start the home opener no matter who is on the mound, IMHO.
Not to worry. TLR has his best lineup ready to go.
My newest article on FOXSportsMidwest.com is now posted!
The above is corrected to reflect the correct total of nine.
That lineup is an attempt at rectifying yesterdays “special”. There was grumbling…….I’m guessing.
TLR apparently changed the lineup to put Ludwick at #2 and Ryan down at #8. Above link has update.
That’s going to give Molina some pitches to hit. I actually believe there is an attempt there to give Colby some at bats without threatening his position as having achieve the number 5 spot, thus moving Ludwick to a none threatening location……..Molina seems to be taking better at bats, but it only takes a bad day and a couple of double plays to to ruin a Waino start. ……………………. Everyone witnessed Yadi’s top speed yesterday. It was much better than he uses everyday.
Molina takes a defeated sluggers…..” I just miss the all wrist dead pull home run” stay around for my next AB. If you give him an inch, he will pose with the best fakers around.
Houston is in this ball game. There is a dangerous low energy that is effecting Wainwright. First inning was a joke. Ludwick was grandstanding.
Pujols is starting to wait. He could have taken the HR pitch, had it been a fastball to center. The pitch hung and he just turned with it. His willingness to not jump at the ball means good things. Molina also tried to stay inside a pitch which was thoughtful.
Wainwright has noticeably more energy when he can be aggressive with a lead.
They just had an RC interview. What a handsome dog he is. Sounds a little like Alabama must be in the South somewhere. I’ll have to goggle that.
Its on the way to Panama City Westy. That’s gotta be south.
I really appreciate Stan the Man coming out for opening day. God bless him. Thanks Stan.
RC kept his sunglasses on. Couldn’t look him in the eye…
I’ve been watching the clip in super slo-mo…………. yep, no signs of makeup or body piercing.
I’m still at work and haven’t seen it. Could you tell if he was packin?
There was some excitement in the Midwest League today. Who would win the shoot out? Bonus baby southpaw Tyler Skaggs? Or the Pride of Slippery Rock, non-bonus Big Matt? You guessed it, Big Matt showed he wins a lefty on lefty mano a boyo grudge match. Big Matt slammed a long ball and Quad Cities was victorious again.
A ML comp for Big Matt occurred to me. John Kruk.
Kruk played juco at Allegany in Cumberland Maryland. Allegany is a school that gives playing time to kids from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Kruk is a left swinger from W. Virginia.
On the other hand, Adams towers over Kruk at 6’3″ versus 5’10. Kruk was a 3rd rounder, not a lowly 23rd rounder like the pride of Slippery Rock State.
However both are from the northeast and swing left. Adams was a misfit at catcher and moved to 1B, Kruk had to give up OF and move to 1B. They both love to pound the ball. Someday that may be Big Matt as a talking head on ESPN, wearing expensive duds.
Motte threw 11 pitches, only one called ball. Control and agressiveness/confidence. If anyone can say what pitches he threw (how many of anything other than fastballs) would appreciate it.
Thanks for the Adams update Jumbo.
If your on line try game day BB. You can watch all the locations by just touching a button.
He acted like he was carrying something. Kind of lumpy looking.
I thought maybe that was his pouch of chew.
I do try to check game day, but I move around a lot. I’ve been doing about 14 hour days for the last month and a half and it will go about another month, then should get back to normal. Trying to staff up after the melt down a year or so ago. If I had tickets this year I’d be furious.
Two words: truck drivers. Or, coal miners. If Kruk had not made it in MLB, he would have looked good as a truck driver. Since he made it in MLB, now he is on ESPN, with the fancy duds. Big Matt is 240 or 250, beefy. He would not look bad on an oil rig or driving heavy machinery, but if he keeps hitting the ball, he can replace Kruk on ESPN someday.
There was a World Series between the Blue Jays and Phillies about 20 years ago. The Jays were all neat and tidy. The Phillies had a crook (Rose) and hairy beefy guys, including Kruk. Some player on the Jays said it was like they were playing against a team of truck drivers.
Two more words: Mike Leake. 1 run to the Cubs in 6 plus innings. Pretty good for a guy who never pitched in a minor league game. Leake walked too many, 7, but limited the damage.
Leake looks like another smart move by Walt and Jerry to build a team in Cinci.
And Bud Smith pitched a no hitter as a rookie
“Cardinals 2010 Home Opening Day in Photos” now posted.
bb, two Stan Musial photos included…
Each individual player has a desire to fulfill a personal dream or realize some goal oriented lifestyle options. With so much wealth, privilege, along with the mysterious social recognition that accompanies fame, it can be very challenging to do something simple. Like just playing team baseball.
The reason I’m again trying to use this analogy at this juncture is simple. It is one of the only ways to make sense of some of the things that are going on with the team.
Ryan Ludwick scales down his aspirations to be a highly paid “super slugger” , to fulfill the team need for high average base hitting machine. He shortens his stroke a little, keeps his weight back, and even though the top hand still rolls over a bit easy pulling most offerings, the center field shot is suddenly “an option”…………………… Was this always a simple elective for Ludwick? To do the smart thing……. the right thing…….. or is it just that Colby beat him to the sweet spot?
We all marveled at the charismatic Brendan Ryan in his one week of spring training leading to a wonderful opening day. The guy was the team leader as injury and indecision held the super hero’s down. Using the MM school of “hit it hard/big follow through” the 2nd spot was his, and why not think “extra bases and 25 hrs” and get some of that “Jeter/Rollins” kind of money money?………………………………………..Is it the vulnerability of the flailing Ryan that has brought Ludwick to his senses? To fulfill a role? Our has the result been just happenstance? Will Luddy consciously continue to fulfill a team need, or will he subconsciously begin to revert back old habits?……………….. Brendan at this point is so emotionally distraught by his inability to adjust to a roll (Rolex )expectation, does he even sober up and hold his position at SS? Are the technical possibilities of pitch selection and “tactical field objectives” electives, or just the unrecognized geography of human development, human emotion?
Albert is adjusting. His HRs to right field, as talked about in past weeks, are the signs of a “balanced tactical aspiration”. Not trying to turn on or pull the outside pitch, staying back and not worrying about “how long” a Hr is, causes Hr’s to happen……..and doubles etc;
I’ve always contended that the feeling of whiplash power and large muscle synchronicity that accompanies a “Big Mac” shot, along with 50 thousand fans going wild, is a highly addictive behavior. A endorphin avalanche!!!!!!! Throw the “Lord” into that equation, and it can get complicated.
Will Colby’s wonderful start continue? The balance between the Hr and the walk. The displays of power to all fields. He is “centered”. Can he stay there? His front shoulder dips a little lower each game………his hands sneaking up a tiny bit higher, trying to get to that “old place” that is some how an expression of his personal power. Ankiel was just like that too. He was changed. KC coaches just let him go back to his “little league” stance, which forces him to turn away and lower the bat. ………..That’s good coaching…….giving him something to replace the defeated adult with the kid that loves to play ball. He will beat St. Louis when his chance comes. Both he and Colby have incredible hand to eye coordination………….. Can they both hold on to “healthy” expectations that allows them to grow and adjust as they “mature”?
Freese looks a little over whelmed……..does the whiskey get him? I hope he gets lucky. This is his chance. If he blows it, he is unlikely to have much of a career.
Nice discussion of some of the internal personal battles that might reasonably be expected, Westy. I like the Albert discussion. Something is right that wasn’t right for a while last season and I haven’t heard any better explaination.
As to Luddy, I think he’s just a hot and cold type of player who may be experienced enough to take advantage of the way he gets pitched hitting ahead of Albert. Ryan doesn’t seem able to adjust to take what there is to take in that spot.
Nice photos Brian. Speaking of photos, I have a Cards calander and a Gibson photo is featured this month. It shows him coming off the mound having just unleashed a pitch. He looks like some kind of bird of prey coming off that mound, arms and legs, he’s barely touching the ground. He pitched with his whole body, in a way you don’t see anymore. I have copies of that photo tucked away somewhere, its one of my favorites.
I always thought the statue captured Gibson’s motion well.