I am returning as a panelist for the second of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season to be held throughout Thursday afternoon’s Braves-Cardinals series finale. Join in the discussion with the FSM personalities, perhaps a special guest from the Braves side 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 to be activated below.
2009 National League wins leader Adam Wainwright (3-1, 1.69 ERA) faces Altanta’s Jair Jurrjens (0-2, 5.48) as the Cards try to sweep the Braves out of town in game 4 of the series.
Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 12:40 P.M. Central.
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Other content I’ve been working on Wednesday:
My weekly Minor League Notebook at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat focuses on five position player prospects to follow this season.
“Molina’s fast RBI start invokes memories of Simba and Porter” is now running both on the main TheCardinalNation.com site and at FOXSportsMidwest.com. The main site version includes two old baseball cards.
How about an article about the #4 spot in the order producing a .111 BA with runners in scoring position? Most likely the lowest in MLB.
No fun telling a story when you already know the punchline, bb… With Holliday’s home run power, there should be considered a runner in scoring position every time he comes to the plate…
Hurumpf
Its possible that the wake from a very self interested AP is drowning MH.
AP has been erratic to say the least. To characterize this a little differently. Craig, either because AP was hot, or running salty, never got his start at 1st base. He never overcame the pressure of the teams or personal expectation within the playing time he had. As valuable as this guy was (is) to the team, his well being was never considered until he was pulled out of the “wake” created by a very active AP…………….. Joe Strauss characterized AP base running high jinks to day as, “he has a very strong feel for the game, that he follows instinctively” …………………. Maybe not taking a day off and pressuring Tony to support your agenda has a “dual function”……. Craig was the budget option for the Cardinal future at first base. He has been eliminated………..Consciously?
Maybe instinctively??????????? Its not AP’s fault Holiday is eating it. But when your own team is a springboard for your own aspirations, competitors for Alpha are dealt with…..instinctively…
I am neutral on this topic. I’m not against the big dog eating first. If I’m the coach, I move Albert to 5th today……….just to kill this records bulls–t about the 3rd position. I sit Albert once a week, for everyone’s good. And I most certainly take a few steps out of the dugout when he pulls the crap he has been up to lately. Like it or not……….all of AP behaviors “could” be attributed to his own self interest. I doubt they are. Some are manifest as expressions of his instincts I’m sure. Suffice to say, you aren’t going to see allot of help from this lineup as it stands. Molina is inside……Rasmus is outside…….and everyone else is just grinding. Freese, Ryan, Skip, are all puppies. Ludwick has been told by his agent that his numbers will get him what he hopes for, unlikely in St Louis. He is determined and now hitting ahead of the fray. He is a complete loner at this point………….. This line up has little or know chance against the Phillie’s or the Giants in a short series.
Bottom line………….if MH does make a move, you will see a direct correlation to AP’s numbers. AP loses weight in a hurry unless he feeds first. MH is finite. He will injure himself if this doesn’t let up. ……………. Bad news is Felipe was already on heavy anti-inflams when I saw him in SF. Bad sign.
MH went cold in Oakland without any AP wake turbulence. He heated up here late last season when AP was spewing all kinds of it.
he didn’t adapt to Oakland……..by the time he did, he was traded. Albert tunneled last year after he arrived. He was first to the bowl.
“he didn’t adapt to Oakland……..by the time he did, he was traded.”
Logic check?
Holliday up, bases loaded, no outs. Retired 6-3. Albert made another nutty running play but the Braves were asleep. He took off from second while the runner at third remained put.
Holiday is a low ball hitter. He likes to drop the head from that high hand position. These teams are saying “OK” will play that game. His swing path is always distorted. I like his closed stance, but he is not using an occasional “step down the 3rd base line” as the trap to defend it. They are getting him out right under the hands “in”. He turns and kind of forces it to the left side. I don’t see any adjustments. …………….Albert used 2 different foot positions. He hit behind the runner out of the infield ….2 on and no outs…….good boy.
Your right about the base running mistake Brian. He almost broke for third on the throw….instincts.
In all honesty Ryan’s swing doesn’t look that bad…………….. there is just no relationship to what is being thrown to him……………………………. that last pitch was what he should have been hoping for, take it deep, go the other way. He is over swinging for his role. If Miles comes up, Felipe is going to be playing allot more short stop.
Freese does exactly what Ryan should have been looking to do. Colby beats the match-up..
Yeah baby………….
Garcia is pulled……..as soon as his inning is over, he’s legging it to the club house for grub and TV coverage. Kid has a motion that’s hared to pick up. His looks to be very comfortable with his pitches. Colby and Garcia are a big reason this club is cruising.
Glad we’re not paying Holliday to throw home.
These guys don’t look too good coming home do they BB.
Albert’s new hand position is helping him defend his hands against the inside pitch…………downside, he is showing no power away and that is the real key to a good position. Holiday has everyone hitting his holes. He is going to need to make adjustments.
Missed most of the game on TV. Is that Schu sporting stirrups?
I didn’t notice BB. Skip was placing the ball much better today………almost like he was hitting his targets. I’m looking for LaRue tomorrow. I would sit Holiday. Let Mather play first. He has to give Greene a start. Braves look cooked.
It would be a good time for a scratch lineup. Let Stav play left. He can throw at least, and probably has a better average with RISP.
It was Schu in stirrups, just saw on highlights. Makes my day. That and Colby getting a hit off the lefty.
I see the Braves sat Hayward tonight. As CC would say: kkkk
Next week vs Phillies shoud be great. Somebody good. Hope we see that so called pitcher they got from the American League.
Interesting lineup. Holiday is showing some adjustments in his stance. His swing plane seems a bit more circular as a result. He just struck out so what can you say……….. I wonder if La Rue goes tomorrow or with Lohse on Saturday. I’m guessing with Penny.
I can’t help noticing some of the puppies playing around the food bowl. I would guess that we might hear from Holiday soon enough. If not…………that ain’t good.
Freese taking it deeper and cranking. Nice swing. I hope all the litter gets a bat.
I would hate…………hate to labor a point…………….. ask yourselves……..what does it actually feel like is going on? Just a nice day game………boys playing, feeding happily on an old dingo carcass…………
Colby growling at the other runts. Holiday gets a pitch on the hands…..and deals with for a change………his stance is still closed but only an inch. He gave 3 inches away a discovered something. You must constantly adjust……….its the game.
I’m sure Bobby Cox will always remember the sendoff given him in St Louis…….. Who needs enemy’s…………..
Not saying this is a good analysis or not but I’m posting this for Westie’s benefit since he seems to be into this type of thing and dont know if he saw it.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/6303D9D792248C0586257714001347EC?OpenDocument
Thank you.