The St. Louis Cardinals rank among MLB leaders in low-scoring games on both sides of the ledger.
Through 60 games of the 2010 season, many St. Louis Cardinals would already assume the club has had more than their fair share of games when their offense failed to score enough to win. They would also expect that the team’s pitching staff has had a good number of contests in which they held their opponent at bay.
Researcher Tom Orf pulled the evidence.
Offensively, St. Louis is third in the major leagues in number of games shut out with six. They were held to one run eight more times and lost all those games. The Cardinals are fourth in MLB with the most games having scored one run or fewer at 14.
Expanding the aperture to include games of scoring two runs still keeps the Cardinals in the bottom quarter of baseball. They are tied for seventh with 19 two-or-less run games and actually managed to win two of them.
Including contests when scoring three runs or less, including Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Dodgers, the Cardinals drop to the bottom half of MLB. They rank 18th with 24 three-or-fewer run games. Oddly, when scoring exactly three runs, their record is just 1-4.
MLB runs scored, 2010, through June 9
| 0 RUNS | 1 RUN OR LESS | 2 RUNS OR LESS | 3 RUNS OR LESS | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rk | Team | G | W | L | Rk | Team | G | W | L | Rk | Team | G | W | L | Rk | Team | G | W | L | |||
| 1 | PIT | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | BAL | 18 | 0 | 18 | 1 | HOU | 27 | 2 | 25 | 1 | PIT | 38 | 8 | 30 | |||
| 1 | LAD | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 | HOU | 16 | 0 | 16 | 2 | BAL | 27 | 1 | 26 | 2 | BAL | 37 | 2 | 35 | |||
| 3 | STL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | PHI | 15 | 1 | 14 | 3 | PIT | 25 | 5 | 20 | 3 | SDP | 33 | 13 | 20 | |||
| 3 | SFG | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | STL | 14 | 0 | 14 | 4 | SEA | 25 | 1 | 24 | 3 | HOU | 33 | 4 | 29 | |||
| 3 | PHI | 6 | 0 | 6 | 5 | SEA | 13 | 0 | 13 | 5 | CHC | 23 | 2 | 21 | 5 | SEA | 31 | 4 | 27 | |||
| 3 | MIL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | SFG | 12 | 0 | 12 | 6 | SDP | 20 | 6 | 14 | 6 | CLE | 29 | 4 | 25 | |||
| 3 | HOU | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | PIT | 12 | 0 | 12 | 7 | STL | 19 | 2 | 17 | 6 | OAK | 29 | 3 | 26 | |||
| 3 | ATL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | LAD | 12 | 4 | 8 | 7 | SFG | 19 | 2 | 17 | 8 | PHI | 28 | 7 | 21 | |||
| 6 | OAK | 12 | 1 | 11 | 7 | PHI | 19 | 4 | 15 | 8 | CHC | 28 | 3 | 25 | ||||||||
| 7 | CLE | 19 | 0 | 19 | 18 | STL | 24 | 3 | 21 | |||||||||||||
| 7 | OAK | 19 | 2 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
Switching over to pitching, the Cardinals are again among MLB’s leaders in most games holding the opponent either off the scoreboard or with few crooked numbers.
St. Louis pitching has tossed five shutouts, tied for seventh in the big leagues. Their no and one-run game total of 12 is ninth-most. When adding two-run contests, Cardinals pitching jumps up to fourth in MLB at 22 and holds that ranking with three-run opponent scoring games are included.
MLB runs allowed, 2010, through June 9
| 0 RUNS | 1 RUN OR LESS | 2 RUNS OR LESS | 3 RUNS OR LESS | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rk | Team | G | W | L | Rk | Team | G | W | L | Rk | Team | G | W | L | Rk | Team | G | W | L | |||
| 1 | SDP | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | SDP | 18 | 17 | 1 | 1 | SDP | 28 | 25 | 3 | 1 | ATL | 35 | 27 | 8 | |||
| 2 | OAK | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 | SFG | 15 | 12 | 3 | 2 | SFG | 24 | 18 | 6 | 2 | TBR | 34 | 30 | 4 | |||
| 2 | NYM | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | NYY | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | TBR | 23 | 21 | 2 | 2 | MIN | 34 | 28 | 6 | |||
| 2 | COL | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | NYM | 14 | 14 | 0 | 4 | STL | 22 | 14 | 8 | 4 | STL | 32 | 23 | 9 | |||
| 5 | SFG | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | TBR | 14 | 14 | 0 | 4 | TOR | 22 | 20 | 2 | 4 | SFG | 32 | 22 | 10 | |||
| 5 | PHI | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | OAK | 13 | 13 | 0 | 4 | NYM | 22 | 19 | 3 | 4 | SDP | 32 | 28 | 4 | |||
| 7 | STL | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | FLA | 13 | 12 | 1 | 7 | PHI | 21 | 17 | 4 | 4 | NYY | 32 | 30 | 2 | |||
| 7 | TOR | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | COL | 13 | 13 | 0 | 7 | NYY | 21 | 20 | 1 | 8 | SEA | 29 | 20 | 9 | |||
| 7 | TBR | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | STL | 12 | 10 | 2 | 9 | COL | 20 | 19 | 1 | 8 | NYM | 29 | 22 | 7 | |||
| 7 | LAD | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | LAD | 12 | 10 | 2 | 9 | ATL | 20 | 16 | 4 | 8 | CHC | 29 | 17 | 12 | |||
| 7 | BOS | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | BOS | 12 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||||
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As much as pitching is talked about…………its not the point. We need responsive hitters. This team wins nicely as long as AP is not dragging his cross somewhere. When he steps out of the box 3/1, knowing that they are pitching around him…….steps back in and says, “I’m going to see if I can work with this pitch”……………….pops up a low pitch that he was way down and out front on, instead of loading the bases…………………. is creating chaos in the dugout. That is not stupidity, that is not an intended slight on MH…………it’s a fain attempt to pad his numbers and RBI’s for the island building business. I’m positive this team could trade AP and actually have a better chance to win it all. Holiday’s production would cover his loss, let alone everyone else beginning to play together.
The Suppan signing is show business. If he can win a game or just last five a few time, the others will be back. It was the cheapest possible move that did not risk any prospect value.
You’re right, Brian; the findings here are not surprising to Cardinal fans. In all of Major League Baseball, only three teams have allowed less runs (Tampa Bay, San Diego and San Francisco), but 14 have scored more! In our Central Division, NO club has allowed less, but two have scored more (Cincinnati and Milwaukee). While our pitching is indisputably second to none in the National League, our hitters simply MUST climb out of their morass!
Westy: If the day ever comes when I am persuaded that the performance of all our batters is keyed upon the perceived attitude and moods of Albert, THEN I will consider the idea of trading a Hall of Famer who is in the same sublime sphere as Cobb, Hornsby, Musial, DiMaggio and Williams. As much as I am filled with revulsion at the prospect, however, my mind remains open…
The disease is that the 3 hitter is OPSing 100 pts less than the numbers that have always made him a permanant fixture there, and the 4 hitter is an especially effective rally killer with sub-mendoza numbers with RISP. This with a two month sample size.
Since aggressive treatment would be painful (for the caregivers as well as the patient), the decision is made to focus instead on masking symptoms and quality of life issues.
Timely injuries to the extemities provides a welcome distraction for the patient and much needed opportunity for the caregivers to display their skill and ingenuity as practitioners of the healing arts.
Well said 57, I hope for redemption for all.
That is WC deep BB. The echo logic from that type of perceptual organization raise some wonderful specter’s. When I have time to sit down, I will respond within your very effective encryption.
Suppan and Miles got added because they have produced for the Cards in the past; they are family.
However, each is on a short leash. MLB is very competitive; veterans have to contribute. Suppan will be auditioning to remain with the team every time he pitches. The Cards have infielders at Memphis and are not stuck with Miles for the rest of the season.
I would guess Walters did not throw his screwball in the strike zone enough. Duncan knows that to be successful, a pitcher has to throw strikes with his best pitches. Its back to AAA to work on this challenge.
Suppan, however, is a consummate MLer, takes the ball every 5th day, years and years of throwing 200 innings. He knows how to execute Duncan’s gameplan. The only question is what is left in his arm. If there is nothing there, we will get another starter.
We are not going to saddle ourselves with a huge salary dump from another team. So we can try guys at AAA or a released pitcher. Or we can explore trade opportunities.
Well said Jumbo. Penny will leap back into the fray when some of the other distractions resolve.
The whole concept of the Lohse surgery is to promote health. He will be throwing shortly to avoid scare tissue complexities I would guess. It will all work out.
I hope you will join in again soon RC. Take another name if you need to. We will recognize your accent.
A break through in the Bonds case…………curious……………
Moyer was just destroyed by Boston…….8 runs 60+ pitches with no out in the second.
While I winced and cringed when Big Mac paid his dues, I must confess that I am gratified at the prospect of Bonds paying his.
While I hate to see such a hurt dance on any pitcher, I must confess that the overall trouncing of the Phillies just warms the cockles of my heart…
Talk about gratification and vindictive delight, I am exulting over the manner in which the lowly Royals are chasing Bronson Arroyo (after six innings, 6 hits, 5 earned runs and 3 walks)…
Did I contradict myself? Must be that I like the old geezer and have no use for the snot-sucker…
Since Mitey Miles is with us and hitting, the only objection I have to the line-up tonight is Schumaker (he really needs to be benched)…
3b Lopez
cf Rasmus
1b Pujols
lf Holliday
rf Ludwick
2b Schumaker
c Molina
ss Ryan
p Garcia
As much as I appreciate the reassuring presence of Flip, I am really missing David…
To me…….this lineup is fraught with danger………. Tony is throwing a very unknown Rasmus in a new spot………. he weakens Luddy by putting Skip behind him…………. if he is this desperate, why not go
Lopez
Skip
Albert
Ludwick
MH
Colby
Molina
Ryan
I count on Lopez …sac with skip……walk Albert…….then we hit.
Come on Westy. You know all about the 120 million reasons it won’t happen. But seeing as protecting Holliday has had no positive effect in two months, why not put Luddy back in the 2 spot. Let Rasmus hit 5. They both did well in those spots.
With the sole exception of Schumaker, Westy, I certainly prefer your line-up to the one I took from tonight’s ESPN game page… But, alas, as blingboy painfully reminds us; there are “the 120 million reasons it won’t happen”…
blingboy, I am utterly surprised that the batting order of Ludwick and Rasmus has been reversed. You’re right, the results are almost always better when Ludwick is 2nd and Rasmus is 5th…
It puts pressure on Colby to think walk………not good right now.
That’s not good. …………. did you notice Rlopez shake off the breaking pitch to climb the ladder with Albert……………………..he thinks he has a sucker………….. Colby in a bad position to try to turn on that breaking pitch…..first look?
Garcia under pressure by our offense is trying to spot the ball………that’s not him.
He’s got Carp/Waino fear to be hit syndrome……….invented by Lohse.
Our swingers gave Lopez a 10-pitch inning and are threatening to crown him as another Koufax… Thankfully, Garcia got over the jitters and finished-up in fine fashion (tip for tap, with regard to the two strikeouts).
19 pitches……… he has to stay aggressive. The pressure to avoid contact is starting to effect these starters.
Major adjustment by MH……… he has squared up to the plate……..another tactic to protect the hands……..that’s good news.
Attaboy, Matt!
Hey! Whaddaya know?
Great job on the lineup by Tony.
Well… shut my mouth!
Well, at least Brendan made contact and didn’t go down swangin’…
Who is that guy in the Yadi suit, speedy gonzales?
Why Jumbo? none of his changes did squat…………………..
AZ feed announcers call Ryan one of the goofiest squirreley guys in the league……
Garcia will now go return to the mound supported and inspired…
We’ll see what Garcia does to his goofy, squirrely team…
Well, now… It looks as though Garcia induced a goofy, squirrely double-play…
After 2 innings, Garcia only has 5 pitches more than Lopez (not to mention 2 runs less!)
Albert looks at two center cuts………..Lopez wastes away….then climbs the ladder with sucker pitches……………………. Albert is trying to think his way through this………..bad idea.
I missed a play……..they were dogging Albert pretty hard about something. Error?
You will notice Luddy has a lot less energy tonight watching Colby take his spot.
Cincy threatening to tie KC in bottom of 11th, 1st and 3rd, 2 out, Rolen up.
Well, now… It looks as though our low-pitching, ground-balling Garcia induced ANOTHER goofy, squirrely double-play
Cincy loses 6-5.
It is almost as though Ludwick has been stealing too many headlines and that Tony is trying to suppress the growing number of calls from the Cardinal Nation to make him the Lead-Off Man. So, he demoralizes him and sticks him in the 5 spot, hey Westy?
Right after Albert gave Flip a ‘look’ for his bad throw to first, Albert threw one over the head of Garcia covering.
Thank God for the Royals! If we can reward Jaime’s efforts and pull this one off tonight, we will be only a half game away.
Holiday had is front foot advance toward the plate on his leg kick………swang across his body and popped it up. He is fighting the adjustment. Hope he stays with it.
An error each by Brendan, Schumaker and Pujols… Wow! And Flip gets “the look”?
57, with Luddy in line for a new contract at the end of the year, it is important that he not appear the equal of a guy making $17M per. Obviously he will not get the chance to do a better job of protecting Albert than the $17M guy. That would be madness. Any hope of signing Luddy requires that he not have too good of a year. Tony’s problem is that Luddy kicks butt wherever Tony sticks him.
I’m now clearly seeing and actually believing that, blingboy. It’s a miserable state of affairs when superior performance falls victim to the muck of money-induced shady politics. It must really militate against the will to win and the joy of cohesive teamwork. We can only hope that Ludwick continues to buck Tony’s obvious intentions…
Poor Brendan! He’s dipped-down below .200 once again…
Brendan…….the recovering psycho-holic, receives a gift from Tony. Its a 5th of “Old Freud” or was it “Sigmund Daniels” ………….by batting him second………….now he back tearing himself up. I said it then…….and I say it now……….have a clue Tony.
Albert screws the pooch again.
I believe that, Westy: I saw what Bully Boy did to Walters in Los Angeles on Monday…
The secret to Holliday’s success at the plate tonight: None of our first three hitters have even gotten on base yet, through five. Light bulb goes on in Tony’s head.
That’s it for Garcia…………..who does Tony go with? He has for innings. He can’t be thinking Bogs. Is Hawksworth ready?
Colby is lifting his hands on the pre-swing……………that’s not good
So after three rounds Tony’s idea is “ofer”………….. Colby has had a moderate hand position and lowering on his step………now he is lifting……………???????? send him a fifth Brendan.
They are going to go deep here soon.
It may be Holliday to go deep, leading off in the 7th. (After top of lineup again fails to reach base)
RC must have left town.
‘Twould be twice that Matt thus led-off…
I’m happy for Brendan……….now leave him alone Tony.
Hey! That’s hustlin’, Skip! And once again Molina follows-up… And Brendan covers a multitude of sins!
There goes Lopez’ quality start.. ha! ha! And a victory is surely in the making for our goofy, squirrely Jaime!
McClellan just gave us a demonstration of the reason that he was never in consideration for the 5th Starter role. Uh, oh! Here comes the guy who ruined it for Jaime the last time out… He OWES!
Pray that we get through this inning without Reyes hurting us too badly!
Every time Reyes goes out, at least one run is placed on the preceding pitcher’s account. Indeed, his own ERA is very, VERY deceptive!
I’m happy Motte has discovered…………a little controlled mayhem at the top of the zone. Those guys had there shoes filled with grease.
Motte throws ‘em high n’ hard! If he’s on, they go over the plate; arriving in Yadier’s glove at the instant that they leave Motte’s hand. Whenever the opposing team is demoralized, they swing right through!
Here’s to the bottom of our order! The front three ain’t done diddly squat tonight!
“Oh, for…!”
Yeah, just like Monday night and Wednesday night at Los Angeles, it’s been that kind of a night AGAIN, ain’t it, big Albert?
Is Motte actually throwing a SLIDER to the lefthanded batter? Say it ain’t so!
Yeah, back to heavin’ ‘em high n’ hard. To hell with that fancy stuff…
C’mon Miller! Four straight? Damn it!
Quality pitch by Frankie there. He might have pulled it but he never would be able to lift it.
This thing ate a recent post Nut……are you the fixer tonight?
Does Franklin induce grounders (double-plays)? I sure hope so…
I guess not…
Well, he sure knows how to load the bases!
Well, the win wasn’t very pretty; ’twas a struggle of the suppressed guys overcoming the weight of gloom exuded by the elite guys. Nevertheless, their heroics catapulted the team to only a half-game away from the Reds!
The last that I heard from any of you was the seventh inning when Brendan surprised all of us. Since then, I managed to answer a few of my own questions and entertain myself. I’m supposing that you guys had left your computers in order to watch the game on television, undistracted. In any event, Good Night!
I think we were right on this game tonight………squeaky tight. The question is now……what does Tony do?
Colby suspiciously unstable………. Ludwick in a funk because he lost his lucky 2 spot………
Albert is not well…………………… Colby will be back home at 5 or six tomorrow. Luddy back at 2.
I look for Freese to be back at 3rd batting 5 or 6………Lopez possibly resting or at second………. Albert made some very bad plays tonight…………. If he pulled a muscle, it would be best for all involved.
Jumbo……….just think what there is to know, that you don’t allow yourself to imagine. Tony is not retarded………..but he is in a head lock………… truth be known, Colby is the pivotal player here, not Albert. He must find himself……………. AP will chew his leg of soon enough unless he is given equal treatment…………………….. MH’s last at bat had the left leg returning to square after the kick………..someone in the dugout is on to his adjustment………..he will come out of this eventually.
Oh, sorry, WC, but I don’t have any admin access around here. I’m simply a (very occasional) content provider.
I caught the latter third of the game last night. You have to be pleased when your closer can get you five outs when you really need them, as rocky as the outing may have seemed at moments.
One comment on the above discussions: I don’t think that Tony LaRussa is the type of guy to intentionally bury one of his own regulars the way that you guys seem to suggest that he is attempting to do to Ludwick. Ludwick gets moved all around the lineup because LaRussa likes to tinker and is trying to find a way to win ball games. LaRussa doesn’t have long left in his managerial career and isn’t going to intentionally make his team weaker just so that the higher ups can save a few dollars on Ludwick next year. It doesn’t pass the sniff test.
Its not going to happen too often when we get RBIs from Ryan, Skip, and Yadier. Good job by the bullpen too.
Nutlaw is of course entirely correct TLR would not try to suppress the earnings of Ludwick. TLR exhumed Ludwick from the minors and has enabled him to earn millions already. Last year, TLR hoped to get Ankiel positioned for a giant payday via free agency. We did send off Pineiro for a big 2 year deal. The Cards are happy for guys who can land bigger riches elsewhere.
Nut, what you say about Tony and Luddy is sound of course, but I think the facts are at odds.
Off the top of my head, I cannot think of an example in the history of baseball where a manager persisted in putting a guy in such a horrible rbi/clutch hitting slump in the cleanup spot every inning of every game when there is a viable alternative, namely Luddy, who is experienced in the role, has been successful in it, and is producing in clutch and driving in runs.
If you consider only on-field issues, there is no logical or even supportable reason why Matt isn’t hitting somewhere else until he pulls out of it, at least sometimes, and no reason why Luddy isn’t put in the 4 spot, at least some of the time. Therefore, off-field issues are in play. The two that seem most likely are that Tony, having pushed for the club to spend the money, is not going to acknowledge the problem. The other is that Tony’s bosses will not allow him to give Luddy the chance to prove he’s worth more than the club can or will pay him next year.
BB, I’ll point out that less than a year ago, you were ripping me pretty hard when I suggested that Holliday wasn’t an ideal cleanup hitter:
http://thecardinalnationblog.com/2009/08/01/why-holliday-should-bat-second
Holliday is likely batting cleanup because La Russa told the Cardinals brass a year ago that they needed to provide Pujols with protection and they followed through twice in trading and re-signing him, yes. As far as I know, La Russa is allowed to set his own lineups.
As for the concepts of clutch hitting and batting average with runners in scoring position, statisticians consider them to be fantasy and meaningless, respectively. People can fall into traps when analyzing data with small sample sizes and this is widely considered to be one of them. I would assume that La Russa would more or less attribute Holliday and Ludwick’s performances with RISP to boil down to luck.
Really good discussion here fellas…………… let me clarify something. I don’t believe for a second the Tony is moving Luddy around to limit his future earnings potential……… Tony doesn’t work that way with the front office……..he is really quite the opposite. A problem for the front office to deal with……………………….. This will be hard to hear but its true…………..Tony changed Luddy and Colby yesterday in an attempt to get Albert some pitches…………it had nothing to do with with their well being (should be obvious to all). The Tony /Albert dialog sans denial conversation about the LA fiasco obviously suggested that Albert’s failure was created by Torre pitching around him. Tony tried to reinforce the immovable MH with his only power hitter, Ludwick. Colby was red hot last anyone checked and was seeing a lot off pitches……………………
All decisions made were an attempt at jump starting 3 and 4…………it had nothing to do with the health and well being of named players (Colby /Ryan)……….
Here is the problem…………… Ludwick, the free wheeling independent can’t be put in a harness.
Colby has issues I’m guessing that will be coming to light here shortly……….Brendan Ryan is a basket case………… That hanging breaking pitch, (thank you Lord) is all that was between him and another collapse. He has a very weak self esteem. If you can get him going…..don’t even breath on him……..let him play defense and hit 8th. He is incredible fragile. The move to 2nd again was incredible naive of Tony………….. Lopez is tiring……but we knew that……… The starters were deeply effected by Carpenters last start……….it unnerved Wainwright………..adn how could you miss the look on Garcia’s face and his sudden fear of the strike zone. He was terrified of giving up a run……….that’s a bad situation. Penny has already eaten a half dozen of those starts.
I’m sorry to say it, but the special emphasis on AP’s problems is destroying this team. It is a cancer of denial……….. All of the starters are susceptible to injury at this point, just from the added stress. This was not unforeseen……… and talked about here.
I doubt Albert is a cancer. But there is a cancer in residence at the Birdhouse Blog.
When each viewpoint of many is exceptionally strong, the argumentation is delicious and the exchange is rich: No one “loses” and every participant walks away a gainer! Everyone will agree that the ideas of Nutlaw are authoritative and command respect, whether you agree with them or not. Every time that he enters the fray, cerebral activity is stoked and each of us finds ourselves either solidified with indisputability or loosened with the introspection which is brought on by concession and acquiescence.
With regard to perceived games being played with (against) Ludwick, I remain in the camp of Westy and blingboy. During the past month, there has been absolutely no reason for Matt to be consistently placed at Clean-Up, other than contractual considerations. Yes, Ludwick was fished out of a career in the Bush Leagues and revitalized for Big League play, but his present level of excellence has become untimely in the minds of those who are moving the game-pieces across the board.
With regard to the value of Suppan towards a goal of post season play, I continue to agree with the gist of the article and continue to believe that his deteriorated performance is more the result of natural aging, than “bad luck”. No, batters will not continue to enjoy .399 success against him, but they will continue to hit higher than .300 (the difference, for the sake of argumentation, is minimal). While he cannot be beneficial to any degree, he does present a liability; if not, but for a single outing: No, he will not cost us salary money, but possibly a game (or three)!
CFS57, sure Suppan is terrible. All I was saying is that he isn’t as terrible as his numbers this season would suggest. I don’t think that anyone anywhere thinks that he is more than a very limited stopgap in all likelihood.
WC, I’m not exactly following all of that. Either way, Pujols is the best hitter on the team and the center of the offense. He’s not going anywhere soon, so why get worked up over it?
JumboShrimp: I Googled “Birdhouse Blog”, but cannot find anything relating to the St Louis Cardinals. Since I am curious about the cancer of which you speak, can you direct me thither?
(He means the Cardinal Nation blog and WC. The two of them hurl insults at each other now and again. Everyone else mostly ignores it and continues with the conversation.)
I see… Thank you, Nutlaw!
Nut, I’m not worked up over it……….. of all of us, I couldn’t be less concerned. Some like to know whats going on……..I see it and I talk about it. I’m not insulting Jumbo. I understand his needs. I value AP…………he has special needs…………..their fulfillment is achieved by him rejoining the team, not by island building. Holiday isn’t moved because of agreements in him coming here. BD is winning that gambit……Tony knows it.
WC is comes up with negative opinions about the team he supposedly likes. He offers opinions that Albert is a cancer who should be traded, for instance. He prophesied Ludwick would be released last spring. He now seems to have come up with flakey views about Penny.
In mere reality: Penny chose to come to StL since he wanted to play with TLR and Dave. It was a good decision, but unfortunately he suffered an injury. When he gets healed, Penny will get back after it. The Cards hope Penny has a good year and can earn a nice contract for next year.
To me…….this lineup is fraught with danger………. Tony is throwing a very unknown Rasmus in a new spot………. he weakens Luddy by putting Skip behind him……etc;
JumboShrimp says:
June 11th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Great job on the lineup by Tony.
Jumbo, go over to the scout site to write. Be a reader here. You muddy the water. No offense intended.
Carpenter was “deeply effected.”
Brendan is a “basket case” with “very weak self esteem.”
Wainwright is “unnerved.”
Garcia is “terrified.”
Albert is a “cancer.”
Colby “has issues.”
On and on, ad nauseum.
Westie, it would be great if you liked the Cubs. Go over to a Cubs board and start telling everybody how mentally defecitve Lou and each of his troops are. Lay it on thick, just like here. Then, thanks to your loyal support of the Cubs, fewer Cubs fans will show up at games and the Cubs will suffer financially. You could become useful.
JumboShrimp: My views are both challenged and refined with Westy’s thoughts and yours. While I will not entertain the idea of trading Albert Pujols, there is no doubt in my mind that Westy is as much in love with my Cardinals as I am. By the same token, while I do not think as highly of Tony’s judgment as you, there can be no question that you are a fellow Cardinal fan through-and-through and want to win as much as I do. Both circles my beliefs and disbeliefs overlap the corresponding circles of both you and Westy. In the immortal words of Rodney King; “Can’t we just all get along?”
Sorry Jumbo, you don’t seem to get it. At least you’ve got company over behind the water cooler.
There are plenty of blogs and comment boards where all the happy campers jump on the bandwagon of the day. Muddying the water is a mortal sin. We could do that here if you guys would just agree with me all the time, it shoud be obvious I’m always right.
Tonight’s game is a must see with poor little wreched Otto vs Dan the Man Haren. The bottom of the order will not win this one if the money guys bring their dolls instead of their bats again.
Good to see the guy that Westie said should be released (oops, he actually said he would be released) and has no trade value anchoring the lineup. Where would this team be right now without Ludwick?
Last year, it turned out, the team did have a nutter, Khalil. It worked out well to have a resident shrink in Westie. This year Westie did a good job diagnosing the problem with Lohse’s arm. Mo should hire Westie to be a nut doctor and trainer.
But the reason Westie got evicted off some other boards is going crazy overboard with negative opinions (about non-verifiable matters). Within just one or two posts above, he trashed Wainwright, Carpenter, Pujols, Holliday, Ryan, Garcia, Colby, TLR, on and on. I generally take the high road and ignore read his fog of psychological opinions, until there get to be so many, I have to say, enough already.
Haren versus Ottavino is a mis-match. Dont bet on the Cards tonight.
Talk about negativity: “Haren versus Ottavino is a mismatch. Don’t bet on the Cards tonight”.
The naked truth is: Inconsistency + 4.83 ERA = Mediocrity
The last time we saw the man with whom so many are so enamored, he had a good day at the plate, but a horrible day on the mound! The last two times we saw Adam Ottavino, we beheld a poised young man in possession of great potential. If he can give us 5 innings and if our vaunted line-up can muster half of it’s capability, we will dispatch your mighty Haren with little problem. It’s true, if my team continues in it’s offensive slump, that my heart will be broken, but I will bet on my Cardinals over your Diamondbacks any day of the week.
If the Diamondbacks win, I will not be calling Pujols a cancer, saying Ryan lacks self esteem, or bashing Holliday and TLR.
The Cards wish Ottavino were training at Memphis, but he is stepping into the breach because of injuries. The Show must go on and we fight with who we have. Its a war and our guys are tough-minded fighters, not basket-cases, terrified, or unnerved.
Whatever the problem may be with our offense, mental funks among our big boppers or lapses of judgment on the part of Tony, the bottom of our order sparkles with spunk. Albert and Matt can continue in their mysterious malaise, but a properly positioned Ludwick (in the 2nd spot) and Rasmus (in the 5th spot) will likely result in a great performance from one or both. Couple that with an acceptable performance from Ottavino and our relievers and we will walk away with another win (whether Haren enjoys a quality start or not).
Whether I agree with everyone who shares their input here or not, I appreciate reading what they have to contribute. It keeps things interesting.
It’s been said before that everyone is encouraged to share their opinion here, as long as they can do it in a civil fashion.
57, I disagree Holliday is in a funk. His OPS is almost the same as with the Athletics. Albert’s is 962, 90 less than his career; he is a little off, not much.
Whether Rasmus or Ludwick bats 2nd or 5th is an unimportant topic, since both are in the lineup. Last year, TLR introduced Rasmus to pro ball in the 2nd slot, so he could get more fat pitches in front of Pujols. TLR was doing Colby a favor putting him in the 2nd slot coming off an injury. TLR likes a guy who can slug in the 2nd slot; Rasmus and Ludwick both qualify.
The hitters who have been off have been Ryan and Schumaker. We added Miles to give a platoon option at 2B. The injury to Freese has let Ryan back on the field. Ryan is probably off because of his wrist operation, not because he lacks self esteem. TLR has tried to show confidence in Ryan and was rewarded last night.
JumboShrimp, you cannot disagree with the fact to which I obviously pointed (Holliday’s glaring deficiency with regard to RISP). Yes, indeed! When it comes to the job of a bona fide Clean-Up Man, to bring runners in (especially from 2nd and 3rd bases), HE IS IN AN INDISPUTABLE FUNK. I speak from the point-of-view of one of Matt Holliday’s biggest fans.
With regard to my all time favorite ball player, Albert Pujols, his present .300 average is definitely NOT merely “a little off, not much”. The lifetime .330+ hitter went “oh, for…” on Monday night, Wednesday night and last night. Yet you dare to disagree that my man is in a funk?
57, I would not dismiss RISP as much as Nutlaw. But I do think there is a small “n” illusion. In the long run of a big N, Ludwick hits for more power, and pays for it with more Ks than Holliday. TLR prefers Holliday’s better contact in the 4th slot over Ludwick’s greater HR power. I have no problem with that. They are both good hitters.
With regard to each man’s DOCUMENTED attributes and limitations, their placement in the batting order is of great importance! The idea of arbitrarily throwing batters out there haphazardly, without thought to their individual aspects, is utterly absurd!
I am grateful for what Pujols contributes. I don’t think of Albert as a cancer.
Even a little off, Albert’s OPS is 100 points higher than Ludwick.
Its possible Albert has a sore back or leg or something. But he’s a warrior who plays on, without excuses.
Mark well, I have NEVER remotely indicated that my all-time favorite player is “a cancer”. Mark well also, that going “of for…” is a “contribution” that not even my all-time favorite player can appreciate. He would be first to tell you that the heroics of playing through with “a sore back or leg or something” is underscored with error-less games and production at the plate. In time, Albert will come out of his funk, as will Matt. Until then, the rest of our vaunted line-up is being called upon to rise to the occasion.
Mark well, I too have NEVER remotedly indicated Pujols is a cancer. Or ought to be traded. Or is mentally confused. Or TLR is a dunce. Or our players are “basket cases,” “terrified” or “unnerved.” I think they are mentally and physically tough warriors. Sometimes there are injuries or things do not go as we would like, but that’s the way life is.
JumboShrimp, I will tell you precisely what I told Westy: “If the day ever comes when I am persuaded that the performance of all our batters is keyed upon the perceived attitude and moods of Albert, THEN I will consider the idea of trading a Hall of Famer who is in the same sublime sphere as Cobb, Hornsby, Musial, DiMaggio and Williams”.
C’mon guys! The league is hitting .289 off this guy, for cryin’ out loud!
Tuned in just in time to see the money guys strike out back to back. Must be playing tea party in the dugout. 7-2. What happened?
blingboy, check out today’s page – for a blow-by-blow account…
Today’s page = “Suppan is a bad option, but not that bad…”
I see where O for 3 Albert is on the bench. He’s the best sub .300 player in baseball.
Looks like Tony has waved the white flag already and sent in the B team.
Guess Otto’s performance was grusome. Lots of blood spatter.
Like I said, blingboy, the ugly blow-by-blow account is on our other page (“today’s page”)…