Picking out one of St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday’s hot hitting stats.
As St. Louis Cardinals fans know, left fielder Matt Holliday has been on fire with the bat over the last ten days. There are a number of ways to reflect the positive results generated by the reigning National League Player of the Week.
For example, Holliday had his fifth straight multi-hit game on Wednesday night, including the only RBI and game-winner with a full count and two outs in the ninth, though his home run streak was broken at four consecutive contests. He hit four home runs with eight RBI in the Oakland series, even more impressive when noting the entire Cardinals team scored just 12 runs during the three games. Holliday had his 14th career two home run game on Sunday. Finally, he is batting .454 (15-for-33) since moving to the number two spot in the lineup on June 14.
However, the stat we’ve chosen to emphasize today is Holliday’s six consecutive hits, collected Sunday and Tuesday (the team was off Monday).
- Sunday fourth inning: home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch
- Sunday sixth inning: home run to left-center field on a 1-1 pitch
- Sunday eighth inning: singled to right field
- Tuesday first inning: singled to right-center field
- Tuesday third inning: home run to left-center field on a 2-1 pitch
- Tuesday fifth inning: doubled to left field
As researcher Tom Orf learned, it is the second time Holliday had a half-dozen consecutive hits as a Cardinal but only the fourth time in his six-plus year major league career. He had two such streaks in five years in Colorado, none in a half season in Oakland and his most recent two in less than one full season with St. Louis.
Holliday failed in Tuesday’s seventh inning, grounding out, to match his career best of seven consecutive hits. That mark was set from April 19-20, 2005.
Matt Holliday, career, six or more consecutive hits
| Date | Tm | Opp | Pitcher | Score | Inn | RoB | Out | BI | Play Description | |
| 7/31/2009 | STL | HOU | Brian Moehler | down 0-1 | 1B | b 2 | — | 0 | 0 | Single to 3B (Ground Ball to Weak 3B) |
| 7/31/2009 | STL | HOU | Brian Moehler | down 0-1 | 1B | b 4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 | Single to LF (GB thru Weak 3B); Lugo Scores; Pujols to 2B |
| 7/31/2009 | STL | HOU | Brian Moehler | down 1-2 | 1B | b 6 | — | 2 | 0 | Single to CF (Line Drive to Deep CF) |
| 7/31/2009 | STL | HOU | Alberto Arias | down 2-3 | 2B | b 8 | 1– | 1 | 1 | Double to RF (Line Drive to Deep RF Line); Pujols Scores |
| 8/1/2009 | STL | HOU | Wandy Rodriguez | tied 0-0 | HR | b 2 | — | 0 | 1 | Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line) |
| 8/1/2009 | STL | HOU | Wandy Rodriguez | tied 1-1 | 1B | b 4 | 1– | 0 | 0 | Single to LF (Ground Ball thru Weak 3B); Pujols to 2B |
| 5/15/2006 | COL | LAD | Takashi Saito | down 3-5 | HR | b 9 | — | 1 | 1 | Home Run (Line Drive) |
| 5/16/2006 | COL | LAD | Derek Lowe | down 0-1 | 2B | b 2 | — | 0 | 0 | Double to LF (Ground Ball thru Deep LF) |
| 5/16/2006 | COL | LAD | Derek Lowe | tied 1-1 | 1B | b 4 | 1– | 0 | 0 | Single to CF (Ground Ball); Helton to 2B |
| 5/16/2006 | COL | LAD | Derek Lowe | ahead 4-1 | 1B | b 5 | -2- | 2 | 1 | Single to CF (Fly Ball); Helton Scores |
| 5/16/2006 | COL | LAD | Tim Hamulack | ahead 5-1 | 1B | b 8 | 1– | 0 | 0 | Single to CF (Ground Ball); Helton to 2B |
| 5/17/2006 | COL | LAD | Brad Penny | tied 0-0 | 2B | b 1 | 1– | 2 | 0 | Double to CF (Line Drive to Deep CF-RF); Helton to 3B |
| 4/19/2005 | COL | ARI | Shawn Estes | down 0-1 | 1B | b 2 | — | 0 | 0 | Single to RF (Ground Ball) |
| 4/19/2005 | COL | ARI | Shawn Estes | tied 1-1 | BB | b 3 | 12- | 2 | 0 | Walk; Barmes to 3B; Wilson to 2B |
| 4/19/2005 | COL | ARI | Shawn Estes | ahead 3-1 | 1B | b 5 | — | 0 | 0 | Single to RF (Fly Ball) |
| 4/19/2005 | COL | ARI | Lance Cormier | ahead 3-1 | 1B | b 7 | — | 1 | 0 | Single to CF (Ground Ball) |
| 4/19/2005 | COL | ARI | Mike Koplove | ahead 5-1 | 3B | b 8 | 123 | 1 | 3 | Triple to RF (LD Deep RF);Barmes Gonzalez Helton Score |
| 4/20/2005 | COL | @PHI | Cory Lidle | ahead 1-0 | 1B | t 1 | 12- | 1 | 0 | Single to LF (Line Drive); Helton to 3B; Wilson to 2B |
| 4/20/2005 | COL | @PHI | Cory Lidle | ahead 2-1 | 1B | t 3 | 1– | 0 | 0 | Single to LF (Line Drive); Wilson to 2B |
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What’s with the #15 photo from the olden days??
“…it is the second time Holliday had a half-dozen consecutive hits as a Cardinal but only the fourth time in his six-plus year major league career”
It is manifestly evident that Matt has saved his best for the Cardinals. We’re going to have more than five years to be thrilled with his production. One can only hope, however, that his annual second-half resurgence will begin earlier with each of coming seasons.
He was hired to provide protection for the best player in baseball. One wonders just how much of his Cardinal career will be spent doing that.
I sounds like the Cards are not counting on getting Penny back anytime soon.
blingboy: According to Derrick Goold (nearly a week ago), Penny enjoyed a “fine, pain-free” throwing session last Friday (the 18th). Although there doesn’t appear to be any hard and fast date of return, everything seems to point to the All-Star break.
Adam Wainwright (10-4, 2.23) versus Brandon Morrow (4-5, 4.97)
Since the pitching comparison is so lopsided today, there is no reason that we cannot achieve our first three-game sweep of the season. With regard to the offensive comparison, we’ve proven in practice what is undeniably documented on paper. Therefore, the only way that we can possibly lose tonight’s game is if Adam should experience a terrible outing or if our offense should become utterly impotent.
Concerning Albert Pujols, unequivocally the best player in the Major Leagues: Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright each appear to be quite comfortable in the role of “Co-Ace”. Looking at the uniform shirt, many fans are beginning to realize that there is not a Pujols on each side of the bat, but a Cardinal. Indeed, we are not the St. Louis Alberts, but the St. Louis Cardinals. The paradigm shift and vital transition in mentality will be completed when Albert himself becomes more adjusted to the reality of another Alpha Stud on the offense of the club. When that happens, his prophecy (“It will get scary”) will be fully realized. Until that happens, Matt will capably carry the team as the offensive kingpin. Then, the best player in the Major Leagues will become the very best player indeed (potentially, more powerful than ever)!
To those who warn that Adam Wainwright is not as effective on the road as he is at home, I counter with the fact that his road ERA is under 3.00 (still outstanding) and yet vastly superior to Morrow’s home record. To those who extoll the success of Morrow’s most recent outings, I counter with the fact that he has yet to face the St. Louis Cardinals! To those who warn that Bautista and Lewis have enjoyed success against Wainwright in the past, I ask; “Has Adam improved at all since the last time that he faced them?” To those who would caution against optimism tonight with the fact that our offense was held in check by Toronto’s best pitcher last night, I counter with the fact that we had more than twice as many hits against him than their batters had against Carpenter.
The situation will get dicey enough when we play the Royals during the weekend, with the necessity to start Suppan tomorrow and Hawksworth on Saturday. Despite the fact that Kansas City has one of the worst batting records in the Major Leagues, poor pitching performances can offset the best offense, even when it’s firing on all cylinders. The bottom line is that another complete game from Adam tonight will insure a rested bullpen for the potential of maximum use during the coming weekend.
57………….. where as you have painted quit a canvas here, I’m not so sure of all your conclusions. We are rarely seeing much from the front office these days. That does not mean they are gone. In fact, I would say that they have been more active than ever.
Penny suffered an injury. He was not lifting a bus, or in a car accident etc,etc; He was some what extended, but in the athletic posture of hitting a Grand Slam……….which he did. You can tweak your back……..you can pinch a disk…….. you can tear a ligament…….. but none of the these are listed. A torn muscle will heal…………..with constant therapy and rehab and all the advances in modern medicine at his disposal………..not to mention a 200,000 dollar start missed every 5 days, there appear to be other factors……………………… I can think of a whole bunch of them. This is a triumvirate……….. We all know Tony would be happy to have him……….how about Brad Penny, or Billiam DeWitt…………….? See if you can imagine any possibilities.
Whenever I read, “Penny enjoyed a ‘fine, pain-free’ throwing session last Friday (the 18th). Although there doesn’t appear to be any hard and fast date of return, everything seems to point to the All-Star break”, it seems fairly ambiguous and I do not find anything to suggest that I’ve reached a conclusion. I was merely passing along what Derrick Goold had indicated.
Answering post #1, it was the first away jersey photo I grabbed and the thumbnail was too small to notice the number. Should be more careful next time.
Westy: With regard to all that I said concerning tonight’s contest, you are perfectly free to dispute any of it. This blog is, after all, an exchange of ideas…
I tell you true; Colby at Clean-Up makes a helluva lot more sense than Stavinoha in that important slot. As for the switch from Brendan to Miles, there is not enough difference for a fan to become scandalized…
ss Lopez
lf Holliday
1b Pujols
cf Rasmus
3b Freese
cf Rasmus
rf Winn
c Molina
dh Schumaker
2b Miles
Correction (sheepishly slipped-in):
ss Lopez
lf Holliday
1b Pujols
cf Rasmus
3b Freese
rf Winn
c Molina
dh Schumaker
2b Miles
No, Rasmus won’t be aloud to bat twice in the order.
STL -140 +115 7.5 -135 +120 7.5 -135 +125 7.5 -132 TOR +130 -135 +125 -140
Action is changing after the lineup release…………….. Adam Wainwright against a loser…… easy money…….right…………… that is a provocative betting line.
Why would I disagree 57……….. I hope everyone plays well too.
Also, that is an idiotic batting order…………. if things are so bad as to suggest that this makes sense??? what is so bad…………………….. to put Wynn second and slide everyone back a step is surely a better order…………….but you can’t……………….can you…………..team players……….dangerous precedents in the detente…………..that’s why the line is so …………come on in ST Louis money, its a berry patch.
One thing is for certain: If Morrow should dare to serve-up something low and inside to our Clean-Up, it’s gettin’ golfed into the rightfield bleachers…
Like you, Westy, I say to Hell with the damned detente: Put Matt in the 3rd Slot and make Albert our Clean-Up (naturally)! Either Ludwick or Colby would do fine hitting at Number 5 in such an order (either of those two would do fine at Number 2 – along with Winn).
That’s the point 57…………………everyone is watching whats going on in St Louis. It looks like there is no shortage of money backing Toronto here………….
Translated…………….. Holiday ain’t gonna see many pitches in the strike-zone……. Albert will be baited………… someone thinks Rasmus and Freese are soft here………someone thinks Toronto will hit the curve………………….lets watch
I have no doubt that there are one or two Toronto batters who are able to get under a medicore curve and connect (Bautista, perhaps), but the very best in the National League have already, repeatedly, swung over the top of Adam’s perfected curves. If he is “on” tonight, the Blue Jays will have trubs n’ probs like they never had before…
I like the .320 slugging pct DH. Hitting 8th.
Right you are, blingboy: With regard to slugging percentage, we’ve got a veritable desert of 4 consecutive batters tonight, ‘twixt Winn and Holiday.
Phone a bet in 57……….easy money…………….take the wife on a trip to Europe.
I ain’t married, Westy. I’m single and too old for anything else, but watchin’ a good ball game with a buncha other old farts…
Is Morris gonna tip toe around Albert too?
Colby has excercised greater discipline than THAT! He’s swingin’ at anything and everything. Sure hope he’s got a cell phone and the Warrior is on his case…
What Wells hit was definitely not a curve… damn!
Lind is a Mendoza line hitter! Which means Adam is really “off” tonight…
The 4.87 pitcher is mowin’ us down! Are we gonna give him a no-hitter?
He who is a liability at the plate ought not to be a liability also in the field…
As William Bendix used to say, “What a revolting development THIS is!”
Wainwright sure is leaning on the curve.
Since one of Toronto’s runs has his name on it, Miles is owing us…
Well, he apparently can’t field, hit, or even read hit and run signs? Miles, it was fun while it lasted.
Wouldn’t it be, that a catcher by the name of Molina should throw our man out?
Miles has got to go! We need to move Skip from DH to 2b and install Ludwick at DH.
Damn! That hurt! Adam has now allowed their two biggest boppers to have their way…
He’s also allowed LInd’s batting average to soar – all the way up to .213! Adam simply is not feeling well and needs to be lifted.
Morrow evidently has our guys flummoxed. I certainly hope that they figure him out by the third time through the order.
The Cards and Pujols are usually a good draw but not in Toronto by the looks of it.
Pitching a two-hitter through 5, the Morrow’s ERA is now down to 4.67. How is it that their worst starter (and a righty at that!) is giving us the greatest grief?
I’ve heard that the folks in Totonto stopped coming when the players struck way back when…
Normally, a 5 run deficit is nothing that we cannot overcome in 4 innings…
Salas induced the grounder: What was the reason that we couldn’t turn the double-play?
With Matt hitting the double, it is a shame that Miles and Lopez couldn’t get on base…
With Albert tapping-out his infiled Rose-like single, moving Matt to third, I certainly hope that Colby doesn’t whiff again…
No, that was definitely NOT a good time for Colby’s third strike-out of the night! I wonder who will be batting Clean-Up tomorrow night in Kansas City!
Normally, a 5 run deficit is something we would be able to overcome in 3 innings…
Colby is terrible right now. He may not touch one tonight. Just pitiful
It would be painfully noticeable, Warrior, were it not for the fact that Colby ain’t the only one who is terrible tonight.
Hope Cory is having better luck.
‘Ol LaRue went from .147 to .143 in a single at bat…
Pitching a four-hitter through 7, Morrow’s ERA is now down to 4.55. How, oh how is it that their worst starter (and a righty at that!) is giving us the greatest amount of grief?
I suppose, owing to the fact that we can’t seem to generate any offense tonight, that it won’t make any difference if David’s error is also translated into a run…
I wonder how many teams have ever made it to the World Series without having swept any series during the regular season?
Keep your chin up 57, we have two innings left to mount a thunderous offensive eruption of biblical proportions.
I’m bracing myself for the glorious onslaught of apocalyptic splendor!
Mighty Miles is now sporting a .176 at the plate to complement his error on the field…
With LaRue at .143 and Miles at .176, Tony is sending forth menacing crushers to terrify the opposition! There can be no wonder that the rest of our line-up is so awesomely inspired!
Hey! Reyes just snapped his string of 3 consecutive outless outings!
I’ve never seen Colby go so deep into the opposite field. Without pulling it, that shows you how much the lad has bulked-up during the offseason.
Well, the Reds are now nipping at our butts, only a half game back…
The Cards preserved their streak of avoiding a sweep.
Go Cards Go!
If we play with that much life against KC it could be 0-0 after 30 innings.
A guy named Jack Reynolds played foolball for Univ of Tennessee, and he got so mad about losing he cut a car in half with a hacksaw. We need that guy. Doesn’t matter if he can’t hit, apparently.
Baseball is a game of controlled aggression and balance.
We just grabbed two from the Blue Jays in their own park. Good job.
STL +135 -160 9 +135 -160 ………………………………………………………………………
KAN -145 +140 -145 +140 …………………………………………………………………….
Zack is 2 and 8…………..common bet’em up Card fans.
Miles at second base…………..to protect skip from the carpet? or is Tony starting to protest his limited options by throwing Arron on the grill????????? Lopez is starting to act like an everyday player………his interpretation that is. ……………………… Wainwright was put into an awkward situation today………… he making the All star team this year? Seems quite a number of people see ST Louis in a different light.
The bottom line…………………… we are creating hope in Cincinnati where there really should be none………………… Tony is an easy read……… open the book and take a look boys. Wainwright looked very uncomfortable today………………he did not appear to like the BS going on behind him.
Good pitching can overcome good hitting, but Zack’s record proves that good pitching cannot overcome bad hitting. Strasburg and Halladay have found that out and the Cards pitchers have found it out a few times too.
Pretty soon the issue of Albert’s power production will need to be faced up to publicly. Its been almost a year now. Thats a long time to go without any effort to get some answers.
The MO has been to swat the issue aside by pointing out that he is still great, which is true. Albert recently said that hitting homers isn’t the only way to help the team win. Also true. Meanwhile the issue is ignored by all.
Players have a right to disclose or not disclose minor physical problems. Albert is a warrior who does not like talking about ouchies.
The Cards could help Albert by adding a starting pitcher. One possibility might be Kevin Millwood, in the last year of a contract, Boras client. The Os would like a SS (to replace Cesar Izturis) and the Cards could provide Tyler Greene.
The line says that KC is going to score at least 5 runs BB. That’s a distillation of all the fantasy variables toyed around with in these parts. Its now down from nine to 8.5……… but the money is swinging even farther toward KC.
We have the best hitter in baseball…….and his front kick…….. and who knows who his cleanup kick will be………… would be surprised if Luddy stayed lame until his point is made. They don’t make allowances for that in arbitration………..that spot is suppose to be a gold mine.
AP has retained minor adjustments this year………………EVERY TEAM will be happy to concede what he is taking. He can’t approach signification changes without jeopardizing his bargaining position. After the trade deadline……….he is a free man and may well start experimenting.
blingboy…
“…Zack’s record proves that good pitching cannot overcome bad hitting”
Both of our Aces would heartily concur and so would Aces like poor Roy Oswalt (now 5-9, 3.08 with the miserable Astros). Methinks, however, if our offense comes into Kansas City in the manner that they left Toronto (with their heads up their butts, for the multitude of their myriad reasons), ‘Ol Zack will be aided and abetted by the very team he is opposing! Indeed, he won’t need to place any hope in the lousy Royals offense, but in the dysfunctional buffoonery of the most potent offense in baseball!
blingboy –
“Pretty soon the issue of Albert’s power production will need to be faced up to publicly”
We’re supposed to go to the middle of a crowd, follow it around and not make waves: How DARE you to call attention to the 800 pound gorilla in the room! Tony reverts to the Pitcher hitting 8th for the same reason that he instituted it – to create more RBI opportunities for the beloved number 3 hitter. Now that the number 2 hitter (Matt) is swiping all those RBI, however, it is time to go back to the pitcher in the traditional number 9 hole. It matters not how you jiggle the line-up, Albert simply isn’t the powerful Albert of the pre-July 2009 days. We can get into Westy’s head (who gets into Albert’s head) to figure out what in hell is going on with the future Hall of Famer. Or we can rally around Matt and leave Albert in a pile of irrelevance, to either become part of the team or take the fast train into oblivion. Now that Matt’s mysterious annual mid-season resurgence is in full swing, I personally don’t think that it matters where you put him in the batting order, for him to produce.
WestCoastBirdWatcher –
“We have the best hitter in baseball…….and his front kick…….. and who knows who his cleanup kick will be………… would be surprised if Luddy stayed lame until his point is made”
As long as our offense flounders in it’s dysfunctional malaise, it won’t matter who is ahead or behind Albert in the batting order. If they can get mowed-down by such mediocrity as Morrow, how can they possibly stack-up against a pitcher who is nothing short of world class? Tony’s ambitious desire is for Suppan to last for 80 pitches. That can be accomplished by him in no more than 5 innings and we can only hope that Tony will pull him before insurmountable damage occurs. But then, Tony needs to stretch him as far as possible in order to maintain a viable bullpen for what promises to be another bloodbath tomorrow…
Westy, I cannot yet persuade myself that he has implemented an effort to persuade the big boys not to make the Cards an offer they can’t refuse. Although Lozano’s seperation from BHSC may be interpreted otherwise. But if the trade deadline passes, and 5/10 Albert trundles out his old self, 1.150 OPS and all, I’ll be the first to give you the I’m not worthy bow.
57, Lets not get carried away. Toronto is good and, as Jumbo said, we took 2 out of 3 in their park. K.C stinks. We should crush them.
Aye, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad… But what bona fide World Series contender has ever gone the distance without a 3-game sweep? Hell, the only time that we put together 4 straight was in the series against the Braves and ONLY because we caught them at their morale worst. As you know, the Braves have been absolutely stunning ever since. And “absolutely stunning” is precisely what we should be – AT LEAST against the lowly, hapless, trite singles-hitting Royals! But, alas, I am still smarting over the shut-out and wondering if our band o’ busters will carry their morass into tonight’s game or explode with glory (like that wonderful first game against Toronto)…
I have to admit you’re right 57. May the least stinky win.
I guess Luddy made his point, the lineup makes sense at least.
Since Tony hasn’t lately been taking the Clean-Up spot seriously, it’s good to see Ludwick there again. Is there a reason that the heavy-hitting .143 LaRue is catching, instead of Yadier? Is there some sort of chemistry imbalance between our gold-glover and Suppan? Or does Yadier simply need another day off?
2b Schumaker
lf Holliday
1b Pujols
dh Ludwick
cf Rasmus
ss Lopez
3b Freese
c LaRue
rf Winn
The Cleveland mediocre pitcher, Laffey (5.04), just struck out the side (including Votto and Rolen) to begin tonight’s game there. Here’s hoping that trend continues throughout the evening and the lowly Indians do to the Reds what the Blue Jays just did to us…
Great way to start the game, Skip: a lead-off single on the very first pitch!
Holiday is closed down again? Was “the move” an accident? It appears that it was. They played Pujols to turn on that inside pitch. Grenke is locating when they let it go by them.
Ah, yes; the Ace’s best friend! Great way to snuff a rally before it even begins, Zack!
I am hoping that both Matt (with a double) and Albert (with a single) will be back in the third inning, to be followed by Ludwick (with a homer). I can dream, can’t I?
Wow! LaRue is a real Yadier Wannabe! He nailed him!
At the rate of his 21 pitches in the first inning, Suppan will reach his 80 at the end of the 4th…
With two on base and a RISP, here’s hoping that LaRue will betray his trifling .143…
He saw his .143 and lowered it to .139… Colby’s spunky single and Freese’s discliplined walk were all for naught…
Meanwhile, the Reds are crushing Cleveland 5 to 0, after 5…
Hollidays swing change coincided with his father and brother visiting St. Louis. Both are coaches and both know a lot about Matt’s swing.
Shhhhhhhhh, don’t say repeat that anywhere or we may read about it in tomorrows Post Dispatch
Thanks to the Royals, swinging at anything and everything, and to the expertise of our infield, it may be possible for Suppan to make it all the way through the 5th…
So then, O great Warrior, I have good reason to thank Colby’s father for that spunky single. Four of those li’l devils tonight would get me just as excited as one of his beautiful golf shots into the rightfield bleachers…
I knew hand holding worked, and two would have to be better than one. Should have spotted it.
Colby pushed them back the first time RC. He gets better extension when he does. He develops the bat head earlier. He will need to start going to left before they start showing him his favorites.
Soup isn’t going to cut it here………is Tony going to give away the game to prove a point?
At the rate of his 70 pitches before the end of 3 innings, Suppan will reach his 80 long before he can even finish the 4th. If he should allow a couple more runs before that, I sure that Tony will consider lifting him even sooner…
Let the long man start the inning…………….40+ in an inning……..in the heat? I think its statement time by Tony.
And the entire Cardinal Nation agrees with you…
The long man is plan A for tomorrow’s starter.
It ain’t so much that we are so bad, as it is that Zack Greinke is so good. He is to the Royals what Roy Oswalt is to the Astros.
Everything away to Colby…………he kept that hands in trying to cat up to the heat. Bad tactic. He never gave up his swing aspiration. He is looking for the money shot. Not so good. That last pitch was outside though.
what the hell was that…………….
Lucky for Matt its not Zombrano out there.
He didn’t feel like getting dirty I guess. MH isn’t gonna run from the Z man BB…….he is ripped.
After 4, Suppan has reached the 80 pitch limit. Something tells me, however, that 3 runs is not enough damage and that Tony will attempt to stretch him further.
Zambrano is a bully and Holliday is a man (if the Cub coaches and manager had not stepped in, big Derrick Lee would have decked the miserable hot head)
Hate to watch this emotionless piece of dung play. There is no leadership. Doubt Penny wants any of this.
Unlike Zambrano, Suppan would not have blamed his teammate. Jeff’s playing career is certainly washed-up, but he is an honorable man and class act.
Tony will gambled on Suppan going 5 innings with 90 or less and it paid-off. I wonder if he is feeling really lucky…
I was referring to the team 57……..Jeff seems like a nice guy. He just doesn’t have much.
I am in complete agreement with you, Westy. And I understood your “emotionless piece of dung” remark to refer to our team. Calling a spade “a spade”, that’s an apt description of their play…
Hypothetical. What if Z’s teammates didn’t like him and decided not to go out of their way to make tough plays behind him. Would Z’s conduct be more understandable? Would the MLBPA want that sort of thing publicized during an appeal of a suspension?
Here we are: Bases are juiced, only 1 out and our Clean-Up strutts to the plate!
If your hypothesis were correct, blingboy, then I would hypothesize that there was a reason for the teammates to dislike him (hypothetical unprofessinal vindictiveness notwithstanding)
I still remember Zambrano barking at Jimmy Baseball for the perceived offense of a split-second pause after taking him deep…
The hypo assumes there are plenty of reasons to dislike Z, all of them good.
Although Ludwick is not the only big bopper in our line-up to ground into an untimely doubleplay. A hat is tipped to the world class Greinke for inducing it…
One could accurately presume that I don’t like Zambrano very much
I don’t like him either 57, but if a guy is baited, by his own teammates, who know his temperment, that would be something altogether different. And unsightly. That’s the hypo.
I would much rather the mind games being played by our gentlemen, to the crap that goes on with that ugly team. Since the Cubs fans are permeated with a culture of meanness and low class conduct, it’s not surprising to see such conduct manifesting itself on that team. Aye, one could say that I don’t like Chicago very much either. While there are some great folks there, you have to admit that crap draws flies…
Let’s hear it for Reyes: His second consecutive decent relief appearance!
It’s not that our guys are so bad: It’s that Zack Greinke is so masterful.
Folks all across the nation speak highly of St. Louis fans, not only as knowledgeable baseball enthusiasts, but as genuinely decent human beings. Unless the Cubs are playing and the stadium is filled with the rowdy bunch, the ball park is always a place where you can bring your children.
Zack looks hittable…………………… I don’t like the Freese body language……….he wants to stand around and evaluate his contact. With no bench, these guys like this “i’m slumping” I’m breaking out ” rhyme. Which brings up an interesting subject………….. all of the apologies and discovered peccadillo’s concerning this team is covering the fact that we weren’t strong………..and now we see we aren’t strong……………….Luddy can’t hit 4th………. Holiday can’t stay at 2nd…….. Colby can’t be allowed to roller-coaster………and it appears Freese has lost motivation. And AP won’t give up his position………….as we cook in the stalemate. Getting two pitchers back doesn’t change the fact that we can’t hit.
The Reds crushed the Indians 10 to 3 tonight. Something tells me that we are going from a half-game ahead to a half-game behind. Why? Because we couldn’t take our first sweep of the season in Toronto.
The second consecutive time that Matt came up with 2 men on and 1 RISP… What’ll he do this time?
Why, he will make another “productive out”, knocking a man from 2nd to 3rd…
The system in St. Louis is a tough one. A lot of negativism. They are asked to play like robots and they do.
Ah, yes! Another inning-ending, rally-killing grounder from Albert!
Right off the end of the bat………..now AP is suffering the lost hero syndrome that Holiday endured behind him……………….never thought to try the right side, take a run and let someone else up.
The Yankees are expected to play that way, but I keep seeing footage that suggests otherwise.
Imagine that! Yadier Molina, a late inning replacement! Matt Holliday being replaced in leftfield by Skip Schumaker!
I see allot of swing faults RC that aren’t being changed………………… The AP shut down of MM has compromised his message……………… the gamblers are betting on it.
How can the hard-throwing Mitchell Boggs expect to close-in on consideration of being a closer with this kind of outing against a weak, small-ball team?
On the radio they said the Royals had a shift on Albert, the 2nd baseman behind the bag. Right side open. Guess they anticipated what Westy observed.
AP is sulking now………. How about the Luddy……..whats he hitting now as a cleanup hitter Nut.
WC, I believe Mark has a lot of great hitting ideas but it may be tough for many guys to scrap what got them there and try a totally new swing. I believe you see how hard it is to learn a new swing at the big league level by the way Schu and Brendan have struggled with learning it. Its one thing to know the swing you are trying to teach and its quite another to help players correct ticks in their individual swing mechanics. I would venture that that trait takes time and is mainly mastered through learning from the mistakes you’ve made trying to correct those ticks. Mark will improve in this area over time but there is going to be struggles along the way.
I too am bumfuzzled by what Albert is going through. He is just not himself.
By hook or by crook, our DH is going to reach base, damn it!
Colby’s second hit of the night was a really big one!
The last 2 swings were good RC………he seemed to get the foot down without disrupting his loading rhythm………………………still don’t like the step-in . Anyone with a good change up will vex him.
There are a lot of Cards fans in red at the park, and it looked like many of them joined in giving Greinke a nice hand.
Typical…
The same heart that Flip gave at Toronto, he is giving at Kansas City tonight…
Yeah, David’s got heart too!
I guess Stava is in the Dog House……….sending Miles to the plate………Tony is funny.
I hate the step in and its one thing i have been working with him at ridding his swing of. If he closes off more than and inch or two max he is in trouble. They are coming home in a few and Colby’s brothers are going up to keep fiddling with him and get him to where the ol muscle memory starts taking hold.
I’m not laughing Westy. Sup may not be either, being perhaps the only man on the team who did his job, and he gets the loss.
I don’t know anything about hitting mechanics, but with Colby and Albert both, all they have to do is keep it away and change speeds a little. Perhaps a similar fault afflicts them both.
Thanks to Flip, Colby and David, this first night was not the shut-out and debacle that I had expected. Here’s hoping that a miracle will take place tomorrow and that the team will head back to St. Louis, having taken the series.
Lets hope the Hawk/Otto tag team start works out.
Jeff Suppan is fulfilling the expectation of nothing more than chewing-up some innings without incurring too much damage…
Jun 15 Sea IP 4.0 H-4 ER-1 HR-1 BB-2 SO-4 GB-7 FB-5 Pitches-73
Jun 20 Oak IP 4.2 H-7 ER-2 HR-1 BB-1 SO-2 GB-6 FB-4 Pitches-78
Jun 25 Kan IP 5.0 H-7 ER-3 HR-0 BB-2 SO-4 GB-6 FB-6 Pitches-86
The 3 ER tonight was really nothing that our Murderers’ Row could not ordinarily surmount. The only one of our 4 big boppers that did anything for us tonight, however, was Colby (2 for 4, with a double).
Tony is looking and showing signs of stress……………. His Miles statement also reflects a loss of hope……….he is probably aware that Miles career dated at this point…………
I hate the defeated hero syndrome. The severity of AP’s hitting problems and his misplaced faith that they may just go away, bothers me allot………………………..and now Matt talks about a stance adjustment that he is measuring out by the thimble………………………as stated from day one, if skip plays his roll, he is a positive. If he it trying to pull the ball, he is terrible. If he just takes the middle and away, they will try off speed in and he can just relax and turn. If he tries to turn with power, he’s through……………………Luddy is now the measure of the Pujols / Holiday sink hole………how much damage can he take……………… And the pouting AP won’t budge an inch……he isn’t giving up his slot…………… BD is gloating now.
WC, before tonight’s 0/3 performance, Ludwick had a .167 AVG and .548 SLG in eight games. Not good, but it’s a tiny sample size. Does being the fourth man at bat rather than the fifth magically turn him into a bad hitter? Your analysis of hitting mechanics seems solid, but I’m not sold on the fact that everyone has all of these emotional problems on top of everything..
Westy: Brian’s latest posting (“2010 Cardinals are the opposite of streaking”) furnishes the result of the emotionless play you’ve observed and the mental/emotional gridlock you’ve described. His posting will prove, beyond shadow of doubt, that smug and presumptuous self-assurance with regard to each series, that “2 out of 3 ain’t bad”, will certainly prove to be nothing more than a self-deceiving pipedream. Indeed, the team’s present businesslike approach must be replaced with emotion (heart!) and camaraderie NOW!
It is more than solid Nut. My observations are from a different Paradigm altogether. Your thinking serves you, but do you serve your thinking? What are emotions to you? Do any of these potentiality resolve to a constant state of stability or equilibrium of emotionality?
It is very difficult to communicate some ideas. Do you know what AP is trying to become? Do you think he does? The evolution of the “self” or “ego” is only believed to be unknowable in western religions. It is different in other disciplines. To some, emotional and physical are not separate realizations. They are simply aspects of the same vibrational dialog.
I’ve played ball in front of 40,000. It’s stimulating, but nothing like playing a guitar concerto in front of a thousand. The problems many of these guys are suffering are just the byproduct of over stimulation……….they are emotionally exhausted…………anesthetized. The normal functions of the mind can become distorted. Its not easy being a big leaguer…..at anything.
The answer to your question mark has to do with your definition of “magically”. It reminds me of the age of science where you hear, “Watson, come here I’m hurt”. Or Mary Curie dying a gruesome death as a result of her “magical discovery”…………… There “ARE” hidden forces at play. See them.
I didn’t quit finish I think…………………. Its not what the 4th slot means to me……..or you…….. its what it means to Ludwick…………….. more money, a full time nanny for his wife……… the Lamborghini at last……. immortal self esteem……. he wanted that job………..he started doing intimidating bat circles…….dancing in the box………challenging the pitcher like the great Casey………………Oops!!!!!!!!!.
He got beat out of 5th by the kid……. won the 2nd because Brendan is quirky………. and prospered.
Holiday has it now………and the 120/7 will keep him there. Ryan is becoming aware that this eventuality does not play well in a arbitration hearing………… no, not allot has changed in the weigh of his bat……..but his head sure is buzzing.
Nut – and he forgot to add in #149 “may be the force be with you”.
If Ludwick puts up good numbers, he’ll make very good money no matter where he happens to hit in the lineup. He’s already making $5.45M this season and he’ll be in line for a raise beyond that next season pretty much no matter what. If the guy wants a nice car or a nanny, I’m sure that he can manage just fine.
There is pressure on every major league player to perform well in exchange for money and fame no matter what role they find themselves in.
From what I know of eastern religions, they are more about introspection than mind reading.
Not only do I believe that it is indisputable, that Ludwick will “make very good money no matter where he happens to hit in the lineup”, but also that whether he hits in a certain slot (4th or 2nd) is dependent upon whether he is “on” or “off” on any given day. I have not yet been convinced that the placement within a lineup determines whether a hitter can swing accurately at a ball being thrown.
Batting in the 2 slot has NOTHING to do with Matt’s resurgence, but the crazy, mysterious mental/emotional quirks which inhibit him during the first half of any season. Indeed, it is about that time of year when Matt Holliday’s inner giant awakens from his sleep. I believe that the placement in the 2 slot is merely coincidental with the time of Matt’s annual resurgence.