Injured St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick is the team’s career leader in SLG and OPS in Denver.
The potential impact of the St. Louis Cardinals missing Ryan Ludwick for the road series at Colorado due to a stint on the disabled list may be greater than readers might have expected.
Not only is the outfielder the top producer on the current team in terms of slugging (1.034) and OPS (1.472) there, he has the top visiting marks of any Cardinals player past or present since the Rockies came into being in 1993.
Other team leaders at altitude vary from the likely, Albert Pujols with 29 RBI and Ray Lankford with the most counting numbers due to his longevity, to the most unlikely. The latter group includes David Bell with two triples, Scott Cooper’s .458 batting average and So Taguchi’s three sacrifice flies.
Courtesy of Tom Orf, the details follow.
Cardinals offensive numbers at Colorado, history (since 1993) – 20 or more plate appearances – listed by SLG – leaders in bold
| Player | G | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Ryan Ludwick | 11 | 32 | 29 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 0.414 | 0.438 | 1.034 | 1.472 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Lampkin | 8 | 24 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0.381 | 0.417 | 0.905 | 1.321 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Scott Rolen | 12 | 55 | 48 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 0.396 | 0.473 | 0.896 | 1.369 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Todd Zeile | 15 | 68 | 59 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0.424 | 0.500 | 0.780 | 1.280 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mark McGwire | 18 | 83 | 64 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 0.313 | 0.458 | 0.734 | 1.192 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jim Edmonds | 26 | 110 | 88 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 22 | 18 | 26 | 0.318 | 0.436 | 0.705 | 1.141 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Placido Polanco | 11 | 35 | 35 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0.457 | 0.457 | 0.657 | 1.114 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Albert Pujols | 31 | 132 | 113 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 29 | 16 | 10 | 0.301 | 0.386 | 0.602 | 0.988 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| J.D. Drew | 10 | 44 | 40 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 0.350 | 0.409 | 0.600 | 1.009 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bernard Gilkey | 16 | 72 | 65 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 0.323 | 0.375 | 0.585 | 0.960 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Scott Cooper | 6 | 25 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0.458 | 0.480 | 0.583 | 1.063 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| John Mabry | 27 | 113 | 104 | 40 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 0.385 | 0.429 | 0.567 | 0.996 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Tino Martinez | 6 | 29 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0.280 | 0.379 | 0.560 | 0.939 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Ron Gant | 11 | 45 | 39 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 0.385 | 0.467 | 0.538 | 1.005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Lankford | 46 | 199 | 159 | 41 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 39 | 0.258 | 0.397 | 0.522 | 0.919 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Edgar Renteria | 20 | 86 | 74 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 0.365 | 0.442 | 0.514 | 0.955 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Bell | 8 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.273 | 0.429 | 0.500 | 0.929 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tom Pagnozzi | 20 | 80 | 73 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 0.315 | 0.375 | 0.493 | 0.868 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Mike Matheny | 17 | 66 | 59 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 0.271 | 0.348 | 0.492 | 0.840 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Delino DeShields | 8 | 37 | 33 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.394 | 0.444 | 0.485 | 0.929 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Eli Marrero | 17 | 43 | 37 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 0.216 | 0.302 | 0.459 | 0.762 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mark Whiten | 10 | 45 | 40 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 0.275 | 0.356 | 0.450 | 0.806 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Willie McGee | 19 | 49 | 46 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0.239 | 0.265 | 0.435 | 0.700 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fernando Vina | 15 | 73 | 66 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0.303 | 0.370 | 0.424 | 0.794 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| So Taguchi | 13 | 40 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0.310 | 0.475 | 0.414 | 0.889 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Gary Gaetti | 17 | 70 | 61 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 0.246 | 0.343 | 0.410 | 0.753 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Fernando Tatis | 6 | 29 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0.222 | 0.276 | 0.407 | 0.683 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Aaron Miles | 8 | 35 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.314 | 0.406 | 0.721 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Royce Clayton | 18 | 81 | 77 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0.286 | 0.309 | 0.390 | 0.698 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Jordan | 19 | 81 | 75 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 0.227 | 0.263 | 0.387 | 0.649 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Skip Schumaker | 6 | 20 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.294 | 0.400 | 0.353 | 0.753 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yadier Molina | 13 | 40 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0.324 | 0.375 | 0.351 | 0.726 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Luis Alicea | 13 | 41 | 37 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0.243 | 0.317 | 0.351 | 0.668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Ankiel | 7 | 22 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0.200 | 0.273 | 0.350 | 0.623 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jose Oquendo | 10 | 32 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0.240 | 0.355 | 0.320 | 0.675 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tripp Cromer | 5 | 20 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.263 | 0.263 | 0.316 | 0.579 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Juan Encarnacion | 7 | 22 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.182 | 0.182 | 0.273 | 0.455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Adam Kennedy | 7 | 28 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0.192 | 0.250 | 0.269 | 0.519 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Gregg Jefferies | 11 | 51 | 49 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0.224 | 0.255 | 0.265 | 0.520 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Geronimo Pena | 7 | 27 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0.100 | 0.296 | 0.250 | 0.546 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ozzie Smith | 15 | 66 | 56 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 0.214 | 0.277 | 0.232 | 0.509 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Eckstein | 6 | 28 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.200 | 0.286 | 0.200 | 0.486 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Walker | 5 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.105 | 0.190 | 0.105 | 0.296 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Reggie Sanders | 7 | 24 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.095 | 0.208 | 0.095 | 0.304 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Did I mention that Ludwick’s defense is missed, too?
I watched the Cardinal feed replay for that last inning. A few different shots……….it wasn’t as bad as watching the Rockies feed……………………………. Winn collapsed here……….. funny game at this point. Like I said………..it will be a positive. Maybe this is what wakes the super hero’s up.
Balor is a superior hitting coach. I hope RC watches Gonzales’ hands and where they start his forward swing from.
One added thing………..Gonzales gets such great early extension……..look how far he can stand away from the plate….and still cover it………Its what Albert …Matt..Colby…aren’t doing.
Here is the bright side.
Our pen hasn’t been the problem. Sure our closer and our lefty specialists haven’t been quite the same since they signed contracts, but the pen should be adequate in a quaint sort of way. At least for the regular season. Our hitters showed some life, getting timely hits and scoring two out runs. Albert and Matt actually contributed to important rallies, driving in meaningful runs. That has been the problem, so there was a strong showing in the area where we had been weak.
Along those lines, it could be argued that last night’s game was more positive, looking forward, than was Wainy’s win the other day, where our boppers utterly failed to do anything at all to support his masterful performance, leaving it to him to get the big hit.
So basically, we had a meltdown in an area which will most likely not keep melting down, while the sleepy ineffective lineup, especially the middle, showed some sign of waking up.
That being said, Frankie really sucked. He should have been pulled except that Tony had burned up the pen for reasons other than going for the kill. Considering the team’s overall level of suckage, no game should ever be seen as a chance to get guys some work. Every game has to be the seventh game of the world series. The last month of last season doesn’t seem to have registered in Tonyland.
The other negative is that the offense’s manly performance was negatively reenforced by an agonizing defeat. Given the apparent shortage of resilience and character, they might very easily put the bats back down and pick up the dolls and tea cups again.
Had one get filtered.
Hurts to agree with Westie
, but I think this loss will turn into a positive for this team.
I am still stunned. I hate being a Debbie Downer, but this one was just scary. It ws train wreck. This loss will either be so demoralizing that it will set the stage for the rest of the season or it will cure whatever disease is afflicting the team. I hope it is the latter.
The reason that “this loss will turn into a positive for this team” is that we are finally at the point where there is nowhere to look but up. The most positive aspect of all is that our “rock bottom” happens to be only two games behind the Reds! While it is an indisputable fact that we are in the weakest of the National League’s three divisions, there is no reason that we could not henceforth develop into the strongest team in the National League. Assuming that our offense is now actually and finally showing signs of getting on track (and that may be a big assumption), the ONLY thing that we need is an intimidating closer. Since we don’t have the money to bring one in from elsewhere, may I suggest that Dave Duncan should work very closely with Mitchell Boggs towards that end?
Westy, you know as well as everyone else that we did not lose last night because of any lack of offensive power. While I certainly agree that there are the aspects of Gonzales that you pointed out which Albert, Matt and Colby would do well to emulate, I hasten to rivet attention to the reason that we lost: A weak-arm closer who cannot be counted on to routinely finesse his way out of jams (Reyes is simply no good beyond a single inning).
Joe Strauss: “It’s time to be concerned.”
He went on to say; “The team is literally not the sum of its parts when you consider its team ERA and team OPS. There’s no way to justify a team ranking sixth in OPS and 10th in runs scored. The Cardinals are below the league average in fielding percentage and lead the league in outs given away on the bases. There has to be a greater sense of urgency given that the Redbirds open the second half with consecutive four-game series against LA and PHA before going on the road to Chicago and New York. The Cincinnati Reds are not just a warm-and-cuddly first-half story. They’re going to hang around and likely put pressure on the locals in the putrid NL Central. Get used to it.”
Here is a load of BS:
“It’s just a brutal loss, is what it was,” La Russa said. “That loss wasn’t on Ryan Franklin. It was on everybody who wore the gray, including the manager.”
I like the way that the “Genuis” who ought to take responsibility so liberally spread the blame around; as though he were surrounded with guilty parties who equally shared the blame with him! The fact of the matter is that everyone did their part, except for Reyes, Franklin and LaRussa (and LaRussa himself must own the blame for Reyes and Franklin). Setting aside the fact that only an intimidating strong arm ought to be a closer, it was wrong for Tony to leave Franklin out there to suffer more humiliation than he deserved: After the first home run, I think that he should have sent Mitchell Boggs to stem the tide…
The loss was on Tony. Period.
In response to the Jeff Gordon article, “What’s A Manager To Do?”, a reader with the screen name of “drwillard” said;
I’ve pulled for TLR for the past 15 years in spite of all the criticism – but this loss was the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty obvious LaRussa is unable to motivate this team to play with any sort of intensity, focus, or drive. And that’s his most important – really his only – job. The players on this team are arguably the most talented in the NL; they have the skills and the experience to run away with the division! But TLR has shown he can’t lead this team to play with any consistency.
Tonight’s game will set the tone for the rest of the season in my opinion. We will see whether the team has the will and the drive to bounce back after this.
Tony is a stats and numbers guy. He makes decisions based upon hard copy that he can hold in his hand, or plunk down in front of Mo or BDW, or anyone else who questions his actions. Because of that, Tony lives in the past and makes reflective decisions, rather than in the present making predictive ones.
The Franklin he knows is the Franklin described on the stat sheets, the Franklin of the past. For the same reason, the Albert he knows is the Albert of the past. I want to make it clear that I do not think the Franklin or the Albert that we have now are bad, on the contrary, they are very good. But to use either of them in a way that is based upon what they were rather than upon what they are is a big mistake.
Tony is not going to ‘get past’ that because he is who he is. So we are not going to see a more realistic and forward thinking use of what we’ve got, but we can hope that enough guys get hot so it doesn’t matter. That’s the only hope, and the talent is there to pull it off. So I sit and wait in quiet desperation and I dread the day that the national media conversation turns from when will the Cards shake the Reds to when will the Reds shake the Cards. That will be the sign of the beast.
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way…
Quite
All nice thought BB, 57, Crd………..
Here is something to consider……………. Tony knows his team. He knows their emotional and technical weaknesses to a fault. What was Tony doing? The Rockies and Balor bash the ball. Tony knows this…………with a six run lead and Hawks predictable ceiling of 5 inning, (that was apparent in the third) he decided to acclimate his more skittish relievers to the altitude and environs of Mile high world (Coors field)…….. If you recall I said I was surprised to see Kmac in the 6th. It was either Kmac or Boggs…..for two innings…….. 2nd surprise Kmac for 1 inning……. what now seems apparent is that Tony was seeing who might be effective in game two and three. He used them all. The Reyes at bat was a poor judgment……. Franklin was up and Tony surely planned to give him some work with the big cushion………he tried to disguise that intention by have Reyes start the ninth………. that is kid gloving Ryan Franklin which he knows is necessary…………….. The rest is history…….in all fairness, Franklin struck out Inetta I think, but did not get the call. He also got Gonzales on that line drive that Winn mysteriously misplayed. So while being embarrassed, we still should have won that game
Here is whats interesting. Why no Boggs??? who in several situation would have been the right guy to pitch the 2 innings in that game????? The answer……… Tony thinks he may need a long man in this series…..other than the game at hand………… that is your tell….who is he fearing for????? Garcia…..or Carpenter????? .Soup is valueless against hitters in the Rockies lineup.
Miles was good against Francis as I suggested………. but in watching game film…..his reaction time to contact was as slow as participants in a tee ball tiny tots game……. I’ve never seen anything quit like it. Skip starts tonight. As does Jay.
A positive…….. the super stars remained virgins in this rape scene. They will likely both respond
to the girley boys being molested on an instinctual level more primitive than their on going “territorial explorations”…….that’s good.
A negative………surely Garcia is going to be feeling like a man surfing the great barrier reef with a bloody ham bone leashed behind his board. That can’t be good…………….Molina is very unstable right now……….I’m guessing All Star game jitters……..he just pissed away that 4th run last night………..he is struggling with his emotions…….. the frequency of his chain kissing is not a healthy sign…….. I’m guessing we have problems there……….. question is… are you going to see LaRue with Carpenter again? Or tonight?
A “Bernie Byte”:
Mitchell Boggs was in the bullpen, fresh and able. Boggs to me has been one of the more interesting (if quiet) success stories of the season. Since May 27, he’s pitched 15.1 innings and allowed only one earned run. He throws hard. He has one of the better strikeout rates on the pitching staff. He can get swings and misses .Boggs has been touted as a future closer by the Cardinals. So what gives?
Here are a few Joe Strauss comments in his Q & A article today. He can take notes and eat lunch at the same time, I’ll give him that.
Questions are being asked internally about team chemistry, I can assure you. The manager or the front office can play those questions off. But I guarantee you that questions are being asked of those in and out of uniform.
there are players who wonder if Albert fully realizes how much more of a positive vibe he could help create. It’s not just an Albert problem, though.
But this team has struck many with its flatliner approach.
As one team member conceded during the past homestand, “We don’t have fun. It’s different this year. Look at the Reds. They have fun playing the game. We miss that right now.”
this team’s persistent lack of executing fundamental play underscores the mentality of a team that isn’t having fun.
Westy, you are nothing short of FABULOUS! Damn! I really, really enjoy your take on things…
Since folks seem to like to see the lineups, I will try to remember to post them here when I do it on The Cardinal Nation message board.
From FOX Sports Midwest: Lopez 3B, Rasmus CF, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Jay RF, Molina C, Greene SS, Garcia P, Schumaker 2B
Garcia seems to rely more on a live arm than pinpoint control. The ball my not tail and dive and jump so much in Denver.
As I mentioned above, the perky hitting was more important than the pen meltdown, so I’m interested in finding out if it continues. Especially Matt and Albert contributing big blows when it matters.
If Tony is smart he will sit Greene, to let him know that flubbing a cut off is not acceptable. Otherwise, he’ll get the sickness.
Lineup: Lopez 3B, Rasmus CF, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Jay RF, Molina C, Greene SS, Garcia P, Schumaker 2B
I won’t be here for tomorrow’s game so you guys are on your own.
I see Brian beat me to it.
Watching the Colorado feed…..they show more Cardinal dugout shots than even the St Louis feed. Gauging by what I saw………Tony really wants Colby to succeed in the 2 slot so he cam bring back Ludwick at 5………… Will Colby adjust? Seems like a great place to be……….
Tony’s persistence in hitting the fastest guy right after the slowest guy illustrates the disdain which he has for any offensive possibility that chips away at the masterplan. He will use PHE because it plays into the plan, putting more guys in position to be driven in by Albert, backed by Matt. Having a speedy guy in a position to put that weapon to use serves no purpose in enhancing the masterplan, and is only a distraction. Any baserunning heroics are best left to Albert and his trusty sidekick.
Molina is 6th again…………….???? If we front run…..we have a chance……if Garcia is carrying a 2 run deficit, he doesn’t finish 6…………. and that’s a loser at this point. They will make him throw strikes so he better locate……………. this will be a test of character for Garcia……lets hope he is up to it.
Cook is a good location pitch………he will pitch at the Cardinals vulnerabilities…….unless they take advantage of that predictability……he will frustrate some…………Molina is a joke against this guy, a double play waiting to happen……… Tony is challenging him…………….. bad new, that gives you Carpenter and LaRue Thursday..
bb. regarding Greene and the cutoff, I don’t know the truth, but Horton said that it was Lopez’ job to tell Greene what to do. Did he yell cut? Did Greene not hear? No one knows.
Personally, I was far more concerned about Winn in right field. Miles also looked shaky. Greene made a nice play from deep in the hole late in the game…
I think you put too much importance on the lineup Westy. If Albert and Matt are 3/4 it doesn’t matter much how the rest goes. No telling who will show up. I do like seeing both Colby and Jay in there. One wonders if two left swinging outfielders could be an everyday thing some day. Seems unlikely to me.
If you get a chance, have a look at how the ball comes off Skip’s bat tonight. Something wrong there.
Brian: You’re right about the importance of that daily lineup… Before crdswmn came onboard, it was generally posted by the first guy to get it. If YOU can supply it on a daily basis, as much as your time will permit, we would greatly appreciate it.
Brian, the guy standing off (Lopez) tells the cutoff man if the throw will arrive in time and if not to cut it off so as to prevent another runner advancing. The stand off man has nothing at all to do with the cut off man’s duty of cutting off an off-line throw. The stand off man is not in a position to know if its off-line anyway, the cut-off man is, or should be. That throw was off-line and should be cut off regardless of what Lopez said or what Greene heard. Absolutely bogus excuse. No merit whatsoever.
Lefty shmefty… I believe Colby needs to be in the starting lineup every single day, regardless of the pitcher we are facing. Not only that, when (not if) Jon becomes an established position player, the same will apply to him. It would be wonderful, I think, “if two left swinging outfielders could be an everyday thing”. Tony needs to quit tinkering: Just put the right guys in the correct order. The only time we need for anything different is in the case of injuries or long-term substandard performance. Sometimes, all cylinders will be firing, but most of the time, only one or three…
“A day after the St. Louis Cardinals said that Adam Ottavino could be ready to appear in a relief during this series, the team has elected to place him on the disabled list instead.” PD
This script must be worn out by now.
Glad to see MacLane here. How will Tony use a lefty who is not a one batter lefty being used as something else?
I suppose in the same way that he used Trevor…
…but hopefully with better results
Well Brian, I guess you are lineup guy.
. I will post if you haven’t already done so, when I can,
My guess is Brian will forget crdswmn
As long as crdswmn doesn’t forget us
I will check and if it is not here I will post it. Like I said, tomorrow I am unavailable.
There is sure a lot Monday morning quarterbacking going on all over the internet. The consensus seems to be that the blame lies with Tony, Franklin, Winn or all of the above.
I hope the Reds get smacked down, even though I am not emotionally ready to recognize their opponent as a major league franchise.
Let us hope the Braves are no match for the ancient one tonight.
What better fashion is there for the Reds to get smacked-down, than by a team that doesn’t rise to the level of a major league franchise?
That is the ONLY time that I will root for the Phillies!
Came upon this bit of bad news for the Reds
“Aroldis Chapman has been wild in Triple-A and was recently moved to the bullpen”
SI.com
That really IS good news for us: Chapman is more frightening than Jason Motte!
How many times has Flip led-off with a hit at the very outset of a game?
Wow! That one was low, but not in… I’m proud of Colby!
Way to go, Albert??? That was one helluva way for us to get a run! Strange!
And the hits keep on a-comin!
An opposite field gem by Yadier (not to mention the inning’s first RBI)!
We need a big blast.
I was waitin’ for blingboy’s “Pshaw, harumpf!”
Were it not for Albert’s “DP RBI”, we’d still be batting!
Its not that it was a bad pitch………it was the first bad pitch…..he was way out in front “gold digging”. He will sulk in the dugout…….. Sacrifice fly at the least.
Jaime needs to keep it down a little better
As expected, his arm isn’t nearly as live in the thin air. Will be easier for them to center it.
Granted, that we’re a mile high at Coors, but aren’t pitchers still able to induce groundouts?
Westy, I liked the way the rest of the team just rolled on without him, even his littly buddy.
I’m not liking those fly balls… much too dangerous!
Man, he’s living dangerously
Who knows, blingboy? We just may begin to see a Cardinal at each end of the bat on their uniforms…
The Rockies color men are say the Colby is to shallow for the ball flights at altitude….lets watch.
That particular “three-up; three-down” went by in a disturbing blurr…
They are going to score some runs. We are going to need some runs…………… Garcia is a gamer, I like the kid.
A gamer to be sure, but he is uncharacteristically allowing for a lot of fly balls… When that happens, sooner or later, the chickens come home to roost.
Colby doesn’t want to pull a Wynn out there with his back to the wall.
I picked-up that phrase playin’ the dozens on the block…
So far Garcia is mowin em down.
Now lets see if Albert brought his boom stick
Nobody on, that’s your que Albert.
They ain’t offerin’ Colby any o’ that low and in stuff no mo…
Wow! That was another majestic groundout! Sure am glad nobody was on first…
Another DP grounder. The pitch before was right in his wheelhouse and he let it go by, then pulls the up and away pitch to the shortstop. Everybody has that pinned up on their clubhouse wall.
Come on now, nothing is supposed to happen after Albert goes down.
Matt did it, after protecting the plate and running-up the count! Attaboy! The Sun ain’t risin’ and settin’ on you-know-who no mo! We got a new world order a-comin’
Did we expect for Jon NOT to get a hit?
The masterplan is being shat upon by the proletariat. Release the hounds.
Hey! Albert’s li’l boy just followed suit…
One memorable phrase after another! Keep ‘em coming, blingboy!
39 pitches after 3 innings! If Jaime can stop the damned fly balls, he could go for the CG!
Does anybody else feel like we are going micro criticize everything tonight because of last night? I know I sure am gun shy.
Albert has got all his weight forward pre-swing. Just like last year when he was blaming the elbow…..all that’s left is the late slap to the middle………its like ground hog day. He doesn’t even seem to be involved in his own struggles……….just wants maybe a single to keep is average up for the negotiation. His problems aren’t that formidable…….but they involve changes. And then the jog up the line.
Contact pitching and numerous fly balls are the stuff of weak-armed pitchers. Hitherto, that has not be Jaime’s style. Normally, if he ain’t strikin’ ‘em out, he’s gettin’ ‘em to groundout…
Gun shy is right. Last night kinda started out like this
C’mon Flip! That’s not in the script!
whose criticizing???????? we are just describing their glaring inadequacies.
Jaime is not keeping them down!
From my perspective, we’re ridin’ their asses…. and deservedly so!
There went a fly ball that didn’t get caught! Stay tuned for more, boys! Fly ball pitchin’ never leads to anything good…
I am sweating every pitch
4 IP 2 H 0 R – It sure looks good on paper, but the pitch count is now going up and Jaime is getting away with murder. I sure hope the luck holds-up: He’s entitled to a good bad night.
Jamie is making pitches…………….4 innings 62 pitches……..maybe 7 innings… who is going to be first up………..
Well, at least it wasn’t a groundout. Unlike Colby (who drove-up the pitch count), however, Albert’s impatience got the best of him.
Smacking it a mile, my man is now 3 for 3! My, how small Albert is looking!
Well, speaking 3 for 3, we certainly know who Jon Jay is emulating (and it ain’t the sulker in the dugout)!
Holiday is feeding on AP now………….good………….Jay is taking a bite too.
If Albert just wants to watch, he should have bought a ticket.
Aye, ’tis a show fit for such royalty!
Keep pitchin’ those fly balls, mister, and the chickens’ll surely come home to roost…
Well, you wanted Garcia to keep the ball down. He has, but the results got worse instead of better.
If Jaime doesn’t allow for too much more bloodshed, I might make it through 6…
Ground balls with COMMAND is the Cardinal way, Carioca… I’m still hoping for a good bad night for Jaime: He’s entitled.
I should say low pitching with COMMAND
We’re going to need a bigger boat.
Another fly ball… another run. Jaime was taught to induce ground balls and that has always been his bread and butter. Tonight’s performance simply isn’t his style.
The tragedy in the ” everything’s is copacetic” universe………is that little “turrets” just gave us another inning from the bull pen.
Albert can either bear a hand or else Matt and Jon will haul the freight without him. The rising and falling of this team shall no longer depend upon him.
No! No, Tyler! You make up for errors on the field by hitting at the plate!
I’m not sure there is the critical mass to bring that off 57.
Roger that, blingboy
The ball just doen’t jump off Skip’s bat. It makes a dead sound. It looks as if the bat is momentarily knocked backwards by the ball.
Ain’t that the truth! Meanwhile, Flip’s average is now at .280…
That ball wasn’t even in his wheel house! I’m so proud of the kid!
By the way, Colby is now at .280 too!
“Oh, for…!” Four pitches were waist-high and right down the middle!
The pitcher WANTED Albert to smack it, for cryin’ out loud!
Challenges him with the fastball…………….. he has allot on his mind I guess……. he is alienated by a team that is playing around him……….
“By the way, Colby is now at .280 too!”
Amazing what some competition will do. Colby doesn’t even have to look over his shoulder, it’s right in his face hitting homers.
Tch! Tch!
The “Tch! Tch!” was in reference to the pitiful picture that Westy had painted (of a fallen hero, forsaken…)
Keep pitchin’ those fly balls, boy; and the chickens’ll keep on comin’ home to roost!
I could smell the stench of this in the second inning… damn it!
He’s at 102 pitches: It’s past time to yank him, Tony!
Lets take a quick poll…………who likes this situation right now? Kmac is unlikely to go far…
I am NEVER comfortable with McClellan…
…but we have to save our closer (Boggs) for later
He located well……….. does he get the 7th……….Tony has always babied him…….we will see Mott. If there is a lefty match up, /Trevor for a single batter. Will Bogg’s close?
Well, the Rockes just eliminated the DP threat…
Albert should be able to find happiness in a role that does not require him to win all the games all by himself, hitting all the big ones, stealing all the bases, making all the plays, all in living color, while the guys around him carry out their appointed tasks in black and white. I can’t think what he meant by ‘showing a commitment to winning’ unless he meant by burrying him in a pile of money.
When he slapped hands with Jay he looked like his dog just got ran over.
If Tony is anything near the Genius that some make him out to be, he will save Mitchell to close. I think that he will likely keep McClellan in the 7th and bring Jason in as a set-up man in the 8th…
No question about it…….they keep throwing him curves………………. as this place MH ..it also places AP…………… it has to be broken up.
4 for 4 and 2 homers! But who’s counting? (Albert! That’s who!)
Did Jon knock that one a mile or what?
Well, Yadier is sittin’ purty at .230…
He was yukking it up with Matt a little just now. Maybe he’s just frustrated with himself tonight.
I’ll always like the situation when we are up by 2 runs.
No! No, Tyler! You simply CAN’T make up for errors on the field by striking out twice at the plate! (Sigh!) Ya give ‘em books and ya send ‘em to school and they still don’t learn a damned thing!
Baby steps 57, baby steps. H’e done better than Albert.
He just needs to rejoin the team………. he is so isolated and used to taking advantage of a weak line up, he doesn’t even think to just contribute. I sit him down tomorrow…….bat him forth in Houston.
Ain’t THAT the truth!
A “Genius” the caliber of Tony would never go along with that, Westy!
Didn’t McClellan learn from Jaime; FLY BALLS DON’T WORK!
He only learned from Jaime that occasionally you can get away with murder, then he threw out the dice (along with a coupla prayers)
Whew!
Some nice speed changes by Kmac…….he did his job……….is he going with Motte/Franklin of will he try to get 2 innings from Boggs?
Maybe Tony is challenging Colby to ramp up to the next level as a CFer by having him play in at Jim Edmonds depth. I can’t believe Colby is just doing it on is own. Would be interesting to get RC’s take on it.
‘Twould be nice to get some help from Albert, but if need be, Matt, Jon, Colby and Flip can handle it (in the new world order)…
Regardless of what Tony would do, I’d bring in Jason to set-up for Mitchell…
Skip is makin’ a push for a respectable .270 by the break… Who knows! He just might make it back to .300 by September!
Flip is on a tear…
That’s all right, Colby. ‘Twas a productive out: Ya got Skip over to third…
“Oh, for…”! How many men has Albert left on base tonight?
First pitch..just pulled off of it……….. he has stranded what……10 runners. Tony came up along side Dave and hunched over the bar……Dave stopped his conversation and went right into a hushed conversation……….concerning Franklin I’d guess.
If Tony ain’t bringin’ Mitchell in for a couple, then he’s lookin’ at Jason to be tonight’s closer…
That was the plan………Its Mott for the 9th…….. Boggs made a good pitch there. Tony has decided something…….
Yeah… he got Barmes to groundout. Now he’s bringing in Trevor to face a guy who is .329 OBP against lefties…
Stewart’s OBP just increased. I tell you, Trevor ain’t been doin’ his job very good lately…
Now, the Brainiac is leaving Trevor in to face a guy who is .355 (.455 OBP) against southpaws!
Oh no…………it might be Franky in the 9th…………common boys get fired up. That last pitch was so good, he couldn’t swing……….another no call.
Fowler is .202 against righties (and .326 OBP). This is more like it: Let’s see how he fares against rock ‘em sock ‘em!
(Franky Boy!) You just uttered a curse word, Westy!
They brought him up from triple A……
I believe the military types would say BOHICA
I’d say Fowler fared well against Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em… damn! damn! DAMN!
This was not the time for Jason to have a bad outing! Oh, no, no, no!
MacLane just got here, maybe they haven’t issued him his bucket of gasoline yet.
Well, at least Prince Jaime will not get an “L”…
There’s a cracklin’ fire a’waitin, matey!
Its good to find out what you have……..
We are playing against a gutted-out team (minus their two chief stars; Helton and Tulo). The Rockies really ARE contenders!
When Jason is allowed by Yadier to throw ‘em high and hard, he does fine. It’s when Yadier orders the fancy slider stuff that the situation invariably goes awry…
Well, Albert made the last out, so somebody else gets to step out of the phone booth with a cape on. Maybe our big bat off the bench. . .
He used Boggs…………Franklin threw 28 yesterday……………now what?????
What is wrong with the bullpen?
They stink is whats wrong.
“A team is only as strong as it’s weakest link”. Tonight, weighing-in at 0 for 5, is…
Gee, I wonder who that would be?
C’est la vie… Shall there be a top o’ the tenth for us?
I’m depressed.
Mott had one pitch…….. he uses it better…….but he has one pitch………Tony’s premeditated use of Boggs has tied his hand………
Imagine MacLane holding ‘em down and being rewarded with a “W”!
That’s the point, Westy! The one-pitch hard throwin’ wonder can NEVER be more than a mere set-up man. Mitchell can be groomed for being a closer…
Not exactly a fireballer
Mitchell has several pitches in his tool box
That reminded me of tying the goat up for the Tranny in Jurassic Park.
Congratulations, MacLane! A .217 hitter took you deep and you’re earning a big “L” for your effort….
I’m glad I’m not watching tomorrow.
That’s analogy would be colorful and hilarious if it weren’t so damned accurate…
That game is over……………….how would you like to be Carpenter???????? All of the pre season weaknesses are exposed by a playoff caliber team…………..
I have little doubt that we will pick up a win tomorrow. Then, in Houston, we will take the series (but not sweep). We’ll go back home 3-3..
“Play-off caliber team” = A team what wins, despite being gutted-out
Insult was just added to injury…
I’ll be watching tomorrow, I’m cutting eye holes in a grocery sack as we speak.
BTW, the plate calls sucked again.
Oh, man is it getting nasty over at the Cardinals website.
The offense continues to perk up, very encouraging. Lets hope Albert is willing to contribute. Greene is not looking so good. He’s got until the break i’d say.
Lot of negative vibes all around the Nation. It will get worse with each game behind, up to 3 now. Tony not exactly jolly in postgame.
‘Twas a grievous insult to profound injury: I’m not surprised
The Reds fans coming over to gloat ain’t helping.
I’m glad that I avoid that site: It vexes me just to hear about what goes on there from time to time…
There is one Reds fan in particular over there who likes to bait people. He apparently thinks the season is over already.
I’m not watching post game. What is Tony’s excuse this time?
Ok. Well I guess I am all alone in here. Can’t say as I blame anybody.
A pitching dual at Coors field would be fun to watch, but I’m hoping our revived O can pummel Jimenez. Maybe Albert will cut loose.
Even if our offense continues to do it’s job and Chris enjoys anything resembling a quality start, the problem has been our relief pitching (or rather Tony’s selection and manipulation of our relief pitching). If Jimenez continues his pattern of falling apart, as he has during his last three starts, there won’t be a pitching dual at all: He’ll be chased after six innings. With the expectation that Chris will carry the day and the hope that Matt will continue his rampage against his former team, I am expecting a win today; regardless of how Albert decides to behave.
BERNIE MIKLASZ: “There’s a fascinating story developing in the Central, with the Reds holding a three-game lead after the latest Cardinals’ breakdown Wednesday night.
A new rivalry has taken shape, but with some unexpected twists. The Reds are a happy ballclub, enthusiastic and unified. The Cardinals are moody and erratic, raising questions about the clubhouse environment and general morale. Once upon a time, the Reds were dysfunctional. Now, it’s the Cardinals.”
read all about it:
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_b371c8da-104b-50da-9fab-2c61031440b2.html
PARADOX OR IRONY?
A reader with the screen name “Never_Again”, responded thusly to Bernie’s article:
Why should we have to go get someone to improve team chemistry? Why is Pujols not playing the role of the leader to bring the team together? He is the biggest star in baseball and a seasoned veteran by now. It doesn’t seem to me like this should be a team without on field leadership. Does he just not have the personality for that or does TLR throw up roadblocks to him being a leader. I just seems laughable that someone needs to brought in to play that role with AP already there.
I’m dreading this start for Chris Carpenter………………………… whats happening isn’t about him. I feel like he is really in danger in the present environment. Kmac is used……..Motte is used, Miller and Reyes are just ? marks………….. Maclane is “Moiresc”………..not so good here. Boggs is the only fresh arm………with Franklin in the building. Thus, CC will be trying to pull the wagon the distance. A dangerous task for a tiring vet.
Ask yourselves why it is that leaving a ball in the strike zone to their second string catcher is certain death……………… and our highest rated hitter is O’fer with ample opportunities? I’m not trying to dig on Pujols here. But in truth he has reverted back to the ” this is who I am” stance. It doesn’t work Albert……………both AP and YM are back to there “privileged jogs” when it appears they haven’t hit it hard enough………….Tony’s muteness testifies to his growing impotence. And whats hard about this, is that Houston is going to hand us a flaming bag of something, after the Rockies finish up……………………
.Has Holiday finally broken the “cleanup jinx”? Na………. he’s been hitting 3 and a half the whole series.
We need a rain out…………or heavy enough air that Chris’ slow curve has enough bite to avoid the “Yard”.
“Ask yourselves why it is that… our highest rated hitter is O’fer with ample opportunities?”
– Westy
The query is underscored with the FACT that the last four balls thrown to Albert in his last At Bat were waist-high and directly down the middle (the “bulls eye” and everyone’s “wheel house”)! By his damned “Oh, for…!”, was he trying to make a statement that the team cannot win without him, regardless of two home runs by Matt? If so, he would have fallen miserably short, were it not for that doomed goat awaiting the arrival of the Tranny…
Oh! Concerning “the last four balls thrown to Albert in his last At Bat… waist-high and directly down the middle” (one of which was falsely called a “ball” by the umpire); he let them all sail on by…
Correction! ‘Twas Albert’s third AB (his second-to-last) that those four strikes were thrown (and summarily neglected)…
Albert is a nice guy 57……….he is just caught up in something………..that happens to nice guys even. I wish him well. He must embrace change. He is to intent on hanging a plaque on the wall before he has finished his playing time………….. He is insistent and proving his point to those that have advised him differently.
If we ignore all that seems apparent………regardless on anyone’s interpretation, look how he is being pitched. The competition will heap on the praise and accolades about what a miracle player Albert is, at the same time they’re picking his pocket. It’s like your local poker parlor. Tony is forced through his own interests, to play it just like he is……………….. watching the Rockies
“transfer or conduct” the currents of enthusiasm between team members is what the game is about. A team game. The more the Cardinals started that process, the more sullen and detached AP became, in the end just a short circuit to all the fun. This isn’t rocket science. If Tony just gave AP the day off………Tony fears the obvious……team clicks, Albert receives the blame he is due………….just like the PH8th………..change now and the finger points at your trade mark “genius” strategy.