About three weeks ago, I took a look at the betting lines to see what those putting their money down had to say about the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series chances in 2011.
As training camp opened, the Cardinals had slipped from an opening line of 14/1 to 20/1. Since then, of course, the Nick Punto groin surgery occurred, setting off panic among early bettors.
Ok, some might argue that actually helped matters, but in all seriousness, the club losing ace pitcher Adam Wainwright for the entire season was a tough blow to take. As a result, the Cardinals are now not only at 30/1, they are tied for third among National League Central Division clubs with Chicago.
Think about that.
| World Series Odds | Opening | Early Feb | Current |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 14/1 | 20/1 | 30/1 |
Milwaukee leads the way in the division at 15/1, but that does not yet take into account new ace Zack Greinke’s basketball-induced rib injuries announced on Tuesday. Dusty Baker’s Cincinnati club is at 25/1, according to betting site thespread.com. The Phillies sit on top at 2/1, though ongoing concerns over the knee of second baseman Chase Utley could erode that position.
Further, the over-under on St. Louis wins this season sits at just 83. As recent points of comparison, the Cardinals won 86 in their disappointing 2010 season after claiming 91 victories in 2009.
Perhaps going from the favorite to a decided underdog is just what manager Tony La Russa will call upon to motivate a Cardinals team that seemed to lack the requisite drive last year. The 2010 club suffered through a dismal 9-21 stretch from mid-August to mid-September that doomed their playoff hopes.
The surprising and resilient Reds took the NL Central crown with a five game cushion that would have been much greater had the Cardinals not finished with a 9-2 record during what was essentially garbage time.
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I’m sure he’ll use what he can and ride it as long as it still breaths. We had several question marks in heading into 2009, and to me at least, much more gaping holes in the offense than we do now. Yet, we stayed afloat and competitive with the Cubs through June behind stellar pitching from Carp, Waino, and Piniero. And somehow overcame an offense that featured Ankiel, Duncan, K. Greene and Joe Thurston surrounding Albert. Thankfully, Skip, BRyan and Yadi had outstanding years, and then MO went and got DeRosa and Holliday, etc, etc you know the rest. I find that season, especially the first part a success on TLR’s part. It doesn’t hurt that Albert was on a Grand Slam record pace the first 2 months of the year either
Based on the recent past, whatever magic is created seems to wear off by September.
yep, like I said, he’ll ride it till it breaths, but I still call 2009 a success. Too many unknowns and some big overachieving.
errr, stops breathing, lol
Now last year, expectations high, he didn’t deliver…with that cast of characters we should have succeeded.
I voted Cin, StL, Mil. The Brewers depth will be their downfall. People expect great things from Prince in his walk year, I’m on the fence.
Yea I voted Mil, Cin, Stl. I just don’t believe you lose a 20 game winner as a 2nd place team and do anything but lose ground.
Mil’s offense will win out in my mind but the top 2 spots could go either way….Mil-Cin or Cin-Mil. Either way STL appears to be capable of finishing 3rd at best and the cubbies may very well push them to 4th imo.
For the first time in 2 years, I’m actually excited about Lohse. I think his arm is finally sorted out. The team can overcome the 20 wins, but a TON of things have to go their way. I think eating innings will be the main one. Garcia, Lohse, KMac (5th starter?) will have to eat more innings this year. From there, well, a little offense helps.
I do think Kyle will improve and It does appear that he is healthy for the first time in a few years. I’d be worried about either Garcia or KMac having to eat a bunch of innings. I actually would expect Garcia to digress quite a bit from last years numbers and I’m not sold on KMac through the order more than once.
I share the worries about Garcia as well. Who do you like as the 5th starter? Lynn, Walters? They both have the starter innings as far as stamina goes. KMac hasn’t started since, Single A?
I like PJ actually but I played college ball with his dad so I may be biased. Lance is a good pitcher as well imo. I like both better than KMac. I believe KMac is good in his role and I’m not sure he can get anyone out the second time through the order. But here again, its just my opinion. TLR and Dave are far more qualified than am I to determine who is their best option.
But last year we were ‘playing’ like a second place team, but otherwise should have been first. Shot ourselves in the foot (esp. against sub .500 teams). Imagine if we could have lived up to potential. I am going to go into the season with a little more faith RC.
I just don’t think the team liked each other last year and they played like it. Also I don’t see much of an offensive upgrade this year and a Wainwright loss just spells disaster. I am pulling for the Cardinals to do well but don’t have a warm and fuzzy feeling. We all see things differently though Kansas, I’m a glass half empty kind of guy so thats how I look at most everything. Its not the most fun way to view life though I will give you that. You’re outlook probably keeps you smiling much more than mine.
Maybe my ignorance leaves me in a blissfull state
Or it could be the cold beverage as I sit back and watch the games…
Call me the anti Johnny Gomes and anti Brandon Phillips but I am sad for Grienke (although missing 3 starts isn’t as big a blow as missing 12-15 months) that kid has overcome a lot to get to where he is at now. I would have liked to see him in Cardinal red but last fall with the team dealing with the Pujols negotiations and two certified aces sitting at the top of the rotation (and a lack of prospects to send to KC in trade) I knew there was no way that was going to happen.
For Grienke even missing three starts could be a bigger blow than it would at first seem, bc without some time put in at ST, and getting used to a new club (and new league-having to master batting in the NL) it could be a set back to where Zach can’t get into a groove until mid summer. I hate to see any team go down because of injuries, but it just goes to show any team can be a few bad luck turns from becoming the underdog. If the Cards have a good run atop the division we won’t be underdogs for long, hopefully the team just won’t take anything for granted like they might have been doing last season.
Not a huge Gomes fan but I love Brandon Phillips as a player. He is one of the best 2 baggers in the business imo and I don’t mind that he speaks his mind either. Ty Cobb hated the other team…and actually some of his own teammates so there is no rule that states that every baseball player should love his opponent.
I hate that for Grienke. I expect the Brewers to be fun to watch this year and he will be a huge part of their success before it is all said and done so hopefully he will return quickly and be healthy.
I’m a glass half empty guy too so I voted Cin, Mil, St.L. I think that the Reds are for real and are the only team capable of running away with it. The Brewers look slightly stronger than the Cards but, frankly, I can also see them being the big disappointment of the division.
I’m very worried about our pitching (not to mention our defense) particularly with Jaime struggling early. If there’s any silver lining though to the Wainwright injury it’s that it happened early in ST so we can have plenty of time to rehearse the stand ins. Also Tony does seem to be at his best when he doesn’t get everything he wants and I’m glad to see we haven’t gone out and signed someone like Millwood. If the four remaining starters get it together I think we’ll find a fifth (someone like Lynn) who can make the rotation competitive.
I’ve watch the Brewers a bit this year………… Cincinnati too………….. all of your analogies to me are weak……………….. this is going to be “adult baseball”…….grown men fighting it out for 6 months………… bad blood…….it isn’t going to be about who we beat…… its going to be who you loose to……….just like last year……….. Brewers will score runs…..Reds will ride the dogs too…….
We are wimps……….. If AP is holding the banner…….who is going to rally around it ?????
Berkman wants him gone career wise……as does Rasmus……… the kids???? Tony brought in new blood, hoping to get a little testosterone flowing………… is it? Will it…… Houston, Pittsburgh, and the other lower division fops will fold to these teams…….. unless we get some kids wanting to take over the team, what chance do we have……. does Tony ever let anyone build momentum…………..?????? Hell no………. We need Matt Carpenter on this team….because Freese needs to stop dropping things on his F’ing toes…..he needs to be battling everyday for his position……same at second and short………. Jay will be hungry……… but if Tony doesn’t give Laird a say,……..if he runs AP out everyday….to martyr himself…..we are finished……. our rotation must have “big time” run support…….just to survive……….. unless there is a party going on..everyday…..what are the chances……….. truth be know, AP and Molina wear pink underwear when it comes to a fight. They just want a pecking order to make coming to work a little more palatable……….. we have chemistry problems, and when the season starts, if Berkman can’t wake up Holiday and the kids………. BD realizes the “business plan”……..
you lost me at “hello”
this thing ate my last rant…………..
Looking at the Braves line up…………you will find out something about Lohse shortly….
That was a miracle inning for Lohse………off speed is obviously working well.
Back from Carnival ready to talk Cardinal baseball (and keep Westie in line when the govt snoops don’t erase his rants from this blog through their super secret software!)
Carpenter’s only chance to make the roster is if Freese has to go on the DL. How quickly people forget that Descalso flat out won the 2B job last Spring as an NRI but we didn’t see him in STL until September despite the incumbent seriously stubbing his toe.
The Greene as backup RH hitting CF is probably going to keep Hamilton from making the team. Otherwise, I think Tony would go with Hamilton and just one MI until Punto came back.
Tex, I think we will get to find out a lot about Greene this year. You obviously haven’t seen him much to think he is terrible defensively. And he will never hit for a high average so if you stayed focused on his BA, you’ll never be a fan.
The problem with ST is that pitchers only get 1or 2 starts where they get stretched out. That may prevent us from seeing whether McClellen really has a problem the second time through the order as RC suggests. In any case, it’s his job to lose and I don’t think he’ll lose it in the Spring.
Tyler’s career MLB FPCT at SS… .953, at 2B…. .951 and at 3B… .923. Ergo “Hands of Stone’. If he had been charged errors for all the DP’s he flubbed last year that weren’t scored that way because of the old ‘can’t assume a DP’ rules for offical scoring, his FPCT at SS would be even lower.
I understand he’s done better at 3A, but so far at least, he’s not been able to translate that to the bigs. He’s got great wheels, a little pop, but pretty poor plate discipline and is shaky on defense.
We will find out what he’s made of this year… I hope he succeeds, because I’m a Cards fan and I want all our guys to do well… but I have my doubts about him.
Hamilton can only play 1B. He is lousy as a corner OF, makes Craig or Chris Duncan look like speed merchants. Hamilton is just fine at Memphis.
Descalso could not play 2B because there was an incumbent. In contrast, there is a gap at 3B. Matt Carpenter makes the roster.
Assuming 12 pitchers, there are 4 bench guys besides Laird. Craig and Jay are two of them. If Carpenter is one, then who fills that last spot? And who, besides that guy can handle a middle infield spot?
Got to have a back up SS and 2B, so default goes to Tyler, if your scenario plays out of Craig, Jay, Laird, Carpenter. Cards normally carry 2 middle infielders on the bench, no? I could be wrong, but that’s why I see Descalso over Carpenter. And when Punto returns you’ll see Descalso demoted.
There is a possibility that they will trade Craig for a relief pitcher………..admitting that Berkman ought to be able to spell AP which they’ve been avoiding….. They also have Shu to play outfield and Green can play second. Only if KMac becomes a starter of course………..
Mcarp might cool off. Lets see what they do if that happens. SD is looking utility. They could hawk Punto before he even plays………. a tough variable…….. a slow start is no start at all…. Tony knows it………..with Freese so important, without a hot backup…….we’re going to loose if he has any setbacks………how not?
There is little chance Craig will be traded for a relief pitcher. We have a lot of relief pitchers already. A Craig/Jay platoon will be needed if ancient Berkman falls apart.
Carpenter may have moved ahead of Craig and Greene, in competition for 3B.
Maybe they can acquire Blake Hawksworth?
Seriously, why would they trade a useful bat for a reliever? Right-handed relief is arguably the strongest position in the system at Triple-A and Double-A. Even more so when you throw all the Triple-A starters into the long relief competition. That is how Boggs broke in, for example.
In that scenario, you almost have to add Stavinoha back onto the 40-man roster to be the reserve RHH OF. I don’t see this sequence of events happening.
I do agree with you that Carpenter may cool off. Far too early to get excited about that possibility.
I agree about the two middle infield reserves. On the other hand, I do not think Tony likes either Craig or Greene at third 40 or 50 games.
Given Tony’s need to use his bench, and to have the flexibility to do it, the best answer seems to be two middle infielders and Carrpenter. That makes Skip doing double duty as the 5th outfielder, and no spot for either Craig or Jay.
The two big drawbacks are Carpenter should play more than 1/3 time at this point, and with his inexperience at higher levels, how will he adjust when the big league opposition figures out how to get him out.
What we need is a utility guy that can handle third well, cover middle infield and hopefully hold his own at the plate. Exactly like we thought Flip was this time last year. Deja vu all over again.
Good analysis, bb. We’re only 1/3 of the way through games and while Carpenter has been hot, he could turn ice cold tomorrow.
The name everyone is writing off is Ramon Vazquez. He hasn’t been mentioned once in something like 100 posts on this page, but could easily be asked to fill in until Punto is ready. He has the defensive versatility that Carpenter does not. Granted, Vazquez has been cold with the bat, but could turn hot tomorrow.
It is only March 10.
Ramon who? Just kidding. Except for 2008 he’s been an automatic out his whole career. Now he’s 34 coming off a .230 year. But it does seem like something that could happen. The drawback to Vazquez is what do you do with him after Punto comes back?
Try to send him down or let him go.
Just ask yourself, “What would TLR do?”
Does his contract become guaranteed if he makes the team?
TLR would prefer the wheezing relic.
I don’t know what type of contract he has, and those who believe that is how the Cardinals make decisions will have already made up their minds. Whatever. Carpenter is new and shiny and if that gives people hope, they can go with it.
Whether his contract becomes guaranteed or not I couldn’t tell you but I have yet to see a minor league FA that signed one that didnt. He would have to pass through waivers if activated and then sent down to the minors and could refuse assignment (normally players who refuse assignment get paid for the full year).
Vasquez hasn’t been very good (offensively) but he has done something right over the years as he has 7+ years service time over 9 major league seasons.
Laird, Craig, Jay, Matt Carpenter, Tyler Greene can be the 5 reserves.
Descalso offers the benefit of ability to field two positions. And he is already on the 40 man. Carpenter may be a better defender at 3B and has been a good minor league and spring training hitter for average. One of the these two could make the team, given the absence of Punto.
And both Carpenter and Freese can only play 3B – they aren’t keeping both. Keeping Carpenter would shine light on another misdiagnosed injury scenario with Freese – another reason it won’t happen out of ST.
Misdiagnosed?
I agree CC, there is absolutely no chance of Carpenter making this club out of spring training. Zero.
Man on third……….Pujols strikes out again…………trying to do something for himself anyway…….. ground ball? Sac fly? Doing his own thing…steal a headline……….I’m not watching, to see his swing…but I’d bet ya…………
Lohse survived…..that was very “professional” appearance on his part……the Dave visit was a tell to his concerns…… but the 2base error highlights a difficult reality……. Pujols is O’fer…..but at least got a ground ball….Tony didn’t take him out in 6th………???? Tony managing an “attitude”. This team would be better without AP…….period. He is the chemistry buster.
A nobel gas WC, doesn’t mix with anything.
On the subject of today’s poll, Ken Rosenthal asks some very interesting questions about the 2011 Brewers. I especially liked the comps to the 2010 Mariners, a team the media were slobbering all over this time last year.
Rosenthal could just as well be talking about a lot of teams, including the Cards. No 6th starter ready to step in. Offensive punch at the cost of questionable defense. Lack of offense at the bottom of the order. I do hope they lose 101 though.
For years, I have seen the Cubs add what look on paper to be great guys and many times, they don’t mesh into a good team. That is how I feel about the 2011 Brewers until proven otherwise. Same as I felt about the 2010 Mariners despite the saber boys preparing ticker tape for Jack Z’s parade in Seattle before a single game was played.
The cubbies new manager is not an old school codger. This years cub team may very well surprise with Q as the manager. There is talent there for sure.
I hope Salazar is OK, haven’t heard an update.
I haven’t voted because I don’t know who will finish 2nd and 3rd and don’t care. Eat our dust losers.
Losing Wainy is huge, but for most of last season starting pitching was a strength. Carp should be the same, Lohse and Westbrook should be better, and Jaime hopefully becomes a legit front of rotation guy. Our weaknesses were lack of clutch hitting, lack of OBP at the top, and ultimatly lack of staying power. Clubhouse/chemistry issues have been addressed. I am hopefull about the top of the order. Holiday should not suck with RISP for half the year. Berkman is clutch. The horrible and wreched Brendan and Marty are gone. I’m in at 30/1 for sure.
Did anyone else have a Juan Encarnacion flashback when Salazar got hit in the face by that foul ball? The story that I read says that they are looking at his “orbital” area. Deja vu.
Yes, sadly.
This from the Atlanta Journal site
He has multiple facial fractures and possible damage to his left eye, but doctors have ruled out brain damage
Freese seems in it. On balance. Going to all fields. The first rumblings about Colby have started. If Freese stays in it, thats going to allow Tony to possibly move Holiday or Berkman underneath AP.
He won’t do it to Freese, but having him hit 5th with Colby 6th likely appeals to him. That might bring in Pitcher hits 8th again. Gordon’s mysteriously timed article comes from the inside.
I know that the pitcher match up in yesterdays game, lefty to face Colby in front of Albert appeals to Tony…………have to believe Berkman might get the same reaction.
Coach getting hit sucks……..what a change up to create that odd scenario.
Tony wants to have Colby hit second this year I think. It will take more than poor ABs by Colby, it will take Skip getting hot to knock Colby to 6 or 7. Unless you think Tony will move Berkman up to 2. No way.
Also, some time back I had argued for Freese hitting second. I can’t remember if I stuck with than or waffled, but the idea didn’t get any traction.
I would not be surprised to see it sometime this year if Freese proves to be athletic enough.
The #2 is not expected (or allowed) to steal bases after all, and lower in the order he’d always have to be hauling for second to break up Yadi’s GIDPs.
Freese will also be driving in a lot of runs hitting #6.
RC will agree with you about #2, though…
We have to keep in mind Tony’s ability to think up countless lineups.
Logic may suggest or qualify what you both are saying. ………. but this is alchemy…………. Newton was obsessed with it. He kept his new field of calculus to himself for 10 yrs………because there was no one he could even talk to about it. But alchemy… the need/desire to change the real world, not just describe it, dominated his existence.
Tony’s chemistry problem…….
Tony will have to make adjustments……. Pujols will likely not be moved to 4th…. my solution……
In order to effect how AP is pitched, becomes paramount. Yesterday he was leading off a few times……… Holiday and Berkman both responded…….. Albert fell into a role. Day before, nothing. Today, he sucked trying to respond to people out playing him……….Braves pitchers took advantage of his aggressiveness………except for the late inning hopefuls… wanna bees…
The weak link is AP, if he is dragging ass, because he becomes an easy tactical target…..3rd place………..or worse………. to free him up, we must make it very expensive to walk him, at the same time making him self conscious enough not to get baited into being “the Cards only hope”. With Berkman in front……every double becomes a walk setting up Holiday and Freese. Every single, with Skip/Theriot getting on becomes a dangerous RBI scenario………..etc,etc;
Some of these guys are already feeding on Alberts struggles……..thats good……. Colby will play himself out of the gold……he thinks hitting 7th will offer lots of free swings for his power numbers……………. he’s going to end up sitting if he isn’t careful.
WC, you need to stop trying to save Colby….if he plays himself out of the gold it is on him. Don’t stress over it. If he sits, he sits.
I have dealt with it every year. Colby’s desire to please causes him to alter his hitting approach rather than continue to keep his approach and work on going the other way…..which is all I ever do when I work with him. If he lets the ball get deep he swings at fewer bad pitches(because he sees them longer), and hits for more power, all the while hitting more balls the other way.
My son Cory, who is in Orlando with the Braves called me yesterday after the first at bat and said Colby’s head actually ends up back toward the catcher from where he starts. That means his back side is collapsing which causes him to basically uppercut and foul tip pitches he should be mashing(ML pitchers don’t give you multiple pitches to hit per at bat so you can’t afford to miss). I mentioned that very thing a week or so ago while I was in Jupiter. My exact words were you’ll be ok for a little bit but it won’t be long before you’ll be missing those pitches if your head doesn’t at least return to where you started.
Colby has only a few keys that keep him hitting. I’ll take it step by step to allow WC to critique every movement.
Head position…..Leg kick position……hand position…..and body lean.
1. Head position…………..During a lot of players loads their head moves back to start but always moves back to the starting position or maybe even a little forward of the starting position. See Carlos Gonzalez video. His swing mechanics are similar to Colby’s. When Colby is good the head does move back during his load but returns to its original position or real close to its original position once his swing begins. The leg kick does effect the head position as well and I’ll address that in a moment.
Problems that occur from the head not being in a good position. Head not getting back to the starting point causes a lot of foul tips on pitches down the heart of the plate. Swing turns into an uppercut which causes the bat to not be in the hitting zone very long. Tough to make consistent contact when this is happening. I’ll address the head moving forward when I get to the leg kick.
Colby’s way of dealing with this foul tipping pitches is to start his swing earlier….which is bad bad bad. This causes Colby to be susceptible to breaking balls out of the zone.
2. Leg kick position……….I’ll use Cargo again. When Cargo takes his knee back it at least reaches his sac, which is slang for the place where both legs join the body. Anybody that has watched Colby has noticed the pics of him with his leg high but never reaching his sac. This is not a problem on balls down the middle or in but prevents Colby from hitting anything away.
If the knee doesn’t reach the sac then Colby’s head will move forward which gives him no chance at hitting anything away. He can still handle pitches down the middle or in but away kills him when his head moves forward. And you noticed that pitchers would start working him away and he just couldn’t do anything with it.
Our solution is during BP having someone on the side watching him and making him aware of the knee on every pitch. I would throw BP on the outside edge and off the outside edge and when the knee would get back to the sac he would punish those balls the other way. When the knee was not back to the sac he would fould tip those pitches.
Colby would argue with me that he could get that kind of BP outside of mine and his hitting together.
3. Hand position…………………Getting a good load is obviously key to delivering a blow with the bat to the ball. Colby has gotten into trouble over the years when he doesn’t get his hands into a powerful position which cause his hips to fly open early and he gets beat both in and out in this case.
You see a good load closes the hips off and prevents you from flying open early which causes a long loopy swing.
Now Colby’s biggest problem in my estimation is that his load corresponds to his leg kick. In other words his knee comes back together with his hands. This is a no no. I refer to Cargo again as he is perfect in his mechanics for a leg kick swing. When Cargo begins his leg kick his hands don’t move back any. When his leg moves forward his hands load-trigger-drop into a powerful hitting position, whichever terminology you prefer. In other words as his leg goes forward his hands go back forming a rubber band like tension which gives the hitter power to all fields.
Colby takes both the hands and the leg back together which cause him to have no pop to the opposite field and also cause his hands to leak forward which prevents him to hittng the outside pitch……..which is his biggest problem..we’ll all agree.
4. Body Lean…………………….This is the last area that I watch when I see Colby missing pitches. If he is too straight up he cannot hit the outside pitch. So it is imperative that he have a little lean over the plate verses his body being straight up and down.
When I hit with him the entire body of our work together consists of having someone watch his leg kick to make sure his knee reaches his sac. Then we watch for his head to get back to its starting point after his load. I throw balls away and have him work on letting the ball get deep and I have him try to hit nothing but ground balls between short and third. We never work on pulling the ball or anything other than what I just listed. His weakness is letting the ball travel so thats all we work on.
Take it away WC. This is what you do when in the midst of a forever lasting tornado drill.
I know that you weren’t addressing the rest of us, but interesting stuff nonetheless, RC!
Yes it was interesting but I have one question. Why does Colby want to please TLR when TLR won’t give a rat’s behind? If I were Colby I would just give TLR the ole third finger salute in my head and hit the way I do the best. If TLR doesn’t like it then TLR can get Colby traded, which he wants to do anyway, and get one or two or three of his oldie but not goodie models.
I know I am going to hear that TLR is the manager and knows what is best, but you know what I think of that.
Colby has always been that way. He’s not confrontational at all and it shocked me that he and TLR had words last year. Colby is the kind that will draw up in a shell, not lash out. I’m sure Colby understands that TLR is a well respected manager and I’m sure he would like for TLR to think he is at least trying to do what TLR wants. He has never told me that but I feel thats what he is thinking.
Last year Colby felt the team wanted him to increase his OBP….he did. But a result of trying to work the count was the increase in K’s. So everybody came down on him for the increase in K’s so you can bet that he will make the adjustment and cut the K’s down. But that will also kill those walks because now he will not work the count. He will be swinging early and often to prevent the K’s. So you’ll get less K’s but also the OBP will take a nosedive. Thats just my take, again he hasn’t told me that but he is a person of extremes so thats my prediction.
He’s one that you have to temper what you say to him because he will go to the nth degree to do what you want.
But it is early and he has cut down on the K rate to this point and has tried to hit less balls in the air so we will just have to wait and see how it all works itself out. So to this point he has 0 BB’s, 5 K’s, and 0 HR’s.
Sounds like damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Typical TLR. If you aren’t one of his pets you’re doomed.
Well, let the 2011 season march on. Should be interesting and full of stuff for me to gripe about. Can’t let HB and BW down.
Crdswmn-The same usual tired rant.
BW you never disappoint.
I love this blog. 
BW’s an oak.
RC, I know you find this hard. But this is the truth. I know exactly what your saying.
I’m going to take a little time to respond, as I would like to think about that for awhile.
“Part of the fun of the day,” La Russa said, grinning. “I’m not going to look if he went two-for-four. Just look at it if the at-bats are the same. Does he look different? If he does, I’d understand. If he doesn’t, it’s like, ‘Oh.’ It shows you more about him.”
This is Tony on Mcarp………..now you see how he is evaluating Colby’s pitch selection/appetites. He thinks he can read his thoughts by his body language………….and he probably can……. this will be the foundation of my ” toilet paper” on hitting.
I love Freese at 2 or Berkman at 2. Either would be excellent in my uneducated opinion. My guess is you’ll see Skip and Theriot at 1-2 quite a few times during the year.
Freese will also be a good hitter at 6.
By the way, Brian, the Punto panic line was choice. Got a hoot out of it.
We have all noticed how desperatly Mo has scrambled to line up a replacemant. Westy was right on this one, Punto was just a way to excuse not spending any money to back up Freese.
Here is a little tip: when you think Westy is right about something, its time to take a good look in the mirror, big boy.
HerkimerShrimp………….What have you done with Herko? You knew the season would come, and the pain would start. Give it up. Just read ….
Herkimer -good job.You have already figured out Westy`s nonsense and BS.
A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous.
In exposure therapy, also known as systematic desensitization, you are exposed in a safe and controlled way to the object or situation you fear. The most commonly used exposure therapy involves gradual encounters with the fear-producing object, first in the imagination and then in reality.
BB-in commom sense its just realizing BS for what it is.
Words of wisdom BW. The beggar at your door might not really be a beggar.
The Birds are going to claim their 11th world crown in 2011.
Things are looking sweet.
Lohse, Westbrook, and Carp will be strong. If someone falters, up comes Lynn.
The mess at 3B will be fixed by a platoon of Freese and Matt Carpenter.
The Cards WS odds at thespread.com have dropped further to 35/1 from 30/1, good for 3rd in the division. The Brewers and Reds have flip flopped again, with the Reds now favorites at 16/1 and Brewers 20/1. The Cubs have dropped back to 50/1.