Let’s face it.
New St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman will always be first and foremost a Houston Astro. He doesn’t have enough years remaining in his body to perform the quantity of feats on the baseball field to overcome his countless successes achieved during his dozen seasons leading the Houston nine.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t trying to beat the team that showed him the door last summer and refused to take him back over the winter.
The 35-year-old homered for the third straight game in the Cardinals’ just-completed series at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, as the visitors took two of three. Berkman has five homers in his last four games at his old home this season and has gone deep in four of the last six games. The switch-hitter already has 15 homers in 2011, compared to 14 in all of 2010.
He could earn the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award solely based on his performance in Houston. Berkman is hitting .480 with five home runs and 12 RBI in his six games in his old stomping grounds this season.
Houston Chronicle beat writer Richard Justice interviewed Berkman, in a must-read piece. Berkman, in his typical manner, did not pull any punches about what has gone wrong with the Astros.
When asked about the Cardinals, the outfielder said this.
“Absolutely, a winning culture, no doubt about it.”
He acknowledged the Astros had it, too, in the mid-2000s, but let it get away.
Houston’s loss is clearly St. Louis’ gain.
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Any idea what he was asking from Houston? If the new owner takes some of his suggestions, won’t that get him the 2 or three year deal………and won’t he take it?
If I was La Russa………… I put Berkman at 1st, AP at third………… everyday. If AP wants to be a legend, let him hold it down……….. thats enough offense from the infield that allows for the needed moves in the outfield. Descalso at second along with Theriot……Punto and Green at short. Make the outfield a competition with player performing to earn time………… Enough of these attempts at at sacrificing defense to get players on the field out of their position……………….
So we may be in a bidding war for two of our big hitters? Interesting theory, I suppose it would depend on how how things play out and whether Berkman wants to end his career in Houston or end it with a ‘winning’ team and those choices depend on how a lot plays out for both teams. Sounds like a hectic offseason regardless. Anybody have any conspiracy theories that Big Mac is sabatoging AP to lower his contract price? jk
Berkmann will have to wait and see how the Pujols situation comes out IMO.How can the Cards afford AP,Berkman,Wainwright,Molina and Carpenter.
Cards only losing T.Miller 2 million,Franklin 2,5 million,Tallet 1 million, Punto .8 million,Laird 1.1 million,Batista ? total around 8 million
Berkman is making 8 million,Casrpenter has a 15 million option and AP making 16 million and Wainwight has a 9 million option(his 2012 and 2013 have to be picked at the same time).
Schumaker 2.7 this year and arb eligible.
Theriot 3.3 and arb eligible
Where`s the money going to come from?
BW, I didn’t see it in your comment, but factor in Yadi’s Option, also.
1. Theriot SS
2. Jay LF
3. Pujols 1B
4. Berkman RF
5. Rasmus CF
6. Molina C
7. Greene 2B
8. Descalso 3B
9. Lohse RHP
Tony is featuring Colby………………… thats the game then……if Colby produces, we score the 5 runs, if not…………they score the 5 runs………… I would expect Lohse’s pitch count to reflect the strength of the hitters………….. they will what to wait him out……..he will want them to commit early………one way or another, defense is going to be tested …………. Theriot has popped out 50 times trying to hit that Hr………….. lets hope he’s over it……………
Hopefully Theroit keeps swinging for that HR as he is hitting better than last year or I expected this year.
That AB by AP is why he is a chump……………2 balls down……..and he offers at ball 3 to engage the pitcher……….. he is like some sort of egotistical Carney trying to lure a mistake………… and that is exactly why he is out………… he is the sucker………because they were pitching around him
One of the greatest hitters in Cardinal history is revealed as a mere chump by our in-house expert!
Thank you Jumbo…………..its really nothing………..is it possible that Tony’s game ending statement was maybe an answer? Lets see if there are comments.
Bad count for a steal attempt………nailed……….one for the defense.
Molina gos up trying to get a hit……..and gets one……..Greene takes his cut three and one for the money………..not a base hit………the big fly……….and then just excepts the walk…….Oops’…….. this guy is a chump……..if you’re not greed……..you get 15 hits in five innings………
Lohse is staying with the plan…………. breaking stuff looks crisp…….holding the change up for the second time around……………. he must have run support because he is likely going to give up a few with this tactic.
Colby just stood there on Counsel’s hit off the wall in right center. Let Jay chase it down all the way into center field. What a slug. He’s got an option left, use it.
I couldn’t see him in the play…………………..
Here’s the problem……………. Lohse is working too slow……………Molina is waiting for signals from the dugout……………WTF…………..someone is working number 5,000………………………. grooving the pitcher on number 1 is stupid…………
FSM had a good shot of it. Showed Colby in the foreground standing there flatfooted, not having moved. In the background the ball goes off the wall in right center, just over Jays head. The ball comes off the wall toward center and Colby decides to move, but Jay is still in hot pursuit and fields it in center field. Meanwhile Counsel goes all the way to third.
There were some unflattering comments made by the booth guys.
Absolute disgrace. Little league.
Carp didn’t want him in CF last start, and won’t tomorrow, tired legs or no tired legs.
I am not defending Colby, because he looked pathetic on that play. But I don’t think Carp has much basis to complain about Colby or anybody else considering how many hits he has given up this year. I have always liked Carp, but if he is dictating who plays behind him then he has gotten too big for his britches.
Any player who plays all in every minute he’s on the field is absolutely entitled to not want to tolerate slackers and daydreamers. Meaning no disrespect, but I think you missed the boat on this crd.
I’m not knocking Carp’s hustle or commitment. I am saying he has a tendency to take it too far. His temper is sometimes a liability rather than an asset. No one is above being criticized and I think at times Carp gets a little above himself. That is my opinion and I am sticking to it.
He did go overboard last year with the tunnel thing. I’m not sure it can be generalized as the sort of thing he tends to do. I had thought it was an anomaly, out of character. And I’m just theorizing that he didn’t want Colby out there, but wouldn’t blame him a bit.
I am disappointed in Colby’s defensive play too. If I was his mother I would box his ears. (No offense to Mrs. Rasmus intended).
I’m disappaointed in Theriot’s defensive play, but nobody questions his effort. He’s a ballplayer, just not a very good shortstop. With Colby, I’m disappointed in his lack of effort and professionalism. I’m sure he’s never caught flatfooted when they’re handing out paychecks, just when the work needs to be done. I would guess its too late for ear boxing.
I didn’t actually see the play live last night but just watched it after reading Bling’s post. I’ll have to go back and watch it on FMW as I watched the Brewers feed and there was no mention of anything by their guys.
I’ll tell you how I saw it. It looks like the OF was shaded the other way for Counsell. The ball appeared to be hit directly over Jon’s head just slightly left of Right field. The ball was not in the gap by any stretch. It hit that part of the fence that was angled toward CF and kicked that way. The view that I saw had a camera in left field pointed across. When the ball hit the wall it looked like Colby was standing still watching the play. Not sure why one would be busting it toward right field on a ball to straight away RF, which is just about where the ball was hit.
Truth be known that was gonna be a triple all day after Jay went for the ball. He appeared to have no shot at catching it and probably should have played it off the wall. If he does that he may hold Craig to a double. But even still the way it hit off that jutted out piece it still may have been a triple. But I’ll say If Jon keeps up with things he is better going all out for the ball and letting it be a triple vs playing it off the wall and it being a double. Smart hustle play by him.
Now probably the only thing that should have happened was that Colby could have been on a slow jog that way for appearance purposes but I doubt that there was much of a thought that he would ever have to make a play of a ball hit to straight away right. I’m certain that today he realizes that a ball hit there has the potential for kicking toward CF and from now on would be looking for that to possibly happen. You learn from failure and this particular case is a case of learning how the ball kicks and in which direction is kicks on balls that hit the wall. My guess is the next time that happens he would be expecting that ball to possibly kick his way.
Its one of those things that probably looks worse than it actually was but the way Colby has been perceived to be playing,…..real lazy like….then its something to pick up on. Again, Colby’s fault but in the grand scheme of things probably not a big deal.
The next batter walked that would have put men on first and second….then the Narveson sac would have put guys on second and third with one out. Next guy, weeks, hits a high chopper to second base that would have scored one run if Counsell had been held to a double. Funny the second run of the inning scored on a short fly ball to left to Berkman. The Brewers announcers made the comment that Lance gave up on that run from the time it was hit….they went on to say that it was the brewers catcher who was running. Making the inference that he wasn’t real fast and that Lance may have had a chance to make a play on him.
So, if we’re hypothetically saying that Colby could have held Counsell to a double had he been running that way then I can agree on that play may have cost a run. But we can go on and on. Man if Yadi had anticipated that back door slide on the Narveson sac then he stops that run from scoring. If Lance would have made an attempt to throw the slow runner out at home on a medium depth fly ball he could have got the cards out of the inning. Or if Jon Jay had played the ball off the wall verses making a jumping effort when he wasn’t even close to catching the ball………we could go on and on. Did it look bad? I’d say yes. Was it the play that cost the cards the game? No, not at all.
Did the play reach the levels of disgrace? Probably not.
The bad thing about watching on TV is you have to rely on the camera angle and the comments of the broadcasters. It probably did look worse than it was. And Al Hrabosky apparently has replaced Lohse with Colby as his whipping boy. I am not nearly as hard on Colby as some have been, but at times his play at CF has seemed lethargic. We would have lost the game regardless of the Counsell triple because Milwaukee was teeing off on our pitchers and our hitters couldn’t hit Narveson. Okay, so that game is history, everyone needs to do better tonight.
No doubt it looked bad, but thats all…..looked. If the ball doesn’t kick that way nobody mentions it. Just one of those things. And like I said earlier, Colby has had instances where you wonder about his level of hustle, and this type of play provides fodder for the pundits. And Al has been one of Colby’s biggest critics so thats par for the course.
It wasn’t the one play that did the cardinals in or any of that. And I’ll be the first to agree with the lethargic play comment. Like I said, on the Milwaukee broadcast they didn’t mention Colby one time but mentioned Lance’s failure to set up behind the ball on the Nyjer pop up and they mentioned his failure to even make an attempt on the catcher who was trying to score on the fly out.
People see what they want to see many times. The cardinals guys focused in on Colby, and the Brewers guys saw Lance as being a bit nonchalant. Eyes of the beholder.
Your comments on the play have reached the eyes of Cards fans on Twitter, via NBC Hardball Talk apparently. On cue, they are all outraged that you would defend your son, since it is verboten in some parts of Cardinal Nation to question their superior expertise.
You caused a stir RC, whether planned or not.
Thanks for making my day. 
Excuse me, it was your comments the other day on Colby needing to be traded that got all the attention, not the play last night.
Nevertheless, it is still amusing to me. Good job RC.
Ha Ha. If I recall correctly I was making the statement that Colby probably needed a fresh start, ala Jim Edmonds move from Anaheim to St. Louis, in order to clear the slate and begin anew. And that many fans would never accept him completely because he has basically grown up in front of them. In other words he is not Jim Edmonds today and that his mistakes are glaring and may never be completely forgotten. He’s struggled of late so there has to be someone in his ear trying to get him to ask for a trade……funny stuff. Correct me if I’m wrong Crdswmn but I believe I stated that he was happier this year than any before.
heck I can’t even find the thread where we were talking about it.
Ok I found the article, he is writing about where I mentioned all of the good young players that are coming through the system, and that I didn’t see any way Albert would leave the Cardinals because of the good players that are going to be around him. I didn’t mention Colby and then mentioned he may need a new start and that I didn’t foresee him being in St. Louis through Alberts next contract.
The writer of the NBC article presumes to know a lot of stuff that he obviously doesn’t. He takes a lot of shots in the dark but fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you view the situation, he is wrong on every one of his guesstimates.
Well, if nothing else you are giving the blog some national attention which can only be good.
If only Brian collected a dollar every time someone clicked on the site.
Really? I’ve not really defended the way that play looked just its significance in the grand scheme of things. Bling had me thinking it was a ball in the gap and that Colby just stood there and let Jay make the play. Upon watching it that wasn’t the case. And I just gave opinion on the play. Not a real defense, just another view.
Having reviewed the video several times, and comparing the location on the wall to where the homer was hit later, I have to admit being mistaken as to the location. As RC says, it was less into right center than I had thought based on the FSM camera angle.
Still no excuse for not getting over there to back up on a shot to the wall, but not the total disgrace I thought.
It is a good example of what happens when you have given people good reason to expect the worst. Colby has done that with his play in CF.
I regret exagerating the situation. It wasn’t intentional.
I did not and have not seen the play.
Defending it as not realizing the ball could possibly bounce that way misses the bigger point. I was a terrible player and I always would run to where the ball was hit when playing the outfield because there is always the chance that the other player could fall down or even boot the ball towards you. It is basic fundamentals taught from an early age and I would be surprised if RC didn’t insist the same out of his HS players.
Of course he fact that I was a terrible player is exactly why I had to hustle – is Co;by’s skill the reason he doesn’t?
I don’t disagree with anything you wrote CC. But lets look tonight on a ball hit to straight away center if either the left fielder or right fielder run like hell to get to center in case the ball caroms their way. I doubt you will see it.
Baseball tonight on ESPN picked up Colby’s failure to budge to back up Jay. Used the FSM video.
Watching Jay’s big swings…….watching Colby trying to appease no one particular………
Point is this…………this guy is a known quantity……….there are no surprises……we are being out played………
Lohse has picked a bad night to suck. I’d like to slap Colby ala Cher in Moonstruck.
He is working too slow………. this is pure focus……..no emotion……….if we don’t get him runs now…he isn’t going to last long
He is putting in Skip defensively next inning
That’s a sad state of affairs.
They are watching Lohse now who is going to deep counts……….. they gave him a 5 minute cigarette break there ………..solid team tactic………… where is Dave?
Now Lohse is emotional……….chump……….AP laughing it up at first with Prince……….. hate to see this time of mental approach………..
I”ll tell you what happened………….. Molina gives the sign……Weeks turn around immediately and head back to the bag followed by Braun stepping out………. the got the sign…..and Molina didn’t even go through the signals again……….. we’re like boy scouts…………
Here it is right here………………..
You gotta like Prince Fielder……….. he just sticks that elbow out with 2 strikes because he’s in a game to win………….. The Lohse slow down by Molina and the bench was a tactical abortion…….. hope they learned something………
Wonder if he will trash Frankie here with another inning…….may as well…..if he leaks twice….he has to go.
Colby went Marine……….well I’ll be……………… RC…….he is going through all your pre swing affirmations…………………. If you’re not talking baseball……..he sure seems to be attempting to keep your attention…………..
He hit some balls hard tonight. He’s trying to figure some things out. He probably needs a 4 or 5 hour batting cage appointment. We are going to St. Louis next home stand so maybe we can sneak around and get some cage time in.
Good to see Frankling toiling away during a blow out.
If we have to get thrashed, its nice to Narveson doing well. He went through years in the wilderness and has persevered to make into a ML rotation. Perseverence can be rewarded. Good for Chris.
Milwaukee is tough at home. Its good for the Cards to take stock against the Brewers. This will show us where improvements will be needed.
Narveson is a good pitcher, and the Brewers are gonna be in this thing for the long haul with this pitching staff.
Narveson was a 2nd round choice of the Cards circa 2001. He pitched brilliantly, so was over-pitched, and suffered arm woes. He became “too old” and unglitzy. The Brewers have enabled Narveson’s advancement to the Majors, as they did with their 3Bman, rescued from the Cubs.
Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t Narveson’s problems throwing strikes? He has always had great stuff.
Not a good showing by the Cardinals tonight. The bats are going to have to step it up to have any hope against Greinke or Marcum.
Nice of Tony to give Hamilton a little good bye AB……….. keeping AP off the sidearm rookie………bet he was happy.
My summation……………………. Pujols gets one roll over single, and is yucking it up with PF at first…..
He has mounted the dog and is enjoying life again………….. that sucks………… Chris Carpenter can’t beat a team thats willing to play small ball……….and they have the speed to do it……… we we need to follow suit and beat them at it………….. the smart money in Vegas leaked toward the Brewers all day long. They will call tomorrow game for you……..just check it and save your evening for family. Tony slowed this game down so he could be in it…………… he can join the other chump on my list.
Let’s see if Carp draws the Theriot, Green, Rasmus, defense up the middle.
Come on WC, Albert has been struggling this year when comparing his numbers for the first 10 years of his career. Can you blame the guy for realizing that he is fixing to bust out? And letting go of a few smiles. He is a happier fellow today than he was a month ago. He will carry the Cardinals these next few months so I say let him smile a little bit.
Just a bad day all around for the cardinals. Lohse wasn’t his usual sharp self and Narveson was really good today. Its just baseball. Today the Brewers were the better team. Tomorrow may be different. Carp is a bulldog, you will admit that yourself, and he is due a big game where he absolutely shuts down the other team. Today is the day. Let some positive vibes enter your personal space WC.
Oommmmmmmmm…………………………………………………….. to much rest……..and here comes another five days………….. Tony/Dave error-ed………that game was coming from the book……to Tony…….the relationship between fastball and change up second guessed…….trying to avoid “the mistake”………
Any team that plays to win shreds Narveson……….watch any of his losses……….. this was a MM “knock out” punch approach……….it sucked…………….. Berkman isn’t 100% for that throw……he did the right thing……… based on the assumption that we would be scoring………………
Get that damn bat off his shoulder………look at the films……he rakes when he can adjust his swing plane on the read……………….. this is the bigs…….. they signed Casey for a reason………evolve….. you’re part of the business plan…………
Tony criticized him for “tilting”………. I know he’s trying cover the top of the zone that way…….but it doesn’t work…………..
What you say is all correct. I don’t like the swing but it has done what was intended…..lessened the K’s. He has tried to punch the ball it seems to me and with that he has lost all of his power. It is what it is.
So Lynn is optioned back to AAA and Boggs is coming back? Does that mean Mac is off the DL or will Boggs be the next xtarter in that spot? I missed the game so don’t know if they already discussed this.
Hamilton will be sent down, KMac starts in Washington on Tuesday.
I think the plan is for McClellan to pitch next time the #5 spot comes up, Wednesday. But Dunc will make final decision after he throws a bullpen session this weekend.
FSMW said on air last night that he would pitch on Tuesday. Of course that can change.
My opinion is Wednesday and I’m sticking to it.
Okay. Makes me no difference.
Pitching is of course important. For this reason, teams generally go after the best arms high in the draft. In 2011, the Cards did not invest in a pitcher during the first 4 rounds. This is unusual. The most recent time this happenned was 2002, an aberration year, since we lacked picks in rounds 1 and 2. Perhaps the only other time this has happenned was 1981, the year the Birds popped SS Bobby Meacham in round 1.
During the Luhnow years, the Cards have consistently invested in pitchers at early rounds, like Chris Perez of the Indians, Mortensen now with the Rockies, and Shelby Miller. One interpretation might be that we think we have some pitchers in the minors and need more position players. Another interpretation could be that we have Garcia, McClellan, and Lohse, all high schoolers drafted at rounds in the 20s. LHP Nick Additon has the lowest ERA among starters at Memphis and was drafted in the 40s. So maybe we think we can raise some low round pitchers and need to invest high picks in more dynamic athletes for positions.
It appears to me Jumbo that Jeff really went for the athletic guy this year in the draft. I don’t think anyone can argue that the minor league system has really contributed to the Big League club this year. My goodness with all of the injuries and it seems like the team hasn’t missed a beat. It seems in years past that this wasn’t the case.
I think we can sit here today and kind of see what the plan was to get the farm system back to an entity that could sustain the Big club when an injury or 5 occurred. Draft the good, solid college players first in order to provide a much quicker fix for a depleted farm system. I think Jeff did just that over these past 5 years and many criticized the picks saying that they were not the high upside guys that this team or that team were taking. I don’t believe there could be too many people who could sit here and honestly say that the Cardinals aren’t really solid in the large majority of the many positions. Maybe the only one is LH pitching. And what did they do this year but take quite a few LH pitchers.
And now that the system is stocked up with players at most positions its time to go after some more athletic types, which they did this year.
Line is trending towards a favored Milwaukee team……….as expected………….
Lets talk turkey here…………… Berkman will be hitting left handed………that helps……with no bat behind him, whats he going to see……………….AP is reestablishing himself once again as a chump…….I don’t know Grenke from the man in the moon……but I sense he is attracted to compromising scenarios…… will he make a mistake and pitch AP inner third……….? Probably not……….with Colby flapping and Jay back to the big swing, where you going to score…….. this is not Molina’s cup of tea because he will pitch him inside and bait him to get the ground ball…….Greinke has good stuff.
Feilder and Braun will hit the breaking pitch………..Hart’s reach is also a problem for Carpenter…….they will be waiting him out, like they did Lohse……Weeks can surprise… You may see Sanchez or Boggs by the 6th…………
Carpenter is going to be stewing over the attitude of AP……… that makes his aggression a liability in my opinion, where I would normal value it very highly…………… Some of the pitching rational I’ve been witnessing tells me that should the Cardinals swoon (expected) Carpenter may well be gone before the dead line………for a number of reason I don’t feel like discussing………….again……..
I like him, and actually think at his age, a change of scenery to a needy contender might bring the joy back for him…….(nice salary bail and a prospect to boot)………………keep in mind, he could grind 6 scoreless tonight…..and still loose………the team doesn’t rally to his needs anymore………. AP, Theriot, Berkman, all in contract years, seem a little absorbed of late………….
Lohse’s pace last night wasn’t “the usual”……… Tony trying to make defensive calls with all the base runners……… and trying to call pitches within the 5000 game Tony/Dave celebration……noticeable bogged things down……….. seemed ill advised………..
Milwaukee is the healthier team WC, that has to give them an edge in the betting line. Carp will need to be sharp today against Grienke. I’m predicting a 6-5 Cardinals win. Go ahead and place your bets.
Tallet has elevated his ERA to Ryan Franklin territory, not a good place to be. Tallet could be on shaky ground, because he stunk last season for the Blue Jays, whereas Franklin has at least pitched well for the Cards in the past. There is a lefty reliever at Memphis, Valdes, who could serve to replace Tallet.
If the Cards were to lose the series to the Brewers, they might consider making a roster adjustment.
Jumbo, it appears that both of the Cardinals situational lefty’s are struggling a little bit. And Tallet was not real good against RH hitters last year so there is no reason to expect him to be good against them this year.
Tallet gave up a ridiculous number of dingers last year. We gambled on seeing if he could improve during 2011. He has 3 in 10 innings so far this year, not good. Tallet is going to need to lift his game.
This is true and Trevor is also struggling. You know the minors better than me…….do the cardinals have any kind of lefty help that is close to being able to help the big club?
What about Raul Valdez? Any hope there?
Thats my point, you would think that if the Cardinals had anything that was left handed that was capable of getting anyone out we would have seen it in St. Louis.
The Cards do not release guys willy nilly. But if Valdes keeps doing a good job in a relief role, he could get a try out.
I believe you are 100% correct Jumbo. The way they Cardinals handled Ryan Franklin really stressed out a large majority of the fan base it seems but Franklin, at the end of the day was still on the Big club, not sent down to the minors or released. And Ryan appears to me to have made improvements and will most likely be back in the saddle before all is said and done.
TLR is going to stand up for guys to help them get through a bad spell. Yet Franklin will still need to become a useful contributor, in some role or other.
By the way RC I am now following your son Casey on Twitter. He sounds very excited to be playing for Batavia.
A lot of times catchers get shifted to another position just about right off the bat. That would generate some discussion.
Case was an infielder but he is as good a catch and throw guy as you will find. That is a strength of his. He has worked real hard on his hitting and it has come on this past year. He was really doing well until he sprained his ankle badly. He tailed off after the injury but still played down the stretch with a limp. Bling would love him as he will play regardless of his health.
Kirk Gibson, 88 WS game 1. DL is for sissies.
Sounds like a good ballplayer, RC. Give him a pair of stirrups and a chaw and we may have something.
Hopefully, Colby will go on a tear and have me eating my words. I’d like nothing better.
Bling, he’s more of the scrappy Cardinals type player. He’s had to work hard for everything he has accomplished.
He’s a good boy. He was excited about his getting drafted and subsequent influx of twitter followers. He is our resident computer guru. Case has an ongoing competition with his girlfriend of 6 years about who can get the most twitter followers.
. Ryan Theriot (R) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) RF
3. Albert Pujols (R) 1B
4. Lance Berkman (S) LF
5. Colby Rasmus (L) CF
6. Yadier Molina (R) C
7. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
8. Daniel Descalso (L) 3B
9. Chris Carpenter (R) P
Thats a loser…………… 6 / 2 Brewers……………
Albert with a Double WC.
I love the Brewers uni’s by the way. This may be one of my favorite uni’s of all time for any team.
Not my favorite color.
Good looking start for Carp. Looks like he is locating really well which is a good sign.
Good first inning for Carp. I hope it is an omen.
WOW, this umpire is not calling the ball down the cock at the knees or 4 inches above but is calling the chest high strike tonight. I’m not sure that is a positive for Carp.
The umpiring this year has been dreadful.
Pujols beats the scouts…………… he should do that all day long………. Carp is engaging……go get them big fella…………….
Carp goes to the ump and complains……good luck with that……….
Prince has lost a bunch of weight it seems. He really looks good. I thought last year at times he looked fat and slobby looking. Carp gave in there goes a bomb.
If your watching the Brewers feed……they said nothing…………but you could see Carp in a very animated discussion with the ump who is squeezing him………..
Shocked Jon didn’t make that catch.
Watch that swing………..they showed it from above and the side………he push back and dropped his hands……….and he rips………the sooner he gets it back, the more time he has to evaluate the vertical move on the read………… all his recent success has been just that move……….
WOW!! Really nice grab right there.
Glad we scored a run against Greinke. They are going to be difficult to come by with Greinke. We need to run his pitch count up and get to the bullpen.
Thank god for padded fences…………. I hope that catch sparks us……….Carpenter deserves some support…………. Pujols has had to realistic AB’s……………he is earning himself a payoff pitch if he is vigilant.
Braun has really improved via the eye test as an outfielder.
I think if Theriot went to the plate thinking single…….he doesn’t let that stuff get by…..poor AB……what was he looking for?…………..its a mystery…………..
You notice that Colby didn’t take a single step until Jay crashed headfirst into the wall. Then he took a couple steps until he saw Jay had the ball and was OK. FSM had a good shot of it. If Jay had needed backup, Colby was nowhere around.
Very similar to last night. Obviously nobody said anything to him, not that they should at this point. Didn’t learn anything from it. Pathetic. But don’t stand between him and the pay window, might get trampled.
I think that Colby has been a very good Center Fielder except for his throws to the plate. He was positioned right on that hit! He was just doing what any center fielder would do in that spot. Waiting to see what happened. I have played center field and I feel most of the comments on here about Colby have come from people that have no clue.
I’m not sure I’m following you Bird. On a long drive to the wall in straightaway RF with the right fielder racing back, the CFers job is to bust ass over there to back up. There is no question about that. That’s not to say they all do, but they should. Its part of the job, they get paid to do it.
It is much the same as catchers busting down the line just about step by step with the baserunner on a routine grounder. Many hardly bother, but the winners are there every time. Just in case.
He has to make his read from at least “glide speed” LB……….he was just watching….he needs to be following contact and ball flight………… he looks thin to me………is he sick RC………..low energy?
Jay is a ballplayer. Playing for a job when Matt comes back. Playing for a payday down the road. Probably doesn’t have bonus money in the bank.
Love the downward action of Berkmans swing……………. if Colby develops the bat head a bit sooner…taking it a little deeper…..he should be hitting that Hr………. I know you probably think so BB………
My dog is hiding under the couch, WC.
61………5………..looking solid
Lets see if Carp can hold the lead.
Nope.
bad location…………..ouch……..
Carp is his only problem! Not Colby! He just is getting older!
Carp can’t get the call on either corner. Can’t just put it right down broadway.
Who coming in????????????
Well maybe if Carp hadn’t been jawing at the umpire. This is what I was talking about.
He got squeezed CRD……..he knows all the umps………..he’s a big boy. He isn’t apt to get a retaliation I don’t think.
All I know is after that I saw Greinke getting all kinds of pitches Carp wasn’t getting.
Tony was greedy there……….I like Hamilton, but he is easily manipulated………..Theriot, looking for the big fly……………. tactically suicidal…………
Where did everyone go?
Watch us get swept tomorrow.
Newsflash……the Brewers are pretty good. Without Holliday the Brewers are just the better team. Better hitting….better pitching. This race should be a good one that goes down to the wire between the Brewers and the Cardinals. Good game tonight by both teams …Greinke was just better than Carp. No one for Carp to blame tonight but himself so Carp should be able to handle this loss a little better.
The Brewers are good with everybody healthy. The Cards are good with the chinese fire drill full of AAA guys. I like our chances over 162.
Well, when you hand your ace a lead, you are supposed to win. We have had two disappointing starts. Maybe Jake will shut them down.
We just couldn’t get a crooked number rally going against Greinke like they did vs Carp.
So has it been confirmed that Craig is going on the DL?
Will be exciting to see Brown.
It was closer tonight. We could not afford to let Franklin or Tallet into the game.
The Brew Crew has a great record at home. Greinke is a great pitcher, when his head is screwed on. A tough day at the office to go up against Greinke in Milwaukee.
Both McClellan and Holliday come off the DL during the Nats series so two guys will go down. It seems it will be between Hamilton, Brown and MCarpenter. If Brown comes in with a hot bat he could stay. I don’t suppose he plays any 2B?
It seems reasonable to think we could see Raul Valdes at some point before too long. A spot on the 40 man would have to be created. And Cleto has bounced back well in Springfield after getting mangulated having his cup of coffee in the bigs. I liked his live arm, and the hitters sure didn’t look too comfortable standing in. Maybe we’ll see him again later on.
Meanwhile Matt Adams, one of my favorites is hurt, again. I hope he’s not one of those guys who can’t stay healthy. It seems like he’s been out of the lineup quite a bit since he was drafted. With all the callups and shuffling around in the upper levels, now’s not the time.
Solid summary, bb.
Brown fits right in because he plays all four corners though is not a plus defender.
Sounds like Craig. ;/
We still have to bring Augenstein off the 60 man DL taking up a 40 man roster spot. We can buy time temporarily by moving Freese to the 60 day DL but then when he comes back he will needa 40 man roster spot.
Anderson
Samuel
Reifer
Kopp
Augenstein
all seem vulnerable either this year or over the Winter.
What’s all this about MLB wanting the Astros to move to the AL? I’m for sending the Brewers back. After today’s action would be a good time.
I think moving any team to the AL is a bad idea. Leave well enough alone.