On Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 P.M. Central, I joined Rob Rains and B.J. Rains on The Sports Zone Show on Sports Radio 1380 AM in St. Louis. If you are outside the St. Louis area, you can catch the show’s live internet stream for free.
Our focus was on the Cardinals minor league system and specifically some of the top performers of the year as well top prospects heading to the Arizona Fall League, including Matt Adams, Ryan Jackson and Oscar Taveras, and potential 40-man roster changes.
In addition to their weekday show from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M CDT., also catch Rob’s writings at RobRains.com and B.J.’s daily beat coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals at FOXSportsMidwest.com.
Listen to audio: Brian Walton with Rob and B.J. Rains (14:07)
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Tuesday lineup:
Jay CF, Freese 3B, Pujols 1B, Berkman RF, Holliday LF, Molina C, Schumaker 2B, Punto SS, Westbrook P.
He is determined to give AP his best chances………..Berkman back at 4 makes it viable………. if Pujols doesn’t except the walks……if Jay doesn’t go OPO ………….could be a long day…….No matter how Molina is hitting……….we don’t do as well when he bats 6th……….
Jay and David will have 5 hits between them tonight.
We are lucky……….the Philly’s are undernourished………. they be feeding on some Indians………
We need to damage Houston……not just win………..that will panic the Braves tomorrow……. Pujols has to get into this……………its his money………
Yadi is leading the team in batting average. Yikes.
That is an unusual stat, but we do have the best combined BA in the NL, which is hopefully a good sign.
Pujols failed to make .300 and 100 rbis to tie the record for 11 consecutive seasons of 30 hrs, 100 rbis and .300 BA. He was awful close though. I wonder if he would have rather had a game today and another chance to reach the record rather than clinch last night?
I don’t know when this graph was last updated but here are a few stats:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/st.-louis-cardinals/stats/71610
Westbrooke is going to give it up unless we give him a save lead……….. All this guy does is pitch away…………and Pujols is helpless…….his left side has taken over again……….. we suck
Jay does the right thing…………….but Lee make the play…………….. 6/0 in Atlanta……….this is a joke and its on us………these guys are going to score 4 runs and Westbrook before he leaves…… another lack luster round by the big three and we are going to wear this thing……….
Who know right……………….TLR is powerless to make decision……..he is compromised………it should be Dickson……………Westbrook had the ball up the whole game……….he didn’t need to give up 5 for someone to figure it out………………
I sit the pouter and go on to win this game………… he will undermine them if he is allowed……he has went mental………….. AP is once again April Albert……
Can’t panic WC, The cards will win this thing tonight. Even steven after tonight. Bank on it.
Banks are closed………two runners in position and Freese brings the long swing with a guy throwing 96……………. smart
They finally make a mistake…………..Pujols has to stop looking like a fool……they are feeding on him…
Craig brings the big swing…………..Molina takes a shot for the glory………..Berkman just sits out there watching………………what team………………a single does everything for you……… I don’t see us winning this game……………….AP got exactly the same sequence……..except he hit the second pitch this time……………idiot……………
Tony just doesn’t get it with Scrabble……………..
Tony is an idiot………………
Send a report to the Vatican…………that was a damn miracle………..the fact that tony won’t use Dickson bothers me………….. no way that risk was acceptable………..
Where is local chapter of the Ryan Theriot fan club?
Sign me up………………….. I’m happy for him…………. we need players who are hungry……not ones that are over fed……………is Sanchez eligible for the post season????
I would have to think yes. He was on the DL from June to September. I would have thought a guy who comes off the DL in September would be eligible.
Not to worry about Cotton Dickson. TLR has him and Cleto saved up for tomorrow.
Garcia and Westbrook have not distinguished themselves in Houston.
Theriot may no longer be all that nifty at SS, but he is a determined hitter.
Scrappy!
Yes, Sanchez is eligible. (as is Lynn technically — if he is deemed healthy).
thanks……..
I have to figure Tony wants to save the arm for tomorrow……………. I think he’s a dope….but I said that I think…….lets him hit for 1 batter………………
It could be senility………….. I think Tony wants Dave there tomorrow because he is going to announce his retirement………..
Are you serious?
How about we give Cleto a shot in the bottom of the 8th?
Agree, if we don’t see Dickson or Cleto I’m going to be pissed.
I’m pissed – and more convinced than ever that Tony is losing it. I know this is about letting Dotel get his confidence back but I’d still rather have him fresh for the next two days.
Oh well, we will just have to let Tony be Tony.
Its not about Dotel’s confidence. Its about Tony not going with a lightly used rook, unless he has to.
He may use Motte in the 9th, though Tony should have learned not to do this.
In Tony’s mind, Sanchez has proven himself and is no longer a rookier. But Dickson is still unproven, so he may not get the call. Even though Brandon is 26 or more, and knows what he is doing.
Pujols just gave himself a chance to save the 300 tomorrow…………nice swing………..what a guy…. I hope Carpenter is hungry……………..
What a ride! This is what we needed. Not just a win but the bats to come alive. I like the 15 hits and not many runners wasted. All good signs.
Good thing we are up, is there a weaker hitting (power wise) infield than Theriot, Descalso and Punto?
A HUGE night for Skip, Theriot, and Punto!
Scrappy, scrappy, scrappy
Nick should be hitting 2# tomorrow……….. the Freese AP has been weak………… Phillies could perhaps do some grooming…….. they get Lohse on Saturday unless they help create a playoff…… they they get Jackson or Garcia…………
We saw some Punto power tonight. Its rarely seen.
Now Nick has cleared the walls, TLR can bat him second.
it wasn’t the Hr…………it was the timely hits and strike zone recognition……… thats exactly the medicine we needed for the Braves to sleep on…………… the real issue is the hard slider coming our way…..he needs someone to sac tomorrow ………….
AP has now oddly open up his stance 4 inches………even though he attempts to close it half way during the wind up………………… exactly as in the early season……. that AB means he will need to be smoking tomorrow……………….. or lose his string………… that chance was a gift………
The Cards are in a pretty good way. The Braves have been fading, out losing the Cards. Not as big a collapse as the Red Sox, of course. Hard to understand the collapse of the Sox, with their not having Dotel.
I would leave Westbrook off the playoff roster and go with Edwin Sanchez.
Jackson or Westbrooke will be the long man…………….. Motte….kmac….Dotel…..Salas….. Scrabble…you know he takes Methuselah………… 4 starters…..leaves 2 spots………..you know he loved that Sanchez frisbee slider and those strikeouts………… Boggs/Jackson???????
So the Cards aim to rack up a 90 win season, 10 up on last year’s division leader, the Reds.
Poor Colby Rasmus was hurt and did not do much with the Blue Jays, about 530 OPS. 3Bman Brett Lawrie, a Canadian, must be the toast of Toronto, racking up a .950 OPS, outshining Rasmus.
Its seems like WCtradomus said it would take 90 wins a couple weeks ago……….. lucky sucker……..
Lawrie is a beast. I love the way he plays. Colby is a beat down joker at present, trying to just make it. You only watch him play if you are looking for comedic relief.
Bad bad bad is all I can say.
I haven’t hopped in to save him this year like I have in years past. I feel sorry for him but life is about figuring things out. Unfortunately he can’t seem to do it. Pretty big pay day next year and then he gives it up is my prediction.
Not a surprising reaction from a young man who may have been groomed and pushed toward a direction his entire life, only to find out upon arrival that it wasn’t everything he hoped it would be. He has apparently learned that not all jobs are fun, even ones that are probably in the top one percent of pay and offer fame as well.
If he does walk away, my prediction is that later on, he will realize being a ballplayer wasn’t all that bad, after all. The question will then become how easy or difficult it would be for him to “start over.”
Of course, a parent (or anyone else, for that matter) telling him all of this would very likely accomplish nothing positive. As noted, he needs to live his own life. Best of luck to him in his decisions and here is hoping his family can support him, even if they disagree with his path chosen.
Words of Wisdom Brian.
Colby will be fine…………….. he will find what he needs…………. in time
Wc, does it appear that Kyle will be throwing if a playoff game is needed against the Braves? How about a little pressure packed action for you that day huh?
Both teams are heavily favored today……..can’t see that really………. the death has Atlanta…..and we have AP…………..looks pretty even to me…………..
Phillies have buried Hamel for the Blanton…………. they are grooming………..
RHR David Carpenter looked good against the Cards. We drafted him in the 11th round in 2006 as a catcher, moved him to relief after he could not hit enough. He was firing 94 to 96 for more than 2 innings. With luck, we will not see him tonight.
Jay, Punto, Pujols, Berkman, Craig, Freese, Molina, Schumaker, Chris Carpenter.
” Chris said that his father is nervous about being there ’cause he doesn’t want to jinx the club. ”
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/article_e4f5cc98-e9df-11e0-9052-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1ZHEygnmG
This is a very provocative statement ……………………….. seems to suggest what appears to be some tension around this unusual request for his presents ………………………….. A request that was likely made “several” days ago ……………….
Wednesday lineup: Jay-8, Craig-7, Pujols-3, Berkman-9, Freese-5, Molina-2, Schumaker-4, Punto-6, Carpenter-1.
The only purpose of shifting Craig to 3……….against a raging right handed breaking ball pitcher…….has to do with its effect on the 3 hole……………..Tony’s priorities???……………… with Craig’s habit for chasing of late…………..this threatens on a number of fronts…………….. Myers likely deals with Craig…if AP is a no show again………….. could be a killer………… the issue……it is at present a myth that teams go after 2 with AP following………..lets hope they don’t pitch around 2 to get at Albert…………. if he chokes, maybe Tony’s conflict is over…………… Punto or even skip is obviously a superior choice………..Myers has control issues…………they must be exploited………..this isn’t how………..
I’m telling you WC, The cards are gonna beat Myers brains in tonight. Anywhere from 7-10 runs is my guess. This Cards team can taste the blood in the water and they’re coming on like gangbusters. Just sayin..
The odds makers say it true……..the gamblers say its true…………Pujols had a tough time on Sunday…………does he want more……another chance……..
Phillies are way under valued tonight………. Cardinals seem to be way over valued tonight…….. there is just as good a chance that they both meet tomorrow as losers, not by winning their way in………
Jay and Craig might bust out ………. Berkman will ……………. if we crush…I’m happy…can’t see Albert being an igniter……thats why Craig is there …….
Just watched Colby’s game……they finished with a win on a Sox collapse ………….. All his problems are solvable……..the trick is working around his issues……….it will take more that a baseball man to do that……….. he needs a shaman ………. 5% of next year gets him into the all star game, or its free ………. I’d give that some thought………….
Funny I actually have been thinking about moving to Toronto next year and just for one year work with him like he says he needs on a weekly basis and get him off the snide. He thinks that he needs that. I just may not be able to wean him off of me.
It sounds ok to move to Toronto to help him work through it.
Colby has pull power, whereas Edmonds and Lou Brock were uncommon, hitting the ball better to LF than RF.
Multiple things can be true. Hitting to all fields would raise his average, so its not wrong for the Cards to encourage a young player to do this. But Colby’s heritage has been to pull for power, so this may be what he should do, to be himself.
The Cards needed pitching and could get by this year without Rasmus, so he got traded. This can just be business and logical, not a verdict or opinion about him. He still has strong promise as a hitter and should develop in the years ahead, as he applies himself to his craft.
But potential can be a very heavy burden to uphold in any context. So its good to just play within oneself and be comfortable being oneself, work hard, and things will turn out as they were meant to be.
It probably is not constructive if one were to believe TLR had something against Rasmus, (unless this kind of thought gives him some kind of edge for the future.) Its probably best to just focus on improving ones game, lest TLR become some kind of excuse.
Lots of hitters dip during their second or third seasons, to emerge much better in year 4 and beyond. Colby will probably follow this path, if he keeps his spirits up.
Good call RC………….
Well, if it wasn’t apparent before, the Cardinals are leaving no doubts as to how much they want to reach the playoffs with this first inning!
Cards have 9 hits, 1 for each guy. Not sure I’ve ever seen that before.
Pitch count 91.
Albert is the best .299 hitter in baseball.
I admit I am paying more attention to Atlanta right now. Phils tied the game in the top of the 9th.
The reasonable thing for the Phillies to do is to throw the game to the Braves.
1. The Phillies already beat the Braves twice, so have established dominance.
2. If the Braves win, the Cards and Braves have to play another game, which helps the Phils, who will face the winner.
The Phillies need to serve up a gopher ball, for their own good.
That is incorrect. The Phils would face Arizona if Atlanta is the wild card. They may prefer to play St. Louis.
P.S. I give Philly credit. They seemed to have been playing every game to win to the end.
Definitely give Charlie Manual and Phils some respect
Wooooohooooooooo! That was pleasant to watch. Carp still has it. Plus whole team effort. I like our “little guys”.
Skip, DD, Punto and Theriot all contributing
Glad to see Tony is being consistent. Getting the CG for Carpenter more important than having him fresh and rested for his next game.
… assuming his next game isn’t in March….
I wonder if TLR would had managed differently had Atlanta lost earlier. In keeping Carp in, he may have had last Thursday’s Mets comeback in the back of his mind.
2011 NL Wild Card Champs!
Unfortunately, today, with four do or die games, will end up being the most exciting day for baseball in the year. Of course, if the Cardinals can manage to stay hot, I can live with less exciting.
Just dropping into say, EFFING PLAYOFFS MAN!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m just getting in from the gajin world of classical music……………looks like it was a great night for baseball………. I have to catch up before I comment………..
High point for me was Jay’s first AB…………he elevated his hands and slapped the ball OPO……….thats a miracle………………………….. Lets hope Furcal doesn’t comeback before he’s ready……….likewise for Holiday…………… Punto should move over to second if Furcal does return………
Tony needs to figure out what to do with AP…………. he will play…….and should play……..but he needs to evaluated his plate approach…………the 299 is history…..its time to get back to his post broken wrist adjustments…………. BD is the luckiest man alive………he out positions AP/Lozano……..and gets to the playoffs to boot…………… what a guy………… paper said DD asked CCarp how he felt in the 7th……sounds like he was coaching………and not jinxing us………. who makes the playoff team.???………..
No, TB owners are the luckiest alive. Let Crawford and others walk, traded Garza, cut payroll to $41 million and still made the playoffs. Got 10 high draft picks to boot. Now that is lucky!
If it was about the money with Pujols BD would have been luckier not making the playoffs. Easier to sell not re-signing or low balling Pujols when you can point to the fact that even with him your team didn’t make the playoffs.
TB has some of the smartest folks running their team around. If Luhnow were to have complete control of the Cards you would have similar brains at the top. Its like having the risk management types running the show, they know their numbers, and are rarely, if ever wrong. Friedman is crazy high IQ smart.
Now the Rays had to have the Sox collapse just like the Cards needed to have the Braves fall apart to have a chance to make it. But you still had to win a bunch of games to put yourself in position to be there if the Sox or Braves did collapse.
CC, I would argue that with the Cardinals making the playoffs, that that in itself will guarantee more ticket sales next year………….if Albert is back.
And those two things combined will mean more money in the BD/partners bank accounts.
There is happiness all around these days CC.
Did you notice that Crawford did not make the final play for Boston? He couldn’t snare a sinking liner as Baltimore scored the winning run. Not five minutes later, his old teammates in Tampa claimed the wild card. Crazy night of baseball.
Agree that the Cardinals playoff appearance should help restore any shaken fan confidence and sell tickets for 2012. St. Louis attendance was down for the fourth year in a row in 2011.
Crazy good.
The Cards still had higher attendence this year than just a few years ago, as disclosed here, if you looked at the data.
The “declining attendence” saw seems like the massive number of double plays “problem.”
Cardinal Nation Blog. All negative, all the time.
What are you talking about? I said:
“St. Louis’ attendance was down for the fourth year in a row in 2011.”
If you are saying that is false, show us the numbers. If you agree it is true, then why are you trying to gloss over the facts? Get real. Some news is good and some is not.
Edit: Further, the Cardinals execs have said many times that they are more dependent on fan attendance in setting player payroll budgets than many other clubs. With the Pujols contract returning to the news, the lower attendance could play into their decision on how much to offer him.
That is worthy of noting, in my opinion. Since this is my blog, I have that right. As a guest here, you may decide to not read or comment.
Nice job Cards.Never give up.Never give up.What`s that sound? Sounds like some who left the party jumping back on board.Oh well the fair weathers are to be expwected.
I’m not a fair weather fan BW but I will go out on a limb and predict a Cards win over Philly in 6 games………and I’m a Philly fan of 37 years.
I actually spoke with Ruben tonight and told him I thought Charlie had misread his situation and had allowed the hottest team in baseball into the playoffs. His response………The Cards are beat down from this run at the end. They have nothing left. Interesting. I will speak with him again right after the Cards bump the Phils from the playoff race.
this has been one of THE best finished to the ML season in a long while. Man….to be a baseball fan last night was to be in heaven.
Colby arrived last night just in time to see the Braves lose, the Cardinals celebrate, and his buddies on the Rays make a breathtaking comeback to make the playoffs. Needless to say there was an odd combination of cheering, hollering, and gnashing of teeth at the Rasmus household last night.
Sit back and give the world a big ol smile BW.
RCW-you can say i am enjoying it.Big smile last night and today.
I’m not a fairweather fan either (a fairweather fan is one who only supports the team when they win, I supported them through 162 games, I just didn’t always like I what I saw). But this team defied the odds and bless them for doing it.
I am going to give you a Wild Card clinching present BW and say that I give at least 40% of the credit for this accomplishment to TLR. I’d give him 50% except I think the coaches and staff deserve at least 10%.
This is a fair assessment Crdswmn. BW is out today celebrating the cards wild card clinching win and the TLR September improvement plan working out like a dream.
Crdswmn-that`s fair.Now let`s keep the momentum going.Philly can be had.
You did a good job Bw.
Tug McGraw said you have to believe.
At this blog, its you need to give up.
If the Cards are not in first place the whole season, then its all a failure, according to some.
TLR teams finish poorly, according to some of the local geniuses. The data prove it. The future is alway governed by the past.
Except when it is not. Mo did not give up, because the odds were long, in the opinion of some.
Jumbo-keep the faith.Despite the negative slant on this blog it is still entertaining.Just remember that being the loudest doesn`t mean it right.
Anyone know what the game times are gonna be? Fox Sports Cardinals page suggests 12:00 noon on Sat and Sun and 1:00 on Tuesday/Wed. Doesn’t seem to make sense that MLB wouldn’t have an evening/primetime game or two
Expect an official announcement later today. With AL starting on Friday night, they may not want them to have to come right back on Saturday afternoon, but instead start NL then.
Any thoughts/predictions on who will pitch the series? I can imagine TLR would like to get carp in as soon as he can. Maybe next Tue or Wed? I think he would rather have Garcia pitching in STL, and CC in an away game.
Lohse on Sat, Jackson on Sunday? Garcia and Carp on Tue/Wed?
Rumor has it that theres trouble a brewing…….by the film I saw….. theres a possible celebration injury that changes many things……… maybe just an optical illusion……………but I doubt it……….
I got wind of something similar this morning. Shame.
Man you guys are cryptic. Inquiring minds want to know!?!?!?!?!
Can you at least say who? Or what was injured?
From your description WC my mind is concocting all sorts of crazy scenarios.
One time we were doing a celebration/rookie stunt after a rugby match where guys were throwing beer on each other and two mugs colided (and broke) and sent a heavy piece of glass hurtling onto a teammate’s scalp and sliced it open.
You would think that pro MLBers would know how to celebrate with caution.
I have scoured the net and can’t find anything. Whatintheworld are you guys talking about? It’s killin me!
Crdswmn- does this sound like I have an IIED claim against WC and RCW?
Probably not, but I am surprised at both WC and RC for their posts. That is pretty rotten.
Well I was informed that a player hurt himself while the guys were celebrating. But since this information came from Colby I didn’t feel that I should name names. It was nothing serious but it was enough of a something that it may alter how things were set up. Sorry I couldn’t be more illuminating.
Now Crdswmn, I will tell you privately if you want to know.
Fair enough RC. I can understand your hesitation/reasons. But WC said he saw a “film” that had the injury (or an optical illusion), I stayed up bottle feeding baby and folding laundry to watch almost the entire celebration on FX SPTs Midwest and saw nothing (I wasn’t carefully studying the tv however). So WC could at least throw us a bone. Just Sayin