Getting Back into the Swing of Things

08/05/2012

Brewers 0 Cardinals 3

Dear Redbirds,

I'm back from my week-long excursion! Arrived in Cardinal country late, early Sunday morning (read: 6 AM) and caught my first Cardinals game in seven days that night!

Whoo!  It was great seeing you all take the field in those powder blues!  I followed the games as best I could through mlb mobile app, but there's nothing like seeing the actually pitches hit the strike zone versus seeing the pixel approximation on screen.

Good things about this weekend: A sweep of our 1982 World Series opponent during the 30 year celebration of the 1982 World Series victory and 1982 World Series team. And... this is the first time all season that we've hit 10 games over .500. (Yes, it has been that  much of a struggle.)

Hopefully, there is nowhere to go but up.  Here's to a fight to a finish, a fierce drive to the playoffs.

Til Later

Worse Road Trip Ever

07/17/2012

Cardinals 2 Brewers 3

07/18/2012

Cardinals 3 Brewers 4

Dear Cardinals,

How long can this team continue playing below their level without it affecting the belief the team holds that they are good enough?

I mean, I still think this team is good-- I think this team is great.  How much longer will  this team have to play like this to convince me that this is truly the team they are-- mediocre?  Is the team convinced they can't be any better?  Is that why they're playing horribly?

Out starting pitching was outstanding this road trip, hitting was awful.  We only won one game. Out of six.

Whats worse, is that the Cubs are in town tonight and they are playing well.  They are probably still leading the fecal league standings, but they're winning, at least.  I hope we win this weekend.

I hope that this is the last week/ month of mediocre baseball.

Unhappy flight to the Lou.

Til Later.

"Happy Flight!"  meter: 11/22

Another Late Inning Comeback!

07/16/2012

Cardinals 3 Brewers 2

Dear 'birds,

I don't know how far behind the Cardinals the Brewers are, but I am dubbing this series "battle to stay in third place" all the same.

The Cardinals battled last night. It was fun watching the ninth inning comeback-- 3 runs! Matt Holliday hit the game-tying single that, of course, did nothing to shut up his haters.

Til Later

So the Cardinals are mad. Good.

04/29/2012

Brewers 3 Cardinals 2

Dear Cardinals,

So you guys are mad.  Good.  You should be mad. you should be upset that you are 1-4 in one run games.  You should be upset that you are failing at hitting with runners in scoring position. You should be mad that so many men are left on base.  (Although that is possibly just a product of a good hitting team-- you guys lead the NL in hits.) 

You are upset because you could have easily had an epic April.

You know where improvements can be made.  Make those improvements in the month of May-- and then maybe you can have an epic May.

You all had a very decent April.  Don't focus on what could have been.  Focus on what's next.  Turn the page, stay loose and have fun!

It's just a game.

'Til Later

May Goal: Sweep a team!

Pssh. This will never get old. Never.

04/28/2012

Brewers 3 Cardinals 7

Dear 'birds,

You've won the series!  Yeah!

After the game, some fool poster on Cards Talk started the following topic "So do you still hate the Reds and Brewers as much?"

Uh. Yes. 

The poster explains his case by saying that the games no longer have that  "I just can't stand these guys feeling."  Well, I can't stand them and whipping these teams will never get old.  I can't stand them because those teams are our biggest competition for the division title.  I want to demolish them.  If it were possible, I would like them mathematically eliminated by mid-summer. Completely out of it.

As it is, once the Brewers and Reds get their stuff together (if they do get it together), I want it extremely obvious that the Cardinals are the team to beat in the Central.  Like, I want the Cardinals to finish at least 10 games ahead of everyone else.

Coming into the season, it looked as though the division would be a three team race.  Right now the Cardinals are the team to beat in the division.  But the division isn't won in April, there is plenty of time and chances are the race will get interesting.  I just hope it doesn't. At the end of the season, I want people to look back and laugh at the fact that those teams were ever consider on par with my Cardinals. 

We just have to stay healthy and focused.

***

Yadier, I believe you are slowly buying every piece of my heart.  You are amazing.  Four for four with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.  People are starting to realize that your bat is pretty legit.  You're so dependable at the plate and behind it. 

Matty, it sucks that you go hitless the day after you went 3 for 3.  Really, I think you're hitting into some tough luck.  

David, happy birthday!   One more year to the big 3-0. 

Meanwhile, my birthday was Sunday, Carlos Beltran's was Tuesday, Chris Carpenter's was Friday, and David Freese's was Saturday.  A few words: Tauruses are the bestest!

Oh yeah, about the game--Kyle Lohse, what were you doing walking in the tying run!?  The inning could have morphed into one of  your (frustrating) "big blow up" innings, but we avoided that when the Brewer's manager screwed up and let his pitcher bat with two outs and the bases loaded.  Although, the man really didn't have much of a choice-- his bullpen was shot from the seven innings of work it had Friday.

We have possibly screwed up Milwaukee's bullpen for an entire week. HAHAHA.  Whew.  Man, I hope we knock around Greinke tomorrow and increase the damage. (Evil cackle.)

'Til Later

Elixir for Offensive Woes

04/27/2012

Brewers 1 Cardinals 13

Dear Redbirds,

Nothing like Yovani Gallardo for those offensive woes, huh?  He is now 1-9 with a 7.05 ERA against the Cardinals.  He is like the exact opposite of Bud Norris.  Cy Norris-- I mean, Bud Norris-- is 6-2 lifetime against the Cards.  We were probably lucky to get those two wins, because Bud Norris always seems to give up only a hit or two over eight or nine innings whenever he faces the Cardinals.  I'm serious. He's our kryptonite. It's funny because against the rest the league he is quite average, while Gallardo is ace-material against any team not name the Cardinals. Yesterday, Gallardo couldn't get an out in the third inning (and he pitched to six batters).

By the way, boys, thanks for that.  I was on the treadmill at the time you all decided to bat around (which was fun, so no real complaints).  I do little mind tricks when I'm running and start getting tired-- like, okay, just keep running until the end of this inning.

Except last night the inning lasted forever because everyone and they momma got a hit. You boys ought to be ashamed of the way you had poor me suffering on the treadmill.  I mean... really.

I started to worry what will happen to the poor stadium scoreboard if you all had reached double digits in that inning-- can it go higher than single digits for an inning?  This needs to be tested pronto. Preferably against the Reds' Johnny Cueto. Heh Heh.

Anyway, great start to the home stand!

'Til Later

Can't Keep Us Down

04/08/2012

Cardinals 9 Brewers 3

Hey Redbirds,

IS THIS REAL LIFE?*

I hope this great start isn't a tease.  I'm afraid that the bullpen will do something to ruin it but so far the "blown save" hasn't reared its ugly head. The bullpen was great late last year, once Marc Rzepczynski (better known as Scrabble) and veteran pitchers who could pitch (imagine that!) were added.  However, like early last year, we once again have old pitchers (Linebrink, who-- thank God-- is on the DL, and Romero) in the 'pen who have to resort to smoke and mirrors to record an out.

In early April, it's hard to gauge a team-- hard to determine what is real and what is a mirage.   Last year, the resilience the team displayed in early April became characteristic of the team.  The blown saves were a trait, too.  I'm liking the patterns this team is displaying so far-- aggressive base running and plentiful hitting.  There's this aura about the team-- I haven't yet decipher it-- but it has something to do with the team's attitude and the way it goes about it's business....

If this is a team of extremes, I hope those extremes are good ones.  For example, I hope the high number of hits continue and I hope the high strikeout total doesn't.

THE RUBBER GAME

Yesterday afternoon, Lance Lynn made a fantastic start: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Hits, 1 Earned Run, 1 Home Run, and 8 strikeouts.  And he still threw mid-90s!  Cardinal batters had FOURTEEN hits.  Relievers did give up two runs (boo), but the Cardinals still caught a "Happy Flight!" from Milwaukee to Cincinnati.

Beat those Reds!  Silence Jay Bruce and Joey Votto's bats!

'Til Later

HAPPY FLIGHT METER: 2/2

 *Gotta love David After Dentist

Crushed Hopes (no longer undefeated)

04/07/2012

Cardinals 0 Brewers 6

Dear 'birds,

I do not like losing... at least it came against a pitcher who went undefeated at home last season.

Adam Wainwright looked good in his return.  Well, his numbers (5.2 IP, 4 Hits, 3ER, 1 BB, 1 K) were good, and his breaking pitches were great.

I hope we won't get shut out anymore this season.  I hate not scoring at all. 

Just win the series tomorrow, boys.  I'm worried because Lance Lynn is pitching tomorrow... what if he is taken out early and it becomes a bullpen game, ruining the bullpen for the Cincinnati series?  I am worried that whoever is pitching for Milwaukee will keep the bats quiet.  I hope not.  I will be disgusted if that happens.  Prove me wrong, Cards.  I want to write about how silly my fears were tomorrow.

This is a good opportunity to show how you respond to losing.  I wonder how Mike Matheny is handling his first loss.

Tomorrow is a "get away day"-- will it be a "happy flight?"

'Til Later

 

What, what!

04/06/2012

Cardinals 11 Brewers 5

Dear Cardinals,

Way to lay the hurt on the Brewers today! Too bad those three Brewers runs scored in the ninth and made the score somewhat respectable.

It's fun spoiling teams home openers.

I'm falling in love with ya'll-- speed and stolen bases, timely hits and home runs, and sexy, gutsy pitching. There's so much swag these first two games.

You all are striving for the extra base.  No one seems afraid of making a mistake, and it shows in the freedom you all give yourselves on the field.  In order to accomplish a goal or the seemingly impossible, you can't be afraid to fail.  If you don't try at all-- if Furcal didn't try to stretch his single into a double because of the fear of being tagged out-- you never know what could occur. You could find yourself in scoring position. Sure, you could play it safe and stay on first, but I like that the team is running the bases aggressively. 

I do hope, however, that you guys will run a small bit more conservatively on such hits if losing.  

I hope Matheny finds the proper balance of resting the old guys and playing the young bench players.  The young guys need to stay sharp and the old guys need to rest their surgically-repaired knees (I am looking at you-- Berkman, Beltran, and Furcal).

The team already look unstoppable.  (Winning makes me write fanciful  nonsense.)

I hope the first loss never happens. But it will, and when it does, I hope this is the sort of team that always come back and wins the next day.

It looks like it may be.

 

Please win tomorrow in Wainwright's first game post- surgery.

'Til Later

That Baseball Team to the North

...No, not the Cubs, they are hardly a baseball team these days, I am speaking of the Milwaukee Brewers.

THE (RECENT) PAST:

Last year, the Cardinals and Brewers had a very volatile relationship. 

"T-Plush", the annoying alter ego of Nyger Morgan, tweeted after the Cardinals and Brewers nearly brawled in a September game  that "Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!! Aaaaahhhh!!!"

The almost fight started because Chris Carpenter yelled after striking Morgan out.  Morgan took offense, and spit his wad of tobacco (yeah, gross) towards the mound.  During a game in August, the umpires issued Morgan a warning after he kept yelling at Carp from the dugout. (As an aside, the Cardinals and Morgan had issues when he was a member of the Washington Nationals). 

The great thing about Nyger Morgan is that he plays with heart-- a lot like Carpenter.  However, players should always respect their opponents.  This means you keep your mouth shut and let your game do the talking. Some people think that the exuberance Carp shows on the mound is disrespectful-- that he is trying to show up his opponents.  He isn't.  He is in the moment, competing, and his celebratory yells aren't usually aimed at the opposition.  Plus, he does not disrespect his opponents when interviewed-- he acknowledges their ability and congratulates great plays.

Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke said this about Carpenter before the NLCS: 

"They think his presence, his attitude out there sometimes is like a phony attitude," Greinke said. "And then he yells at people. He just stares people down and stuff. And most pitchers just don't do that. And when guys do, I guess some hitters get mad. Some hitters do it to pitchers. But when you do that some people will get mad.
"There's other pitchers in the league that do it, but, I don't know," Greinke said, "a lot of guys on our team don't like Carpenter."

So, they hate Carpenter because he is "old school"... tough.

I can't find the exact quote, but I believe it was said by a Brewers player last year.  The player spoke about how at spring training, the team they hate with a passion and think about beating is the St. Louis Cardinals.  What a compliment-- I mean, no one in the division has a vendetta against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

THIS YEAR:

Prince Fielder signed with the Detroit Tigers this off season.  The Brewers replaced some of his offense by signing former Cub, Aramis Ramirez, to play third base.  

For years, the Brewers offense-- carried by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder-- had always been top-notched, but their pitching kept them from being a consistent contender.  Last year, the Brewers finally acquired capable pitching, and made it to the NLCS.  This year, starters Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, and Yovani Gallardo will probably make pitching the strongest point of the team, especially with Prince Fielder's production gone.  The Brewers also have a good bullpen.

Reigning MVP Ryan Braun had a difficult off season (he tested positive for steroids during the playoffs, but does not have to serve the 50 game suspension due to a technicality in the way the sample was handled) and it remains to be seen whether he elevates his play, or suffers from all the ridicule he'll hear on the road this season.

The Brewers have solid offense and solid pitching, but suffer on defense.  And, ultimately, it was their defense-- those seven errors in Games 5 and 6 of the NLCS-- that ended their season last year.

The Rise and Fall of Carpenter = The Rise and Fall of the Cards

Observe:

• 2003: The Cardinals sign Chris Carpenter, hoping that he'll be able to pitch by mid- season. He is not able to compete because of a muscle tear in his shoulder.
• The Redbirds finish third in the division. (They'd won the division in 2002).
• An aside: I'm not too sure this year should count, since he wasn't on the 40 man roster. 
• 2004:  Chris Carpenter re-signs with the Cards. He finishes the season with a 15-5 record. Unfortunately, a nerve problem in his bicep prevents him from pitching in the postseason.
• The Cardinals win the NL pennant, earning their first World Series appearance since 1987. 
• 2005:  Carpenter wins the NL Cy Young award with a 21-5 record. 
• Cardinals lose to the Houston Astros in the NLCS.
• 2006:  Carpenter finishes the regular season with 15-8 record.  He is healthy and pitches in the postseason.
• Cardinals win their first World Series since 1982.
• 2007: Carp pitches on Opening Day, the only game he pitches this season.  Tommy John surgery in July places him out of commission until mid-season 2008.
• Cardinals finish under .500 at 78-84, behind the Cubs and Brewers.  
• 2008: In July, Carpenter returns and makes his first of three starts before being shut down again.
• The Cardinals finish behind the Cubs, Brewers, and Astros with a 86-76 record.
• 2009: Carpenter wins NL Comeback Player of the Year, and is runner-up in the Cy Young voting.
• Cardinals win the division and lose to the Dodgers in the NLDS.
• 2010: Carp becomes an All-Star for the third time and wins 16 games.
• The Cardinals finish second in the division to Reds.
• 2011:  At the beginning of the season, Carpenter pitched well, but receive little run support. He finishes the season with only eleven victories.  He logs the most innings of all major league pitchers, when the post season is taken into account.
• Cardinals finish second in the division, and enter the post season as wild cards.  They win their eleventh World Series.
• 2012:  As of today: Carpenter is out indefinitely due to nerve irritation in his right shoulder-- sources are reporting it's similar to the shoulder discomfort he dealt with in 2008.  According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Carp will have to let his shoulder recover, then restrengthen it. This can take a matter of weeks or months.
• What will the Cardinals do this year?  I still think they'll be pretty good.  Hopefully, they'll do what they did last year when an ace went down-- accept it and move on.  I don't want to hear anything about "treading water" until Carpenter comes back.  This team can win without Carp, just like they won without Wainwright last year.    
 
tl;dr:  With the exception of 2010, every year that Carpenter was healthy and able to pitch, the Cardinals played in the post season.  And every year he wasn't able to pitch, they didn't make the post season. 
 
And that, folks, is what I call Kate-analysis!  I know, I know, very hard hitting stuff.  You may hold your applause.
 
'Til Later
 
 

23 Days until MLB Opening Night...

The Cardinals play the Marlins at Marlins Park at 6:05 PM CDT on April 4.  Since Opening Day is April 5, this game takes place on what Major League Baseball terms Opening Night.  I always thought Opening Night was an ESPN-broadcasted Sunday night game between the Red Sox and Yankees. (Har, har, har.  Ah, sarcasm.)

I do not like the Cardinals' travel schedule for their first week of games.  First, they are going to travel to Springfield, MO to play a spring-training game against their AA affiliate on April 2nd (at 6:10 PM), then there is this Opening Night/breaking in the new ballpark business in Miami, and on April 6 they play the Brewers in Milwaukee (at 3:10 PM).

I mean, does the league think these guys are schooled in apparition or something?  I'm guessing that the pitchers starting the first two games of the season won't be traveling with the team.  Some of the players on the major league roster will probably skip the trip to Springfield, too, which is unfortunate for Springfield fans. They're probably looking foward to seeing the guys in "The Show" on the cheap. Plus, I bet it's extra special to see players who played in Springfield before moving on to Memphis and the big leagues.

Meanwhile, the guys did have a similar travel schedule in the playoffs last year (travel day, followed by a set of games).  However, that schedule did not include a one day stop (except, of course, when they beat the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLDS and the Brewers in Game 6 of the NLCS), and, granted, there aren't usually travel days in the regular season, so I guess they'll be okay.

But I still think a one game series is silly.  Hold on, it's not even a series if it's one game, is it? 

Anyway, besides Opening Night, MLB also has the Japan Opening Series 2012-- two regular season games between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's on March 28 and 29.  The players experience Japanese culture and extreme jet lag.  Then they resume spring training in the States.  Silly scheduling, but worth it-- the proceeds from the series will assist with Japan's tsunami recovery. 

I want to visit Japan.  Why? Three words: Nippon Professional Baseball.  Observe:

Best. Catch. Ever.

'Til Later