The Boys are Back in Town!

I'm playing Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town" on repeat because THE CARDINALS ARE PLAYING AT BUSCH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE GAME 7 THE VERY LAST BASEBALL GAME THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2011!  (Sorry for yelling. I'm stoked.)  I always relate this song to the return of baseball.  My favorite lines:

The nights are getting warmer, it won't be long

Won't be long til summer comes

Now that the boys are here again



But, of course, the best song I'll hear today plays when the Cardinals parade around Busch Stadium--Budweiser's "Here Comes the King."  My favorite ballpark song.  Ernie Hays, former Cardinals' organist, plays it in the following video.  Mr. Hays retired after 2010, his 40th season playing the ballpark organ.

Okay, birds! Git 'er done!  Please win your first game at home this year, especially since it's against those lousy north siders.

'Til Later

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet*

04/04/12

Cardinals 4- Marlins 1

What's up Redbirds!

I really appreciate the fact that you all won last night, because today would be a horrible day if you hadn't.  It is a good day, because I am not anxiously awaiting tomorrow's redemption, I am trying to calculate the odds of a team going 162-0.  Apparently, its five quindecillion to one  (5000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 to 1). Well, there's nothing stopping a girl from dreaming about the impossible. (Although, technically, there is a chance-- a very, very miniscule, near-zero chance-- but a chance all the same.)

Mike Matheny endured an ice cold water-dousing after his first managerial win.  I was wondering why the team seemed extra focused last night-- turns out everyone wanted to get Matheny's big first 'W' out the way.  

It looks like the team enjoys playing for Mike.

AGGRESSIVE BASE RUNNING

All spring, there was talk about how Matheny wanted the team to run more, specifically, he wanted the team to steal more bases.  It occurred to me last night that he just wants the guys to strive for the extra-base, period-- go as far as you can on each hit.  Twice in the first inning, Cardinal players slid into second on fairly close plays. Ballsy.

To cap off an inning of aggressive running, Yadier Molina ran to first base on a groundout to second.  Perhaps he thinks it's still the post season.  He never usually runs that hard on groundouts. I LOVED seeing that effort.  

THERE'S A CRUISE SHIP IN LITTLE HAVANA

One of the EPSN announcers said that Marlins Park's window style makes it look like cruise ship docked in the middle of Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.  This makes sense-- Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria wants to have the feel of the beach and ocean at the ballpark.

Let me say one thing about those Miamians-- they had me mentally exhausted before the first pitch was ever thrown!  Now, St. Louis has clydesdales pulling a Budweiser wagon, leading the parade of Cardinals and Cardinals hall-of-famers around the ballpark, but it isn't nearly the level of sight and sensory that Miami fans were treated to last night.

I mean, the Miami players were escorted by Brazilian dancers! The guy who is famous for singing "Feliz Navidad" sang the National Anthem. It was very slow, but singers don't usually start singing the Star- Spangled banner at a good clip until June, so I forgive him.  Muhammad Ali made a (very slow, awkward and depressing) trek in a cart to deliver the ceremonial first pitch.  I enjoyed watching the Marlins players gather around him for a snapshot.  

In addition to all the Opening Day hoopla, there were people hanging upside down by their ankles, dancing and pouring champagne. I am serious.

Also, besides the much derided home run contraption beyond center field and the much discussed fish tanks behind home plate, Marlins Park also has a pool located at Clevelander bar out in left field.

OH MY LOHSE!

 7.1 IP, 2H, 1ER, 3K

Kyle Lohse...you said that after pitching on the World Series stage, handling an Opening Day start is nothing.  You were right, if your poise last night amidst the Miami madness is any indication.  Your performance last night had everyone saying "Carpenter, who?". It was beautiful watching you no- hit the Marlins for 7 innings. Dominating.  There were a few well-struck balls, but that's what defenders are for, right?
 

HAPPY FLIGHT! 

The first "happy flight" of the season was from Miami to Milwaukee last night!  Hopefully it was the first of many!

For the uninitiated:  "Happy Flight!" was the Cardinals war-cry during the months of September and October last season.  It originated with short stop Rafael Furcal as a reference to the games you win on travel days-- leading to a happy plane ride  to your new location!

Love ya'll! Please win this series against Milwaukee. They are sure to raise their "2011 Division Champions" flag next to their "2008 Wild Card" flag sometime this weekend.

'Til Later

HAPPY FLIGHT METER: 1/1

*Yes, this jingle from the Chevrolet ads that ran last night on ESPN, featuring Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder and Justin Verlander in a modern day reprise of the Detroit automaker's  game-changing 1974 commercials, is just as catchy now as then... so, what better way to label a post about the (state-side) return of America's game? 

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.

Strikkkkkʞkʞkeouts are Fascist!

Jaime Garcia had nine strikeouts today, striking out two batters looking-- which is apparently why scorers use backward k's.  I always thought it was just arbitrary..."oh, let's shake up this line of K's and write this one backwards," but alas, it appears nothing in baseball is without reason.  (Now whether that reason makes good and proper sense is another story.)

It's only Spring Training, but winning ballgames is a great habit start in March.  The Redbirds have now won five straight!  They had been doing that annoying flirt 'get a game over .500 and lose the next day' bit I especially hate, but now they have a 11-6-1 record.  Really, though, your spring record has no correlation at all with the regular season, but at least the players leave the field feeling happy.  I know if I were a player and I had lost a game, the rest of my day would be ruined.  Even if it's only spring training.

Today's game was beautiful baseball.  I liked the team that played today-- great hitting (But only one hit for extra bases and thirteen singles today, which is only great if they come in bunches or if you have a fast runner on who'll steal his way into scoring position), great pitching (only four hits allowed and  thirteen strikeouts, all by left-handers), and smart baserunning.  Gorgeous. 

Here's a fun video from the great movie Bull Durham when Crash (Kevin Costner!) tells Nuke (I don't know who this is, and I'm too lazy to google it.)  that strikeouts are fascist.

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

Dear Albert, also known as:

"El Hombre"(an alias you've never actually assumed),

"Phat Albert," "The Machine,"

"Prince Albert" and "The Mang,"

Minute Maid's train

I will always remember that October night in 2005

when baseball fans coined the term "Lidged,"

for epically blown saves.

You sent Brad Lidge's pitch soaring

through Minute Maid Park, over the Crawford boxes,

and onto the railroad tracks.

Three runs scored, and the Houston crowd was so silent

I bet they heard the dirt fall from your cleats

as you step on home plate.  They had been so loud

that the TV crew kept mentioning the decibel level, marveling

at each new high.  After the umpteenth update I had wanted something

to steal the breath from the crowd, and was thinking of all the ways

I would break that infernal meter myself.  The louder

that crowd became, the more desperation replaced

hope in my heart and the louder the disbelief and doubt

pounded between my ears, but your home run restored my world.

I had Cardinals baseball for one more night.

In 2009, you hit five grand slams.  My favorite

was during this game against the Mets.  That game was a thrill

because the team had just done the impossible

against K-Rod-- scored not only one, but two runs to force

extra innings.  The only problem 

was it occurred shortly after that long, crazy

15 inning game against the Dodgers.  My nerves

couldn't handle another one of those games so soon.  You

saved my sanity with those insurance runs.

Last summer you stroked a double

for your 2000th hit.  As you stood on second, fighting

tears and acknowledging the crowd, I bet you could hear

how the crowd's congratulatory applause sounded

an awful lot like "please stay."  

You didn't stay.  I was relieved

that the Cardinals hadn't signed you to a ten year deal.  Relieved

because I wouldn't have to watch you at forty, hobbling to first

on a grounder to third.  There will be only good moments

for me to recall, spectacular memories to smile and mull over.

I am happy I saw you play ball

for eleven historic years.  And I am sad that there are only

eleven years of memories.  I am sad that your 3000th hit

and 500th home run won't come in a Cardinal uniform.

It would have been the perfect

story, wouldn't it?  It would've been sweet

if you had continued your starring role in St. Louis-- the city embraced

you because you so fully embodied our beloved team-- playing

for the fans who watched the central role you held in the Cardinal

memories formed since your debut.

In December, this letter would've only said:

Thnks fr th mmrs & good rddnce, #@!%! 

I feel no ill will now, and there's only this left to say:

Thanks for the memories, and good luck!

Good Bye.

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

Mercurial Missives

"A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings"  Earl Wilson

The 2011 Cardinals' season was a crazy, emotional ride for me.  I mean, I was more bipolar than usual over the course of a season (and I've had some dark baseball moments over the years).  August was the lowest month because my team had so much talent but was not playing up to par, my team had shown so much heart-- fighting back after losing their Ace to Tommy John, overcoming deficits in late innings, rebounding after blown saves (second most in the league)-- only to die on the metaphorical field of battle after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in late August.

From NLDS Game 4 Post Game Interview (as I heard on Fox Sports Midwest):

Reporter: How many times has this team been announced dead by the proper authorities?

Lance "Puma" Berkman: A lot, I mean, but y'know, that's what we're here for-- entertainment purposes.



I didn't lose all hope, but the Cards certainly looked officially dead, so I and anyone else with proper sense declared them as such.  Of course, gladiators that they are (supreme entertainers), the Cardinals revived themselves (again), played a brilliant month of baseball and with the help of the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol (according to Cubs fans), and Cardinal Nation (according to Tony La Russa) the Cardinals claimed the National League Wild Card.

It is because of that September rush and the thrill of "Red October," that I have decided to blog my experience of watching Cardinals baseball.  At first, I was unsure exactly what I was going to focus on-- some blogs go into player and game analysis, others are vendettas railing against the front office.  I want this blog to be a reactionary blog-- reacting to all the funny and frustrating things that occur over the course of a season.  The best way to do this, I think, will be to write letters to the team after each game.  I believe baseball fans would agree when I say that one develops a strangely close and personal relationship with the team you follow throughout Spring Training to those first wary, exciting days of April, and through the dog days of summer to the stretch run.  You understand their weaknesses, marvel at their strengths, you watch the team evolve as they take hits but stay resilient. You share 162 nights with your team, and the team and the personalities it encompasses become an intimate friend-- granted, one you occasionally yell at -- but a friend nonetheless.  This is why I will frame my reactions in the form of a letter-- because I will be addressing a friend.  They will be "mercurial missives"-- I am sure my views in some letters will directly oppose one another-- but that is because I am a bipolar fanatic!  And that's okay.  It's that silly (and occasionally pathetic) perspective that makes the season fun, because it makes a triple in the bottom of the ninth, down by two runs, with two-on, two-out, and two-strikes one of the best moments of my life. 

So... in this space I will write letters to my Redbirds, letters "for the birds"--  meaningless little ramblings in the world's view, but special missives in my view, in my world. Take a peek through my lenses and stay awhile!

'Til Later