Welcome Back, Cardinals!

06/22/2012

Cardinals 11 Royals 4

Dear Jon Jay and Matt Carpenter,

So glad to see you two back! 

My dad claims the reason the Cardinals scored 10 runs in the first two innings last night was due to the "power" of Jon Jay.  He believes Jon Jay is the "X-factor," and that the team wins more with him in it.  I think I heard some stats that actually supports, but I  can't be bothered to look them up right now.

Til Later!

Outfield Wall: 2- Cardinals' Center Fielders: 0

04/20/2012

Cardinals 4 Pirates 1

Cardinals Center Fielders Declare War on Walls (Walls win)

Dearest Skip and Jon,

It has come to my attention that you haven't been informed that center fields around the league are enclosed by a wall.  When people run into walls, they tend to get hurt. That is to say that the wall always wins.  Yes, even a padded wall. 

So.. you say that padding they put on the walls is really lousy? (Hey! At least its padding and not ivy covering a brick wall!) Well, it's not made to guard against fielders running into it at full speed.  There's this sort of fancy device called a Warning Track-- you know all that dirt that surrounds the field?  Next time you feel dirt and not grass under your cleats-- SLOW DOWN!  Why?  Because the wall is near and it always win.

Jon, your mistake two nights ago was not being a guy called Jim "Jimmy Baseball" Edmonds.  Wow. That sounds harsh.  Let me explain, Jimmy did not run into walls, he climbed them.  I don't know if you know this, but the padding on the walls of Busch Stadium was selected to aid Jimmy-- to make it so he can stab his spikes into it and reach over the wall to steal a home run.  Now, granted that ball landed a bit beyond anyone's reach, but next time you're tracking a ball to the wall-- pull an Edmonds!  Beware that the wall is coming, and prepare to climb it if needed! Okay?  Good.  Now, I hope your sprained shoulder starts feeling better.  The wall is a fierce competitor, isn't?

Skip, your mistake came in letting people call you-- at 32 years old, mind you-- Skip.  Wow. That was unnecessary.  Sorry, Jared, your mistake came in totally disregarding the fact that you were running toward  an immovable piece of padded concrete.  I mean, seriously?  The first inning of the game and our replacement center fielder (for the center fielder who lost his battle with the wall the day before) collides with a wall, leading to the first batter scoring on an inside- the- park home run. (Should we make your RBI total -1?)  I must say, Skip, I was impressed that on your first play of the 2012 season-- your first play since being activated from the disabled list-- you promptly ran into a wall.  

I was dumbly amazed to see this back-to-back wall-attack.  Is it a sign that the Cardinals 2012 campaign is doomed?  Nah. I hope not. (But with Berkman constantly injured and now on the DL (hopefully for the only time this year), Allen Craig nowhere to be seen, and Carp on the mend-- well, we'll preach resilience again this season, it seems).  Some history... Rick Ankiel  was the first A.E. (After Edmonds) center fielder to collide with the wall.  He was carted off on a stretcher while wearing a neck brace. Sigh. 

Anyway, good win. Lance Lynn looked amazing. This game was a 2-1 nail bitter until the ninth inning when the offense decided to use the devices in their hands properly.

'Til Later!

Tossed into the 'ssippi: Outfield walls, those pesky things!

Baby Birds are Making Noise, Causing a Ruckus

There are three types of ballplayers: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happens. -Roy Campanella

04/15/2012

Cubs 3 Cardinals 10

Dear Baby Birds (previous members of the Memphis Mafia), 

You are awesome! You make it happen.  Last year, Jon Jay wound up playing in 159 games-- the most of any Cardinal.  When David was injured, Daniel Descalso played third base so well that he was a gold glove nominee.  Allen Craig and David Freese became a large part of the post season offense.  Lance Lynn excelled in his playoff bullpen role and has been an awesome starter so far this year.

On Sunday, Matt Carpenter had possibly the greatest day of his professional career-- he went 4 for 4 with five RBIs, a triple and a home run.   I say he was a pretty good sub for his childhood hero, Lance Berkman.

It came to Cardinals Nation's attention that Matt Carpenter will need a nickname-- simply because he shares two names with rather prevalent members of the St Louis Cardinals, Matt Holliday and Chris Carpenter.  A few suggested names (courtesy of St. Louis Post Dispatch's Cards Talk members) were Little Carp, Lil Carp, MC Hammer, T.O. (the other) Carpenter.  My favorite suggestion is knuckles. It definitely fits because he doesn't wear batting gloves!

My favorite thing about the Baby Birds/Memphis Mafia is the fact that you guys have experienced success together in the minor leagues and are now making memories together in the majors.  Plus, Puma says that the thing he likes about the Cardinals young players is that they all come up knowing how to play.  

'Til Later

P.S. Please win tonight-- I'll be in attendance! GO CARDS!

Tossed into the 'ssippi (i.e. those "in the dog house"):

Matt Holliday- Matty hit a long flyout Sunday, he was  warned.
Tyler Greene-  Ugly error on what looked to be a easy, routine play.