The Thing Is

08/11/2012

Cardinals 4 Phillies 1

Dear Cards,

The thing is I thought I had written

this post because I had thought it all out in my head.

I guess I was too tired Saturday night to put

the words on paper... or in digital... or whatever 

this is called.

The offense FINALLY rediscovered how to use

their bats.  Ten hits  and  four runs scored.  Three 

run home run by Matty.  

I love that man. Matt Holliday.  He's in the line-up everyday

and he's never not hitting for long.  

It reminds me of  the time last offseason  Matty called in to a St Louis radio show 

(THE PRESS BOX) and told the host that he was incorrect

in saying that he was injury-prone.  That shut down was grand,

but its even better due to the way he has performed this year (exactly like all the other years in his career: as an elite hitter.)

Til Later

The first W

05/01/2012

Pirates 7 Cardinals 10

Dear Cards,

Congratulations for scoring your first runs while Wainwright's on the mound!  It only took a whole month!

Allen Craig-- welcome back.  You're like a shot in the arm.

David Freese-- you strike out a lot, but somehow you always come through at the best times.

Yadi Molina-- I really think you have some invisible shield you put on when on the bases. Two stolen bases last night and you're second on the team in stolen bases. 

Matty-- great game yesterday.  I hope this is the start of your average trending upward. Oh, and can you take your friend Carlos Beltran along, too?  He is starting to tailspin (of course, I think it's because he hits best in the two-hole, but no one else thinks this argument has any weight.)

Adam Wainwright-- congratulations on your first "W" since 2010!

Fernando Salas-- please get your stuff together because it is getting ugly.  Last night you came into a 10-4 game and proceeded to make it a proper ball game instead of keeping it a laugher.  I like laughers (clarification: when the Cardinals are winning).  I do not like two hits and two walks in a one inning relief appearance. Confounding.  It was even more confounding how Matheny left you in after it was obvious you weren't going to get any more than two outs.

'Til Later!

Tossed into the 'ssippi:  Fernando Salas

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

I have nothing*

04/24/2012

Cardinals 2 Reds 3

Final/10

Redbirds--

No, seriously. I have nothing. Nothing to say.  Due to last night's poorly written Whitney Houston* Glee episode (*see what I did there?) and the Cardinals team I've watched during this road trip, I am only filled with consternation.

Wait.

I do have a few observations:

1. Umpires SUCK!!

2. Wainwright pitched very well. (And he got a no decision, not a loss! So, we're getting closer to that big W each time out.)

3. Blown saves suck more than umpires, especially on back-to-back nights.

4. The "NL best offense" is currently looking like its worse.

5. Watch Holliday finally stop being the one black hole in the line up only to have all the rest of the guys become a big black hole of suck.

6. What team is going to show up this weekend versus the Brewers? Will we begin May out of first place?

Whoops. Number six is questions... oh well. That is all.

Wait.

I have a suggestion: Win today and make this a .500 road trip. Got it? Cool.

'Til Later

*Meanwhile, I've two song title posts in a row! Whitney killed this song in The Bodyguard:

Enjoy! Maybe it'll brighten up what has been a lousy week in the baseball department.

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.

Now, that was better...

04/12/2012

Cubs 1 Cardinals 5

Well, Matt Holliday--

Matty, if you hit one more flyout to the warning track, I am tossing you into the 'ssippi river.  (Metaphorically, of course, because you have nearly a foot and a good 120 pounds or so on me.  Also, we need you.)  Usually, I am good judge of whether a ball is staying in the park or not, but in Saturday's game you hit three balls (I think) that had me prepping for my "kiss it goodbye" and "go crazy, folks" routine.  Do you know what it does to one's heart to watch a ball fly 370-ish feet only to die in a fielder's glove?  My heart stops, Matty, and the adrenaline and dopamine and whatever else chemicals that were released for my heart to pump overtime through my body are confused and disappointed.  My entire body is gearing up for a huge, juvenile celebration that my brain shuts down because it's not a home run.  My heart is left in a perilous position-- free falling from the edge of ecstasy.  Basically, your warning track power flyouts could inadvertently kill me one day, Matty. 

Hey 'birdos, we avoided a three game losing streak!

'Til Later