On Punishment

08/09/2012

Giants 15 Cardinals 0

Dear 'birds,

I think it is cruel and unusual punishment to relive last nights game-- to mention any detail of last night's blowout loss here.  So we won't.

OH, wait.  I'll say this:  Is it wrong that I probably would've joined those who booed Tyler Greene,  if I were at the game?  He failed to turn a double play with the bases loaded, letting his pitcher down. It's frustrating when a player always fails in high pressure situations.  He has failed to rise to the occasion too often, and Mozeliak was right to trade him today.  Tyler Greene is a hard worker and by all accounts a great teammate (unlike a certain player we traded last season).  Its hard to see someone who cared and always gave his best leave St. Louis.  I hope that he thrives in Houston.

Til Later

Move over Spider Man, I'm in love with Captain America!

05/22/2012

Padres 3 Cardinals 4

Dear Cards,

 Steve Rogers/ Captain America: Doc... I think now is the perfect time for you to get angry.

Dr. Bruce Banner/ Hulk: That's my secret, Cap. I'm always angry.

I saw the 6:45 showing of The Avengers last night.  It was amazing! Well- written and funny.  I love Captain America.  Steve Rogers, the Avengers' great leader.  I adore his assertiveness, his confidence, his courage, his selflessness.  And his very nice physique.

Honestly, I love all the Avengers. But I would marry Captain America in a heartbeat.

I missed the game because it started at 7:15 PM.  The plan was for me to watch the replay at 12 AM when I came back from my night out.  However, Fox Sports had serious issues last night and did not show the game replay. :(

This is the first game of the season where I had to make due with post game comments and Internet video.

I was able to rewind the DVR back to the eighth inning to watch the Padres take a 3-2 lead over the Cardinals and the Cardinals reclaim that lead in the bottom of the eighth with a 2-run bomb by Tyler Greene (of all the guys to save us from another defeat).

Great job, Tyler!   And Jaime, way to go deep into the game! Too bad you didn't record an out in the 8th inning, but maybe next time, right?  Also, I think it's sick that you struck out 7 over 7 innings using only 92 pitches.  Efficiency for the win!

Now, we just need the other starters to step up and go deeper into games.  Our next off day is a long ways away-- June 11th (the last one was May 10th)-- and the bullpen is going to fall apart even more if you starters don't get you stuff together.*

Jaime seems to have his stuff together, now.  Our last win before last night's was his last start (May 16 vs. San Francisco).

No, don't apologize! It was pleasurable!

Last night, Fox Sports Midwest was one of the Fox Sports outlets that experienced technical difficulties.  Fortunately for Cardinals fans, this resulted in viewing the (less painful, due to legendary broadcaster Dick Enberg) Padres broadcast with NO COMMERCIALS!!

I pretty much missed the best night of Cardinals baseball ever (ha ha, hyperbole, much?), considering that I wouldn't have had to suffer through Dan, Al, and Rick (although he later joined the telecast and the Padres post game show).

FSM apologized to Cardinals fans today.  But in all honesty, the technical mess Fox Sports dealt with last night probably prevented some fans from succumbing to the strong urge one feels when watching the Cardinals broadcast at times-- the overwhelming desire to get rid of your hearing organs any way, any how. 

Til Later!

*Edited on May 30th to add: I can't count or read a calendar correctly, the next off day is  tomorrow, May 31st. (I want the team to have a break, but WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH MYSELF TOMORROW?!)

Finished with the NL Central (for now)

05/06/2012

Cardinals 8 Astros 1

"Now we won a ballgame yesterday. If we win one today, that's two in a row. We win one tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before." 

Lou Brown in Major League II

Dear Tyler Greene,

It's like you heard me complaining about you being in the lineup Sunday. I mean, that's the only explanation I can think to explain your beast mode performance. 

Your batting stats from Sunday:

3 for 3, with 2 HR, 1  double, 3 Runs Scored, 4 RBI.

I think that warrants another start. Your batting average is now .256. It was .200 before the game.

Who knows? Maybe you are on an upward swing?

EXTRA:
Adam is now a game under .500! Strong start yesterday! (Dare I say it? Waino Bueno!) And, happy flight! from Houston to Phoenix, Arizona.

'Til Later

"Happy Flight!" meter:  5/8

Offense escapes 'ssippi, no longer anemic

04/18/2012

Reds 1 Cardinals 11

Dear Cards,

Great game last night!  You actually had hits with runners on base!

One thing, Tyler Greene, are you the type of player that only gets RBIs/hits when the team is up by fourteen hundred runs?  Your two-run home run when we were up 8-1 was unnecessary.  I mean, it was fun to watch because its fun to blow teams out, but don't make a habit of only getting hits when we have a large, late lead.  Start hitting in those games where there is a short lead or no lead at all.  Or can you only hit the pitchers managers bring in once the game is hopelessly lost?

'Til Later!

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.

Stealing Home!

The Cards beat the Mets 7-1 in a spring training game today.  Apparently, Waino was fighting his mechanics, but he still threw 3 scoreless innings.  His velocity was down, but no huge deal there ( I hope), because he's a stud and studs win even without their best stuff. 

The Cardinals scored those seven runs using power and speed.  Yes, speed.  Tyler Greene STOLE HOME!  I really want to see this during the regular season.  A few times.  Definitely once or twice against the Cubs.

I cannot wait to see the decisions Matheny make this year, I think he'll be more of a risk taker than La Russa in some areas.  If spring training is any indication, the 2012 Cardinals are going to bring more excitement to the base paths than previous years. 

Although, I suppose one could say that watching Yadi attempt to score from first on a double is exciting.  Or that watching Joe Thurston hit a double and get called out because he didn't tag first during that epic, everlasting July 2009 game against the Dodgers was exciting. (I almost broke the remote.)  And in 2010, when David Freese tripped over third whilst running home, breaking his ankle, I suppose that counts as excitement, too.  (I now think anyone rounding third is going to blow out a wheel.  Irrational fear?  Maybe.  Okay it is.)

I am looking forward to having excitement on the bases because of speed and good base-running and not because of lack of speed or bad base-running!  This team is long overdue.

'Til Later