Walk Off Winner!

05/15/2012

Cubs 6 Cardinals 7

Dear Redbirds,

Yadi, you are officially out of the Mississippi River. That walk off hit yesterday afternoon was a thriller!

This was suppose to be a post looking at the numbers showing the ineptitude of the Cardinals this weekend, but that will probably come tomorrow... the game has just come on (West Coast start).

Til Later!

"Happy Flight!" meter:  7/10

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

That Eastern Team I Dislike

In the coming days, I am going to write about the NL Central teams-- not to actually analyze their chances of winning the NL Central but to become reacquainted with the exact reasons why we dislike them.

First up... the Cincinnati Reds. 

THE (RECENT) PAST:

There was not much animosity last season between the Reds and the Cards, mostly because the Reds finished under .500.  But in 2010, when the Reds and the Cardinals were fighting for the division, there was plenty of animosity.

The hatred looked to continue in 2011 when Adam Wainwright underwent Tommy John surgery and a Cincinnati reporter wrote that  (now former) Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes celebrated Wainwright's surgery by singing a song,  "Wainwright's gone, Wainwright's gone" in the clubhouse.

Of course, Jonny apologized and denied the charge, but I am more inclined to believe the reporter than the ballplayer.  The reporter took down the original article that spoke of the incident, but he wrote in a later article, that he was not the only one who heard Wainwright's name in the song.

Jonny obviously is not the kind of competitor who enjoys winning bragging rights by beating his opponent's best team.

Of course, after this incident, you can only surmise that it's their clubhouse culture-- extreme cockiness to the point of disrespecting opponents.  This is the same clubhouse that houses Brandon Phillips, the second baseman who insulted the Cardinals and proceeded to feign friendliness with Yadi the next day. Yadi wasn't having it, preliminary punches were thrown, ultimately leading to the best Cardinals brawl in recent memory.

You know, I have actually grown to like Brandon Phillips-- or, should I say, admire him.  I appreciate the fact that he's a  really nice guy who loves to visit with fans.  

I just won't ever forgive him for calling the Cardinals what he called them.  Ever.  I support those at Busch Stadium who boo Phillips to this day. 

During the brawl, Jason LaRue and Carpenter were kicked in the back (Carp) and head (LaRue) by Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, who suddenly forgot how to comprehend even a little English when interviewed about the matter, claiming through a teammate/interpreter that he was scared.  LaRue retired after the season due to post-concussion syndrome.

Another issue the Cardinals and Reds have-- slick baseballs.  Anytime Bronson Arroyo pitches at Great American Ballpark, the balls are slick. Cardinals pitchers DO NOT like this. (For those who don't know, baseballs are rubbed down with mud, so pitchers can get a good grip on the ball and batters won't have to worry a 95 mph pitch slipping and hitting them on the head.)  Carpenter, in particular, will toss back ball after ball because the slickness prevents him from gripping the ball properly. (John Smoltz also had a problem with Cincinnati's slick balls when he was with the Redbirds).  Needless to say, the Reds don't like that the Cardinals have a problem with this.

THIS YEAR:

The Reds are definitely going for it this year.  Last year's top two teams (Brewers and Cardinals), lost large contributors (oh, man, there's a Prince Fielder joke waiting there, but I'll leave it be).  Plus,  with Joey Votto closer to  testing the free agent market, the window of opportunity is closing.

The Reds made aggressive moves this off-season, shipping the future (typical of Jocketty-- depleting the farm system for large acquisitions. SEE: St. Louis Cardinals under his tenure.) to San Diego for starting pitcher Mat Latos. They acquired Cubs reliever, left-hander Sean Marshall, to serve as the bullpen's set-up man.  Former Phillies closer Ryan Madson signed to handle to ninth inning.  Unfortunately, they will be paying him $8.5  million to undergo Tommy John surgery.  Even worse (for whoever owns the Reds), is the fact that that $8.5 million puts a strain on the purse strings.  If the Reds are in the race come the trade deadline, how salary will they be willing to take on in a trade?

All in all, the Reds look to be a solid all-around team-- a good defense and offense, to complement improved pitching.

EDIT (April 3, 2012):  Joey Votto will not become a free-agent after 2013. Yesterday night it was announced that he and the Reds had agreed to a contract extension worth $225 million over 10 years.

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