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2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot Oct 19 2011 05:46 PM

[u:2cusnixv]GAME 1[/u:2cusnixv] CJ Wilson & Chris Carpenter

G-Fafif Oct 19 2011 06:16 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Chilly, loud and sprinkled with Redbird fairy dust thus far.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 19 2011 08:24 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Here's to blowing up every stupid lefty-righty switch, extraneous hit-and-run, and delay-of-game tactic out of the Best Dugout In Baseball. This is growing unsettlingly NLCS-shaped at rapid speed.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 19 2011 08:30 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I watched virtually all of the ALCS, and a good portion of the ALDS, and I had no idea Esteban German was on the roster.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 19 2011 08:36 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

LaRussa's a terrible influence on a young manager.

Ceetar Oct 19 2011 09:17 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Cardinals take game one I guess.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 19 2011 09:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

yawn. Rangers have to be good enough not to be the third straight superior team to lose to these Cardinals.

Frayed Knot Oct 19 2011 09:47 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I think it all turned on Texas when Washington had Andrus bunt with a runner on and no one out. Having Hamilton not hitting isn't doing Texas any favors either.

Edgy MD Oct 20 2011 07:04 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

If Hamilton hits like Hamilton, this would be a series and a half.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 07:18 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Word is that he's hurt - groin or something. His stats in the first two rounds weren't as bad as I thought -- he was 12 for 41 including 5 doubles + 2 BBs -- but he, like Ryan Braun, hasn't seemed to be in the middle of the action at all even when he does get his hits. Also went back on that deep fly a bit casually which allowed even Lance Berkman to tag from 1st. Didn't lead to a run, but it could have.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 12:02 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Here's to blowing up every stupid lefty-righty switch, extraneous hit-and-run, and delay-of-game tactic out of the Best Dugout In Baseball. This is growing unsettlingly NLCS-shaped at rapid speed. Results the same too. Cards only gave up 6 hits - and used 6 pitchers to do so. The 5 relievers got 9 outs while giving up 1 hit and 1 walk (to the 2nd & 3rd batters they faced). The last 4 relievers got the final 8 Texas batters in a row (1, 1, 2, and 3). Starting to smell a bit like the '96 Yanx: a bunch of not very heralded middle relievers who suddenly turn virtually perfect when needed.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 20 2011 12:07 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: Word is that he's hurt - groin or something. His stats in the first two rounds weren't as bad as I thought -- he was 12 for 41 including 5 doubles + 2 BBs -- but he, like Ryan Braun, hasn't seemed to be in the middle of the action at all even when he does get his hits. Also went back on that deep fly a bit casually which allowed even Lance Berkman to tag from 1st. Didn't lead to a run, but it could have. If that's true about his Lil' Crackpipe, then he really, REALLY should hit. An achy Hamilton has a fraction of a healthy Hamilton's power (just check 2009), and is a lot worse in center field than, say, Endy or Gentry (and worse there when healthy than Washington probably realizes).

HahnSolo Oct 20 2011 12:10 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Jonah Keri takes down Ron Washington. And there is little I disagree with. [url]http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/7104/cardinals-win-the-battle-of-managers-game-1

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 03:32 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

[u:2ktwa7yq]GAME 2[/u:2ktwa7yq] Colby Lewis vs Jamie Garcia (L)

batmagadanleadoff Oct 20 2011 04:08 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

HahnSolo wrote: Jonah Keri takes down Ron Washington. And there is little I disagree with. [url]http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/7104/cardinals-win-the-battle-of-managers-game-1 Nice read. Jonah Keri for grantland.com wrote: Still, The Jazayerli Prophecy came true. Talk to anyone in the Rangers organization, from the players up to the front office, and they'll praise Ron Washington's ability to manage personalities and run a harmonious clubhouse. Those are difficult skills to quantify, but they exist, and teams certainly benefit from such skills. But Washington just isn't good at making in-game decisions, and the Cardinals can (and just did) eat his lunch when that happens. Swapping Terry Collins's name for Ron Washington's works just the same.

Ashie62 Oct 20 2011 05:22 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Word is that he's hurt - groin or something. His stats in the first two rounds weren't as bad as I thought -- he was 12 for 41 including 5 doubles + 2 BBs -- but he, like Ryan Braun, hasn't seemed to be in the middle of the action at all even when he does get his hits. Also went back on that deep fly a bit casually which allowed even Lance Berkman to tag from 1st. Didn't lead to a run, but it could have. If that's true about his Lil' Crackpipe, then he really, REALLY should hit. An achy Hamilton has a fraction of a healthy Hamilton's power (just check 2009), and is a lot worse in center field than, say, Endy or Gentry (and worse there when healthy than Washington probably realizes). Lil Crackpipe? Really?

G-Fafif Oct 20 2011 07:33 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Andrus-Kinsler: Beautiful. So much for the conventional wisdom that hitting would overpower this Series (as ever, subject to change).

G-Fafif Oct 20 2011 07:36 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Sweet-ass DPs all around, actually.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 07:38 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

G-Fafif wrote: Andrus-Kinsler: Beautiful. X 2

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 08:04 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Keith would be lecturing Michael Young for not getting off the base there after holding on the runner and into position to field that hopper by Punto. Young played his way into a backhand and couldn't make it.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 08:10 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

So now that the Cards PH'd for their starter and have the lead, how many pitchers does Tony use to get through the rest of the game? - two - three - four - five - six or more (one is not an option)

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 08:28 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Mike Adams* - 2006 Norfolk Tide - in for Texas * Got him in May of that year from Milwaukee in a deal for (the late) Geremi Gonzalez, then lost him on waivers to Cleveland a few weeks later

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2011 08:42 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Here we go, leadoff single in the 9th for Texas

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2011 08:44 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

wow, stolen base. Close!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2011 08:47 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Andrus with a hit and takes second on the bad throw which mighta scored Kinsler

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 08:52 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Good thing Washington took that bunt off. In comes Authur Lee (Colossus of) Rhodes

Gwreck Oct 20 2011 08:54 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Hamilton Sac Fly ties it

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 20 2011 08:57 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 20 2011 08:59 PM

Lance Lynn? Seriously, it's like they forgot to pat down Genius at the postseason gate, and he snuck in, like, five extra random relievers in his coat pockets.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2011 08:59 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Well those obviously are big runs. If they hold up, huge mo shift for Texas.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 09:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Well this makes the weekend games more interesting. Woulda sucked the other way unless you're ga-ga for the Cards

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2011 09:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I should know enough about the Cardinals not to say this but I think Texas rolls from here. The night they finally get good starting pitching their bullpen fails them. Not a good sign.

Frayed Knot Oct 20 2011 09:48 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Lance Lynn? Seriously, it's like they forgot to pat down Genius at the postseason gate, and he snuck in, like, five extra random relievers in his coat pockets. Lancelot Lynn: Secret Reliever

G-Fafif Oct 22 2011 08:04 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Redbirds have thin skin...except for those who were taken under the wing of a Met. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Albert Pujols acknowledges he made an error when he failed to cut off a throw in Game 2 of the World Series but says his errors did not extend to his failure to talk to reporters about the play in the clubhouse afterward. "What do you want, me to wait for 40 minutes for you guys? I mean I was in the (kitchen) getting something to eat," Pujols said after batting practice Friday afternoon. "What about the night before when I spoke for an hour and a half? That's not fair. I think with you guys, I have to walk on eggshells. I don't think that's fair. I was there and usually (Cardinals media relations director Brian Bartow) comes around and says, 'Hey, they need you over there.' Nobody approached me for 40 minutes. You know what? After 40 minutes I was on my way home." Reporters are not allowed into the team kitchen or back rooms of a major league clubhouse; only in the communal area where players have their lockers. Veteran players -- especially those who have played in the postseason where there are many reporters -- know they are expected to make themselves available in the clubhouse, particularly when that player had a key role in the game's outcome. Pujols, however, was not in the clubhouse when media was admitted after the game nor did he appear at any time afterward. His street clothes also were gone, an indication he would be unavailable because he had likely gone home. "I guess the way you guys are ripping me off, I guess I need to stay tomorrow in the clubhouse until you guys decide to talk to me," Pujols said when asked whether he has a responsibility to talk to reporters. "My responsibility is to my God and my family, I don't have any responsibility to anybody else. And I try to do the best I can to represent the game of baseball. I do that. Sometimes you make a mistake. Do I feel I made a mistake last night? I don't think so. What can I do? I was waiting and nobody approached me. There is nothing I can do." Reporters wanted to speak with Pujols after the game to get his take on the crucial ninth inning play when he failed to cut off centerfielder John Jay's throw toward the plate. That error allowed Elvis Andrus advance to second base and eventually score. "As soon as I saw that big turn (around third) by Ian Kinsler I knew I had a chance to get him if I cut that ball and throw to third," Pujols said Friday. "He did take that big turn and I took my eyes off the ball and obviously I missed it. There is nothing I can do but move on and get ready to play tomorrow." After reviewing the missed cutoff several times after the game, the official scorer charged Pujols with an error. "It has to be an error, it hit my glove," Pujols said, adding that he makes that play 99 times out a 100, but the ball cut away from him like a cut fastball. "If you want to blame me for that because we lost the game, then go ahead and blame me, I don't care. It is what it is. You have to stand up for it." Pujols was not the only player who was not available Thursday night. Catcher Yadier Molina, outfielder Matt Holliday and outfielder Lance Berkman also were not in the clubhouse. "That won't happen again. I'll make sure -- if I have to stand in there -- that one of us is available for comment, win or lose," said Berkman, who almost always makes himself accessible to the media. "Again, it was unintentional and I'm sorry that was the way it worked out. I think there's a problem with the system. If you want to criticize us for last night, we deserved that, that's warranted. If you want to paint with a broad brush, I don't think that's accurate." In comparison, St. Louis reliever Jason Motte, who blew the save, was available when the media was allowed in the clubhouse and withstood wave after wave of reporters questions for more than 30 minutes. He said a player has a responsibility to do so, a lesson he said Jason Isringhausen taught him. "He told me that if you can talk to everyone on a day you strike the side out then you have to come out and face the music on one of those other days," Motte said. "It's part of the business. It's not fun talking about it but that's the way it and that's the way you have to handle it. You have to man up and that's the way it is." Rangers veteran Michael Young said talking to the media is part of the job and helps take the heat off other players. "I do think there is a responsibility," Young said. "You guys have a job to do. These are big games and it's just a matter of being respectful. You guys have jobs to do, too. You're not here for your health. If I can help I will."

Edgy MD Oct 22 2011 08:56 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Well, Pujols was called a coward on the front page of Yahoo, among other things, which is some really nasty stuff.

bmfc1 Oct 22 2011 09:33 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

So what? He's only available to the media when he's called a future Hall of Famer? He's a phenomenal player but he showed a lack of character the other night. Maybe he'll hit a home run tonight and talk to the press. Let's see what he does if he goes 0 for 4 and strikes out to end the game.

Edgy MD Oct 22 2011 11:15 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I think you got the order mixed up there. He was called a coward for not speaking with them, and then spoke with them.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2011 02:13 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Pujols also got prickly with the NY media back in '06 IIRC. Sherman's got a piece in today's NYPost about how incidents like this/these show Albert to be unsuitable for NYC should he follow through on this FA stuff ... at least that's what the headline implies it's about seeing as how I didn't read it on account of my being turned off by NY media types writing articles about how tough it is to survive the NY media. At some point they're no longer writing about the subject but about themselves.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2011 07:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Oh, the fundies.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2011 07:23 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

[u:1ob2fpaa]GAME 3[/u:1ob2fpaa] So now that the Texas defense is falling apart just like the Brewer D did (with some help from the ump at 1st) is anyone besides me surprised that Ron Washington went with their usual catcher Napoli at 1st and all-purpose IFer Young at DH instead of the other way around?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2011 08:04 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

/Raises hand

Edgy MD Oct 22 2011 08:17 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Texas rallying back nicely. Lance Lynn in the game for St. Louis. Theere shouldn't be guys wearing the number 62 pitching in the World Series.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2011 08:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

"The fifth inning is brought to you by Stanley Tools... when you want to mercilessly, relentlessly pound something, choose a Stanley."

Edgy MD Oct 22 2011 08:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Man, Yorvit Torrealba. What's this Almost-a-2006-Met doing starting a World Series game?

Edgy MD Oct 22 2011 08:29 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

And he walks to torreload the torrebase with two torreouts. Let's go, Kinsler.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2011 08:45 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Please, Hombre, Don't Hurt 'Em. I'm guessing he'll talk to reporters after this one.

Edgy MD Oct 22 2011 09:22 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

He's certainly taking more than the coward's share tonight.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2011 09:28 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Yeah Tony, better change pitchers now. Never know when that eight run lead might just disappear on you.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 23 2011 07:35 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: GAME 3 So now that the Texas defense is falling apart just like the Brewer D did (with some help from the ump at 1st) is anyone besides me surprised that Ron Washington went with their usual catcher Napoli at 1st and all-purpose IFer Young at DH instead of the other way around? I think I figured it out-- if your catcher WhiteTower, say, takes a backswing to the helmet and has to come out, Napoli can still sub in if he's at a field position. It's still an odd move, especially since they've got a third catcher (Matt Treanor/Mr. Misty May) rostered, and they're playing under baby rules for the next game or two.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 07:57 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Of course the corollary to that is if someone else gets hurts at virtually any other spot on the field your most versatile glove is tied up in the DH spot and unavailable to sub in unless you want your pitchers batting for the rest of the game. Look, maybe Washington has done this on a semi-regular basis - I don't see enough Texas games during the reg season to know - but it just struck me as odd when I saw the lineup several hours before the game and then that oddity re-entered my mind the second Napoli threw that ball away ... although Sir Albert did kind of make it all academic in the end.

Edgy MD Oct 23 2011 12:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I'm of the position that it's a waste of mental energy (not to mention, potential offense) being afraid of rotating your DH into a position, if it comes to that. Pitchers tend to get pinch-hit for after the fifth inning anyway.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 05:54 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Not that you should be afraid to put your DH into use, only that it's hardly the ideal situation which makes it hardly the ideal spot to put your most versatile fielder. I also find it hard to imagine that Napoli - and now Moreland (see below) - are better 1Bmen than Young. [u:2glyfk4b]GAME 4[/u:2glyfk4b] Rangers: Young at DH again, only this time it's with Moreland at 1st & Napoli back behind the plate. All else is how it was including the batting order which still features the cold Andrus & Hamilton up top and the hot Cruz & Napoli down in the 6th & 8th slots. Lefty Derek Holland starts Cards: Exact same as last night with Craig in RF and Berkman DH-ing. Edwin Jackson on the mound - leading to what could be an even quicker LaRussa hook than normal.

Edgy MD Oct 23 2011 06:47 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

What? During the National Anthem?

MFS62 Oct 23 2011 07:15 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

The NFL game is a quick rout (21-0). The WS game might get some decent ratings. Later

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 07:50 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

MFS62 wrote: The NFL game is a quick rout (21-0). The WS game might get some decent ratings. I think that stuff is overblown. For the most part, football fans are going to watch football, and baseball fans are going to watch baseball.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 08:13 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

TLaR: "Oops" Man, what did Napoli start eating this year? 2010 - .238/.316/.468 2011 - .320/.414/.631

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 23 2011 08:37 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Buck, McCarver and the Fox cameras go meta-rogue for a second, panning to the "Fox stars" seats where the network had planted Zooey Deschanel and the Glee folk, in order to illustrate/point out that they'd all fled prime WS seats after six frames.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 09:01 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Holland stays in the game !!!! Like to see it. If he/Texas hold on here we'll get our first 2-All tie in a series since 2003 - the Alex Gonzalez HR in the 12th inning off Jeff Weaver gave the Marlins win #2 that year.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 09:05 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Furcal gets on and here comes Feliz. Albert can't be the tying run this inning ... although he could certainly do some damage and make either Berkman or Holliday in that spot.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 09:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

"Sure, that [crossout]ARod[/crossout] Pujols guy will hit you 3 HRs is a blow-out game but when you really need one ..."

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2011 09:15 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Holland - 5.5 Napoli - 4.5

metirish Oct 24 2011 07:39 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Haven't really watched much of this, maybe a few innings.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 24 2011 07:49 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I didn't even find out until Sunday night that the Cards had won Game Three!

MFS62 Oct 24 2011 08:15 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I didn't even find out until Sunday night that the Cards had won Game Three! That's what you get for watching ESPN. That wasn't a football game and they didn't broadcast it. So, what did you expect? Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 24 2011 08:27 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I haven't watched ESPN since... since... I have no idea. Maybe the 2006 post-season?

Ceetar Oct 24 2011 08:31 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I've been busy, but some stuff: Apparently game 4 did better ratings than Sunday Night Football. I distrust ratings in general. I have a better chance at calculating SIERA than I do ratings..and I'm not sure how accurate they are. I'm extremely skeptical of how the NFL and NFL talking heads use them to proclaim Football is extremely popular and no one cares about baseball. The entire mainstream media seemingly whining about Pujols not talking to them while simultaneously proclaming they're not upset about it is amusing me. Twitter suggests Zooey did a good job with the National Anthem and was in tune and didn't stylize it or whatever. truth?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 24 2011 09:02 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Tonite should be appointment viewing, with Wilson v. Carpenter and the "pivotal" game 5 tied 2-2. I don't really feel either of these teams myself but they belong there according to the rules.

Ceetar Oct 24 2011 09:12 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Tonite should be appointment viewing, with Wilson v. Carpenter and the "pivotal" game 5 tied 2-2. I don't really feel either of these teams myself but they belong there according to the rules. every day longer the series goes is another day Alderson has to negotiate with Reyes before free agency.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 10:03 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metirish wrote: Haven't really watched much of this, maybe a few innings. It's been a good series so far. Games 1 & 2 featured good pitching and some great middle-IF defense with #2 tossing a 9th inning comeback into the mix. The 4-0 game last night was a tight 1-0 match through much of it and the game-breaking swing was a stunning bolt on the reliever's first pitch. And even the one high-scoring/blow-out had some hard-hitting back-and-forth in the middle innings before things got out of hand and threw in the Pujolsalooza show free of charge. We've now got the first 2-2 series in eight years so it's a 2-of-3 for the title. * Plus, with the exception of the football score in Game 3 and despite Tony L's OCD/ADHD-driven compulsion to use each of the 17 relievers he has stashed out there in his pen, each game has managed to hang reasonably close to the 3 hour mark.

Gwreck Oct 24 2011 02:34 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I didn't even find out until Sunday night that the Cards had won Game Three! Also: Qadaffi was killed in Libya; Steve Jobs died; there's a protest going on in the Financial District... :)

G-Fafif Oct 24 2011 07:19 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Derek Holland lit up one of those otherwise unfortunate in-game interviews with a great impression of Will Ferrell doing a great impression of Harry Caray.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 07:48 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I could do without just about all those in-inning interviews - manager or player. Not sure why the networks are under the impression that viewers are clamoring for them.

Gwreck Oct 24 2011 07:50 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Given that they still employ people like Chris Berman and Tim McCarver, it's pretty clear to me they don't care about quality.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 08:20 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Gotta admit, that Beltre HR while kneeling thing is a new one on me. I've never seen anyone do that before.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 08:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

WOW, a CS with Pujols up?!?!?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 24 2011 08:29 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Yeah, that was weird. This one's fun tonight.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 08:43 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Lotsa LOBsters tonight for the Cards. A couple more and they'll be forced to relocate the team to Maine.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 24 2011 09:10 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Man, Punto looks like crap on both sides tonight.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 24 2011 09:13 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Na Po Li

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 24 2011 09:15 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

THAT'S A SPICY MEAT-AH-BALL!

Gwreck Oct 24 2011 09:17 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I think that seals MVP if the Rangers win.

MFS62 Oct 24 2011 09:20 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Gwreck wrote: I think that seals MVP if the Rangers win. After a pretty pedestrian career except for his power, he's had a year that kinda' snuck up on everybody who isn't a roto player. http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... mi01.shtml Later

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 09:22 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I was just about to put up a sarcastic post asking if LaRussa was going to change pitchers right after Lynn came in just for the IW But real life turns out to be as strange as fiction.

Gwreck Oct 24 2011 09:22 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Bobby V. criticizing LaRussa using a reliever to just issue an intentional walk saying that "that could burn him in the 14th inning; he deserves to lose in the 15th." Gwreck: Didn't Bobby use Dennis Cook for that exact purpose in the Ventura game?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 24 2011 09:24 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Napoli has been a cheap fantasy catching staple for me for years. This series likely kills that bargain. I need a GIF of that LaRussa "Oh my head!" reaction shot, stat.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 09:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

MFS62 wrote: I think that seals MVP if the Rangers win. After a pretty pedestrian career except for his power, he's had a year that kinda' snuck up on everybody who isn't a roto player. http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... mi01.shtml Later Yeah, I posted the numbers for Napoli last night 2010 - .238/.316/.468 2011 - .320/.414/.631 Even last year those are pretty good walk & power rates especially for a catcher, but then this year the BA shot up and he simply exploded right after being traded twice inside a week (Angels to Blue Jays, then Jays to Texas) Rumor had it that Scoscia wasn't too happy with his catching skills but at least on the surface he looks OK to me plus he can play you some 1B The big question, I suppose, is why the team leader in both OBA & SLG is hitting eighth?!?

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 09:29 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Gwreck wrote: Gwreck: Didn't Bobby use Dennis Cook for that exact purpose in the Ventura game? I don't remember it, but I suppose it's possible. It's also a different story if, after the IW, the other team PH's and changes the matchup. In this case though TLR brought Lynn in strictly for IW purposes which seems to make no sense.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 24 2011 09:31 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Bobby's been super critical of LaRussa tonight, got on him earlier because his team hits into too many DPs.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 09:33 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Well there's your DP right there!!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 24 2011 09:34 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

ooh, there's another. Tuff nite for Tony.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 24 2011 09:34 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Love that hit-and-run, Tony!

metsguyinmichigan Oct 24 2011 09:35 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Wow. That was Albert's hero moment there, and it couldn't make it happen.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2011 09:38 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Be nice if Feliz stopped gifting the Cards a free pass to bring the tying run to the plate. Nolan can't be too feliz with Feliz right now.

Edgy MD Oct 24 2011 09:49 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I was just about to put up a sarcastic post asking if LaRussa was going to change pitchers right after Lynn came in just for the IW But real life turns out to be as strange as fiction. La Russa just created another type of specialist: the ROBIWGY (Righty One Batter Intentional Walk Guy). Genius! --- Brian Costa (Wall Street Journal)

Gwreck Oct 24 2011 09:50 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: Gwreck: Didn't Bobby use Dennis Cook for that exact purpose in the Ventura game? I don't remember it, but I suppose it's possible. It's also a different story if, after the IW, the other team PH's and changes the matchup. In this case though TLR brought Lynn in strictly for IW purposes which seems to make no sense. Hmm. I guess that must have been what Bobby was doing that game. I think Wendell went 2-0 on Jordan and then Bobby brought Cook in who finished the walk. Cox pinch-hits with Hunter (a righty) and then Bobby brought Mahomes in, which meant that Cox would've then needed to burn another player if he wanted to avoid a L-L or R-R matchup. BRAVES 7TH: Williams popped to right; Boone was hit by a pitch; NIXON RAN FOR BOONE; WENDELL REPLACED HERSHISER (PITCHING); C. Jones struck out; Nixon stole second; COOK REPLACED WENDELL (PITCHING); Jordan was walked intentionally (walk was charged to Wendell); HUNTER BATTED FOR KLESKO; MAHOMES REPLACED COOK (PITCHING); Hunter walked [Nixon to third, Jordan to second]; A. Jones flied to left. 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Braves 2, Mets 2.

G-Fafif Oct 25 2011 05:28 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Awesome La Russa excuse: the crowd ate my pitching change. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tony La Russa thought he was making a simple request of the bullpen: get closer Jason Motte ready. Turns out it was anything but simple. What happened after the call was a comedy of errors that played out like something from the "Can you hear me now?" cell phone commercials. Cardinals bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist thought La Russa only asked for Marc Rzepczynski to start throwing, when the manager really wanted both left-hander Rzepczynski and right-hander Motte to get loose. La Russa realized the problem once he put in Rzepczynski and saw no one else warming up, so he called back and asked for Motte again. This time, Lilliquist told Lance Lynn to start throwing, even though he was only supposed to be used in an emergency. The series of miscommunications left Rzepczynski on the mound against Mike Napoli with the bases loaded, a lefty-righty matchup that clearly favored Texas. The Rangers' catcher delivered with a two-run double that sent Texas to a 4-2 victory Monday night. "That phone in a loud ballpark, it's not an unusual problem," La Russa said. "I mean, it doesn't make it right, but ... " As the pitchers came and went, La Russa's deployment seemed curious. But he's the winningest active manager and he's known for his unconventional use of the bullpen, which is probably why nobody questioned whether there might be something wrong. Rzepczynski and Motte didn't even know there was a mixup until after the game. "I go out there, the phone rings and we get going when we're told," Motte said. "I started throwing when I was told to start throwing." And when was that? "When Lance Lynn walked out," Motte said. "I don't need a whole lot of time anywhere." Lilliquist said the problems were caused by noise from the fans. "It was loud," he said. "A lot of places are like that. The phone is as good as any phone anywhere." What if the Rangers win the World Series in part because of the noise level of the 51,459 fans at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington? "They all get rings," said Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, though he added that he's not buying. He added: "If that's the truth, I can believe it, because it's been incredibly, incredibly loud. I think everyone in here has said it before, we've been to Tampa, Detroit, New York, St. Louis, San Francisco, and this is the loudest outdoor ballpark we've even been at. They are great fans. It's a great way to go out. Hopefully, they'll be that loud screaming at the TV when we're in St. Louis." La Russa said the noise problem is not unusual with bullpens "that are right amidst the fans and excitement." The visitors' bullpen at Rangers Ballpark is in left-center field, with fans on either side. "Maybe we need to come up with some ear mikes or something," La Russa said. Considering all the technology available these days, there's got to be a better way to do this -- right? "Yeah, smoke signals from the dugout," La Russa said. "There are times, like what happened in Philadelphia (during the first round of the playoffs). The phone went out, and so we used cell phones. And then the Phillies brought down walkie talkies, and they fixed the phone." The eighth inning began falling apart for St. Louis when Octavio Dotel took over for starter Chris Carpenter and gave up a leadoff double. An intentional walk followed, then with one out, Rzepczynski came in for a lefty-lefty matchup with David Murphy. Texas could've gone to a right-handed hitter, but stuck with Murphy. He hit a comebacker that ricocheted off Rzepczynski's leg to second baseman Nick Punto. He couldn't field it cleanly, loading the bases. "He made a great pitch, but it happens," La Russa said. "Sometimes it happens for us, today it happened against us." Rzepczynski said he wasn't surprised to remain in because there was a lefty on deck, Mitch Moreland. "I've done that all year, where if there's a righty in between, I'm going to go out there and get the chance to get the righty out," Rzepczynski said. La Russa added that he didn't think it was a matchup doomed to fail. "We had a chance with Rzepczynski's stuff to get Napoli on the first pitch," La Russa said. "And then he put a nice swing on a breaking ball." Napoli drove a pitch into the wall in right-center field on one hop. Rzepczynski struck out Moreland, then La Russa went to the mound and tried bringing in Motte. Only he hadn't warmed up yet. So when he called for the righty, in came Lynn. "I said, 'Why are you here?'" La Russa said. With first base open, Lynn was told to intentionally walk Kinsler. La Russa then returned to the mound and finally got the reliever he'd wanted several batters earlier, Motte. Only now St. Louis was down by two runs and the bases were loaded. The bearded closer struck out Elvis Andrus on three pitches, which only made the regrets of what might've been tougher for Cardinals fans to swallow once they learned of the wacky breakdown. La Russa's constant mixing and matching of pitchers was celebrated as a big reason the Cardinals overcame a 10½ game deficit down the stretch to make the postseason, and his deft handling of the bullpen helped them get past Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the first two rounds. But things haven't been the same since Motte closed out a victory in Game 1. Relievers have given up eight runs over their last 11 innings. Motte lost Game 2, Mitchell Boggs allowed a game-breaking three-run homer -- to Napoli -- in Game 4 and Dotel was the loser in Game 5. Now the Rangers head to St. Louis with a 3-2 lead in the series. The Cardinals are facing elimination, something no one needs to explain more than once.

Frayed Knot Oct 25 2011 06:53 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Verducci pretty much slaughters TLR and his [crossout]excuses[/crossout] explanations in his SI.com piece this morning. * After noting that Washington wasn't afraid to roll the dice by leaving Murphy in there against the LHP Lynn -- "my how that must chap the manage-by-data crowd, the ones who cannot make a decision without a binder" - he picks apart the supposed causes for the various and supposedly phone-related mix-ups. * on TLR shrugging off the phone problems as something that's "not unusual" -- "Not unusual? This is a guy who fights for every inch of an advantage, who once complained this year about the ribbon boards in Miller Park giving the Brewers an edge because the bulbs were brighter when they were batting." * on intentionally walking Cruz -- It made no sense. Dotel's job is to get these right-handed hitters out. And by walking Cruz -- and barring a double play, an event that cannot be counted on -- La Russa was making sure that Napoli, the hottest hitter, would get to the plate. * La Russa countered by saying he thought he had closer Jason Motte ready for Napoli, specifically "Well, I was more thinking that we had a real good chance with Rzepcynski with a pinch-hitter [for Murphy] or not, and if we got an out or not we were going to pitch around Napoli and then go after the left-hander." -- Stop right there. That ["whether we got an out or not."] is gibberish. If Rzepczynski did not get the next hitter [Murphy or a PH] the Rangers would have the bases loaded and there would be no possible way to pitch around Napoli. And that's exactly what happened. * Verducci goes on to also take apart the strategy of twice having Craig running with Albert at the plate, noting that Pujols had a lot more HRs (37) than he did singles to the opposite field (11) -- Really, my head hurts trying to figure out what La Russa did to this game but mostly how he tried to explain it away. It was like being stuck in a gigantic corn maze. Blindfolded. At midnight. After getting spun around 38 times. Every explanation led to another turn that led to another dead end or false exit. The bottom line is he lost the game having a matchup he didn't want -- a left-hander pitching to red-hot Napoli -- and he lost his last opportunity by getting a runner thrown out who, while down two runs, didn't mean anything. I've never seen a game even close to this one and I hope never again to have to try to explain one like it.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 25 2011 07:20 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Unprepared for Game 5 of the World Series. It's unimagineable.

Edgy MD Oct 25 2011 07:32 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

LaRussa clearly out-thought himself, and I celebrate that as a blow to his arrogance, but Verducci is still a banana. the "manage-by-data crowd"? LaRussa's not the only annoying snotty guy in baseball, Tom.

Frayed Knot Oct 25 2011 07:45 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

This all reminds me of the time in the '05 WS when Ozzie was signaling for a RH reliever when two were warming up. When the guys in the pen looked confused as to which one he wanted Ozzie started pantomiming a really tall and wide guy with his hands at which point everyone instantly knew that he wanted Bobby Jenks. Maybe Tony needs to take some mime lessons for getting his wishes through when the crowd is too loud.

Edgy MD Oct 25 2011 07:52 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I totally agree that he looks really weak here throwing his bullpen coach under the bus.

MFS62 Oct 25 2011 08:39 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: I totally agree that he looks really weak here throwing his bullpen coach under the bus. If Dave Duncan had gone out to the mound, told the pitcher what to throw, and the batter had hit that pitch for a game winning homer, would Tony have thrown him under the bus? I seriously doubt it. But then again, its Tony. Later

HahnSolo Oct 25 2011 09:10 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I throw this little tidbit around whenever we get deep into a WS... Since the last team to win a WS Game 7 on the road (1979), home teams have gone 20-4 in WS games 6 and 7.

Gwreck Oct 25 2011 11:56 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

The 4 losses are: 1. 2003, Florida is up 3-2 and wins Game 6 and the series at the house of evil; 2. 1981, Dodgers are up 3-2 and wins Game 6 and the series at the house of evil; 3. 1997, Florida is up 3-2 but comes home and loses Game 6 to Cleveland before winning Game 7; and...what's the fourth? I honestly can't remember it.

G-Fafif Oct 25 2011 12:02 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Gwreck wrote: The 4 losses are: 1. 2003, Florida is up 3-2 and wins Game 6 and the series at the house of evil; 2. 1981, Dodgers are up 3-2 and wins Game 6 and the series at the house of evil; 3. 1997, Florida is up 3-2 but comes home and loses Game 6 to Cleveland before winning Game 7; and...what's the fourth? I honestly can't remember it. Braves lost Game 6 at home and thus the Series in 1992.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 25 2011 12:45 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I need a GIF of that LaRussa "Oh my head!" reaction shot, stat. Thanks, stranger at Deadspin!

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2011 07:58 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

John Sickels does a prospect/career retrospective on Mike Napoli. Seems like both the walks and power were always there even back in the minors. Folks worried about his low-ish BA and about his defense, specifically about his (lack of) mobility as his pitch-blocking and runner-throwing-outing numbers are actually pretty decent. His double-trade this past winter went very much under the radar (at least here in the east) so I admit this is almost entirely hindsight - but, jeez, how good would his skills have been in a NYM uni this season? ... splitting time with Thole plus the occasional 1B while Ike sat against LHPs and then maybe there more often after his injury. Wouldn't have had to DH the likes of Willie Harris either.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 26 2011 01:56 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Game 6 is a rainout.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2011 02:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Extends our exclusive Jose negotiating period by a day. I'm not getting the sense that Sandy is taking advantage of this window. I hope I'm wrong, and that there's some intense hush-hush discussion going on.

Ceetar Oct 26 2011 02:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Extends our exclusive Jose negotiating period by a day. I'm not getting the sense that Sandy is taking advantage of this window. I hope I'm wrong, and that there's some intense hush-hush discussion going on. Given his quotes about it being "Reyes month" ,I can't imagine that they haven't talked.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2011 02:38 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Game 6 is a rainout. Upcoming Forecast for St Loo Thurs: leftover rain in the morning then clearing. High around 60, low of 37 Friday: Sunny during the day, high 62 - low 35 ... and this is the year they didn't go into November

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 26 2011 02:39 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

This postponement would allow Carpenter to go in Game 7 but Game 6 is the one they need.

HahnSolo Oct 26 2011 02:41 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Possible tweaks to the game 7 starters? Washington almost has to go to Holland, doesn't he? For LaRussa, I don't get think there's any great difference between Lohse and Jackson. *Or Carpenter on 3 days rest, as Bucket says. didn't think of that.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2011 02:42 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

The one-day postponement also gives Tony and his coaches more time to learn and practice their semaphore signaling skills in case the "phones go out" again.

metirish Oct 26 2011 05:00 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Andrew Keh wrote this great and quirky piece about bulpen phones in the NY Times last Saturday . Dugout Phones: Last Bastion of the Landline By ANDREW KEH Published: October 22, 2011 The seed-strewn dugouts of baseball stadiums around the country may very well end up the final bastions of corded communication in this wireless era. While landlines in homes collect dust and serve increasingly decorative functions, the attitude among baseball clubs is a familiar one in a sport tied tightly to old-fashioned ways: why change what works? “The same old phones, the same old process,” said Derek Lilliquist, the bullpen coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. “I guess they’ve been that way forever.” Dugout phones have become key instruments during postseason games this October, which have featured managers making bullpen calls with the frequency of telemarketers. In the first two games of the World Series, there have been 16 appearances by relievers even though both games were low-scoring — 3-2 for the Cardinals in Game 1, 2-1 for the Texas Rangers in Game 2. Thus far, all those calls to the bullpen have gone through without a hitch. But every now and then, over the course of a long season, problems can arise. Lance Lynn, a Cardinals relief pitcher, recalled a game earlier this season in Philadelphia, when a complex technical issue forced the Cardinals’ dugout to lose communication with the bullpen. “Somebody didn’t put the phone back on the hook all the way, so it wouldn’t ring through,” Lynn said, laughing. Manager Tony La Russa had to send Jaime Garcia, a young starter, across the field between innings to relay instructions to the relievers about who needed to get warmed up — and to tell them to put the phone down properly. “And that was a long run, too,” Lynn said. When the phone lines went dead during a Mets game late this summer, Manager Terry Collins was forced to use a combination of hand signals and towel-waving to convey which pitchers he wanted to start throwing. And then there are more deliberate malfunctions. In 2003, Eric Gagne, then the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made the dugout phone at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco an outlet for his frustrations, snapping the cord in half while swiping at the receiver and in the process earning himself a $500 repair bill from the Giants. “You have technical foul-ups,” La Russa said. “That’s why I limit my technical exploits to paper and pencil.” La Russa, in particular, has been racking up minutes on the phone. A relentless strategist, he has used 10 relievers through Games 1 and 2 after adroitly using an army of them in the first two rounds of the postseason. Last week, he was asked for his opinion of the dugout phones in Busch Stadium. In St. Louis, there are two phones per dugout: one dials directly to the bullpen, the other rings the press box. (Mets fans may remember when Bobby Bonilla dialed the press box during a game at Shea Stadium to complain about being charged with an error on a play.) The phones, manufactured by Avaya, are secured in black and white shells labeled “telephone” from top to bottom and emit a high-pitched but surprisingly discreet ring. Teams in various stadiums in the past have had issues hearing dugout phones over crowd noise. La Russa was asked whether he had any complaints about the phones and if he thought the technology could be improved in any way. “Do you work for AT&T?” La Russa said to the reporter, drawing laughter in the room. “No, I never thought about how to make it better.” But others have. In 2006, the Chicago Cubs and Motorola announced that the company’s i580 wireless phone would be used in the dugouts at Wrigley Field — “ushering in a new era for bullpen phone communication,” according to the news release, which also proclaimed that the phone used in the first game would be sent on to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. One of the phone’s features was that it could clip onto a manager’s belt. But there were issues, too, as Dusty Baker, then the team’s manager, quickly discovered. It only had half-duplex capabilities, meaning that it worked like a walkie-talkie and that only one person could talk at a time. Motorola’s engineers worked with the team and Major League Baseball to remedy the problem, introducing a new phone with full duplex capability, according to Kristine Mulford, a company spokeswoman who worked on the project, but the phone still fell out of favor with the team. Jason Carr, a Cubs spokesman, said the phone was phased out before the end of the season. And the historic i580 never made it to Cooperstown, according to Sue McKay, the director of collections at the Hall of Fame. Exactly when dugout phones began to be used in baseball is unclear. The Hall of Fame could not pin down a date; nor could Major League Baseball. A search through the archives of The New York Times found mentions of dugout phones dating at least as far back as the mid-1950s. The phones have remained largely unchanged for decades, and baseball seems ambivalent about launching any other projects to advance the technology. The few issues that arise each year have not prompted baseball officials to review the matter. According Peter Woodfork, a senior vice president for operations with Major League Baseball, the only regulation is that the phones remain a single line that connects the dugout to the bullpen, with no outside calling capability. “We’re not against them,” Woodfork said of new phones. “What we want to avoid is a situation where the communication allows one team an advantage. I think as long as it’s one line, if someone had a different device, we’d look into it.” And as some players noted, the introduction of mobile phones could bring a new set of issues, like the dreaded “Can you hear me now?” problem. “With a cellphone, you never know when you might lose your signal,” Lynn said. “I think for now the hard lines are just a little easier to work with.” Especially when Tony La Russa is your manager.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:14 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Subjects of online baseball chatter the last few days: Mike Napoli 54% Nelson Cruz 24% Albert Pujols 12% Tony LaRussa 6% Derek Holland 2% Darryl Strawberry 1% Other 1%

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 08:02 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Just getting in now from Lou's City Pub, where there's a TV screen every eight an half inches. Hey, Napoli. Slide, man.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 08:31 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Sloppy Ass Baseball.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 08:32 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Man, this game is like a contest to see which side can give it away. Hey Holliday, where were you goin' man? Texas should be up by like a half-dozen runs.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 08:43 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

As McCarver has mentioned, nothing out of the IF for the last 3 full innings for StL - and yet they've scored twice during that time. Meanwhile, Texas has sent 31 hitters to the plate thru 6 and has put 15 of them on base yet has only scored 4 of them. oe: OK, now it's 32 hitters with 16 on base but FIVE scored.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 08:45 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

NOW should be the time for LaRussa to go out to Lance Lynn and ask; "What are you doing here?"

Rockin' Doc Oct 27 2011 08:46 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Back to Back jacks give the Rangers the lead once again. Cruz's blast was a no doubt about it bomb.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 08:53 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Tony'd nearly succeeded making believers out of haters like me but he's really soiled his jock these last couple games, not to mention a neanderthalian pregame takedown of Moneyball.

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 09:03 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

There's a reason these guys were 10 games out of the wild card in September. Time for that overachieving bullpen/lineup to turn back into pumpkins...

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 09:09 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Tough to call their lineup over-achieving as they sat at or near the top in runs scored in the NL all season. What's killed them is Holliday either not being healthy or virtually being invisible for whatever reason - and then Albert bunching all his damage in that one game. But the bullpen, yeah. They were pitching way over their heads in the first two rounds and there's only so long that was going to continue.

MFS62 Oct 27 2011 09:20 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: What's killed them is Holliday either not being healthy or virtually being invisible for whatever reason - Halliday was plain dumb for getting picked off, even though one camera angle showed he got one hand on the base before the tag. (according to the guys on radio) Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 09:24 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

His outfield play has been even dumber, at least his episode with Furcal tonight was just an awful thing to have to watch if you love baseball.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 09:26 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Washington just called for Adams. Can Stanley Jefferson be far behind?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 09:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Another bad defensive execution has the Cards a swing away from taking the lead

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 09:38 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I'm glad Endy will get the world series ring he rightly deserves.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 09:40 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

And snatch it from St. Louis, too.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 09:44 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Tying run will bat in the 9th

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 09:46 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Tying run ON. The ever dangerous Craig Allen or Allen Craig hitting

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 09:51 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Strikeout looking for the second out.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 09:54 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

WOW!!!! Who do the Cards think they are? The '86 Mets?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 09:55 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

That Endy Chavez post was way too early.

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 09:56 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Yeah, I know. FUCK

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:01 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Kablam. Have the Rangers not answered every StL rally with something of their own almost immediately?

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 10:01 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Thanks Josh

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:01 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

This season just doesn't want to give up yet.

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 10:03 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Hamilton : this game :: Molina : that game. Eat shit, Cardinals.

MFS62 Oct 27 2011 10:04 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That Endy Chavez post was way too early. I'm getting flashbacks of the Shea scoreboard in 1986 that was congratulating the Red Sox on their WS win before Mookie hit the ball to Buckner. Are you sure you weren't the scoreboard operator? Later

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:07 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

And Darren Freakin' Oliver is in to save the World Series This is a guy who supposedly retired, what, about seven years ago?

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:08 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Smosh Smamilton, ladies and gentlemen.

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 10:10 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: And Darren Freakin' Oliver is in to save the World Series This is a guy who supposedly retired, what, about seven years ago? He has credited Wille R. with giving him the chance to extend his career. Seems he was a non-roster invitee to spring training in 2006.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:11 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Winning run up, again.

Ceetar Oct 27 2011 10:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Cruz wasn't a DH all year and just accidentally playing RF now right? geeze.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Cardinals say "Get that damn champagne out of the Rangers' clubhouse NOW!"

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 10:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Pitcher hitting (Cardinals out of position players)

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Gwreck wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: And Darren Freakin' Oliver is in to save the World Series This is a guy who supposedly retired, what, about seven years ago? He has credited Wille R. with giving him the chance to extend his career. Seems he was a non-roster invitee to spring training in 2006. Oliver was one of those guys whose making the team caused a lot of prospect-loving message boarders to moan loudly, as I recall it.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

LaRussa lucks out a bit here with the first two guys getting on and making it a bunt situation. Could you imagine having to send up a pitcher as the potential final AB of the WS because you had run through all your position players? That's life when you carry and eight-man bullpen.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:14 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Did McCarver and Buck comment at all on the route Cruz took toward that triple in the ninth?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:16 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Corey Feldman on to save it.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:17 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Corey Feldman on to save it. To get him do you have to dial the 1-800-COREY hotline from the dugout?

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:17 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Theriot's a former Cub. Not gonna happen.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:18 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Corey Feldman on to save it. To get him do you have to dial the 1-800-COREY hotline from the dugout? Good thing he's not in the Cardinals' pen otherwise LaRussa might have brought in Çorey Haim by accident.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:19 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Albert's going to fill that open base!

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:20 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Rangers put the winning run on. Can make arguments both ways on that decision. And the StL season will ride on Fat Elvis

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:22 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Oh, I think Pujols is like the most walked guy in the history of walks. Washington didn't think twice about it. I'm sure RW sees him as closer to scoring at the plate than he is at first, if you get my meaning.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:23 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Insane!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:24 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Holy crap

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:24 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Guess he shoulda brought in a lefty too, though, huh?

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:25 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ruth Ryan being hustled out of the clubhouse....

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:26 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Crazy. Are you guys also experiencing outages at google, yahoo, twitter?

Ceetar Oct 27 2011 10:26 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

aww, come on. i want to go to bed!

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 10:26 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Dammit

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:28 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Ruth Ryan being hustled out of the clubhouse.... I heard Kathy DeWitt is jealous that Ruth has nicer clothes.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:30 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ruth is still kinda keeping the pressure on Nancy Seaver if you know what I mean.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:30 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: Ruth Ryan being hustled out of the clubhouse.... I heard Kathy DeWitt is jealous that Ruth has nicer clothes. Bad ass!

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:30 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Nelson Munz with the first out.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:31 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Napoli, who shoulda been out of the game nine innings ago, reaches on a tingle.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:32 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I kinda gotta go to bed, but I'm pretty sure I'm giving notice at work tomorrow anyhow, so... let's play 20 innings!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:35 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Really?

Ceetar Oct 27 2011 10:35 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: I kinda gotta go to bed, but I'm pretty sure I'm giving notice at work tomorrow anyhow, so... let's play 20 innings! opting out for a better deal? i'm torn..i mean, it's baseball and almost done with for a while..but i'm tired and don't really care who wins either.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:36 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

If you're going to PH for your best remaining pitcher in the 11th inning I'd want a better hitter up there than German - especially since it would take at least a triple to score Napoli from 1st. IOW, I would have let Feldman hit there.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:38 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Really? Got a competitive offer today from Baltimore. I'm trying to get my agent to squeeze a partial no-trade out of them, but yeah. Funny thing is that after the offer came in, I hung up and put together my most productive day of the year.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 27 2011 10:40 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Joe does Jack.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 27 2011 10:40 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Incredible!

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:41 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: If you're going to PH for your best remaining pitcher in the 11th inning I'd want a better hitter up there than German - especially since it would take at least a triple to score Napoli from 1st. IOW, I would have let Feldman hit there. Kind of for that reason.

Gwreck Oct 27 2011 10:41 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I hate the color red

Edgy MD Oct 27 2011 10:42 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Never trust guys named Lowe. Ever.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2011 10:52 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Well, the morning sports talk shows certainly have their lead story all laid out and served up on a silver platter for them tomorrow. I'm of course talking about that Terrell Owens held a public workout yesterday (one in which all 32 NFL teams declined to show). That should be good for at least an hour of air time and three to four experts to analyze what it all means.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 05:31 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: Well, the morning sports talk shows certainly have their lead story all laid out and served up on a silver platter for them tomorrow. I'm of course talking about that Terrell Owens held a public workout yesterday (one in which all 32 NFL teams declined to show). That should be good for at least an hour of air time and three to four experts to analyze what it all means. Now, now, I have no doubt that Mike and Mike of ESPN radio will have Buster Olney on for a moment or two to ask whether David Freise would be a good fit for the Yankees...

metirish Oct 28 2011 05:57 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I watched until it was 3-3, went to bed around 9:45, been getting up real early this past month , checked the score around 10:40-ish and it was 7-4 Rangers and still only the 7th inning, what time did it finish?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2011 06:01 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

round 12:30 I think. I'm having a hard time accepting that given how sloppy it was in the early inning that this game will go down as an all-time classic but I guess the finish makes up for it. I mean, geez.

bmfc1 Oct 28 2011 06:10 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I didn't see past 4-4. When I went to bed, I was thinking that the level of play was even bad for an exhibition game. I would have loved to have seen the last few innings as they happened.

Met Hunter Oct 28 2011 06:11 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Am I the only one that saw the omen? Endy Chavez batting in the ninth. My first reaction was uh-oh. Then it dawned on me that maybe Ron Washington had the good sense to put him in for defense for the ninth. When I saw Nelson Cruz and his pathetic attempt to field Freese's line drive, I realized that Washington was more McNamara than McGraw. Just think how sweet it would have been having Endy wrap it up by robbing another St Louis third baseman. I would have cheered. Oliver in the tenth? Geez, the only thing missing would have been a shot of Beltran in the stands. Tonight's prediction-blowout St Louis ala 85 Royals.

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 06:35 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Met Hunter wrote: Am I the only one that saw the omen? Endy Chavez batting in the ninth. My first reaction was uh-oh. Then it dawned on me that maybe Ron Washington had the good sense to put him in for defense for the ninth. When I saw Nelson Cruz and his pathetic attempt to field Freese's line drive, I realized that Washington was more McNamara than McGraw. Just think how sweet it would have been having Endy wrap it up by robbing another St Louis third baseman. I would have cheered. Oliver in the tenth? Geez, the only thing missing would have been a shot of Beltran in the stands. Tonight's prediction-blowout St Louis ala 85 Royals. supposedly Castillo was in teh stands. yeah, if Endy was in for Cruz it's the offseason. After watching the replay, I think if _I_ was in for Cruz it's the offseason.

metirish Oct 28 2011 06:35 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: round 12:30 I think. I'm having a hard time accepting that given how sloppy it was in the early inning that this game will go down as an all-time classic but I guess the finish makes up for it. I mean, geez. a quick recap of how tings unfolded? Did the Rangers go to the 9th leading, was the closer in?

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 06:49 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

2-run lead going to the bottom of the ninth. closer Felix in. out, double to Pujols, walk to Berkman. Craig strikes out. Clearly in no-doubles defense, first and second, with Freese up. And Freese hits a deep smash to the wall in RF that Cruz seemed to pull up on early and take a weird route to. Either way, Freese manages a triple against the no-doubles defense and drives in the tying runs before Molina strikes out. Texas comes right back with an Andrus single and Hamilton home run. (Hamilton went 3/6 to raise his average to .240) so we'll try that save thing again with a 2-run lead in the 10th. Darren Oliver comes in, gives up two singles (the second was a lucky blooper that just landed fair) Kyle Lohse (Possibly today's pitcher, though most people doubt it) bunts. An amazing bunt actually, to the SS, who only throws Lohse out by half a step. Feldman comes in, gets Theriot(RBI groundout), walks Pujols (winning run), to pitch to Berkman who singles in the tying run. Craig makes out. Rangers go 1-hit-2-3. Freese homers.

metirish Oct 28 2011 06:51 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Thanks Ceetar.....fucking Freese eh?

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 07:03 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metirish wrote: Thanks Ceetar.....fucking Freese eh? I have to say though, the Cardinals fans had some good signs I saw afterwards "Forecast for Game 6: Deep Freese" etc. Mike and Mike this morning had the gall to say something along the lines of "Shame it was Freese. If it was Pujols, this game would've been truly epic." Also start rattling off best WS games without mentioning '86. screw 'em.

metirish Oct 28 2011 07:09 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Screw those two, for me what makes baseball great is that a guy like Freese can be a postseason hero.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 07:18 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ceetar wrote: Mike and Mike this morning had the gall to say something along the lines of "Shame it was Freese. If it was Pujols, this game would've been truly epic." If THAT doesn't illustrate the typical ESPN star-driven mentality absolutely fucking perfectly ...

Met Hunter Oct 28 2011 07:18 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ceetar wrote: Met Hunter wrote: Am I the only one that saw the omen? Endy Chavez batting in the ninth. My first reaction was uh-oh. Then it dawned on me that maybe Ron Washington had the good sense to put him in for defense for the ninth. When I saw Nelson Cruz and his pathetic attempt to field Freese's line drive, I realized that Washington was more McNamara than McGraw. Just think how sweet it would have been having Endy wrap it up by robbing another St Louis third baseman. I would have cheered. Oliver in the tenth? Geez, the only thing missing would have been a shot of Beltran in the stands. Tonight's prediction-blowout St Louis ala 85 Royals. supposedly Castillo was in teh stands. yeah, if Endy was in for Cruz it's the offseason. After watching the replay, I think if _I_ was in for Cruz it's the offseason. Dewey Evans makes that catch.

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 07:20 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Frayed Knot wrote: Ceetar wrote: Mike and Mike this morning had the gall to say something along the lines of "Shame it was Freese. If it was Pujols, this game would've been truly epic." If THAT doesn't illustrate the typical ESPN star-driven mentality absolutely fucking perfectly ... "If it was Pujols, that would've truly epic. Now Ron Jaworski to discuss the Kansas City chiefs game on Sunday!"

G-Fafif Oct 28 2011 07:23 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Tough play. Got tougher with every replay. But yeah, donde esta Endy? This game makes a nice rejoinder for the way the regular season ended, when only the Cardinals among those with everything on the line had an easy night of it. This fits right in with the Rays comeback and the Brave and Red Sox implosions. Seems so long ago, yet it's only been thirty days.

HahnSolo Oct 28 2011 07:25 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: Mike and Mike this morning had the gall to say something along the lines of "Shame it was Freese. If it was Pujols, this game would've been truly epic." If THAT doesn't illustrate the typical ESPN star-driven mentality absolutely fucking perfectly ... "If it was Pujols, that would've truly epic. Now Ron Jaworski to discuss the Kansas City chiefs game on Sunday!" I was listening to Mike and Mike today...I never heard them say anything like "shame it was Freese".

metirish Oct 28 2011 07:26 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: Mike and Mike this morning had the gall to say something along the lines of "Shame it was Freese. If it was Pujols, this game would've been truly epic." If THAT doesn't illustrate the typical ESPN star-driven mentality absolutely fucking perfectly ... "If it was Pujols, that would've truly epic. Now Ron Jaworski to discuss the Kansas City chiefs game on Sunday!" Ha! don't you just love on FiOS there are maybe six different espn channels , was flipping channels last night and I passed on one of the espn ones and there was the host "taking a knee" like they do in football with his co-host jock buddies to send his show I think.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 07:29 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Met Hunter wrote: Met Hunter wrote: Am I the only one that saw the omen? Endy Chavez batting in the ninth. My first reaction was uh-oh. Then it dawned on me that maybe Ron Washington had the good sense to put him in for defense for the ninth. When I saw Nelson Cruz and his pathetic attempt to field Freese's line drive, I realized that Washington was more McNamara than McGraw. Just think how sweet it would have been having Endy wrap it up by robbing another St Louis third baseman. I would have cheered. Oliver in the tenth? Geez, the only thing missing would have been a shot of Beltran in the stands. Tonight's prediction-blowout St Louis ala 85 Royals. supposedly Castillo was in teh stands. yeah, if Endy was in for Cruz it's the offseason. After watching the replay, I think if _I_ was in for Cruz it's the offseason. Dewey Evans makes that catch. And the thing is, Cruz later on did get replaced in a double-switch during the final pitching change. He apparently tweaked a groin (his own hopefully) and will be, at best, a bit compromised for tonight's game. Napoli's condition has to be questioned as well. And throw in Holliday on the other side while we're at it as TLR even mentioned the possibility of replacing him on the roster ... I keep forgetting that they changed the rules to allow teams to do this at such a late date although there must be SOME restriction or else clubs would just wholesale replace worn out pitchers.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 07:31 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Will Washington get the same criticism LaRussa had been getting? Will he get the same criticism MacNamara got? Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. He took a crap route (though I don't recall McCarver and Buck underscoring this point). Yeah, I guess Endy should've been in, but do we have a good idea what the state of his legs are?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2011 07:37 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Couple of other small big moments there. * On the Lohse bunt, had Beltre not been so aggressive charging, he catches it on the fly and has an easy DP. * Rangers unlucky that Lewis came to bat twice in key spots, obviously the bunt DP in the 2nd was a killer, had he only managed to whiff Rangers on their way to a blowout. Letting him hit in the 5th was a hard choice but with 2 out and him pitching well, I guess you have to take chances. As it turned out he'd have gotten to the 7th were it not for the Young error. * Quick innings are often a huge hidden advantage for a team needing a comeback. No way to say it mattered for sure, but Rzepczyski retiring TX on 8 pitches in the 8th threw Holland back on the mound in a hurry, where he gave up the HR to Craig.

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 07:41 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: Will Washington get the same criticism LaRussa had been getting? Will he get the same criticism MacNamara got? Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. He took a crap route (though I don't recall McCarver and Buck underscoring this point). Yeah, I guess Endy should've been in, but do we have a good idea what the state of his legs are? Endy's not exactly a spring chicken, and he's had injuries, and most of us are probably thinking of him as '06 Endy, which was 5 years ago. I didn't even realize Cruz was replaced in the 11th (one batter, big deal). May have been a nod to the possibility of a longer game and wanting to double switch as much as that he was hurting. I believe the words mike and mike used were "No offense to Freese, but.." and then basically said it should've been Pujols, he's no Fisk or Puckett, etc.

G-Fafif Oct 28 2011 07:55 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. White, Gracie?

MFS62 Oct 28 2011 07:57 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Not one of the ESPN "baseball experts" has compared this game to game 7 of the 1960 World Series. One of the most famous games in World Series history. The scores were similar, games were full of twists and turns, and were ended by a late inning homer by an "unlikely" hitter. Later

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 07:58 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

MFS62 wrote: Not one of the ESPN "baseball experts" has compared this game to game 7 of the 1960 World Series. One of the most famous games in World Series history. The scores were similar, games were full of twists and turns, and were ended by a late inning homer by an "unlikely" hitter. Later There are no good highlights of that game obviously.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 08:25 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: Will Washington get the same criticism LaRussa had been getting? Will he get the same criticism MacNamara got? Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. He took a crap route (though I don't recall McCarver and Buck underscoring this point). Yeah, I guess Endy should've been in, but do we have a good idea what the state of his legs are? Not only is Cruz not hobbled but maybe their best OF out there and def their best arm. On the triple it wasn't so much a bad route as it was him drifting toward a ball that was hit harder/deeper than he thought. Buckarver didn't question the route though did comment prior to the hits on how deep the OF was - no doubles so to speak - despite the fact that a single ties the game. Playing more not to lose than in effect than trying to win. It was as if Cruz thought he was already so deep that he didn't have to go back very hard because he was already close to the track and wall. Murphy had been the last out prior to Endy, maybe that's the switch you want to make. No way of knowing, of course, that a RF hit will be the critical play later on.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 08:27 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

G-Fafif wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. White, Gracie? White, the general race category for Bill Buckner.

G-Fafif Oct 28 2011 08:29 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. White, Gracie? White, the general race category for Bill Buckner. Yeah, but so? I assume that was included for irony or something. Just kind of jumped out at me as irrelevant in the context of old, broken down and chronically injured.

attgig Oct 28 2011 08:32 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

bottom of the 9th, 2 run lead. you put your best defenders in there, no question. The way Cruz was running to the ball, he did not seem like he was their best defender... I know Endy's no spring chicken, but he's got to be better than THAT.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 09:12 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

G-Fafif wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. White, Gracie? White, the general race category for Bill Buckner. Yeah, but so? I assume that was included for irony or something. Just kind of jumped out at me as irrelevant in the context of old, broken down and chronically injured. It's a community history thing, going back to the MOFo where a character named METSSC would openly lament the presence of too many Mets players who were "old, white, and slow." It's since become an article of faith to make a point of unnecessarily dragging race into it when referring to a creaky old guy. As if Moises Alou being old, slow, and broken down was offset in part by him not being white.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 09:13 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

attgig wrote: bottom of the 9th, 2 run lead. you put your best defenders in there, no question. The way Cruz was running to the ball, he did not seem like he was their best defender... I know Endy's no spring chicken, but he's got to be better than THAT. Yeah, but as mentioned, it's not like Cruz would have been the obvious guy to lift.

G-Fafif Oct 28 2011 09:47 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Because Cruz doesn't really represent a perfect analog for Buckner --- old, white, broken down, chronically injured --- and failing to get to a hard-hit ball ain't the same as letting a bouncer go through your legs. White, Gracie? White, the general race category for Bill Buckner. Yeah, but so? I assume that was included for irony or something. Just kind of jumped out at me as irrelevant in the context of old, broken down and chronically injured. It's a community history thing, going back to the MOFo where a character named METSSC would openly lament the presence of too many Mets players who were "old, white, and slow." It's since become an article of faith to make a point of unnecessarily dragging race into it when referring to a creaky old guy. As if Moises Alou being old, slow, and broken down was offset in part by him not being white. Ah, Bach.

Met Hunter Oct 28 2011 10:18 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

The knock on Cruz is that he's not going to run into a wall for you. Of course McCarver would downplay it, he's a former player. Not gonna knock a stud player just cause he looks like Muffy on the most important putout of his career. It wasn't as obvious as Buckners, but it was just as damaging. The comparison to Johnny Mac was geared more toward not having the best available defensive options out there to put it away. If Endy isn't a viable option, then why the hell carry him on your roster? For his power? He may have bad wheels, but one thing we've learned from Endy is he plays the outfield with a sense of urgency when the situation calls for it. If I'm a Ranger fan, I'm throwing my beer at the tv after that play. Cruz should have had it. Or at the very least look better missing it. Maybe I don't know the ins and outs of the Rangers outfield. I don't follow them. Just get ticked off as a fan, when a guy looks like Manny on a catchable ball. Back In Curt Flood's day, he broke the wrong way for a second and was remembered forever for that miscue. Guys today get a pass, cause most people watching don't know what they're seeing. Washington made some key mistakes with the pitchers late in that game. Bringing in Holland was a desperate move usually done by the team facing elimination. I didn't see LaRussa hit the panic button and go with Carpenter.

Ashie62 Oct 28 2011 10:23 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ron Washington may be back on crack. Esteban German..Mark Lowe..really? Nelson Cruz blew it. Nolan Ryan looked like a defeated fuhrer with that trenchcoat.

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 10:31 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Met Hunter wrote: Guys today get a pass, cause most people watching don't know what they're seeing. Part of that's the broadcast. Gary Keith and Ron maybe replay and note that stuff, and the viewer is smarter for it. Joe Buck glosses over it, and it's forgotten.

Met Hunter Oct 28 2011 10:40 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

You know, I'm going to retract most of what I said in my post. I think my disappointment in seeing Albert and Yady jumping up and down is clouding my judgement. Endy has to be a bum at this point and Nelson Cruz is one of the better young players in the game. So it is what it is. And Washington appeared to have made the right move with Holland. Derek was sitting there in the dugout waiting for the Rangers closer to finish it off and give him win number two. Again, it is what it is. That being said good luck tonight Texas and Nolan and fuck you St Louis.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 11:10 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Yeah, I had no problem with Washington going to Holland there (or even Belgium) and all his machinations still got him to his closer with a two-run lead in the 9th. There were a couple of spots where I questioned him (some mentioned in this thread) -- PH/or not for Lewis in the 5th (bases loaded/2-out) was a toss-up IMO, as was IW-ing Pujols; I would have let Feldman hit in the 10th and let him throw another inning -- but the failure last night was mostly with the players. They left a ton of runners on, didn't play real good defense, and twice had the "correct" pitchers out there who couldn't close the deal with 2-run leads.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2011 11:14 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

As said above Young's error was huge in that it started the whole bullpen thing an inning sooner than it would have otherwise, and certainly was a kind of play that shoulda been made, more so than a failure to reel in a smash off the fence.

HahnSolo Oct 28 2011 11:29 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Not to go all Jonah Keri here, but Ron Washington must stop going to Alexi Ogando, who is nearing David-West-World-Series levels of ineptitude. This series: 2 1/3 IP, 7 hits and 7 walks in 20 batters faced.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 11:31 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

It seemed Lohse's bunt was pretty analogous to the situation that Willie chose to swing away in five years ago. That the Cards prevailed would seem to lend discredit to Willie and credit to LaRussa, but (1) Tony had emptied his bench, and (2) it was a real lucky break that bunt wasn't a double play. Remind me... what was sending Jackson up there first about?

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 11:47 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Ceetar wrote: Thanks Ceetar.....fucking Freese eh? I have to say though, the Cardinals fans had some good signs I saw afterwards "Forecast for Game 6: Deep Freese" etc. Mike and Mike this morning had the gall to say something along the lines of "Shame it was Freese. If it was Pujols, this game would've been truly epic." Also start rattling off best WS games without mentioning '86. screw 'em. My guess is they hadn't heard of Freese before last night. Possibly before this morning.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 01:25 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: It seemed Lohse's bunt was pretty analogous to the situation that Willie chose to swing away in five years ago. That the Cards prevailed would seem to lend discredit to Willie and credit to LaRussa, but (1) Tony had emptied his bench, and (2) it was a real lucky break that bunt wasn't a double play. If not a triple play!! Remind me... what was sending Jackson up there first about? He's the better hitter of the two (although Lohse can swing it as well) so I guess if it was a hitting spot he'd go with Jackson and if a bunt situation go with Lohse. Or he could have gone with Buck's suggestion to PH Jamie Garcia - also a good hitting pitcher. Joe was on that for like two innings before remembering that Garcia had started the game and therefore was no longer eligible.

bmfc1 Oct 28 2011 04:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Want to see Roger Angell's scorecard from Game 6? Here it is: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/s ... ecard.html

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 06:00 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

GAME. SEVEN. Cards: Carpenter starting although on short rest Holliday out, replaced on the roster by rookie/speedster Adron Chambers Rangers: Harrison on the hill. Both Napoli and Cruz in the lineup

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 06:12 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Same start as last night in that the Cards don't retire any of the first three Texas hitters ... now it's four and the Rangers already have more runs than the 1st inning yesterday even though they handed them an out.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 06:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

A two-run lead for the Rangers. Those are always safe.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 06:34 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

And the emboldened Cards swallow it up.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2011 07:02 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Craigslist

Gwreck Oct 28 2011 07:05 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Bobby V. looking like a genius, predicting that Craig would "do some damage" against Harrison's fastball 5 seconds before the homer.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2011 07:14 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I gotta confess I barely even heard of Harrison until the other day.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 07:39 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Just a one-run lead, but the Rangers have to be feeling some heat about now.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 07:53 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Molina's neck tats look stupid.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 07:55 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Walking in runs in a Game Seven IS stupid.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 07:57 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

They're going to be feeling a lot more soon if they don't get out of this. This is looking like last night: Cards can't get ball out of the IF and they're scoring anyway. Jeez, at least make them earn it ... BB, HBP, GO, IW, RBI-BB

Gwreck Oct 28 2011 07:57 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

It wasn't a ball

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 08:02 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Gwreck wrote: It wasn't a ball It was close, but even if it wasn't the other 35 that inning were. And even going back to the Cards' 2 runs in the 1st inning: 2 outs, no one on ... walk, walk, 2B -- One ball out of the infield. No one to blame but themselves.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 08:07 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

That was Endy-esque.

metirish Oct 28 2011 08:09 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metsguyinmichigan wrote: That was Endy-esque. no way, not even close was it really? Carpenter is a bit of a wanker I think, lots of gesticulating on the mound after an out.

seawolf17 Oct 28 2011 08:16 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metirish wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: That was Endy-esque. no way, not even close was it really? Carpenter is a bit of a wanker I think, lots of gesticulating on the mound after an out. Dude's three innings from a WS ring. He can gesticulate all the hell he wants.

Ceetar Oct 28 2011 08:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metirish wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: That was Endy-esque. no way, not even close was it really? Carpenter is a bit of a wanker I think, lots of gesticulating on the mound after an out. after the Endy catch.

Kong76 Oct 28 2011 08:21 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

*Clyde* Gesticulatin' in the paint! */Clyde*

metirish Oct 28 2011 08:22 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

That's not Carpenter!

seawolf17 Oct 28 2011 08:23 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Remember Good Ollie? What a joy to watch. I wanted so badly for him to succeed.

metirish Oct 28 2011 08:29 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Per FOX stat last team to come back from a three run deficit in game seven? yes, the 1986 Mets

MFS62 Oct 28 2011 08:30 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

seawolf17 wrote: metirish wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: That was Endy-esque. no way, not even close was it really? Carpenter is a bit of a wanker I think, lots of gesticulating on the mound after an out. Dude's three innings from a WS ring. He can gesticulate all the hell he wants. And he's not going those three innings himself. Carpenter is a pussy. You would have had to pull the ball out of Bob Gibson's cold dead fingers. I think "the genius" is overmanaging again, just to show us how smart he is. Later

SteveJRogers Oct 28 2011 08:51 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metirish wrote: Per FOX stat last team to come back from a three run deficit in game seven? yes, the 1986 Mets Red Sox even had a 3 run lead in the 1975 Game 7 as well!

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 08:52 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

metirish wrote: Per FOX stat last team to come back from a three run deficit in game seven? yes, the 1986 Mets God, was it three runs? In my mind, we had 'em all the way.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 09:02 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Lance F. Lynn. Are you kidding me? Pound this chump.

metirish Oct 28 2011 09:04 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

If the Cardinals win this I wonder will they talk about going in to game seven on the back of game six like the '86 Mets players do,"no way were we going to lose game seven after that".

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 09:13 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

The 1975 Red Sox would have said that also.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 09:23 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

And the Cards it is.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 09:25 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Wow. Didn't see this coming in August -- or even in the eighth or even 10th inning last night!

MFS62 Oct 28 2011 09:26 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Who says you need an extra hitter in the lineup to play good, exciting baseball? Fuck the DH and everyone who likes it. Well done, National League representative! You made us proud. Later

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 09:27 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

The celebration caps look crappy, but the shirts are surprisingly tasteful for a change.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 09:29 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

And we put the 2011 baseball season 'in the books'.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 09:33 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I like it when they do the trophy presentation on the field.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 09:34 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Bud needs a script to say that kind of stuff?

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2011 09:36 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Yeah, but Bud shouldn't speak in public. He makes Ron Paul look charismatic.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 28 2011 09:53 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Oh, Carpenter brings up 2006 and Yadier "Bleeping" Molina.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2011 10:54 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Congrats to the goddamn Cardinals

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2011 06:36 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I look at the 2011 post-season tourney this way: Of all my 'rooting interests' (some minor, others less so) in the seven individual series, I think the team I was pulling for lost in every case except one ... but that one was the important one so it more than balances out.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 29 2011 07:19 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Terrific regular season finale drama, two shocking upsets (StL over Philly, Detroit over MFY), one sizzling championship series (Detroit-Texas); one game that will never be forgotten (Game 6 WS). Not a bad final month.

Met Hunter Oct 29 2011 08:05 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Do you wonder if Napoli was thinking, here comes my ring and MVP award as Feliz's pitch to Freese was on its way to Mike's glove?

G-Fafif Oct 29 2011 09:04 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Disappointed for swell buncha fellas in Texas, but truly admire the run the Cards put together. As for Molina, as I watched that fucker celebrate his second World Series ring, I rationalized, "at least it's not Jeter." Small favors, indeed.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 29 2011 09:56 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

There's no upsets in MLB's post-season as far as I'm concerned. What with all the luck that exists in every baseball game, having two good MLB teams play against each other in a short series proves not a thing and is no way to determine the better team. I'd bet the Wild Card every single year. And if I did, I'd be ahead because in the wild card era, the wild card has now won five out of 17 World Series.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2011 10:21 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Are you in favor of scrapping league and division play and just crowning the guys with the best record after 162 games the champs?

batmagadanleadoff Oct 29 2011 10:29 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: Are you in favor of scrapping league and division play and just crowning the guys with the best record after 162 games the champs? To some degree. Not that what I'd like is ever gonna happen. I would've left it alone at two playoff teams per league. I'd love to see the pre-1969 no playoffs at all set-up. It's true that less teams would be in it in September but oh what sort of pennant races we would have. But I realize that this a pipe dream. All I said was that I don't consider the Cards triumph any sort of an upset. A seven game series is a highly effective method to determine the better of two good hockey or basketball teams. But baseball? That's a whole different animal.

Ceetar Oct 29 2011 11:00 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

How about two best of 15s, two teams from each league, with no days off? Make 'em use that fourth and perhaps fifth starter. Removing the days off makes it more like the regular season. Not that that's happening, but if they want to add another wildcard team, they could probably do that sudden death style, and still have three rounds of best of 7s if they removed days off. Except with tV scheduling you'd never be able to push back the first rounds without butting up against the second round. Which is a shame, cause I'd love for the World Series to start as soon as both pennants are won. Having teams get almost a week off if they finish in 4 is weird.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2011 11:20 AM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I'm certainly down with a playoff schedule with no days off. But I'm feeling that baseball had it right in the 19th century, and to a greater extent UK football has it right today. The champ is the team with the greatest record at the end of a full season. And if elimination play excites the pants of of you, have simultaneous cup play throughout the year, but don't pretend that the cup play results undo the season performance.

HahnSolo Oct 29 2011 12:37 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I'm late to the party but I thought the two most important PAs in this game belonged to Pujols. In the first, with 2 out and nobody on, Harrison completely avoided pitching to him. 4 in a row out of the zone, and then he of course loses his control, walking Berkman and going 3 balls on Freese before serving up a meatball. I thought it would be big for Texas to get out of that inning with a 2-run lead. Go after the big guy with a 2-run lead and the bases empty. Jeez. The other big moment I thought was his getting hit with an 0-2 pitch. He looked bad on the first two pitches. They get him out there, the 2-run rally probably doesnt happen.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2011 01:55 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

I wonder how regularly that happens --- pitch around one guy and you're out of alignment and can't get focused on the next guy.

Ceetar Oct 29 2011 04:01 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

Edgy DC wrote: I'm certainly down with a playoff schedule with no days off. But I'm feeling that baseball had it right in the 19th century, and to a greater extent UK football has it right today. The champ is the team with the greatest record at the end of a full season. And if elimination play excites the pants of of you, have simultaneous cup play throughout the year, but don't pretend that the cup play results undo the season performance. Then we go back to the unbalanced schedule argument.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2011 04:18 PM Re: 2011 WS IST - Rangers & Cards

No, we don't. The context of my statement is a prior statement about scrapping league and division play.