StL 2019 Game 12 thread: Wed 4/10 vs. Dodgers

Some observations on last night’s game – good, bad, ugly.

Good – The bullpen was taxed, but came up big. Still too many walks and too many 3 ball counts, but they held the fort.

Bad – The starters need to be more consistent and get more innings I we are going to have any arms that can throw in August.  Also, after Fowler lead off the 7th, I believe that was the inning, with a single, why was n’t Wong bunting? You are facing a tough lefty – your gotta at least try putting it down as you might beat it out, or at least get the runner to second with one out.

Ugly – Ozuna. What was that all about?? One of the worst judgements on a fly ball I have seen in recent years. Plus why climb the wall? Stay on the ground where you can make a play. If the ball is that far over the fence you won’t get it anyway. Man, that was so ugly!

While I am of the opinion that Cardinal Nation far outnumbers Blues hockey fans I just cannot understand why bump the Cards off Midwest and on to Midwest Plus (which I don’t have). From Brian’s post it appears that Plus is available in quite a few areas that would be of interest to Blues fans. I qill watch the game on Fox Sports Go but I haven’t yet figured out how to get the streaming to fill my 46″ screen. But it is big enough to be enjoyable. Guess I just have to have something to whine about – learned that on other Cards boards…….LOL

One question – Why is Ozuna seemingly cemented into the #4 cleanup position? I would like to hear Mike’s thinking on that.

Speaking of McCarver, did anyone hear the comment he made last night about Hudson? I believe he said something to the effect that Hudson had more than one finger on his hand.

r/Rat

Gyorko for Chad Green or Kahnle, preferably Green?

I was hoping with ANdujar out for the year, the Yankees might trade for Gyorko.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

3:02pm: It’s a two-year deal with a vesting option for a third season, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch tweets. It seems likely that the contract will overwrite the preexisting option year, meaning Carpenter will be under contract through 2021 with the new option covering the 2021 campaign.

2:50pm: The Cardinals have struck a new deal with veteran infielder Matt Carpenter, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Twitter links). It is set to be announced at a press conference this afternoon. Contract details are not yet known; Carpenter is represented by SSG Baseball.

Carpenter, 33, is coming off of a stellar 2018 season in which he posted a hefty .257/.374/.523 slash line with a career-high 36 home runs. He has turned in well-above-average offensive work in every one of his seven full seasons in the majors.

The new deal comes as Carpenter’s prior pact neared a conclusion. His early 2014 extension included a $14.5MM salary for the current season along with a $18.5MM club option ($2MM buyout) for 2020.

Carpenter joins newly acquired first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in signing on for the foreseeable future. There’s risk in locking into two such corner pieces into their mid-thirties, but both are immensely productive hitters.

Unfortunately our best 4 & 6 hole hitters are on sitting on the bench.