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But yes, I find it hysterical the Cardinals said last year we were going to go back to defense, and we keep running Fowler, Carpenter AND JMart out there on a nightly basis.
We only do defensive substitutions when we are up 9 runs.
Well, Pugs, your dream of seeing the Cardinals at bunting practice appears in jeopardy, as the Padres have scored again. This time on Brebbia.
Well, the Padres got two back that inning. 9-3 after 7.
In other news, evidently a zoo keeper in China who boils tiger bones into wine was mauled to death by a tiger…
Indeed sad, Cardinals2016. 9-3 now, so we need to hit the Pads with at least 4 runs in the 8th to see at least 3 of our hitters get a little bunting practice in during the 9th frame. Would have loved to seen that 10 run lead after 6, so we could have gone completely thru the order.
Never heard that about Bader’s father purposely plunking him as a kid to get him big league ready. Great stuff! Hope Bader’s dad isn’t presently on vacation in China is he? I thought I read somewhere that he is a zookeeper.
Nah, his dad is a legal executive at Verizon
Thanks for the article, Cardinals2016! It’s obvious that you’re a man who knows how to get things…and get them quickly. Pretty neat that Harrison Bader’s father has the first name “Louis”. As big a baseball fan that he appears, I’m surprised Harrison wasn’t christened with the first name “St.”.
Barring not one, but two broken legs, I want to see Gyorko trotting out to his position in the 1st inning of every game for the rest of the season.
Gregerson on in a mop up role…. and he promptly gives up a solo Jack to right to Jankowski. 9-4 ballgame now.
Now Gregerson balls in a run making it 9-5. These Pads may end up having to show us a little mercy if this continues.
Some guy ran onto the field in the 7th. lasted about 30 seconds longer than he should’ve.
Weaver is a concern moving forward. He really pushes your bullpen to the max. Bowman in mop up was terrible.
It would be great if Weaver were more efficient…but the Cards definitely have set themselves up to handle shorter starts. They’ll need to, because Wacha, Weaver, Flaherty, Reyes, even Waino are not exactly going to chew up innings in their starts. I wonder if we may not see some “piggyback” games through the summer where two of the bunch (throw Gant in there too) each go 4-5 innings.
Also would like to add…great power show last night! Hope to see the offense get moving by utilizing proper matchups going forward.
Used 7 different relievers over 2 nights and still have 3 ( Sam T., Mayers, Cecil) not see action. Literally a 10 man bullpen. 2018 managers dream.
2 will have to go as Wainwright and Flaherty get activated in the coming days, but still seams unusual.
Whats sad is they’ll like use 5 bullpen arms tonight. Weaver has got to go longer in games.
When you are up 7-0, and your starter only goes five something is wrong. Weaver was at 92 pitches and exhibiting better control than usual. I can’t see pulling him at that point, although with another off day Monday I guess the thought is that the bullpen can be extended some in this series.
Man, you do not usually see a home run game in Petco. Great to see the offense snap out of it. What a difference when we have Pham back, and play guys that can actually hit (ie Gyorko and Bader).
My guess is that after Weaver’s very rough stretch, they decided to get him out when he was in line for the win, making it a very positive experience. I had no issue with it, personally, especially with a 10-man bullpen.
I am less worried about pushing Weaver to go deeper into games. That will follow natually when his consistency returns.
Weaver lost all command in the 23 pitch 5th inning. He was high to the leadoff batter, which he walked.
After the first pitch to the second batter was high as well, there was a mound visit. The next three pitches were each subsequently lower until he threw one in the dirt…
The third batter, the pitcher, hit a single…
The 4th batter – again, all over the place…
PLUS, Weaver was due to lead off the 6th inning. Greg Garcia pinch hit for him, ending his night. Garcia wound up scoring off Bader’s HR. If not for those two runs, we have to run Norris or Holland out there in the 9th.
I can’t fault Matheny for practicing what he should be doing in close games.
And as has been discussed for awhile now, the evidence is getting overwhelming on Carpenter. You would think he has burned his goodwill and Gyorko would be in there.
Right. It’s not like we don’t have somebody else to run in there. But MM will give Carpenter the day off against lefties and play him against most righties due to his relatively less pathetic numbers from the right side, .161/.299/.333. This is platooning ad absurdum. The only kind of lineup construction I hate more is the “head-to-head” line-up based on going 1-for-3 against Kershaw or 2-for-7 against Lester. These are small sample sizes; how about just playing the better player? Gyorko>Carpenter. Martinez>Carpenter. I don’t care about Martinez’s recent slump. Martinez has produced whereas Carpenter’s entire season is a slump.
I leave Wong in for his defense. But Carpenter? Which of the five tools are we leaving him in for?
Every season MM does one thing over and over that drives me nuts. In 2014 it was leaving Craig in until the day he was traded. In 2016 it was hitting Holliday fourth. The last three seasons it’s playing Molina too much because, after all, Molina demands to play. I wish Matheny didn’t compel me to write against players I have really liked–in the past–such as Craig, Holliday, and Carpenter. This is really all on the manager. People say the players have to produce, not the manager. But the manager can play the players who are producing, whether it’s offensively, defensively, or both.
Every season MM does one thing over and over that drives me nuts. In 2014 it was leaving Craig in until the day he was traded. In 2016 it was hitting Holliday fourth. The last three seasons it’s playing Molina too much because, after all, Molina demands to play. I wish Matheny didn’t compel me to write against players I have really liked–in the past–such as Craig, Holliday, and Carpenter. This is really all on the manager. People say the players have to produce, not the manager. But the manager can play the players who are producing, whether it’s offensively, defensively, or both.
You hit the nail on the head there gmaske. Well said. How many of us have been clamoring for more Gyroko and Bader and less Carp and Fowler? The lineup looked better last night.
I will also repeat that Bowman should not be on the big league roster. I’m sure he is a nice kid and being a rule 5 survivor is a nice story but he looks like he has hit the proverbial wall. He just can’t get batters out. He needs to go but I’m afraid MM is determined to give him his annual 80 appearances though.
I’m a little surprised Cecil didn’t get into the game last night. I can’t imagine MM would have the nerve to put him into a high leverage situation so a 9-0 lead would have been a good time to give him some work.
At least Hicks, Holland, and Norris all got the night off and should be ready to go tonight. They seem to be MM’s current plan to close out games.
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