bicyclemike

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  • in reply to: 2023 StL Game #43: Tuesday, May 16 vs. Brewers #220753
    bicyclemike
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    Devin Williams seems like who Jordan Hicks would be if Hicks had good command.

    in reply to: Former Cardinals in the News #220749
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    As I recall, Sheriff had some personal issues when he was with the Rays. Something about losing his passion for the game and all of the years of competing and the pressure took its toll. He wanted to just get away from it all for awhile.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #43: Tuesday, May 16 vs. Brewers #220748
    bicyclemike
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    Donovan got robbed on those first two strike calls. But my goodness, when you have two strikes you gotta be ready to swing at something in the zone. That pitch was right there.

    This one is looking like a lot of our early games. Had Donovan hit the long fly this time, we would be tied. We outscore teams, but we do not necessarily beat them.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #43: Tuesday, May 16 vs. Brewers #220691
    bicyclemike
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    We will likely out score Milwaukee in this series, so we need to take at least one more. Would hate to see us lose the series and outscore them by some 10 runs or so. But that is how the season has gone so far – win big and lose close.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #42: Monday, May 15 vs. Brewers #220650
    bicyclemike
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    Sheesh – I wonder if this will “really help us in September.”

    What this will do is make our Pythagorean record look like we should be .500 or better.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #41: Sunday, May 14 at Red Sox #220358
    bicyclemike
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    Oh, we are doing a family Mother’s Day brunch as well. Lots of various offerings. Thus din-din will probably be an after thought of leftovers or even a bowl of cereal.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #41: Sunday, May 14 at Red Sox #220357
    bicyclemike
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    Regarding the practice of no longer letting pitchers finish games is the fear that over work leads to injury. Some people dispute that thought.

    Interesting though is a SABR study done several years ago looked at the impact of the modern era closer on team’s success, or lack thereof, of late game comebacks. The study found that there is no significant difference on late game wins in the modern era than it was in the years before bullpens were used like they are today.

    in reply to: Gordon Graceffo #220355
    bicyclemike
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    Shoulder issues are usually very concerning. Tough to see this happening to a promising young guy who has not even reached the bigs yet.

    bicyclemike
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    I would be shopping either O’Neill or Yepez, and one of DeJong, Edman or Donovan. These guys are all pretty much duplicates of each other. O’Neill is much better defensively than Juan, but is often injured.

    Doubt PDJ would bring much, but Edman or Donovan could possibly fetch a decent pitcher for a team needing middle infield/utility help.

    I am hesitant on giving up Flaherty since we need pitching, and he could turn things around the second half. Plus at this point he is not going to bring much of anything in return.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #40: Saturday, May 13 at Red Sox #220318
    bicyclemike
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    Out hit 10 to 4, and K 9 times on offense but we get the win. These two games in Beantown have flipped the script on what has been the norm this season.

    in reply to: Don Denkinger Passes #220252
    bicyclemike
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    In watching the ‘85 game live on TV as soon as the play happened I yelled out “Got ‘Im”, as you could see Worrell was on the bag when Orta’s foot was still in the air.

    I was shocked when Denkinger called “safe”.

    We had Whitey as a guest at a local SABR event some time ago, and of course he was asked about that. He said he and Denkinger were friends, but he said he told him he felt Don took something away from him. He said Denkinger responded that “Had you guys hit more than .190 maybe you would have won that thing.” 😀

    RIP, blue.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #39: Friday, May 12 at Red Sox #220117
    bicyclemike
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    Bike Mike, 85 wins! You are a true optimist! Lol! I hope your right though! I’m afraid 75 wins MIGHT be a more attainable goal!

    You are probably right, Steve. To get to 85 wins, the club would have to play 20 games above .500 from here on out, 72-52. They are 12 games under .500 right now.

    As I type this I have the Rays-Yankees on television, with of course Tampa up 4-0 in the 6th. What is really tough to take is the best team in what, the last 20 years or so, has a former Cardinal hitting in the key number 3 slot. Man, what a player Arozarena has turned out to be, and what great job that front office has done putting together that team. Cranny called it when right after that deal he posted “…should not have traded Arozarena…”

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #39: Friday, May 12 at Red Sox #220098
    bicyclemike
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    Does anyone else feels similar to me, that in the next couple of months Mo is going to make a colossal mistake and deal someone like McGreevey and others for a one and a half year rental player in an attempt to win the division with maybe 85 victories?

    We will see if the club even climbs back, but I get the sense we are in for more of the same short-term posturing where we will send away more good, young talent and bring in veterans who are decent players, but not the kind that you can add to your core unit.

    At some point I would like to see us go with what we have while Goldy and Arenado are still productive, and keep the focus on replacing them in the next 3 years or so with developed in-house players.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #38: Wednesday, May 10 at Cubs #220097
    bicyclemike
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    Does Dylan Carlson’s .226 batting average worry anybody besides me?

    It is a concern given that he has not hit much for a year now. However, he has the athleticism and excelled in the minors, which for me means I would play him regularly this season and see how he does. Getting into a regular routine where he is in center field every day, whether he is hitting well or not, should show us if he is going to be a good player, or pedestrian. Plus it gives him a chance to relax and play. If he is constantly shuffled around, playing 3 games, sitting 2 games, etc, then we will never know what we have.

    What puzzles me a little on Wisdom is he came up before we had Arenado. Seems like we had an opportunity at third base, but he never was given much of a shot. He’s not exactly a superstar by any means and does swing and miss a lot, but still he has been a decent player.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #38: Wednesday, May 10 at Cubs #220034
    bicyclemike
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    Wonder why the Cardinals never gave Wisdom much of an opportunity?

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #38: Wednesday, May 10 at Cubs #220029
    bicyclemike
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    We are having tamales and tacos for din-din. A perfect dinner to have with a beer, but am going with ice cold, clear water.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #38: Wednesday, May 10 at Cubs #220016
    bicyclemike
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    The lineup we figured would be out there. I like my set up better because as I mentioned, I like Edman-Carlson ahead of Goldschmidt more than Knizner-Edman.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #37: Tuesday, May 9 at Cubs #220005
    bicyclemike
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    Jack has always seemed a little thin skinned. On the question, all he had to say was “I will take a little off the fastball now and then to keep hitters off stride, so that may be why you saw the change in speeds.”

    One thing you learn in life, at least the hope is you learn it, is that effective communication comes when you respect the person you are talking to. You can disagree with them, but show them respect by asking them to clarifying why they have the opinion they have, and explaining why you have your opinion. Refusing to talk about it is rude and comes across as arrogance. Not a real good human trait.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #38: Wednesday, May 10 at Cubs #220002
    bicyclemike
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    I would go this way with the lineup, but know that management won’t do it:

    Edman, 2b
    Carlson, cf
    Goldy, 1b
    Arenado,3b
    Contreras, DH
    Yepez, lf
    DeJong, ss
    Nootbaar, rf
    Knizner, c

    One thing I like about this setup, is when the Cubs go to a righty, you have Edman and Carlson switching around in front of Goldy. Also there is Noot at 8, so at some point you could have 3 of the 4 hitters in front of Goldy batting from the left side against a righty.

    I would be okay switching Knizner and Noot in the order, but like this arrangement much better than hitting Goldy at 2 against a southpaw.

    in reply to: What do we do? / Contreras controversy #219912
    bicyclemike
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    With Knizner in the lineup, I much prefer Goldy in the 3 slot, having the 1 and 2 hitters up before him. At 2 he has Knizner and usually Noot.

    With Edman hitting at 9, it is not too bad to put Goldy at 2 as once the lineup turns over, he has Edman and Noot, or whoever is leading off.

    I believe the numbers are that hitting 2 will give you around 20 more ABs per year than 3, on average. So that is a driver in hitting a guy at 2. But again, if they are using Knizner I would hit Goldy 3 in that lineup. If they are hitting Edman 9 I can see hitting Paul at 2.

    in reply to: What do we do? / Contreras controversy #219830
    bicyclemike
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    A common thread that has arisen in in this early season of losing and the stress seems to weak leadership from the on-field management team.

    Losing always brings about a degree of finger pointing and blame, but management has been too insecure to handle it in the clubhouse, and has been doing the “CYA” thing of disrespecting some of the players.

    Obviously we do not know the dynamics of the pitcher-catcher relationship, but it would seem that we are a better club with Willson at catcher, and someone like Yepez, Burleson, or Gorman at DH. One of those three can get hot and be a force at some point, whereas there is quite a lot of doubt Knizner can carry that same production on offense. Gorman already has had his moments.

    in reply to: What do we do? / Contreras controversy #219671
    bicyclemike
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    “Demoting” Contreras due to pitch calling makes no sense. Pitchers can direct what they want to throw, and between innings the battery can talk about what is working and what to go with in various situations.

    If there is an issue with Willson’s defensive game other than pitch calling, that could be an issue. But it would not seem to be something un-workable.

    The whole thing is weird. Think the coaches and manager need to call everyone in a room and tell them to work it out. We are a better team with Contreras at catcher and someone else at DH, so figure it out guys.

    in reply to: What do we do? / Contreras controversy #219545
    bicyclemike
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    It seems the Cardinal front office personnel have been taken over by zombies – like in “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.” Lately their decisions seem to be more and more bizarre and non-sensical.

    in reply to: 2023 StL Game #35: Sunday, May 7 vs. Tigers #219543
    bicyclemike
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    One of our “snake bit” situations is Goldy’s homers. He hit two in one of those Giants games I believe, then came up late with the bases full and hit into a DP.

    in reply to: Baseball HELL #219542
    bicyclemike
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    It’s mind boggling to me. I can see us being say .500 or so. But to go to the worst team in the league – we’ll, I never thought that would happen over a 6 week stretch.

    We traded our center fielder, but at least for now that deal has actually been a good one. Or at least it is helping in an area of need, starting pitching. It did mess up the outfield some, as no one, other than maybe Nootbaar of late, has stepped up and been good.

Viewing 25 posts - 976 through 1,000 (of 4,532 total)