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Cards go 1-5 versus the Giants this year, and four of the five losses were by one run.
Maybe I will wear my Giants hat the rest of the year. 🤨
I was at a SABR luncheon during the game, wearing a Cardinal shirt (no hat 😆). Most of our members feel there will be some games lost to the CBA impasse next year. Hope not, as that is a lose-lose, but it’s happened before.
One thing about the Babe, he was fast as a younger player. He is thought of as a fat guy, but really only in his last few years did he accumulate extra weight during the season. In his younger years he was in good shape, slacked off in the early ’20s, then got serious and engaged a personal trainer to get him back to physical peak from around the mid-’20s through around 1930, ’31 I believe.
Ugly early start to this one.
I thought that Redleg club would be a lot better than they were. Even rookie slugger Sal Stewart has not gotten them out of the NLC basement.
I’ve learned to “never say never”, but then his accomplishments are something very few ever do.
My Cardinal “Mount Rushmore”, and probably most if we took a poll, are:
Rogers Hornsby – our first superstar who even managed our first World Championship club while doubling as the second sacker.
Stan Musial – all time Cardinal leader in most every offensive category.
Bob Gibson – one the greatest big game pitchers of all-time and far and away our greatest moundsman.
Albert Pujols – perhaps the greatest 21st century player thus far. A 10-year sojourn to Southern California interrupted what might have become the greatest Redbird ever’s career with the birds on bat uniform.
My dad and I listened to the game the night of Carlton’s 19 Ks. Two two-run homers by Ron Swoboda resulted in a Mets win. It was that kind of year for the Amazins.
Thought OB would blow it again, but Winn with that cannon arm helps secure the win.
Another great Dizzy Dean story is the one from the 1934 World Series when he pinch-ran at first, and the hitter grounded a double play ball. The relay conked Diz on the head and knocked him out cold.
He was taken to the hospital for x-rays and later commented, “They x-rayed my head and found nothing.” 🤣
Back 19 years ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Fortunately it was caught early, I had the surgery and they took a bunch of lymph nodes that all were clean.
In post op I was talking to my oncologist and asked what caused this – I lived a fairly clean life style, exercised, did not have a family history of cancer, etc. He looked at me and kind of shrugged and goes, “Bad luck?”
So yeah 1TD, when there is no other answer, the “answer” is randomness. And even though we are being kind of light hearted, I think that is true. Sometimes things just happen.
You mean Jesus Baez GC. I have heard he may be more suited for third base, but others on here will know a lot more than me about him.
I have always believed there is a lot of randomness in life. Us humans always try to connect cause and effect, and often can do so. We get uncomfortable when we cannot control something, saying “there had to be a reason.”
I think often times there is no logical reason for things. Random occurrences happen at times.
Some good thoughts here. Any stat is worthwhile, but at the same time only one piece of the puzzle. To get a clear image of a players’s value you need to look at several components.
I think where we go wrong in using statistics is in using them as predictors. Sports is similar to investing; “past results do not guarantee future returns.”
Specific to Graceffo this year, it looks like he has been a bit lucky. Probably some hard hit balls were right at defenders, and he had his share of defensive “web gems.”
Does this mean he won’t be as good next year? I would not count on that. Maybe the breaks even out some, but also maybe he works on arm strength and adds a foot to his fastball. Or perhaps a tweak in his release adds a bit more break to his slider.
As for this year, I guess we can use the old saying “sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”
As for football, it seems a lot of games in both college and pro coaches forgo an easy 3 and go for it on fourth down. And it seems quite often it has cost them the game.
Also I think too often coaches make mistakes by calling an ass when keeping the ball on the ground is working.
Just a couple of random thoughts. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
That stat line by Hjerpe from yesterday is ugly!! Although OB put the icing on the cake, Hjerpe did the mixing and baking.
In a way I am not overly upset. I often chose a team to root for in October when our club falls out, and this year it is the White Sox. Going to a game there this summer and their rise from being so bad makes me want them to have some magic in October.
But if those pesky Guardians prevail in the ALC I am okay with them as well. Those two have a big series coming up this week in Cleveland.
Enjoyed seeing these White Sox in July at their home ball park, as they made a comeback to knock off the Yankees in extras that night. The stadium had a nice crowd – not a sellout but pretty full and enthusiastic.
Meanwhile they still can’t shake those pesky Guardians who like the Brewers in the NLC seem to always be competitive.
Din-din here is sort of boring – fried chicken from our local King Soopers (Kroger) along with potato and/or macaroni salad.
I think “winning culture” is an effect, not a cause. In other words talent creates a winning culture. But a “winning culture” without talent will have trouble being successful.
Our 2023 team is an example. We were mostly consistent winners for more than a decade, but then things went south with veterans getting older and younger guys not producing as hoped.
Good pitching will give you a greater chance year in and year out than a “winning culture.”
Three one run losses, with the last one a meltdown. Those are always rough to take.
I don’t think the “winning culture” type of mentality is a big part of MLB. It is such a long grind and you get another chance the next day most of the time, so big league ball players stay fairly centered emotionally.
You know that you will carry your team one day, and possibly let them down the next. It’s primarily a matter of getting good talent, and using them in their best roles.
I love day baseball and would have stuck around for this one, but it did not work out with my schedule.
Let’s get some runs!
Some good discussion here. Although I am a historian and love the history of baseball, the extra inning ghost runner is okay by me. But never in post season – only in the regular season when you have to manage the pitching staff to ensure arm health for the long grind.
Mathews was good last night, but lost focus a bit after getting the first two outs early on.
The offense was a no show – lots of weak ground balls.
Have put in a lot of steps on the journey, but outdid myself yesterday with over 30,000! I was a trucking dude walking everywhere, including down to the stadium and back twice. That is due to having a stadium tour at 12:30, then the game at 6:45. The tour was great. Lots of interesting facts about the stadium
and area.The Giants have a statue of a guy many of us revere from his Cardinal days, Orlando Manuel “Cha Cha” Cepeda.
Well two one-run losses. Now that I am heading home we will likely go out and throw a 10 spot on the board and win along the lines of 10-3.
A great game last night for a baseball fan. Bummer that our club lost but a good one.
You know, the ghost runner rule does not bother me at all. I actually think it is a good way to go. For one, very few people want to sit through a 4 hour-or-more game. Second, the way they burn through pitchers in the modern era, you just can’t have too many innings. Third, it provides instant drama.
One option that might be kind of cool is to play it straight in inning 10, then go with a runner on first in inning 11, a runner at second in the 12th, and a runner at third in inning 13 and beyond if you go that far.
Anyway, as for our club, I like these young guys. Bernal looks good – passes the eye test. Also I like Saggese at short. Seems to handle it well and has a good arm. He also looks good at the plate – a pretty quick bat.
Walker looked lost early, but seemed to adjust during the game and kept his focus.
McGreevy’s command was bad early, but he adjusted to the mound and gave us a shot at a win.
Devers is a beast! Everything that guy hit was a rocket. I also like that kid Turner Hill – and Elbridge. If they can develop some guys and get Chapman back up to speed they have someone to build around on offense.
I have a ball park tour at 12:30 today, the game later, and back home tomorrow.
Man, Walker really looks bad. Seems to be flailing away without an idea of what is coming.
Webb is sharp though.
The crowd looked to be sparse, but has filled in some. Not a big crowd, but early on I wondered if even 10-12K would be here.
Great play by MM!
The Crew with an 8 game lead and 17 to play. Hard to see them not winning the NLC. And even harder to believe we won when trailing by 6 1/2 with 12 to go in ‘64. But it happened.
Am at the park walking around the area. Man, a gorgeous setting around this ballpark. Took a leisurely stroll by the bay and area. Glanced in a gate and saw our guys loosening up.
Think we will be fine with weather as it has been gorgeous out here over the weekend and today. But we will see what Rats has in store.
McCovey was something else. I met him at an autograph signing in Denver some years ago, and has hand swallowed mine when we shook hands. Really nice guy with really big hands.
I recall reading something Ernie Banks said about moving from shortstop to first base. He said the first time Willie McCovey came up it seemed like he was only 10 feet away. Banks was genuinely intimidated playing first with McCovey at the dish. 😄
Alright, I will be in attendance at these next two. Two organizations that have played each other for some what, 140 years or more?
Anybody recall the big Hornsby for Frisch trade? Me either, but I have read about it. How about dealing Johnny Mize to the Giants? Lousy – Stan voiced his displeasure at that deal. Sadecki for Cepeda? Ah, now some of us do remember that one.
The Giants sent me a great email about all the things to do around the park area. Should be a fun time. The Lovely Lady Bike flies back with the granddaughters today so I will be on my own.
The mathematical chance for a post season berth is there, but realistically it ain’t gonna happen. Even if we win 90, you need some other clubs that have played better than us to stumble. But still, the games will be played so we will see.
Looks like Herrera heated up in Denver, but Walker cooled down.
