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Oh gets the final out, but bullpen always keeps it interesting. HR overturned to GR double and SF dugout goes apoplectic. Love it! Poor guy who catches the ball at the foul pole gets tossed. Something new every game.
Need a big win, but probably too little too late unless two or three teams pull a 2011 Braves fiasco over the next few weeks, which is unlikely. But want to see Cards wins nonetheless. Sweep in SF would be awesome.
Ascanio who? This Leake deal seems more about opening a roster slot and freeing up some cash than making a notable improvement for this year. Agree there is much more to this than we all know right now. My guess is an outfield move is next, and hope to high heaven it’s Grichuk.
I would urge Mo to stick to first principles — the biggest need on this team is relief pitching, specifically a closer, so go for that first. Then work the outfield with Grichuk and Piscotty on the table, both of whom have reasonable trade value even though their recent performance has waned. Fowler can’t carry a team, but he’s good when others around him are playing well. I would keep him, but what do I know? Lynn is a solid above average pitcher, but his cost as a FA would be marginal value. There are a lot of pitchers who can win 8-10 games per year for a lot less money, so is $20m/yr for Lynn worth an extra 3-4 wins? I say no. Good news is Cards have some good options, just hope they execute right.
Matt Carpenter donating $10,000 for every home run he hits to the Houston relief effort. Waino and Cards org weighing in too. Good on them!
Another ugly loss, this time extra innings at home. 2-4 on this home stand at the same time they’re trying to make us believe they still have a chance. Mo — give me a reason to go another home game this year because I can’t think of one.
They definitely need to make some DL decisions today. Playing down is a recipe for losing close games. Using pitchers as pinch runners and hitters is ok in a pinch, but shouldn’t be a strategy, especially with the underperforming bullpen we have.
34 games left, and the Reds are only 16 games back of the Cards for the 2nd WC spot, which is a more realistic perspective than any chance of the Cards making the playoffs. Mo’s interview yesterday pointed to Leake’s early season success as a reason to keep him in the starting rotation now, so agree front office has given up on the season. Just wish they had admitted this during spring training when we all saw trouble brewing with the lineup and pitching staffs.
Top 3 off season To-Do list:
1) complete overhaul of the bullpen
2) trade: Grichuk, Piscotty, Carpenter, Lynn (let him go to FA), Leake
3) find a new managerWong great play for out #3. Damage limited. Need to come back quickly with a run in the bottom half. We’ll see…
Bases loaded, c-Mart muffs an easy play at the plate, then infield hit, now 2-1. Should be in the dugout.
Weaver up tomorrow. R. Horton says Weaver is most important player on the roster right now and key to any remaining success. I disagree. Our relief pitching is so horrendous, even Kershaw, Scherzer and Greinke couldn’t save the Cardinals right now.
This is playing out like most on this board saw a couple of months ago. Cards have had a few streaks here and there, but are so inconsistent they can’t sustain a run for the div lead. Agree Leake should be replaced as a starter, and there has been no or little improvement with the relief lineup, base running, situational hitting, defense. Just doesn’t seem to be any accountability, top to bottom. Would like to see someone from within the organization calling out those who are not performing, whether they are players or mgmt.
Onyxgem,
Your thoughts on baseball are welcome here, whether those views are shared by others or not. I enjoy reading what you have to say, but I’d respectfully ask that you not resort to name calling. Keep it lively, but not personal. And, I’m just a participant, not a moderator.
Thanks!
Matheney’s frustration should be channeled at his own team. Terrible relief pitching again, as we’ve been saying all year. Rosenthal giving up a home run and a walk in the bottom of the 9th is unacceptable at this point in the season for a game like this. If you can’t close it out here, you’re not a playoff team, period. I don’t care what Rosenthal has done in the past, it doesn’t matter now. What matters now is putting up a W, I don’t care about tightness in your arm or whatever, you need to pitch till your d*** arm falls off and get batters out. You listening, Rosie?
This is another “critical” week for the Cards, but they all are when you’re within reach of the div lead. I listened to the Red Sox game today against the Indians, and believe they are very beatable. Their relief pitching is not stellar, and their hitting can be inconsistent (sound familiar?). The radio commentary seemed to express some concern about facing the Cards, and that a DH in place of Mike Leake was probably not a big advantage due to his batting skills. I somewhat disagree. Gyrko or Voit (haven’t seen the lineup yet) would be a suitable DH, and an advantage.
I wonder if a high paid reliever would rather sit on the bench and do nothing, or “consent” to go back to AAA with an agreement to bring him back with the expanded roster. But I also agree management needs to set him up for success, not do or die situations. Cecil has the ability, just needs to find it again. We even saw some of that a month or so ago. This is a season ending or season saving challenge for management and the FO. They need to figure this out quickly.
Agree Cecil is a sunk cost at this point. Either bear with him on the active roster or send him down to AAA until he works out his placement. He has performed at an elite level, so we know he’s capable, but his recent performance can’t be tolerated if they’re going to make a run. Cubs and Brewers are in a rut, so now is the time to take advantage. Cecil could squander that if he’s put into close game situations. 12 pitchers should be plenty as long as Lyons and Duke stay healthy. Bring up Sierra as a b/u OF for the final push.
Cards aren’t going to want to pick up that tab, especially now that they are making some headway. Just not the Cardinal Way to sign a marquis player mid-season. I don’t sense desperation from the FO which is what that acquisition would take. They view the season differently from us. But we’ll see.
This series should be an easy sweep. But let’s see where we are Sunday night. Cubs in AZ, so could close the margin if we play well.