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Is it just me, or are these ESPN color commentators completely biased towards the Cubs? 75% of commentary is about what great performers the Cubs are. The other 25% is how poorly the Cards are performing this year. Switching to radio.
Totally get the frustration w/MO, I’ve been very critical of him too, but he went way beyond just pointing the finger at players. He says they’re all accountable, top management to coaching staff to players and all share the blame for where they’re at today. That’s a true statement. But, good professional players who make mental errors that have cost this team several games, and probably the lead in the division, through defensive errors, base running, pitch selection, poor approach to the at-bat, means an attitude adjustment is in order. He is right about that. Roll in questionable field management decisions (e.g., using Cecil and Oh in game save situations when they are under performing) and you have a team that should be well over .500. If they focus less on the Lynn decision and more on getting the most out of each player, they can still contend w/Cubs and Brew crew (IMHO).
Tonight’s game is as close to a must win as they’ve had this year. 50 losses already and only 65 games to go, and we’re still in a bad place with the bullpen; other teams can’t wait to get to our bullpen late in the game. Mozeliak’s interview Friday was well stated, I thought. Players need to look in the mirror for accountability and start thinking like winners. What most of us have been saying all year. 90% mental and the other half is physical.
Good to see some “O” today. Hope they retain muscle memory tomorrow from hitting the ball today. Cubs definitely beatable this year, and this series.
Almost sounds like you’re arguing for Rosenthal to be in the HOF. The real point is consistency, Rosenthal’s career numbers are driven by his two great years in ’14 and ’15, but last year and this year are woefully below those HOF pitchers’ careers. Yes, would rather have Eckersley or Sutter.
Onyxgem…your own words from a couple of weeks ago, and I quote:
“At this point this team is not going anywhere, THey really need to deal Lynn, Carp, Oh and even possible Rosenthal at min, and prob also look to deal one of the OF and an INF”
Whose knee jerk reaction?
Turned off the office tv after Rosie walked the lead off batter in the 9th. Knew how it would end. Sure enough…but didn’t count on a bone head error by our “elite” reliever. To MM: Rosenthal isn’t in Springfield, why, exactly?
DeGrom is tough, but beatable. Need to get to him early. DeJong, Wong, Sierra in 6-8 slots will be the difference makers.
Five run lead and letting them back in. Are you kidding me? Fowler muffs a routine catch. That’s what $16.5 million a year gets you these days, lackadaisical play.
Of course he would say yes, “we’re just one win streak away from competing for the Div lead, blah, blah, blah,” while completely ignoring the problems that are obvious to us. Bullpen #1 problem — last in League for wins in relief (8), tied for 5th in losses in relief (17). #2: defense– 9th in errors committed, below league avg for def efficiency and fielding percentage; #3 — batting, below or near league avg in most categories. You can’t win a Div with that kind of performance. Answer should be “no, we’re not competitive.”
So much for the Cecil experiment. I was hoping we were starting to get over our bullpen woes, but no. Can we at least take couple from the Mets? Defense, situational hitting, relief pitching, base running, overall hustle all need to improve, otherwise they’re looking pretty good.
Good job by Lyons to close it out, and good setup by Rosenthal. Good pitching all around, and decent hitting. Far cry from last night.
Question for MM…we keep putting in Oh as a closer in close games, why, exactly? I’m not following. Hoping a guy pitches better doesn’t make him pitch better.
Didn’t hear McCarver’s comments, but the play looked like Carp would have been thrown out at home, or at least a very close play. Gyrko drove him in anyway. Had he been thrown out, the critique would have been why he pushed it when one their best batters for putting the ball in play was coming up. Bottom line, probably a risk worth taking in that situation, 0-0 in the 1st, but ok that he didn’t.
Lynn putting up zeroes, which is good to see. Hope he goes 7 or 8 innings to avoid long relief. Cards actually look like a major league ball club today. Good sign going into the ASB.
Just came out of church to hear Mike Shannon’s last out call. Hallelulia! Where was DeJong when we were struggling with Peralta early in the season? Could have made a difference in those early close games. Oh well, just glad he’s on our side.
Time to call out Yadi on his lack of hustle to first. He was barely half way to first at the end of that dp. Gotta keep pressure on the defense to make the play. It’s the little things. Poor running on the bases + poor defense = lose the game.