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Yadi follows the DF HR with a double and Wong get hit by pitch. Quintana is now done, Maddon going to the pen. Maybe some good vibes are moving to our dugout now.
Cards failing at every turn in Wrigley when there’s an opportunity on the table. Lynn just gives up a HR to KS and then walks the pitcher. No other way to view it, Maddon and the cubs own us right now. Pedro’s “daddy” comment comes to mind. Score is just 2-0, so maybe they can hang close…at some point this has to change, doesn’t it?
Yep, Matheny pulls a few head scratchers, but the bigger problem the last couple of years has been Mo. I don’t think any manager could’ve pushed this roster to the World Series. Mo needs to fill actual needs for a change next year with a couple players of real impact — no more ludicrous contracts for marginal guys. No more excuses either about trying hard but coming up short. Nobody said it was easy. If it was easy, they wouldn’t pay him millions. Expectations are challenging, but legitimate. This is going to be his year to put up or shut up.
Is it over? If somehow we could get on a roll and go 10-4, then we’d need the cubs to go 5-9 just to tie. Or does 11-3 vs 6-8 sound more feasible? That’s not even accounting for the Brewers. You might say we have the advantage of five more head-to-head against the cubs, but if you’ve been watching this year you know that just makes it all the more improbable. This was a must win series — disappointing to finish so softly. Yes, the Cards are pretty much finished.
And now the cubs make the Cards pay in the 4th. We have the makings of another bed wetting in Wrigley.
Cards have four hits over the last two innings and no runs. It happens when you give away outs. This time Martinez gets picked off first. The last couple of years, Wrigley just has a way of bringing out the worst in the Cards. Gotta be smarter.
Give up an out with no intention of advancing the runner from third and no outs, plus take the bat out of Carpenter’s hand, all with one decision. Not smart.
Speaking of calling balls/strikes, I’ll be very happy when we use technology to replace human error and personal interpretation of the zone. I say that, and for the vast majority of things, I’m a purist/traditionalist. I like pitchers taking their at bats, base runners hustling out of the box on routine grounders, hitters shortening up a bit on two strikes, defenders catching flies with two hands, etc. However, I find nothing charming about random interpretation of the the strike zone and blown calls. Technology could truly ensure a large degree of consistency and standardization of the strike zone.
We’re getting into “must win” territory. Yesterday, every team fighting for an NL playoff spot won convincingly…except StL who fell face first. Gotta do a 180 now.
Cubs will be very hard to overcome if they sweep. Better win the series because cubs will also be very difficult to overcome if Cards lose the series 2-1. In that case Cards would be 4 back (assume cubs hold their big lead tonight) with 13 games to go. That’s a steep hill. Suppose Cards would be fortunate enough to go 10-3 over the last 13, then Cards would need the cubs to go under .500 at 6-7 just to tie.
Reggie Sanders was 20/20 in 2004 and Lou Brock was in 1967. Maybe there were others in between.
Edit: Add Brian Jordan in 95.
LOL, good one Rats. Dal was a 2-time member of the 1/1 club. Twice he hit a home run and stole a base in the same season. He was a 6-time 20/20 member for the Cards when considering runs scored and RBIs.
The 5th inning was stunning. It pretty much has slammed the door for the night and it shouldn’t have gone that way. It would’ve been a good idea to be thinking ahead a batter or two.
Good thoughts Sooner, I believe similarly. Obviously pitchers have an impact on every play. Rising to the occasion during high leverage situations is NOT random in many cases. Some guys want that spotlight, while many others shy away.
Random variation explains some, but there are certainly other situational factors. For example, some pitchers are better at pitching with a 3 or 4 run lead than others by not trying to walk the fine line on location…willing to give up run to avoid giving up several. That can be the difference between winning/losing while not being so worried about the ERA.
Hard not to scoreboard watch now. Cub and Brewers tied midway in their game. It’d be nice for the Central if the Dodgers would finally win a game today. Regardless, all the Cards can do is take care of their own biz and that’s going well today so far. It would be nice to have consistent Wacha the rest of the way. I agree the youth movement has made this season interesting even if we miss the playoffs. I appreciate the hustle, energy and passion they’re bringing.
Kelly was activated July 21, so he did not have 45 days by the end of August (September doesn’t count). Plus, he’s well short of 130 ABs. Therefore, he will be a rookie next year.
Caveat: I don’t recall if post season counts toward the 45-day limit. If the Cards got on a roll in post season and Kelly is on the roster, he could go beyond 45 days.
Where was Pham? Couldn’t tell, he wasn’t in the picture on the feed I was viewing. Probably not one of Pham’s finer moments.
When you play, then play hard. When you can’t, then sit. I love when people complain about something so simple and obvious.
The stubbornness to keep Fowler in CF bites us again. Sorry he might be hurt on that attempt going to the wall, but he’s really bad out there. No backup on the play either, thus an inside-the-parker to give the bucs the lead. Defense is going to be the letdown tonight unless the bats get going.
Molina is in decline. You can tell because he’s lost a half step in his saunters to first base. I’ll never be okay with rewarding that with a contract of his magnitude — never, never, ever, ever. His HOF potential can certainly be debated either way, but it’s definitely not a given that he’s in based on current accomplishments.
Having said all that, I’ve loved having Molina as a Cardinal. Everyone has flaws.