NIce series....

[Astrobuddy]

Now go and beat the snot out of the Cards please.

[Cedric]

Claussen and Milton make that a sure thing :)

[Astrobuddy]

Dont let todays game fool you. The Cards are not the same team without Pujols. Their offense isnt any better than the Astros offense.

[WVRedsFan]

I'd like to believe that, but the Reds seem to be snakebitten by the Cardinals. From the Mother's Day Massacre to this day, they own us. If, by chance, we do well in this series, it will go a long way toward making believers out of the Reds Faithful.

However with Milton and Claussen pitching two of the games, they probably don't need a lot of offense anyway. The hits will come. And we face Carpenter in one of those games. If the offense has truly come alive, we will win 2 of 3. If the Cardinal pitching stymies our offense, we got big problems.

[dman]

It'd be nice to take at least 2 of 3 from St.L, but if we can't pull that off, I'd take a series sweep of the Cubs to make up the lost ground to the Cards. It's going to be a true test of our staff here, going 13 days in a row, going up against a competitor and 2 somewhat decent teams.

[TeamBoone]

However with Milton and Claussen pitching two of the games, they probably don't need a lot of offense anyway. The hits will come. And we face Carpenter in one of those games. If the offense has truly come alive, we will win 2 of 3. If the Cardinal pitching stymies our offense, we got big problems.

Carpenter is on the DL.

[OnBaseMachine]

Carpenter is on the DL.

He's coming off the DL and pitching tomorrow night. Lucky us.

[membengal]

He's coming off and will pitch Tuesday.

[registerthis]

The Cards "O" doesn't scare me nearly as much without Pujols. There's no reason we couldn't take 2 of 3 from them.

Now, having said that, watch them go get swept. :help:

[RedFanAlways1966]

He's coming off the DL and pitching tomorrow night. Lucky us.

Here's to a lot of rust on his arm... I hope!!!

Of course the REDS already "beat him" once this year... a 1-0 win. :D

[MattyHo4Life]

Nice thread AB :)

[westofyou]

This Cardinal team reminds me of the Oakland LaRussa teams from the late 80's, lots of spare parts that shouldn't seem to work, some stars and a good pitching staff... you just wait for it to fall apart, but it keeps on going.

I hated those A's teams... wtached them everyday, hated them to death.

[LincolnparkRed]

This Cardinal team reminds me of the Oakland LaRussa teams from the late 80's, lots of spare parts that shouldn't seem to work, some stars and a good pitching staff... you just wait for it to fall apart, but it keeps on going.

I hated those A's teams... wtached them everyday, hated them to death.

So your saying you didn't respect the power of Carney Lansford, Terry Steinbach and Mike Gallego?? Seems like a murderers row to me. Yeah I will give Larussa credit for getting the most out of the So Taguchis of the world

[MattyHo4Life]

This Cardinal team reminds me of the Oakland LaRussa teams from the late 80's, lots of spare parts that shouldn't seem to work, some stars and a good pitching staff... you just wait for it to fall apart, but it keeps on going.

I hated those A's teams... wtached them everyday, hated them to death.

That is exactly right WOY. You look at this team piece by piece, and they shouldn't be in first place, but they are. I always thought that LaRussa was overrated, but I don't think that anymore. He always brings out the best in players that have never been very good. That is why I think the Cards will do fine while Pujols is gone. Somehow, they will still win.

[westofyou]

That is exactly right WOY. You look at this team piece by piece, and they shouldn't be in first place, but they are. I always thought that LaRussa was overrated, but I don't think that anymore. He always brings out the best in players that have never been very good. That is why I think the Cards will do fine while Pujols is gone. Somehow, they will still win.
I've been stuck to that guys career since he left the CWS, he lived near my parents and used to eat at my roommates restaurant in Danville all the time, then he jumps ship and ends up in my baseball neighborhood. I'm not a big fan of his manner, or his choices all the time but the man knows the game and he wins. That in itself makes him good for baseball.

I'm all for stuff that is good for baseball.

[dabvu2498]

Man, guys, I hate to disagree, but those A's teams were a bit better than these Cards teams.

Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Canseco, McGwire, Stewart, Eck... maybe it's just reminiscing about my younger days, but those teams were pretty stinkin good.

[westofyou]

Man, guys, I hate to disagree, but those A's teams were a bit better than these Cards teams.

Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Canseco, McGwire, Stewart, Eck... maybe it's just reminiscing about my younger days, but those teams were pretty stinkin good.
Henderson was not there (mostly) during the teams I'm talking about.

Plus I said the pitching was good.

Sheer bats



OAKLAND A'S
SEASON
1988

OPS DIFF PLAYER LEAGUE
1 Jose Canseco .244 .959 .715
2 Dave Henderson .172 .887 .715
3 Mark McGwire .115 .830 .715
4 Terry Steinbach .021 .736 .715
5 Dave Parker .005 .720 .715
6 Luis Polonia .001 .716 .715
7 Ron Hassey -.023 .692 .715
8 Carney Lansford -.028 .687 .715
9 Glenn Hubbard -.041 .674 .715
10 Don Baylor -.057 .658 .715

OAKLAND A'S
SEASON
1989

OPS DIFF PLAYER LEAGUE
1 Jose Canseco .166 .875 .709
2 Rickey Henderson .154 .863 .709
3 Mark McGwire .097 .806 .709
4 Carney Lansford .094 .803 .709
5 Dave Parker .031 .741 .709
6 Dave Henderson -.015 .695 .709
7 Tony Phillips -.016 .693 .709
8 Luis Polonia -.026 .684 .709
9 Terry Steinbach -.038 .671 .709
10 Mike Gallego -.055 .654 .709

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
SEASON
2005

OPS DIFF PLAYER LEAGUE
1 Albert Pujols .273 1.039 .767
2 Jim Edmonds .152 .918 .767
3 Reggie Sanders .120 .886 .767
4 Larry Walker .119 .886 .767
5 John Rodriguez .051 .818 .767
6 David Eckstein -.008 .758 .767
7 Hector Luna -.013 .753 .767
8 Mark Grudzielanek -.025 .741 .767
9 So Taguchi -.033 .734 .767
10 Scott Rolen -.061 .706 .767

[TeamBoone]

Monday, June 5, 2006 issue:

NL Central smells blood in water
A Column By Kyle Smith / The Sedalia Democrat


That sigh of relief you heard on Saturday was the rest of the National League Central.

While Cardinal Nation comes to grip with the knowledge that reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols could miss up to six weeks with a strained muscle on his right side, the Reds, Astros, Brewers and even the Cubs can smell blood in the water.

The Cardinals, who have controlled the division in recent years, have another chink in their armor, and this one could be devastating.

Pujols was off to the best start of his career with a major league-high 25 homers and 65 RBIs. The Cardinals were leaning on him more than ever.

Without Pujols' numbers, the Cardinals would rank last the Central in home runs and next to last in RBIs and runs scored.

The loss of Pujols isn't the Cardinals' only problem.

*Center fielder Jim Edmonds has struggled for much of the season and has been slowed by an abdominal injury. Edmonds is batting .257 through 44 games with five homers and 31 RBIs. Only his RBI numbers are on pace to reach his career averages of .291, 25 homers and 77 RBIs.

*The Cardinals' array of left fielders rank near the bottom of the league in offensive production.

*The team's defense has been uncharacteristically porous with even sure-handed third baseman Scott Rolen making errors.

The only good news coming from the Cardinals' camp is the return of Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter, who is scheduled to start Tuesday following a bout of bursitis in his upper back.

The Cardinals are in the midst of 15 consecutive games against division rivals and are 14-14 against those teams. Take away the Cardinals' 5-1 record against Pittsburgh, and they are only 9-13 against the division.

The Cardinals went 3-3 last week against the Astros and Cubs, and the road doesn't get any easier for the Redbirds.

They will host second-place Cincinnati, which trails the Cardinals by three games, for a three-game series beginning tonight.

The Reds possess an offense that can put up big numbers in a hurry with the likes of Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr. and Austin Kearns and an improved pitching staff led by former Red Sox right-hander Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.

Then, the Cardinals go to Milwaukee to face the improved Brewers for a three-game weekend series. The Brewers, who trail St. Louis by 9 1/2 games, got off to a fast start but have cooled down lately because of a struggling starting rotation.

The team has a good mix of young talent -- first baseman Prince Fielder, closer Derrick Turnbow and second baseman Richie Weeks -- and veterans -- utility infielder Bill Hall and his 12 homers, outfielders Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee, and catcher Damian Miller.

The Cardinals will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the lowly Pirates on June 13-15. They have dominated Pittsburgh this year, mainly because of the Pirates' atrocious pitching, which ranks 12th in the NL in ERA.

Let's hope the Cardinals pitching staff responds to the challenge, or St. Louis could find itself in a real battle for division supremacy.
http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/Sports/308332309553565.htm

[CougarQuest]

It always amazes me to see the evolution of a thread.

Good sportsmanship Astrobuddy. As much as you probably hated to do it after being swept on your home turf, you came in here and gave a nice word. Speaks highly of you.

[Astrobuddy]

Matty and Cougar...Thank you! The Reds played good ball over the weekend. They deserve all the credit for coming into a place where they havent won very much and kicking the crap out of my team.

But dont think it isnt a little selfish that now I want the Reds to beat tha Cards. The Astros need to start winning pure and simple. BUT, the Reds beating the Cards is what the Astros need right now.

The Astros just arent a very good team right now.

[RBA]

Yup, it would be good for the Astros, if the Reds beat the Cardinals this week. Afterall, the Astros and Cards will be fighting it out for a wild card spot at the end of the season.

good call, Astrobuddy.

[Astrobuddy]

I would be very happy if the Astros are fighting anyone for the Wild Card at seasons end. Right now it doesnt look good.

[shredda2000]

I would be very happy if the Astros are fighting anyone for the Wild Card at seasons end. Right now it doesnt look good.

Perhaps the Astros luck will change when the Rocket joins them later this month??

[Astrobuddy]

If her pitches well it will help, but the Astros have problems beyond just 1 starter right now. I am not optimistic.

[LincolnparkRed]

When is Brandon Backe due back?? I forgot what his injury was.

[Astrobuddy]

6 weeks at a minimum is what I heard.