urbanSTL

^ I'm not going to let Tony off the hook so easily. He may get a few bad questions once and a while, but I have watched many press conferences in which he got mad after good questions, tough questions by a reporter. He is by no means a victim of bad reporters. He has it SO easy in St. Louis. He would get blasted in NYC or LA.

DOGTOWNB&R wrote:^ I'm not going to let Tony off the hook so easily. He may get a few bad questions once and a while, but I have watched many press conferences in which he got mad after good questions, tough questions by a reporter. He is by no means a victim of bad reporters. He has it SO easy in St. Louis. He would get blasted in NYC or LA.

Keep in mind, though, that Tony wants to keep the focus on the game. He knows it's better for his team to not get caught up in all the drama, and I think his treatment of The Cat was a good way of redirecting the discussion back to baseball. I don't have any problem with his reaction - he made it clear at the beginning that he wanted to talk about the game before addressing the altercation, but The Cat pushed the issue.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Who is "The Cat"?

Jim Hayes of FSN.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

debaliviere wrote:

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Who is "The Cat"?

Jim Hayes of FSN.

Why "The cat"? Is it because of that furry thing that sits on top of his head?

Ha, I don't know, but that thing is pretty bad.

I wonder if the Cards can keep up the momentum gained from the sweep of the Reds. I truly believe this team has the ability to play at this level all of the time. This team, on paper, should run away with the division and make a strong playoff run, contending for a title. Why they haven't played great all season baffles me.
Does it reflect on Tony's ability to motivate? Some punk running his mouth got this team fired up, but why has this team not gotten fired up before this. They played like a team that could make a serious run and beat anyone. They played small ball, big ball and pure fundamental baseball against the Reds. The next few weeks will tell us if there will be a carryover effect. We can only hope.

GO CARDS!

^
We definitely need to take care of business against the Cubs, Astros, etc., which we have been unable to do thus far. Another sweep against the Cubs this weekend would send a message that they're serious about winning this thing.

Mark Groth wrote:

It will be interesting to see what Lohse can bring.

Based on his performances in the minors, not much.

^As we saw yesterday, Lohse was pitching against minor league players when he pitched good last week. He got hammered yesterday when he pitched against a mainly B team Cubs team. Cost the Cards first place for the moment. The Cards have lost 21 of 32 lohse's starts since he signed the big contract. Can you say Tino Martinez!
The Reds are not going away and unfortunately the Cards could not carry the momentum over to this weekends series. Let's hope for better play this week. Besides SF, the Cards have it pretty easy the rest of the month. They BETTER take advantage and beat the bottom-feeders because you know the Reds will!

Go Cards!

Feliz will play 3b. The birds are certainly good enough, I'd argue that they are good enough to win it all, but for whatever reason they play flat, sloppy, uninspired baseball that's nearly unbearable to watch. They need to fire up or they'll be fishing coming october.

I don't know if they need to fire up as much as quit running the bases like a bunch of Joe Thurstons and quit fielding like a bunch of Aaron Miles'.

Pedro Feliz is not the answer and isnt any better offensivly than what we already have. I think the Cards are going to have a really hard time making the playoffs due to the fact they have 5 or 6 sure outs in their lineup. I hope I am wrong.

Moorlander wrote:

I'd argue that they are good enough to win it all, but for whatever reason they play flat, sloppy, uninspired baseball that's nearly unbearable to watch.

I'd argue that the Cardinals are not good enough to win it all. That simple. I would have agreed with you at the start of the season, but I have come to the realization that some players on this team are what they are. Ryan, Schumacher, Lopez, Molina and of course, the pitcher's spot, are holes, sure outs. You cannot win with 2 1/2 bats in your lineup. I say 1/2 because Ludwick & Jay were not holes, although Jay seems to have cooled off, which you would expect once the league catches up to him.
I agree, they are unbearable to watch. Now they are down 3 1/2 games going into a series with a team that always gives them fits and is competing with them for the Wild Card. Needless to say, I am VERY disappointed with the Cards this season. Then again, they made no moves with the everyday lineup and this is the same team that got shut down and swept last year by the Dodgers. This season's power outage should be no surprise. The same team that couldn't hit in the post-season last year, is showing it's true colors again this season. I expect this team, based on where they are today, to miss the playoffs.

PS- I am putting a ton of blame on John Mozeliak and ownership. The Ludwick trade was so stupid. I like Westbrook, but to give up a big bat and great defensive player, was a mistake. The reliance on lesser players has finally come back to bite the Cards. They are getting exposed for what they are this season. A team with a bunch of journeyman/utility players/rookies surrounded by some core stars (who cannot carry to entire load)

DOGTOWNB&R wrote:I am putting a ton of blame on John Mozeliak and ownership. The Ludwick trade was so stupid. I like Westbrook, but to give up a big bat and great defensive player, was a mistake. The reliance on lesser players has finally come back to bite the Cards. They are getting exposed for what they are this season. A team with a bunch of journeyman/utility players/rookies surrounded by some core stars (who cannot carry to entire load)

The blame lies squarely with the ownership and Mozeliak. I remember when Jocketty left, there were all kinds of people talking about how the team needed a new direction, that it was time for Jocketty to go. With a few notable exceptions like Matt Holliday, I don't see how that direction is going to get the Cardinals back to the World Series anytime soon.

There was a time not long ago when the owners could rightfully claim they fielded a first-rate team in a second-tier market, but once you get past stars like Pujols and Holliday and outstanding pitchers like Wainwright and Carpenter, the talent pool on this team is mighty shallow. Strangely, that has become more painfully obvious not necessarily when the Cardinals play contenders, but when they play divison rival has-beens like Chicago, Houston, and Milwaukee. The Cardinals' lack of fire and production against those teams is utterly embarrassing, especially after the way they responded to the Cincinnati Reds after Brandon Phillips stoked the animosity between the two teams.

The Cards are finding ways to lose almost every night. This team is pressing and it is starting to show. I think it is safe to say that Wainwright and Carp are pressing because they don't know if they'll get no runs or 10 runs in support, even against the bottom-feeders. Look at all of the bad losses in recent days. Oquendo stops Winn from scoring the other night in the 9th, Franklyn blows a 2 run lead in the 9th, Larussa bats Ryan with the bases loaded in the 9th against the Cubs, Lopez and his errors cost games, etc...etc...I could go on. There is the 5-10 game division lead we all expected. Bad managing has lost the Cards games, injuries, lack of hitting, the Ludwick trade also make the list. This has been a strange and disappointing year.
I am getting to the point where I just want it be over.

DOGTOWNB&R wrote:I am getting to the point where I just want it be over.

Me too. I'll watch the games, but won't get emotionally invested. They don't deserve it.

The Rams, on the other hand, played a very entertaining game last night. I'm glad I watched it until the end - I turned to the Cards in the ninth.