The Cards are now in their fourth World Series in the last ten years. That's pretty amazing.
- 3,429
I got lucky in my Season Ticket pool and had two tickets for last nights NLCS Championship game. My wife and I went a little early and ate BBQ at Bogarts in Soulard. Quite a few other people in Cardinal garb were coming in about when we left, and I'm guessing most of them were either going to the game, or going someplace downtown to watch the game. The Cardinals raise the price of all the food in the stadium for playoffs and then keep it there the next year. A small beer was $10 in the stadium. That's a good reason to go down early, take in all the rallies and atmosphere, and buy dinner and a beer outside the stadium.innov8ion wrote:The games start at 730pm. Nothing's keeping our visitors from enjoying a nice meal beforehand, right?downtown2007 wrote:Great for bars and hotels. Bad for upscale restaurants. Few want to go have a steak when the NLCS is on.
It's obviously too early for real concern, but the way the offense is playing right now does raise some questions for Mo. Bernie has done his usual thorough job of laying it all out there. A few things surprise me in the early goings: poor defense, and poor at bats. Rosenthal's recent spontaneous lack of control and propensity for early count off speed is a head scratcher. This all sounds like the musings of a madman on April 23, but what the heck. Go Cards.
- 388
Cardinals Offense is just like singing silent night theres nothing to show for yes its still a bit early but wow has it been dangerously quiet so quiet you could probably hear someone fart...I wish they kept Beltran like the Blues the Cardinals need a big bat too bad they didn't trade for Tulowitzski instead of getting Peralta ... Our pitching has been great so we'll see ..
This next series will be a nice indicator of where they stand. Peralta's early trends suggest that after yesterday's onslaught he'll follow with a 1-20 showing the next week. It would be nice to see him put together a little hitting streak. Despite Milwaukee's great start, their record against teams over .500 is not stellar. An encouraging sign would be continued good at bats with solid contact and efficiency with RISP...especially from Craig. Would hate to see the Brewers create too much distance.
Can't let a beat up Brewers team take back to back games when up 3-0. 6.5 games back is starting to approach troubled territory. Can only hope that Brewers can't keep up this pace. It doesn't instill much confidence when we put out a different lineup most every night. Good teams find a way to win and it seems the 2014 Cardinals succeed at finding ways to lose.
- 388
It's still early but the Cardinals really don't have much of a offense at all.. Since trading away Beltran you can see theres a gapping whole in our offense.. Cardinals don't have that big rbi bat like when we had Pujols. Our line up doesn't strike any fear in pitchers. Im guessing this will be a team at .500 maybe slightly better but likely will miss the playoffs...
With this pitching staff there will always be hope, but agree the offense is lackluster. Combine poor consistent clutch hitting with crappy defense and it will be a long summer. Tighten up the D and start hitting like last year and hopefully they'll start to make up some ground.
What a buzzkill at the Redbirds game last night at AutoZone Park watching the Cards blow another 3-0 lead with no clutch hitting and average pitching. Interestingly right in from of me the likes of Robinson, Taveras, Wong, Grichuk, Piscotty, and Kozma were lighting it up.
Everyone seems to think that averages are going to creep closer to lifetime numbers for our struggling lineup, which is likely, however if they can't get hits at the right time, it won't matter. Frustrating opening to the season- still holding out hope they can put something together before the Flag Day assessment.
Everyone seems to think that averages are going to creep closer to lifetime numbers for our struggling lineup, which is likely, however if they can't get hits at the right time, it won't matter. Frustrating opening to the season- still holding out hope they can put something together before the Flag Day assessment.
If the averages go up, so will the "clutch" hitting.
The Cardinals just finished a stretch of 26 out of 38 games on the road and now are home for 19 out of 22. In those 38 games, the Cardinals played .500 ball. Most good teams will go through a lengthy stretch of .500 baseball sometime during the season, the Cardinals just have done it out of the gates.
It may not be ideal position, but it's fine position. They'll be alright.
The Cardinals just finished a stretch of 26 out of 38 games on the road and now are home for 19 out of 22. In those 38 games, the Cardinals played .500 ball. Most good teams will go through a lengthy stretch of .500 baseball sometime during the season, the Cardinals just have done it out of the gates.
It may not be ideal position, but it's fine position. They'll be alright.
- 388
Maybe I'm wrong but right now the Cardinals are no better than a below average 500 ball club the hitting is never there and its mid may now .They sure in the hell got themselves embarrassed last night maybe that should be a wake up call.
Well, by the nature of .500, I'd say they're average, not below average. Of course, they're one game below .500 now, but still, I'd call them average. Or mediocre. But they'll improve.
A couple of tidbits I dug up last night that I think are relevant.
The current 2014 Cardinals team is 19-20.
The 2004 Cardinals team, which won 105 games and the NL pennant, was 20-19 at this point. They would be 23-22 before they really took off.
The 2013 Cardinals, which won 97 games and the NL pennant, went 18-23 from games #100 to #140 before finding their winning ways again.
The point being that most teams, even good teams, will go through a lengthy stretch of just above or just below .500 ball. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played. If they're still scuffling after another 20 games, then maybe it'll be cause for serious concern.
But right now I'd bet on their talent and track record. I think they'll get it together.
A couple of tidbits I dug up last night that I think are relevant.
The current 2014 Cardinals team is 19-20.
The 2004 Cardinals team, which won 105 games and the NL pennant, was 20-19 at this point. They would be 23-22 before they really took off.
The 2013 Cardinals, which won 97 games and the NL pennant, went 18-23 from games #100 to #140 before finding their winning ways again.
The point being that most teams, even good teams, will go through a lengthy stretch of just above or just below .500 ball. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played. If they're still scuffling after another 20 games, then maybe it'll be cause for serious concern.
But right now I'd bet on their talent and track record. I think they'll get it together.
- 1,792
And don't forget that the biggest advantage this team has is the depth of their pitching. The long season will steadily wear on any pitching staff. As injuries start impacting the other teams, the cardinals depth at pitcher makes a late run in the season very plausible. That said you have to score runs to win. Great pitching gives you space to do that.
Speaking of pitching, one thing the Cardinals need to get out of their starting staff is more innings. The return of Jaime Garcia will help.
But a lot of their depth is young talent, and so far that young talented has produced "opportunities to win" a lot, but not a lot of games beyond 5 innings. We need to start getting guys not named Adam Wainwright in and through the 7th.
I think in time it will happen, it just hasn't happened yet.
But a lot of their depth is young talent, and so far that young talented has produced "opportunities to win" a lot, but not a lot of games beyond 5 innings. We need to start getting guys not named Adam Wainwright in and through the 7th.
I think in time it will happen, it just hasn't happened yet.
The Cardinals just traded Allen (Torty) Craig and Joe Kelly to the Red Sox for formidable pitcher, John Lackey. I don't follow the Cards closely, but this seems like a decent move.
http://www.faketeams.com/2014/7/31/5955 ... llen-craig
http://www.faketeams.com/2014/7/31/5955 ... llen-craig
- 284
I wish they would of gotten Cespedes if I'm spelling his name right?
Now we have 2 decent Pitchers in Masterson & Lackey but not sure by acquiring them will give them the push they need cause the offense is horrid..
Now we have 2 decent Pitchers in Masterson & Lackey but not sure by acquiring them will give them the push they need cause the offense is horrid..
- 9,559
Time to go for the kill and get David Price from the Rays for Shelby Miller and few AAA prospects.
- 3,235
It's time for everyone to realize the Cardinals aren't going to make the postseason. The have a bad offense and are without their best player for the rest of the season. Sorry to be a downer.
^While I totally understand that sentiment, I don't think we can rule them out just yet. They've hovered in this position longer than I thought they would and the rest of the division refuses to pull away (unless Pittsburgh continues their roll). Milwaukee has overachieved to date. Our offense has been so terrible due to lack of timely hitting which has the potential to change. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't make the playoffs but wouldn't be surprised if they waddle in either. As much as it hurts to lose Molina, he was almost a non factor offensively the month prior to his exit and now they have more veteran pitchers less dependent on his leadership behind the plate. I think the onus is somewhat on Matheny to start managing more proactively as well. He may benefit from more hit and runs and attempted bunts with a man on first and less than 2 outs as it is painful to watch them ground into double play after double play. Bourjos would be so much more of a weapon if he could just get on base even a tiny bit more. I suppose all we can hope for is to keep it close for the rest of the season to at least make it interesting.
Go Cards.
Go Cards.
- 8,911
Nodowntown2007 wrote:It's time for everyone to realize the Cardinals aren't going to make the postseason. The have a bad offense and are without their best player for the rest of the season. Sorry to be a downer.
The Cardinals are a slightly above average team in a year when there's a lot of (while still allowing for the definition of) slightly above average teams. There are only a few really good teams, and the best ones are in the AL right now.
The NL is up for grabs, and that goes double for the NL Central.
No, the Cardinals aren't inspiring. The offense is lackluster (although it still should be better, so there's always that chance) and the pitching is just okay after Wainwright and Lynn and perhaps now Lackey.
But you know what, they surely aren't that much worse then their competition for the playoffs, whether that's the division title or one of the two wild cards. And with just about 50 games left to play, the randomness of baseball is very much in play. And should they find their way into the playoffs, all bets are off. Anyone can win then.
So to recap, there is no reason to be overly excited about the Cardinals this year, but there's no reason to give up on them either. They'll probably be frustrating and somewhat disappointing most of the rest of the year. But in the end, they still might win the World Series because baseball.
And as long as that's true (and actually for me, even if it wasn't), I'll keep on watching and rooting.
The NL is up for grabs, and that goes double for the NL Central.
No, the Cardinals aren't inspiring. The offense is lackluster (although it still should be better, so there's always that chance) and the pitching is just okay after Wainwright and Lynn and perhaps now Lackey.
But you know what, they surely aren't that much worse then their competition for the playoffs, whether that's the division title or one of the two wild cards. And with just about 50 games left to play, the randomness of baseball is very much in play. And should they find their way into the playoffs, all bets are off. Anyone can win then.
So to recap, there is no reason to be overly excited about the Cardinals this year, but there's no reason to give up on them either. They'll probably be frustrating and somewhat disappointing most of the rest of the year. But in the end, they still might win the World Series because baseball.
And as long as that's true (and actually for me, even if it wasn't), I'll keep on watching and rooting.
- 8,155
With Milwaukee failing to pull away, I think the Cards have a good shot for fall ball; especially if Yadi comes back soon. We could use some post season cheer.
- 1,864
Yadi should be back and behind the plate tonight. There's nothing like "acquiring" an All-Star, Gold Glove catcher for the stretch run.
- 284
Cardinals are in sole possession of 1st place baby.. Hopefully they maintain that spot however the Pirates are playing some good ball. I made a bet with my friend in Pittsburgh if the Cardinals win the Division then he has to come here to visit if Pittsburgh wins the division then i'll have to go too Pittsburgh . Should be a close one