Koufax, Carlton

[vbsideout]

Tough series for Birds. Koufax last night and Carlton today. OH wait just 2 average lefties shutting us down again. Looks like Moss is going to be a platoon player. A #1 draft pick seems to be a pretty high price to pay for a platoon player. I really thought they were going to plug him in everyday and see what he could do.

 

[Cards1968]

GWPH is what he do.

I'll give him a couple of weeks to adjust to being a Cardinal before calling for his and Mo's head.

 

[Duck_walk]

It is hard to believe that these pitchers we keep facing have ERA's in the 4's and 5's and we will have one hit after five innings.

Honestly, can anyone explain this? To me it just looks like we have a team full of guys who should be hitting 6th, 7th or 8th. Our off the charts pitching is the only thing we really have going for us.

 

[Kenny56]

It is hard to believe that these pitchers we keep facing have ERA's in the 4's and 5's and we will have one hit after five innings.

Honestly, can anyone explain this? To me it just looks like we have a team full of guys who should be hitting 6th, 7th or 8th. Our off the charts pitching is the only thing we really have going for us.

And Toronto who hits the ball out of the park every other pitch is barely over .500. How about doing a little research and tell us how many teams in the top 10 in hitting are locks for the Playoffs compared to the top 10 pitching teams.

Cards are 31-19 vs. >.500 teams. This team isn't a fluke. I'll take the chances of the hitting to pick up over a team that just has average pitching and hoping for that to catch fire in October.

That "off the charts" pitching is their identity. Not sure why people have an issue with this.

 

[Neutron Monster]

And defense, too. Cards are just as good defensively as they are at pitching.

 

[Duck_walk]

Agreed. Our outfield defense with Holliday and Jay out is really good. Wong has made major strides. Carp and Jhonny are solid.

Now tonight at Cincy we are facing a pitcher who shut us down last week. This kid has a 5.69 ERA at home. His last two starts at home he has been rocked. To me, if Mabry and company cannot put together a "game plan" to score a boat load there is something seriously wrong.

 

[oldroundballer]

Agreed. Our outfield defense with Holliday and Jay out is really good. Wong has made major strides. Carp and Jhonny are solid.

Now tonight at Cincy we are facing a pitcher who shut us down last week. This kid has a 5.69 ERA at home. His last two starts at home he has been rocked. To me, if Mabry and company cannot put together a "game plan" to score a boat load there is something seriously wrong.

You do realize hitting a baseball isn't like running plays in basketball and football to take advantage of an opponent's weakness don't you?

 

[Duck_walk]

You do realize hitting a baseball isn't like running plays in basketball and football to take advantage of an opponent's weakness don't you?

If u notice I put quotes around game plan.
That is a quote I have heard from numerous cardinal hitters this year and the announcers.

You do realize they study video now in baseball just like football teams have for 50 years, right? They study tendencies, etc.
and have a plan for attacking the pitcher.
Just like other teams swinging at pitches early in the count vs Lackey. It's a game plan.

 

[vbsideout]

RISP RISP RISP RISP RISP. This has now been a huge problem for 1.5 years. Not saying we are bad but if we had a true RBI machine in the 4 hole we would be a stronger candidate for a world championship.

 

[oldroundballer]

If u notice I put quotes around game plan.
That is a quote I have heard from numerous cardinal hitters this year and the announcers.

You do realize they study video now in baseball just like football teams have for 50 years, right? They study tendencies, etc.
and have a plan for attacking the pitcher.
Just like other teams swinging at pitches early in the count vs Lackey. It's a game plan.

Of course they study. And of course they have a plan. But the bat still has to hit the ball where it's thrown and not go at a fielder. It's not like you can just throw it in to Tyler and it's automatic points or hand it to Marshall and watch him outrun everyone. But you've said if the don't score a boat load something's wrong. That's absurd. Sometimes a pitcher makes good pitches and/or the batted balls go straight at fielders. The other team is trying to win too. They have the best record in baseball. I think they have an idea what they need to do to get the most out of the situation. Whether it happens or not is why they play the games and if they don't score a boat load it's not going to mean something is seriously wrong.

Go Cards.

 

[Duck_walk]

I disagree this is a crap pitcher tonight. We should kill him. He has weaknesses we should exploit.

 

[vbsideout]

I disagree this is a crap pitcher tonight. We should kill him. He has weaknesses we should exploit.[/QUOTE Weak my a$$ looked like Drysdale!!!!!!!

 

[Duck_walk]

His "stuff" is nothing special.
Somehow he was pounded by
Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
But John Mabry is a wonderful batting instructor. I also greatly admire the height of many of Moss' outs. Many.

 

[Neutron Monster]

Moss does know how to hit a fly ball.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

And Toronto who hits the ball out of the park every other pitch is barely over .500. How about doing a little research and tell us how many teams in the top 10 in hitting are locks for the Playoffs compared to the top 10 pitching teams.

Cards are 31-19 vs. >.500 teams. This team isn't a fluke. I'll take the chances of the hitting to pick up over a team that just has average pitching and hoping for that to catch fire in October.

That "off the charts" pitching is their identity. Not sure why people have an issue with this.

I think the offense is what it is. It has basically been the same thing for a season and a half now.

The pitching, on the other hand, has been much better than expected. Lynn is doing what Lynn has done the past few seasons. IMHO, Lackey, CMart, Garcia, and Wacha have all performed above expectations. They have been fantastic. And I hope it continues. But I'd be really surprised, especially now that innings are piling up, if it continues. Particularly for Garcia, Wacha, and CMart. Young/recovering arms typically wear down.