forsberg_us wrote:

Lohse pitched his ass off, particularly the last 2 seasons. But he's still Kyle Lohse.

And Larussa didn't do Lohse any favors with this last book. The way Larussa tells it, he was skipping Lohse's starts in September because he didn't trust Lohse not to remember he was Kyle Lohse.

You know who really sucked in September?  Chris Carpenter.  Where was he in 2004?  Let alone all the seasons he didn't pitch at all. 

Look, I am a Carpenter fan, a Lohse fan, and La Russa fan.  If someone wants to believe the Lohse signing was a bad one, I'm OK with that.  I am also OK with my opinion that it was a good one.

Berkman signs with the Rangers. 1 year/$10M

forsberg_us wrote:

Berkman signs with the Rangers. 1 year/$10M

Hitters park with an option for a DH.  I wish Berkman luck.


IDK how hard the Astos tried but they should have been.  Having Berkman finish his career there would have been cool and he is better then Pena.  He could have taught the young players a thing or two.  Maybe Berkman didnt want to play for a bottom of the league club tho.

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Berkman signs with the Rangers. 1 year/$10M

Hitters park with an option for a DH.  I wish Berkman luck.


IDK how hard the Astos tried but they should have been.  Having Berkman finish his career there would have been cool and he is better then Pena.  He could have taught the young players a thing or two.  Maybe Berkman didnt want to play for a bottom of the league club tho.

I don't think Berkman would have ever signed with Houston. That team is going to be terrible. He was looking for a contender.

tkihshbt wrote:

Well, Carpenter had a 2.46 ERA in September 2011 along with shutouts. Plus he pitched 24 innings in his last three starts, giving up just one run.

I don't think anyone faults Lohse for getting injured. He was just unlucky, but even at his best he's still not a guy teams are knocking down doors to get.

I am sure you realize that I wasn't trying to compare Lohse with Carpenter.  Rather, if someone wants to diss someone else, they can always find ways to do it.  Carp broke down in September 2004, and wasn't there at all in  . . . three (correct?) other seasons. 

At his best, i.e. this year, and one or two other times with the Cards, Lohse put up ERA and W-L that gets peoples attention.  Much, much better than Jeff Suppan.

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Lohse pitched his ass off, particularly the last 2 seasons. But he's still Kyle Lohse.

And Larussa didn't do Lohse any favors with this last book. The way Larussa tells it, he was skipping Lohse's starts in September because he didn't trust Lohse not to remember he was Kyle Lohse.

I am halfway throught the book and havent picked it up in a week.  It is a good book but for some reason I am unmotivated to read at the moment.  Fors is correct.  TLR hasnt said much against Loshe but he keep patting himself on the back because he is claiming the extra rest was needed to keep him sharp.

On a sperate note I am disappointed TLR hasnt discussed Rasmus more or release of Franklin.  Those were big points in the season and he breesed over them.

I finished it a while ago, but I remember something along the lines of a comment that once Lohse hit 50 or 60 pitches, neither Larussa not Duncan trusted him and were looking for any sign to get him out of the game.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a guy seeking $13-15M/year over a long term deal.

To be fair that was prett much the book on him the whole time with the Cardinals and it wasnt hard to see.  After the 5 inning you didnt know if it was going to be Greg maduxx or todd Wellemeyer taking the mound.

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

Hitters park with an option for a DH.  I wish Berkman luck.


IDK how hard the Astos tried but they should have been.  Having Berkman finish his career there would have been cool and he is better then Pena.  He could have taught the young players a thing or two.  Maybe Berkman didnt want to play for a bottom of the league club tho.

I don't think Berkman would have ever signed with Houston. That team is going to be terrible. He was looking for a contender.

That is true.  Even tho Berkman had a great 2011 for the Cardinals he will always be an Astro.  I forget if Berkman wanted out but my memory seems to say that Houston ditched him and he basicly agree because he didnt want to hold back the clubs ablity to get prospects for him.  I thought it was even seriously talked about that he would rejoin the club the following year.  Seems like a dick move on the Astro's part.  Berkman did alot for that club.

I recall he wanted to return to Houston after he finished out the year with the Yankees, and the Astros didn't make him an offer.

APIAD wrote:

That is a dick move by the Astros.  It isnt like he was blocking someones spot at first and the Astros dont have anything better to watch then a hall of famer finish his career.  he ended up settling for a 8 million one year deal .  The Astholes could have managed that.

Yeah, well, fortunately it bit them in the ass, didn't it? It had to kill them that a Texas guy who wanted to come back ended up getting a ring with one of their division rivals, and ended up loving St. Louis.

On a seperate note, Artie, why are you a Cardinals fan?

APIAD wrote:

On a seperate note, Artie, why are you a Cardinals fan?

Plus, I hate the American League because of the fucking DH. It's not real baseball. If I wanted to watch nothing but a bunch of guys hit the ball, I'll go over to the slow pitch softball game at the park down the street. Those games always end up with scores likes 32-21.

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

APIAD wrote:

On a seperate note, Artie, why are you a Cardinals fan?

Plus, I hate the American League because of the fucking DH. It's not real baseball. If I wanted to watch nothing but a bunch of guys hit the ball, I'll go over to the slow pitch softball game at the park down the street. Those games always end up with scores likes 32-21.

Agreed.  It makes me sick that there are this group of people out there that thinks both leagues need the DH.  If that ever happens I am done with baseball.  Seriously I am.

I keep hearing the DH is coming to the NL, and once the NL gets it, it will never get rid of it because the players union is behind it, and the union always gets what it wants.
I don't know if I'll go as far as saying I'll never watch baseball again, but I won't enjoy it as much.

APIAD wrote:

I wouldnt say never but I wont follow it close.  The AL bores me to death.  It only mattered to me three times in my life.  2004, 2006 and 2011.  Other then those three series I dont care about it at all.

It ought not to surprise you that I have to have this discussion all the time, and it always starts with "Who wants to see the pitchers hit?" and my standard response is "If you think it's about the pitchers hitting, then you don't know enough about baseball to even begin this discussion."

Last edited by artie_fufkin (1/07/2013 2:15 pm)

APIAD wrote:

Very true.  It adds so many things to the game it would be to time consuming to list them.  Almost every single decision in an NL game is based on the pitchers spot in the lineup.  Of course an AL olny fan probably doesnt understand how the 9th spot on the lineup card can end up getting your right fielder lifted early and a pitch hitter batting cleanup.

The thing I always say is managing in the American League is the easiest job in baseball because most games the only decision you have to make is changing the pitcher once he's become ineffective. When Roger Clemens was a dominant pitcher for the Red Sox, John McNamara used to fall asleep in the dugout.