1 of 1- forsberg_us
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Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
The Cardinals are typically playing everything coy, but a couple of interesting nuggets from today's story by Strauss
Mozeliak, La Russa and Carpenter took turns Sunday night insisting that Carpenter's right elbow is not an issue and that he would have started Game 7 against the Brewers if the Cards had failed to clinch. La Russa challenged a description of Carpenter being "sore" following his five-inning start in Game 3 while Carpenter dismissed a question during Sunday's celebration regarding concern about his right elbow.
* * *
The Ballpark is less hospitable to fly ball pitchers such as Edwin Jackson while favoring sinker specialists such as Westbrook. Part of today's conference call will focus on whether Westbrook is better served starting or idling in the bullpen as a fallback in case of someone else's abbreviated outing. Restoring Westbrook to the roster might come at the expense of Kyle McClellan, who made one appearance lasting one out in the NLCS.
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- artie_fufkin
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
"whether Westbrook is better served starting or idling in the bullpen as a fallback in case of someone else's abbreviated outing."
I'd go with the "idling" option, but only if he's sitting in a car with the windows rolled up and sucking on a hose connected to the tailpipe.
OK, that was a little harsh. But my point is there are other options that could be explored before they get to Westbrook.
The Carpenter thing all of a sudden scares the hell out of me.
- APIAD
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
If Carp goes down I wouldnt see how the Cardinals can compete. I see their point about Westbrook. At this point how can we really tell who is the better option. All the starters, including Carp have faulted in the playoffs. At this point I expect Carp to produce a good start and just hope a 2 out of the other 3 can have one of their starts that make you think they are major league pitchers.
My hope in this series is that Carp can match up with Wilson and kind of take him out of the picture as a guy who can just steamroll the team. The Cards need to take game one and two at home. They really can go to Texas and try and out slug the team. The Rangers have five, 25 HR guys.
- artie_fufkin
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
"I see their point about Westbrook."
Theoretically, it makes all the sense in the world. But Westbrook has done very little to make them trust him. His last start was in a game against a Double A lineup that we all thought at the Cardinals couldn't afford to lose, and he got clobbered.
- forsberg_us
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
Any decision they make is going to be based on very little. Neither Westbrook nor Jackson has pitched in Arlington since 2008, so there isn't much to go on.
Jackson did face Texas once this year while with the White Sox, and they lit him up pretty good. 5.1 IP, 11 H, 4 ER.
One start is an awfully small sample size.
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Thread Starter- APIAD
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
Maybe Westbrook wants to proved himself. He is able to control a game if he keeps the ball down. At this point they could run McCellan out there for game three and I would have about as much faith in him as I do Jackson, Westbrook or Loshe.
- Max
- Colby Rasmus
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
Adding Westbrook isn't totally stupid, but removing Jackson would be, unless he is injured or something. Switching Westbrook for, say, Boggs or McClellan, wouldn't be totally radical.
- don.rob11
- Édgar Rentería
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
- Max
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
It's interesting, but what would also be interesting would be to see comparisons of:
HR/9 IP
SLG against
The problem with the Cardinals pitch to contact staff going against the Rangers sluggers is, what it's not a groundball? Westbrook's 59% groundballs means 41% flyballs. What happens to those flyballs?
One strategy to counter power hitting is with powerpitching, by striking guys out. So, I would like to see a more detailed analysis, although I'm not saying I'm against adding Westbrook.
- don.rob11
- Édgar Rentería
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
It's a gamble , I keep hearing K-Mac's arm is dead , course Mikalwitz is advocating a start for Jake . Dewitt is paying Jake 8 mil. , K-Mac 1.375 , does he he want time on the field for his dollars, don't really think so, this is the world series , put the team out there you think is gonna get you your 11th championship ...and see if TLR can sprinkle some more magic dust and get us one .....
- forsberg_us
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
Talked to Chad last night. He said that Carpenter's elbow is nothing more than the grind of having thrown 250+ innings and being 36 years old. It's sore, but no more so than it was before he pitched game 5 of the LDS. The extra days off will help, but he'd have been fine to pitch game 7 if they had needed him.
Last edited by forsberg_us (10/19/2011 9:01 am)
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Thread Starter- APIAD
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Re: Carp injured? Westbrook replacing Jackson in the rotation?
Good to know. Cant wait till tonight.