Cardinals lineup

Jay cf

Carpenter 1b

Holliday lf

Craig rf

Freese 3b

Molina c

Schumaker 2b

Furcal ss

Wainwright p



Houston lineup

Altuve 2b

Moore 3b

Wallace 1b

Maxwell cf

Castro c

Francisco rf

Martinez lf

Greene ss

Harrell p

"It's Hunter Pence Bobblehead Night."
So if it's Hunter Pence Hunchback, Bug-Eyed Night, does he have to show up?

artie_fufkin wrote:

Anything but a sweep of these clowns would be disappointing.

No doubt...

tkihshbt wrote:

Lee just isn't the same pitcher.

He was fine through five, and then all of a sudden he turned into J.A. Happ.

TK, there's a guy at Citizens Bank Park, in the second row almost directly behind the plate, Blue shirt. He's obviously holding a radar gun in his left hand, but he's holding another object in his right hand that he brings to his mouth after every pitch. Any idea what's going on with that? Never seen that before.

Wow Papelbon is awful. Although these are really just pop fly home runs.

tkihshbt wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

don.rob11 wrote:

No doubt...

Brad Mills got screwed. John McGraw couldn't have finished .500 with this collection of talent.

I don't think he was fired because of their record; he was just a victim of a change in direction. I don't think it's that uncommon for a GM to want his own guy, especially if he's not established.

It will be interesting to see what Luhnow comes up with. If you go back to when Mozeliak got his job, the Cardinals interviewed several legitimate GM candidates who declined the job because they didn't want to work with Luhnow. I wonder if there will be similar reluctance this go around.

forsberg_us wrote:

It will be interesting to see what Luhnow comes up with. If you go back to when Mozeliak got his job, the Cardinals interviewed several legitimate GM candidates who declined the job because they didn't want to work with Luhnow. I wonder if there will be similar reluctance this go around.

Was it Luhnow or was it that they didn't like the structure that was set up? As I recall, any GM that was hired would have to let Luhnow make all the player development decisions, which was asinine. I can't think of any GM taking a job on that condition.

On the radio today Goold hinted that Luhnow may start raiding the Cardinals organization for coaches and would use it as a model for building Houston. 2006 and 2011 were spectacular playoff runs, but I'm not sure that copying an organization that's won 90 games only twice in the last seven seasons is the right way to go.

I realize that comment might seem irrelevant to the discussion at hand, but the comment by Goold kind of bothered me.

Apropos of nothing, but I just looked it up and Tampa, which is one of the worst offensive teams in baseball (although a team with dynamite pitching) is 68-54 in the toughest division in baseball. Not that I think Joe Maddon in the dugout would magically heal Furcal's back and solve the conundrum of lousy hitting in high-leverage situations, but he has to be pushing every right button at all times.

tkihshbt wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

It will be interesting to see what Luhnow comes up with. If you go back to when Mozeliak got his job, the Cardinals interviewed several legitimate GM candidates who declined the job because they didn't want to work with Luhnow. I wonder if there will be similar reluctance this go around.

Was it Luhnow or was it that they didn't like the structure that was set up? As I recall, any GM that was hired would have to let Luhnow make all the player development decisions, which was asinine. I can't think of any GM taking a job on that condition.

On the radio today Goold hinted that Luhnow may start raiding the Cardinals organization for coaches and would use it as a model for building Houston. 2006 and 2011 were spectacular playoff runs, but I'm not sure that copying an organization that's won 90 games only twice in the last seven seasons is the right way to go.

I realize that comment might seem irrelevant to the discussion at hand, but the comment by Goold kind of bothered me.

What is Luhnow claim to fame?  He wasnt part of the 2004/2005 seasons.  2006 was still a Walt year with Edmonds and Rolen hanging on for dear life.  There has been no great talent come out of the Cardinals system really.  Not to the extent that you can pat Luhnow on the back.  The only cant miss superstar they thought they had needed to be traded because he was a pussy and the team lacked so many parts it could fill internally.  I am not saying he wont prove himself, just that he hasnt.

tkihshbt wrote:

Wow Papelbon is awful. Although these are really just pop fly home runs.

Not only is he awful, he takes 30 seconds between every pitch. If you're going to suck, be considerate and suck quickly.

tkihshbt wrote:

Apropos of nothing, but I just looked it up and Tampa, which is one of the worst offensive teams in baseball (although a team with dynamite pitching) is 68-54 in the toughest division in baseball. Not that I think Joe Maddon in the dugout would magically heal Furcal's back and solve the conundrum of lousy hitting in high-leverage situations, but he has to be pushing every right button at all times.

The thing I like about Maddon is he doesn't buy into the notion that his team can't compete because it's in the same division with the Yankees and the Red Sox. If any team in the majors has a small market excuse, it's the Rays.