Fangraphs still shows 93.7 for his average FB. Though he didn't really hit that often the rare times I have watched the games.

Because I know that a lot of the game is between the ears and sabermatics can't predict that outcome.

Baseball is not a game of passion like football but the mind, passion and personal drive still play a part in the success or failure of a player.

Pitching the 9th is different than the 8th. You keep your head on straight and have good stiff, you can transend to great.

It's nice to hope, but you also need to be realistic.

FWIW, I went to the Cardinals-Tigers interleague series in Detroit in 2006 and sat right behind the Cards' bullpen. When Wainwright was warming up I told the guy next to me that he was the centerpiece of the JD Drew trade, and that he was going to be a really good SP for us in the future. WW came in and gave up a run in that game (Izzy later blew the save and got me on SportsCenter in the process b/c the HR he gave up landed five feet from me) and the guy next to me said, "doesn't look that special". Three months later he was nailing Brandon Inge to win the Series.

Yeah, stuff like that happens, but it's exceedingly rare, and you can't pin your hopes on stuff like that. Besides, Tony made him the closer as a desperation move. That 2006 bullpen was awful, and its 2006 PS performance was one of the luckiest runs in ML history. Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney, and Randy Flores were effectively unhittable. Think about that.

Why the hell is Franklin yet again brought into a game that could still be won?

Good damn question:banghead:

Boggs was available. But the Reds announcers said Franklin is our best option for a closer. If I was a red homer I'd probably agree. He gives up a earned run every damn inning he pitches.

Franklin now has a 9.88 ERA and a WHIP of over 2!!!

Overall I don't think its a crappy bullpen. Its a bullpen with a very huge hole in it with Franklin. He needs to be shut down until they can figure out what is wrong with him. I am not going to be stressing if the Cardinals don't have a true closer. I would much prefer this club use the pen to create matchups which are favorable to us.

It is a crappy bullpen though and many of us were worried about it before the season even started. It's not "just" Franklin.

What a disaster of a series in Cincy. Swept away and Carp shelled again. Chapman couldn't throw a strike for the Reds today made the game close, but they couldn't quite pull it out.

We swept them last year and it didn'r mean shit. Hopefully this means the same this year.

But it does look like Carp has got old. I hope he can pull it back together. Glad we got young arns in the pipeline with the potential to be #1 or #2 starters. But, we have to pay up to keep Waino as the anchor of the staff.

:facepalm:

Looks like Pujols went after Phillips on breaking up the DP.

OMG! :deevee:

Pujols at 3B
Berkman at 1B
Craig in RF

Albert's returning to 3rd...interesting.

yeah until he throws out that elbow and has to have Tommy john surgery. Remember how Pujols ended up at 1st?