***Official 2015 STL Cardinals Thread II***

[BigRedChief]

2011 World Series Championship
2012 NLCS. One win from another WS appearance.
2013 World Series. Two wins from another World Series Championship
2014 NLCS. Three wins from another WS appearance
2015 Clinched Central Division title and Home Field advantage in the playoffs. First team in MLB to win 100 games since 2011.

• Made the postseason 11 times in the last 15 seasons.
• Only 1 losing season since 2000.
• Reached the World Series 4 times since 2004 and won as many championships (two) the past eight seasons as it did from 1965 to 2005.
• Made the NLCS 9 times including the last 4 years 2011-2014
• Three million attendance? Take it to the bank.
• 65 post season wins since 2004. 22+ wins more than any other team.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Saw on Twitter than Wong is batting 8th tonight. WTF is up with that.

I feel like Matheny doesn't quite get this whole "8 hitter gets junk" thing.

Wong's plate discipline has fallen to hell - it would seem the LAST place I'd want to put him is 8. Then again, I wouldn't want to put Grichuk there either because I think it does him a huge disservice and yet he seems to be doing okay in that spot. I still think he's a 6 or 7 hitter, but he's actually putting a charge into balls way out of the zone right now so his poor plate discipline isn't hurting him. He's doing Adam Jones stuff out there.

But the best answer? Slinging shit at the wall at this point. The offense is a wreck so you might as well see if you can find something that works. Apart from Carpenter in the 1 hole (as it seems to be the only place he's comfortable), I just don't see any other player on this team that 'owns' his spot in the batting order. Peralta in the 4 also seems like it should pretty much be set in stone at this point though I could see moving him down against righties with power breaking balls.

[ChiefsCountry]

With Holliday out I think I would go:

Carpenter
Grichuk
Heyward
Peralta
Wong
Piscotty
Molina
Moss
Pitcher

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

With Holliday out I think I would go:

Carpenter
Grichuk
Heyward
Peralta
Wong
Piscotty
Molina
Moss
Pitcher

I think I'd go

Carpenter
Piscotty (still love his swing)
Heyward
Peralta
Grichuk
Wong
Moss
Molina
-------


I think I'd avoid the temptation of forcing a L/R/L/R thing because Wong's wrists are so quick that he's not generally prone to getting beaten up by lefties. He's showing some splits this year but last year he hit lefties much better. Moss has shown reverse splits this season and ultimately I don't know if he can hit ANYTHING but given his swing and miss tendencies, I don't want him hitting 8th were pitchers can just throw him enough junk to get himself out. I could almost be convinced to move Moss up behind Peralta, getting Grichuk to my preferred 6 spot for him and then with Wong/Molina behind him you do keep a l/r/l/r pattern throughout the lineup, but I want to see a little more from Moss first.

Carpenter
Piscotty
Heyward
Peralta
Moss
Grichuk
Wong
Molina

is potentially our BEST lineup, IMO. It just needs the respective pieces to prove their worth. You get Piscotty in a spot where he can utilize that linedrive stroke well. You get Heyward's power/speed combo and high OBP at the top of the order. Moss's LH power would be a huge boost behind Peralta if it comes around. Grichuk has enough thump behind him with Wong and a professional hitter in Molina that pitchers can't run from him and he'll get pitches to hit. Same story with Wong and then Molina's bat control in the 8 hole can really be used nicely with Grichuk and Wong's speed in front of him.

It's actually a really nice group of parts, those parts just need to come together.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I still love you guys...

Until our teams meet in the World Series. Then not even our mutual Mizzou love can reconcile us.

Yeah, you never know when you will get a chance at another World Series. Ya got to seize the moment as a fan.

I'm happy for the Royals fans, You core guys stuck with the team when you had to endure 100 loss season after 100 lost season. You have earned the right to revel in the success.

Your not a rival, at least to me so losing or winning to the Royals in the regular season is no different from any other game. But, the world Series? Your going to have to go down, go down hard.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If Kevin Seitzer can get fired when he's actually making HUGE strides with his guys (and has everywhere he's gone) then why can't Mabry get let go when he has essentially no positive results to point to?

uhhh because he is best friends with Matheny?

[Hootie]

If the cards replaced matheny with dj's left nut my God, I'm think .850+ win %

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

If the cards replaced matheny with dj's left nut my God, I'm think .850+ win %

Literally, his left nut would have more success. Glad you noticed.

[Marcellus]

Look Heyward with his every other game base running gaff.

[George Liquor]

This team is pretty bad right now.

[Mi_chief_fan]

I fear a very short and painful post season awaits.

[George Liquor]

I have $150 on the Cards having a better record than the Royals with a friend.

Not feeling too good about it right now. Lots of ball left to play... But yeah.

[Marcellus]

Molina should be hitting 9th. JFC he is a terrible hitter now.

Thats why you send Piscotty on the play earlier.

[O.city]

That's why you don't hit yadi 5th

[George Liquor]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Molina should be hitting 9th. JFC he is a terrible hitter now.

Thats why you send Piscotty on the play earlier.

I would have bet every cent to my name on him GIDP there. So god damn predictable.

[Hootie]

Can't believe you guys are still watching. Down 3-0 earlier figured you'd be watching Sharknado by now