The "Official" Cardinals Discussion Thread.

[BigRedChief]

Figured that if we had one thread to discuss Cardinals "stuff" it would be easier to find. What do you think? Good idea?

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by SEA_OF_RED

You guys should really set your goals more realistically. If anything you should be rooting for the Cubs to put you back in a playoff spot and just give up hope for the NL Central.

Or you could suck my balls

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Dude your so predictable. You winning you come in a talk smack. Your losing your no where to be found.

Your team will choke it in the end. They always do.

I didn't realize I had to post here everyday. I come by to talk smack when you guys mention the Cubs otherwise I stay off your thread to let you all discuss the 2012 season when you'll be really good supposedly.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by SEA_OF_RED

I didn't realize I had to post here everyday. I come by to talk smack when you guys mention the Cubs otherwise I stay off your thread to let you all discuss the 2012 season when you'll be really good supposedly.

Cheer up there. You guys are finally half way through the 200 year plan. Only 100 years to go buddy.

[The Rick]

Originally Posted by PGM

6-2....bases still loaded.

Milwaukee had a great shot with CC and Sheets starting the first 2 against the cubbies, but it looks like they will drop the first 2.

Can we (Milwaukee) choke away a better opportunity than this one? These last 2 games against the Cubs have been abysmal. We're taking a crap in our hats on our home field.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by The Rick

Can we (Milwaukee) choke away a better opportunity than this one? These last 2 games against the Cubs have been abysmal. We're taking a crap in our hats on our home field.

Welcome to our last week against you. We gave away three of the four.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by The Rick

Can we (Milwaukee) choke away a better opportunity than this one? These last 2 games against the Cubs have been abysmal. We're taking a crap in our hats on our home field.

Come on man give them a pep talk or something. You need to take these final 2 games. It's the Cubbies that choke not your team.

[BigRedChief]

Carp is back tonight. Should be a good team to get the first start against. I'm not looking for a lot tonight. He's got to be rusty.

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Carpenter is back one year plus five days after undergoing an elbow ligament transplant. Club officials agree with La Russa's assessment that it would be preferable for Carpenter to make one or two more rehab appearances. But since a perfect world is unavailable, Carpenter assumes the slot previously held by several rookie arms — less than 24 hours before Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline passes.

"Friday night after the game I figured they were going to ask me to do it. And I'm OK with that," Carpenter said.

"I look at it as he's returning to the rotation ready to pitch, ready to help us contend," pitching coach Dave Duncan said.

With Carpenter, the Cardinals have enjoyed 105- and 100-win seasons and captured a World Series in a third. Without him, they flamed out in 2003 and suffered a 78-win finish last season.

General manager John Mozeliak likens Carpenter's return to a major trade deadline acquisition. Though others within the organization react coolly to such a comparison, all agree that Carpenter offers a better chance to make an impact than lefthander Mark Mulder, who lasted 16 pitches in his comeback from rotator cuff surgery May 9 in Philadelphia.

"I'm excited to go out there and compete again and have fun," said Carpenter, who has won 51 of 94 starts since signing with the Cardinals as a non-tendered free agent coming off shoulder surgery in December 2002. "I've been looking forward to this date for a long, long time — a year-and-a-half. I'm most happy my arm feels good and I'm happy I'm going to be back to help the club win. I'm happy that hopefully I'm past all this stuff and I can look forward to the future without having to deal with it."

Carpenter, 33, has celebrated two birthdays since his last start and missed more time since last opening day than he did while requiring two shoulder operations, in September 2002 and July 2003.

Carpenter was disappointed with command of his fastball in a four-inning appearance at lace w:st="on">Springfieldlace> on July 20. After what he considered two unsatisfactory innings last Friday, Carpenter "pulled back" and became more comfortable with his command during his final 3 2/3 innings. He also experienced less stiffness after the lace w:st="on">Memphislace> assignment.

"I'm excited by that," Carpenter said. "I don't know what they're going to do (tonight), but we'll see. I told Tony I feel I definitely can compete here."

[BigRedChief]

Who is Chris Carpenter

Just in case you've forgotten the impact Chris Carpenter has had on the Cardinals in recent years, here's a look at some of his highlights:

— He led major-league starters in win percentage from 2004-07: 51-19 (.729)

— He won 2005 Cy Young Award, first Cardinals pitcher to do so since Bob Gibson in 1970.

— He carries a 5-1 postseason record, including three wins in team's 2006 World Series drive.

— The Cardinals won 17 consecutive starts by Carpenter from June 14 to Sept. 13, 2005

— The Cardinals were 20-8 in Carpenter's 2004 starts.

— He needed only 28 starts to win 20 games in 2005, fewest since 1934 and third-fewest in franchise history.

— The Cardinals have lost consecutive starts by Carpenter only seven times in his 94 regular-season starts.

— He had a 13-game win streak from June 3 to Sept. 8, 2005.

— The Cardinals won 288 games, an average 96 per season, with Carpenter available for the majority of the 2004-06 seasons.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Come on man give them a pep talk or something. You need to take these final 2 games. It's the Cubbies that choke not your team.

Uh, when have the Brewers not choked?

They just haven't done it for 100 years.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by frazod

Uh, when have the Brewers not choked?

They just haven't done it for 100 years.

shhhhhhh we want them to keep their confidence up for the next two days at least.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by SEA_OF_RED

I didn't realize I had to post here everyday. I come by to talk smack when you guys mention the Cubs otherwise I stay off your thread to let you all discuss the 2012 season when you'll be really good supposedly.

The point is that unless the Cubs are winning, we all have a better chance of finding the Holy Grail than you posting on this thread.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by frazod

The point is that unless the Cubs are winning, we all have a better chance of finding the Holy Grail than you posting on this thread.

but Car 44 where are you or

Sea_of_Cubbie_Blue where are you can abound

[Jewish Rabbi]

Carpenter is not looking too sharp thus far... Only one run given up thru two innings though, better than Mulder...

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Carpenter is not looking too sharp thus far... Only one run given up thru two innings though, better than Mulder...

It'll probably take him a couple of games to get his shit together. Hopefully we'll give him some run support.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by frazod

It'll probably take him a couple of games to get his shit together. Hopefully we'll give him some run support.

I knew he wouldn't be back to his Cy Young form, but he's really struggling with command today. But, traditionally the Cards have found ways to win no matter how bad Carp does.