4321

I wish there was someone in this bullpen that didn't terrify me every time they toed the rubber.

Holland hasn't given up a run yet. Want him back?

Terrifying is worse than aggressively hating.

I want Holland shot out of a cannon into the sun.

He hasnt given up a run yet because the run he walked in against the Cubs was credited to another pitcher but that runner was on first and he only recorded 1 out on the benefit of a bullshit call from an umpire on a wild throw to first.

Trying to think of a player on this team's history I've hated more than him.

Brett Cecil?

Hitting is hard, apparently. .
Back to back 1-0 defeats.

Bring on football. The illusion has been shattered.

You still like giving up your young talent for Archer?

Bring him in for a look?

Where's the love for Wong's play lately? That bases loaded hit to put the game away was happening when he hit .285. Taking that outside pitch to LF instead of trying to hit home run on every swing.

He stays in this grove, he's an All-Star. If he can hit .280 with that defense, I don't know what his WAR would be but, it has to a lot better than what he was in the 1st half. That is the kind of player that would allow us to compete again for a WS.

His overall WAR is 3.1 right now. Last year it was 1.8, the difference is his defensive WAR is 2.0 and last year it was 0.1.

It seems and we have no way of knowing for sure, that maybe he took his defense a little more seriously when he was struggling so much offensively. Hopefully if his offense continues to improve he won't regress and lose focus defensively like he had a tendency to do in past years. He has always had this ability, but he hasn't had the run of consistency defensively that he has shown this year.

One thing to watch w/ defensive metrics is that there is often so much variance in them from year to year that it's better to take a three year rolling average to determine someone's defense. For example, if you look at Trout's, you'll see a year where he was -4.5 runs in defense, then 6.6, 4.3, then down to -3.5 again. There's too much variance in the numbers to take them as representative a single season at a time. If you look at it overall, it probably paints a more accurate picture that he's worth about an extra 0.5 runs per year compared to the average baseball player playing defense (remember, that these aren't just averaged against the person playing his position in Fangraphs, so he's not -4.5 runs worse than a center fielder).

I think we missed the bulleye. :deevee:

Glasnow needed a change of scenery. Honestly, I think Searage is out of tricks. Cole and Morton have looked fabulous with Houston.

Baz hurts. That was too much. Meadows and Glasnow were enough.

And honestly, losing the young talent didn't cost us the last two games. Silent bats did.

I don't see anyone getting in the way of Colorado winning the NL - they're so damned good! of course plenty can find a hot enough streak to beat them, but dayuuumm!! That D! That O!

Pffffttttt, we smoked last time we played them a couple of weeks ago. They are beatable.

But, whoever comes out of the NL will get smoked by the AL team in the WS.

Colorado won’t even make the playoffs.

dumb

As of today, we have a spot in the playoffs. Did not see that coming. This turn around is amazing. :clap:

probably - but, that's never as much of a lock as it's seemed (in recent days)

Bader has the looks, the hair and smile to get national commercials if he can become a more consistent hitter.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Bae <a href="https://t.co/l0E99UG3VS">pic.twitter.com/l0E99UG3VS</a></p>&mdash; Birds on the Black (@birdsontheblack) <a href="https://twitter.com/birdsontheblack/status/1030987883828539392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

please don't ambush me here - but I think the Rockies are better than both the Braves and Cards. Hell I think they're better than the D'backs and DOY'ers. No offense for real! they're just so stacked and play superb D.

well the W/C doesn't lay out favorably for them - but I'd be somewhat surprised if they didn't win the West. 1.5 games isn't the end of the world for them - you may be right - i retract my 'dumb' comment. we shall see - that's a super interesting division. Awfully solid, that west.

ive not seen the Rockies play except against us. They looked like shit when we took 3/4 from them. Maybe it was just a bad stretch of games for them? :hmmm:

That’s a winner!! 0.5 game out from the top wild card spot. 20-11 record since meat head was fired. Social!


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Pretty solid hair - Charlie Culberson has the best hair though and he's my dude!

Brewers have no starting pitching. It was just a matter of time. The Cardinals offense will cool off but at least we have pitching to keep us in every ballgame. The Brewers goose is cooked.

Rockies are going to take 3 of 4 here. We're terrible vs the west.

The Braves are like the Chiefs - next year is our year.

they trade for Yelich, sign Cain which were both solid moves.

Did they think their starting pitching was better? The FS1 broadcast was saying the FO plan was to just outscore teams.

That lineup will mash their way to a few hot streaks but that pitching staff is done.

Braves about to be 7-19 vs. the West - thank GOD the rest of our division sucks and we'll still be up .5 games!

i WILL say the Rockies have the arguably the best infield D in all of the MLB.

:Poke:SR

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Bader&gt;Acuna Jr <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a></p>&mdash; Make UT Great Again (@LifeChamps16) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeChamps16/status/1031008033038630912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When the legends come to visit, you better win! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CardsHOF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CardsHOF</a> <a href="https://t.co/lkpVQj8RBp">pic.twitter.com/lkpVQj8RBp</a></p>&mdash; St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1031007325182550016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Brewers had a dogshit rotation all year, and it's finally caught up to them. I'd rather have Yelich than Ozuna, but they gave up a ton for a shitty Schoop, and they can't get games to their pen. They've also played above their heads in run differential. I'm more worried about the Dodgers right now, and the Phillies are only average.

The wife wants to murder everyone in your bullpen.

She was a bit perturbed with tonight’s outcome. :D

Rocking my ozuna jersey right now

WC? We play anything close to this level, 4 games back with 38 to go, we can overtake the Cubs. Those last 3 games against the Cubs may end up being eventful after all.

It's been a while since we have been able to say this, but we are fans of best team in the NL

that is unbelievable and yet true.

Are you qualifying that statement or are you really suggesting a team that if the playoffs were to start right now would be watching from their TVs at home is the best in the NL?

I guess tonight got you the 2nd WC spot, but there's no chance in hell the Cardinals are the best team the NL has to offer. They are simply hot right now. Just like the Pirates were to start the season. Just like the Reds were after firing their manager.

Shut up you stupid wasted talent bundle of sticks.

Don't get mad at me when Matt Carpenter's back finally breaks from the load he's carrying.

You bundle of stickss thought you were starting a dynasty but only got 1. 11>3

You realize the Cubs still have a good 4 years left, right?

They also happen to have owners who I have no doubt would blow past the luxury tax threshold with a team that attracts high value players.

Carpenter is 2-19 this week and the Cardinals are 5-1. It's not a one man show.

Against the Nationals and Brewers? WOW!

The Nationals make up ways to lose games on a nightly basis and the Brewers have been falling a part for a while now. Carry your winning streak beyond LA and Colorado and then maybe I'll be impressed about a week split.

Yeah, they're only 14-3 this month. **** yourself to death with a 2x4.

Ya and Matt Carpenter has a 1.027 OPS with 7 HRs in little over half of the month you inbred. Don't try and act like a guy with an ISO 140 points higher than his best ever offensive year isn't due for a crash.

ROFLt

They aren't the best team, but they have improved immensely since Mabry/Meatwad/Turdy Pham got canned. You honestly seem a bit concerned.

I was agreeing from a "hot" perspective. We are 14-3 lately. No team is playing better. During this streak, we are without a doubt the best team in baseball. Scoreboard.

To me that doesn't mean we are the best team in a month, in the playoffs or suddenly have the most talent in baseball.

We were the best team in baseball in 2004/2005 and didn't win a WS. Many times its the "hot" team.

Yeah JD, your posts seem like you are concerned about the Cardinals now? Were you thinking you were going to continue to kick our ass for the rest of your "4 year window" and now we just might be competitive and screw up your "4 year window"?

What’s nuts is we really should be 17-0 during that stretch.

I'm not concerned at all. The Cubs are pacing the league while missing their MVP, an entire starting pitching staff that is underperforming and missing a key piece, and missing their closer.

The NL as a whole doesn't mean shit to me. What I'm more concerned about is that Theo ****ed up with 2 big trades to deplete the system that I don't see how they get what they need to compete with any of the 3 monsters in the AL that will make it to the WS.

Theo has been completely stubborn when it comes to trading the guys on the MLB roster even though there's about 2 guys too many. If he doesn't get his head out of his ass and package a Russell, Schwarber, or Happ and target a legit TOR pitcher then not even Machado or Harper will alter their fate when it comes to facing the AL.

Hopefully with Bote emerging out of nowhere will finally give him the confidence to do it. But I won't be at all surprised if he elects to package Bote for some **** like Marcus Stroman to add to the plethora of #3 pitchers on the staff.

Of course you are concerned. Your constant chirping the Cards should tear it all down is just wishful thinking. You see the Cubs have this 4 years of dominance ahead based largely on your position players. Your starters are "under performing" because that is probably who they are now. It happens to aging arms. I don't think any of us is saying, "well if we only had Waino back." Clearly this season has highlighted that we have a much deeper starting pitching bench to work from. We lost Martinez and Wacha. Where would you be without Lester and Hendricks?

Maybe the "Yu Debacle" will pan out for you and he will finally grow a pair and live up to expectations, but right now your dynasty is missing half of the equation.

The Cubs still are the team to beat, but your prospects have largely been tapped out and the future looks a little more narrow than before this season.

I dont for one second think that who Quintana is right now, no matter how much I dislike him being on the Cubs, is who he will be. Nor do I think that about Kyle Hendricks who is starting to come around.

The only one who I think is fading is Jon Lester.

So is the once thought of future ace in Carlos Martinez on the Cardinals.

The Cardinals position hasnt changed at all. Yadi is still getting older, Carpenter is still getting older, their current best pitcher is only on a 2 year deal and unlikely to see a long term extension, their LFer who they traded for to be their middle of the order bat is only around for 1 more year and he's been more like a #7 hitter.

With Gyorko being complete shit this year the Cardinals are looking at finding a C, 3B, LF, and RF really soon. Not to mention if Paul DeJong continues to have Diaz like declines at the plate they could probably stand to look for a SS.

Yes, he was on an unreal run, but it's not like we are talking about Bo Hart here, the man has had a solid history of hitting.

You are right about the supporting cast. I did a cursory glance at straight OPS figures for the past 30 days (roughly aligned with Shildt's entrance) and the only Cardinal regular position player who has been hitting in the "average range" is Gyorko who was at .742,

Wong, .919, Bader, .909, Carpenter .1126, DeJong .878, Ozuna .791, ONeill, .822, Martinez .818, Molina, .766 (slightly above average).

The improved defense of having DeJong, Wong, and Bader up the middle coupled with solid pitching (and pitching staff use) is what has made this run possible. They are hot hitters right now for sure, but you can point to defense and pitching that has helped close that gap quick as well.

30 games is not a season, but like poker, if I'm going to get lucky, I would rather it be when the blinds get big than when they are small.

You might want to try speaking with some evidence. Gyorko, has not been a bright spot, but hardly complete shit. Playing part time for much of the year, he still has an OPS+ of 103, or just a tick above average. Paul DeJong and Diaz like decline? You might want to worry more about your own Russell who is checking in with a "dangerous" OPS of .679, or OPS+ of 78...ouch!

In fact your position player line up comes in with a current WAR of 18.8. That is complicated by Bryant of course who was at 1.4 (304 at bats). The Cards lineup? 20.7.

So yes, Molina is getting older, however we do have 2 ready to go prospects that are fairly highly touted. Carpenter is entering the down years of his prime.

Zobrist and Baez have been your two best players. How old is Zobrist? 47, 48 now? The luster and hype for Almora, Russell, and to some extent Haap and Schwarber has been tarnished to say the least. Face it your line up is closer to ours than you care to admit, and I will gladly admit that there are upsides on the Cubs that could still break big. Time will tell.

I feel a little more confident we can find an above average replacement at a corner infield position or outfield position than what it might cost to go searching the minefield of free agent starting or relief pitching that the Cubs will likely have to navigate again.

Not all of our pitching prospects will pan out. We might never get a #1 out of them, but nearly all of them have shown that they can make a staff, if 1/3 of them trend up, that is a nice place to be with controllable talent.

If you think the Cardinals lineup is close to the Cubs you are ****ing delusional.

Zobrist isn't counted on to be an every day player so how old he is is irrelevant to the conversation. His position is firmly accounted for. Everything you get from him at this point is a cherry on top.

Who can you make an argument for being better on the Cardinals position for position outside of the current form of Matt Carpenter over Rizzo?

Its not gonna be Wong.
DeJong is probably an equal offensively to Russell while Russell is infinitely better defensively.
Its not gonna be anyone at 3B over Bryant.
Its not gonna be Ozuna over Schwarber.
Bader is currently having a better year than Almora at the plate but he probably ends up being about what you get from Almora.
No one in RF is giving you close to what Heyward is doing.
And Molina is having a youthful resurgence while still coming in about equal to Contreras in a down year.

You need to forget about Carson Kelly as Molina's replacement. His bat is so bad the only team he would stick on would be a situation like the Padres with Austin Hedges and Kelly makes him look like Babe Ruth.

The Cubs have 4 bats you could reasonably put in the middle of a lineup. The Cardinals have 1 and when he is put in that situation he has an an aneurysm.

Get the **** out of here with that bullshit.

I don't have to think it...statistically right now they are close. You talked completely off the cuff (and wrongly) about a DeJong decline, ignoring the offensive decline of your own shortstop. You brought up Diaz...here is some facts.

The following is the current OPS+ and career OPS+ for all 3 shortstops. Guess which one is Russell?

106/115
101/108
78/88

I havent ignored anything about Russell you clown.

Russell is there simply for his defense. His bat has never come around. I've even suggested that Theo needs to ****ing trade him in the the last couple pages. The Cubs can just as easily slide Baez over to SS and fill 2B with Zobrist/Happ if they choose or open up a spot for Bote and wait for the guy they just drafted in the 1st round who is the type of hitter this team desperately needs.

Guess what would happen if the Cubs did that? The gap between the Cubs lineup and Cardinals lineup would get LARGER while only suffering a minor loss in defense.

And if you think DeJong hasnt declined at the plate since his rookie year or even the start of this year then you clearly arent even paying attention to your own team.

It has nothing to do with decline. His BABIP dropped, his walk rate has almost doubled, and he broke his hand, which takes a while to recover from. Get the **** out of here and go play with the shitbags at BleedCubbieBlue. No one wants your **** ass around.

So you are telling me that a guy loses 50 points of ISO and nearly 100 points in SLG% isnt a decline because his BABIP is down?

Ok bro. Keep drinking that koolaid.

That and a ****ing hand injury tend to make a pretty big difference.

Last 15 games DeJong is slugging .545. His WAR is the exact same it was last year.

Schwarber statistically is overall marginally worse this year than Ozuna who is having his worst year. Ozuna 1.8 WAR, Schwarber 1.5...Schwarber is having a better offensive year not doubt, but is still the albatross defensively despite his success with Jenny Craig in the off season...Career wise they are neck and neck OPS+...Ozuna slightly better....so what if Ozuna starts showing signs of returning to form as he has the last week...that tips quite a bit differently down the stretch.

Really you think Bader might be having a better year? The thing about that comparison is Statcast doesn't lie...you can't fake speed, zone ratings, and offensively he is hitting his stride as well...WAR for Bader 3.9...Almora 1.8 with below average OPS+.

You dude are the homer...no one here remotely is crowning the Cards the future rulers of the NL Central, let alone MLB.

There is a lot to be optimistic about the Cards future...Their pitching depth has been impressive. The position players have stabilized and other than Molina, everyone is at or below their prime years still. You threw away Wong, but guess where Wong's WAR would rank on your Cubbies? Tied for second with Contreras.

So kindly, go fist yourself.

About the only thing he was doing in the month prior to the injury was taking walks.

His highest average since the start of the year from month to month is his current .233.

Whatever excuse you want to blame it on, he is not on the same level he once was. The only thing carrying this months OPS, so far, is his 4 HRs.

Schwarber still an albatross on defense? News to me. He has a +3 DRS this year and I believe the most outfield assists, I haven't looked at it in a bit. Is he Lorenzo Cain? No. But hes been more than serviceable on defense this season.

Schwarber, according to one site, is about equal in WAR to Ozuna.

Schwarber according to another site is about 2x better than Ozuna in WAR.

Which one is it?

This speaks to just how bad Mabry was at his job....WOW

You said it wasn't going to be Ozuna over Schwarber...I pointed out that even in a down year...not such a cut and dry case...Yes albatross was probably going to far...but a healthy Ozuna...and that picture looks even murkier.

You mean the 4 he has hit in that time that is just one less than Russell all season long? Russell posted big numbers in 2016. How do they compare now? Congratulations on the reincarnation of Mark Belanger.

Something is different there. I think it probably has more to do with less line up tension as well, but yes it appears that many of them have benefited from a different approach.

You keep on bringing up a guy that I think Theo needs to trade. I'm failing to understand your point.

If you want to bring up single year numbers. Go ahead and compare Ozuna last year to every other year of his career.

jd is scurred, boys!

Scurred of the AL.

You brought him up when you claimed superiority at that position. Baez is the one guy I think has really grown out of those prospects to be what was hyped.

You asked about Molina's replacements? Where are your future pipeline of pitchers?

You don't seem to have any more Gleyber's to dangle for rentals like Chapman...that has to make you wonder...did that 3.52 WS ERA and 3.86 NL Pennant ERA really turn the tide for you?

No actually you brought up Russell. I said they were probably equal at SS. Russell is clearly a better defender and DeJong so far has shown to be a better hitter when he probably ends up a league average hitter.

The Cubs arent looking at replacing any of their pitchers in the near future so they have plenty of time to develop a pipeline. It's sink or swim with the current rotation.

Quintana is the nearest pitcher to FA and that wont come til after the 2020 season.

Outside of Darvish returning they also have Drew Smyly about to come back from his TJ surgery and it would be hard to say he wouldn't be an improvement over Tyler Chatwood.

And yes. Chapman absolutely turned the tide. His ERA is what it is because of how Maddon used him. Take any one less elite than Chapman and put him in those same situations and see what happens.

Did the Cubs overpay to get him? Abso****inglutely. It was a stupid price to pay for a rental and I said it at the time. Same thing with the Quintana trade. Theo ****ed those up.

But the Cubs still have chips to trade. They just arent in the minors but they are still young enough to reach their potential while showing they can perform at the MLB level.

Maybe...but if he is honest he has to be nervous...We on the other hand are playing with found money right now.

What this run has also highlighted is how terrible the Fowler signing has been. We dodged a bullet not signing Heyturd and clogging up RF for years to come, and then signed the mirror image of him initially, except now the both offense and defense sucks.