Cardinals "Official" 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Thread - Page 31

**BigRedChief** · 02:10 PM

This is so unreal. We were dead. No hope. A season over. Somehow, someway we find some team chemistry and squeak into the playoffs on the last day of the season.

Only to find us facing one of the best pitching staffs assembled in years with home field advantage. We somehow, someway find a way to beat the best pitcher in baseball on the road in an elimination game.

We have to go on the road and beat the team with the best home record in baseball. A team who mortgaged their future to make this run .We somehow, someway find a way to beat them on the road and make our 18th World series trip.

We take game 1, we give away game 2 and home field advantage. Albert goes off for probably the best performance in World Series history and we take game 3 easily. Games 4 & 5 our bats fall asleep, Phone gate happens and its not looking too good.

Game 6, one of the best baseball games of all time and it takes place in a season ending go home game. Cardinals are down 2 runs in their final chance on the season, twice. They are down to their final strike of the season, twice. They give up a 2 run homer in extra innings. In the bottom of the inning their final 3 batters are a combined 3-26 in the Playoffs and a pitcher because the bench is empty. Somehow, someway they get some runners on and the comeback player of the year drives in the tying run. Mr. Freese hits the walk off home run. We will see you tommorrow night.

Game 7, With our bulldog on the mound pitching on 3 days rest he is able to give us 6 good innings and get us to within 9 outs of our 11 World series title. Texas meltsdown, probably left over from last nights game and its over.

The underdog, come back team who had no business even being in the playoffs wins a World championship. They make movies about events like this in life. Events that you remember even if your not a fan of the sport or team for the rest of your life.

When it is your team.......Priceless

.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 02-27-2011, 01:03 PM

IF Berkman is healthy
IF Freese is healthy (never has happened, BTW)
IF Garcia can handle a 200 inning load (Good luck with that)
IF Westbrook doesn't regress
IF LOhSE doesn't put up a sub 5.50 ERA
IF Franklin somehow manages to keep his smoke and mirrors act together
IF Carpenter can pitch three straight seasons without major injury (never happened)

This team is paper thin.

Rams Fan · 02-27-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

IF Berkman is healthy
IF Freese is healthy (never has happened, BTW)
IF Garcia can handle a 200 inning load (Good luck with that)
IF Westbrook doesn't regress
IF LOhSE doesn't put up a sub 5.50 ERA
IF Franklin somehow manages to keep his smoke and mirrors act together
IF Carpenter can pitch three straight seasons without major injury (never happened)

This team is paper thin.

You never know, mang. Look at the '06 Cardinals. That team was worse than this one but got hot at the right time.

Simply Red · 02-27-2011, 01:06 PM

it's funny watching the southerners get all crunk about the 'long term' signing of Dan Uggla - Too bad he's THIRTY!!!!! his last two years here, we'll be lucky to get ANY effort outta him!

Rams Fan · 02-27-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Red

it's funny watching the southerners get all crunk about the 'long term' signing of Dan Uggla - Too bad he's THIRTY!!!!! his last two years here, we'll be lucky to get ANY effort outta him!

Uggla will hit past his prime. The question is will his shitty D be moved to 3B.

Simply Red · 02-27-2011, 01:09 PM

Sorry to interlope Cards fans.

Simply Red · 02-27-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Uggla will hit past his prime. The question is will his shitty D be moved to 3B.

nope - chipper is coming back. Who is pretty much God to us Braves fans.

Chipper reminds me SOOOOOO much of Brett. So much. - Chipper is by far my favorite baseball player.

Rams Fan · 02-27-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Red

nope - chipper is coming back. Who is pretty much God to us Braves fans.

Chipper reminds me SOOOOOO much of Brett. So much. - Chipper is by far my favorite baseball player.

I mean, will Uggla be moved to 3B after this season? I don't see Chipper coming back after 2011.

Simply Red · 02-27-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I mean, will Uggla be moved to 3B after this season? I don't see Chipper coming back after 2011.

It's just unclear right now - nobody is really saying WHO will be there, just yet. I think Uggla will stay there @ 2nd - I think I just booted a ball there while I was typing that.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 02-27-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

You never know, mang. Look at the '06 Cardinals. That team was worse than this one but got hot at the right time.

They weren't really worse. They had a lot of bad injuries, and the guys got healthy at the right time, and we suffered the most fortunate injury in recent memory when Izzy went down, which allowed Waino to take his spot, and the bullpen had the most unsustainable run of luck in history.

But really, that team had respectable power, and the infield was immeasurably better.

Rolen had a near .900 OPS at third and 22 bombs. We aren't getting anything close to that. The outfield had guys that put up 19, 22, and 19. Not to mention you had a crack-free Spiezio off the bench as a really good utility player, Pujols had his best year,and a legitimate 2nd baseman in Ronnie Belliard.

Frazod · 02-27-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

You never know, mang. Look at the '06 Cardinals. That team was worse than this one but got hot at the right time.

Are you insane? That was basically the same team that had come off multiple 100 win seasons. Granted, they were near the end and sputtered down the stretch (and imploded the following year), but they were nothing resembling this spit-and-toilet paper disaster we're dealing with this year, nor did they have to deal with the Pujols contract distraction.

Rams Fan · 02-27-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

They weren't really worse. They had a lot of bad injuries, and the guys got healthy at the right time, and we suffered the most fortunate injury in recent memory when Izzy went down, which allowed Waino to take his spot, and the bullpen had the most unsustainable run of luck in history.

But really, that team had respectable power, and the infield was immeasurably better.

Rolen had a near .900 OPS at third and 22 bombs. We aren't getting anything close to that. The outfield had guys that put up 19, 22, and 19. Not to mention you had a crack-free Spiezio off the bench as a really good utility player, Pujols had his best year,and a legitimate 2nd baseman in Ronnie Belliard.

Tell me the injuries they had. Edmonds, Albert went on the 15 Day DL, Izzy, who else? I do agree that the infield was better(Ronnie didn't come to the Cards until the deadline, remember?)

It's not impossible for the OF to put up similar or better numbers than the '06 OF. Holliday is better than Duncan, Colby is better than a banged up Edmonds and Berkman can probably put up the same production as Encarnacion did offensively. And I'm still excited about Allen Craig coming off the bench.

Simply Red · 02-27-2011, 01:28 PM

what's ya'lls pitching looking like - The Braves staff looks legit - I'm not sure yet on who the braves set-up man is going to be - hoping like hell it's not that Australian side-armer, he's good at times, but leaves too many sinkers up higher, so they level off in the wheel-house. Philly wins the divi again, but the Braves may squeek in, .....over all - i look for them to have a slightly worse season vs. last season.

**BigRedChief** · 02-27-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

IF Berkman is healthy
IF Freese is healthy (never has happened, BTW)
IF Garcia can handle a 200 inning load (Good luck with that)
IF Westbrook doesn't regress
IF LOhSE doesn't put up a sub 5.50 ERA
IF Franklin somehow manages to keep his smoke and mirrors act together
IF Carpenter can pitch three straight seasons without major injury (never happened)

This team is paper thin.

I would venture to guess that any of the other clubs in the division has a long "if" list that they have to go right to win the division.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 02-27-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Tell me the injuries they had. Edmonds, Albert went on the 15 Day DL, Izzy, who else? I do agree that the infield was better(Ronnie didn't come to the Cards until the deadline, remember?)

It's not impossible for the OF to put up similar or better numbers than the '06 OF. Holliday is better than Duncan, Colby is better than a banged up Edmonds and Berkman can probably put up the same production as Encarnacion did offensively. And I'm still excited about Allen Craig coming off the bench.

Rolen's shoulder was ****ed up, Edmonds missed 50+ games, Eckstein missed almost 40 games, and we had only three pitchers who made more than 17 starts

'Hamas' Jenkins · 02-27-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I would venture to guess that any of the other clubs in the division has a long "if" list that they have to go right to win the division.

You know what the difference is? They aren't relying on guys with long injury histories to put together complete seasons.

The Brewers' best, most important players are all super durable.

You can use the injury ? about the Reds, for Volquez and Cueto, and for Rolen, but really not anyone else.

01-06-2011, 09:41 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $2949627 VARSITY	"Official" 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Thread This is so unreal. We were dead. No hope. A season over. Somehow, someway we find some team chemistry and squeak into the playoffs on the last day of the season. Only to find us facing one of the best pitching staffs assembled in years with home field advantage. We somehow, someway find a way to beat the best pitcher in baseball on the road in an elimination game. We have to go on the road and beat the team with the best home record in baseball. A team who mortgaged their future to make this run .We somehow, someway find a way to beat them on the road and make our 18th World series trip. We take game 1, we give away game 2 and home field advantage. Albert goes off for probably the best performance in World Series history and we take game 3 easily. Games 4 & 5 our bats fall asleep, Phone gate happens and its not looking too good. Game 6, one of the best baseball games of all time and it takes place in a season ending go home game. Cardinals are down 2 runs in their final chance on the season, twice. They are down to their final strike of the season, twice. They give up a 2 run homer in extra innings. In the bottom of the inning their final 3 batters are a combined 3-26 in the Playoffs and a pitcher because the bench is empty. Somehow, someway they get some runners on and the comeback player of the year drives in the tying run. Mr. Freese hits the walk off home run. We will see you tommorrow night. Game 7, With our bulldog on the mound pitching on 3 days rest he is able to give us 6 good innings and get us to within 9 outs of our 11 World series title. Texas meltsdown, probably left over from last nights game and its over. The underdog, come back team who had no business even being in the playoffs wins a World championship. They make movies about events like this in life. Events that you remember even if your not a fan of the sport or team for the rest of your life. When it is your team.......Priceless . Attached Thumbnails Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-29-2011 at 02:10 PM..
Posts: 79,181

02-27-2011, 01:03 PM	#451
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7989572	IF Berkman is healthy IF Freese is healthy (never has happened, BTW) IF Garcia can handle a 200 inning load (Good luck with that) IF Westbrook doesn't regress IF LOhSE doesn't put up a sub 5.50 ERA IF Franklin somehow manages to keep his smoke and mirrors act together IF Carpenter can pitch three straight seasons without major injury (never happened) This team is paper thin. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,835

02-27-2011, 01:06 PM	#453
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	it's funny watching the southerners get all crunk about the 'long term' signing of Dan Uggla - Too bad he's THIRTY!!!!! his last two years here, we'll be lucky to get ANY effort outta him!
Posts: 71,691

02-27-2011, 01:09 PM	#455
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	Sorry to interlope Cards fans.
Posts: 71,691

02-27-2011, 01:28 PM	#462
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	what's ya'lls pitching looking like - The Braves staff looks legit - I'm not sure yet on who the braves set-up man is going to be - hoping like hell it's not that Australian side-armer, he's good at times, but leaves too many sinkers up higher, so they level off in the wheel-house. Philly wins the divi again, but the Braves may squeek in, .....over all - i look for them to have a slightly worse season vs. last season.
Posts: 71,691