Comments on: Waking up a sleeping giant http://www.fungoes.net/2008/08/28/waking-up-a-sleeping-giant/ Official blog of the St. Louis chapter of SABR Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:03:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Hoish http://www.fungoes.net/2008/08/28/waking-up-a-sleeping-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-5136 Hoish Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:38:34 +0000 http://fungoes.net/?p=1189#comment-5136 I honestly think that folks are giving way too much credit to Villaneuva's actions and Pujols' response for the turn of fortunes in that game rather than what I think is a MUCH larger statement made by a different Cardinal player: When Adam Wainwright drilled Ryan Braun in the ribs with a 2-seamer earlier in the game, I believe THAT was the turning point of the game and was exactly the message that needed to be sent to the Brewers! Not since (dare I mention it) the last Cardinals-Cubs series (of 2004?) when Matt Morris drilled the first batter he faced in the series finale (following a TLR edict that no pitcher would throw at a batter even though several Cardinals players had been hit in earlier games) have I seen such a turning point in a team's attitude. Even though Matty-Mo got lit up that day, Pujols responded with a 3 home-run performance and the Cardinals came back to win that game in the ninth inning on the third of his homers... I believe 11-8 was the final. They went on to win the division and never looked back after that game. Let's see if fortunes follow a similar path now that Wainwright ignited "the sleeping giant" and the Cardinals saved face in this two game mini-series finale against the Brewers. I honestly think that folks are giving way too much credit to Villaneuva’s actions and Pujols’ response for the turn of fortunes in that game rather than what I think is a MUCH larger statement made by a different Cardinal player: When Adam Wainwright drilled Ryan Braun in the ribs with a 2-seamer earlier in the game,

I believe THAT was the turning point of the game and was exactly the message that needed to be sent to the Brewers!

Not since (dare I mention it) the last Cardinals-Cubs series (of 2004?) when Matt Morris drilled the first batter he faced in the series finale (following a TLR edict that no pitcher would throw at a batter even though several Cardinals players had been hit in earlier games) have I seen such a turning point in a team’s attitude. Even though Matty-Mo got lit up that day, Pujols responded with a 3 home-run performance and the Cardinals came back to win that game in the ninth inning on the third of his homers… I believe 11-8 was the final. They went on to win the division and never looked back after that game.

Let’s see if fortunes follow a similar path now that Wainwright ignited “the sleeping giant” and the Cardinals saved face in this two game mini-series finale against the Brewers.

]]> By: STLSportsMag » Blog Archive » The Morning Tailgate http://www.fungoes.net/2008/08/28/waking-up-a-sleeping-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-5135 STLSportsMag » Blog Archive » The Morning Tailgate Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:45:12 +0000 http://fungoes.net/?p=1189#comment-5135 [...] So, back to this while Pujols/Brewers kerfuffle on Wednesday night: Fungoes.net noted that the most-recent bush leagueing is reminiscent of last year’s collapse by the Milwaukee Brewers. [Fungoes.net] [...] [...] So, back to this while Pujols/Brewers kerfuffle on Wednesday night: Fungoes.net noted that the most-recent bush leagueing is reminiscent of last year’s collapse by the Milwaukee Brewers. [Fungoes.net] [...]

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