Comments for Fungoes http://www.fungoes.net 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 Comment on Five ways that the Cardinals can get back into the race by hellofriends http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/30/five-ways-that-the-cardinals-can-get-back-into-the-race/comment-page-1/#comment-6153 hellofriends Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:03:22 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3177#comment-6153 I also think it would help if LaRussa replaced Rasmus with Brendan Ryan as the bench-warming object of his wrath- Ryan is a nice guy, great on defense, and a fan favorite of sorts, but his numbers this year don't even remotely justify all the playing time he gets and, frankly, the lack of a demotion. Maybe I'm wrong about that but I can think of at least 4 instances in which a pinch-hit was in order late in the game but Ryan was left in to deteriorate further and keep the game out of reach, all because of loyalty or some strange philosophy that one's confidence is less ruined by striking out at a critical moment yet again than by being pulled during a slump... In any case, it's also always a bit strange to me to see a major league team in freefall while its AAA minor league club is hot-- while the Cardinals have lost what, 5 of 8 to last-place teams(?) and watched even their better pitchers struggle, the Memphis Redbirds have won 7 straight (and 11 out of the last 13), rattling off a 30-inning shutout streak and outscoring opponents 84-48 in the process. Ordinarily I'd suggest we do some shuffling, but fortunately the September callups are coming so we don't have to. Whether or not LaRussa finds good use for these young players and stops wasting time on this year's lost causes (Loshe, Ryan, McDougal, et al) remains to be seen, but I suppose with a month left and a series against the Reds still to come, all is not lost quite yet... I also think it would help if LaRussa replaced Rasmus with Brendan Ryan as the bench-warming object of his wrath- Ryan is a nice guy, great on defense, and a fan favorite of sorts, but his numbers this year don’t even remotely justify all the playing time he gets and, frankly, the lack of a demotion. Maybe I’m wrong about that but I can think of at least 4 instances in which a pinch-hit was in order late in the game but Ryan was left in to deteriorate further and keep the game out of reach, all because of loyalty or some strange philosophy that one’s confidence is less ruined by striking out at a critical moment yet again than by being pulled during a slump…

In any case, it’s also always a bit strange to me to see a major league team in freefall while its AAA minor league club is hot– while the Cardinals have lost what, 5 of 8 to last-place teams(?) and watched even their better pitchers struggle, the Memphis Redbirds have won 7 straight (and 11 out of the last 13), rattling off a 30-inning shutout streak and outscoring opponents 84-48 in the process. Ordinarily I’d suggest we do some shuffling, but fortunately the September callups are coming so we don’t have to. Whether or not LaRussa finds good use for these young players and stops wasting time on this year’s lost causes (Loshe, Ryan, McDougal, et al) remains to be seen, but I suppose with a month left and a series against the Reds still to come, all is not lost quite yet…

]]> Comment on Five ways that the Cardinals can get back into the race by Cards’ Web Guy’s Given Up. Have You? « El Maquino http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/30/five-ways-that-the-cardinals-can-get-back-into-the-race/comment-page-1/#comment-6152 Cards’ Web Guy’s Given Up. Have You? « El Maquino Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:19:34 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3177#comment-6152 [...] 2-**** Shutout story here | New Confidence story here [...] [...] 2-**** Shutout story here | New Confidence story here [...]

]]> Comment on Five ways that the Cardinals can get back into the race by Crunch Time: Convert to a 4-Man Rotation « El Maquino http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/30/five-ways-that-the-cardinals-can-get-back-into-the-race/comment-page-1/#comment-6151 Crunch Time: Convert to a 4-Man Rotation « El Maquino Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:40:54 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3177#comment-6151 [...] story here, courtesy of [...] [...] story here, courtesy of [...]

]]> Comment on Five ways that the Cardinals can get back into the race by hellofriends http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/30/five-ways-that-the-cardinals-can-get-back-into-the-race/comment-page-1/#comment-6147 hellofriends Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:18:32 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3177#comment-6147 During the just-a-bit-too-short rally in the bottom of the 9th against Milwaukee a couple Wednesdays ago, the strangest thing happened: we were on our feet when Molina came up, clapping, yelling, relentlessly making noise- willing him to rach base. When he did, Aaron Miles came up behind him and we all sat down. It was quiet. It made no sense, and it struck me: Miles has to have noticed the difference. Can we affect his confidence? Maybe not. Can we rattle the other team's pitcher a bit more during a rally? Who knows? Fact is, the rally continued, and with Molina on base as well, Miles had an even greater chance of stealing the game for us. He failed, but so did Prince Fielder, so the inning continued... with all of us at Busch Stadium right back at it, making a ton of noise for pinch hitter Rasmus and some, but not as much, for hard-luck Brendan Ryan. It was odd. During the just-a-bit-too-short rally in the bottom of the 9th against Milwaukee a couple Wednesdays ago, the strangest thing happened: we were on our feet when Molina came up, clapping, yelling, relentlessly making noise- willing him to rach base. When he did, Aaron Miles came up behind him and we all sat down. It was quiet. It made no sense, and it struck me: Miles has to have noticed the difference. Can we affect his confidence? Maybe not. Can we rattle the other team’s pitcher a bit more during a rally? Who knows? Fact is, the rally continued, and with Molina on base as well, Miles had an even greater chance of stealing the game for us. He failed, but so did Prince Fielder, so the inning continued… with all of us at Busch Stadium right back at it, making a ton of noise for pinch hitter Rasmus and some, but not as much, for hard-luck Brendan Ryan.

It was odd.

]]> Comment on Did Oquendo make the right call? by hellofriends http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/25/did-oquendo-make-the-right-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6142 hellofriends Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:34:15 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3168#comment-6142 Take tonight as well, even though we won- Boggs nearly gives up a bad one with the bases loaded (just foul, won't show up in the stats), then McClellan gives up a hit followed by a homer (only half shows up in the stats, thanks to a "caught sttealing" that was really a pickoff right before the bomb). Ryan Franklin then did his best Isringhausen impression by giving up a leadoff double, a long sac fly, a run-scoring wild pitch, a clean triple, and a walk before finally "earning" what we inexplicably call a "save" (can we officially change the stat to "pitching performance that didn't blow the game"?) It's really, really getting uncomfortable and frustrating watching this team play when the starter doesn't go at least 7 these days, and the fact that they've won so many games anyway with this underperforming bunch of bad-bearded bullpen bumblers on the roster is a testament to just how good Carp, Wain-o and Garcia have been all year (Fernando Salas not included, or course-hopefully he hasn't been infected yet, although admitedly he's probably not ready to be the closer- I can't remember what happened the last time we let a young minor leaguer come up and start closing games during a playoff push instead of continuing to trust the established guys who are probably only there because of LaRussa's stubborn loyalty to certain guys... what was it, '06 when they let that Wainwright kid pitch? Can't remember how that turned out... Anyway, as a side note, it's a good thing LaRussa finally got over that "stubborn loyalty" thing, or we'd still have guys like Brendan Ryan in the starting lineup after a seasonlong slump) Meanwhile, on the positive, Pujols plays through the pain, continues his traditionally hot August, and starts to stir up talk of a possible Triple Crown (yet another reason to hope Joey Votto hits a slide soon). Bryan Anderson continues the trend of Memphis call-ups hitting well above expectations, along with Jon Jay's consistent excellence. And Pedro Feliz, in addition to looking stellar along the third base line (partially just because we have to contrast his performance with Lopez' "heroics", partially just because he's good at it), continues his active 7-game/entire-Cardinal-career hitting streak, with 7 runs, 12 hits and a bonus walk in 35 at bats. If we DO make the playoffs, it'll be due to the boost from the farm system, Pujols being Pujols, and 100% in spite of the bullpen. Take tonight as well, even though we won- Boggs nearly gives up a bad one with the bases loaded (just foul, won’t show up in the stats), then McClellan gives up a hit followed by a homer (only half shows up in the stats, thanks to a “caught sttealing” that was really a pickoff right before the bomb). Ryan Franklin then did his best Isringhausen impression by giving up a leadoff double, a long sac fly, a run-scoring wild pitch, a clean triple, and a walk before finally “earning” what we inexplicably call a “save” (can we officially change the stat to “pitching performance that didn’t blow the game”?) It’s really, really getting uncomfortable and frustrating watching this team play when the starter doesn’t go at least 7 these days, and the fact that they’ve won so many games anyway with this underperforming bunch of bad-bearded bullpen bumblers on the roster is a testament to just how good Carp, Wain-o and Garcia have been all year (Fernando Salas not included, or course-hopefully he hasn’t been infected yet, although admitedly he’s probably not ready to be the closer- I can’t remember what happened the last time we let a young minor leaguer come up and start closing games during a playoff push instead of continuing to trust the established guys who are probably only there because of LaRussa’s stubborn loyalty to certain guys… what was it, ‘06 when they let that Wainwright kid pitch? Can’t remember how that turned out… Anyway, as a side note, it’s a good thing LaRussa finally got over that “stubborn loyalty” thing, or we’d still have guys like Brendan Ryan in the starting lineup after a seasonlong slump)

Meanwhile, on the positive, Pujols plays through the pain, continues his traditionally hot August, and starts to stir up talk of a possible Triple Crown (yet another reason to hope Joey Votto hits a slide soon). Bryan Anderson continues the trend of Memphis call-ups hitting well above expectations, along with Jon Jay’s consistent excellence. And Pedro Feliz, in addition to looking stellar along the third base line (partially just because we have to contrast his performance with Lopez’ “heroics”, partially just because he’s good at it), continues his active 7-game/entire-Cardinal-career hitting streak, with 7 runs, 12 hits and a bonus walk in 35 at bats.

If we DO make the playoffs, it’ll be due to the boost from the farm system, Pujols being Pujols, and 100% in spite of the bullpen.

]]> Comment on Did Oquendo make the right call? by Pip http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/25/did-oquendo-make-the-right-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6134 Pip Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:46:52 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3168#comment-6134 That's a good point -- sometimes we strain at the gnat while swallowing the camel. The bullpen does seem to be a bigger issue than some bad baserunning. I'll have to look into it. Remember, though, that relievers are almost always inferior pitchers to starters, so we should lower our expectations. That said, it's easy enough to compare the pen with their fellow relievers in the league. That’s a good point — sometimes we strain at the gnat while swallowing the camel. The bullpen does seem to be a bigger issue than some bad baserunning. I’ll have to look into it. Remember, though, that relievers are almost always inferior pitchers to starters, so we should lower our expectations. That said, it’s easy enough to compare the pen with their fellow relievers in the league.

]]> Comment on Did Oquendo make the right call? by hellofriends http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/25/did-oquendo-make-the-right-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6131 hellofriends Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:41:57 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3168#comment-6131 We focus periodically on Pujols' overagressiveness on the bag, Oquendo and LaRussa's occasional mismanagement, and on the team's large number of stranded runners, but honestly, how many games have been lost, and how many leads squandered, by our perpetually underachieving bullpen? Seeing Franklin, McClellan, Hawksworth, Motte, et al blow game after game is no different at this point than all those miserable times watching in horror as Isringhausen was handed the ball in a game not yet in the bag. Is it my imagination, or is 18+ games lost by the bullpen with over a month to go worse than usual? We focus periodically on Pujols’ overagressiveness on the bag, Oquendo and LaRussa’s occasional mismanagement, and on the team’s large number of stranded runners, but honestly, how many games have been lost, and how many leads squandered, by our perpetually underachieving bullpen? Seeing Franklin, McClellan, Hawksworth, Motte, et al blow game after game is no different at this point than all those miserable times watching in horror as Isringhausen was handed the ball in a game not yet in the bag. Is it my imagination, or is 18+ games lost by the bullpen with over a month to go worse than usual?

]]> Comment on Pedro Feliz reality check by ? You Save 35? 45% Of Fuel In Transforming Your Car? Drink Water From … As Of Essence! | Automotive Magazine http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/25/pedro-feliz-reality-check/comment-page-1/#comment-6043 ? You Save 35? 45% Of Fuel In Transforming Your Car? Drink Water From … As Of Essence! | Automotive Magazine Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:42:27 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3166#comment-6043 [...] and the process does not cost thousands of dollars (or dollars) to achieve. Related BlogsFungoes » Blog Archive » Pedro Feliz reality checkCentering an img in a div both horizontally and vertically | The Largest Forum ArchiveCourt of [...] [...] and the process does not cost thousands of dollars (or dollars) to achieve. Related BlogsFungoes » Blog Archive » Pedro Feliz reality checkCentering an img in a div both horizontally and vertically | The Largest Forum ArchiveCourt of [...]

]]> Comment on Did Cardinals overrate defense in trading for Feliz? by Pip http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/20/did-cardinals-overrate-defense-in-trading-for-feliz/comment-page-1/#comment-6013 Pip Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:37:04 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3155#comment-6013 Heh, yeah -- all it took was a few writers to reference his paltry OBP, and poof! Heh, yeah — all it took was a few writers to reference his paltry OBP, and poof!

]]> Comment on Did Cardinals overrate defense in trading for Feliz? by hellofriends http://www.fungoes.net/2010/08/20/did-cardinals-overrate-defense-in-trading-for-feliz/comment-page-1/#comment-5996 hellofriends Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:15:21 +0000 http://www.fungoes.net/?p=3155#comment-5996 Small sample size, of course, but he's doing quite well so far... Small sample size, of course, but he’s doing quite well so far…

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