Magic number for Cardinals to clinch the Central...

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:55 am

Just kidding....should be around early August at this point though! I figured the Astros and Cubs were overrated but I would have never guessed the Astros to be only 2-21 on the road so far.
Here's hoping for a Cardinals and White Sox World Series!

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed May 25, 2005 12:27 pm

7-8 games at Memorial Day isn't insurmountable but none of the Cardinals' divisional rivals seem capable of sustaining a run right now.

St. Louis has been playing good ball, especially considering their lack of depth and losses of two key players early in the season. But I'm more surprised that nobody else in the division is playing .500 ball.

The lack of a chase may come back to haunt them in October. I still think Jocketty and LaRussa need to think aggressive and make a deal at the deadline for another bat or bullpen depth. If they're 12-15 games up at the end of July, they need to be thinking playoffs and getting four games further than they did last year.

Adam Wainwright is looking good at AAA Memphis. 7:1 K/BB ratio and a WHIP just over 1. He could help later in the year.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed May 25, 2005 12:34 pm

I hope LaRussa plays it smart this year and rests Pujols, Edmonds, and and Walker down the stretch should they have a large enough lead to do so.

Also, I wouldn't mind seeing them skip a start here and there for Mulder, Marquis, and Morris. Those guys have a little bit of a history of wearing down at the end of the year.

Btw, Brad Thompson is looking sharp in the bullpen. That a way big boy!

We need our guys fresh for a strong playoff run.

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Wed May 25, 2005 12:43 pm

You guys know it's only May right? Alot of things can happen until now and the end of the year. Injuries, teams may get hot, etc... My stros suck, didnt know they would be this bad, so I'll be happy if they break the team up. Get some damn prospects for Clemens that can hit next year.

but lets see what happens when the cubs get their guys back and the brewers look like they'll be hanging around if they make a few moves. Cards probably still are the favorites for the division, but the games I've seen them play vs other winning teams outside the division doesn't bode well right now. But ya it's May so it's early, but anything can happen. It's baseball, dont count your chickens before they hatch.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:03 pm

HouOilers wrote:You guys know it's only May right? Alot of things can happen until now and the end of the year. Injuries, teams may get hot, etc... My stros suck, didnt know they would be this bad, so I'll be happy if they break the team up. Get some damn prospects for Clemens that can hit next year.

but lets see what happens when the cubs get their guys back and the brewers look like they'll be hanging around if they make a few moves. Cards probably still are the favorites for the division, but the games I've seen them play vs other winning teams outside the division doesn't bode well right now. But ya it's May so it's early, but anything can happen. It's baseball, dont count your chickens before they hatch.

Trust me the St. Louisans here aren't counting any chickens at all. The Marlins will be a big concern to us come playoff time.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:21 pm

tjung0831 wrote:Trust me the St. Louisans here aren't counting any chickens at all. The Marlins will be a big concern to us come playoff time.

Isn't assuming in the month of May that the Cardinals will be in the playoffs in the month of October pretty much the definition of counting chickens?

For instance, last year on this date the Cardinals were sitting at 23-21 and ended up winning 82 more games after that.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:46 pm

They really need to do away with the 5 game DS. Man I hate having that great season and then seeing a team with 2 great starters win.

That being said, I would think this Cardinal team will get some rest down the stretch.. I just don't see the Cubs close by July. By the end of the season, LaRussa will have the bullpen figured out.

Todd

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:57 pm

HouOilers wrote:but lets see what happens when the cubs get their guys back and the brewers look like they'll be hanging around if they make a few moves.

You know your division is bad when someone refers to the Brewers as competition

The Brewers won't make any moves, trust me. They are still in a holding pattern as far as team salary goes. By the all star break they will be lucky to even be in the Wild Card hunt, much less the division.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:01 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:Trust me the St. Louisans here aren't counting any chickens at all. The Marlins will be a big concern to us come playoff time.
Isn't assuming in the month of May that the Cardinals will be in the playoffs in the month of October pretty much the definition of counting chickens?

Nope not at all.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:15 pm

matthewk wrote:
HouOilers wrote:but lets see what happens when the cubs get their guys back and the brewers look like they'll be hanging around if they make a few moves.
You know your division is bad when someone refers to the Brewers as competition

The Brewers won't make any moves, trust me. They are still in a holding pattern as far as team salary goes. By the all star break they will be lucky to even be in the Wild Card hunt, much less the division.

The Brewers have a couple of chips (Overbay, Spivey) who could be dumped for prospects. Unless they have a great run before the All-Star break, I think they'll be in sell mode at the deadline. I'm excited about the Prince and Weeks show. Rickie Weeks' OPS at AAA Nashville is over 1000.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:22 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
Leebo33 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:Trust me the St. Louisans here aren't counting any chickens at all. The Marlins will be a big concern to us come playoff time.
Isn't assuming in the month of May that the Cardinals will be in the playoffs in the month of October pretty much the definition of counting chickens?

Nope not at all.

It's tough to dispute such a compelling argument.

I think the Cardinals will win the division, but thank God the search function works in this forum if they don't.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:04 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:
Leebo33 wrote: Isn't assuming in the month of May that the Cardinals will be in the playoffs in the month of October pretty much the definition of counting chickens?

Nope not at all.
It's tough to dispute such a compelling argument.

I think the Cardinals will win the division, but thank God the search function works in this forum if they don't.

Don't worry Leebo...you won't need to use the search button. By the way...good luck to your Pirates tonight!

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm

MizzouRah wrote:They really need to do away with the 5 game DS. Man I hate having that great season and then seeing a team with 2 great starters win.

Todd

I agree 110%. Wonder why Bud insists on keeping this format? At least this year the Cards have 2 starters (Mulder and Carp) who may be able to compete with the Becketts and Willis' of the world.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:21 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
Leebo33 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote: Nope not at all.
It's tough to dispute such a compelling argument.

I think the Cardinals will win the division, but thank God the search function works in this forum if they don't.
Don't worry Leebo...you won't need to use the search button. By the way...good luck to your Pirates tonight!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:59 pm

GTHobbes wrote:I agree 110%. Wonder why Bud insists on keeping this format?

The reason...see the NBA playoffs. They have been going on for a freakin' month already and we're only in the conference finals. It just takes too damn long to play a 7 game series...I'm all for a 5 gamer in the first round. The team that wins, usually deserves it. There have been exceptions, but for the most part, the seedings hold true.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu May 26, 2005 8:10 am

MizzouRah wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:
Leebo33 wrote: It's tough to dispute such a compelling argument.

I think the Cardinals will win the division, but thank God the search function works in this forum if they don't.
Don't worry Leebo...you won't need to use the search button. By the way...good luck to your Pirates tonight!

Did you get that image from Parker after the World Series last year?

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:29 am

Seems like a good place to mention that the Cards are on pace for 105 wins.

So far I am 3-2 in games I've attended. Highlight of the year so far for me was keeping Jordan home from school and taking her to an afternoon game against the Brewers. I got to witness my first ever player hitting for the cycle. Grudzielanek's shot into the right field corner was probably the most exciting play I've ever seen, as everyone knew he needed a triple to complete the cycle. It was nuts.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:39 am

That must have been something to see Jayhawker! To be at the game to witness his cycle is something you'll remember forever. I'll always remember being at Saberhagen's no hitter against the White Sox back in 1991. It was a dormitory planned trip while I was in college.

Thought you St. Louis and Pirate fans might find this of interest. Being a KU alumn, I found this article on today's kusports website.

Junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke is the lone Kansas University baseball player to earn a first-team berth on the All-Big 12 Conference team as selected by league coaches.

Van Slyke, son of former major league outfielder Andy Van Slyke, has had a breakout season. The junior from Ladue, Mo., is hitting .324 and leads the Jayhawks in home runs (12) and RBIs (57) going into the conference tournament.

Van Slyke transferred to KU in 2004 from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. A part-time starter as a soph in '04, Van Slyke hit .360, but only had five extra-base hits and eight RBIs.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:40 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
GTHobbes wrote:I'm all for a 5 gamer in the first round. The team that wins, usually deserves it. There have been exceptions, but for the most part, the seedings hold true.

Guess one notable exception would be Seattle...didn't they get bounced in the divisional series the year that they had 117 wins (or however many it was)? I still don't think adding 2 games to the first round would be that big of a deal.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:42 am

Back in the day, wasn't the season 154 games long? I'd be all for shortening the season and extending the first round of the playoffs by a couple games.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:43 am

MizzouRah wrote:They really need to do away with the 5 game DS. Man I hate having that great season and then seeing a team with 2 great starters win.

That being said, I would think this Cardinal team will get some rest down the stretch.. I just don't see the Cubs close by July. By the end of the season, LaRussa will have the bullpen figured out.

Todd

Exactly...I don't think people realize how good Mike Lincoln was before he went down. He had tommy john surgery but he could be back before the all star break. If he reverts back to form he helps out the Cardinals bullpen immensely. The young kid Thompson has been rock solid so far too....the Cardinals may have found a gem right there.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:47 am

sportdan30 wrote:That must have been something to see Jayhawker! To be at the game to witness his cycle is something you'll remember forever. I'll always remember being at Saberhagen's no hitter against the White Sox back in 1991. It was a dormitory planned trip while I was in college.

Thought you St. Louis and Pirate fans might find this of interest. Being a KU alumn, I found this article on today's kusports website.

Junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke is the lone Kansas University baseball player to earn a first-team berth on the All-Big 12 Conference team as selected by league coaches.

Van Slyke, son of former major league outfielder Andy Van Slyke, has had a breakout season. The junior from Ladue, Mo., is hitting .324 and leads the Jayhawks in home runs (12) and RBIs (57) going into the conference tournament.

Van Slyke transferred to KU in 2004 from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. A part-time starter as a soph in '04, Van Slyke hit .360, but only had five extra-base hits and eight RBIs.

Van Slyke has another son that is a senior at some St. Louis school that supposed to be even better than AJ. I believe he's going to play football and baseball at Ole Miss next year.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu May 26, 2005 10:52 am

Speaking of baseball. Someone needs to get Mike Piazza out from behind home plate. The Braves made him look silly yesterday. The guy can't throw my grandma out at 2nd, or 3rd. He's got a noodle for an arm and he's a HUGE liablity. When the top two guys in the Braves lineup have 5 stolen bases in one game...that's bad for the Mets. Nice showing in the last two games by the Mets by the way. At least score ONE run.

And who said the Braves don't know what to do with their farmhand pitchers. Kyle Davies is legit...two games, 2-0 record (against the Sox @ Fenway and the Mets at home), 10 1/3 innings...no runs. Not a bad little start for the pitcher they WOULD NOT trade under any circumstance.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu May 26, 2005 11:04 am

tjung0831 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:That must have been something to see Jayhawker! To be at the game to witness his cycle is something you'll remember forever. I'll always remember being at Saberhagen's no hitter against the White Sox back in 1991. It was a dormitory planned trip while I was in college.

Thought you St. Louis and Pirate fans might find this of interest. Being a KU alumn, I found this article on today's kusports website.

Junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke is the lone Kansas University baseball player to earn a first-team berth on the All-Big 12 Conference team as selected by league coaches.

Van Slyke, son of former major league outfielder Andy Van Slyke, has had a breakout season. The junior from Ladue, Mo., is hitting .324 and leads the Jayhawks in home runs (12) and RBIs (57) going into the conference tournament.

Van Slyke transferred to KU in 2004 from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. A part-time starter as a soph in '04, Van Slyke hit .360, but only had five extra-base hits and eight RBIs.
Van Slyke has another son that is a senior at some St. Louis school that supposed to be even better than AJ. I believe he's going to play football and baseball at Ole Miss next year.

That's great to hear. Andy Van Slyke is one of my favorite players ever.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu May 26, 2005 11:17 am

Leebo33 wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:
tjung0831 wrote: Don't worry Leebo...you won't need to use the search button. By the way...good luck to your Pirates tonight!

Did you get that image from Parker after the World Series last year?

Ouch! Hey, that's the past man.