MLB Season 2011

[bulls23]

Tony LaRussa is a complete tool but you can't argue with the results he gets. How can anybody?

He gets to the World Series and the elusive Quaddafi is found and killed. Coincidence? I think not. He probably called in the dictator's location during the 7th inning stretch.

Hilarious!

But seriously, I'm a huge fan of LaRussa. He is a hall of fame manager that we are lucky to have running the ship for us. No one can doubt he is a large part of all of our postseason success over the years. Also, if not for him, no Dave Duncan either. Look at the magic he does with the castoffs throughout the years like Suppan, Lohse, Rhodes, on and on.

All the LaRussa haters need to come to the table with a better choice. I shudder to think what could happen when he retires. It might be 1990 all over again

Check out the Cardinals history since 1980:

Whitey Herzog† 1980–1990
822-728

.530 Winning PCT

3 Playoff Appearances

21 Playoff Wins

16 Playoff Losses

1 World Series Title


Red Schoendienst

1990

13-11

Joe Torre 1990–1995

351-354

.498

0 Playoffs
[
Mike Jorgensen 1995

42-54

.438

Tony La Russa

1996–present

1234-1034

.544

8 Playoff Appearances

39-35 in the Playoffs

1 World Series Title (hopefully soon to be 2)

[Lancer]

I like LaRussa too.

Whatever happens in the WS, I think we can all agree the Cards have become the premiere NL franchise in the last 10 or so years.

Dodgers from the 50-80s and Braves in the 90s, but now the Cards.

[Lancer]

wow tim mccarver returns! he must be on a nostalgia trip from the 90s!

He said that error in the 9th was because Puljos tipped the ball and it got away! REALLY! WHAT ANALYSIS!

Joe Buck didn't say anything. He left Buck speechless, who would have thought that would ever happen!

[MizzouRah]

Perfect example of why LaRussa makes me crazy.

Pulls his hottest hitter out of the game, Freese and what do you know his replacement comes up with a chance to knock in runs. Desalso couldn't hit my sister's pitching.

I would NEVER pull my hottest hitter out of a game, EVER!!!

[Aristo]

Perfect example of why LaRussa makes me crazy.

Pulls his hottest hitter out of the game, Freese and what do you know his replacement comes up with a chance to knock in runs. Desalso couldn't hit my sister's pitching.

I would NEVER pull my hottest hitter out of a game, EVER!!!

I disagree. Look at what Freese did in the first inning in Game One. You can't let balls get down the line late in a close game. The strategy worked to get them into the playoffs and through two rounds of the playoffs. But tonight it is bad?

You play to hold the lead at that point. Freese would not have batted in the 9th. If Punto can get a bunt down, it might be a different game. And Motte was worth gambling on.

This loss was on the players, not TLR. At most, you can fault him for pinch-running Laird instead of Theriot. Maybe you can steal a base like Kinsler did.

[sportdan30]

That one hurt! Before the series started, I would have been happy with a split at home. But damn, they let that one get away. You gotta score
more than one run against Colby Lewis.

[Lancer]

the only thing I would have done different is left the closer in there, intentionally walked Hamilton, then bases loaded, force out everywhere, give your closer another chance.

[greggsand]

wow tim mccarver returns! he must be on a nostalgia trip from the 90s!

He said that error in the 9th was because Puljos tipped the ball and it got away! REALLY! WHAT ANALYSIS!

Joe Buck didn't say anything. He left Buck speechless, who would have thought that would ever happen!

Yeah, but it's not like it was obvious real time. It wasn't until the slo-mo you could actually see it catch the tip of his glove. I thought he made a good observation that Pujols was trying to cut it off because the runner overran 3rd - if he would have snagged it, might have been a good play at 3rd. BTW, they didn't charge him with an error until an hour after the game was over.

I was fine with LaRussa's moves. I probably would have let Motte sit out there and finish that inning (for better or worse), but that's minor. Either way, Texas was in a good spot to score 1 or more.

[MizzouRah]

I disagree. Look at what Freese did in the first inning in Game One. You can't let balls get down the line late in a close game. The strategy worked to get them into the playoffs and through two rounds of the playoffs. But tonight it is bad?

You play to hold the lead at that point. Freese would not have batted in the 9th. If Punto can get a bunt down, it might be a different game. And Motte was worth gambling on.

This loss was on the players, not TLR. At most, you can fault him for pinch-running Laird instead of Theriot. Maybe you can steal a base like Kinsler did.

We will agree to disagree. I'm trying to score runs, a 2 run lead in the 9th is a HUGE difference than a 1 run lead.

Turns out, Pujols error probably cost us a chance at winning the game last night.

[Aristo]

Fair enough. I still feel good about taking two of three in Arlington. Let's get Craig several at bats a game, and feast on some lefties.

[MizzouRah]

Fair enough. I still feel good about taking two of three in Arlington. Let's get Craig several at bats a game, and feast on some lefties.

I'll toast to that!

[DivotMaker]

Fair enough. I still feel good about taking two of three in Arlington. Let's get Craig several at bats a game, and feast on some lefties.

You better hope Texas does not find their offense like they did against Detroit....if they do, they will win.

[Aristo]

Fair enough. I still feel good about taking two of three in Arlington. Let's get Craig several at bats a game, and feast on some lefties.

You better hope Texas does not find their offense like they did against Detroit....if they do, they will win.

Texas has better hope for the same. The Cards have had a better offense throughout the postseason without the DH.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/sta ... asontype/3

They were the best offense in the NL despite long DL time for Holliday, Freese, and Allen Craig, a short DL trip and a brutal opening two months by Pujols. They are healthy and hitting now. Honestly, I will will take a lineup that features Craig, Pujols, Holliday, Berkman, and Freese over what the Rangers have, especially considering how hurt Hamilton is.

I expect the Rangers to score runs, because they are damn good. I also expect the Cardinals to tee off on those lefties. The Rangers guys are hard throwing lefties, which is basically what the Cards feast on. My hope is that they can either Lohse's or Jackson's start, and then Carp's start in Game five. They will be up 3-2 and hopefully ready to close it out in Game Six.

This won't be a gimme. This really is a nice series of to heavyweights slugging it out. But the Cards a FAR better than the media is making them out to be. I wish it had not been so cold, as I think that held the offense down. Not to favor the Cards so much as to see the best from each of these teams.

[DivotMaker]

They were the best offense in the NL despite long DL time for Holliday, Freese, and Allen Craig, a short DL trip and a brutal opening two months by Pujols. They are healthy and hitting now. Honestly, I will will take a lineup that features Craig, Pujols, Holliday, Berkman, and Freese over what the Rangers have, especially considering how hurt Hamilton is.

It is not as important as what you did during the season as it is what you do during the playoffs, IMO. Should be some interesting games coming up though.

[Aristo]

They were the best offense in the NL despite long DL time for Holliday, Freese, and Allen Craig, a short DL trip and a brutal opening two months by Pujols. They are healthy and hitting now. Honestly, I will will take a lineup that features Craig, Pujols, Holliday, Berkman, and Freese over what the Rangers have, especially considering how hurt Hamilton is.

It is not as important as what you did during the season as it is what you do during the playoffs, IMO. Should be some interesting games coming up though.

True. The only reason I brought up the regular season was to emphasize that they are playing better offensively than the Rangers now (including five games vs. the Phillies), and I expect even more in these three games versus the lefties in warm weather, and with Allen Craig added to the line-up.

But really, these team are very evenly matched, even though the national press have not noticed yet.

[MizzouRah]

Good grief it's going to be a long night...

[MizzouRah]

Pujols is a fecking MACHINE!

[sportdan30]

Albert is officially out of his World Series slump. That first homer was crushed.

Texas got screwed on that piss poor call at first that should have been a double play earlier in the game.

14 runs might not be enough! Sheesh.

[MizzouRah]

I shouldn't say this.. but Game 2 is still haunting me.

[MizzouRah]

What the hell, give his 10 year deal.

[Lancer]

Cards are not the best team in baseball this year but theyre playing the best right now and that's all that matters.

After tonight, Texas is done. I don't see how their pitching is going to stop any of the Cards hitters. It's going to be like last year where Texas goes down in 5.

[DivotMaker]

After tonight, Texas is done. I don't see how their pitching is going to stop any of the Cards hitters. It's going to be like last year where Texas goes down in 5.

If St Louis wins tonight, I'll agree with you. If not, and Texas manages to win the next two, it's going 7 and the Series will be up for grabs...that being said, Cards took what momentum Texas had and now they are in the driver's seat....

[Lancer]

Cards are not the best team in baseball this year but theyre playing the best right now and that's all that matters.

After tonight, Texas is done. I don't see how their pitching is going to stop any of the Cards hitters. It's going to be like last year where Texas goes down in 5.

OOPS!

[Aristo]

Cards are not the best team in baseball this year but theyre playing the best right now and that's all that matters.

After tonight, Texas is done. I don't see how their pitching is going to stop any of the Cards hitters. It's going to be like last year where Texas goes down in 5.

OOPS!

Holland was dealing tonight. Too bad Jackson wasn't given the same Greg Maddux Strike Zone.

I think Carp is going to be beast tomorrow night.

[MizzouRah]

Yeah, I'll whine a little bit, but that strikezone was pathetic tonight.

I wonder what strings George Bush pulled?