More bad news for the Red Birds.

[dalgreen]

why do you think ankiel is slumping so badly?

 

(a) has poor plate discipline and pitchers have figured out they can get him out by throwing pitches out of the strike zone

(b) everyone knows he's a fraud now, and it's gotten in his head

© back on cocaine

I think he struggles with the limelight. He was getting it when he imploded on the mound, then he was doing well as a hitter and his name gets mentioned in links to HGH. I think he just imploded again. Hopefully he does it all weekend against us.

 

Just like Bo Hart, teams have finally figured out he can't hit the breaking pitch.

[TruffleShuffle]

So I see Mr. Spezio has been activated for tonight's game. Well, I have to ask the question to Cardinal fans (basically to piss them off. After all, what's a rivalry for?), why have many players over the years had so much trouble remaining sober/ off illegal drugs while playing in St. Louis? Let's see.... Darrell Porter, Lonnie Smith, Keith Hernandez, David Green, Scott Spezio, Garry Templeton (strongly suspected but never proven)......

 

if i lived in st louis, i'd probably turn to drugs/alcohol too. What a crappy city.

[SouthSideRyan]

So I see Mr. Spezio has been activated for tonight's game. Well, I have to ask the question to Cardinal fans (basically to piss them off. After all, what's a rivalry for?), why have many players over the years had so much trouble remaining sober/ off illegal drugs while playing in St. Louis? Let's see.... Darrell Porter, Lonnie Smith, Keith Hernandez, David Green, Scott Spezio, Garry Templeton (strongly suspected but never proven)......

 

I think it's horrible that they're bringing back Spiezio for some failed effort at a pennant chase, entering him back into the situation that got him into his problems in the first place. Reminds me of pitching Kerry Wood down the stretch in '05, only much more endangering to Spiezio. Is 1 month really enough to get over an addiction, and if it was, is it enough to get over an addiction and be able to avoid relapsing when put back in the situation you had the problem in?

 

It's damn near disgusting.

[dalgreen]

So I see Mr. Spezio has been activated for tonight's game. Well, I have to ask the question to Cardinal fans (basically to piss them off. After all, what's a rivalry for?), why have many players over the years had so much trouble remaining sober/ off illegal drugs while playing in St. Louis? Let's see.... Darrell Porter, Lonnie Smith, Keith Hernandez, David Green, Scott Spezio, Garry Templeton (strongly suspected but never proven)......

 

if i lived in st louis, i'd probably turn to drugs/alcohol too. What a crappy city.

 

Another piece of evidence that St. Louis is a crappy city, I moved from St. Louis to freakin' Topeka, KS.

[Guest]

why do you think ankiel is slumping so badly?

 

(a) has poor plate discipline and pitchers have figured out they can get him out by throwing pitches out of the strike zone

(b) everyone knows he's a fraud now, and it's gotten in his head

© back on cocaine

 

(a) and (b). He has a hole in his swing and big leaguers are bound throw offspeed pitch after offspeed pitch now that it's been exposed. I can't help but think the HGH controversy has gotten to his head too. He has struggled under pressure in the past too.

[TruffleShuffle]

why do you think ankiel is slumping so badly?

 

(a) has poor plate discipline and pitchers have figured out they can get him out by throwing pitches out of the strike zone

(b) everyone knows he's a fraud now, and it's gotten in his head

© back on cocaine

 

(a) and (b). He has a hole in his swing and big leaguers are bound throw offspeed pitch after offspeed pitch now that it's been exposed. I can't help but think the HGH controversy has gotten to his head too. He has struggled under pressure in the past too.

 

you're probably right, but i'm kinda hoping it's (d) all of the above

[UK1679666180]

why do you think ankiel is slumping so badly?

 

(a) has poor plate discipline and pitchers have figured out they can get him out by throwing pitches out of the strike zone

(b) everyone knows he's a fraud now, and it's gotten in his head

© back on cocaine

 

(a) and (b). He has a hole in his swing and big leaguers are bound throw offspeed pitch after offspeed pitch now that it's been exposed. I can't help but think the HGH controversy has gotten to his head too. He has struggled under pressure in the past too.

 

It'll be a huge test for him, for some hitters it's the toughest thing to overcome. As Thome gets to #500, beyond the raw power, his greatest strength was his mental toughness at the plate. He's adapted so many times to how the pitchers have pitched differently to him throughout his career.

[soccer10k]

why do you think ankiel is slumping so badly?

 

(a) has poor plate discipline and pitchers have figured out they can get him out by throwing pitches out of the strike zone

(b) everyone knows he's a fraud now, and it's gotten in his head

© back on cocaine

 

(a) and (b). He has a hole in his swing and big leaguers are bound throw offspeed pitch after offspeed pitch now that it's been exposed. I can't help but think the HGH controversy has gotten to his head too. He has struggled under pressure in the past too.

 

That's what I figured; it's both the pitchers adopting to him and Ankiel being a headcase.

Edited September 15, 2007 by soccer10k

[TruffleShuffle]

why do you think ankiel is slumping so badly?

 

(a) has poor plate discipline and pitchers have figured out they can get him out by throwing pitches out of the strike zone

(b) everyone knows he's a fraud now, and it's gotten in his head

© back on cocaine

 

(a) and (b). He has a hole in his swing and big leaguers are bound throw offspeed pitch after offspeed pitch now that it's been exposed. I can't help but think the HGH controversy has gotten to his head too. He has struggled under pressure in the past too.

 

It'll be a huge test for him, for some hitters it's the toughest thing to overcome. As Thome gets to #500, beyond the raw power, his greatest strength was his mental toughness at the plate. He's adapted so many times to how the pitchers have pitched differently to him throughout his career.

 

Thome always had the patient approach though (.418 minor league OBP). Ankiel may well have as much raw power as Thome, but his strike zone judgment is way behind Jim's. If raw power was all you needed, Ryan Harvey and Brian Dopirak would be kicking ass for the big club right now. Thome is better at adapting than most players, yes, but he also started with a much better understanding of what to swing at and what to let go.

[swordsman]

Now if we could just get something to take out Braun and Fielder we might be all set.

 

Guiluli!!!!

[XZero771679666304]

Now if we could just get something to take out Braun and Fielder we might be all set.

 

Guiluli!!!!

 

Do you mean Jeff Gillooly? I'm all for it.

[swordsman]

Now if we could just get something to take out Braun and Fielder we might be all set.

 

Guiluli!!!!

 

Do you mean Jeff Gillooly? I'm all for it.

 

Yeah that's the hoser. I guess I tried to fancy up his name with a wacky "European" spelling.

 

Anybody got his number (phone or inmate)?

[d_money]

Now if we could just get something to take out Braun and Fielder we might be all set.

 

Guiluli!!!!

 

Do you mean Jeff Gillooly? I'm all for it.

 

Yeah that's the hoser. I guess I tried to fancy up his name with a wacky "European" spelling.

 

Anybody got his number (phone or inmate)?

 

I vote for the Ligue family to go after Braun. Father & Son duo w/ matching tattoos (and rap sheets).

[BCVM22]

Cardinals rookie Ryan pulled after swinging at 3-0 pitch

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Cardinals rookie Brendan Ryan was benched by manager Tony La Russa after flying out in the first inning, apparently for swinging at a 3-0 pitch.

 

After Ryan flied out to center field, La Russa walked to the opposite end of the dugout, returned and then mouthed the words "You're done!" as Ryan was putting away his bat and gloves.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Cardinals rookie Ryan pulled after swinging at 3-0 pitch

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Cardinals rookie Brendan Ryan was benched by manager Tony La Russa after flying out in the first inning, apparently for swinging at a 3-0 pitch.

 

After Ryan flied out to center field, La Russa walked to the opposite end of the dugout, returned and then mouthed the words "You're done!" as Ryan was putting away his bat and gloves.

 

Kudos, Mr TLR. More managers should make that statement with players of Brendan's caliber.