Do or die for the Cards

[reggiemiller rules]

The Cards offense has been on fire this month, alot of that has been due to Pujols being on fire. So hopefully they can keep it up against Sheets tonight.

[TruffleShuffle]

The Cards offense has been on fire this month, alot of that has been due to Pujols being on fire.

 

and a team .347 BABIP

[Soul]

The Cards have some solid opponents in September. They've got 6 against us, 7 against Zona, 3 against the Marlins. They've also got Pitt & Cincy games left that will serve as a nice breather in between their more difficult series.

 

Brewers get us for 6, 3 against the Mets, 3 against the Phils. They've got more on the "easy" side IMO than the Cards do.

[Ball And Glove]

It would take the Brewers winning 5 of 6 against the Cubs down the stretch to even having a prayer of winning the division...the Cubs aren't going to do them any favors by struggling down the stretch, IMO. Like brewersbrewers, I think that Philly-Cincy-Chicago road trip will be what's going to trip the Brewers up down the road, but I don't think it'll cost them a shot at the wildcard. Since they already have a decent-sized lead over everyone else in the wildcard, all they have to do is tread water to get into the playoffs -- if they got 5-4 in that September road trip, they'll be in very good shape, assuming the Cards don't win 9 in a row or something.

 

As far as this two-game set against the Cards goes, I'll agree it's much more important for St. Louis than it is for Milwaukee. They've spent the past month complaining about Bill Hall and Ryan Braun watching their 9th inning home runs (kind of ridiculous to complain when Pujols poses halfway down the first base line when he hits his solo HR with the Cards already winning 10-4), they're 4-9 against the Brewers this year, and I think they're still pissed off about Yost hitting Pujols at the end of last year. I wouldn't rule out the Cards winning both games, but I'm hoping for at least a split, with Sheets winning this first game. He really needs a solid performance soon to shut up all the amateur psychologists calling into talkshows with theories that Sheets is pitching poorly because he's jealous of Sabathia and can't handle being the #2 guy (because it can't possibly be the fact that he's pitching more innings than he has the past 3 years and his numbers were bound to regress to the mean eventually, right?)

 

Who is saying this in bold? AP has an ego, that much is true. Of course, it's a general rule (not my rule) that the greater player you are, the more you get away with. Let me know when Bill Hall and great make a sentence together.

 

The rest of this post. . .

 

1) Yost hitting AP probably started the downfall which led to the Brewers choking themselves out of the wild card. Yost is playing beanball in a pennant race? If anybody would be mad, it would be that the Cards had a big hand in spoiling the Brewers last year.

 

2) The Brewers have been given at least 3 games vs. the Cards. If you want to claim dominance, fine. The run differentials of the teams would disagree.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings

 

I should've clarified -- it's mostly been the Cards fans that were upset about the go-ahead HR's..."Kill Bill" photoshop jobs, calling for LaRussa to drill both Braun and Hall, etc. The players on the field didn't seem too happy about it, either, so I wouldn't be surprised to see either get conveniently plunked (for the record, I really don't care what players do to celebrate -- if pitchers can jump around and pump their fists after a strikeout, hitters should be able to watch their go-ahead home runs, regardless of how good they are).

 

I never claimed dominance, either. True, the Brewers are 9-4 against the Cards this year, but they could just as easily be 4-9...it's probably fair to say that the Brewers have effectively played like garbage against the Cards this year but were able to hang around long enough to steal a few wins. It's been a frustrating year against the Brewers for the Cards, which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see them take this series a hell of a lot more seriously than the Brewers.

[biittner77]

The Cards have some solid opponents in September. They've got 6 against us, 7 against Zona, 3 against the Marlins. They've also got Pitt & Cincy games left that will serve as a nice breather in between their more difficult series.

 

Brewers get us for 6, 3 against the Mets, 3 against the Phils. They've got more on the "easy" side IMO than the Cards do.

 

Those last 3 of the year may be meaningless for both teams.

[mtozz]

How does the Cardinals' schedule look the rest of the way?

 

The Cards statistically have a superior offense to the Brewers and their pitching has done well enough. These teams are more even than people think.

 

If the Cards take two here, they have a legit shot. If they don't, as is the subject of this thread, then they're in for a much tougher battle (although not necessarily "dead" if they split).

 

 

When Milly swept the 4 from the Cardinals, that was as much if not more the fault of the bullpen that had gas cans on the end of their arms in 3 of those losses than Braun or what not.. No discounting they won, but the Cards BP was at its worse that series. Its definitly been improved markedly since.

 

Who wins the two games? You just never know.

[Faceman]

It would take the Brewers winning 5 of 6 against the Cubs down the stretch to even having a prayer of winning the division...the Cubs aren't going to do them any favors by struggling down the stretch, IMO. Like brewersbrewers, I think that Philly-Cincy-Chicago road trip will be what's going to trip the Brewers up down the road, but I don't think it'll cost them a shot at the wildcard. Since they already have a decent-sized lead over everyone else in the wildcard, all they have to do is tread water to get into the playoffs -- if they got 5-4 in that September road trip, they'll be in very good shape, assuming the Cards don't win 9 in a row or something.

 

As far as this two-game set against the Cards goes, I'll agree it's much more important for St. Louis than it is for Milwaukee. They've spent the past month complaining about Bill Hall and Ryan Braun watching their 9th inning home runs (kind of ridiculous to complain when Pujols poses halfway down the first base line when he hits his solo HR with the Cards already winning 10-4), they're 4-9 against the Brewers this year, and I think they're still pissed off about Yost hitting Pujols at the end of last year. I wouldn't rule out the Cards winning both games, but I'm hoping for at least a split, with Sheets winning this first game. He really needs a solid performance soon to shut up all the amateur psychologists calling into talkshows with theories that Sheets is pitching poorly because he's jealous of Sabathia and can't handle being the #2 guy (because it can't possibly be the fact that he's pitching more innings than he has the past 3 years and his numbers were bound to regress to the mean eventually, right?)

 

Who is saying this in bold? AP has an ego, that much is true. Of course, it's a general rule (not my rule) that the greater player you are, the more you get away with. Let me know when Bill Hall and great make a sentence together.

 

The rest of this post. . .

 

1) Yost hitting AP probably started the downfall which led to the Brewers choking themselves out of the wild card. Yost is playing beanball in a pennant race? If anybody would be mad, it would be that the Cards had a big hand in spoiling the Brewers last year.

 

2) The Brewers have been given at least 3 games vs. the Cards. If you want to claim dominance, fine. The run differentials of the teams would disagree.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings

 

I should've clarified -- it's mostly been the Cards fans that were upset about the go-ahead HR's..."Kill Bill" photoshop jobs, calling for LaRussa to drill both Braun and Hall, etc. The players on the field didn't seem too happy about it, either, so I wouldn't be surprised to see either get conveniently plunked (for the record, I really don't care what players do to celebrate -- if pitchers can jump around and pump their fists after a strikeout, hitters should be able to watch their go-ahead home runs, regardless of how good they are).

 

I never claimed dominance, either. True, the Brewers are 9-4 against the Cards this year, but they could just as easily be 4-9...it's probably fair to say that the Brewers have effectively played like garbage against the Cards this year but were able to hang around long enough to steal a few wins. It's been a frustrating year against the Brewers for the Cards, which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see them take this series a hell of a lot more seriously than the Brewers.

 

Kill Bill or drilling Hall is classless. Every team has their lunatic fringe.

 

These should be decent games. The Brewers bent the Cards over last time in STL, so if they aren't ready now they will never be.

 

I just hope that if the Cards don't get the wild card, that the Brewers do (instead of anyone from the East). I've been waiting for a Cubs / Cards NLCS - but short of that, a Brewers / Cubs NLCS would be great as well. I'm all for dominance from the NL central.

[Connor McConnor]

It would take the Brewers winning 5 of 6 against the Cubs down the stretch to even having a prayer of winning the division...

 

If you dont think the Cubs are fully capable of losing 4-5 in a row.....and the Brewers capable of winning 4-5 in a row.....then you must not be a Cubs fan.

[Guest]

It would take the Brewers winning 5 of 6 against the Cubs down the stretch to even having a prayer of winning the division...

 

If you dont think the Cubs are fully capable of losing 4-5 in a row.....and the Brewers capable of winning 4-5 in a row.....then you must not be a Cubs fan.

 

Well, he isn't...

[Connor McConnor]

It would take the Brewers winning 5 of 6 against the Cubs down the stretch to even having a prayer of winning the division...

 

If you dont think the Cubs are fully capable of losing 4-5 in a row.....and the Brewers capable of winning 4-5 in a row.....then you must not be a Cubs fan.

 

Well, he isn't...

 

Well there ya go.

[TruffleShuffle]

apparently they selected the "die" option

[CubsBears29]

Brewers just annihilated the Cards tonight. Moving them 4.5 behind the Brewers (5 in the L column).

 

Unless they salvage the split tomorrow, I'm ready to close the book on the T*birds.

 

Looking more and more like the Brewers' main competition for the WC spot will come from Philly or the Mets.

[CubsBears29]

Kinda OT, but I'm thinking the Dodgers move to get ManRam is gonna backfire [at least for the remainder of this season].

 

3 back of ARI (if 5-2, SD over ARI score holds) and other than about a week ago, haven't really threatened the D'bags out in the West. Still got 30 games left for both teams, after toinght, however I just don't see the Dodgers pulling it out; unless Arizona goes into another big slump like they did back in May-June.

[Outshined_One]

apparently they selected the "die" option

 

Preceding that with the always popular "roll over" option.

[XZero771679666304]

I can't see the Brewers tripping up and winding up out of the playoffs. The last time they saw the Cards it was a sweep, right? Not sure that will happen again, but the Crew is more than capable of laying a couple losses on a Cards team that has started to fade a bit.

 

No offense to Cards fans. I just see the Crew as a better overall ballclub. Even if they were to lose 2 here, I still think they're in.

 

To be fair, the last Brewers/Cards series could have been very bad for the Brewers had the Cardinals' pen not been completely abysmal. St. Louis gave away at least 3 of those games more than the Brewers took them, that's for sure.

 

 

Not much doubt tonight, though.

[biittner77]

apparently they selected the "die" option

 

Preceding that with the always popular "roll over" option.

 

Or perhaps "curl up"

[Soul]

I can't see the Brewers tripping up and winding up out of the playoffs. The last time they saw the Cards it was a sweep, right? Not sure that will happen again, but the Crew is more than capable of laying a couple losses on a Cards team that has started to fade a bit.

 

No offense to Cards fans. I just see the Crew as a better overall ballclub. Even if they were to lose 2 here, I still think they're in.

 

To be fair, the last Brewers/Cards series could have been very bad for the Brewers had the Cardinals' pen not been completely abysmal. St. Louis gave away at least 3 of those games more than the Brewers took them, that's for sure.

 

 

Not much doubt tonight, though.

It's usually a good idea to *not* roll over and die in front of your home crowd in the middle of a playoff race. But apparently the Cards don't agree 8-)

[biittner77]

It's usually a good idea to *not* roll over and die in front of your home crowd in the middle of a playoff race. But apparently the Cards don't agree

 

Actually, the greatest fans in the history of sports totally understand and don't mind at all.

[mul21]

It would take the Brewers winning 5 of 6 against the Cubs down the stretch to even having a prayer of winning the division...the Cubs aren't going to do them any favors by struggling down the stretch, IMO. Like brewersbrewers, I think that Philly-Cincy-Chicago road trip will be what's going to trip the Brewers up down the road, but I don't think it'll cost them a shot at the wildcard. Since they already have a decent-sized lead over everyone else in the wildcard, all they have to do is tread water to get into the playoffs -- if they got 5-4 in that September road trip, they'll be in very good shape, assuming the Cards don't win 9 in a row or something.

 

As far as this two-game set against the Cards goes, I'll agree it's much more important for St. Louis than it is for Milwaukee. They've spent the past month complaining about Bill Hall and Ryan Braun watching their 9th inning home runs (kind of ridiculous to complain when Pujols poses halfway down the first base line when he hits his solo HR with the Cards already winning 10-4), they're 4-9 against the Brewers this year, and I think they're still pissed off about Yost hitting Pujols at the end of last year. I wouldn't rule out the Cards winning both games, but I'm hoping for at least a split, with Sheets winning this first game. He really needs a solid performance soon to shut up all the amateur psychologists calling into talkshows with theories that Sheets is pitching poorly because he's jealous of Sabathia and can't handle being the #2 guy (because it can't possibly be the fact that he's pitching more innings than he has the past 3 years and his numbers were bound to regress to the mean eventually, right?)

 

Who is saying this in bold? AP has an ego, that much is true. Of course, it's a general rule (not my rule) that the greater player you are, the more you get away with. Let me know when Bill Hall and great make a sentence together.

 

 

I have actually seen/heard a lot more pissing and moaning down here over the Brewers coming out on the field and untucking their shirts than anything else they've done. I mean, Braun really is an arrogant little prick, but I would certainly probably love him if he played for the Cubs.

 

And, wow, did the Cards crap the bed last night. My favorite part was LaRussa after the game saying that he sent Welly back out for the 7th because he "had a low pitch count". Apparently they don't teach math at law school. His PC after the 6th was 101.

[BigSlick]

I always thought I'd be happy and relieved when the Cardinals inevitably fell out of the race, but they went so quietly and slowly over the course of a few months that it wasn't really noticeable.

 

It would have been far more pleasurable to see them lose 15 in a row or something, but whatever.

[biittner77]

This split was probably the best case scenario for the Cubs. It allowed them to extend their lead over the Brewers by a game while effectively eliminating the Cards.

[SouthSideRyan]

This split was probably the best case scenario for the Cubs. It allowed them to extend their lead over the Brewers by a game while effectively eliminating the Cards.

 

You wouldn't have considered the Cards eliminated at 8.5 back with 29 to go?

[bukie]

This split was probably the best case scenario for the Cubs. It allowed them to extend their lead over the Brewers by a game while effectively eliminating the Cards.

 

You wouldn't have considered the Cards eliminated at 8.5 back with 29 to go?

 

Yeah, what was really the best case scenario for the Cubs was sweeping the Pirates, which pushed everyone further back with less time remaining.

[kujay]

I always thought I'd be happy and relieved when the Cardinals inevitably fell out of the race, but they went so quietly and slowly over the course of a few months that it wasn't really noticeable.

 

It would have been far more pleasurable to see them lose 15 in a row or something, but whatever.

 

It's been a mild shift here to acceptance that the Cubs are out of reach. Now the articles just focus on where the Cards stand in relation to the Brewers.

[biittner77]

I meant eliminated from the WC. Now when they face the Cubs they'll be playing for spite instead of playing for the hope of making the post season.