The Cardinals

[Sammys Boombox]

I loaded up the FSMW MLB.tv feed of the Cards/Nats game from last night, and the intro was something like "would you rather have a team with the best player (showing Harper), or a team of great players (showing gritty Card highlights)? This weekend it's glitz and glamour versus guts and grit!" That last part is pretty much verbatim.

 

It was eye rollingly gross.

 

It's no wonder many of their fans are so obnoxiously deluded when their media spoon feeds them the narrative.

 

I really do think the lack of solid coverage of that team from local media for years is a big factor in what makes Cardinals fans the way they are. I get that the vast majority of baseball fans are complete morons, but I know literally hundreds of Cardinals fans and have never come across a single one that I feel I can carry any sort of baseball conversation with for more than a full minute before I'm rolling my eyes. And that conversation could be completely non-Cubs/Cardinals related. For those of us who have lived in the Cardinals media market we can appreciate that they have literally no insightful/non-homer analysis and have not for as long as I can remember.

[KaiserCesar]

Plenty of Cards fans in Central Illinois who are talking about all the times the Cubs got off to a hot start then faded down the stretch. When was that 1977 and 1969.

 

2001 is the only big recent example I can think of. The 2009 team faded down the stretch, but the start was pretty middling.

[NOLA]

I loaded up the FSMW MLB.tv feed of the Cards/Nats game from last night, and the intro was something like "would you rather have a team with the best player (showing Harper), or a team of great players (showing gritty Card highlights)? This weekend it's glitz and glamour versus guts and grit!" That last part is pretty much verbatim.

 

It was eye rollingly gross.

 

It's no wonder many of their fans are so obnoxiously deluded when their media spoon feeds them the narrative.

 

I really do think the lack of solid coverage of that team from local media for years is a big factor in what makes Cardinals fans the way they are. I get that the vast majority of baseball fans are complete morons, but I know literally hundreds of Cardinals fans and have never come across a single one that I feel I can carry any sort of baseball conversation with for more than a full minute before I'm rolling my eyes. And that conversation could be completely non-Cubs/Cardinals related. For those of us who have lived in the Cardinals media market we can appreciate that they have literally no insightful/non-homer analysis and have not for as long as I can remember.

They don't have to live in the STL media market. Cards fans are like that everywhere. Little Rock is solid Cardinal country, and they are just as entitled there.

 

I have a huge Cubs flag on the front of my house here in NO, and my street unfortunately gets lots of tourists staying at AirBnBs. Sitting on my porch, I get every team's fans walking past and many will stop and chat baseball with me for a moment. Almost all are fine, and even White Sox fans might give me a good natured jab but generally are cool. The worst though? Cardinal fans. It's Bartman this, choker that, count the rings, or douchey comments about how they are the real BFIB and Cubs fans suck. Honestly, the most entitled bunch of whiny douchebags of anyone. I have a bat by the door just waiting for the first drunk Cards fan who tries to rip down my flag.

[Cubfanintheknow]

I loaded up the FSMW MLB.tv feed of the Cards/Nats game from last night, and the intro was something like "would you rather have a team with the best player (showing Harper), or a team of great players (showing gritty Card highlights)? This weekend it's glitz and glamour versus guts and grit!" That last part is pretty much verbatim.

 

It was eye rollingly gross.

 

It's no wonder many of their fans are so obnoxiously deluded when their media spoon feeds them the narrative.

 

I really do think the lack of solid coverage of that team from local media for years is a big factor in what makes Cardinals fans the way they are. I get that the vast majority of baseball fans are complete morons, but I know literally hundreds of Cardinals fans and have never come across a single one that I feel I can carry any sort of baseball conversation with for more than a full minute before I'm rolling my eyes. And that conversation could be completely non-Cubs/Cardinals related. For those of us who have lived in the Cardinals media market we can appreciate that they have literally no insightful/non-homer analysis and have not for as long as I can remember.

 

You're on to something.

 

As someone who lives in the Milwaukee TV market, I see the media tripping over each other trying to suck up to the Packers. They're afraid to say anything negative lest they alienate their audience. So everything is rainbows and lollipops and unicorns pooping butterflies. Here it enough and all the suckers out there start to believe it.

[Sammys Boombox]

I loaded up the FSMW MLB.tv feed of the Cards/Nats game from last night, and the intro was something like "would you rather have a team with the best player (showing Harper), or a team of great players (showing gritty Card highlights)? This weekend it's glitz and glamour versus guts and grit!" That last part is pretty much verbatim.

 

It was eye rollingly gross.

 

It's no wonder many of their fans are so obnoxiously deluded when their media spoon feeds them the narrative.

 

I really do think the lack of solid coverage of that team from local media for years is a big factor in what makes Cardinals fans the way they are. I get that the vast majority of baseball fans are complete morons, but I know literally hundreds of Cardinals fans and have never come across a single one that I feel I can carry any sort of baseball conversation with for more than a full minute before I'm rolling my eyes. And that conversation could be completely non-Cubs/Cardinals related. For those of us who have lived in the Cardinals media market we can appreciate that they have literally no insightful/non-homer analysis and have not for as long as I can remember.

 

You're on to something.

 

As someone who lives in the Milwaukee TV market, I see the media tripping over each other trying to suck up to the Packers. They're afraid to say anything negative lest they alienate their audience. So everything is rainbows and lollipops and unicorns pooping butterflies. Here it enough and all the suckers out there start to believe it.

 

As a Packers fan who has never lived in WI but work remotely for a group in Milwaukee so actually go there regularly I completely agree. Packers/Cardinals fans have a lot of parallels.

 

And on the Sox fans. My roommate and one of the best friends I will ever have is a White Sox fan and is probably the most knowledgeable level-headed baseball fan I know. We're talking about small sample sizes and individual experiences, but I can name fans I know of the Reds, White Sox, Royals, Indians, Twins, Rays, Brewers off the top of my head that I can discuss baseball with. Zero Cardinals fans out of hundreds.

[imb]

I loaded up the FSMW MLB.tv feed of the Cards/Nats game from last night, and the intro was something like "would you rather have a team with the best player (showing Harper), or a team of great players (showing gritty Card highlights)? This weekend it's glitz and glamour versus guts and grit!" That last part is pretty much verbatim.

 

It was eye rollingly gross.

 

It's no wonder many of their fans are so obnoxiously deluded when their media spoon feeds them the narrative.

 

and then they got owned by strasburg and lost

[Aaron_Kennelly]

And they are down 4-0 today. Let's put them 10 back by mid-May.

[Bote McBoteface]

Every time I watch the Cardinals, they seem extremely unimpressive. Their defense looks really, really bad. I know they've had some good games and they were (are?) leading the league in runs scored. Maybe I'm bad luck for them and I should watch all of their games.

[NOLA]

Every time I watch the Cardinals, they seem extremely unimpressive. Their defense looks really, really bad. I know they've had some good games and they were (are?) leading the league in runs scored. Maybe I'm bad luck for them and I should watch all of their games.

It's not just you. They kick the ball all over the field, especially from SS, and count on the offense to show up every day as their pitching is the suck.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Remember when Randal Grichuk was supposedly better than Kris Bryant? That was fun. Or how about when Cardinals fans thought their rotation was better than the Cubs' before this season started?

[NOLA]

Remember when Randal Grichuk was supposedly better than Kris Bryant? That was fun. Or how about when Cardinals fans thought their rotation was better than the Cubs' before this season started?

I can personally attest that there are Cards fans out there that claim that they would not trade rosters with the Cubs.

[Sammy Sofa]

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals are gathering facts to determine whether certain allegations made in a civil lawsuit against pitcher Carlos Martinez could trigger an investigation under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.

 

"We are just learning of this matter. I was notified by Carlos' agent the other night," general manager John Mozeliak said on Saturday. "We will not be in a position to act until we have more information."

 

Martinez, 24, was excused from the team on Friday so he could travel to South Florida and deal with the suit that was filed against him

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15434472/st-louis-cardinals-looking-allegations-pitcher-carlos-martinez

 

http://49.media.tumblr.com/ad322fb78c9bdbc4b486cf6d5ed774e6/tumblr_modtquOnIO1sp9fcho1_500.gif

[Thusly Boned]

Apparently the plaintiff is claiming that Martinez knowingly gave her multiple STDs, which in Florida constitutes battery.

[The_Achiever]

Remember when Randal Grichuk was supposedly better than Kris Bryant? That was fun. Or how about when Cardinals fans thought their rotation was better than the Cubs' before this season started?

I can personally attest that there are Cards fans out there that claim that they would not trade rosters with the Cubs.

 

Will Leitch is one of them. We all know they would, though.

[NOLA]

Apparently the plaintiff is claiming that Martinez knowingly gave her multiple STDs, which in Florida constitutes battery.

The ole Michael Vick statute.

[David]

Remember when Randal Grichuk was supposedly better than Kris Bryant? That was fun. Or how about when Cardinals fans thought their rotation was better than the Cubs' before this season started?

 

i still see cardinal fans claiming grichuk is better than kb

[David]

Remember when Randal Grichuk was supposedly better than Kris Bryant? That was fun. Or how about when Cardinals fans thought their rotation was better than the Cubs' before this season started?

I can personally attest that there are Cards fans out there that claim that they would not trade rosters with the Cubs.

 

well there was just that one cardstalk dude who thinks it's obvious/common knowledge that the cardinals clearly run out a better 8 and the cubs offense sucks (because batting average LOL)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Apparently the plaintiff is claiming that Martinez knowingly gave her multiple STDs, which in Florida constitutes battery.

 

Holy horsefeathers. That's horrible.

[Cubswin11]

From GRB

 

Well, what can you say. Hope it's not true. Seems like such an easy going person.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Adam Wainwright has a 7.16 ERA.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Remember when Randal Grichuk was supposedly better than Kris Bryant? That was fun. Or how about when Cardinals fans thought their rotation was better than the Cubs' before this season started?

I can personally attest that there are Cards fans out there that claim that they would not trade rosters with the Cubs.

 

well there was just that one cardstalk dude who thinks it's obvious/common knowledge that the cardinals clearly run out a better 8 and the cubs offense sucks (because batting average LOL)

 

Yikes.

 

I'm really looking forward to Aledmys Diaz crashing back to Earth. He's doing a lot of things that just aren't sustainable. Which, duh, that is kinda obvious -- I mean, Aledmys Diaz isn't going to hit .450 all year. But, the periphs just aren't screaming great things, either. His crash is gonna be hard.

 

For one, there's the .413 BABIP. But, if you look deeper, there's some other fluky stuff going on there, some of it that is propping up that BABIP. He's got a completely unsustainable 24.1% infield-hit%. He's actually hitting a smaller percentage of fly balls than league average. His LD%, GB%, and FB% are all around league average. And the average distance of his fly balls and home runs are just a little above league average. It seems like he has about average to slightly above average pop, and his batted ball profile would suggest that his .310 ISO is a major anomaly. He's also been a major pull hitter. There is a negative correlation between pull% and BABIP, especially for someone over 50% in pull%, like him. Most guys that high are usually selling out for power. I'm not sure if he is or not. But if he's only going to hit fly balls at around a league average distance, he probably shouldn't be. His soft-hit% and hard-hit% both look good, though. He seems to be striking the ball well, even though he doesn't hit balls an especially impressive distance.

 

Then, there's his K%. Right now his K% is 5.3%. That's the lowest in the league. Except, the problem is, his contact% is only 84.2% That's well above average, to be sure, but nowhere near high enough to sustain a 5.3% K%. For reference, Daniel Murphy had the lowest K% last year at 7.1%. His contact% was 91.9% There were 6 other guys with a K-rate below 10%, the next lowest being at 8.2%. They all had a contact% above 88%, with most being close to, or above, 90%. Guys with a contact% around 84% generally tend to strike out between, say, 12-15% of the time. He might be near the lower end of that because he isn't as patient as an Anthony Rizzo or a Jason Heyward, who have similar contact rates. Those guys strike out closer to 15% of the time because they are working deeper into the counts. But, those guys also are gonna get on base a lot more, because they have great walk rates, instead of Diaz's 5.3% BB%. Regardless, dude isn't gonna strike out 5% of the time, you can add about 10% onto what he is doing right now.

 

So, anyway, this guy is going to plummet back to Earth. That's not to say he won't be a good player. He's got a good contact rate, he's hit the ball hard, and he seems to have at least average power. He also can play short, though maybe not very well. So he looks like he'll be a fine player. But there's gonna be a huge difference between what he actually is and what he's been.

[Tryptamine]

From GRB

 

Well, what can you say. Hope it's not true. Seems like such an easy going person.

 

The same easy going guy who posted picture of a dead Oscar Taveras on his twitter as well various porn related things. Seems like a good fella.

[Clem Fandango]

From GRB

 

Well, what can you say. Hope it's not true. Seems like such an easy going person.

 

http://i.imgur.com/oQRkK8n.jpg?1

[NonProfitCow]

Diaz is Placido Polanco with the ability to play a mediocre SS.

[NOLA]

Diaz is Placido Polanco with the ability to play a mediocre SS.

Mediocre is kind.