indifferent

Your forum whipping boy is batting .301 :shock:

Mulder's afraid of the cobs scrubs!

Sadly, that's the best lineup I've seen in days. If you take a look at the bench LaRussa has to work with, it's the best he can do (save maybe Rodriguez, but I don't think he'd do well against Maddux).

You're not really looking at it analytically. The Cardinals over the past two years have, in the overwhelming majority, overachieved rather than underachieved. I've already listed all the stats to show that. Maybe it will even out at some point, but it didn't last year and it hasn't this year either. I'm not saying that to claim that guys will play differently... all I'm doing is pointing out that it's happening. Wolf's point is some are overachieving, some our underachieving, and some on right on par (Eckstein, Grudz). Underachievers include Edmonds, Rolen, and Walker.

Why do you care? If our roles were reversed, I'd be enjoying the Cubs success instead of trying to extract some praise from a bunch of Cardinal fans. It's apparent that some on this board care... Perhaps, but why do you? Your reply didn't address my question at all. I care because I've frequented this board since Feb. pretty regularly. I respect many posters on this board. So when I see a comment posted more than one time that I don't agree with, I'm posting about it. Pretty much why anyone posts anything on these boards; they have an opinion on a certain topic. Just because I'm a Cards fan shouldn't make a difference.

Why do you care? If our roles were reversed, I'd be enjoying the Cubs success instead of trying to extract some praise from a bunch of Cardinal fans. I could have replied to Truffle's post about Cards scrubs and how lucky we are to magically transform these has beens into good players, but I feared I would have been accused of changing the subject. It's apparent that some on this board care, as evidenced by the constant references to our unbelievably good fortune. And it's not two years, it's 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005 (2003 being a near miss). Obviously to amass as many wins as the Cards did last year and so far this year (like the White Sox), a team has to have a certain amount of "luck" to outperform its projected runs. It just strikes me as strange that those who discount "good teams find a way to win" are the same people who believe in luck. I tend to look more dispassionately at things like the most runs scored in the NL or the best ERA in the majors.

But therein lies the catch and it's also why the pundits have been so bullish on the Cubs the last couple of years. On paper, they should be a great team. Needs no explanation as Cubs fans have already figured it out; the Cubs are crippled by Baker. Might not make sense to true statheads, but TLR does a good job of playing players in positions where they'll succeed (i.e. no Macias in CF), reinforces fundamentals like backing up first base, taking walks. He also does NOT make excuses for his players, injuries, etc. He expects his subs due to injury to perform as their predecessors would or at least give an all out effort. This is also why Cubs fans continue to diminish the extent of our injuries (Molina's sub-whatever OPS, etc.). Bottom line is a lot of teams would have lost some serious ground with the injuries the Cards have sustained.

Luck to me implies randomness. When it continues to happen, doesn't it cease being luck and start becoming a product of a good system? How many Cards players have Cubs fans complained about as overproducing their career norms? There has to be more to it. Personally, I credit the coaching and LaRussa is at the top of the list.

Since it's looking like the Cubs won't be able to pull it out, I'm rooting for the Stros in the WC. It's not a given that the Cards will beat out the Braves for home field (although we helped our cause yesterday), but if an NL East team wins, the Cards will have to play them in the first round. Obviously any team in the NL playoffs would rather face any team in the NL West than whoever the hot wild card team is. Considering the futility of the West, I think they should seed teams by their W-L record, not the way they currently do it (i.e. in all likelihood, whoever wins the WC will have a better record than the team from the West). Still have division winners, but seeded based on W-L.

Adam Dunn would be wasted here as long as Dusty's the manager.

And what exactly do you base this opinion on? Watching him play? Well I'd venture to say that there are a lot of Cardinal fans who have seen him play more than you. Stats? The stats say he is slightly inferior to DLee as a fielder. So are you prepared to say that DLee is also only slightly better than average "on his best day"? I think not. Here's the best idea: don't make blanket statements about a player's fielding ability (especially when you don't watch them everyday) because fielding statistics are horrible, and so you really have no way of knowing how good in the field Pujols is. My fiancee is as diehard about the Cardinals as I am about the Cubs. Living in central Illinois I get both Cards and Cubs games every day. Don't tell me I don't watch the Cards play. I actually might have seen more Cards games than Cubs games this year. I wouldn't make a statement without a way to back it up, and I'd appreciate it if you'd do the same. I still don't think you watch every game.

No need for personal attacks. :lol:

Well enjoy it now... considering his horrendous 62 OPS+ coming into this year, it's a strong bet that it ain't gonna last. Tavarez and King are still outperforming their career numbers by a fair amount... especially Tavarez. JRod does what most Cardinal call-ups seem to do, play out their butt for as long as they're needed and then fade back into obscurity (a la Bo Hart). Ramirez I still don't agree with given his career path... this is not far from where a guy below 30 with his career path should be expected to be. Rusch and Lee I'll give you, but aside from that... outside of those two and Murton nobody is doing more than expected. And Maddux hasn't had an ERA this bad since 1987. See Remlinger as well. Just because most Cardinals magically get better on the wrong side of 30 doesn't mean that they can all escape the effects of Father Time. Can't argue with anything you've said. And I was reluctant to include Ramirez in that group for the reasons you stated (and the fact that he got off to a slow start). I was tempted to include Murton in that group, but as you've mentioned Murton is a bonafide prospect while Rodriguez is a flip of the coin minor league journeyman. I'm holding out hope for Nunez, he's done this all year. Some players are better suited for everyday play. And if he starts to decline, I hope it's close to the time that some of our other regulars can come back.

Have to admit I feel bad for Corey and for the Cubs. With Hairston slumping also, what looked to be a strength in CF is becoming a weakness.

But look at the numbers, Rolen's fluke year was not even close to Lee's fluke year. But I will give you Rolen's number this year are flukier than both of them. And if you're talking 1st half numbers only, that makes Lee's even flukier.

OK, so there's one guy who's having a really bad year and one guy who's having a slightly below average year. What about all the scrubs I listed above who are doing way better than their career averages? Edmonds is doing worse than his career average, but he's not that far off what he would've been expected to do when he signed his current contract - about a .900 OPS, 30 HR and injury prone, sounds the Jim Edmonds we saw in Anaheim. As for excelling over a short period of time, Abraham Nunez has 250 plate appearances and is on track for a career high. I'd say guys who pitch regularly like Carpenter, Reyes, King and Tavarez are hardly guys excelling over a short period of time, too. I originally responded to the post because of the xzero's comments on how Rolen's year was such a fluke and Lee's wasn't that far off or at least could be expected. Your best example is Nunez and he's a guy I'm so excited about. He has excelled in so many ways to help this season, I can go on and on. Tavarez and King have both been worse than last year. JRod is far too small of a sample size. The Cubs have several guys they can point to as exceeding career norms as well. Rusch comes to mind, Lee, and Ramirez (although I know, he's coming into his prime and Edmonds should've have fallen off the map even after last year). We haven't even discussed Walker. I know, he hasn't played a full season in forever. But he's batting .270 when he has played. He hasn't done that since 1990.

Well, I guess Rolen's numbers this year more than make up for his number's last year.

Can you explain to me how Rolen's numbers last year were more of a stretch from his career numbers than Lee's are this year? That isn't even close to a true statement. Rolen Career .283 .375 .514 2004 (hos huge fluke year) .314 .408 .598 2005 .234 .322 .382 Lee Career .275 .362 .496 2005 .363 .441 .707 And you're saying that Lee had way more "star" potential than Rolen? While you're looking at the good performances of our role players, you can't responsibly ignore the effect of Rolen's horrible numbers this year and Jimmy's subpar year (by his standards). Edmonds Career .292 .384 .542 2005 .263 .384 .520 (18 HR so far down from 42 last year) Our role players are doing what Neifi did early this year, excelling for a short period of time. If left in a regular role, they will be exposed.

Billy Beane will be chatting on Baseball Prospectus in 15 min.

Sorry, cpat, and I appreciate your response to me. I saw the Philly/Hou post awhile back, but it seemed a cursory topic. IMO, Houston seems the most likely team to win the wild card and it seems most (nationally as well) still discount them as the same team of the first 1/3 of the season. I also think they are more vulnerable to injuries than any wild card contender, but if they're healthy, they go far.

I'm not trying to incite here. If I was an Astros fan, I'd be insulted at no mention. I see a watch for the Nats to fall on their face, but I don't see the Stros being debated or even considered a true opponent. Is this for real?

Well, they just took him out, but I'm calling it. 3-run homer for Guillen right here. You have Foster on your fantasy team :lol: ? Unfortunately, yes. He's getting his butt dropped after today. Could be worse, I have B. Hall and P. Feliz as my 3rd base/SS combo. Had Garciaparra and Rolen to start the year, but have had to scramble.

Well, they just took him out, but I'm calling it. 3-run homer for Guillen right here. You have Foster on your fantasy team :lol: ?

He was benched two or threes games over the last week for not hustling. He was solid, but most people are dropping him now rather than picking him up. He didn't play again today. I'll take some risks, but I at least want a guy who plays everyday. Any news on Nomar's start with the Cubs?

Is anyone picking up Nomar if he's available in your league? The thing is I need the help. I haven't had a true shortstop all year with Feliz playing in that slot. Now Rolen's down again and I either need to pick up a SS or 3rd bagger. Lowell's still available and Nomar's an option. I have Bill Hall as a stopgap this week. Does anyone know if he will be back as soon as next week?