dalgreen

When answering this question, can we just ask ourselves, "If we needed one win who (in their prime) would we want on the mound that day?" My answer would be Rocket with Maddux a close second.

I think some of my fellow Cub fans are allowing their fan status to cloud their judgment. Sorry, but if I'm a pitcher I'd rather face Lee under any circumstance rather than Pujols. Not a knock on Lee at all, but I think Pujols right now is the best hitter in the game.

How did you leave out Wood's numbers in 1998 and the number of missed starts between 1999-2003?

Actually, and it's probably bad to say, but I think most fans are mindless homerun craving idiots. There are more "casual" fans than "great" fans, and the "casual" fan is the one I think is mindless. I guess whoever said, "Offense sells tickets......" was right.

And what's the over/under on the number of earned/undearned runs that are given up because he can't play a decent left field --- especially 81 games in Wrigley? Hairston was fortunate that Dunn was in left because any other left fielder makes the catch. Dunn should get an assist on Hairston's double. Also, I believe players/announcers have said Great American Ballpark is easier to hit homers in than Wrigley.

Did Walker make an out on the first pitch?

Perhaps. But if you score 4 runs with your ace on the mound you're supposed to win the game.

In my opinion, Carpenter and McLaughlin are complete opposites. One is a very nice guy and a horible play by play guy, and the other a real tool who is a pretty good play by play guy. When I lived in St. Louis I heard the same McLaughlin story. Evidently, some hire-ups at Bud Sports liked him (don't know why) and he was basically just given the Blues on-ice broadcaster and the Cardinals play by play gig. He doesn't seem to be respected much in the St. Louis media. Although I think he does a pretty good job as the Cardinals play by play guy, I think he's an awful basketball play by play guy (Mizzou and Missouri Valley games).

Man, Z's been bothered every time that Milton's been on base today. He's killing any momentum we may have had after Murton's homer. How often do you see a pitcher attempt a pick off at third? When a pitcher is the runner at third? Not smart. And just watch, Cincy will get blown out in their weekend set in St. Louis.

What do you mean "continues?" Did you watch the last game he pitched against the Cardinals? 0 ER. He lost his composure in that game too because of errors behind him. I'd loose my composure too if I had this lineup behind me A pitcher shouldn't worry about what lineup supports him. Anytime you let up 4 runs by the 3rd inning you are in trouble. wrong. pitchers have off days, this is true, but when you turn around and realize two or three mistakes just cost you the game because there is ZERO chance of your team helping you out, it matters. Ramirez can't play, so are you saying that Barrett being out automatically turns this lineup into one that has zero chance of winning? Eric Milton is not Steve Carlton, he can be hit even with this lineup. Zambrano seems to have somewhat lost it when he forgot that Lee wasn't covering first. And Murton homers.

is Bob Carpenter no longer the play-by-play guy on the WB-11 broadcasts? I'm watching the Mets/Nationals game and he's broadcasting for the Nationals. If he is no longer doing Cardinal games, did the Cardinals hire Dan McLaughlin to do the WB -11 weekend games, too? If he's not their broadcaster anymore, that's one of the best moves in the history of Cardinal baseball. Why they brought him back is beyond me. I can't stand him when he does ESPN college basketball games, either. I think McLaughlin is much better than him anyway.

Seems to me that pitchers throw Dunn way too many fastballs.

There are eight innings left. I expect the Cubs to get to Arroyo te second time around the order.

I understand that, but with the bases loaded? It might only be perception on my part, but it seems that most first pitches when a pitcher is in a jam are balls (pitcher's pitches) than strikes.

Yeah, I'm not advocating giving hitters the take sign on the first pitch, it just seems to me that as a hitter I'd think the pitcher, in a jam, wouldn't give me a hitter's pitch on the first pitch. It seems that I see hitters swinging at way more balls than strikes on the first pitch when a pitcher is in a jam. Perhaps I'm too ol' school.

I only played high school ball, but our coach always told us with the bases loaded, "first one's the best one". No one wants to fall behind with nowhere to put the hitter. I understand what you're saying, but I challenge you to keep count of the first pitch swings when the pitcher is in a jam, and count if it would've been a ball or a strike had they not swung. Tonight, I saw Lieberthal swing at an Izzy first pitch, with the bases loaded in the ninth, breaking pitch that was 4-6 inches off the plate. Closers generally won't give in to you, but I was taught that falling behind (from a pitcher's standpoint) 1-0 isn't that bad, especially if you have a good "out" pitch. If I'm a pitcher, I'm not going to get beat with on a 0-0 count by throwing a hitter's pitch.

why I've already seen two batters this season, and tons over the course of the years, who, with the bases loaded, swing at the first pitch? Was I taught wrong all these years? I was taught when a pitcher is in a jam, he generally will throw you his "out" pitch on the first pitch, trying to get the hitter to get themselves out. And that's exactly what I've seen this year and over the years, guys swinging and missing or doing just what the pitcher wants --- making an out on the first pitch without it producing a run or even hitting the ball hard. Someone help me understand, please! Maybe this is a rant, but just a frustration I'm seeing over and over.

It's amazing how defensive (no pun intended) people get when a player they like gets criticized. Let's remember a certain respected manager once said, "Barrett will never be a major league catcher..." and that was based on his defense and game calling. That manager moved him from behind the plate to third base instead.

I'm not sure who this is addressed to because I never mentioned the Cardinals in my Cubs assement but, I do think they have holes and that you're giving them too much credit. It goes without saying that they have been good but the team they are breaking camp with is far from impressive. Ponson will be serviceable but his outing today reminds everyone that he has a career 4+ ERA. He isn't going to turn into a dominant pitcher overnight. Furthermore, their bullpen looks beatable and who's playing 2B for them and what kind of production can they expect? LF ? Encarnacion in RF isn't any better than Jacque Jones... Picking them to win is safe but that doesn't make it accurate. My pick is the Cubs. No matter which team wins the division, I expect a lot of parity. My post wasn't addressed to anyone in particular, but I was just mentioning that everything that's been stated about the Cardinals for '06 has been pretty much said about them throughout the millenium, and yet they still find a way to play into October. I hope they finish last. But starting the season off with a healthy Carpenter, Mulder and Pujols goes a long way. Yeah, Junior Spivey should be Junior Spivey, but I thought the same thing about Tony Womack, Abraham Nunez and So Tguchi. Yet they still get production out of what should be crappy players. First, a healthy Carpenter, Mulder and Pujols aren't going to carry the Cardinals by themselves. I don't think Mulder should even be included in the same sentence with Pujols and Carpenter in regards to production. Second, I was under the impression that the last few years the Cardinals have improved their team each offseason and spent more $. This being the first year that they cut their budget in some time. Take 05 for example: Williams Lost Renteria, but replaced him with Eckstein who's no slouch. Lost Womack on a career year and replaced him with Grudz. 06, however, there has been a substantial amount of downgrading. Sure, they're gonna have guys step up and they're gonna have average players perform at their career best...as they always do. However, don't underestimate the amount of downgrading they have done. Walker>Encarnacion Sanders>Taguchi Grudz>Miles Morris>Ponson Tavarez>Looper King gone Then take into account an Injured Rolen who's resuming his role at 3b after a crazy career year by Nunez. Rapidly aging Edmonds The Cardinals hadn't increased payroll in the past. They consistently held between $82-$85 give or take a couple on either end. I'm not a Cardinal fan. I just think that after me saying the Cardinals shouldn't win the division for x number of reasons over the last four years, I am now simply saying, as I do with the Braves, I will pick them until someone beats them. I hope they lose 100 games. I just won't count them out just as I won't count out the Cubs or Astros

I'm not sure who this is addressed to because I never mentioned the Cardinals in my Cubs assement but, I do think they have holes and that you're giving them too much credit. It goes without saying that they have been good but the team they are breaking camp with is far from impressive. Ponson will be serviceable but his outing today reminds everyone that he has a career 4+ ERA. He isn't going to turn into a dominant pitcher overnight. Furthermore, their bullpen looks beatable and who's playing 2B for them and what kind of production can they expect? LF ? Encarnacion in RF isn't any better than Jacque Jones... Picking them to win is safe but that doesn't make it accurate. My pick is the Cubs. No matter which team wins the division, I expect a lot of parity. My post wasn't addressed to anyone in particular, but I was just mentioning that everything that's been stated about the Cardinals for '06 has been pretty much said about them throughout the millenium, and yet they still find a way to play into October. I hope they finish last. But starting the season off with a healthy Carpenter, Mulder and Pujols goes a long way. Yeah, Junior Spivey should be Junior Spivey, but I thought the same thing about Tony Womack, Abraham Nunez and So Tguchi. Yet they still get production out of what should be crappy players.

I think most people will tell you a shoulder injury is one of the worst to diagnose and get back to 100% for baseball players. Anyway, if Rolen is unhealthy the Cardinals will just plug in some bum who will end up having an all-star caliber year.

I was actually hoping that would be a good thing thinking he would straight suck and there would be no justifying his being a starter. I never realized that neither Hairston nor Walker wouldn't statistically be good enough to win the job by a landslide.

There's a certain MLB team about 4 1/2 hrs south of Chicago, who wear a bunch of birds on their jerseys who seem to win with a bunch of other people's talent (save Pujols). It's all about making good decisions. I'm still not sold on our farm system (position players).

I hate the Cardinals as much as anyone on the planet;however, when are some of you going to give them the benefit of the doubt? I think three of the last six years they've "downgraded" from the previous season yet they continue to play in October. Until Carpenter, Mulder, or Pujols miss significant time, in my opinion, they should be the favorites. In fact, I think their three best starters from last season Carpenter, Mulder and Suppan all return. Something I wish I could say about the Cubs. I don't know what it is but they miss Rolen for half a season, Walker for half a season and Sanders for a third of the season and don't miss a beat. We miss ARam for two weeks and it seems to go all to hell. It wouldn't surprise me if Ponson gets comeback player of the year. Gosh, I hate the Cardinals. As far as Downey goes, he was probably laughing as he was writing his column just knowing how many people he would rile. And it looks like it worked.

I'm with you. Toolsy means crappy. It's like those scouting reports you read -- "Good baseball body" what the hell does that mean? I care about guys who get on base, score runs, hit the ball with authority. Actually, I don't care if he calls them toolsy, so long as he shows that the ability to get on base -- ie, not make outs -- is a valued skill for the players he acquires, promotes, etc. I've yet to consistently see that. You're right. I'll be glad when he follows "toolsy" with "and gets on base."