Mark and I haven't exactly derailed a lot of threads with baseball chatter, but I still think it might be best to nip in the bud.

The Cards gave you the Dodgers the support you were looking for, mark, with a rare seven run shutout of the Giants on and even more rare complete game from a Cardinal pitcher. Now L.A. just needs to get in gear against San Diego to take advantage of it.

The Phils nearly had a no-no in their victory over the Cubs, so the Cards pick up a full game in the Central.

Now Playing: "On The Table" A.C. Newman The Slow Wonder (Matador)

LT,

I appreciate the thread and the help your team gave us today. Unfortunately, we somehow took a break or believed the hype about the pitcher against us today. Padres' pitcher Adam Eaton came into the game with a record of 5-8, 4.63, but his lifetime ERA at Dodger Stadium was 0.7! Well, now that the Padres won 3-0, his ERA is EVEN lower. I can't really complain since the Dodgers are, what, 17-3 in their last 20 games, but 4 1/2 ahead of the Giants and 5 1/2 ahead of the Padres sounds much better than 3 1/2 ahead of both.

Oh well, according to Crash in "Bull Durham", baseball should be more democratic, as in Nuke or maybe Eric Gagne, "don't strike everyone out, throw some more ground balls."

Looks like it might be a good season, but the Cards look downright un-democratic at this point. Later, Gator.

We only took one out of three from The Giants. To add insult to injury, they sent 2003 Cardinal Dustin Hermanson to the mound for game one. Last season he went 1-2 in 23 games with one save and a 5.46 ERA. He's doing marginally better this season, but managed to hold what is one of the best offensive teams in baseball to three hits and two earned runs.

Then, just to rub a bit of lemon juice in our collective paper cuts, The Giants sent 2003 Cardinal Brett Tomko to the mound yesterday. Last season he went 13-9 in 33 games with a 5.28 ERA. Again, he's doing marginally better this season, and gave up six hits to us, but only two more earned runs.

On to Cincy!

Now Playing: "What'd I Say" Lyle Lovett Smile (MCA)

Yeah, I watched yesterday's game on FOX, off-and-on with "King Kong" with my daughter, so I heard how all the Giants' pitchers were ex-Cards. I feel for you, LT, but do you remember that Pedro Martinez, aka God, used to pitch for the Dodgers?

'92-'93. I'd forgotten. 0-1 in two games his first season, 10-5 with two saves in 65 games his next. Then, off to Montreal. Was it a trade? I don't remember.

Tonight, I'm reading David Halberstam's October 1964 about the fall of the Yankees dynasty at the hands of the Cardinals. A friend, and lifelong Yankees fan, found a copy at our local used bookstore and bought it for me. Halberstam just recounted the '63 World Series, Koufax and Drysdale. What a team and what a couple of arms.

Hey, look, I just hijacked a thread that was intended to keep other threads from being hijacked!

So, to bring this back to 2004, did you see that Randy Johnson went eight innings against Colorado last night, gave up six hits, no earned runs AND threw 14 strikeouts for a no decision?

Yeah, the Diamondbacks should have no problems convincing him to stay.

Can the Dodgers afford the contract, or is New York a done deal?

Now Playing: The Red Sox leading the Yankees 7-2 after five on ESPN. Those first two innings were U-G-L-Y!

As a resolute "bleacher creature" here in the STL, I was miserable at both Friday and Saturday's games. Of course I missed Sunday's win, so I guess I'm gonna stop going. I think the team is below .500 in the 15 or so games I've been to this year.

From everything I've heard, the Yanks don't have the farm talent for Randy. The Cards DO, but aren't willing to give up Yaddy Molina, Adam Wainwright, Danny Haren, and others to get him. As much as I'd LOVE to see RJ in the Redbirds uni, I wouldn't give up the farm for him. But I'd HATE to see him wearing the pinstripes. I'm not sure why he doesn't want to join his buddy Schilling with the Sox...

9 to 4 Cards over the Reds in eleven tonight. What an eleventh!

We may have the farmhands to make a trade for the Big Unit happen, but I believe one of them (Wainwright) is probably out for the season with surgery and Haren is suspect since he gave up nine in the fourth a Wrigley a while back.

[Incidentally, I'll have none of your complaining about your record in Busch this season, Sirrah. I had to watch Haren give up those runs with my own eyes surrounded by drunken, happy Cubs fans.]

Even if we could make the trade on the basis of prospects, we have too much salary tied up in Morris, Pujols, and Rolen, among others, to pay Johnson on his contract. Perhaps if we pursued the Phillies interest in Morris, but do we really want to give up one starter for another in a team whose chemistry has been so solid?

However, my reasoned analysis of the situation aside, Johnson WOULD look pretty great in Cardinal red.

Now Playing: The West Wing on Bravo

What the hell is up with my Angels??? Can't even beat the lowly Texas Rangers??

quote:

---

Originally posted by LinnTate:
9 to 4 Cards over the Reds in eleven tonight. What an eleventh!

Even if we could make the trade on the basis of prospects, we have too much salary tied up in Morris, Pujols, and Rolen, among others, to pay Johnson on his contract. Perhaps if we pursued the Phillies interest in Morris, but do we really want to give up one starter for another in a team whose chemistry has been so solid?

However, my reasoned analysis of the situation aside, Johnson WOULD look pretty great in Cardinal red.

---

WHat an 11th, indeed! I was listening to it on a rapidly fading KMOX as we drove through the night from St Louis to Atlanta. Finally got it on the Cincy station...

The word on contracts seems to be that the Cards won't have Tino's 6 mil on the books next year, nor Woody's deal (he's allegedly retiring) nor Morris' (who is planning to test free agency...you KNOW he ends up home in New York). This would allow them to soak up much of Johnson's deal AND negotiate with Renteria.

But I'm with you...I'm not sure the chemistry needs any changing.

Go Danny Haren...scoreless 9th on Tuesday, lowering his ERA to 19.29!!!!

The state of drunkenness are Cubs fans' only succor. So that they're drunken and happy at the same time is edenic and rare.

There is a good reason why the folks around the friendly confines have only in the post-modern era given in to the moral decline of lights.

Consider yourself lucky they're not sober.



Now Playing: "America Is Waiting" David Byrne & Brian Eno in My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

OK, I waited until the end of the Padres series to comment on the Dodgers' wholesale cleaning by their new baby general manager. I'm happy that they won the series, but I still don't think I'm happy with DePodesta's Fuc*in' with the chemistry of the team with the third best record in baseball. I hope I'm wrong. Hey, Cards, at least for tonight, go ahead and be as "un-Democratic" as possible. Later, Gators.

I hate to say it, mark, but your Dodgers really came up short in their trades. I know I'm stating the obvious, but no trade would have been better than the half a trade they made. I think DePodesta went into the deadline with either 1) a profound misjudgement of just how much the D'Backs wanted for Johnson or 2) the D'Backs, with an eye to the future, realized that they didn't want to trade Johnson to a team in their own division.

On the other end of the spectrum, my hat's off to the Cubs. Keeping Garciaparra may cost more than they're willing to spend at the end of the season, but they got him for a song. Besides, if they don't make and advance in the playoffs this season with this team, they'll face such open revolt that I wouldn't be surprised to see McPhail clean house to such a degree that keeping Nomar will be the least of their concerns.

I'm happy we could lend you a hand last night, mark. It was a good victory and frankly there one thing to like about the loss Saturday. Morris may have given up eight in two-thirds of an inning, but we battled back to lose by a single run. This says a lot about the team. On the other hand, seeing our "ace" shelled...again...that's a bit worrisome.

Oh, well. We have one more trade deadline to consider, right?

Now Playing: "Tranquil" Ric Menck The Ballad of Ric Menck (Summershine)

How about those cubbies getin NOMAR...

quote:

---

Originally posted by LinnTate:
I'm happy we could lend you a hand last night, mark. It was a good victory and frankly there one thing to like about the loss Saturday. Morris may have given up eight in two-thirds of an inning, but we battled back to lose by a single run. This says a lot about the team. On the other hand, seeing our "ace" shelled...again...that's a bit worrisome.

Oh, well. We have one more trade deadline to consider, right?

---

You guys are spot-on with your criticism of the Dodgers. They made a lot of deals and made themselves worse for the wear.

Matty Mo...what are we gonna do with you? Last three starts: less than 2 innings, then a shutout, then less than 1 inning. HUH? Although, in the shutout, the team turned 4 double plays. Matty Mo's putting a LOT of guys on base. I could hit that fastball he's chucking. He needs to figure out how to be a finesse guy QUICK or we need to give Danny Haren a shot.

I always thought Morris' mentality on the mound was suspect. He's very blase out there, as if he's just going through the motions. Mentally, he's no Curt Schilling.

But, 2 out of 3 from the Giants was fine by me.

I've heard the suggestion floated that moving Haren in to the rotation to give Matty Mo a bit of rest, but I'm reluctant to break up the rhythm the Cards have established, even with some poor outings from Morris.

I read today in the Post, I think, that Duncan put Morris in front of video right after he was pulled. There was apparently some concern that he was tipping pitches, which has happened in the past.

I'm sure you've seen it already, pE, but how about this gem from today's Post as well?

Ankiel makes his first rehab start

Yes, I know it's only his first start in Class A ball, but can you imagine if he comes back? It's not completely outside the realm of possibility. After all, I had written Andy Benes off along with the rest of the world.

Now Playing: "Long Time Coming" The Delays Faded Seaside Glamour (Rough Trade)

Don't expect me to make that many comments here the next two months unless my team turns into the new Cards. Just for anyone who might care but didn't know: the Dodgers made it interesting tonight, but at least in a good way. Brad Penny pitched 8 innings in his first Dodger start, giving up two infield singles and one walk, going out ahead 3-0. Eric Gagne came in to pitch the 9th.

On Sunday, Gagne pitched the 9th, 10th and 11th innings and kept the Dodgers tied. New set-up man Dreifort pitched the 12th for a save, after the Dodgers scored a run.

Tonight, Gagne came in to try to save the game in the 9th. Gagne's stats in his last 11 innings were: 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 20 strikeouts. Gagne gave up a walk, then got two ground outs to put a runner on third with two outs. He gave up two consecutive hits and two runs before striking out the last threat.

No, I'm still not happy, but somehow the Dodgers have their biggest lead of the year.

quote:

---

Originally posted by mark f:
Eric Gagne came in to pitch the 9th.

On Sunday, Gagne pitched the 9th, 10th and 11th innings and kept the Dodgers tied. New set-up man Dreifort pitched the 12th for a save, after the Dodgers scored a run.

Tonight, Gagne came in to try to save the game in the 9th. Gagne's stats in his last 11 innings were: 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 20 strikeouts. Gagne gave up a walk, then got two ground outs to put a runner on third with two outs. He gave up two consecutive hits and two runs before striking out the last threat.

No, I'm still not happy, but somehow the Dodgers have their biggest lead of the year.

---

Trading Mota, the bridge to the 9th inning, for Penny straight up might have been OK. Penny has GREAT stuff. But to toss LoDuca in as well? And to only get Brent Mayne to catch?

Moreover, with Mota gone, will Gagne pitch TOO much? The same thing happened to John Smoltz, and he blew out his elbow. I've never been a Dodger fan (sorry Mark!) but I like the way Gagne plays the game, so I'd hate to seem him get hurt.

I'm worried about the status of the Cardinals bullpen. Izzy throws WAY too many balls for a closer. 3-1 counts are NOT how you shut down an opposing team. His stuff is good (he's hitting 95,96 again) but his control seems to be slipping. I don't like that at all...

Baseball 2004, eh?

My hometown team, the Royals, were supremely dissapointing this year, but I still love them, unlike the fans, who jumped off the bandwagon after about two weeks, and turned out to be even more dissapointing than the Royals.

I also was at the Giants game last night and saw Bonds hit two homers. It was pretty cool, but I can't get into the game unless the Royals are playing...

I'm already lying. Mayne plays/bats against righties and Ross bats/plays against lefties, although I think that's oversimplifying it. The Dodger lineup involves all kinds of fine-points I will explain to you, my beloved midwesterners, if you really care. It's not really THAT difficult to understand. Go, Dodgers!

The Phillies handed the Dodgers (and Gagne) a tough loss last night, mark. Still and all, that can happen to any team (witness the Expos over the Cards earlier this week). I agree with, pE, I like the way Gagne plays the game (he'd look great in Cardinal red). I also agree that one counts out the Dodgers at their own peril.

Memories of Game Six of the Eight Five World Series are still painful, CompmanJX3, but I have to say I like the Royals. I've probably attended more games at Kaufmann than any other ballpark save Busch or Wrigley including two memorable games against the Orioles the year Ripken broke the Iron Man. Good for you standing behind your guys, even in the face of adversity, especially with a class act like Tony Pena managing the team.

Of course, the big story of the day is [URL=Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala-D'oh-cious]the Rockies dealing Larry Walker to the Cards[/URL]. Injuries have been a problem for Walker this years, but even at 37, he's a big step up for the team over the platoon of Mabry/Lankford/Sanders/etc. I don't know if our pitching will hold up down the stretch (though Morris had a good outing last night), but I guess we can just pummel our opponents into submission.

Now Playing: "A Sort Of Homecoming" U2 The Unforgettable Fire (Island)