2011 MLB Thread

Dang. Best effort by one of our starters for a while, and Motte gives it up. Oh well, 2-0 would have made it seem like it was over, and we wouldn't have wanted that, would we ?
 
Pujols has certainly made himself welcome in Arlington.
 
I do kinda wonder what sort of figures Albert could put up if he played half his games in as hitter-friendly ballpark as Arlington.

But I like how he now has a real "career game" - the sort of thing when people look back and argue about the greatest right-handed hitter ever, and they mention Pujols, they'll talk about last night's game. 50 years from now - trust me - that performance will still be mentioned.

While we're in hyperbole mode, where is he now in terms of the greatest right-handed hitters ? Still behind Hornsby, for sure, but I'd guess in the top 5 now ?
 
Awesome pitching performance by Derek Holland! It's a best-of-three series now. The Cardinals better they win the first two, 'cause I definately don't trust either Kyle Lohse or Jake Westbrook as a game 7 starter... :(
 
First time I've ever seen a relief pitcher brought in to intentionally walk someone.
 
Why can't they match the TV delay and the radio delay?

Cardinal TV announcers are annoying, or is it just all TV play by play is annoying.
 
3-2 Texas... :(

I hope a change of scenery recharges the Cardinals, 'cause right now it seems to be going down the wrong path...
 
Formaldehyde said:
First time I've ever seen a relief pitcher brought in to intentionally walk someone.
Click to expand...
There is far more to this story that it first appeared.

Disconnect Between La Russa, Bullpen Hurts Cards

ATony La Russa has won a lot of games over a lot of years by deploying relief pitchers differently than most managers. His reputation may have worked against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series.

Well, that and baseball's reliance on the 1900s technology of wall phones in bullpens even though they're apparently easily drowned out by raucous fans.

Bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist misunderstood La Russa twice with the game on the line, forcing the Cardinals into an unfavorable matchup between left-handed reliever Mark Rzepczynski and Texas' right-handed slugger Mike Napoli with one out and the bases loaded. The Rangers' catcher took advantage by nailing a two-run double that gave Texas a 4-2 victory Monday night and put them one win from the franchise's first championship.

"That phone in a loud ballpark, it's not an unusual problem," La Russa said. "I mean, it doesn't make it right, but ... "

The bottom of the eighth inning was a comedy of errors for St. Louis. It played out like something from the "Can you hear me now?" cell phone commercials.

It started with Lilliquist only having Rzepczynski warm up, when La Russa really wanted both him and right-handed closer Jason Motte to get loose.

La Russa realized the problem once he put in Rzepczynski and saw no one else warming up, so he called back and ask for Motte again. This time, Lilliquist told Lance Lynn to start throwing, even though he was only supposed to be used in an emergency.

La Russa also said the noise problem is not unusual with bullpens "that are right amidst the fans and excitement." The visitors' bullpen at Rangers Ballpark is in left-center field, with fans on either side.
Click to expand...

Napoli drove a pitch into the wall in right-center field on one hop. Rzepczynski struck out Moreland, then La Russa went to the mound and tried bringing in Motte. Only he hadn't warmed up yet. So when he called for the righty, in came Lynn.

"I said, 'Why are you here?'" La Russa said.

With first base open, Lynn was told to intentionally walk Ian Kinsler. La Russa then returned to the mound and finally got the reliever he'd wanted several batters earlier, Motte. Only now St. Louis was down by two runs and the bases were loaded.

The bearded closer struck out Elvis Andrus on three pitches, which only made the regrets of what might've been tougher for Cardinals fans to swallow once they learned of the wacky breakdown.
Click to expand...
 
How the heck do you hear Lance Lynn when someone says Jason Motte? Even if it is really, really loud. Similar nicknames or something?
 
Game 6 rained out. Maybe tomorrow.

Re: the phones - Lilliquist said that the phones there are as good as anywhere, so i don't think they're claiming they got screwed by the Rangers or anything. I think they're just admitting they screwed up without actually admitting it, using the phones as an excuse.

Seriously though, if you're having trouble hearing on the phone, maybe repeat what you hear for confirmation? Seems kind of obvious.

Oh, and I knew a guy from St Louis who was 3 when Denkinger blew the call, and he never forgave him. The only way to really piss off the stereotypical friendly Cards fans seem to be to bring up Denkinger.
 
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