I thought there was a 2005 Cardinals thread, but I guess not. They're in first place in their division with a 14-5 record, have won 6 straight games and 11 of 12, and have the best winning percentage in the NL (.737).

Yesterday Mark Grudzielanek hit for the cycle; Pujols is hitting .311 with 5 homers and 15 RBIs; and the pitching is holding up so far. Mulder even pitched a 10-inning shutout against Roger Clemens. If-when Rolen starts hitting, they could be unstoppable.

GO CARDINALS!

[ August 27, 2005, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: fantomas ]

It's no surprise that the Cardinals aren't getting any attention.

We're used to it.

The one thing that concerns me is that the Cardinals are leaving too many men on base.

Whew, I'm glad you posted!

One reason the Cards are leaving so many men on base is the lack of hitting at the bottom of the order, and the anemic production of Rolen so far. The Cards really lost two catalysts when Womack and Renteria (especially) left, and Yadier Molina cannot hit to save his life! I was glad to see Grudzielanek pick up his production. Albert Pujols, stunning as he is, can't do it all, though he tries. But last year's World Series was proof enough that the rest of the team needs to drive in more runs. I just wish the replacements for the departed players had at least balanced out the lack of hitting with cuteness, though Molina is easy on the eyes.

Well, the Cards ought to get some attention -- all kinds of attention wink -- tonight after scoring 7 in the 9th to stun the Reds 10-9.

You are absolutely right fantomas!

I could care less that Renteria left.

St. Louis hasn't really had a catcher that could really hit in a long time.

Suppan was suppose to be one of the best hitting pitchers. Go figure

sometimes I wonder about LaRussa.

LaRussa, as Donald Trump would say, is a "disastuh," but he's also a genius too, I think. How is that possible? Paradoxes, paradoxes....

If the Cardinals are in close games, LaRussa is a liability, because he often seems to make the WRONG choice. It's like he's lacking some kind of innate sense of how baseball tactics work. BUT he does seem to be a great steward of talent, and can get players to push beyond their usual limits, except when it counts most, in the playoffs and World Series. That debacle against Boston made me want to puke. No pitching, no hitting, nothing at all worth watching, except Albert Pujols trying his hardest and looking sexy in his uniform.

Tactically one of the best managers I ever saw was Whitey Herzog! Oh, could that man get his players to manufacture runs. He would the have the Cardinals flying around the bases and got some of the best pitching performances out of a nutcase like Joaquin Andujar and a non-talent like Danny Cox (the Al Nipper of the NL). When Whitey sent Garry Templeton away for Ozzie Smith, there was initially an outcry, and then Whitey got those Cardinals to the World Series and WON IT! With basically no pitching and weak bats! And he took them back twice, with lineups that nowadays wouldn't get past third place in most divisions. They could have beaten KC. Plus, where's Ozzie: In the Hall of Fame!

But back to 2005. The Cardinals are looking very good. Their pitching remains shaky, but if they can keep getting runs from spots other than the 3-4-5 position, and if Mulder returns to his early-career form, they will win the division and the pennant, though Florida, Los Angeles and Atlanta are going to put up a fight. To win the Series, they'll have to bring Herzog or Schoendienst (I love that name) out from retirement!

[ May 05, 2005, 05:31 PM: Message edited by: fantomas ]

I think what's been bothering about this years lineup for the Cardinals is the absence of Womack.

The Cardinals really don't have anyone that threatens to steal.

I miss that in a team.

Fantomas I think Schoendiest in German means good worker or good service or something like that.

Shoulder surgery sometime this week will end Scott Rolen's season. He played in just 56 games this year, hitting just .235 with 5 homers

Rolen is out for the season, but the Cardinals have managed to dominate without him, Larry Walker, and for a little bit, their starting catcher Yadier Molina. Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, the bench, and the amazing starting pitching (though Jason Marquis has fallen apart over the last two months) have been the key. The relief pitching has been decent (King, Reyes) to excellent (Isringhausen). I still worry about their playoff chances, because Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder can't pitch every game, and their run production has slowed down in recent weeks.

Two straight 6-0 shutouts of the Nationals--wow. By Marquis, who has been on an 0-7 slide, and spot starter Cal Eldred and the relief core. The Cardinals definitely needed this.

I hope Mark Mulder's neck problems aren't serious, and that Albert Pujols can go on a mini homer tear which might win him the Triple Crown and MVP. He's second in batting average, first in RBIs, but currently ranking fifth or sixth in home runs.

Great day at Busch Stadium yesterday. That was only my third game there, but it was also the site of my first MLB game. I had to do a little research but found the date was July 5, 1976--Cards v. Giants. Hopefully the Cards can close down the stadium with their first World Series in 23 years...

The Cards in the playoffs: I pray their bats don't go silent like last year, when Pujols seemed to be the only one capable of getting a hit. Edmonds was swinging like he'd never been near a baseball diamond. Also, is Walker really feeling better?

Then there's the pitching, which was abominable last year. Carpenter has GOT TO pitch like he's trying to win the Cy Young, and not like the disaster he's been his last four starts. Mulder was reverting to early season form, and Matt Morris--is his shoulder about to fall off? What is wrong with him? He's so blasé about everything too. Don't you WANT to win, Matt Morris?? I'd start Jeff Suppan over him. Suppan can hit and field well and was pitching quite well towards the end, whereas Morris just gave up (or is hurt again). Marquis is a liability on the mound, but he was batting over .320, so maybe he can pinch hit if some of the position players start acting like they're afraid of getting a hit.

GO CARDINALS!!!!

So far, so good. I think they match up well with the Astros. They've proved they can beat Pettitte, Clemens and Oswalt, and Sanders is hot. Two very good teams, and I hope the Cardinals prevail!

GO CARDINALS!!!

So...um....do ya want Renteria back? LOL

Yeah, while '04 was great from a Sox fan's point of view, the WS lacked the "back and forth" aspect where you didn't know who was going to win. And that was odd being that the Cards are are a fantastic team, So even though Chris Burke, and Jeff Bagwell are hotties, I think I'll root for the Cards this year.....plus, ya got Jim Edmonds and Mark Mulder to boot! LOL

Seriously, I don't even know who Chris Burke is!!! The only Astros I can think of who register on the attractive scale are Wandy Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte and Willy Taveras!

Chris Burke is the guy who hit the game winning HR in the 18th inning last night.

Oh, I missed that. I just heard about Roger Clemens's stepping in and pitching like the pro he is. Never heard of Burke, never seen him, so I guess I'll see this person who's got folks shrieking like banshees when the Stros play the Cardinals. Is he even half as cute and thick as Albert Pujols?

As much as this goes against every fiber of being, I think I'm going to (begrudgingly) root for the Cards. At least my brother and some of my friends will be happy if they win.
And I'm still angry the Cubs couldn't bust the Astros bubble in the last game of the season. So close to ruining it for them...

Why "begrudgingly"? You're an Illini, right? Are you closer to the Chi or the Lou? Root for the Cards and the White Sox to face each other (though the Angelheimers are much easier on the eyes), and you get a twofer.