OT: 2014 MLB Thread

[dmiles2186]

I'm nervous about the Cards this postseason. I don't feel like they have 'it.' I could be wrong, of course, but I see the Dodgers taking the series 3-1.

[cprice12]

I'm nervous about the Cards this postseason. I don't feel like they have 'it.' I could be wrong, of course, but I see the Dodgers taking the series 3-1.

I think a lot hinges on tonight's game.
Kershaw doesn't have very good postseason numbers (1-3, 4.23 ERA)...and the Cardinals have hit him better than most teams for some reason.
Wainright is 4-3 with a 2.53 ERA.

I expect Kershaw to pitch better than his postseason history says...but I also expect Wainright to pitch very well as well. Which means this will be a 9-7 game in the 5th.

Should be a hell of a game.

[cardsfan04]

I'm nervous about this series too. We have to face Kershaw twice (if it goes 5), and I think the Dodgers are just better than we are. Not significantly, but I do think they are the better team. Also, they have home field and we were under .500 on the road.

That said, it's game day and I'm pumped. Kershaw is better than Waino. I kinda doubt that Waino ever wins a CY because of Kershaw. But, in one game, Waino can put up zeroes too. Nobody will be shocked if he does that. All that counts is what they do tonight and nobody will be shocked if Waino throws a gem. Doesn't matter how good Kershaw is. If Waino matches him, they have to find another way to win. That's the key to tonight IMO. Make them have to find another way to win than just Kershaw. We don't have to beat Kershaw. We just need Waino to make them need more than Kershaw.

To win the series, I think we need to win 1 of 2 in LA and then both at home. I don't want to face Kershaw in game 5.

[cprice12]

I'm nervous about this series too. We have to face Kershaw twice (if it goes 5), and I think the Dodgers are just better than we are. Not significantly, but I do think they are the better team. Also, they have home field and we were under .500 on the road.

That said, it's game day and I'm pumped. Kershaw is better than Waino. I kinda doubt that Waino ever wins a CY because of Kershaw. But, in one game, Waino can put up zeroes too. Nobody will be shocked if he does that. All that counts is what they do tonight and nobody will be shocked if Waino throws a gem. Doesn't matter how good Kershaw is. If Waino matches him, they have to find another way to win. That's the key to tonight IMO. Make them have to find another way to win than just Kershaw. We don't have to beat Kershaw. We just need Waino to make them need more than Kershaw.

To win the series, I think we need to win 1 of 2 in LA and then both at home. I don't want to face Kershaw in game 5.

If we can get to their bullpen, the middle relief guys, I think we'll be in better shape. Hopefully Mattingly takes out Kershaw to pinch hit in the 6th or something stupid like that.

[glen a richter]

My two world series' of choice are KC/StL or Washington/Baltimore. We'll see, I suppose. Bad start for Washington, and much to the dismay of the Orioles not every team has as incompetent a bullpen as Detoilet.

[dmiles2186]

HOLY. CRAP.

[cardsfan04]

So, THAT happened.

Like I said, the way we beat Kershaw is by putting up 8 on him when Waino throws a dud of a game. Not. Even. Close. But, wow.

[cardsfan04]

I'm nervous about this series too. We have to face Kershaw twice (if it goes 5), and I think the Dodgers are just better than we are. Not significantly, but I do think they are the better team. Also, they have home field and we were under .500 on the road.

That said, it's game day and I'm pumped. Kershaw is better than Waino. I kinda doubt that Waino ever wins a CY because of Kershaw. But, in one game, Waino can put up zeroes too. Nobody will be shocked if he does that. All that counts is what they do tonight and nobody will be shocked if Waino throws a gem. Doesn't matter how good Kershaw is. If Waino matches him, they have to find another way to win. That's the key to tonight IMO. Make them have to find another way to win than just Kershaw. We don't have to beat Kershaw. We just need Waino to make them need more than Kershaw.

To win the series, I think we need to win 1 of 2 in LA and then both at home. I don't want to face Kershaw in game 5.

If we can get to their bullpen, the middle relief guys, I think we'll be in better shape. Hopefully Mattingly takes out Kershaw to pinch hit in the 6th or something stupid like that.

Yeah, their bullpen is pretty weak. This game was nuts though. I was worried at 2-1. At 6-1 I was out of hope. At 6-2, I was hoping for something like them pinch hitting. And then, WOW!!! I don't know what the O/U was on this game, but I'd guess 6.5 or something. Kershaw probably allowed the over in 1 inning alone.

[glen a richter]

Apart from the Orioles game 1 dismantling of the Tigers pen, every game has been jam packed with excitement so far. Of course snoozeball sucks though, right jne?

[cardsfan04]

Apart from the Orioles game 1 dismantling of the Tigers pen, every game has been jam packed with excitement so far. Of course snoozeball sucks though, right jne?

Yeah, I noticed that too. I don't remember the last time a postseason started in more exciting fashion.

[cardsfan04]

Apart from the Orioles game 1 dismantling of the Tigers pen, every game has been jam packed with excitement so far. Of course snoozeball sucks though, right jne?

Yeah, I noticed that too. I don't remember the last time a postseason started in more exciting fashion.

[cardsfan04]

These are long days. 8 hours 26 minutes til game time!!!!

[cprice12]

We are f'ing spoiled as Cards fans.
We have seen some absolutely amazing playoff games.
The huge comeback win against the Nats.
The best playoff game of all time against the Rangers.
The Pujols HR against Houston.
Game 7 vs. the Mets.
The Go Crazy Folks game.
The huge late comeback vs. Kershaw.

Wow.

That was intense as shit last night. Carp's at bat vs. Kershaw was epic.

Harold Reynolds is a moron. It's one thing to mention the Cardinals were stealing signs...but it's another to completely downplay the Cards success vs. Kershaw and keep talking about stealing pitches for the three innings.
If the Cardinals were stealing signs, they apparently got really good at it really quick, because they must have sucked at it all season long.

Mattingly was wrong about the Cardinals stealing signs in game 6 vs. LA last year when they lit him up. Harold Reynolds is probably wrong too. Not that there is anything wrong with stealing signs...every team tries to do it. It's part of the game...nothing illegal about it. Not cheating...it's just something that goes on.
Kershaw could have very well been tipping his pitches and the Cardinals just figured it out...or...the Cardinals just put some good at bats together and punished him.
Either way...awesome game.

[cprice12]

It's humorous to read to Cub fan comments during a Cards playoff game.
http://www.northsidebaseball.com/forum/ ... &start=300

They are sooooo f'ing bitter and jealous. Makes me chuckle.

[cardsfan04]

I was at a bar, so I didn't hear Harold Reynolds' comments at the time, but I've heard about them since. I don't care for him to begin with, but that would have pissed me off. Agreed that it's not cheating. I hope we were trying to steal signs. We should be trying. So should the Dodgers. If we were successful, good for us and shame on them for letting us.

But, I also agree that wasn't what happened. I think it was a combination of good ABs, Kershaw getting tired as the game progressed, and perhaps a pattern in his pitches. I think he got into a pattern of throwing a 1st pitch fastball a lot and they just sat on it. If that was the case, good for them for figuring it out and even better for them for executing.

Respect to Kershaw for dismissing the sign-stealing allegations. He said even suggesting it was a discredit to our offense, which it is. I'd love to see Kershaw pitch against somebody other than us in the playoffs. I'll never root against the Cards, but I'd love to see Kershaw do something special, just not against us.

[dmiles2186]

We are f'ing spoiled as Cards fans.
We have seen some absolutely amazing playoff games.
The huge comeback win against the Nats.
The best playoff game of all time against the Rangers.
The Pujols HR against Houston.
Game 7 vs. the Mets.
The Go Crazy Folks game.
The huge late comeback vs. Kershaw.

Wow.

That was intense as shit last night. Carp's at bat vs. Kershaw was epic.

Harold Reynolds is a moron. It's one thing to mention the Cardinals were stealing signs...but it's another to completely downplay the Cards success vs. Kershaw and keep talking about stealing pitches for the three innings.
If the Cardinals were stealing signs, they apparently got really good at it really quick, because they must have sucked at it all season long.

Mattingly was wrong about the Cardinals stealing signs in game 6 vs. LA last year when they lit him up. Harold Reynolds is probably wrong too. Not that there is anything wrong with stealing signs...every team tries to do it. It's part of the game...nothing illegal about it. Not cheating...it's just something that goes on.
Kershaw could have very well been tipping his pitches and the Cardinals just figured it out...or...the Cardinals just put some good at bats together and punished him.
Either way...awesome game.

Credit to Kershaw on the tipping pitches thing. Someone asked about it in postgame and he said that it's a cop out and takes away credit from the Cardinals. Classy response.

Also, another thing to add to you 'We are spoiled list": Jimmy Ballgame's Game 6 HR in extras, followed by his beautiful diving catch in Game 7 to help us to the '04 WS.

Our luck is going to run out, but right now, we have so many classic moments we can point to over these last 15-20 years, it's insane. A good buddy of mine, a Cubs fan, chalks it up to voodoo magic, and as soon as the Cards mounted that comeback last night, he sent me a one word text: "Voodoo." He's not a jealous or annoying Cubs fan either, he really knows his stuff. But I agree with him. I don't know what baseball gods we did a favor, but we've had an abundance of excitement recently. No wonder everyone else hates us.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Apart from the Orioles game 1 dismantling of the Tigers pen, every game has been jam packed with excitement so far. Of course snoozeball sucks though, right jne?

Looks like Wong made a Wong decision!

I will give credit where credit is due. A lot of the boredom of baseball during the season is there are SO many games. In the playoffs each game and at bat is a lot more meaningful especially in a 5 game series. That makes it more palatable.

[glen a richter]

Another thriller last night in the SF/Wash series. I wanted Washington to win, but that seems out of the question at this point.

[cardsfan04]

That Kemp HR was pretty awful. I remember thinking at one point about 15 minutes before it happened that it would be so incredibly soul crushing to the Dodgers if we came back and won this game late. Then, it kinda seemed like destiny. After Greinke was pulled we tied the game in the minimum amount of batters possible. When mCarp hit that home run I thought we had it. Oh well though. I wanted a split in LA and got it. Now let's take care of business at home.

[dmiles2186]

That Kemp HR was pretty awful. I remember thinking at one point about 15 minutes before it happened that it would be so incredibly soul crushing to the Dodgers if we came back and won this game late. Then, it kinda seemed like destiny. After Greinke was pulled we tied the game in the minimum amount of batters possible. When mCarp hit that home run I thought we had it. Oh well though. I wanted a split in LA and got it. Now let's take care of business at home.

As is typical with the Cardinals, getting a runner on 2nd, 1 out, with Adams and Peralta up seemed like a good chance to take the lead after mCarp's homer. LAD smartly walks Adams to bring up Peralta, who immediately grounds into a double play. That was it. Even if we kept the Dodgers off the board in the bottom of the 8th, I felt like our shot was gone. I know it's easy to say that when there is no definitive way to prove it, but it was just that type of game where it felt like if the Cards were going to score runs, it was going to be in one frame, quickly, and then they'd have to ride it out from there. Oh well, if you would have told me we'd split on the road facing Kershaw and Grienke, I'd take it. Homeward bound.