Series Thread: Cards @ Phillies (4/18-4/21)

[dmiles2186]

Game 1

April 18, 6:05 pm CT
@ Citizens Bank Park

TV:
FS-M, MLBN
Radio:
KMOX 1120

Wainwright vs. Hamels

Game 2
April 19, 6:05 pm CT
@ Citizens Bank Park

TV:
FS-M
Radio:
KMOX 1120

Garcia vs. Halladay

Game 3
April 20, 6:05 pm CT
@ Citizens Bank Park

TV:
FS-M, MLBN
Radio:
KMOX 1120

Lynn vs. Lee

Game 4
April 21, 7:05 pm CT
@ Citizens Bank Park

TV:
ESPN
Radio:
KMOX 1120

Westbrook vs. Kendrick

[cardsfan04]

Last night was pretty ugly. Time to bounce back.

It's early, but there are 2 things that somewhat concern me:

1. Bullpen. I thought it would be a huge asset this year, but losing Motte might have really hurt us by shuffling roles. It just seems like every game that they come in, they're going to allow at least a run or two. I know it'll level out at some point (maybe not to being good, but to not being atrocious), but I have almost no confidence in the pen right now.

2. Kind of like last year, our hitting seems to be very streaky (for lack of better word). We seem to either score 1-2 or 8-10. That's not strictly true obviously, but we seem to struggle to find a happy medium. Last year somebody I know calculated it (and I'm going to butcher this somewhat), but our scoring had something like 3 standard deviations from the mean where the league average was like 1.3 or something. It seems like that trend is continuing and I can't explain why.

[DaDitka]

2. Kind of like last year, our hitting seems to be very streaky

And the worst par is that Matheny said that was his #1 focus in the offseason.

[cardsfan04]

2. Kind of like last year, our hitting seems to be very streaky

And the worst par is that Matheny said that was his #1 focus in the offseason.

The first thing he should do about that is stop batting Carp 7th, even on occasion. He should hit 2nd every single time he is in the lineup without exception. He gets on base better than anybody on the team by a really wide margin, so he needs to hit in front of our big bats, not behind them.

[dmiles2186]

Didn't watch much of last night's game since it overlapped with the Blues. Sounded like the bullpen almost blew the game in the 9th. Glad we got the W, though.

And I agree with cardsfan, Carp should be hitting 2nd. I know TLR isn't here anymore, but Carp just seems like the prototypical #2 hitter under the TLR regime. The dude just hits and gets on base.

[DaDitka]

Carp just seems like the prototypical #2 hitter under the TLR regime. The dude just hits and gets on base.

That's why he can't bat second. Holiday bats third and he's battling like 500 with two outs and 100 with either one or no outs.

Gotta get two outs on the board before he comes up.

[cardsfan04]

Carp just seems like the prototypical #2 hitter under the TLR regime. The dude just hits and gets on base.

That's why he can't bat second. Holiday bats third and he's battling like 500 with two outs and 100 with either one or no outs.

Gotta get two outs on the board before he comes up.

Maybe we should hit the pitcher first and whoever is struggling most 2nd. Then Carpenter 3rd and Holliday 4th. That way Carpenter can get a 2 out walk and Holliday can do some damage.

[DaDitka]

Carp just seems like the prototypical #2 hitter under the TLR regime. The dude just hits and gets on base.

That's why he can't bat second. Holiday bats third and he's battling like 500 with two outs and 100 with either one or no outs.

Gotta get two outs on the board before he comes up.

Maybe we should hit the pitcher first and whoever is struggling most 2nd. Then Carpenter 3rd and Holliday 4th. That way Carpenter can get a 2 out walk and Holliday can do some damage.

Now you're thinking!