MLB 2014 season thread

Problem is, Xan, they have no committee. The whole idea is to avoid their pitching depth because they know they have none.

It's going to have to be Kershaw for 120 pitches tonight and Greinke for 120 pitches in Game 5, or they don't advance.

The holes that exist on this $230 million team are pretty staggering.

 

Yeah, well, the Cards figured him out by the 7th in Game 1. His stuff had no STUFF!

It's over tonight.

 

Scott Elbert- 4 1/3 IP all season and he's throwing in the biggest inning of the year.

 

Matt Carpenter became the first player in major league history to have a home run and a double in 3 straight playoff games last night. He also set a Cardinals' franchise record for homering in three straight games in one playoff series -- Albert Pujols also homered in three straight playoff games but that was over 2 series.

 

Tigers, too. The big winners from this postseason may be the top middle relievers who hit the market this winter.

 

Mattingly is managing for his job. He has to go with Kershaw today.

He gets fired whether he loses with his ace or without him.

 

Actually, I wasn't poking at you (#Facebook) this time. I was just being a snarky ass about the Tigers adding a third Cy Young Award winner at the deadline, and promptly winning zero games in the postseason.

Dombrowski doesn't make many mistakes, but dumping Fister to free up money for Nathan was a massive one. Closers are fungible. You can find one anywhere, and for $500,000. Of course, I get why he did what he did. The thoroughly overmatched Brad Ausmus (seriously, he may be more out of his element than Neddie Yost) is a summa cum laude graduate of Proven Closer Academy, and there was no way he was gonna entrust the ninth inning to Joe Blow. Even if Joe Nathan did turn into Joe Blow.

As for poking you, it's a shame you bailed on your Pirates before they finally emerged as annual contenders in a game in which it is easier than ever for small markets to compete on a yearly basis. Dickhead!!!!!

And Ike Davis didn't cost the Pirates the pennant. Pedro Alvarez did. There's a guy biding his time until he cashes out. Though I suspect he may be just as bad once he gets bigger money.

 

As a Cardinal fan, I'd certainly prefer to face Haren rather than a potential Kershaw/Greinke combo.

I like the move from the Dodgers' perspective. Think this gives them their best chance to win the series. And kudos to Mattingly for making the move that's guaranteed to bring him heat if it fails rather than playing the safe way.

Can only hope the Cardinals magic against the game's top pitcher somehow continues. But, at some point, Kershaw's going to dial one up against them--just hope it's not today.

 

Matt Williams was 2-for-2 with a HR vs. Vogelsong.

 

In the whole time he has been CLAYTON KERSHAW!!!!!! he has only gone more than seven innings against the Cardinals once. They're going to need their bullpen regardless, and that is St. Louis' huge advantage.

 

Puig out of the starting lineup for tonight's game?

Donnie, I love you, but I don't know about this.

 

Struck out seven times in a row, that's not good. But yeah I don't know either.

However, @BestFansStLouis does keep telling me he's gay. So that could be weighing on him.