Waino goes the distance and is first NL pitcher to 15 wins, giving Cards a 2-0 lead in the Braves' series. Real dogfight between Reds, Cards (2.5 games clear of Reds) and Pirates (1 game ahead of Cards) for the NL Central title and to avoid the wild card play-off and the end of season run-in looks amazing. Following this Braves series, next 13 games for the Cards are home and away vs the Reds and Pirates. While Reds and Pirates clash in 6 of last 9 games of the season, for the Cards all but 3 of their last 19 games are against teams below .500. Gonna be hot! COYRedbirds.
Just wondering Peanuts, are you an American poster for CLife? Can tell you are massively keen on your baseball and see you on this thread more than the CAFC ones. There is also a slight US 'twang' to some of your posts!
Just wondering Peanuts, are you an American poster for CLife? Can tell you are massively keen on your baseball and see you on this thread more than the CAFC ones. There is also a slight US 'twang' to some of your posts!
What.......like "Impeach Obama!" and "Rand Paul for President!" ? ;o)
Just wondering Peanuts, are you an American poster for CLife? Can tell you are massively keen on your baseball and see you on this thread more than the CAFC ones. There is also a slight US 'twang' to some of your posts!
What.......like "Impeach Obama!" and "Rand Paul for President!" ? ;o)
Ha Ha!
I was thinking more along the lines of the off "Holy Cow" etc!
My baseball love comes from lots of travel in the US. Whilst I will tune in to football and basketball (not as much) when I am over there, baseball is the one that I got the bug 100% Think it is a sport that faciliates conversation - so much depth to the game and statistics.
I'm a "normal" South London boy (Charlton & Kent CCC first loves) but a trip to Boston 15 years ago led to me discovering the brilliant game of baseball. Red Sox are my AL team and Cards my NL team but I was a huge Tony La Russa fan so the Cards became #1 for me. Must confess I am partial to a stat or two (as one or two Lifers know, in another context) but there's something about the game itself that is addictive and with the demise of county cricket in general and Kent in particular baseball has replaced cricket as my main summer sporting interest. Only seen a couple of live games (at Shea and Citi Field) but, apart from the lack of a footlong, it's just as good to watch on the box. Few things as exciting in sport as a game 7 in the World Series if your team's involved (apart from a 7-6 penalty shoot out in a Play-Off Final at Wembley of course!).
Fairly similar story to mine - went to Boston, got the bug, loved it ever since. One thing I would say though is that my allegiances (Boston Redsox in AL, Chicago Cubs in NL) were caused by visiting their stadia. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are just marvellous places to watch a game.
Yep - been to Fenway a few times. Saw the famous play off game v the yanks when we came back from the dead. Police were literally dancing in the streets with fans. Never seen anything like it. Also been to san fran (what a setting), wrigley and camden yards.
Have to share a story from that yankee game. When big papi hit the walk off winner, guy next to me had his head in his hands and was sobbing. Literally worried me to hell, as he was in a right state. Asked if he was ok, and he told me his dad died 2 days earlier and they went to every game together. Last thing his dad said to him was that he would watch the sox win the series from heaven. When I watched that pitch go 'back to foulke' in st loius I just thought of that guy watching it without his dad and lost it in a big way. I am welling up now!!
Yep - been to Fenway a few times. Saw the famous play off game v the yanks when we came back from the dead. Police were literally dancing in the streets with fans. Never seen anything like it. Also been to san fran (what a setting), wrigley and camden yards.
Now that really does deserve a HOOOLY COWWW......deeply envious, though I was pretty much having a one man hooley watching on the box in the wee hours. Curt Schilling in Game 6....TOTAL LEGEND.
Have to share a story from that yankee game. When big papi hit the walk off winner, guy next to me had his head in his hands and was sobbing. Literally worried me to hell, as he was in a right state. Asked if he was ok, and he told me his dad died 2 days earlier and they went to every game together. Last thing his dad said to him was that he would watch the sox win the series from heaven. When I watched that pitch go 'back to foulke' in st loius I just thought of that guy watching it without his dad and lost it in a big way. I am welling up now!!
......wow. After that ALCS, the Cards never stood a chance in truth.
Fairly similar story to mine - went to Boston, got the bug, loved it ever since. One thing I would say though is that my allegiances (Boston Redsox in AL, Chicago Cubs in NL) were caused by visiting their stadia. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are just marvellous places to watch a game.
Would love to go to either - surely the best baseball stadia. Maybe Theo Epstein will do the biz at both...got some good youngsters coming along. Needs patience........should be in decent supply on the North Side you'd have thought. ;o) Actually the Cubs complete the Cards' regular season at Busch in a month or so. Have a nasty feeling you might upset our plans.
Not quite sure about "normal" Peanuts but you do love a stat or three ; - )
I have family who live near St Louis so adopted their team.
Seen them live at the Old Busch.
It was all the great baseball films that hooked me (Field of dreams, Bull Durham, pride of the Yankees, the Natural, etc etc) plus the history and tradition. It is easy enough to get the basics but then there is more and more layers of tactics and rules. Fascinating to watch.
And Cards just swept the Braves 3 - 0 to go bakc to joint top of the division so all good.
Not quite sure about "normal" Peanuts but you do love a stat or three ; - )
I have family who live near St Louis so adopted their team.
Seen them live at the Old Busch.
It was all the great baseball films that hooked me (Field of dreams, Bull Durham, pride of the Yankees, the Natural, etc etc) plus the history and tradition. It is easy enough to get the basics but then there is more and more layers of tactics and rules. Fascinating to watch.
And Cards just swept the Braves 3 - 0 to go bakc to joint top of the division so all good.
I've only a couple of weird fetishes H. Quite moderate for an Old Bromleian I reckon ;o) Cards finding some consistency again but that bullpen does creak a little.
With the season approaching its climax was thinking about possible managers of the year in both leagues:- AL - Wily veterans Jim Leyland (Tigers) & Ron Washington (Rangers) have their teams in Play-Off contention again. Bob Melvin has the A's in the mix and John Farrell has revived the Red Sox but the main man here in my view is Joe Maddon who has been a revelation since taking over the Rays hot seat. The Rays are arguably the smallest team in the AL East but he has already guided them to 1 World Series and despite the presence of the Yankees & Red Sox in the AL East not to mention an improving Orioles Team under Buck Showalter has them in contention again NL - Don Mattingly has turned the Dodgers around after a slow start and Fredi Gonzalez has the Braves running away with the NL East but the opposition in the NL East & West has been disappointing. The man for me here is Clint Hurdle who has turned the Pirates around from perennial losers to one of the best teams in the NL again against bigger market teams in the NL Central such as the Cards & Reds (and those lovable loses the Cubs). Much depends on what happens from now on but at the moment he just has it over Maddon for me if he gets the Pirates into the Play-Offs.
As a Red Sox fan for so many years, I should have learnt never to get too excited, but with the Rays dropping a few and us on a role, the Sox are edging slowly but surely towards the post season. Two big series coming up against the Tigers and Yanks. Come out of them with a winning record and we are almost there. What a turnaround from last year. And once Bucholz is back in a week or so, that is a rotation set for the post season if ever I saw one. Clay, Lester, Peavy, Lackey (who has been back to his best this year) and Doubront.
Big win for the Cards last night behind the increasingly impressive Joe Kelly, staving off a 3 game sweep in Pittsburgh and drawing level once again with the Pirates, 3.5 games clear of the Reds. If they can split the 4 games series in Cincin, starting tonight (ESPN 6pm: Wainwright v Latos promises to be a cracker) and take 2 of the next 3 at home to the Pirates (Kelly & Wainwright both due to pitch), they will have a great chance of winning the NL Central with 16 of last 19 games against teams below .500. Pirates will travel from St Louis to a tough series in Texas without a day off and face the Reds in 6 of their last 9 games of the season (last 3 in Cincin). D-backs' wild card hopes look increasingly slim (6 games behind Reds) but hopefully they'll keep the pressure up on Cincinnati. COYRedbirds.
Lol. Lucky sod! Those bloody Cubs always ruin it for me! One day, maybe one day I'll see the Red Sox v Cubs in the World Series.........................
Went to see LA Angels v Rays last week while in FL visiting family, took my son to his first game as he's a big Angels fan (Angels in the Outfield film), really great evening, he got a couple of players autographs before the game during the warm up including the starting pitcher CJ wilson, have to say the players were very good about it and stayed till they'd signed for everyone. Have to say Mike Trout is some player for 22. Think the Rays are blowing it at the moment.
NL Central is hot, hot, hot and it's the Cubs who are shaping up as kingmakers. Having taken 2 from 3 in Cincin, they start the first of 2 series (4 away, 3 home) vs the Pirates and finish with 3 in St. Louis. Taking the title is a massive prize, avoiding not only the penalty shoot-out of the Wild Card play-off but the WC winner will have to travel to (on current standings) Atlanta on just 1 rather than 3 days rest. The Braves have comfortably the best home record in MLB on 0.718. It's gonna go to go to the wire but 6 games remaining between Reds and Pirates give the Cards (now 1 game ahead) the edge on paper.......unless those pesky Cubbies poop the party. COYRedbirds.
Comments
Real dogfight between Reds, Cards (2.5 games clear of Reds) and Pirates (1 game ahead of Cards) for the NL Central title and to avoid the wild card play-off and the end of season run-in looks amazing.
Following this Braves series, next 13 games for the Cards are home and away vs the Reds and Pirates.
While Reds and Pirates clash in 6 of last 9 games of the season, for the Cards all but 3 of their last 19 games are against teams below .500.
Gonna be hot!
COYRedbirds.
I was thinking more along the lines of the off "Holy Cow" etc!
My baseball love comes from lots of travel in the US. Whilst I will tune in to football and basketball (not as much) when I am over there, baseball is the one that I got the bug 100% Think it is a sport that faciliates conversation - so much depth to the game and statistics.
Red Sox are my AL team and Cards my NL team but I was a huge Tony La Russa fan so the Cards became #1 for me.
Must confess I am partial to a stat or two (as one or two Lifers know, in another context) but there's something about the game itself that is addictive and with the demise of county cricket in general and Kent in particular baseball has replaced cricket as my main summer sporting interest.
Only seen a couple of live games (at Shea and Citi Field) but, apart from the lack of a footlong, it's just as good to watch on the box.
Few things as exciting in sport as a game 7 in the World Series if your team's involved (apart from a 7-6 penalty shoot out in a Play-Off Final at Wembley of course!).
Actually the Cubs complete the Cards' regular season at Busch in a month or so. Have a nasty feeling you might upset our plans.
I have family who live near St Louis so adopted their team.
Seen them live at the Old Busch.
It was all the great baseball films that hooked me (Field of dreams, Bull Durham, pride of the Yankees, the Natural, etc etc) plus the history and tradition. It is easy enough to get the basics but then there is more and more layers of tactics and rules. Fascinating to watch.
And Cards just swept the Braves 3 - 0 to go bakc to joint top of the division so all good.
Cards finding some consistency again but that bullpen does creak a little.
AL - Wily veterans Jim Leyland (Tigers) & Ron Washington (Rangers) have their teams in Play-Off contention again. Bob Melvin has the A's in the mix and John Farrell has revived the Red Sox but the main man here in my view is Joe Maddon who has been a revelation since taking over the Rays hot seat. The Rays are arguably the smallest team in the AL East but he has already guided them to 1 World Series and despite the presence of the Yankees & Red Sox in the AL East not to mention an improving Orioles Team under Buck Showalter has them in contention again
NL - Don Mattingly has turned the Dodgers around after a slow start and Fredi Gonzalez has the Braves running away with the NL East but the opposition in the NL East & West has been disappointing. The man for me here is Clint Hurdle who has turned the Pirates around from perennial losers to one of the best teams in the NL again against bigger market teams in the NL Central such as the Cards & Reds (and those lovable loses the Cubs). Much depends on what happens from now on but at the moment he just has it over Maddon for me if he gets the Pirates into the Play-Offs.
If they can split the 4 games series in Cincin, starting tonight (ESPN 6pm: Wainwright v Latos promises to be a cracker) and take 2 of the next 3 at home to the Pirates (Kelly & Wainwright both due to pitch), they will have a great chance of winning the NL Central with 16 of last 19 games against teams below .500.
Pirates will travel from St Louis to a tough series in Texas without a day off and face the Reds in 6 of their last 9 games of the season (last 3 in Cincin).
D-backs' wild card hopes look increasingly slim (6 games behind Reds) but hopefully they'll keep the pressure up on Cincinnati.
COYRedbirds.
Pfft, Who am I kidding?
Sorry. I'll get me coat.
We will sweep the Cubs to nick it last game.
Card nick a game back 5 - 4. Now 1 game behind Pirates.
Having taken 2 from 3 in Cincin, they start the first of 2 series (4 away, 3 home) vs the Pirates and finish with 3 in St. Louis.
Taking the title is a massive prize, avoiding not only the penalty shoot-out of the Wild Card play-off but the WC winner will have to travel to (on current standings) Atlanta on just 1 rather than 3 days rest. The Braves have comfortably the best home record in MLB on 0.718.
It's gonna go to go to the wire but 6 games remaining between Reds and Pirates give the Cards (now 1 game ahead) the edge on paper.......unless those pesky Cubbies poop the party.
COYRedbirds.