Right now, until something changes negatively, you ride Bourjas and Jay. When your winning like this, change nothing. The baseball karma gods will bite your ass.

Exactly. If one of them cool down, then think about Oscar. He had his chance and hasn't done the most of it. Now it's just riding the hot hand for the rest of the year.

At this point, if one of them falters, I would go with Grichuk. Offers possibly more hitting at this point and defense is 500% better than Oscar's.

I agree. OT is our future and will hit .300. He can get it together over the winter and spring training. From here on out, its about playing who is hot. Thats how Kozma got all that playing time in 2012 before he petered out.

There is no way I would start Grichuk over Taveras. He is a walking K machine with a swing that long, and Scruggs has a slider speed bat. He couldn't even catch up to 93 last night.

Oscar needs AB's, especially in big situations like this playoff run. Hopefully, he has a ton more in the future for this franchise, so he needs to learn on the job.

I don't disagree with this. I was just advocating going with the hot bat.

In the off season we need to trade Jay. His value will never be higher. Corner outfielders can replace him in 2015-16 . Have to give something to get something.

Grichuk is fairly locked in and hitting laser beams at this point. Ride him until he comes back to earth, and then OT can get more AB's.

I wouldn't trade Jay. I'd keep him and Bourjos together as a CF pair.

We need to go get a solid bat that can hit home runs this off season. Those don't come cheap. Jay is expendable and valuable to some other teams way more than his value here. Again, give to get.

Makes me sad to read this..........At least we will always have torty and 2011.


Allen Craig is hitting .111 for the Red Sox and “couldn’t have looked more overmatched”

When the Red Sox acquired Allen Craig from the Cardinals in the John Lackey trade they were hoping a change of scenery would help him rediscover his pre-2014 form, but instead his season-long struggles have become even more extreme.

Craig struck out in all four his plate appearances yesterday and is now hitting .111 with 15 strikeouts in 10 games for the Red Sox.

Before this season–or, perhaps more accurately, before injuring his foot late last season–Craig hit .306 with an .850 OPS through 372 career games, but now Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com writes that Craig “couldn’t have looked more overmatched” and was “flailing at breaking balls way out of the strike zone.”

He’s under contract for $5.5 million in 2015, $9 million in 2016, $11 million in 2017, and $13 million or a $1 million buyout in 2018.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...e-overmatched/

We need our corner OF's to hit more homeruns (Holliday and OT). I agree that we need to hit more HR's but I think they need to come from other spots as those two in CF make a really good pair.

I'm not sure their splits so I can't speak to it being a good platoon situation or not.

However, I think Mabry is probably gone after this year, so I think a new approach would improve power numbers.

If his foot gets fixed, he'll be a productive player again. The question is if it's fixable. St. Louis docs ****ed it up once already.

He had one night where he had three singles, which is the only game of his MLB career where he's had more than one hit.

I don't like the plan of our guys will get the homers popping next year.

What position? 1B is an obvious position we could upgrade on the homers. 3B also but that means you have to lose Wong and move Carp. Don't like that at all.

Another one that Mo sold high on was Rasmus.

Since the July 27, 2011 deal that sent him from St. Louis to Toronto, Rasmus has batted .235 with a .296 OBP and a .433 SLG. He's hit 65 homers, but has a strikeout rate of nearly 28 percent as a Blue Jay.

Seems John Jay should be next for Mo to sell high.

Rasmus put up 4.8 WAR in 118 games last year. That's elite production. He has really scuffled this year, but his biggest problem was always Tony Rasmus, the worst Little League Dad imaginable.

To Mo's credit, Jay has actually been more valuable, but given Colby's age at the time of the trade and the return, he is a classic example of a dump, not selling high. Selling high is Kent Bottenfield.

They finally defrost Oscar and he has the best AB of the night.

Yep, that was a good AB. Hey matheny, Delcasco has cooled off. Please feel free to Keep him on the bench. If in doubt, pull up video of him taking pitch belt high down the middle of the plate with runners in scoring position late in a game tonight.

Good win tonight. Taveras home run was amazing hitting.

You guys know about this guy? Passan says he is on the way as soon as the minor league season is over. And he will be pitching in non cleanup roles.

Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan)
9/7/14, 12:07 AM
Another great Cardinals development story. Tuivailala drafted as SS, converted to pitcher, now sits 98-101 with 170 Ks in 108 1/3 pro IP

I know the name. Never seen any video of him. Heater obviously looks otherworldly.

Matheny hung Lynn and the team out to dry tonight. Absolutely awful managing that fortunately didn't bite us in the ass.

Is the second paragraph surprising to you?

i had to watch the brewers broadcast. They were surprised at matheny letting Lynn pitch and chance the 3 run homer.

Yeah, rough day to be a "Michigan Man."

Drafted as an IF, but struggled as a hitter. Converted to pitcher 2 or 3 years ago. Last AB as an everyday player was a home run. After the game they told him they wanted to try him on the mound.

You watched the guy pitch? The dude throws 100mph. Did he have control issues that he has under control now? Can he come in and help us now?

He was drafted as a SS and played SS and 3B in rookie ball. He has some control issues and he really only has one MLB-ready pitch. His breaking ball is just a show pitch at this point.

If you throw 100mph you can get by for one inning as long as you leave it out of the middle of the plate. Does Chapman have another pitch?

He could take Mott's place in the relief pen. He has no secondary pitch that batters have to be concerned about. Mott can't go up there and throw a 93 mph fastball without movement and get MLB batters out consistently.

Chapman has a slider and a changeup. His slider is a really good pitch, too.

Peralta's a good guy.

Can I just hang out in here?

Me too, even in bad years at least the Cards are a competent franchise.

They always seem to play well in September. Winning 6 of 7 against the teams chasing you = a good week.

Magic # down to 16

Shelby dealing so far, finally got some runs.

Any of you guys know any good STL Cardinal sites?

THAT WAS A ****ING MAMMOTH SHOT

I dont know how this team gets so hot in September almost every year recently.

Damn, I missed Adams shot.

They're playing better baseball now. Still not scoring runs like I wish they would, but the pitching has been fantastic.

It also seems like Shelby is starting to get it together. If he can stay down in the strikezone, he's really tough.

:)

Love this.

Assuming they go ahead and end up winning the division, I'd assume they'll go Waino/Wacha/Lynn in the first round?

How many runs do you think they should be scoring? Since Molina came back and this streak started we are scoring near the top of the league.

Since Molina came back, Miller has been lights out. As we found out last year, Lackey has a history of pitching big games in the playoffs.

It has been said that Masterson taught Miller his grip on his sinker and since then Shelby has been lights out. At least the trade worked out somehow if that's the case.

It's unknown if Wacha will be stretched out quite enough for October, but you could go with Waino/Wacha/Lynn/Lackey with Miller being Wacha's relief if he can't go long. But if Miller keeps pitching lights out, then you have a decision to make.

If Miller is pitching 7 innings of shutout 3 hit ball for the next 3-5 starts, he should be starting in the playoffs. You don't sit that level of pitching performance on the bench. We always knew the talent was there. Maybe its clicked on? Like Lynn, the talent was there but he would melt down if something went wrong, bad call, error etc. Looks like he's got that turned around.

Molina is calling Martinez's and Rosenthal's off speed stuff instead of just straight hard stuff. Batters are thinking now instead of just sitting on that fastball.

No one is going to be able to convince me that its pure coincidence that the winning started when Molina came back.

I will say this: Molina was still here through the first three months of the season when Rosenthal wasn't throwing his curve.

He might have realized something while sitting, sure, but he wasn't maximizing Rosenthal's offerings when behind the plate pre-injury, either.

Agreed. He is responsible now and for before. I don't see Rosey shaking off a lot of pitches. It's on Yadi good or bad for pitch selection.

Soo, uh.. Anyone up for Opening Day 2015 @ Wrigley?

I sure the hell am.

I am actually seriously considering it.

I've got a buddy from northern Illinois - he is up for it too. Cheap lodging! Unless tickets are just flat outrageous, I'll be there.

My brother has a good shot of moving to a suburb of Chicago in the next few months so I will be hooked up with a place to stay.

If that goes through I will definitely be there.

Wrigley and Chicago are my next vacation destination anyway. I made it to NYC and Yankees Stadium this summer.. But the stars are really aligning for next summer

I ready in Bernie's column today that Miller hasn't shaked off Molina in 3 games now. Not once. 3 games in a row of getting to the 7th inning.

Motte is terrible now. He doesn't need to be on the postseason roster (if they make it).

Pisses me off. He has no business being put in the game. It was still close. We have come from behind 5 runs several times lately. No need to throw in the towel. It's September call up time. You have a ton of pitchers pitching better than Motte right now.

I love Motte in 2011. But, like Freese and Craig, its time to move on. What he has done with his time while recovering from tommy john is exemplary. He deserves our respect as a human being but............as a pitcher in 2014 he is a disaster. You can't throw 93mph fastballs in the middle of the plate without any movement, belt high. You can't do that at "A" or rookie ball.

We are only 2 games out of HFA in the NL. Why just give away games to get one of your guys going? WTF happened to Gonzales backing up Wacha?

One of the announcers said something along the lines that they want to see what they've got in Motte and someone else before the playoffs.

Fat ass Pena makes the play of his life.

Ya that ball was headed for the corner, probably would have tied it.

Ugh the Cardinals don't make to many bad moves but Masterson was definitely a whiff.

If Miller now has an effective slider, thats worth Ramsey. Maybe make him a #1 down the road.

Motte and Masterson don't need to pitch again this year.

Jeez Ellis I know you have had a crappy year and you want to improve your stats but just take your walk and give the guy behind you a chance.

I know its a BS internet rumor but it is pretty wide spread idea to get the deal done. Would you do the deal?

We get Stanton

We give up to the Marlins
Taveras, Martinez

We trade Jay to a team. They ship a 1B to Miami

Bourjas/Grichek play CF. Piscotty, Bourjas/Grichek or another minor leaguer plays RF.

Seems like a hullva lot to me

How are they going to trade Jay when he isn't under contract next year?

He has 3 years left of arbitration eligibility last I heard. Both Lynn and him missed a year off the timeltable by mere days.

Your thoughts on Sam Tuivailala fellas?

Next years closer? 8th inning guy if Neshek gets a big money offer.

A ball to Sept. callup. Thats a fast track. Never heard of the guy before last week. Read that he has other pitches besides the fastball.

He threw a couple nasty curves last night. Changeup is still a work in progress.

He gave up a couple cheap hits yesterday and I have no doubt the Heisey's bloop hit should have been caught. He was clearly nervous. Understandable for a 21 year old kid making his big league debut, when just a month ago he was pitching in front of only hundreds of people down in A ball.

I hope and think he will be the goods.

So.....where would Stanton & Holliday play?

I was thinking in 2 years for Holiday and the others to give Stanton and Holiday a break. Should have been clearer but comeon man the post was about trading for Stanton.

As far as pipe dreams go, this one ain't half bad.

Strauss says he has multiple sources in the Cardinals tell him that the Cardinals have called Miami and talked trade for Stanton. I know its Strauss but I'm sure he wouldn't be lying. Probably being played.

I'll bet 29 teams have called.

ROFL probably

This offense is just not good enough.

It can get hot. I don't think there is a consistent offense in the NL right now. Playoffs in the NL are still won with pitching.

Jay has cooled off so Bourjos should be in center with either Jay or Grichuk in right. My love affair with OT is over for now. He is terrible defensively and doesn't hit. Maybe he will get it together over an offseason. Grichuk may not hit all that much but his defense is light years better, as is Jay's in right.

And pinch-hitting Ellis in the ninth, ROFL. Seems the real Captain Concussion is back managing the team.

If Bourjas or Grichek is in center, they make that play and probably throw out Phillips at the plate. It was a pretty short hit to the outfield. Grichek needs to start in CF tonight,
He was hitting .500 with two game winning RBI's on the road trip until the last two games. The dude can hit. His fielding......:shake: He needs to pick up a 1B mitt.
Numbers. He was 3-3 against him before this series. But, how long ago? Is Ellis that same hitter now as he was when he went 3-3? I would like Grichek and his bat speed against Chapman.

ROFL Grantland on ESPN.
The Cardinals: A Gross October Tradition Unlike Any Other

There are some annoying inevitabilities that come with the calendar: taxes in April, swamp ass in August, and the St. Louis Cardinals in October. I thought we were in the clear this year, because on July 1, the Cardinals were 6.5 games out of first place in the NL Central, and in complete shambles. They’d gotten nothing from Oscar Taveras, their outfield super-prospect, or Allen Craig, a key component on last year’s pennant team who sucked this year and was promptly traded. Yadier Molina and Michael Wacha have both missed huge chunks of time. Closer Trevor Rosenthal hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.

And yet, here we are. Here they are, back in first place by 2.5 games with only three weeks to go. Milwaukee has faded, and Cincinnati has been undone by a rash of injuries that would seem more impressive if not for the Rangers’ season, and yet here are the Cardinals, once again atop their division like a cat that keeps scaling the refrigerator.

Since 2000, the Cardinals have recorded 13 winning seasons, made the playoffs 10 times, made the NLCS eight times, won the pennant four times, and won the World Series twice. They’re probably the best-run organization in the game, with scouting and player development systems that turn junior college shortstops into major league closers, mold fat college third basemen into MVP-caliber players, and pluck starting position players from Division II.

the rest is here:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/st...g-playoff-run/

They are skipping Wacha's start on Sunday. I was freaking out, but they say it's to work on his fastball location, as they feel his mechanics are out of whack. I guess he threw a BP session yesterday. Nevertheless, something to watch very, very closely.

The broadcast was saying its mechanis and not anything physical. He certaintly looked like shit last time out.

Miller has been lights out since adding the curve ball and slider. Waino looks like he is back on track. Lynn is looking like a #1. Lackey has always brought his "A" game in the playoffs. It won't be so bad if Wacha can't go because of Lynn and Miller stepping up their game.

But damn seeing Kershaw twice and Grienke in a 5 game series won't be a walk in the park.