#Cardinals have the top of the lineup ready for the ninth: Carpenter, Beltran … I mean, Robinson, and Holliday. #WorldSeries #stlcards

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) October 29, 2013

Bill Hanstock [10:54 PM]:

the name is rosenthal

cardinaliscardinalis [10:54 PM]:

Or rather, the Cardinals’ inability to hit.

J.R. Wolf [10:54 PM]:

the Sox are winning at least partly because of their hitting

Rob Neyer [10:53 PM]:

Decision to make Gomes cleanup man looking pretty great. More in Game 6!

chuckb [10:53 PM]:

there will be a lot of talk about Ortiz & Lester but the Sox are winning at least partly because of their deeper lineup.

J.R. Wolf [10:53 PM]:

It’s the bottom of the ninth. Here comes the weirdness.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:53 PM]:

Man, it’s too bad the Cardinals can’t use Martinez and Rosenthal in the 6th and 7th innings when they keep getting killed lately.

cardinaliscardinalis [10:52 PM]:

@Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook Martinez was dealing and better chance to get two innings out of each of them if the Cards tied it? That said, the Cardinals won’t score so…..

Bill Hanstock [10:52 PM]:

just settin up the matt holliday walk-off inside-the-park home run

John Autin [10:51 PM]:

@robneyer 5 outs, but I still agree with you.

PuntoForPresident [10:50 PM]:

As a tribute to David Ortiz, I’m missing the bottom of the ninth to go watch Roy Hobbs battle the ocean for two hours. Shut ’em down Koji.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:50 PM]:

Why NOT Rosenthal? Off day tomorrow and he didn’t pitch yesterday, so there is no real cost to using him, and he is better than Martinez.

cardinaliscardinalis [10:49 PM]:

Why no Martinez for a second inning here with an off day tomorrow?

cardinaliscardinalis [10:48 PM]:

Batting Beltran anywhere but second did not work all season long and here we are with Robinson taking away Beltran’s AB in a crucial situation…

chuckb [10:48 PM]:

so glad Matheny basically punted last night’s game, counting on a win from Wainwright.

John Autin [10:47 PM]:

@chuckb I get that. But Lester is also a lefty.

Grant Brisbee [10:46 PM]:

/teaches five-year-old daughter a splitter

cardinaliscardinalis [10:46 PM]:

So glad he took strike one

chuckb [10:46 PM]:

that was predictable.

PuntoForPresident [10:45 PM]:

Somewhere, Craig Kimbrel is muttering under his breath and pouring another shot.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:44 PM]:

Watching these mensa candidate managers dueling it out reminds me of the “cripple fight” south park ep.

chuckb [10:44 PM]:

@John Autin this. Farrell clearly has lost faith in Breslow.

Grant Brisbee [10:44 PM]:

@John Autin Good point. Platoons are a two-way street.

John Autin [10:43 PM]:

Uehara may be equally effective vs. LH/RH, but Adams is not.

Grant Brisbee [10:43 PM]:

@robneyer Bruce Bochy thinks so.

Charlie Gebow [10:43 PM]:

List of people who could have done better than Kozma that AB: http://www.yellowpages.com/whitepages

Rob Neyer [10:43 PM]:

So, as predicted, Red Sox traded a crappy Lester AB for two outs. Smart?

Grant Brisbee [10:42 PM]:

What’s worse, getting beat by a team’s best player (Verlander/A’s) or getting beat by a team’s worst player (Nationals/Kozma)?

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:41 PM]:

That’s a Kozma special, right there.

chuckb [10:40 PM]:

oh, good. It’s Kozma.

Grant Brisbee [10:40 PM]:

Was just about to write about David Freese being 41 before he hit that.

PuntoForPresident [10:40 PM]:

Near-TOOTBLAN, wow.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:39 PM]:

I don’t think you have seen Matheny manage very many games.

cardinaliscardinalis [10:39 PM]:

@Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook Shane Robinson

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:38 PM]:

Who do you think he’s going to hit for?

chuckb [10:37 PM]:

no Breslow in the pen yet Matt Adams is almost sure to hit this inning

John Autin [10:36 PM]:

@Clefo Oh, man … I’d forgotten that!

Charlie Gebow [10:35 PM]:

@John Autin Are we not talking about that little person Pedro used to carry around?

socklessmoejohnson [10:34 PM]:

Setting this guy up to be ‘little Pedro’ cannot possibly backfire

John Autin [10:32 PM]:

The “Little Pedro” thing isn’t working for me — do they really have similarities?

Rob Neyer [10:32 PM]:

With each successive Jonny Gomes strikeout, his home run last night becomes that much more amazing.

— Matthew Kory (@mattymatty2000) October 29, 2013

Bill Hanstock [10:30 PM]:

wow ortiz

PuntoForPresident [10:30 PM]:

Grant that ball clearly made it into short right.

Grant Brisbee [10:29 PM]:

lol trainer beard

Grant Brisbee [10:29 PM]:

Getting close to the hits record, is Ortiz. Two infield hits! #inthezone

Grant Brisbee [10:28 PM]:

@John Autin They won’t make it to #2.

John Autin [10:27 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee Both nights?!?

Grant Brisbee [10:26 PM]:

Gonna open this live chat back up on 11/17 for Almost Human. Hope y’all will come back.

PuntoForPresident [10:25 PM]:

“Can we pretend that airplanes in…no, that sounds stupid, better think of something else”

Grant Brisbee [10:25 PM]:

@Clay Wendler That’s literally the Steve Bartman of paper airplanes.

J.R. Wolf [10:24 PM]:

I was reading about how the scouts misjudged Pedroia so badly in Nate Silver’s The Signal And The Noise

Charlie Gebow [10:24 PM]:

@Clay Wendler I bet there was a really important message within. We’re all doomed, now

Bill Hanstock [10:23 PM]:

that’s the first time i’ve seen that slide in real time. that’s hilarious!

Clay Wendler [10:23 PM]:

Grant Brisbee [10:22 PM]:

J.R. Wolf [10:22 PM]:

Are we all waiting for the 9th inning weirdness?

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:22 PM]:

Siegrist is mini Chapman.

Charlie Gebow [10:22 PM]:

That’s a new one

John Autin [10:22 PM]:

Rally airplane!

Bill Hanstock [10:22 PM]:

yeah hopefully at 80 pitches entering the 8th? you definitely leave in lester to get it to tazawa and koji (or just koji)

chuckb [10:21 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee what if I told you he’s a lefty (like Ellsbury) & good?

Grant Brisbee [10:20 PM]:

@chuckb Probably the right baseball move, but my opinion is colored by the fact that I’d never heard of Siegrist before this year and Adam Wainwright is Adam Wainwright.

cardinaliscardinalis [10:19 PM]:

Looks like the right foot never touched after all

Bill Hanstock [10:19 PM]:

yeah no chance in hell the cards don’t score another run in this game. minimum one more

Tom Ruane [10:18 PM]:

action starts in the boston bullpen… now that they gave away the run in the top half, it’s time for the quick hook!

PuntoForPresident [10:18 PM]:

Don’t let the two-run difference fool you, this game’s still coming down to some wildly improbable thing happening in the ninth.

chuckb [10:18 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee after the Ross double, w 2 runners in scoring position & lefty at the plate, it had to be Siegrist to face Ellsbury.

Grant Brisbee [10:16 PM]:

I will always complain about leaving Lance Lynn in too long. I will rarely complain about leaving Adam Wainwright in too long.

PuntoForPresident [10:16 PM]:

(Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook) The way this game has been managed I refuse to believe that Don Mattingly isn’t somehow involved.

Bill Hanstock [10:14 PM]:

when it’s time for god bless america, i switch to pro wrestling! look, goldust is on!

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:14 PM]:

@PuntoForPresident I think the Dodgers would have something to say about that.

John Autin [10:13 PM]:

@robneyer Nice to find someone else sharing that sentiment.

Bill Hanstock [10:13 PM]:

@John Autin i want the best pitcher available at the moment, sure

PuntoForPresident [10:13 PM]:

Dee Gordon should have pinch-ran for Ross there.

John Autin [10:13 PM]:

@Bill Hanstock He’s dealing, but due up are Holliday, Beltran, Molina and Craig — you want the lefty?

Rob Neyer [10:13 PM]:

Pretty good chance home-plate umpire missed that one. And now I turn off the tv for three minutes!

Charlie Gebow [10:12 PM]:

Man, I want these two to manage the All-Star game like this next year

JohnCzech [10:12 PM]:

See what you guys don’t realize is that Matheny was trying to… I mean.. I have no clue at this point.

Tom Ruane [10:12 PM]:

well, let’s just see how long he goes

PuntoForPresident [10:12 PM]:

JOHN FARRELL IS A GENIUS, YOU NONBELIEVERS

Bill Hanstock [10:11 PM]:

@John Autin they have two

chuckb [10:11 PM]:

insane managers out-moroning each other

Bill Hanstock [10:11 PM]:

@Tom Ruane he’s dealing at he’s only at about 70 pitches.

Rob Neyer [10:11 PM]:

… and Matheny too patient with a starter once more. It’s like he’s got the fever, and the only prescription is losing baseball games.

Grant Brisbee [10:11 PM]:

Er, Cards win

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:11 PM]:

John Autin [10:11 PM]:

@Bill Hanstock And they don’t have relievers worth 3 innings of Lester-caliber pitching?

Tom Ruane [10:11 PM]:

why was lester hitting? is the run they are giving away going to worth the batter or two he faces in the bottom of the 7th?

Grant Brisbee [10:10 PM]:

Sox win 3-2 = 5,000 articles about that decision.

Rob Neyer [10:10 PM]:

Matheny needs to make the move here!

Bill Hanstock [10:10 PM]:

i think it is, in fact, the right call!

PuntoForPresident [10:10 PM]:

Bill Hanstock [10:10 PM]:

i don’t think it’s weird at all!

Rob Neyer [10:10 PM]:

Yeah, Lester hitting is pretty weird.

Bill Hanstock [10:10 PM]:

@John Autin yeah dude only one out and he’s at like 70 pitches

Nationalpastime9 [10:10 PM]:

This NL game might be a little much for John Farrell…

Rob Neyer [10:09 PM]:

*say what

John Autin [10:09 PM]:

Wow, Lester hitting?

Rob Neyer [10:09 PM]:

Sometimes I’m not sure what’s a hanging curveball and what’s not. When the guy takes it for a called strike, they always way what a great curveball that was.

Grant Brisbee [10:09 PM]:

David Ross has a beard.

Jason Lukehart [10:09 PM]:

This game isn’t over (and the figure I’m about to mention comes from a small sample, but it seems worth mentioning that the last team to win Games 6 and 7 of a World Series on the road was the 1979 Pirates.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [10:09 PM]:

i just felt like i should say something.

Charlie Gebow [10:09 PM]:

Go ahead RBI by “Guy at bus station who tells you about Lizard People conspiracies”

chuckb [10:09 PM]:

wtf?

JohnCzech [10:09 PM]:

Looks like you got another story to write now @Rob Neyer.

Bill Hanstock [10:09 PM]:

still a loooooot of game left

JohnCzech [10:08 PM]:

que the Matheny not yanking Wainwright in time articles.

Rob Neyer [10:08 PM]:

Jeez, did not see that coming.

chuckb [10:08 PM]:

that’s probably the series.

Bill Hanstock [10:08 PM]:

world series hero cody ross! wait what

PuntoForPresident [10:08 PM]:

Actually what we all expected, right?

JohnCzech [10:07 PM]:

If Wainwright gets burned here I can only imagine the backlash that will flollow for not yanking him.

Grant Brisbee [10:07 PM]:

Rodger Sherman [10:07 PM]:

@PuntoForPresident Barlos Celtran

Grant Brisbee [10:07 PM]:

Clay got stills.

Grant Brisbee [10:06 PM]:

RyanPBoyer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/enosarris">enosarris something not mentioned, Waino pitches from extreme 1b side of rubber, was on extreme 3b side against Ortiz that AB

— KC (@MOanimalcracker) October 29, 2013

Grant Brisbee [10:06 PM]:

Someone asked Eno this:

Charlie Gebow [10:05 PM]:

@PuntoForPresident Qainqright

Bill Hanstock [10:05 PM]:

BUNT

Rob Neyer [10:05 PM]:

btw, before we get on McCarver too much, let’s consider how bad his replacement next year might be … Rick Sutcliffe, anyone?

PuntoForPresident [10:05 PM]:

What would be the funniest letter swap for the two W’s in Wainwright’s last name? I’m torn between Bainbright, Fainfright, and Rainright.

Jason Lukehart [10:03 PM]:

That first strike was a thing of beauty.

chuckb [10:03 PM]:

Martinez should be warming up

Bill Hanstock [10:03 PM]:

at least i didn’t miss anything

chuckb [10:02 PM]:

that guy, what’s his name…, is going to be pretty good.

PuntoForPresident [10:02 PM]:

*Stephen, dammit, no edit button.

JohnCzech [10:02 PM]:

Bogarts has had a great series.

JohnCzech [10:02 PM]:

Which ended up taking away maybe a double from me.

JohnCzech [10:01 PM]:

He was hugging the line because early in the game he was getting burned down the line. So he came over a few steps to take that away.

PuntoForPresident [10:01 PM]:

Oh, the Steven Soderbergh version that might have been.

JohnCzech [10:00 PM]:

chuckb [10:00 PM]:

@JohnCzech they were playing that “more singles defense”, huh?

JohnCzech [10:00 PM]:

So I would of been 1-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored.

PuntoForPresident [10:00 PM]:

Your three walks are, thus far, three more than the combined total for both teams in this game.

JohnCzech [10:00 PM]:

I nearly got a ball down the third base line, but the third basemen wasn’t allowing anything down the line.

JohnCzech [9:59 PM]:

Yep. Three balls and it’s a walk.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:59 PM]:

They have walks in slow pitch softball?

JohnCzech [9:58 PM]:

Yeah.

PuntoForPresident [9:58 PM]:

Sigh. Santana trade was bad enough, but it also coincided with basically the EXACT date that Russell Martin decided to emulate Jason Kendall’s career arc.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:58 PM]:

Slow pitch softball?

JohnCzech [9:57 PM]:

No matter what happens tonight i’ve had a good day. I was 0-1 tonight in my softball game, but I three walks and two runs scored. Billy Beane would approve.

Grant Brisbee [9:56 PM]:

@Jason Lukehart I am, I am.

Jason Lukehart [9:55 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee When it comes to the Indians swindling someone, I’d expect you to have a certain fondness for them taking Carlos Santana from the Dodgers.

JohnCzech [9:55 PM]:

Just. Shut. UP. TIM MCCARVER.

Grant Brisbee [9:54 PM]:

@PuntoForPresident I do!

cardinaliscardinalis [9:53 PM]:

@JohnCzech The destroying of many fantasy baseball teams that guy…

PuntoForPresident [9:53 PM]:

(Grant) …Ouch. You must really hate the Seahawks. (If you do I don’t blame you in the slightest.)

JohnCzech [9:52 PM]:

I remember when Jeff Weaver was looked at as the Tigers future ace… I never want to go back to those days ever again.

chuckb [9:51 PM]:

@JohnCzech can’t lay off them all

Grant Brisbee [9:50 PM]:

@PuntoForPresident I rather enjoy reminding them they traded Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo to the same team for a pair of middling platoon first basemen in the same season.

John Autin [9:50 PM]:

Waino joins Jeff Weaver, only 9-K Cards in WS since Gibson … Jeff friggin’ Weaver (says the bitter Tigers fan).

chuckb [9:49 PM]:

pinch hit? Matheny won’t.

JohnCzech [9:49 PM]:

/@chuckb: You sure about that?

John Autin [9:48 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee Surely you never guessed that Ortiz would out-produce Mientkiewicz???

chuckb [9:48 PM]:

Sox doing very well laying off that 2 strike curve.

PuntoForPresident [9:48 PM]:

Please don’t tell any Mariner fans that they gave away Ortiz in 1996, they’ve got enough to feel sad about ATM.

Grant Brisbee [9:47 PM]:

Would like to point out that when the Twins non-tendered Ortiz, I was completely stunned. It didn’t make sense back then.

cardinaliscardinalis [9:47 PM]:

David Ortiz now hitless in his last at-bat.

— viva el birdos (@vivaelbirdos) October 29, 2013

JohnCzech [9:46 PM]:

I think Bob Gibson said it best about Tim McCarver. The only thing he knows about pitching is it’s hard to hit.

JohnCzech [9:45 PM]:

maybe not..

JohnCzech [9:45 PM]:

another curve coming

Jason Lukehart [9:45 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee If you can get St. Louis on the phone, maybe Cleveland can still be talked into it.

JohnCzech [9:44 PM]:

I wonder if he doubles up on the curve or tries to go away with the fastball.

John Autin [9:44 PM]:

@robneyer What, all at once? I’d like a GIF of that!

Rob Neyer [9:44 PM]:

That was a bad pitch to Ortiz. Seems like he’s gotten a bunch of those lately.

chuckb [9:43 PM]:

Texas A&M’s football team has “the 12th man”, a walkon who covers kicks every week. The Cards could do that at SS by having their “fan of the game” or something like that & be no worse off. great promotion!

JohnCzech [9:43 PM]:

I think Erin Andrews is best enjoyed on mute. That way she can’t tell us about Justin Beiber pitching for the Tigers.

Rob Neyer [9:43 PM]:

Question prompted by a tweet I just saw … If every person in the stands threw one strike to David Ortiz, what would his batting average be?

John Autin [9:43 PM]:

Is Wainwright less inclined to “pitch around” than anyone else going?

Grant Brisbee [9:43 PM]:

@Jason Lukehart Because young pitchers never work out.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:43 PM]:

Ortiz. Gulp.

Grant Brisbee [9:42 PM]:

@Jason Lukehart Man. I probably would have made that trade, too.

Jason Lukehart [9:41 PM]:

If only the Cardinals had traded Michael Wacha for Asdrubal Cabrera when they had the chance…

chuckb [9:40 PM]:

I can’t get over the # of Cards fans who still think he can be a legitimate option at SS.

Charlie Gebow [9:40 PM]:

@JohnCzech Awesome but under-appreciated?

Grant Brisbee [9:39 PM]:

@JohnCzech Not gonna lie. I want one.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:39 PM]:

Kozma is so bad he can’t even get foul popups into the stands. I swear I’ve seen him hit 1081340813089310 infield popups this year, fair and foul.

JohnCzech [9:38 PM]:

That watch phone is really stupid. That thing is going to be like the Sega Dreamcast.

Charlie Gebow [9:38 PM]:

Well, at least they cleared the Kozma for next inning

cardinaliscardinalis [9:38 PM]:

@robneyer He’s making Wong, starting 2b, an easy decision for next year.

chuckb [9:38 PM]:

Kozma is just…well, you know. I have nothing original to say.

PuntoForPresident [9:37 PM]:

Should I be shocked that Ortiz looks at least semi-competent at 1B?

Grant Brisbee [9:37 PM]:

Seemed important.

Grant Brisbee [9:37 PM]:

A thing I learned tonight: Dwight Gooden follows Toys R Us

— Let's Go Tribe (@LetsGoTribe) October 29, 2013

JohnCzech [9:37 PM]:

Oh, gee goodie. Pete Kozma. Mine as well have Wainwright up there now

Rob Neyer [9:36 PM]:

Freese forgot how to clutch hit. It’s really sad. Like Alzheimer’s, kind of.

JohnCzech [9:35 PM]:

I remember when Freese had a good playoff series…. Those were the days.

John Autin [9:35 PM]:

@cardinaliscardinalis I’ll go stat-think on that one. Pitch to him.

JohnCzech [9:35 PM]:

Has Oritz saw Rosenthal yet? i’d let Rosenthal pitch to him for sure.

Grant Brisbee [9:34 PM]:

@cardinaliscardinalis Pitch to him on the fringes of the zone.

Charlie Gebow [9:34 PM]:

@JohnCzech He’s good in relation to his constant close proximity to Harold

cardinaliscardinalis [9:34 PM]:

Two outs, bottom of the ninth, Cards up 4-2, bases loaded, Ortiz up. Walk or pitch to him?

JohnCzech [9:34 PM]:

@Rob Neyer: You’re probably pretty good friends with Mr. Kenny, eh? You’re on Clubhouse Confidential a lot.

John Autin [9:34 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee Was Kenny punning on “desserts,” or did he just not know?

JohnCzech [9:33 PM]:

I’ve grown to like Brian Kenny a little bit more than I used to. Something about him just bugs the living shit out of me.

chuckb [9:33 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee great analogy

Grant Brisbee [9:32 PM]:

I like Brian Kenny, but he’s the Milton Friedman of stat-think. “Wait … you wouldn’t even want medical practitioners to be licensed?”

JohnCzech [9:32 PM]:

Since the first inning Wainwright has been lights out. I would of been right there with you. Rob. I knew there was no chance Wainwright would come out and have another bad outing.

Rob Neyer [9:31 PM]:

Was on the radio in Baltimore today, asked if I was worried about Wainwright in wake of Game 1 outing. Said I wasn’t. Glad about that now.

JohnCzech [9:31 PM]:

Brian Kenny would rather watch the swinging strike out by the pitcher rather than the bunted for a third strike.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:30 PM]:

Filthy

Grant Brisbee [9:30 PM]:

Just desserts. #stopbunting

— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) October 29, 2013

Charlie Gebow [9:29 PM]:

The NL has pitchers hitting, the AL has Yankees-Red Sox games as long as audiobooks of Russian Novels read by Garrison Keillor.

JohnCzech [9:29 PM]:

@GrantBrisbee: I agree

socklessmoejohnson [9:29 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee good because I can imagine that’s all the fun you’re ever going to get out of no DH

Grant Brisbee [9:28 PM]:

Feels like we just watched Jon Lester swing Brandon Inge there.

PuntoForPresident [9:28 PM]:

I wonder how people in Austrailia are going to react next March when Kevin Towers runs to the mound and starts firing baseballs into the Dodger dugout.

John Autin [9:28 PM]:

YES, we have a postseason RISP cite!

JohnCzech [9:28 PM]:

I fell like I just got done watching Brandon Inge swing the bat there.

JohnCzech [9:27 PM]:

LOL. But watching the pitcher hit is cool though… pffffttttt

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:27 PM]:

Strategy!

Grant Brisbee [9:26 PM]:

Not going to lie: Really enjoying all of the AL fans who are disgusted right now.

PuntoForPresident [9:26 PM]:

David Ross hit .170 for the Dodgers in 2004 as their backup catcher and then was basically given away to the Pirates the next spring. Starting in the World Series 8 years later.

Charlie Gebow [9:25 PM]:

And I mean “A hat that was a Watermelon”

chuckb [9:25 PM]:

Lester probably just better off taking strike 3.

JohnCzech [9:25 PM]:

In before the strike out.

Charlie Gebow [9:25 PM]:

So I just very briefly flipped to the MNF game, and there was a guy, swear to God, wearing a Watermelon hat that said “GO CARDS” On it

JohnCzech [9:24 PM]:

Jon Lester is worse than Justin Verlander with the stick.

cardinaliscardinalis [9:24 PM]:

By the Cardinals’ logic, Ross is bunting here, right?

John Autin [9:24 PM]:

@robneyer It was a car crash … He couldn’t finish a sentence.

Grant Brisbee [9:23 PM]:

Are there going to be articles in 2023 about the “sloth ball”? Because seems like a thing.

JohnCzech [9:23 PM]:

I’m glad Tim McCarver just let us know that pitchers try to fool hitters with pitches that look like strikes but really aren’t when they are ahead 1-2.

Rob Neyer [9:23 PM]:

Did you guys hear McCarver talking about obstruction early in Game 4? I felt bad for him.

JohnCzech [9:22 PM]:

Thank you, BABIP.

cardinaliscardinalis [9:21 PM]:

If the Cardinals continue to hit one vicious line drive after the other they could score two or three runs tonight.

— viva el birdos (@vivaelbirdos) October 29, 2013

JohnCzech [9:21 PM]:

I’m really surprised that no one was on the grass trying to catch that homer. Like that one Trent Williams kid in Texas who grabs all of them balls hit to center.

PuntoForPresident [9:21 PM]:

(to Grant because SB nation is being weird) Oh good, just clarifying.

Charlie Gebow [9:19 PM]:

@JohnCzech We have less than a week left of him, on mile 25 now

Grant Brisbee [9:19 PM]:

@PuntoForPresident Oh, of course. It’s always wrong when the other team does it.

JohnCzech [9:19 PM]:

I wish FOX would just treat McCarver like old yeller. Just bring him out back and end the misery.

chuckb [9:19 PM]:

Terrific play by Drew but the Cards hit the ball hard that inning.

Clay Wendler [9:19 PM]:

JohnCzech [9:18 PM]:

wow.

Rob Neyer [9:18 PM]:

If Joe Buck stays this excited for another 10 minutes he will automatically reset back to factory settings

— Matt Sussman Costume (@suss2hyphens) October 29, 2013

chuckb [9:17 PM]:

@John Autin ok. I might remember wrong or maybe the #’s have changed since it was published.

John Autin [9:17 PM]:

Not since 1922 has a team won a Series without homering in any win.

PuntoForPresident [9:17 PM]:

With the Dodgers eliminated is it now okay to complain about other teams flipping bats after home runs?

cardinaliscardinalis [9:16 PM]:

Busch looks like CU-Boulder on 4/20

Grant Brisbee [9:16 PM]:

/Tim Lincecum joke

John Autin [9:16 PM]:

@chuckb I just calculated it based on 5,632 PAs for #2, 5,382 for #4, and 1,264 team-games.

JohnCzech [9:16 PM]:

Last time up Holliday missed the fastball up. This time he didn’t.

chuckb [9:16 PM]:

A bomb.

JohnCzech [9:15 PM]:

Tie-game. Holiday showing the only power in this series for the Cards.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:15 PM]:

Holliday is a strong man.

cardinaliscardinalis [9:15 PM]:

attaboy

chuckb [9:14 PM]:

@John Autin The Book has those #‘s. I think it’s about 8-9% per PA.

JohnCzech [9:14 PM]:

Lester cutter is nasty tonight. Better check his glove. LOL

Charlie Gebow [9:13 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee Oh man, that’s probably my favorite joke ever

Grant Brisbee [9:13 PM]:

@robneyer “But if you screw just one goat …”

John Autin [9:13 PM]:

My math is amateur, but I figure about a 20% chance that the #2 spot gets one more PA than #4, based on all WS games. I’d hate to see this end with Carlos swinging a weighted bat.

Rob Neyer [9:12 PM]:

but he got all the other triangles and squares right!

Grant Brisbee [9:11 PM]:

@robneyer Sure, if you want to be pedantic, I guess it’s a little inside.

chuckb [9:11 PM]:

@robneyer scroll way to the right, you’ll see it.

cardinaliscardinalis [9:11 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee That call makes me cry a little on the inside

Rob Neyer [9:10 PM]:

You don’t mean that red triangle six inches inside, do you Grant?

Charlie Gebow [9:10 PM]:

@robneyer Just hurt like… a lot

Grant Brisbee [9:09 PM]:

From the catcher’s perspective, you’re looking for the red triangle.

Grant Brisbee [9:09 PM]:

socklessmoejohnson [9:08 PM]:

I’d say that Big Papi is putting up video game numbers but I don’t think I could hit that well even in a video game

Rob Neyer [9:08 PM]:

I thought Chris Carpenter retired.

Rob Neyer [9:07 PM]:

According to Brooks Baseball, that third strike to Carpenter was the first pitch missed by the umpire all night. Picked a great spot for it.

chuckb [9:07 PM]:

@robneyer Dan Brooks has it pretty far inside.

John Autin [9:06 PM]:

Now 4 hits from the record … I think.

socklessmoejohnson [9:04 PM]:

Not the worst call I’ve ever seen but probably not a strike

cardinaliscardinalis [9:03 PM]:

Ridiculous

Rob Neyer [9:03 PM]:

Was that call as terrible as it looked on my TV?

Grant Brisbee [9:03 PM]:

John Autin [9:03 PM]:

That pitch looked WAY inside.

chuckb [9:03 PM]:

horrendous call. just not close.

Grant Brisbee [9:03 PM]:

Not a strike.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [9:03 PM]:

The strike zone seems to be getting bigger.

Charlie Gebow [9:03 PM]:

Framing!

Grant Brisbee [9:00 PM]:

@chuckb Explains so much.

chuckb [9:00 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee Dykstra did that once in a rundown between 3rd & home, hit the ball with his head, & scored

Rob Neyer [9:00 PM]:

As for Kozma bunting ahead of the pitcher, it’s probably as good as anything else he might do. You know, ‘cause he’s one of the worst hitters in decades.

cardinaliscardinalis [9:00 PM]:

This infographic is for Buck and McCarver, no one else

John Autin [9:00 PM]:

@chuckb Dunno … so far Robinson’s hit .233 career vs. southpaws, no power.

Grant Brisbee [8:59 PM]:

@robneyer What are the rules if he jumps up like Free Willy in the middle of the baseline?

Rob Neyer [8:59 PM]:

Looking at it again, Kozma was inside the baseline. Would have been interference and they’d lose the out and the base.

John Autin [8:59 PM]:

@robneyer Actually Kozma was outside of the 45-foot lane, so yes he had to duck.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:58 PM]:

not that I disagree.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:58 PM]:

Low hanging fruit, guys.

chuckb [8:58 PM]:

good idea by Kozma . just not bunted hard enough.

Rob Neyer [8:58 PM]:

Did Kozma have to duck there? It’s not interference if you’re in the baseline, is it?

cardinaliscardinalis [8:58 PM]:

@Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook To be fair, I’d 500 Waino ABs before 500 Kozma ABs

Grant Brisbee [8:58 PM]:

@Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook Wainwright’s a better hitter.

chuckb [8:57 PM]:

@John Autin play defense. not hit as bad as Jay vs lefties.

Grant Brisbee [8:57 PM]:

(Mostly kidding. He didn’t want Kozma to break his ankle.)

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:57 PM]:

bunting in front of the pitcher :|

Grant Brisbee [8:57 PM]:

Great pull-off from Ortiz to sell it.

Charlie Gebow [8:57 PM]:

Bunting!

chuckb [8:56 PM]:

yay! our 1st dugout interview!

Rodger Sherman [8:56 PM]:

it’s Spiro Agnew from Futurama!

John Autin [8:56 PM]:

@chuckb Because Robinson does ___ well.

Clay Wendler [8:55 PM]:

or deus ex, grant…excellent insight

chuckb [8:54 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee with the team they have Jay & Robinson should be a full time platoon

socklessmoejohnson [8:53 PM]:

Anyone have 1st base run times for the Molina brothers?

Grant Brisbee [8:53 PM]:

@Clay Wendler I’m more interested in that vent. That’s like something you use to get from one place to another in Metal Gear or Hitman 3.

cardinaliscardinalis [8:52 PM]:

@chuckb Freeman and Kelly in sprints by Derrick Goold’s reports

Grant Brisbee [8:52 PM]:

@chuckb Talking about starters, though.

Clay Wendler [8:51 PM]:

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:51 PM]:

@chuckb and Kozma. Jay is actually really slow.

Charlie Gebow [8:50 PM]:

@Rodger Sherman Barring a 4 K inning

Rodger Sherman [8:50 PM]:

Jon Lester spoils the 27K game, of course

Grant Brisbee [8:50 PM]:

Carlos Beltran runs like he has forks in his knees, and he’s in the faster half of Cardinals.

chuckb [8:50 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee Robinson & Wong are the fastest

chuckb [8:49 PM]:

who’s got Lester HR?

Grant Brisbee [8:49 PM]:

Really, if you had to rank Cardinals from fastest to slowest, what would you get? Jay, Beltran, Carpenter, Kozma, Freese, Holliday, Craig, Molina?

cardinaliscardinalis [8:48 PM]:

@socklessmoejohnson As TLR would say, it’s because they put it in play more than most…

Grant Brisbee [8:48 PM]:

@socklessmoejohnson It’s … not the fastest team, yet they all get on base for the most part. That’s a bad combination.

socklessmoejohnson [8:47 PM]:

Fun fact: Cardinals were second only to Diamondbacks in GIDP in the 2013 regular season

John Autin [8:46 PM]:

@Rodger Sherman You mean Miguel Craig?

Rodger Sherman [8:46 PM]:

surprised allen craig couldn’t beat out that double play.

Grant Brisbee [8:45 PM]:

From earlier:

socklessmoejohnson [8:44 PM]:

@Grant Brisbee yes I do mean Lester

cardinaliscardinalis [8:43 PM]:

Beltran’s ribs say, “nothing but singles”

janedoe007 [8:42 PM]:

Looks like Adam has Rufus under control for now.

Clay Wendler [8:41 PM]:

Charlie Gebow [8:41 PM]:

Beltran lines one over Eddie Gaedel

Rob Neyer [8:40 PM]:

all kidding aside, the notion that we’re heading toward “another crazy game” after just two innings is a little silly … It might become normal!

cardinaliscardinalis [8:39 PM]:

What kind of odds would be given right now on a 20k game? I’ve got $50 ready to blow on a longshot bet…

chuckb [8:37 PM]:

only good thing for the Cards from last night is that neither Martinez nor Rosenthal pitched. They should be good for 3 tonight.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:37 PM]:

On pace.

cardinaliscardinalis [8:33 PM]:

@Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook Was just thinking the same thing…the Cardinals did forget how to hit in the last three games of 2012 too

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:32 PM]:

27K loss inc for Wainwright.

Charlie Gebow [8:32 PM]:

@Debageldond Detroit

Rodger Sherman [8:32 PM]:

@Debageldond france

Debageldond [8:31 PM]:

Wait, where’s Xander Bogaerts from again?

Grant Brisbee [8:31 PM]:

@socklessmoejohnson Lackey is a setup man. You mean Lester.

Rodger Sherman [8:31 PM]:

i gotta say the nfl has been real polite about exclusively putting their worst games against baseball.

socklessmoejohnson [8:29 PM]:

Great last pitch but for the most part Lackey looks inconsistent with locating his pitches so far

Grant Brisbee [8:26 PM]:

Wow, great play by Pedroia. Will probably get a GIF of that. Those li’l feet were flyin’!

Clay Wendler [8:19 PM]:

cardinaliscardinalis [8:19 PM]:

Wainwright ERA in first innings this year: 6.09 So shutout for the next seven?

Charlie Gebow [8:19 PM]:

@Rodger Sherman I was like one of two guys on any team I was on who knew how to bunt correctly, which was actually pretty valuable because little league catchers were never very skilled where I was from

Grant Brisbee [8:19 PM]:

It’s a year-old campaign, but someone should have said something.

Grant Brisbee [8:18 PM]:

Rodger Sherman [8:17 PM]:

@Clefo now. i was towards the back of the order in my little league days but i had grit/hustle/the will to win

Rob Neyer [8:16 PM]:

so it turns out if you don’t throw a waist-high sinker to Gomes you’ll probably be okay!

Grant Brisbee [8:15 PM]:

@Rodger Sherman I thought I did, but then I learned what an error was.

Charlie Gebow [8:15 PM]:

@Rodger Sherman Like right now, or back at little league age?

Rodger Sherman [8:15 PM]:

i think i could hit .750 in little league

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:14 PM]:

This Ortiz guy is kind of good.

Rob Neyer [8:12 PM]:

Oh hey guys. Nice to get back to baseball after watching “The Central Park Five” this afternoon. By comparison, the obstruction rule seems really simple.

Charlie Gebow [8:11 PM]:

Key to the game: Believe in the power of friendship and sharing

cardinaliscardinalis [8:10 PM]:

taking the cue from kelly and lynn and starting the first off with heat

chuckb [8:10 PM]:

how much do we need to hear about Tim and Joe’s mutual noodling?

Rodger Sherman [8:09 PM]:

they better show that key to the game to the managers just in case one of them was trying to lose

Grant Brisbee [8:08 PM]:

Solid key to the game, guys.

Mike Matheny’s Slow Hook [8:07 PM]:

Gomes 4th? Nice.