Royalties & Cardinalate

New race: Beat the Yankees

Albert Pujols is 15-for-33 lifetime vs. Ben Sheets, so look for a 3-for-4 game with two doubles on Thursday night from Phat. With the Cardinals sitting at 60 wins - one win ahead of the Yankees – it is making rooting against the NYY that much more enjoyable. I had not really thought about this, but the past few nights I have found myself eager to find out the Yankees result. Very nice to see the Cards one ahead on that Wins Leaders board at Busch.

Manny, what’re you doin? I love Manny Ramirez. It is partly because he is one of the most productive hitters of my lifetime, but it is more for things like he did on Wednesday night. It is hard to believe, but Manny actually cut off a relay throw from CF Johnny Damon. Yes, he was playing LF at the time. Damon was throwing from the wall, but his throw was headed right toward SS Mark Bellhorn and Manny leaped to cut it off. The result? A comical three-way relay and an inside-the-parker for Orioles super rookie David Newhan. Mr. Newhan is hitting .424 in 118 ABs. Read more about his quest for .400 and its relevance from The Hardball Times right here. By the way, Peter Gammons says the Red Sox are no longer contenders. Well, they are 37-38 in their past 75 games but are still at the top of the Wild Card chase.

Sweet road Chicago

I recently mentioned how the Cardinals keep finding ways to reach new zeniths, but this is getting hard to comprehend. It feels very good, too. Tuesday’s game replaced last Friday’s thrilling rally as the latest Game of The Year. After Albert Pujols Sandberg-ed the Cubs I realized I had just seen ‘one of those games’ that will be mentioned many times over the next several years. Man, those two games in CHI were a thrilling ride. Today’s game experience was unique for me. I had a really late night Monday (live music, beer, summertime joy . . . followed by a fairly significant hangover) and was not particularly bouncy when I woke Tuesday. I watched the MLB highlights from Monday and did a few things around the house and all of a sudden it was nearly 4 p.m. Of course, I had the game on TiVo so there really was no rush to watch, though I knew I’d have to avoid all calls and forms of news/media in the meantime. So when I finally settled in for a late afternoon/early evening baseball game, I was about 3.5 hours behind the actual gametime. For some reason (I do like Steve Stone) I recorded the WGN version rather than the FSN St. Louis broadcast. I was pissed at myself once I realized that the ‘Birds were in the midst of a stirring rally. The late heroics by Taguchi (his catch was as good as Orlando Palmeiro’s last September) and Phat Albert etc. were called rather stoically and annoyingly by Chipper Carry. However, I later recorded the FSN replay and zipped through the primary highlights. As expected, Danny McLaughlin delivered several inspiring calls and was full of genuine enthusiasm as the thrill ride went on. I like Danny Mac; I’ve already made it clear how he is much more preferable than Joe Buck (for Cards games) for me. Not even close. Joe sings too much.

So STL is 36-12 since May 26. Damn! The Diminutive Bears actually outscored the Cardinals by two runs in their 19 meetings, but STL went 6-2 in the one-run games and won the season series 11-8. Rolen’s winning HR on Monday came 62 years to the day after Enos Slaughter hit an inside-the-parker to beat the Dodgers 7-6 in 11 innings for a twinbill sweep at Sportsman’s Park. Who were the World Champs in 1942? Yep.

No Johnson is fine with me

Everyone else has done the analysis and potential trade scenarios involving Randy Johnson, so I will just briefly sum up my feelings as a Cardinals fan. I have a severe dislike for the rent-a-player scenario and, generally, do not like late (July) in-season player movement in any sport. I do not enjoy watching a great team all season then all of a sudden they make major changes and you only have August and September to get used to this ‘new’ team before the postseason. As a baseball analyst, I realize the necessity and wisdom of making a (quality) late move; it is simply part of the game and can lead to a championship. I do recall how wonderful Will Clark was, but RJ would take all of the attention away from what everyone else has done. He’s not an endearing personality, already has his title and I really do not want him in St. Louis. Since my argument as to why is pretty weak, it might make me appear a fool - but I still don’t want him. It just changes all of the dynamics of the entire season. I want my perfect world, where a team rolls to a title with ‘their’ guys. I would rather the Red Sox get him than us. If the Yankees get him, it would make me ill.

According to Dan at getupbaby.net, “every active Cardinal that is not a 35 year old Japanese outfielder is above replacement level.” Wow.

DirecTV Logic: I certainly like many aspects of DirecTV, but the organization seems to have issues with logic. With about 45 percent of the 2004 season remaining, DirecTV is offering a discounted deal on its Extra Innings package. The package is $170, but you can get it now for $120. Not much of a deal, though you do get a ton of games – but not every game like you do with the NBA League Pass. I was guessing it would be $90 for the special ‘Half Season Offer’. Does not seem like much of a difference; but that extra $30 makes those who are wavering decide against it.

Buzzing over Game of The Year

 
Ramble On: Having lived in St. Louis for seven years now, I have a little history as a Cardinals fan. At no point in that time span have I felt as strongly about the team’s chances for postseason success at the break than 2004 – though 2002 was close (finished with 97 wins). That is not really a bold declaration considering that the team this season had its best first half record since 1987 at 49-32. The fact that only one start has been missed by the rotation (Haren’s disaster in Chicago) makes me feel giddy, as does most things involving this roster. There have been plenty of peaks to this amazing feel-good 2004 ride but new heights were reached on Friday night. Marlon Anderson’s blast brought back memories of J.D. Drew’s similar heroics in Cincy two years ago when his eighth-inning bomb capped off a huge rally, I believe seven runs. My complete state of frenzy had not even begun to subside when along came Jimmy Edmonds’ catch. I was at a bar and, thankfully, had a few random folks to gab with as we tried to wrap our minds around one of the greatest catches in recent memory. Only Edmonds’ catch in KC (best catch in MLB history captured on video possibly) tops that one. Anytime a ball is headed toward the center field wall with Edmonds playing CF thoughts of a HR rob immediately race to the mind. But I thought he had too much distance to cover to even get there. So it was yet another peak to this season, making Saturday’s loss much easier to digest.
 
Peaks, Valleys: Speaking of Cardinals peaks, my all-time Cardinals moment was attending the Game 3 NLDS clincher vs. Arizona in 2002. My biggest Cards gut-puncher? Easy. Game 5, 2001, Morris-Schilling. Womack. One of the best five-game MLB playoff series in history, but that season-ender was pure agony.
 
Edmonds’ catch is one of the many signs marking this season as special. His comical reaction of amazement and Izzy watching the replay and also laughing in awe was so much fun. When I got back home late on Friday night, I replayed that catch about 38 times. At the bar, my first thought was Buck’s ‘I don’t believe what I just saw’, which kind of stuck in my head. The love was freely flowing for Marlon as well after his HR. Pujols and Matt Morris were the first players to greet him in the dugout and were genuinely about as fired up as you’ll see a player in an in-game situation.
 
Can you dig it, CC: Chris Carpenter is 10th in the NL in runners allowed per inning at 1.15.
 
Edgar fine at No. 2 I still love Edgar Renteria batting second and now we have enough PAs to compare his production in the No. 2 spot vs. the 6 hole. He has about 20 more PAs batting sixth, but in 122 ABs batting No. 2 he has an OPS of .761; in 144 ABs at No. 6 his OPS is .675.
 
Graves overrated: I’ve never been impressed with Danny Graves, except for his ability to look 14 even though he is on the verge of being 31 years old. He has 8 blown saves, has allowed 10 HRs and averages 1 hit allowed per inning pitched. He does have only 5 walks, so he gets credit for that. Actually, factoring in his horrible 2003 numbers, he has bounced back pretty well. Still, he never makes me nervous.