I'm not a St. Louis Cardinals fan. I'm not a fan of Tony LaRussa at all. I think he's pompous. I hate how he's influenced the use of bullpens. Goddamned one inning saves. Effing multiple middle of the inning pitching changes. But, there's something undeniably appealing about the Cardinals -- St. Louis is a baseball town.
There's no accounting for taste and I'm not about to tell people what to do. But, I don't UNDERSTAND how baseball has become secondary to football in this country. I like football. I just hate the NFL. They've been 'roiding in football forever and the result is that 300 pound offensive linemen are now "small". The injuries that guys suffer are gruesome. The teams are non-descript. Who's good? Let's check 10 games into the schedule and find out. Actually go to a game? No thanks, it's better on TV.
Minneapolis is a football town. The Vikings, despite being perennial underachievers and NEVER having grasped the brass ring, rule this town. But, in St. Louis, it's all about the Cardinals. You have to admire that. The Cardinals were just about the best team in the National League in the '80s, capturing three pennants. In '82, I was a senior in high school and one of best friends was an enormous Cardinals fan. He just about came unglued when the Cardinals won the World Series. Seriously. He just about lost it.
In 1985, I had bought a $.50 square on a board for game 6. I had 1-0 Cardinals. I was about to win $50, which was a ton of money for me back then. I watched in utter dismay as Don Denkinger blew that call at first and the Cardinals imploded. The Cardinals complained that it cost them the World Series (and the "performance" by Juaquin Andujar the next night was embarrassing), but I'll never forget it, because it cost me 100 beers (beer was $.50 a bottle back then at my favorite watering hole). Of course, there's also 1987, which was the greatest World Series Evah! to that point (at least in my book).
The Cardinals are second only to the Yankees in World Series won. Hate LaRussa all you want, but you have to admire that a relatively small city in the middle of flyover country has a fanbase as rabid as the Cardinals have. Baseball is King. Long live the King.
Now, let's beat the sh!t out of the Cardinals and their fans. I'm sick of ending up .500 every other game.
Nice write up, Stick. Go Twins!
My grandmother was from Missouri, and was a diehard Cardinals fan until her death a few years ago. Even though she lived in Minnesota from 1976 until her death, she rooted against the Twins in 1987. She talked fondly of the Gashouse Gang, and could name all the players from the 1934 World Series team. She also loved to talk about the all St. Louis World Series in 1944. I wish I would have asked her more about her trips to Sportsman Park.
Nice post, SBG. I agree about how great the fanbase is in STL. When I took a road trip down there ~2003, the fans did not disappoint me.
If anyone has read John Grisham's Painted House, you get a peek into the world of St. Louis Cardinal baseball. The main character, Luke, and his family spends their evenings sitting on the porch of their old farmhouse listening to games on the radio. There is a longer, deeper, richer baseball history in St. Louis than that we have in Minnesota.
I agree that it is frustrating that we are a football town first. However, baseball is still pretty big in Minnesota. The core of our fan base has followed the team through some wonderful highs, and horrible lows, yet we always love our team, no matter how many legitimate all stars we have.
As a group, Viking fans are definitely more fickle and are quick to jump on or off the bandwagon year to year. I have walked away from the Vikings many times saying "I can't watch this group of players anymore"
Yet with the Twins, thanks to the '87 and '91 (and 2006) seasons, I always feel there is hope. In baseball we get to watch the players develop from season to season. In football it just seems like you draft, trade for, or sign players with high expectations, and the majority of the time they let you down. Who is the Jason Kubel on the Vikings? I don't know... the game of baseball just seems to have more layers, or texture to it. Football is kind of in your face for 3 hours a week, and then it is gone. Baseball consumes the mind and the soul with just about every waking hour throughout the summer. I will always like football and follow the Vikes, but I absolutely love my Twins and I think there are many out there just like me.
Baseball consumes the mind and the soul with just about every waking hour throughout the summer.
There it is. When the Twins get beat out of the playoffs, or an unnecessary play-in game, my soul hurts for days. I fancy myself a Vikings fan, but when they lose in the playoffs, I go, "Meh, the playoffs will still be fun enough."
I've never been to St. Louis. I had a girlfriend from Missouri who probably soured me on the idea. It's lovely to hear that it's a baseball town...Washington state seems to be all about baseball, too, and man, do I envy that. I have never gotten how Minnesota has embraced the running joke that is the Vikings while the Twins keep winning no matter who's on the field. Hell, I might as well have written this game log myself, it echoes my feelings so completely.
Go Twins. And Slowey!
Oh, effing great. That at-bat went on way too long to end up any other way, though.
Wow, I'm the only user on right now.
...so hey, tumbleweeds, what's up?
Well, not to say all you Guests aren't users. I mean, like, regulars around here.
This is a good time to join the party, Guests...no intimidation factor...I'll even talk to a Cardinals fan...
I've been glancing, but I'm very hungover and didn't much feel like logging in or posting. But now that I have, um, how about that Albert Pujols? He's something.
He is good at baseball. He's one of the few guys where, when the pitcher has him at a 1-2 count, I think: we're no closer to getting him out.
just like Brian Harper!
Yes. I see infinite similarities in the games of Pujols and Harper.
...or, maybe just the one.
I bet Pujols never tires of the (all time great) Brian Harper comparison.
So New Guy, do you think one of our pitchers will get a hit this series?
Yes! Slowey will today! Maybe.
I;ve been here, just needed to log in.
I sure wish Pujols would have continued to suck.
I see there's an ad for Six Flags on the backstop, and they're still using that terrifying old bald man as the mascot. Holy crap that guy is scary.
What is the marketing theory beyond that guy, anyway? "We want a guy that could be your grandpa, but not necessarily a grandpa that you want to visit."
I certainly don't understand it. I would think that an amusement park would try to find a mascot that doesn't make small children cry.
Yes! Perfect sac bunt by Slowey.
Wow, look at Span run!
Dirrrrrrty!
Three run single? I can't remember the last time I saw one of those.
The Twins feed didn't show Span hurtling around the bases. I would like to have seen that.
actually, it did on one of the replays. He was halfway to third when the ball dropped due to the hangtime. With the ball ricocheting away from the center-fielder, it was easy
Oh, for dumb. After the play I was putting my kid to bed, so I missed it. I almost missed Crede's hit there, too, 'cause I was writing this.
Well, see you in five or six years, Wellemeyer. We hardly knew ye.
It's a shame, too. I wouldn't mind seeing him a lot more often.
Yeah...I already like Kinney considerably less.
Ugh. At least it's Pujols.
yeah...it's like giving up a single to Wee Willie Keeler. You just tip your cap and move on
Plus, when Pujols does it, it means you now have the largest number of at-bats possible before Pujols comes up again.
Yup.
Droids.
"I'm not a machine."
Keppel warming up?! Two homers to Pujols, and someone else committed an error. Are we in long-reliever territory? Honestly?
Uh...never mind. You hit someone in the head, it's not your day.
this game is becoming annoying
P.S. I hate hate hate the intentional walk
If you're not walking Pujols, just forget the intentional walk exists.
Really could have done without that hit batter.
Come on K-Slow, settle in next inning.
Damn. At least delmon got on base.
Slowey done for the day? What the hell?
oofta. Pujols is good.
but he probably has to bunt more to be a complete player
Uno!
Uno!
LaRussa is such a genius!1!!!1!one! Pujols will be pitching by the seventh inning.
I can't wait for Dennys Reyes' inevitable appearance!
Ugh. What a cruddy at-bat. I wanted him to make LaRussa pay for such a stupid micro-management move in the fourth inning, too. Especially considering that he brought in a guy who's fared poorly against Morneau.
Gardy waves the white flag early.
.500 has become his security blanket. He wouldn't be able to sleep if he was two games above or below.
I think he took a stats class but didn't make it past regression to the mean. So now he's just waiting for everyone else to join the Twins at .500.
+1, then back to 0
Yeah, a huge thrill for Keppel. Not so awesome for fans of the team Keppel plays for.
Seriously, did Slowey have to come out of this thing?
I'd like to see Pujols homer off of as many different Twins pitchers as possible.
But it won't happen here!
Pujols getting the Bonds treatment
Respect.
lol @ Pujols leading the Cardinals in stolen bases
He's monstrous. I'd only be mildly surprised to learn that he leads the team in Pitching Wins.
So Keppel's debut inning as a Twin features six batters, one of which is Albert Pujols, and nobody scores. Well, huh.
LaRussa's gotten twelve outs from three pitchers, and there's a guy warming up. SBG's write-up is pretty relevant today.
Maybe he'll run out of pitchers and have to forfeit.
If nothing else, if Keppel can work for a while, we're in good shape for tomorrow in comparison to the Cardinals.
mmmm..... chips and salsa from Chilis washed down by a generic cola...delicious.
It seems like benches clearing brawls are down this year.
ya know what, I'm in the mood for one. Maybe Cuddyer will kick Molina later then charge the mound
Or Tolbert will give Pujols a wedgie after a 4-pitch walk.
That would be hilarious. I didn't mind Molina's anger at the time because you're in the moment, and anyone would be pissed. But keeping it up until the next time the guy bats? Give it up, Molina.
This is the inning we strike like cobras.
HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
sweep the leg
Get him a body bag! Yeeeaaaahhhhh!
Keppel, walking machine!
That was bizarre.
Molina really hawked the ball back to the pitcher after ball three. Testy, testy!
C'mon, Span, make 'em pay for walking an American League pitcher.
Great. So...only future HOF hitter Bobby Keppel reaches base in the inning.
I wonder if the heat has anything to do with today's pitching change mania.
A resounding "Yes"
afternoon, folks.
That was a good recovery.
Ha! For a pitcher who figures to put a lot of guys on base, a good pickoff move is a nice little weapon.
Morneau should take this moment to regale Schumaker with the story of Little Nicky Punto.
The semi-intentional walk.
Wow. I'd love to see Keppel continue to eat innings, but asking him to put up a fourth zero has to dangerous, yeah? Score some runs, Twins...
Denny's Sampler Platter!?!
Denny got away with one there.
there's your gold glover
Gordo really botched the call there. /surprise
They should really just re-name the team the St. Louis Albert Pujols'.
Nah, gotta make it shorter, like the Cleveland Naps. How bout the St. Louis Berts?
Gashouse Gang?
Doc!
back from the saturday swim meet. The girl cleaned up: 2 firsts, a second, and two relay firsts. And we were done by 12:30, which is compensation for having to leave the house at 7 a.m..
oh, and it's already mid-90s, heading for 105 today. It IS the heat.
cc to bS, drop me a note at {shores002} at yahoo with your address. I'm on the way to ups to drop off a package and will drop you a bottle of the latest brew if you're still interested.
You da man!
suddenly, I realize that I haven't finished my latest brew review....
Suddenly, heh.
Dick mentions that Dickey started the year in the rotation. I Earl Battey'd the hell out of that.
Someone left the barn door open and Henn got out.
That Henn's been awfully lucky to avoid having its head cut off, too.
Dickey lowers his E.R.A for the 13th consecutive game
Dickmeister!
Dickie rubs 'em out!
The National League is simply not experienced enough to handle his balls.
Nice Dickey!
Argh. Tolbert.
I was bemoaning the lack of a PH, and remembered: oh, right. NL rules.
It seems like the Twins, when they've needed runs late over the past few weeks, keep running into Tolbert and pals.
That mauer girl blows. Fire him.
Mauer sux. Move him to third, etc., etc.
Nuts.
Well, the Twins may have lost, but at least Tony LaRussa didn't add an hour of game time with unnecessary mid-inning pitching changes.
Well, that was frustrating, but I really thought the Twins swung a lot better than the results. I counted at least four outs on line drives (one double play, two other lineouts) and then the Twins were robbed of at least two extra-base hits on plays down each line. If the Twins get those guys on base, that would have really messed with LaRussa's micro-managing. So, a lot of bad luck and good Cards defense. And way too much Albert Pujols. Too be fair though, that one in the first was an ugly hanger. Pretty much any middle-of-the-order guy would have hit that one out.
Oh well, Mauer back in the lineup tomorrow and there's a chance no Tolbert or Punto with Cuddyer at second. That could be interesting. Go get 'em tomorrow and win the series and then head to KC with a winning record.
Still, a serious left fielder would have prevented the Twins from scoring any runs at all.
Ugly stat of the day: After Harris' two-out single in the fourth, the only batter to reach base in the Twins' final 17 PAs was Bobby Keppel on a walk.
Apparently, running Wellemeyer from the game was the worst thing the Twins could've done. Well, the second worst, after "facing a team that features Albert Pujols."
not good at all. I didnt even realize the offensive outage until Gordo said something about it in the 9th inning.
try to get em tommorrow, and that'll be a series win.