BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: NLCS Game 4: NL Central Champ St. Louis at NL Wild Card Houston, 4:05pm ET on FOX

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Sunday, October 16, 2005

NLCS Game 4: NL Central Champ St. Louis at NL Wild Card Houston, 4:05pm ET on FOX

J. Suppan vs. B. Backe

Astros lead series 2-1

The Cards need to take advantage of a favorable pitching matchup here or risk being in an elimination situation and having to beat Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, and Roger Clemens to advance.

SG in ATL Posted: October 16, 2005 at 11:02 AM | 296 comment(s)
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1. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 03:30 PM (#1686602)

Reggie in, Nunez out. Grudz is supposedly moved to the 8th spot. (bench him, put in Luna at second)

2. Biff, Red Sox Jinx Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:05 PM (#1686647)

Frickin' FOX is staying on the OT of a frickin' Week 6 NFL game instead of going to the baseball PLAYOFFS.

3. Silver King Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:10 PM (#1686655)

Arrgh!
So is the start of the game being delayed, or are we just missing it?
There's no action at sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore

4. Human Papelbon Virus Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:12 PM (#1686657)

fox promos said 4:30

5. Biff, Red Sox Jinx Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:12 PM (#1686658)

# fox promos said 4:30

FOX still sucks.

6. Human Papelbon Virus Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:13 PM (#1686662)

wtf?? more football?

7. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:14 PM (#1686663)

The game hasn't started. They have the six-hour pregame show as a built-in buffer, just for cases like this.

8. Human Papelbon Virus Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:14 PM (#1686664)

yeah but i wanted to see jeannie zalasko!

9. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:17 PM (#1686667)

First pitch isn't for half an hour. You and her cleavage will have plenty of time to spend together.

10. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:32 PM (#1686682)

there is no pre-game show, that is what is upsetting.

fox sports-midwest doesn't have a pre-game show, channel 11(local stl channel) doesn't have one.

Fox is about to start a pre-game show for a game that is about to start.

11. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:39 PM (#1686691)

Hi everybody!

Best Regards

John

12. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:42 PM (#1686695)

jeezus christ did they just pull the stat out saying that when the 'underdog' goes up 2-1 they win the series 9 out of 10 times? I mean they had a stat before saying whoever wins the first game wins the series nearly every time, so which is the better predictor???

god I hate these, and pretty much all announcers. but man who in their right mind would rather have Marquis pitching over Suppan? based upon Marquis 4-0 record against the Astros.

13. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:47 PM (#1686702)

No, but I'd sure rather have had Marquis pitching over Morris...

Of course, Suppan hasn't pitched for how many days? He's not exactly the most reliable guy to begin with, especially not in this park.

14. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:51 PM (#1686709)

those would be valid reasons for making a decision, a "dumb" reason for making a decision is to point to Marquis 4-0 against the astros record and say it's better than Suppans record of 0-0 because he didn't face the astros.

15. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:53 PM (#1686711)

Well, duh.

Anyway, that's pretty much the series right there; it's the Astros' year, at least until they run into the Angels.

16. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:56 PM (#1686713)

vaux, you sound like a lot of cardinal fans.(and that isn't a compliment) that I know.

17. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 04:56 PM (#1686714)

testing Mabry right off the bat.

18. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:02 PM (#1686719)

first inning, rather uneventful except a blast by Pujols that once again went foul, and a shot hit right at Mabry.

19. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:07 PM (#1686722)

Walker still looks like ####.

20. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:17 PM (#1686734)

half of the cardinals bandwagon just jumped ship I think.

I have people already calling him Cy Backe(indicating that two innings is how you judge a pitcer by)

21. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:32 PM (#1686742)

Vaux is a silly hater.

I love it when the Cardinals face an objectively bad and consistently sucky pitcher and make him look like Walter Johnson. There hasn't even been a decent at bat and it's hard to attribute that to Backe.

22. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:33 PM (#1686744)

Walker still looks like ####.

He looks like a LOOGY who bats twice a year.

23. The Mexicoan George Jefferson(Sheriff Blalock) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:33 PM (#1686745)

Backe just had a better AB than any of the Cardinals have had. Hopefully that wore him out.

24. The Mexicoan George Jefferson(Sheriff Blalock) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:36 PM (#1686748)

Stars like Ricky Ledee and Shane Spencer?

25. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:40 PM (#1686751)

I think reggie had a good at bat, and I think that Pujols had a good at bat... and of course ecksteins walk was another good at bat.

26. Biff, Red Sox Jinx Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:42 PM (#1686754)

Backe's swing where he fell down was (forget)ing hilarious.

27. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:46 PM (#1686756)

I think reggie had a good at bat, and I think that Pujols had a good at bat... and of course ecksteins walk was another good at bat.

Pujols struck out a check swing -- for Pujols, that's the worst kind of at bat. Reggie struck out looking. Again, not so muy bueno.

28. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:47 PM (#1686758)

ok, those were better abs.

29. mbd1mbd1 Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:47 PM (#1686759)

dear albert
please crush one
your friend
mbd

30. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:49 PM (#1686761)

Pujols struck out a check swing -- for Pujols, that's the worst kind of at bat. Reggie struck out looking. Again, not so muy bueno.

gotcha, because an at bat is only the one pitch that ends the at bat, not the sequence that leads up to that pitch...

31. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:50 PM (#1686762)

gotcha, because an at bat is only the one pitch that ends the at bat, not the sequence that leads up to that pitch...

are you serious?

32. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 05:52 PM (#1686763)

yes, I'm serious.

when I judge whether an at bat is a good or bad at bat, I judge by how the batter worked the count, even if he gets fooled on the final pitch, any at bat that goes to a full count, in my book is a good at bat. the results may not end up being good, but the at bat was good.

33. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:05 PM (#1686768)

Jesus, these Cards are floundering.

Re good at bats -- fine, but Pujols swung at 1-2 pitch in the dirt. Bad at bat. Sanders took a swing and then looked at five pitches. I could do that. Bad at bat. The at bats, by any measure, sucked balls.

I don't get the feeling that there's a big inning happening today. Suppan's gotta be nails.

34. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:05 PM (#1686769)

Is it too early to whine about the umpires strike zone?

I think that a midget would think that it was a low strike zone. Guess this is to make up for "issy's" low strike zone in the first game.

35. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:07 PM (#1686770)

I think that a midget would think that it was a low strike zone. Guess this is to make up for "issy's" low strike zone in the first game.

And they keep making a big deal about the high strike zone, but there have been several pitches that looked low and were called strikes.

36. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:09 PM (#1686774)

And it's a brand new ball game. Way to go, Lane!

37. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:09 PM (#1686775)

And to make that last half inning even worse for the Cards (I know, they did score a run), the 'stros had Wandy in the bullpen. That's what the Cards need to get going. A little Wandy.

38. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:10 PM (#1686776)

to be honest, the strike zone has been all over the plate, Suppan isn't getting the low strike zone that Backe is getting, but Suppan is getting the 'high' strike zone. Of course as a fan of the cardinals I would rather have suppan get the low strike zone.

39. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:10 PM (#1686777)

And it's a brand new ball game. Way to go, Lane!

I'd say it's about the same. Sucky.

40. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:20 PM (#1686782)

Backe's pitching has truly been Comcastic so far

41. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:23 PM (#1686786)

Maybe the Astros pitchers know what they're doing -- I don't think there's been but one fly hit to left the last two games by the Cardinals.

42. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:23 PM (#1686787)

I used to think car commercials were the ultimate in lameness, but now the satellite/cable commercials have proven that there can be weaker commercials.

43. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:24 PM (#1686789)

TLR is wrong, Backe isn't mixing things up, he is going low, away. basically borrowing from the Leo Mazzone book on pitching in the post season.

44. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:37 PM (#1686794)

If this isn't the postseason, that's caught, because the umpire isn't in the way to further muck things up

45. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:37 PM (#1686795)

Man, that is one huge strike zone. The Cards have to swing at everything in the same zip code.

46. The Mexicoan George Jefferson(Sheriff Blalock) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:38 PM (#1686796)

How many strikes has Edmonds taken in the playoffs?

47. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:38 PM (#1686797)

If you only give a single to Pujols there, that is a victory, I agree. I would have walked him.

48. The Mexicoan George Jefferson(Sheriff Blalock) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:39 PM (#1686798)

Thanks, scrap iron.

49. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:39 PM (#1686800)

The strike zone has been so unpredictable that it hasn't really favored any team or pitcher, since it's force both hitters to take crappy cracks at hitting the ball. So not really an Eric Gregg variable strike zone situation.

50. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:39 PM (#1686801)

How many strikes has Edmonds taken in the playoffs?

Real strikes, or pitches that even Eric Gregg would think twice about calling strikes?

51. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:41 PM (#1686803)

using a loogy for walker is a waste of a pitcher right now.

52. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:41 PM (#1686804)

The Rooster delivers

53. Pastor Toastman (PH) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:42 PM (#1686805)

This game has had a miserable pace to it.

54. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:50 PM (#1686809)

You know, it just occured to me... even if the Cardinals force a seventh game, they're just running up "White Flag" Morris anyway. The Astros may as well print their World Series tickets now.

55. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:50 PM (#1686811)

wow, that was as bad of a call I've seen all day, ball four to jason lane was a very good strike, it wasn't borderline even.

56. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:51 PM (#1686815)

about freaking time they call a strike right down the middle.

57. Chris Dial Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:52 PM (#1686817)

Come on, Stros!

58. cardsfanboy Posted: October 16, 2005 at 06:59 PM (#1686823)

god damn it, I'm tired of the left handers on this team trying to pull the damn ball.

59. DTS Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:00 PM (#1686824)

You know, it just occured to me... even if the Cardinals force a seventh game, they're just running up "White Flag" Morris anyway. The Astros may as well print their World Series tickets now.

Thank you Vaux for your incredible insight. It just occured to me that even if the Cards get swept out of this series, you'll still have a miserable life full of hate. That makes me feel a little better.

This is the first time all year that I feel like the Cards are going to lose when it's tied. There's just no life with this team.

60. Bob T Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:01 PM (#1686825)

I always think the "There's No Crying in Shipping" commercial would in real life run afoul of worker's comp laws.

If I snapped a hamstring while on the job, I'd be asking for some paid time off.

61. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:03 PM (#1686826)

Thank you Vaux for your incredible insight.

A Vaux prediction is pretty much guaranteed to not come true.

I know I feel better when he predicts gloom and doom for the White Sox.

62. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:06 PM (#1686829)

By the way, this "Bee buzzing" sound effect is starting to give me a headache.

A lot of your hitters have last names that start with "B". We get it.

63. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:07 PM (#1686830)

Yes! My second favorite outcome for a sacrifice bunt. The only thing better is if he actually throws the ball away.

64. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:08 PM (#1686831)

Mind you, I bet the Astros still don't score here.

65. mbd1mbd1 Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:09 PM (#1686832)

I'm getting a bad feeling that Vaux's #### doesn't work in the playoffs....

66. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:11 PM (#1686834)

Here comes the DP. They should have gone with the bunt there.

67. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:11 PM (#1686835)

I'd rather have Berkman batting if I'm Houston, but that's me.

68. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:11 PM (#1686836)

Omigod, can they get over this bunting talk? It's giving up an out. I'd take three cracks at a base hit over one for a sac fly.

69. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:12 PM (#1686837)

And if Berkman walks, it's moot.

70. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:13 PM (#1686838)

I'd take three cracks at a base hit over one for a sac fly.

But they don't get hits with runners in scoring position. So I would take the crack at the sac fly.

71. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:13 PM (#1686839)

THEY ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS. TAVERAS WILL COME IN AS A DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENT FOR BURKE IN CENTER FIELD.

72. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:13 PM (#1686840)

Right, Red, same result.

73. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:14 PM (#1686841)

La Genius is firing up the troops. It's too bad it really was ball four, even under this ump's zone.

74. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:14 PM (#1686842)

Tony LaRussa....super genius in the Wile E. Coyote mold.

Best Regards

John

75. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:14 PM (#1686843)

Bases loaded, one out

"BUNNNNNNNNNNNNNT" - Old School Expert

76. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:14 PM (#1686844)

Is this helping your pitcher, Tony?

77. Sparkles Peterson Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:15 PM (#1686846)

Those calls TLR is freaking out about right now are some of the few Cuzzi has actually been right about all game...

Really terrible umpiring.

78. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:16 PM (#1686847)

meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow.

Best Regards

John

79. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:16 PM (#1686848)

Unfortunately for the bans, LaRussa didn't give the ump a Stone Cold Stunner

80. Chris Dial Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:16 PM (#1686849)

Is it wrong for me to be LOVING this?

81. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:16 PM (#1686850)

and the fans got robbed too

82. Bob T Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:16 PM (#1686851)

You send in a pinch runner just to run 90 feet?

83. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:17 PM (#1686852)

Phil Garner coming out to say, "You guys are doing a helluva job. Keep it up."

The Berkman PA wasn't that bad, but Burke took a ball that looked pretty good. I haven't seen that much of the game.

84. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:17 PM (#1686853)

Is it wrong for me to be LOVING this?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Best Regards

John

85. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686854)

2-1.

Best Regards

John

86. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686855)

CLUTCH SAC FLY

87. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686856)

Uh oh. Lidge time.

88. Srul Itza At Home Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686857)

You send in a pinch runner just to run 90 feet?

Yep, and it worked.

89. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686858)

And teh genius of Phil Garner, waiting to put in the pinch runner in the right situation.

90. Sparkles Peterson Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686859)

Yes, it's wrong for you to even be watching baseball in October, Dial. You're a Mets fan.

91. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:18 PM (#1686860)

Sacrifice->Lamb.

God is favouring the Astros!

Best Regards

John

92. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:19 PM (#1686861)

Hopefully the Astros get to beat the White Sox in 4.

A Cardinals/White Sox world series would be awful for me

93. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:20 PM (#1686862)

You're a Mets fan.

That's sick.

Best Regards

John

94. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:20 PM (#1686863)

So, what happens if this game goes past the first pitch for the White Sox-Angels game?

95. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:21 PM (#1686864)

God is favouring the Astros!

I was hoping for a Marquis vs. Ausmus matchup.

96. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:21 PM (#1686865)

Who eats the Meatnormous Omelette Sandwich? It looks terrible.

97. Urban Faber Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:22 PM (#1686867)

JRE, they'll probably show the AL game in Chicago and L.A. and stay to the conclusion of that one. Or that annoying box feature.

Leadoff hit for Grudz.

98. mbd1mbd1 Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:22 PM (#1686868)

sign of the apocalypse
grudz gets a hit

99. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:22 PM (#1686869)

Who eats the Meatnormous Omelette Sandwich? It looks terrible.

Is that what Meatwad is going by now?

Best Regards

John

100. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: October 16, 2005 at 07:22 PM (#1686870)

Some team should get "The King" from the BK ads to throw out the first pitch at their game

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NLCS Game 4: NL Central Champ St. Louis at NL Wild Card Houston, 4:05pm ET on FOX

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