Wainwright gives up his first hit/5 runs in the 4th inning, after three balls bounce off of infielder's gloves (one called an error, all three should have been) and the umpire misses two obvious strike three's to Alonso (ended in a bases loaded walk). AW forced to get 7 outs that inning.

Four more runs score after the umpire fail. #########.

Who is shot worse? The Pirates, or Carlos Beltran?

Beltran: .209/.251/.414 (.665) in the second half. 203 PA.

Pirates: 13-20 since August 1st.

That five-spot the Padres put on the Cardinals makes it look like the Wildcard is going to get even crazier.

Who is shot worse? The Pirates, or Carlos Beltran?

I have more faith in the Pirates at this point. Beltran's been Mendoza-level since Jul 1st.

Would give you a coke, Ray, but no fair answering your own question. And I'm in a bad mood. No coke for you!

That five-spot the Padres put on the Cardinals makes it look like the Wildcard is going to get even crazier.

Ah, but Dbacks score! Good mood! Cokes for everyone.

Pirates: 13-20 since August 1st.

13-25, actually.

Question for someone with ferreting skills: has there ever been a team that had back-to-back seasons where they played over .500 ball through July 31, then under .400 the rest of the way?

4 pitchers in the inning for the Dodgers so far (for 5 batters).

Crazy that the Brewers are making a kind of half-hearted run at the wild card. I didn't think they had it in them. I don't think they'll get there but it's nice to see them mentioned at least.

#9, Phillies are pouring it on right now also.

Question for someone with ferreting skills: has there ever been a team that had back-to-back seasons where they played over .500 ball through July 31, then under .400 the rest of the way?

Probably 6 out of every 10 Cubs teams.

3 errors + 8 walks + 7 hits = 4 runs. 1-14 with RISP; STL loses another one-run game. Grrrr.

Well, 2 runs. Whatever.

PHI 71-71 [7-2 in SEPT] (4 GB)

i'm pretty sure that the phillies are 8-2 now in september. if they play at that pace the rest of september, they'll finish with 87 wins.

Question for someone with ferreting skills: has there ever been a team that had back-to-back seasons where they played over .500 ball through July 31, then under .400 the rest of the way?

If you make the date Sept. 15 instead of July 1, I'm sure the 07-08 Mets qualify.

Edit: Whaddya know, you have to make it Sept. 19 for that to work.

Request: Could you add games behind the first wildcard spot in the wildcard races, please?

It's getting very, very interesting in unexpected ways in the Senior Circuit. Does Milwaukee regret the Greinke trade now?

shooty

no. segura gives the brewers more options in the infield for 2013 and allows the front office to focus almost exclusively on the pitching staff

barring fate the 2013 lineup is set save for ss where it will be either gonzalez, bianchi or segura

only now the crew can "choose" to sign alex vs "having" to sign him

on a separate note while i am glad to know that the crew has a chance to meet my pre-season prediction of 85 odd wins i am also sad in knowing this was likely the last gasp of a core getting old.

hart is 30. rickie will be 30 next year. aramis will be 35. aoki will be 31. as they say, a lot of tread on those tires and almost certainly 3 of those guys, ramirez/hart/aoki will see their output go down in 2013. sure braun is swell and lucroy will be 27 and may hang in there for 130 games and maybe some combo of bianchi and segura puts a charge into the bottom of the lineup. and gomez could get 550 plate appearances and hit 25 homers, steal 50 bases and win a gold glove (this last item is not completely wishcasting. he is 27 next year and playing for a contract)

but overall this is a bunch that will likely start to show its age and its not like they have been impervious to injury up to this point.

i am glad they rallied. it speaks well of them as players. but i do not pretend that this will be a springboard into next season

OK scheduling mavens ... is it possible for the Pirates to finish under 500 AND take the 2nd wild card?

The Cardinals still have six left against Houston and three left against the Cubs. There's no chance.

joey

in these circles your post qualifies as 'pulling a ray'

or to some a 'a raydiction' or 'a raycast' as in prediction or forecast

just a heads up

in these circles your post qualifies as 'pulling a ray'

or to some a 'a raydiction' or 'a raycast' as in prediction or forecast

just a heads up

That wasn't pulling a Ray. That was a joke about the ineptness of the Astros and Cubs.

it can be both. and i hold out hope that the downtrodden will throw off their shackles and rise up against the red menace

in these circles your post qualifies as 'pulling a ray'

I pulled my Ray when I made my official declaration on the Dial thread three days ago that the Nationals are now a 100% lock to make the postseason.

2. Ray (RDP) Posted: September 11, 2012 at 11:36 PM (#4233315)
Who is shot worse? The Pirates, or Carlos Beltran?
3. Ray (RDP) Posted: September 11, 2012 at 11:41 PM (#4233318)
Beltran: .209/.251/.414 (.665) in the second half. 203 PA.

Pirates: 13-20 since August 1st.


I didn't think season splits were meaningful?

Magic numbers (division and playoffs)

Wash 13 7
Cin 10 9
SF 15 15
Atl - 14

I pulled my Ray

TMI, sir.

I didn't think season splits were meaningful?

They're not. I was basically commenting on who is playing worse right now.

another win for the phillies this afternoon.
9-2 in september
18-6 in their last 24 games
7 game winning streak
6-0 on the homestand
bullpen with another 2 scoreless innings, which brings them to about 16 consecutive innings without allowing a run.

Cards down again. Everything's going to get even tighter.

Thank you, Padres. My son moved to SD 2 weeks ago, he must have brought good luck.

Cards down again. Everything's going to get even tighter.

Mike Matheny ordered a bunt after a lead off double in the 9th inning, down 3-2.

The bunt was off the bat of Yadier Molina, who is being mentioned in MVP threads, has 18 home runs, an .868 OPS going into tonight, and who hits the ball the the opposite field well over 50% of the time (by this cards fans guesstimate, and eyeballing spray charts for 11 seconds).

For the series, Cards were 4 for 31 with RISP. Not sure if the stupid bunt counts (suspect not).

Not sure if the stupid bunt counts (suspect not).

If it was a successful sacrifice then no because it's not an AB ("4 for 31 with RISP" always being an AB statistic); if it just resulted in an out for Molina with no advance of the runner, then it does count.