i know i am the #1 ausmus hater on this board (probably the city), but i've gotta give the man credit where it's due: NOBODY can hit a weak ground ball like he can. You da man Bradley!
Two questions. First, hey Brad, where's that weak grounder to SS when there's a runner on third and none out or one out? If he could just be consistent in how he sucks he could occasionally drive in a run. Second, I don't understand Garner a lot of the time. Clemens wasn't even to 90 pitches and will have additional rest with the ASG break. And, even if he's tiring slightly, it's the bottom part of the Cards' order due up... it's not like they have any pop anyway. Let Clemens go, and pinch-hit for him to start the bottom of the seventh. Now, in a tie game that could conceivably go for some time (and you know how Garner likes to delay using Lidge for as long as possible in games like this), you've wasted one of your best relievers by having him go only one inning against three hitters that even Mike Gallo could've gotten out. I hope they score a run in the next couple of innings and can use Wheeler and Lidge and end the game. But even if they do, this is an inexplicable decision... makes no sense.
The way Roger pitched the 6th, I had a feeling that Clemens knew it was his last innning. Even though his pitch count wasn't that high, he labored early in the game... and it may have contributed to gassing him faster. Its unlikely that Garner makes that move without getting some input from Roger that he didn't have much left.
Pujols has been surprisingly Bagwellian over at 1st. I didn't realize that he was that good of a fielder.
He also used to be a third baseman. The Cardinals wasted 2001, playing that washed up roider McGwire so much, when Albert was the best hitter on the field (as a rookie) and they were moving him around the field on a nightly basis (OF, 3B). Then, they overreacted and signed Tino Martinez to a ridiculously terrible contract. Albert, like Lance, is a natural... he can play anywhere, but his greatest value to the team is at first base.
man, i hate that ensberg is after lamb....because of that lamb pretty much needs to drive this run in unless berkman get a pick me up
PLEASE don't make Lamb bunt with Ensberg up next. I don't care if its lefty-lefty, or an obvious bunt situation... Lamb still has a better chance of driving in this run with a hit, than Ensberg has. Hell... he has a better chance of getting a walk/hit then actually getting a bunt down right now.
Perhaps. But even if that were the case, I'd rather start the 7th in that particular inning with Miller or Nieve or one of your relievers that isn't in the big three. Keep Qualls warming, but with the bottom of the order due up and the pitcher's spot due up first for us, see if you can get through an inning without wasting one of the big guns for us in the bullpen. Even if Miller or Nieve make a mistake, those hitters are so weak that it likely would stay in the park, and you'd still have Qualls coming in to hopefully close the door. Hopefully it all ends well, but I don't think that was the smartest play (even if Clemens took himself out) in this particular situation.
The ONLY good thing about having Ensberg between Lamb and Berkman is that The 'genius' can't bring in a lefty to face Lamb AND have him turn Berkman around. Thus, Tony just burned his one good lefty against Lamb... and Berkman is going to feast on a righty (or a scrubbier lefty).
Wow. You got to reward your manager here for believing in you. If Ensberg does not at least get the runner home with a sac fly his career as an Astro is probably over.
Once again Ensberg doesn't get the job done, this guy is killing us in key situations. Move his ass down.
Lance got to face the righty... and made him pay. Hell... Larussa might as well left Flores in there to face Ensberg... would have helped him out more against Berkman.
OMG Ensberg is a unbelievable i would have to sit him for a few days...hopefully all star break will help him
