Sizing up the World Series - Sox/Cards Preview - Defense and Intangibles

[yeszir]

Hi, I hope I can write this here, I just joined this today. I'm looking for 2 World Series tickets for tomorrow night's game, (Wed., 10/23rd), at Fenway, for up to approx. $200.00 each. Do not have to be together, will take 2 separate single seats. Can also be standing room, obstructed view, ANYthing...just to get into the Park. Can anyone help? Please reply if you can....and GO BOSOX!!!

 

hahaha $200?

[yankthis]

$200 might get a couple of beers and a hot dog.

[Carter]

Those metrics are very misleading, to say the least. No team THAT bad could win a pennant! It's true that Jon Jay is average at best, and Holliday is liable to puke up a game at any given moment on tough plays, but Beltran is smooth grace out there, and catches everything he should. And a decent arm.

 

It's true, I guess about the range factor, but the Card infield makes their share of great plays. Kosma, Freese and Carp can shock you at times.

 

I've been thinking about that short LF and Holliday. It occurs to me that a smaller field to tend is beneficial for ANY s***** fielder. The less ground to cover, the better. But on the other hand, how will he play balls off the wall??

[sk7326]

Those metrics are very misleading, to say the least. No team THAT bad could win a pennant! It's true that Jon Jay is average at best, and Holliday is liable to puke up a game at any given moment on tough plays, but Beltran is smooth grace out there, and catches everything he should. And a decent arm.

 

It's true, I guess about the range factor, but the Card infield makes their share of great plays. Kosma, Freese and Carp can shock you at times.

 

I've been thinking about that short LF and Holliday. It occurs to me that a smaller field to tend is beneficial for ANY s***** fielder. The less ground to cover, the better. But on the other hand, how will he play balls off the wall??

 

Sox pick it better than the Cards - the Cards pitching is a little more balanced and the Sox offense is a little better than the Cards, but it's close. Both managers are nothing special, but Farrell has done a better job in-game than Matheny has (at least from the analyses I have read and twitter and whatnot, the NLCS was full of howlers too).

[Carter]

Sox pick it better than the Cards - the Cards pitching is a little more balanced and the Sox offense is a little better than the Cards, but it's close. Both managers are nothing special, but Farrell has done a better job in-game than Matheny has (at least from the analyses I have read and twitter and whatnot, the NLCS was full of howlers too).

Everything you read and heard about Matheny is true. The guy flat out sucks in-game. I'm surprised you said the Cards offense was lacking.

[sk7326]

Everything you read and heard about Matheny is true. The guy flat out sucks in-game. I'm surprised you said the Cards offense was lacking.

 

Not lacking at all ... the Red Sox offense is a little better. The Red Sox offense was the best in the bigs ... being a little worse than the league's best is not lacking.

[Carter]

Not lacking at all ... the Red Sox offense is a little better. The Red Sox offense was the best in the bigs ... being a little worse than the league's best is not lacking.

I see. Not to start an argument, but for the entire season the Cards were on top until Aug. when Molina went down and Sept Craig went down. Yet with the 2 best RISP hitters sidelined they caught and passed LA and Atlanta for the best record. I'm going to make a BOLD prediction: the Cards will hit more HR's in the series, even tho' they suck at HR's!

[sk7326]

I see. Not to start an argument, but for the entire season the Cards were on top until Aug. when Molina went down and Sept Craig went down. Yet with the 2 best RISP hitters sidelined they caught and passed LA and Atlanta for the best record. I'm going to make a BOLD prediction: the Cards will hit more HR's in the series, even tho' they suck at HR's!

 

Cards offense is good, and led the NL - the Red Sox scored 70 runs more, and even if you normalize for the different ERAs in the league that would still be higher than what the Cards output was. Both lineups are deep and balanced, though only the Cardinals are starting a replacement level player. Not everybody in the Sox lineup is hitting - but at least they all can.

[Carter]

I must eat my words on the Cards having a solid defense. I thought we did, but playing in that funky band box vs. a cro-magnum team with zany umpires was a bit too much for us. The only thing that softens the blow is that even w/o the errors we would have lost anyway.

 

If we lose tonite, with our true ace on the mound, I will have to reluctantly tip my cap and say you're our daddy!

[mvp 78]

Cards are 27th in UZR. They aren't a good defensive team.

[Orange Juiced]

I must eat my words on the Cards having a solid defense. I thought we did, but playing in that funky band box vs. a cro-magnum team with zany umpires was a bit too much for us. The only thing that softens the blow is that even w/o the errors we would have lost anyway.

 

If we lose tonite, with our true ace on the mound, I will have to reluctantly tip my cap and say you're our daddy!

 

The "funky band box" had zip to do with the Cards' defensive miscues. Kozma simply dropped a toss from 2b and had a routine ground ball deflect off his glove. Freese simply made a terrible throw. And even though it wasn't an error, the Wainwright/Molina pop drop was something you don't normally see even in Little League. There were no weird bounces off walls that screwed them up.

 

And the umps eventually got the call right. Can't blame them or feel cheated because they huddled and reversed what was an obvious error by the 2b ump.

[marklmw]

I must eat my words on the Cards having a solid defense. I thought we did, but playing in that funky band box vs. a cro-magnum team with zany umpires was a bit too much for us. The only thing that softens the blow is that even w/o the errors we would have lost anyway.

 

If we lose tonite, with our true ace on the mound, I will have to reluctantly tip my cap and say you're our daddy!

 

You will lose tonight and please do not be blaming the umpires. Let's say that the umpires upheld the incorrect call ruling that the ball was dropped during the transfer. Napoli's double still would score 2 runs vs. 3. That alone is 1 run more than the Cards scored for the game. Case closed.

[sk7326]

I must eat my words on the Cards having a solid defense. I thought we did, but playing in that funky band box vs. a cro-magnum team with zany umpires was a bit too much for us. The only thing that softens the blow is that even w/o the errors we would have lost anyway.

 

If we lose tonite, with our true ace on the mound, I will have to reluctantly tip my cap and say you're our daddy!

 

Kozma is one of the very worst players to start on a pennant winner - scrappy mcscrapperson ... really they could do worse than dealing Freese and Kozma, moving Carpenter to 3rd and signing Drew to play SS.

[Carter]

Kozma is one of the very worst players to start on a pennant winner - scrappy mcscrapperson ... really they could do worse than dealing Freese and Kozma, moving Carpenter to 3rd and signing Drew to play SS.

I think that's the plan actually. I have heard talk. Oh well, in spite of the Kid pitching the worst game of his young MLB career, the Cards pull even, thanks to that awful throw to 3B. I don't know if you guys are aware of it, but the Cards are a s***** road team. Heading west tied is a bit of a morale victory.

 

At any rate it's great that we will not be swept. That would have resulted in many bodies floating face down in the Mississippi river.

[mvp 78]

Worst game of his career? http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9329/gamelog/?season=2013_2

 

I know this place is the kingdom of make s*** up, but seriously?

[User Name]

Worst game of his career? http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9329/gamelog/?season=2013_2

 

I know this place is the kingdom of make s*** up, but seriously?

 

Ain't that the truth?

[Orange Juiced]

I think that's the plan actually. I have heard talk. Oh well, in spite of the Kid pitching the worst game of his young MLB career, the Cards pull even, thanks to that awful throw to 3B. I don't know if you guys are aware of it, but the Cards are a s***** road team. Heading west tied is a bit of a morale victory.

 

At any rate it's great that we will not be swept. That would have resulted in many bodies floating face down in the Mississippi river.

 

The Cardinals were 43-38 on the road this year. That was the 6th best road record in all of MLB this year. So, in fact, they were an excellent road team this year.

 

That said, I'm sure they are fine with splitting at Fenway. I think they (the Cards) *NEED* to win 2 of 3 in St. Louis over the weekend, or they're dead, because I don't see them taking 2 of 2 back in Fenway. Now, how are they going to get 2 of 3?

 

In some ways, it's pretty reasonable to see the formula: Hope Peavy is the bad Peavy (a very real chance of that) in game 3, figure a good chance of losing game 4, but assuming Wainwright is his usual self in game 5. Take your chances with Wacha in game 6.

 

But in other ways, it seems like it's not going to be quite that easy. Boston dominated game 1 and really should have won game 2 as well (oh well, that's baseball). But Wainwright and Wacha were outpitched by Lester and Lackey, which gives the Sox confidence down the road. So you're banking on Kelly and Lynn to take care of business. And maybe they can do that. But I still think the Sox are in very good shape here.

 

Gonna be a great series.

[sk7326]

I think that's the plan actually. I have heard talk. Oh well, in spite of the Kid pitching the worst game of his young MLB career, the Cards pull even, thanks to that awful throw to 3B. I don't know if you guys are aware of it, but the Cards are a s***** road team. Heading west tied is a bit of a morale victory.

 

At any rate it's great that we will not be swept. That would have resulted in many bodies floating face down in the Mississippi river.

 

Cards were 43-38 on the road ... s*****, that is not.

 

If losing a world series inspired suicidal thoughts, I pity you.

 

Even-ish teams, tactically interesting managers ... stuff happens

 

Also, as I pointed out in the game thread - Wacha is on a hot streak, but the guy who came IN for Wacha is the much better bet to be a staff ace of the future.

[marklmw]

Salty really had a bad read on the throw ... he needed to move up the line keeping the runner at 2nd. So what if the game is tied ... just an ugly ugly play all around. The throw from left, the play by Salty and the throw to 3rd. Just 1 game however ... things will return to normal after the Sox's victory this Saturday.

[Carter]

Worst game of his career? http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9329/gamelog/?season=2013_2

 

I know this place is the kingdom of make s*** up, but seriously?

LOL...without reading your link I remembered that Wacha pitched some games early in the season before being sent down. He's been lights out since his return. (Until last night)

[mvp 78]

Was not lights out on September 19th.

[VA Sox Fan]

Was not lights out on September 19th.

 

Ha ha! Unreal.

[Carter]

Was not lights out on September 19th.

I don't remember that start.... Concearning the next 3 games: I'm not familiar with your guys, but I don't have a lot of faith in Lyne or Kelly to have "shut down" types of games. 2 of 3 is, however quite doable (for either team really) but a sweep for either is out of the question. You can look this up though: Lance Lyne, for whatever reason is TWICE the pitcher at home. He won 15, and I think only 4 or 5 in away games. You won't see him out there in game 7. It should be 15 game winner, rookie Shelby Miller. (15-8)

 

Also, we may have seen the last of David Freese starting at 3B. I look for Carpenter to be moved there (his natural position) with Descalso taking 2B and Kosma SS for the duration. That bad throw last night combined with his weak hitting sealed his fate.

[mvp 78]

Peavy has been "ok." He "competes" but hasn't been dominant. Buch would go 5 innings with 0 earmed, but we don't know about his shoulder. If Doubront has to start for Buchholz and can limit his walks, he'd be really tough on the Cards. If Dempster starts, Cards win.

[Carter]

Peavy has been "ok." He "competes" but hasn't been dominant. Buch would go 5 innings with 0 earmed, but we don't know about his shoulder. If Doubront has to start for Buchholz and can limit his walks, he'd be really tough on the Cards. If Dempster starts, Cards win.

Dumptster, as some Card fans refer to Ryan, when with the Cubs, would occasionally SHUT DOWN the Cardinals cold! It was mystifying. He would have given up earned runs in bunches vs. the Reds or Phillies and come in to St. Louis...ulg! He was then referred to as Cy Dumpster.

 

That was a several years ago, but I still don't ever want to see that dude again.

[mvp 78]

Calling him Dumpster is grounds for getting banned solely because the joke is played out.

[Carter]

Calling him Dumpster is grounds for getting banned solely because the joke is played out.

Why so sensitive? I said some fans called him that years ago. I'm guessing by your response that some Sox fans call him that too. How the hell was I supposed to know that?!

[mvp 78]

Why so sensitive? I said some fans called him that years ago. I'm guessing by your response that some Sox fans call him that too. How the hell was I supposed to know that?!

 

It was just an FYI for you. I don't care either way.

[Behindenemylines]

Who would have thought that the Sox would lose two WS games with bad defensive plays. From this point moving forward hold on to the ball and don't make that throw to 3B.

[Station 13]

Who would have thought that the Sox would lose two WS games with bad defensive plays. From this point moving forward hold on to the ball and don't make that throw to 3B.

 

I think the proper baseball term is 'eat the ball'. Ross must catch tonight. What a mess Salty is.