| |
|
|
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 3, 2008
|
|
It's early in the season but this is a BIG NL Central series. This will tell us how we're stacking up against the top of the division.
Pujols is hitting just under .400, Ankiel and Molina are just a shade under .300.
So far in the young season we've good pitching from a thrown together staff that, with Piniero, keeps getting healthier.
Any thoughts on how the series will go? Who might step up and make some things happen?
GO CARDS!!!
|
|
|
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 30, 2007
|
|
Finally back at home. And Thursday is a day game so I say we take 2 of 3 at least. This is a big early series and a chance to get a couple games breathing room.
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 9, 2007
|
|
Wow, how happy are you guys with the start your Cardinals are off to? I've gotta be honest and say that I was definitely among those individuals who thought they would be on the fringe of being out of contention already at this point in the season. It just goes to show you that the 3 main ingredients to winning baseball are pitching, pitching and pitching; and a healthy Albert Pujols doesn't hurt.
As far as this series goes, I am not excited about the Brewers' situation. We've got the bottom of our rotation (Bush, Villanueva and Parra) up against Looper, Wainwright and Lohse. I would like to think that Looper and Lohse would be due for a shalacking, but they are pitching very well right now and are really firing on all cylinders.
Dave Bush is awful and will likely be making his last start for the Brewers for some time. Although Ned Yost hasn't stated who will be out when Gallardo returns next week, Yovani is coincidentally making his last rehab start today in Nashville which would allow him to return to the rotation in Bush's spot. Villanueva and Parra are both very good young pitchers, but as youngsters, they aren't entirely stretched out yet to be able to turn in 7 quality innings. They both appear to be running out of gas around the 5th/6th inning and giving up runs in bunches then. They both have ERA's in the upper-4's, but that number is a bit skewed because they have given up runs in their last inning of work in all of their outings. This is actually what the Brewers want from them; not the giving up runs late, but the shortened outings. When Gallardo returns, the Brewers will likely have 3/5 of their starting rotation with a combined 305 innings of major league service heading into the 2008 season. If the Brewers intend to compete down the stretch this year, they are going to have to keep the mileage down on these 3.
The good news for the Brewers is that they are 8-4 even though Prince Fielder is batting .222 with only 6 RBI and 0 HR's, Ryan Braun is batting only .226 with 9 RBI's thanks to his 3 HR's, JJ Hardy is only batting .205 with 3 RBI's, Mike Cameron is serving his suspension and as mentioned above, their pitching phenom Gallardo has yet to make a start. The Brewers are a top 5 MLB offense right now and their 3 best offensive players from a year ago are yet to get going. When they do, look out.
I'd obviously love for the Brewers to take 2 of 3 from you guys, but the outlook isn't so good with the pitching match-ups. Although the Brewers are coming off pretty strong offensive performances in which they defeated Johan Santana and the previously unscored upon Oliver Perez.
The good news for the Brewers is that with the exception of Eric Gagne's opening day performance and Seth McClung's (who is going to find himself unemployed when Gallardo returns) poor outing in which he surrendered 5 ER in 2.0 IP, the Brewers' bullpen has only allowed 9 ER in 33.1 IP; good enough for a 2.44 ERA. Of course you can't exclude such outings, so the Brewers bullpen ERA is actually 4.21 but it's a bit skewed because of two poor outings. Eric Gagne appears to be getting back to form. He's back around 94-96 mph with his fastball and his command has been coming around. He's retired the last 7 batters he's faced which isn't much, but we've gotta take baby steps with him at this point.
My overall prediction; I certainly don't think the Cardinals are going to sweep the Brewers, but it's tough for me to find a pitching match-up that favors the Brewers. I'd like to think the Brewers could beat Looper, but I'm not so certain with Dave Bush on the mound. I don't know where it's gonna come from, but the Brewers get one win in this series. Maybe one game gets ugly and the Brewers can steal one more, but i'll be surprisingly content with one.
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 9, 2007
|
|
Finally back at home. And Thursday is a day game so I say we take 2 of 3 at least. This is a big early series and a chance to get a couple games breathing room.
The best part of playing head to head is that, as long as you don't get swept, you are only going to lose one game. If the Brewers win 2 of 3, they are still only up by a half a game and if the Cards win 2 of 3, the Brewers are still only down a game and half. It's too early in the season for these head to head matchups to be devastating; unless of course a team gets swept. Something like that can put a team in a funk real quick.
|
|
|
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 11, 2007
|
|
I have seen a couple of different projected pitching matchups, but it looks like you will get our bottom three starters so you will have the clear advantage. Plus your offense is clicking on far more cylanders than our offense despite the outburst yesterday. I wouldnt be surprised if the Cards threatened to sweep this series.
|
|
|
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 30, 2007
|
|
I was only saying that a home day game for the Cards is good news. We are awefully good during the day at home. Not that I'm a genius or anything, but with the pithching matchup I still say we should take at least 2.
|
|
|
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 28, 2007
|
|
It really depends on who comes out to play those days. Usually players step up more when it is head to head divisional matchups. It really doesn't matter what point it is in the season, these guysdo not want to lose to each other ever, it's too important to be ahead in the division. The Cardinals needed today off, they looked a little sluggish yesterday, not to mention the home plate umpire not helping our cause with some of the worst calls i have seen this year, being the strike zone that is. Brewers are tough, but I agree with the Cardinals sweeping, of course i know, because we are at home again and we are hitting very well.
|
|
|
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 11, 2007
|
|
I agree goodhog, The Cards should be favored to win at least two of three. The only thing that gives me caution is that the Cards have not played any real good teams yet (outside of Colorado, but Colorado is not playing all that well right now) and have not seen all that much good pitching. The Cards pitching has been excellent and that keeps up they are going to be in the mix, then again, we have seen some chinks in that lately as well. I just dont have faith in the Brewer lineup right now. Not that I dont in the long haul, but right now they are scuffling. We saw some great signes the last two games against the Mets and with the lineup switch, maybe they get it going. We shall see.
|
|
|
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 20, 2006
|
|
I think it will be a good test to the Cards to see what they can do against a good team, only taking 2 or the 4 against the Giants was not good. So that has me worried going against the Brewers, who are a way better team the San Fran. I think it will be 3 really good games no matter what the pitching matchups will be, although it does favor the Cards. I do have a bad feeling that Fielder will come out of his slump this week. I really hope I am wrong.
|
|
|
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 28, 2007
|
|
I hope you're wrong about Fielder too. The Giants beat us due to some poor home plate umping, specifically with Ludwick and then Duncan with two on and no outs. Lewis killed us that series, he hit somwhere in the range of 5-7 doubles. Starting Piniero in my opinion was a little premature, especially away from home. We still won 2 games from that series which is par for us this year, would have been 2 of 3 in most series. I still think we sweep the Brewers facing their bottom 3 pitchers, then sweep the Giants at home. Cardinals go on a serious win streak starting tomorrow! Go Cards.
|
|
|
Reputation:83
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 19, 2008
|
|
I know its a little early to be saying stuff like this, but we're currently playing a 2 win to every 1 loss ratio (actually a little more than that, but barely). Over 162 game season, that's a 108-54 record. While I don't see us finishing anywhere close to that, if we keep up what we're doing and focus on a series at a time. This team everybody expected to be horrible, could cruise to at least 90 wins, especially once people start getting healthy down the stretch.
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 9, 2007
|
|
You've gotta take into account that the Cards are simply 'taking care of business' as of right now. They're off to a great start, but they have yet to take on a team with a winning record. Their pitching has been outstanding, so far they've played the leagues 19th, 21st, 24th and 28th 'best' offenses in all of baseball. The Brewers come in as a top 5 offense in all of baseball without much production from Fielder or Braun.
The Cardinals bats have been pretty strong as well, but the Cardinals have also played some poor pitching teams. The 4 teams the Cardinals have played so far this season have the leagues 18th, 24th, 27th and 28th 'best' team ERA's in all of baseball. The Brewers team ERA isn't phenomenal by any means, but they are the best pitching staff the Cardinals will have faced come Tuesday evening.
My point being, the Cardinals should still be the favorites to win 2 of the 3 games, but it wouldn't be a very big surprise if it went the other way (kinda like CowboyB). 
|
|
|
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 3, 2008
|
|
Citron,
Good Info and thanks for giving us the rundown on your squad. The Beermakers are definitely one of the favorites to win the division. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that 5th highest scoring offense stat that you've metioned twice. Only four runs the Brewers (64) and the Redbirds (60) who are currently 10th in total offense. It's a little too early in the season to be throwing that stat around. Defensively 5 runs seperate the two teams so I'd say this matchup is pretty even and should come down to pitching.
At the plate Fielder has clearly struggled thus far and should really consider going back to being a meat eating monster that had pitchers sweating last season. Hitting .222 with no jacks is hardly reason for concern but he may break out of it on any given pitch. It's looking like Kendall is going to have carry the load until Fielder can get to a decent steakhouse and even he's been in a slump as of late. IMO both teams are going to be playing their toughest opponent so far this season starting tomorrow and it looks to me that both teams are pretty evenly matched.
I appreciate all the respect you've given our squad and I'm really looking forward to this series. I think it's gonna set the tone for the division.
|
|
|
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 11, 2007
|
|
Wow, its amazing how evenly the two teams are considering how poorly Brewer fans think the crew is playing and how well that Cardinals fans think the Cards are playing. I would have guessed much larger advantages for the Cardinals.
|
|
|
Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Jul 13, 2007
|
|
CARDS SWEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It would take Ben Sheets for Milwaukee to stand a chance in this series, and it sounds like we don't have to worry about all that.
|
|
