*** Official St Louis Cardinals to the 2006 World Series Thread *** - Page 44

MyTurn2Raise · #**431** 07-10-2006, 02:18 AM

your right that Cruz sold out Oswalt. It was too close to call from the views I saw. I don't think it would've been called had Cruz, the man with the best view, make it seem like he missed.

Both teams blew opportunities. It was a comical series.

Quadstriker · #**432** 07-10-2006, 02:35 AM

[ QUOTE ]
J
The stros will turn it around

[/ QUOTE ]

Based on... what exactly? Last year's 2nd half record? Keep living in the past.

Aceshigh7 · #**433** 07-10-2006, 02:41 AM

Based on having the best rotation in the central, that's what. Guess you haven't been paying much attention the last two years.

Schwartzy61 · #**434** 07-10-2006, 03:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Based on having the best rotation in the central, that's what. Guess you haven't been paying much attention the last two years.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well in 2004 they made an acquisition some time in just before the All-Star break to give their offense a boost and push towards the post season.

In 2005, they were in a similar spot at the All-Star break. But there are plenty of major differences. One, you don't have the best staff in the NL by far this year. Petitte had a ludicrous career year last year and this year Petitte doesn't look like Pettitte, perhaps regression to the mean after last season. And to expect Roger to throw up a 1.83 ERA like last year is ludicrous. And the bullpen is far worse this year than last it seems. So it might be the best staff, but it's not by much and certainly doesn't say much about how good they are. Two, the Central is a little tougher this year. Last Year Houston was in second place at the All-Star break and got to beat up on plenty of inferior competition to help their Wild Card chances. Both the Reds and Brewers are much approved and you can't expect them to suddenly suck to no end and be "easy" wins. Third, in 2005 the Astros headed into the All-Star break having won 28 of 40 games to get above .500. This year the Astros have been headed in the opposite direction going 18-26 in their last 44 games (and 7-13 in their last 20) to drop below .500. They also had a more balance of home/road games in the second half of 2005; it was 37 home/38 road. This year? 31/42. It seems everything points to a disappointing second half for the Astros, you just don't seem to realize how tough things are for the Astros, but keep the hope alive, Roger is making $100,000 per inning and that salary won't pay itself...

Schwartzy61 · #**435** 07-10-2006, 04:05 AM

As for the Oswalt thing, there was a pile of dirt in front of the base so it is entirely reasonable for him to think his toe touched something, whether it was the base or not is something you could argue until you are blue in the face and have absolutely no resolution. But Jose Cruz was staring at the base and then pointed at it and perhaps told him to come back and touch it. At that point the UMP has no choice but to call it...

And there were two outs so it's not like the Astros were guaranteed to score there and a questionable call lost them the game.

crockpot · #**436** 07-10-2006, 10:00 AM

stat of the day:

take the projected winning percentages from BP's odds page, apply the log5 method, and it spits out these figures:

cardinals' chances to win world series given they win the NL pennant: 30.3%
devil rays' chances to win world series given they win the AL pennant: 32.2%

the NL sucks. a lot.

challenger84 · #**437** 07-10-2006, 11:11 AM

3 out of 4 from a struggling Astros team at home is just what the Cards needed. Aceshigh, enjoy your fourth place finish, the Astros are done.

Aceshigh7 · #**438** 07-10-2006, 11:17 AM

That's hilarious. I'll be sure to remind you of your post in September.

6 games back of 1st and 3.5 back of the WC in JULY with an good pitching staff that hasn't yet gotten fully on track yet. Yea, they are really finished.

challenger84 · #**439** 07-10-2006, 11:20 AM

yea, it's hilarious to think that a fourth place team that can't hit and has no bullpen will still be in fourth place in September. Although it will be nice not having to see your or prodickblower's inane homeristic posts come playoff time.

Aceshigh7 · #**440** 07-10-2006, 11:29 AM

Wow, a fourth place team? Shucks, if only our record was two games better, then we'd be a second place team and the great challenger84 might actually think we have a chance!

The smart Cardinals fans admit that it's pretty likely the Stros and the Cards will both be right there at the end. Only people who live in a dream world like you are discounting the Astros right now.