We'll start with an email I received that I think pretty much sums up much of the concern for Cardinal fans across the country:
"What is the deal with the Birds? Closer situation looks terrible with Looper. I believe it is time to give the ball to the kid and see if he has got what it takes. It can’t get any worse. What are your feelings and have you heard any word of the situation?"
-Tatum
Thanks for the email, Tatum, and no I haven't heard of any recent revelations concerning the Cardinals closing role. But something certainly needs to happen, and not just in the closing role but across the board in the bullpen. The Cardinals have lost each of their last six games from the seventh inning on, so this is clearly far from simply a closers problem. Not to mention that the starters haven't looked great either. We didn't get the start we expected out of Suppan or Carpenter the last time around, and what is it exactly that we expect from the other three starters - whoever they may be?
So what do we do? Well, I never thought that I would say this but I'm with you, Tatum. Let's throw the kid in there and see what he's made of. I'm not able to hold on to Izzy anymore so I guess its time to move on to other options. The thing that concerns me here the most is that I do remember what happened to Rick Ankiel under the pressure, and I am a little overly-concerned that the same could happen to Wainwright. However, I think he has the best stuff in the pen and I think he would be our best option at closer. Braden Looper isn't going to get the job done, he's much more comfortable in the set-up role and he's done his job well in that role, for the most part. So, ideallyI would keep him there and let Wainwright close 'em down. Hopefully our starters can get us six, Hancock can get us the seventh, Looper the eighth and Wainwright the ninth. When you look at the line-up of pitchers, its seems pretty darn good. The problem is that none of them can get it going all at once.
I think the biggest thing here is to establish a closer. I mentioned in "2 Minutes of Fun" that I think there is some added pressure on the bullpen guys knowing that Izzy isn't back there, ready to go in the ninth. And I think the solution to this problem would be for LaRussa to say, "hey, this man is our closer and we're sticking with him." That has to be better than for each of those guys to go into every game not knowing if he's going to be the man 45,000 people are staring at in the bottom of the ninth with the post season on the line. Establish jobs, and go out and do your best. That's my opinion.
More on the Cardinals:
It seems that everybody is concerned about the off-season right now. Why is this? Yes, we've lost seven straight and our LEAD is down to 1.5 but nonetheless, we're still in the lead and we should still be thinking about getting to the play-offs. There was a post made on my latest blog stating the Cardinals should get rid of Izzy, Jim Edmonds, Ronnie Belliard, Preston Wilson, and Jose Vizcaino immediately. I couldn't agree less with this statement. We've been through the Izzy argument so we won't go there. I understand that Edmonds may be at the tail end of his career and people are on him about his performance this year, even though he's come back and supplied a small spark in the club over the last week. And no, I don't think he is worth the money that his extension would allow for next year. BUT, I don't think we need to dump him immediately. What he doesn't do at the plate, he makes up for in the field. His capability to play shallow in center probably saves the Cardinals a couple runs a week, in all honesty. Don't take Edmonds for granted, please, he's been clutch when we've needed him and his defense is second to none in this league.
Ronnie Belliard has been solid since being with the Birds. In his 49 games with the Cardinals, he's batting .243 (not impressive) with 22 rbi and 5 homeruns, however he's been a consistent at second base and he is able to turn some double play balls with much more consistency than we were able to earlier in the year. He's come up with clutch hits, and he's more of a power threat than Hector Luna or Aaron Miles. He's fine for this team down the stretch.
I still don't understand the entire Jose Vizcaino deal. I've been puzzled since day 1 as to why we felt the need to sign him. The rumor was that he was to be David Eckstein's back-up, but he obviously isn't. I'm ok with letting him go.
Preston Wilson is another guy that I'm not sure you can knack on too much. He isn't Albert Pujols, but he's done a fine job since coming over from Houston. He adds another power threat and he plays a fine outfield. He's better than So Taguchi as an everyday outfielder.
The bottom line is that this isn't the off-season, this is the pennant race. And if this your team, then it's time to get behind them. Let's make a pact as Cardinal fans: no more nay-saying, no more doubting. Just routin' hard and winnin' ballgames. And drinking the occasional cold, frosty Budweiser with Mike Shannon to help him get through the rest of this losing streak. Let's turn Cardinal nation RED for the next week and do our part in getting them there.
Here's to Mike and the Redbirds.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
2 Minutes of Fun
* A football fumbling, Cardinal stumbling, game-saving power-play perfect way to start the weekly quick-witted 2 minutes of fun. * (Oh yea, we'll talk about the SUPADOME also.)
GETTIN' IT STARTED: Um, well, last weekend when the Cardinals couldn't beat Houston I was telling everyone around me not to worry. Uh....red flag is up, folks. The Cardinals can't beat anybody right now.
KEEPIN' IT GOING: Speaking of the Cardinals, Lee Smith is no longer No. 1 on the all-time saves list. He's been passed by none other than Trevor Hoffman. Now let me ask you this: How can Trevor Hoffman be the winningst closer of all time, be dominating the Cardinals in the ninth this week, and still NOT be able to save the All-Star game??? He cost the National League home field advantage, and if we're not careful he's going to help knock the Cardinals out of the post-season. And he already knocked Cardinal great, Smith, out of his castle at the top.
BRINGIN' THE HEAT: What did I say about Bill Guerin? (see "New Additions...") How about four goals and an assist in Friday's exhibition win (5-3) against the Thrashers. Looks like he may be back to form. And maybe the Blues power play is back as well, they converted four out of six on Friday.
SLOPPY SECONDS: Well, the Rams did their best to lose, but Kurt Warner was there to save them again. It's nice how Warner always seems to show up at the right time to help the Rams out. Mad Mike Martz is back in town next weekend. Let's hope he's interested in making good with Rams fans also, just as Warner did last week. And, honestly, even if he's not interested in throwing the game from the coach's booth, the Rams shouldn't have much of a problem with his sloppy Lions. Then again....they are the Rams.
WINDIN' DOWN: Hip, hip, hooray with cherries on top. Mizzou Football is 4-0 and ranked 25th in the AP poll, and there happens to be a rumor around campus that their defense is ranked No.1 in the nation???? I haven't been able to find this rank anywhere, so don't put much stock into it. And honestly, Mizzou hasn't really played anybody. If they start 6-0 then we'll talk about them more in this blog, but until then I'll let them talk about themselves in the local papers.
STAYIN' ALIVE: Just a quick thought, and anybody who knows me will harass me for putting this in here, BUT I just happen to be wondering if not having Jason Isringhausen in the bullpen is adding extra pressure, and pressure not being responded to, towards the other bullpen guys for the Cardinals? There's no one to blame it on anymore. Here's to hoping the 'pen gets it going and we can forget about Izzy all together for now.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: Congrats to New Orleans and the reconstruction of the Superdome. It's beautiful, I'm sure. HOWEVER, I'm with a close friend of mine in saying that, perhaps the lovely city of New Orleans should have looked in to rehousing the THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people who are still homeless before they pumped MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS into bringing back the Superdome. And I know what you're saying, and yes, I did read the papers and I saw all about how the fans and the players were so excited to have the dome and football back in New Orleans. And I understand how sports bring towns and cities and countries together. But what I didn't read was one single quote from somebody in New Orleans who was still without a home. Everybody secure in their tidy beds love it, but what about those thousands still split from family and sleeping in the streets. Can you imagine being them? Do you think they care that the Saints are 3-0? In all honesty, I saw it as a sad day in this country that so many innocent and perfectly fine civilians were put second to a building and to a game when it came to priority.
Fun havin' ya.
Questions or comments: email me at dunterreiner@semosportsweb.com
GETTIN' IT STARTED: Um, well, last weekend when the Cardinals couldn't beat Houston I was telling everyone around me not to worry. Uh....red flag is up, folks. The Cardinals can't beat anybody right now.
KEEPIN' IT GOING: Speaking of the Cardinals, Lee Smith is no longer No. 1 on the all-time saves list. He's been passed by none other than Trevor Hoffman. Now let me ask you this: How can Trevor Hoffman be the winningst closer of all time, be dominating the Cardinals in the ninth this week, and still NOT be able to save the All-Star game??? He cost the National League home field advantage, and if we're not careful he's going to help knock the Cardinals out of the post-season. And he already knocked Cardinal great, Smith, out of his castle at the top.
BRINGIN' THE HEAT: What did I say about Bill Guerin? (see "New Additions...") How about four goals and an assist in Friday's exhibition win (5-3) against the Thrashers. Looks like he may be back to form. And maybe the Blues power play is back as well, they converted four out of six on Friday.
SLOPPY SECONDS: Well, the Rams did their best to lose, but Kurt Warner was there to save them again. It's nice how Warner always seems to show up at the right time to help the Rams out. Mad Mike Martz is back in town next weekend. Let's hope he's interested in making good with Rams fans also, just as Warner did last week. And, honestly, even if he's not interested in throwing the game from the coach's booth, the Rams shouldn't have much of a problem with his sloppy Lions. Then again....they are the Rams.
WINDIN' DOWN: Hip, hip, hooray with cherries on top. Mizzou Football is 4-0 and ranked 25th in the AP poll, and there happens to be a rumor around campus that their defense is ranked No.1 in the nation???? I haven't been able to find this rank anywhere, so don't put much stock into it. And honestly, Mizzou hasn't really played anybody. If they start 6-0 then we'll talk about them more in this blog, but until then I'll let them talk about themselves in the local papers.
STAYIN' ALIVE: Just a quick thought, and anybody who knows me will harass me for putting this in here, BUT I just happen to be wondering if not having Jason Isringhausen in the bullpen is adding extra pressure, and pressure not being responded to, towards the other bullpen guys for the Cardinals? There's no one to blame it on anymore. Here's to hoping the 'pen gets it going and we can forget about Izzy all together for now.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: Congrats to New Orleans and the reconstruction of the Superdome. It's beautiful, I'm sure. HOWEVER, I'm with a close friend of mine in saying that, perhaps the lovely city of New Orleans should have looked in to rehousing the THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people who are still homeless before they pumped MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS into bringing back the Superdome. And I know what you're saying, and yes, I did read the papers and I saw all about how the fans and the players were so excited to have the dome and football back in New Orleans. And I understand how sports bring towns and cities and countries together. But what I didn't read was one single quote from somebody in New Orleans who was still without a home. Everybody secure in their tidy beds love it, but what about those thousands still split from family and sleeping in the streets. Can you imagine being them? Do you think they care that the Saints are 3-0? In all honesty, I saw it as a sad day in this country that so many innocent and perfectly fine civilians were put second to a building and to a game when it came to priority.
Fun havin' ya.
Questions or comments: email me at dunterreiner@semosportsweb.com
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
New Additions should Solidify Blues
The jury is still out on Blues new owner Dave Checketts, but by the way things are shaping up for the Blues and the fresh season it's looking like Checketts means business. Checketts, who took over the team in the off-season, has proven that he's serious about making the Blues an honorable hockey franchise again. And it's not just talk. And to be downright blunt about it: IT'S VERY EXCITING!!!
Yes, the Blues fell off the proverbial map last season and dropped to the bottom of the horrific Central division. Yes, at times it looked like your child's high school hockey team could beat the snot out of the Blues. And yes, the terrible Columbia Blue Jackets led by 98- year old Sergei Federov, were 17 points better than us - not to mention the hated Chicago Blackhawks posted 8 more points than our beloved Blues.
But, don't expect the Blues to be anywhere near the bottom of the barrel this season. And, it pretty much WAS a high school team skating around the Savvis last year. And the Blackhawks will never again out-point the Blues. Nor will the Columbia Blue Jackets. Mark it, dudes.
This is no longer a team that will be bullied. Checketts has made some legit moves in the offseason and he's shored up his squad, preparing them to make a playoff push this season. It will be nice to finally see what kind of coach Mike Kitchen is in the coming years now that he has a few more legit players to command. In the off-season, the Blues acquried Jay McKee, Manny Legace, Bill Guerin, Radek Dvorak, Martin Rucinksky, Dan Hinote, and we re-acquired Dougie Weight.
Who are these people? Well, if you're a true Blues fan then I don't think Doug Weight needs an introduction. He was traded to Carolina last year after the break and was a integral part of their Stanley Cup victory. He's not neccessarily going to blow you away with his stuff but he's a team leader and I wouldn't be surprised to see him notch 80 assists this year. Not to mention he's an avid St. Louis fan: for his one day with Stanley Cup he just so happened to bring it right back home to St. Louis to let his new teammates get a whiff.
Dan Hinote came over from Colorado to help at the center position this season. He only had 13 points last year, five goals and 8 assists but he was hampered with a small injuries all year. I don't expect him to blow up this year with any mind-numbing statistics, but he should be a nice addition to our third-line offense.
Martin Ruckinsky came west from the Rangers where last season he was fourth on the team with 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists). All this came in only 52 games as he was acquired by the team mid-season. Not bad numbers considering. Look for him to post 20 goals in the offense and upwards of 40 assists.
There's no reason not to be stoked about the most recent Blues signing, Radek Dvorak. He's skated in two Stanley Cups, most recently last year with the Oilers where he proved he was still a big time player by his performance in game seven. He's been in the league ten years now and has played in 746 games. Old, you may say? This is just the kind of guy the Blues are looking for right now. He should be a welcome addition in helping mold the youngsters over the next couple seasons. Look for him on the penalty kill unit most often.
Bill Guerin. You've heard his name, I'm sure. But what has he done? Well, truth be told, last year he didn't do much. 13 goals and 27 assists in 70 games, but there's an explanation for this. Guerin was the spokesperson for the player's association during the strike over the 2004-2005 season, and even going into last year he made it clear that he wasn't mentally ready to play due to the stress of the strike. This year, the Blues steal this stud from the Stars, and it looks like he's ready to go again. In his last healthy season, he was among the NHL leaders, tied for first in game winners (10), ninth in goals (34), and 21st in points (69). The scary thing for opponents this year is that Guerin will be teamed up with Keith Tkachuck, one of the most potent offensive threats in the league when healthy (and he showed up this season in the best shape of his life). I look for Billy to score 30 goals this season and notch upwards of 30 assists. If he regains form, it's not far-fetched to say he and Tkachuck would be considered one of the games best 1-2 punches.
Jay McKee? Who the heck is this guy? Well, remember the days of Tony Twist? No, McKee isn't going to be sent into the games simply to fight, but nonetheless, he remains among the games toughest defensemen. Last year McKee led the league in block shots, and had a career high in points. Most impressively, however, is the fact that he, too, also got loads of playoff experience last year, playing with Buffalo, and shined. He notched five points (2 goals, 3 assists) while blocking a tremoundous 64 shots in only 17 games during Buffalo's run. McKee joins forces with a now healty Eric Brewer to beef up an already descent defense that sports the likes of Christian Backman, Barret Jackman, and Bruce Salvador. Add in Eric Wideman's dangerous slap shot from the point and you get a healthy dosage of rough, tough, and dare-I-say good? The first time we can say that the Blues defense has been good since Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis teamed up back there.
And who are they protecting? Well, perhaps the most exciting addition to the newly vamped Blues: Manny Legace. Forget about Curtis Sanford, he made a crucial mistake in the offseason not signing a multi-year deal somewhere in the league in hopes of proving his worth this season. I guess something must have went awal in the program because he isn't going to get his chance in St. Louis unless Legace goes down. Of course we're all partial to Sanford instead of some chump coming from Hockey Town, right? But I got a pretty descent feeling that we'll be forgetting the fact that Legace was a Red Wing last season fairly quickly. Why? Check this out: last year Legace ranked 3rd in goals against average, 2nd in shutouts, and 8th in save percentage. He's the real deal. Don't pay attention to the critics in Detroit who blamed their lame play in the first round of the playoffs on Legace last year. It wasn't all his fault. And now Detroit is looking foolish for letting Legace go: 3 reasons - Number 1, they let him go to a team in the same division (DA BLUES.) Number 2: Their starting netminder is Dominik Hasek, a guy who first tried to retire 8 years ago. And Number 3: their back-up goalie is Chris Osgood, who can still play a little bit but, nonetheless - he's still Chris Osgood. Not to mention, Osgood will be playing many games this season because Hasek will not hold up. And for those of you just getting back into hockey since the strike, Hasek is no longer the feared "Dominator" that he once was. The Red Wings may still hold on to this division, after all they did have the best record in hockey last year, but don't be surprised if someone knocks them off their castle.
Other things to note about this Blues team and their additions are that Dvorak and Petr Cajanek (center) played on the same Olympic team last winter, so maybe there is a chance that some chemistry already exists between those two. Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, and Doug Weight also have played on the same Olympic team. Perhaps it's not saying much, but it does hold a little weight that all these newcomers aren't completely unknown to their teammates.
Expect big years from the youngsters as well, being that they're learning from some heralded veterans. Cajanek and Lee Stempniak should shine under Guerin, Weight, Tkachuk, and captain Dallas Drake. Jay McClement and Ryan Johnson should also polish up their abilities this year.
My prediction: Not only is this an exciting year because the Blues should be good again but it's also a step in the right direction for our future. I expect Legace to have a big year in the net considering he's being protected by a fairly good defense, and considering he shouldn't have the pressure of his offense not being able to score. The Blues will score this season if they can stay healthy. The Blues are back, BABY!!! They're not made for the Stanley Cup this year, but I expect them to push their way into the playoffs and be a scare when they get there.
Yes, the Blues fell off the proverbial map last season and dropped to the bottom of the horrific Central division. Yes, at times it looked like your child's high school hockey team could beat the snot out of the Blues. And yes, the terrible Columbia Blue Jackets led by 98- year old Sergei Federov, were 17 points better than us - not to mention the hated Chicago Blackhawks posted 8 more points than our beloved Blues.
But, don't expect the Blues to be anywhere near the bottom of the barrel this season. And, it pretty much WAS a high school team skating around the Savvis last year. And the Blackhawks will never again out-point the Blues. Nor will the Columbia Blue Jackets. Mark it, dudes.
This is no longer a team that will be bullied. Checketts has made some legit moves in the offseason and he's shored up his squad, preparing them to make a playoff push this season. It will be nice to finally see what kind of coach Mike Kitchen is in the coming years now that he has a few more legit players to command. In the off-season, the Blues acquried Jay McKee, Manny Legace, Bill Guerin, Radek Dvorak, Martin Rucinksky, Dan Hinote, and we re-acquired Dougie Weight.
Who are these people? Well, if you're a true Blues fan then I don't think Doug Weight needs an introduction. He was traded to Carolina last year after the break and was a integral part of their Stanley Cup victory. He's not neccessarily going to blow you away with his stuff but he's a team leader and I wouldn't be surprised to see him notch 80 assists this year. Not to mention he's an avid St. Louis fan: for his one day with Stanley Cup he just so happened to bring it right back home to St. Louis to let his new teammates get a whiff.
Dan Hinote came over from Colorado to help at the center position this season. He only had 13 points last year, five goals and 8 assists but he was hampered with a small injuries all year. I don't expect him to blow up this year with any mind-numbing statistics, but he should be a nice addition to our third-line offense.
Martin Ruckinsky came west from the Rangers where last season he was fourth on the team with 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists). All this came in only 52 games as he was acquired by the team mid-season. Not bad numbers considering. Look for him to post 20 goals in the offense and upwards of 40 assists.
There's no reason not to be stoked about the most recent Blues signing, Radek Dvorak. He's skated in two Stanley Cups, most recently last year with the Oilers where he proved he was still a big time player by his performance in game seven. He's been in the league ten years now and has played in 746 games. Old, you may say? This is just the kind of guy the Blues are looking for right now. He should be a welcome addition in helping mold the youngsters over the next couple seasons. Look for him on the penalty kill unit most often.
Bill Guerin. You've heard his name, I'm sure. But what has he done? Well, truth be told, last year he didn't do much. 13 goals and 27 assists in 70 games, but there's an explanation for this. Guerin was the spokesperson for the player's association during the strike over the 2004-2005 season, and even going into last year he made it clear that he wasn't mentally ready to play due to the stress of the strike. This year, the Blues steal this stud from the Stars, and it looks like he's ready to go again. In his last healthy season, he was among the NHL leaders, tied for first in game winners (10), ninth in goals (34), and 21st in points (69). The scary thing for opponents this year is that Guerin will be teamed up with Keith Tkachuck, one of the most potent offensive threats in the league when healthy (and he showed up this season in the best shape of his life). I look for Billy to score 30 goals this season and notch upwards of 30 assists. If he regains form, it's not far-fetched to say he and Tkachuck would be considered one of the games best 1-2 punches.
Jay McKee? Who the heck is this guy? Well, remember the days of Tony Twist? No, McKee isn't going to be sent into the games simply to fight, but nonetheless, he remains among the games toughest defensemen. Last year McKee led the league in block shots, and had a career high in points. Most impressively, however, is the fact that he, too, also got loads of playoff experience last year, playing with Buffalo, and shined. He notched five points (2 goals, 3 assists) while blocking a tremoundous 64 shots in only 17 games during Buffalo's run. McKee joins forces with a now healty Eric Brewer to beef up an already descent defense that sports the likes of Christian Backman, Barret Jackman, and Bruce Salvador. Add in Eric Wideman's dangerous slap shot from the point and you get a healthy dosage of rough, tough, and dare-I-say good? The first time we can say that the Blues defense has been good since Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis teamed up back there.
And who are they protecting? Well, perhaps the most exciting addition to the newly vamped Blues: Manny Legace. Forget about Curtis Sanford, he made a crucial mistake in the offseason not signing a multi-year deal somewhere in the league in hopes of proving his worth this season. I guess something must have went awal in the program because he isn't going to get his chance in St. Louis unless Legace goes down. Of course we're all partial to Sanford instead of some chump coming from Hockey Town, right? But I got a pretty descent feeling that we'll be forgetting the fact that Legace was a Red Wing last season fairly quickly. Why? Check this out: last year Legace ranked 3rd in goals against average, 2nd in shutouts, and 8th in save percentage. He's the real deal. Don't pay attention to the critics in Detroit who blamed their lame play in the first round of the playoffs on Legace last year. It wasn't all his fault. And now Detroit is looking foolish for letting Legace go: 3 reasons - Number 1, they let him go to a team in the same division (DA BLUES.) Number 2: Their starting netminder is Dominik Hasek, a guy who first tried to retire 8 years ago. And Number 3: their back-up goalie is Chris Osgood, who can still play a little bit but, nonetheless - he's still Chris Osgood. Not to mention, Osgood will be playing many games this season because Hasek will not hold up. And for those of you just getting back into hockey since the strike, Hasek is no longer the feared "Dominator" that he once was. The Red Wings may still hold on to this division, after all they did have the best record in hockey last year, but don't be surprised if someone knocks them off their castle.
Other things to note about this Blues team and their additions are that Dvorak and Petr Cajanek (center) played on the same Olympic team last winter, so maybe there is a chance that some chemistry already exists between those two. Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, and Doug Weight also have played on the same Olympic team. Perhaps it's not saying much, but it does hold a little weight that all these newcomers aren't completely unknown to their teammates.
Expect big years from the youngsters as well, being that they're learning from some heralded veterans. Cajanek and Lee Stempniak should shine under Guerin, Weight, Tkachuk, and captain Dallas Drake. Jay McClement and Ryan Johnson should also polish up their abilities this year.
My prediction: Not only is this an exciting year because the Blues should be good again but it's also a step in the right direction for our future. I expect Legace to have a big year in the net considering he's being protected by a fairly good defense, and considering he shouldn't have the pressure of his offense not being able to score. The Blues will score this season if they can stay healthy. The Blues are back, BABY!!! They're not made for the Stanley Cup this year, but I expect them to push their way into the playoffs and be a scare when they get there.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Rams have much to prove
The Mike Martz era of St. Louis football is over, thankfully, and with it may have went the once renowned "greatest show on turf." Through the first two games of the Ram's season, the offense has been nearly non-existant and it doesnt' look like things could get much brighter in the coming weeks. Marc Bulger can't hit his target, Torry Holt can't catch passes if he can't figure out what route he's supposed to be running, and the offensive line is looking like the bottom of a bag of Chips-a-Hoy, crumbled but still with the potential to be tasty.
Orlando Pace is out for at least next weeks game with the Kurt Warner led Arizona Cardinals due to a concussion, and I say "at least" even though the doctors say he should be set to go for Week 4 because St. Louis fans know all to well what a concussion can actually mean to an athlete (hint Jim Edmonds and Chris Miller). Andy McCollum, the team's starting center, went down in week one and is sidelined for the season, therby moving starting left guard Richie Incognito to center and forcing back-up Todd Steussie to take over for Incognito. Now it seems as though Steussie will move to left tackle and newly acquired Adam Goldberg (from Minnesota) will take over at left guard. This means that the entire left side of the O-line, including the center, has been changed from it's original lineup at the start of week one. The only thing still holding up is the right side where veteran Adam Timmerman and mammoth child Alex Barron still anchor.
Last time I checked, it doesn't seem to work out to well for an offense when it's offensive line starts falling apart forcing the coaching staff to shuffle around players. Not to mention, this offense is already in flux, obviously, trying to learn an entirely new offense. At this point, the only bright spot on the squad is running back Steven Jackson who has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the first two games. However, he still hasn't found the endzone.
The good news for the Ram's offense is that, unlike the Martz era, they are getting a chance to establish a running game under Linehan. And it's no secret that Bulger is still one of the best and most accurate QB's in the NFL and that Torry Holt is still one of the top five recievers in the game. Not to mention Issac Bruce can still play, as apparent by his five catches for 77 yards in week 2. What does all this mean? Well, if Steven Jackson continues getting the ball then this will continue to open that passing attack that still has the potential to break down some defenses. Bulger went 19 for 34 last week and finally connected with Holt for the Ram's first touchdown, these are numbers characteristic for Chris Miller and Tony Banks, but uncharacteristic for Bulger. Expect him to get better, but don't expect it until Pace is back on the O-Line.
The Ram's weren't built for the Super Bowl this year, but there's plenty of time for them to prove they are a playoff caliber team and it starts at Arizona next week.
NOTES:
*Kurt Warner can still play folks and he'll be looking to get big on the Ram's defense next week. So far this year, he has thrown for 532 yards, four touchdowns, and only one interception. Numbers better than his former STL teammate, Bulger, who's tossed for 402 yards and only one touchdown this season.
*Wonder what Brenda Warner will be doing come game time in Arizona without having Mike Martz to hassle?
*Speaking of Mike Martz, his offense in Detroit is actually making the Rams look pretty darn good (not to compare the Rams to the Lions - of course). The Lions only have 543 total yards on offense over the first two weeks of the season, compared to the Rams 645 total yards. Both teams have scored one touchdown and the Lion's score came on a rush from quarterback Jon Kitna.
*Ram's kicker, Jeff Wilkins, is good. Don't let the two missed field goals in the first two weeks get you down. The miss in week one was a field goal that he actually made on his first attempt but got called back due to a penalty. He's got his misses out of the way, and I don't feel strained saying he's going to be dang-near perfect the rest of the way. It would nice, however, if the Ram's didn't put all the pressure on him.
*We'll talk about the Ram's defense next week, they need one more soild performance before I call them a "good" defense. They showed signs of brilliance in week one, both individually and as a team, but committed some crucial mistakes in the second half this week. I'm more excited than anyone about Jim Haslett leading this show, but we'll see if they can keep me happy.
Orlando Pace is out for at least next weeks game with the Kurt Warner led Arizona Cardinals due to a concussion, and I say "at least" even though the doctors say he should be set to go for Week 4 because St. Louis fans know all to well what a concussion can actually mean to an athlete (hint Jim Edmonds and Chris Miller). Andy McCollum, the team's starting center, went down in week one and is sidelined for the season, therby moving starting left guard Richie Incognito to center and forcing back-up Todd Steussie to take over for Incognito. Now it seems as though Steussie will move to left tackle and newly acquired Adam Goldberg (from Minnesota) will take over at left guard. This means that the entire left side of the O-line, including the center, has been changed from it's original lineup at the start of week one. The only thing still holding up is the right side where veteran Adam Timmerman and mammoth child Alex Barron still anchor.
Last time I checked, it doesn't seem to work out to well for an offense when it's offensive line starts falling apart forcing the coaching staff to shuffle around players. Not to mention, this offense is already in flux, obviously, trying to learn an entirely new offense. At this point, the only bright spot on the squad is running back Steven Jackson who has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the first two games. However, he still hasn't found the endzone.
The good news for the Ram's offense is that, unlike the Martz era, they are getting a chance to establish a running game under Linehan. And it's no secret that Bulger is still one of the best and most accurate QB's in the NFL and that Torry Holt is still one of the top five recievers in the game. Not to mention Issac Bruce can still play, as apparent by his five catches for 77 yards in week 2. What does all this mean? Well, if Steven Jackson continues getting the ball then this will continue to open that passing attack that still has the potential to break down some defenses. Bulger went 19 for 34 last week and finally connected with Holt for the Ram's first touchdown, these are numbers characteristic for Chris Miller and Tony Banks, but uncharacteristic for Bulger. Expect him to get better, but don't expect it until Pace is back on the O-Line.
The Ram's weren't built for the Super Bowl this year, but there's plenty of time for them to prove they are a playoff caliber team and it starts at Arizona next week.
NOTES:
*Kurt Warner can still play folks and he'll be looking to get big on the Ram's defense next week. So far this year, he has thrown for 532 yards, four touchdowns, and only one interception. Numbers better than his former STL teammate, Bulger, who's tossed for 402 yards and only one touchdown this season.
*Wonder what Brenda Warner will be doing come game time in Arizona without having Mike Martz to hassle?
*Speaking of Mike Martz, his offense in Detroit is actually making the Rams look pretty darn good (not to compare the Rams to the Lions - of course). The Lions only have 543 total yards on offense over the first two weeks of the season, compared to the Rams 645 total yards. Both teams have scored one touchdown and the Lion's score came on a rush from quarterback Jon Kitna.
*Ram's kicker, Jeff Wilkins, is good. Don't let the two missed field goals in the first two weeks get you down. The miss in week one was a field goal that he actually made on his first attempt but got called back due to a penalty. He's got his misses out of the way, and I don't feel strained saying he's going to be dang-near perfect the rest of the way. It would nice, however, if the Ram's didn't put all the pressure on him.
*We'll talk about the Ram's defense next week, they need one more soild performance before I call them a "good" defense. They showed signs of brilliance in week one, both individually and as a team, but committed some crucial mistakes in the second half this week. I'm more excited than anyone about Jim Haslett leading this show, but we'll see if they can keep me happy.
Izzy done; but hopefully not for good
Ah, yes, the time has finally come for all of you Jason Isringhausen haters out there. He has finally been shelved for the season, off the mound, off the field, and no where to be seen in the bullpen.
His most recent bullpen session, which came on Friday, was the final straw for the Cardinal closer. Although it was noted that his "stuff" was quite good, he was in too much discomfort to clear himself for pitching duty throughout the remainder of the season. The discomfort in question is his hip, an injury he has struggled with over the last few years. Surgery will happen for Jason here in the next few weeks and it could go one of two ways: the first would be a simple scope and cleaning of his hip in hopes of his return for 2007, the other being a more extensive surgery that could sideline him for the first few months of next year's season. We should know the answer by Tuesday.
So if you just happened to be one of the knucklheads booing Izzy over the last two months then I'm assuming you're hoping for the extensive surgery that will sideline him at the beginning of 2007, and then you're hoping that some new kid comes in and shines in the closer role just as Johnathon Papelbon did for the Red Sox this year. Best case scenario, right? If this does happen, then you never have to chew on your Tums while watching Izzy pitch again.
Well, I'm not one of you guys. I, for one, hope a good "scope and clean" does the trick and we see Izzy ready for game 1 of the new season. I hear time and time again about how today's player's aren't tough enough, about how today's starters are going on five day's rest instead of three, about how a sore shoulder puts a guy on the DL for fifteen days. About how J.D. Drew hits his head on the top of the dugout and then sits on the bench for 17 days. You want tough? You got tough in Isringhausen: a true, pure-breed, tough-as-nails baseball player, a guy who has been pitching the last two months on a hip he wasn't sure would support his body every time he landed after a pitch, and a guy who never once blamed his performances on an injury, instead he just looked the media right in the eye and said, "hey, it's my fault. I should've pitched better."
He's a solid closer, ladies and gentlemen, one of the best in the game's history. I tend to think we take his services for granted here in St. Louis. Especially considering the closers the Cardinals have had over the last ten years. Since 1998, outside of Izzy, the Cardinals have had Dave Veres, Ricky Bottalico, and Juan Acevedo closing games for them. None of which ever established themselves as legit closers. Jason Isringhausen ranked 32nd on the all-time career save list going into this season with 216 career saves. 32nd. 32nd. 32nd. 32nd. ALL-TIME. Do you have any idea how many closers there have been ALL-TIME? He ranks among the top-ten in career save percentage in the HISTORY OF BASEBALL. And he has 30 or more saves in six of his last seven seasons. How many closers in baseball have even been around for the last six seasons? Should I tell you the stats of the closers preceeding Izzy and previous to Dennis Eckersley, or should I spare you?
Listen, this is all I'm saying: don't forget the days that you sat in front your radio late at night and wished to the baseball gods that the Cardinals could sign a legit closer. We got a legit closer, we got one of the best in the game. And now you're asking for Mariano Rivera. Just be glad we don't have Dave Veres.
A recent poll in the St. Louis Post Dispatch asked, "Now that Izzy is out for the season, who would want closing Cardinal games?" The voters gave the nod to Adam Wainwright at 40%, followed by Braden Looper at 33%, and a bullpen by committee got 27% of the vote. So for the remainder of the season it looks like Adam Wainwright is the people's choice. And this is fine with me, Wainwright has looked potent in the bullpen this season and it will be interesting to see what he can do in the closer role. However, I haven't forgot what happened to Rick Ankiel under pressure.
So after the Cardinals win the World Series and Adam Wainwright saves game seven for the title, we must start looking at the closing role for next season. Maybe Adam Wainwright is the answer, but then you're taking him out of the rotation. Maybe Braden Looper is the answer, but then you're losing one of the year's best set-up men (which are almost as important as a closer). And maybe Jason Isringhausen is the answer, in which case we would still have one of the best closers in the game.
But what has he done for you lately, right? Even in his worst year as a Cardinal yet, he ranks fourth among the NL in saves with 33 (despite not having played in two weeks) and among the three ahead of him only two had a better ERA. Teams get lucky landing quality closers from one year to the next, but few teams are as lucky as to have someone as solid as Jason Isringhausen year after year. And I think we'd all rather see Izzy back for three more years than go back to our Ricky Bottalico days. I wonder if Albert Pujols bats .300 next season, hits only 30 homeruns, drives in only 100 runs, and for some god-forsaken reason doesn't lead the league in game-winning hits, if all of you will be booing him as well.
I'm not asking you to love Jason Isringhausen, I'm just telling you that there is no reason to be booing the guy. I'm saying that I'd be willing to bet that if he wasn't back next year, we'd all be wishing he was. The best thing that could happen if Izzy isn't back next year is you saving a couple dollars on TUMS.
Questions or comments: please let me know. I'd love to hear from the fans in the area concerning matters of St. Louis or Mizzou sports. Post a comment or email me at dunterreiner@semosportsweb.com
His most recent bullpen session, which came on Friday, was the final straw for the Cardinal closer. Although it was noted that his "stuff" was quite good, he was in too much discomfort to clear himself for pitching duty throughout the remainder of the season. The discomfort in question is his hip, an injury he has struggled with over the last few years. Surgery will happen for Jason here in the next few weeks and it could go one of two ways: the first would be a simple scope and cleaning of his hip in hopes of his return for 2007, the other being a more extensive surgery that could sideline him for the first few months of next year's season. We should know the answer by Tuesday.
So if you just happened to be one of the knucklheads booing Izzy over the last two months then I'm assuming you're hoping for the extensive surgery that will sideline him at the beginning of 2007, and then you're hoping that some new kid comes in and shines in the closer role just as Johnathon Papelbon did for the Red Sox this year. Best case scenario, right? If this does happen, then you never have to chew on your Tums while watching Izzy pitch again.
Well, I'm not one of you guys. I, for one, hope a good "scope and clean" does the trick and we see Izzy ready for game 1 of the new season. I hear time and time again about how today's player's aren't tough enough, about how today's starters are going on five day's rest instead of three, about how a sore shoulder puts a guy on the DL for fifteen days. About how J.D. Drew hits his head on the top of the dugout and then sits on the bench for 17 days. You want tough? You got tough in Isringhausen: a true, pure-breed, tough-as-nails baseball player, a guy who has been pitching the last two months on a hip he wasn't sure would support his body every time he landed after a pitch, and a guy who never once blamed his performances on an injury, instead he just looked the media right in the eye and said, "hey, it's my fault. I should've pitched better."
He's a solid closer, ladies and gentlemen, one of the best in the game's history. I tend to think we take his services for granted here in St. Louis. Especially considering the closers the Cardinals have had over the last ten years. Since 1998, outside of Izzy, the Cardinals have had Dave Veres, Ricky Bottalico, and Juan Acevedo closing games for them. None of which ever established themselves as legit closers. Jason Isringhausen ranked 32nd on the all-time career save list going into this season with 216 career saves. 32nd. 32nd. 32nd. 32nd. ALL-TIME. Do you have any idea how many closers there have been ALL-TIME? He ranks among the top-ten in career save percentage in the HISTORY OF BASEBALL. And he has 30 or more saves in six of his last seven seasons. How many closers in baseball have even been around for the last six seasons? Should I tell you the stats of the closers preceeding Izzy and previous to Dennis Eckersley, or should I spare you?
Listen, this is all I'm saying: don't forget the days that you sat in front your radio late at night and wished to the baseball gods that the Cardinals could sign a legit closer. We got a legit closer, we got one of the best in the game. And now you're asking for Mariano Rivera. Just be glad we don't have Dave Veres.
A recent poll in the St. Louis Post Dispatch asked, "Now that Izzy is out for the season, who would want closing Cardinal games?" The voters gave the nod to Adam Wainwright at 40%, followed by Braden Looper at 33%, and a bullpen by committee got 27% of the vote. So for the remainder of the season it looks like Adam Wainwright is the people's choice. And this is fine with me, Wainwright has looked potent in the bullpen this season and it will be interesting to see what he can do in the closer role. However, I haven't forgot what happened to Rick Ankiel under pressure.
So after the Cardinals win the World Series and Adam Wainwright saves game seven for the title, we must start looking at the closing role for next season. Maybe Adam Wainwright is the answer, but then you're taking him out of the rotation. Maybe Braden Looper is the answer, but then you're losing one of the year's best set-up men (which are almost as important as a closer). And maybe Jason Isringhausen is the answer, in which case we would still have one of the best closers in the game.
But what has he done for you lately, right? Even in his worst year as a Cardinal yet, he ranks fourth among the NL in saves with 33 (despite not having played in two weeks) and among the three ahead of him only two had a better ERA. Teams get lucky landing quality closers from one year to the next, but few teams are as lucky as to have someone as solid as Jason Isringhausen year after year. And I think we'd all rather see Izzy back for three more years than go back to our Ricky Bottalico days. I wonder if Albert Pujols bats .300 next season, hits only 30 homeruns, drives in only 100 runs, and for some god-forsaken reason doesn't lead the league in game-winning hits, if all of you will be booing him as well.
I'm not asking you to love Jason Isringhausen, I'm just telling you that there is no reason to be booing the guy. I'm saying that I'd be willing to bet that if he wasn't back next year, we'd all be wishing he was. The best thing that could happen if Izzy isn't back next year is you saving a couple dollars on TUMS.
Questions or comments: please let me know. I'd love to hear from the fans in the area concerning matters of St. Louis or Mizzou sports. Post a comment or email me at dunterreiner@semosportsweb.com
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