MattyMo4Life

You underrate your own pitching staff, CardsJimEdmonds15. You guys had, last time I checked, the #1 ERA for starters in the NL, and the #1 ERA for releivers in the NL. Pujols vaulted you guys near one of the best offenses in the NL, but if you take him out, you guys still have a pretty good offense. I think with a league average 1b, instead of Pujols, you guys would still be in first place. Oh yes, the rapidly declining Edmonds still has a .900 OPS+. I think I'd be inclined to give Pujols the MVP based on raw statistics, but the MVP is often not completely based on that. 948297[/snapback] You can't go strictly by stats. Look at the players that are starting for the Cardinals. Taguchi, Nunez, Mabry, Rodriguez, ect. These guys are bench players and career minor leaguers. Do you really think these guys would be playing this well without Pujols in the line-up? I don't! Pujols is the type of player that makes everybody better. It's not a coincidence that average players always do better when they become Cardinals, and then return to their career norms once they leave St. Louis. Pujols is a team leader, and does whatever is best for the team to win. The Astros have an incredible rotation, but they're 14 games out of first place because they don't have Albert Pujols!

945291[/snapback] OLN can waste their money on hockey as long as it doesn't air on the weekends, because then it would be messing with my PBR. :cowboy

the Cardinals are in first place because of their overacheiving pitching staff Tell that to the Houston Astros. Better yet, tell that to Roger Clemens. The best pitching in the world won't help you if you can't score runs.

Probably because the Braves staff doesn't have the Cards' staff's numbers (and the fact that the Braves had 3 of their starters out for a few months). Don't forget bullpens. 940139[/snapback] They still have the 5th best pitching staff in the NL! I never said the Braves staff was as good as the Cardinals, but their rotation is a big reason their in First Place!

the Cardinals are in first place because of their overacheiving pitching staff How can you make that comment about the Cardinals pitching staff, and not say the same thing about the Braves staff? I guess it just doesn't fit your arguement.

write in vote: King Albert

Yeah, Chris is great but if Clemens had that offense, he would be even better. You just can't ignore a 1.54 ERA. .02 936337[/snapback] That's purely opinion that isn't based on any fact. You're only focusing on ERA,and no other stat. Check out the game scores. Carpenter has a better Average Game Score which is a better stat to go by than ERA. Game Scores even consider unearned runs which ERA ignores. Sure, Carpenter gets more runs support than Clemens, but he doesn't need it. If The Cardinals win a game 7-0 and Carpenter completes the game, it doesn't matter how many runs his team scored for him, because he didn't need them.

Morris did well last start IIRC, which means he's due to get torched this time around. 507024[/snapback] Excellent point! Morris even mentioned that in an interview after his last start. It seems like he'll have a brilliant start, and follow it up with a horrible start.

poor guy allows 1 run on 6 hits to a ridiculous offense (the best team in baseball) and gets the loss because a 5th starter from a mediocre rotation looks like nolan ryan against our offense. 506767[/snapback] Suppan is much better than a #5 pitcher. His ERA so far this season is 3.84. His ERA in the NL last season was 3.57. How many #5 starters have ERA's like that. The Cardinals "mediocre" rotation has the 5th lowest ERA in the NL, and Suppan is the 3rd best pitcher in the rotation. It's not uncommon for pitchers to pitch much better in the NL than they did in the DH league.

Cubs get to have fun with the Cards and the NL Central In September505955[/snapback] The Cubs don't play the Cards for the rest of the season.

Well, isnt Chris Carpenter their best SP? 503895[/snapback] That is arguable. Carpenter and Marquis are our best two pitchers. It's debatable as to which one is better.

Hey guys, This game should be great with Carpenter and Beckett going. Carp has been our best pitcher, well he and Marquis. We both need to win this game to set the tone for the rest of the series.

Hey...what's up Espo? Espo's a cool Cubs fan....if there is such a thing

Alex and D. Lee will be a better combo for offense than Tino and Edgar. Tino will not be a Cardinal in 2004 if the Cards can find anyone to take even a portion of his salary. So... do you think a Alex and D. Lee combo would be better than a Edgar and Pujols combination? :whistle

As was mentioned before, Pujols will most likely be the Cards 1st Baseman once Tino is gone. The proposal that includes Lee wouldn't help the Cards because they wouldn't get any pitching, and they wouldn't cut significant costs. Renteria, Rolen, and Pujols may be the Cards only untouchables. Drew and Edmonds are most likely on the block, but I doubt there is any chance Renteria is traded for anybody.