Cards 74-43 vs Cubs 56 -61 ESPN Game

[Schwahalala]

Lets play with poise

Cardinals 8 - Cubs 4

Go Cardinals Go

[Schwahalala]

Is there any player on the Cardinals who has stated more nasty things about the Cubs to the media than Morris. Morris was drafted by the Cardinals in 1995 in the first round and has been with the big club for the last nine years. A few years back - when the Cubs actually had a team - he stated it would be good for them to just fall out of it so that the Cardinals and Astros could go for the title.
Last year after hitting a Cub in the Taguichi game he stated he did what he had to do to protect his teammates.

This year his 12 - 4 record make him our number 2 behind Mr. Cy Young Carpenter. Morris has had trouble this year with pitches 16 - 30 and 61 - 75 in those two stretches opponents have 33 runs scored which is the same number he has given up over all others. So if he can handle the heart of the lineup he should be okay. (Like saying water is wet). He also will have to be focused when there are RISP with 2 outs 13.83. If he can get the first out of an inning and keep the bases clear his batting average against is .197.

Prior has had trouble with his first 45 pitches which shold give the good guys a chance to jump out on top. He has given up 25 runs in that time and 24 the rest of the way. With runners in scoring position he can be had about one out of four times on average no matter how many outs. He has given up 19 home runs to Morris's 12. While Morris has walked 24 and struck out 90 while Prior has walked 35 and struck out 123.

Both pitchers I expect to be up - but if the Cards can get on top early - I think they can get to Prior's mind. Like many of the Cubs they run downhill well and look for excuses when the going gets tough. Prior has great stuff - but at this stage of his career he has had more than a few mental lapses. Morris also has to control his emotions - he is a big gamer who will need to not be too high. Lee and Ramirez and still very groovy type guys who can change things in a blink. This year Morris has kept the ball in the park and that should be the key to he game.

Also - Hollywood is due as well as J Rod.

[slow groove]

Keys to tonite's game:

1) Take...take...take...pitches
2) Work the count/do not offer at pitches out of the zone, or allow Prior easy innings with first pitch hitting.
3) Work to activaly ncrease Prior's pitch count by implementing keys 1 & 2.
4) Take advantage of possibly limited opportunities; runners in scoring position must be scored, and 2 out hits are essential.
5) If we get to Prior early, provide the KNOCK OUT punch then and there and say hello to their bullpen. We allowed Maddux to wiggle from the noose on Thursday after he spotted us an early 2 runs. Afterwards, he settled in allowed no more.

We appear to be in a bit of a offensive slump of late; too many runners left in scoring positon, especially at 3B with less than 2 out. Despite the win yesterday, we struggled against Williams who sported a 5.18 ERA, and allowed him to record 7 strike outs, several at critical times in the game with a runner at third (Pujols & Grudzialanek, two of our more clutch performers with runners on, both failed to record RBI's with a man at 3B and 1 out.

Not certain which Prior we'll see in the game tonight, but in order to win, we must take advantage of every opportunity presented to us.


GO CARDINALS!!!

[yankees suck!]

Matt Morris will take his second shot at his 100th career victory as the National League-leading St. Louis Cardinals try to salvage a split of their weekend series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Morris got off to a strong start this season, winning 10 of 12 decisions while posting a 3.10 ERA in the first half. However, the 31-year-old right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.52 ERA in five outings since.

Morris struggled with his control and did not receive a decision in the Cardinals' 8-4 win over Milwaukee on Monday. He allowed four runs -- two earned -- and six hits, walking three in six innings.

''(I was) a little erratic,'' said Morris, who struck out four. ``Two walks, a hit batter, they all scored. I got behind in counts and gave them some balls to hit. I just had guys on base and struggled.''

Morris looks to resume his success against Chicago after getting roughed up in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs on July 23. He gave up six runs in six innings, serving up homers to Jeromy Burnitz, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, falling to 11-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 25 career games, including 22 starts, against Chicago.

St. Louis snapped a four-game losing streak in the series with a 5-2 win Saturday behind a dominating performance from Chris Carpenter. The right-hander finished with his major league-leading sixth complete game to become the first 17-game winner in the majors.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who look to avoid their first series loss since dropping two of three to Chicago from July 22-24. The All-Star first baseman scored his 100th run of the season, 600th of his career and added his league-leading 93rd RBI.

Ramirez hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who suffered their ninth loss in 11 games.

Lee is 5-for-12 (.416) with three doubles, two homers, five RBIs and four runs in the series for the Cubs, whose latest skid has dropped them 7 1/2 games behind wild card-leading Houston.

Mark Prior, who takes the ball for the Cubs on Saturday, has become frustrated with the team's slump.

The 24-year-old right-hander is winless in his last four starts, going 0-1 with a 5.47 ERA since a 7-3 win over Cincinnati on July 19. He gave up three runs and struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings but did not receive a decision in an 8-3 loss to the Reds on Tuesday.

``We're not playing good, that's the bottom line,'' said Prior. ``I'm not going to sit here and analyze what people are doing or not doing. We're not playing good and we're not winning ballgames.''

Prior is 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA in nine starts since returning from an elbow injury on June 26.

[yankees suck!]

The standings show that Sunday's Cardinals-Cubs game may not be the most compelling game on the schedule. But the standings don't tell the whole truth when you're talking about a rivalry.

Sunday's game at Wrigley Field was picked up by ESPN, just as FOX brought its No. 1 broadcast team to town on Saturday afternoon. When the two Midwestern rivals hook up, it's likely to be an entertaining time at the ballpark. The game closes out a weeklong road trip for the Cards, and it's their first time playing under the lights since Tuesday.

Matt Morris will take the mound for St. Louis, and few players know about the rivalry better than the veteran Cardinals right-hander. He'll be making his second try for career win No. 100. Morris has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts, but he looked a little sharper towards the end of his last outing.

Pitching matchup:
STL: RHP Matt Morris
• 12-4, 3.65 ERA in 2005
• 0-1, 9.00 ERA vs. CHC in 2005

CHC: RHP Mark Prior
• 7-4, 3.65 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 4.50 ERA vs. STL in 2005

Player to watch
Prior against Albert Pujols always makes for an entertaining matchup, and Pujols has the upper hand for the most part. For his career, Pujols is 6-for-16 (.375) with three home runs and three walks against the big righty.

Quotable
"In this league, a lot of times you do what you have to do, not what you want to do." -- Manager Tony La Russa, on making out lineups with four injured regulars

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• STL: ESPN
• CHC: ESPN

On radio
• STL: KMOX 1120
• CHC: WGN 720

Quick hits
Morris has the third-most wins of any active pitcher who has spent his entire career with the same team, behind Brad Radke and John Smoltz. ... It's the Cardinals' third Sunday night appearance in six weeks. They split the previous two. ... Morris has allowed 11 unearned runs this year, already tied for the highest total of his career. ... Morris' walk rate (1.59 per nine innings) is the lowest of his career. ... The Cardinals are the only team in baseball with three pitchers who have at least 12 wins each.

On deck
• Tuesday: vs. Arizona, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: vs. Arizona, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: vs. Arizona, 7:10 p.m. CT

[bigpeeler]

Originally posted by Schwahalala@Aug 14 2005, 12:45 AM

Last year after hitting a Cub in the Taguichi.

Ha. Reading this made me laugh.

[yankees suck!]

My fucking cable is out because of the storm last night :(

[yankees suck!]

I was just looking at the box score from yesterday's game and Carpenter threw 109 pitches in 9 innings while Williams threw 113 in 6 innings :o

[JWB]

Originally posted by yankees suck!@Aug 14 2005, 01:34 PM
I was just looking at the box score from yesterday's game and Carpenter threw 109 pitches in 9 innings while Williams threw 113 in 6 innings :o

Quoted post

This is why the Cubs must sign Dusty to a 5 year extension.

Pronto.

[kennyboyerfan]

What's the Cubs magic number to be eliminated from the division title?

[Hepatitis Dispenser]

Originally posted by kennyboyerfan@Aug 14 2005, 05:37 PM
What's the Cubs magic number to be eliminated from the division title?

Quoted post

1908

[JWB]

Originally posted by kennyboyerfan@Aug 14 2005, 05:37 PM
What's the Cubs magic number to be eliminated from the division title?

Quoted post

Speaking of Cubs magic numbers, where has that assbag Leo the Lip been?

[kennyboyerfan]

Originally posted by Hepatitis Dispenser+Aug 14 2005, 04:39 PM-->

QUOTE(Hepatitis Dispenser @ Aug 14 2005, 04:39 PM)

[yankees suck!]

Originally posted by JWB+Aug 14 2005, 05:40 PM-->

QUOTE(JWB @ Aug 14 2005, 05:40 PM)

[Ohio Blues]

Let's all PM Leo to say what's up.