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Sometimes the 'Different Day, Different Hero' strategy needs to be thrown out the window and a team needs to rely on its superstars. This is exactly what happened last night as Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined to go 6-9 at the plate with 2 RBI's, and Carlos Zambrano was a workhorse on the mound as he threw 6 1/3 innings of tough baseball. Now, compare that to the 2-15 that Albert Pujols, Chris Duncan, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen put up for the Cardinals and you can see one of the reasons why the Cubs beat the Cardinals.
Surprisingly, at least to me, this turned out to be a much better game than expected. Kip Wells threw very well for the Cardinals, but it wasn't enough as their bullpen and defense let them down in the later innings. These days, when it comes down to a battle of the bullpens....the Cubs seem to win. Ryan Dempster did give up a run in the 9th inning, but Lee had given the Cubs a two run cushion in the Cubs half of the 9th.
Onto a couple of notes:
- I have heard whispers from Cardinals fans over the last year or so that Albert Pujols struggles in clutch situations. He had a chance to tie up the game in the seventh and win the game in the ninth, but grounded out in both instances. Thoughts from anyone? UPDATE: After looking through the stats that Buck Rampage has provided in the comments section, it seems that I'm wrong. I could have swore that more than two Cards fans had come up to me and complained about Pujols and his clutch ability. Historically, playoffs included, Pujols is one of the best players to have at the plate in the clutch. There is no way I made all of that up in my own head, or is there? I'm thinking that Rampage is trying to pull off a very elaborate prank to where months and months ago he said Pujols isn't clutch only to say otherwise now.....Very sly.
- Alfonso Soriano made another error in the outfield. I know as the season progresses players usually back off of their pre-game fielding routines, but let's hope the Cubs keep working with Sori.
- Mark DeRosa was pulled from the game in the second with 'tendinitis in his hamstring'. Ronny Cedeno, who was just called up, came in and played shortstop with Ryan Theriot moving over to second base. Cedeno did have an error, but he also had a two-out RBI single. If Cedeno is going to be one of the main infielders off of the bench excellent defense is going to be a must.
- With DeRosa going down and Daryle Ward still out I've heard rumors that the Cubs are looking at players such as Jeff Conine and Kevin Millar. They are looking for a player who has some power that can play both first base and the outfield. They brought up Jake Fox last week to supposedly fill that role, but he has yet to get a chance. With Cliff Floyd's health a day to day situation it is imperative for the Cubs to pick up some extra offensive firepower. It doesn't seem that Matt Murton is an option anymore, so if he's traded let's hope it's to an American League team.
- You'll notice that we have a new standings 'widget' to the right. It will display the entire AL standings, including Wild Card and the NL Central and Wild Card standings. Supposedly the schedules for the Cubs and Cardinals will be on there too, so we'll see how that goes. Thanks to you guys for the feedback on wanting the Wild Card Standings on the site and to Brian of Depressed Fan for putting it together. As always, feel free to email me with ideas at jackcobra@blogsbyfans.com
- Again, the Cardinals point of view can be found at Cardinals Diaspora.
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There's no way you should lump Edmonds and Rolen in as the Cards "superstars" in comparison to Lee and Ramirez. Edmonds and Rolen are shells of their former selves.
Wells did throw pretty well last night. I was surprised that they brought him back in for the 7th, even though he was pitching to Z. If Rolen could have made the play to end the 7th, Wells would have at least had a ND going for him.
I didn't specifically say they were superstars, I just said that A-Ram and Lee were the Cubs superstars. The Cards guys were just the people hitting in the middle of the order that are supposed to produce.
Albert Pujols 2006
BA HR RBI SLG
Runners on:.345 15 62 .739
RISP: .443 8 48 .869
RISPw/2outs:.391 1 13 .522
7th/later: .306 10 21 .764
Close/late:.389 7 17 1.056
Now, These #'s don't include this year, but Pujols has struggled most of this year. He has just started clicking since a little bit before the break. One other factor to think about is that the Cards are scoring no runs this year. There is no one on base for AP to drive in most of the time.
hmmm....i could have swore that you were one of the people who complained about this before? maybe it's just certain clutch situations.....
His numbers aren't too bad this year either. Scroll down to clutch stats. 900+ OPS in all situations.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=pujolal01&year=2007
Well, if I did complain then I must have been drunk. Same deal, scroll down. These are his career clutch stats. Nice!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=pujolal01&year=c
I complained earlier in the year about his slumping. I've been complaing all year about the team.
Yes, you may have been drunk. It's not hard to find those moments.
how bout we just complain about Dempster. I don't think he threw one fastball the entire inning. I thought he used to throw low 90's. He scared me before the injury and I fully expected Pujols to tie the game last night.
Weird that Soriano had an error. In my dream last night, I was sitting in the outfield of a game, and Soriano was playing left field. Someone hit a fly ball, and he completely missed it and it bounced off his head. He crumpled to the ground unconscious. Since no one else moved, I jumped the fence and went over to smack him on the face a few times. He came to, and I asked him what day it was (in my dream, it was Thursday). He said, "I don't know. I didn't look at the calendar."
Very strange.
That's crazy as I had the same dream. Except it was Marge Schott and she was wearing Tom Sizemore's wig from when he portrayed Pete Rose in that epic movie on the WWL.
You know, I rarely look at calendars anymore. That and I never wear a watch.
Erin - did you get arrested in your dream for jumping onto the field or did they keep you out of jail because you were doing a nice thing?
One guy asked me if I was a doctor, because I noted that Soriano's pupils were equal and reactive, and told him that was a good sign. There was no mention of arrest, though. I was out there before the trainers even left the dugout. I think they appreciated the gesture. Or, I just didn't stick with the dream long enough to get led off the field in handcuffs.
Wow, so you not only write a great blog but you also save lives.....
any chance you stayed at a holiday inn express last night?
That was an amazing dream, most of mine include post-apocolyptic stuff where I am running and gunning in a desperate attempt to save my life and humanity in general while trying to get busy with a tall, curvy woman. hmm...