Let's look forward to the Cardinals Methocalypse

[CBStew]

Please, just fuck these guys. They're already 4 behind in the loss column to the Cubs, and they are only going to fall further behind.

At this point they're going to have to duke it out for the Seligcard. They don't fucking matter.

No one thinks this is true.

You with me yet?

Remember last year the astounding amount of luck STL had?  Things we could quantify like the inordinate number of runners stranded etc., which was historic?  And that we were awaiting a regression to the norm?   A little bit of a regression occurred in the 2nd half of course but not enough to derail them for the division (though by the time they played the Cubs their luck was on empty).

It looks like the regression's simply coming back in full force this season.  I'll be surprised, not shocked, if they're still in contention for the SeligCard by Labor Day.  Amongst the Pirates, Nats/Mets and Dodgers/Giants, I don't see STL in that team photo.

The Dodgers are horrible. They have some pieces to build around for sure but that pitching staff isn't going to work. I don't know if a trade or two could keep them in contention this season. It might. But they're in the Cardinals' category of "nope." I'll gladly throw the D-Backs into that same toilet. The Giants will win the West going away. The Mets will end up winning the East. The Selig Card is Pirates/Nats.

Catastrophic injury could change all of this.

Right now this prognostication seems legit. There's no way I'm writing off a Cardinals comeback at least as it pertains to the wild card.

Giants, Nats, Mets are the biggest challengers and the Pirates are certainly better than the rest of the unmentioned NL clubs. I found out I've got a ticket to one of the Cubs-Mets games in July and I am fired up about it. I want a postseason rematch with those fucks.

I agree with most of this assessment of the NL except for "Giants will win the NL West going away". I agree the Dodgers are mediocre but I don't see how the Giants aren't equally mediocre. The Dodgers have a half decent offense, shitty bullpen, one mega elite pitcher, a promising #2, and a bunch of flotsam in the back of the rotation. The Giants have a pretty good offense, mediocre bullpen, three average looking starters (MadBum and Cueto both have lost velocity and look far more hittable than they used to, Snork is Snork), and two unplayable guys (Cain and Peavy).

Those two are gonna mud hump each other all season long in a slog to 85 wins and first place, I think.

I think Bruce Bochy is a 2-5 win manager (I know I can't prove shit) and Dave Roberts is a Dusty-level ingrate (small sample size). So there's seven-ish wins right there. If I'm right about this, I claim no credit for it because I am doing very little to back it up. I've just watched a handful of each team's games and I know the players fairly well from past years. Watching the Dodgers, I cringe all to often at the lack of good choices Roberts has to work with. That pitching staff could rank near the middle bottom in spite of Kershaw and Maeda. The Japanese newcomer has some good control and looks like a suitable #2 but I'm seeing some stamina issues in the latter innings that I don't think can get better as the season wears on and opponents get more film on him.

/my two cents!

An assessment based on your gut with no hard facts to back it up?

Is Apex the Dusty Baker of Desipio?

(pretty sure I'm the Ronnie Woo of Desipio)

Yes.

Yes

[Saul Goodman]

BOOOOOOOOO

[SKO]

That was one hell of a two strike pitch from Warren to Cardinal Tyler Colvin

[Quality Start Machine]

What the hell was Fowler doing so far off third with one out?

[Saul Goodman]

HELL YES. THAT'S THE STUFF.

I want a gif of that Grichuk misplay right now.

[Canadouche]

So ... game over in the 7th inning via the mercy rule?

[Bort]

HELL YES. THAT'S THE STUFF.

I want a gif of that Grichuk misplay right now.

You mean the 2015 Deserved Rookie of the Year?

[InternetApex]

That LaStella robbery was so fucking poetic it reminded me of Larry Johnson's 4-point ass-blasting of the Pacers in 1999. They get Baltimore chops out the yin-yang and Molina sticks his arm in front of one to load the bases in a 2-run game. Jake is teetering. Disaster strikes on a hard grounder third. Oops. No. Sorry. Inning over.

I've never seen that happen to the Cubs in St. Louis. The game is far from over but I'm fucking enthused.

[InternetApex]

That LaStella robbery was so fucking poetic it reminded me of Larry Johnson's 4-point ass-blasting of the Pacers in 1999. They get Baltimore chops out the yin-yang and Molina sticks his arm in front of one to load the bases in a 2-run game. Jake is teetering. Disaster strikes on a hard grounder third. Oops. No. Sorry. Inning over.

I've never seen that happen to the Cubs in St. Louis. The game is far from over but I'm fucking enthused.

God Damn It.

[InternetApex]

Jed Jerkoff. (sigh of relief)

Hector's the best fielding pitcher on the team. I shall brook no argument.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Jed Jerkoff. (sigh of relief)

Hector's the best fielding pitcher on the team. I shall brook no argument.

As frustrating as it was to see Warren and Wood try to piss the game away, the fact that they let STL get close and still slam the door on their dick is rather satisfying.  Losing a game like that leaves you nothing but a big ole' case of blue balls, so have a drink tonight on your Cubs, folks.

[InternetApex]

Jed Jerkoff. (sigh of relief)

Hector's the best fielding pitcher on the team. I shall brook no argument.

As frustrating as it was to see Warren and Wood try to piss the game away, the fact that they let STL get close and still slam the door on their dick is rather satisfying.  Losing a game like that leaves you nothing but a big ole' case of blue balls, so have a drink tonight on your Cubs, folks.

They did it!

[Saul Goodman]

Yeah, that was kinda weird, but I'll take the series win.

Now we have an entire off-day to panic about Jake Arrieta, so let's make the most of it.

[InternetApex]

Yeah, that was kinda weird, but I'll take the series win.

Now we have an entire off-day to panic about Jake Arrieta, so let's make the most of it.

I'm not worried that the Cardinals hit the ball too slow to turn double plays in two different scoring innings. On a day like that you need every good bounce you can get.

[SKO]

Yeah, that was kinda weird, but I'll take the series win.

Now we have an entire off-day to panic about Jake Arrieta, so let's make the most of it.

I'm not at all worried, I'm thrilled he finally had an off day and they won anyway. Now he's good to pitch well for another 15 months

I'm not worried that the Cardinals hit the ball too slow to turn double plays in two different scoring innings. On a day like that you need every good bounce you can get.