Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

**WTF** · 03-02-2007, 04:34 PM

Re: Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

Looks good.. I'll be following.

**TheGamingChef** · 03-02-2007, 05:30 PM

Re: Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

Game #1: Astros 9, Cardinals 0
Game #2: Astros 10, Cardinals 1

April 7, 2007
Astros Dominate Cardinals in Houston

(AP) The Houston Astros owned the St. Louis Cardinals in every way, sweeping them in a two game series by scores of 9-0 and 10-1. "We were just outplayed in every facet of the game, that's all," said manager Tony La Russa. "We've obviously got a lot of work to do." The Cardinals offense, remembered for its high powered sluggers, produced one run, that on a solo home run by Albert Pujols.

In game one, Redbird ace Chris Carpenter surrendered three runs in the first two innings and never seemed to find a groove. "I could tell he was a little off, but I wasn't gonna complain," said Astros outfielder Lance Berkman, who hit two homeruns in game one. "His curve hung a little bit all game long, and we made him pay. He just had an off day." The Cardinals simply could not push a run across the plate, although they produced eight hits throughout the game and forced three walks. The Astros turned three double plays in this game as well.

In game two, Mark Mulder pitched three no-hit innings before giving up back-to-back solo home runs in the 4th inning to Mike Lamb and Craig Biggio. Houston scored five runs in the 4th inning, opening the floodgates for another blowout. Pujols' solo shot came in the 7th inning, long after the outcome was determined (the score was 8-0 at that point).

The Cardinals' pitching was horrendous in this short series. The lowest ERA on the staff belongs to Brad Thompson - it is 4.91. Carpenter gave up 4 runs in 5 innings of work, landing him a 7.20 ERA. Mulder fared even worse - five runs in 5 inning, for a 9.00 ERA. "No one's pitches went to the right place. No one's," commented Cardinals pitching coach Arsenio Crudale. "We will definitely be looking at some fixes for that."

The Cardinals' offense, which produced 1 run, is the strong point of the team, sadly enough. Cardinals Albert Pujols (.375) and Juan Encarnacion (.333) are the only Redbirds with averages over .300. Four Cardinals follow with .286 averages, and one has a .125 average. The remaining five players do not have a single hit, though all have seen at least one AB. In fact, Pujols' home run is the only extra base hit for St. Louis. "It's an embarassment. There's no other way to describe it," said Jim Edmonds. "We can't keep playing like this and expect to even compete for the division."

Hopefully, receiving their World Series rings will be the fix. On April 8th, before the Cardinals' home opener against the Phillies & the opening of their brand new stadium, Budweiser Park, members of the 2006 St. Louis team will receive their rings. We can only hope that getting those rings will make them play like they did against New York and Detroit last fall.

The Cardinals are tied for last in the division with Milwaukee, two games behind leaders Houston and Pittsburgh. The Cubs are 2-1 and a half game back, and the Reds are 1-2, behind one and a half games.

**TheGamingChef** · 03-04-2007, 07:03 PM

Re: Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

Game #3: Cardinals 5, Phillies 4
Game #4: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3
Game #5: Phillies 5, Cardinals 4

NL Central Standings:

CHC---6-1
HOU---5-1---0.5
PIT---4-3---2.0
STL---2-3---3.0
CIN: 2-4---3.5
MIL: 1-5---4.5

April 11, 2007
Cardinals Get Back on Track Against Phillies

(AP) The St. Louis Cardinals righted their ship in a three game series against Philadelphia, taking two out of three from the Phillies to bring their record to 2-3. "I'm pretty happy with what we're doing," said manager Tony La Russa following the 11 inning loss yesterday in the final game of the series. "We're not where we need to be, by no means, but we're heading the right direction."

In the first game, Adam Wainwright gave up three first inning runs before settling into a groove. "I was nervous," said Wainwright. "When Ryan Howard is at the plate and you've already let two guys on base, you're nervous." The Cardinals gained two runs in the 3rd, and two in the 5th to take the lead, 4-3. In the 8th, pitcher Brad Thompson allowed a solo home run by Chase Utley to tie the game. The deadlock marched on into the 10th, where the Cardinals had the bases loaded and no outs. La Russa called on Aaron Miles to pinch hit for Josh Kinney, who was in the 8th spot following a double switch. Miles hit into a 6-2-3 double play, which brought up John Rodriguez in a high pressure situation. He hit a first pitch liner into right field to win the game for St. Louis. "I was jumping after I hit the ball, but then I remembered I had to get to first," said Rodriguez. "Then I celebrated some more."

Game two showed Cardinal Nation some great news regarding an off season acquisition. Ryan Franklin went 8.1 innings, giving up three runs on only five hits. "I just felt like pitching well, so I did," commented Franklin. Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina both accented the pitching with two run home runs in the 4th inning, and the Cards won, 4-3.

In game three, the Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter was given the nod over Kip Wells. "I wanted to keep my guys on the normal five day rotation, as close as possible," said La Russa. "It's not unusual." Wells, who was not happy with the decision, did not attend voluntary workouts before the game yesterday. Carpenter gave up three runs in 6 innings of work. The Cardinals pushed across four runs in four seperate innings before Braden Looper lost control and walked three consecutive batters with 2 outs. A short fly into right field by Jimmy Rollins tied the game at 4. In the 11th inning, Josh Kinney allowed a solo shot by Ryan Howard, and the Cards couldn't respond.

St. Louis has suffered its first major injury. Left fielder Chris Duncan, a force at the plate against right handed pitchers, tore a ligament in his right shoulder sliding into second base in game three of the series. He has been placed on the 60 day DL and team doctors expect him to miss the remainder of the season. So Taguchi was called up from AAA Memphis.

The Cardinals, now 2-3, are 3 games back in the Central, behind the Cubs (6-1, --), Astros (5-1, 0.5), and Pirates (4-3, 2.0). The Reds (2-4, 3.5) and Brewers (1-5, 4.5) are behind the Cards. From the farm system, Memphis holds a 2-2 record and is sharing 1st place in the PCL AM-North with Omaha, Springfield (AA) is 3-1, and in first place of the TL East with Arkansas, and Palm Beach (A) is 2-2, and in 4th place (1.5 games back) of the 6 team FSL East.

The Cardinals will host the Reds tomorrow and the 13th in a two-game home series.

**TheGamingChef** · 03-04-2007, 10:35 PM

Re: Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

Game #6: Reds 6, Cardinals 1
Game #7: Cardinals 4, Reds 0

NL Central Standings (team---record---games back):

CHC---8-1
HOU---5-1---1.5
PIT---5-4---3.0
STL---3-4---4.0
CIN:---3-5---4.5
MIL:---2-6---5.5

April 14, 2007
Cardinals Split Series With Reds

(AP) The Cincinnati Reds came to St. Louis looking for a couple of wins to get to .500. They got one, but so did the Cardinals, as the two-game series was split between these NL Central rivals. "Our level of play is improving, but it's still not there yet," said Tony La Russa after game two of the series. "We have some work to do if we want to compete with teams like Chicago, or Houston, who already tore us apart."

In game one, Mark Mulder was torn apart for four runs in five innings by the Reds' potent hitting vs. southpaws. "I wasn't feeling it again, and I know that's no excuse, and that's why I'm frustrated," he said. The Cardinals were able to put up 8 hits, but only pushed across one run. Josh Kinney also surrendered two more runs in the 8th to make this game a 6-1 victory for the visitors.

Game two was an entirely different story. "The Kid", Adam Wainwright, got the start, and he was brilliant over 8.2 innings of work, surrendering only five hits and no runs over that period while striking out seven. Why only 8.2 innings? "I got in a jam (runners at 2nd and 3rd) with one out to go, and Dunn was at the plate. Dave (Duncan) came out and he said, 'Can you finish this one?' I told him, 'I think so.' He said that that wasn't good enough," said Wainwright, "and so he called in Brad (Thompson) to finish the job. I've learned my lesson about what to say to pitching coaches." The Cardinals scored on David Eckstein & John Rodriguez doubles, and a two-run Jimmy Edmonds home run.

The Cardinals start a five game road trip tomorrow by traveling to Milwaukee for a three game series against the Brewers, before heading to Pittsburgh for two games. Hopefully a series against the division doormat will give the Redbirds some much needed victories in order to keep up with surprising runaway Chicago.

**TheGamingChef** · 03-08-2007, 11:05 PM

Re: Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

Game #8: Brewers 1, Cardinals 0
Game #9: Cardinals 10, Brewers 3
Game #10: Cardinals 2, Brewers 1

NL Central Standings (team---record---games back):

CHC---9-2
HOU---8-3---1.0
PIT---6-5---3.0
STL---5-5---3.5
CIN:---4-7---5.0
MIL:---3-8---6.0

April 18, 2007
Cardinals Take Tough Series From Milwaukee

(AP) The St. Louis Cardinals came to Milwaukee looking for three easy wins from the division doormat to jump above .500. They got much more than they were bargaining for. "Milwaukee is not a 3-6 team (now 3-8)," said Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter, following his loss of game one of the series. "They hit us hard and their pitching is fantastic."

In game one, Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter faced former Redbird Jeff Suppan in his new home. Both were brilliant. Suppan pitched a complete game shutout, with only 4 hits to St. Louis' name. Carpenter fared almost as well, surrendering 1 run on 5 hits over 8 innings. The run, a Geoff Jenkins solo home run, was in the bottom of the 7th inning. "I lost control of my curveball, that's all," said Carpenter. "It was like a big red spot appeared and said, 'Swing here, Geoff," said Jenkins, the hero of the game. "I couldn't pass that up."

Game two was an entirely different story. The Brewers were forced to use their bullpen the entire game, starting long reliever Aquino in place of the scheduled starter. The Milwaukee pen showed why they aren't in the rotation, allowing 10 runs before it was all said and done. Mark Mulder, allowed 2 runs in 6 innings of work. Randy Flores allowed a run in one inning as well for STL.

Game 3 was definitely interesting for Cardinal fans. In the 3rd inning, Cardinals leadoff man David Eckstein bunted for a hit, then took second on an error. Eckstein then took 3rd on an Adam Kennedy ground out. "La Russa put on the sacrific bunt, playing small ball with me," said Albert Pujols. "I was surprised. I didn't want to." Pujols didn't. As Eckstein took off for home, Pujols swung at the Ben Sheets pitch and blasted it 467 feet to left field, for a home run. "I saw Albert swing, I saw the ball take off, and I slowed down to a jog," said Eckstein. "I never was worried. You never are, with Albert at the plate, when you're on his team." Adam Wainwright then pitched 7 perfect innings before giving up a solo home run to Corie Koskie. Jason Isringhausen knotted his 2nd save.

In AAA, Memphis (5-5) is 1 GB of 1st place Omaha. In AA, Springfield (6-4) leads the 4 team Texas League East division, but three teams are all tied for 2nd one game back. In A, Palm Beach (5-5) is 3.5 games back of 1st place BC, and is in 4th place.

Some bright spots for the farm system include Ryan Ludwick, RF, who is hitting .396 with 4 HRs in Memphis, Mike Ferris, 1B, hitting a whopping .616 with 4 RBIs at Palm Beach, and Chris Narveson, SP, who has 11 strikeouts and no earned runs allowed over 12 innings of work. Look for these guys to jump to the next level soon.

The Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates later today and tomorrow, in a two-game series. Projected pitchers are Ryan Franklin, the best surprise in his first start, and Kip Wells, who will be making his Cardinals debut.

**countryboy** · 03-13-2007, 07:57 PM

Re: Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

Your dynasty is making me want to play MVP 2005 all over again.

Two in a Row? St. Louis Cardinals Owner Mode (MVP 2005)

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