Toughest Division?

[Butcher]

We need production out of a least a couple of the following guys:

- Lee
- Bradley
- Soto
- Fontenot

That's half of our lineup that isn't doing jack shit. No way we're winning the division dragging around that much dead weight.

[rok]

I think we need to accept that Lee is now Mark Grace, but with less power.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=39043:date=May 20 2009, 10:14 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ May 20 2009, 10:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->We need production out of a least a couple of the following guys:

- Lee
- Bradley
- Soto
- Fontenot

That's half of our lineup that isn't doing jack shit. No way we're winning the division dragging around that much dead weight.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Lee and Soto have been hitting the ball this month...

Lee going into tonight:
.314/.400/.629, 3 HR, 8 RBI

Soto going into tonight:
.280/.362/.380, 1 HR, 8 RBI

Milton's still struggling, but also doing much better this month. Fontenot's the one that has really gone downhill of late.

And I agree with Rok on Theriot. That stretch was awesome, but he's just trying to crush everything now and that's not what <i>he</i> should be doing at the plate. He came into tonight hitting .246 on the month, compared to .317 last month. I'd much rather have last year's Theriot than this new one that likely won't hit more than 1 homer a month the rest of the way. Yeah I'm well aware it played a major part in winning us a few games, but I don't think it's better for us over the long haul. Maybe he'll keep it up but I just don't see it happening. I'd love for him to just keep turning on the ball with authority when they try to sneak a fastball inside, or a big swing on 3-1, but I don't like how he's now trying to pull these outside pitches for bombs. Just go with it to right field and take the single, get on base for the middle of our order.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=39045:date=May 20 2009, 10:21 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ May 20 2009, 10:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think we need to accept that Lee is now Mark Grace, but with less power.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't think that's the case. I think he'll hit somewhere in the 20 area, which is what he's on pace for. He's been driving the ball a lot. 4 home runs, 3 off the wall, and his highest flyball rate in at least his time as a Cub. It's probably because people bitched so much about the double plays, which he's yet to hit into. At the same time, his average has dropped because of that. I think .280, 20 homers, 90+ rbi.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=38835:date=May 20 2009, 10:01 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ May 20 2009, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm coming to the conclusion that the Brewers might be for real and the Cardinals probably aren't -- but they're going to hang around like they did last year.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ready to flip flop this one yet?

[Destined]

With just 1 earned run in 36 2/3 innings, the Card's starters ERA is 0.24 in their 5-gm winning streak.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=39637:date=May 23 2009, 03:32 PM:name=Destined)-->QUOTE (Destined @ May 23 2009, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->With just 1 earned run in 36 2/3 innings, the Card's starters ERA is 0.24 in their 5-gm winning streak.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, pretty insane. We should've gotten at least a few off Pineiro. Credit him for throwing strikes but most of them were meatballs we should be hitting hard somewhere. If Carpenter can somehow stay healthy though, that's a great 1-2 and their rest of the rotation is good enough to keep them in games most of the time. Lohse and Wellemeyer throw in a gem every few outings.

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo(post=39637:date=May 23 2009, 04:32 PM:name=Destined)-->QUOTE (Destined @ May 23 2009, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->With just 1 earned run in 36 2/3 innings, the Card's starters ERA is 0.24 in their 5-gm winning streak.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
well, that IS against the Cubs and Royals.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=39636:date=May 23 2009, 04:25 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ May 23 2009, 04:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=38835:date=May 20 2009, 10:01 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ May 20 2009, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm coming to the conclusion that the Brewers might be for real and the Cardinals probably aren't -- but they're going to hang around like they did last year.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ready to flip flop this one yet?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah. At least until the Cards go cold and the Brewers get hot again.

[leonardsipes]

As long as the Brewers, Cards and Reds are all in the race, no one team will be able to pull away. The Cubs can fart around until September, have one hot month, win the division and go into the playoffs on a roll.