Whatever Series Game 3: Cardinals @ Rangers (Open thread)

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 22, 2011 6:05 PM EDT in Game Threads

Game 2 was a low-scoring nail-biter in which run prevention took center stage, including this fantabulous play. FanGraphs recently raved about Andrus and Rangers' second baseman Ian Kinsler as the best double-play combo in baseball (and darn you gutter minds for not letting me abbreviate "double-play"). It should be noted, however, that Phillips and Janish didn't have enough reps together to be considered for a three-year window of stable fielding data. With their NL Central counterparts hogging the spotlight (World Series and Theo Epstein coronation) we may have to resort to getting by on delusion for a while: Brandon Phillips and Paul Janish are the REAL best double-play combo in baseball.

And speaking of offseason delusion, this series features the premier pitching and position player free agents entering the 2012 season in CJ Wilson and Albert Pujols - depending, of course, on whether CC Cabathia and Yu Darvish enter the fray. Here's hoping their WS heroics cause some NL team to overspend that much more.

STL @ TEX

8:05pm, Arlington

Kyle Lohse vs. Matt Harrison

FOX

Tweet Comment 153 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

so

I guess this is what this place is going to be like in the off-season, eh?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 6:13 PM EDT reply actions

Like Texas?

by ken on Oct 22, 2011 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

There's going to be Western music?

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

why is there no rr get together to watch the world series game tonight?

we’re slipping

Operation: 'tHan's Awesome Plan is living up to its name.

by 'tHan on Oct 22, 2011 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

That was wednesday

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Oct 22, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, Kyle Lohse starting a World Series game just doesn't seem right

Even if his career has been perfectly cromulent.

by ken on Oct 22, 2011 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

His pedestrian career numbers Belisle his

true grit.

Mgr., Red Reporter

"Every office I've been in, there has been a guy with weird scars that he needs to explain to you—'it was one of those old Xerox machines, with a lot of razors in it'... or a pale person with a novel of supernatural erotica that keeps getting left on the printer. Major League lineups need those guys, too." - David Roth

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 22, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Ooof

Rec’d, and I’ll see you in hell

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Bueller? Bueller?

Operation: 'tHan's Awesome Plan is living up to its name.

by 'tHan on Oct 22, 2011 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

Niiiine times

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder if CJ Wilson will be this winter's winner in Win Big Stein's Money

by ken on Oct 22, 2011 7:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

hard to believe the doofus sidekick has had his own primetime talk show for nearly 10 years now

Operation: 'tHan's Awesome Plan is living up to its name.

by 'tHan on Oct 22, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus

I’ll have what Allen Craig is having

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 8:09 PM EDT reply actions

He's not that good. He's faking it.

by ken on Oct 22, 2011 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Posnanski

defending Ford Frick. In part because of the way he handled the Cardinals’ Jackie Robinson boycott threat. (That’s racist!)

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

I read that, and while I agree with some of it

The Maris asterisk was still bullshit. Maris was already dealing with a lot of pressure (he was getting booed by Yankees fans, his hair was falling out, and the press was constantly hounding him) so he didn’t need his own commissioner conspiring against him.

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a great quote from Ford

There was never an actual asterisk at any point, anyways.

Mgr., Red Reporter

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 22, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Lohse

is no-hitting the slugging Rangers.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

Not anymore

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

it worked!

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, this is exciting.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 8:42 PM EDT reply actions

He escapes

Boo.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 8:44 PM EDT reply actions

dang

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

Turrrrrible call

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

if he ends up scoring...

or any two out runs this inning…

fucking cardinals

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

that was terrible

wow

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

Also a terrible throw

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

that was a DP

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 9:13 PM EDT reply actions

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

by Ram27 on Oct 22, 2011 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

what?

"Life is such a vapid world pool of nothing"-Eddie Pepitone

by Yossarian22 on Oct 22, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I forget

Awful call, run scored, I think

by Ram27 on Oct 22, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

It was the first run scored after that blown call.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I just became a fan of replay

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:17 PM EDT reply actions

thanks a lot, Blue

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

Its good to know only the best umps get to work the WS

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

good god

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:20 PM EDT reply actions

Baseball is too fucking archaic

by Ram27 on Oct 22, 2011 9:20 PM EDT reply actions

Not a difficult throw

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

what the shit?

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

pretty gawd-awful defense

The umpire blew the call, but if the throw wasn’t so bad, he probably wouldn’t have blown the call.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

he pulled a tHom

called that shit before the play was over

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

well...

I picked a hell of a time to turn the game on

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

this inning sux

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

Is it still the top of the fourth?

Godlord.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

finally over

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I like how these Walmart commercials are based around people being too stupid to notice a large sign

by Ram27 on Oct 22, 2011 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

Or to set aside money to buy something.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

There goes the no hitter!

And shutout!

by Ram27 on Oct 22, 2011 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

The no hitter was already gone, dude.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

not the after the first hit no-hitter Lohse had going

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Cruz is gonna wreck one

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:35 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Correct.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahem

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

wreck'd

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

O/U 5 for Cards pitchers

This is always a fun game

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

exactly 5

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

LOLhse

What's your spaghetti policy?

by DannyGraves on Oct 22, 2011 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

you mean

O/U 5 for Cards pitchers this inning?

What's your spaghetti policy?

by DannyGraves on Oct 22, 2011 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

reply fail

What's your spaghetti policy?

by DannyGraves on Oct 22, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It's entirely possible

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

son of a bitch

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

seriously

matt holliday? what the shit?

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

He's got a decent arm, doesn't he?

It was a great throw, but a non-catcher beats that, I think

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm in awe of the accuracy

plus he didn’t really play it well, normally you get a running start into the ball. he caught it flat footed

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

that's what I noticed

have to credit him though, it was a perfect throw

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

old, kind of heavy catcher running

but yeah. Maybe it would have been a good time for a pinch runner.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

nah

can’t burn your bench this early, especially if the guy you replace him with is a downgrade on offense

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Hell of a 4th

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

Someone gif that Washington dance

I’m begging you

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I love how these guys are railing into Pujols

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

Well, that's not ideal.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

ruh-roh

Bases loaded, no outs.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

oh man

Cody Ross, er I mean Freese is up.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 9:58 PM EDT reply actions

well, I'm off to go play softball

hopefully its more fun than watching this game has been

by pack_fan on Oct 22, 2011 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

Did anyone see the guy in the dugout

mimicing rubbing his eyes?

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

I saw that.

Crybaby Mode?

Let a man come in and do the Popcorn.

by -ManBearPig on Oct 22, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

They're not dead yet

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

"In that circle in the middle of the field . . . raised by ten inches."

Ugh, Tim McCarver.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

Poetry

Terrible, terrible poetry

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

He shines

compared to Buck, at least IMO.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

They're both pretty wretched

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

He actually enjoys baseball, which is a start

by ken on Oct 22, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

listening to NMAS stream

from Rhode Island

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I ended up with some other feed

I dont know who they were, but I recognized them. Not being Buck/McCarver and shit-talking Pujols for the media thing made me an instant fan.

by pack_fan on Oct 23, 2011 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, here's the offense we've been waiting for all series

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

That was a pretty strange Harley ad

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, wtf were they going for?

Save dogs from being spayed and neutered, leaving them to starve instead?

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

They were trying to piss off Bob Barker and Mother Teresa

All at once

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Also Nic Cage.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Cruz is gonna wreck one

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

This is gonna be a long game

What's your spaghetti policy?

by DannyGraves on Oct 22, 2011 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

*fun

by Ram27 on Oct 22, 2011 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

So you're saying the Rangers are going to win?

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

still no outs

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

Did I just see a guy holding a stuffed animal?

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

Yep

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

for his kid, maybe?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 22, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

This game should be over by 1:00, or so

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

Texas still has the momentum

What's your spaghetti policy?

by DannyGraves on Oct 22, 2011 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

Jesus

Don’t walk people. Is that really such a hard concept?

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:35 PM EDT reply actions

and its Ryan Theriot

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

The Cardinals have clearly pleased the BABIP Gods over the past month

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

Triple play would be cool

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2011 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

get's me thinking of the commercial

where someone asks, what’s the hardest play in baseball? and the answer is the unassisted triple play.

I’m going to have to disagree with that. unassisted triple play is just more dumb luck than anything.

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you think it's easy to be that lucky?

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on Oct 22, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

easier than making a catch and making a throw

by Howie Feltersnatch on Oct 22, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I know we're not being serious

But unassisted triple plays are always about positioning, and whether the runners were going. The two that I can remember (the Furcal play, and the Bruntlett play) had both of those elements.

It’s the least frequent play in baseball, but I don’t think it’s the hardest

by DerekH91 on Oct 22, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions