September 26: Reds @ Cardinals
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com
Records: Cardinals (81-74, -18.0 in NL Central), Reds (65-90, -34.0 in NL Central)
Wild Card: Mets (+1.0), Giants, Cardinals (-0.5), Marlins (-4.5), Pirates (-4.5)
First pitch: 7:15 pm CT
Cardinals lineup: Greg Garcia (2B), Stephen Piscotty (RF), Yadier Molina (C), Matt Adams (1B), Jhonny Peralta (3B), Brandon Moss (LF), Jedd Gyorko (SS), Randal Grichuk (CF), Jaime Garcia (LHP)
Reds lineup: Jose Peraza (SS), Eugenio Suarez (3B), Joey Votto (1B), Adam Duvall (LF), Brandon Phillips (2B), Scott Schebler (CF), Steve Selsky (RF), Tucker Barnhart (C), Tim Adleman (RHP)
Transactions: None
Reading material:
- Game recap from the Cardinals’ 3-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday (link)
- Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals mourn the loss of Jose Fernandez (link)
- Brandon Moss continues to scuffle… as does most of the Cardinals’ offense (link)
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By Gosh, It's Langosch 
The fat lady is singing I think – what a reward for the home crowd to see this dismal performance and 3 pitchers incapable of getting it together for a combined start. Not to mention another dismal performance on offense. Lots of post season work ahead and then again I’m not sure the management gets it or has what it takes to keep up with the sharp, well-funded Cubs management,
Exactly.
Yup, I think I heard her singing too. Hard to believe the fans were booing them at one point.
Another fundamental mistake…was cutting off a shallow outfield throw to the plate, twice that I noticed. Gotta’ let it sail straight to Yadi so he can at least TRY to get the out at home. I wonder if he was PO’d about that.
Like I said before…pitching appears to be their main problem, with the exception of CMart & Reyes. I have faith that Tui can work on some stuff & become a force next season. Weaver? Not so much. And I get the distinct impression that Leake doesn’t exactly enjoy being a Cardinal.
Oh, and one other thing? It looks like that new guy, Jose Martinez (outfield & 1B) might have one of those more reliable bats, like Diaz does. The 6′ 6″ 28 y/o will probably be a keeper for next year.
They have a right to boo by now I think. If the home fans were indifferent it would be something else but they overachieve on attendance in their small market every year. I expect ticket sales will drop a bit next year which could wake them up I suppose.
I will have to decide if paying for MLBTV premium is worth it next year if they are less competitive as I can watch Jays and “free game of the day” and ESPN etc occasionally. It was fun while it lasted I guess.
Did anyone think at the start of the season that the Cubs would be 20 games better than us? i didn’t. I thought the Cubs could win the division, but not like this. Next year looks to be similar. Even if the Cubs tail off some they’ll win by 10 games. FA market is really poor so signing someone decent doesn’t bode well for us.AND signing some retread just won’t do anymore. If the Cards want to improve they’ll have to make a trade(s) to catch Chicago or the Boos will keep on coming…….as well they should.
Last nite, one of the FoxSports guys said he sure hopes the Cards don’t make the same mistake in 2017 that they did in 2007, by relying on the previous years’ veterans (even tho’ they won the 2006 WS). ‘Course that was with LaRussa & Walt Jocketty at the helm.
It’s pretty evident now, that Diaz is the best bat the Birds have. If we’d had him back earlier….I’m pretty sure the Cards would be ahead of SF & NYM at this point.
Also, the Cards org tends to first look internally, hard & long…before signing any big contracts. I do think a lesson has been learned by management, but to what degree? I dunno’.
The season’s over, I guess. Even if we won every remaining game, the Mets & Giants could feasibly do the same.
82-75. 5 games left. Looks like they won’t make my predicted 86 wins or the playoffs.
Who would have thought the Pirates would be below .500. Things really going Chicago’s way this year except for one major issue:…………..they’re Chicago and they won’t win the series.
Just a thought. Diaz was/is terribly broken up over the death of Jose Fernandez, his grade-school buddy. Considering his grand-slam last nite? It might be that Aledmys feels Jose is looking down on him and helping him to play the best he can. Consequently, it wouldn’t surprise me if Diaz goes on a tear these last 5 games, batting & making plays like never before.
As I said, merely a thought….