As much as the Cardinals have shit the bed for the last 6 weeks....man I ejoyed watching yesterday!!! Down to their last strike 8 different times...... and WOW, what a shot in the 10th!!!! Especially after taking the first pitch under the chin....GO CARDS GO!!!

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to their 7 games they have in September. This is definitely a better rivalry now than the Cards/Cubs.

Not a cancer... a worm.

Oh yeah I agree, Dusty has pretty much crippled the once firery Cards-Cubs rivalry...the Stros-Cards seems to have a respectful hate for each other. Not that they dont like each other, they just hate loosing to the other more then any other team. GO CARDS GO!!!!

Nothing like Playoff atmoshere in mid season!

Garner's got some serious thinking to do for the second half. Everett, Lane and Tavarez just aren't working. They've got two guys pounding the ball in double a... I'm pretty sure they could do a much better job. Lamb, Berkman and Burke are you're only producers. Maybe they'll pick someone up like Tejada. Oh, and Lidge can be the closer, but he should be banned from pitching against the Cards.

This is very true once again....GO CARDS GO....nice to go into the break on a great high and a winning streak after what happened for the last 6 weeks...TSN turning point of the season maybe?

So any predictions for the HR derby anyone? I am picking Lance Berkmen from the left side of the plate......

Well, looks like the Astros took one of my suggestions. They just sent Jason Lane down to Triple A. They also acquired Aubrey Huff:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2517046

Now, what are they going to do with Everett and Ensberg? Hopefully they'll try to pursue Tejada. That would be awesome.

Huff is a nice pickup. I've long thought he wouldn't truly blossom until he played for a contending team.

Can the 'Stros really afford Tejada too? Nismo, I think Huff might be the "big move" for your 'Stros.

Nah, it's still early. I'm sure they're still looking for another bat. If not, they better at least see if Pence and Wood can produce at the big level (maybe give Luke Scott another shot). I don't mind if Ausmus and Everett aren't producing at the plate because their defense is top notched. However, when Ensberg and Lane (who's now demoted) aren't producing, that's just too many non-producers. Berkman, Lamb and Burke can only do so much.

Oh, and the jury's still out on Wilson. He's not hitting homers like he's supposed to, but at least he's hitting for average.

EDIT TO ADD: The Astros managed to make this upgrade ...er strategy --

Tejada stays put in BAL IMHO...and I think Huff will be the "big" aquisition for HOU...hopefully Weaver isn't the "big" aquisition for STL...

This trade was further proof why Chuck Lamar was one of the worst GMs in baseball history. If he had traded Huff in '04 he would have commanded top-flight prospects in return. The Rays are lucky to be rid of Lamar.

Rumor has it we're in negotiations with another team for a top level player.

I hate rumors. They never blossom.

Yeah, this Huff guy seems like he'll work out pretty good. I still don't think they're done dealing, but we'll see.

Great debut by Huff last night, 'Stros fans.

Yeah he hit a nice shot in his debut, nice bit of extra protection for Berkman if he plays well....

And of course AP hit a BOMB in the 14th for a walk off win...the Cards are back!

MLB Trade Deadline is almost here (ESPN Insider)

The 'Stros really need to get Tejada if they want any shot at the postseason. However, if you remember me saying that they need to bring up 2 of their badass players in the farm system. Well, Hunter Pence is one of those guys, so I don't think they should do that deal. In other words, doesn't look like the 'Stros are going anywhere this year. Hell, doesn't look like the Chisox will either. This would be the first time in a really long time that the World Series teams don't make the post season the following year.

Nismo, at least your team didn't give up a future closer (Jeremy Accardo) for that assclown Shea Hillenbrand. What a joke. The Giants need to clean house:

1. Lose Barroid.
2. Fire Brian Sabean. I still cannot fathom Liriano-Nathan-Bonser for AJ Pierzynski. Worst trade since the Red Sox dumped the Babe.
3. Run Felipe Alou out of town.
4. Trade away the geriatric wing on the clubhouse (Alou, Finley, and Vizcaino).
5. Do whatever it takes to get rid of Benitez.

Well, the Astros just cashed in the season. :rolleyes: Don't think the White Sox are going to take the wild card. I wonder how far back you have to go to see when the last time the two World Series teams didn't at least make it to the playoffs the following season.

I think the CWS might get in, but it could be close...the Stors are also a long shot but nothgin will suprise me after last year. This year is so ahrd to predict though so you may well be right in both cases...hope so :p

The Cards picking up Belliard was a quiet move, and a good one I think. Sosa could also be a huge help in the bullpen. Hopefully Mulder comes back strong too for the strecth run. As long as they dont play the Cubbies in the playoffs at wrigley they should be ok :rolleyes: ... but they still need a big bat in the OF, was hoping for C Lee from MIL but oh well. GO CARDS GO!!!

The NL is just gross this year. There are only five teams above .500, and two of them (Reds and D-Backs) are only two games over apiece.
My pathetic Giants are only 4 games out of first despite playing like a steaming pile of crap all year. It would be an embarassment to the game of baseball for them to sneak into the playoffs.
The good news: Only 54 more games until Barroid's contract expires.

Lol, I'm counting the 54 games until Bagpipes is off the Astros payroll. That will definitely help.

I listened to Mike and Mike this morning and they're right. No team in the NL would want to see Houston or Florida in the playoffs. Both may be below .500 right now (and still in the WC race ), but you get those pitching staffs in a 5-7 games series and they'll be extremely dangerous. The Cards and Mets are definitely rooting for the Reds or DBacks.

The fact that this thread has been dormant for nearly a month during the pennant race is testament to how badly this year has sucked for every fan that doesn't live in New York or root for a team other than the Royals and Indians in the AL Central.

The NL, as a whole, is just plain embarrassing. The season should end after the ALCS is played. It would be the merciful thing to do.

My A's just finished a 21-6 month of august. Things are looking good. And they pulled that off with Street, Crosby and Harden on the DL.

Frank Thomas turned out to be the bargin of the year ($500K plus incentives) and probably will come in runner up in the Viagra comeback player of the year.

That Mark Mulder trade sure did turn out well for us. (A's got Dan Haren, Kiko Calero, and Daric Barton. Cards got Agent Mulder who went all mental and seemed to have totally lost his mojo)

Milton Bradley (aka The Gamer) has been the 5-tool player that he always had the potential to be and being away from Jeff Kent has improved his on field attitude too. Just watch him - he's been pretty jovial all season. Playing with Nick Swisher will do that to a guy. Too bad we had to give up Andre Ethier to get him though.

I agree. Man, no one even wants the Wild Card.

One bright spot for me about this season is that my cousin got a job scouting for the NY Mets. Their bullpen catcher got injured, so he had to fill in for a week or so (he caught in college).



He was able to warm up both Pedro and Glavine.