Cards Cubs Rivalry

A good rivalry can be everything you can expect if it has the same passion on both sides of the rivals. There are many rivals; you can see the Yankees Red Sox rivalry, Democrat Republican rivalry, and the Packers Bears rivalry. If you take a close look at them you can see that the excitement not only comes from the mutual dislike in some cases hate for each other, but the prize. It could be the bragging rights of the American League East, the privilege to have the power over this great country, or just liking to see cheese heads and bear fans go at it, all rivalries have a prize.
With the Cards Cubs rivalry, we know it’s a war for the fans. There is only 297 miles between St Louis and Chicago, with all the people over the I-55 interstate having the choice of any of the two teams. Since the cities are so close, whenever the teams play one can see the stands full of Cardinals red and Cubs blue. Normally split down the middle, fans love giving each other a hard time; yet, I would not call it true hatred like a Yankee/Red Sox game. It is all in good fun and if you see the stands there will always be people with different colored shirts sitting together, and not killing each other. 
The Rivalry
How history has defined both of the teams
The politician George Will grew up in Champaign IL, halfway between the two cities. He says that his toughest decision in his life was wether to follow the Cubs or the Cardinals. In 1998 he said, “While all of my friends were becoming Cardinals fan, I became a Cubs fan. My friends happily rooting for Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, and other great Redbirds, grew up cheerfully convinced that the world is a benign place, so, of course, they became liberals. Rooting for the Cubs in the late 1940s and early 1950s, I became gloomy, pessimistic, morose, dyspeptic a
nd conservative.”
Fight It Out
Don’t mess with us, seriously

Both cities started a media battle for control of the fans, which had the option to hear both team’s games by 50,000-watt radio stations. The Cubs w
on that battle, when in the 1980s they achieved to televise their games nationally through TV. Today chances are that most of their games are on TV. The ‘lovable losers’ appealed to the masses. Still, the Cards have no inferiority complex having won a World Series in the past century.
Since their first meeting in 1885, the Cubs have more wins the the Cardinals having 1,148 to 1,079. Those numbers do not really affect me because of two reasons. The first that the Cards have won 17 National League pennants to the Cubs 16. The second, also the icing on the cake is the Cardinals 10 World Series wins, compared to the Cubs 2. The final thing is, that the Cards won the World Series in 2006, the last Cubs championship was in 1908. The teams long history and rivalry has lasted a long time and managed to stay in the same division when the National League split into two divisions and then into three divisions.
Cards dump it on the Cubs
My personal favriote
Being a Cards fan, you could have expected this article is a little biased towards the better of the two teams. And even though I do not like the Cubs, I do not feel hatred towards their fans. Giving each other a hard time is all in part of the good rivalry, and I’ve never heard of it getting out of hand. If I meet a Cubs fans I will say to them one of the two following comments:
1) We all know that not everyone goes to heaven.
2) Don’t worry, no one is perfect.
There is nothing sweeter then watching a good Cubs Cards game to see the Cards go away with the victory. The magic number being 10 World Series rings for our franchise, and having won in the past 100 years is also nice. That’s why,
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Cards Loose The Second Against The Cubs

Tony La Russa is angryLast night the Cards fell into a hole in the first inning and could not climb out of it in a 5-2 lost against the Cubs. Brad Thompson (2-6 E.R.A. 5.31) loaded the bases the first inning on two walks and a single. On the plate for the Cubs was Milton Bradley (.238) with two outs and down 0-2 in the count when Thompson went in and hit him getting the the first run of the game for the Cubs. The Cubs scored twice after that in the first inning, creating a lead that the Redbirds could not catch up with Cub’s All Star pitcher Ted Lilly (9-6, E.R.A. 3.18) pitched a very well game giving the Cards little to no chance of actually winning. The lefty pitcher also achieved his 100th win of his career.

Even though Tony La Russa filled the lineup with right handed batters, they still were not connecting against Lilly. It was not until the fourth inning when Colby Rsmus (.280) got the first hit for the Cards. He went on to score on Ludwick’s (.252) hit. After that we came close to starting rallies with guys on the corners once. Molina (.280) got an RBI pushing in Pujols (.338) after he got his hit. But all the attempts came up short. Lou Pinella brought in closer Keving Gregg (3-2, E.R.A. 3.40) to face Skip Schumaker (.301) and the Cub’s closing act struck out Schumaker for the last out of the game.
Today we have a double header against the Cubs. We can still take two wins and come out of the series with a winning percentage. The first game, starting now at 12:05 CT has Cardinal’s pitcher Kyle Lohse (4-4, E.R.A. 3.99) facing Carlos Zambrano (4-4, E.R.A. 3.47). Te second game of the night has Card’s veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright (9-5, E.R.A. 3.09) off against Cub’s Randy Wells (4-3, E.R.A. 2.48) at 7:05 CT time. Let’s get the series win, today is a different game.
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Cardinals Making Hits Rain On Wrigley Field

There are only a few rivalries in sports that can bring so much joy to someone when you see your team run circles around the the rival team. That is exactly what the Cardinals did yesterday. Heading into today’s game, our beloved Redbirds from St. Louis had a record of 47-40 leading the National Central Division by two games to the Brewers. Today was no exception in the Cards journey in ending the season first place and getting to the playoffs. On the defensive side of the game, Chris Carpenter (7-3, E.R.A. 2.47) pitched an excellent six innings. He struck out six, allowed three runs on seven hits. The runs came in the third inning when he allowed Harden and Theriot to get on base on singles. Next came Derek Lee to the plate who crushed a cutter that was up and out over the plate. After that the Cubs left two on base the next two innings.

Carp Getting The Job Done
Carpenter rocks the stash in a great performance
On the offensive side of the ball, the Cards were truly great. Between Ryan Ludwick (.251) and Albert Pujols (.336) they went five for six with RBIs, four runs, and zero strike outs. Ryan

Pujols Is All Smiles

 Ludwick had an amazing day, going three up to the plate and getting three hits. In the top of 
the eight, Pujols hit an RBI triple, his first triple since September 8, 2007. After the Cubs tied it up in the third, the Cards just had to get more runs. Ludwick was quoted saying ‘we need more runs, that’s all’. He was right and Pujols must have heard him because he started getting those runs in the fifth when he hit a solo home run to get the go ahead run and get his thirty second of the season. He has the most home runs before the All Star Game, only followed by Barry Bonds with thirty one. Then the Cards pulled in four more runs in the sixth inning on two hits. Brendan Ryan (.299) was on base when Cub’s reliever Aaron Heilman (2-3, E.R.A. 4.35) walked Colby Rasmus (.281) and Albert Pujols. Then Ludwick got his third single of the night driving in two of the four runs in the inning. Yadier Molina (.279) got in the third run when   Alfonso Soriano dropped his fly ball. The last run came in on a wild pitch.
Alfonso Soriano Misses Yadier's Pop Up
Alfonso Soriano drops Molina’s pop up fly in the sixth
All and all, it was a good game to watch. An 8-3 victory over the Cubs is good any day. The Cardinals reach 5-2 on their ten game road trip. Now leading the NL Central Division by three games, we face Chicago again at 3:10 pm CT for the second game of the four game three day series. On the mound for the Cards is Brad Thompson (2-5, E.R.A. 4.92) going up against Ted Lilly (8-6, E.R.A. 3.32). Another game to be watching is the Los Angeles Dodgers (55-31) against the Milwaukee Brewers (44-42) at 6:05 CT. Milwaukee trails the Cards by three games, and we need to keep spreading that lead like butter. Going for the series against the Cubs, in Wrigley, getting your golden bats to go for a combined five for six, that’s why,
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Piñeiro Stashes Away The Brewers

As heard in Baseball Tonight: “Piñeiro Pinns down the Brewers“. I guess my pun is not much better either, but still what a game. It was 0-0 the first seven innings when Brendan Ryan started a rally that followed with Ludwick blasting a three run shot that gave the Cards the lead. The redbirds moved to being ahead two games with 47-40. Piñeiro has played well all season but has been missing the big guns at the plate. Brendan Ryan made an an amazing play, throwing from almost the third base towards first.

07:08:09 Piñeiro's stash is killer.jpeg
Piñeiro plays an excellent complete game against the Brewers
Today we are facing the Cubs right now, winning 8 to 3 in the third inning.
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Spreading The Lead Like Spreading The Butter

Ryan LudwickI woke up this morning with two things in my mind, I hope we have enough coffee to wake up, and HOLY CRAP! WE ARE ONLY ONE GAME AHEAD OF MILWAUKEE! The baseball Gods were smiling today on the Cards as our schedule was set to face off against the Brewers tonight. Now in his fifth season with the Cards, Adam Wainwright (8-5, E.R.A. 3.32) pitched a hell of a game controlling the mound for 8 1/3 innings keeping the Brewers down to seven scoreless hits. The five zero victory brings the Redbirds to 46-39 leading the National League Central by two games to the Brewers and three games to the Cubs.

The Cards went to work early in the first inning, Colby Rasmus (.288) singled and was followed by Pujols (.336) who took four balls for a walk. Ryan Ludwick (.237) set the tone in the game homerin’ at his first at bat. Adam Wainwright’s performance was key in the victory.
Tonight we face the Brewers again at 7:05 pm CT with Todd Wellemeyer (7-7 E.R.A. 5.44) on the mound against Jeff Suppan (5-6 E.R.A. 4.60). Wellemeyer went 7 1/3 innings in a victory against the Giants his last start. Lets go for the second win of the series and move our lead to three games.
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.

(more…)

Update Update Update

Apologizing for a wrongdoing, is half of what can be done. Making it right is what really should be done. I apologize again, to the four fans that I know that follow my blog, you are my inspiration to continue blabberin’ about the best team in the Majors.

LET'S GET KRRRAZY
People Getting Krazy With The Cardinals

In the last week that I’ve been away from the computer, the Cards broke even winning five out of five. Before tonight’s game they were one game behind the Brewers. Next look for tonight’s summary. I’m back on the computer and back on writing.
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Piñeiro… Enough Said

Joel Piñeiro Dominates The MetsLast night, June 23, of 2009, Joel Piñeiro took the mound and completely dominated the Mets with 100 pitches for a 3-0 victory. Piñeiro (6-8, E.R.A. 3.40) pitched a two hit shutout keeping New York’s guys hitting ground balls all night. Piñeiro is not a strikeout pitcher, but he sure knows what to throw. Out of the 27 outs, 22 where ground balls which shows if he keeps pounding the strike zone and just let the infield take care of the game he will get the right results. He had two hits, walked a guy, and struck out a guy. He held his shutout throughout nine innings. His most dominant pitch of the night was his sinking fastball. Out of the 100 pitches he threw last night, 77 where fastballs. After the game Tony La Russa showed concern on people categorizing Piñeiro as a one pitch-pitcher adding that he has a good curveball, sinker and changeup. 

The Puerto Rican native (nice!) had already proven his control of the Mets April 22, 2009 when he pitched eight innings for two runs and eight hits on a 5-2 win. His pitching against the Tigers last thursday was over shadowed by the fact that he gave up four runs in the first inning and had to be carried off the field with a leg cramp; however, he did retire sixteen in a row after the first inning and before he suffered the cramp. He has also lost some close games when the Cards could not come to produce enough runs, commenting on his loosing streak he said: “It was frustrating at first, but you can’t control what our offense does. They’re trying out there just the same way I’m trying to get outs.”

On the offensive side of the game, Piñeiro hit a double and a single, scoring the first run of the Cards on a mistake from the Mets. Pujols came up to the plate in the seventh inning with bases loaded and hit the first pitch thrown to him resulting in a two RBI single that brought in Brendan Ryan and Skip Schumaker. Albert Pujols has the right touch at the plate leading the Majors with 26 home runs and 70 RBIs. The Cards now 40-32 lead the National League Central Division by 2.0 games the Brewers and by 3.5 games the Cubs.
Albert Pujols
Pujols hits RBI # 70

Tonight we face the Mets at 6:10 p.m. CT in the the third game of the four game series. Brad Thompson (2-2, E.R.A. 3.89) is pitching for the Redbirds against Fernando Nieves (2-0, E.R.A. 1.84). Nieves has a hot arm this season and it won’t surprise me to see a tough game between the two teams. Piñeiro’s incredible pitching last night, and Pujols constant domination of the league, you know what I’m going to say, that’s why,
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Cardinals Could Not Keep Up With The Mets

Skip Schumaker

The Cards started tonight’s game down by two, a deficit they were not able to surpass. The Redbirds had already swept the Mets earlier in the year, but could not get the job done tonight. They did some damage along the game but could not tie the game. Skip Schumaker hit an RBI single in the third inning that brought in Khalil Greene. That kept our chances of taking the lead alive until the fourth inning when the Mets brought home another run. Later on, Ryan Ludwick hit a two run homer in the six inning that kept the Cardinals down by one run. As close as we got, in the bottom of the six inning, the Mets scored another run and regained the two run lead. The lost was given to pitcher Todd Wellemeyer (6-7, E.R.A. 5.53) who defended the mound for 5 2/3 innings in an attempt to keep the Mets lineup off the bases. An unsuccessful attempt that ended up with Wellemeyer giving up ten hits for five runs. The Mets played an amazing game. Carlos Beltran (.336) was placed in the disabled list today. Carlos Delgado (.298) and José Reyes (279) are not playing either. I had thought that it would be an easy win since New York did not have any of its big players. I was proven wrong.
The second game of the series is tomorrow at . On the mound for the Cardinals Puerto Rican native Joel Piñeiro (5-8, E.R.A. 3.76) against Cuban native Livan Hernandez (5-1, E.R.A. 4.18). Piñeiro is coming off a tough lost against the Tigers when he was carried off the field in the seventh inning suffering a cramp on the right leg. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully he has his act together and can keep the Mets with zero or almost no runs. We already swept  the Mets, and I know we have the talent to turn this series again and win it, that’s why,
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy

Sweep On Fathers Day: ‘does not really get any better than this’

Happy PujolsHappy Fathers Day! I spent the yesterday with my family, nothing better then to sit down with my dad, open a few beers, and watch the baseball games. We saw the Cardinals game and had a good time as we saw Pujols play at his best. If your dad is like mine, odds are you probably gave them a gift related to baseball, I did. My dad was my little league coach and he taught me how to play ball, now I’m a guy that lives for the sweet magical time we experience from April to October. I got my dad, Paco, the Cards shirt that said in the back DAD as the last name and 1 as the number. It may have been kind of cheesy but he liked it.

Have you seen any of the commercials that say Play Like A Cardinal Today and show Molina catching two pitchers at the same time? They did just that. The final score was 12-5 with Adam Wainwright leaving Kansas with his eight victory of the year. Tony La Russa achieved baseball history yesterday becoming the third manager, alongside Connie Mack and John McGraw, to win 2,500 games. He said to be able to win those many games: “You got to be around a long time and you’ve got to be in great situations, and thats what I’ve been”. The MVP yesterday was definitely Albert Pujols. The Dominican Republic native hit a grand slam, a home run, and in total brought six runs to the scoreboard.
Tony La Russa
A big congratulations to our manager Tony La Russa in his 2,500 victory.
Tonight we move to New York where we play the Mets. The game can be watched on ESPN at 6:00 p.m. CT. On the mound for the Redbirds is Todd Wellemeyer (6-6 E.R.A. 5.36) facing Met’s pitcher Tim Redding (0-2 E.R.A. 6.27). I’m praying that we carry our win streak, maybe even our sweep streak into New York. A manager with 2,500 wins? A first baseman that hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder? A lineup that has nothing to envy from other teams? That’s why,
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy
Fathers Day Gift

Cards Fly Back Into First

Tonight’s 7-1 victory against the Royals helped the Cardinals get into first place again ahead of the Brewers by half a game. Carpenter showed he did not really know they were close to first place when he said: “I didn’t know that we were [first]“. They continued to ask him how it felt to be the Top Gun in the National League Central Division and he said “my opinion is, we go play our games, and if, when the season is over, if we’re in first place…” and lost track of what he was saying as he thought of finishing in first place. He decided its best not to speak of it now, I agree. For now lets keep playing ball and at the end of the season hope we have won enough to still be in first place.

Chris Carpenter Pitches Only Allowing three hits in 7.2 innings
Again there were enough red shirts at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City to make the Cardinals feel right at home. I have to admit that the Royals jerseys looked nice tonight. The Cards were leading 1-0 after Rick Ankiel scored on a single by Brendan Ryan. Then Albert Pujols hit his 24th home run of the season to putting the Cards up 3-0. The Redbirds kept that three run lead until the eight when pinch hitter Willie Bloomquist singled to reliever Ryan Franklin allowing Mitch Maier to score. In the ninth, Ryan Ludwick started a rally that gave the Cards an extra four more insurance runs. After Ludwick scored on a hit by Molina, Khalil Greene hit a three run homer down the left field line setting up the final score for the night.
Tomorrow the Redbirds face off for the last time in a very important game against the Royals at 1:10 p.m. CT with Adam Wainwright (7-4 E.R.A. 3.33) aginst Gil Meeche (4-5 E.R.A. 3.31). It is important and interesting first and most importantly since we have the chance to sweep the Royals, an inter-league I-70 rival, secondly since Tony La Russa is one victory away from becoming the third manager in MLB history to win 2,500 games, and thirdly because its fathers day and we should all have the blessing of sitting down and watching the game with our dads. Hopefully tomorrow La Russa gets his 2,500 win and the Cards finish inter-league baseball in a strong victory. Winning 7-1 is not easy, that’s why,
With these Cards, I’ll go all in.
- Andy
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