Birdhouse Exclusive Interviews
The Furthest Thing from Sports Psychology – Interview with Dr. Richard Crowley
Ray King Interview from the Sunday Newsletter
Interview with Cardinals VP & GM Walt Jocketty
The Role of the Bench Coach
Interview with Jason Marquis - revisted
Cardinals Radio Broadcaster Wayne Hagin
Rob Rains with Brian Walton & Ray Mileur
Interview with Mick Foley
Everyone has heard of Mick Foley, legendary Hardcore wrestling champion – the man who had some of the most memorable matches in wrestling history – the man behind the characters Cactus Jack, Dude Love, Mankind and more. click here
Interview with Michael Sillman
Birdhouse Interview Series with;
Jeff Luhnow, Vice President
Cardinals Baseball Development
By Brian Walton
Related Stories
Birdhouse Exclusive Interview with Ron Shandler by Brian Walton
Baseball Forecaster / Baseball HQ
The Walton Spring Training Interview Series
Interview with Dave McKay, Cardinal First Base Coach
More Brian Walton interviews
To include interviews with, Tyler Johnson, Brad Thompson, Colin Porter
Skip Schumaker, Ron Warner, Shaun Boyd, Brent Storm & David Rawnsley - check them out today - click here
The Birdhouse has been designated as an
Emergency Shelter
by Cardinal Nation President
In response to the natural disaster, that is the Chicago Cubs' 2004 baseball season, a catastrophe of biblical proportions, Ray Mileur, the President of Cardinal Nation, has declared a state of emergency and as activated the Birdhouse as a shelter for Cub Fans everywhere.
"We will reach out to Cub Fans everywhere and give them shelter and and a home." Mileur said, adding "And read my lips, no more ticket taxes (scalping) by the Chicago Tribune Company.
Editor's note the Chicago Tribune owns the Cubs, they set up a dummy Corporation to run a Ticket Agency. They are scalping their own fans by selling tickets natuarally at a much higher than face value, through that agency. That alone should cause a revolt. We just cannot turn our backs on these good baseball fans.
The world is a better place with Free Cub Fans.
We will be there for you Cub Fans, in October, long after the Cubs and the Tribune Company have shut their doors and turn out their lights, leaving you homeless on the streets, out in the cold, with no place to go.
Cubs Manager Dusty Baker, described the 2004 season as his worst year ever and has requested aid from Cardinal Nation.
While we will be playing in the post season at Busch Stadium, at the same time, at Wrigley Field, there will be a six month moment of silence, in memory of the Cub's 2004 season.
Now I ask you my fellow Cardinal fans, how can we as a Nation turn our backs on our wayward brothers?
Of course, it is a necessary evil, but there is the paper work, there is always the paper work.
Cub Fans everywhere, please complete the following form in triplicate and return to us for processing."
We are here to help you.
----------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Cubs to St. Louis Cardinals Conversion Form
Thank you for your interest in becoming a citizen of Cardinal Nation. Due to an unprecedented volume of requests, we are currently processing only fan conversion registrations for Chicago Cub fans.
Conversion requests from other teams will be accepted once all Cub requests are processed. We expect this to take a number of weeks based on the current backlog of requests.
Please take a few moments to fill out the conversion form below to help us get to know you better and prescribe any required counseling to recover from your previous fan experience.
Personal Information
Name: __________________________
Last, First MI (Please Print)
Address: _________________________________________________
Street #
_________________________________________________
City, State ZIP
1. Please indicate the last time you watched the Chicago Cubs win the World Series:
[ ] 1908 (Please leave this form at the front desk of your nursing home)
[ ] Have never witnessed this event
2. Please indicate your favorite moments in Cubs history:
(Check all that apply)
[ ] Lou Brock traded to the Cardinals for Ernie Broglio in 1964
[ ] The College of Coaches in the early 60's
[ ] Lee Smith grooving a fastball to Steve Garvey in game 4 of the 1984 NLCS.
[ ] Brant Brown dropping a fly ball in 1998 which forced a 1 game playoff with the Giants.
[ ] Grounder goes between Leon Durham's legs during game 5 of 1984 NLCS [ ] Fan interfering with foul ball during game 6 of 2003 NLCS.
[ ] Leo Durocher's AWOL visit to his son's Military School during 1969 pennant run.
[ ] A Black Cat running in front of Ron Santo during critical 1969 series in Shea Stadium.
[ ] Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddox not tendered offer and signs with Atlanta Braves.
[ ] Atlanta Braves featuring Greg Maddox sweep Cubs out of 1989 playoffs [ ] Don Young dropping the fly ball in 1969 [ ] Mark Grace not tendered offer by Cubs, signs with Diamondback and wins World Series.
[ ] Manager Lee Elia's profanity filled tirade at beginning of 1983 season.
[ ] Sammy Sosa getting caught using a corked bat during 2003 season.
[ ] Cubs blow 8 game late August lead and finish 8 games behind 1969 Mets.
[ ] Cubs reliever Dickie Noles drinks full case of beer and attacks Cincinnati police after game.
3. Reasons you believe the Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908:
(Check all that apply)
[ ] The curse of the goat
[ ] Lack of managing
[ ] The curse of the goat
[ ] Lack of pitching
[ ] The curse of the goat
[ ] Lack of hitting
[ ] The curse of the goat
[ ] Lack of Defense
[ ] The curse of the goat
[ ] Bad Calls by umpires
[ ] The curse of the goat
4. Did you experience any of the following after last night's inevitable Cubs loss: (Check all that apply)
[ ] Headache [ ] Uncontrollable anger
[ ] Heartache [ ] Holes punched in doors or walls
[ ] Nausea [ ] Smashed TV Screens
[ ] Depression [ ] Avoided Cardinals and White Sox Fans
5. Is October your least favorite time of year?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
6. Are you tired of saying "Wait 'til next year"?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
7. Are you ready to admit that:
a. Stan Musial was better than Ernie Banks? [ ] Yes [ ] No
b. Bob Gibson was better than Fergie Jenkins? [ ] Yes [ ] No
c. Ozzie Smith was better than Ryne Sandberg? [ ] Yes [ ] No
d. Mark McGwire was better than Sammy Sosa? [ ] Yes [ ] No
e. Jack Buck was better than Harry Caray? [ ] Yes [ ] No
f. Tony LaRussa is a managerial genius? [ ] Yes [ ] No
g. The next Cub century will be no better than the last? [ ] Yes [ ] No
h. The Ivy on the out field walls is ugly and stupid? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Once you have completed this form, please forward to Busch Stadium. Then burn all of your remaining Cub clothing, memorabilia, and associated reminders. After reviewing your request, the Speaker of the House, of Cardinal Nation will contact you with notification of acceptance or rejection.
If accepted, you will receive:
A recommended recuperation program which includes;
- a recording of "Meet me in St Louis" over and over again;
- An opportunity to obtain tickets to the2004 World Series at Busch Stadium;
- Posters of Lou Brock and Bruce Sutter in Cardinal uniforms;
- A Dart board sporting the picture of Sammy Sosa;
- A copy of our popular handbook, "Harassing Cub Fans for Fun and Profit";
- A Coupon for a future poster of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in Cardinals unforms;
- and a one year subscription to a weekly support group for ex-Cub fans in your area.
If rejected, you will receive:
Our pity and condolences, plus a 10 second video capturing the past 100 years of Cub highlights in head-to-head competition against the Cardinals narrated by Larry Bitner.
I hereby renounce the Chicago Cubs for all eternity on this the ________ day of _____________________, 2004
___________________________________
(Signed)
__________________________________________________
(Office Use only)
[ ] Approved
[ ] Declined
THANK YOU
Roy Castleman
Division Sales Manager & Emergency Program Manager
Burklund Dist. Fairview Heights Roy@Burklund.Com
cut here along the line
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's note: this form was forwarded to us by Roy, as it was to him. We did not write it and we don't know where it came from. I'm sorry, but I can't spell anonymous or give it's author credit.
Page Two - More Stories "In the House"
September 20, 2004
By Brian Walton
September 19, 2004
By Pete Khazen
September 19, 2004
By Karan Eschweiler
September 17, 2004
By Bill McCurdy
September 17, 2004
by Rex Duncan
September 16, 2004
By Ryan Pastrovich
September 15, 2004
by Joe Mammy
September 15, 2004
By Jerry Modene
September 15, 2004
By Brian Walton
September 14, 2004
September 14, 2004
by Rex "The Wonder Dog" Duncan
September 13, 2004
By Jerry Modene
September 13, 2004
by Joe Mammy
September 11, 2004
by R. Hudolin
September 10, 2004
by Pete Khazen
September 8, 2004
by Brian Walton
September 7, 2004
St. Louis: Best Baseball City – The Case is Presented
By Brian Walton with Rod Howe
We’ve heard it and even repeated it ourselves many times – St. Louis is the best city in baseball with the best and most knowledgeable fans anywhere. We accept it without hard facts, much as we did when we were youngsters when Mom told us our eyes would get stuck if we crossed them.
Well, here’s a case that proves the contention about St. Louis that comes from a most unlikely source. In one of my (too) many fantasy baseball leagues this season, the league forum has been ablaze with a very spirited debate between one man, an Expos fan and Yankee hater named Rod Howe and two other owners, including a fervent Yankee supporter. The brouhaha seemed to begin as a disagreement over the reasons for the Yankee success over time and has raged for about 60 individual posts over the past month plus.
While I noted the long, detailed and impassioned postings with only a mild passing interest, Rod’s ultimate conclusion did catch my eye: “St. Louis is the best baseball town in America”. To prove his point, Howe developed an index which factors payroll, fan attendance and metropolitan area size. In refining his formula, Howe enlisted his sister, who has her Doctorate with an emphasis in statistics. As a former mathematics major myself some years ago, I can almost understand the logic. However, you are excused if you want to skip the two middle sections and get straight to the point.
The Rankings
Here’s Howe’s list of baseball cities/teams from best to worst, as determined by population and payroll as factors of attendance:
St. Louis
Denver
Phoenix
Cleveland
Atlanta
Seattle
Cincinnati
San Francisco
Boston
Dallas
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee
Toronto
Los Angeles
San Diego
New York Yankees
Kansas City
Houston
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Tampa
Miami
Chicago White Sox
Oakland
New York Mets
Philadelphia
Minneapolis
Anaheim
Detroit
Montreal
The Explanation
The assumption tested was that in order to get people to the ballpark, a team would need to sign All-Star names; therefore payroll should be a dominant factor in fan attendance. That is clearly not the case.
A standard deviation was prepared to analyze the results of the data set. The following teams had above “average” fan support: St. Louis, Denver, Phoenix, Cleveland and Atlanta. Conversely, the following teams experienced below “average” fan support: Detroit and Montreal.
The remainder of the teams all fell with the “norms” of the data set. A team such as the Atlanta Braves spends similar amounts on payroll, and draws the same amount of fans to the ballpark as St. Louis. However, Atlanta has approximately 1.5 million more people than St. Louis to draw from. A team such as the New York Yankees spends well more that the “average” team on salary and has the population base to draw from, but generates “average” results when it comes to fans coming to the ballpark. A team such as Kansas City is comparable to New York. Despite Kansas City having a payroll that is well below the median, having a population to draw from which is approximately half of the median, they enjoy a comparable number of fans to the Yankees.
The largest payrolls over the past years have been the Yankees, Boston, Dodgers and the Mets, and three of the four teams come from the two largest cities in North America. The teams that have appeared in the World Series for the past ten years (from both leagues) can be divided into primarily two categories, 1) Large Payroll/Large Town, or 2) Good Fan Support. The only “exception” to the rule was Miami, which ranked lower in payroll and fan attendance.
In the final tabulation, St. Louis edges out Denver by .6 of one percent, so statistically speaking the two teams are identical, but St. Louisans can still be crowned the best major league baseball fans.
The Formula (don’t try this at home)
Here is the formula developed to determine which major league baseball team has the greatest fan support using fan attendance, payroll, and the size of the city in which the team is located as factors. No other factors were utilized, (i.e. natural, social, community involvement, new stadium, etc.). A city’s population was divided equally among teams in which two teams are located in the same metropolitan area (i.e. Chicago). The definition of the terms is as follows:
Team attendance= Ballpark attendance from 1994-2003
Avg. Team payroll= Teams average Payroll for the previous 
5 yrs.
Avg. Attendance= Major League Baseball Average Attendance 1994-2003
Avg. Salary= “ “ Salary 1999-2003
Pop. Baseball City= Population provided by the U.S. Census Bureau
Fan Base Denominator= Median Population/City population
((City Population/Fan Base Denominator)(Team Attendance* Team Salaries)
(Median Population (Median Attendance*Median Salary)
The Conclusion
As noted, factors such as community involvement don't come into play here. If included, it would only make the Cardinals’ case stronger. The team is very active in maintaining support throughout Missouri, Illinois and surrounding states. Players travel to schools in a multi-state area and participate in a number of charity events including community fundraisers, school functions and church events.
Is this list entirely accurate? No, but it's based on the "all things being equal" theory. And with all things being equal, it's better to have a team in a large town vs. a small town. And if you're in a small(er) town, you have to do a great job of getting the fans to come out and support your team if you want to compete.
I’ll leave you with the reminder that this work originated with an Expos fan, not a Redbird ally. In fact, it sincerely pained Howe to see his own baseball city (at least temporarily) come in last. However, as a Cardinal fan, I’ll take it, because it proves what we have known all along. When it’s all put together, St. Louis comes out on top!
Spetember 7, 2004
West Coast Vs. West Side of Mississippi
by Nathanial Skinner
Fan Writer Profile - Nathaniel Skinner is a wise beyond his years pundit, naysayer, and generally foul-tempered loudmouth that likes seeing his name in print. He routinely ignores any deadlines the Birdhouse attempts to set and rarely responds to emails. Fortunately he lives far enough away we don't have to put up with him in person.
Regardless, he occasionally says something worth hearing and works for free, so we keep him around on the off chance his work is not laced with profanity or blatant lies. He lets the regular staff
handle real analysis, preferring to focus on his own ridiculous opinions.
West Coast vs West Side of Mississippi
Thanks to the massive induction coil now mounted in my attic, I am now fortunate enough to hear ALL of the Cardinal games KMOX can spit out. I'll be glad to share antenna designs with any members of the nation who may think they are out of range, but be prepared to hear your significant other complain about you
turning the house into a giant lightning rod.
The most important thing here is that my hurricane magnet allowed me to hear the LA crowd have their backsides handed to them on a plate. The same fate awaits San Diego. Our boys are giving all of the NL west coast teams fits.
So...why are we not getting the same national recognition they are?
All of the guys who spent the early part of the season hyping the Scrubs and Stros went through a few weeks of apologizing to the Cardinals in late July and promptly shifted their attention to the west coast. National TV showed the Cardinals until they were ten
games better than everyone else, and then started saying Cinderella (Padres) unexpected trade winners (Dodgers) and Bonds 700 (steroids.....oops, Giants). If you ask me the biggest story is Cinderella/trade winners/offensive powerhouse and that road runs smack around Busch Stadium.
Maybe it's because the Cardinals are a perpetual postseason team but at least one of the aforementioned teams has been a factor in the playoffs for many years. I would venture the glamour factor is in play here---it's a hell of a lot sexier to show girls in
bathing suits strolling down the beach between innings
than a guy spreading fertilizer on his soybeans.
Are the west coast teams just the benefactors of a larger market? Have the networks run out of ways to show audiences the arch or the river? Is the country just more interested in hearing about the Padres keeping pace in the wild card race?
Personally I don't think any of those are true. If Dodger fans are spending a whole day roasting in their attics to string up giant antennas in the Utah desert just to hear a game I want to know about it. Baseball may be a business, but it's also the one major sport that doesn't change its rules every year to jack up scores or appease fringe fans. We're all following the last pure, strategical, unwavering game out there.
So how about some recognition for the guys who are playing it the way it was meant to be played. Three legitimate MVP candidates, the league's best defense, and a pitching staff that doesn't walk a player just because of the name on his shirt. If quality fundamental play garnered respect the Cardinals and Marlins would be on ESPN every night. Instead I'm sitting through a Giants/D-Backs game waiting for highlights from a game I might actually want to see. Today's "feature" game was Cubs vs Expos. Enough said.
So on the off chance the guy who picks the games to show on national TV reads this: let's forget about win/loss records, half-baked races for the last playoff spot that won't be truly interesting for the next two weeks, or someone chasing after a non-record number. I'll gladly watch the As/Sox series before I sit through the Bonds-going-for-700-vs-Kirkwood Little League.
Thanks to the gods I can pick up St. Louis games now on the radio. Redbird nation extends far beyond the soybean fields we seem to get lumped into.
September 3, 2004
Lay Cubs’ Blame at Top
By Brian Walton
I agree 100% with Rex Duncan's article, "Is Baseball’s Best Rivalry Becoming the Worst?". However, I think Rex stopped just short. I don't mean to make this personal, but the current problems are fueled by people. So, it is appropriate and necessary to point fingers. The Cubs have become thugs and it is not due to their roster, agreeably a collection of unlikable characters. It is due to their manager and general manager.
GM Jim Hendry put the 2004 Cubs team together and has to take credit for the bad chemistry experiment that is in evidence every time the Cubs take the field. Heck, when Chris Carpenter had to quietly warn the Cubs (like a pro, with words, not with a 90 MPH pitch or a bat in-hand), he probably had trouble finding a leader on the Cubs to speak with. He ended up with Sammy Sosa, about a moody and self-absorbed superstar as one can find anywhere.
However, I lay most of the blame for the recurrence of the Cubs' problems on their manager. For years, Johnnie B. Baker has properly gotten his props for his teams' results on the field. However, his loud and belligerent public defense of his own and his players' boorish behavior predictably occurs after each and every incident just like clockwork.
Don't get me wrong. A manager gains and maintains respect publicly defending his players. However, the good managers deliver the bluster in front of the cameras, but then deal with the problems behind closed doors so they don't happen again. Sure, an "us" versus "them" attitude can be a motivator, but the Cubs consistently cross the line with seemingly no one with the ability to stand above the fray to bring them back to reality.
Baker's Cubbies just blame the problems on their opponent or the umpires or the full moon, move on to the next series with the next team and then the next set of meltdowns magically occur. Suppose the Astros would disagree with this assessment? They've had even more problems with the 2004 Cubs than the Cardinals have.
I really have mixed feelings about a potential Cubs-Cards postseason match up. As a baseball fan, I'd like to see it. But, I am really worried that there will be more problems fueled by a team that is seemingly always on the edge of an altercation. That is not good baseball, nor is it good for baseball.
September 3, 2004
A Season in 3 Acts.
by Joe Mammy
I’m a Cardinals fan. As such I usually don’t find it necessary to comment on an entire season by another team—especially the Cubs. I’ll talk about things I see going around in baseball as a whole or my thoughts on a specific series, but I like to think I have my own 162 games to worry about. All the being said, I’m going to talk about the Cubs.
The Cubs are Scotty Pippen. No matter how good he was, he was always Jordan’s sidekick. The Cubs are Tonto—dependable, solid and always listed after the Lone Ranger. The Cubs are the Red Sox—number two behind the Evil Empire in the AL East—no matter what they do, at least in the eyes of their fans and commentators. People would like to see them succeed and are quick to do pre-season projections and boast about lineups, but in the end they cough up “There’s always next season” faster Steinbrenner can drop $10 mil to improve his fantasy league team—um, I mean the Yankees.
The Cubs were a legitimately scary looking team on paper at the beginning of the season. Then again, so were the Astros. And for the first time I can remember Cubs fans were coming out the woodwork, proclaiming their undying support for a team destined for greatness. They oozed confidence and self-righteous indignation at the lowly Cardinals and their little “best everyday lineup in baseball” and starting rotation filled with intangibles. Yup, the world was their oysters and for once the highlight of their October wasn’t going to be the Bears or Blackhawks. There was one little disconcerting thing, however. Due to some oddity in the scheduling of games, they wouldn’t get to see the Cubs beat up on the Cardinals after July 20th. It was a minor thing, but you can divide their season using it.
Part I, Dogfight in the Central
While most considered the NL Central to be a tight division (at least if you were from Houston or Chicago) no one expected it to be as tight as it was. The entire division was in contention with, of all teams, Cincinnati ruling the roost for a good portion of it. Most people didn’t expect the Reds to hang on all season and the Astros and Cubs were predictably fighting it out in 2nd and 3rd place.
Conventional wisdom was that the Cardinals should be glad to finish with their season series with the Cubs by July 20th—it left them over two months to recover and position themselves for the wildcard without having to face the devastating pitching staff in Chicago. The Cubs/Cards series had been contentious with the Cubs garnering a slight edge. Only few folks noticed that outside a brutal April, the Cardinals’ pitching staff was starting to pump out quality starts with surprising regularity. Most said it was due to the poor health of the Cubs that other teams were in contention and that as soon as they became healthy there wouldn’t be a team that could stand in their way.
On May 29th the Cardinals passed the Cubs in the standings, although no one would have believed you if you said it was going to be for the rest of the season. By June 11th the Cardinals laid claim to first place in the Central, even though no one expected that one of the other favorite teams in the division wouldn’t retake it.
Part II, Problems in Chi-town
After June 11th until July 20th the Cubs had their best shot at taking the lead in the division from the Cardinals. On the 22nd the Cubs started another series with the Cardinals. After an initial win against the Cards, the Cubs were only a game back and with happy promises of Prior returning to form after his extended stint on the DL it seemed like the Cubs were poised to make a push around the All-Star break. It seemed the schedule was coming together for the Cubbies to shellac their hated rivals and having their run of the division.
However, instead of rolling over after the opener loss (like the Cards of 2003 had been prone to doing) the Cardinals won the series and the Cubs began cracking. With two ejections by Cubs behaving badly in the June series, some were saying the Cubs were becoming fiery and determined. However in the last two series against the Cards, it appeared to be desperation and frustration.
In the final series the Cardinals ensured a season series win (I’ll admit, I breathed a sigh relief after the ‘Stros/Cards one-game playoff for home field a couple years ago…) but the biggest blow came in the final game. The final game of the season between the Cards and Cubs showed both the dominance of the Cards and meltdown of the Cubs. The Cardinals, behind Albert Pujols' 3 HR, 5 RBI effort, rallied from 7-1 deficit to win the game in the 9th. The Cubs, following their game plan from their earlier June series, broke down and added more ejections and a black-eye to their own sportsmanship.
With this final entry in the head-to-head matchup, conventional wisdom shifted. The Cardinals were quietly being heralded as the best “team” in baseball as well as the most dominant team in the National League. The Cubs had failed to make a statement (or at least one they had wanted to make) with their series against the Cardinals and were left to regroup.
Part III, Irony
Conventional wisdom has now come full circle. At the beginning of the season it was believed that the lack of confrontation between the Cubs and Cards could work in the Cardinals’ favor and let the Cards take on lesser teams and gain ground on a team they wouldn’t have to face. Now it is the Cubs who rely on the Cardinals. In a final stroke of irony, the Cubs, who were dethroned of their most favored status by the Cardinals now are counting on the fact those same Cardinals will continue to roll over the Cubbies wild-card rivals. In a very real way, the Cubs’ season hinges on the Cardinals success—especially since the Cubs are happily Card-free for the remainder of the season.
In the final stretch of the season, the Cardinals face off against three teams in the wildcard race or leading their respective divisions—including division rivals Houston. The Cubs have a one-game lead in the wild card race at time of writing, due in large part to the Cardinals winning the first two games of their series (game three is tonight) against the Padres. In a strange twist of fate, the Cubs postseason hopes rest in the hands of their divisional rivals. And given the way the Cardinals have been playing, you can’t help but think that they’re happy about it.
Not that they’ll ever admit it but there has to be a quietly growing Cardinal fan base on Addison. Let me be the first to welcome you to Cardinal Nation, guys.
September 3, 2004
Is Baseball’s Best Rivalry - Becoming the Worst?
by Rex "The Wonder Dog" Duncan
I grew up in southern Illinois among a diverse group of friends and classmates including those of different races, religions, and national origins. We didn’t know what “diversity” was. We just all got along. Perhaps the one distinction that was sure to generate a good friendly argument was that about 2/3rd of the population were Cardinal fans and 1/3rd Cub fans. Notice I said friendly arguments, as in discussions, teasing, kidding, not fighting and cursing.
In the last years of a wonderful life well led, Jack Buck sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field. Baseball fans in both blue and red heartily cheered. The Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa Fence Demolition Contest in the late 1990’s was fueled by mutual admiration and respect. That time was perhaps the high point of the greatest rivalry in baseball, when both sides recognized and respected the special relationship that has existed for a hundred years between the Cards and Cubs. I hate to see this being lost.
The Cards-Cubs rivalry has taken a turn for the worse, and with dangerous overtones. When I consider what has happened over the past two years, it’s difficult to identify at what point the scales tipped in favor of darker forces, but this isn’t the rivalry I grew up with.
Perhaps it was the five-game series in Chicago last September when it appeared that the Cubs employed physical intimidation as a strategy against the Redbirds. From that conclusion to a tough season, the hard feelings between the players carried over into the 2004 campaign, certainly a tale of two cities.
The height (or perhaps more correctly, the depth) of this redefined rivalry was reached in Chicago with the Carlos Zambrano-La Troy Hawkins meltdown. I was never so proud to be a Cardinal fan than when Jim Edmonds turned the other cheek and calmly trotted to first after being plunked for the second time in the same spot by Zambrano. Baseball fans across the nation gained a new-found respect for the hyper-achieving Cardinals that day.
After that series, it was clear that a line had been crossed and that this storied rivalry had taken a dangerous turn. Even the Chicago media have joined in lambasting the Cubs, calling their behavior an embarrassment to the city. The recent Astros series only added to the condemnation.
Perhaps the most endangered species in this pitcher-fueled brouhaha is the Cubs batter. To his credit in the Astros series, Derrek Lee knew what was coming, took the soft curve in the side and head for first base. The Chris Carpenter-Sammy Sosa Security Council Meeting near the mound lent credence to my belief that the better angels of their natures are working to calm this storm before someone gets hurt.
Should the Cardinals and Cubs meet again this year in the playoffs, so be it. I have every confidence that the best team in baseball this year will prevail. Let that series be defined, though, by the hallmarks of America’s pastime – timely hitting, strong pitching, slick fielding, and smart, aggressive running.
In a playoff series, the Cubs would be well advised to keep the trash outside. Whether driven by machismo, testosterone, or frustration, their philosophy of intimidation has been a failure in terms of putting up numbers in the “win” column this year. Hockey and baseball mix like Kerry and Cheney.
The Chicago Cubs franchise is legendary in baseball for a whole host of reasons. I’ve no doubt that they are tired of wearing the “losers” label, even though the Northsiders lead the Cardinals by about 50 games in their long history of contests. Wrigley Field has seen some of the finest players in the business grace her lush grass wearing the blue baby bear. I can’t imagine in my wildest dreams that Ernie Banks would want to play another nine of the kind of games recently exhibited there. Sweet Swingin’ Billy Williams surely must frown on this conduct.
The Card-Cub rivalry is the best and oldest in baseball. It was built on intense play, tough competition, and close games, not blood lust and personal vendettas. I long for the days when Wrigley Field was known as the Friendly Confines. It sure isn’t very friendly these days. That’s bad for baseball and indeed an embarrassment for a great city.
Rex Duncan
September 3, 2004
The 4-1/2 Man Playoff Rotation
by Jerry Modene
Although it's not over till it's over, with the very real possibility
that the Cards could clinch the NLC title by next weekend, some thoughts as to the postseason rotation.
Overall, most of us wonder about who's going to be dropped from the rotation, since it's not likely we'd use five starters. Or will we?
Morris, for instance, has been our "worst" starter this year, although he has the most wins (more starts than the other guys and the best run support amongst the five will do that for you) but it seems to me that inconsistency, rather than just a general lousiness, has been Morris' problem this season.
And it turns out that's correct - looking at Morris' last eight starts,
four at home and four on the road, shows a remarkable disparity:
Morris' last four starts at home: Game Scores of 74, 60, 61, and 54. 3-0 with a no-decision; 6 runs allowed in 30 innings for a 1.80 ERA.
Morris' last four starts on the road: Game Scores of 12, 5, 31, and
45. 1-2 with a no-decision; 27 runs (23 earned) allowed in 14 1/3
innings for a 14.44 ERA.
Can't get much more divergent than that.
Anyway, here are the full-season home/road splits for our Starting Five:
At Home:
Morris is 8-3, 3.70 in 13 starts.
Carpenter is 6-2, 2.74 in 11 starts.
Williams is 5-3, 3.50 in 13 starts.
Marquis is 8-3, 3.79 in 15 starts.
Suppan is 5-6, 4.77 in 14 starts.
On the Road:
Morris is 6-5, 5.66 in 14 starts.
Carpenter is 8-3, 4.14 in 14 starts.
Williams is 5-4, 4.65 in 13 starts.
Marquis is 5-1, 3.29 in 11 starts.
Suppan is 8-0, 3.14 in 11 starts.
Clearly, you want Morris pitching at home and Suppan on the road. The others aren't so disparate as to make a huge difference, although Woody has been somewhat better at home than on the road.
Anyway, with this in mind, try this on for size:
Game 1: Carpenter at home with his 2.74 home ERA
Game 2: Morris at home with his 3.70 home ERA
Game 3: Suppan on the road with his 8-0, 3.14 road record
Game 4: Marquis on the road with his 5-1, 3.29 road record
Game 5: Williams (with his 3.50 home ERA) or Morris (4 days' rest) or Carpenter (5 days' rest), pick one, at home
Essentially, what I'm proposing is, essentially, a 4 1/2 man rotation, in the sense that it doesn't really matter where Carpenter, Marquis, or Williams pitch, but you want to finagle things to where when a certain spot comes up in the rotation, either Morris pitches if the game's at home or Suppan pitches if the game's on the road.
September 4, 2004
Best Seats in the House
by Karen Eschweiler
I spend a lot of my time at Busch Stadium. I sit in section 128. It is pretty far out in right field, I think it is just 2-3 sections from the end of the field level seats. I sit in row 22. This is the second to last row. I love my seats. In fact, I have such a fondness for them that I am hoping that they will go up for sale with the demolition of the stadium. I’d be almost giddy over a stadium seat to go next to my brick from The Arena.
Call me sentimental, but there is just an attachment I feel to the hard, red plastic where I rest my weary body after a hard day’s work. I know that I am in one of my favorite places and anticipate the game that will unfold in front of me. As soon as my body hits the seat, I take a deep breath. The stress of the day goes to another place and I can appreciate my surroundings. We’ve had great weather this season and I’ve even managed to make it to Budweiser Fresh Beer Night! I’m there with my best friend who I happen to be married to, and two other great friends. Really, what could be better?
It may be the convenience of my seats I enjoy. There is a concession stand directly behind me. I can keep an eye out for short lines. There is a TV monitor by the concession stand that if I lean back just enough, I can watch replays of close plays that are not shown on the stadium screen. There is a gap behind the seats where I can climb over and out without disturbing anyone outside of my party of four.
A trip to the concession stand is quick and I know that if I climb out of my seats, turn right and head up the stairs, I’ll find myself very near a stand that sells Nachos Supreme, one of the very best culinary delights of the stadium in my opinion. If I venture to the left, I will find myself at the very last ladies room on that level. That being the case, it also seems to possess the shortest lines. However, if the line does happen to be long, I can still see the batter and most of the field from a vantage point above Larry Walker’s head.
If I wander up the stairs, I’ll find that cool Ice Mountain snowman in the Cardinal cap and be near one of my very favorite souvenir vendors. He always seems to have the cap or T-shirt that everyone else has sold-out. I have a habit of buying lots of Cardinal T-shirts. My latest one, displaying the words “SLUG THIS.” is among my favorites.
I know which ramps will get me to the ice cream in the cute Cardinal red batting helmets. You just can’t have too many of those sitting around the house, now, can you?
I feel the location of my seats is near perfect for my needs. I am very tall for a woman, have a tall husband, and hang around some pretty tall friends. The little bit of extra leg room in the field level seats is greatly appreciated. I also like the cup holders which aren’t available in all areas of the stadium. The shade covers us after a few innings of a noon start, and sometimes, if the wind is blowing in the right direction, the Edward D. Jones scoreboard shields us from those pesky thunderstorms.
Speaking of that scoreboard, I am rather sentimental about it too. I don’t think I’ll try to buy it and hang it in my house, but my husband actually caught a foul ball that hit the sign and bounced directly to him. I love trying to catch foul balls, and one off the bat of Scott Rolen, well, that’s a whole other story. The foul balls frequently come close and even though I can’t catch them all, I delight in watching others try. There is just something that makes me smile to see the look of sheer joy and elation at coming up with a ball.
What a terrific season I’ve witnessed this year from my comfortable, familiar surroundings at Busch Stadium. I’m sad that this building that is the backdrop for so many of my Cardinal baseball memories will be torn down, but excited at the prospect of a shiny, new stadium. I have written the check to reserve seats in the new stadium. I love looking at it slowly evolve from the parking lot that used to be there. I can only hope that the new seats are as kind to me as the old.
September 6, 2004
Ray's Swan Song
by Paul Brown
For 11 years, he patrolled the Busch stadium outfield with the speed of Willie McGee, the grace of Curt Flood, & the style of Terry Moore. In the 1990s, he was often the only spark on teams with little fire. Do not forget that--even though his clubs never won any titles--he won a lot of games for Cardinal Nation with his electric bat, explosive speed, magnetic glove and strong arm. Perhaps he was not as good as the Man, the Rajah, the Fordham Flash, Pops, Diz, Ducky, Country, Red, Brock, Boyer, or McCarver. But he could play. When Big Mac hit 70 HRs, he hit 31. Solely based on ability and longevity, he deserves the kind of appreciation reserved for Cha-Cha, Shannon, Forsch, Simmons, Pags, Flood and Javier. Age and injuries diminished his exciting skills. It had been sad to see him hobbling in left, then to be traded, even though it had been one of baseball's great swindles to get Woody Williams in return. When he unexpectedly fought his way on to this year's team, it was great to see him with the birds on his chest again, even though the familiar #16 graced a teammate's back. When balls occasionally jumped from his bat this spring, it was gratifying. He would surely provide juice off the bench and insurance for aging OFers Sanders, Edmonds, and then Walker. As this team began to punish the NL, it seemed like just desserts for so loyal an employee to be in on the fun. But he should not be chosen for the post season roster for one cold reason: Ray Lankford can't help this team in any way.
Only the teams with the best pitching make the playoffs. Ray can't hit good pitching anymore. On those rare occasions when he does make contact these days, his shots usually hook foul, then he whiffs on the next pitch. In a critical situation where a LH bat is needed off the bench, Mabry, Anderson, and Cedeno would surely be used before him. He is no longer an aggressive baserunner in part, no doubt, due to numerous leg injuries incurred over his many years of hustling play. Early in the season, TLR thought that he could spell the somewhat brittle Edmonds with Ray's CF experience, but he was not equal to the task. In fact, in the Sunday game vs. LA at Busch, he showed that he cannot even be used as a LF replacement for a couple of innings. It was embarrassing to watch 2 fly balls play him. At this point, even Marlon Anderson is not more of a defensive liability.
The only team challenge left for this 2004 club is to equal the win total of the WWII teams. The war had necessitated call backs of a number of beyond-their-prime players. Among these was John Leonard Martin, the fleet-footed belly-flopping dynamo who had instilled fear in the hearts of the opposition in the 1930s. The Wild Horse of the Osage had never been a very good defensive player, but he was used in CF, RF, 3B (heck, he even pitched a couple of innings) just to pepper the offense. In 1944, he was rehired by the team that remembered how much he had once meant to them. They won 105 regular games. Then Pepper Martin was left off the post-season roster. It was strictly a business decision. He simply couldn't help them beat the Browns. The organization employed him thereafter as a minor league player-manager. He continued to play professional baseball into his fifties. He had dropped from the bigs solely because he couldn't play at the major league level any longer. It hurts to say it, but neither can Ray Lankford. If they go on to win the WS, he can say that he had helped a little. Surely his teammates would vote him a partial share. Perhaps the Cards can hire him as an instructor or coach next year. He should go out in style. He should retire from playing as a Redbird. He has been a good one.
September 7, 2004
Cards Should Stand On Principles with Tavarez
by Rex "the Wonder Dog" Duncan
Soon, St. Louis Cardinals brass will make the trip to that bastion of judicial comedy, the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball in New York City to appeal the 10-game suspension of top right-handed reliever Julian Tavarez. If Bob Watson, the Disciplinarian-in-Charge for Major League Baseball, has a shred of respect for the concepts of innocence until proven guilt and the value of evidence in such determinations, he will call the Cardinal front office and tell them to stay home. He will then drop the charges against Tavarez and rule that there will be no suspension. He will clear Tavarez’s good name.
Baseball players carry many “labels” throughout their careers. Someone who hits at important points during a game is a “clutch hitter.” Because of his play-off achievements, Reggie Jackson became known as “Mr. October.” One label, though, that has been applied infrequently but with great disdain is “Cheater.” That odious label sticks in both the locker rooms and the bleachers.
Julian Tavarez has accomplished much for the Cardinals this year. When he struggled early this season, Tony LaRussa said that Tavarez’s performance would be critical to the success of this team. Tavarez has not disappointed. He is certainly unconventional. He is occasionally eccentric and entertaining. He is definitely effective and has become a solid bullpen contributor. I am completely convinced, though, that Julian Tavarez is not a cheater.
Here’s my understanding of the evidence against him. There is none. We have only the observations of a comically inept umpiring crew headed by veteran Joe West. Tavarez was stopped before the start of a late inning during his warm-up throws, his hat was examined and returned, then he was “asked to leave” the game. It was clear at first that the accused didn’t even understand what was being done. West determined that the cap had sticky pine tar on it, and the presence of such gunk on the hat constituted a foreign substance.
Tavarez disgustedly threw his hat into the stands where it was snagged by a lucky fan. He has pleaded his innocence on “the heads of his two daughters.” West, in returning the evidence to the accused, allowed that evidence to escape confirming analysis by MLB. When Sammy Sosa’s corked bat shattered at Wrigley, that crew immediately confiscated the bat as proof of the allegation. Sammy Sosa continues to carry the label of “cheater” to this day.
Subsequent independent chemical analysis done on the hat, analysis that was sponsored by St. Louis TV Sports Director Frank Cusamano, found that the hat carried no foreign substance. The analysis showed that it had ground soil and saliva, which is consistent with Tavarez’s habit of nervously fingering the right side of the bill of the cap with his pitching hand. No trace of pine tar was found. Again, there is no evidence whatsoever that Tavarez had anything on his hat but dirt and spit.
There is precedent for Major League Baseball overturning pine tar allegations. Recall that in a 1983 game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees, George Brett hit a game-winning home run. Billy Martin, always the fly in the ointment, complained that the pine tar on Brett’s bat had been applied higher than the 18” limit. Martin’s complaint was upheld, Brett came screaming out of the dugout ready to fight the entire umpiring crew and Billy Martin to boot. Upon appeal to MLB by the Royals, the umpires’ decision was overruled, the home run stood, and the Royals won the game.
The easy way out here would be to delay the appeal process until the Cardinals clinch the NL Central, then let Tavarez take a well-earned rest and serve a reduced suspension. To do that, though, would stick him with the “cheater” label that he simply doesn’t deserve. If Watson doesn’t take the honorable route, which I suspect he will not, the Cardinals must – I repeat this – must march on his office with every piece of physical evidence and proof of umpiring ineptitude in the defense of Julian Tavarez. They should be willing to fight long and hard to reverse this ridiculous episode and return the name of Julian Tavarez to its good and honorable status.
Contrast finally in this comedy of errors George Brett’s explosive assault on everyone in six counties when he learned of the umpires’ decision regarding the pine tar on his bat. Tavarez, on the other hand, peacefully placed an arm around home plate ump Ron Kulpa and offered to buy him a beer after the game. A man like Tavarez must be defended at all costs.
