***Official St Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs 2015 NLDS thread***

[kentkel]

Would have loved to see both teams at full strength. Cubs very well could have still won but a series with Wainwright and CarMart throwing to a 100% Molina might have been different. But it's part of the game and the Cardinals have certainly benefitted from it before in previous years so you move on.

Totally agree!

 

[IlliniCy]

Cards fan brag all year how good they are in spite of the injuries, but now they use it an excuse.

 

[VeloClone]

Came here for some Bode wisdom.



Left disappointed.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Did we ever find out how many hundreds of thousands of dollars Bode lost in his bet?

 

[VeloClone]

Did we ever find out how many hundreds of thousands of dollars Bode lost in his bet?

It was hundreds of thousands, but it wasn't in US dollars; it was in Vietnamese dong.

 

[NorthCyd]

Did we ever find out how many hundreds of thousands of dollars Bode lost in his bet?

 

[3TrueFans]

It was hundreds of thousands, but it wasn't in US dollars; it was in Vietnamese dong.

He's flush with Vietnamese dong.

 

[mctallerton]

It was hundreds of thousands, but it wasn't in US dollars; it was in Vietnamese dong.

Bode is never happier than he is when he has a handful of dong.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I understand "limitations," and I'm not doctor, but Wainwright pitched nearly 5 innings in the series, which is more than two of the Cub starters did.

He also looked good doing it.

I almost would've preferred he started a game and taken him out after a couple times through the order.

 

[CyJack13]

I've watched Lackey's "I wanted to throw the fastball" tantrum several times and it just gets better and better, should have worried about Baez instead of acting like a little *****.

 

[ISUCubswin]

As for saying you guys would've been better off with Carlos Martinez, the guy had a 5.24 ERA in 4 starts against the Cubs this season.

I don't think he was the solution.

 

[johnstoncy]

What is this baseball thing you guys speak of. :smile:

 

[CloneinWDSM]

Now how does 1870 plan on getting an erection?

 

[Die4Cy]

Yeah, it sucks when your team has major injuries at the most important time of the year. Back in 2008, my Brewers lost Ben Sheets, and Yovani Gallardo was coming back from the DL when they entered the playoffs against the Phillies. Even if 100% healthy, I think the Phillies were the better team.
Analyzing this Cards-Cubs series, I think it is very difficult to say for sure that the Cards would have won even if fully healthy. Record-wise, they were the top team. But this Cub team really impressed me by how fast they matured, and how confident they are despite their lack of playoff experience. I think they are peaking at the right time - playing the best ball in the NL - & yet, have room to grow & improve.

The Cubs were the third best team in the Central division before the All-Star break.

They were the top team for the entire second half, though. Cards were third best behind the Pirates.

In fact, only Toronto's .676 win percentage in the second half of the year was better than this young Cub's team's record of .667 for the second half in all of major league baseball.

They are really young, and really, really good.

 

[isumellie]

We miss you Bode.

 

[CloneinWDSM]

Do we really have to wait until Saturday for more baseball?

 

[SaraV]

Do we really have to wait until Saturday for more baseball?

I have this love/hate for having to wait for baseball. I've been at this heightened level of tension the past two days. It's nice to be able to watch the AL games today and not have a Cubs game to "worry" about later in the day. Yet, I have three days to build up my anxiety to Saturday night.

 

[CyFan61]

As for saying you guys would've been better off with Carlos Martinez, the guy had a 5.24 ERA in 4 starts against the Cubs this season.

I don't think he was the solution.

Most recently he went 6.2 with 4 hits and 2 ERs against the Cubs. But as I fully recognize this is pointless. The Cardinals basically had one starter this series who was remotely useful. That's not going to cut it. I agree with you that Wainwright should have started, and just take three strikes with the bat on his shoulder if there's no one on or if there's two outs, or lay down a bunt and not run otherwise. But I get why they didn't go that route. Congratulations Cubs, no reason to keep trying to convince anyone that you're better than the Cardinals, that's what the NLDS was for.

 

[Triggermv]

Apologize if already discussed, but I was wondering how home-field advantage worked with our next series. Is it based on seed in the playoffs, in which case I'm guessing we would NOT have home field advantage. Or, is it based on overall record, which I'm guess we WOULD have home field advantage. Anyone willing to help me out?

 

[carvers4math]

Apologize if already discussed, but I was wondering how home-field advantage worked with our next series. Is it based on seed in the playoffs, in which case I'm guessing we would NOT have home field advantage. Or, is it based on overall record, which I'm guess we WOULD have home field advantage. Anyone willing to help me out?

I think it is based on seed, meaning a wild card will not have home field despite the better record. I have no knowledge base on this except asking the husband the same question last night, and I find him to be wrong frequently.