SB Nation User Blog: Jhusk

As I sit, hours into the offseason...

Jhusk — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:44:15 -0000

Man that sucked.

This team deserved a better finish. Well, I shouldn't say this team. The team that dominated the month of August to the tune of an 11 1/2 game lead in the division deserved better.

But now it's over, and there's nothing we can do about it.

But as I sit here, sipping an honorary Schlafly's Hefeweizen--to which I owe VEB for exposing me to--, I'm filled not with anger, disappointment, sadness, but a quiet satisfaction at the ride that was 2009. We, as fans, got to watch Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Albert Pujols have simultaneous career-type years.

How freaking cool is that?

And you know what? I would not have enjoyed it nearly as much without this site. Oh sure, I'd enjoy it, but I wouldn't be able to talk about the Cardinals in a deeper way than 95% of fans. Colby Rasmus Fire Burning in the Outfield wouldn't be a part of my life. I wouldn't be able to yell "Midwest Nice engage!!!" at my girlfriend before a Matt Holliday at-bat and have her look at me like I had lost my freaking mind.

This place really helped me become a true fan. I think back to 1996, and man, I had no idea what was going on. Granted, I was 10, but still.

2000, 2001, 2002 were all the same way. Fun, but in a "barely hanging on to a careening car" kind of way. '04 was a bit better (minus the World Series, of course-- anybody know when they're gonna play that thing?), and 2005 as well.

But 2006 is when I really came of age as a fan, midway through the regular season, and it was after I googled "St. Louis Cardinals blog" and came by here. I started paying attention to prospects. I started looking at stats. Heck, I'm the guy who, sometime during the 2005 season, asked my dad, "What's going on with that Wainwright kid they got in the J.D. Drew trade?"

But now I can tell you that I have no clue who Allen Craig has to sleep with to get a call-up, that Jaime Garcia could be a great left-handed starting option next year, and that I cannot WAIT till the start of the Shelby Miller era in St. Louis.

I guess my point here is that 2009 ended to early, but because of VEB, 2010 isn't so far off.

(By the way, I highly recommend listening to the end of season-ending games rather than watching. There's something quite comforting in hearing Mike Shannon, after the last out, say, "Our next broadcast'll be March 6, down in Florida. We're taking on the Marlins.")

Rogers Hornsby said it best: "People ask me what I do when there's no baseball. I stare out the window and wait till spring."

The second-best part of the year behind baseball season is baseball's offseason, and here's to a great one, VEB.

Colby Rasmus Article

Jhusk — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:53:00 -0000

My senior year in college (2008), I took a class in writing for magazine. For one assignment, I decided I wanted to do a profile of Colby Rasmus, who was in Memphis at the time. My school is just about an hour from Memphis, so I called up the Redbirds and scored clubhouse access and a sit-down with Colby, telling them I was a freelance writer.

I never went it off anywhere to be published, so consider this my self-publishing. I've never had anybody besides friends and family read it, and I figured it would be enjoyed here. It's titled "The Future is Now," and I've posted a link.

The Future is Now

Hope you enjoy.

(P.S. I wasn't sure if this should be a FanPost or a FanShot, so if I picked the wrong one, just say so and I'll re-post.)

Report from Memphis

Jhusk — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:30:56 -0000

Went to the Redbirds/Isotopes game on Tuesday, thought I'd give a report on what I saw.

Blake Hawksworth got the start for the Redbirds, and came out smokin'. Struck out the first four batters he faced, and ended the night with over 10 K's. He was consistently in the low-90's according to the AutoZone gun, and showed pretty good offspeed stuff, with good location.

It was a pitcher's duel for the majority of the game, tied 1-1 for a good while. Hawksworth gave up a solo homerun to Dallas McPherson (funny story: before the game, McPherson was warming up right in front of where we were sitting, and a buddy of mine says, "Is that Dallas McPherson?" I say, "I can find out," and yell out "DALLAS!" and look down. Apparently McPherson looked right at me. So yeah. Dallas McPherson, everybody.)

Fifth inning or so (sorry I can't be more specific, was with a big group so it was tough to really pay attention), Hawksworth got in trouble, gave up another home run, and Redbirds were down 5-1.

Hugo Castellanos (sp??) came in, and I give a decided... meh. He pitched well, but didn't do anything to really catch my eye. He gave way to Mark Worrell, who I thought pitched extremely well. Struck out the Isotopes' centerfielder Carroll to give Carroll the ol' Golden Sombrero, which was definitely the highlight of my night.

So, pitching summary: Hawksworth was lights out, till he wasn't. One bad inning spoiled a potential gem of a start.

Now, for the guy I was there to see.

Rasmus started in center, and led off. Top 1, batter hits a rope to deep right center. Rasmus sprints a good 70 feet, dives headlong onto the warning track and comes down with the catch. It was easily one of the top 3 catches I've ever seen in person.

There wasn't any chance for him to show off the arm, so I can't comment on that. But he looked comfortable, and man... that catch was somethin' else.

At the plate, I was a little nervous. His first two plate appearances, he saw a total of... two pitches. He hit a soft liner to short in the first, and grounded out his next time up. That didn't sit well with me at all. But his next two trips to the dish he worked walks. Neither time could anybody behind him do anything, so I can't comment on his speed on the paths.

Other random observations...

Hoffpauier has the look of a guy who knows he can play some ball (in a good way.) I definitely see a lot of Dustin Pedroia in him.

Amaury Cazana Marti can mash. He stroked a double in the ninth that I swear dented the left-center wall. He also runs like a duck.

Josh Phelps is really skinny.

Brian Barden doesn't look comfortable at short. He had an error where he let a ball under the glove through his legs. Don't know if he'll see the big club before September.

Cards interested in Cliff Lee?

Jhusk — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:00:19 -0000

Hmmm...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3140986&name=winter_meetings

I've always liked Cliff Lee, but I don't like him for Reyes AND Anderson. Bryan Anderson is a potential star. We need to flip him for young, stud pitching. Lee's a lefty, but has struggled in Cleveland. I think he'd pitch well in St. Louis, but I just really believe that Mo could get much more for Reyes and Anderson.

McCarver Completely Inaccurate in Pitching Analysis

Jhusk — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 00:43:26 -0000

Tim McCarver proved he does not have adequate knowledge of proper pitching mechanics early in Friday night's game. After Carlos Delgado went yak off Carpenter in the first inning, McCarver kept going back to the fact that Carpenter was "leading with his elbow," and how that's bad, and that Carp needs to "get on top of the ball." The only thing is, that's not possible. Every pitcher "leads" with his elbow. The number of motions that, put together, make up the pitching delivery, is referred to as the "kinetic chain." The rotation of the hips leads the rotation of the shoulders, which brings that arm around. At the moment of maximum shoulder rotation, the arm is at "full external rotation of the upper arm." The elbow lays back flat, which stretches the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the elbow to the maximum. This is when a pitcher is "leading with his elbow." At that stretch, the body, as a reflex, sharply contracts those muscles. This motion brings the hand forward and delivers the ball. So, for all you young pitchers out there, don't listen to Tim McCarver. If you try to throw and "not" lead with your elbow, 1) you will lose tons of velocity, and 2) open yourself up for injuries to the shoulder. "Leading with the elbow" is a natural occurrence of the proper kinetic chain. The problem MIGHT be, is the LEVEL of the elbow. I didn't notice, but if Carp's elbow is LOWER than normal, that can lead to a loss of velocity and movement. THAT is the proper problem that McCarver should be referring to.