SB Nation User Blog: akaitori

Where FANtasy meets the Mekong

akaitori — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:01:59 -0000

As per a horse that I left at the Post . . .

Great to see the 8-3 start. Anecdote - your call as to whether it's doom/gloom or a depraved rave. I spent the last week traveling around northern Thailand including hill tribes and opium museum and hall of opium. Felt that I was in Morpheus' time warp when I returned: Carp done after ten innings; Piñata nearly giving away a lead. Thompson blowing another save on the way to Memphis. Then I KNEW I was in Morpheus' grip when I saw Cards beat the Cubs in Wrigley to extend first place. I highly recommend the Golden Triangle as the best place to be a Cards fan this year.

I fear, however, the reality will soon displace the euphoria. I simply do not see this team continuing its winning ways. Team is already three deep into Memphis pitching staff, and inveitably the make-shift starters and bullpen will pressure those who are legitimate MLB hurlers. Does anyone besides me think K-Mac, Franklin, Kinney and the Lefties will use up a season's worth of innings by mid July? Now here is the bad news - given the fact that the team has the credibility of a Pravda editorial with its medical forecasts, I seriously doubt we will see much of Glaus or Carp this year. Sadly the combination of AAA lifers (Thurston, Barden, Ryan) and AAA maybes (Boggs, Walters) will not be solid replacements.

Time to head north of Chaing Rai again. . .

I inquire about McGwire

akaitori — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:37:42 -0000

As the team turns from promise to seemingly fulfilling its pre-season predictions of mediocrity, I thought it might be appropriate to visit another bitter-sweet time. Namely the Mark McGwire years. As this season fades, do you look upon the big Mac era nostalgically, with regret and remorse or some mixture of each? Given the responses generated by the question of whether or not to sign Barry Bonds, I thought it might be interesting to see how the VEBosphere distinguishes McGwire - home runs to Congressional Ks (www.youtube.com/watch?v=942HcHKbOno) – from Bonds – homeruns to the memorable VEB phrase “douchebaggery.”

Quite apart from the PED issues, do we give Mac a pass because he brought a (goodly) measure of excitement to the Cardinals, or do we hold him to the ridicule that seems attendant with Barry Bonds? What say you?

Quite simply they called him "The Man"

akaitori — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:25:52 -0000

For those of us fortunate enough to have seen Musial in action, I thought it might be interesting to post memories to commemorate his day. In no particular order ten that come to me:

1. Watching him wind into that incredible corkscrew stance and sense the crowd’s anticipation as he uncoiled with amazing speed and deftness.

2. Sitting in the cheap seats (right filed pavilion) and watching Musial tattoo line drive after line drive off the screen. Often they’d land on the pavilion roof.

3. Remembering the city of St. Louis collectively rising and threatening to lynch Frank (Trader) Lane when the latter offered to swap Musial even up for Robin Roberts.

4. Wishing my family had enough money to just once take me to his restaurant.

5. LOL with his advice to rookie Curt Flood. On how to hit: Wait for a strike and then knock the shit out of it.

6. The grace and dignity with which he conducted himself – particularly in contrast to the taciturn sullenness that marked rival Ted Williams.

7. Actually catching a foul ball he hit on his next to last game.

8. Watching him depart with two hits in his last game.

9/10 Counts double – having the chance to interview him many years after his retirement, and having lunch sitting between Musial and Ozzie Smith. For a Cards fan that’s an operational definition of sublime.

Shane Robinson

akaitori — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:02:52 -0000

Has anyone noticed that Shane Robinson is hitting over 400 in Springfield? Slugging close to 600, OPS over 1000. He went 3-4 yesterday and again today. I gather that he is rather much on the diminutive side, but does anyone think he is a legit prospect? Where would he fit at Memphis? Can he play multiple positions? Which position player is most likely to be called up thus setting the dominoes cascading and stacking? Is Robinson the most likely Springfield call up?

Anyone care to speculate . . .

akaitori — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:48:06 -0000

. . .on how much better the team would be with Ryan/Hoff at second, Raz/Mather in the outfiled and Kenendy and Duncan anywhere else? In the last Houston game Shannon speculated that "Kennedy's back." He is in fact back to back with 07's wretchedness.

Clearly the team is moving forward on other fronts. Card kudos for unloading the undead - Rolen, Edmonds, Speez, but why in the name of Baseball Heaven (or whatever this year's dopey motto) do you cling to the deadly duo of Ken Dunc? .

It is incomprehensible to see the team continually compound last year's blunders when there are vialble options now.