[Kathy]

Sorry, winflop, but tonight belonged to the Cardinals in the first-ever postseason game between the Cards and the Cubs.  8)

My other favorite team wearing cardinal red took the first game of the National League division playoffs. And to bring this back to Stanford sports, Stanford grad Stephen Piscotty was instrumental in the 4-0 win (scored the first run in the second & hit a 2-run homer in the eighth), as he has been ever since the Cards called him up from Memphis in July. A big night for the rookie!

Now THAT was fun to watch ...

[Kathy]

Sorry, winflop, but tonight belonged to the Cardinals in the first-ever postseason game between the Cards and the Cubs.  8)

My other favorite team wearing cardinal red took the first game of the National League division playoffs. And to bring this back to Stanford sports, Stanford grad Stephen Piscotty was instrumental in the 4-0 win (scored the first run in the second & hit a 2-run homer in the eighth), as he has been ever since the Cards called him up from Memphis in July. A big night for the rookie!

Now THAT was fun to watch ...

[winflop]

At least it's not a one-game playoff.  Tomorrow's another day, and I like Maddon giving the ball to Hendricks.

The Cardinals were slightly better tonight.  But they got a LOT of help from some awful calls behind the plate.  Even the announcers were commenting on the degree to which Cubs hitters were getting shafted.  Darling at one point said he might be in the HOF if this guy had been calling balls & strikes when he took the mound.

[winflop]

At least it's not a one-game playoff.  Tomorrow's another day, and I like Maddon giving the ball to Hendricks.

The Cardinals were slightly better tonight.  But they got a LOT of help from some awful calls behind the plate.  Even the announcers were commenting on the degree to which Cubs hitters were getting shafted.  Darling at one point said he might be in the HOF if this guy had been calling balls & strikes when he took the mound.

[2 for 2028]

The Fowler flyball was reminiscent of the Rector drop against Northwestern.

[2 for 2028]

The Fowler flyball was reminiscent of the Rector drop against Northwestern.

[terry]

As a life-long Cardinals fan, I really enjoy seeing Stanford's Piscotty doing so well for the Cardinals. Good game.

[terry]

As a life-long Cardinals fan, I really enjoy seeing Stanford's Piscotty doing so well for the Cardinals. Good game.

[winflop]

I always enjoy seeing Stanford alumni doing well in sports, but no way in hell am I going to actively root for him to do so against my team, especially in the playoffs

[winflop]

I always enjoy seeing Stanford alumni doing well in sports, but no way in hell am I going to actively root for him to do so against my team, especially in the playoffs

[mdcubsfan]

yea, painful night and game...wide strike zone did the Cubbies no favors....

??? ???

[mdcubsfan]

yea, painful night and game...wide strike zone did the Cubbies no favors....

??? ???

[winflop]

Read this morning that at least 4 of Lackey's called third strikes were pitches outside the strike zone.  That's obscenely bad.  Why an umpire who's gotten 10% of pitches outside the zone is behind the plate in a playoff game is beyond me.

[winflop]

Read this morning that at least 4 of Lackey's called third strikes were pitches outside the strike zone.  That's obscenely bad.  Why an umpire who's gotten 10% of pitches outside the zone is behind the plate in a playoff game is beyond me.

[CornFed]

Is it true that automated strikes and balls are going to be tested in the minors?  That was the assertion made by a friend of mine yesterday when we were talking about this issue.  I have been hoping we would get to the point where that was possible for the last several years.  It is obscene that umpires feel that they are allowed to have their own designated strike zones and situational strike zones.  They could just have a person behind the plate to make calls at the plate when the circumstances arise.

[CornFed]

Is it true that automated strikes and balls are going to be tested in the minors?  That was the assertion made by a friend of mine yesterday when we were talking about this issue.  I have been hoping we would get to the point where that was possible for the last several years.  It is obscene that umpires feel that they are allowed to have their own designated strike zones and situational strike zones.  They could just have a person behind the plate to make calls at the plate when the circumstances arise.

[BobK]

It was tested in the minors this past year.  I believe for 2 games.  It went well and quickly.  I don't know where the plate umpire was. 

4 bad calls of 240 pitches isn't good but less than 10%.  Unless you're a Cubbie fan 😄

[BobK]

It was tested in the minors this past year.  I believe for 2 games.  It went well and quickly.  I don't know where the plate umpire was. 

4 bad calls of 240 pitches isn't good but less than 10%.  Unless you're a Cubbie fan 😄

[Kathy]

Lackey picked up on Cuzzi's strike zone early in the game and took advantage of it; Lester apparently did not.

"I voiced my opinion a couple times, but apparently it was the same zone for both sides, and I really can't complain about that," Maddon said.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/pos...mpers-them

Lester gave up 5 hits in the same strike zone as Lackey, who gave up 2.

[Kathy]

Lackey picked up on Cuzzi's strike zone early in the game and took advantage of it; Lester apparently did not.

"I voiced my opinion a couple times, but apparently it was the same zone for both sides, and I really can't complain about that," Maddon said.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/pos...mpers-them

Lester gave up 5 hits in the same strike zone as Lackey, who gave up 2.

[winflop]

It was tested in the minors this past year.  I believe for 2 games.  It went well and quickly.  I don't know where the plate umpire was. 

4 bad calls of 240 pitches isn't good but less than 10%.  Unless you're a Cubbie fan 😄

4 bad strike three calls out 6 against the Cubs.  There were many other bad strike calls on strike 1 & strike 2.

But the bigger question is how a guy who blows 10% of strike calls through the season is even behind the plate last night.

[winflop]

It was tested in the minors this past year.  I believe for 2 games.  It went well and quickly.  I don't know where the plate umpire was. 

4 bad calls of 240 pitches isn't good but less than 10%.  Unless you're a Cubbie fan 😄

4 bad strike three calls out 6 against the Cubs.  There were many other bad strike calls on strike 1 & strike 2.

But the bigger question is how a guy who blows 10% of strike calls through the season is even behind the plate last night.

[terry]

Wasn't the same ump behind the plate for both teams?

[terry]

Wasn't the same ump behind the plate for both teams?