Better at bats. They don't waste as many at bats as we do chasing pitches and trying to blast homers all the time....
EXACTLY.
People are nagging about the Cardinals barely getting in the playoffs as the second wild card. Remember last season? They sneaked in as the wild card thanks only to Atlanta's late-season collapse and won the championship after fighting off nearly being eliminated by the Rangers. I don't know what it is, but when it comes time to step up, they do just that and then some. They had a patient approach at the plate, taking close pitches that weren't in the zone and just trying to put the ball in play. It worked, as evidenced by the game-tying and go-ahead SINGLES in the ninth. We swung for the fences and it didn't work. Our situational hitting has sucked all season. If it wasn't for a combination of a Tyler Moore bloop hit and Werth's home run-robbing catch in game one, we wouldn't even be here tonight. We made it to tonight because of some good luck and it ran out. Aside from the first and third innings tonight, we have not had a single offensive rally this series.
Some things I pin on Davey: Why did Jackson pitch? Why not Mattheus? Why didn't Gorzellany pitch at all this series? And after the game was tied, they should have walked Kozma. That guy's killed us this series and a walk would have set up a force at every base and forced the Cardinals to either bat Motte or lift him. They should never have pitched to that prick in that situation.
Also, as many others have mentioned, Johnson is way too loyal with some folks. Girardi benched A-Rod and Davey should have done the same with Espinosa.
One thing that makes me feel a little better: The team with the second-best record in baseball is also out. The Reds took the first two games in San Francisco, including a 9-0 2-hitter, and then came home to lose three in a row - something they hadn't done all season. They only needed to win one game at home and they couldn't do it. Baseball's a strange sport.
No way Jackson's back next year. Who knows what will happen, but remember that Lannan no longer has options - I think he could have at least done as well as Jackson's 10-11 and 4ish ERA this season. Hopefully a full year of Strasburg, plus a more experienced JZimm will be a great anchor for the rotation. If Detwiler can keep doing what he did last night, he'll be a key piece. Gio will be good again too. Rizzo does need to find another everyday bat - perhaps there's an in-house answer in someone like Tyler Moore. I'd love to see Espinosa dumped or traded in favor of Lombo, but I'm not holding my breath on that one. We'll see what happens.
It's been a fun ride and I wish you all the best...