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Cards Game Day chat with Derrick Goold

Join baseball writer Derrick Goold for a live chat before, during and after the Cardinals-Dodgers late game.

by Mike Smithon Sep 12, 2012 at 4:47 PM

Good evening. Welcome to ... well, we really didn't come up with a catchy name for this multimedia extravaganza. Late Night with StlToday.com? StlTonight at StlToday? Whatever you call it, here we go with a live chat during the most important game of the Cardinals season until tomorrow's game. With this pivotal series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium starting tonight we at The Post-Dispatch wanted to do something different. Here it is. I'm your host for a live chat that will go from now until the end of the game -- and beyond if tonight's game looks anything like last night's game and we need some time to wrap our minds around how it ended ... Send me your questions. Send me your comments.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:31:32 AM
Tonight's #Cardinals-#Dodgers chat is up & running, taking questions, offering commentary, failing at sarcasm live.stltoday.com #stlcards

by Derrick Goold via twitter 9/14/2012 1:36:38 AM
Joe Strauss, the Post-Dispatch's baseball writing covering the series in LA this weekend, has the lineup and some news posted in C-Beat, our breaking-news and all-things-Cardinals blog at StlToday. You can check that out here: www.stltoday.com

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:38:12 AM
The takeaway from the blog is that Carlos Beltran returns to the lineup -- though his prolonged funk has the switch hitter batting sixth tonight for the Cardinals. The lineups:

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:38:55 AM
CF Jon Jay

3B Matt Carpenter

LF Matt Holliday

1B Allen Craig

C Yadier Molina

RF Carlos Beltran

2B Skip Schumaker

SS Daniel Descalso

P Lance Lynn

Dodgers

2B Mark Ellis

RF Andre Ethier

CF Matt Kemp

1B Adrian Gonzalez

SS Hanley Ramirez

LF Shane Victorino

3B Luis Cruz

C A. J. Ellis

P Josh Beckett

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:40:48 AM
@NATHANBARNHART1 I thought I had recorded it, only to find out that I hadn't! So I missed it. But glad the O's won.

by Bernie Miklasz via twitter 9/14/2012 1:40:58 AM
was the choice of tonights starter a though out and difficult or did it seam like the obvious choice for matheny and Mo?

by jhack 9/14/2012 1:41:06 AM
@jhack Excellent question. The Cardinals sided with experience over anything else -- though I think there should be a discussion on what experience Lance Lynn has that trumps the performance of others. Sure Lynn had his run last season as a successful reliever, his turn in the postseason, and the start to this season, but some of the comments seemed to christen him with the barnacles and peppered hair of a October warrior. He's less than two years removed from where Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal are at this point in their career. Is that enough to grant him the edge with experience? It was for the Cardinals' decisions-makers.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:42:49 AM
@eebsworthgoold @dgoold No secrets. Losing weight, and exercising, and my body chemistry is on fire. Too much energy. Can't shut down.

by Bernie Miklasz via twitter 9/14/2012 1:43:54 AM
Have you heard any news about Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals continuing his employment as a coach/mentor for pitchers upon his retirement? Thank you!

by Tim Lyles 9/14/2012 1:44:04 AM
@Tim Lyles There has not been any talk of that because the hope is that Chris Carpenter's employment continues for 2013 with him as a starter, not a mentor.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:44:28 AM
How long of a leash does he give Lynn tonight?

by abrink 9/14/2012 1:44:32 AM
@abrink I can't imagine there is much of one. A tough first inning and we could see a shadow starter soar into the game.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:44:58 AM
Did Cardinals reunite with the Shredder yet?

by Joe 9/14/2012 1:45:04 AM
@Joe I'm not in LA to know for sure. But I have to imagine that he was one of the first Dodgers sought out by many Cardinals. Punto was a team favorite. I mean the guy went around ripping shirts -- dress shirts, jerseys, Affliction t-shirts, polo shirts ... and still they loved him.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:46:00 AM
Has anything changed with Beltran? Is he reporting feeling any different?

by KeeneMLB 9/14/2012 1:46:07 AM
@KeeneMLB He's batting sixth. That's a significant change. He's feeling better from the knee bruise that he was dealing with. But his swing in San Diego said something different about the health of his approach.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:46:42 AM
Give your percentage chance the Cards make the playoffs.

by Brad 9/14/2012 1:46:46 AM
@Brad 67-33

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:46:54 AM
why not start miller,leave lynn in pen?

by scott 9/14/2012 1:46:57 AM
@scott As mentioned earlier, the Cardinals argued that Lynn had more experience in the pinch, in the heat of a playoff chase than Miller. Miller may be the pitcher who gets the call as the "piggyback" starter when Chris Carpenter returns to the rotation.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:47:38 AM
Earlier today I saw a quote from Andre Ethier saying he couldn't tell whether the Dodgers are pressing or not caring enough. I'm just a fan, but have had the same difficulty figuring out whether the Cards are pressing or are just playing out the string looking for this season to end. What do you media experts think?

by Registrant 9/14/2012 1:47:45 AM
@Registrant I think Yadier Molina bunting in the ninth inning last night in San Diego was a revealing choice by the player. The Cardinals know they are struggling and pressing to produce any sort of positive possible -- even if it means bunting to assure the team of an extra 90 feet.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:48:24 AM
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON MLB SCHEDULING THE ANGELS AND CARDS IN '13? WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FAN REACTION WILL BE WHEN THE HALOS VISIT BUSCH IN '14?

by TOLEDO'S CARDINAL 9/14/2012 1:48:36 AM
@TOLEDOS CARDINAL I don't believe the Angels will visit Busch in 2014. The Cardinals will face AL East teams in 2014. The Angels will be set to visit Busch Stadium in 2016 according to MLB's current interleague plan.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:49:13 AM
Does Lynn bounce back tonight? If so does earn more starts?

by Tlr 9/14/2012 1:49:20 AM
@Tlr Entirely possible, TLR, when it comes to earning additional starts. He's certainly pitching for that opportunity tonight. I think the first inning will be telling. Does he come in over-hyped, over-throwing in his start to prove the Cardinals were wrong to remove him ... Or, does he channel that aggression, that frustration into his best start of the season. I know of a start or two where Lynn did the latter and was not only effective but downright fierce ...

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:50:53 AM
Does the clubhouse seem tight?

by teddyb 9/14/2012 1:52:08 AM
@teddyb It has at several times this season. Lance Berkman's absence has been noticeable ...

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:52:37 AM
If so, I think its your duty to start a pie fight.

by teddyb 9/14/2012 1:53:38 AM
@teddyb I wouldn't waste a good baked pie.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:53:57 AM
@teddyb Well, maybe a rhubarb pie. Never did like those.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:54:08 AM
Given the connection to LAA with Pujols, any insight as to why they weren't picked to play the home and home series next year like we do with Houston? I know there are lots of familiar faces in Houston now from the organization, but I think nothing could draw more hype than AP coming back to town to play.

by Joe 9/14/2012 1:54:13 AM
@Joe Wrote about both of those things for the paper about a month ago: www.stltoday.com ... Short version: Houston wanted Cardinals to remain as their natural rival and MLB declined the Cardinals request to get the Angels to Busch in 2013 because the Cardinals have never played a regular-season in Anaheim, Calif.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:55:27 AM
Why do the Astros play a home-and-home series against the Rockies? Has there ever been any sort of major rivalry there?

by Tim 9/14/2012 1:55:32 AM
@Tim They've got to have a second home-and-home against somebody. And, no. No, not really. But there is a Colorado-Texas rivalry that goes back awhile. I grew up in Colorado, and the Colorado Texas Tomato War was a big deal (sort of): www.gazette.com

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:57:09 AM
What are the chances we see Oscar Taveras this year?

by Derrick Gold 9/14/2012 1:57:11 AM
@Derrick Gold 20-80. Performance at the big-league level by others will determine that. Taveras has elbowed his way into the conversation, and that is no small achievement for a Class AA outfielder.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:57:49 AM
Fair enough.

by teddyb 9/14/2012 1:57:59 AM
With Berkman and Furcal done for the season, who is likely to emerge as clubhouse leader?

by Paul 9/14/2012 1:58:03 AM
@Paul Same guys who already have: Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Skip Schumaker, Matt Holliday. They were there before Furcal and Berkman. They will be there after them.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 1:58:35 AM
@Reactorwatches @jonjayU @dfreese23 I'm ready. That is sweet.

by Bernie Miklasz via twitter 9/14/2012 1:58:43 AM
@GHookerMLS Unrelated. Completely unrelated. Teams granted baseballs with logos on them for anniversaries, new stadiums. Cards did in 2006.

by Derrick Goold via twitter 9/14/2012 1:59:54 AM
Thanks I did see that article previously and knew we were due to visit LA, but was not aware that Houston requested us as the rival, which I can see...that said, I'm still surprised MLB would pass up the idea of an AP return...I mean that's about the only thing that could top the hype generated by every Yankee/Red Sox series.

by Joe 9/14/2012 2:00:08 AM
@Joe The Red Sox are doing a good job of taking away hype.

by Derrick Goold 9/14/2012 2:01:14 AM