stlouisinsite's Blog

     The Philadelphia Phillies rode home runs from Greg Dobbs and Ryan Howard to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday night. Ryan Ludwig homered, his 26th, for the Cardinals.

     With the loss, the Cards fall five games behind the Chicago Cubs in the N.L. Central, and a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card race.  Both the Cubs and Braves won Saturday.

     The Cards conclude the series with the Phillies Sunday.  They entertain the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with the finale an afternoon match.

     Brad Lidge got the save for Philadelphia, and Joe Blanton, recently acquired from Oakland, the win. Braden Looper lost his ninth for the Redbirds.  

           Howard's home run over the centerfield fence in the fourth proved to be the decisive blow.  The St. Louis native also walked three times.

     Tony LaRussa's recent prickly response to a reporter's question about the bullpen woes of the Cardinals gave fans a new lesson in LaRussa Speak.  No, Tony said, don't blame losses on the bullpen, it's the offense.  Huh?  Sure, Tony, if the bullpen gives up 20 runs, then I guess it's the offense's fault if they don't score 21!

     Cards' management, we suppose, is supposed to be immune to criticism, for a leaky, weak bullpen.  Not so here, Tones.    We're not buying your twisted logic.  Try taking a look at the stats, or ask just about anyone else in baseball, and you'll see that yes, Birdland, we have a problem here.   Facts are, management's decisions, and probably a continued desire to go on the cheap, are part of the problem.

           The only bullpen guys really earning their salary are Ryan Franklin, Russ Springer, Ron Villone, and maybe Randy Flores.  We'll give Izzy a pass just because he's Izzy, and the effort, if not all the stuff, is still there.  And we don't care how nice it is Kyle McClellan is a local guy, he's not getting the job done.  If you combine blown saves and losses (5), this guy probably is among the league leaders.  Brad Thompson does not belong in any major league's bullpen, much less one trying to win a pennant.

        Jimenez is a question mark.  I would take all the latter names and instead bring back Anthony Reyes, who at least can throw the ball by hitters at times, Mike Perez, who was fair, and maybe Mark Worrell, who at least looked like a relief pitcher. 

         Hey, Tones, pretending you don't  have a problem won't win anything.  Addressing the situation realistically might.

         And dont shift blame to the offense.  Particularly lately, the offense has been a real brightspot.  Anyone but some kind of egomaniac would recognize that.     

     After a less than satisfying homestand, the Cardinales go to Philadelphia.  Even though the Cards disappointed against a tough Cubs team, the season is far, far from over, and the Birds will have many opportunities to catch their division rivals.

    And, in a sign the Cards are a take-no-prisoners type of ballclub, management will send Mark Mulder to the mound in the Philly bandbox.  Either that, or the team regrets the Fourth of July has ended, and is asking the comeback lefty to supply more fireworks.

    Mulder so far has pitched less than one inning of relief for the club.  But maybe, for this ailing staff, proving he could get the ball from the mound to the plate is enough to merit a start.  

    Truth is, the Birds need the big lefty to perform more than he needs to bolster his sagging career.  A capable Mulder could provide a huge lift to the club's chances to catch the Cubbies and/or make the playoffs.  

    As always, 'the most resilient team in baseball' (according to TBS announcer Chip Caray) promises to make things interesting.    

     It's time to realize this truth:  Chris Duncan and Adam Kennedy make pretty good bench players, but that's about it.  Ryan Ludwick should start every day, and at second either Aaron Miles or Brendon Ryan should be out there every day.  Tell Duncan and Kennedy their role is to pinch-hit, and make a start occasionally if someone does need a day off, or is injured.  Duncan is a fair hitter but a lousy fielder, but could be an excellent pinch-hitter, if he'd work on that role.  Kennedy could also be a fine pinch-hitter; the guy just doesn't help that much as an everyday player.  

     If LaRussa could decide that's where those two belong, the bench along with Jason LaRue, Barton and either Ryan or Miles looks pretty good.  Actually having Duncan and Kennedy coming off the bench every day could be a strength for the team.  Starting both regularly is not.      

 

The Cards have a shot this year, but so do about four other teams in the N.L. Central -- not including the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Cards hopefully have improved their offense in centerfield and third base this year, with Troy Glaus and the amazing Rick Ankiel replacing former stars Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen, respectively.   And, in order to contend, the Cards need around 30 homers and 100 runs batted in from Glaus, and 25-35 home runs and 90 plus rbi's from Ankiel.  If they get that,  decent production from the rest of the outfield and improved pitching, they could contend.  But even with that, Milwaukee has some real horses, and may out distance the rest of the field.  Here's a prediction on the order of finish in the NL Central: 

MILWAUKEE, CHICAGO, STL, HOUSTON, CINCINNATI AND PITTSBURGH.  It's certainly hard to argue with Pittsburgh finishing last, but the rest of the pack is pretty much a roll of the dice.  

 

The Cards may have a new GM, but the rhetoric remains the same.  Yesterday new GM Mozeliak said the Cards would probably hold off signing All-Star and World Series MVP shortstop David Eckstein to see what the market will bear.  That sounds like the same old copout, meaning, 'well, we really hope to get by cheaper.'  It says here if you really want someone on your team, you go for it, and trash all the excuses.  And the Cardinals should want Eckstein to play shortstop...unless they plan to make a serious pitch for A-Rod.   Last year, Jockety dithered around while three-fourths of the rotation went elsewhere.  In late season, when the Cards badly needed a lift from the starters, they could only turn to Mike Maroth and Mark Mulder, neither who had anything.  Eckstein is a proven winning type  ballplayer whom the Cards need to sign sooner rather than later.

One more night, one more disaster....a bad ending to a very bad season....where is the commitment to winning on a team that gives three starts to a guy no way ready in the middle of a pennant race, only to discover, 'oh, he wasn't healed yet'....this is a joke, and the biggest joke, Walt Jockety should go....it was only fitting that one of three starters Jock-man wouldn't sign, the Cubs' Jason Marquis, knocked the Cards out of the race, beating the $13 million dollar man Mark Mulder....(Tony could go, too,  but, admit it, we'd miss those endless sour and dour looks from Tony throughout the season....how could we replace those).....Walt hung out to dry post-season hero Jeff Weaver during  offseason contract negotiations, pulling his strings to the extent Weaver finally said he felt "not wanted" here....yeah, who would want a guy who dominated in the World Championship clincher, and was clutch all the way down the stretch....Well, this year we have Walt's World Chumps.....oh yeah, besides the $6.5 mill times two to golden boy Mark, Walt also lavished several million more on injury prone Cris Carpenter, extending his contract, which really made little sense considering he was already signed for two or three more, and we  badly needed other starters, and signed second sacker Kennedy to join a couple of other washed-up vets....Walt, let's hope you're as proficient at packing  a suitcase as you are sugar coating the team's shortcomings, cause that's what Cardinal fans really need....SIGN DAVEY ECKSTEIN....    

Alright, the Birds dropped the first one in Chi-town.  We need to win at least two of the next three there, because we don't want to be losing ground at this point...But it has been a great week of Cardinal baseball...the Milwaukee sweep made one feel fortunate to be a Cardinal fan....and the Cardinal veterans came up very big....Albert with the blast to center in game two, sending the message that these Cards are definitely for real...Rolen  back, the very epitome of excellence in a professional athlete...Jimmie on....Eck on....Yadi, with two dramatic home runs, two absolute bombs....great...Adam, Pineiro and the Kipper on....it's the Cardinal starting pitching that has been the key, recapturing the successful formula the team has used for years....solid starters, outstanding bullpen, excellent defense and timely hitting...and it will work again now...there's plenty of time left for this Cardinal team to win their division, and they will if they maintain the quality of play they've shown in the last 10 days....

Last night's game inPhilly was definitely a season highlight -- six bombs to light up the Philadelphia skyline.  For Albert -- well, that's how a true champion reacts to a little adversity -- four home runs in three games.  There was only aspect missing -- during the middle of that game, the Cards should have rushed a jet to Memphis, picked up Tony (no longer Anthony, the guy needs a fresh start) Reyes, and gotten him in the game somehow, so the poor guy could pick up a win....Then there would have been smiles all around...hey, even the Philadelphia fans made a joke out of beating the Cubs to 10,000 losses...if the Birds offense can truly pick up the rest of the season, they could still make a run, even with the very mediocre pitching....hey, Tony L, whatever you did to get these guys up for national television, can you keep it going....that was an exciting win... 

If the Cardinals' crack management team has a message, it seems to be 'we love mediocrity.'  So Tony takes Todd Wellmeyer out of the rotation after he looks great beating the Giants to put the Ole Kipper back in the rotation.  Between Kip and another prince of mediocrity, Brad Thompson, who probably couldn't put up numbers starting in Triple A, here's yesterday's combined stats:  3 innings pitched, 16 hits, 10 runs, 7 earned runs.  Yes, that's right...three innings pitched, 16 hits, and 10 runs.  Look it up...    

Cardinal spin now is Wellemeyer has an elbow strain.  Whatever...Even ESPN announcers think something is funny here..."It doesn't make sense," announcer Mark Grace said, that after winning the World Series you let Jeff Suppan and Jeff Weaver walk, two big reasons the Cards got there last year.....Instead Genius Jockety dumped $19 million on injury-prone Edmonds, $13 million on another prima donna, Mark Mulder, who was horrible last year, and perhaps thankfully hasn't pitched this year, and gave ace  Carpenter, who has a history of injuries, several million more to extend after he was already signed for at least two more years....

NO, it doesn't make sense....unless the message really is....'WE LOVE MEDIOCRITY' 

What a way to start the second half....These birds are bird-brained....Hey, Walt, if you want to dump some more of the bosses' money, look me up, I'm available....

Hey, it's time to say it:  Chris Duncan is a bona fide major league hitter, but, please....the guy is one  big-time butcher in left field....Personally, I would rather see So What? Taguchi as the everyday left-fielder, or, hey, spring Preston Wilson out of the hospital....Duncan would probably be less of a liability in the field at first base, but the Cards are about as likely to consider moving Albert back to the outfield as Busch is to give up beer....hey, if Duncan was a first baseman in the minors, maybe he could learn to play third base....regardless, El Birdo brain trust, give up the experiment of Duncan in the outfield....Frankly, it's a little bit frightening, and it's definitely on the ugly side...the guy's a pretty fair slugger, but here, that alone is not enough to earn the starting job....(well, maybe it is if you're the coache's son!)  okay, I'm also probably the first among the yahoos who pass themselves off as sports reporters/commentators to broach that sacrosant subject as well...so be it...and as far as sports reporting in this town -- to shift gears a bit --- most of that infamous squad would more clearly qualify as a bunch of cheerleading yahoos than objective reporters...oh, well...

And by the way, to Scott Rolen out there, Scottie chap, you might be wise as well to think about learning a second position, say first base....no, make that second base, as its a proven fact you seem to like the physical contact, those infield collisions....let's see, two so far have landed you on the DL....the reason being, third basemen who plunk out about eight home runs a year and hit .260 usually don't keep their jobs too long....(oops, just tapped another Red Bird taboo, another hollowed personage)....secondly, you're not even the coach'es son, though somebody must like you a lot to pay you that $9 mil a season....but at this rate, in a year or so, Mr. Rolen, you will make some lucky team a very good BACKUP INFIELDER!!!   So. see if you can't latch onto a first baseman's mitt sometime...or getting back to that contact thing, maybe you'd like to try catching....hey, if Rick Ankiel can switch from pitching to outfield, you guys can do it too!     

      The Cards sweep one of their favorite patsies, the Pirates.  Can it be the long World Series Hangover is finally over?  Cause the 16-25 start was one miserable stretch for the World Champs.  And, yes, they are still the World Champs, until dethroned.  So, Go Cards.  Personally, I still like the eight men the Cards put on the field, and, yes, that includes the missing link, Juan 'The Miracle' Encarnacion.  He is the miracle, cause anytime you can win with Encarnacion as your cleanup man, it has to be counted a miracle. 

      But, truth be told, that's probably the best place for Juan right now.  Scotty Rolen looks like he's swinging a lead bat everytime he's up there.  'Oh, this bat's so heavy, I can't get around on these 89 mile an hour fast balls!'  Wow...And Jimmy 'Baseball' Edmonds seems to think his job is to slap fungoes to left field, just to make sure the opposing team's leftfielder hasn't fallen asleep with Gold Glove at the plate!  C'mon Jimmy, the concussion was last year!!  Let's speed up the recovery process a little, ok. 

     It was great today, cause the Cards' radio announcers were astounded when the Birds manufactured a run in the eighth, which included a stolen base, a sacrifice, followed by a sacrifice fly by All-Star Yadie.  Hey, Yad-man.   Well, I shared the radio guys amazement, considering it probably was the first time all year the offense showed some semblance of a real live spark.  "This is Cardinal baseball!" thundered Shannon.  Whatever, let's just hope they continue this way.   

    All in all, the Cards have created quite a drama so far this season, and one has to admire their creativity in this script.  Tony's DWI, Josh's total wipeout, abysmal baseball -- except for the last three days.  Okay guys -- any chance, though, we could just play some real solid  baseball the rest of the season??

    For most of us, that would be drama enough. 

    Go birdies.... 

    

The Cardinals' 2007 campaign actually began yesterday with the 3-2 win over the Astros.  Yes, having floundered through the first 26 games with a dismal 10-16 record, the Cardinals can now turn it around and start playing, hopefully, some championship baseball.  The good news:  the immediate schedule looks very favorable.

The Cardinals are scheduled to play 27 games in the next 30 days (until June 5.)   While only 11 games of those games will be played on the friendly home turf, the Cards should stand a very good chance of hammering mostly also-ran opponents.  Five of those games are with Houston, a team the Cards have had a fair amount of success with.

Other opponents include NL West's last place Colorado Rockies for SEVEN matches, and the NL East patsies the Washington Nationals for three games.  Throw in the three home games against the Pirates May 22-24 and you see things should be looking up for the Birds soon.

The most challenging part of the upcoming schedule is a nine-game road trip to San Diego, Los Angeles (NL) and Detroit starting May 11.  No pushovers there.

So if the bats -- notably Edmonds, Rolen and Eckstein -- can come around and we get some more reliable starting pitching --  and Wainright, yesterday's starter, could be a big key -- the Cards can still make their mark in the NL Central.  It is not too late.

In fact, the upcoming 30 days stand out as perhaps the eaisiest stretch of the campaign.  If the  Cards continue to flounder now, management could start looking to make some personnel changes.  But the bet here is the Cards will start to turn up the heat.     

With Tony's arrest, we now have proof that the Cardinals indeed may be 'asleep at the wheel'.....it's something some of us have suspected for a while now...the Birds were definitely asleep at the wheel in regards to the failure to sign post-season star Jeff Weaver...he may not be pretty, but the guy showed plenty of guts and glory, and talent, when the Cards needed him....Instead of being rewarded, Weaver was treated shabbily by the Birds....The big guy was quoted as saying he didn't feel wanted by the Cards....just what do the Cards want, mediocrity perhaps??....Then pitching guru Dave Duncan chimed in and was quoted as saying Weaver didn't have a good year....huh????...Pitching the clinching game of the Series, for starters, isn't a good year?...Of course, as a career  back-up catcher also-ran, Duncan may not know what a good year is....But as for Tony, get over the arrest....it's not like noboby is drinking at the ballpark!!!!....Tony is still the man, we just know now he is human....