Mike on the Cards - A St. Louis Cardinals Blog

I've Moved!

2008-04-28T18:29:00.005-04:00

After a few weeks of troubleshooting, the new site is about ready to go. This will be the last post here, but it will remain up for easy access to the archives, although everything here has also been imported to the new location.

So, from here on out, find "Mike on the Cards" at mikeonthecards.com. Please update your bookmarks, and re-subscribe over at the new site. I look forward to your comments there as well.

As always, thanks for visiting. Go Cards!!

Brandon Backe is a Bitch

2008-04-27T19:33:00.005-04:00

Everyone knew before this game started, there were bound to be some extracurriculars. A handful of incidents, including yesterday's bench clearing episode in the third, clearly spilled over into today's rubber match between the Cards and 'Stros.

Interestingly, Houston's Brandon Backe seems to always find himself in the middle of these disputes, and today was no different. After pitching a scoreless four, Backe got shelled in the fifth, which included Troy Glaus' first home run as a Cardinal. A couple of batters later, when Yadier Molina was granted time in the middle of the pitchers' delivery, Backe took offense. He immediately starting mouthing Molina, and the next pitch was nearly a head shot. The benches and bullpens cleared for the second time in two days, and bitch-boy Backe again looked like an idiot. [Photo credit: Christopher Gooley]

What the hell is wrong with this guy? He acts like he's the next Bob Gibson, but pitches like he's the next Sidney Ponson. He reminds me of the kid in high school that somehow managed to join your clique to gain popularity only to find that his cockiness led to everyone hating him.

Sometimes when I drink I tend to get tough, and during today's game, I was about seven beers deep when Backe inserted his tampon. Luckily I'm 1200 miles from Busch, otherwise I might have run out onto the field and pissed on him. I hate that guy.

Otherwise, it was a good game. Troy Glaus finally homered. Albert Pujols went deep again. Kyle Lohse managed another quality start. Kyle McClellan was brilliant in relief. And the Cardinals won it 5-1. Here's the full recap and box score.

The Cardinals play Houston nine more times this season, so it's obvious that there's more to come. I can't wait to see the Cards face Backe again. Meanwhile, the next six games are also against division rivals Cincinnati and Chicago. Tomorrow it's Todd Wellemeyer versus Bronson Aroyo. Should be a good one.

Wainwright Throws Complete Game

2008-04-26T18:32:00.005-04:00

The Cardinals lost last night's game to the Astros in the ninth inning, but returned the favor today with a strong performance from starter Adam Wainwright, and some much needed clutch hitting.

Coming in, St. Louis was hitting .257 with runners in scoring position in 296 plate appearances. That lack of production partially attributed to last night's loss. Today, Albert Pujols hit a two run double in the third, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly by Troy Glaus, and Skip Schumaker had the game winning RBI single in the ninth.

Wainwright outlasted his counterpart, Roy Oswalt, getting the first complete game of the season for the Cards. He gave up three runs, all via the solo home run, on five hits, while striking out six. His 126 pitches was also a season high. 4-3 was the final. Here's the full box score.

The win improves the Redbirds to 15-10, but still in second place in the division. Tomorrow the team will try to win the series with Kyle Lohse on the mound. With Brandon Backe starting for Houston, I expect Pujols and the Cardinals to put up a lot of runs.

It's Not All Isringhausen's Fault

2008-04-26T17:43:00.005-04:00

Typically, after a ball game, I'll spend some time online perusing all of the Cardinal forums and message boards. Last night, because of the rain delay, the game ended late, so I went straight to bed. This morning, before work, I checked in on all my usual web stops, and one thing was common across the board. Everyone was Izzy bashing.

I understand the frustration from fans. The Cardinals were up 2-0 heading to the ninth after a brilliant performance from their starter Braden Looper. Jason Isringhausen blew his second save of the year, and has now allowed 8 runs on 13 hits in 11 innings. It's his job to finish close games, and last night he didn't do his job.

"I feel bad for Looper. He pitched such a great game," said Isringhausen. "It's my job to preserve a win, and I just didn't do it. When you let down 25 guys, it's not a fun job."

Did Izzy blow the save? Of course. Did he take the loss? Yeah. Is the loss entirely his fault? No way. The Cardinals missed several opportunities to pile on runs throughout the game, continuing the trend of leaving runners on and failing to get timely hits. They stranded 20 runners total, 11 as a team. Third baseman Troy Glaus struck out twice with the bases loaded. Without Geoff Blum's error, the Cardinals would have only scored one run despite having six hits and eight walks. I don't expect every runner in scoring position to be driven in, but it's clear that the Birds' bats couldn't get the job done last night, and deserve a large portion of the blame for the loss. If you're going to bash Izzy, you'd better bash the Cardinal offense too.

Matthew Leach has more on the game here.

Pineiro Impressive in WIn

2008-04-24T22:23:00.009-04:00

Cardinal starter Joel Pineiro continues to improve with each outing. He was activated from the 15-day disabled list to make his first start on April 13th against the Giants, but gave up 6 runs in 3.2 innings. In his second start, also against San Francisco, he lasted 6.1, and allowed just 3 runs. Tonight was his third appearance, and easily his best so far. Pineiro held the Pirates to just 1 run on 4 hits, while striking out 6 in 7 innings, and improved his record to 1-2, and his ERA to 5.29. He also made a dazzling kick save, and throw to first for what will certainly make Web Gems on ESPN.

Pittsburgh starter Tom Gorzelanny had trouble throwing strikes, walking seven batters in five innings, but didn't allow a hit until the fifth. The Cardinals were able to string some hits together and won it 6-2. Here's tonight's recap and box score.

Coming into tonight's game, the Cardinals were on a slide, dropping four of their last five. The win salvaged both a series split and a .500 road trip. They'll head back home for a nine game home stand, with three game series' against Houston, Cincinnati, and Chicago. The Cardinals jumped back into second place in the Central, a game and a half behind the Cubs, with a 14-9 record.

Now for a few interesting stats:

The Cardinals' 115 walks leads the Major Leagues.
Albert Pujols is tied for the most walks with 22.
Troy Glaus is tied for the most doubles with 11.
Todd Wellemeyer is tied for the second most strikeouts with 31.
Jason Isringhausen is tied for the second most saves with 8.

Speaking of Pujols' walks, check out Jason Stark's article, where all 30 managers were polled to determine the most feared hitters in baseball. Find it here.

Tomorrow night is Braden Looper's turn on the mound. He hopes to get back on track after an awful outing against the Giants last Sunday. Hopefully he can set the tone for the upcoming series, and the Redbirds can pick up a few more wins to close out the first month.

Tough Loss for the Cardinals

2008-04-23T22:02:00.005-04:00

It didn't take long for the Cardinals to encounter their second string of back-to-back losses. Monday's win against Milwaukee separates the two short losing streaks. The loss is tougher to take, not only because of the turn of events that transpired in tonight's game, but also because it came against a Pittsburgh team was predicted to finish at the bottom of the division.

The game couldn't have started off better for the Cards. They put up four runs in the top of the first, while sending nine men to the plate. Things were looking good when starter Todd Wellemeyer cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit. After a couple of runs in the fourth, the Pirates tied the game on a two run home run by Jason Bay in the fifth. The ball was just out of Chris Duncan's reach, and barely cleared the left field wall. Although it hung up longer than expected, I wonder if a more experienced outfielder would have caught it. Anthony Reyes pitched the eighth, giving up the winning runs. 7-4 was the final. View the full box score here.

Tomorrow the Cardinals hope to even the series, with Joel Pineiro going against Tom Gorzellany.

My aggravation allows me to leave you with only one link, but it's a good one. With the '09 All Star Game creeping closer, and the city of St. Louis, and all it's fans on the brink of being embarrassed by the hole in the ground in the footprint of old Busch, J Carnage has the ultimate solution.

Play Like A Cardinal - Part 3

2008-04-22T22:03:00.004-04:00

Here's the next commercial from the "Play Like A Cardinal" ad campaign. If you missed the first two, check out them out here, and here. This spot features starter Adam Wainwright, and closer Jason Isringhausen. Enjoy!

That's More Like It

2008-04-21T23:34:00.008-04:00

Cardinals Win! And it comes against a division rival Milwaukee Brewers team that many picked to win the Central. With the Cubs win over the Mets, they maintain a half game lead over the Redbirds.

The win tonight put an abrupt end to the Cardinals' first losing streak, albeit only a two game streak. The game was unspectacular, but did offer some nice positives:

Adam Wainwright has now pitched at least 7 innings in every start this year.
Troy Glaus had 2 RBI, and improved his average to .250.
Albert Pujols walked 3 times, and leads the Majors with 6 intentional passes.
Brian Barton's double jump started the go-ahead ninth inning.
Jason Isringhausen picked up his league leading seventh save.

The two clubs are back at it tomorrow, with Kyle Lohse facing Manny Parra. Because it's only a two game set, the Cards can now only win or tie the series before heading to Pittsburgh.

Finally, a few links. I'm a regular visitor over at Viva El Birdos, and often time participate in the discussions. Today, a community member by the name of Mr. Redbird posted the question "Why are you a Cardinals fan?" The responses are fantastic. Find them here.

Next, some team business. Russ Springer was activated from the DL today, and to make room on the roster, rookie Rico Washington was optioned back to AAA Memphis. Matthew Leach has the story.

Finally, I don't know what it is about Cubs fans, but this cartoon just might be the dumbest thing I've ever seen. No wonder this guy hates them.

Yuck!

2008-04-20T22:38:00.006-04:00

A loss is one thing, and a blowout is another, but getting romped by arguably the worst team in the National League is just plain ugly. The game today was an unpleasant reminder of 2007. I remember so many times last season turning on the game to find the Cardinals down big in the early innings.

At first, the outcome was somewhat of a surprise to me. Last year, the lopsided losses usually came from the arms of Kip Wells, Mike Maroth, or Anthony Reyes. Maybe my memory was clouded by the 3-0 start to '08 by Braden Looper, but I expected another quality start from him today, complete with a Cardinal win. Instead, he was chased from the game before retiring a batter in the fourth. Including his runner that scored in that inning, Looper allowed 7 runs on 10 hits, facing only 19 batters on 71 pitches. His ERA rose from a 2.70 to 5.49.

Now that the clouds have cleared, I can recall a more accurate account of Looper's '07 season. At the surface, the numbers look pretty average. Find them here. He was 12-12 with a 4.94 ERA in 31 games for the year. Looking more closely, his final '07 stats most resemble his 6 no decision starts, where he had a 4.29 ERA in 35.2 innings. In the 12 wins, Looper pitched 78.2 innings, compiling a very impressive 1.49 ERA. In his 12 losses, he pitched 60.2 innings, posting an ERA of 9.79. So, on a game to game basis, seldom was Looper average. He was either quite good, or he was horrible. Today, he was horrible.

The 8-2 defeat gives the Cardinals their first series loss of the season, as well as their first back-to-back losses. It closes the book with the Giants for the year, who won four of the seven games against the Redbirds. The loss also drops the Cardinals out of first place, behind the Cubs by a half-game.

For more on today's game, check out Robert Falkoff's recap, as well as the full box score.

Now for the good news. A loss is a loss, no matter if it's by a run or ten runs, and the next one surely will be easier to swallow. The Cards are still 12-7, which is a much better start than most of us predicted.

Next, they'll hit the road for a short, two city road trip, beginning in Milwaukee tomorrow night. St. Louis took two of three from the Brewers last week at Busch, coming within four outs of a sweep on Thursday. Adam Wainwright gets the start for the Cardinals. He'll be opposed by Carlos Villanueva. Hopefully, it will be the start of a new winning streak.

Cardinals Get Shutout

2008-04-20T09:42:00.005-04:00

You can't win if you don't score, and in yesterday's game, Giants' starter Tim Lincecum made sure the Cardinals didn't score. The 3-0 defeat was the first time this season that the Cards were shutout. They had a few opportunities, but the young Lincecum got big outs when it mattered most. In the fourth, the Cardinals had two on with no outs, with Albert Pujols, Rick Ankiel, and Adam Kennedy due up. Two strikeouts and a ground out later, the Cardinals still had no runs. Pujols saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0 for 3 day. Joel Pineiro showed improvement, but took the loss for St. Louis, his second in two starts. Here's the full box score.

I don't think there's any blame to be placed in yesterday's loss. Sure, you'd like to see some timely hitting with runners on base, but sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other guy. Lincecum is one of the better pitchers in the league, and there's no doubt he'd win 18-20 games on a better ball club.

Braden Looper takes the mound for the Cardinals in today's rubber match. He's sporting a 3-0 record with a 2.70 ERA. Jonathan Sanchez will pitch for the Giants. The Redbirds haven't lost a series nearly three weeks into the season, and they hope to keep it that way with a win today. A loss, however, could knock the Birds from first place in the division.

I think a win will be big for the Cardinals. Not only will it keep the streak alive and the Cards on top, but they haven't lost consecutive games so far this year, and I believe going into Milwaukee tomorrow with some momentum is important.

Big Macs, Coffee, Shakes, and Tans

2008-04-19T08:27:00.006-04:00

Those were the words of Cardinals' broadcaster Al Hrabosky in reference to all the giveaways a fan will receive after last night's win over the Giants. Of course the Cardinals must have played well in order for you to qualify for all that free crap.

As I speculated yesterday, a good performance from starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer would be an essential part of a win for the Cards. He was outstanding again. Beginning the game by striking out the side, in order, Wellemeyer pitched seven solid innings, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out six. His 26 strikeouts ranks third in the league, one behind Jake Peavy, and two behind Johan Santana.

Also in yesterday's post, I said runs may come at a premium. Well, maybe the earthquake shook up the Cardinals' bat rack because they weren't hard to come by for St. Louis. Albert Pujols took Matt Cain deep in the fourth. The three run shot landed up in Big Mac Land, good enough for your first freebie. The home run made the score 8-1, and anytime the Cards score six or more, fans can get 25 cent coffee from Mobil. Two for one!

I have no idea about the other two promotions, other than the shakes come from Hardee's, and the tans are from The Tan Company. Whatever. Who cares. The Cardinals won 11-1.

Everyone got in on the action, including backup catcher Jason Larue. His first hit as a Cardinal, a single in the fourth, got the big inning started. Skip Schumaker and Chris Duncan again had very productive nights at the plate, and Troy Glaus' RBI could get him going offensively. Here's the full recap.

It's a day game today, with Joel Pineiro facing Tim Lincecum. Pineiro needs a much better showing in his second outing of the season. How about another win, and maybe some more free stuff for tomorrow?

Wellemeyer Could Be Key

2008-04-18T19:11:00.008-04:00

Weather permitting, the Cardinals will play the first of three at home against the Giants tonight. Todd Wellemeyer gets the start for St. Louis, and hopes to better his last performance. Last Saturday in San Francisco, he pitched brilliantly through five, striking out seven, before running out of gas in the sixth. While the Giants' starter in that game, Matt Cain, was just as good or better, it's unlikely he'll be able to keep the Cardinal bats as quiet again tonight. Runs may be at a premium, so it's important for the Redbirds to be able to drive them in when given the chance. More importantly, in my opinion, will be the performance of Wellemeyer. If he can give his team a quality start, the Cardinals will win. [Photo credit: Chris Lee/PD]

The scheduled game time is about an hour away. That may change depending on the forecast. Here's a link to the radar.

Here are tonight's lineups:

San Francisco

Fred Lewis LF
Eugenio Valez 2B
Randy Winn RF
Bengie Molina C
John Bowker 1B
Aaron Rowand CF
Jose Castillo 3B
Brian Bocock SS
Matt Cain P

St. Louis

Skip Schumaker RF
Chris Duncan LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Rick Ankiel CF
Troy Glaus 3B
Adam Kennedy 2B
Jason Larue C
Todd Wellemeyer P
Cesar Izturis SS

One thing that stands out is the fact that Ryan Ludwick isn't in there. He had his first four-hit game in yesterday's loss, and is tied with Ankiel for the team lead in home runs and runs batted in. According to Rick Hummel, Molina gets the night off, but will catch in both day games over the weekend.

Let's hope they get this game in, and it ends in a Cardinal victory.

Cards Lose Game But Not Series

2008-04-17T23:25:00.004-04:00

The Cardinals let a lead slip away late in the game today, and fell 5-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately, I was slammed at work today and didn't get to see any of it. I did have Mike Shannon and John Rooney tuned in on XM, but was consumed in my work and didn't hear much of it either. So, if you missed the game like I did, check out Matthew Leach's recap on the Cardinals' official website.

Even after the loss, The Cardinals remain in first place in the Central, ahead of Milwaukee and Chicago by a game and a half. They have yet to lose a series this season.

From here, the Cards will host the Giants in a three game set. The two teams split over the weekend in San Francisco. Tomorrow's starters are Todd Wellemeyer and Matt Cain. Cain took a no-hitter into the seventh on Saturday, but the Redbirds won it with some late inning offense. Let's hope for a better showing earlier this time around.

Finally, I've got a couple of links for you. Visit Derrick Goold's Bird Land for more on the lost Stan Musial home run. Then, if you thought batting the pitcher eighth was strange, check out this article over at Fungoes, where they examine the outcome of not batting the pitcher at all.

Cardinals Increase Their Lead

2008-04-16T16:42:00.009-04:00

They say pitching wins ball games, and that certainly was the case last night in the Cardinals' 6-1 win over the Brewers. Braden Looper might not have had his best stuff, nor was he able to go deep into the game, but he did execute the game plan well, pitching around Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder, and allowing only three hits in five-plus innings.

With the 2007 Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun out of the lineup, it was an easy decision for Tony La Russa to avoid giving Fielder anything to hit. Not allowing the opposition's best to beat you is a tactic that's widely practiced throughout the big leagues. Cards fans have seen it time and time again with Albert Pujols getting walked.

Looper ran out of gas in the sixth. After walking the first two batters, he got the hook with his pitch count at 91. The bullpen provided another stellar outing, with Klye McClellan, Ryan Franklin, and Anthony Reyes finishing the final four innings without allowing a hit. The recent performances by the relievers will make for a tough roster decision when Russ Springer comes off the DL.

Offensively, the Cards scored on timely hitting, something the team has been lacking over the last year or so. Skip Schumaker, Rick Ankiel, and Adam Kennedy each had a multi-hit game. Schumaker and Chris Duncan both had 2-out RBI. View the full box score here.

Holding the potent Brewers' offense to only three hits, combined with the clutch hitting from unlikely Cardinal batters is impressive. More impressive, however, is the 10-4 start for the Redbirds, with a chance to increase their lead tonight. Adam Wainwright and Carlos Villanueva are the starting pitchers.

Personally, I thought last night's game was fun to watch. Seeing the team honor Jackie Robinson was awesome. Check out the pictures from the Post Dispatch. I thought La Russa made all the right decisions, including pulling Looper with a chance to win, but not to lose. I liked seeing McClellan in another pressure situation, and seeing Reyes turn up the heat in the ninth was also very exciting. I think the only time I was nervous was when Pujols hurt his wrist tagging Bill Hall on the back end of that double play. I also like the Cards' chances tonight, with Wainwright on the mound. He was less than stellar his last outing and I'm sure he's eager to get back out there. After taking two of three from the Rockies and the first game of this series, the Cardinals are ahead in the battle between beer towns. A win tonight would certainly have the Brewers fans crying in their High Life.

Series Preview - Brewers @ Cards

2008-04-15T08:47:00.011-04:00

Back to baseball. Sure, the players need days off, but I'm not so sure about the fans. The much anticipated series with Milwaukee starts tonight, and could turn out to be a better indicator of where the Cardinals rank amongst the league's better teams. Milwaukee brings along a record of 8-4, a half game back of St. Louis in the Central.

The Brewers got off to an incredible start in 2007, running away with the division early, but couldn't hold on down the stretch, giving the Cubs the crown. Their team is a year older, and more experienced, and once again picked by many to be the favorite. They've finally got Ben Sheets healthy, but the Cardinals are lucky enough to not have to face him in this series. Milwaukee will pitch Dave Bush today, followed by Carlos Villanueva tomorrow and Manny Parra on Thursday. The Brew Crew is loaded with talented hitters too, but their big stick, first baseman Prince Fielder has yet to get it going. After a 50 home run season a year ago, he's yet to hit one out in '08. Bill Hall, however, already has 5 homers.

I thought it would be interesting and a nice change of pace to get some perspective from the other side, so I asked the guys over at Right Field Bleachers, the Brewers blog in the MLB hub network, a few questions. Here's the transcript:

First, a little background. How was Milwaukee's offseason? Are you happy with the moves they made? Are there still holes that need filling?

Milwaukee's offseason went well. It didn't go like fans thought it would, but in the end GM Doug Melvin filled holes and put together an impressive roster. Everyone thought the team would trade one or two of its starters since they went about eight deep, but injuries and little interest from other teams led the Brewers to look elsewhere for the bat they needed. Melvin originally was seeking a left-handed third baseman, but struck out. The team talked with the Cardinals about Scott Rolen, but eventually settled on free agent centerfielder Mike Cameron, a move that shifted Bill Hall from centerfield back to the infield and rookie of the year Ryan Braun out to left field. While the Brewers didn't get the left-handed bat they needed, the defense improved greatly since Hall is a natural infielder, Cameron is a gold-glove-caliber centerfielder, and Braun, who was historically bad at third base last season, will hurt the team less in left as he hopefully rounds into a serviceable outfielder. Defense was one of the biggest reasons Milwaukee lost the division to Chicago last year and it's already been noticeably better in 2008. The other reason the Crew fell to Chicago was the bullpen. While the team lost closer Francisco Cordero and set-up man Scott Linebrink, they added veterans Eric Gagne, Guillermo Mota, Salomon Torres and David Riske. Manager Ned Yost has a lot more solid late inning relievers to choose from this year and if Gagne pitches like he did with the Rangers last season, the bullpen should become a team strength.

So far, the Cards are out in front by a half game. It looks like the Brewers kept pace through the first two weeks, despite having a tougher schedule than St. Louis. Would you say that the Brewers are the team to beat in the Central? Which other teams do you think can contend?

I think the Brewers are the team to beat in the Central. The Cubs will be close all year, but Milwaukee has a better offense and more starting pitching depth, which gives them the edge in my mind. The Reds are intriguing due to the mix of talented youth and good veterans they have, but I still don't think they have enough this year. And I can't see St. Louis hanging around all season. There are too many question marks in that rotation.

When looking at the pitching match-ups, I notice that Milwaukee will have the back end of the rotation going in the series. What do you think of the match-ups, and what's your prediction for the series?

The Brewers mash lefties and I see the Cardinals are throwing three right-handed starters against them so that bodes well for the Cards. The lone lefty in the Milwaukee line-up, Prince Fielder, has not hit at all yet for the Brewers and you'd expect him to turn it on soon. A match against the Cardinals, who threw at hit him high and intentionally hit him late last season, might be enough to get him going. Prince's temper is well-reported and he has crushed some balls in "payback" for similar situations in the past. I expect a 2008 coming out party for Prince in this series.

In the Tuesday game, Dave Bush will throw for Milwaukee. He has struggled badly so far this season and may be pitching for his job since Yovani Gallardo is ready to return to the rotation. And the Brewers hit the Cardinals' Tuesday starter, Braden Looper, pretty hard last season. It may be a high-scoring game and I like the Brewers offense more, so I'll pick Milwaukee.

On Wednesday, it'll be too young pitchers with Adam Wainwright taking the hill for the Cardinals against Carlos Villanueva and the Brewers. Villanueva has been solid, but I'll give the edge to Wainwright in that match-up.

Thursday's starters are Kyle Lohse and the Brewers' young lefty Manny Parra. I like Parra and the Crew in this one in a close low-scoring game.

So, I give the series to the Brewers 2-1, which would be three road series wins in a row to start the season for Milwaukee.

How's our old pal Jeff Suppan?

Suppan has been Suppan. You can pretty much mark him down for an ERA in the mid-4s and a slightly better than .500 record. He eats innings and keeps you in games, a valuable guy to have, but not a top-of-the-rotation starter. We hear he's great in the post-season too...

It looks like Ned Yost has taken a page out of Tony La Russa's book, batting the pitcher 8th, and with a lot of early success. What's your take on the unorthodox lineup?

I was not thrilled with batting Jason Kendall ninth at first, but I warmed up to as I looked into the stats more this offseason. It's unconventional, but it does make sense on a lot of levels, especially with a hitter like Kendall, who hits into a lot of double plays because he hits a lot of groundballs. It's hard to argue with the results so far as Kendall has been one of the Brewers' top offensive producers hitting in that nine spot. In the end, it will probably have very little effect on the season, but it's something to talk about...

I've never been to Miller Park, but it looks like a great place to see a game. Ever been to Busch Stadium?

Miller Park is a great place to watch a game. It gets some flack for the roof (it's sure nice to have that retractable roof in April though) and for the All-Star game fiasco a few years ago, but it really is a great field. I've talked to a lot of opposing team's fans (including bunches of Cardinals fans who make the trek up) and almost everyone talks about how nice Miller is. It probably won't make the top of many baseball park lists, but I think it's a gem.

No, I haven't been to new Busch or old. Busch is on my short list of ballparks I'd like to get to though. It looks spectacular and I love watching games with Cardinals fans. I've had great experiences with St. Louis fans, even as you guys filled up my ballpark in the days when the Brewers didn't draw too well here... Very knowledgeable and polite. Pretty much the exact opposite of the average Cubs fan we run into...

Miller Lite or Bud Light?

Miller Lite. I don't drink imports...

Except for that last one, Jared had some great answers. It's nice to get a different take, and just chat baseball in general. We're both super-fans of our respective teams, and of course, we're both pretty confident that our club will come away from this one with a series win. Maybe next time around we'll have to make a little wager.

Just a reminder, today is Jackie Robinson day. Many players and coaches across baseball are wearing number 42, in honor of Robinson. The Brewers have selected just one player to wear the number, Fielder. The entire Cardinal team will don number 42.

We're about an hour and a half from game time. Time for a Bud Light. Thanks again to Jared from Right Field Bleachers. I'll save a beer for you!

Play Like A Cardinal - Part 2

2008-04-14T22:25:00.003-04:00

The Cards have the day off today, so there's no better time to show another commercial from the team's new ad campaign. I posted one starring Rick Ankiel on Thursday. This spot stars Fredbird, the league's best mascot. Enjoy!

Cards @ Giants - 4/13

2008-04-13T15:41:00.006-04:00

Update (8:15 pm): Game over. Cards lose. Who's to blame? I guess no one, but maybe everyone. You can't win 'em all, but I thought this one would be a tougher fought battle than it turned out to be.

In the beginning, I thought it was brilliant for Tony La Russa to have Aaron Miles sacrifice the runner over to third in the first inning. Normally, with no one out, you'd like to play for the big inning, but with Tim Lincecum on the hill for the Giants, scoring early might be the difference in the game. Well, I was wrong. The Cards missed out on an early scoring opportunity, and Joel Pineiro's first start of the year left a lot to be desired. He allowed 6 runs on 10 hits in only 3 2/3 innings.

It was no surprise that the offense struggled against Lincecum, but you can't help but wonder if the outcome would have been different if Albert Pujols and the rest of the regulars would have been in there. Ultimately, the Cards had scoring opportunities, but couldn't capitalize. That seems to be the theme here in the early part of the season. Today's final, Giants win 7-4. Here's the full recap and box score.

Now at 9-4, but still in first place by a half game in the Central, the Cards will take tomorrow off before hosting the Brew Crew for three games at Busch. The upcoming series might be the first true test for Redbirds. Luckily, the club won't have to face Milwaukee's best hurlers, Ben Sheets and Yovani Gallardo. With the front of the rotation starting for the Cardinals, I expect them to win two of three. It's times like this when I wish I was back in St. Louis.

------------

The Cards will try to end the road trip on a high note today, hoping to head back to St. Louis with a 10-3 record. Joel Pineiro takes the ball for the Redbirds. The Giants counter with young flamethrower Tim Lincecum.

Yesterday, I speculated that Albert Pujols would get the day off. I had no idea that Troy Glaus and Cesar Izturis would also be out of the lineup. Actually, I'm not too surprised. In years past, Tony La Russa has been known to give several players rest on the same day, especially in the final game of a series.

Here's today's lineups:

St. Louis Cardinals

Skip Schumaker LF
Aaron Miles SS
Rick Ankiel CF
Ryan Ludwick RF
Chris Duncan 1B
Rico Washington 3B
Yadier Molina C
Joel Pineiro P
Adam Kennedy 2B

San Francisco Giants

Fred Lewis LF
Eugenio Valez 2B
Randy Winn CF
Bengie Molina C
Jose Castillo 3B
John Bowker RF
Rich Aurilia 1B
Brian Bocock SS
Tim Lincecum P

I'll have more after the game, and if you missed it, check out this morning's post. Let's go Cardinals!

Sunday Tidbits

2008-04-13T12:33:00.004-04:00

The Cardinals have started the year off hot, going 9-3 in the first 12 games, and winning each of their first three series, with a chance to win a fourth later today. I think we'll have a better idea of what's to come from this season after they play some more formidable opponents. That starts after the off-day tomorrow, with a three game series at home against Milwaukee. So far, the Cards have taken advantage of what seems to be an easier April schedule than most. But, a win in April is every bit as good as a win in September, and by the end of the month, the Redbirds may have cushioned their record enough to overcome some summer shortcomings against top flight teams.

As early as it is in the season, there has still been plenty of talk about adding an impact bat to the lineup. If all the Cards fall into place, the team will have a surplus of pitching to deal from. Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post Dispatch speculates on where the possible addition would come from. Find that story here.

Also from the Post, there's a great article about the uniqueness of Cardinal outfielder Rick Ankiel, written by Rick Hummel. As is nearly all of his stuff, this one's definitely worth the read.

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by the folks at Hasbro, and asked to check out a new baseball themed game designed for kids. It's called Bulls-eye Baseball, and it's a mini skeet-ball type game, made for kids seven and up. Sure. Well, the game arrived last week, and I finally had a chance to open it up this morning. This game rocks! I'm a little older than seven, but am still very entertained with this thing. It's addicting. It has an announcer that keeps track of the action, along with other baseball sounds, and lights up the base paths after hits. Rather than try to explain the game, I'll send you here. Where was this when I was a kid? Anyway, I can't wait to try "drinking Bulls-eye Baseball"! Just don't try it with your seven year old!

Cards Win a Wild One

2008-04-12T22:30:00.007-04:00

What started as a pitchers duel, ended up being an extra innings slug fest. I got home from work just in time to see Matt Cain's solo home run to break the 0-0 tie. I really enjoy watching a well pitched game, but missed that half, and instead saw a total of fifteen runs cross the plate after the fifth inning. It was great to see the Redbirds claw back into it. They never let up, and eventually got the win. 8-7 was the final. Here's the full recap.

The 9-3 Cardinals remain in first place in the Central, with a game and a half lead over Milwaukee. Tomorrow is the series finale, with Joel Pineiro going against Tim Lincecum. It will be Pineiro's first start of the year. Should be fun. Look for Pujols to sit tomorrow, as Tony La Russa generally likes to rest certain veteran players before an off day.

Unfortunately, I've got to keep it short tonight, but be sure to check in tomorrow. I've got several things in the works.

Cards @ Giants - 4/11

2008-04-11T18:10:00.006-04:00

Last night, it looked as if the Cardinals didn't show up to play, falling to San Francisco 5-1. Some were speculating the reason for the lackluster showing was jet lag. The Cards didn't arrive at their hotel until 3:30 in the morning. Others are simply stating that the bats were silenced by the opposing pitcher, Kevin Correia. I think it was a little of both. I thought Correia was outstanding, but I also noticed the lack of fire from the usually energetic young Birds. I thought that Adam Wainwright would dominate, giving the Cardinals their best start to a season since 1981. He pitched a pretty good game until the seventh when the wheels came off. Joe Strauss has a nice recap of last nights action.

The two teams are back at it again tonight, with Kyle Lohse starting for St. Louis. For San Francisco, Barry Zito gets the ball. The former ace is 0-2, with a 6.30 ERA. According to Strauss, Brian Barton is in the lineup against the lefty tonight. Be sure to check out Derrick Goold's Bird Land. He's done some research, and examines Barton and company's role in the team's scoring thus far.

Obviously, I'd like to see the Cardinals take the remaining three games of this series, but I think it's easier said than done. After Zito tonight, the Giants throw Matt Cain tomorrow, and Tim Lincecum on Sunday. The Cardinals aren't scoring many runs on lesser pitchers, and have ended up atop the division almost solely on the performances from their starters. I don't think it's realistic to expect them to continue at their current pace. If the Redbirds are to take the series, they're certainly going to need to plate a lot more runs. Perhaps Barton could get them started.

Play Like A Cardinal

2008-04-10T23:00:00.005-04:00

The Cardinals are running a series of commercials for their new ad campaign, with the slogan "Play Like A Cardinal". This spot stars outfielder Rick Ankiel. Enjoy!

Pujols Leads Cards to Seventh Win

2008-04-09T23:14:00.006-04:00

With tonight's 6-4 win over the Houston Astros, the Cardinals take their third straight series to start the season. With Milwaukee's loss to Cincinnati, the Redbirds stand alone in first place in the Central.

The story in this one was Albert Pujols. Coming into tonight's game, Pujols had just one RBI, and no home runs. Perhaps fueled by the earlier altercation with Houston's Brandon Backe, Albert teed off on Astros' pitching, going 3-4, with a walk, 2 home runs and 3 RBI. Isn't there a saying about not waking a sleeping giant? This could be the time when Albert really starts to heat up. I can't wait until Backe has to pitch against the Redbirds.

Cardinal lead-off hitter Skip Schumaker broke out of his funk, getting on base four times, with three hits and a walk. Each of the first three Cardinal batters scored twice. Braden Looper was solid, and the bullpen was equally as effective. Closer Jason Isringhausen recorded his league leading fifth save, and has yet to allow a run. For more, check out the full recap and box score.

All in all, it was another entertaining series from Minute Maid. It seems like every time the Cardinals visit Houston, you can count on seeing some good games. Right now, however, it's tough to gauge just how good this Cardinal team is. Colorado didn't play like the reigning NL champs, and both Washington and Houston are considered sub-par teams. Next up, the Birds fly out to the Barry-less Bay, to face the Giants. Although also considered a non-contender, San Francisco does have some good arms, something the Cards haven't faced much of yet.

Reyes Gets the Win

2008-04-08T22:52:00.008-04:00

Who would have thought? The once mighty St. Louis Cardinals, clearly on the decline (according to the "experts"), start the 2008 season 6-2. Maybe the ease of the April schedule should get some credit for the hot start. Obviously the outstanding pitching performances from the starting five weren't going to last forever. Most of us would have been happy to be a .500 club right now. Either way, a win is a win.

Credit this one to Anthony Reyes. After starter Brad Thompson ran up his pitch count in the third, he was only able to go four innings, striking out five, but leaving the game down 3-2. Tony La Russa called upon Reyes for long relief, who faced only one over the minimum in three innings of work. His only blemish was a two out triple given up to the slumping Hunter Pence, before inducing a ground out from Lance Berkman. Reyes now has half as many wins as he did in all of 2007.

Cardinal third baseman Troy Glaus provided the two go-ahead RBI on a double in the eighth. Ryan Franklin pitched a scoreless bottom half, and Jason Isringhausen closed it out with his fourth save of the season in as many chances. Here's the full box score.

If tonight was an audition for Thompson to keep his spot in the rotation, he may have failed. I'm not disappointed in his outing by any means, but it's been reported that Joel Pineiro, after his rehab assignment, would slot into the rotation for Sunday, Thompson's spot. If that were the case, one would assume that Thompson joins the guys in the bullpen, and Kelvin Jimenez would be optioned back to Memphis.

The Cards have a chance tomorrow to start the year with three straight series wins. Braden Looper gets the ball for the Redbirds, opposed by Houston's Chris Sampson.

Finally, according to Matthew Leach, the Cardinals' beat writer for MLB.com, lefty starter Mark Mulder is another step closer in his battle back to join the rotation. Find that story here. A healthy Mulder would displace another Cardinal starter, most likely Todd Wellemeyer or Braden Looper. The way things have started, I'd be hesitant to replace any of them.

Cards Can't Spoil Astros' Opener

2008-04-07T21:47:00.006-04:00

The winning streak may have come to an end, but the streak of brilliant outings by the Cardinals' starting staff remains intact. What started out as a pitchers' duel between St. Louis starter Todd Wellemeyer and Houston's Wandy Rodriguez, ended with some offensive fireworks.

Wellemeyer took a two-hit shutout into the seventh before surrendering back-to-back home runs to Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee. His night was through after seven, allowing the 2 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 7. I was very impressed with his performance, even without the bloody nose. Both starters were very good, but Rodriguez was slightly better. The Cards managed to string only 3 hits against him in 7 1/3 innings.

The game really changed gears in the ninth, when the Cards rallied to tie it at three, but ultimately lost it on a Miguel Tejada walk-off in the bottom half off of rookie Kyle McClellan. It's certainly a blow to the young righty, but I feel worse for Wellemeyer. He pitched a terrific game, save the solo home runs from two of the league's best. The Cards flashed the leather tonight too, with great plays from Aaron Miles, Troy Glaus, and Cesar Izturis. Here's the full box score.

So while we're not raising our glasses to another Cardinal victory, we do have reason to lift 'em up. From Anheuser Busch:

In case you didn’t know, today April 7, 2008 is a solemn and joyous anniversary in the annals of beer history. It’s the 75th Anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition for beer in the United States.

During the summer of 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigned on the platform that he would repeal Prohibition (he called it the “stupendous blunder”), put American workers back on the job and help end the Depression.
So, of course it’s no surprise that he won the election by a landslide.

True to his word, with one stroke of the pen 20 days after taking office, he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, making 3.2% beer once again legal in the U.S. This meant that Lager Beer which was predominantly
3.2% alcohol by weight would precede heavier beer styles and hard liquor by almost 8 full months.

So, at 12:01 a.m. on April 7, 1933, beer was back. 25,000 people celebrated here at our St. Louis Brewery that night and the rest of the country listened to a special live broadcast from August “Gussie” Busch, Jr. that was carried on radio stations coast to coast. Happy days were here again!

So today on the 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition, raise a glass to the wisdom and fortitude of great men like Gussie Busch and Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a Budweiser, the Great American Lager.

Click here to listen to the broadcast.

The Cardinals will try to even the series tomorrow, with Brad Thompson facing Shawn Chacon. The first series loss of the year is on the line.

Get Out The Brooms

2008-04-06T16:39:00.007-04:00

So what if it's only the Washington Nationals. The important thing is that the Cardinals are in the midst of a five game winnings streak, and still tied for the best record in baseball at 5-1. Now if only the home opener wasn't washed out (insert dead horse here).

Kyle Lohse kept up the streak, and now hands the pressure baton over to Todd Wellemeyer. Lohse pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits. Cardinal starters, who continue to try and outdo one another, have now combined to pitch 37 2/3 innings, while allowing only 4 runs. This was supposed to be the club's weakness heading into the start of the season.

Cardinal outfielder Rick Ankiel was once again the offensive hero, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, including a solo home run in the third. Ryan Ludwick also had a pair of hits, and catcher Yadier Molina added another RBI. Although the Cards won it 3-0, you got to tip your cap to Washington's starter John Lannan. He was impressive, but took the loss in a quality start. Jason Isringhausen got his third save of the year with another scoreless inning. Here's the full recap and box score.

Living in South Florida, I was forced to watch the Nationals' broadcast, complete with former Cardinal announcer, Bob Carpenter. Of course I would have preferred the home town guys, but Carpenter was a pleasant and familiar voice to listen to. My one complaint about the MASN broadcast was their lack of radar. I was interested in seeing the speeds of the pitchers, particularly the two starters, but was disappointed to see or hear no indication throughout the entire game. Boo.

Tomorrow it's on to the Juice Box, where the Astros will host the Cards in a three game series. Houston will start Wandy Rodriguez in the series opener, followed by Shawn Chacon and Chris Sampson. The Astros are off to a 2-5 start, and won't benefit from a Roy Oswalt appearance during the upcoming series (although Oswalt is sporting a 6.0 ERA). That's two series down, fifty to go.