East Coast Swing

08/27/2012

Cardinals 4 Pirates 3

Dear Cardinals,

A great thing about East coast road trips is the fact that games

start at six o'clock! I hate waiting for things.

You know, August is the longest month of baseball. I can't believe 

we aren't in September yet.  We already have a play-off spot, and it's weird

that we won't be fighting to sneak in this year.  Still plenty to fight for---we need 

to focus this month on playing our best baseball and hope we earn a better play-off spot.

The two wild-card  teams per league will make this September particularly interesting

because so many teams are still in the battle for those spots.

 

Til Later

P.S. Please, can one of ya'll send a homer into the Allegheny River before we leave Pittsburgh?  Much appreciated.

Waino Dominates, The Road Trip, #HighSockSunday

08/21/2012

Astros 0 Cardinals 7

Dear 'birds,

I had meant to post this days ago.  But, things go in the way.
Basically, I got lazy.

But Waino, this was a very impressive start for you.  I know
it was against the lastros and all, but throwing a complete game shutout with twelve strikeouts
is nothing to sniff at, right? (Even if your opponent looks like they'll
struggle against college teams).

Last night was another great start by Waino.  He only allowed 2 runs and the Cardinals
beat the Reds 8-2.

I have to say 'birds, I'm impressed.  I hope
that you continue to win series from here on out, especially
on this road trip because it is a really important one against post season contenders.

Til Later

Recap of  Astros series:
7-0 W, 4-2 W, 13-5 W

Recap of Reds series:
8-5 W*, 2-8 L, 8-2 W

* Lance Lynn went 2 innings, Joe Kelly pitched 3 innings in relief and got the win. This outing came five days after Joe's five and two-thirds (I think, I'm too lazy to check if its true or not) relief outing in that 19 inning game versus the Pirates.  The Cardinals made the decision this weekend to put Lynn in the bullpen and Kelly as a starter, the way my gut felt it should be all long.  (But, of course, after this was made official, for a second I felt sick and thought Lynn should still be the starter because it will possibly be more annoying to watch a reliever come in and not shut down the opposition than to have a starter who struggles through five innings.  However, I believe that Lynn will excel in this role and that Joe will be able to keep the Cardinals in games while pitching deeper into games because he gets outs in far fewer pitches than Lance (thank God).  I hope Lance goes into that bulldog bullpen mode he had last year-- he told the media that he still considers himself a starter. Lance-- please bring the heat and attack hitters out of the pen, don't try to be cute!) 

Let Us Lay the Cardinals Hopes to Rest, Pretty Much

A post for pessimists looking for a silver lining

08/17/2012

Pirates 1 Cardinals 2

08/18/2012

Pirates 4 Cardinals 5

08/19/2012

Pirates 6 Cardinals 3

Final/19

Dear 'birds,

There is nothing to say.  I can't do anything about this.

But I can accept that you all are under-achievers,

find the joy in the small thrills that turn up during games

and ignore the disappointment from suffering the same failure over and over.

I promise to ignore the standings, because they are obviously not going to change, not

with this team being what it is: a team of bad luck, a team of absurdity, a team of missed opportunities. 

I will only watch to appreciate the heart and the effort you 

all have always shown.  I will watch for the love of game.

I will watch for love of the St. Louis Cardinals.  I will watch

because that's what fans do, we stick with our team through world series victories,

late season drives, and those dog days of summer that always leaves things looking 

especially bleak.  I will watch because I remember Albert Pujols' home run that extended the 2005 post 

season, I will watch because I remember those times Jim Edmonds scaled center field walls and snatched home runs, I will watch because I remember a bases loaded 3-2 curve ball, I will watch because I witnessed Jaime Garcia's rookie year, Matt Holliday's bat carrying us to October baseball in 2009, David Freese's 2011 post season, Jon Jay's emergence as a great center fielder, and Yadier Molina becoming a force in the lineup.  I will watch with no expectations, while trying to smother the hope for a post season burning in my chest, because, as Yogi Berra said, "it ain't over til it's over."  

For the optimists: We are not done until we are out, Cardinals, and we are not out.

Que Sera, Sera

08/16/2012

Diamondbacks 2 Cardinals 1

Dear 'birds,

I have officially given up on figuring you guys out:

Whatever will be, will be.

This team is a good team, but I no longer will try

to figure out why it fails to be consistent.

I was thinking about differences between this team and last year's.

Both teams blew a lot of games and lost a fair share of close games, but

last year's teams also FOUGHT and staged amazing comebacks-- and the whole 

country witnessed their best comeback during Game 6. They were resilient, and that resilience

was prevalent throughout the postseason.

This year, the team is inconsistent. Is that inconsistency going to haunt us if we do

make the post season?

Que sera, sera

Well, at least we are in a better position right now than we were last year.  I hate

that the only thing I'm sure about with this team is that we're going to take two steps

back as soon as we take one step forward.  I'm through waiting for this team to take off

the way the numbers and pundits say they should.  I'll just watch for now on.

Que sera, sera

I will be happy if we win the Wild Card, but I really want to win the Division. A one

game play off will be way too stressful.

Que sera, sera

Til Later

We Have Arrived (For Now?)

08/15/2012

Diamondbacks 2 Cardinals 5

Dear 'birds,

We have arrived. We are in a tie with Pittsburgh for the second

wild card spot! And the Pirates are in town this weekend.We

could pull away! Or we could stay true to this year form and inexplicably

lose this upcoming series and fall back into the hole.

Exciting game last night. David ended his 0-fer with a two run shot into LEFT 

field (an oddity, for Dave).  Wainwright is now a game above .500.  I am starting to like the Mujica-Boggs-Motte deal at the end of games.  I hope we can give the ball to them like that more often. I hope that it becomes impossible for teams to score on them here on out.

Chris Carpenter has been back in the dugout recently.  I know

that when it was first announced that he won't be returning this season he had banished 

himself to a corner of  the bullpen... but he's back and smiling, and he's always the first one 

to greet people at the head of the "conga line."  Or "receiving line," as they say on FSMidwest.

Jaime and Joe were chatting away last night.  It's cool that they seem to like each other

since they are close in age and Jaime is the reason Joe will no longer be in the rotation

come Sunday.

I'm hoping this isn't a we have arrived for now. I'm hoping this is finally

WE HAVE ARRIVED TO STAY!

Let's just win every game from here on out...

08/14/2012

Diamondbacks 2 Cardinals 8

 Dear 'birds,

Great start to this home stand. Now

if only I had the faith that you all will keep

this up.

Joe Kelly, you were outstanding last night and its too bad

that you will be the one heading to the 'pen when Jaime 

returns.  By the way, you have pitched loads better than your record suggests.

Random Thoughts

Is Mr. Freese ever going to hit again?

Will Raffy's back hold up and will he start being an offensive spark again?

Has Ryan Jackson played a game at short since being called up? (And why doesn't Matheny

take Raffy out of the game late to help his back and keep Jackson sharp with playing time at short?

I'm sure that's what Tony LaRussa would do--similar to the way that Descalso came in late for David to keep David's knees healthy all last season.)

Jay is doing a great job as our lead-off man.  

My Favorite Guys, The Bullpen

I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen.
Bob Lemon

08/12/2012

Cardinals 7 Phillies 8
F/11

Dear Redbirds,

A lot of things went right for the offense Sunday 

afternoon. We continued our hot-hitting (14 hits!) from Saturday and finally

scored more than four runs.

The problem came when my favorite guys, the bullpen
came into the game and proceeded to do their their favorite thing, which is blow.

I wish Lance freaking Lynn would start going deeper into his starts,
it is getting annoying.  And Jaime better figure out how to go deep
into games when he returns.

Pitching Inconsistency: the bane of the Cardinal's existence, amirite?

Til Later

The Thing Is

08/11/2012

Cardinals 4 Phillies 1

Dear Cards,

The thing is I thought I had written

this post because I had thought it all out in my head.

I guess I was too tired Saturday night to put

the words on paper... or in digital... or whatever 

this is called.

The offense FINALLY rediscovered how to use

their bats.  Ten hits  and  four runs scored.  Three 

run home run by Matty.  

I love that man. Matt Holliday.  He's in the line-up everyday

and he's never not hitting for long.  

It reminds me of  the time last offseason  Matty called in to a St Louis radio show 

(THE PRESS BOX) and told the host that he was incorrect

in saying that he was injury-prone.  That shut down was grand,

but its even better due to the way he has performed this year (exactly like all the other years in his career: as an elite hitter.)

Til Later

Just had to go and Lose

08/10/2012

Cardinals 1 Phillies 3

Dear K-LO,

It is not your fault that the team didn't win last night. You

were outstanding.

To figure out who to lay the lame the blame on, lets

see what last night's box score reveals: hmm...  in one

inning of work a certain Barrett Browning gave up two hits 

and the winning runs.  You, Kyle only gave a run and four hits

over SEVEN innings of work.  We apparently still need better

relief.  Or a manager  to wise up on managing the bullpen.  

The trusty box score also reveals that the offense only had four hits

last night. Two hits in the first EIGHT innings (it was Roy Halladay, so maybe

I should be lenient, but the problem is this non-hitting has been going on for a few

days now) and two hits in the ninth inning (which might mean the bats are waking

up or that Papelbon didn't have his best stuff.)

Win this series, boys!

Til Later.

Split

08/09/2012

Giants 1 Cardinals 3

Dear 'birds,

It's always fun to have a stopper,

you know, that pitcher who thrives 

on the big game, who wills the team to win

in the midst of a losing streak. Or after 

a horrible loss.

Adam Wainwright took the mound today

and pitched the team to victory.  There was no 

trace of last night's defeat hanging over

this team. There was only confidence in their play

and, most of all, confidence in the man on the mound.

We scored three runs today on four hits. We scored no 

runs on four hits last night. We're heading to Philly 

after a successful home stand.  Here's hoping the offense

picks up and here's a wish for a weekend sweep.

Til Later

 

On Punishment

08/09/2012

Giants 15 Cardinals 0

Dear 'birds,

I think it is cruel and unusual punishment to relive last nights game-- to mention any detail of last night's blowout loss here.  So we won't.

OH, wait.  I'll say this:  Is it wrong that I probably would've joined those who booed Tyler Greene,  if I were at the game?  He failed to turn a double play with the bases loaded, letting his pitcher down. It's frustrating when a player always fails in high pressure situations.  He has failed to rise to the occasion too often, and Mozeliak was right to trade him today.  Tyler Greene is a hard worker and by all accounts a great teammate (unlike a certain player we traded last season).  Its hard to see someone who cared and always gave his best leave St. Louis.  I hope that he thrives in Houston.

Til Later

Twoday

08/07/2012

Giants  4 Cardinals 2

Dear 'birds,

Today there are two updates because I was too lazy

to post about Monday's game yesterday. Sorry.

I'll try not to let it happen again. Promise.

Seriously.

Five losses on the year for Lance Lynn. We 

couldn't come back from the three runs he gave

the Giants in the first.  I hate playing a whole game

on the losing side. I wished this team will start fighting

back more often when down early.

The worse part about yesterday's loss is that we failed 

to gain ground on Cincy and Pittsburgh.  But at least we 

gained a game on Cincy on Monday. For some reason,

the Brewers have beaten Cincy the past two games.

The best part about yesterday's game 

was the spectacular  defense. My favorite play 

was Carlos Beltran- Skip Schumaker gunning 

the ball to David Freese, who waited nonchalantly

and tagged out Melky Cabrera as he tried to stretch a double 

into a triple. Denied.

We've won the majority of our games recently,

we just need to keep our focus on winning as many games as we

can. And we need to improve our road record. It's awful.

There is enough time left in the season to pick up a game or two 

(hopefully three) weekly and be there at the end.

Til Later

We like to hit

08/06/2012

Giants 2 Cardinals 8

Dear Cards,

We like to hit and we don't care who

you are. So Matt Cain surrendered five runs

in five and two-thirds innings. Don't feel bad, Cain,

it is just what we do.

FSMidwest compared the Cardenales and Gigantes 

Monday night. They had the exact 

same records, but the Giants only had a plus 19  run differential

and the 'birds had a plus 110 run-differential. 

My question is why are our records the same when we

obviously score many more runs and our pitchers give up

a comparable amount of runs?

Til Later

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

08/05/2012

Brewers 0 Cardinals 3

Dear Redbirds,

I'm back from my week-long excursion! Arrived in Cardinal country late, early Sunday morning (read: 6 AM) and caught my first Cardinals game in seven days that night!

Whoo!  It was great seeing you all take the field in those powder blues!  I followed the games as best I could through mlb mobile app, but there's nothing like seeing the actually pitches hit the strike zone versus seeing the pixel approximation on screen.

Good things about this weekend: A sweep of our 1982 World Series opponent during the 30 year celebration of the 1982 World Series victory and 1982 World Series team. And... this is the first time all season that we've hit 10 games over .500. (Yes, it has been that  much of a struggle.)

Hopefully, there is nowhere to go but up.  Here's to a fight to a finish, a fierce drive to the playoffs.

Til Later