Don't Stop Believing...

04/23/2012

Cardinals 2 Cubs 3

Dear Cards,

Seriously, boys? Is this how our/your string of consecutive series going to end? At the hands of the Chicago Cubs?

I know, I know there are two more games to play in the series.  It isn't over yet, the fat lady isn't singing, don't stop believing.

Well, I can hear the fat lady running through her vocal exercises.  No offense to Adam Wainwright, but he isn't the same pitcher.  It's not his fault.  He probably won't be the Adam Wainwright of yore until August.

I am hopeful he can hold back the Cubs offense just enough that we can score enough runs to win, but the NL best offense is currently not clicking on all cylinders. (Although, maybe we are.  Yesterday's pitcher, Matt Garza,  is a good pitcher and good pitchers have the annoying tendency of shutting down good hitting.)

We really need to win this game tonight, Wainwright.  Offense, you all need to do your thing tonight (no, not the striking out and leaving a ton of men on base,  the other thing-- getting loads of hits and scoring most of the men who get on base). 

Tonight is MUST WIN if you want to have a rubber game tomorrow, if you want a chance of keeping the streak alive and winning a series tomorrow. (To state the obvious).

Adam was better last time, hopefully he'll improve even more.  Maybe this time you hitters can actually score runs while he's on the mound, too.

I feel like this is the first big test of the season-- a mid-term, if you will. It's like everything else-- Berkman going on the DL, center fielders running into walls-- were quizzes.  Although, Chris Carpenter being out indefinitely is a test.

'Til Later!

PS I hope I'm happy later tonight and not bombed out. 

Oh Look! One of the Ol' Birds is limping...

04/10/2012

Cardinals 3 Reds 1

Dear Berkman,

When you legged out that triple Tuesday night, I pressed my hands to my cheeks and made a face like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone--mostly because I didn't think you'll make third, and also-- let's face it, Puma--you're kind of old. 

I liked the aggressiveness, though, because it was the sixth inning and we were only winning by one.  I figured the only way to ensure that a run would score would be that triple, and then a sac fly.  Freese overachieved and  sent the  ball out the park.  

Hindsight is perfect vision.  In hindsight, you should have just stayed on second.  The season is a marathon, not a sprint.  And now you've been slowed due to a torn muscle in your calf.  Apparently, you are aiming to return to the lineup Tuesday.

I hope you recover well and feel all the way healthy when you return.

04/11/2012

Cardinals 3 Reds 4

Dear Birds,

You guys had a hard time finishing series off last year-- you'll win the first two games and then on "get away day" you let the game... get away.  (I know it wasn't the "A" lineup, but no excuses, boys, no excuses!)  At least we won the series but it sucks to lose the last game on a walk off.  

I hope this was just an aberration and the next time you win the first two games of a series you win the third game. 

Also, Jaime, I know you are a person of habit and hate when things throw you off your schedule-- Al Hrabosky says that if you order food that's supposed to arrive in 30 minutes, you start freaking out if it doesn't arrive by that time-- but pitching on the road should really be no different than pitching at home.  Please start pitching better on the road.  Last year, you had a 2.55 ERA at home and a 4.61 ERA on the road-- a huge difference.

I want to break out the broom this weekend against the Cubs.  They used up their run quota for the week in a 8-1 win against the Brewers, so go out and win. Can't wait! I hope I'm not disappointed and I'll be disappointed if we were to lose any of these games.

'Til Later

"HAPPY FLIGHT!" METER:  2/3

What, what!

04/06/2012

Cardinals 11 Brewers 5

Dear Cardinals,

Way to lay the hurt on the Brewers today! Too bad those three Brewers runs scored in the ninth and made the score somewhat respectable.

It's fun spoiling teams home openers.

I'm falling in love with ya'll-- speed and stolen bases, timely hits and home runs, and sexy, gutsy pitching. There's so much swag these first two games.

You all are striving for the extra base.  No one seems afraid of making a mistake, and it shows in the freedom you all give yourselves on the field.  In order to accomplish a goal or the seemingly impossible, you can't be afraid to fail.  If you don't try at all-- if Furcal didn't try to stretch his single into a double because of the fear of being tagged out-- you never know what could occur. You could find yourself in scoring position. Sure, you could play it safe and stay on first, but I like that the team is running the bases aggressively. 

I do hope, however, that you guys will run a small bit more conservatively on such hits if losing.  

I hope Matheny finds the proper balance of resting the old guys and playing the young bench players.  The young guys need to stay sharp and the old guys need to rest their surgically-repaired knees (I am looking at you-- Berkman, Beltran, and Furcal).

The team already look unstoppable.  (Winning makes me write fanciful  nonsense.)

I hope the first loss never happens. But it will, and when it does, I hope this is the sort of team that always come back and wins the next day.

It looks like it may be.

 

Please win tomorrow in Wainwright's first game post- surgery.

'Til Later