Like a Soundtrack to a July Saturday Night

07/21/2012

Cubs 0 Cardinals 12

Dear Cardinals,

Cardinal's baseball is the soundtrack to my summer. My nights are empty, so empty, on days when the team doesn't play.  I love that there's always a game to keep me company, to occupy those hot idle, afternoon and evening minutes.

Seeing as the Cardinals are a constant  presence in my life, I always check in on the games.  Saturday night, I went to watch Nelly perform at Soldier's memorial for Fair St. Louis. (It was free and so much fun! My sister and I arrived early and got a spot about six rows from the stage. I'm on ear-rest right now, because it was LOUD and I forgot to buy earplugs.)  Before Nelly took the stage, I called my dad to see what was going on at the game.  (I don't have internet on my phone, people!)  He says, "It's nothing-nothing. Sixth inning."  I hang up the phone thinking, oh, it's going to be one of those nights, isn't?

While on the Metrolink after a spectacular show, I called my dad to check up on the game. Nelly had mentioned that the Cardinals had won but he didn't say the score. Here's the transcript:

ME: Hey dad, what did the Cardinals do?

DAD: They won, 12 nothing.

ME: THEY SCORED TWELVE RUNS! How did that happen? How did they do that, it was nothing-nothing in the sixth!

DAD: Yup, they scored twelve runs in the seventh inning.

ME: They scored twelve runs in the seventh! IN ONE INNING!

I watched the replay of the game.  The bottom half of the seventh went on for ages.  When dad saw me watching the game he says, "I feel asleep three times and every time I woke up it was still the seventh inning."

Many amazing things happen in that inning.  Many record setting things happened in that inning. They tied a record for the most doubles in one inning with seven.  They had eight extra base hits, thanks to a Skip Schumaker triple.  They tied the franchise record set in 1926 for most runs in a inning. 

However, the craziest thing to me about that inning is the fact that EIGHT of the twelve runs scored after there were two outs.  Insane.

Til Later.

What does this team need?

07/20/2012

Cubs 1 Cardinals 4

Dear Cards,

WHAT DOES THIS TEAM NEED!?!

Last month we needed starting pitching. Now they are doing well.

And do we really need a starter with Jaime Garcia coming back sometime in August (is this still the case with him on the 60 day DL)?  When he comes back, hopefully he'll be strong enough to pitch well and deep into games, and we can move either Joe Kelly or Lance Lynn into the bullpen which would be a huge help.

But how much longer will Waino be able to pitch?  The Nationals are setting down Stephen Strasburg once he reaches the inning limit the doctor put on his surgically repaired arm.  (Though, now the Nationals are saying if they have a chance at the Series, he will still pitch).

If the Cardinals make the playoffs, will they be able to count on Adam Wainwright to be the workhorse Chris Carpenter was last season?

We need better relievers.  We need the offense to shake this funk they're in.  Last night was the first time since July 8 that the team has scored more than three runs.

I say this all the time, but sometime very soon everything will actually click and this team will roll along winning games like the machine they should be, right?

It will be so awesome if they emulated the 2002 Oakland A's and go on a 20 game win-streak.  I'll love to see that, especially through August, which has typically been the worse months of Cardinals baseball these last few years.

Til Later.

Worse Road Trip Ever

07/17/2012

Cardinals 2 Brewers 3

07/18/2012

Cardinals 3 Brewers 4

Dear Cardinals,

How long can this team continue playing below their level without it affecting the belief the team holds that they are good enough?

I mean, I still think this team is good-- I think this team is great.  How much longer will  this team have to play like this to convince me that this is truly the team they are-- mediocre?  Is the team convinced they can't be any better?  Is that why they're playing horribly?

Out starting pitching was outstanding this road trip, hitting was awful.  We only won one game. Out of six.

Whats worse, is that the Cubs are in town tonight and they are playing well.  They are probably still leading the fecal league standings, but they're winning, at least.  I hope we win this weekend.

I hope that this is the last week/ month of mediocre baseball.

Unhappy flight to the Lou.

Til Later.

"Happy Flight!"  meter: 11/22

Another Late Inning Comeback!

07/16/2012

Cardinals 3 Brewers 2

Dear 'birds,

I don't know how far behind the Cardinals the Brewers are, but I am dubbing this series "battle to stay in third place" all the same.

The Cardinals battled last night. It was fun watching the ninth inning comeback-- 3 runs! Matt Holliday hit the game-tying single that, of course, did nothing to shut up his haters.

Til Later

Swept out of Cincinnati

07/15/2012

Cardinals 2 Reds 4

Dear Redbirds,

I don't think I'm ever going to learn how to spell Cincinnati without looking up whether its spelled with two t's or two n's.

Another showdown for second place, except this time we couldn't  even win one game. It's frustrating how often this team chooses not to rise for the occasion.

This weekend was also frustrating because the pitching was pretty good.  Apparently the Reds pitching was even better, because it stymied our offense.  Of course,  mayber the offense is just going through some downtime.  I hate when that happens.

Lousy Flight from Cincy to Milwaukee.

Til Later.

"Happy Flight!"meter: 11/21