An Awesome April Abruptly Ends
What an April it has been! The Cards finish up 16-7 and in first place! All of the starting pitchers have been good (Wellemeyer is hit or miss) and Mitchell Boggs has been a pleasent surprise (last night was no exception–9ks and 2bb in just 6 innings), Carp looked great while healthy, and Pujols is on a tear offensively! Ankiel was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. It is good to see him coming around. Tyler Green started off his career in a good way.
So far the Cardinals have only lost one series (and technically they can still split that series when the game is made up at Wrigley) and have either split or won the other six. That is how you stay in first place!
It’ll be interesting to see if Wellemeyer can bounce back from his last outing tonight versus Jordan Zimmerman. Maybe the Nats will actually draw some fans on a Friday night game like tonight…
A Great Homestand and a Great Start for a Roadie
It’s been awhile since my last entry. I’ve been really busy and I think I might have to only post after series end until my semester is over. BUT–WOW! The Cards do sweep the Mets and take two of three from the Cubs. Pujols is unstoppable! The Cards are really on a roll.
Last night in Atlanta, Joel Pineiro nearly pitched seven innings, and he improves to 4-0. What a surprise he’s been! He is looking like his old self again! If the Cardinals win tonight then they’ve either split or won six of their seven series. This has been a great start to the season and I’m excited about this summer (and fall). Also, please vote Yadier Molina for the All-Star Game here in St. Louis.
Cards Win 2 in a Row; They Look for the Sweep Today
Pineiro was excellent last night! It is great to see him step up and start the season 3-0 with a 4.12 ERA. Last night pitched eight strong innings giving up just six hits and two runs. The fact that he pitched 8 is good enough on its own. The Cards offense is alive as always and we saw a great game.
Thurston knocked a triple and is really making a case to be an everyday player. Pujols notched two more RBI for a grand total or 18 already! It was also great to see Rasmus hitting the ball. Ankiel continued to struggle, and hopefully he will snap out sooner rather than later. He is going to have another great game like Tuesday soon.
Lohse trying to improve to 3-0 on the season like Pineiro.
Great Way to Kick off a Homestand!
After two days rest, the Cardinals returned to Busch Stadium ready to play. The bullpen was rested and the Cards were ready to go. After a rough start from Todd Wellemeyer, the Mets had an early 4-0 lead going into the fifth. Wellemeyer got through the fifth, and the Cards rallied in the bottom half for four runs with RBI from Pujols (2), Greene, and Thurston. Greene and Thurston were walked with the bases loaded and Pujols had a double. After that, the bullpen came in and did an outstanding job, pitching four scoreless frames. Ankiel broke the tie after Brendan Ryan tripled, and Ludwick added an insurance run.
It was great to see Ankiel (3 for 5) hitting in clutch situations. It he picks it up the Cardinals offense will be even more dangerous than it already is. Also, I really like watching Joe Thurston play. Sure he did make an error throwing to Pujols on a tough play, but it he made up for it when he hustled down a ball in the eighth and threw out Beltran at the plate. Thurston has great fundamentals and he always hustles. Even when he is walked you can see him sprint down the line to first like Pete Rose used to do.
What can you say about Yadier Molina? He is batting .348 and went 3 for 4 with a walk Tuesday night. He also blocked the plate twice and held the ball while tagging runners! TWICE! Not to mention his pickoff at first (Molina does this so often it is insane), Yadier is one of the most valued players on the team in my eyes and I think most would agree that, aside from Pujols, Yady is the most valued so far this year. Without Yadier’s superb plays at the plate, the score would be tied at six and who knows the outcome? He’s really been fun to watch this year, and we fans need to vote him as the starter for the All-Star Game in our hometown.
McClellan continues to impress, and Franklin notches another save (he’s 3 for 3). The bullpen pitched very well yesterday and hopefully we will keep it up. Tonight’s matchup is Pineiro (2-0 5.40) versus John Maine (0-1 7.20) and is on Fox Sports Midwest. It should be a good one.
Extra Inning Loss After Eighth Inning Comeback
Another close game in Chicago. Kyle Lohse got the start and pitched well in the first couple innings, but he got into a jam in the fifth inning. After he gave up three in the fifth La Russa opted to go with Kyle McClellan to pitch the sixth. McClellan did allow a run in sixth however and the Cubs took the lead 5-4. The two-out walks really hurt us in this game. I was happy when Yadier Molina smacked a double and tied the game in the eighth but it just wasn’t enough.
The team was just 3-16 with runners in scoring position, so you really can’t single out the bullpen for losing the game. I thought the bullpen did okay; one run in the sixth and then a scoreless 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th. Anytime your bullpen has to pitch six innings they are bound to give up runs. Duncan getting doubled off at second didn’t help much either. It was a long game and extra inning games are always tough for the away team.
Ankiel is really struggling at the plate; he was 0-6 with 2 strikeouts and is batting just .179. He can pull through the slump and raise that average. I just don’t know how many more times Tony can start him over Rasmus (even though Rasmus hasn’t done much better). He has the “due factor” on his side, meaning he will break out one day and have a huge game. Hopefully it will be sooner and not later.
Tonight’s game on ESPN is very important. The Cards really need to split the series, and Wellemeyer is going up against Ted Lily. We really need a victory here to return to STL on a high note.
Close Game; Ends in Disapointment
Well, what can you say about yesterday’s loss at Wrigley? PJ Walters made his Major League debut and pitched four innings. Ludwick continues to shine at the plate, and the Cards almost staged a ninth inning comeback.
Walters showed us that he’s resilent. He got into trouble early (in the first and second) and had a HUGE pitch count through two (like 65). He gave up six hits and three runs. I don’t know; I think he’s going to get better his next few times out. He had 7 strikeouts and only two walks in just four innings. It’ll be interesting to see what this guy can do next time.
Ludwick is on fire this season! He’s hit safely in his frst nine games this season. He already has 5 homeruns and he’s slugging .865! He hammered two HR in Friday’s loss at Wrigley. He came up in the ninth with two on and no one out. Ludwick took the first pitch for a ball and then had three big hacks and went down swining against Marmol. He definetly needs to be playing everyday.
The ninth inning was exciting, but I knew the double play was a possibility. Hitting Pujols really worked out for them only because Ludwick went down on strikes. Oh well, it was a good game to watch. Perez just couldn’t get it done.
I thought this picture was funny. It is a little more violent than I’ve always seen the rivalry, but it is funny. I;ve seen this a few different places, so I figured I would just float it along.
I am not trying to take credit for this so don’t think I drew it; it’s just been bouncing around a few sites.
This afternoon, Kyle Lohse gets the start against Ryan Dempster. The game is nationally televised on FOX’s Saturday Game of the Week. It will be fun to see what Lohse does after his Easter 3-hit shutout. I was at that game, and I really hope he comes out with another strong start. Of all the pitchers in the bigs with just two starts, Lohse has the most innings pitched. I don’t want to split the series; let’s take three of four!
Back-to-back Wins After Tough Loss
Well I guess the worst news this week is, of course, relating to Chris Carpenter and his injuries. He will be gone for AT LEAST a month probably more like two. Like the commenter yesterday said, if he was healthy it would be too easy. I guess he was pitching too well so he had to have a freak injury; better now than in September though.
First off, Wednesday’s game against the Dbacks went well. Pineiro had a rough a troubled outing but still got the win, increasing to 2-0. Chris Perez pitched two innings with two K’s and this was good to see. The offense exploded once again and the Cards pounded out two twelve runs. It was a good way to bounce back from a tough loss.
Thursday’s game on the North Side was awesome as well! We saw three homers and Yadier broke the tie in the seventh. Molina also threw Fukodome out while trying to steal. Wainwright wasn’t too sharp, but he was good enough to get the win and increase to 2-0. McClellan held the game for two scoreless innings (I really have confidence in him) and Franklin was stupendous! He pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts. If he continues to perform, the Cards can go a long way this season.
It was great to take a game from the Cubs and hopefully today we can do it again. I am really pleased with the Cards so far, and nearly every player is performing. Rookie PJ Walters makes his MLB debut, and it is going to be rough against Zambrano. It should be a great game.
A Tough Loss
Well Tuesday’s game was fun to watch and really exciting, but it was a tough loss. First of all, Carpenter had to leave the game prior to the fourth because of a strain in his ribcage. He looked great while pitching and he will be reevaluated today.
McClellan didn’t look as sharp as usual and the Cards used every reliever except Franklin. Kinney (BS) got himself into a jam after getting the first two outs, he walked a batter (two out walks are HORRIBLE) and then hit a batter and gave up a 3-Run HR. Thompson did well to get out of the ninth unscathed, but he lost it in the tenth.
Trevor Miller made a bad throw trying to pick off a runner at first and Pujols couldn’t grab it. Khalil Greene also made an error (his second of the year).
There was a funny sign shown, “We wanna meet the Mad Hungarian.” McClaughlin and Hrabosky made an interesting dialogue about it and Dan said the fans should have held up the sign before the game and he would have introduced them to Al. “You could sit with him all night,” he jokes.
It was a tough game to lose, especially after using every reliever [except Franklin].
Molina stole second base, drove in two, and had a great night. Thurston is doing well and Pujols, Duncan, and Rasmus all also had RBIs. Thurston is really clutch and Rasmus really did his job, especially in the ninth, extending the inning to Pujols.
What a great weekend!
4/11/09
First of all, I forgot to mention how nice the calendars are that were given out during Friday’s victory. They are really nice quality and I have mine hanging up in my room. Saturday, Wainwirght pitched great and the offense exploded again! More than five inning from Wainwright, our number one pitcher, (who I consider to be Lohse) would be great. Reyes and Motte looked good and I think everyone had fun on Saturday. Pujols . . . what can I say? I loved to see his seven RBI and everyone seems to be clicking. Khalil Green continues to impress. It was probably one of the best games to date.
Two cute young girls who work for the Stadium approached my father, brother, and I and asked to take out picture for the Cardinal website. I’ve yet to buy it (I don’t know if I want it) but here it is. I’m on the right with a frosty one in my hand.
Here is the link (I’m not great with HTML and I only know how to upload pictures not show them from other sites).
My father, brother, and I from Saturday’s game
4/12/09
I attended this game and WOW! Lohso was unhittable and I thought I might see an unofficial perfect game. After giving up a hit to lead the game, Lohse then retired 24 (eight innings) in a row. I thought he might finish the ninth and it would have been 27 in a row. Still, what an outing. Tony allowed him to finish it out even though it was a three run ballgame (that shows how unstable our bullpen is). In the ninth, he did give up two hit and the Stros had the tying run at the plate. The tying run just happened to be Lance Berkman; he was up with two outs. We were all nervous during the at bat, but Lohse did the job and Berkman flied out. It was the only shutout I’ve ever been at the game to attend, and the best pitching performance I’ve seen (in person or otherwise) by a Cardinal pitcher in awhile. Ludwick, Duncan, and Greene (we made a good move landing him) came through with the three RBI. Lohse’s counterpart, Wandy Rodrigues [why have we played so many lefty starting pitchers alread?] pitched okay, but it wasn’t good enough. Molina also made a great play, catching a foul pop-upagainst the screen behind home plate. Anyone else notice Tony changed a third of the team by putting in Barden, Ryan, and moving Shumaker to left? I think he did this around the seventh and it paid off. We swept those Astros!
A funny anecdote, a woman at the front of the game was handing out Baseball Bats for kids 13 and under. I walked up and looked at her, and finally she asked how old I was. I’m look nothing like a 13 year old. Jokingly, I said “I’m thirteen” and she gave me the bat. It’s a nice bat and I will post a picture of it eventually.
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