Some thoughts on the last few weeks. Boy, the Cards did not look good against the Braves and Marlins. Losing 5 out of 6 is not a good week. But even with that they are still 20-10 ish in there last 30 games. There pitching, at least the 3 they are going to lean on in the playoffs, pitched well except for Carp's rare 6 runs allowed game. They said it was the first time he had given up 6 runs in one inning since 1998. Came back yesterday and threw 8 shutout innings. The hitting is what slumped during that downturn. But they have had clutch hitting these last couple of days with 2 walkoffs in a row. Franklin is also a concern, but I just think he needs some rest. The playoffs are probably not going to be blowouts, so the clutch hitting is going to be a big part of things. Can't wait until the playoffs. Magic # is 4.



MILK

Some things I read that were interesting.

The Cardinals are 23-16 vs. Left handed pitchers. Since acquiring Matt Holliday, the Cardinals are 9-1 when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher. So before getting Holiday they were 14-16. First, it is amazing what one right handed bat will do for your line-up. This is especially true because instead of using either Chris Duncan, Ankiel, or Rasmus (the Cards were putting 2 if not 3 out everyday when Ryan would sit) all left handers. Now they get Ludy and Holliday. Second, there seem to be a lot of lefties if the Cards have already faced that many. Why don’t the Cards have a lefty starter? Decided to look at what was coming up the farm system. Looks like Memphis has 1 starting lefty and 2 or 3 relievers. The only one that starts is Evan MacLane. Wouldn’t hold my breath for him to come up anytime soon. 4-11 with a 4.09 ERA on a team that is winning its division. Ryan Kulik is in Springfield (AA team) with a 5-9 record ERA above 5. Of course, they are a last place team in there division.

Another annoying thing. Throughout the Dodgers series all they kept talking about was Russell Martin and his catching. They always introduced him as “gold glove winner” Russell Martin. First of all, he looked horrible behind the plate. Secondly, Yadi should have won the gold glove in 07, not Martin. 14 Errors, 5 Passed Balls, .988 Fielding % vs. 6 Errors, 7 Passed Balls, ,991 Fielding %. Which stats do you think won the Golden Glove. The first, Martin. Martin did bat 290’s with almost 20 HRs. But it is the Golden Glove. They have a Silver Slugger award for batters. I can’t help it the Golden Glove has higher prestige. Martin is not a Gold Glove caliber Catcher. Last year when Yadi won, it was probably his worst defensive year with 11 errors and 986 Fielding %. But he had his best offensive year. I really wish they would not make the Golden Glove an offensive biased award but award the best fielder.

How annoying are broadcasters. I was watching the Cards last night on ESPN, so you would think they would be somewhat neutral. I guess they were for the most part, but what they were saying just didn’t make sense. The Dodgers had some knuckle ball pitcher pitching his first start. Everything he threw was about 6 inches above the strike zone. The problem was, the umpire was calling them strikes. The Cards were looking at these high strikes and getting behind in counts and so they had to swing at these high knuckleballs. So the brilliant commentators were questioning why the Cards kept swinging at these high balls but never commenting on why the high balls were being called strikes.

He threw 7 innings and only gave up 3 runs on 2 homeruns, but I would be interested to see what happens in his next game. If the ump does not call a high strike and he has to put it in the middle of the plate, that is when Cards were hitting it and go their 2 homers. Carp pitched well after getting out of a base loaded 1 out jam in the 1st by only giving up one run. Cubs lose again so Cards are up 6 games.

MILK

Jim was giving me a hard time about not writing about my Cards. My earlier post was written just before the All-Star break. Since then the Cards are 18-9. They have gone from 8 games above 500 to 15 games. Although that is a good stretch, Aug. has been even better. The Cards lost to LA on July 30, were 7 games above 500, and .5 game behind the Cubs. Since then they are 11-3 and the Cubs are 6-9 to give the Cards a 5 game lead. The Cards have still played the most games of any team in the league (tied with Padres at 119) while the Cubs have played the least (115).

Holliday, DeRosa, and Lugo have all been great. But, although they have been a boost for the offense, the pitching is what has been doing it. Carp is 3-0, Waino and Pinero 2-0 in Aug. We have won Pinero’s last 8 starts and Carp has won his last 7 decisions and Waino leads the National league in wins with 14. The Cards have had a easy schedule in Aug, and after our series in LA Aug continues to be an easy road, finishing with Padres, Astros, Nationals. Sept. is not going to be as easy a road. Cards play a lot of teams that are in races, so it is great that they are able to build this lead.

Still, everything will depend on health. Carp is doing some kind of exercise therapy to stay healthy. Last year Waino had some kind of freak finger injury. Pujols plays so hard, he is always vulnerable. But they are playing great right now. This is a big series with LA and they worked it out so that we have our Aces throwing tonight and Wed. Still questions about a 5th starter. Seems like every 5th game is a forfeit which means there is a lot of pressure to win the other 3 or 4 when or Aces and descent pitcher are pitching.

Sorry to Jim. Evidently this blog thing was a curse for his BoSox who are falling into oblivion.

I was looking at it, with all the off days the Cards have, Carp would have 10 more starts, Waino - 9, Pinero - 9, Lohse - 8, and other (looks like Boggs for right now) - 7. So they will be able to space out their question marks or they can rest their horses if this lead stays the same. The Boggs starts would also land against, Padres, National, Pirates, Astros, Brewers, Florida and Dogders, so not against any of the major forces they will be facing in Sept. 4 big series in Sept. Cubs, Rockies, Marlins, Braves, we should be starting Pinero, Waino or Carp in 2 out of 3 games in all of them, all 3 pitch in the Rockies series, and only 2 series, Nationals at the end of this month and Brewers the last series of the year, where we start Lohse and Boggs/other, 2 out of the 3. A playoff series that starts on Sept 6th would have Carp pitching on normal rest and Waino pitching on extra rest.

The Cubs do have a much easier hall than they have had the last couple weeks. A 4 game series against the Dodgers coming up, a 3 game against the Cards, and a 4 gamer against the Giants teh second to last week of the season. But their pitching is in such disarray, they may have a tough time against the lower ranked teams. Even if they don't falter and start winning, the Cards do have a coushin and the Cubs only have 3 scheduled days off and they have to make up the game from yesterday. They play 2 series against Pitt and both fall around a day off, so it is likely that the Cubs only have 2 more days off the rest of the way. That will be hard on an already thin rotation.

I guess if I wrote more often, I won't write so much. Maybe I will get better at that.

MILK

Jim had the great idea for us to journal about the Cards and the Red Sox the rest of the season. So here is my start on how the season is going and what I think of the Cards chances as of today.

Kyle Lohse is coming back on Sunday. As with all teams, the most important thing to start looking at is the starting rotation. The Cards have a good rotation going forward if everyone stays healthy.

Carp and Wain are legitimate aces and give you a good chance at winning everytime they are out there. Carp is pitching very well this year. He has the third lowest ERA of any pitcher who has thrown more than 60 innings pitched. The last five seasons, when Carp pitches well, the Cards make the playoffs, when he doesn't, they don't. So, if he stays healthy, Cards look to win the Central.

Waino has come back veery strong after a slow start. 4 of 5 of his last starts he has given up less than 2 runs. 1 run twice and last time out he came within 2 pitches of throwing his first career shutout (Franklin came in, threw 2 pitches and got a double play).

Lohse and Pinero are the next 2 pitchers. Pinero is pitching out of his mind this year. If he is having a career year and keeps it up, the Cards have 3 aces. Pinero has 3 complete games, 2 of them shut outs. He got very little run support for a long stretch which explains his record. Lohse signed a big contract last fall and is being counted on to contribute a lot. He can be very good, but this season has been a 500 pitcher, but was hurt, so we will see how he comes back.

Welly is a 500 pitcher. Sometimes he looks good. Sometimes he is horrid. But, he isn't bad for the back-end.

So, 3 good chances to win and 2 500 pitchers is an excellant rotation to get teh Card to the playoffs. Once there, all bets are off.

Puljos, nough said.

The outfield has been nowhere to be found this season, but there are signs of life. Rasmus is starting to rake and Luddy is starting to get his timing back after his DL stint. DeRosa should be a bump when he plays, Shuman is doing well with the bat and people aren't talking about him at second anymore, so he must be doing ok defensively. Ryan is a gold glove caliber Shortstop, so the fact that his bat isn't the best is ok if the rest of the lineup is doing what they are suppose to. And Molina just made his first All-Star team. So, position players are solid.

The bullpen is not the question mark it was last year and Franklin has been lights out, with only one blown save so far and going to the All-Star team.

Not only are they in the lead by 2, but they have played a lot of games. 47-40 record, they are 2 ahead of Brewers at 44-41. The Brewers would have to win 2 in a row to catch up in games played and would still be a game back. The Cubs at 41-41 are 3 1/2 back, but would have to win 5 games in a row to catch up in games played and would still be a game back. So, the cards lead looks small in games back, but is actually a good size lead when you look at how many games they have played.

Heading into a big weekend with the Cubbies, 4 games in 3 days. I will be on TEC all weekend, but I am sure we will hear about it. Carp going today, so a good chance to start the series with a win. Thompson going tomorrow, weak link in the rotation, but he can put a good outing together. Waino and Lohse going Sunday, so the matchups look pretty good for the Cards.

It will be a great weekend if we don't have to listen to those Cubbies sing their silly song. Til next time. MILK

Paul's Baptism

Here are some pictures of Paul.

Thought everyone might enjoy.

Hey everybody. It's been a while. Just to let you all know, we are expecting an addition to the family anytime now. I will be sure to put some pictures up when we get home. Good luck to the Coffey's and congrates to the Ormond's, Like's, Foster's, Wood's and everyone else that has had babies in the last few weeks.