C.A.R.D. 8/22/08

Dominican Summer League Cardinals (DSL): Lost 6-4 to the DSL Mariners.

• Michael Avila went 1-for-4 with a home run
• Tharick Martines went 1-for-3 with a home run

Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie): Lose 4-2 to the Princeton Devil Rays

• Edgar Lara went 2-for-4 with a home run
• Jack Cawley went 3-for-4 with a double
• Yunier Castillo went 2-for-3

Batavia Muckdogs (Low-A): Lost 4-2 to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

• Chris Swauger went 2-for-3
• Alex Castellanos was 2-for-3 with a double
• Edwin Gomez was 1-for-3 with a double
• Scott Gorgen struck out seven Scarppers in 5.0 innings

Quad-Cities River Bandits (A): Won 5-3 over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

• Nico Vasquez went 2-for-5 with a double
• Francisco Rivera went 2-for-5 with a double
• Domnit Bolivar went 2-for-4
• Blake Murphy was 1-for-4 with a double
• Oliver Marmol went 2-for-4 with a double
• Ryan Kulik struck out nine Timber Rattlers in 7.0 innings
• Matt Spade struck out four Timber Rattlers in 2.0 innings

Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A): GAME #1--Lost 6-2 to the St. Lucie Mets.

• Steve Hill was 1-for-3 with a home run

Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A): GAME #2--Won 6-0 over the St. Lucie Mets.

• Brian Cartie went 2-for-2 with a home run

Springfield Cardinals (AA): Won 5-4 over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

• Casey Rowlett went 2-for-4 with a double
• Andrew Brown went 1-for-4 with a double
• Brett Wallace was 2-for-4
• Kyle Mura struck out four Naturals in 4.0 innings

Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Won 5-0 over the Omaha Royals.

• Cody Haerther was 1-for-4 with a double
• Mark Johnson was 2-for-2 with a double

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Redbird Randoms...8/21/08 Wainwright, Schumaker, LaRue

On-deck: The Cards start a three-game weekend series home stand at Busch Stadium tomorrow versus the Atlanta Braves. Tomorrow night's game starts at 7:15 p.m. CT.

Probables: ATL-Charlie Morton RHP (3-7, 5.95) vs. STL-Adam Wainwright RHP (6-3, 3.14)

Birds' Perch: The Cards are currently in third place in the NL Central Division, 8.0 games behind the first place Cubs and 2.5 games behind the second place Brewers.

Wild Card: The Cardinals are 2.5 games out of the NL Wild Card spot, behind the Brewers.

Whatcha done for me lately? These Cards got hits in last night's rout of the Pirates.

• Skip Schumaker -- 3 hits
• Ryan Ludwick -- 2 hits
• Albert Pujols -- 2 hits
• Jason LaRue -- 2 hits
• Rick Ankiel -- 1 hit
• Troy Glaus -- 1 hit
• Felipe Lopez -- 1 hit
• Todd Wellemeyer -- 1 hit

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C.A.R.D. 8/20/08

Dominican Summer League Cardinals (DSL): Won Game #1, 2-1 over the DSL Athletics (Team #2).

• Jorge Lopez was 2-for-4
• Eduard Estalis stuck out five Athletics #2 in 4.0 innings
• Charlian Jimenez struck out three Athletics #2 in 6.0 innings

Dominican Summer League Cardinals (DSL): Lost Game #2, 4-2, to the DSL Athletics (Team #2).

• Michael Avila went 2-for-4 with two doubles
• Pedro Peno stuck out five DSL Athletics #2 in 4.1 innings

Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie): Lost 7-6 to the Bluefield Orioles.

• Luis Mateo went 3-for-6 with a home run
• Edgar Lara was 2-for-4
• Matt Rigoli went 1-for-3 with a double
• Jon Bravo struck out four Orioles in 3.0 innings

Springfield Cardinals (AA): Lost 6-5 to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

• Daryl Jones went 1-for-4 with a home run
• Donovan Solano went 2-for-3 with a double
• Brett Wallace went 1-for-4 with a double
• Jose Martinez went 3-for-4 with three doubles
• James Rapoport went 1-for-4 with a double

Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Lost 7-6 to the Omaha Royals.

• Nick Stavinoha went 2-for-5 with a home run
• Josh Phelps went 1-for-3 with a home run
• Jarrett Hoffpauir went 2-for-4 with a double

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Frontier Communications drops the ball

Due to connectivity issues with our local ISP, 4thebirds has was unable to run the LIVEcast of yesterday's Cardinals/Pirates game.

As well, there are other problems this ISP has caused, and we will have to make up for their inability to keep us "on the air."

We will take this weekend to retool the damage Frontier has caused our business, and will continue to blog the Cardinals as much as we can, as often as we can, in the interim, and should be back to our regular schedule by next week.

We may have posts over this weekend as the Cardinals take on the Atlanta Braves in a weekend homestand, but cannot promise so at this time.

Thank you for your patience.

Frontier Communications has no explanation for the problem, and as yet, has offered only continued billing instead of a make-good.

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4thebirds...LIVEcast Pirates vs. Cardinals 8/20/08

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Redbird Randoms ... 8/20/08 Carpenter, Isringhausen, Waiwright, Wallace

On-deck: The Cards play the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Game time: 7:15 CT.

Probables: PIT-Jason Davis RHP (1-2, 1.80) vs. STL-Todd Wellemeyer RHP (10-4, 3.79)

Birds' Perch: The Cards remain in third placed in the NL Central, 8.5 behind the first place Cubs and 2.5 behind the second place Brewers.

Wild Card: The Cards are currently 2.5 games behind the Wild Card leader, Brewers.

Izzy done: Chances are, reliever Jason Isringhausen is finished for the 2008 season with tendenitis.

Carp continues to mend: Former ace Chris Carpenter will be handled with care by the Cardinals, who are rehabbing him on-site. "Carp" is now throwing, but not yet pitching off a mound.

Waino ready: Rehabbing pitcher Adam Wainwright has proclaimed himself ready to face big league hitters, but admits he doesn't know what role the Cardinals wish him to pitch in. Wainwright has stated he will accept a role as reliever or starter, whichever the club needs him to do more.

Wallace adds an A: Brett Wallace has been promoted from Class A Quad-Cities River Bandits to Class AA Springfield Cardinals.

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C.A.R.D. 8/19/08

Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie): Won 8-1 over the Bluefield Orioles.

• Luis Mateo went 3-for-5
• Jack Cawley went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple
• Osvaldo Morales went 1-for-5 with a home run
• Rickey Noland went 2-for-4 with a home run
• Scott McGregor struck out five Orioles in 5.0 innings

Quad-Cities River Bandits (A): Lost 5-1 to the Burlington Bees.

• Francisco Rivera went 2-for-4

Springfield Cardinals (AA): Lost 8-4 to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

• Mark Shorey went 4-for-5 with a double
• Jose Martinez went 2-for-3

Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Lost 4-3 to the Albuquerque Isotopes.

• Josh Phelps went 2-for-3 with a double
• David Freese went 2-for-4 with a double
• Jesse Todd struck out six Isotopes in 6.0 innings

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Izzy latest wrinkle in hardluck hurlers

Jason Isringhausen, according a news feature on the St. Louis Cardinals Official Web Site, is likely done pitching for the balance of the 2008 season. Medical staff report "right elbow tendinitis and a partial tendon tear in his flexor group."

It is highly likely that "Izzy" will be able to return to action next season.

As for former ace Chris Carpenter, he had a throwing session (not pitching) yesterday, and will throw again today at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals are taking plenty of time with Carpenter to be careful of his health.

Yet another former ace, Adam Wainwright, threw a bullpen session yesterday, and has announced that he is once more ready for major league action. The big question now is whether the Cardinals need him more in a reliever's role or back in the starting rotation.

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4thebirds...LIVEcast Pirates vs. Cardinals 8/19/08

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C.A.R.D. 8/18/08

Dominican Summer League Cardinals (DSL): Won, shutting out the DSL Phillies 1-0.

• Michael Avilia went 2-for-4

Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie): Won 4-2 over the Bluefield Orioles.

• Nico Vasquez went 3-for-4
• Jack Cawley went 2-for-3 with a double

Quad-Cities River Bandits (A): Lost 1-0 to the Burlington Bees.

• Thomas Pham went 2-for-4 with a double

Springfield Cardinals (AA): Won 5-2 over the Chorpus Christi Hooks.

• Brandon Dickson struck out five Hooks in 5.0 innings
• Mark Shorey went 2-for-3
• Daryl Jones went 2-for-4 with a home run
• Brandon Buckman went 1-for-4 with a home run

Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Won 6-5 over the Albuquerque Isotopes.

• Brendan Ryan went 2-for-4
• David Freese went 1-for-4 with a home run
• Blake Hawksworth struck out six Isotopes in six inning.

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Redbird Randoms...8/18/08 Looper

On-deck: The Cards are off today. They will start a seven-game homestand tomorrow that will feature day's off after each set. Tomorrow night the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town for a 7:15 p.m. CT game. It will be the first of a two-game set before a day off on Thursday.

Probables: PIT-Ian Snell RHP (4-10, 5.91) vs. STL-Braden Looper RHP (11-9, 4.07)

Birds' Perch: The Cards currently hold third place in the NL Central, 7.5 games behind the division-leading Cubs. The Brewers are in second place, 5.5 games behind the Cubs.

Wild Card: The Milwaukee Brewers are currently the NL's leader for the Wild Card, the St. Louis Cardinals two games behind them.

Competition on tap: The Cubs are idle today, but the Brewers play tonight in Houston.

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Reds ace too much for Redbirds' ace

The Cincinatti Reds' ace Edinson Volquez sailed through some innings and overcame obstacles in other innings that the Cardinals could only hope to, Dusty Baker's non-offensive club hammering the Cards for seven runs in a 7-3 troucing in the series and road trip closer.

Kyle Lohse wasn't sharp, but wasn't so bad, either, the Cards leaving the bases loaded in one inning when they had Volquez on the ropes, failing to support Lohse at the same time. But you can't ask an offense to put up the six or seven runs the Cards usually need to win in every game. Today simply wasn't that day.

The Cards' offense came in spurts, Tory Glaus singling home a run, then, in anoher inning, Schumaker doing the same, and then, in yet another inning, Ryan Ludwick doubling home a run. Volquez gave up only three hits in his 7.0 innings of work.

At one point, Volquez threw a pitch high and tight to Cards' hurler, Kyle Lohse. The next inning, Volquez led off, Lohse playing him some chin music, the home plate umpire then warning both teams. An inning later, Volquez drilled Felipe Lopez in the back, but Volquez was not ejected from the game, making the warnings a somewhat stupid way of doing things for major league baseball.

The loss, combined with a Cubs rout of the Marlins, pushed the Cards back to 7.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Milwaukee was just getting started on the west coast at the time of this post. A Brewers win would send the Cards three games back of the Wild Card spot, while a loss by the Brewers would allow the Cards to keep pace at two games out of the Wild Card.

Today's game ends a 10-game road trip that found the Cardinals playing tough but losing the series that kicked it off in Chicago, then taking three out of four for the "middle" series with the Florida Marlins, then taking the series against the Cincinatti Reds, failing to sweep today.

Now it's back to St. Louis where they will enjoy tomorrow (Monday) off, then start a home stand with two games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then a day off, then a three-game series over the next weekend at Busch Stadium versus the Atlanta Braves, then a day off, then another two-game set, this time against the Milwaukee Brewers (also at home), then a day off, then another road trip. So plenty of days off, a good thing with a pitching staff that will need every rest day it can get, especially with the currently DL-pitchers, Wainwright and Carpenter.

photo by Barbara Moore

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