The Chicago Cubs came into Busch Stadium with what was left of their experienced roster and a bunch of youngsters and swept up the hapless Redbirds, all but ending and hopes Cardinal Nation has for a playoff spot.
Next encounter with frustration: the San Diego Padres are in town for a series in which Ryan Ludwick may well prove to Cardinals' management just what a bad move it was to trade away a potential spark to the sluggish St. Louis offense.
With all that has gone on with the Reds in the last series at Great American Ball Park, this weekend set should provide plenty of emotion and spark, something the Cardinals seem to guard against as SOP.
Getting too high or low during the season has its drawbacks, but making an effort to disregard the natural emotions of the game can have the effect displayed by the Cardinals for over a month: Disregarding natural high and low emotion flattens out a team as far as leadership and puts the team in a position where anyone who suddenly steps up can look like "Leader Come Lately."
The Reds provided the much-needed spark last series, but the Cardinals stomped it out themselves.
Guarding against highs and lows is an arguable strategy for a long season, but the season is not long for an end now, so the advice is that if there is any kind of occurrence which provides a spark of any kind whatsoever, to take said spark and fan it into some flames. If not, October will be much colder than we'd all hoped.
If there's any chance the Cards are going to get a run for post-season play, they'll need to sweep the Cincinnati Reds this weekend.
The Redbirds must be wary of too much talk about Wild Card. Sure, the Wild Card is there, but too much talk about shooting for the lesser ranking is roughly the same as saying, "We not good enough."
Most of Cardinal Nation seems to have hung up this season already. That's not so good, either, as that is the equivalent of bailing out.
The St. Louis Cardinals are returning to their radio relationship with KMOX next season.
The suits me right down to the ground.
Poll coming up for your opinion.
Centerfielder Nyjer Morgan of the Washington Nationals motored around third base in Saturday night's game versus the Cardinals and blindsided Cardinals' catcher Bryan Anderson in cheap shot fashion, leading many to wonder if there will be some sort of retaliation by the Cardinals in Sunday's afternoon game in DC.
Anderson had stepped forward into fair territory as Morgan sprinted for the plate, the lack of any play obvious. Morgan then angled hard toward Anderson, going so far out of his way toward home that he ended up missing the plate entirely. Morgan threw a forearm and shoulder into Anderson, giving a jolt hard enough to stagger him and make him drop his catcher's mitt. Anderson seemed okay, but things could have been far worse.
Most likely, Yadier Molina will return to the catching duties in Sunday's game, but visions of his altercation with the Reds' Brandon Phillips come to mind. If Nationals manager Jim Riggleman sits Morgan, things could calm down before they steam up, but there's always a chance of "roughhousing," considering the Redbirds have already proven they will not stand for low-class acts against their club.
The last time (Phillips) an opponent created a tiff against the Cardinals, the benches-clearing shoving match ensued. Cardinals' backup catcher Jason LaRue ended up taking several spiked-shoe kicks to the face and body, ending his season. Can the Cardinals afford to lose another teammate to "extra-curricular" activity?
Or can the Cards afford not to stand up for their teammate, Bryan Anderson?
Kyle Lohse isn't quite ready to return to prime time yet. In Saturday night's 14-5 loss to the Washington Nationals, Lohse failed to keep the ball low enough in the strike zone to prevent a bat-fest by the Nats. Lohse threw almost three out of every four pitches for strikes, but in very hittable areas.
After Lohse was done on the hill, the Cardinals had few choices out of the bullpen, as most of its arms had been used the previous game.
As for analysis, Jon Jay may want to consider not pressing the outfield wall on fly balls he knows will hit high off the wall. The ricochets are hard enough to predict, let alone having to chase them down. Jay can learn off of Matt Holliday on this point. Holliday seems to have worked hard on recognizing a drive off the wall and playing it accordingly.
Otherwise, technique aside, Felipe Lopez, who is very sound in many aspects of the game, simply must wake up on the basepathes. Some time ago, he was picked off first base a couple times, and has had many close calls on picks. Saturday night he got picked at second base. Suffice it to say the entire league knows Lopez hasn't learned yet and will keep on setting him up for a rally-killing pickoff.
Jaime Garcia gave the Washington Nationals nothing over his 5 1/3 innings Friday night, his teammates doubling the Nats score to give the Cardinals a 4-2 win.
Both Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday hit solo blasts. The previous night both players were close to injuries that could have put them on the bench for a game or more.
The Cardinals continue their series with the Nats Saturday evening in Washington.
After Thursday night's journey to the edges of injury regarding Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday, it is Yadier Molina who is scratched from the lineup for Friday night's match-up with the Washington Nationals.
Read more...Albert Pujols hit his 400th career home run Thursday night in Washington, but the Cardinals were edged, 11-10 in 13 innings.
The Cardinals continue to play down to the the level of teams without much standing in their respective divisions, permitting Cincinnati to take a stab at running off the the NL Central.
Not helping the Cardinals cause, both Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols suffered injuries in the ball game. It is unknown at this time whether the injuries will force either player to the bench.
The Cardinals play Washington again Friday night.
The St. Louis Cardinals have a way of playing well against good teams, but playing down to the level of poor teams.
Cardinal Nation may not like the way of the Reds, but you gotta admit, they'll beat anyone's ass between the lines or between innings. The point being: the Cardinals may not need a brawl (if you could call the Reds fiasco a brawl), but they do need someone to step up and fire up the squad.
For the better part of the season, many could be heard saying: "Ah, don't worry, there's plenty of season left."
Not so any more.
If the Cardinals are this lackluster in Pittsburgh, I (sarcastically) can't wait to get to Washington.
The Cardinals gained some ground on the Cincinnati Reds Monday night, beating up on the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-2, while the Reds fell to the San Francisco Giants, 11-2. The Redbirds are now just 2 and a half games behind the Reds.
Kyle Lohse continued his comeback Monday night, notching the victory.
Albeit, the Bucs are hapless, which doesn't mean the Cardinals can relax and blow games versus a team that can beat if they focus.
The word on the diamond is the Buccos have scouts at the Little League World Series and are trying to trade up.
Jaime Garcia pitched a complete game shutout Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium, helping the Cardinals win a three-game series versus the San Francisco Giants.
There was plenty of offensive help for Garcia this time around in the 9-0 blanking, the Redbirds outhitting the Giants, 15-3. Jon Jay went 3-for-4, leading St. Louis hitters. Allen Craig hit a two-run homer.
The Cardinals hit the road now, starting a series in Pittsburgh Monday night against the Pirates. Washington is the next stop. Both the Pirates and Nationals are not the most productive teams in baseball, but the Cardinals seem to have difficulties when it comes to these types of teams, as if playing down to their current level.
With far more road games then home over the balance of the season, the Cardinals will have to battle if they intend to stay within striking distance of the red hot Cincinnati Reds. Even the Wild Card could be a problem if the Cardinals cannot find their "groove."
Lou Piniella, the Chicago Cubs manager, announced today will his last game with the Cubs, citing his ailing mother needs him and family comes first.
Piniella had decided to retire this season, but will step down as skipper of the Cubs due to his mother's condition, which has not improved since his last visit home.
Cardinal Nation respects Piniella and his decision to go home to be close to his mother.
Pedro Feliz tripled and singled in runs for the Redbirds Saturday afternoon against the San Francisco Giants. Brought to the Cards to shore up third base, Feliz has had an immediate impact on the sputtering offense.
Feliz also scored a run, gaining involvement in three out of the five Cardinals runs in a 5-1 victory. Feliz led Cardinals hitters with a 2-for-4 game.
Randy Winn also added some pop at the plate with a solo homer to right field.
Jon Jay singled home Albert Pujols as well.
Chris Carpenter notched his 14th win, giving him a 14-4 record. Tim Lincecum suffered the loss, now 11-8.
The win pulled the Cardinals within 3 1/2 games of the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the NL Central.
The Cardinals play the rubber match with the Giants Sunday at 1:15 CT in St. Louis.
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