The Cards took two of three from the Wee Bears this weekend, continuing their strong play at home. Sunday was a different story at Busch III unfortunately, but we’re choosing to stay on the postitve side regarding overall outcome of the series.
A few quick hitters this morning, then we focus on the Braves:
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Ryan Ludwick was safe at first.
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The Cubs were able to successfully neutralize Albert Pujols on Sunday by walking him three times and hitting him once. Ludwick was unable to make the Cubs pay for putting Albert on base the entire game, really his first such failure this season.
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Alfonso Soriano was hit in the head by a Todd Wellemeyer fastball in the second inning. Soriano thankfully was able to remain in the game, uninjured. Pujols watched a few pitches sail past inside in the bottom of the second, finally getting tagged in the backside during the bottom of the fifth.
Don’t expect this little flare-up to be over anytime soon.
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Blaine Boyer was able to reduce his ERA from 40+ during his appearance on Saturday. Sunday, he was able to raise it back up to 24.00.
Jury is still out. Not looking terribly promising so far.
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Wellemeyer is clearly struggling. Cardinals’ management and field staff (not to mention, us fans) must hope that he’s not already hit the wall that so often confronts a pitcher converting to starter in his second season in that role.
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I’m not Tony LaRussa, but if I were, Trever Miller would be the last arm I would be calling on in a “must have out” situation. Until Sunday, Miller had only allowed one hit to a left-handed hitter in thirteen at-bats. He had been far less successful versus right-handed hitters.
Allowing a home run to Kosuke Fukudome during Sunday’s game was only the icing on the cake in a 10-3 defeat, but cannot be reassuring to the Cardinal skipper nonetheless.
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The Cardinals must wield their leather better. I don’t have much else to add to that.
Speaking of which, I don’t think Skip Schumaker at second base is the one to worry about for the near future. Maybe Jose Oquendo should be working with the shortstop, Khalil Greene?
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Yadier Molina continues to hit well, including an infield tapper that he beat out. Rick Ankiel continues to swing at pitches all over the place, but still managing to hit one or two of them out, including those that are above his eyes.
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Cards head out on a one week East Coast road swing through Atlanta and Washington, looking to add onto their NL Central lead.
It is still very early in the season, but should the Cardinals stay focused on keeping ahead of the Cubs, or pay attention to the teams directly behind them for now, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati?
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Cardinals should focus on winning each series. We can’t control what happens behind us.
That said, I think Pittsburgh’s hot start will fade in time, and the Reds’ ballpark will prevent them from contending; the second-best team in this division is the Cubs, so of all three they merit the most attention.
“Cardinals should focus on winning each series.”
Brilliant. I’m 100% behind you on that one.
Once you start worrying about someone else, the rear-view perspective gets you.
I’d be more than happy with two of three out of every series the rest of the way. 🙂
Not taking into consideration the “role” factor of each, Miller worries me more then Wellemeyer at this point. I think Todd will pull out of it…he and D. Duncan always seem to diagnose some adjustment that brings back the results. Miller appears to be pulling a Villone. That is one way to avoid those bonuses. 😉
I would agree with those assessments.
I’m more concerned with arm fatigue and/or injury re: Wellemeyer than I am his stuff or approach.
Miller just seems to be flailing right now. At the very least, Tony must keep him away from righties.
I say again, Dennys Reyes may yet wind up being the most important off-season signing the Cardinals made.
(Good to see you around, buddy) 🙂
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