Break It Down! - April 30th Edition

As I have stated dozens of times (one time), the Cardinals are the best team in baseball and the "Natinals" (see above) are the worst team in baseball and I am looking forward to seeing this series. Tomorrow, however, the Cardinals send a rookie to the hill (Mitchell Boggs). Fortunately, the Natinals pitcher Thursday night is Daniel Cabrera, a crappy pitcher who is occassionally capable of genius. Cabrera impressed me several times last year as an Oriole, but ultimately he was so bad that the lowly Orioles let him go.

Karl Rove just said "Pre-9-11" three times during an interview on "Hannity." I will try not to make a habit of political talk on this blog, but everytime I switch it over to Fox News I am totally dumbstruck. Fox News, the current Republican leadership and their popular pundits, it's just totally ridiculous. Sad.

Anyways, here are the probable pitchers for the series. I will be in attendance Fri, Sat, and Sun. I am looking forward, but I am anxious too. Ugh.

Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in Washington, D.C. ... oh wait, I am! GO CARDS!!

Break It Down! - April 25th Edition

Last week Sean Marshall pitched 5 innings against the Cardinals and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Marshall didn't factor in the decision, but the Cardinals won 7 - 4. In that game Duncan had 3 hits, including a home run against Marshall.

During last week's series Mitchell Boggs allowed 1 run to the Cubs in 2 innings of relief. Two hits and a walk, three strikeouts. Not bad. Still, he's a rookie starting against one of the finest offenses in baseball (at least I am told they're one of the finest offenses in baseball). That having been said, the Cardinals score 1.4 more runs per game than the Cubs.

Notes:
- The Cardinals 8 game streak of scoring 5 or more runs per game ended last night (I expect them to start a new streak tonight);
- The Cardinals have won 8 straight home games entering today's game;
- St. Louis leads the Major Leagues with a .303 batting average. They lead the National League with 64 extra-base hits;
- Ryan Franklin is 5-for-5 in save opportunities;
- Earlier in the week LaRussa said that Albert Pujols is a "perfect player." Buster Olney of ESPN considered the question, and determined that Albert is in fact the second most perfect player, behind only Willie Mays.
- Somebody at ESPN actually took notice of a rivalry other than the Yanks-Sawx. In the article, which I think trivializes the rivalry, the author calles Aaron Miles "a cheaper version of Mark DeRosa." What a joke. I like Aaron Miles, but his slugging percentage was .398 last year. DeRosa's slugging percentage was .481, to go along with 87 RBI.

I was just looking at the Major League standings and I noticed that Boston has won 8 consecutive games. Ugh. Peter Gammons must be so happy.

Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!

Rainout, Boggs, Boyer and Barton, Of My!

- The rainout against the Cubs on Sunday apparently gave the bullpen a rest. That's cool. It also gave the Cardinals their first series loss of the season. I would love to put an asterisk next to it, but if it looks like a series loss and it feels like a series loss, it must be a series loss.

- Mitchell Boggs and a handful of others are in the running for the temporary (hopefully) position of fifth starter. Derrick Goold gives the nod to Boggs, which is fine with me I guess. I don't really care who pitches as long as they get results. If you tell me that Dave Duncan trusts Fredbird to throw strikes and command his fastball, then I will take it.

- The Cardinals added an eighth reliever on Monday. Don't get too excited though, Blaine Boyer had just been designated for assignment by the Braves, which means they mustn't have been too enamored with him. Boyer also comes over from the Braves in exchange for Brian Barton, who has been stinking it up in Memphis (.107 AVG) since having a pretty decent Spring. This should give Cards fans a lot of confidence:

Though the Cardinals plan to keep 13 pitchers only temporarily, Mozeliak insisted Monday's move is more than a quick fix. "I don't look at it as a Band-Aid at all," Mozeliak said. "We're looking to add depth in an area that needed it. Given some of the things we've had to face early this season. We see it as a positive. We want to put our best 12 out there."

Well, if Mozeliak insists then I guess it must not be a band-aid. Right.

- For the record, I hate the Mets and it is going to take a lot of willpower for me not to cuss repeatedly over the next few days. You've been warned.