Good News, Bad News

Good: Carpenter felt no pain in a 75-pitch, full speed outing yesterday and could make a start next week.

Bad: Ludwick is probably heading to the Disabled List. After having one too many outfielders for the past month and a half, the Cardinals now find themselves one short. Grrrrreat!

I'm An Ingrate

You are great, Ryan Ludwick, and the Cardinals are not in today's game if not for your two dingers and four RBI, but in the top of the 9th you have GOT to move those runners over with 2 on and no outs. This is a pet peeve of mine, just like failing to score the run from third with fewer than 2 outs (thank you Brendan Ryan).

That having been said, since I expected a loss today this loss doesn't aggravate me that much. P.J. may not be ready for the big time, but he held up alright and got out of a few jams. I would love to blame Chris Perez for the loss, but that was a pretty good pitch that Soriano hit.

Brian Barden is a MAN. Three home runs in such limited time is awful good.

Big Z has lost a lot of his mystique in my eyes. I will try to remember this the next time we face him.

Your game winner so far

According to Dan Mclaughlin, "Ryan Ludwick came to Spring Training one pound heavier than last year, with 2.5% less body fat." I imagine that is another 10-15 pounds of muscle onto a guy who hit 37 homers last season. Nice dinger today. Nice, Ludwick.