I’m really growing to hate the Cards/Cubs series. The games are usually pretty close and lately the Redbirds seem to be barely coming out on the wrong end of the good score. Honestly, I’m not sure this series was all that important as far as the division race goes. St. Louis is pretty much in a position where they have to rely on a wild card birth if they are going to see post season.
That’s all fine and dandy, except he Brewers have decided they are only going to lose once a week or so. It’s weird. I’ve always disliked the Cubs, more because of the rivalry than anything else. Under Piniella though, they are a little easier to take for some reason. The Brewers though, are quickly becoming a team I love to despise.
Fighting in the dugout, showing off, acting cocky before they’ve really even done anything. The Milwaukee team is beginning to look like the WWF. I may be forced to give them credit somewhere down the line, but for now, I think the best plan for the Cards is to win as many games as possible and wait for the Brew Crew to implode. It happened last year and it wouldn’t surprise me if it happened again.
As far as St. Louis goes, I’m still not as down on them as I probably should be. The starting pitching appears to be coming around. Looper, Wellemeyer, and Pinero seem to be coming into their own again. Lohse remains pretty solid. It was excruciating to see Carpenter leave the game with a tricep injury on Sunday night, but it looks as if we might catch a break and he’ll only miss a start or two. That’s a start or two too many right now, but it’s better than the alternative.
Adam Wainwright is still probably in limbo. Initially, he was rehabbing to come back as a reliever, but with Carp in flux, that plan may have to be scrapped. That might be for the best. Management has finally succumbed and allowed McClellan and Perez to close some ballgames. I know they’re young and the may have problems, but Franklin and Isringhausen are old and have far more problems. It’s a pretty easy call to make.
Offensively, it’s the same old story every damned week. We simply cannot score more than two or three runs in many games. It will help getting Ankiel back, but I’m not sure it’s a big enough push. Glaus is hot or cold and nowhere in between. Joe Mather shows signs of putting something together. Schumaker and Ludwig are just fine with me.
Adam Kennedy is another story altogether. I know, you signed him to a three year contract, but holy freaking crap, cut your losses and DFA the jackass already. He is the biggest suck to ever suck a suck off a suck. He gives away at bats routinely in pressure situation and on defense he’s like Michael Jackson: you know, he wears a glove on one hand for no apparent reason. (In all fairness, his defense isn’t that bad, but I really like that joke.)
Overall, the Cards could maybe win 90 games and still not make the playoffs. It’s going to be a tough road. The season is getting pretty short now and they simply can’t afford to give away any games. Still, I can’t count them out because they always seem to somehow surprise…for better or worse.