updates from the farside

There's a lot of news these days, but I want to start with the (how can I put this?) disappointing start from Mark Mulder. No one knew what to expect, especially me. He'd had two relief appearances--one went well, the other not so much--but hadn't made a start in almost a year. And no quality starts since the first half of 2006. So when he stepped onto the mound, everyone held their breath. 

He struck out the first batter, then walked the second, and that's when things went wrong. 

He threw over to first to check on the runner, and basically just slung the ball to Albert. 

After that he had no control at all and threw seven straight balls before finally motioning to LaRue that he needed help. 

He was taken out of the game at that point--three batters faced--and placed back on the DL with shoulder strain. Apparently, something happened with his arm during that throw to first. Brad Thompson, the resident "long man," came in for relief. 

The big question looming over the clubhouse these days: Will Mulder ever pitch professionally again? If I were a gambler, I'd bet the farm he won't. Let's not forget, however--and I'm also addressing myself with this--that Mark Mulder is a person, not just a player or a number or a trade value. He hasn't pitched up to expectations, but he has given it all he had and then some, and he deserves a little sympathy while he mourns his career. Bryan Burnwell put it best, I think, when he said, "The fact that he failed doesn't deserve our derision. The fact that he tried so hard does deserve our admiration." Thanks, Mark, for all you tried to do. 

Also new on the pitching front, the Brewers acquired CC Sabathia from Cleveland and the Cubs picked up Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from Oakland. Tony, who hasn't been in the best of moods lately anyway, is a little upset about the Cardinals front office's reluctance to make any similar moves. And he makes a good point. Sure, we've got two of the best pitchers in the NL coming back from the DL (probably at the start of August, but don't hold your breath), but what do we do until then? Maybe the Brewers and Cubs would be nice enough to keep their new guys out of the rotation for a while so we can catch up. That's only fair, after all. 

Ludwick did not get voted to the All-Star team by the "fans." He was, however, voted on by his fellow MLB players, and will get no less than TWO tickets to the game--I suggest he take his wife and mother--although he probably could buy more if he needed. Congratulations, Ryan. 

Albert was also selected to the AS team. Congratulations, Albert. 

Neither of them will start. Albert has indicated that if invited, he would participate in the homerun derby. I find the whole business to be repugnant, and I have nothing else to say. 

Glaus is now something like 0-752 against the Cubs. In 48 ABs. I know that sounds impossible, but you know what they say about Troy... 

We've lost two series in a row. The only good thing about the AS break this year is that it may come at the right time for the 'birds. A few days off may be just what the boys need (with the exception of Albert and Ryan who will probably come away from the exhibition game with a new lease on the season). That's what I'm hoping anyway. 

Roster moves: Barton is on the DL. Izturis is back from the DL. Jaime García is the new LHP in the bullpen. Mather is up. Boggs is down. Mulder.... well, you know.

best rivalry in baseball

That would be the Cubs and the Cardinals, thank you.

Game 1: Albert hit his 300th career home run on the 4th of July (with his wife in the stands). How apropos. Fireworks were on-hand.
The Redbirds and Looper, who went 7 innings, were able to hold a very competent Cubbies' offense to two runs. Even thought we didn't win, I'd call that a moral victory for sure.
Izzy pitched in his 600th game and struck-out Jim Edmonds. Kinda surreal.
Speaking of Edmonds, he got a standing ovation from the Cardinals fans when he stepped up to the plate in the first, then struck-out three times in the game.
Glaus and HP umpire Ted Barrett nearly came to blows in the bottom of the ninth after Barrett (possibly trying to speed up the game due to the "distracting" fireworks outside the stadium) expanded the strike zone and called Troy out on two consecutive pitches 6 inches off the plate. The first one was a bad call. The second one was pure spite. He stared Troy down as he walked back to the dugout.

Game 2: Once again, our starter--Lohse, this time--held the Cubs' lineup in check, allowing only two runs over 7 innings. This time, however, our bats made some noise, too, and we had it tied at two until the eighth inning, when Ryan Franklin gave up another two on a homer by Ramirez. But in the bottom of the ninth, the Redbirds answered. Kerry Wood, who up until this game had only walked nine batters all season, walked the first two he saw (Ludwick and Molina). Kennedy doubled and drove in Ludwick, bringing us to within one. Wood intentionally walked PH Chris Duncan. (Bases loaded with none out.) Schumaker hit a swinging bunt that dribbled into the infield, Molina was out at the plate. (Bases loaded, one out.) Miles popped one up in the infield for out number two, and for a minute it seemed like Wood was going to get himself out of the jam. But then up stepped Slick Rick. Ank the Tank. The former pitcher turned outfielder with a power arm. I think if you were going to try and define the ultimate clutch situation (for the regular season, of course) you couldn't do a lot better than bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out, down by one, playing your biggest rival. And if you're a Cardinals fan, then you know how it turned out.
Ankiel lined one into center field and drove home Kennedy, and we were tied. Then Duncan came home as well, beating Edmonds' throw to the plate, and the "Cardiac Cards" won 5-4.
I can't remember the last time the Cardinals have come from behind like that, but I'm glad we were at home because if the Cubs'd had another opportunity, who knows how it would have turned out. Poor Wood.

that's a winner, folks

Let's hear it for Duncan! and Glaus, Ankiel, Miles, Franklin, Pujols, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
After getting off to a roaring start, the Cards offense threatened to let a 4-0 lead evaporate into a loss, but Rick gave us the advantage back with a solo shot. Then, once again, we were behind going into the eighth and there was very little air left in the stadium. Fortunately for the Redbirds, Tony has never lost faith in Chris Duncan and threw him right into the deep end with a pinch hit opportunity, and Chris gave us a reason to believe--a reason in the shape of a two-run home run to tie it back up. Then in walk-off fashion, with two out, Glaus won it with his second homer of the game. I am so glad I stayed up to watch!

will big mac land again?

I don't condone the use of "performance-enhancing" drugs. For one, I don't think they really give athletes the edge that everyone believes. For another, they are dangerous and harmful to your body. Add to that the fact that young kids are using them because they see their idols doing it, and it all stinks. However, I am willing to forgive those who have used steroids or human growth hormone or both because it's in the past. As long as it stays in the past, there's no problem.
Having said that, I would love to see Mark McGwire back in baseball. There are rumblings that he wants to return to the game in a coaching capacity--batting coach, specifically. He has long participated in various aspects of the Cardinals' spring training and other off-season activities, and Chris Duncan, Skip Schumaker and others spend time every off-season weight training with him and getting his advise on hitting. He is undoubtedly one of the most well-known figures in Cardinals history, mostly because of his ability to go yard, but at least partly because of his association with Jose Canseco and the steroid scandal. He was called to testify in front of Congress for the Mitchell investigation, and basically said he had no comment. The "experts" on ESPN believe he should come clean and hold a press conference to confess and apologize to the American people before being allowed to return to the game. I believe that we should let it go and move on with our lives. I want to see him coach (especially if it's with St Louis) and think he would be a valuable addition to any staff. Everybody's got baggage, people. That shouldn't stop him from contributing.

embarassment of riches

Where to begin... 

Kyle Lohse pitched beautifully. In fact, the only run that the Mets had last night was unearned. It was scored on a throwing error by Ankiel. 

Lohse struck-out four and walked two in seven innings of work. He threw 104 pitches, 67 of them for strikes. 

Duncan finally got back into the home run race (he now has five). He dumped one just over the right field wall for two runs. 

Miles went 3-5 and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. 

Glaus had two doubles and was hit by two pitches. Let's see... what else? Oh yeah! 

Mark Mulder pitched.   Off a mound.   In a Major League game.   

I gotta tell you, when it became apparent in the bottom of the eighth that Mulder was coming in (he was the only one left warming up in the bullpen), the butterflies set in. Who knew what to expect? Not me. But after all was said and done, it was a good outing and he looked relaxed and in control. Tatis grounded out; Chavez got a bloop single (which probably should have been caught in left); Castro struck out; Easley singled on another bloop; then Reyes flied out to right. End of inning. 

Yes, the Cards won. 

Yes, Lohse picked up his tenth win of the season. 

Yes, the Redbirds played well. 

But the big news is how good Mulder looked and how you decide where to put him. I'm glad Duncan is the one getting paid to make that decision. (In the latest Stew, David Brown remarked, "Dave Duncan will have the late Dizzy Dean up and throwing in no time.") 

Side note: As I was watching the post-game show on FSN, there was a text message question from a fan that basically said, "When do the Cards bite the bullet and finally put Miles in the rotation?" Okaaaaay. Are you really watching the games? 'Cause I feel like it's pretty obvious to the rest of us that the Cardinals' starting rotation is not where fresh faces are needed. In fact, our rotation is one of the best in baseball. 

That brings me back around to the problem with Mulder. If you do decide to put him back in the rotation, whom do you move? 

Boggs is the low man on the totem pole, but he's pitching so well it would be a crime to send him back to Memphis, and he did not impress anyone pitching out of the bullpen.

If you go by stats, Piñeiro would be the odd-man out, but he's pitching much better than his 2-4 record would suggest, and the Cardinals have won his last four starts. 

Looper is actually struggling more than anyone else right now, but he's also been one of the most dependable starters over the course of the season, and his problems may very well be corrected by his next turn. 

Obviously, Lohse isn't going anywhere. He's pitching like a superstar/All-Star. 

Wellemeyer was very sharp for his last start (even though he didn't get a decision and the Cards ended up losing the game), so as long as he stays healthy, he'll be in the rotation. 

There are only about two weeks until the All-Star Break, so chances are, things will remain staus quo until afterwards. At that point, who knows? We'll eventually have to work Wainwright back into the mix also. I guess it's better to have an excess of choices than not enough.