It's All Coming Together

Get ready for the ride everyone. I think the Cards are starting to put it together for the final stretch run. We haven't been in a pennant race for 3 years, and maybe this is exactly what we need to warm up for the playoffs.

Preston Wilson has been a clutch pickup and has stepped in nicely while Edmonds has been down. Even if Edmonds comes back, Wilson will be a huge force off the bench...or even vice versa if Edmonds isn't healthy enough for the starting role. Also, CBS Sportsline is even including Chris Duncan's name in the mix for Rookie of the Year. It's a long shot, and I don't see it happening, but it really does recognize what a good job he has done stepping in this year.

I know we still have some unanswered questions on the pitching staff, but I think the offense is coming together nicely. Clutch hits and come from behind wins are a great sign!

I say it's about time we get a few Game of the Weeks in for the final month of the regular season!

Try Again

Pretty safe to say that Mulder coming back is not the answer we were looking for.

Is Izzy Dizzy?

Dear Mr. Izzy,

I would just like to take this opportunity to inform you that your recent mound antics have led me to develop a sharp pain just below by lower back and just above the top of my hamstrings. I believe that this pain is due to your inability to do the only job that you are required to do in life: GET THREE OUTS IN THE NINTH. In case you have forgotten your job description, you are a Major League Baseball Closer. Your day should go something like this:
1. Wake up in luxurious hotel (This is where your team - The Cardinals - will be staying/sleeping. * NOTE: This may be a house, apartment, or condo when you are in St. Louis - this is where your team plays its home games.)
2. SSS (Shit, shower, shave)
3. Dress yourself (Plain clothes)
3. Eat breakfast (probably catered)
4. Jack around until you have to go to whatever Major League ballpark the Cardinals happen to be playing in (This is where you work)
5. Change into you uniform (The Cardinals one - this is the team that you would like to win the impending game)
6. Walk around and hang out in clubhouse (Probably again with a catered spread of food and all the Gatorade you can handle to get over previous evening's hangover)
7. Go out onto field (Perhaps play catch?)
8. Walk to bullpen (This is where you hang out during the first 7-8 innings of the game)
9. Warm up in 8th (This consists of playing catch with the bullpen catcher and "simulating" pitching in the actual game that is going on at the time)
10. Enter game if the Cardinals are winning
11. Record three outs without allowing the other team to end the inning with more runs than the Cardinals (Once again, the team that YOU play for and the team that YOU would like to win the game)
12. Hang out with team after game (Might consist of drinking beers or eating more free catered food)

So Izzy, your actual work consists of about 30 minutes a day for roughly 230 days (including Spring Training - That is the time of the year when you get to vacation in Florida for free) and you get paid multiple millions of dollars per year to do this. I hope that you read this short tutorial and it helps refresh your job duties. You don't have to thank me, just follow these short rules to remove the pain that you've become in my ass.

Thank you,

Hitz

Izzy

For the love of God Tony...please move Wainwright to the closer spot!!! Izzy has blown 9 out of 39 save opportunities, and has given up a run in 7 other games that he has either saved, or entered without a save opportunity.

Finally...

Well, the Cards finally took a series at Wrigley Field. It's hard to believe how terrible the Cards had played in the friendly confines this year, but I think the monkey is finally off their collective backs. Had Tony not brain-farted and pinch hit for Duncan, the hottest hitter on the team, with the bases loaded, Cards fans may have been sporting brooms on Sunday at the World's Greatest Beer Garden. Congrats also go out to Carp and Duncan for their respective player of the week awards. This week looks good for the Cards as well, with the Mets pitchers finally deciding to start collecting their Social Security checks rather than pitch. GO CARDS!!!

Friday's Cards/Cubs Game

A few of us will be heading to the game on Friday, and I wanted to see what general interest there was for getting a drink special together for post game, or at least figuring out a bar to set up as Cardinal headquarters.

Respond to this post if you are interested or have ideas.

Cincy Series

I must say, I was a little disappointed in game 3 of this series, and Izzy dropped another one, but I do think we can take some good things out of this. Chris Duncan has been hitting the shit out of the ball lately, and Yadier came up with a few clutch hits over the past few days. I know Duncan won't hit like this every series, but if he can be a power threat in the 2 hole, I think he's finally filling the void we've had without Larry Walker this year. Also, Yadier's obviously in for his defense, but if he can get a clutch hit every now and then, it's always a bonus. Hopefully the big swingers in the middle of the lineup will hop on with these guys for the rest of the year.

Also, I've heard a lot about the article in the Post Dispatch about Edmonds and how he's unhappy that his option hasn't been picked up. The few fans I've talked to about this were upset and said Jimmy was crying. I agree that the option is a little high, but this was negotiated years ago, and he has done several good things to defer a lot of his current salary. And...he's definitely swinging a hot stick lately. He's said many times that he wants to finish in St. Louis, and I hope we can make it happen.

Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones cleared waivers today. Wouldn't it be something for the Cards to go out and get AJ? Replace a declining superstar in CF with one who's in his prime. I'd like to see it, mostly because the pitching is throwing BP again tonight and I would like something to root for.

RRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPP

In case you were wondering, that sound you just heard was Jeff Weaver's tits getting ripped once again. I've never in my life seen a staff of pitchers that either throw a gem or batting practice. There is no in between with this Cardinals staff. Do they forget that they're pitchers? Is Auggie IV tapping Kegs at noon for 7:05 starts? I just don't understand it. Oh and by the way Walt, nice job at the trading deadline. Way to go out and get Jeff, Ronnie, and Jorge. Yep, that's exactly what this team needed. Nothing like two worthless pitchers and a so so second baseman to strike fear in the hearts of opposing National League teams. Lets hope that we can pick up Walker off waivers again, or maybe Will Clark. Does anyone know what Shawon is doing nowadays? This organization is laughing all the way to the bank. Maybe next year they'll pull a Major League 2 and sell all the rights to the outfield wall, then trade away Parkman for a Japanese import.