One Slips Away In The Slop

Cardinals endure a 2 hour, 25 min rain delay and eventually lose 8-7 in the ninth to Detroit.  It's tough to lose a close one, but I would think especially tough to lose after having to keep your focus during 145 minutes of downtime, and after having 3 leads (2-0, 6-5, and 7-6) in the game.

As an aside, it's been nice to read Rick Hummel's game summaries again.  I'd forgotten how well-written they were.

Heroes and Goats:  Hero tonight goes to Rick Ankiel.  Two HR, 3 RBI, an outfield assist - yeah, he's the hero.  Goat?  On a rainy night?  Although my instinct is to go with Mother Nature, I'll have to settle for Kyle McClellan; he had a tough outing, allowing the Tigers to tie in the eighth and win in the ninth.  I also found it interesting that 3 of the 4 hitters he faced in the eighth swung at the first pitch.  Scouting report?  Tipping his pitches?  I wonder.

Bernie's article on the bullpen is worth reading.  We all knew the lefties down there were struggling, but I didn't realize Flores was toasted as badly as he seems to be.  Yikes.

To end on a high note - AP should be activated today.