Making Them Walk The Plank

The series isn't over, of course, but this weekend was a pretty solid weekend for the Cardinals.  Assuming you ignore the ugliness that was Saturday evening.

I actually didn't get to see much of the games this weekend, having various things take me away from the TV, and the only extended time I did see was the first three or so innings on Saturday.  Even with that bad taste, though, winning two of three and having Wainwright on the hill tonight has to give you a pretty good feeling.

Friday night, Albert Pujols did some great work again.  Two hits, two RBI, a home run to support Todd Wellemeyer, whose seven innings of one-run ball puts him in Hero consideration as well.  However, due to his amazing catch, his first hit driving in what turned into the game-winning run, all in his first game, you've got to give the kudos to Joe Mather.  Doing all that with the butterflies that had to be swimming in his stomach is pretty impressive.

That game got much closer than it needed to be as the bullpen had another ragged outing.  Even though Randy Flores has the worse line in the box score, the Goat has to go to Ryan Franklin.  Coming in with two on and two out and giving up two hits and three runs (two charged to Flores)?  That's not closer material.  Will many more of this missteps lead to Chris Perez getting more ninth inning time?

Saturday....well, what do you say about Saturday?  Not much.  Kelvim Jimenez probably won't get too many more calls to the big club after that performance.  Giving up a grand slam to your first batter?  Yuck. Giving up two more home runs was just icing.  Not surprising he got sent down to Memphis for Mark Worrell.  For a Hero, I'll go with Troy Glaus, if only because of his timing.  Right after Dan said that Glaus had commented pre-game that, as the weather warms up, so does his bat, he launched a home run.  Timing is everything.

Sunday, Braden Looper pitched fairly well, but when you couple that with his hitting prowness, he'll get the Hero nod.  Glaus was right there, though, with his three hits.  Goatily, I think I'll go with Ryan Ludwick, being that he had an 0-4 with 4 left on, but Ryan Franklin was right there, allowing the tying run to get to the plate before retiring the Pirates in the ninth.  Is there something about closing in St. Louis that brings out the daredevil in these pitchers?

Tonight, the Cardinals look to take the series before heading out on the road for nine games.  They've got Wainwright on the mound, like I said, so that's got to give them some confidence.  Friends of mine are going to be at the game and I told them everything is lined up for a Cardinal victory.

First, you have Wainwright, who can be a dominant pitcher, though he's had some struggles against Pirate hitters in the past.  He last faced Pittsburgh in his final 2007 start, allowing three runs in seven innings at PNC.  The last time he faced them in Busch was May 22 of last year, when he gave up 2 in 5.1 innings.  That was before his second half surge last year.

Then there is the Pittsburgh pitcher, Tom Gorzelanny.  A 7.38 ERA is never something you want to see if you are a pitcher, but the hitters are excited.  Gorzelanny had control issues the last time he faced the Cards, walking seven Redbirds and two dogs for Tony LaRussa.  The Cardinals have had reasonable success against him, though only Rick Ankiel has a home run off of him.

Hopefully everything plays out and the Cards are able to get a win.  The way the Cubs have been going at it, they'll need it!

In other news, it looks like Joel Pineiro will be on the disabled list longer than expected.  I would expect that Mike Parisi will make another start, but as rough as he looked on Saturday, I'm not sure that's the wisest idea, though it would be against Washington.  There's passing talk that Anthony Reyes could come back up and take the start.  Eventually, the club needs to get him back up here and effective if they plan on making any kind of trade with him.  Showing that he can pitch in the majors only strengthens Mozeliak's hand.


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