Wash It Away

The Cardinals played some baseball yesterday.  You just can't prove it by the record book.

It was a heck of a game for the 2 1/2 innings they played, though.  Adam Wainwright was probably a little overexcited about the Opening Day start, but limited the damage to one run in the top of the first.  Then the floodgates opened.  The baseball kind, that is.

Jeff Francis had the hardest time finding the strike zone, throwing 10 straight balls (and it'd probably been 11 if Pujols hadn't swung at a questionable pitch).

And talk about irony, folks.  Francis walks the bases loaded.....and faces Rick Ankiel, who at times is synonymous with lack of control.  Do you think, just for an instant, some empathy was felt by Rick?  Maybe, but that didn't stop him from taking advantage and smacking a double.  Molina follows with one and the score is 4-1.

The only other real Cardinal highlight was Albert Pujols's home run.  Which brings to mind a quote that was on my Cardinal daily calendar just this weekend:

"I don't like to sound egotistical, but every time I stepped to the plate with a bat in my hands, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the pitcher."--Rogers Hornsby.

It looks like it could be that kind of year for Mr. Pujols as well.

Unfortunately, all those stats and great momentum was wiped out when the flood started in the third.  I guess that's what happens when Cesar Izturis reaches base twice in a row!  And it's not like hitting the reset button on a Playstation game.  The Cards can't run out Wainwright again today, because even though he hasn't officially pitched, I'm thinking his arm would tell you differently.

You lose all the pomp and circumstance as well.  I doubt they'll bring the Clydesdales back, or have the players show up in the red convertibles, though maybe they can actually get their honorary first pitcher to show up this time.   I'm guessing tonight will be just like a regular game, save that it turns out to be the first one.

So the ironic matchup of the night is Kyle Lohse against Kip Wells.  A pitcher only signed a couple of weeks ago vs. a pitcher that was the key FA signing of the last offseason.  I've defended Wells at times here--look through the archives to see that he wasn't always as bad as we thought--but by the end of the year, it was obvious he had to go.  Colorado doesn't seem to be the best place to rehab your career, but whoever will sign the checks, right?  The Cardinals should be looking forward to facing Wells, though that probably will mean he'll shut them down. Only Pujols and Jason LaRue have had much of a history against Wells, though with four home runs in 37 PA against the Kipster, Albert's ready to go.

Lohse had some problems against the Rockies in the postseason last year, but they've not seen him much in the regular season.  Only Scott Podsednick has more than 10 PAs against him, so you'll probably see that speedster in tonight's lineup.  Bernie says keep an eye out for the curveball.

So they'll try it again tonight.  Hopefully the momentum that they had working will carry over and the Cards can officially start the season with a win.


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