What More Can He Do?

Let's look at some spring stats, shall we?  While it's not totally indicative of results, let's take the easy way out and compare ERAs of the projected starting rotation:

Thompson 2.76
Lohse 3.60
Wainwright 3.92
Wellemeyer 4.05
Looper 7.98

And then, the pitcher that needs to go to Memphis, apparently:

Reyes 3.32

Fungoes has a great take on the inconsistency of LaRussa and company in using spring results.   It boils down to this: if great springs are why Thompson and Kyle McClellan are making the rotation and roster, respectively, how can you keep Reyes out of the rotation and Looper in?  It's not like Looper is this well-established starter that's just having a rough spring.  Look, his ERA for last year was almost 5, he gives up more than a hit an inning, allowed 22 long balls.  And all of that includes a spectacular April, where he had a 1.91 ERA after 5 starts.  All in all, Looper really doesn't need to be part of the starting rotation.

Anyway, Reyes took the challenge and threw up six scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Nationals.  I don't think it's insignificant that you see a comment like this out of TLR:

"He made a lot of good pitches," La Russa said. "Whatever the wind was doing he made some good pitches. He was helped a little by the wind. He may have been hurt by the wind. Mostly, he helped himself."

Granted, the wind was a factor yesterday, as a strong one was blowing in.  But if the wind was blowing out, do you think that TLR would have given him any credit for that, or would he have said, "You've got to pitch to conditions, and Anthony didn't do that."  To me, even though it's mainly complementary, that quote has that hint of, "He can't keep it up, he needs that wind help, he wasn't really that good."

Also yesterday, the Cardinals made some official moves, putting people on the DL that we already knew weren't starting the season.  Chris Carpenter, Joel Pineiro, Matt Clement, Mark Mulder, Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney and Juan Encarnacion.  That's a heck of a disabled staff.  Healthy, they'd beat a lot of people.

Brendan Ryan was not put on the DL, so he'll likely be ready for Opening Day.

Today, Adam Wainwright makes his last start of the spring, facing the Baltimore Orioles in a game that is scheduled to be on FSN.


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