Something Missing In St. Louis

I'm not sure exactly what it says when the Cards get just as much offense washed out this weekend as they do in games that count.

I hated to see Colby Rasmus lose a home run and I'm pretty sure St. Louis was expecting to get fewer runs off of Yovani Gallardo than any other Brewers pitcher out there.  However, the rain is uncontrollable when you play outdoor baseball (the only way to do it) and as such that game is treated like it never happened.  If only the Cardinals got to pick which game this weekend didn't count....

Saturday's game was a pretty enjoyable one, save the fact that the Cards lost.  All the talk leading up to the game was about Adam Wainwright finding a supposed flaw in his delivery and whether that would get him back on his game.  If Saturday's results are any indication, the Wagonmaker is back.  Two hits in eight innings is incredible, considering the season he's been having.  The bigger story in my book, though, was the fact that he only walked two batters as well.  The baserunners have piled up for Wainwright early in the season.  There's more than cautious optimism that those days are over.

You'd like to give the whole offense the Goat tag for Saturday, but if anyone's going to be singled out, I guess it's Chris Duncan.  0-3 with 3 left on is tough to handle on a day when runs were at a premium.

You really have to tip your cap to old Bird Jeff Suppan, who has owned his former team since moving on to Milwaukee.  Sometimes you think maybe it'd been worth paying him all that money, just so St. Louis wouldn't have to face him!

Sunday, though, was a disappointment through and through.  When your starting pitcher can't find the plate and has you down 4-0 with a struggling offense, you know it's going to be a long day.

Todd Wellemeyer just can't get on track and you have to start wondering just how much more rope the Cardinals are going to give him.  It was good to see him rebound after that disasterous first and he did work into the sixth inning, which is better than I would have expected.  Who knows.  I wouldn't put much faith in a renewal of good pitching from the Colonel next time out, but it's not out of the realm of possibilty.

Also don't like to see Blaine Boyer go out and give up three runs, including a blast to Prince Fielder, and not record an out.  It's not likely that the Cardinals, with their current lineup (which was even worse on Sunday) would have overcome the deficit late, but letting the Brewers tack on removed any doubt.

I guess you give the Hero tag to Albert Pujols for his two hits and a walk, which may indicate that he's starting to come around. No one did much of anything in the game, so it's hard to hand out that award.

At least the Cardinals are starting to get healthy.  Chris Carpenter will pitch Wednesday (which, actually, I predicted a week or so back, even though my logic doesn't hold up) and that should give the team a boost.  Carp will face the Cubs and the Brewers, so that could be a big deal in the NL Central race.

From what John Mozeliak said in yesterday's TV interview, it sounds like Rick Ankiel could be back by this weekend as well.  While Rick hasn't had the strongest of years, getting his bat back in the lineup wouldn't hurt a bit.  The question will be, will Rasmus have to move over for him again?  I'd expect so, but Colby's played better, it seems like, since he started regularly in center.

Another old friend, Braden Looper, goes for Milwaukee tonight against Kyle Lohse.  We'll have to see if the bats have dried out and are ready for use.


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