First off - here’s to hoping that the oldest and smartest baseball journalist ever, Peter Gammons, recovers from his brain aneurysm. On to the game.
I’m already getting sick of thinking of creative titles symbolizing the Cardinals losing streak, so hopefully tomorrow the streak will end. I’m pissed off about so many things tonight, so I’ll start with what’s most fresh in my mind.
1. Jim Edmonds - It seems like he sometimes has amnesia. Let me explain - he knows that he has a lot of success going to the opposite field - and since pitchers like to work him outside, it seems like the logical place to hit the ball. Tonight, he attempted to pull the ball every time, and every time he either grounded out to second base or first base. He’s pulling off the ball, and his swing has been weakened as a result, producing those weak ground balls that my unborn son could field.
2. This team - It seems like we are in the playoffs right now - pick whichever series you like: 2004 WS, 2005 LCS, any other series in the playoffs we looked flat in, etc. It just looks like we have no desire to win at this stage of the season, and our offense and pitching are suffering as a result.
3. Adam Wainwright - The guy in our bullpen that’s supposed to be by far the most reliable member can’t throw a strike tonight. His location was terrible, and he provided the Indians with an insurance run that enabled Wickman to pitch to Pujols with the bases empty in the ninth, meaning he was not the tying run.
4. Juan Encarnacion - In accordance with point #2 above, Juan’s defense tonight on one particular play was downright embarrasing. Looking flat includes not hustling, and because Juan did not hustle after a base hit down the line, the Indians leadoff hitter was able to stretch a should be single into a hustle double relatively easily. Turns out it had no impact on the game as a whole, but it’s the little things like that which can lose a ball game real quickly for a team.
I didn’t think Reyes looked too impressive tonight, but he got the job done, and his not too impressive was a helluva lot better than a few others’ best recently.  The Cardinals staff has turned into a bunch of nibblers regardless of the count, and it drives me crazy to watch them work deep into counts because of the nibble factor. Reyes goes out there and does his best to challenge hitters each and every at bat, and for that I thank him, because tonight was a game I was actually excited to watch. He gets my “pro” tonight, and Edmonds gets my “con”. Happy birthday Jimmy.
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June 30th, 2006 at 11:24 am
I was born in StL and have been a Cardinal fan for 65 years. There is something wrong with the chemistry of this team that is hard to put your finger on. There are,posistion for position, enough quality players to make a playoff run, but I don’t see it happening with these guys. The loss of Grudzielanek and Sanders has spoiled the mix somehow.
June 30th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
If it is at all possible, I would like to see the way we play with everyone 100% healthy and in shape (Ponson). I think the chemistry could be there, but at this point, I have to agree with you.
The only possible plus I see coming from all our guys being quazi injured is the fact that they will be more rested for a playoff run than other teams’ players could be.
Let’s hope the NL Central continues to suck and we can eek our way into October.