Cardinals vs. San Fransisco Giants (3 Game Series)

(Friday, August 20th through Sunday, August 22nd)

Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Fransisco Giants
-Jake Westbrook (1-0, 3.32 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner (4-4, 3.27 ERA)

Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Fransisco Giants
-Chris Carpenter (13-4, 2.95 ERA) vs. Tim Lincecum (11-7, 3.62 ERA)

Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Fransisco Giants
-Kyle Lohse (1-5, 6.79 ERA) vs. Barry Zito (8-7, 3.56 ERA)

Cardinals Primed for the Postseason?

As infuriating and unpredictable as the Cardinals can be — and lately they have taken their hair-pulling inconsistency to unsurpassed gut-spinning levels — even the most raging pessimist can still have some glimmer of optimism from their current circumstances.

Thursday when general manager John Mozeliak pulled off a trade for veteran third baseman Pedro Feliz, some Cardinal loyalists reacted as if they'd just been handed a flat bottle of soda pop. But the truth is, no matter how far over the hill Feliz might be (and we'll have to wait and see what sort of invigorating powers a late season pennant race might provoke), he symbolizes an undisputed truth:

The Cardinals went shopping because they believe, as maddening as this team can be, it still has a chance to get to the postseason. Mozeliak wouldn't have gone trolling desperately on the waiver wire for third base help (or, for that matter, dealt off Ryan Ludwick to get Jake Westbrook as his fourth starter) if he thought this team didn't have enough ingredients to make a serious playoff run.

And the manager, Tony La Russa, wouldn't have spent so much time in the GM's ear urging him to make a move to get him a reliable glove at third base if he didn't think a little patching here and there couldn't fix what has been ailing this obviously talented, but extremely thin baseball team.

Mozeliak and La Russa had tried repeatedly to do this with the spare parts they already had in hand as the injuries kept cropping up. But as this season has dragged along, and the flaws became more glaring, they were forced to admit that the patchwork wasn't going to be enough to build around the amazing core of their superstars. You might be able to look at that dugout and see Carp and Wainwright and Garcia, Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Colby Rasmus and Jon Jay, but you also have to know that things get a little thin after that.

So you bring in a playoff-tested veteran who was once considered one of the best defensive third basemen in the National League and hope that the familiar scent of a pennant chase revives his tired bat and hope that he can be an above-average stop gap for the next two months.

Feliz struggled so mightily in Houston that the Astros conceded defeat in this offseason acquisition quickly, promoting Chris Johnson from the minors and riveting the struggling Feliz (and his $4.5 million salary) to the bench. But his glove is better than anything the Cardinals have tried so far to replace Freese, and with the other potential available third base talent equally flawed (or worse), the only thing you can realistically say when you heard that Mozeliak had pulled off the move was this:

Ehhhh, it couldn't hurt.

Even though they have teetered about the NL Central all season long, the Cards are a team of frustrating intrigue. Just good enough to keep you interested, just unpredictable enough to make you scream, but never bad enough to make you offer any concession speeches either. The first-place Cincinnati Reds may have recovered just fine from last week's three-day beat down by the Cards, but the talk around baseball is that the division title will end up in St. Louis when all is said and done.

So to get there, they have to keep plugging in the holes. It would be nice if there was some late August miracle out there to spark a playoff run (is Westbrook this year's Larry Walker?). But in the meantime, you plug up the holes any way you can.

So they traded for an aging Pedro Feliz?

Ehhh, it couldn't hurt.

Cardinals Baseball Update: Through 118 Games

(St. Louis Cardinals: 65-53--2nd place in National League Central division)

National League Central Division Race:
1. Cincinnati Reds (70-51) --
2. St. Louis Cardinals (65-53) 3.5 GB

National League Wild Card Race:
1. Philladelphia Phillies (68-52) --
2. San Fransisco Giants (68-54) 1 GB
3. St. Louis Cardinals (65-53) 2 GB

Cardinals Offensive Leaders (through August 19th)
Batting Average: -------Albert Pujols (.314)
Home Runs: ------------Albert Pujols (31)
Hits: ----------------------Albert Pujols (139)
Runs Batted In: ---------Albert Pujols (87)
Stolen Bases: -----------Albert Pujols (11)

Cardinals Pitching Leaders (through August 19th)
Wins:----------------------------------Adam Wainwright (17)
Earned Run Average:---------------Adam Wainwright (2.06)
Strikeouts:----------------------------Adam Wainwright (165)
Saves:---------------------------------Ryan Franklin (21)


Recent St. Louis Cardinals Transactions:
-Pedro Feliz traded from Houston to Cardinals (for RHP Dan Carpenter)
-Jason LaRue transferred to 60-day DL (concussion)
-Steven Hill sent back to minor leagues
-Bryan Anderson called up from AAA to Cardinals


Upcoming Series for the Cardinals (at home against the San Fransisco Giants)
-Game 1: Cardinals vs. Giants (8/20, 7:15 pm, FSN Midwest)
-Game 2: Cardinals vs. Giants (8/21, 6:15 pm, FSN Midwest)
-Game 3: Cardinals vs. Giants (8/22, 1:15 pm, KPLR 11)

Previous Series for the Cardinals (lost two games to Milwaukee at home)
-Milwaukee Brewers 3, Cardinals 2
-Milwaukee Brewers 3, Cardinals 2

Game 43 Recap: Penny Hits Grand Slam in 9-5 win; Leaves with Strain

Anticipated for the return of former Cardinals starter Joel Piñeiro to Busch Stadium, the lasting significance of Friday's game instead will be the sudden departure of Brad Penny.

Penny hit the first grand slam of his career to break a tie in the third inning and then didn't throw another pitch in the game. The righthander left with a strained right back muscle, an injury lingering from his previous start and aggravated Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. The severity of the injury won't be clear until a scan is taken this morning, but the Cardinals plan to promote P.J. Walters from Class AAA Memphis as a precaution.

The Cardinals' bullpen shouldered the leftover six innings for a 9-5 victory. Jason Motte (2-1) got the win for retiring all six batters he faced. Motte and three other relievers preserved the lead created by Penny's tie-breaking grand slam.

Penny insisted after the game that he didn't intensify the injury with his swing, saying it was a soreness he'd been managing since his last start, in Cincinnati. Penny felt a bite beneath his shoulder the day after allowing seven runs on 13 hits in five innings vs. the Reds. He threw a side session this week and experienced a twinge in the muscle. But he felt the discomfort could be controlled and even abated before his start Friday.

He did not reveal the injury to his coaches.

Penny started warming up for the fourth inning until Duncan stopped him quickly. The righthander conceded after the game that there was "no way" he could pitch that inning. He had started to stiffen up and Penny described a "burn" in the muscle that wraps from the back up toward the armpit.

The results of Penny's MRI scan today will determine if a trip to the disabled list is likely. Other players with a similar injury, like Cleveland's Kerry Wood, have missed several weeks. The Cardinals were already without a pitcher as they intend to rest Blake Hawksworth and his sore groin this weekend. The added burden on the bullpen Friday and Penny's uncertain status necessitated at least one move before this afternoon's game.

Walters was scheduled to start today for Memphis in Sacramento. He is expected to join the Cardinals this afternoon. The team did not clarify the corresponding move.

In three starts for the Redbirds, Walters has allowed one run in 18 2/3 innings, and he's struck out 23.

A coincidence in the Cardinals' interleague schedule brought Piñeiro back with his new team and pitted him against his replacement. Piñeiro signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Angels this past winter. The Cardinals signed Penny in early December to a one-year deal that essentially signaled their intent not to court Piñeiro.

Neither starter saw Friday's fourth inning.

The Cardinals tagged Piñeiro for nine runs off nine hits in his three innings.

Rookie David Freese struck a two-out single in the third to start the decisive rally. He reached third on Yadier Molina's double. With first base open, Piñeiro intentionally walked No. 8 hitter Skip Schumaker to face Penny with the bases loaded. On Piñeiro's first pitch — a hanging slider — Penny launched the ball into the left-field seats. The homer was the third of Penny's career, his first since 2003.

Leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez followed Penny's grand slam with another first — the first review of a potential homer at Busch Stadium since Major League Baseball instituted limited use of video replay. Lopez's shot clanked off the signage just beyond the wall in right field. The umpiring crew, convened by chief Gary Darling, delayed the game two minutes to look over the replay and determined Lopez's hit cleared the wall for a five-run lead.

Piñeiro needed 98 pitches to toss a shutout against Oakland in his previous start. It took him 11 pitches to get leadoff hitter Lopez out, and he needed 29 pitches to escape the first inning with Colby Rasmus' two-run triple as the only damage. The Angels seized a lead for him in the second inning with four runs, including Mike Napoli's two-run homer, off Penny. The Cardinals' righthander said he felt fine in the first, but the strained muscle began balking in his second and third innings.

An RBI triple by Lopez and a bloop single by Ryan Ludwick tied the score, 4-4, in the second inning.

In the third, Penny won it with a swing.

He was lost after that.

Ex-Cardinals are struggling with new teams (by Tyler Cobb)

No matter what you think of the Cardinals' current roster and how it could be tweaked to make a run for the gold this year, there is not much reason to look back at what might have been.

Almost unilaterally, the players the Cardinals lost — or chose to lose — from last year's division championship team have done little or nothing, statistically, this year for their new teams.

Center fielder Rick Ankiel, now disabled because of a right quadriceps injury, is hitting only .210 for Kansas City, which signed him to a $3.25 million, one-year guarantee with a $6 million option for 2011. He has fanned 22 times in 62 at-bats.

Outfielder Chris Duncan, a two-time 20-homer man plagued by injuries the last couple of years he was with the Cardinals before being dealt to Boston last summer, signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent and was assigned this year to Class AAA Syracuse. He is hitting .247 there with two homers.

Joe Thurston, who played third base more than anybody else for the Cardinals in the first half of last season, signed with Atlanta as a minor-league free agent. He is hitting .217 at Class AAA Gwinnett.

Infielder Brian Barden was the rookie of the month for April last year as he shared third base with Thurston. Barden had only nine at-bats for Florida in the first month of the season with two hits.

Third baseman Troy Glaus, who missed much of the 2009 season with a shoulder problem, was hitting .228 with just two homers through 105 at-bats as the Atlanta Braves' first baseman.

Shortstop Khalil Greene, who had anxiety issues, is out of baseball after declining to report to the Texas Rangers' camp.

Righthander Todd Wellemeyer, part of the Cardinals' rotation for much of last season, is 1-3 with a 5.54 earned-run average with San Francisco and has been struggling to hang onto his spot in the Giants' rotation.

Brad Thompson, a longtime swingman for the Cardinals, started the season in the minors with Kansas City and, after being brought up, has appeared in just 7 2/3 innings.

Julio Lugo, who logged considerable time as a backup infielder late last year, went to Baltimore at the end of spring training. He is hitting .194 as a backup infielder for the Orioles.

Joel Piñeiro, a 15-game winner last year, had a fast start for his new team, the Los Angeles Angels, but, like the rest of the Angels, he has trended downward. Piñeiro is 2-4 with a 5.30 ERA.

Mark DeRosa, the player most fans wanted to see return out of this group, is starting both in the infield and outfield for San Francisco after signing a two-year, $12 million contract. But, through his first 85 at-bats, DeRosa, perhaps still bothered by his bad wrist, was hitting .205 with just one home run.

Righthander Chris Perez has fared as well as anybody. He's missed a couple of saves as the Cleveland closer in place of injured Kerry Wood, but he had four saves and a 2.89 ERA for the first month.

Righthander Clayton Mortensen, who went to Oakland in the Matt Holliday deal, is 3-1 at Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League after finishing last year with the Athletics.

Third baseman Brett Wallace, the former No. 1 draft pick who also went in that trade and then subsequently to Toronto, is hitting .302 with nine homers at Class AAA Las Vegas, but Wallace wouldn't be playing ahead of David Freese, the Cardinals' top hitter to date.

Wallace actually is playing first base for Las Vegas but he probably wouldn't beat out the incumbent for the Cardinals there either.

As for righthander John Smoltz, who was impressive late last season, you can tune him in on virtually every television network short of ESPN.

Series at a Glance: Cardinals (20-12) vs. Astros (10-21) (3 Game Series)

(Tuesday, May 11th through Thursday, May 13th)

Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros (5/11, 7:10 p.m. Central Time)
-Brad Penny (3-2, 1.99 ERA) vs. Brett Myers (1-2, 3.60 ERA)

Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros (5/12, 7:10 p.m. Central Time)
-Kyle Lohse (0-2, 5.45 ERA) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (1-4, 4.59 ERA)

Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros (5/13, 12:40 p.m. Central Time)
-Chris Carpenter (4-0, 2.80 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (1-4, 7.52 ERA)

Cardinals Get Boost from Bench; Confidence Goes up (by Tyler Cobb)

The Cardinals haven’t had to rely much on their supporting cast this season.

The starters have remained reasonably healthy and the team immediately took charge of the National League Central “race.” The Cards have experienced little of the roster-shuffling adventure that occurred during the first half of last season.

But Sunday’s offensive breakout was huge. As we noted in this space last year, guys like Nick Stavinoha are fighting for their spot on a week-to-week basis.

It is tough to reach the big leagues and it is even more difficult to gain solid footing at that level. So Stavinoha, Joe Mather and Tyler Greene had reason to celebrate their combined 4-for-13, five-run, four-RBI performance at Pittsburgh.

They got the big hits in the Cards’ 11-4 victory. Their performance allowed manager Tony La Russa to rest Matt Holliday (and his sore groin muscle) ahead of a much-needed off-day for the team.

Skip Schumaker got a day off, too, and Colby Rasmus didn’t have to start against a lefthanded pitcher. The fill-ins gave the team a nice lift at the end of a difficult road trip.

This was a timely boost for a lagging team. The Cards looked utterly exasperated against the Pirates the night before.

La Russa turned to his reserves for the final game of the series and got refreshing results. The afternoon was reassuring for everybody involved.

The bench has been a nagging concern for Cardinal Nation -– and rightfully so. La Russa prefers to have seasoned veterans in those part-time roles, given the mental challenge inherent to infrequent play.

Rookie Allen Craig flopped as a fill-in, going 1 for 18 before heading back to the minors to recapture his stroke. Craig had hit at every minor league level. He had hit well in college, too.

But that success came while playing full time. Playing occasionally . . . well, that is a different matter entirely. Craig hit well during spring training, but got lost between at-bats in the majors this spring.

With veteran utility man Felipe Lopez sidelined by an elbow injury, Greene returned from Memphis to fill that infield role. His disastrous defensive performance at shortstop Thursday cost the Cards in Philadelphia.

But he played great defense at second base Sunday. That success, plus a rally-starting double and a later RBI (on a hit by pitch) boosted Greene’s stock.

In the near term, Greene will return to Memphis to play shortstop every day. In the long term, he could become no worse than a handy utility player for the Cards.

He played all four infield spots plus center field for the Cards last year, when injuries forced La Russa to rely heavily on promoted rookies. He stole 31 bases for Memphis while demonstrating gap power.

Once Greene refines his hitting and becomes more consistent with his throwing, he will have a more permanent role here. In the meantime, he has to make the most of whatever opportunities come his way.

The same goes for Mather. The team loves his athletic ability and defensive versatility. But his ’09 season was a wash due to wrist injuries and he is struggling to re-establish his stroke.

For a big guy with a big swing, this is tricky. And unlike Craig, Stavinoha and David Freese,
Mather doesn’t have a track record of consistent minor league success.
In fact, he narrowly avoided getting released a couple times earlier in his career. So when Mather goes 2 for 6 in the leadoff spot -– even against the Pirates -- that is a hallmark day in his career.

When the Cardinals get back to work Tuesday, you can expect them to have a more conventional lineup. Most of the reserves will be back on the bench, waiting for their next chance.

But they will be a more confident bunch after Sunday’s breakthrough performance. And the whole team will be more confident, too, knowing that all 25 players can help on a given day.

Cardinal Nation: In Yadier Molina We Trust

Chris Carpenter ranks his change-up as his fourth pitch. He's almost over-using it if he throws it more than five times a game. It is the needle in Carpenter's pitching haystack, a sliver occasionally dusted off deep in a game or as Plan B if one of his more reliable pitches isn't connecting.

So the Cardinals' former Cy Young Award winner thought it a good idea on April 21 to do something different to Arizona Diamondbacks leadoff hitter and current NL home run leader Kelly Johnson, a strong fastball hitter probably expecting a first-pitch fastball in his first at-bat.

The idea is so novel that Carpenter expected it would come as a surprise to catcher Yadier Molina, even though Molina knows Carpenter like the back of his Gold Glove.

"I'm standing on the mound and I've already got a change-up in my hand. You know how many change-ups I throw — not a lot. It's my fourth pitch. In this situation, there is absolutely no way Yadi is going to call a change-up. I've already prepared to shake to get to what I want to throw."

Except rather than put down one or two fingers, Molina wiggles four.

He's asking for a change-up.

More than one pitch, Carpenter's memory goes to a crucial nuance of Molina's game. Blessed with the game's most intimidating catching arm, Molina lugs an encyclopedia to his position complete with hitters' tendencies, his pitchers' preferences and an innate creativity that goes beyond caught stealing percentages.

Or, as Carpenter explains it, "Anybody can go out there and put fingers down. But to go out there and put them down together at the right time in the right sequences make him super special."

"Not enough is said or written about what his knowledge brings to our pitching staff," insists Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. "It's a gift that not everybody has. It goes beyond the obvious. It's a very real asset."

"Knowing my pitchers and calling a game is an important part of what I do. It's something I take pride in," Molina said last week. "They should know I'm there to help them. It's not just catching and throwing the ball. It's working with them to control the game."

Kyle Lohse is in his 10th major-league season. He has only 10 fewer career starts than Carpenter and almost three times as many as Adam Wainwright. He has pitched in both leagues and spent the last five seasons with three NL teams. At 31, he is entitled to a strong opinion about how to shape his game.

By his own count, Lohse has shaken off Molina only once this season, the same as rookie lefthander Jaime Garcia.

"Yadi knows what each of us do well. He knows the hitters. He really cares. He and Dunc have a plan, and he works off of that. He's not back there guessing," Lohse said.

Molina reached St. Louis as the 2004 understudy to four-time Gold Glove winner Mike Matheny. Like Matheny, Molina believes his offensive game subordinate to helping his pitchers. The trait was instilled in a home that included catching brothers Jose and Bengie. Asked when he became confident handling a major-league staff, Molina responds unflinchingly: "2004."

Like Matheny, Molina takes pitch-calling personally. If the shifting, receiving and throwing represent the mechanics of his craft, handling a pitcher is its art.

"His creativity and his instincts are off the charts," manager Tony La Russa said. "Whatever credit he gets, it's not enough."

Molina's résumé features two consecutive Gold Gloves, 33 pick-offs since 2005 (more than twice the next most prolific catcher) and a 41.5 percent success rate against opposing base-stealers.

The rookie Garcia entered this weekend's series against the Pittsburgh Pirates third in the NL with a 1.13 ERA and only 33 runners allowed in 32 innings. Just as noticeable, he has outgrown a reputation as a fractious talent frequently bothered by what he can't control.

"I trust him," Garcia said. "He's special. You know he has a reason for what he puts down. It's a combination. I trust myself. I trust my stuff. I trust him."

Brad Penny carried a reputation to St. Louis of a powerful but inefficient talent who last season used 100 or more pitches in less than six innings six times. So far this season Penny is averaging 92 pitches and 6 2/3 innings per start. After previously averaging one walk every 3 1/3 innings in his career, Penny has averaged one walk every five innings this season.

The demands Duncan places on catchers are significant. He expects them to become familiar with his intricate charts and the video libraries compiled on rival hitters.

Molina represents an extension of Duncan's scheming. But he is also adept at using his own creativity to sculpt what his pitcher is doing best during a game. Duncan makes available data on whether a hitter prefers to swing early in the count, whether he changes tendencies in run-scoring situations or late in games and how he is vulnerable. The catcher enhances the plan by altering sequences, reading hitters' swings and knowing when to discard pitches that may not be effective on a given day. And he is to process all of it within a matter of seconds to keep his pitcher in rhythm.

Duncan tells Molina to look to the dugout if he is ever "stuck" for a pitch. Molina has yet to glance over for help this season.

Not once.

Cardinals Baseball Update: Game 26 through Game 32 (by Tyler Cobb)

(Four Game Series against Phillies; Three Game Series against Pirates)

Game 26: Cardinals 6, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Game 27: Philadelphia Phillies 2, Cardinals 1
Game 28: Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cardinals 0
Game 29: Philadelphia Phillies 7, Cardinals 2

Game 30: Cardinals 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
Game 31: Pittsburgh Pirates 2, Cardinals 0
Game 32: Cardinals 11, Pittsburgh Pirates 4

(St. Louis Cardinals: 20 wins, 12 losses--First Place in National League Central division)

Upcoming Opponents:
-Three Game home stand against the Houston Astros.
-Three Game road stand against the Cincinnati Reds.
-Seven Game Home Stand against Washington (2), Florida (2), and the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem (3).

Series at a Glance: Cardinals (17-8) vs. Phillies (14-10): (4 Game Series)

(Monday, May 3rd through Thursday, May 6th)

Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies (5/3, 6:10 pm, FSN Midwest)
-Jaime Garcia (2-1, 1.04 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies (5/4, 6:10 pm, FSN Midwest)
-Adam Wainwright (4-1, 2.13 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (2-2, 5.28 ERA)

Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies (5/5, 6:10 pm, FSN Midwest)
-Brad Penny (3-1, 1.56 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 7.61 ERA)

Game 4: St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies (5/6, 12:10 pm, FSN Midwest)
-Kyle Lohse (0-1, 5.28 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (5-1, 1.47 ERA)

2010 St. Louis Cardinals Look Like Runaway for NL Central Division

It's May 3 on the calendar, and the Cardinals are only 25 games into the schedule. But I'd like to submit this question: In the National League Central, who can take this team down?

Seriously, unless the Chicago Cubs start putting together some long winning streaks, this race could turn into Secretariat at the 1973 Belmont. A horse named "Sham" tried to get out and run with Secretariat but couldn't hang on. Secretariat won by 31 lengths. The Cubs, Brewers, Reds, Pirates and Astros might want to go to youtube.com and watch what happened to poor Sham.

After a 6-1 home stand, the Cardinals are 17-8 and have a 4 1/2-game lead in the mediocre Central. That is, by far, the biggest lead by a first-place team in the majors. And what will change? Unless the Cardinals are struck by catastrophic injuries, I don't see how the five Shams keep pace.

Yes, baseball is a humbling game and teams must pass a test on a daily basis. That's why baseball offers a truer sense of quality than the other team sports. And the Cardinals will endure some turbulent stretches. All teams do.

It happened a year ago, as a matter of fact. The Cardinals were exactly 17-8 after 25 games, same as now. And then their season took a detour; the 2009 Cardinals lost 10 of 14 and found themselves in third place on May 18, three games behind the Brewers. It was a temporary phase, as the Cardinals (91-71) would go on to capture the NL Central by 7 1/2 games.

And that 4-10 slide can be explained. Chris Carpenter was on the disabled list at the time, and the starting pitching unraveled, with a 6.27 ERA over those 14 games. But everything settled down soon enough, and the Cardinals got back on track.

The 2009 Cardinals had more holes than an updated, upgraded 2010 version. So there's no reason to deny the obvious here: The Cardinals have taken control of this division. And nothing suggests they'll ease up and give it back.

Pujols is right. Anything can happen. The Cardinals will slump at some point. And no division race — ever — is locked up in the early days of May, June or July. But that doesn't change the premise or the question: Give us the name of the NL Central team capable of sticking and staying with the Cardinals?

The Cubs have the best shot because of their tough starting pitching. And a few of their lineup regulars, including Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee, will probably heat up. If the Cardinals inexplicably fall apart or choke, the Cubs come closest among division rivals to having a complete team. And they can take advantage.

But as long as the Cardinals stay reasonably healthy, I don't think they will collapse. The starting pitching will prevent that. Their rotation's ERA is 2.55, and 1.60 at home. There's Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Brad Penny, Jaime Garcia and Kyle Lohse — not a fluke among them. This rotation has the stuff that terminates losing streaks.

And if anything, the St. Louis offense will rev it up from here on out. Matt Holliday hasn't gone on an extended tear, and he will. Third baseman David Freese is beginning to hit for power. Shortstop Brendan Ryan's offensive game was jump-started by manager Tony La Russa's decision to bat the pitcher eighth. Ryan, who prefers hitting ninth, has responded to the change.

Smugness won't be a factor, either. La Russa doesn't let up. And the team's two primary leaders, Pujols and Carpenter, are hardwired for maximum competitiveness. They set the example.

Sunday at Busch Stadium, Pujols backed up Carpenter's shutout pitching by putting the game away with a late three-run double that clinched a 6-0 victory. Giving away at-bats isn't in Pujols' makeup.

And in allowing only two hits and no runs in dominating the Reds for seven innings, Carpenter was a figure of controlled rage. It's fascinating to watch him go into psycho mode out there; Carpenter's starts become extended sessions of primal-scream therapy.

When he pitches, Carpenter can be a scary individual, at least to other teams. Sunday, after striking out pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes to end the seventh, Carpenter started barking in Gomes' direction.

Except that Carpenter didn't remember doing it. "I have no idea," he said. And I believe him. On game days, the killer-Carp personality overtakes the calmer, warmer side of Carpenter's nature.

"I don't direct anything to anybody unless they disrespect me, my teammates or the game," Carpenter said. "But this game is really, really important to me. It's done a lot for me. It's done a lot for my family. As much as I've been through, I don't take any start for granted, 'cause I never know when it's going to end. And I love doing it. I really do. And I love everybody in this clubhouse and I don't like anybody I play against when I'm between the lines. That's just the way it is. It's super, super important to me."

No, complacency won't be an issue in the NL Central.

With La Russa, Carpenter, Pujols and catcher Yadier Molina, there's no backing off with this psycho bunch. The other Cardinals follow the leaders.

Freese Named National League Player of the Week (by Tyler Cobb)

Cardinals rookie third baseman David Freese received the National League Player of the Week award, Bank of America and Major League Baseball announced this afternoon.

Freese hit .462 through the week with an MLB-best 11 RBIs, six of which came in one game. The third baseman and St. Louis native also had three homers and slugged .923.

His .355 batting average leads all rookies.

Cardinals Update: Reds Take Opener; Cardinals Take Series 2-1

Game 1: Cincinnati Reds 3, St. Louis Cardinals 2
W-Johnny Cueto (1-1) L-Brad Penny (3-1) S-Fransisco Cordero (9)

Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals 6, Cincinnati Reds 3
W-Ryan Franklin (1-0) L-Carlos Fisher (0-1)

Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals 6, Cincinnati Reds 0
W-Chris Carpenter (4-0) L-Aaron Harang (1-4)

(St. Louis Cardinals: 17-8 overall--First in National League Central)

Team Leaders Through 25 Games in 2010:
Batting Average: Nick Stavinoha (.375)
Home Runs: Albert Pujols (7)
Runs Batted In: Albert Pujols (25)
Total Bases: Albert Pujols (61)

Innings Pitched: Chris Carpenter/Adam Wainwright (38.0)
Earned Run Average: Jaime Garcia (1.04 ERA)
Wins: Adam Wainwright/Chris Carpenter (4)
Saves: Ryan Franklin (7 for 7)

Hot Streak: David Freese (Third Baseman)
-.355 Batting Average, 3 Home Runs, 16 RBIs, 27 Hits

Game 23 Preview: Cardinals vs. Reds (4/30, 7:15 pm) FSN Midwest

Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols(notes) was just given his first day off of the season. Considering the way he’s hit Cincinnati pitching at Busch Stadium, the Reds probably wish the three-time NL MVP had been given a rest in this series instead.

ujols looks to continue to batter Cincinnati pitching and help the Cardinals win their sixth in a row Friday night in the opener of a three-game set between the top two teams in the NL Central.

Defending division champion St. Louis (15-7) defeated Atlanta 10-4 on Thursday, reaching double figures in runs for the first time since an 11-6 opening-day victory at Cincinnati. Pujols had two homers in the season opener, but didn’t play in the finale against the Braves.

With the eight-time All-Star out of the lineup, rookie David Freese(notes) performed a reasonable impersonation, hitting his first career home run and driving in six runs.

Pujols probably won’t sit again in this series, and that doesn’t bode well for Cincinnati.

Pujols, 9 for 15 with a homer, two doubles and three RBIs in his last four games overall, is batting .429 with five home runs, five doubles and 12 RBIs in his last 10 home contests against the Reds. St. Louis is 7-3 in those games.

The Cardinals, who have outscored their opponents 27-11 during a five-game winning streak, are trying for six consecutive victories for the first time since Sept. 23-28, 2008. With a revitalized Brad Penny(notes) (3-0, 0.94 ERA) taking the hill for the opener, they seem to have a good chance.

A two-time All-Star who’d stumbled to a 17-18 record and 5.37 ERA in 2008 and 2009, Penny is suddenly back at the top of his game, having yielded four runs and three walks over 28 2-3 innings in his four starts. He had his best performance of the year Sunday, scattering eight hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 2-0 win at San Francisco.

The Reds are already familiar with Penny’s rediscovered dominance. The right-hander limited them to one run and six hits in seven innings April 8, although Cincinnati rallied in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Cardinals 2-1.

Penny is 5-0 with a 2.28 ERA in his last seven starts against the Reds, yielding two runs or fewer in six of them.

Cincinnati (11-11) defeated Houston 4-2 on Thursday for its fourth straight victory to remain four games behind first-place St. Louis. Jay Bruce(notes) and Joey Votto(notes) each hit their fourth homers of the year for the Reds, who are back at .500 for the first time since April 15, when they were 5-5.

Johnny Cueto(notes) (0-1, 5.73) looks to help Cincinnati extend its winning streak and record his first victory of the season.

Cueto, 3-8 with a 6.72 ERA in his last 18 starts, gave up five runs and seven hits - including two homers - in six innings of a 5-0 loss to San Diego on Saturday.

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA in four starts against them since the start of last season. He made his 2010 debut versus St. Louis on April 7, allowing two runs and five hits in six innings of a 6-3 loss, but didn’t get a decision.

Series at a Glance: Cardinals (15-7) vs. Reds (11-11) (3 Game Series)

(Friday, April 30th through Sunday, May 2nd)

Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds (4/30, 7:15 p.m. Central Time)
-Brad Penny (3-0, 0.94 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto (0-1, 5.73 ERA)

Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds (5/1, 12:15 p.m. Central Time)
-Kyle Lohse (0-1, 6.55 ERA) vs. Homer Bailey (0-1, 7.06 ERA)

Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds (5/2, 1:15 p.m. Central Time)
-Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.48 ERA) vs. Aaron Harang (1-3, 7.16 ERA)

Colby Rasmus' Bat Making a Name for Himself (by Tyler Cobb)

Describing himself as both lost and at times alone during his rookie season with the Cardinals, Colby Rasmus has finally found his magnetic north.

He's going on instinct.

The Cardinals' second-year center fielder has stormed ahead with a 10-game tear that has him leading the National League in both on-base percentage (.487) and slugging percentage (.754) following Thursday's game. Hitting cleanup, Rasmus singled twice, reached base in all of his four plate appearances, and scored four runs in the 10-4 drubbing of Atlanta.

During the Cardinals' four-game sweep of the Braves, Rasmus hit .600 (six for 10), walked six times and scored seven runs.

is place atop the NL in two telling categories is all the more remarkable considering the two donut holes in his month. Rasmus went six games on an 0-for-15 jag, and he didn't get his first base hit against a lefty until Wednesday.

Rasmus has stirred since then, batting .485 and slugging 1.030 in his previous 10 games.

But it's not just hits that hint at Rasmus' rise.

The 23-year-old center fielder has a team-high 17 walks, just one short this month of what he had in either half of last season. He also has been one of the team's most fluid and savvy baserunners and has hit more homers than any Cardinal not named Pujols. To illustrate the budding talent his teammates have seen this month in Rasmus, Thursday's starter Adam Wainwright described a pitch Rasmus didn't hit.

That's also a pretty good reason for Rasmus' surge this month.

Rasmus said part of his discomfort last season stemmed from a lack of a feel for the strike zone. He'd strike out on pitches he believed were balls, and then he'd expand the zone and swing at pitches that actually were. He lacked faith in what a couple teammates described as his "instinctive talent."

It also didn't help that his weight and health flagged midway through the season. He's learning to enhance his stamina through Matt Holliday's workouts and by drinking protein shakes.

He's also starring behind the scenes.

In the weight room, the Cardinals keep records, and Rasmus, at 200, and Holliday, a hulk at 235, are jockeying for leads in the "explosive" drills. Strength coach Pete Prinzi said Rasmus leads in the squat and back categories; Holliday in another leg test and chest. In the squat drill, the player has to lift 250 pounds and the record is based on his explosive power with one rapid lift. Rasmus has the current lead at 1,400 watts of power generated, Prinzi said.

After Thursday's four-run game, Rasmus headed to the weight room figuring he could get a good workout before leaving and plenty of rest before tonight's game. Despite all the numbers he's putting up, from a .487 on-base percentage to 1,400 watts in weight lifting, he's got one number in mind.

Being strong for 162-plus games.

"I'm just playing the game," Rasmus said. "I come in every (day), drink my protein shake and start thinking about what the pitcher is going to try to do to me. Then I go out there and compete. My goal every time is to beat that pitcher. Just beat him. That could be with a walk. That could be taking some good swings. It's not going to be a hit every time. Just a battle."

One Month Down; Pujols, Cardinals Produce Positive Answers

The Cardinals have learned a lot about their team during the first month of the season -- and most of the insight is positive.

They have rolled to a 15-7 record, winning their last five games to build an early 5 1/2-game lead in the National League Central.

Remember when fans were worried about rookie third baseman David Freese? The doubters blasted Cards general manager John Mozeliak in the teams' chats and forums, ripping him for failing to sign Joe Crede or Hank Blalock.

But after a rocky defensive start, Freese settled down nicely in the field. And as he demonstrated with his six-RBI game Thursday, he could become a major offensive factor as well.

He has hit at every level, including the big leagues at the end of last season. Freese overcame serious off-field issues and dedicated himself to breaking out as a major leaguer this season. That hard work is paying off.

Remember when Cardinal Nation panicked over Ryan Franklin's ineffective spring? Remember how they hammered Mozeliak for failing to replace Franklin as the closer?

Thus far, Franklin has bounced back nicely from last season's poor finish. He has converted all seven save opportunities this season, including four one-run saves and a pair of two-run saves.

Franklin brings stability to the bullpen, despite lacking a punchout pitch. There are bigger arms out there, for sure, but there are also more less-under performers. At the moment, there is no reason to change his role.

Remember how fans ridiculed the Cards for overvaluing their prospects? Remember the outrage when the Cards refused to consider offers for Colby Rasmus a couple years back?

The kid is batting .344. His on-base percentage is .487. His OPS is 1.241. He has stolen three bases and scored 19 runs.

He has emerged as a solid No. 5 hitter. He is playing smoothly in center field, too, without any of the old Jim Edmonds theatrics. He is a cornerstone player, just like Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina.

Remember how fans crushed pitching coach Dave Duncan for years, insisting the man was utterly incapable of grooming young pitchers? Remember how fans martyred Anthony Reyes, blistering Duncan for trying to make the lad pound the ball lower in the strike zone?

Well, Reyes went on to win three games for the Indians in two years. He is currently sidelined by another injury.

Meanwhile, Jaime Garcia has emerged as one of the sport's top young lefties . . . by pounding the ball down in the strike zone. As it turned out, it IS possible to teach a new dog old tricks.

Hard throwers Mitchell Boggs, Blake Hawksworth and Jason Motte are coming along nicely in the bullpen. Versatile Kyle McClellan looks like an excellent fit for the middle relief role.

Where would the Cards be without all these young arms? Duncan has developed a nice group, despite his impatience for youngsters.

Thanks largely to great pitching, the Cards have erased most of the doubts fans had about this team,

But there is still some work to do during the months ahead. The worrywarts have a few lingering problems to lament..

New hitting coach Mark McGwire needs to settle down Brendan Ryan so the team can keep his excellent glove in the lineup. Some fans will continue crtiticizing McGwire's hiring until all the key hitters find their stroke.

Matt Holliday must pick up his run production. He has delivered just eight RBIs in 22 games. Holliday is getting top dollar to force opponents to pitch to Pujols. Failure is not an option at those prices.

With Felipe Lopez sidelined by a wrist injury, this team's lack of proven offensive depth is a concern. Right now, Tyler Greene, Jon Jay, Nick Stavinoha and Joe Mather are on the bench with veteran catcher Jason LaRue.

The kids have had their moments -- like Stavinoha's pinch-hit blast against Trevor Hoffman -- but the Cards will need more for the stretch run.

In the grand scheme of things, though, these are minor issues. The major concerns have dissipated one by one through a month of steady success. Fans ought to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Cardinals Baseball Update: Game 12 through Game 22 (by Tyler Cobb)

Game 12: Cardinals 5, New York Mets 3
Game 13: Cardinals 4, Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Game 14: Arizona Diamondbacks 9, Cardinals 7
Game 15: Cardinals 9, Arizona Diamondbacks 7
Game 16: San Fransisco Giants 4, Cardinals 1
Game 17: San Fransisco Giants 2, Cardinals 0
Game 18: Cardinals 2, San Fransisco Giants 0
Game 19: Cardinals 4, Atlanta Braves 3
Game 20: Cardinals 5, Atlanta Braves 4
Game 21: Cardinals 6, Atlanta Braves 0
Game 22: Cardinals 10, Atlanta Braves 4

(Overall Record: 15 wins, 7 losses--first place in NL Central/best record in NL/second overall in MLB)

Top Offensive Team Leaders:
Batting Average: Colby Rasmus (.344)
Home Runs: Albert Pujols (7)
RBIs: Albert Pujols (19)
Stolen Bases: Colby Rasmus (3)
Base on Balls: Colby Rasmus (17)

Top Pitching Team Leaders:
Wins: Adam Wainwright (4)
ERA: Brad Penny (0.94)
Innings Pitched: Adam Wainwright (38.0)
Strikeouts: Chris Carpenter (31)
Saves: Ryan Franklin (7)

Game 12 Preview: Cardinals vs. Mets (4/18): 7:15 pm-ESPN SNB

A 19-game winner in 2009, St. Louis' Adam Wainwright could be headed for even more success this season.

The right-hander looks for his third straight win while trying to help the Cardinals bounce back from a 20-inning loss in the finale of a three-game set with the visiting New York Mets on Sunday night.

Wainwright was one of the few Cardinals who didn't play in Saturday's 2-1 loss, a game that lasted 6 hours, 53 minutes -- the longest in the majors since Colorado beat San Diego 2-1 in 22 innings on April 17, 2008.

The contest was scoreless through 18 innings before the teams each added a run the 19th. The Mets (4-7) scored both their runs on sacrifice flies off Joe Mather -- the second Cardinals position player who was forced to pitch -- to even the series.

Starters Johan Santana for the Mets and St. Louis rookie Jaime Garcia were stellar Saturday, but after each club unloaded its bullpens, Wainwright and New York's John Maine will likely be needed to go deep in this one.

An NL Cy Young Award contender last season when he went 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA, Wainwright (2-0, 1.20 ERA) has carried that success over to 2010. He's allowed two runs and struck out 13 in 15 innings.

Wainwright gave up six hits and struck out seven in eight innings of a 5-0 home win over Houston on Monday.

The Cardinals (7-4) are certainly grateful for Wainwright's success, and hope it continues when he makes his first start against New York.

Wainwright has allowed four runs in two innings of relief versus the Mets, but hasn't faced them since 2006. He recorded a pair of saves, including one in Game 7 against New York in the 2006 NL championship series.

Maine (0-1, 13.50), who was used as a pinch-runner in the 13th inning Saturday, hasn't fared nearly as well as Wainwright. The right-hander has given up 12 runs in eight innings over his two starts.

He allowed eight runs in three innings of an 11-3 loss at Colorado on Tuesday.

Facing the Cardinals might not help him get back on track. Maine is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA against St. Louis, and he's allowed 10 runs in 9 2/3 innings while losing his last two appearances at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis' Albert Pujols, who went 2 for 5 with four walks and scored on Yadier Molina's two-out single off Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez on Saturday, is 5 for 11 with two home runs and 11 RBIs against Maine.

Angel Pagan had three hits for New York on Saturday, while Jose Reyes, Jason Bay and Jeff Francoeur went a combined 0 for 21. Reyes, who drove in the winning run, is hitting .171, and Bay .222 this season.

Bay, however, is 6 for 17 versus Wainwright.

T-Cobb's Prediction:
Cardinals 7, Mets 4--Wainwright keeps just getting better and better!!

Cardinals Baseball Update: Through 11 Games in 2010 (7-4)

Team Record: 7-4 (First Place in National League Central Division)

Team Leaders (Hitting):
Batting Average: Albert Pujols (.364)
Home Runs: Albert Pujols (5)
Runs Batted In: Albert Pujols (15)
Walks: Colby Rasmus (9)
Steals: Colby Rasmus (1)
On-Base Percentage: Albert Pujols (.462)

Team Leaders (Pitching):
Wins: Adam Wainwright/Chris Carpenter (2)
Innings Pitched: Chris Carpenter (18.0)
Earned Run Average: Brad Penny (0.64)
Strikeouts: Chris Carpenter (18)
Saves: Ryan Franklin (4)

Previous Series Recaps:
-Cardinals beat Cincinnati Reds in two-of-three (2-1)
-Cardinals beat Milwaukee Brewers in two-of-three (4-2)
-Cardinals beat Houston Astros in two-of-three (6-3)
-Cardinals and Mets are evened up at one win each heading into tonight's contest. (7-4)

Tonight's Pitching Matchup:
-Adam Wainwright (2-0, 1.20 ERA) vs. John Maine (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
(Sunday Night Baseball--ESPN--7:15 p.m. Central Time)

Welcome Aboard Cardinals Fans--Introducing the Writer Himself

Welcome to my unofficial blog on the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. My name is Tyler Cobb and I am nineteen years young. I just recently graduated high school in '09 at Springfield Southeast High in Illinois and will soon be attending Lincoln Land for the next two years as I will pursue a degree in journalism, as my dream is to become a professional sports writer for a team in either the MLB or for college baseball--but my number one dream would be to be a writer for the birds.

In this blog I will be writing game previews and game recaps for most of the games, my own stories on featured Cardinals' players and managers, the team, and from around the entire MLB as well. Also, if you indeed have an article request for me, please feel free to either leave me a comment under any article or just email me at STLCardsFan0507@yahoo.com and I will do everything that I can to write a story on what you would all like to read about.

My favorite current Cardinal is of course, Albert Pujols. He is also my favorite Cardinals' player of all time as well though. Being that I am only nineteen years old, I didn't get to see much of a lot of Cardinal-greats, but seeing Albert everyday has been something that has been remarkable. He is the one guy in baseball that no matter the score, situation, pitcher, or anything, that everybody in every single stadium pauses and watches his at-bat.

If you have any other questions or comments for me, feel free to drop me an email and I will gladly email you back. I would like to thank everyone that takes time to read my articles and that is interested. Please continue to follow my blog as I will take you through another amazing season of the St. Louis Cardinals.