I've Moved!

After a few weeks of troubleshooting, the new site is about ready to go. This will be the last post here, but it will remain up for easy access to the archives, although everything here has also been imported to the new location.

So, from here on out, find "Mike on the Cards" at mikeonthecards.com.  Please update your bookmarks, and re-subscribe over at the new site.  I look forward to your comments there as well.

As always, thanks for visiting.  Go Cards!!

Brandon Backe is a Bitch

Everyone knew before this game started, there were bound to be some extracurriculars.  A handful of incidents, including yesterday's bench clearing episode in the third, clearly spilled over into today's rubber match between the Cards and 'Stros.

Interestingly, Houston's Brandon Backe seems to always find himself in the middle of these disputes, and today was no different.  After pitching a scoreless four, Backe got shelled in the fifth, which included Troy Glaus' first home run as a Cardinal.  A couple of batters later, when Yadier Molina was granted time in the middle of the pitchers' delivery, Backe took offense.  He immediately starting mouthing Molina, and the next pitch was nearly a head shot.  The benches and bullpens cleared for the second time in two days, and bitch-boy Backe again looked like an idiot.  [Photo credit: Christopher Gooley]

What the hell is wrong with this guy?  He acts like he's the next Bob Gibson, but pitches like he's the next Sidney Ponson.  He reminds me of the kid in high school that somehow managed to join your clique to gain popularity only to find that his cockiness led to everyone hating him.

Sometimes when I drink I tend to get tough, and during today's game, I was about seven beers deep when Backe inserted his tampon.  Luckily I'm 1200 miles from Busch, otherwise I might have run out onto the field and pissed on him.  I hate that guy.

Otherwise, it was a good game.  Troy Glaus finally homered.  Albert Pujols went deep again.  Kyle Lohse managed another quality start.  Kyle McClellan was brilliant in relief.  And the Cardinals won it 5-1.  Here's the full recap and box score.

The Cardinals play Houston nine more times this season, so it's obvious that there's more to come.  I can't wait to see the Cards face Backe again.  Meanwhile, the next six games are also against division rivals Cincinnati and Chicago.  Tomorrow it's Todd Wellemeyer versus Bronson Aroyo.  Should be a good one.  

Wainwright Throws Complete Game

The Cardinals lost last night's game to the Astros in the ninth inning, but returned the favor today with a strong performance from starter Adam Wainwright, and some much needed clutch hitting.

Coming in, St. Louis was hitting .257 with runners in scoring position in 296 plate appearances.  That lack of production partially attributed to last night's loss.  Today, Albert Pujols hit a two run double in the third, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly by Troy Glaus, and Skip Schumaker had the game winning RBI single in the ninth.

Wainwright outlasted his counterpart, Roy Oswalt, getting the first complete game of the season for the Cards.  He gave up three runs, all via the solo home run, on five hits, while striking out six.  His 126 pitches was also a season high.  4-3 was the final.  Here's the full box score.

The win improves the Redbirds to 15-10, but still in second place in the division.  Tomorrow the team will try to win the series with Kyle Lohse on the mound.  With Brandon Backe starting for Houston, I expect Pujols and the Cardinals to put up a lot of runs.

It's Not All Isringhausen's Fault

Typically, after a ball game, I'll spend some time online perusing all of the Cardinal forums and message boards.  Last night, because of the rain delay, the game ended late, so I went straight to bed.  This morning, before work, I checked in on all my usual web stops, and one thing was common across the board. Everyone was Izzy bashing.

I understand the frustration from fans.  The Cardinals were up 2-0 heading to the ninth after a brilliant performance from their starter Braden Looper.  Jason Isringhausen blew his second save of the year, and has now allowed 8 runs on 13 hits in 11 innings.  It's his job to finish close games, and last night he didn't do his job.

"I feel bad for Looper.  He pitched such a great game," said Isringhausen.  "It's my job to preserve a win, and I just didn't do it.  When you let down 25 guys, it's not a fun job."

Did Izzy blow the save?  Of course.  Did he take the loss?  Yeah.  Is the loss entirely his fault?  No way.  The Cardinals missed several opportunities to pile on runs throughout the game, continuing the trend of leaving runners on and failing to get timely hits.  They stranded 20 runners total, 11 as a team.  Third baseman Troy Glaus struck out twice with the bases loaded.  Without Geoff Blum's error, the Cardinals would have only scored one run despite having six hits and eight walks.  I don't expect every runner in scoring position to be driven in, but it's clear that the Birds' bats couldn't get the job done last night, and deserve a large portion of the blame for the loss.  If you're going to bash Izzy, you'd better bash the Cardinal offense too.

Matthew Leach has more on the game here.

Pineiro Impressive in WIn

Cardinal starter Joel Pineiro continues to improve with each outing.  He was activated from the 15-day disabled list to make his first start on April 13th against the Giants, but gave up 6 runs in 3.2 innings.  In his second start, also against San Francisco, he lasted 6.1, and allowed just 3 runs. Tonight was his third appearance, and easily his best so far.  Pineiro held the Pirates to just 1 run on 4 hits, while striking out 6 in 7 innings, and improved his record to 1-2, and his ERA to 5.29.  He also made a dazzling kick save, and throw to first for what will certainly make Web Gems on ESPN.

Pittsburgh starter Tom Gorzelanny had trouble throwing strikes, walking seven batters in five innings, but didn't allow a hit until the fifth.  The Cardinals were able to string some hits together and won it 6-2.  Here's tonight's recap and box score.

Coming into tonight's game, the Cardinals were on a slide, dropping four of their last five.  The win salvaged both a series split and a .500 road trip.  They'll head back home for a nine game home stand, with three game series' against Houston, Cincinnati, and Chicago.  The Cardinals jumped back into second place in the Central, a game and a half behind the Cubs, with a 14-9 record.

Now for a few interesting stats:

• The Cardinals' 115 walks leads the Major Leagues.
• Albert Pujols is tied for the most walks with 22.
• Troy Glaus is tied for the most doubles with 11.
• Todd Wellemeyer is tied for the second most strikeouts with 31.
• Jason Isringhausen is tied for the second most saves with 8.
  

Speaking of Pujols' walks, check out Jason Stark's article, where all 30 managers were polled to determine the most feared hitters in baseball.  Find it here.

Tomorrow night is Braden Looper's turn on the mound.  He hopes to get back on track after an awful outing against the Giants last Sunday.  Hopefully he can set the tone for the upcoming series, and the Redbirds can pick up a few more wins to close out the first month.

Tough Loss for the Cardinals

It didn't take long for the Cardinals to encounter their second string of back-to-back losses.  Monday's win against Milwaukee separates the two short losing streaks.  The loss is tougher to take, not only because of the turn of events that transpired in tonight's game, but also because it came against a Pittsburgh team was predicted to finish at the bottom of the division.

The game couldn't have started off better for the Cards.  They put up four runs in the top of the first, while sending nine men to the plate.  Things were looking good when starter Todd Wellemeyer cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit.  After a couple of runs in the fourth, the Pirates tied the game on a two run home run by Jason Bay in the fifth.  The ball was just out of Chris Duncan's reach, and barely cleared the left field wall.  Although it hung up longer than expected, I wonder if a more experienced outfielder would have caught it.  Anthony Reyes pitched the eighth, giving up the winning runs.  7-4 was the final.  View the full box score here.

Tomorrow the Cardinals hope to even the series, with Joel Pineiro going against Tom Gorzellany.

My aggravation allows me to leave you with only one link, but it's a good one.  With the '09 All Star Game creeping closer, and the city of St. Louis, and all it's fans on the brink of being embarrassed by the hole in the ground in the footprint of old Busch, J Carnage has the ultimate solution.

Play Like A Cardinal - Part 3

Here's the next commercial from the "Play Like A Cardinal" ad campaign.  If you missed the first two, check out them out here, and here.  This spot features starter Adam Wainwright, and closer Jason Isringhausen. Enjoy!