Then there's the issue of him tipping his change, or whatever. I've seen that thing get hammered far too often for it to be called an elite type pitch.

As for selling the farm, seems to me the tidy solution is to move Reyes and some second tier prospects for help now. I don't know exactly who we would trade, but I'm sure it would help since we need everything except a first baseman and a closer.

Ugh. I'm getting tired of talking about him already.

Might as well trade him while we can get something back for him.

Something I found interesting during the telecast of a Reyes performance occurred as (Ricky Horton, if I recall correctly) was interviewing ex-Card Scott Terry about the one-day "baseball camps" that are taught by Cards' alumni around the area. They started discussing Reyes' mechanics, and Terry essentially ripped Anthony a new one! Terry mentioned several points that he teaches pitchers not to do... Terry said Reyes' elbow was too low, and Reyes wasn't getting the most use out of his lower body, etc.

Now, I admit, Terry (and presumably his cohorts) are trying to teach kids how to pitch without hurting their arms; that's best done with "standard" mechanics. There are plenty of pitchers succeeding professionally with all sorts of different throwing motions, but I find it interesting that Reyes' motion is most often compared to that of perennially-injured Mark Prior.

Dunc has convinced me that Reyes cannot "blow hitters away" with a four-seamer up in the zone at 91-92 MPH. If Anthony could locate that four-seamer at the knees and follow it up with a changeup that "dies" below the strike zone, fine! Throw that! Otherwise, he needs another pitch (cutter, slider, curve) he can count on to keep hitters off-balance.

I'm almost convinced that Kip Wells is a lost cause, despite the outstanding "movement" he gets on his pitches, simply because he seemingly can't throw anything consistently where he wants to! Even when he was getting people out early yesterday, Wells was "missing" Bennett's glove by several feet! I don't know what Duncan (or anybody else) can do to correct that... Wells may simply be unable to hit "spots," and (if so) will never be an effective pitcher.

On a sunnier note, today's starter, Braden Looper, has had better "command" by throwing "90%"... and he still has the 95-MPH heater available when he needs it!

Let's win the series today, and hope we get Rolen/Eck/Young Dunc back by Tuesday!

In other news, Sweet Lou is suspended indefinently.

I miss Rolen.

You echoed my thoughts for the past week.  I hate to say it but I almost perfer the Cardinals to drop out of the race this year and focus on building a young team that can compete next year or 2009.

As far as Reyes goes, I think everyone ignores the elephant in the room.  Even if its not the sinker, Reyes needs a third pitch.  A good (not great) fastball, a change and a absolute joke of a curve ball just won't cut it in the bigs.

Wilson has swelling in the knee and treatment has done nothing to alleviate the condition. "He's clearly at the point where he needs to consider something surgical," Dr. George Paletta said. Wilson planned to consult with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman soon for a second opinion.

Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Anyone else think Preston was told to sit the bench or you are going to get DFA. It was obvious he was not helping the team on the field, but he seems like a nice guy who got along with everyone. It would be a win win for both parties as Wilson just does not have it anymore.

Enjoy that contract Houston.

I already want to buy domestic, you tools, stop botching the sale. ("Please don't taaake my sunshine aWAAAAAAY!")

by the way, J-Rod hit another homer in the 1st inning

Their lines from the Texas League (06 for Pence, 07 for Rasmus) are very similar... Rasmus is just a couple years younger, and of course he's losing 1-0 in DWIs...

Hmm...why?  Just because he can get groundballs?

I hope Franklin is going back out, not Russ Springer.

1. rent backhoe, level hill
   
2. start fire to Crawford boxes
   
3. gag the crazy yelling woman behind home plate

Why punish someone who hits it 420 feet to center while rewarding lazy fly balls to left?

Houstonians are such Philistines. Leave to them to try to manufacture quirkiness.

I'd assume Miles is?  I just don't think I want to see Brendan Ryan hit again.

I like the idea of going to izzy here...

Astros announcers seem personally insulted that he homered.

Way to go, AP!

Should I be hopeful again?

3 - Cincy - H
3 - Angels - H
3 - Royals - A
3 - Oakland - A
3 - Royals - H

Should I hope for 2 wins against Reds, 3 wins against Angels/Oakland combined, and 4 or 5 against the Royals?

That'd give the Cardinals a 9 - 6 record over that stretch and set them up at 33-36.

That's just about how I feel right now too.