1. Looper's arm injury seems as if it was almost as devastating to the rotation as Carpenter's.  Losing his 'wins' from the rotation his final 3 starts and then 15 days off probably cost us atleast 3 games in the standings.
2. How come we don't use the 'Jump' anymore on the daily entries?
3. Was last night a 'revenge game' for us?  Webb robbed Carpenter of the Cy Young, I don't care what the drunken voters said about Trevor Hoffman.  So, was that the Cardinals 'exacting' their revenge?

After the organization had to deal with burying a teammate, the Cardinals stood at 10-16.  They had a run differential of 84 RS to 127 RA, -43 runs.

The next 26 games, the Cardinals went 13-13.  They had a run differential of 118 RS to 126 RA, -8 runs.

Over this last 27 games (adding one in for good measure), the team has gone 14-13.  They have a run differential of 141 RS to 155 RA, -14 runs.

Since that terrible day, the Cardinals have gone 27-26.  Their run differential has been 259 RS to 281 RA, -22 runs.  

No team wants to have a negative run differential, however the improvement is a positive sign.

The idea while Carpenter, Edmonds, Eckstein, Rolen, Looper, etc have been injured was to 'survive'.  The Cardinals have done that.  With their hodge-podge rotation and hodge-podge lineups they've been able to play .500 baseball and almost break even in the run differential.

What is astonishing is that as much maligned the rotation was for 'falling apart' after their terrific start, they've stayed moderately consistent.  With Carpenter's return soon after the All-Star Break, the additions of Percival and Maroth, it has to be believed that they'll not balloon into allowing more runs.

That awful, awful start may have doomed the season.  The -43 run differential is staggering, especially looking at how it much the offense has improved since that time.  

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the there is reason for hope, other than just waxing poetic.  The team has yet to be full strength or atleast the strength we can expect.  

Yet, the Cardinals have been able to play .500 ball.  They're going to have to go on a 26 game stretch of .600+ ball to erase that horrid start, though.

I do understand how important they are, and how they can be used to compare players. Specially when considering a trade or evaluating a prospect, but I can't help but feel that this game might just have all the fun statted out of it.

 You are right that Wainman's line for the 4/11 game looks pretty good, but if you saw, heard or read about that game you would know that he almost blew it totally.

 Sometimes I just want to sit back and watch the game, and see these guys (even at single A ball) make plays. Plays I only can dream about making!

Good management isn't suprised when expect results become actual results. So if we finish in 3rd place 7 games back what will management say? "Wow didn't see that coming." or "We really thought Thompson and Wellemeyer would make the next step" What will they say and to the point what will they know about Reyes they don't know now? What will a September call up tell them? That even though he hates you and is counting the days until free agency he can still pitch?

I know some will say "but Reyes isn't that good right now." Your right and management can say that in order for this team to make the next step Reyes has to make the next step. No one should be suprised. Reyes is 0-10 and we are 10 games back. As goes Reyes so goes this team...and where is he going? Backward.

Earlier I called Reyes this teams "Pivot Point" where what has happened before Reyes has lead up to him and everything after him will be because of him...and that how management handles him will go a long way to determining the future of this team...and in the face of adversity this team choose to do nothing.

I see stormclouds ahead...looks like rain.

:D