The article about the team's record with Wellemyer and Thompson...it just sounds like typical beginning of the year, need to write an article, nothing much happening, let's throw this positive spin on something not too positive, article. This time on the hideous rotation. They always have these stories, about Joe Shumblock has a new splitter that will make him great this year, Bill Shmecki worked out with the Olympic ping pong team and will have really great hands. Mark Magrunski hit .408 in his cup of coffee, and boy are we excited to see what this guy (with a lifetime .256 average in the minors) can do given a full season. Laser eye surgery!

The point is this bag of beans really is cool.

What is he supposed to write? "Wellemyer and Thompson were pretty bad last year, and I expect the same this year. Don't bother to come out to park on those days unless you want to root for the other team."

What was Duncan supposed to say? "Boy, last year they threw meatball after meatball up there. Not only were we lucky to win those games, we were lucky someone in the stands didn't get killed by a hard hit ball. It's too bad the front office can't get us some decent pitchers. Yup. There's gonna be some long innings when those guys pitch this year. I hope Tony retires soon. I can't take this any more. I'm afraid they're going to try to bring Dave Lapoint back and put him in the rotation. This is no longer a job--it's torture. If Wainwright gets hurt, Kyle Loshe is my ace. Please, just shoot me. Someone, please."

I don't care if its "basic" stats or not...I'm tired of hearing the run support "excuse".

There is "something" about Reyes that is negative. I've seen it coaching baseball. The guy isn't excitable, isn't a leader.

People pay too much attention to stats sometimes and forget about personalities.

For whatever unmeasurable reason, Wellemeyer and Thompson get Cardinal hitters excited.

It's not a "fluke stat" when they consistently get run support and Reyes does not.

Furthermore, even if its frustrating that their games might technically be considered bullpen games, would you rather have a bullpen game with a good chance to win, or throw in someone like Mark Redman or another warm body, cheap FA that was available?

write-up was pretty spot-on. After seeing that the Phillies' site hasn't received the up-grade yet, I can say that I don't miss the old look at all. Got used to the new ways pretty fast.

I also found Tony and Dunc's comments in the P-D this morning somewhat disconcerting. But, like Hugo, I wish that right at .500 was an option for the poll.

I want to make a counter point in regard to this post. I think that Thompson and Wellmeyer actually had something to do with the win loss records. Consider the following: Reyes and Wells combined to start 56 games last year and had a combined record of 9 - 31. That allows for 16 no decisions and I'm at work so I can't research what happened in those no decisions, but even if the cards won them all, that's still only 25 - 31. Now what was the problem that plagued Wells and Reyes? The big Inning. Reyes and Wells didn't keep the cards in the game. While Thompson and Wellmeyer weren't great, and by some standards weren't even good, what they did do was not put the team in an early hole. Maybe that allowed for the hitters to not press, and approach at-bats differently. Now, I know they are not the solution, however, I do think they can do a very capable job of holding over the rotation until the injured 4 some returns. I know I have no evidence to suport this, but in games not started by Wells and Reyes last year the cardinals were actually a pretty good team, and if you replaced their starts by a 500 pitcher they would have been contenders.

But has anyone written about or discussed which pitchers the Cards were facing when Wellemeyer, Thompson, and Reyes started? I seem to remember Reyes getting some bad draws.

Seems like a good place to start looking for cause/effect.

How about this: Reyes sucks.

Look at his numbers comparing 2006 to 2007. He remarkably consistent.

2006: 17 starts
2007: 20 starts

2006: 2.11 SO to BB
2007: 1.73 SO to BB

WHIP and HR allowed is pretty much identical in both years.

2006: 1.77 earned run for each inning pitched.
2007: 1.5 earned run for each inning pitched.

He can't get anyone out. If they get on base, they score. He's like Randy Flores, only a starter.

You take out, what? 3 good games and he hasn't done anything on a major league level.