that it doesn't help. On the other hand, it's the kid's first time trying to close out a game. Very few guys just slide into a late inning role without any growing pains.

The Reyes saga continues to get more and more interesting...

he won't get the chance...

[raises hand, slaps own hand down. Calls self liar].

91 more to go.

but I have been (doing my best) arguing a fairly more optimistic position than a lot of other VEBers. I do feel they are capable of winning the central -- just a lot needs to go right, and our offense is a key part of it until Carp and co. come back.

This team is so much more lively and fresh than the injury-riddled team we had last year. Does anyone else remember how shitty our offense was at the beginning of the year? I still feel that had a major contribution to why we had such a rough year. How do you build confidence as a pitcher if you just lost a 2-0 game where you pitched 6-7 quality innings? You don't . . . and it begins to take a tear.

With that said, we could still have a completely awful year. But there are definitely more reasons for optimism than the Jeff Passan's of the world will have you know.

4 games this month.

I still think it's a mirage, because Wellemeyer is terrible, and Pineiro will be when he gets back, and Looper and Thompson and Lohse will be average at best ultimately. And the offense will collapse if Yadi stops hitting. And the bullpen is awful beyond Izzy (who still has a ticking time bomb hip). But I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Bashing Reyes in public again.

The ump got him.

Also I don't understand why they had Reyes go in and low with what appeared to be a breaking ball on Flores.

He was succesful the other day up in the strike zone. He had him set up and should have went up and in not down.

But he did get two outs and we won so Good job A Rey.

he is the pitcher, he can shake it off if he doesn't like the call. I'm sure Yadi didn't call for a meatball, that's just what Reyes threw.

Ryan Franklin has blown all spring

and this was the first bit of struggling Reyes has had all spring.

I understand the manlove thing...but I really don't think I need to dignify the 2006 WS reference and the mention of the 1 hitter with a response...I watched both of those games and they were absolutely thrilling, but we're talking about 2 starts here...Hardcore, your answer is definately the most valid, but still no one should be patting A-Rey on the back for his performance today...not even Larussa

Franklin has a pretty long career of being a bad pitcher. Reyes on the other hand, has completely dominated the minors and has shown tantalizing flashes of that domination in the majors on occasion.

isn't on EI, according to the EI schedule...and I can't remember the last time I saw a Cards game on Sunday that wasn't televised by ESPN.

this. which i posted above since it looks like you missed it.

it's not on there, but it's on MASN2 at 1:30pm est. so if it's on there, it should be, i say should be on DTV EI.

i say that because a lot of times during the season, Dish had a game listed, and DTV EI did not. but come game time it was on DTV EI. i have DTV only for EI & Dish for everything else. i was totally against DTV EI last season, but after seeing everything they bring to the table, i'm now on board. they have way more options than Dish ever had & to this day, cable still does not.

man, i felt really dirty typing that.

OH & one more thing, MASN (Dish Channel 432) is currently re-airing Saturday afternoon's game unblacked out. i'm catching up on it in between commercial breaks of G4's Attack Stack. before you question my Cardinals loyalty, Anna David hosted every show this week. need i say more?.