Probably gas.

And I'm glad to see Skip hitting leadoff and Eck in the 8 hole.  Ever since Edmonds told him to relax, settle down and just play ball, he's done a lot better job at the plate.  Moving to the 8 hole might really help Eckstein.  Since he's hitting in front of the pitcher, he's liable to see pitches to hit and will probably be more patient at the plate, too.  It can't hurt.

Once again, though, we're counting on Looper.  It's a little scary -- who thought we'd be doing that on May 1?  But it sure is good to be talking baseball again.  Thanks, LB.

They've got
2 - Brewers
3 - Astros
3 - Colorado (one of which Carp may pitch)

Ideally for the Cards, 7-1 would be gravy.  I doubt it's going to happen, but 5-3 is doable.  That would put the Cards at 15-17, full staffed once again heading to the West Coast for San Diego and LA.

So, this is an important week for the Cardinals to make some hay against NL Central teams before they get their ace and their 'starting' RF back.  

Getting rolling and adding those guys back to the roster (whatever Juan is worth) would be a huge step towards getting this season on track.

This month, the Cards have 7 games against the 10-16 Rockies, 3 games against the 9-17 Nationals and 3 against the 10-14 Astros.  These are games the Cardinals have to win.  They can't lose to struggling teams if they hope to get back into the race.

I know the team is going through a lot right now, but it is still good to look ahead and see what they CAN do in the month of May.

If everything breaks the way it SHOULD, the Cardinals could play their way back into contention this month.

Ludwick and Ankiel are both turning heads, and either might get a call-up. doesn't seem like the right time to toss Ankiel into the fire, but i wouldn't mind seeing Ludwick get some ABs.

After looking at various 'wide' shots, there is no one at this game.  I think they are boosting the crowd volume (a good 'ole TV trick) to make it appear that there are more people there than there really is.

I could be wrong, though.

That's the first time that he's struck out the side since the 8th inning of a game August 31, 2006 against the Marlins.

In that inning, he also walked two and gave up two singles and a run scored.

Apparently Kennedy is unaware of Eck's arm strength.

In his 2nd AB, he was dropping F-Bombs or what appeared to be F-Bombs as he went to first and kept looking back towards homeplate.

FSN Wisconsin took about 10 seconds to figure it out.

now that they got that over with, let's get one of 'em up here!

ugh.

Bare down Looper.

aaaaand of course he strikes out on the next pitch.

Could we please get some extra base hits?  The knickle and diming stuff is nice, but how about splicing together a couple doubles and a single in an inning every once in awhile?

Is it really that exciting? Maybe I am just very sensitive right now, but you don't kick a guy when hes down.

We've got Eckstein-Miles-Skip-Dunc-Pujols up next inning. The seventh looks like a great chance for a big inning.

Really I think we've let a couple get by us and we have got to be better at swinging at those.

#2 Edmonds
#3 Pujols
#4 Duncan
#5 Rolen

Potential advantages would include:

• Move Edmonds into a slot where his higher OBP/presently low SLG profile would fit
  
• Might get Jimmy more good pitches to hit in front of Albert and help get him going
  
• Duncan should get a lot of pitches to hit centered between Albert and Scotty
  
• L-R-L-R in the center of the lineup
  
• We might never see Wilson in the #2 slot again

Sorry for ranting.  Just a little bummed about the club right now.

But right now he cant hit and he is so slow its pathetic.
I love the D though, and when the hitting comes back for everyone else I will love him again.

Next year I wouldnt mind seeing Kennedy, Eck, Jimmy and Juan (as I type this Eck gets a hit)
all gone next year.

I really like Eck but I just dont think it would be smart to sign him again.  Hell I have his shirt but I think we got what we are going to get out of him.

Kennedy we are kind of stuck with and maybe he can compete with better hitters around him.
I dont think he is a very good hitter, and I dont think he is fast or a very good baserunner.

Jim Edmonds- one of my favorite Cards.  He looks like he doesnt have anything at all.
I cant stand to see him like he is after all those years leading this club.  Im glad he still has a role on this team but he is almost a detrement at this point.  I like him being here, but I wish management would stop thinking of him as the core or as a guy who is going "come back' and contribute like he has in the past.  I just never see that happening and the sooner they get over that the better off we will be.

Juan is Tino.  He isnt a bad guy and at the end of the year you look and he did put up decent numbers but durring the year he seems like a hole.

Now obviously we cant turn over 4 positions but if any of these guys were gone it wouldnt hurt my feelings.

blah, end my crazy rant.  Dont take this too seriously

And you know, to be honest there is next year!

but what I saw on tv he wasnt yelling or anything crazy, but he didnt look stable.

well they will have a Walt interview tomorrow with Strauss and I think Bernie will have a new article that should be worth reading.

this would give edmonds more fastballs that he could hit and duncan would still get things to his because he's between pujols and rolen....

Thanks.

1. stlcardinalfan: you are being ridiculous.
   
2. josh hancock: tragic; huge mistake; did not deserve what happened.

The fact that i'm wishing for his return sort of sums up the sad state of our team right now.