hilarious nl preseason preview now up at the brushback. here's the entry on the cards:
The strength of this team, as always, is the starting lineup. Your only chance if you're an opposing pitcher is to face these guys in the postseason, when they roll over and die like dogs.
Weakness:
They signed Sidney Ponson, who is hoping to rebound from his entire career to have a good 2006.
Question mark:
Jim Edmonds is out to prove that old people can still function in a limited capacity as long as you keep an eye on them and don't ask too much.
Outlook:
The window of opportunity for the Cardinals may be closing as some of their best players are battling injuries. Still, Tony LaRussa is a good manager who will find a way to get the best out of this team until the playoffs start.
the cards lead the mets 6-2 in port st lucie. mulder threw 3.2 innings and gave up 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 k. wait, make that 8-2 -- spivey just doubled home a couple runs. it's his 2d hit of the day in four trips; he hasn't struck out. his main challenger for playing time at 2b, hector luna, started at shortstop today (batting 1st) and is 0 for 3 with a walk and two errors. he now has 4 boots this spring. wainwright's in his 3d inning of work; these guys are in a hurry to get the game over with, he's just gotten two outs on two pitches. . . . wait, make that three outs on three pitches. how's the manager supposed to get a look at his pitchers when the batters swing at ev'ything like that? wainwright has probably thrown about 35 pitches so far in three innings; he may get sent out for one more frame.
i rec'd yesterday an advance copy of Stepping Up: The Story of All-Star Curt Flood and His Fight for Baseball Players' Rights, written by Bronx Banter blogger and si.com contributor alex belth. already three chapters in and enjoying the read. i only saw flood play one season, 1969; i was 6 years old. can't say i have vivid memories, but i do recall one game (and this is probably it) where he made two mind-boggling catches in left-center. it sticks in my memory because, even though the cardinals lost, jack buck had flood on the "star of the game" show because of those two grabs.
flood makes the occasional cameo here at VEB (this post, for example); an underappreciated player. when i finish the book i'll report.
9-3 cards in the 9th; wainwright got tagged for a two-out run in the 8th (single double). a good not great outing for him: 3.2 inn 6 hits 2 runs (1 earned) 0 w 3 k.