Losing Bites

Anytime your team loses, as a fan you are unhappy. But some losses are worse than others. Some losses leave you bitter; with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. Tonight’s Cardinals loss was one of those. Let’s add up the pain and suffering left behind by this debacle.

1. It was to the Astros, for crying out loud. Before tonight, they had won just 10 games. They were (still are) the worst team in the National League.

2. The Cardinals blew a 2-0 lead, and failed to provide run support to Brad Penny. He was sailing along until things blew up in the 7th inning. The Cardinals have been averaging under 2 runs per game in Penny’s 7 starts. He could sue for lack of support.

3. Brendan Ryan is usually so sure-handed. It’s probably the only time all year when we will look back and say “Ryan blew it”. His error opened the flood gates and all 4 runs in the 7th inning scored because of his one-out error. Penny allowed zero earned runs.

4. The early part of that game had that uh-oh feeling about it. Yadier Molina stranded two runners in the first and then wasted a bases loaded opportunity in the third inning, hitting into a double play. Yadi’s been money with runners in scoring position, but not this time. And this came one batter after Jose Oquendo held up Albert Pujols at third. That inning just felt like a big waste, with a couple of extra runs left behind. When Yadi fails twice in a row with runners in scoring position, it is not a good sign.

5. The next inning the Cardinals lost another run when Skip Schumaker was thrown out at home. At this point, even with the Cardinals leading 2-0, the queasy feeling was beginning to settle in.

6. Albert once again was held in check, including hitting into a double play. And he tweaked a leg or a foot trying to leg out a close play at first base in the 3rd inning. He hasn’t been right at the plate in over a week.

7. Matt Holliday is hopelessly lost at the plate, especially at games played in Busch Stadium, although he drove one line drive up the middle in this game. Like most people, I still have confidence in him, and fully expect him to turn this trend around. But for now, it’s just pop-up after pop-up; and ground-out after ground-out.

8. The Colby Rasmus lead-off experiment seemed like a good idea; perhaps it would help get him or Skippy or both of them out of their slumps. Schumaker managed to get a hit, but Colby was not able to reach base even once. Ryan Ludwick had a good game batting in the second spot in the order, but there were too many rallies that never got off the ground.

9. It ended up being yet another game of watching Cardinal hitter after hitter taking good pitches down the middle and swinging at breaking balls out of the strike zone. Their timing is off. This is too good of a team to stay in this kind of a hitting slump this long. It’s frustrating and it’s taking it’s toll on me. Tony LaRussa is probably bothered by it too. ;-)

10. Jason Motte continues to try to get everyone out with fast balls. And he gave up two solo home runs. The starting pitchers on this team actually pitch. Motte throws. The starters mix their pitches, mix their location, and go to war with each and every batter. They continually pitch 6+ innings by giving up only a run or two each start. And then Motte comes in and throws fast balls. Pitch after pitch. Until somebody finally crushes one. It’s inevitable.

11. And finally, the Reds demolished the Pirates. Yeah, it’s early in the season and I shouldn’t be watching the standings. But Cincinnati is hot, and playing good baseball. And the Cardinals shouldn’t be losing these kind of games. And did I mention it was to the Astros???

I think I’m going to barf. Thank God there’s another game tomorrow so I can forget this one.