A Very Long Delay

Ace:

1. the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
2. one of four playing cards in a deck having a single pip on its face
3. someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

Carpenter gave the Cardinals exactly what they needed tonight. A huge start going into the day a off - after a long rain delay. The Bullpen got a rest. Thank goodness for Carpenter.

In other news, it sure looks like Jim Edmonds is back doesn't it? If that's the case, perhaps Walt should should ditch the search for a new outfield bat, and pick up a big time starter. Or maybe not. I waver on this daily, to the point where i have no clue what the cardinals should do, except that they should never give Jason Marquis another start again.

Elch

Well, the cardinals suck.

As i write this the cardinals are losing 13-1, having two hits over 6 innings. Jason marquis pitched a gutless 5+ innings giving up 12 runs on a night where the cardinals needed a strong start because their bullpen got emptied out last night.

This is the most difficult team i have watched in several years. Its even more difficult to watch than the 2003 version that was absolutly maddening. The problem with this team is that there are only four people that bear most of the blame for this entire season.

1. Mark Mulder - the nicest thing mulder did for this team this year is admit he was hurt. His k/9 ratio has been declining for three years now, he's not getting ground balls and his velocity was down to 86-87 the last time he pitched.
2. Jason Marquis - 11 wins are nice, but if there was ever a guy where wins didint tell the whole story, its this guy. His ERA is up around 6. He's a ground ball pitcher that doesn't get ground balls, and he's walked as many guys as he's struck out. Gutless, pathetic, and awful. I wouldnt trust him to win a little league game right now.
3. Jeff Suppan - Fell apart. Ugh.
4. Tony La Russa - Hasnt accepted the fact the Aaron Miles can't hit, Hector Luna can, and left Anthony Reyes in the minors for far too long.

The solution is to trade for a setup type guy. I'd trade one of the above mentioned starters. Insert Wainwright into the starting rotation and hope Mulder and Weaver can turn it around. Luna has to be playing every day. And they need a left fielder - from somewhere.

It's 13-5 now, and im going to beat my head into the wall.