Is this fun or what? This team just flat out refuses to lose right now.  8 of their last 10 and 11 of their last 15.  All of this following the last rites administered on August 5th.  Its a combination of things that have sparked this Redbird resurgence.  For one its the starting pitching stupid.  The Starters have turned in 12 quality starts in those 15 games.  Everyone is pitching well.  We are also getting tons of breaks.  We got every possible break in Milwaukee.  Last night Hanley Ramirez committed a throwing error in the bottom of the 8th which caused Armando Benitez to go down in flames.  Tonight after the seemingly demoralizing performance by the usually reliable Ryan Franklin the Cards came right back answering the Marlins 3 run 7th with one of their own capped off with a huge 2 run homer by Jim Edmonds.  Jason Isringhausen has been lights out pitching 4 scoreless innings in the last 3 games to pick up 3 saves.  Albert has heated up homering tonight for the fifth consecutive game.  Everything is clicking and tommrow with a win the Cards can say something they haven’t said since an April 16th loss to Pittsburgh.  We are a .500 ballclub.  The Cardinals do have a rough go of it after Monday as due to make up games they will play 35 games in 34 consecutive days.  The good thing however is that 22 of the next 32 are at Busch.  The stretch drive is here folks, and miraculously with 39 to play the Cards are right in the thick of it.  Another exciting September in the Gateway City…could it be another exciting October as well?

What is it about that 90 year old dump that causes the Cards so much heartbreak?  That place is definately Redbird Kryptonite.  In Milwaukee everything that could go right did go right.  We got timely hitting, we got all the breaks, we got outstanding starting pitching.  At Wrigley it has been the exact opposite.  Maybe its Wrigley, and maybe its Juan’s return to the lineup.  Ankiel will be back in there tonight in what has to be classified as a must win for the Redbirds.  Everything has gone wrong in the previous two days.  Basically the problem has been is the Cubs homers have come with men on base, ours have been solo shots.  Anthony Reyes was outstanding yesterday but threw one bad pitch.  Unfortunately as has happened so many times for Anthony this year it came with the bases loaded.  We got completely hosed on a call at home (see picture above) where Pujols was CLEARLY safe, but was called out by the incompetent home plate umpire.  The Cards have to put all that behind them though and go out and win these last two games.  Period.  No whining, no crying, just results.  A split is perfectly acceptable and at Wrigley it would seem like a series win.  Now however the Cards will be forced to fight back for the split by beating arguably the NL’s best pitcher in Carlos Zambrano tonight, and then face a guy who has killed them this year in Ted Lilly Monday.  Kip will get the ball tonight and I actually like that for a change.  Kip has been money lately and will have to be strong again tonight.  Joel Pineiro gets the ball for the Cards Monday and he too has been outstanding lately.  We’ve gotta win these last two games, If we don’t everything that happened in Milwaukee is irrelevant. 

In 1978 as the New York Yankees completed one of the more improbably 2nd half surges to overtake the Boston Red Sox and eventually win the AL East and then the World Series they completed what will forever be known by Sox and Yanks fans as the "Boston Massacre"  The Yanks went to Fenway and playing 4 games in 3 days they beat the Sox 15-3, 13-2, 7-0, 7-4.  Fast forward 29 years to 2007.  Let it be known that these three games in Milwaukee shall henceforth be known as the Milwaukee Mauling.  The Cards came, they saw, and they kicked the Brewers’ (tail).  12-4, 8-3, 8-0.  The Brewers might now be the first team in history that is still in first place that I would classify as "done".  The Cards are now surging playing their best ball of the year.  Since I officially declared the Birds dead back on August 5th the Cards have won 8 of 10 including their last 5.  They have now 9 consecutive quality starts from their rotation.  EVERYTHING is clicking with this team.  It seems to coincide with the departures of Adam Kennedy and Juan Encarnacion.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Here is something to chew on…Could this Cardinal team actually be one that is built for October.  Adam Wainwright is now pitching like a bonafide ace.  Mark Mulder will be back and if he is the old healthy Mark Mulder he also is a solid number one.  Kip Wells has done a complete 180 throwing quality outings everytime out.  Joel Pineiro has been nails since coming over from Boston.  Anthony Reyes has also been dealing lately.  Braden Looper has been awesome.  The Cardinals now seem to have a surplus of GOOD starting pitching.  Unreal.  Looper will likely return to the pen in September when Mulder returns which makes the best bullpen in baseball even better.  Izzy, Percival, Springer, Franklin, Looper, Johnson, and Flores.  The Cardinals won’t blow any leads.  Rolen is hitting, Edmonds is hitting, everything is coming together.  Just like Christ himself the Cardinals died on August 5th and came back 3 days later.  Lets keep the momentum rolling into Chi-Town!

For the past seven seasons one thing has been constant in the National League Central Division.  That is the St. Louis Cardinals (save for 2003) finishing on top of it.  They are still the most intimidating team for NL Central squads to face due to their decade of dominance.  So it stands to reason that as the Cards appear poised to make their move the two front runners Milwaukee and Chicago who are two teams not accustomed to winning could be hearing footsteps.  The hard charging Cardinals following their 12-4 victory tonight now only stand 4 1/2 games out of first place and an amazing 3 games out in the loss column.  How is this possible?  An heavy dose of youth along with a sudden solid pitching staff.  Tonight Kip Wells turned in the rotations 7th straight quality starts.  Rick "The Stick" Ankiel and Brendan Ryan have come up and replaced useless wastes of space Juan Encarnacion and Adam Kennedy.  The bullpen has remained solid.  And of course it doesn’t hurt that neither the Brewers or Cubs want to win this thing.  This is only one game on a critical 7 game roadie.  But its nice to get off on the right foot with a big win over the Brew Crew.  This Cardinals still 4 games UNDER .500 could be in first place when the trip is over.   While that is highly unlikely it is certainly concievable that the Cards could pull to within 2 or 3 games by next Monday.  Unbelievable.  Either way somehow some way this team that isn’t very good at all (did you see that Morbid) looks like they will play meaningful games in September.  Something that looked impossible just about a week and a half ago. 

Wow.  All you can say is wow.  This is without question, hands down, the story of the year in 2007.  Forget Josh Hamilton making it back to the bigs.  His problems were self-inflected.  Rick Ankiel overcoming everything, beating the odds, and getting back to the bigs is it.  The guy is unconcious at the plate right now.  Two more homers today. 3 for 4 at the plate.  Made a terrific diving catch in right field, and to top everything off he has put Juan Encarnacion on the bench.  Is there anything this guy can’t do?  Rick is carrying the ballclub right now as they won today to guarantee a winning homestand against two pretty good teams.  With Milwaukee currently losing the Cards could pull to within 5.5 games of first place and 4 in the loss column.  Unreal for a team that isn’t very good, and has no business anywhere near a pennant race.  But thanks to Roy Hobbs…errr…Rick Ankiel the Cards have finally gotten a spark.  The starting pitching has been fabulous this week, even last night in a loss Adam Wainwright was able to give the Cards their first complete game of 2007.  The bullpen has been rested for the first time in a while, and all of a sudden they don’t look half bad. Even if they don’t climb back into the race watching Rick the Stick slug away the next two months will make the games entertaining.  Basically its fun to watch this team again.  Something that has been sorely lacking all year.  Still the Cardinals need a win tommorow, and then need something they haven’t had.  A big roadtrip.  Could be a tall order, but for right now anyway this pathetic team is alive and kicking. 

I have seen some magical moments in baseball, but that might top the list.  Rick Ankiel returned to the big leagues and hit a huge 3 run homer for the Redbirds tonight.  This is movie material stuff here.  Ankiel debuted for the Cardinals at age 19 in 1999 as a hard throwing left with all the promise in the world.  In 2000 Ankiel went 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA in his rookie season and finished 2nd to the Braves Rafael Furcal in the rookie of the year voting.  Then on October 3, 2000 in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Braves it all fell apart…

BRAVES 3RD: Maddux walked; Furcal popped to first in foul
territory; Ankiel threw a wild pitch [Maddux to second]; Ankiel
threw a wild pitch [Maddux to third]; A. Jones walked; Ankiel threw a wild pitch [A. Jones to second]; C. Jones was called out on strikes; Galarraga walked [Maddux scored on a wild pitch, A.
Jones to third]; Jordan singled to left [A. Jones scored, Galarraga to second]; Ankiel threw a wild pitch [Galarraga to third, Jordan to second]; Sanders walked; Weiss singled to left [Galarraga scored, Jordan scored, Sanders to second]; JAMES REPLACED ANKIEL (PITCHING); Lopez popped to second

Just like that it was over.  Ankiel was finished.  He threw four more wild pitches in his game 2 start against the Mets in the NLCS.  He was never the same.  He fought his way back to the big leagues in 2004 and was okay in relief even picking up a win in the final game of the regular season.   Then in 2005 Spring Training it all fell apart again.  Ankiel retired…as a pitcher.  He began his career all over again as a power hitting outfielder.  Most thought it was a joke, a long shot.  Most people except Rick, who fought his way to AA in his first full year as a hitter in 2005.  Then in 2006 injury kept Rick out for the entire season.  Most thought he would never return.  Most except Rick.  He came back with a vengence in Spring Training leading the Cards in home runs.  He was assigned to AAA Memphis were he tore through the PCL to the tune of 32 homers and 81 RBI.  Included in that was a 3 home run game right here in Des Moines in June.  Finally tonight Rick got his call to the big leagues.  The ovation he got as stood in in the first inning was breathtaking.  Rick popped out, in the third he struck out looking, in the fifth he went down swinging.  Rick was 0 for 3 and it appeared that the road back to the bigs wouldn’t have the storybook ending.  Rick had other plans.  On a 2-1 pitch Rick went down and got a Doug Brocail off speed pitch and launched it into the right field bleachers.  3 run homer.  5-0 Cards.  Curtain call for Ankiel.  Unbelievable moment.  Bordering on emotional for any Cardinal fan that watched this kid fall so far only to bounce back in such a huge way.  You just can’t put it into words. 

How he got to the big leagues however is anything but fun to talk about.  Scott Spiezio was placed on the restricted list as he will seek treatment for an apparent substance abuse problem.  Speezer approached the team on Tuesday after an odd story Monday night detailed here in a odd story that you can draw your own conclusions from.  Kudos to Scott for seeking help on this and hopefully he can exercise his demons.  Tony La Russa said he expects Scott back before the end of the year. 

Lost in everything that happened tonight was the fantastic performance by Joel Pineiro who pitched 7 shutout innings and any other night would have been THE story.  Instead he is lost in the shuffle.  Meanwhile the Cards now just stand 5 1/2 games out of first place heading into a weekend series with the slumping Dodgers.  I guess we aren’t dead yet. 

This is why I hate this team.  Just when they are dead, buried, finished, cooked, and every other adjective you can use to say they are not a contender they go out and take 2 of 3 from the Padres while the Cubs and Crew lose three straight.  Now the Cards find themselves exactly where they were before last weeks horrifying road trip.  6 games out of first, 4 in the loss column.  Still one more with San Diego at home and 3 with the Dodgers.  From a numbers standpoint this team is right in the thick of the NL Central race.  Now that of course says a lot for how horrible the division it is but as the Cardinals proved last year you don’t get extra points in the playoffs for how good your division was.  There is absolutely no reason to think this Cardinal team will come back and win the Central Division.  They have the 47th worst starting pitching staff ever assembled in terms of ERA.  Their bullpen arms are more tired than a rerun of Andy Griffith.  They have the least productive middle infield in baseball.  They have a center fielder on his last legs.  They have a 3rd baseman who has randomly lost his power.  But if the 2006 post season taught us anything its that this game can offer some of the most unexplainable, unthinkable things you have ever seen.  What if Kip Wells starts throwing every fifth day like he did tonight, What if Mark Mulder returns and is in his Oakland form.  What if Anthony Reyes continues his hot hand?  What if Joel Pineiro turns out to be the answer?  Is there any logical way for all of this to happen?  Of course not, but there was no logical sense to them winning last year either.  Of course if you are in South Texas you might argue that the NL Central is now a FOUR team race as Houston has climbed to within 7 1/2.  Could the ‘Stros be ready for another 2nd half late run?  They certainly have the best starting pitcher in the division.   

Now then I like everyone else who follows this game must offer my thoughts on Barry Bonds breaking the all-time home run record last night.  That was a moment I will never forget.  I loved every minute of it.  I have said it before, juice or no juice Barry Bonds is one of the five greatest players ever.  The man has put up offensive numbers that have few equals.  Do I think he did steroids?  Yes.  But I also think Jose Canseco’s figures of 80-85% of all players did as well.  As long as this grand game has been played people have tried to gain a competitive edge.  Babe Ruth didn’t play against Blacks.  After integration more players were hyped up on greenies to get themselves ready to play (yes, greenies are a performance enhancer) We have no idea who used steroids and who didn’t.  We have no idea how many players are still using growth hormones.  This has a lot more to do with Barry being a jerk than Barry being on the juice.  As for the accomplishment goes it is something that deserves to be celbrated.  We should all feel privledged to have watched one of the greats of the game do his thing for the last 22 years culminating with that magical swing last night.  There is no black cloud here.  Move over Hammerin Hank, Barry Bonds, like it or not, is the new home run king.

What a pathetic showing.  What a disgusting display of baseball.  What an anticlimatic way for the season to finally be mercy killed.  After gaining all the momentum in the world, after pulling to within 5 games of first place, after pulling to just 3 games under .500 the Cardinals lose 5 straight to two of the worst teams in the NL featuring 3 heartbreaking last at bat losses and 2 embarassing blow outs.  Ryan Franklin is even blowing games now.  Of course his arm is probably about ready to fall off since Tony uses him every freakin night.  Now its over, done, finished.  The Cardinals must now do two things, get Brendan Ryan, Skip Schumaker, and Rick Ankiel to the big leagues and see if they can play every day, and also attempt to trade anything they can that passes through waivers.   From a competitive standpoint the Cards need to hold on to 3rd place and hopefully get to .500 to keep their streak of 7 consecutive winning seasons alive.  We do still have one thing to cheer for, the Brewers holding off the Cubbies and keeping them out of the playoffs.   As for the weekend in baseball minus the debacle in the Capitol City we had one of the most amazing weekends of baseball ever.  A-Rod hits his 500th homerun Saturday afternoon and Barry Bonds finally hits 755 on Saturday night.  How is that for a day in baseball history.  The same day that Bonds becomes the home run king the man who will likely eventually overtake him hits his milestone homer #500.  Now tonight with a 4-0 lead as I type this it appears certain that Tom Glavine will pick up win #300.  What a great weekend, even if my team’s season came to a tragic end.   Oh well football season is right around the corner. 

On Sunday evening there was a new found optimisim in Cardinal Nation.  The team had pulled to just 3 games under .500.  They had pulled to within 6 games of first place.  They had just taken three straight from first place Milwaukee.  Now we were headed to lowly Pittsburgh and Washington with all the momentum in the World.  A win in the opener Tuesday Night in Pittsburgh made it seem like our struggles were finally behind us.  Going into Wednesday night’s game there was a feeling of a team making their move.   And then in one inning, it was gone.  Like so many times this season the Cards found themselves way behind early…A victim of their putrid starting pitching.  15-1 was the final score.  FIFTEEN TO ONE.  Like so many times this season the Cards had a game where they never had a chance.  Then today’s game another disappointing affair where the Cards gave back a 3-0 lead in the 5th.  Blew numerous chances and finally fell victim to the pitiful Pirates in both the game and the series.  Now both the Cubs and Brewers lost today as well, so in theory nothing was lost.  But in reality all the momentum built up by the Brewer series goes bye bye.  Maybe this team can get it going again.  Maybe a trip to Washington is what they need.  But when it comes right down to it at some point we all have to face facts.  We’re just not very good.  Are we still alive? yes…Am I still confident? no.  Still have no starting pitching, still get no timely hitting, still have a 10 million dollar 2nd baseman who can’t hit, still have a 90 million dollar 3rd baseman who’s power vanished quicker than Vanilla Ice’s career.  We’re still just not a good baseball team, as I much as I’d like to fool myself into thinking so. 

If you couldn’t read the sarcasam in that title you can’t read.  Joel Pineiro is the best we could do at the deadline.  Wow, I guess we’ll just have to dance with what brung us.  Even if she is 250 pounds and has 3 teeth.  At least we didn’t mortgage the future for a 2 month rental that might not make any difference anyway.  The Cubs and Brewers must have felt footsteps from that Big Redbird Express bearing down on them in the NL Central because they both won in come from behind fashion.  The Crew came back from down 2-1 in the 8th to win on Geoff Jenkins’ walk off homer in the 13th.  The Cubs came back to win 7-4 over the Phils.  As for the Birdies its four in a row as the Cards inch just 3 wins away from the .500 mark with their 4th straight victory.  I didn’t see much of the game tonight as I followed it mostly on the radio.   If any of you listen to the radio let me just say that as much as I love Ricky Horton on television, play by play on the radio isn’t his forte.  He screwed up more names than Harry Caray in the 7th inning of a doubleheader.   Of course the reason Ricky is doing the games on the radio is because Mike Shannon was on leave to spend time with his ill wife Judy who sadly passed away over the weekend.  I completely forgot to mention that in my last blog.  Condolences to the Shannon family, they have been through a lot lately.  Other than what we saw tonight not much to comment on today.  Apparantely Pineiro will pitch this weekend and Thompson and Maroth are in the bullpen for now.  Reyes earned himself another start and will pitch Thursday afternoon.  At 15-11 the Cards earned their first winning month since July of 2006.  The Cards are actually trending upward as they were .500 even in June, 3 under in May, and 4 under in April.  If that trend continues we’ll be alright.  I just wanted to mention that ESPN always likes to bring up the Cubs record since Lou Pinella threw his temper tantrum.  Well the Cards are 4-0 since La Russa was tossed Saturday afternoon.  And while we’re at it the Cards are 5-1 since I declared them dead…

The lesson as always, I am an idiot.