April 4, 2011

Series Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

Normally the year starts slowly, but this year's World Champion Pirates start the season with ten straight home games. And so it is that the heavily favored Pirates, they of the .667 winning percentage, head to St. Louis to meet the lovable losers - the Cardinals, who have mustered only a .333 winning percentage. I normally have a rule that I never post the same preview babes more than once, but there are babes who it's worth breaking rules for and these are two of them.It was barely April before this year's Cardinals season started to look doomed. Ace pitcher Adam Wainwright, who won 39 games in the past two years while finishing in the top 3 in Cy Young voting both times, was already out for the season after right elbow surgery. Ryan Theriot was signed to lead off and play shortstop because, you know, I guess every team in the division needs a shortstop who fields poorly and hits poorly. And now five-tool slugger Matt Holliday has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with an appendectomy. Yesterday they went with a lineup of Theriot-Jay-Pujols-Berkman-Rasmus-Molina-Schumaker-Garcia-Descalso. That's not good. I don't know who Daniel Descalso is and I'm not looking it up.

Pirates vs. Cardinals
Monday 8:15, Tuesday 8:15, Wednesday 1:45

In a matchup that causes one to ask "Who the hell could possibly be these teams' fifth starters?" the Pirates go with Charlie Morton (2-12, 7.57 in 2010) against the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse (4-8, 6.55). Enough has already been said about Charlie Morton; I'm rooting for him just like you are. As far as Kyle Lohse, well, when your peak is going six innings every start and giving up three runs, the results aren't pretty after two years of steep decline. My pick is the Pirates.

Tomorrow night it's James McDonald (4-6, 4.02) against Kyle McClellan (1-4, 2.27). This is as interesting as fifth starter matchups get. McDonald of course was the Pirates' ace last year, but he's pushed back to this start because of lingering injury problems. The Pirates say he will be limited to 85-90 pitches. Let's hope he's actually ready to make this start, and not just making it for no reason. For what it's worth, I'm not entirely sure the actual starter won't be Jeff Karstens (3-10, 4.92). It's not like Karstens will be required out of the long relief role for Morton's start tonight...

McClellan moves to the rotation this year after quietly becoming the best reliever in the STL in 2010. He throws a 91 mph fastball with movement and a sharp-breaking curve. As a starter he will have to mix in his cutter changeup more often. If anyone can convert relievers to starters, it's Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. Nobody knows what his secret is but I'm going to reveal it. It's standing around chewing tobacco. My pick is the Pirates.

Wednesday, both club's aces face off as Kevin Correia (1-0, 3.00) takes on Chris Carpenter (0-0, 2.57). For obvious reasons, my pick is the Pirates.

24 comments:

  1. Nice try Frank, but those babes still aren't going to text you back.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice post, That chicks looks beautiful why there are using girls in MLB 2k11 Ha! ha!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's why you broken your rules if I was in your place I do the same in MLB Standings kidding.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good day! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my
    comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having
    trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
    Check out my page Cheap nfl jerseys

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!

    Look at my page: michael kors

    ReplyDelete
  6. My relatives all the time say that I am wasting my time here at
    web, however I know I am getting experience daily by reading such
    pleasant posts.

    Here is my web site :: michael kors perfumes

    ReplyDelete
  7. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide
    credit and sources back to your website? My blog is in
    the exact same niche as yours and my users would certainly benefit
    from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with
    you. Many thanks!

    Visit my web site ... 激安プラダ バッグ

    ReplyDelete
  8. I simply couldn't go away your web site before suggesting that I really loved the standard information a person provide on your visitors? Is going to be again ceaselessly in order to check out new posts

    Look at my blog ロレックスコピー

    ReplyDelete
  9. I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post's to be precisely what I'm looking for.
    Would you offer guest writers to write content for you personally?
    I wouldn't mind publishing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome site!

    Have a look at my web site: rolexスーパーコピー

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! In the end I got a web site from where I can truly take valuable information regarding my study
    and knowledge.

    my web page; ロレックスコピー

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just desire to say your article is as amazing. The clarity on your post is
    just nice and i can assume you're a professional on this subject. Well with your permission let me to clutch your RSS feed to stay up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the rewarding work.

    my web blog: 激安プラダ バッグ

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article.
    I like to write a little comment to support you.

    My blog post - クロエ アウトレット

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it's time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!

    My web site: コーチ アウトレット

    ReplyDelete
  14. Heya great website! Does running a blog similar to this take a great deal of work?
    I have very little expertise in computer programming however I
    had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
    Anyhow, should you have any recommendations or tips
    for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic but I simply needed to ask.
    Appreciate it!

    My site :: ミュウミュウ 財布

    ReplyDelete
  15. I pay a visit every day some websites and information sites
    to read articles, but this webpage presents feature based posts.


    Here is my page - cheap ralph lauren

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic
    but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha
    plugin for my comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having difficulty finding one?
    Thanks a lot!

    Feel free to surf to my site; Ray Ban Outlet

    ReplyDelete
  17. Excellent post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on
    this subject? I'd be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Many thanks!

    Feel free to surf to my site ... ralph lauren sale

    ReplyDelete
  18. Inspiring quest there. What happened after?
    Thanks!

    Here is my website - ralph lauren polo sale

    ReplyDelete
  19. My partner and I stumbled over here different page and
    thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.

    Look forward to exploring your web page again.


    my web blog louis vuitton outlet store

    ReplyDelete
  20. What's up friends, its wonderful paragraph about tutoringand entirely explained, keep it up all the time.

    Also visit my webpage :: rerreadysti.blogspot.fr

    ReplyDelete
  21. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as
    though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about,
    why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to
    read?

    my web blog - エアジョーダン通販

    ReplyDelete
  22. Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this,
    like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do
    with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.

    A great read. I'll certainly be back.

    Here is my web blog; polo factory outlet

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this
    website? I'm getting fed up of Wordpress because I've had problems with hackers and I'm looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

    Also visit my site ... polo outlet

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks very nice blog!

    Here is my blog :: wholesale polo shirts

    ReplyDelete