Thursday August 20th, 2009

Cardinals Update:

The Cardinals won another nail-biter against the Dodgers lastnight to shrink the gap between them and the National League's best record. With their 3-2 win, the Redbirds have now won 10 out of their last 12 games and have failed to lose back to back games in more than three weeks. Paired with a Cubs win lastnight, the Cards lead remained 6 games for the division lead as we head to San Diego.
The Redbirds followed a playoff-type formula for winning the game. The win wasn't pretty but it was hard-earned and well deserved. The formula consisted of 7 strong innings from their starter Adam Wainwright, good, effective work from their bullpen, and the small-ball manufacturing of a late-inning run without the need of a basehit. In the end closer Ryan Franklin converted his 31st save in 33 chances to pace the National League.
Wainwright started the game with a bang carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning and only ran into trouble in the seventh. In a span of three hitters Waino surrendered his 2-0 lead, and it was on to a bullpen battle with the score tied. Andre Either hit a hanging curveball on a 1-2 pitch into the seats to cut the lead in half. After Wainwright got Manny Ramirez on a long fly ball to right, Casey Blake followed by taking another hanging curve into the seats to tie the game at two.
With the game tied heading into the ninth, Pujols patiently drew a walk from the Dodger closer Johnathon Broxton. Albert then waited till a 3-0 pitch to Matt Holliday and took off towards second. After an errant trow from catcher Russell Martin, Pujols advanced to third and the Redbirds were in business against a tough foe in Broxton. Holliday came trough with a deep line shot to center that easily scored Pujols.
LaRussa brought in Dennys Reyes to start the bottom half of the inning. After Reyes failed to do his job by hitting Either, in was straight to the mound for LaRussa to summon his closer. Franklin came in with a tough task ahead, in facing Ramirez and Blake both of which have hit Franklin hard and for a high average in the past. Franklin was up to the challenge in getting Manny on a broken-bat grounder, Blake on an easy pop-out, and James Loney on a flyball. With another hard fought victory in the books the Cards succeeded in winnig another series and will look to continue their road success in San Diego against the lowly Padres.
On another note, The Cards agree to terms with future Hall of Famer John Smoltz on Wednesday. The Redbirds had two glaring weeknesses as of Tuesday, a 5th starter and right-handed relief help for the late innings. On Wednesday GM John Mozeliak adressed one if not both of those issues in signing Smoltz. After a week of "recruiting" phone calls from players such as Wainwright and Mark DeRosa along with manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan, Smoltz decided this was the best place to ressurect his career. In my opinion, the Redbirds might have gotten themselves a real find. I understand that his season has been a disappointment so far, but none of that matters now. I truly believe this is the best situation for him to succeed. First you have Duncan, who has taken far less talented pitchers and turned them around for the better. Smoltz might be Duncan's most talented reclammation project. Another benefit would be that of the Gold Glove catcher he will be throwing too; you can't say enough about the comfort level Yadi provides, allowing the pitcher to throw any pitch at any time. Toss in the fact that Smoltz will be pitching with a chip on his shoulder, wanting to show everyone that he isn't done yet. All in all I am very excited about the possibilities Smoltz provides for the Cards. From what I hear Smoltz will be starting for the Redbirds on Sunday in San Diego and will be provided a few opportunities to start and then the Cards will se what happens and go from there, wether that be to continue to start or if he will move to the bullpen to help out there. In either circumstance I believe he will provide a boost to a team already on a roll.

Around Sports:

Plaxico Burress getting what he deserves? Burress will take a plea bargain and recieve a two-year prison sentence on gun charges in New York. It seems that Plax's lawyers have talked some sense into him and told him that he would lose his trial and end up with a 3 1/2 year sentence. Listen I know he technically didn't hurt anyone in the shooting and I hear that its not against the law to be stupid, but this guy had no chance to win his trial. I wonder if him getting a similar prison sentence to the beloved Micheal Vick is a bit much, but the law is the law. I do believe that Plax may be the scapegoat for those new gun laws in New York City, but in all reality "Athletes with Guns" is a club that needs to be broken up and fast.
Burress has paid a steep price for what he has done, maybe as steep as any athlete in recent memory. I mean shooting yourself in the leg while clubbing in sweatpants is about as embarassing as it gets, and being released from the Giants after signing an extension is a pretty big punishment for a SuperBowl winning wide reciever. I don't agree with the sentence he is getting for being stupid, but I don't write laws for cities like New York and I do try to follow the laws that exist. Plax broke the law and he's going to jail.

Bolt breaks the 200 meter World Record by .11 seconds in a blazing time of 19.19 seconds.

None of the nearly four dozen sponsors that the Philly Eagles have are staying put despite the signing of Vick. Many of the sponsors only complaint is they wish they had a little more notice in the situation.


Baseball Picks for Friday August 21st, 2009

Mariners over Indians
Nationals over Brewers
Pirates over Reds
Angels over Bluejays
Yankees over Red Sox
Phillies over Mets
Braves over Marlins
Rangers over Rays
Astros over D-Backs
Twins over Royals
Orioles over White Sox
Rockies over Giants
Tigers over A's
Cardinals over Padres
Dodgers over Cubs