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6:45 p.m.
LHP Zack Thompson (0-2, 6.97) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (0-1, 0.75)
BSM // KMOX // WIJRUpdate: Thompson will head to the pen with Sonny Gray coming off the IL to make his season debut.
So, it’ll be Gray / Thompson vs. Wheeler. Wheeler is a tough nut to crack.
Anything can happen but my hopes are not high for a Cardial victory in this one.
By the end of the week, both Noot and Contreras should be back in the lineup. That should allow OlliMo to move Gorman and his 42% K rate down and out of the heart of the order. That will help.
But that will still leave Goldy, who is second in Ks to Gorman, and with one extra base hit all year so far, there in the 2-3 slot, killing rallies, unless he heats up. My fear is that his bat has slowed down enough to matter. I don’t think the computer factors in father time, so we could go all season expecting a return to 2022 form.
The more things change the more they stay the same. A couple of weeks in to a new season and the St Louis Cardinals are still in last place.
Can they turn it around? Who knows. Management continues to look bad. They gave a two year deal to a player who might miss all of 2024. They traded a formerly oft-injured player who is off to a great start.
Things could change, but will the change be for the good, or be a continual mess of miscalculations?
Reading tea leaves can be tough.
This is what FO guys get paid to do and if they miss too often they get the opportunity to explore new horizons.
Hopefully the team gets healthy, stays that way, and rips off a long winning streak.
I still say 8-8 after the first 16 games with guys coming back is a solid base to build from.
Well, we have our “ace” going, as limited as he is likely to be. So do they, so it’s hard to see a victory but you never know.
On a good note…..the Cubs were ahead 8-0 in the 6th inning late last night at San Diego. They lost 9-8. The Padres got seven runs in the 6th and then Frank Tatis Jr slammed a two run dong in the 8th.
Din-din today will be a trip to Subway. Might grab some noodles from the bakery at the store to go along with them. Along with an ice cold slushy Mt. Dew and some Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean ice cream for dessert.
r/Esteemed Rat
Despite being only 1 game under .500, there’s beginning to be more than a sliver seperation as a result of a 9-2 Pittsburgh start that has the Cardinals 4 games off the pace in the NLC. That’s precisely where the Redbirds were in the NLC standings on April 9th of last season. It wasn’t until April 28th of last year that they fell to double digits at 10 games off the pace which effectively ended their season prior to the start of May. In any case, we were told “Not to panic”…”It’s still early”…”The team will play better in Sept”…This season, with the Redbirds once again buried in last place, the guy who spends a lot of time at the hair spa is telling us that the Cardinals are, “Not where they want to be”…Haha!
I would think King is sent down for now and Thompson stays around for a week as protection for Gray going shorter innings. But at some point, Thompson should probably go to AAA and stay stretched out.
Lars likely replaces Pages for Friday’s game but I could see them possibly making another move before that to bring Fermin temporarily up if Contreras is cleared to hit/catch.
It now looks like Middleton may be the next IL returnee as Carlson may now be out until mid-May. I would think that keeps Scott in St Louis. But they could put Noot in CF and only keep Siani as the backup. I don’t want that because Noot always looks a little uncomfortable out there. I’d rather stick with the elite defense who may be an automatic out.
No stoagie?
Beautiful, KeepComingBack! I think to a man, we were all thinking the same thing. I generally wait until Fridays to indulge in catfish fiddlers, but in honor of the esteemed Rat, I’m going with some scrumptious Louisiana corn-fed catfish fiddlers this evening for din-din. I’ll mingle in some onion rings with Burger King zesty sauce, cole slaw and top matters off with a 14×100 Palma De Presidente stogie. I’m itching to try some of Rat’s Turkey Hill vanilla bean ice cream, but have searched far and wide for it up here in the frozen tundra……to no avail.
I had to toil well into the wee hours last night down at the ole’ salt mines and thus missed the game, but hope to high-tail it out of there tonight in ample time to catch Gray’s maiden voyage with his new club. Even though we’ll only be treated to an abbreviated session of our new hurler, the game really sets up nicely for a St. Louis victory. Now do not bet the ranch on this game, but do feel free to wager a few head of cattle on it’s outcome. I’m calling it 6-4 Birds with Mr. Walker finding the cheap seats with bat in hand.
Johnny just can’t catch a break with these former Redbird OF’ers. O’Neill rips another tater today in the 1st inning vs. the O’s at Fenway to give him 6 HR’s on the season. He now leads the entire Big Leagues in the tater dept.
Rats just used Mountain Dew and turkey in the same sentence. That’s a favorite combo that brought back a flood of (wild) “Turkey and Dew” memories.
I’m in favor of the SP6 getting optioned down when SP1 returns. Don’t bail on the roles. Libby stays stretched out that way too.
Please just put Noot in LF and leave him alone. Keep the two CF’rs as is, until one returns from the IL, and demote Burly for Noot.
The D stays intact, the baserunning (PR) too, and we upgrade to the announced starting LF’r. If that’s a problem for Scott’s rookie status, talk to Walker.
LF B. Donovan L
1B P. Goldschmidt R
DH W. Contreras R
3B N. Arenado R
2B Nolan Gorman L
C Ivan Herrera R
RF A. Burleson L
SS Masyn Winn R
CF Victor Scott LThank God 21yo Jordan Walker is getting a rest from right field tonight replaced by the white hot bat of Alec Burleson.
Not.
As of right now, Burleson and Walker are both hitting .182. Walker has 3 doubles and 2 rbi, to Burly’s 2 doubles and two RBI, so Walkers SLG and OPS is slightly less putrid, but so far, they both stink.
Wheeler made the cardinals look like little leaguers last year if I remember correctly, if I were a wagering person I might put a sawbuck on the Phillies tonight, especially with the cardinals offense being anemic again this year.
One thing that I’ve noticed is that Ollie trusts Burleson more than several others against tough pitchers. And when I say trust, it’s not that he trusts him to do well, more that he trusts him not to look foolish striking out at pitches some guys shouldn’t swing at. Burleson might swing at some of those same pitches. It’s just that he hits them instead oftentimes for weak contact. We’ve seen this kind of substitution a lot. Is it better? I’m not sure. Would you rather see Walker swing and miss a ball low and outside for strike 3 or Burleson bounce one weakly to 2B?
Jnevel, “One thing that I’ve noticed is that Ollie trusts Burleson more than several others against tough pitchers”. A very astute observation. Now, Burleson needs to capitalize more on the chances he’s given.
The Doppler Radar shows some possible lingering showers in the St. Louis area. I hope this one doesn’t get delayed or possibly even postponed.
I guess right now it’s time to watch the Reds and Brewers from Riverfront Stadium. Time to light up the first 7×50 Palma Real President cigar for the evening. Also time for me and Whitey Herdog to head to the couch.
r/Esteemed Rat
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