A great at bat by pinch-hitter LaHair was actually the impetus for the Cub rally, but it exposes Motte’s one dimensional approach. Here is where a breaking ball under the hands would have finished off LaHair, but the Cards chose never to try that in his 14 pitch at bat, as he spoiled one fast ball after another, leading to a walk. Unnerved Motte then proceeded to struggle with the strike zone to Soto who was also walked, an infield dribbler by Clevenger, put runners at second and third. Up comes, Joe Mather, the pride of Sandpoint, Idaho, and ex-Card who looked over matched until the spinning very hittable slider sat up for Mather to stroke it up the middle for the 2 RBI game winner.

Granted a couple of line drive hit-and-run plays, and a leaping grab of Beltran’s soft liner by Starlin Castro kept the Cubbies within reach, but the Redbirds played with fire by wasting opportunities, and got burned by Mather.

Boggs escaped the 8th, but contrary to Cards’ announcer Boggs adorer Ricky Horton, he was fortunate to get through the inning without surrendering runs. This is the second straight appearance for Boggs, where he was less than stellar, his last time out he faced only 3 hitters, who all hit screaming line drives right at defenders, only the hear Horton proclaim, “Great job by Boggs”. Horsehockey. He did make a very good hard sinker down and in to Barney to finish the eighth, but the preceding sliders were miserable pitches.

And Tyler Greene, again added nothing but a dropped throw on a Molina dart that should have retired speedy Campana. Greene and Boggs are two of the most “traditionally talented” Cards youngsters, but I wish we would package both of them in a deal that would bring a left-hand hitting catcher and a right-hand hitting second baseman. When scouts refer to players having 5 tools, those tools above the neck, are never mentioned. Combined Boggs and Greene do not break triple digits on the Stanford-Binet, and it is becoming apparent to me that their lack of mental acuity will forever restrain their other more obvious physical ones.

Sometimes showcasing talent can polish other team’s images of certain players, but the problem with that theory is it can also illuminate weaknesses. I say move this duo before it becomes painfully obvious to all, the reason these two have failed to reach their potentials. Give me the savvy, but less showy Jay and Descalso, you know those guys we win games with.

“…it’s a young team that is so used to losing that they don’t know how to win.”

Last year, they won AAA ball. The year before, AA. The year before, they won their A league. They are winners, and they expect to win. Somethings not quite there, and I’d venture a guess that it’s their pitching, not the fact that they haven’t won— because they have. Try again.

Winning in the minors is different than winning in the Pros. There isn’t nearly as much pressure and once things start going wrong, young players might not necessarily now how to right the ship. I didn’t call the players losers- the franchise has been losing for a long time now- it has to permeate the culture. It’s just human nature. I’m thinking if the young players had some veterans to look to during a losing streak, it probably would be different…or at least Charlie Sheen.

.347/.394/.487 – .882 OPS

2b – 20
3b – 3
HR – 8
RBI – 54

It’d be the highest OPS he has had since ’06.

Mitch Williams carried on about how Bard has to be a closer in Boston, how he would make everyone in the pen pitch better, my brain hurt.

While he won’t make them pitch better per se, he’ll make the bullpen better just by joining. If he becomes the best pitcher in the ‘pen, it pushes everyone else down thus removing the worst relief pitcher and making it stronger overall (thinning out the herd).

Whether this is the right move or not is another story. 170+ IP at league average is better than 60IP of elite pitching. [for instance, in '07 aj burnett pitched 165IP at a 4.33 FIP or 2% better than average, and was worth 2.6 fWAR. mariano rivera has topped that once in the last 7 years]

Fan backlash is at an all-time high – really sad because optimism was at an all-time high 3 weeks ago,

This post by Rany makes me really sad for this franchise. Seeing all those losing streaks put in perspective with other teams. Can’t believe it’s driven Rany nuts!

http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/2012/04/time-out.html

—Sigh—

“…it’s a young team that is so used to losing that they don’t know how to win.”

Last year, they won AAA ball. The year before, AA. The year before, they won their A league. They are winners, and they expect to win. Somethings not quite there, and I’d venture a guess that it’s their pitching, not the fact that they haven’t won— because they have. Try again.

Oh, and let’s also thank the dearly departed Bill Smith, who gave us the immortal Capps-for-Ramos trade, because we simply had to have a “real closer.” Good move.