Notes from Cards/Dodgers

Posted by Bobo Hilario | 4:37 pm | Cardinals

Some more thoughts as the Cards take on the Dodgers.

• Anthony Reyes is a gem.  He struck out the side in the first in convincing fashion.  He got ahead of all four batters with first pitch fastballs low in the strike zone.  He put each hitter away with either his nasty change up or his new sinker.
• Chris Duncan got the start in left field today, as he should most days.  It immediately paid off with a double against Brad Penny, one of the leagues toughest pitchers in the first half.  Duncan is a better hitter than Taguchi, or Spezio, and Luna should be spending most of his time in the infield.  Duncan and J-Rod have become interchangable as lefthanded power hitting left fielders.  Neither are great with the glove, and both love to hit fastballs.
• The Dogders got to Reyes in the second.  Olmedo Seanz went deep and Andre Ethier almost did the same thing on a good high fastball our of the zone.  The Dodgers already have seven hits, but four of those are soft infield hits that found the right spot.
• Albert Pujols, slugger, slick fielder, humanitarian, role model, family man, but NOT a scientist.  According to the broadcast today, Pujols was quoted as saying “It is hard to steal a base with an extra eight to ten pounds of sweat in your uniform.”  Just in case you are reading this Albert, when sweat leaves your body it does not magically become heavier, even if you do lose a gallon of sweat you don’t weigh more.
• Yadier Molina had a huge two out two run double.  Molina lined one into the right field gap.  Molina, just like in 2005, had a horrible April and May with the bat, but had a good June.  I predicted that Molina would have a break out year with the bat, something around (260/340/400) but his current numbers (220/270/320) make it clear that I was wrong.  He turned 24 three days ago, so he still should have significant improvement with the bat over the next few years.
• The game got out of hand, in a good way, down the stretch.  All of the Cardinals were hitting.  It was so much fun to watch my Natty Light tasted good.  Final Score 11-3.  That’s seven in a row.  If Jeff Weaver wins his debut tomorrow the Cards will cancel out the eight game losing streak from three weeks ago.