Let's Play Two! Cards & Nats Split Doubleheader

Games # 61 & 62 Thur. June 5, 2008 Game 1: Cards 4 Nationals 1 Todd Wellemeyer started the first game of Thursday's doubleheader and picked up right where he left off. He has just been phenomenal this season. Thursday afternoon, he tossed 6 innings of shutout baseball, allowing 5 hits and striking out 5 as well. Starting at 1st base for the first time in his career (he previously had played 1 inning there for the Cardinals), Troy Glaus filled in for Albert Pujols, who isn't 100%. Glaus did an excellent job at first base and at the dish too. He belted a 2 run home run in the 4th inning to give the Cardinals the lead. Not to be outdone, Albert Pujols came off the bench and hit his first career pinch hit home run in the 7th inning, his 15th blast of the season. Here is my analysis of the game: Performance of the Game: Todd Wellemeyer What Went Right: 1. Todd Wellemeyer - This guy was claimed off waivers from Kansas City a year ago, brought over to St. Louis to work under the tootalidge of Dave Duncan, and has done nothing but become one of the best starters in the National League this year. After being named National League pitcher of the month for May, Wellemeyer has shown no plans of slowing down. He used 79 pitches to get through 6 innings without allowing a run. I wondered why La Russa took him out after only 79 pitches, especially when you might need your bullpen more than usual due to the doubleheader. But not to worry, the bullpen did fine. And Wellemeyer improved to 7-1 on the season. He should be a no brainer for the All-Star team. 2. Yadi - His 2 for 4 performance has his average up to .300! That's right, .300! Good job Yadi. What Went Wrong: 1. Brian Barton - Attention Tony La Russa: PLAY SKIP SCHUMAKER! EVERY SINGLE DAY! PERIOD! Brian Barton is a bench player. There have been too many days where he hits in the one or two slot and contributes as much as a blind guy in a skeet shooting competition. Barton is fast, and I don't dislike him. But Skip has EARNED the right to play every day. And now, on to Game # 2... Game # 2: Nationals 10 Cards 9 Had Ryan Franklin not done his best Jason Isringhausen impersonation in the bottom of the 10th inning, I would have called this the greatest come from behind victory of the season. And even with the loss, it was still a VERY exciting game. Mike Parisi, in an effort to redeem himself after a very poor major league starting debut last time out, only made things worse this time around. He dug an 8 run hole for his team after only 4 innings. He did have a 2 run double, but the Cards still had the deck stacked against them. But reliever Mark Worrell, in his first major league at bat, hit a 3 run home run! Then when Aaron Miles tied the game in the 9th, Joe Mather, also known as "Joey Bombs" went deep for the first time in his big league career as well. It looked as if the Cardinals were going to get out alive afterall. But then, Ryan Franklin allowed a walk off, 2 run home run in the bottom of the 10th. Here is my analysis of the Game: Performance of the Game: Mark Worrell What Went Wrong: 1. The Closer issue - With Izzy out as closer, Tony turned to Ryan Franklin because he has more experience than Chris Perez. He wanted to ween Perez in slowly. I say that is a load of "you know what." Put Perez in, he is a closer! Can you name one other position on the field where an up and coming guy is "weened" in? I understand La Russa's thinking, and actually I don't totally disagree with it. But Franklin simply is not a closer. Russ Springer...well maybe. But Franklin..no. So put Perez in there and you might have gotten a different result. Now we will never know. 2. Ryan Ludwick - He was 0 for 5 and saw his average dip to .313. Still having one of the best years on the team, but he has cooled off a bit lately. 3. Mike Parisi - He will most likely be optioned back here to Memphis, which is where I have said he belongs all along. I like this guy...a lot. But he just isn't ready yet. Look for the Cardinals to send him down and probably call up Mitchell Boggs. What Went Right: 1. Mark Worrell - In his major league debut, the side armer tossed 2 scoreless innings, and smashed a three run bomb. Pretty good day, I would say... 2. Joe Mather - I have been a big Joe Mather fan for a long time, but he is quickly becoming one of my favorites since his call up to the Cardinals. By the way, Chris Duncan is hitting .167 (3 for 18) since being sent down to Memphis. And Joe Mather is hitting .280. Joe is an awesome guy on and off the field. He is a big guy that can steal a base, play phenominal defense, go yard at any time, and oh yeah, hit above .300 easily. 3. The Memphis Mafia - Seven of the Nine RBI's came from ex-Memphis Redbirds. Oh yeah, and I would like to settle something. I, Josh Martin, came up with the phrase the "Memphis Mafia" over a year ago. The Memphis Mafia was the gang that Elvis ran with and in the spirit of Memphis, I dubbed the gang that got called up and was contributing last year the Memphis Mafia. Now it looks as if the St. Louis Post Dispatch as well as FSN Midwest are stealing my idea. Oh well, I don't own it, but I would like to be given a little credit for it. I also called Rick Ankiel "The Natural" long before he ever made it back to the Majors. 4. Troy Glaus - He is starting to come alive. He hit his 2nd home run of the day in the second game. He also looked good at first base. The split puts the Cardinals at 36-26, 10 games over .500, and 3 1/2 games behind our dreaded enemy the chicago cubs. I have to give them credit, they are playing good baseball. But it won't last. And we are 10 games over .500, nothing to sneeze at. So let's just keep winning series guys.