Cardinals Begin Season on High Note

As far as openers go, you couldn’t ask for a better way to begin the 2015 season.

Okay, maybe if Adam Wainwright had thrown a no-hitter or a perfect game it might have been better, but let’s face it. Anytime the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs, it’s always fantastic.

The Cardinals started the season on the road Sunday with a 3-0 shutout of the Cubs at a ballpark that looked a little like Wrigley Field.

Here are some observations from me about the game:

*If Adam Wainwright was hurt, he did a good job of hiding his progress. Wainwright missed most of spring training due to an abdominal strain, but in the opener he struck out six and allowed no runs in six innings of work. In contrast, Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester looked shaky even though he struck out six in 4 1/3 innings of work.

*Matt Holliday was impressive in the opener, as he had two hits and drove in two runs. They need Holliday’s bat to stay hot if the team is to have any chance at repeating as National League Central champions, and this was a good start.

*We’ll always miss Oscar Taveras, but Jason Heyward will be a strong replacement. Heyward stole a base and went 3-for-5 in the victory.

*The Cardinals appear to have embraced the art of the stolen base. A team not known for its speed previously looks like it has hugged the basepaths and chosen speed over power. St. Louis stole four bases Sunday.

*Closer Trevor Rosenthal put the fear of God into Cardinals fans when he came in to start the ninth, but no one had to reach for medication. All Rosenthal did was strike out the side in the ninth to post the save.

All told, this was a damn fine way to start 2015. The teams have Monday off but the series resumes on Tuesday.

Cardinal Nation, what do you think? Let’s hear from you.