Falling Off the Pace

Dammit Jimmy!  Stupid Cubs!  This is no way to start a road trip.  Even though it took 11 innings, the Cardinals came up on the short end today at Wrigley, and now sit seven games back in the NL Central standings.

Braden Looper turned in a fine performance, allowing just two runs in seven innings.  Ironically, the two runs came off the bat of Looper’s former teammate, Jim Edmonds, via a pair of solo home runs.  What a kick in the nuts.  The bullpen turned in three scoreless innings before losing it in the eleventh. The culprit:  Ryan Franklin.  Again.

This is a loss that we can’t really pin on Franklin.  I suppose most of the blame could fall on the offense, for their lack of timely hitting and base running blunders.  Scoring only two runs against the Cubs is never going to get a win.  That said, I still can’t seem to stop hating on the bullpen, especially the back end.  I know that somebody had to take the loss today, but why does it seem like it’s always the same one or two guys?

I’ve changed my stance on Adam Wainwright’s return.  I’m now in favor of him pitching in relief after his rehab assignment.  What we’ve been doing isn’t working. I’m still hopeful that rookie Chris Perez gets more and more crucial innings, and I think having Wainwright right there with him could be a big plus.

Here’s some links:

•  Today’s recap and box score.
•  More on Wainwright’s status, from Derrick Goold.
•  The Rick Ankiel story on FSN.
•  Ryan Ludwick for MVP?

Game two of the series is tomorrow afternoon.  Carlos Zambrano against Todd Wellemeyer.  Let’s go Cards!