I don’t need to tell you anything fancy. I don’t need to try and impress you with my knowledge of baseball, or analyze stats, or act as if I should be on the Cardinals’ front-office payroll. Instead, let’s all happily air high-5 each other in honor of what has been the last 5 games of Cardinal baseball.
So, on my last blog post….I kind of spoke not-so-kindly about Trevor Rosenthal. I want you, the reader, to know that I would never blast a guy in a Cardinals’ uniform unless I was truly frustrated and/or worried. Oh, I’m not taking back anything I whined about, don’t get me wrong; just trying to explain my dramatics. At that point, I didn’t know about the Cards even making it into the playoffs this year. The Yadi and Wacha coming back from the DL conversations had really just begun, Waino was not pitching his best, and Holliday’s bat had been quiet. I was one frustrated gal.
But now? NOW? Yadi’s back, Waino’s looking his best since the All-Star break and Holliday, well, you’ve read about Holliday. I know, Waino’s not back to All-Star starter caliber, but an improvement is an improvement. He got a W against the Pirates, right as the Pirates were beginning to creep up on the Cardinals’ heels in the Central.
I do have a theory about Wainwright’s turnaround. Wanna hear it? (If not, stop reading.) Wainwright is one of the leaders in the dugout, that we all know. But, in case you didn’t know, even leaders need to have their close “advisors” (if you will) with them the majority of the time. Wainwright=Chris Carpenter’s protege. In case you missed it, Carp isn’t in the dugout this year. Who’s Adam’s protege? Michael Wacha. Wait, Michael Wacha has been gone-on the DL-since the end of June. Okay, next guy to look to in case you’re a pitcher? Well, the catcher. Yadi? DL in July–right before the All-Star break. Now? Yadi’s back. Wacha’s back. And, Wainwright has a little more spring in his step. Just a theory.
Cards have won their last 5. They’re on top of the NL Central by 3 full games. They are 3 ahead of Milwaukee, where they go tonight. The Brewers just so happen to have lost their last 8 (no, I’m not jinxing anyone). Have I told you Wacha’s back?
I’m not a betting woman, but I would certainly bet on this being the beginning of an upswing.
As always, Go Cards!
Photo: nwaonline.com
