Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2011 17:22:56 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]St. Louis Cardinals (59-47) @ Milwaukee Brewers (55-49)[/shadow]
STL: Jaime Garcia (8-8, 4.22 ERA)
MIL: Oliver Perez (7-6, 3.82 ERA)
Smoaking hot. That's one way to describe the Cardinals, winners of 22 of their previous 32 games. That stretch started during the final game of a four game set with Milwaukee.
The Cardinals had lost two of the previous three games and were down 3-0 going into the fourth inning. They battled back though, tying the game in the sixth on a solo shot from Justin Smoak, before Daryl Jones gave the Cardinals the lead with a three-run blast in the seventh. The Cardinals went up 6-3 and would win by that score.
Now the Cardinals find themselves four games behind the Cubs for the Central lead, no small part due to Smoak. He hit .370 in July and has 17 home runs and 67 RBI's for the season. While the Cardinals had no idea Pujolz would go down for the count with a career-ending labrum injury, the deal has turned out to be a steal for St. Louis, allowing the team to survive the loss of Matt Holliday and a mediocre rotation.
Jaime Garcia has been besieged by the long ball this year and is only 8-8, though his last start was a sharp one, allowing no runs on four hits to the Philadelphia Phillies.
He'll take on a Brewers team that is only 6-10 in its last 16 games, and 13th in runs scored. To address that issue, the Brewers traded for Chase Headley to jump start the offense. Headley is hitting .287 with 19 home runs and provides beef to protect Mat Gamel in the order.
Hunter Pence also comes over at the deadline, but while his contact swing has returned, Pence still hasn't regained the power that made him a 28 home run hitter in 2010. The Brewers will need the two bats to perform well if the team wants to catch the Cubs and win the Central.
Questions for the GM's. For Julio de la Vega, Matt Holliday wants to play, but you've kept the guy in permanent DL limbo since the beginning of the season. Why have you decided to ice Holliday?
You're pitching a rookie closer with great stuff, but he's given up the long ball this year, 10 overall. Do you feel comfortable with Peanut Cortes down the stretch?
Finally, Yunier Castillo has come out of nowhere to be very productive for your team. He never walks, but he's always slashing the ball into play. So you think he can keep up the strong hitting?
For Brandon W, you acquired Chase Headley and Hunter Pence. Do you think they're the answers your offense needs?
At the trade deadline you gave up Ed Love. What was it about Love that caused you to lose faith in him?
You added Mike Gonzalez to an already strong bullpen. Do you feel confident that your pen can retire Cubs hitters down the stretch?
STL: Jaime Garcia (8-8, 4.22 ERA)
MIL: Oliver Perez (7-6, 3.82 ERA)
Smoaking hot. That's one way to describe the Cardinals, winners of 22 of their previous 32 games. That stretch started during the final game of a four game set with Milwaukee.
The Cardinals had lost two of the previous three games and were down 3-0 going into the fourth inning. They battled back though, tying the game in the sixth on a solo shot from Justin Smoak, before Daryl Jones gave the Cardinals the lead with a three-run blast in the seventh. The Cardinals went up 6-3 and would win by that score.
Now the Cardinals find themselves four games behind the Cubs for the Central lead, no small part due to Smoak. He hit .370 in July and has 17 home runs and 67 RBI's for the season. While the Cardinals had no idea Pujolz would go down for the count with a career-ending labrum injury, the deal has turned out to be a steal for St. Louis, allowing the team to survive the loss of Matt Holliday and a mediocre rotation.
Jaime Garcia has been besieged by the long ball this year and is only 8-8, though his last start was a sharp one, allowing no runs on four hits to the Philadelphia Phillies.
He'll take on a Brewers team that is only 6-10 in its last 16 games, and 13th in runs scored. To address that issue, the Brewers traded for Chase Headley to jump start the offense. Headley is hitting .287 with 19 home runs and provides beef to protect Mat Gamel in the order.
Hunter Pence also comes over at the deadline, but while his contact swing has returned, Pence still hasn't regained the power that made him a 28 home run hitter in 2010. The Brewers will need the two bats to perform well if the team wants to catch the Cubs and win the Central.
Questions for the GM's. For Julio de la Vega, Matt Holliday wants to play, but you've kept the guy in permanent DL limbo since the beginning of the season. Why have you decided to ice Holliday?
You're pitching a rookie closer with great stuff, but he's given up the long ball this year, 10 overall. Do you feel comfortable with Peanut Cortes down the stretch?
Finally, Yunier Castillo has come out of nowhere to be very productive for your team. He never walks, but he's always slashing the ball into play. So you think he can keep up the strong hitting?
For Brandon W, you acquired Chase Headley and Hunter Pence. Do you think they're the answers your offense needs?
At the trade deadline you gave up Ed Love. What was it about Love that caused you to lose faith in him?
You added Mike Gonzalez to an already strong bullpen. Do you feel confident that your pen can retire Cubs hitters down the stretch?