CARDINAL NATION: DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

From the picture above it looks as though Albert Pujols is preparing to attempt a headstand. That would make the man in the red polo his spotter...right?? I WISH!
The news came down from the Cardinals front office yesterday afternoon: our first baseman has a broken bone in his left wrist. He will likely miss 4-6 weeks due to the injury. That means that Albert has a reserved spot on the bench until sometime in August. I'm sure Adam Wainwright and David Freese can save him a seat....
As news spread about Albert's date with the DL, one could almost hear the cheers and clapping coming from the other cities in the NL Central race. I'm willing to bet that Brandon "Big Mouth" Phillips had to sit on his hands to keep from tweeting his joy. Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun & company probably threw a party. My take on the situation? Not so fast boys.

Albert joining an already crowded Disabled List is bad news for St. Louis. It figures that he would get injured right when he was heating up at the plate. His batting average was steadily climbing, but it will now sit dormant at .279 until his return.
There is some good news in all of this, I promise. Don't hit the panic button just yet. Hear me out Cardinal fans...
For starters, Albert was hitting .279! He had the worst offensive start of his career in 2011. Because of his dismal start at the plate, other guys had to step up and make things happen. Remember Daniel Descalso? How many late-inning heroics has he come up with so far? Pujols's injury clears the way for more Zeroes to become Heroes.

Another plus to the situation is that Lance Berkman will probably anchor first base in Albert's absence, which in turn gets John Jay's hot bat into the lineup. One thing that people tend to overlook is Albert's gold-glove winning defense on the corner. That will be missed just as much as his bat. It's obvious from the couple of chances he's had at first so far that Lance is a tad rusty: I think a few more reps in practice could work wonders.

As long as Berkman doesn't break a hip and Ryan Theriot remembers which hand his glove goes on, my Redbirds will be just fine. When Albert Pujols returns to the lineup in August, there will still be a lot of baseball to be played. As much as people might like to believe it, one guy does not define an entire team.

I hate to say it St Louis, but we might have to get used to winning without #5. It could be good practice for next year...

THE NEW CARDINAL KILLER: PRINCE FIELDER

The Cardinals were swept the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, and swept out of first place in the process. Sure I'm bummed about it; what Cardinal fan wouldn't be? St. Louis finds itself in second place in the NL Central now, 1/2 game back of the Brew Crew. I didn't see that coming. Everyone said that Milwaukee would be a force to be reckoned with this season, but I was pretty skeptical at first. I guess I was still worried about Cincinnatti.The Brewers simply played better baseball than us, and they deserved to win. It seems that the Cardinals forgot how to crawl back into games and get those come from behind victories.

I am not Tony La Russa. I have not managed 5,002 Major League Baseball games. On a side note it is reassuring to see that he hasn't changed his hairstyle since the late '70's. Right on Tony. I'm not second guessing his decision, I'm simply saying that I would have done things differently. We were up 3-0 going into the bottom of the 6'th. Pitcher Jake Westbrook was solid up until this point. Then he gave up a single, a double, and another single. Still no outs. So far this season, Westbrook has proven that when he starts to fall apart, he loses it fast.

Fireballer Jason Motte was warming up in the bullpen in a hurry. The score was now 3-2 with a runner on, and Prince Fielder coming to the plate. I would have made Westbrook step off the mound and check on the runner a couple of times in order to stall, and allow Motte a few more warmup tosses. Prince Fielder is one of, if not THE hottest hitter in baseball right now. Westbrook's day should have been over at this point. Jason Motte should have come into the game and faced the Prince. Instead, La Russa left Jake in, and Fielder blasted the ball over the wall to give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.

I can't predict the future. Motte might have given up an even longer home run than Westbrook did. I just don't know why Tony didn't take him out before Prince came to the plate. All of this damage was done with no outs. It was obvious that Jake was done, so why let him pitch to someone who could make us pay dearly for a mistake?

The Cardinals were outplayed and outmanaged while we were swept. We went into the series leading the NL Central by 2 1/2 games, and left Milwaukee with out tails between our legs, now down by 1/2 game. I'm sure Brewers fans are thrilled, but as a die hard Cardinal fan I am just plain disappointed.

I've decided to annoint a new Cardinal killer. Lance Berkman, when he played for the Astros, did a pretty good job of this back in the day. I'm sure everyone remembers Carlos Beltran of the Mets in his heyday giving Cardinal pitchers fits. The newest Cardinal killer is Prince Fielder. He took us out like we were a plate of double cheeseburgers.  Prince has the Cardinals number.

I just hope this doesn't last long, or it's going to be a long second half of the season. The Birds take on the Nationals starting Tuesday. Jaime Garcia takes the mound for us and looks to turn things around. Let's hope he can come off his last outing (a loss in Houston) and put up a W for the good guys.

BIG PUMA KEEPS THE PUNISHMENT COMING

When the Astros decided to trade Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees last July for 2 minor leaguers, Lance okayed it. He could have declined the deal and stayed put in Houston, exercising his 10 and 5 rights (10 years in the league and at least 5 with the Astros). He also had a no trade clause, which he waived in order to make the deal happen.
Berkman made his Major League debut with Houston in 1999 and had been a 'Stro ever since. One had to wonder what was going through his mind when he agreed to go to New York. The Astros had tried to trade him to the White Sox earlier in the year, but he had declined the deal. When the Yankees came crawling, it seems that he couldn't resist the opportunity to wear the pinstripes.

Lance played the second half of the 2010 season in New York. He was used mainly as a DH and struggled in the role, with injuries taking a toll on his body and affecting his performance. After the Yankees failed to beat the Texas Rangers and advance to the World Series they released him.
This left Big Puma free to entertain offers for the 2011 season. The first place that he looked was back in Houston. He wanted to go home. Except the feeling wasn't mutual. The Astros GM told him that there was no room for him on the club anymore. They had younger, faster outfielders and a rising star in Brett Wallace at first base.

I for one am extremely thankful that the Astros didn't want their Puma back. Their loss is the Cardinals gain. Lance worked hard and got himself healthy in the offseason. He signed a 1-yr, $8 million deal with St Louis and hasn't looked back since. He is 35 years old and doing a pretty decent job out in right field. Sure John Jay may be a little bit quicker out there, but whose bat would you rather have in the lineup on an everyday basis?
Berkman proved that he has plenty left in the tank, and he couldnt wait to return to Minute Maid Park and make the Astros regret their decision. He has succeeded in doing just that. In 5 games so far this year against his former team, Lance has 4 home runs and 10 RBI's. He broke up opposing starter Bud Norris' no-hit bid last night by sending a shot over the right field wall.
I don't understand why the Astros would pass on re-signing a fan favorite and former face of the franchise. The only thing I can think of is that they thought his career was over. Berkman continues to shove down their throat that he is far from being finished though. It's cool, the Cardinals got Houston's sloppy seconds, except there's nothing sloppy about Berkman's .329 batting average, good enough for 3'rd best in the National League. The Cardinals and Astros have the rubber match tonight. Keep the punishment coming Big Puma.

LEBRON WHO?? THE REALLY BIG 3: PUJOLS, HOLLIDAY & BERKMAN

When Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James decided to "Take his talents to South Beach" there was a big fuss about the projected Big 3 that the Miami Heat would have in their starting lineup: Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Lebron himself.
I'm over it.
 Let's talk about the REALLY BIG 3: Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Lance Berkman. When these guys are healthy, I would hate to be the National League opposing pitcher up against our 3,4, and 5 hitters. Throw Colby Rasmus, Yadier Molina, and clutch-man of late Ryan Theriot in the mix, and the fact of the matter is that we should be unbeatable.
Before Holliday came to town, opposing managers had the option to intentionally walk Albert, or simply pitch around him, putting him on base. They would have rather faced the cleanup hitter, whoever that was. I guess you could say that they still have that option...except now Matt Holliday waits in the on-deck circle, and Berkman lingers in the dugout beyond. Pick your poison Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker & company: Pujols, Holliday or Berkman? I guess you could pitch around all 3 of them and load the bases if you really wanted to...

Cubs first year manager Mike Quade had his pitchers go right after Albert this weekend, and he learned the hard way (twice in fact) that he made the wrong decision. I read an interview with him after Saturday's game and he said that he would never make that mistake again...Fast forward to Sunday as Pujols circled the bases yet again...want to take back that statement Mike?

As of June 7 it seems that St Louis's REALLY BIG 3 are headed to Arizona in July for the 2011 All-Star Game as projected starters for the National League. So far Holliday has torn it up at the plate, and torn up his appendix and quad in the process. Berkman has cooled off a bit as of late, but the Cardinals begin a series with the Astros tonight. We all know what happened the last time Lance went home. With the way his season has been going thus far, he's on track to be the NL Comeback Player of the Year. Not bad for a guy who had a dismal second half of the season with the Yankees last year, and everyone said that his career was over then.

From the Cubs series over the weekend, I think we've all seen what Albert is capable of doing on his own. I just think it's always easier to get by with a little help from your friends. We have Holliday locked up in a 7 year contract. If Berkman's season keeps going the way that it's going, he might want to stick around as well: all the more reason for Albert to sign with the Cardinals again. If he needs an incentive, he's got it in the 2 guys behind him, protecting him in the lineup.

We've all seen what the Miami Heat are on their way to accomplishing this year. Here's to hoping that the St Louis Cardinals can do the same. When Big Puma decided to "Take his talents to Busch Stadium" Cardinal fans should have realized what we were in for. Hang on for the ride!