Series Recap Cards v Royals

Series Recap vs. Royals

By: J. Owen

Really just a frustrating series. In game one we saw Suppan do what we would expect, pitch 5 innings, allow 3 runs. He kept us in the game, but unfortunately Zach Greinke is just to much. Another error, Holliday’s first, was just weak at best. Giving a player like Posednik an extra base like that was just lazy and that kind of play should not be acceptable. Because Holliday’s first wasn’t until late June, I forgive him.

Though game 1 was upsetting, room for makeup in game 2. Cards win 5-3, behind a good start from Hawk and a Rasmus and Schumker blast. I must say, I really have been pleased with the way Skip Schumaker has been playing lately. I had cashed all my chips in on the Skip, but he has made me eat my words. His average has been rising since the end of May, and even though he hasn’t been able to get many RBI’s, that is not something we have ever, or should ever, expect from Skip. I think that Skip is really trying to earn his leadoff spot back in this lineup, and I think he definitely has earned it. His average is nearly 20 points higher than Felipe’s. And Schumaker strikes out 14% of the time, where Lopez is at 22%. I really have been frustrated with Lopez lately; he’s carried for the most part a meaningless stick for nearly a month now. He has less RBI’s than Schumaker. Unfortunately you cannot confidently ask either one of them to steal a base, but that hasn’t been a necessity for this Franchise since La Russa took the helm. I really think Skip has earned himself the second base position this month, as well as the leadoff spot, and I would like to see Tony reward him for the hard effort he has put in for it. It is the end of June, you need to have your positions decided by now, and let’s be honest, the battle for short is still in the air. Another fielding error. Winn gets 2 more at bats.

Game three is the kind of game you just sit at home on a Sunday and struggle to put down. Garcia’s worst outing of the year, Winn goes 0-3, and Brendan Ryan commits his 11^th error of the year. Birds lose by 7, and the Royals take the series. Schumaker was able to get on base once of his 3 at bats, scoring a run.

So this trip was on 70 was not the best for the birds. Only taking 1 of the 3 games, and falling to a half game back in the central to the Reds. The bullpen is still looking good though, only allowing 2 runs if you don’t take Ottavino’s 4 earned Sunday, which I really don’t because I don’t see him on the 25 man roster come October. The Cards are home now for 3 against the Diamondbacks, while the Reds host the Phillies. Carpenter will face Haren, former Cardinal I always lick my chops over, in the first game tonight. It will surely be a great matchup of what we hope the Cards first victory in the series.