(Jupiter, Florida) – With the Cardinals half way through spring training, it is business as usual with a heaping of hope thrown in for good measure. The hope is that the pitching staff will round into shape so the Cardinals will at least have a shot at playing well into the month of October.
With the insertion of relievers Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper into the starting rotation, the Redbirds raised a lot of eyebrows. The hope is that Looper would buy time until the injured Mark Mulder’s return. The team is also hoping that closer Jason Isringhausen will be able to return to top playing form. But in live batting practice, his stuff has been low in the strike zone.
The Cardinals still have some questions with respect to the bench and whether outfielder Chris Duncan will be able to make routine plays in the field. If the Cardinals can answer those questions and stay healthy then it will fun to watch as they make another run for the National League title.
PAL to PAL
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department continues to make pals around St. Louis. The Police Athletic League (PAL) is a juvenile crime prevention program that uses recreational programs like basketball and boxing to keep youth from engaging in criminal activity. Over 1500 local children are involved in PAL, which is branching out to include new activities like archery and street hockey. About 85 policemen donate their time in exchange for a couple of extra vacation days and more importantly the hope of guiding students in the right direction. Funding is mainly provided by private donations. Contact Sgt. Sean Dace at the St. Louis Police Department for more information.
Saint Louis University has no reason to celebrate
Recently insiders at Saint Louis University said that they had a good season with 20 wins. Are you kidding? If 20 wins made a good season then why are they not playing anywhere? While I have rooted for them, I must admit to being a little confused about what is going on with the program. I am not sure what the game plan is.
No one outside of the campus thinks the team is any good – at least the NCAA and the NIT didn’t. And at this point it will take more than a better schedule to get me interested. But even when they schedule teams that you recognize they go out and get hammered. How can you have scholarship players that do not contribute? Where did they come from? And, more importantly, did you not know they could not play? It’s ok to get some tougher players especially with size that can play. Somebody nudge me when the Billikens are for real but right now I am in no mood to high five someone on a meaningless 20 win season.
First time congrats
Congratulations to Coach Randy Reed and his McCluer North Basketball squad for winning the state basketball championship last weekend in Columbia. It was the first championship for both Coach Reed and the school. And although it took some time, Reed has done a great job in turning that program into a power to be reckoned with.