Last Wednesday, CC Sabathia pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals and threw a three-hit, dominating shut out. The game was not as close as the 3-0 might indicate.
Last night, Chris Carpenter returned to the mound after “Tommy John” surgery and an absence from the Redbirds’ rotation for more than year.
It’s now Thursday and I can only hope Carpenter pitched half as well as Sabathia did in Busch Stadium last week.
Regardless of his first outing, Carpenter’s return is a ray of hope beaming through the gathering storm clouds. If Adam Wainwright can come back and quickly return to form, the Cardinals have a real shot at claiming the Wild Card berth or even winning the National League Central Division.
Sure, it might not seem like it now. Sure, I again am an optimist surrounded by the pessimism, gloom and despair that litters sports talk radio.
But the Cardinals are coming home for three games with the Philadelphia Phillies and three with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Next up are the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field. That series opens on August 8. So do the Summer Olympics. Guess what else is on August 8?
Carmen and Alvin Reid’s 25th wedding anniversary. 08-08-08. Funny how that worked out.
But I digress.
Following Tuesday night’s win over the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs’ loss at Milwaukee, the Cardinals found themselves lurking three games out of first place and just two behind the Brewers in the NL Wild Card race.
When the Phillies series opens on Friday, the Redbirds will have 52 games left.
They will also have reliever Jason Isringhausen in his previous role of closer.
I’m more confident in the Cards making up two or three games over the next 50 than I am of Isringhausen returning to form.
This is Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan’s final examination for Isringhausen. If he fails, he’ll be trying to reach 300 saves with another franchise.
It will also then be up to Wainwright to check his ego at the door and check into the bullpen.
But the Cardinals could do something to make the transition easier. That would be picking up a starting pitcher before 3 p.m. CDT today – the trading deadline.
Of course, another bat would be nice. But the main need is pitching. Always has been, always will be.
The better the starting rotation, the better the bullpen. It does not work in reverse.
The Cards are in the midst of salvaging a rugged two weeks. But the next couple of weeks will make or break the 2008 season.
With more than eight weeks and 50 games left in the regular season – including two home games against the Brewers, three at home against the Cubs and six at Wrigley Field – there is no need to panic.
But there is a need to upgrade the pitching staff and give the team a much-needed booster shot of confidence.
Should the Cards do nothing by the close of the day, there is still the possibility of getting a player through waivers if they are released by another team.
Don’t be ready to burn down Busch Stadium on Friday if a deal is not made. But I’ll join you with a torch of the season ends with the roster remaining as it was as of Wednesday.
