First Place Again

It was good to see a version of Chris Carpenter that was closer to the vintage version.  It looked like it could be another semi-rocky evening when Orlando Cabrera doubled to lead off the game, but Carpenter settled down from there, getting a rare line-out double play to get out of that scenario and then getting another rare play, Scott Rolen being hit with a batted ball, to stay out of trouble in the seventh.

While those unusual plays helped, there wasn't much else that Carp needed.  He's owned the Reds for some time now, which might be important this year.  The two teams have already gotten 12 of their 18 games out of the way and don't match up again until the second week of August.  We'll have to see if the two teams are still so close when their next series comes around.  I don't see any reason why they won't be.

After hearing about Colby Rasmus and his new contacts, I was hoping I wouldn't have to tag him as a Goat anytime soon, but an 0-4 day will do that.  Still, he looks better at the plate and isn't striking out quite as much.  I look forward to seeing what he'll do this weekend versus Milwaukee.

Some intriguing minor league news coming out last night.  The Cardinals have dipped into the Dominican again and given a $1.5 million bonus to Carlos Matias, a righthanded pitcher.  Reading about this guy's arsenal makes you get excited.  A fastball at 97+ with movement plus a breaking pitch?  Outstanding.  He's only been a pitcher a couple of years and still has some developing to do, but it sounds like in the best case scenario, in a few years you have a rotation headed up by Adam Wainwright but filled out with Shelby Miller and Matias for a powerful force for good.

Cards have an off day before hosting Milwaukee.  Gives you time to listen to Shawn and I talk about the Reds on last night's UCB Radio Hour!