Their Reputation Preceeds Them

Even though Adam Wainwright deserved so much better, striking out 12 and making just the one mistake, a solo home run to Jerry Hairston, the offense again couldn't come up with the big blow that would get him a win.

Being that it was a late game, I really only got to see the early innings, but that was frustrating enough.  Loading the bases with one out should always get you a run if you can stay out of the double play, but instead David Freese and Colby Rasmus both struck out to end the threat.  Then you have two on after two out in the second, but can't get them in.  A double play to end the third.  A strike 'em out-throw 'em out double play to end the fourth.  The runners were there, but they never could be brought home.

Really rough night for Rasmus, who went 0-4 with two strikeouts and a double play.  He's down to .261 now after a strong start.  He's not alone in this, of course, but it's still distressing to see.

You really hope that, at some time, Albert Pujols can get going.  Even the national guys are noticing that AP isn't quite his normal dominating self.  You figure some time that he'll correct what he's doing and start to just tear up the league, but to do that he's going to have to get back to hitting left-handers.  If he continues to keep hitting under .200 against those that throw with the wrong hand, teams will be able to throw out basically anyone that throws that way and beat this team, what with Rasmus and others having issues with the lefties as well.

Simple fact is, this offense will probably start clicking when Pujols does.  Hopefully last night's three hit game is a start in the right direction.

Kyle Lohse sees the specialists today and, right now, he has no clue what kind of timetable he's on.  It looks more and more certain that Adam Ottovino will be making the start against the Cubs this weekend, which will be an interesting experience for the rookie.  As for Lohse, you hope that they can figure out something quickly, because otherwise he could be looking at a career-ending thing.  All because Ron Mahay couldn't control a pitch last year.

How aggravated do you think the people at Beverly Hill Sports Council are now that the guy representing Pujols has taken off to presumably start his own firm?  I'm guessing that they'd at least gotten some portion of Pujols's next deal, but now his agent will clear it all.  Nice timing on his part, it appears. 

Cards try to break this first place tie again and see if they can actually score tonight against Kevin Correia.  After a fairly effective year last year, Correia has struggled some in 2010, going 4-4 with a 4.57 ERA.  Without digging, I'm guessing he's the weak point in the Padres lineup.  How have the Cards fared against him in the past?

	PA	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	SH	SF	IBB	HBP	GDP
Felipe Lopez	29	25	5	2	0	0	2	3	2	.200	.286	.280	.566	1	0	0	0	0
Matt Holliday	25	23	7	2	1	1	6	1	1	.304	.360	.609	.969	0	0	0	1	0
Albert Pujols	13	10	4	1	0	0	2	3	3	.400	.538	.500	1.038	0	0	0	0	0
Yadier Molina	9	7	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	.143	.250	.143	.393	1	0	1	0	0
Skip Schumaker	8	7	3	1	0	0	1	1	1	.429	.500	.571	1.071	0	0	0	0	0
Jason LaRue	4	3	1