...::::Official 2010 MLB N.L. Central Thread::::...

[dmxfury]

Arroyo can look so good attimes but then give up 6 runs next time out, no in between with him

 

[DownByLaw]

Both pitchers were on point, Cards just came up short. Now it's off to play the Brewers.

 

[jonfarr]

You can't expect to win when your only offensive output is a solo HR by one of your power hitters. Putting up one run is pathetic. Spots 1-2 in the Cardinals order really need to step it up and get on base if this team expects to have success.

 

[pacmagic2002]

VERY good game pitched by Penny.

I dont even care about the loss....the offense will come together eventually. BUT......The bullpen on the other hand, needs work (again)

Starting to think we shoulda traded motte instead of Perez (whats he doing anyway?)

 

[rko2004]

Originally Posted by dmxfury

Arroyo can look so good attimes but then give up 6 runs next time out, no in between with him

Cosign. Good win by the Reds

 

[jdcurt2]

Arroyo has had 13 straight starts where he's pitched atleast 7 innings and given up 3 earned runs or less.

 

[arstyle27]

Cubs Beat Braves 2-0

It looks like it's going to be one of the years again.

The Cubs aren't going to make anything look easy, no matter how many ulcer-inducing moments they provide.

After losing their first two games, the Cubs held on for a 2-0 victory Thursday night over the Braves behind the solid pitching of Randy Wells and home runs from Tyler Colvin and Marlon Byrd.

"It's huge," Byrd said. "It's hard starting off slow. I want to get some hits out of the way before we get to Chicago, before I get booed."

Byrd was kidding, but there was a real sense of urgency.

"There is always urgency," Byrd said. "We said on Day One, ‘We need wins.' The Cardinals aren't going to be slowing down. Milwaukee is not going to be slowing down. We have to get ahead early."

Before the game, Piniella conceded everything is magnified the first week.

"You're 2-0, you're on top of the world, 0-2 and you're 6 feet under," he said. "It's early. We have to sort some things out here."

After John Grabow's bullpen failure Wednesday, Carlos Marmol pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to post his first save. As usual, it was a nail-biter.

After stranding a pair of inherited base-runners to end the eighth, Marmol gave up a sharp hit to Yunel Escobar to start the ninth. Kosuke Fukudome cut off the ball in the gap, holding Escobar to a single. Piniella called it the "biggest play" of the night.

Marmol then struck out rookie phenom Jason Heyward before Nate McLouth walked. Eric Hinske flied out to deep center and Marmol struck out Melky Cabrera, pumping his fist in the air to punctuate the moment.

The Cubs offense still isn't in gear, a fact that's likely to stick in Piniella's craw. They finished the series with only 16 hits, hitting .176 and scoring nine runs.

Piniella rested left fielder Alfonso Soriano, catcher Geovany Soto and second baseman Mike Fontenot, inserting Colvin, Koyie Hill and Jeff Baker in their places. But the Cubs still managed only four hits off Braves starter Tommy Hanson over 5 1/3 innings, and none off the Atlanta bullpen.

Colvin started things off with his first major league home run in the second. He hasn't cooled down, despite not playing the last four days.

"As long as I stick with my routine, I should be fine," he said.

Byrd added his second homer of the season in the fourth, before the Cubs offense shut down. But Wells was up to the task, inducing three double play grounders to get out of jams, including one in the sixth by Escobar to end the inning.

"I'm not at the stage of my career where I can distinguish which games are big and which games aren't," Wells said. "They all are (big) for me."

 

[wildkycat]

Originally Posted by jdcurt2

Arroyo has had 13 straight starts where he's pitched atleast 7 innings and given up 3 earned runs or less.

yessir...great outing today given that he hates day games.

 

[tylerdub]

Wells looked pretty good. he got a few lucky breaks and got out of some jams. I wish the bats would give the pitchers a little breathing room.

 

[dmxfury]

He needs to get his concert series going again, bring the Reds down a notch ha ha

 

[CP1708]

Wells looked real good out there, and nice to see Colvin hit that shot. 

Keep it going please. 

 

[the sauna]

Someone please tell me that Carlos Silva isn't actually starting for us today...

 

[jdcurt2]

Every season we make bum @%% pitchers look like a hall of famer. It would be nice to see someone work a count every now and then.

 

[the sauna]

Carlos Silva

 

[jdcurt2]

DREW %*@$#** STUBBBBBSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[arstyle27]

!@%+ bullpen

 

[the sauna]

What a bunch of %!%@#%%!...

 

[arstyle27]

Unbelievable...................................158 more games with this garbage bullpen and this already slumping offense. I mean, +@!#, can the bullpen hold a *@**!$% lead? What the +@!#, seriously, it early and %++%, but +@!# man....do your *@**!$% job you %@+!% millionaire +@!# sucking bastards.

 

[wisconsin 4 life]

Did you Cubs fans really think your team was going to be good? 

Thanks for the laugher. 

Back to back nationally televised games for the Brewers-Cards tomorrow and Sunday. 

 

[wisconsin 4 life]

Who the ####?? 

 

[smoke ya later]

good win for the redlegs

 

[pacmagic2002]

STAV----I----NO---AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  @%*%%%%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHA........They named Escobar the player of the game when the cards were last to their last strike............

They should think about naming the player of the game WHEN THE GAME IS OVER!!!!!

This game was aight......the bullpen was cool this time.  Same ol lohse tho, unfortunately.

 

[DownByLaw]

[h3][/h3]

[h3]Stavinoha's homer rescues Cardinals[/h3]Down to final strike, pinch-hitter comes through in ninth
By Joe DiGiovanni / Special to MLB.com

04/09/10 11:28 PM ET
Box >
MILWAUKEE -- Nick Stavinoha hit a two-run home run off Milwaukee closer Trevor Hoffman with two outs in the ninth, giving the Cardinals an improbable 5-4 victory over the Brewers on Friday night.

Stavinoha, making his first plate appearance of the year, was down to his last strike, but hit a 1-2 pitch from the future Hall of Famer into the left-field bleachers to score Colby Rasmus from first. He reached to hit a changeup, and his right knee appeared on the ground when he slugged the ball.

Hoffman (0-1) was 37-for-41 in save chances last year and already had converted two this season. He is baseball's all-time saves leader with 593.

The Cardinals had trouble managing offense most of the night with the exception of Matt Holliday, who had a single, double and home run. His bid for a cycle failed when he struck out in the eighth on a fastball from reliever LaTroy Hawkins.

Dennys Reyes (1-0) pitched the eighth for the victory. Ryan Franklin pitched the ninth for his second save.

Joe DiGiovanni is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

It's not over until the fat lady sings

 

[Retroballer]

i really cant wait till football season starts

 

[DownByLaw]

Originally Posted by RetroBaller

i really cant wait till football season starts

We're not even a full week into the season