Getting by on Luck

The St Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburg Pirates last night at PNC Park 13-0. Congratulations Red Birds. But it was a boring game and enough to put any baseball fan to sleep.

The Pirates are a struggling team. Plagued with injuries along with pitching and hitting, it's no surprise that they are losing ball games.

However, put the Cardinals up against a more challenging team like the Milwaukee Brewers and it may be a different story. No team wants to give a game away.

Another thing I miss in the lineup are key players. Due to injuries Paul DeJong has had an up and down year. The skills of this great shortstop along with his ability to hit the long ball are much needed. When will the Cardinals bring him back?

Another great player left out of most of the regular season lineup is Matt Carpenter. Just like people in real life, if Matt starts to produce hits and runs he could easily return to the lineup. But he has to remain healthy. Meanwhile he has to compete with Tommy Edman and Sosa.

But there is no such thing as luck. Baseball teams move up the ranks based on merit. The Pirates are in the process of rebuilding. Pirate fans are hopeful of a brighter future.

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There is No Joy in Losing

The word 'joy' is often used as a biblical term. Perhaps you will find it on a greeting card. It's a time to feel happy and encounter a pleasant experience. That's the way it should be.

However, there are times that we feel just the opposite. Gloom and doom come knocking at our door. What happened that derailed us? Perhaps it was circumstances beyond our control. Baseball is that kind of a circumstance.

Baseball is my kind of a game. Nothing could keep me away from watching a game with my friends. Last night we watched the St. Louis Cardinals play the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. It was a real test playing the first place team in the division. Sorta like separating the men from the boys.

With thirty-five thousand baseball fans I felt good. The Red Birds were off to a good start. Through four innings it was 3-1 in favor of the home team. Then 3-2 in the fifth. In the ninth is was tied 3-3 before things fell apart in the tenth. Once leading 3-0 they went home losers 6-4.

There is no joy in losing. When the Cardinals play other teams that are struggling they have no problem. However, with the better teams they consistently struggle in the latter innings. 

There is no doubt about it, the Red Birds need to improve with their offense and defense. Right now they are struggling to get a play-off spot, Maybe next year will be a better year. 

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The Picker Upper

 Fuel is a good picker upper to start the day. No, I don't mean a heating fuel like coal, oil, or gas to heat your home. No, I don't mean the stuff at the gas pump to fill the tank on your car. 

My friend was on her way to church while chatting with a fellow worker on her phone. They both worked at a local church. "I feel great. I just had my second cup of coffee."

Like millions of other people I'm ready to start my day after I have my coffee. Sometimes I miss breakfast, but never my 'black gold.' There is something magic in a cup of coffee.

Did I say it makes my day? Yes! I'm mentally, physically, and spiritually, awake and ready to meet my public. Without my 'black gold' I would be good for nothing. Can't leave home without it.

It reminds me of my love for baseball. I like to hit that little white ball when it crosses the plate. It's fun to watch my friends chase that baseball all over the place. Such is baseball and it all started with my picker upper for my day.

How does your day start? Do you wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed? Is your 'black gold' burning on the stove? Turn off the burner and pour yourself a cup.

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The Cardinals Have A Problem

 

The St Louis Cardinals have a problem. The pitching team is falling apart along with scoring runs in the later innings. Why?

Tuesday night the new Cardinal pitcher John Lester, former Cub allowed the Braves to get five runs in the first inning. Eventually they won the game 6-1. 

Wednesday night the Cardinals lost 7-4 after leading in the early innings 3-0. What else could go wrong? Happ, another new Cardinal pitcher and making his debut in a Red Bird uniform got the lost. 

Last night the Cardinals lost again 8-4. What else is new? 

The solution to their problem is better and improved pitching and hitting. Did they forget about scoring runs to win ball games? Where is the pitching and hitting couch? Besides dealing with injuries the team is trying to improve however, lately they haven't done much good. 

Action requires wise decisions. Trades isn't a good solution unless the players can perform. Send the old guys back to the batting cages. Pitchers must relearn all the basics. Good luck Cardinals. Maybe next year will be a better year.

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