It's Opposite Weekend

Just when I thought this year's version of the Cardinals would never beat KC, they turn around from a 7-2 Friday night loss and take 2 of 3 from the Royals.

Just when I thought the Cubs would never lose a series, they get swept in Comiskey (nee US Cellular Field) by the White Sox.

The Cardinals now stand just 2.5 games out of first, as close as they've been since 11 June. Not to mention they complete a 9-game road trip against the defending World Champs, the pre-season favorite to succeed the World Champs, and a team just killing the NL this season 5-4. Which I didn't think would be possible after they dropped those 2 winnable games in Detroit last week.

Joe Strauss at the Post-Dispatch does a good job summarizing the last 51 games for the Cardinals in yesterday's game summary.

One other thing I want to bring to your attention. Larry over at Viva El Birdos lays out some starting pitching options the Cardinals may be considering trading for, given the flux the rotation has been in all year due to injuries (Wainwright, Piniero, Wellemeyer, etc). One name that came up was Jarrod Washburn, currently of the Mariners.

Now, if you're not perusing USS Mariner on your forays through the internets - and I recommend reading them daily, by the way, for general baseball knowledge - you should be. Dave and DMZ have been particularly vocal about Mr. Washburn. Allow me to highlight two posts on the pitcher:

This one from May 12;
And this one from Saturday.

I would rather watch Mark Mulder labor through 4 innings, giving up 6 ER a start, than bring this clubhouse cancer to St Louis. Jarrod Washburn should not be considered under any circumstances. He sucks.