Well, you can't expect to win them all

Of course, you can hope to do so. And when playing the Cubs, with the chance to sweep, one can't be faulted for really really wanting the win. But I'll take 2 of 3 every time. Do that, you will win 100 games.

Cubs bats woke up in this one, winning 10-3. At some level, we all knew this was going to happen today. Todd Wellemeyer isn't right, and hasn't been all season (so far). He's made it out of the fifth once. He's allowed 40 baserunners in 4 starts (for a WHIP of 1.82). Is this just an aberration or is there something wrong?

I think there's something wrong. Through his first 4 starts last season, he'd thrown 3 more innings, but here's the rub: he'd allowed 13 fewer baserunners (27 to 40), and had struck out twice as many guys (26 to 13). Part of the frustration of living on the West Coast is I don't get a chance to see the game live, and my days are too busy to allow sitting in front of a computer and watching the game on MLB TV. So I don't know if his pitches are more up this season than last, or have less break on them this season, or what. But what is true, and I can glean this from the statistics, is he isn't missing bats anywhere near as well as he did last year.

His pitch to contact has resulted in more baserunners, and giving up more runs (this year's ERA is 6.14, last year through 4 starts it was 3.24). Cardinals already have Carpenter on the shelf. Although we can't afford another starter to go down, I'd certainly like to find out what's wrong with Wellemeyer, because we need him over the long haul.

Interestingly, through 4 starts last year he'd given up 5 home runs. He hasn't given up any this season. I wonder if a change in his pitching philosophy, to not give up as many HR this year, has led to some unintended consequences regarding his effectiveness. Realize, though, that's just wild speculation on my part.

One more item from Sunday's game. The Cubs decided they wouldn't let AP beat them (smart move), walking him his first two times up. Then, with the score 6-2 Chicago and two outs in the fifth, they hit him. Now, in the top of the second Wellemeyer had drilled Soriano high with a pitch; the score was already 3-0, there was a guy on, Soriano was hitting third, so I don't think Wellemeyer was trying to intimidate anyone. And I don't know if Harden took it upon himself to protect his guys by throwing at Pujols.

But it seemed suspicious. Especially since AP had really hurt Chicago in this series. Was it a purpose pitch? A message to AP and the Cardinals for the rest of the season? Only Harden, Soto, and Piniella really know for sure.

Of all the guys to try and intimidate, I don't think I'd pick on Albert Pujols.

Wellemeyer Recovers; Let's Talk About the Bullpen

Continuing the pleasant early trend of excellent starting pitching, Todd Wellemeyer recovered from a bad opening start with 7 innings of 1 run ball, enabling the Cardinals to take a 2-1 decision in the opener against Arizona.

This marks the fifth quality start in a row, which, naturally enough, led to the Cardinals fifth win in a row.

Albert Pujols and Brian Barden provided all the scoring with solo home runs in the third and eighth innings. D-Back starter Doug Davis was just as tough as Wellemeyer, scattering seven hits over eight innings. He made two mistakes. Wellemeyer made one, and wriggled out of a couple of other tight corners.

St Louis, San Diego, and Toronto currently share the best record in baseball at 6-2. You would have won a lot of money if you bet those three teams would have the best record in baseball at this point.

It's pretty obvious a major reason the Cardinals are off to a fast start is the starting pitching. Let's take a look at the relievers; are they holding up their end of the bargain?

From the first week, here's the usage grid for the first week.

Of course, if that were at all legible you'd see what I mean.

Couple of notes. What you're looking at is the inning the pitcher entered and how many outs they recorded. For instance, McClellan on 6 April entered in the seventh inning and retired one batter, then pitched the eighth.

Most of the high leverage innings so far have been thrown by McClellan and Franklin, the horses from last year's bullpen. Thompson has the lion's share of the innings (5 of the 18 bullpen innings through Sunday), but all of those have been in games the Cardinals won in a blowout, or lost in a relative blowout. Reyes seems to have worked himself into leverage situations. Miller hasn't been used since 8 April (and that includes last night).

The bullpen stats, which I don't post here, show an ERA of over 4.00 for the year; but that number is really driven by Motte's bad outing on Opening Day, and the fact Thompson has surrendered 2 runs in each of his last 2 appearances. I like Brad Thompson, but early returns indicate he's the worst pitcher on the staff; LaRussa is using him exactly as he should (long man/mop up man).

Anyway, I thought this would be an interesting thing to track throughout the year. Of course, if the starters continue to throw like Wellemeyer did last night, this will be a very boring exercise.

One programming note: I'm going to be writing Bird's Eye View previews for Cardinals Clubhouse this season. My first one should be published on for the Cub Series this weekend. FYI.