Game 3---Coming Home

So it’s back to baseball, and we put the talk of cheating behind us until Game 6 (if necessary.)

For the first time in weeks, I feel like the Cards are favored in a few games. We have Carpenter and Suppan at home. You’ve heard the splits, how they are both better at home than away. That’s useful.

Carpenter got roughed up against Detroit earlier this year, on the road. Detroit can hit him, but I like Carps chances. Of the Tigers, Casey has the best numbers against him since Chris came to the NL. It will be interesting to see if the torn calf is such that Casey can play. There is no DH in St. Louis.

I would love to see the Tigers play Santiago at ss again. But my guess is Casey will try to go. Will he be effective?

Much has been made of Detriots inability to take pitches/walks. Detroit ranked 28th in walks, and 26th in pitches per at-bat. They are, in a word, impatient.

Hmmmmmmmm. Veteran pitchers, each with multiple pitches, against a young free-swinging lineup. I like that matchup.

Game 3 is Nate Robertson’s start for Detroit. Nate has faced Belliard 25 times, but no other Cardinal more than 5 times. Belliard hits .320 off Nate. Gracious, if Belliard is a dangerous hitter, we’re in great shape. But I’ll believe that when I see it.

Preston Wilson, who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat right now, is 5-5 lifetime against Nate with two homers. Could be a coincidence.

Our lineup hasn’t fared well against A) Lefties or B) Pitchers they’ve never faced. However, Robertson hasn’t thrown in 13 days to live hitting, and he hasn’t been particularly sharp yet this post-season. He gave up 7 earned in 5.2 innings against the Yankees, and allowed nine baserunners in 5.0 scoreless against the A’s.

We should have some opportunities.

It’s not that I think we’ll knock Robertson out. It’s that, for the first time in two months, we have our two best pitchers, facing a lineup that, though consistent, isn’t loaded with scary hitters.

For the first time in a while, we have an edge.