Game 3 Preview

It's Suppan v. Chris Young. A matchup straight from the marketing department at ESPN.

I'd like to be able to offer some statistical good news regarding Young, who carved the Birds up two weeks ago. I'd like to, but I can't. He's been good. He posted a 3.40 ERA. Only one team really hit him hard, and that was our second favorite NL team....the Braves. Factor out the two short starts against the Braves, and Young's ERA drops to 2.90.

He’s also been better away from Petco, which is odd, since that’s supposed to be a pitchers park. His only weakness? He doesn’t pitch deep into games, going over 7 innings only 3 times.

It will be our second look at Young. This season, that hasn’t seemed to effect Young, but we are undeniably better against pitchers we have faced before.

Suppan will keep us in the game. That’s what he does. He’s never spectacular, and we’re not sure how he does it. But he does. He won’t strike out many. If the grounders find holes, he’s doomed. You know the rest.

The real question is: Will Bochy pitch to Albert? Pujols has achieved mythical status in this series. It’s nearly a shock when he makes an out. Bochy is in a tough spot. If he pitches to Albert, he runs the risk of getting crushed.

If he doesn’t, he sends a message to his club that Albert is better then they are. Then what happens if he’s forced to pitch to Albert.
The thing is, Albert is better then the Padres pitchers. I think Bruce will walk Albert at least twice today. Feels like a big Rolen day to me. Seems like he’s due.

It’s a really big game today. If the Cards can sweep, we can set up our anemic starting staff to face the Mets anemic starting staff. Carpenter would pitch game 1, and probably games 4 and 7, with Weaver and Suppan each pitching two games; the second on three days rest.

If the Cards lose today, Carpenter pitches tomorrow. Then your game 1 starter is either Suppan on 3 days rest. Or Jeff Weaver. Hard to imagine giving the ball to Weaver for three games in 7, so look for Suppan to start Game 2 on regular rest, Carpenter to start Game 3 at home, and Anthony Reyes to start Game 4.

If the Cards lose today and tomorrow, and somehow regroup to win on Monday, it’s either Suppan on 3 days rest or Reyes in Game 1. Neither of those is good.

The sweep would be huge.