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we've obviously already seen the answer to the replacing Carp question...Mitchell Boggs. I couldn't agree with you more regarding Mozeliak, and not going after a SP this off season, and for that matter, getting better help in the pen. From what I've seen of Trever Miller, I'm not at all impressed. We have pretty much the exact same situation as last year, with the Cards front office apparently working with optimism as the new currency. There was no move to shore up the bullpen, but only bandaid type moves, that could easily go south. The closer situation is identical to last year, we're just really hoping one of those guys can manage to come in and close out games, but no actual help was brought in. The starting rotation, I think we all know, has the ability to be very good, but also has significant injury risk. The Lohse signing I will wait to see how I feel about, but how can you expect Welley to repeat his performance, and to rely on Joel Pineiro to some how regain his form from 05. I know I'm ranting and we're 7-3, but I just see so many areas of opportunity that have been ignored. I really fo think this team can compete this year, but some moves should have, and need to be made. We're not even talking about major, earth shattering FA moves, but simply solid players, who can actually help the situation, and not just provide a temporary band-aid. My two cents.

Not putting Ludwick in to pinch hit baffles me but I came to a conclusion today that wasn't all that good a reason but still a possibility. With Ludwick's current hitting streak maybe he Tony was trying to help keep that in tack

BBK - I've got to agree with you on the off-season. It's especially tough to swallow given that our payroll is about $6-7 Million less than it was last year. Given that, I think it is negligent that they didn't do more to upgrade the rotation or the bullpen. At least add to one of them.

TeeTocks - I read a mention of that somewhere, that maybe the hitting streak was the reason. If that was it, I agree that it was weak. I bet Ludwick would have rather put his streak on the line and tried to win that game in the 9th inning. Regardless, a hitting streak shouldn't be put above a team win.

I want another starter from somewhere. We have plenty of depth to deal.

Call San Francisco. They have good young pitcher growing on trees out there.

Call the NYY, they need an outfielder now that Nady is out, and their young pitching is now buried in the depth chart by their off season acquisitions.

Looks like PJ Walters is going to get the first shot at replacing Carpenter in the rotation.

It was interesting to see Larussa pushed back Lohse and Wellenmeyer so that Walters could pitch in Friday's game at Wrigley. Walters would've been slated to pitch Sunday's game on national television. Not sure if it was just a move to take some pressure off the kid, or a way to keep us from getting embarrassed in front of the entire country. In either case, it was probably the right move.

The only thing I can say about Carpenter's injury is: Thank God it's not his arm!

I actually think this trip to the DL might be a blessing in disguise.

The Cardinals are off to a pretty hot start this year, with the bats at least. We've seen a couple of good starts (Carps near no-no; Lohse's complete game shutout), but the rest of the staff has been so-so. While Wainwright has struck out quite a few, he's also looked pretty wild in his starts thus far. And both Wellenmeyer and Pineiro have each had a pretty good game and a pretty bad game.

I think this gives us the opportunity to see if any of these young guys can pitch in the Major Leagues. And I'd much rather have that happen in late April than in late August when we're trying to put away the division.

You can look at it two ways...

1. Either Walters or Boggs comes in and fills in admirably in the three starts Carpenter will miss while on the DL. At which point you can rest a little easier knowing that if anything were to happen to Carpenter (or any of our other starters) for the rest of the year, we've got a guy that can fill in.

or

2. Both Walters and Boggs prove to be exactly what they are..."minor league pitchers". In that case, it would become apparent to both Cardinal fans, as well as Cardinal management, that this team HAS to have some insurance in that rotation if we hope to make the playoffs. Which could lead to Mozeliak doing what us fans have wanted him to do since last December...Trade for PEAVY!

Regardless, Carpenter's injury is one of those freak occurances (A torn left oblique muscle?! While "batting"!?!). We just have to swallow it and hope it all works out. And then look on the bright side. At least while making the DL move the Cardinals managed to swipe Thompson for Perez! God I hate Thompson. And that's hard, because there are very few Cardinals that I have ever despised. In fact, the only ones I can recall are Brad Thompson and Dave Veres (That might make a good message board topic: Most hated Cards ever?). I'm just glad to see Thompson gone and Perez back on the club. After watching him pitch against Arizona, I can't imagine it being too long before he's back in the mix for the 9th.

My only real concern after the first week is the situation in the Outfield. Larussa seems intent on switching up his outfield every single game. I just don't see how you can be sitting Ludwick or Duncan right now. I could maybe see Duncan sitting against lefties (but he's even hitting lefties this year!), but Ludwick against righties?! Sure, sure, you can talk splits and all that until your eyes bleed, but Ludwick is a hitter. A hitter that's currently off to a hot start. And besides, Ludwick isn't your traditional RHB, he actually bats BETTER against RHP.

I think the main thing I took from this first week is...WE'RE IN FIRST PLACE!!!

True indeed we need pitching, fast. Us fans have been saying this for two years now, and we haven't improved. Trevor and chris will not help us this year. If we don't get help now, it will be to late in about four months from now!

We have been saying the same thing the last two years. We need more better pitching, trevor and chris will not work. Carperter won't stay healthy and Miller was a waste, just like piniero. We have a world series team this year if we get better pitching.

I definitely agree with the first bulletpoint. John Moz said his off-season priority was a closer, and he didn't get it. He also said he wouldn't spend on a starter because all signs indicated that Carpenter would be healthy. Well, now we don't have Carp and we still don't have a closer. The Cub series was the same as last year, meaning anytime we have a lead into the 8th or 9th, none of us have any idea at all if we are going to win.

Also, I really like the way Duncan is swinging the bat, but Ankiel looks like he has no clue at all up there.

Ankiel isn't doing to well with the bat. I say for a starting outfield we should have:
-Duncan. Who is swinging the bat well.
-Rasmus. Come on give the rookie a chance.
-And finally of coarse Ludwick. Who is an all around great player.

The offense is doing well...Ludwick and Pujols picked up right where they left off last season...if we can get Duncan/Ankiel/Rasmus to actually pick it up, we are set on the Offensive side.

Loosing Carpenter hurts badly b/c our bullpen blows more than Jenna Jameson at a porn convention.

We need solid starters going deep and often b/c I just do not trust them any more.

Can we not develop or sign a middle reliver, let alone a REAL closer?

Jeesh

I agree with needing another starter. I'm pleasantly surprised by what we are getting out of Pineiro at this point, though. If he can consistently go deep into games like that, and keep us in games.....it would go a long way toward helping us contend.