Good evening from my blogging hideaway at the Par Lounge, where the jukebox has offerings from Joy Division to Merle Haggard, and everything in between…

OK, there’s no way to replace Albert Pujols.

The impact of his loss becomes more noticeable with each passing day, especially over the last 72 hours.

The Cardinals managed only four runs in 27 innings of at bats in getting swept by the KC Royals. Pujols has been missing for eight games, and in six of the eight the Cardinals have scraped together three runs or fewer. And make that two runs or less in five of the games.

But there is a way to replenish this stagnant lineup … or at least try to do so.

With so many petrified bats on display, I’m surprised that manager Tony La Russa isn’t trying to energize the attack. The Cardinals can’t go to a “Whiteyball” speed game; they don’t have the personnel for that. But he can utilize the speed he has, and ratchet up the energy. During Pujols’ medical leave, outfielder Brian Barton has gotten only three at-bats, and IF Brendan Ryan has 11 ABs.  Why? No one in the OF is tearing it up right now. Same at 2B. Barton and Ryan have plenty of holes in their game due to inexperience, but at least they can run, play aggressively, and provide TLR with more options to make something happen.  And how can Barton improve as he’s gathering dust on the bench? Ryan also needs more PT. The preocious Ryan may turn out to be a low-OBP middle infielder and nothing special. But Ryan also has real athleticism. So what’s there, exactly? With the lineup gone frigid, it’s a good time to inspect. Given the team’s weakness at 2B, would it hurt to determine if Ryan figures into the solution?  If it costs Adam Kennedy and Aaron Miles ABs, so what?

The Cardinals aren’t put together to steal a lot of bases, so let’s keep this real. But since Pujols has been out, they’ve tried to steal only one base (and failed). Since June 11, their first game without AP, the Cardinals are the only team in the majors without a stolen base.

La Russa likes to deploy the hit-and-run, but with Pujols out, he’s tried only eight of them, and four of those came in one game. I’m sorry, but unless some bats perk up, and in a hurry, this lineup just can’t stand around and expect to produce a lot of runs. So it makes sense to push some.

Numbers:

Here is where the Cardinals rank in assorted offensive categories since Pujols limped off:

Batting average:  27th,  .226

OBP:  30th,  .271

SLG:  22nd,  .378

Runs/game:  T-24th,  3.5

XB Hits:  21st,  21.

At some point, this organization will have to prove that it’s committed to giving younger position players a full chance. The Cardinals’ decision makers are losing credibility by continuing to roll out Chris Duncan on a daily basis. Duncan isn’t alone in the low production; he’s just the most telling example.What is Nick Stavinoha thinking at Triple A Memphis? The dude is batting .346 and spraying line drives all over the yard, and he can’t get a look. And super prospect Colby Rasmus is batting .365 since May 25. Do you mean to tell me that these guys aren’t better than Duncan? Please.

This lineup could use a fresh look until The Mang returns. Nothing drastic; just an infusion of new blood; one bat to kick it up a bit.

* Joe Mather, with only 35 ABs, hardly got a fair look in the STL. But he was sidelined at Memphis this week with a sore back until returning for a pinch-hitting appearance Thursday night.

Unless Tim Wakefield spins some knuckleballs, the Cardinals don’t figure to get their hitting groove on this weekend in Boston. And then they move to Detroit for three against the resurgent Tigers. (Bad timing). Then it’s onto KC for three against the pesky Royals, who are 7-2 during Interleague play so far.

Maybe the Cardinals will do well; they tend to play up to the level of competition.  But this is probably the roughest part of the season. If the Cardinals can carve out three or four wins on the nine-gamer, they’ll be fine.

Because Pujols should be back by then.  

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I guess I should have known better than to get worked up about Mark Mulder. He was a mess on the mound at Memphis on Thursday night.

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Please be very careful about using Yadier Molina so soon after his second (or is it his third?) career concussion.

Very, very careful.

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In a related thought/note: I’ve never understood why the Cardinals choose to play shorthanded when guys (Todd Wellemeyer, Molina) are hurting and clearly suitable for a brief stint on the DL. What’s the point of developing and paying standby talent in the minors?

-B