The Cardinals' late-season collapse and three consecutive losses to the Cubs clearly put retired first baseman Jack Clark in a grumpy mood. Speaking on 101 ESPN radio before Thursday's Padres-Cardinals game, the big fella ripped the Cardinals for their lethargic play. 

"I'm really tired of watching the effort, that's for sure," Clark said. "I'm not seeing a lack of (effort) I'm seeing a pathetic effort. These Cards fans deserve much better. That's just awful. They won't admit it, that they're quitters. If you can't put a better effort out there on the field, take 'em all out, back up the truck, ship 'em all out and get somebody in here that wants to play baseball."

Jack "The Ripper" was just heating up.

"We've got one team here (San Diego) going for the title and we've got our team going for the toilet," he said. "They've got poopy in their pants," and he went on to make another off-color remark about what's "in their britches."

Clark recalled his one season (1988) in New York and evoked the memory of the late Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner.

"When George Steinbrenner was alive, may he rest in peace, he would never let this (happen)," Clark said. "As an owner he would be down in that clubhouse telling them to get their head out of you know where, start playing baseball, and it better start right away, or some heads are going to roll. And they won't have to worry about putting those heads where the grass doesn't grow."

Poopy?

OK, then.

Whether you agree or disagree, this is funny stuff. Clark doesn't hold back and I respect that. And I'm sure a lot of fans would generally agree with his sentiments.

READING TIME 3 MINUTES:

* The most important thing that can happen in Blues camp? It isn't the battle for two defensive spots. It's the battle of Brad Boyes vs. Brad Boyes. As you know, he's gone from 43 goals to 33 to 14. It's a confidence issue. Even in otherwise unimportant preseason games, it's imperative for Boyes to score some goals and enter the season with enhanced confidence. The Blues will not improve offensively in a significant way unless Boyes finds the touch. He is a difference maker. He can improve the power play, which ranked 20th in the NHL last season. The Blues need him to return to form.

* Show us what you got, Alex Pietrangelo.

* I like the idea of moving David Backes to right wing. Will it bring out more of the power game in him?

* After rising up to beat the Padres Thursday, the Cardinals are now 27-20 this season against division leaders and contenders that are within easy reach of a playoff spot: Reds, Giants, Braves, Phillies, Padres, Rockies.

* Of course it's a different story against NL Central teams other than the Reds. Against the Brewers, Cubs, Astros and Pirates, the Cardinals are 22-29.

* Jake Westbrook made his first start for the Cardinals on Aug. 2. Since then, here are the earned-run averages for the team's starting pitchers, from best to worst:  Westbrook 3.26, Adam Wainwright 3.38, Jaime Garcia 3.61, Chris Carpenter 3.94, Kyle Lohse 8.75. Westbrook's free-agent prospects are brightening. Given the way he's pitched, I'd have to think teams will take notice. And it's conceivable that Westbrook will be too costly for the Cardinals to retain. That's the way the season has gone for the Cardinals.

* If the Cardinals have many save opportunities over the final 17 games, it would make sense to see how Jason Motte does in the role.

* If the Raiders lose to the Rams, Michael Lombardi of the NFL Network says he wouldn't be surprised to see Al Davis fire head coach Tom Cable.

* Some fans have complained about this, and I think it's legit: shouldn't the Rams be dressing more than four cornerbacks for games?

* I need a new-music recommendation. Thank you.

* It's hard to have a bad Thursday night when FX has cranked up new seasons of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "The League." Gotta be honest. I thought I would hate "The League." It took me a while to warm up to it. But I got hooked after a few episodes.

* Just wondering: how is the Kiss Cam operator supposed to read minds and determine each person's sexual preferences? That's asking for a lot, no?

* I'd like to offer some meaningful comments on Missouri's football season, but I don't see anything meaningful happening until the Tigers begin Big 12 play. And I am looking forward to it. Especially the game at Nebraska

* Reggie Bush still doesn't get it. He gave back the Heisman Trophy but said it isn't an admission that he took money and cheated at USC. Always best to 'fess up and get it out the way early, instead of denying, denying, denying. Didn't athletes learn anything from the experiences of Pete Rose, Mark McGwire and Marion Jones?

* Follow-up thoughts on the Derek Jeter acting job: (1) while it's a baseball tradition for players to try and do a con job un umpires, this is the first real blemish on his golden-guy rep; (2) I wonder if umpires will hold it against him --  by not giving him the benefit of the doubt on future close calls on hit by pitches; (3) if A-Rod had done this, he would have been savaged and called all sorts of names; (4) I wonder if the Tampa Bay Rays will drill him at an appropriate time?

Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend...

-Bernie