Reading Time 5 Minutes:
* The two late-inning blowups at Coors Field were ugly and inexcusable, but one thing I won't do is condemn the Cardinals bullpen. These guys did a terrific job for three months, pitching at a higher and more reliable level than I'd anticipated. The relievers were a team strength. They were money. And now, obviously, they've had some horrible results over the last two, three games. The relievers didn't have to work Sunday, because Adam Wainwright pitched a complete game to beat the Brewers. But if we go back to Saturday's game vs. Milwaukee, and add these first two Rockies' games, it's a bloody mess for the bullpen: 12.1 IP, 27 hits, 6 walks, 1 hit batter, 5 homers, a .458 batting average and a 13.14 ERA. There's nothing to add to that. But it's only three games. And this was one of the top bullpens in the majors. I won't trash these guys because they've had a few bad games.
* Given the carnage of the previous two games, I'm still trying to figure out why Mitchell Boggs faced only two batters over those 48 hours of hell at Coors. Tony La Russa was running through relievers like mad in both games. And he essentially ran out of relievers last night. But Boggs wasn't used at all Tuesday, and he pitched to only two batters Wednesday night; that brief appearance would undermine the bullpen, which had to turn to rookie Evan MacLane with the game on the line. Over his last 16 appearances, Boggs has allowed two runs for a 1.15 ERA. And with the bullpen getting bombed out over two consecutive nights, you only use the guy against two batters? That's pretty remarkable.
* Since May 7, Matt Holliday is batting .322 with a .405 onbase percentage and a .569 slugging percentage. He has 10 homers and 33 RBIs. He's 14 for 51 (.275) with runners in scoring position. Yeah, he's done a lot of that in bunches. But are you still down on him? Can he stay?
* When Ryan Ludwick returns from the DL after the All-Star break, there will be no justification -- none -- for sending outfielder Jon Jay back to Class AAA Memphis. The kid is impressive, and he can make a difference with his bat, speed and defense.
* The Cardinals have allowed 35 unearned runs this season; only seven MLB teams have allowed fewer UE runs than that.
* Tyler Greene: come on, dude. You're a better shortstop than that. If I'm going to campaign for you, you've got to help me out.
* The Cincinnati Reds went 5-2 on their visits to Chicago and New York. They took two out of three from a Mets team that had won seven consecutive series at Citi Field. Next stop for the Reds, before the All-Star break: four games at Philadelphia. Little-known fact: Reds pitchers have the third-best road ERA in the majors, 3.75. Only San Diego and Tampa Bay have pitched better on the road.
-Bernie
