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After last night's enthralling game, which triggered a massive outburst of over 250 comments in the recap - boy, I'm really looking forward to reading all those incisive insights into Haren's start, Montero's great performance and the trade prospects for Snyder - we now have a Yusmeiro Petit start to get through. I trust I need not remind you what happened last time we had one of those, though in his defense, he was probably the least horrific thing about the game. For obvious reasons, I still can't say I am too optimistic. Our #5 pitchers haven't won a game since June 1st, and the team as a whole are 4-12 in their starts this year.
Pineiro has been pretty good of late, with a 2.34 ERA since the start of June, though only a 2-4 record in that time. What you won't see is free passes: he has the lowest walk rate in the majors at 0.94 per nine innings, so if we get one today, that's better than most teams. It's especially so for righties: he has allowed three bases on balls to them all season. Also notable - especially for a RHP - is that no-one has stolen off him this year; one attempt, gunned down. This reluctance is perhaps partly due to the Cardinals' catchers, who have gunned down 43% of thieves this year, making it a risky proposition [league average is only 28% - Arizona is 24%].
Of course, the key question will be, how does Petit handle Pujols? Given the former's HR tendencies and the latter's position as the major's HR leader - and it's not even close - I would not be averse to the idea of our catcher throwing up four fingers regardless of the situation. Bases empty, two out? Walk him. Bases loaded, tied game? Walk him. You can never be too careful. Interesting piece over at Viva El Birdos looking at Pujols' balls - er, the intentional ones, I mean. They reckon he should be pitched to in just about every situation...though they would say that, wouldn't they? :-)
Line-up
- Felipe Lopez 2B
- Stephen Drew SS
- Justin Upton RF
- Mark Reynolds 3B
- Miguel Montero C
- Gerardo Parra LF
- Chris Young CF
- Chad Tracy 1B
- Yusmeiro Petit P
Dahlian on the recap, so looking forward to that. Mrs. SnakePit is making breakfast-related sounds ["I'm so weeeeeak... Malnutrition has set in..."] so I think I see an omelette in our future. Therefore, may be a little late to the thread; I hope that we are still in the game when I get back.