Busch Stadium
Friday, April 25, 7:15 p.m. CDT – FSN
Saturday, April 26, 12:10 p.m. CDT – FSN-HD
Sunday, April 27, 1:15 p.m. CDT – my20
For most of my life St. Louis never really invoked much emotion for me. The city was just another urban blot in the Midwest with no real redeeming value. I never thought there was anything there that could not be found elsewhere. The Cardinals never really bothered me. They didn’t inspire me either. They, like their city, were just…there. Until the expansion that created the NL Central. I was well aware of LaRussa, having lived in Chicagoland during his White Sox days, and how he was considered a baseball genius. I never knew why people thought that, only that they did. Still, in the mid- to late-90’s I never really had a hatred for the Cardinals. I just wanted the Astros to beat them.
Then I found the old BFT and the informed opinions of its regulars. I learned about the BFIB and discovered not everyone thought LaRussa was a genius. Still, though I had become anti-Card, I didn’t hate them. 2001 changed everything. With the arrival of the smirking, age-dubious, Pujols my view of the BFIB and the Cardinals changed. We all know the crap that’s happened there since then, from the the Co– to 04, 05, and 06, to DUI…
To me it all culminates in my hatred of the Co-ard and hope that Craig is gassed up and ready for anything Co-ard he comes across. Fuck the Jakes.
Coupons, some crappy hats, and a nice looking replica of Sportsman’s Park.
Projected Matchups from Astros.com
Friday
Shawn Chacon (0-0, 2.77) v. Braden Looper (3-1, 5.49)
Chacon has been the best surprise in the Astros rotation so far this season. He has pitched well enough in each of his starts to have won them, especially if the current Astros offense had been around for all of April. Adam Kennedy and Chris Duncan have had success against Chacon while Pooholes has not.
Looper was pretty good against the good guys two weeks ago. But last time out he was cornholed by San Francisco. Berkman and Pence have been successful against him. Loretta has not. Fuck Braden Looper.
Saturday
Roy Oswalt (2-3, 6.00) v. Adam Wainwright (2-1, 2.73)
Roy’s back, finally. He’s found the touch on his off-speed pitches and has put together two straight quality starts, and my fantasy team appreciates it. Roy’s been busy lately. He may be looking to be a pitching coach soon. Apparently Sparky can not only fix his own problems but he can fix the pitching woes of other Cy Young caliber pitchers in the other league. .093’s girlfriend and LaRue have had success against Roy. But Miles and Duncan have not.
Wainwright has been the Co-ard’s workhorse so far this season. He has gone at least 7 innings in each of his four starts. Spaz has a couple of doubles off him. Lee has just 1 hit in 7 at-bats. . Stupid Braves. Fuck Adam Wainwright.
Sunday
Brandon Backe (1-2, 4.15) v. Kyle Lohse (2-0, 2.54)
Let’s get ready to rumble!!!!! The matchup you’ve all been waiting for. There will no doubt be an over/under thread in the TZ on how many pitches Backe will throw before throwing one high and tight to Smirking Beauty. However, he’s 3 for 10 with 3 homers off Brandon, so the Enforcer must be careful.
In his last appearance The Brew Crew knocked Lohse out after 4 innings and 4 earned. But over his other 4 starts he’s been pretty good. However, Lee, Cheito, Tejada, and Blum have hit him pretty hard in their careers. Erstad, not so much. If Bourn is still out this might be the game to have Cruz in center. Fuck Kyle Lohse.
Injury Report
Jakes – Oh God, who cares. Just in case you do, Carpenter, Clement, Mulder, Josh Kinney, and Tyler Johnson are the pitchers on the DL. Encarnacion is on the 60-day DL. Cesar Izturis has been out with a bruised elbow. He might play this weekend.
Houston – Wigginton’s thumb has been slow to heal so he’s still out. Maybe he’ll be back in a week, maybe not. Wandy’s groin is worn out. Bourn’s groin may be up and running by Saturday. Paulino’s arm is still dead.
Interesting Things To Look For
- Smirks, drunks, dugout lovefests – it’s St. Lous!
- As the current forecast calls for rain for part of the weekend, significant Jaking off.
- Hopefully a 3-game sweep.
Fuck the Co-ards!
Discuss today’s game in the Gamezone.