There was some good and some bad in the Cardinal's opening day game vs. the San Diego Padres. I won't get into too much of the play-by-play, I think there is already enough of that out there.
Even before the game the Cardinals got a lucky draw, as the Padres top pitcher Mat (one t not two) Latos was placed on the DL.
The good things from the game: It was nice to see Holliday and Rasmus both start out the season in good fashion. I was also impressed by how Theriot drove the ball, I think he will be a nice improvement to the lead off spot. Carpenter pitched great for his first start of the season, he went straight to work and was very efficient with his pitches. The bad things: The end of the game was a reoccurring daymare that cardinals fans are all too used to as Franklin blew the save in the 9th by giving up a game tying homerun to Cameron Maybin of all people, and sent the game into extra innings and the eventual loss. Cameron Maybin? Really? The guy hit all of 8 hrs. in 291 at bats last year! I didn't see that one coming.
What I won't mention in the bad? Pujols 0-5. No one, not even the best player in baseball is going to be on every game, so there is nothing to be worried about. However, I know commentators and fans will certainly connect the dots and say Pujols is distracted by the contract issue if any sort of slump develops. I guess the sensationalism of the topic is something that Cardinals fans will have to hear and deal with all year. Thanks ESPN...
It is a long season though and there were a lot of bright spots despite the rough way they lost. One thing Cardinals fans can pride themselves on is not over reacting to a situation like the followers of some other teams (and this was right after cubs fans learned that their team would bat first, likely due to the opening coin toss they won).
I will touch on a few more detailed topics in the following days, but as this is the first inaugural post of Another Cardinals Blog (ACB) I wanted to get something up to get the organization off the ground. Before too long I assume you will be reading these posts all across the blogosphere.
On a bright note I had Heath Bell on my fantasy team, but getting that save was similar to winning a prize after investing $12.50 in the claw machine located at the run down Chuckie Cheese by you. Sweet, you came away with something, but in the process lost a lot more.
Until next time! Lets hope the rest of the season is as promising as the beginning of today's game was and less like the end of it.
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