I (Don't) Love LA

Getting some serious air as the Cardinals celebrated their 4th win in a row prior to Sunday's match up

Randy Newman can keep the city to himself.  I have never been and have no desire to visit.  I hear that somehow the traffic is even worse there than it is in Chicago.  Sounds like a real garbage dump.  Regardless of my thoughts on the city the Cardinals have to be feeling pretty good with themselves as they leave it.  They took 3 out of 4 games from the Dodgers as the offense continued to dominate.

The Cards offense outscored the Dodgers 29 to 9 the first 3 games of the series.  Lance Berkman continued his tear, hitting 2 home runs in the series and swinging a hot bat.  Rasmus also continued his offense tear.  The Cardinals even got to the Dodgers young ace Clayton Kershaw who regurarly seems to strike out 8 or 9 guys a game but he only lasted 4 and two-thirds while giving up 6 hits and 5 earned runs.  During that game the Cardinals hit a home run for the 8th straight game.

The Cardinals were looking for the 4 game sweep Sunday but the early season familiar antics of Ryan Franklin kept that from happening.  In the 9th he gave up a 2 run shot to Matt Kemp to win the game 2-1.  After all those good vibes I sent him in my post directly prior to his 4th blown save too.  Although it probably wasn't a good idea to pitch to one of the hottest hitters in baseball either, but oh well.  Carpenter and Chad Bilingsly battled it out in a pitchers duel most of the game though.  Interesting fact these 2 have 2 of the top day time splits of any starting pitchers in baseball so their performance should not have come as a surprise.  I guess they are both early birds. 

Even with the way they lost the last game, you have to be happy with the way the Cardinals ended on the road trip. 
1-2 v the Giants (2 of which they could have just as easily won)
2-1 v the Dbacks
3-1 v the Dodgers

The Cardinals hope the good vibes that their hometown fans will be sending them will help them make a strong homestand.  They start a 3 game series with the Nationals and then the hated Reds come to town Friday.  I won't be profiling the Nationals, because well... they are the Nationals.  Even if the Nationals win the series, they still aren't worth doing a profile on.  There is no match up history between the two teams that I find overly intriguing.  Maybe next year I will. 

Instead I will do what coaches always tell you not to do, look ahead at the Reds.  I'll give you a quick preview... I can't stand the Reds, and I think Brandon Phillips is a first rate piece of garbage.  Outside of the cubs this is my 2nd most hated mlb team.  Plenty more of the rant to come before Friday.  Stay tuned.  And yes I will be posting this video Friday too.