[Brian34Cook]

Colorado Rockies (0-0) @ St. Louis Cardinals (0-0)

Date        Time:    TV:    Radio
03/31/08    3:15    FSMW    KTRS
04/02/08    7:15    FSMW    KTRS
04/03/08    12:15   FSMW    KTRS

2008 NL Cent Standings
<table class="tablehead teamTop" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td align="left">TEAM</td><td width="11%">W</td><td width="11%">L</td><td width="14%">GB</td><td width="14%">RS</td><td width="14%">RA</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left"><nobr>Milwaukee</nobr></td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>-</td><td>12</td><td>5</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left"><nobr>St. Louis</nobr></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>5</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left"><nobr>Cincinnati</nobr></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>9</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left"><nobr>Pittsburgh</nobr></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>14</td><td>21</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left"><nobr>Houston</nobr></td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>1.5</td><td>10</td><td>12</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left"><nobr>Chicago Cubs</nobr></td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>12</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="6" class="completeLink">Complete Standings</td></tr></tbody></table>
Cardinals Links:
Official Site of St. Louis Cardinals
MLB Press Pass - Cardinals
Mathew Leach Blog
St. Louis Post Dispatch
Derrick Goold - Bird Land Blog
STLToday: Bernies Pressbox

KSDK TV
Big 550 KTRS

Blog: Future Redbirds
Blog: Viva El Birdos

Albert Pujols Family Foundation
Rick Ankiel Official Site

Sports Illustrated - Cardinals
Sporting News - Cardinals
CBS.Sportsline - Cardinals
ESPN.com - Cardinals
Yahoo Sports - Cardinals


Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: LHP Jeff Francis vs. RHP Adam Wainwright (PPD)
Game 1: RHP Kip Wells vs. RHP Kyle Lohse
Game 2: RHP Aaron Cook vs. RHP Todd Wellemeyer
Game 3: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Brad Thompson

<object height="355" width="425">Rotation:
<pre>
Starter W L ERA IP ER H HR BB K
Wainwright 0 0 0.00 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Wellemeyer 1 0 1.80 5.0 1 4 1 3 6
Thompson 0 0 0.00 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Lohse 0 0 0.00 5.0 0 3 0 3 3
Looper 0 0 0.00 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
</pre>

Bullpen:
<pre>
Reliever W L ERA HLD SV IP ER H HR BB K
CL Isringhausen 0 0 0.00 0 0/0 1.0 0 0 0 1 1
SU Franklin 0 1 13.50 0 0/1 0.2 1 4 0 1 0
SU Springer 0 0 0.00 0 0/0 2.0 0 2 0 1 3
LH Flores 0 0 0.00 0 0/0 1.0 0 0 0 1 2
LH Villone 0 0 0.00 0 0/0 0.1 0 0 0 0 1
MR McClellan 0 0 3.00 0 0/0 3.0 1 2 0 0 2
MR Reyes 0 0 0.00 0 0/0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
</pre>

Probable Lineup:
<pre>
Player AVG H AB R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP SLG
Schumaker .000 0 7 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0/0 .222 .000
Duncan .333 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0/1 .500 .333
Pujols .500 3 6 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0/0 .667 .500
Ankiel .375 3 8 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0/0 .444 .750
Glaus .000 0 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0/0 .000 .000
Molina .250 2 8 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0/0 .250 .625
Kennedy .429 3 7 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0/0 .429 .429
Izturis .000 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0/0 .286 .000
</pre>

Bench:
<pre>
Player AVG H AB R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP SLG
LaRue .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0 .000 .000
Miles .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0 .000 .000
Washington .500 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0/0 .500 1.000
Barton 1.000 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0 1.000 1.000
Ludwick .600 3 5 1 1 1 0 3 0 1 0/0 .600 1.200
</pre>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AWzeTP1gNVM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object>

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Boxscore

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Boxscore

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Boxscore

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Boxscore

Aight I'm ready.. lets go guys!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brian34Cook]

03/28/2008 10:00 AM ET
Wainwright ready for Opening Day nod
Right-hander excited, not nervous, to make big start
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

Adam Wainwright is honored and delighted to take the ball for the Cardinals on Opening Day. But he's not overwhelmed. He's had more daunting assignments.

"I think I've been in bigger situations," Wainwright said. "I'll be excited, definitely. But I think the key to this game is being able to control your excitement. I've been able to do that for the situations I've been in, which I believe are a lot more intense. That being said, Opening Day is a pretty cool time. I'm looking forward to it."

The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: Wainwright ready for Opening Day nod

[Brian34Cook]

Opening Day Lineups
By Derrick Goold
03/30/2008 2:59 pm

1. Skip Schumaker, LF
2. Ryan Ludwick, RF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Troy Glaus, 3B
5. Rick Ankiel, CF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Cesar Izturis, SS
8. Adam Wainwright, RHP
9. Aaron Miles, 2B

The lineup features a couple wrinkles from the ones La Russa used most often in spring training. One is obvious: Instead of Izturis batting in the No. 9 spot that hosted him so often in Florida, the switch-hitting shortstop will bat seventh with Mr. Opening Day Miles batting ninth.

The other is subtle: For the last couple weeks, intrigue has been building for who would bat in the No. 2 spot against lefthanded pitchers, like Colorado’s Jeff Francis. Ludwick struggled against lefties last season, and didn’t show this spring that he was over that funk. Meanwhile, rookie Brian Barton took to the No. 2 spot with some gusto. He hit lefties. He went the other way with pitches — recall: La Russa’s ideal was that lefthanded-hitting Larry Walker pulling the ball in the right-side opening with a runner on base — and he had the speed to score from first on an extra-base hit by Pujols.

Ludwick is also not riveted into that position. La Russa said the one change he could make to the lineup before tomorrow afternoon’s season opener is swapping Ludwick and Ankiel, sliding the lefthanded hitting Ankiel up into the No. 2 spot.

One member of the Cardinals’ pitching staff asked in the clubhouse who was in the Rockies lineup. Upon hearing the names, considering the power and discussing the left-right balance of the NL pennant-winners, he said: “So, a good test then?”
Here it is … Rockies 101:

1. Wily Taveras, CF
2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
3. Todd Helton, 1B — a switch back to the spot from last season.
4. Matt Holliday, LF — was the No. 3 hitter till this spring.
5. Garrett Atkins, 3B
6. Brad Hawpe, RF
7. Yorvit Torrealba, C
8. Jayson Nix, 2B
9. Jeff Francis, LHP

STLtoday.com - Bird Land - Blog Archive - Opening Day Lineups

Interesting lineup but it's fine.. Miles is hitting .400 (4/10) against Francis in his career with 2 doubles and 2 rbi's so I guess thats fine with me.. not sure about starting Ludwick tho..

[Brian34Cook]

Ludwick penciled in at No. 2 spot over Barton

By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

03/31/2008

Cardinals rookie Brian Barton stepped a few feet back from his locker in the clubhouse to make sure it fit within the frame of his camera phone. He clicked a few pics and then explained: "Just in case nobody believes me."

"I am waiting for (today), when it's official," Barton continued. "I'm waiting for that lineup to be out. Whether I play or not, just coming in here and looking at the lineup to see."

Though there was a possibility, Barton will not be in the opening-day lineup, manager Tony La Russa revealed Sunday in his office. He weighed his options for the No. 2 spot. Siding with experience, he plans to start outfielder Ryan Ludwick.

With Skip Schumaker at leadoff and in left field, Ludwick in right and Rick Ankiel in center, La Russa said there is only one tweak he may make before the first pitch. He may flip Ludwick and Ankiel, sliding Ankiel into the No. 2 spot ahead of Albert Pujols and putting Ludwick at No. 5. La Russa is starting Aaron Miles at second against Colorado lefty Jeff Francis, asserting that Adam Kennedy would start the next two games.

STLtoday - Ludwick penciled in at No. 2 spot over Barton

[Brian34Cook]

<table class="primaryBg" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="759"><tbody><tr align="center"><td rowspan="3" class="white" align="center" width="130">
Colorado (0-0)
</td> <td width="509"> Colorado 0, St. Louis 0 <select onchange="window.parent.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value"> <option value="#" selected="selected">Today's Boxes 3/31/08</option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_03_31_kcamlb_detmlb_1"> KC 4, DET 4 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_03_31_arimlb_cinmlb_1"> ARI 1, CIN 0 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_03_31_milmlb_chnmlb_1"> MIL 0, CHC 0 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_03_31_chamlb_clemlb_1"> CLE 5, CWS 2 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_03_31_tbamlb_balmlb_1"> BAL 2, TB 0 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_03_31_wasmlb_phimlb_1"> PHI 1, WSH 0 </option> </select> </td> <td rowspan="3" class="white" align="center" width="130">
St. Louis (0-0)
</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td> <table class="textSm" bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#727272"> <td class="greyLite" align="right">March 31, 2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="white" align="center" bgcolor="#cc0000"> <td class="white"> </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 2 </td> <td> 3 </td> <td> 4 </td> <td> 5 </td> <td> 6 </td> <td> 7 </td> <td> 8 </td> <td> 9 </td> <td></td> <td class="white"> R </td> <td class="white"> H </td> <td class="white"> E </td> </tr> <tr align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Colorado
</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc">0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> </tr> <tr align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">St. Louis
</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc">0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td class="textSm white"> Standings thru 3/31/08 | Gameday <script type="text/javascript">var game_status = 'IP';</script> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="759"><tbody><tr class="primaryBg"><td colspan="3" height="10">
</td></tr> <tr> <td class="primaryBg" width="95">
</td> <td width="569"> <!--Copyright 2007 MLB Advanced Media, L.P.--><table class="textSm" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="559"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">Colorado</td><td width="7%">AB</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">RBI</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">LOB</td><td align="right" width="10%">AVG</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Taveras, CF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Tulowitzki, SS</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Helton, 1B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Holliday, LF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Atkins, 3B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Hawpe, RF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Torrealba, C</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Nix, 2B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Francis, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td><td width="7"> </td><td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">St. Louis</td><td width="7%">AB</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">RBI</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">LOB</td><td align="right" width="10%">AVG</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Schumaker, LF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Ludwick, RF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pujols, 1B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Glaus, 3B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Ankiel, CF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Molina, C</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Izturis, SS</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Wainwright, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Miles, 2B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">Colorado</td><td width="7%">IP</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">ER</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">HR</td><td align="right" width="10%">ERA</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Francis </td><td>0.0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">0.00</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td><td width="7"> </td><td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">St. Louis</td><td width="7%">IP</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">ER</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">HR</td><td align="right" width="10%">ERA</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Wainwright </td><td>0.0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">0.00</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
Pitches-strikes: Francis 0-0, Wainwright 0-0.
Ground outs-fly outs: Francis 0-0, Wainwright 0-0.
Batters faced: Francis 0, Wainwright 0.
Umpires: HP: Randy Marsh. 1B: Mike Winters. 2B: Hunter Wendelstedt. 3B: Marvin Hudson.
Weather: 64 degrees, drizzle.
Wind: 11 mph, R to L.</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Brian34Cook]

One more thing.. they have gotten the pre game ceremonies underway.. Ozzie Smith and Tony La Russa shook hands professionally.. WOW.. rain is away.. so far so good..

Moment of silence for Marty Hendin..

Gary Pinkel couldnt make it so Chase Daniel and stud WR Maclin are throwing out the ceremonial pitches today..

[Brian34Cook]

Taveras leadoff 1B.. cmon Waino