INSIDE PITCH
The kinder, gentler Tony La Russa
that he had promised for the media in the offseason lasted about a
week.
After his team's 3-1 loss to
Pittsburgh
Wednesday, marking the Cardinals' second straight series loss of the season,
manager La Russa lashed out at continued questions about an offense that has
scored only 15 runs in six games.
After tersely answering several
questions, La Russa lost his patience in a news conference that was being
televised.
"For everybody listening out
there, you think I'm being unreasonable?" La Russa asked. "It's the first week
of the season (voice getting louder). I don't understand
this.
"Are you going to tell me Yadier
(Molina) doesn't drive in big runs? Are you going to tell me Albert (Pujols)
can't hit? Are you going to tell me the second baseman and shortstop haven't
hit? David Freese? You don't think he's going to hit? You think Matt (Holliday)
is gong to hit? You think Colby (Rasmus) is going to hit? You think (Lance)
Berkman is going to hit? The answer is 'No' to all those
things?'
"Did you (media) accomplish your
goal? Three, four times, you ask so I get excited and get upset? That's not
fair. It really isn't."
And La Russa walked
off.
Earlier, in a more measured tone,
La Russa had said, "Look at the calendar for one thing. It's the first week of
the season. Second, you look at the talent we have. Just do things right, a
little better."
But La Russa admitted, "We didn't
have a big scoring homestand."
Link
to boxscore
Next
game: Fri.,
Apr. 8 at GIANTS: Jake Westbrook (0-1, 16.62) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 3.18)
3:35 p.m. CDT (FOX Sports Midwest, KMOX Radio and Cardinals Radio
Network)
NOTES,
QUOTES
--LF Matt Holliday hit indoors for
the first time since he had an appendectomy on Friday. He will be re-examined on
Thursday before the team heads to San
Francisco for the start of a 10-game trip on which
Holliday is expected to play at some point.
--RHP Chris Carpenter has no wins
and one loss to show for his first 13 innings in which he has given up only
three earned runs. Carpenter permitted one earned run, Pittsburgh 2B Neil
Walker's home run, in six innings on Wednesday although he allowed eight hits.
"I think he pitched very effectively," manager Tony La Russa said. Carpenter had
beaten the Pirates 10 consecutive times since 2004 before suffering the loss on
Wednesday. He is 11-2 against Pittsburgh for in career.
--RF Lance Berkman, who was
injured and then hit .182 in spring training, finished his first week as a
Cardinal with a .300 average. He is leading the team in runs with five. "I
expect to hit; I don't know why I wouldn't," said Berkman. "I know maybe the
last couple of years haven't been as good as I was four or five years ago. But
there's no reason why I can't be a good, productive hitter. I'm relatively
healthy, which I haven't been in a while."
--LHP Brian Tallet has retired all
eight hitters he has faced in his first week in the National League. Tallet and
LHP Trever Miller have been the most
impressive Cardinals relievers, giving up one total hit in 3 2/3
innings.
--The Cardinals have a streak of
six games, the only ones they've played this season, in which they have scored
three or fewer runs. They have 15 runs, averaging 2.5 a
game.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Number of
runs batted in for C Yadier Molina on only three hits. Each of his hits has
driven in a run,
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not ancient
yet. I'm older. I'm not 40. I'm 35." -- RF Lance Berkman, one of the few
Cardinals to have started quickly.
ROSTER
REPORT
MEDICAL
WATCH:
--LF Matt Holliday (appendectomy)
underwent the procedure April 1. He played catch and ran sprints April 5, and
the next day he hit indoors for the first time since the surgery. He was be
re-examined on April 7 before the team headed to San Francisco for the start of
a 10-game trip on which Holliday is expected to play at some
point.
--RHP Adam Wainwright (Tommy John
surgery in February 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 25. He will
miss the entire 2011 season.
--INF Nick Punto (hernia surgery
in February 2011) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He
hopes to return in late April.