An extra-inning loss on Thursday night did nothing to make the
Springfield Cardinals feel better about Wednesday night's long ride home
from West Texas, after being swept by the Midland Rockhounds in a
three-game series. Springfield lost to the Frisco RoughRiders on
Thursday night and find themselves in last place in the Southern
Division, eight games back of Wichita, with only 23 games left to play
and only 10 of those at home.
It's a good thing Double-A baseball is about "player development" and
not about winning or losing. If it were, there would not have been
almost 8,000 fans at Thursday night's game.
It is hard to hold onto a belief in miracles (can you say 1964 St. Louis Cardinals?) when the team you are rooting for opens the first game
of a seven-game series with an error on the first pitch of the game.
There are glimpses of silver in the gray clouds over Hammons Field
though. One of those is relief pitcher Mark Worrell. Worrell received
the St. Louis' Minor League Pitcher of the Month award for July.
Worrell gained six saves and a 0.51 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched during
13 appearances. Worrell leads the Texas League in saves with 26 and is
the second Springfield pitcher this season to win the honor after
starter Stuart Pomeranz won the honor in May.
And speaking of pitching in the minor leagues, St. Louis starter Mark Mulder will most likely make his next rehab start tonight (Friday) with
the Memphis Redbirds. Mulder pitched last Sunday for the Single-A Quad
Cities Swing. It was Mulder's very first game ever played below the
Triple-A level. He pitched five innings and at one point set-down 10
batters in a row. He didn't figure into the decision. The Swing won,
6-2.
I wish I had better news from the heartland, but it is what it is. I
still believe in miracles (keep thinking 1964). I also believe in Santa
Claus, the Tooth Fairy, arbitration and the umpire always has the best
view.
Post Season?--not looking good from the press box at Hammons Field.
Next Season?--looks great from any seat in the house. It is Cardinal
Country after all.
You can write John Brayfield at johnb@positech.net