I'm totally looking forward to this series as the Marlins are my 2nd favorite team in baseball. I've met Miguel Cabrera and gotten his autograph. If you havent heard by now I met him at U.S. Cellular park when the Marlins played there last year. He was a nice person to have met. He's my 3rd favorite player in baseball right now (Behind Edmonds, Griffey) so occasionally I'll flip to check the Marlins out. Not to mention my bday is on the same day is his. Hah..

 

Marquis vs Valdez could be the key game in this series to me. Marquis is coming off like a 132 pitch loss in 8.1 IP so I expect if you get to him he could tire down a bit. While getting into our bullpen will good for the Cardinals you can get to almost anyone of them if you really try. King has pitched like dog crap lately. Rookie Brad Thompson has been getting hit lately. Izzy can be had in the 9th but most of the time's he almost always gets the job done after scaring the Cardinals fans allowing a runner or two on in the ninth. I'm ecstatic to see Carpenter vs Willis. Should be really fun. As should be Morris vs Beckett. Burnett vs Suppan could go either way to me.

 

This series I expect the Marlins to split or even take 3/4 from us. Ya know why? The injuries to Sanders, Molina, Walker, and Rolen. While this current team (I'm gonna give ya a break down in a second) took 2/3 from SD on the road and 2/3 from LAD on the road just this past week this series will be much much tougher. Here's a look at the probable lineups and some bench players.

 

1. SS David Eckstein (.270 AVG, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 53 R)

2. 3B Abraham N??ez (.324 AVG, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 38 R)

3. 1B Albert Pujols (.343 AVG, 28 HR, 84 RBI, 86 R)

4. CF Jim Edmonds (.268 AVG, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 56 R)

5. LF John Rodriguez (.333 AVG, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R)

6. 2B Mark Grudzielanek (.288 AVG, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 47 R)

7. RF John Mabry (.272 AVG, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 19 R)

8. C Mike Mahoney (.212 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)

 

Eckstein was struggling but went off in the Los Angeles series this weekend with quite a few hits and even a homer. N??ez has been everything you could ask for in a bench player. He's started quite a bit this year due to the injuries and continues to play well beyond what he should be playing. He's been like the 3rd most valuable Cardinal this year IMHO. Pujols is Pujols. Edmonds was struggling in July (He hit like .200) but in his last 4 games he is (6/15) with 3 HR's and 10 RBI's. The Cardinals need Edmonds right now to help out Albert as he cant do everything. JRod.. 27 year old Rookie that is making a big impact to this team, believe it or not. Some of you havent heard of him and I didnt much either until in AAA Memphis he went beserk smashing like 16 HR's in one month after getting traded to the Redbirds. When Reggie Sanders went down John was called up. In 10 of his 11 games started he's gotten a hit. He's got real good power if you make a mistake to him. Basically, he's come outta nowhere and gave a shot of offense to the Cards team that needed it. Grudzielanek has played great after the All-Star break after slumping for a bit. John Mabry.. Blah.. On day's he's good.. On day's he's bad. He's serviceable though. Mike Mahoney certainly has better defense than Einar D?az and seems to have jumped him as the favorite to be starting. He's not a good hitter either though. There's the starters.. How's the bench you ask?

 

OF So Taguchi (.266 AVG, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 24 R)

OF John Gall (.250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 R)

INF/OF H?ctor Luna (.235 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 10 R)

INF Scott Seabol (.242 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R)

C Einar D?az (.207 AVG, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8 R)

 

Taguchi will start on occasion. He's an ok bench player. John Gall was the most recent AAA player called up. While he was our minor league player of the year in 02 and 03 this was his worst year in his minor league career. He's finally getting his shot though. He hasnt shown much but he's only played 4 games so he's gotten on base and scored some runs. H?ctor Luna cant hit much but he has some speed. He's been used for the most part as a pinch runner lately. Seabol hasnt really played since his callup again this year. He was here when Rolen was first on the DL and had a good couple games but besides that nothing. Einar D?az cant hit, isnt that good a fielder, but I rather him start than Mahoney.

 

Alright now that I posted that stuff. I expect this to be a fun series pitching wise. I also expect ya honestly to take 3/4 from this current team but wouldnt be surprised with a split or the Cardinals taking 3/4. I wish the Marlins the best. The Cardinals can afford a littlebit to lose to the Marlins before Houston catches us (Nah, they wont). Then the Cards can go take care of Atlanta this weekend? Sound good? Thought so.

If the Fish can go 6-3 on this roadtrip, for me we will have done well, extraordinarily well.

 

I am concerned how well we'll do when we come back from this roadtrip having played nine games in eight days and a doubleheader to finish the roadtrip.

 

Play and win 60% of the time on the road and 2 out of three at home the rest of the way, and in the end we'll be playing in October.

Thanks for the team insight edmonds15. I've always thought Cards fans were the best in baseball, and you're a fine representative.