NATS WIN!!! 5 GAME LEAD!!

Is it time to stop ripping Dusty every time the lineup comes out and he makes a change that we don't understand? Its clear that he either knows more than everyone thinks he does, or this team is gonna win no matter what order you send them out there.....

It's becoming more and more impossible to believe that St. Louis is imploding. Wasn't Wainwright on the mound today? If their best two can't win, there is simply no way that the Reds will lose this pennant race. I know it's not over, but I think it's getting close.

I'm up to 83% convinced. The 7 upcoming games at St Louis and Colorado will go a long way in my thinking and complete believing.

They've also tweaked their rotation again so that the Reds will face Carpenter, Wainwright, and Garcia. On the surface it looks genius. The Reds have struggled against all 3 all season long, but there problem isn't beating the Reds.....its beating all the other teams, who are now going to get extra looks at the 4/5 holes in the rotation.

....but beating the Reds gains 1 game no doubt......beating others may not gain anything

Ironman92;465304 wrote:....but beating the Reds gains 1 game no doubt......beating others may not gain anything

And losing to them DEFINITELY doesn't gain anything. The Cardinals need to concentrate on flat out winning games, not worrying about the Reds. What good does it do to gain all that ground by beating the Reds only to give em all back by losing to Milwaukee, Chicago, Washington, or Pittsburgh? If I was a Cardinals fan I'd be pissed. As it is currently, I happen to be fairly pleased with the situation.

SportsAndLady;465242 wrote:This team is just awesome

We can agree on this.

....but Wainright has lost his last 3 versus the nobodies and Carpenter can't beat the Nats or Pirates

Carpenter and Wainright both dominate the Reds

I see what you are saying but I don't think mixing around the rotation marginally to get their top 3 versus the Reds will help or hurt the Cards final record....LaRussa is just banking/hoping another dominant series by the Cardinals and then the Reds having to go for 4 in Colorado might knock back the Reds confidnece/momentum.

The biggest smart thing from all of this is Cueto is gonig to miss the Cards.....I think no good could come of that.

Friday: Arroyo vs Garcia
Saturday: Wood vs Wainwright
Sunday: Bailey vs Carpenter

However, the Cardinals still really have to take care of business against Houston. Happ vs Westbrook definitely is pretty even, and having Suppan going Thursday is definitely going to be tough the way he's pitched.

Suppan reminds me of someone the Reds would bring in to pitch when Gullett was the PC.