Hello from beautiful downtown St. Louis. It has been quite some time since I have written to you from Busch Stadium; let me tell you it feels fantastic. As we have the first couple of months under our belt, it is safe to say the big three are really a competitive force. The big three are Carpenter, Wainwright, and Garcia - wow they have really pitched well. P.J. Walters and Adam Ottavino have been filling the gaps with Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse currently sidelined with injuries. I would expect to see Penny back in the saddle by mid-month. It does not appear that Lohse will recover in the near future, though I wish him a good recovery. As of right now, P.J. Walters will more than likely get the shot at the open slot in the rotation.
David Freese continues to play well offensively and defensively which is nice to see - keep up the good work Mr. Freese. Ryan Ludwick has also been the definition of consistency, as he continues to do a nice job at the plate and in the field. We are still looking for Brendan Ryan to provide that spark offensively, and it is good to see him have a couple of good offensive games recently. I think if Ryan gets in the groove, he could really help get this team over the hump. It appears Albert Pujols has found his hitting shoes - what a game up in Chicago; three homers in one game is always an impressive accomplishment. Matt Holliday and Skip Schumaker also appear to be finding their roots as well.
Colby is struggling some, but he shows signs of getting back on track. You may see our left-handed rookie, Jon Jay, stick around. Offensively, he can be a good left-handed hitter from the bench, and he also can play center field. The bullpen is looking very strong; however you may see some movement in the next couple of weeks on the Cardinal roster.
Come on downtown and show some support for your Cardinals. The month of June brings some great home games, with the Cardinals facing Milwaukee this weekend and hoping to take over sole possession of first place in the Central Division. We also have an interleague treat this month, hosting both the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics. See you at the game or I look forward to shaking your hand and having a conversation at Shannon’s after the game.
