Nine walks, nine hits (including two homers), and we have to scratch out a fourth run in the 9th inning to eke out a win?

Hey, I'll take it. Those Encarnacion ABs were tough, but the only one in which I thought he looked bad was in the 8th with the bases loaded and the score tied 3-3. After Ryan Franklin had already walked two of the three baserunners, and he started out 2-0 on Juan, Encarnacion then swung at a bad pitch and grounded out to end the inning, in a situation in which two more balls could likely win the game.

And as for pinch-hitting for Mulder in the 8th: that was a no-brainer. You've got two outs, the go-ahead run on 1st so that a gapper gives you the lead, a totally rested bullpen, and a starter who just allowed two runs the previous inning.

On the "plus" side, the gnats are doing it again, just like in '05, in which so many rallies featured contributions from guys like So Taguchi and Abraham Nunez.

And Mulder looked pretty good, although this game won't comfort anyone worried about the guy's declining K rate---just one strikeout. He probably looked his best, though, at the plate in the 6th---he took two hard, fluid swings, fouling one off, and I thought to myself, "He actually looks pretty good up there." And the next pitch he drove sharply to left for a hit.

All in all, a nicely played game by the Birds that wouldn't have been the nail-biter it was if Juan had gotten just one hit. As it was, the only at bat he had with nobody on---in the 1st---was the only one in which he didn't make the 3rd out of the inning with runners on base (leaving Albert to lead off). He ended the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th with two, two, two and three runners on.

Pulling Mulder was a no-brainer, but, well, you know. I'm less worried about the strikeouts if he's making guys swing and miss, especially with the tight zone Meriwether was calling. He looked good at the plate, except that sac bunt attempt was awful.

The word on Encarnacion has been that his strike zone judgment is bad. I'm hoping working with the video guy would do him some good. He managed a walk off Myers, so maybe he didn't scout the relievers. I hope.

Juan Encarnacion sure did strand a lot of runners.

Izzy came through after we all started to panic.

Salvo said it...it's not just that Encarnacion is stranding runners - he's forcing Albert to lead off the next inning with no one on.

WOW IS EVERYONE BLIND
I want to know what the Cards and the whole baseball nation see in Izzy, I mean I am a huge Cardinals fan and I think that the world is in denial. We quite possibly have the worst closer in the league no exaggeration. As a diehard Cardinal fan I want answers to what Jocketty and Larussa see in him because I am clearly not seeing it. Throw Looper in and give him a chance hell throw Ankiel out to pitch it cant be any worse and that is the truth, I know Saint Louis is the City with the best fans but we have to do something about this mess and quit turning our heads to it there is a serious problem we will never win a world series with IZZY and thats a FACT.................

I've got to agree with Wade but I don't know if he's "the worst" closer in MLB. He sure isn't anywhere near acceptable in clutch situations. He's been extraordinarily fortunate to get out of some of the scrapes he's been it. But luck eventually runs out. And when you create your own misfortune by throwing 11 straight balls to load up the bases, that luck runs out really fast. Izzy walks a lot of batters and give up a lot of hits. The fact that he often gets out of the jam in no way makes me feel more comfortable about his abilities.

Judging by last night's game, I think Izzy's been reading these posts and it's gotten in his head. Rough outing, but I'm not ready to hit the panic button yet. The Cubs are always good in April. Things will get better, and Izzy is more part of the solution than he is the problem.

Have there been any Juan Encarnacion sightings? I believe he was at spring training but there's been no sign of life from him yet this season. BTW, what is the record for LOB's for opening week? Surely Encarnacion is in the running for it. Just imagine the RBI's Pujols would have by now, even w/o his tough series in Chicago, if Encarnacion could (A) take a walk, (B) hit behind the runner or (C) get a base hit. He has just 2 BB's in 23 AB's and only 4 hits. Combined with Eckstein, they have just 2 BB's and 9 hits to date. The Cardinal's pitching staff has better batting stats!!!

I agree with the problem with Encanarcion but I only see him getting better he has GREAT hitters around him in Rolen & Pujols and he only has room for improvement. There is NOWAY I am jumping on Eckstein though he has been nothing more than a spark plug for the Cardinals he is a joy to watch play he shows the way baseball is supposed to be played and even if he dont have a year like last year he is still one of my favorite cardinals all i gotta say is AUGUST 7 2005 ECKSTEIN'S GAME WINNING GRAND SLAM against the ATLANTA BRAVES..............

Hey, I'm not jumping on Eckstein. Heck, I've got nothing but respect for a guy who can succeed in the bigs without the advantages of size and power. He gets it done. I just pointed out that he's not getting it done AT THE MOMENT and combined with Instant Breakfast's miserable start, that right there is recipe for struggles at the beginning of the season. Eck will get it going. Encarnacion? I'm not as confident in that guy.

In today's paper Izzy is quoted as saying, "I try to throw the perfect pitch but sometimes and it doesn't always happen." Well, hello, of course it doesn't happen because trying to make the "perfect" pitch is like trying to hit a home run. You can't make that happen. I'd be happier if Izzy just threw intelligent strikes (i.e., don't groove the ball down the heart of the plate) and let his defense scoop up the ground balls. Isn't that what Dave Duncan preaches? Does Izzy need a hearing aid?

WOW GO IZZY YOU SUCK GIANT BALLS....when Cardnial fans are booing you, you must SUCK.