Daily Dunklin Democrat

At the halfway point

Posted Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 6:57 AM
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As the Major League Baseball season sits at its midway point, the news

is decidedly mixed for the St. Louis Cardinals.

They're five games under .500 and 7 1/2 games out of first place in

the NL Central (and seven games behind the Dodgers in the wild-card

race). The offense has been anemic, the starting pitching has

struggled mightily and injuries have affected almost every aspect of

the team's game.

Still, this is a team that is in a good position to make a run in the

second half.

First, the bullpen has been outstanding. Jason Isringhausen is back to

his old self and Ryan Franklin has had a strong year. Add to that

recently-unretired Troy Percival, and the late innings are a strong

point for the 'Birds.

Second, there is hope for the starting rotation. Kip Wells has pitched

well since being exiled from the starting rotation last month and will

be given a second chance to start second half. If Wells pitches like

he has the last month -- and like he did in his lone start in that

stretch, when he threw five innings of five-strikeout, one-run ball

against the Phillies -- then that's actually good news. Also, Chris

Carpenter should be back in the rotation soon. If anybody can bolster

a weak rotation, the former Cy Young winner can.

Third, the team probably can't do a lot worse at the plate. Albert

Pujols -- surprisingly benched in the All-Star Game by his own manager

-- is due to break out of his home-run drought, while Scott Rolen and

possibly others, like Adam Kennedy and Jim Edmonds, should improve in

the second half.

Finally, the competition isn't invincible. The Brewers -- the NL

Central's surprising leaders -- are 10 games over .500 but are just

25-29 since winning 24 of their first 34 games to open the season. If

St. Louis gets hot, the Central could be there for the taking.

Stay tuned gang, the second half starts Friday in Philly...

Comments
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UM ESPN ALREADY INFORMED ME OF YOUR STATS BROTHER. TELL ME SOMETHING I DO NOT KNOW. TELL ME WHAT MAKES SOCCER SO APEALING TO SOME PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. WHY RUNNING AROUND CHASING A BALL THAT LOOKS LIKE A QUILT MY GRANDMA MADE AND KICKING IT AROUND IS ENTERTAINING? TELL ME THE LAST STUDENT FROM HOLCOMB, KENNETT WHO HAVE RECIEVED A SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY SOCCER. THEN COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN GIVEN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PLAYING BASEBALL/FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL/GOLF HOW MANY SOCCER SCHOLARSHIPS WHERE THERE? TELL ME WHY WE WANT TO SPEND 1 MILLION DOLLARS ON A SPORT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HELP GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THEN YOU WILL HAVE A BLOG WORTH READING.

-- Posted by polebarnbuilder on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 1:32 PM

polebarnbuilder, in all fairness, whether one likes soccer, it has not been around nearly as long as the other sports so, obviously, there will not be as many scholarships yet!

-- Posted by hhshornet74 on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 2:16 PM

HHSHORNET74, IN ALL FAIRNESS SOCCER HAS BEEN AROUND JUST AS LONG AS THE OTHER SPORTS IN THIS COUNTRY. STILL THERE ARE MANY MORE CHILDREN OFFERED A WAY TO PAY FOR COLLEGE PLAYING OTHER SPORTS THAN SOCCER. I MENTIONED KENNETT IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN TO CHILDREN IN OTHER SPORTS COMPARED TO SOCCER AND PLACE OUR MONEY IN BUILDING BETTER PROGRAMS FOR THOSE SPORTS.

-- Posted by polebarnbuilder on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 2:26 PM

LAST TIME I CHECKED ASU DIDNT GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SOCCER, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DO NOT GIVE SOCCER SCHOLARSHIPS, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY DO NOT GIVE SOCCER SCHOLARSHIPS, NEITHER DO OLE MISS, OR I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. WHICH IS MY CONCERN, OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SPORTS (PARTICULARY 1 MILLION DOLLAR SPORTS) LETS PLACE THAT MONEY IN AREAS OF ATHLETICS THAT WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS GO TO COLLEGE AND IN TURN POSSIBLY RETURN TO OUR CITY TO HELP IT GROW.

-- Posted by polebarnbuilder on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 2:33 PM

Its not what we as adults would like to see, but what our children want. My child has been wanting to play soccer for a while. Now he can and here in Kennett. Thank you Jan.

-- Posted by da_man63857 on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 4:21 PM

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. MY CHILD WANTS A NEW TRUCK. MY CHILD WANTS 100 DOLLARS A WEEK ALOWANCE. MY CHILD WANTS TO SMOKE DOPE AND GET DRUNK. SINCE MY CHILD WANTS TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS, AND THE PARENTS DO NOT MATTER, I'LL LET HIM DO IT. GREAT POINT DA_MAN

-- Posted by polebarnbuilder on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 8:47 PM

i kilt me a mountain lion once. bobcat too. got um both stuffed in my house.

they great for scarin' the young'ums when it get's dark. hawhaw

i member one time when ma hid behind the big'un and growled at lil sissy. scared her so bad she peed her pants.

hawhawhaw

-- Posted by Obadieh on Thu, Jul 12, 2007, at 10:13 PM

Your child has my sympathy polebarn just for having to know you.

-- Posted by da_man63857 on Fri, Jul 13, 2007, at 2:50 PM

I think that qualifies as being unrespectful "daman". Where is "bthlr" when you need him?

-- Posted by Darth on Fri, Jul 13, 2007, at 4:36 PM

Perhaps da_man's comment is a bit disrespectful, but I believe that bthlr said overly rude would be/might be cut not disrespectful. I do believe that there is a difference. I must admit that I would like to see what was considered "overly rude."

-- Posted by Vickie on Sat, Jul 14, 2007, at 12:55 PM

if it is disrepectful to the person the post was for is all that matters. We all have the access to report a comment we do not like. However, let the person being "disrespected" do that.

-- Posted by oefvet on Mon, Jul 16, 2007, at 11:49 PM