Cardinals Whine er Win Game Two

When things are going right for the St. Louis Cardinals, La Russa takes credit and gives credit to his team (nothing wrong with the latter) but when things are not going well, there is something sinister going on.

During the TV coverage of Game Two of the National League Division Series against Philadelphia and its ace, Cliff Lee.

The Cardinals sent Chris Carpenter, one of the most proficient gripers in baseball, to the mound.

Carpenter working on three days rest was not sharp.  La Russa's call.  Was it the wrong manager's decision? Considering Carpenter was not sharp in the first inning, allowing three runs, walking two after a leadoff double to Jimmy Rollins.  Carpenter also fell behind Phillie slugger, Ryan Howard.  Howard singled up the middle to score two runs for Philadelphia before Carpenter retired a batter.

Raul Ibanez singled home the third run of the inning.  Carpenter was visibly upset in the second inning after Rollins doubled again with two outs.  Could it be poor pitch location?  Not according to La Russa and his starter.  It was the umpires fault.

On national television, La Russa complained about home plate umpire Jerry Meals strike zone.

The Cardinals eventually came back to win as they pecked away at Lee to score three runs in the third, one run in the sixth to get even and the go ahead run in the seventh.

Did the strike zone change? Or did the Cardinals bullpen pitch better than Carpenter as the Phillies bats were quiet over the last seven innings?

One would like to credit the Cardinals relief pitchers but La Russa is indirectly getting credit through TBS analyst Dennis Eckersley.  A former bullpen ace for La Russa in Oakland and St. Louis, Eckersley gave credit to La Russa for "working" the umpires.  What an insult to the integrity of Meals.

David Wells, the other TBS analyst used the word "whiner" in relation to La Russa and made the assertion that it could back fire on the Cardinals and La Russa because umpires do not like being shown up.

As I watched the game, I couldn't see any difference in the strike zone Meals had.  I could not see a change. Perhaps I could watch a replay and look for one.

The Cardinals hit in the clutch and its bullpen did a grear job.  La Russa's whining is a slap in the face to the efforts of both.  Now it is La Russa "working" the umpire that stands out.

There is a long list of La Russa complaints about various "conspiracies" that work against the Cardinals.  It is getting tiresome.  His act is weak and tired.  Brandon Phillips was vilified for calling out the Cardinals in August 2010, when he told Hall of Fame writer, Hal McCoy that the Cardinals were "whiny little bitches".  As baseball etiquette goes, Phillips statement is frowned upon but if La Russa's whining can be construed as honesty as broadcaster, Bob Brenley said at the time of La Russa's on air complaint, then give Phillips credit for the courage to call La Russa out publicly.