Ludwick's first-pitch swing good or bad?

By now, most people know Ryan Ludwick popped out to right field with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a 4-4 game Tuesday night. The pitcher was rookie Marino Salas, making his major-league debut for Pittsburgh. Salas had just walked Albert Pujols. It was Salas' third walk of the inning, one of which was intentional.

The Cardinals lost the game 8-4 when the Pirates scored four runs against Ron Villone in the 10th. Naturally, that made it easier to look back on Ludwick's at-bat and bemoan the outcome.

Salas appeared to be struggling with his control. Should Ludwick have taken a pitch? Maybe. Had he done that, he would have been behind in the count 0-1, because the pitch was a fastball down the middle. Ludwick, preferring aggressiveness over passiveness, attacked. He was easily retired. The game marched on.

Had Ludwick come through with a hit, would anyone have grumbled that he swung at the first pitch? I would guess not. The Cardinals would have romped off the field to the roars of the fans.

The Cardinals are an aggressive team. It's part of the reason they've won 23 of their first 41 games. Tony La Russa doesn't want them playing on their heels. Besides, the walk to Pujols that loaded the bases appeared somewhat intentional. After a first-pitch strike, Salas threw four balls off the plate. He wasn't going to let Pujols win the game.

Was Salas really fighting his command? One could argue he was not. Ludwick missed his pitch. It happens a dozen times in a game.