Have you seen this offense?

Braden Looper wasn't great Sunday. But he wasn't terrible either. Unfortunately, the Cardinals never had a chance to win the game because they couldn't score enough runs to be competitive.

On one hand, I'm irritated because the Cardinals should have taken three of four from Colorado and two of three from Milwaukee if not for the shortcomings of the bullpen. A 5-2 road trip would have been a thing to behold. But, on the other hand, with the way the offense played, you could consider the Cardinals fortunate to be 3-4.

They were able to muster only three runs in four of the last five days. And, with the Cardinals bullpen, they aren't going to win too many games with three runs.

It doesn't seem like Troy Glaus, Chris Duncan or Rick Ankiel are the answer in the cleanup spot in the batting order.

I'm not sure where they are going to find a power hitter than can play in the outfield -- or maybe second base or shortstop -- but they're going to have to go outside the organization to find a bona fide power source who can hit behind albert Pujols.

View From the Cheap Seats Cardinals Star of the Game: Chris Duncan, 2-3 with a walk and an RBI.

Ceasar Izturis chalked up another 0-3 day to drop his batting average to .229. I was particularly disappointed in his play in the second inning when Braden Looper walked from the eighth spot to load the bases -- his fifth walk of the game. And Izturis swung at the first pitch to tap a slow grounder back to the mound. That's not exactly a smart play...

Comments

[Jesse]

Maybe you missed the game but the power hitter has presented itself. Ludwick has 8 home runs in 30 less at bats than Pujols with his 7. His slugging % is hovering just under %.780 compared to Pujols's %.580. Pujols had power behind him obviously as Ludwick hit a home run even though he struck out 3 times. Pujols did decent but he is largely to blame for the loss because he was responsible for 3 outs on the basepath. Where do you plan on looking for a power hitter that is better than Ludwick is right now considering he is outproducing Pujols?

[Fred McTaggart]

I agree that Ludwick has looked good and am ready to give him a shot. Duncan also looked like a legitimate power threat before this year, and I feel confident he will break out of his slump. But with young players, there's always the chance that they will not make the adjustments they need to make as pitchers in the league learn how to pitch to them.

And there's still the reality that Scott mentioned: the team is not scoring enough runs and is failing to come through in the clutch. No matter how well you pitch, you're not going to win many games when you score three runs or less.

[cardsboy]

What about a guy like Dan Uggla. He strikes out a lot but now that the fish have signed Hanley long term they may be willing to part with Uggla. He also hits well at Busch

[Jeff]

One more game yet in Milwaukee. Maybe the bullpen can finish one for Wainwright to even up the road trip.

[Joe]

as long as they win tomorrow, the split 4-4 on the road for this trip. in the long run, if they can continue to play .500 ball on the road, as they have to this point, and win series at home, we're gonna be ok. it is irritating to lose games you should have won, but all teams do that. it's gonna happen a few times over the course of a 162-game season. salvage the split tomorrow, come home and win series'.

[Bowen]

Agreed that Izturis' at-bat was terrible. I thought that was the key play of the game.

How you don't take the first pitch after the guy has just walked the bases loaded, including the pitcher, I just don't know.