Over the last 7 days the Cardinals have gone 5-1 only playing 6 games.  In these games we’ve seen a major slide in the offensive production teamed with dominance from the pitching staff.  John Smoltz came out a pitched another gem making GM John Mozeliak look like genius for picking him up.  Funny how in just a little over a month Mo can go from favorite fan whipping boy to a fan favorite.  I was very harsh on Mo and the Cards brass back in June prior to any of the acquisitions.  They proved me very wrong, and I am very glad that they did.

The newest tool in TLR’s tool box John Smoltz has been a reincarnation of his younger self in his two starts with the Cards.  It was originally thought that Smoltz would make a couple of spot starts and then head to the Cards bullpen to be the right handed set up man that the Cards desperately need.  TLR said after the game last night that this is no longer the plan of action, saying that Smoltz’s role was not to be changing any time soon.  In San Diego last Sunday Smoltz struck out 9(including 7 consecutive) and allowed only 3 hits as he pitched 5 scoreless innings.  Last night Smoltz allowed only one run on 4 hits striking out 6 in 6 innings of work.  As a Cardinal Smoltz has an ERA of .82.  Can this really be the same guy that was 2-5 with an ERA of 8.33 for the Boston Red Sox earlier this year?  Smoltz is the 2^nd Bo Sox cast away to significantly help the Cardinals this year.  Julio Lugo has batted over .300 for the Cards since coming over in a controversial trade that sent overvalued Chris Duncan to the Sox.   

Even with the acquisitions of DeRosa, Holliday, and Lugo the Cards' bats are cold.  Over the last 7 days the Cards are 15^th out of 16 teams in the National League in runs scored with 22.  Only the LA Dodgers have scored less runs than the Cards over the last 7 days.  Oddly enough this weekend’s competition the Washington Nationals are first in runs scored over the last 7 days with 44(exactly double of the Cards runs.)  As I said earlier the Cards are 5-1 over the last 7 days.  The reason why they are 5-1 is that over the last 7 days the Cards have the best ERA not only in the MLB with an ERA of 1.67.  Can this team be beat if all the bats heat up?  It’s all about getting hot at the right time.  Most people would agree that the 2004 Cards team was significantly better that the ’06 club on paper.  The difference was that the ’06 caught fire in the post season and could not be beat.  I’m hoping the boys get hot so we can start planning a parade down Market Street.