Quick Hits

- We'll be raffling off Cardinal-Cubs tickets for this weekend, Rams-Packers tickets for next Sunday, Blues' Home Opener tickets, Bruce Springsteen tickets, and Cardinals' NLDS tickets this afternoon/evening at Vito's (3515 Lindell) during the insideSTL.com/The Ticket Guys' Happy Hour. Vito's is selling pizzas for just $5 during the happy hour, and they'll have some prime beers going for just $2 pints. Raffle tickets will be just $5 for one...or $20 for five. We'll be raffling off 13 sets of tickets, so your odds of winning are quite strong. Come one out and enjoy the fun and games tonight at Vito's. For more details, CLICK HERE.

- It was two years ago today that we started The ITD Morning After on Team 1380. We've thoroughly enjoyed working here, and we are grateful for the freedom that we're given in doing the show. The program is an improv show essentially, and if it were ever structured, it would lose some of the aspects that make it popular in some small circles. So, the fact that General Manager John Helmkamp lets us play our reindeer games every weekday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. is something we're incredibly appreciative of.

- Gary Pinkel on The ITD Morning After when Doug Vaughn asked him if he rooted for all the Big 12 teams during non-conference play: "No, there are a couple I don't root for."

I love the honesty. We know one of the teams he's not rooting for, but I wonder who the other is. Nebraska? Oklahoma?

- I'm concerned about the Cardinals, and I don't think it's unreasonable to feel that way. They're still going to the playoffs. That doesn't worry me. But, these three developments do:


1. Joel Pineiro has hit the wall in September. He has allowed four runs in three of his four starts this month, and considering Pineiro hasn't done what he had been doing all season in his career, maybe he's coming back to earth...or maybe we're seeing the real Pineiro.

2. Ryan Franklin also has hit the wall...although his decline began in late August. Much like Pineiro, Franklin has never done what he has been doing this season, but he has shown signs of fatigue late in a year. He hasn't had an appearance without giving up a hit or walk since August 19th.

3. The Cardinals and left-handed pitching. This is nothing new, but it's gotten increasingly worse over the last three weeks. Since August 23rd, they're hitting .215 vs. LHP. The Dodgers have three lefty starters...as do the Phillies.

Bottom line: if the Cardinals were in an actual race in the Central, these obvious flaws would be getting much more scrutiny as opposed to the "Oh, They'll Be Fine" attitude it's getting right now.

I still think this team is outstanding, but over the last couple of weeks, some leaks have sprung, and I'm hopeful that they'll go away, but just one of the three sticking around in October could render the accomplishments of April through August meaningless real quickly. The Cardinals don't need a third starter to win postseason series, but they will likely need a closer. And, even if they don't, they will have to beat a lefty at some point in order to get those 11 wins.

- John Smoltz on The ITD Morning After yesterday: "I'll do whatever they want me to do in the postseason, but I think in a perfect world, I could give the best to the club as a starter."

- We have already filled up half of the field for the insideSTL.com Poker League at Harrah's that will pay out big cash prizes and World Series of Poker Circuit Event buy-ins. If you or someone you know is interested, CLICK HERE for more details.

Log-in to post your comments, or you can email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.