Game 91: Cardinals at Phillies (1/3)

St. Louis Cardinals: 50-40
Philadelphia Phillies: 48-42

Joel Pineiro (2-4 4.52 ERA, 0-0 3.46 ERA)
Cole Hamels (9-5 3.22 ERA, 10-0 4.26 ERA)

Projected lineups

Mather LF N/A
Ankiel CF 1/2, .500/.500/1.000
Pujols 1B 3/7, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .429/.375/1.000
Ludwick RF 0/2
Glaus 3B N/A
Molina C 1/4, 1 RBI, .250/.250/.500
Izturis SS 1/1, 1.000/1.000/1.000
Pineiro P
Kennedy 2B N/A

Rollins SS 2/6, .333/.333/.333
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B 2/3, .667/.667/.667
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF 0/2, .000/.333/.000
Jenkins RF 1/3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .333/.333/1.333
Feliz 3B 0/3
Coste C N/A
Hamels P

After another embarrassing defeat, the Phillies take on a new, and probably better, NL team in St. Louis. Cole Hamels has to act as a stopper after the Phillies got humiliated in several different fashions against the Mets. Whether it be a late bullpen meltdown, leaving guys on base and getting killed by Fernando Tatis or the starter having a chicken shit effort, the Phillies got it done against the Mets.

As bad as it was to lose 3 games to them, the Phillies are a first place team. I know a lot of the idiots on PhilaPhans don't get that, but they're a good baseball team with a good lineup, good bullpen and a couple good starters. Do they need to upgrade some spots? No doubt. However, they're not a last place team like some morons seem to believe.