Cardinals went 4 for 16 (.250, duh) with RISP tonight, yet somehow managed to only score two runs. Which sounds bad, until you consider that they were 4 for 31 (0.096) over the 3 games with SD, and 7 for 39 (.139) over the four games before that. Signs of life; I'm hopeful.

Also, Lance Lynn looked great. And the Phillies lost, so I was wrong.

The D Backs have appeared on this standings list in name only.

Boy, that mega blockbuster trade is working out great for the Dodgers, isn't it? They're just slugging the living crap out of the ball these days!

If you think this is good, just wait until they get the well-seasoned 30-something Carl Crawford into the lineup for a few years. You'll see some real mashing then.

corey hart is nursing an injured foot that apparently is pretty painful. he is going to try and gut it out but i don't expect much.

go get'em fellas. got nothing to lose

Since going back closer to home, Adrian Gonzalez has an OPS+ of 83 and just 1 lousy home run. Yikes. About the best you can say about him so far is that he has been marginally better than James Loney.

Since going back closer to home, Adrian Gonzalez has an OPS+ of 83 and just 1 lousy home run.

And the home run was in his first PA.

Last night was Lance Lynn's first quality start in 6 weeks---and the Birds sure needed it.

Love those wins against the team that's breathing down your neck....

Last night was Lance Lynn's first quality start in 6 weeks---and the Birds sure needed it.

Love those wins against the team that's breathing down your neck....

I'm more afraid of the Phillies than I am of the Dodgers...mind you I'm most afraid of the Cardinals and their recent inability to actually score runs.

Fear the cubs. They're making a run!

Fear the cubs. They're making a run!

Has to be more fearsome than the Bears. :)

I'm more afraid of the Phillies than I am of the Dodgers.

I hear that... 18 games is still a lot to play, but if the Birds can play .500 the Phillies would have to go 13-5 to force a tie.

Cardinals play 9 vs. contenders---including 6 vs. the Class of the NL in the Reds and Nationals---but the other 9 are against the Astros and Cubs. So .500 looks doable (knock on wood), and would put a lot of pressure on the Phillies/Brewers (and Diamondbacks) to have to play almost must-win ball from here on out.

With the way the Padres have been playing, the Dodgers have the toughest remaining schedule: 9 vs. Stl/Cin/Wash, 6 vs. Padres, 3 vs, Rockies.

Chris Carpenter is about ready to pitch in.

here he is, one simulated game away from fulfilling the goal that only he had. Barring any surprise development, Carpenter is set to make his season debut next week.

"Gotta love surprises," general manager John Mozeliak said earlier this week.

A pitcher whose 2012 impact was supposed to come as a cheerleader has worked himself into position to provide an unexpected jolt during the season's final weeks.

See below

Chris Carpenter is about ready to pitch in.

The Cardinals should have shut Carpenter down in September last year; then he probably would have been available all season long.

The thing about Carpenter, you are only expecting 3 starts out of him, one of which you have to assume is going to be a disaster start, he's not really going to be a factor for the season, the hope is of course those three starts get him in shape for the post season,(assuming we make the post season)

Boy, that mega blockbuster trade is working out great for the Dodgers, isn't it? They're just slugging the living crap out of the ball these days!

When the guys on Slate's podcast talked about it a couple of weeks ago they kept referring to it as "the Punto trade," which still makes me chuckle every time I recall it.

The Cardinals should have shut Carpenter down in September last year; then he probably would have been available all season long.

I have to wonder if Joey B is being facetious...

They might not have made the postseason without him (complete-game two-hit shiutout in Game 162 to clinch a berth), and they wouldn't have been to, much less won the World Series without him (outdueled Halladay 1-0 in clincher of NLDS, going the distance and allowing only three hits, then had two more wins against the Rangers).

I think everyone involved is OK with how it worked out.

My comment was indeed facetious and farcical.

My comment was indeed facetious and farcical.

That was pretty good.

Pirates lose again and are now even with the Brewers.