Reflections from Game 2

Well, long story short, there really are not many things that could heal all the Cardinals issues more than 12 runs on the scoreboard.  I wrote earlier about how pathetic and depressing this Cardinal offense has been lately, and mere hours later, they put up more runs in one game than they had scored in the 5 games before that.  Is this a sign of something to come or just another blip on the screen of these Cardinals through a long season that has been filled with similar blips in the midst of other longer strings of meager offensive outputs?  The Cardinals future in the playoffs will hinge on the answer to this question.

The Cardinals will be moving forward now without Jaime Garcia which instantly makes either Lance Lynn or Shelby Miller the new most pivotal and potentially important pitcher on the Cardinal staff.  Is Miller really ready for that kind of responsibility?  Lance Lynn has developed himself into the type of talented short or long relief pitcher that is difficult to take out of the bullpen.  Last season, the Cardinals won the World Series because Lance Lynn was the type of late inning pitcher who could take over a game.  They also won because they had Fernando Salas who was able to stop bleeding in the middle innings as it came up.  Lynn has been this pitcher for the Cardinals this postseason.  He is versatile enough to throw to one batter with plus stuff as well as stretch out to cover multiple innings effectively.

Not since Rick Ankiel have the Cardinals put a pitcher this young in a position where they may need to make a start in the playoffs, and we all know how disastrous that situation went for Ankiel and the rest of the team.  I am worried that putting Miller in the starting rotation is too much too soon for a young starter with exactly one regular season start under his belt.  I know that he has the type of big time, talented arm that the Cardinals need in the wake of Garcia.  I just hope that he is ready to step up, either that or the Cardinals may need to keep scoring 12 runs a game…