"They call me Mister Double Play."

I can't say enough about Albert Pujols and his three double-play performance on Opening Day. I also can't say enough about Cameron Maybin's two-out game-tying homer in the ninth, or Tim Stauffer's solid start, or Pat Neshek's crafty relief performance.

And, now that I've said that I can't say enough, I think I'll sign off and get ready for today's rematch. Clay Richard goes against Jake Westbrook.

(Also, great photo by Chris Lee of the Post-Dispatch. People do things well in St. Louis.)

Ludwick Il Magnifico!

Winner.

Tonight's Game Makes Yesterday's Game Look Like The Past

I can't imagine a more important sporting event than tonight's Padres-Cardinals tilt in St. Louis. The Padres must win or face falling 1.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. That would be no good.

Mat Latos toes the slab (incidentally, one of sport's grossest phrases) tonight for the Drinos. He has faced the Cardinals only once before and the outcome was not pretty. That game was August 14, 2009, also in St. Louis, and Mat went 4 innings, allowed 8 hits, 7 runs (all earned), walked 3, and K'd only 1 guy (Brendan Ryan). He also allowed a solo shot to the Cardinals pitcher, Adam Wainwright. Not a great night.

But tonight will be different. Tonight is when dreams come true and stars shoot like miracles across the sky.

Go get 'em, Mat.

Timmy Stauffer Facing Down The Redbirds

In just a few hours time, our boy Tim Stauffer will take the mound in St. Louis against the usually-vaunted St. Louis Cardinals. At stake is merely the Padres continued presence in first place in the NL West. A loss tonight could drop the Padres out of first place for the first time since April.

I could not be more confident in Tim heading into tonight's game.

In 3 starts this season, Tim is 1-0 with a .067 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 2.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That breaks down as 15 ininings pitched, 13 hits, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 walks, and 7 Ks. His one win came against division rival San Francisco last Saturday, a sparkling start in which he allowed zero runs over 6 innings. Just outstanding.

Plus, the game is on the MLB Network so I won't have to squint at the action on my computer screen.

What a night!

Tonight There Is A Padres Game

Clayton,

I've made a list of goals for you tonight:

- strikeout many Cardinals
- don't walk any Cardinals

That is the list.

Regards,
Bevormo

Stauffer's Huntin' Redbird

Tim,

In your last start against the Cardinals you threw 5 innings and allowed 7 hits and 4 runs, but also racked up 7 Ks. Victims of your K's included Ryan Ludwick (three times), Mark DeRosa (twice), Joel Piniero and Matt Holliday.

Those guys don't stand a chance against you tonight and neither do any of those other Cardinals.

You need to get through that first inning tonight. Last Saturday you gave up 3 runs to the Cards in the first inning. Granted, Pujols is, as always, looming there in the first inning, but I like your chances tonight of escaping the first frame unscathed. If you do that, I bet it'll be smooth sailing.

Actually, watch that second inning too. Teams are hitting .375 against you in the second inning this season. I bet if you survive the second inning tonight, it'll be smooth sailing the rest of the way.

But be careful of that 4th inning. Teams are smoking you to the tune of .333 in the 4th. But I bet tonight's different. Tonight you'll escape the 4th inning without a scratch and the rest will be smooth sailing.

Good luck out there tonight. Sailor.

Best,
Bevormo