It's That Time Of Year Again

Oskee Wow-Wow and we're off!

How sweet is it not to have an Illini-Mizzou match-up where the their respective national rankings do not tally up to triple digits. That said, I predict my Illini will fall 35-24. Even with Mizzou's offensive line concerns, I suspect Daniels will pick up apart.

FIRST HALF UPDATE: Wow. Mizzou looks like a team with a few games under its belt. On the other hand, the Illini defense was shambolic, the offense incoherent and yet the special teams still managed to be the lowlight.

LATE 3rd Q UPDATE: What a train wreck. The only positive the Illini can take from this is that complacency was a concern. No more. With the upcoming schedule this club is going to be fighting hard to get seven wins and a bowl bid.

4th QTR UPDATE: Why I love Mrs. Southlandish (also an Illini alum). "We've got them right where we want them. We've worn out their offense."

It's Midnight And I'm Not Famous Yet...

I've rarely slept so soundly as in this bed.

...but I still have the world by the balls. I'm back from a couple of weeks in Illinois and the report is superb. My godson grew up in a household of heathen Cubs and Bears fans. Yet, as this photo shows, he is safely in the arms of angels. Being a cruel bastard, few things have given me more pleasure in life than knowing that a Cubs/Bears fan cousin (whom I adore) has seen her beloved spawn grow sensibly into a Cards and Packers fans like his dear ole godfather. The Illini garnish is just the icing on the cake, seeing as that is the one loyalty the family shares.

Good News, Bad News

Contrary to the IM's speculation, Ludwick spared the streets of STL a weeping Southandish. As happy as I was it gave us a win, I was even happier it gave us an excuse to get Mrs. Southlandish home. She happily signs up for nine innings. After that she gets even crankier than a Mr. Southlandish who is watching Izzy meltdown two innings after beer sales have ended.*

The Goat and I realized that of the dozen or so games we have seen Pujols play live, this was his first homer. Damn, I just realized that I have seen him play at Fenway, Joe Robbie, Wrigley, Old Busch and New Busch. I am getting old.

The ride home on Tuesday was better than this afternoon. On the way down the Goat predicted one run on three hits and was only one shy on the latter. Thankfully, everything else about the day was stellar.

*advice to InBev: you want to win over St. Louis? Negotiate beer sales through the end of the game. Or at least full until 10:00. I'm not saying that I had a vendor shut me off at 9:58, thus forcing me to sprint across the deck to another more liberal vendor who brought me in with eyes that were like orange flourescent beams to a jet and upon arrival said, "It's 9:59. You're my last customer of the evening. What can I get you?" Rather, that those with a more anarchist, socially libertarian bent might appreciate it...

Cards Intent In Shitting All Over Their Fans

Here is the run down of the (still ongoing) bottom of the 9th inning:

- R. Villone relieved K. McClellan

- A. Jones hit for R. Troncoso

- A. Jones homered to deep left

- J. Isringhausen relieved R. Villone

- M. Kemp grounded out to second

- A. Ethier singled to center

- R. Martin singled to right, A. Ethier to second

- M. Ramirez walked, A. Ethier to third, R. Martin to second

- J. Loney singled to pitcher, A. Ethier scored, R. Martin to third, M. Ramirez to second

- J. Kent singled to right, R. Martin scored, M. Ramirez to third, J. Loney to second

This is the team that had no need of relief pitching.

UPDATE:

Isringhausen finally pulled, but Franklin gives up the tying run on a sac fly.

Izzy should be released.

FURTHER UPDATE:

Just realized Southlandish is at this game.

If you see a man in his forties weeping uncontrollably on the street of St. Louis tonight you will know why.

Summer in St. Louis

Heard Shannon say on the radio that it could hit triple digits tomorrow. Lovely. I'm going to the ballpark on both Tuesday and Thursday. Hopefully the Thursday afternoon forecast of 86 for a high will hold. That would be lovely. 

What Kind Of A Moron Do You Have To Be...

...to keep batting a slow of foot rookie in front of Albert Pujols? How many rally killing doubles plays does Mather have to hit into before LaRussa decides its a stupid idea?

Evidently the answer to that second question is "a whole hell of a lot of em."

Oh, joy.

Bizzaro World Cont.

The USA Today coaches poll was released today. GASL notables:

Mizzou #7
Illini #19

I still find this too weird for words.