My take on the game:
Ok, so this was a let down. In the long term, this Villy situation getting stuck in the 5th and 6th is going to be a problem, especially with the loss of Gallardo. We're going to need these young guys to step up and eat some innings. Hopefully this can be turned around. The talent is there, that much I know.
The more immediate problem that people seem to be missing from this game, was the scoring early and slowly letting the other team score unanswered runs until they're back in the game or leading. This was a HUGE problem last year.
Even though Villy sucked it up in the 5th and 6th, we have enough talent in our bullpen to win these types of games if the offense can put some runs on the board in later innings. I know, we had a comeback win yesterday against the Cubs. So obviously I'm not saying this has been a problem this year besides today, but, it was a horrible reminder of how many games we lost last year because of this problem and I would hate to see more losses like this.
Next, anyone else notice a huge shift in offensive production? The first 3 weeks of the season, it was the bottom of our lineup and our bench players getting it done and keeping us in games. Now, it's the top of the order with Cameron, Fielder, Braun, and even Weeks getting hot while the bottom of the order is struggling. More so Kendell and Hardy today than Hart and Hall.
Finally, you can't allow that many runners LOB and opportunities to slip by. Unfortunately, this is another area that we did well in early in the year, and are now struggling in big time. (Those baseball gods sure are fickle in the way they average everything out)
All in all, I'm not too devastated by this loss. There is still enough talent on this team to take a series from anyone in the NL, home or away. Until I can't say that, I'm not worried. Tomorrows a new day.
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