Rotation set

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Probably old news by now, just wanted to let everyone know the rotation has finally been set.

Williams will start Game 1
By Derrick Goold
Of the Post-Dispatch
10/03/2004

Ending the speculation that passed for drama after the Cardinals clinched the NL Central Division, manager Tony La Russa confirmed his first-round pitching rotation Saturday. With Matt Morris' on-again, off-again struggles and the health of the Cardinals stalwart's shoulder in mind, La Russa dubbed Williams the Game 1 starter.

Morris will start Game 3, the first game on the road in the series. As expected, Jason Marquis, who lost Saturday's game, is set for Game 2 at home, and Jeff Suppan will start Game 4, if necessary. Should the series need a Game 5, Williams would start it.

"Woody is feeling better than he has all year long, so he could pitch two games with more certainty," La Russa said. He later added: "Matt can get (physically) cranky and this is a bad time to be cranky. There's more physical certainty with Woody.

This forum's been a lil quiet, maybe that's why the Cards have struggled. OK, I'm a little superstitious, so what?

[Rico The Retard]

Hey this may be a stupid question but why isn't Cris Carpenter pitching?

[so0perspam]

Hey this may be a stupid question but why isn't Cris Carpenter pitching?

Chris Carpenter (15-5), arguably the team's best pitcher the past two months, will miss at least the first round with nerve irritation in his right biceps, which flared up Aug. 18 against Arizona.

[Pogotheostrich]

Time for Woody to step it up. He has been a big game pitcher for us in years past.

[Mookie4ever]

I don't know about you guys but I would have made Marquis the number 1 so that I could put him out there as often as possible.

I would also see how Morris does in game 3 and if he is good, I would put Suppan in the pen and go with a three man rotation until Carpenter comes back for the second round. Suppan really faded down the stretch.

I wouldn't worry about Woody - he stepped it up at the end of the year (except for that one game against Houston).

[Pogotheostrich]

Marquis won't be the #1 cause LaRussa doesn't want to put that pressure on him. And Carpenter might not be back this year or next.

[Pogotheostrich]

Sounds like the matchups are game
1. Woody vs. Perez
2. Marquis vs. Weaver
3. Morris vs. Lima
4. Suppan vs. Ishii

[Mookie4ever]

I still don't like the thought of Suppan starting game 4.

[Pogotheostrich]

If there is a game 4.

Whoever the Dodgers use as their 4th starter isn't anymore impressive. Actually the starter that scares me the most for the Cards is Morris.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I don't know about you guys but I would have made Marquis the number 1 so that I could put him out there as often as possible.

I would also see how Morris does in game 3 and if he is good, I would put Suppan in the pen and go with a three man rotation until Carpenter comes back for the second round. Suppan really faded down the stretch.

I wouldn't worry about Woody - he stepped it up at the end of the year (except for that one game against Houston).

I agree with everything you said there, but like Pogo said, LaRussa doesn't want the pressure on Marquis. Letting him go game two will help hopefully since it's at home, and the Cards will be up 1-0. Woody has been indeed solid down the stretch, so no worries there for me.