Cardinals: Game 1 notes

Don't panic Cardinal Nation, there's still 161 to go.

Jason Motte's blown save Monday afternoon at a chilly Busch Stadium surely didn't sit well with fans who sat through 31 blown saves last year and the implosion of Jason Isringhausen. The boos were probably more directed at the Cardinal Brass, which didn't find a closer in the offseason through either free agency or a trade.

And why should they. The Cardinals have a minor league system so they may as well use it. It's the same system that produced Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright.

Motte had nine saves and 15 holds at Memphis last season with 110 strikeouts to 26 walks in 66-plus innings. He did average a hit per game and had a 3.24 ERA but in spring training it was 1.46 in 12 games while going 5-for-5 in save chances.

At least Motte has the mindset of a closer:

"It's just one of those things," Motte said after the game. "You go out there and have a bad outing, you can come back out there tomorrow and be the hero. You've just got to put it all behind you."

Not every rookie comes up and hits .370 in his first month like Pujols did in 2001. But because Motte is new to the position -- he was a catcher for the first three years of his pro career -- and the Cardinals are coming off a season in which the bullpen probably cost them a trip to the playoffs, it's understandable to feel frustrated.

Before last year would you have wanted the Cardinals to take a chance on Brad Lidge? He seemed done as a closer but the Phillies did and he converted 41 straight, including a World Series title. (Not a great example, but still, as they say "youneverknow.")

Motte could be an All-Star someday. If so, he probably learned something about pitching in the majors and what it takes to be a big league closer. If it doesn't work out, bring up the next guy. That's baseball.

After watching Friday's game in Memphis against the Redbirds, I think I'm going to like the 2009 Cardinals. For the most part, these guys are hungry to prove themselves. They're not flashy or throwing around big money. They're blue collar, beard-growing ball players that go to work everyday and play hard. And anytime you've got Albert Pujols in the lineup, you've got a chance.

Sorry for the delay on updating this post. I'll try to write something in the morning then expand on it after lunch but today I had to visit the doctor.