Cardinals Win Game One

The game unfolded as quite a pitchers' duel until the eighth inning, the only blemish being Lester surrendering a run in the first inning.  Actually, a lot of the game turned on the home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi's ball and strike calls.  To say he had a liberal or eccentric strike zone would be an understatement.  He seemed to think every pitch that Lackey made that hit the catcher's mitt was a strike, no matter where Molina set up and Molina was setting up a foot outside most of the time.  I'm kind of surprised Maddon did not make more of a big deal about this.  Granted the zone was similar for both sides.  However, because Cuzzi pretty much favored pitches high and away, in practice the bias operated in the Cardinals favor, since Lester pretty much operated down in the zone.  Maybe it is sour grapes, but I hate to see a game unduly influenced by umpiring, and this game certainly was.

Some other observations.  Schwarber has played well in right field, but I do not really like him there.  He and Fowler were again the only Cubs hitters to make consistent contact, however.  Castro seems to have returned to his earlier habit of hitting ground balls to the shortstop in nearly every at-bat.  One assumes he will play tomorrow against the left-hander Garcia, but I cannot stand him in the @5 slot.  I also really do not care much for hitting Lester ninth.  Somehow in my mind, and maybe it is just me, having Ross and Lester, two automatic outs, bat in front of Fowler when the lineup turns over just gives up too much offensive potential.  I'm really hoping Ross does not start at catcher tomorrow even though it gives up the platoon advantage, mainly because Ross does not hit anyone very well.  I'm also hoping Soler gets a shot in right field tomorrow and through the rest of the series.  Soler is potentially an impact player who looks better and better lately in his limited appearances.

Finally, I don't know what is with Strop at Busch Stadium, but perhaps they should leave him at the hotel tomorrow.  They have alternatives even in the eighth inning, especially as the Cardinals do not hit lefties very well in general.