So Im just curious to see how many people here thought that Kevin Curtis was interfered with on the Eagles last play of season.  Personaly, I think that as a rule if a reviever is touched whille the ball is in the air and ends up on the ground then the ref. should throw the flag everytime.  Bad calls piss me off, but no calls are the worst....

Then again, never bet against God and puppies...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090116&sportCat=nfl

Now I know it doesn't mean anything at all but the Cards are 5th in the Grapefruit League and 3.5 games back from the first place Rays.  Furthermore they havent lost (they tied the Marlins after 10 last week) a game since those March 18th cuts, a five game streak.  Since then the offence has really shined, failing to score six runs only one (in the aforementioned tie), and have posted atleast 6 runs in the other 4 contests (12, 7, 6, 14, 8).  The pitching also seems to be coming along.  The runs against has us tied for 10th in the GFL with 128.  I still think is important to remember that 20 of those came in 1 horrible game by Looper who has pitched significantly better since then.  In his most recent start he let up just one run in 5 1/3 innings, while letting 7 batter touch base (5 hits, 2 BB).  Sans that game, the Birds could be contending for a top 5 spot in the RA catagory.

Now Im a young fan.  Im looking forward to buy my first beer at a ballgame this summer so my knowledge base is limited.  But to me all that points to a pretty decent team with some real potental for hot streaks.  Add in Rasmus' bat later and the season, and with plenty of depth to compensate for inevitable injuries (particularly in the outfield), I feel that in the Central theres a chance that we end up in close contention if not winning out right.  Furthermore if that happens, a line up of Carp. Waino, and Lohse seem a like great wildcard pitching staff to me... Just sayin.