Everyone here is aware of the fine seasons had by many Cardinals; I'm not going to talk about that here-in my first ever fan post.  Most fans are aware of the fine seasons had by Lance Berkman, Chipper Jones, Brad Lidge, Cliff Lee, and Tim Lincecum.  I'd like to give praise to some players who performance has been overlooked because of who they play for or because their team has bigger stars that have eclipsed them.  So, here goes.

The hitters:

Grady Sizemore, Aubrey Huff, Kevin Youkilis, Nick Markakis, Adrian Gonzales, Andre Eithier, Carlos Beltran, Shin Choo, Stephen Drew, Jermaine Dye, Mark DeRosa,    J. J. Hardy, Nate McLouth, Mike Aviles, Randy Winn, and the entire Marlins infield for their obscene  home run totals.

The pitchers:

Jamie Moyer, Mike Mussina, Roy Oswalt, Chad Billingsly, Paul Maholm, Jeremy Guthrie, Cole Hamels, John Grabow, Rickie Nolasco, K. Matsuzaka, James Shields, Scott Baker,  and Gil Meche.

There are also some young starting pitchers who seem to have made the necessary adjustments to get their careers back on track.   Kudos to them.  They include Ervin Santana, who started trusting his stuff again, Joe Saunders who figured out how to pitch, Edwin Jackson,  who finally stopped walking so many. Scott Olson, who avoided trouble in his personal life, and has stats that would look better with a reasonable defense behind him.  Jorge Campillo, old for this list, but knows how to make his soft junk work for him.  Mike Pelfrey,  who almost got run out of N. Y., for finally being able to locate his 2-seam and 4-seam fastball, Jonathan Sanchez and Scott Feldman, who both made great strides in their overall pitching.  Gavin Floyd,  who finally looks like the guy who throws 4 pitches.  Zack Grienke,  who makes you wonder how good he can really be.  Anthony Reyes, yep, it's a small sample, but he quit giving up home runs and started stranding runners.  John Lannan, who just looks like a pitcher out there.  I also have to include two other young pitchers from Tampa:  Matt Garza and Andrew Sonnanstine-they both had seasons they can feel proud of.

Now you all add your overlooked players this season.  I'm sure I missed some.....

There was a rumor in the St. Louis paper yesterday that the Phillies scouts have followed the Cardinals around to Houston, San Francisco and St. Louis scouting our own  (liked by fans, disliked by our manager, and openly disdained by our pitching coach) Anthony Reyes. He has put on quite a show for them.  In 3 appearances, he has a three inning relief stint win; a scoreless tenth inning for a save; and a scoreless 9th innining in a low stress game.  He has been throwing gas-hit 95 at all three stops and 96 and 97 at St. Louis.  He's given up no walks in 6 2/3 innings, struck out 6 and is pitching with real confidence and  an eff-u attitude.  Only chink was a homer on a hanging change up in his second appearance from the pen.  Lo and behold, it didn't really hurt him or the team.  We still won the game-much different that last year when every damn mistake he made cost him-a lot.  Three apperances since then he has been almost unhittable.

I just wonder if you all have heard the rumors, and what you think about the Phillies realistically trading for him.  He's a personal favorite of mine, and I believe he's on the verge of a breakout.  You will get a good, hard working pitcher if he ends up with you.  I would be slightly devestated if they really do trade him......you all will take care of him, won't you?

Really, I'm curious if this is rumor, or if there is any facts behind what I read in the paper.

Thanks.