Homer Bailey: You Deserved Better Than This

Homer Bailey did not deserve what he was served by Dave Weathers last night. Bailey was pitching one of the best games you could imagine.  Through seven innings, he had limited the St. Louis Cardinals to just two hits and was ahead 3-0. Bailey entered the eighth inning with the dreaded 100-pitch count just in sight.  After giving up a pinch-hit single to Cody Rasmus, he coaxed Brenden Ryan to fly out.  With a man on and one out, Bailey walked Skip Schumaker, giving Dusty Baker something to do besides chew on a toothpick.  Baker called veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes in to face Jarrett Hoffpauir, who was making his big-league debut at the plate. After walking the rookie on four pitches, Baker did the unthinkable.  With the bases loaded and the best player on the planet coming up, he brought in David Weathers, who is owned unconditionally by Albert Pujols. Pujols was batting .500 against Weathers, with a pair of home runs and five RBI. In just a few pitches, the Cardinals ... (link)