Cust Saved, Roaring Lamb

Well, it looks like my Cardinals have extended Jack Cust's chance to make a career for himself in the majors. Cust is the 28-year-old slugger who had hit just 5 homers in 144 at bats in parts of 5 seasons with four different teams before this year. Then, with the A's as his fifth team, he started the year on fire, hitting six homers in his first seven games and eight in his first 13 after getting called up in early May. Then, word is, the scouting report became known that what had kept him in the minors all these years was he couldn't hit the breaking ball. And the bottom fell out: from May 22 to June 14, he had 7 hits in 52 AB's with exactly zero homers, one run, two ribbies and 23 K's--ouch! Many were surprised he was still on the roster as the series with the Cards started on Friday. I don't know if the Cards have been feeding him fastballs or what (of course, the Cards have one of the worst starting rotations in memory: their best ERA is a dismal 4.66!), but Cust has proceeded to go 8 for 10 with 6 runs scored, 3 RBI's and (today) a homer.

Meanwhile, Mike Lamb is coming on like a lion for the Astros: he's 11 for 15 with 2 homers and 10 RBI's (including a grand slam today) in his last 4 games. Lamb is a guy who shown lots of potential in the past but at age 31 remained a part-time starter (usually platooning, sitting out against lefties). Who knows, maybe these hot streaks will be turning points in these guys' careers.