No relief for Redbirds

When they broke from spring training it appeared the Cardinals's biggest concerns were starting pitching and every starting spot except for Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina. The Birds have been generally solid in those capacities, but after blowing a ninth-inning lead in a 3-2, 10-inning loss at Detroit on Thursday, it is relief pitching that's costing them wins right now.

Cardinals starters have the best winning percentage in the majors at 36-17 (.679).

Ryan Franklin, who suffered his fourth blown save when Gary Sheffield homered off him in the ninth, said, "We're also crushing the whole league in holds (60). Our holds are way more than our blown saves. You can't look at just one part of it."

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the Cardinals bullpen converted 75.6 percent of their save opportunities last year, but only 55.8 this year. They blew 11 saves in 2007. They've blown 19 in 2008. If Ryan Franklin Jason Isringhausen aren't the answer, the Cardinals still have potentials answers in Kyle McClellan and Chris Perez. McClellan's had the better run of late.