Pujols' domination should change Bochy's approach 

                    

	Albert Pujols (5) again burned Geoff Blum and the Padres in the fourth inning, this time with a one-run single, as St. Louis leads 2-0. AP
	RELATED • Cardinals blank Padres to take 2-0 lead

SAN DIEGO -- Bruce Bochy is like that stubborn child that knows he shouldn't touch a hot stove because its, you know, hot, but does it anyway so he can see what happens. What makes him unique though is that he continues to touch the stove over and over again, no matter how much it hurts him; somehow thinking the result might change one of these times.

Before the National League Division Series began Bochy said he would not pitch around Albert Pujols even though he is the one player in the Cardinals lineup that can change a game with a single swing. True to form, Pujols has killed the Padres in the series, going 5-for-8 with 3 RBIs. His two-run homer clinched Game 1 and his one-run single to left basically wrapped up Game 2. Both plays broke scoreless ties in the fourth inning and both plays might have finally changed Bochy's strategy as he takes the Padres to St. Louis down 0-2.

"I'm going to have to start thinking about it," said Bochy of walking Pujols. "I had a guy out there [David Wells] that can locate the ball as well as anybody. [He] made some great pitches, got ahead in the count and just got a ball up there a little that he could handle."

The turning point was reminiscent of Game 1, which was won during a three-run fourth inning spearheaded by Pujols. Following the play the Padres, much like they did on Tuesday, seemed to fall apart as they failed to get Pujols out on a routine rundown during the next at-bat, allowing him to score on a Jim Edmonds single.

"I think it's just freaky," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "The way these two games have played because we got two and two. We got three more [in Game 1] and didn't get anymore [today]. The fact that they both happened in [the fourth] inning after one out, just can't figure it."

FROM THE BENCH

Jeff Weaver would be the first to tell you he isn't the best pitcher when it comes to lefties, so it made sense that Bochy went with a mostly lefthanded lineup in Game 2, replacing Josh Barfield with Todd Walker and Mike Piazza with Josh Bard. In fact, he had eight lefthanded hitters in the lineup, the most he's ever fielded. "It a nice luxury to have," he said before the game. "There has been numerous cases where we've had seven lefties out there, counting Boomer, but I don't think he counts."

The strategy didn't quite work, however, as Weaver gave up only two singles in five scoreless innings, allowing only two Padres base runners as far as second.

"It seems like all lefthanders have done a pretty good job against me this year," said Weaver, who was dumped by the Angels this season after posting a 3-10 record. "I didn't really change the game plan, but just used pitches in situations that we thought they couldn't do damage with."

CLUBHOUSE CONFIDENTIAL

After Edmonds hit the ground hard after diving for a ball in Game 1 there was some concern if the centerfielder, who has battled back from post concussion syndrome, would be able to go in Game 2. La Russa, however, wasn't concerned after running into Edmonds in the Gaslamp District Wednesday night.

"I actually called him [Wednesday] night and left a message," said La Russa. "I was walking down the street with my wife and walked right by the restaurant where he was having dinner. So I got to talk to him in person. He feels ready to go." ...

Ronnie Belliard puts a laminated picture of his two children, Rachel and Ronnie, in his locker before every game he plays, home and away. "I take it with me everywhere I go," he said. "I call them before and after every game. I'm getting ready to call them now." ...

Speaking of Belliard, he gets a lot of heat for being "fat," but the Cardinals certainly don't help the situation by putting a mini candy store in their clubhouse. In front of David Eckstein's locker, two tables in the St. Louis clubhouse are filled with treats. A sampling of the spread from left to right: David Original, BBQ and Ranch flavored sunflower seeds, Planter's Salted Peanuts, Snickers, Baby Ruth, Twix, M&Ms, Twizzlers and a bucket filled with Big Red, Bazooka and Spearmint gum. ...

After the game, Wells ran into Weaver in the elevator and ribbed his friend for not returning his calls this week. "What happened?" Wells asked. "Did you get my message?" "Yeah," Weaver said as he walked into the elevator with Pujols and Adam Wainwright. "I've been busy." ...

Padres pitcher Scott Linebrink has the most decorated locker in the San Diego clubhouse thanks to a stuffed ram head affixed to the side with a hunting hat placed on both horns. The decoration was put there earlier in the season as a joke, but Linebrink, an occasional hunter, has left it there for good luck. "I'll have to give it a name if we can win the series," he said as he walked out of the clubhouse sipping his Bud Light. "It's worked so far." As Linebrink swung his guitar over his neck, Wells saw him and said, "Breaking out the lucky guitar? That a boy!" Linebrink laughed and said, "Yeah, I've been playing the guitar recently, nothing special, just some country and off the beat stuff. It's my lucky guitar."

BOTTOM LINE

Any sense of confidence the Padres had in winning the series after losing Game 1 seemed to disappear after losing Game 2 in similar fashion. Not only have the Padres' bats been as quite as their home crowd but history is certainly not in their favor going to St. Louis. The Padres have lost their last nine postseason games, including the past five to the Cardinals. They will look to halt that streak on Saturday when they send Chris Young (11-5, 3.46 ERA) to the mound against Jeff Suppan (12-7 4.12 ERA). "We felt good coming into this series," said Bochy. "We've been scoring runs swinging the bat and now we've been shut down completely. So we're going to St. Louis frustrated."