I know this was discussed in the game thread to some extent, but I wanted to post a diary and talk about Jason Kendall in detail.  I realize that Shawn Marshall did not have very good stuff last night, but he did have a guy struck out only to have his catcher throw a lolipop to first base that allowed the player to reach first.  It did appear to me that that one play is what opened the flood gates in the inning and got St. Louis back in the game.  He had more than enough time to take two steps to his right and fire a good throw down there that Dereck Lee no doubt would have caught.  I don't normally blame an entire ball game on one bad play that early in a game, but this time I am going to.  That play completely changed the momemtum of the game.  
Now let's look at what happend in the first game.  Soto had a third strike get past him and go all the way to the wall.  He ran back and quickly fired a strike to first and got his man by a half a step.  I don't think Kendall would have made this play.  Soto hits the ball very well.  He has a better arm than Kendall and I think he calls a better game.  I am sick of hearing that Kendall is in there because he is a veteran.  Who care if he is a veteran if he isn't getting the job done.  I haven't been very impressed with him ever since he got here.  In his first game he missed a pop up that came back to haunt us.  I really hope the Cubs don't resign him next year.  In fact, I really hope his playing time gets taken away in favor of Soto, who at this point in their careers is a better option behind the plate and at the plate.