Zimmermann decked by Cards

Remember that talk earlier today about whether Jordan Zimmermann would actually benefit from a rough outing after a near-perfect spring to date? Well, we're about to find out, because the rookie right-hander was absolutely roughed up by the Cardinals today. Scheduled to go five innings at Space Coast Stadium, Zimmermann lasted only two. He served up five runs (four earned) on seven hits, looking nothing like the phenom who hadn't been scored upon yet this spring. Almost all of the base hits were hit hard, including Ryan Ludwick's double that struck the huge batter's eye in center field, perhaps 20 feet up. Albert Pujols also mashed a two-run double to deep left-center in the second, though he did pop out his first time up. If there was a bright spot to Zimmermann's day it was that he kept the ball in the strike zone. No walks issued, 33 of 48 pitches for strikes, and he struck out four. But that's about the only positive to take from this. Then again, if the young right-hander learns something from this outing -- which raised his ERA from 0.00 to 2.51 -- perhaps something good can come from it. It's easy to look good when you're dominating on the mound. The really good ones, though, are able to bounce back from a start like this and make themselves better from it.