Notes on Saturday’s Scorecard: Rasmus Time?

- It isn’t going to happen anytime soon, but top prospect Colby Rasmus is making a move atMemphis after a slow start in his transition to AAA ball. Rasmus entered Saturday night’s game at Round Rock with these splits for June: .340 / .426 / .574. The Cardinals are carrying 13 pitchers now, to keep the bullpen fresh, so there’s no room for Rasmus. in the major-league outfield.

But …

- Since May 16, Rick Ankiel has only 8 hits in 57 at-bats (.140) with a .210 OBP and a .386 slug. Though Ankiel did homer in consecutive games in Cincinnati earlier this week, the results haven’t been there on a consistent basis for a while. So it’s not crazy to suggest that Rasmus might be able to supply some offense at the CF position.

- Of course, the Cardinals could have kept Chris Duncan in Memphis, where he was batting only .160 upon the time of his recall. They could have used a committee at 1B, and plugged Rasmus into the outfield. Since last July 29, here are Duncan’s major-league splits in 272 plate appearances: .213 / .316 / .315. Other than Dave Duncan, does anyone of sound baseball aptitude see much value in those splits? But I’ll say this: Chris seems to be taking better cuts. Maybe he’s getting closer to finding it.

- Since last July 25, Kyle Lohse is 12-2 with a 4.06 ERA. The winning percentage (.857) is the best of any MLB starter during that time. Lohse likes the new Busch Stadium; in 12 starts here during his career, he’s 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA.

- Skip Schumaker is 11 for 59 against LHP this season (.186) including 0 for his last 12. But as usual, there are two sides to the story. And against RHP this season he’s .340 / .426 / .574. And since April 29, a span of 104 plate appearances, Schumaker is .381 / .423 / .557 vs. RHP.

- Has Brad Lidge finally recovered from Albert Pujols? Looks like it. Before Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, Lidge had a 1.80 ERA and a 91.6 percent save rate for the Astros. After Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, Lidge had a 4.54 ERA and a 77.3 percent save rate for the Astros. But since being traded to Philadelphia this past offseason, Lidge has an 0.93 ERA and 100 percent save rate. He’s back in form.

- This wasn’t a factor in Saturday’s game, but Cardinals’ relievers are near the bottom of the NL rankings (13th) in allowing inherited runners to score this season — 31 of 84, or 36.9 percent.

- I open this to the floor … after a strong rehab start by Mark Mulder on Saturday night for Class AA Springfield (five shutout innings) do we dare start to think that maybe, just maybe, he has a chance to resurface in a positive way for the Cardinals this season? Honestly, I’d written the guy off.