Quick view from the Arch: Pace released, Skip at 2nd, Blues shots on goal

1. Sadly, with the release of Orlando Pace Tuesday by the Rams, it appears only one key of the “Greatest Show on Turf” will retire with the organization. While running back Marshall Faulk ended his career with the Rams in 2005, the club released fan favorite Isaac Bruce in 2008 and it looks like Torry Holt will experience the same fate. Led by offensive coordinator turned head coach Mike Martz, the 1999 through 2001 Rams were one of the most prolific offenses in the history of the NFL. Yet, as far as key contributors are concerned, only one has been able to finish their career with the team. Quarterback Kurt Warner went on to play for the New York Giants in 2004, Az-Zahir Hakim went to the Detroit Lions in 2002 and Ricky Proehl went on to the Carolina Panthers in 2003. The losses of Hakim and Proehl do not hurt as bad to fans who live in the old glory days of the Rams, but seeing some of the greatest players in team history in Warner, Bruce, Pace and Holt sure do. Maybe most fans have gotten over Warner leaving, perhaps almost everyone has moved on from Bruce, but the release of Pace and inevitable exit of Holt seems to make it all hurt a little more each time.

2. The Skip Schumaker experiment at second base is continuing to throw red flags up in the air almost every day, but none a bigger flag was waved Sunday when it could have cost the Cardinals its season. The continual errors by Schumaker are enough to raise eyebrows, but with an errant throw to Albert Pujols against the Florida Marlins, the first baseman had to come off the bag, resulting in being kicked in the head by the base runner. The blame cannot be put all on Schumaker’s shoulders for what could have ended in a more serious outcome, but the reasonable struggles that are apparent are proving to all the beer league softball players that it is not so simple for a major leaguer to make a position switch. Would it be great for the transition to work out for the Cardinals? Absolutely, but the hasty decision to release Adam Kennedy unexpectedly leaves the team with no clear options at second base if Schu can not stick there.

3. Props to the St. Louis Blues for doing something against the Dallas Stars Tuesday night the team has been lacking in — taking shots in the first period. The Blues took 11 shots compared to the Stars’ 7, landing three in the back of the net. At almost the game’s one minute mark, David Backes scored, followed by David Perron at 6:32 and Brad Winchester at 11:56. Taking 11 shots on goal is nothing to go crazy about, but the Blues have not taken 11 shots on goal in the first period since Feb. 28 in a 3-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. The team has not exceeded 11 shots on goal since taking 12 in a 4-0 route of the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 31. With a need to be more aggressive at the start of the game blaring louder than the horn after a home goal, the Blues delivered.