Marc Bulger fumbled twice in the first half Sunday against the 49ers. That gave the St. Louis quarterbacks a total of eight fumbles in the first six quarters of the season.

But Bulger did something Kurt Warner, who fumbled six times in a loss two weeks ago against the Giants, didn't do. He recovered.

"The great quarterbacks have short memories," Mike Martz said after the game. "Marc came back and played very well. He went 15 of 17 in the second half. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a big-league quarterback."

When Martz steps to the podium today to address the media about Sunday's game, he will put every ounce of his intelligence on the line if he chooses Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback. It would be absolutely ludicrous, the all-time dumbest move ever.

Well, not ever. Because I do know a guy who had Jamal Lewis in my fantasy football pool -- and didn't even play him Sunday.

Bulger is the starter because Bulger is a winner. You can never argue with success. And so far this season it's Bulger 1, Warner 0.

Bulger has proven himself to his coach, to his teammates and to the league. He can play, and he can win. Warner can't.

Warner has been the heart and soul of this Rams team for the last three years, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. He had chances to redeem himself from last year's debacles, but he didn't. Maybe he was a victim of bad luck or conspiracy.

Either way, you can't make excuses for a loser when you have a guy who's a winner.

Bulger is a winner, Kurt Warner was a winner and The Week Ahead is always a winner:

Today

The Cardinals have played, well, below average lately. There isn't a team in Major League Baseball that has been a bigger letdown than the Cardinals (more on that later). That excludes the Milwaukee Brewers of course, because their expectations are always low. The Cards host the Brew Crew at 7:10 p.m.

Tuesday

If you haven't been to a high school girls tennis match this year, it's time you went. Jackson hosts Central at 4:15 p.m.

Friday

The football game of the week is on the road unless you're a Jackson fan, and I'll get to that in a few words. Central is in danger of losing back-to-back games for the first time in two years. Central travels to Blytheville, Ark., for a game at 7:30 p.m.

And for the Indians fans: Jackson hosts Pattonville at 7 p.m.

Saturday

First it was Ball State. Then it was Eastern Illinois. Now Missouri will beat up on Middle Tennessee State and look to start the season 4-0. Mizzou hosts Middle at 1 p.m.

Health Facilities Rehab Service will sponsor football pregame festivities beginning at 4:30 p.m. A tent in front of Houck Stadium will house free food and soda. Manitou, an area country music band, will play before the game. Then see Southeast Missouri State host Southwest Missouri State at 6 p.m.

Sunday

It's Fan Appreciation Day in St. Louis -- in other words, Thanks For Not Booing Us Day. The Cards host Houston at 1:10 p.m., and all fans receive a terrace reserve outfield gift card good for any regular-season game in 2004.

David Wilson is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian and a student at Central High school. His column appears every Monday.