We’ve bolted past the midway point of the season. We saw a brief flash of brilliance.
And now the dog days of summer are upon us.
Reflecting upon the 2010 season thus far, I have come to recognize a few things to be thankful for as this season’s Cardinals team continues to baffle, bemuse and bewilder us all.
Reason #1: This Cardinals team can be thankful that they aren’t the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles are more games out of 1st place (32 ½) than they have wins (31). That is horrible. But, considering that the Orioles are the progeny of the perennial laughing stock of the American League’s St. Louis Browns, maybe it isn’t that surprising.
Reason #2: The Birdos can be thankful that they don’t play in the American League East division where they would be in 4th place. And, instead of playing the titans of that division during their interleague interludes, the Cards get to wrestle with the likes of the mighty Kansas City Royals.
Reason #3: This team ain’t the Pittsburgh Pirates who are currently working on an 18th straight losing season. The Buccos look like they will be successful in tacking on another year to their league record in futility…..just for good measure.
Reason #4: The team is about to get Kyle Lohse back into the rotation. Oh, wait, the Cardinals are scoring an average of 4.4 runs per game and Kyle’s ERA is 5.89. Hmmmm. Well, his career ERA of 4.71 should help. Ooops, no, that won’t do either. Oh, well that takes me to…..
Reason #5: There are only 62 games left to play.
5 Reasons the Cardinals Won’t Be in the Playoffs in 2010
Winning eight games in a row was nice. But let’s not get carried away from reality. Thank goodness the mighty Cubs were there to prevent us from escaping the truth about this Cardinals team – that they just aren’t hungry enough to win it all.
Reason #1: The defense is shoddy and lax. In the fifth inning of Saturday’s game Molina let an inside pitch get away from him and the runner on third base advanced home on what was ruled a wild pitch in spite of the fact that Yadier had his glove turned the wrong way. To make matters worse, Molina’s throw to the plate as the runner scored was wild to the plate, allowing the runner from second base to also score – two runs on a single play without the ball ever being put into play. Save those two runs and a 6-5 loss becomes a 5-4 win. On a side note, why is Brendan Ryan styling side armed throws to first base? Concentration matters.
Reason #2: The base running is awful. Holliday is forced out at second base when he fails to slide into the base and instead goes in standing up. Molina is thrown out at third base trying to advance from first on an infield hit. Someone tell me why the runner from first is trying to steal second with Pujols at the plate and Holliday (who had just homered in his previous at bat) is on deck. Albert then swings and misses at a third strike and the runner is thrown out – end of inning and no runs. This has been going on all year and it doesn’t look to improve anytime in the near future. Effort matters.
Reason #3: Situational hitting. The team doesn’t do it. Two out RBI hits win games. The team hits poorly with runners in scoring position and they have been ineffectual with the hit-and-run. Brendan Ryan, hitting below the Mendoza line, swings at a pitch on a 3-0 count. Batters swinging at a first pitch after the pitcher has just walked to two previous batters. Strategy matters.
Reason #4: The road. The team is eight games under .500 on the road at 20-28. The only other Major League division leader with a losing road record is Atlanta at 23-27. The Cardinals are 5 games behind the Reds (24-22) when comparing the two teams’ road records only. That’s a lot of games to make up. Determination matters.
Reason #5: Tony has lost command of this sinking ship. Pujols and Molina continue to dog it to first base when running out ground balls. If they are that tired then rest them by sitting them out a game. Who is going to discipline the younger players when they give less than a 100% effort; players giving 85%? The team isn’t giving anyone a “hard nine” innings any more. Respect matters.
Let’s face it, the NL wild-card isn’t likely to come out of the Central division and the Reds aren’t going away. And if the Reds make any significant trade moves then the Cardinals may end up being left in their dust.
Reason #1: The defense is shoddy and lax. In the fifth inning of Saturday’s game Molina let an inside pitch get away from him and the runner on third base advanced home on what was ruled a wild pitch in spite of the fact that Yadier had his glove turned the wrong way. To make matters worse, Molina’s throw to the plate as the runner scored was wild to the plate, allowing the runner from second base to also score – two runs on a single play without the ball ever being put into play. Save those two runs and a 6-5 loss becomes a 5-4 win. On a side note, why is Brendan Ryan styling side armed throws to first base? Concentration matters.
Reason #2: The base running is awful. Holliday is forced out at second base when he fails to slide into the base and instead goes in standing up. Molina is thrown out at third base trying to advance from first on an infield hit. Someone tell me why the runner from first is trying to steal second with Pujols at the plate and Holliday (who had just homered in his previous at bat) is on deck. Albert then swings and misses at a third strike and the runner is thrown out – end of inning and no runs. This has been going on all year and it doesn’t look to improve anytime in the near future. Effort matters.
Reason #3: Situational hitting. The team doesn’t do it. Two out RBI hits win games. The team hits poorly with runners in scoring position and they have been ineffectual with the hit-and-run. Brendan Ryan, hitting below the Mendoza line, swings at a pitch on a 3-0 count. Batters swinging at a first pitch after the pitcher has just walked to two previous batters. Strategy matters.
Reason #4: The road. The team is eight games under .500 on the road at 20-28. The only other Major League division leader with a losing road record is Atlanta at 23-27. The Cardinals are 5 games behind the Reds (24-22) when comparing the two teams’ road records only. That’s a lot of games to make up. Determination matters.
Reason #5: Tony has lost command of this sinking ship. Pujols and Molina continue to dog it to first base when running out ground balls. If they are that tired then rest them by sitting them out a game. Who is going to discipline the younger players when they give less than a 100% effort; players giving 85%? The team isn’t giving anyone a “hard nine” innings any more. Respect matters.
Let’s face it, the NL wild-card isn’t likely to come out of the Central division and the Reds aren’t going away. And if the Reds make any significant trade moves then the Cardinals may end up being left in their dust.
Gooseggs and Goochers
By; Chris Kalna July 25, 2010
In the late 1980's a movie came out in theaters called "Stand By Me." It was a coming of age movie involving four teenage boys who take a journey across their rural county to look for a dead boy who was missing that had been hit by a train. It was set in the 1950's when times were still simple and listening to the radio was a genuine treat with mailbox baseball being the recreation of choice for any misguided teen with a driver's license. Money was scarce and having little the four boys pooled all of their change together while in route to Ray Brower's dead body to purchase some snacks at a five and dime. To reach the store however you had to trespass through an old junk yard which was guarded by an infamously fierce dog named Chopper. No one wanted to have to hear the dreaded phrase, "CHOPPER, SICK BALLS!" So to decide who had to get the food they chose to flip coins and whoever was the odd man out would have to try and avoid the vicious canine. After flipping the coins all four pieces of currency landed tails up meaning that it was a GOOCHER! To Vern, the husky one that could only mean one thing, impending doom. Sure it was a silly superstition, but most baseball players have them. Whether it is something as minute as not stepping on the foul line while heading back to the dugout or as extreme as sacrificing a live chicken to regain one's hitting stroke, like in the movie "Bull Durham," most baseball players exercise some form of superstition.
Apparently the Cardinals have had a few Goocher's this season. What else can explain their bouts of offensive anemia. Just after the All Star game, 98 games into the 2010 campaign the Cardinals have been shut out 9 times already. With 64 games remaining they are on pace to lay 16 gooseggs. Compare that with last years Central Division Champions who were the victim's of only 10 shut outs all season long. Referencing this statistic from a historical perspective does not bode well for this team's aspirations of reaching their 18th World Series appearance.
Going back to the Redbirds championship team of 1982, no Cardinal fall classic participant had been shut out more than 8 times in an entire season. The '82 team was blanked 6 times, the exciting track team of '85, 7 and the 1987 club was skunked on just 4 occasions. During this decade the 2004 National League Champs put up just 4 zeroes in 162 contests, the 105 win underachieving club of '05 had 6 and the overachieving 2006 World Series winners had only been shut out 8 times during their unlikely run in to October.
So how can a team with Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus put up this many ovals? And why is it our first priority before the much anticipated trade deadline to acquire an arm before another productive bat?
If our potentially potent offense could contribute as well as our sharp pitching has thus far this team would be many games up instead of running neck and neck with the scrappy Cincinnati Reds for the Division lead. The power laden line up of St. Louis has scored 2 runs or fewer in 31 games. They have tallied 1 run in 12 different games, 2 runs in ten and like I mentioned before, they have been goosegged 9 times. During the 31 games in which the Birds have crossed the plate 2 or fewer times our pitchers have given the offense plenty to work with allowing 3 or fewer runs in 15 of those contests. Our overall record is 3-28 when we score 2 runs or less. Which would be acceptable if our pitching was as porous as the Cardinals lack of timely hitting. The Cards pitching has kept us afloat this season. 22 times this year has our muscle bound offense scored one run or less and yet our moundsman have kept up their end of the bargain by allowing only two or fewer runs to score in 11 of those games, yet they have only one win and 21 defeats to show for it. That is too many high quality starts gone wasted.
Imagine if this team could have capitalized on just over 50% of those 15 pitching gems and won 8 of those very winnable games. We would be 26 games over .500, 7 1/2 games out in front of the Reds and be tied for the best winning percentage in baseball with the New York Yankees.That is why we need more offense before mortgaging our future away on a soon to be 33 year old pitcher in Roy Oswalt. A win now attitude is great, but if it means giving up too much for the future of this franchise is it worth it? Not in my humble opinion. The obvious concern to me is by taking on Oswalt's contract it might paint the Cardinals into a financial corner. Not allowing management the full monetary freedom they deserve when addressing Albert's future. Sometimes no move is the best move while exercing patience for the marathon that is a baseball season. I truly believe that this Cardinal team has had some bad breaks and the offense will become more consistent and productive as the dog days of August approach.
Sure it sounds like an unstoppable rotation throwing Cris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Roy Oswalt at the competition the rest of the way as strong arms win championships, but no amount of pitching will help us out of a short post season series against equally high quality starting pitching if our offensive struggles continue. Plus Rookie of the Year candidate Jaime Garcia's 9-4 record with a 2.21 E.R.A. is nothing to sneeze at. He is the only R.O.Y. we need.
So before this organization rushes to judgement and jeopardises the franchise's future by acquiring an over the hill Oswalt whose best years are behind him. Just remember those Whitey Herzog teams of the 8o's and even our recent championship squad of '06 when we overachieved and did more with less.This team is stacked with talent. So let them play.
I read recently in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch where Whitey was quoted as saying he would let his players play for 6 innings and if they were behind after that the game was his to win or lose. Well I believe Mr. LaRussa should do just that and take a page from recently inducted Hall of Famer. Stick with a certain line up and just let' em play! No more sitting Colby Rasmus for Randy Winn, benching Ryan Ludwick for no reason, and flipping middle infielders like they were those coins in that classic movie. Maybe Tony has flipped his line up around one too many times and those Goocher's are finally catching up with him! Now Cardinals, HIT BALLS!
P.S.,
Congratulations Mr. Herzog, on your induction into the hallowed Hall of Fame. You deserved this honor long ago, but better late than never. Thank you so very much for all of the memories and being a true class act.
Chris Kalna July 25, 2010
Trade Deadline Drama
by LS Murphy
As Major League Baseball’s trade deadline approaches, the rumor mill heats up. Teams are linked to players they can only dream of just by making a single inquiry. It’s one of the great things about the trade deadline. And it’s a lot of fun speculating who, what, where, when, and how.
Just around this time last year, the Cardinals were linked to Matt Holliday and Roy Halladay. The speculation, heated discussions, and passionate pleas to get one or the other flooded the web. Holliday was a clear fan fave. The Cards pulled off the deal for Holliday, trading high-end prospect Brett Wallace. We haven’t looked back.
Now, the rumors are circulating at tornado speeds. Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren?
Dan Haren qualifies as “the one that got away”. Back in 2004, when he was still known as Danny, the Cards shipped him off to Oakland with a few other guys for Mark Mulder. Initially, Mulder made the deal worth it by winning starting off the 2005 by going 5-1. Then the injuries came and Mulder would never be the same. Haren, however, blossomed into three time All-Star.
Could Haren return? My Magic 8 Ball says highly unlikely. The Arizona Diamondbacks want too much for him. The Cards are willing to make trades but not willing to completely sell the future.
Roy Oswalt would be a nice fit in the rotation. Every Cards fan knows what he can do. He’s 32. He’s been with the Houston Astros his entire Major League career, once seeing World Series action after earning the NLCS MVP in 2005. Oswalt’s one of those pitchers that deserves a World Series ring. He’s still got the pitches to qualify a trade. He’s won-loss record this year doesn’t show how well he’s pitching.
But Oswalt’s got chronic back problems. And getting him in a Redbird uniform will likely cost Shelby Miller and either Allen Craig, Joe Mather, or Jon Jay. Is he worth that much of the future? Or would he just be a rental for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011? And, most importantly, how would his salary affect resigning Albert Pujols?
Realistically, there is a better chance of trading for Oswalt. Especially since the rumor mill has him interested in a spot in the Cardinals rotation.
The great unknown is one of the best things about the trade deadline. If the Cards trade Shelby Miller, he could become another Dan Haren. If they don’t, we may miss seeing Roy Oswalt getting another shot at that World Series ring.
Only time will tell. One thing is for certain, John Mozeliak will make this interesting.
As Major League Baseball’s trade deadline approaches, the rumor mill heats up. Teams are linked to players they can only dream of just by making a single inquiry. It’s one of the great things about the trade deadline. And it’s a lot of fun speculating who, what, where, when, and how.
Just around this time last year, the Cardinals were linked to Matt Holliday and Roy Halladay. The speculation, heated discussions, and passionate pleas to get one or the other flooded the web. Holliday was a clear fan fave. The Cards pulled off the deal for Holliday, trading high-end prospect Brett Wallace. We haven’t looked back.
Now, the rumors are circulating at tornado speeds. Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren?
Dan Haren qualifies as “the one that got away”. Back in 2004, when he was still known as Danny, the Cards shipped him off to Oakland with a few other guys for Mark Mulder. Initially, Mulder made the deal worth it by winning starting off the 2005 by going 5-1. Then the injuries came and Mulder would never be the same. Haren, however, blossomed into three time All-Star.
Could Haren return? My Magic 8 Ball says highly unlikely. The Arizona Diamondbacks want too much for him. The Cards are willing to make trades but not willing to completely sell the future.
Roy Oswalt would be a nice fit in the rotation. Every Cards fan knows what he can do. He’s 32. He’s been with the Houston Astros his entire Major League career, once seeing World Series action after earning the NLCS MVP in 2005. Oswalt’s one of those pitchers that deserves a World Series ring. He’s still got the pitches to qualify a trade. He’s won-loss record this year doesn’t show how well he’s pitching.
But Oswalt’s got chronic back problems. And getting him in a Redbird uniform will likely cost Shelby Miller and either Allen Craig, Joe Mather, or Jon Jay. Is he worth that much of the future? Or would he just be a rental for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011? And, most importantly, how would his salary affect resigning Albert Pujols?
Realistically, there is a better chance of trading for Oswalt. Especially since the rumor mill has him interested in a spot in the Cardinals rotation.
The great unknown is one of the best things about the trade deadline. If the Cards trade Shelby Miller, he could become another Dan Haren. If they don’t, we may miss seeing Roy Oswalt getting another shot at that World Series ring.
Only time will tell. One thing is for certain, John Mozeliak will make this interesting.
Follow LS Murphy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LSMurphy
Visit her site at: http://lsmurphy.com
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