Game #32
CARDINALS 11, PIRATES 4
The Cardinals had a refreshing spurt of offense today against the Pirates, scoring 11 runs in route to a series victory and ending a Pennsylvania road trip of mixed results.
Tony La Russa wrote up a very strange lineup for today's game to take on lefty Paul Maholm. Joe Mather was hitting in the leadoff spot, starting in center field. Nick Stavinoha, batting sixth, played in right field, and Ryan Ludwick was moved to left. David Freese batted clean-up and Yadier Molina batting fifth. Brendan Ryan, usually the ninth hitter, batted seventh with Tyler Greene batting ninth. Matt Holliday got another day off to hopefully help his groin issues recover.
It was a strange lineup indeed, but it got the job done anyway. In the third inning, Mather picked up only his second RBI of the season, and Stavinoha drove in a pair with a bases loaded double. Ryan and Greene also had an RBI each of their own. Molina drove in three. So even with a rather strange lineup, the Cardinals got contributions from all around. The only starter, not including Adam Wainwright, to not drive in a run today was Albert Pujols. That's the cherry on top of the sundae of a strange lineup that puts up 11.
The Cardinals finally get a day off tomorrow before stopping by St. Louis for a three game series against the Astros, and then it's back on the road.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Game # 31
PIRATES 2, CARDINALS 0
What is going on with this team?
The Cardinals were shut down tonight by yet another mediocre pitcher; this time it was Jeff Karstens, taking his career 5.20 ERA and joining the infamous Bud Norris Club (aka, the Cardinals' kryptonite). The Cardinals managed a measly three hits off of Karstens, who went six scoreless innings for his first win of the season. The Cardinals wasted a very fine game pitched by Jaime Garcia, who was forced into taking his second loss of the season. Garcia pitched six innings of one-run ball and struck out seven.
Matt Holliday had the night off because Tony La Russa was concerned about him aggravating his groin with the anticipation of wet weather for tonight's game. Holliday did pinch hit and pick up one of the four Cardinal hits.
I really don't know how to feel about this team. How concerning is this frequent dumps in production? Is there a definable problem? Could it be the fact that the Cardinals rely on video? The latter could be possible. The Cardinals' strong reliance on video could be an explanation to why the Cardinals can't hit under-the-radar pitchers. But I won't jump to conclusions.
Thankfully, it's early, and the Cardinals have plenty of time to evaluate their approach on hitting. There very well be an actual problem here. I am officially convinced.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
PIRATES 2, CARDINALS 0
What is going on with this team?
The Cardinals were shut down tonight by yet another mediocre pitcher; this time it was Jeff Karstens, taking his career 5.20 ERA and joining the infamous Bud Norris Club (aka, the Cardinals' kryptonite). The Cardinals managed a measly three hits off of Karstens, who went six scoreless innings for his first win of the season. The Cardinals wasted a very fine game pitched by Jaime Garcia, who was forced into taking his second loss of the season. Garcia pitched six innings of one-run ball and struck out seven.
Matt Holliday had the night off because Tony La Russa was concerned about him aggravating his groin with the anticipation of wet weather for tonight's game. Holliday did pinch hit and pick up one of the four Cardinal hits.
I really don't know how to feel about this team. How concerning is this frequent dumps in production? Is there a definable problem? Could it be the fact that the Cardinals rely on video? The latter could be possible. The Cardinals' strong reliance on video could be an explanation to why the Cardinals can't hit under-the-radar pitchers. But I won't jump to conclusions.
Thankfully, it's early, and the Cardinals have plenty of time to evaluate their approach on hitting. There very well be an actual problem here. I am officially convinced.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Game #30
CARDINALS 4, PIRATES 3
Yadier Molina is proving to be as crucial to this team as he's ever been. For a team that has experienced offensive inconsistency to start this season, Molina has been picking them up day in and day out. "Dependability" defines Yadier Molina.
Molina drove in three of the four Cardinal runs tonight, including the game winner in the top of the ninth, and could have had four RBI if not for a missed slide into home plate by Matt Holliday. On the much brighter side for Holliday, he had a four hit game tonight. Holliday just can't have a satisfactory game these days.
Chris Carpenter went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits. He wasn't invincible as shown by those eight hits, but Carp, being the great pitcher that he is, prevented the runs from scoring, and that's all that matters. He also added eight more strikeouts to his total. Carpenter is fourth in the majors in strikeouts, now with 47 K's.
Carpenter didn't get the win; Ryan Franklin did. Carpenter's win went down the drain when Molina let a passed ball pitched by Franklin through his legs that allowed the tying run to score. Yadi more than made up for it, of course. And even though Carpenter clearly deserved his fifth win on the season tonight, the win was very much earned by Franklin as well. Franklin got the Cardinals out of a scary eighth inning jam, and pitched around a runner at second base, the potential tying run, to close out the escape-like victory.
Losing this game would have been a tragedy for the Cardinals. The Pirates made too many mistakes to even recall. When you're playing a team that atrocious and they're basically handing the game to you, you'd better win it. Losing would have been an utter embarrassment for the team. That may sound a bit extreme, but it's true.
Albert Pujols went an uncharacteristic 0 for 5 tonight, and to make it more uncharacteristic, it's an 0 for 5 at PNC Park, a place where Pujols loves to hit. In 325 at bats at PNC Park in his career, Pujols is batting .389 with a .469/.731/1.045 line of OBP/SLG/OPS.
And while on the subject of Pujols, let me just say that although he does look like he's more uncomfortable at the plate this season, chasing pitches out of the zone and striking out more often, Pujols is still producing his regular numbers. His line so far, including batting average, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS, is .313/.402/.574/.976. Not bad.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
CARDINALS 4, PIRATES 3
Yadier Molina is proving to be as crucial to this team as he's ever been. For a team that has experienced offensive inconsistency to start this season, Molina has been picking them up day in and day out. "Dependability" defines Yadier Molina.
Molina drove in three of the four Cardinal runs tonight, including the game winner in the top of the ninth, and could have had four RBI if not for a missed slide into home plate by Matt Holliday. On the much brighter side for Holliday, he had a four hit game tonight. Holliday just can't have a satisfactory game these days.
Chris Carpenter went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits. He wasn't invincible as shown by those eight hits, but Carp, being the great pitcher that he is, prevented the runs from scoring, and that's all that matters. He also added eight more strikeouts to his total. Carpenter is fourth in the majors in strikeouts, now with 47 K's.
Carpenter didn't get the win; Ryan Franklin did. Carpenter's win went down the drain when Molina let a passed ball pitched by Franklin through his legs that allowed the tying run to score. Yadi more than made up for it, of course. And even though Carpenter clearly deserved his fifth win on the season tonight, the win was very much earned by Franklin as well. Franklin got the Cardinals out of a scary eighth inning jam, and pitched around a runner at second base, the potential tying run, to close out the escape-like victory.
Losing this game would have been a tragedy for the Cardinals. The Pirates made too many mistakes to even recall. When you're playing a team that atrocious and they're basically handing the game to you, you'd better win it. Losing would have been an utter embarrassment for the team. That may sound a bit extreme, but it's true.
Albert Pujols went an uncharacteristic 0 for 5 tonight, and to make it more uncharacteristic, it's an 0 for 5 at PNC Park, a place where Pujols loves to hit. In 325 at bats at PNC Park in his career, Pujols is batting .389 with a .469/.731/1.045 line of OBP/SLG/OPS.
And while on the subject of Pujols, let me just say that although he does look like he's more uncomfortable at the plate this season, chasing pitches out of the zone and striking out more often, Pujols is still producing his regular numbers. His line so far, including batting average, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS, is .313/.402/.574/.976. Not bad.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Game #29
PHILLIES 7, CARDINALS 2
The match up today had nothing going in favor if the Cardinals. Kyle Lohse vs the Phillies' dynamic offense was coupled with Roy Halladay vs the currently punchless Cardinals, and the result wasn't anything different than expected; an easy five run win by Philadelphia to seal the series win.
Do not have yourselves convinced that this means the Cardinals are in trouble in case they match up with the Phillies in the playoffs. For one thing, they're not going to play four straight games in Philadelphia. Secondly, we will not quite get the same pitching match-ups, especially anything like the one today. Lohse is not going to pair with Halladay, I can promise you that. Thirdly, it's the regular season. It's May. I never believed in "playoff previews." The Cardinals went 5-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, and we all know how the Division series against LA turned out.
This also shouldn't convince anyone of the ridiculous notion that the Cardinals "can't play against good teams." That's a bad way to look at a baseball team. If you're going to go with that mentality, save it for college football, where that logic actually applies. I stand by my belief that the Cardinals are arguably the best team in the National League (and, of course, the Phillies are the favorite), and this series did nothing to change that. Besides, it's not like the Phillies have been picture perfect so far. They've lost series to the Diamondbacks and Marlins, two teams who are probably not going to contend for the playoffs. Now, I prefer not to hold that against the Phillies because that is how baseball works. You won't always coast through the season. At least the Cardinals have taken care of the more lowly teams they have played so far. That's my point.
Speaking of lowly teams, the Cardinals get to play a handful of them for their next eleven games. This stretch starts with this weekend's series against the Pirates. Following that series, the Cardinals will play three-gamers against the Astros and then the Reds, and those will be followed by a two-gamer against the Nationals. Come out of this with a smashing record, and no one will complain.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
PHILLIES 7, CARDINALS 2
The match up today had nothing going in favor if the Cardinals. Kyle Lohse vs the Phillies' dynamic offense was coupled with Roy Halladay vs the currently punchless Cardinals, and the result wasn't anything different than expected; an easy five run win by Philadelphia to seal the series win.
Do not have yourselves convinced that this means the Cardinals are in trouble in case they match up with the Phillies in the playoffs. For one thing, they're not going to play four straight games in Philadelphia. Secondly, we will not quite get the same pitching match-ups, especially anything like the one today. Lohse is not going to pair with Halladay, I can promise you that. Thirdly, it's the regular season. It's May. I never believed in "playoff previews." The Cardinals went 5-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, and we all know how the Division series against LA turned out.
This also shouldn't convince anyone of the ridiculous notion that the Cardinals "can't play against good teams." That's a bad way to look at a baseball team. If you're going to go with that mentality, save it for college football, where that logic actually applies. I stand by my belief that the Cardinals are arguably the best team in the National League (and, of course, the Phillies are the favorite), and this series did nothing to change that. Besides, it's not like the Phillies have been picture perfect so far. They've lost series to the Diamondbacks and Marlins, two teams who are probably not going to contend for the playoffs. Now, I prefer not to hold that against the Phillies because that is how baseball works. You won't always coast through the season. At least the Cardinals have taken care of the more lowly teams they have played so far. That's my point.
Speaking of lowly teams, the Cardinals get to play a handful of them for their next eleven games. This stretch starts with this weekend's series against the Pirates. Following that series, the Cardinals will play three-gamers against the Astros and then the Reds, and those will be followed by a two-gamer against the Nationals. Come out of this with a smashing record, and no one will complain.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Game #28
PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 0
The Cardinals are looking awfully inconsistant with the bats. Tonight was a disturbingly lackluster performance at the plate. The Cardinals failed badly at putting together rallies as they scattered six hits and scored no runs to show for them. The quality at bats were just not there.
Brad Penny pitched a quality game and was only hurt by the long ball. He allowed three earned runs through six innings, and the three runs were all scored on home runs.
Matt Holliday is looking worse and worse, and I don't see a lick of improvement. I really do think he is pressing now. He's playing under a lot of pressure, and he may be having trouble dealing with it. Holliday has only driven in three runs since April 19.
The Cardinals just looked uncomfortable today. It was disappointing; I'm not going to lie. I don't know where the fire was today, but it just was not there. It happens. Let's just hope it doesn't happen too often and in extended periods of time.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 0
The Cardinals are looking awfully inconsistant with the bats. Tonight was a disturbingly lackluster performance at the plate. The Cardinals failed badly at putting together rallies as they scattered six hits and scored no runs to show for them. The quality at bats were just not there.
Brad Penny pitched a quality game and was only hurt by the long ball. He allowed three earned runs through six innings, and the three runs were all scored on home runs.
Matt Holliday is looking worse and worse, and I don't see a lick of improvement. I really do think he is pressing now. He's playing under a lot of pressure, and he may be having trouble dealing with it. Holliday has only driven in three runs since April 19.
The Cardinals just looked uncomfortable today. It was disappointing; I'm not going to lie. I don't know where the fire was today, but it just was not there. It happens. Let's just hope it doesn't happen too often and in extended periods of time.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Game #27
PHILLIES 2, CARDINALS 1 (10 innings)
If the Phillies would have lost this game, it would have been inexcusable. I respect Charlie Manuel, but his decision to leave Cole Hamels in for the ninth innings was extremely head scratching.
Hamels was great tonight. Though I do think he's a bit overrated, he can be as good as any southpaw when he's right, and he was right today. However, he wasn't invincable, and apparently that's what Manuel must have saw in Hamels because in the top of the ninth inning, with Hamels already having thrown 111 pitches, Manuel decided to send his starter back out onto the mound with a 1-0 lead. Hamels threw five pitches in the ninth, allowed the Cardinals to tie the game, and then he was done. If the Cardinals would have pushed across another run in that inning, Hamels would have been in line for a very undeserved loss. The Phillies' bullpen bailed Manuel out by holding the Cardinals back until catcher Carlos Ruiz ended the game with a 10th inning walk-off home run.
This game would have been a steal for the Cardinals. Can't cry over it. It was deja vu for Adam Wainwright, who pitched well but was once again outpitched by a strong lefty. This is exactly what happened against Barry Zito and the Giants. But at least Waino didn't get the loss this time.
Tomorrow night is a big one. The Cardinals would love to come away with a split in this one. Brad Penny vs Kyle Kendrick appears to favor STL. Also, keep an eye on the hot-hitting David Freese. The kid, who had two hits tonight, has an eight game hitting streak going.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
PHILLIES 2, CARDINALS 1 (10 innings)
If the Phillies would have lost this game, it would have been inexcusable. I respect Charlie Manuel, but his decision to leave Cole Hamels in for the ninth innings was extremely head scratching.
Hamels was great tonight. Though I do think he's a bit overrated, he can be as good as any southpaw when he's right, and he was right today. However, he wasn't invincable, and apparently that's what Manuel must have saw in Hamels because in the top of the ninth inning, with Hamels already having thrown 111 pitches, Manuel decided to send his starter back out onto the mound with a 1-0 lead. Hamels threw five pitches in the ninth, allowed the Cardinals to tie the game, and then he was done. If the Cardinals would have pushed across another run in that inning, Hamels would have been in line for a very undeserved loss. The Phillies' bullpen bailed Manuel out by holding the Cardinals back until catcher Carlos Ruiz ended the game with a 10th inning walk-off home run.
This game would have been a steal for the Cardinals. Can't cry over it. It was deja vu for Adam Wainwright, who pitched well but was once again outpitched by a strong lefty. This is exactly what happened against Barry Zito and the Giants. But at least Waino didn't get the loss this time.
Tomorrow night is a big one. The Cardinals would love to come away with a split in this one. Brad Penny vs Kyle Kendrick appears to favor STL. Also, keep an eye on the hot-hitting David Freese. The kid, who had two hits tonight, has an eight game hitting streak going.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Game #26
CARDINALS 6, PHILLIES 3
The Phillies are not alone. The consensus is that Philadelphia is the team to beat in the National League. And this is true. But there's one more "team to beat" in the National League: the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals started off the four-gamer in Philadelphia on the right foot with a 6-3 win over Joe Blanton. Jaime Garcia is becoming more and more of a realistic contender for the Rookie of the Year award in the NL with a convincing win over one of the most feared lineups in baseball. I don't care if the Phillies have not seen Garcia; they're one of the best offensive teams in the business, and Garcia contained them to just one run on three hits through six innings. Remarkable. Eventually, we will find out how good Garcia really is when he faces teams for a second time. But for now, let's enjoy the kid's success.
Speaking of success for a young player, I cannot go without mentioning David Freese, the NL Player of the Week last week. Freese is 15 for his last 34 at bats (.441) with 14 RBI and 3 home runs in his last nine games, including his 2 for 5 day which included a bases clearing double in the seventh inning. The Cardinals scored five runs in that seventh inning. Nick Stavinoha's home run today, which gave the Cardinals the lead, was his second of the season. Each of Stavinoha's home runs were pinch hit homers, and I'm sure you remember the other one in Milwaukee.
To get back the the Cardinals and Phillies comparisons, I stick by my stance I took prior to this series that the Cardinals are very close to the Phillies as far as ability goes. They're right there with them. What I am getting sick of is people who say the Phillies are clearly better by only citing their superb lineup. Of course, I can't argue against the Phillies' lineup; it's truly one of the best in the majors. But if people can salivate at the Phillies' lineup, then why can't we do the same thing with the Cardinals' starting pitching?
The Cardinals are right there with the Phillies. You can debate which team is better, and either one is a viable choice. But the Phillies are no longer the lone "team to beat" in the National League. And, no, I'm not basing that thought off of the victory today. I've felt this way for at least a week now.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
CARDINALS 6, PHILLIES 3
The Phillies are not alone. The consensus is that Philadelphia is the team to beat in the National League. And this is true. But there's one more "team to beat" in the National League: the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals started off the four-gamer in Philadelphia on the right foot with a 6-3 win over Joe Blanton. Jaime Garcia is becoming more and more of a realistic contender for the Rookie of the Year award in the NL with a convincing win over one of the most feared lineups in baseball. I don't care if the Phillies have not seen Garcia; they're one of the best offensive teams in the business, and Garcia contained them to just one run on three hits through six innings. Remarkable. Eventually, we will find out how good Garcia really is when he faces teams for a second time. But for now, let's enjoy the kid's success.
Speaking of success for a young player, I cannot go without mentioning David Freese, the NL Player of the Week last week. Freese is 15 for his last 34 at bats (.441) with 14 RBI and 3 home runs in his last nine games, including his 2 for 5 day which included a bases clearing double in the seventh inning. The Cardinals scored five runs in that seventh inning. Nick Stavinoha's home run today, which gave the Cardinals the lead, was his second of the season. Each of Stavinoha's home runs were pinch hit homers, and I'm sure you remember the other one in Milwaukee.
To get back the the Cardinals and Phillies comparisons, I stick by my stance I took prior to this series that the Cardinals are very close to the Phillies as far as ability goes. They're right there with them. What I am getting sick of is people who say the Phillies are clearly better by only citing their superb lineup. Of course, I can't argue against the Phillies' lineup; it's truly one of the best in the majors. But if people can salivate at the Phillies' lineup, then why can't we do the same thing with the Cardinals' starting pitching?
The Cardinals are right there with the Phillies. You can debate which team is better, and either one is a viable choice. But the Phillies are no longer the lone "team to beat" in the National League. And, no, I'm not basing that thought off of the victory today. I've felt this way for at least a week now.
Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.
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