Tony La Russa has now managed 2,246 regular season games since having taken over the reigns of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996. Friday night marked just the 14th time in almost 14 seasons that the opponent scored just one run while his team was shut out, arguably one of the most difficult kinds of losses to take.
The record books will show the Cardinals were defeated by the Atlanta Braves by a 1-0 score at Busch Stadium on Friday, yet the men in black share the responsibility. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher made a critical sixth-inning mistake that cost the Cardinals the tying run.
Matt Holliday was called out at the plate as he tried to score on Colby Rasmus’ single. Replays confirmed Holliday touched the plate with his left hand before being tagged on the arm by Braves catcher Brian McCann.
Despite pitching seven strong innings, Joel Pineiro was saddled with the loss, his first since June 28. Pineiro had picked up eight wins in his 11 starts since then.
Friday’s disappointing result marked just the sixth 1-0 home defeat during the La Russa years, with the other eight having occurred on the road.
This was the second 1-0 loss to the Braves, with the most having come against the Milwaukee Brewers, four.
Only three of the 14 games were lost by the bullpen, though two of them have occurred in the last four.
I doubt there is any correlation, but I find it interesting to look at 1-0 losses in seasons when the team made the playoffs. If you assume the Cardinals are in the post-season here in 2009, that makes eight years in 14 under La Russa, or 57%. In a fitting bit of symmetry, eight of the 14 1-0 games also occurred during playoff seasons.
These games seem to come in spurts. After only two 1-0 losses over the previous six seasons, there were four of them in 2006 alone. Then two more dry years ensued until the three this season.
Chris Carpenter has been the most common victim, with three starts wasted in the club’s last eight 1-0 losses. In a game many probably still remember, Carp absorbed the only 1-0 defeat of the 14 in which the winning run was unearned.
That was at Miller Park this May 25th, a contest in which the Cardinals ace fanned ten Brewers over eight innings only to see the Cards lose in the tenth on an error, two groundouts and a single off Kyle McClellan. Adam Wainwright had a 1-0 two-hitter spoiled at home against the same Brewers club just nine days prior.
Anthony Reyes’ best regular season game as a Cardinals starter was another memorable 1-0 loss as he allowed just one hit over eight innings in Chicago on June 22, 2006. That hit was a home run by then-White Sox, now Dodgers designated hitter Jim Thome.
Alan Benes is the only Cardinals starter during the TLR years to have suffered this fate twice in the same season, back in 1997. That year, St. Louis fell to fourth place after La Russa’s initial Cardinals team had won their division.
1-0 losses, Cardinals, 1996-2009
| # | Date | Opp | Starter | Loser | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| 14 | 9/11/2009 | ATL | Pineiro | Pineiro | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 13 | 5/25/2009 | @ MIL | Carpenter | McClellan | 9.2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 12 | 5/16/2009 | MIL | Wainwright | Wainwright | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 11 | 9/20/2006 | @ MIL | Suppan | T Johnson | 8 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 10 | 9/2/2006 | PIT | Weaver | Weaver | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | 6/22/2006 | @ CHW | An Reyes | An Reyes | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | 4/14/2006 | @ CIN | Carpenter | Carpenter | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | 8/26/2004 | CIN | Carpenter | Carpenter | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 6 | 4/20/2003 | ARI | Tomko | Tomko | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 7/21/1999 | @ CIN | Jimenez | Jimenez | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | 1998-08-21(2) | @ NYM | Aybar | Aybar | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 3 | 6/16/1997 | @ MIL | Al Benes | Al Benes | 8.1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| 2 | 5/16/1997 | @ ATL | Al Benes | Frascatore | 12.2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 15 |
| 1 | 8/6/1996 | SDP | Osborne | Osborne | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
Note: Pitching lines shown above are an aggregate of all St. Louis pitchers in that game.
Thanks to Tom Orf for identifying the past 1-0 contests.
Shameless situational hitting. Rasmus, DeRosa both unwilling to give the pitcher credit for making good pitches with men at the corners and no outs. Its easy to find a good pitchers location. Thats usually the tough location, to make your job difficult as a hitter in your situation.. Rasmus is truly a rookie on the bases and when put in situations where he needs to lay down his personal initiative for the teams.
The provocative call of the night was the first pitch hit and run to Pujols with Ryan at first Tony recognizes a funk when he sees one. Albert’s lustful hitting Orgy and celebrations against the Brewers looked like they might be have a little hangover attached. Tony was aware of Albert’s tensions and was trying to break the cycle.
I think Albert is having trouble with Ryan some how. He looked disgusted after Ryan flew out in the late innings denying him a chance at the 2 runners on base. Kind of had that look on his face as he tossed his helmet into the dugout. The downside of religious addiction it would seem, born of spiritual confusion. We all suffer this conundrum in our personal growth, veiled tho it may seem.
A real situational hitting clinic by the Cards today. Its embarrassing when put next to a team that does that so well. Lohse’s tiny quivering lip and unhappy little league body language was especially entertaining. Franky has self doubt rising fast. Braves couldn’t even give that game away.
Troy Glaus approaches the plate. Ducks on the pond. Regardless of an endless off season, his legs look weak, like he is out of shape. The pitcher has just two pitches, a hard sidearm slider, and a not hard sidearm slider which may have been his fastball………I couldn’t tell. Troy would like to make the playoff roster so this AB is something to work with, right Troy. Lets see, the first pitch is, surprise, a center cut sidearm slider. Thats not my pitch thinks Troy, I’m looking for a mistake, or the meatball. Second pitch, center cut sidearm fastball. Wooooooo!! Gosh! 0/2……. I have got to be patient here, mustn’t miss that bad pitch. 1/2 ……4th pitch, good pitchers pitch, probably a little off the plate, but none the less…………not the meat ball mistake. Bat never leaves his shoulder. No ground ball away…..no fly ball to pick up the run…….. no realistic appraisal of your opposition….just a hope that you could get something to turn on…. to make the playoff team.
Ryan……… bases loaded………… uppercut, wrist popping home run swing on a ball out of the strike zone on the first pitch………….. yeah son, you have pitches to waste.
LaRusa was seriously out coached today by Bobby Cox. Also,I hope somebody chewed Colby’s butt about misplaying that fly………dangerous Rookie mistake. He must call for that ball, or let Holiday play it. Its his play to make.
Albert for some reason is rocking back and forth again. What is that about.?
The Franklin flameout scenario I brought up the other day is looming. There is no plan B guy behind Franklin, like there is behind Lidge. The big save numbers, and recent events, prove we dont win without a lights out closer. All Mo and BD have done goes up in smoke. Its caught their attention, everybody thinks they have to be the hero. Slap hitters think they’re the Babe, power hitters waiting for the perfect pitch they can crush that never comes, when all it takes is a fly ball. After the Franklin/Miller signing nosedive/fiasco/trainwreck, does BD want to do any more contracts before its over?
Smoltz has been a terrific closer in the past. We have plenty of options.
Be happy your team is not the hapless Cubs.
Good points BB. All this is expected I think. I have to believe Franklin will regroup. Just a hunch.
Lohse balancing on point then over throwing from the stalled position. This always has been his undoing. He will bottom out as will Franklin. Better now than later. The hitting instability is a joke. The idea of just giving some of these guys at bats with no oversight is weakening the team. Easily the best AB of the day in form and selection was Thurston. Tomorrow will be interesting.
Jumbo’s right BB. We have resources.
Can anyone provide Cards avg runs per game pre Holliday vs post? If so, please do. Wondering how much, if any, all the winning has to do with increased offensive production, or did our pitching just get hot.
While I’m sure that Smoltz would be just fine penciled in as closer, I’d feel a little bit better with Chris Perez back in St. Louis and DeRosa in Cleveland…
The Cards were in a tough situation this June, with Glaus injured, Freese injured, and Khalil having his problems. We also did not know then that we would be able to add Holliday later. We also did not know that DeRosa would injure his wrist after a few games.
We were in tough bind and we had to bribe Shapiro to give us DeRosa. We paid a heavy price in Perez and Todd, because the Indians had the upper hand. This was the opposite sort of deal to Boston dumping Lugo and paying us to cart him away.
So this is where we are at. Are warriors will fight with what they have. Franklin, Miller, Smoltz, McClellan, Reyes would be 5. Motte, Boggs, Hawksworth, Thompson, Welly give more possibilities.
I think I have to say that an injection of cortisone in the shoulder by Smoltz is a major issue. His trainer is a holistic guy, and if he is suggesting the grease at this point, that raises some provocative questions. The realization of Smoltz as a starter is an advertising campaign for his career, not so much a Cardinal need. His extended usage and any multiple innings scenario’s could cause problems I’m thinking. Wellemeyer will re injure himself in a start. How not. Vasquez is a finesse pitcher……..I’m very interested to see what today brings for our hitters.
Actually, with Lohse and Wellemeyer out of action, it was helpful that Smoltz was able to contribute some starts.
During the rest of September, we need to focus on getting all the pitchers ready for post-season. This is complicated by Memphis being in the PCL finals, but will be done.
We need to build up Lohse’s stamina. He nearly got through 4 yesterday. He can aim for 5 in his next start.
Smoltz got his cortisone and we will try to get him back to pitching. Smoltz is a tough old buzzard. His not going to let a little soreness stop him from pitching in the playoffs. Its always possible this could be his last campaign, so he will want to give his all.
WCBW – is there any sky left to fall? I thought by listening to you it had all fallen by now.
I’ve got blue sky here CC. Hows the weather in Rio.
Carioca, thats a refreshing point. There are a few fretters at this website, cup half empty types.
We have to hope no Cards players read the comments here. They might start to wonder if they should make an emergency visit to a nearby mental health therapist. Or maybe they should consult a philosophical guru or aboriginal spiritualist.
I suggest instead they shoot some cortisone, duck tape up what’s sore, use their officially authorized prescriptions for HGH, pop on a helmet and smite the enemy. We do not want our noble warriors getting distracted and in a funk from thinking about whether their swings are picture perfect in the minds of some fans, rather we want to cheer them on in the great game.
Timely Jumbo. Timely.
blingboy, your very good question above fueled my newest post.
You might say that the exploitation of a well trained team, both hitting but especially pitching on a tiring / ex-platoon bunch of individuals can be kind of rude. Anybody notice how quickly they picked up on Pujols new rocking horse style, then made him look foolish. I unfortunately had to listen to the Atlanta feed. Tony seems to have little going on when he isn’t allowed his Line-up excesses. On a positive note, its good to crash with time to adjust. I’d sit DeRosa down for a few days and let Thurston play. He either responds or not. The Glaus and Greene experiment against playoff quality pitching probably could be put to rest. I would really worry about whether Holiday is getting into a funk, probably over becoming a pull toy between Mo and Boras, with his wife pounding the mid section. He’s flat.
For the record…………. Albert’s is still trying to prepare for the attack on his hands by LA and Philly with Colorado watching and learning. The solution or problem has nothing to do with timing and swing triggers Hal. He was fine against the Brewers using his old style. The real solution is to move his back foot back about 4 inches, square his stance, keep his weight back and stop leading by throwing your hips open. Take the ball deeper, think middle away, and then crush off-speed anything. If you watched his spring, you will notice the changes he has made to adapt to the Holiday presents. His slump and emotional distraction in July opened him up to taking suggestions from the terribly out dated H McRae. Just let it go Jumbo…….I’m creating a record for baseball players.