Comparing St. Louis Cardinals spring vs. regular season batting average and ERA during the 2000-2009 period.
Recently, I looked at St. Louis Cardinals spring training wins, losses and rankings in comparison to the regular season. I thought I might take a similar view, but this time though the lens of team batting average and ERA.
In the data below, I only have the Cardinals’ spring rankings in the last four years. Their regular season record in batting is quite amazing. In the last decade, the Cardinals have always been in the top half of the league in batting average, though their spring training hitting was not good in 2006 or 2007.
I also listed the top individual hitter each spring and regular season. We are again reminded of Albert Pujols’ greatness. Who remembered that among all the problems that Khalil Greene batted .408 with David Freese right behind at .386 last spring? Me either.
Having a .400 hitter or two each spring is par for the course, but it helps by having Pujols around.
St. Louis Cardinals spring training and regular season results, hitters, 2000-2009
| Spring | Season | Spring | Season | |||||
| Year | BA | NL Rank | BA | NL Rank | Top hitter | BA | Top Hitter | BA |
| 2009 | 0.290 | 5 | 0.263 | 4 | K Greene | 0.408 | Pujols | 0.327 |
| 2008 | 0.286 | 5 | 0.281 | 1 | Pujols | 0.407 | Pujols | 0.357 |
| 2007 | 0.255 | 14 | 0.274 | 7 | Molina | 0.400 | Pujols | 0.327 |
| 2006 | 0.260 | 15 | 0.269 | 4 | Edmonds | 0.424 | Pujols | 0.331 |
| 2005 | 0.279 | 0.270 | 3 | Pujols | 0.458 | Pujols | 0.330 | |
| 2004 | 0.275 | 0.278 | 1 | Pujols | 0.381 | Pujols | 0.331 | |
| 2003 | 0.282 | 0.279 | 2 | Pujols | 0.415 | Pujols | 0.359 | |
| 2002 | 0.259 | 0.268 | 2 | Coolbaugh | 0.385 | Pujols | 0.314 | |
| 2001 | 0.271 | 0.270 | 3 | Sutton | 0.390 | Pujols | 0.329 | |
| 2000 | 0.290 | 0.270 | 6 | Polanco | 0.439 | Polanco | 0.316 | |
| Avg. | 0.275 | 0.272 | 3.3 | 0.411 |
For the pitchers, I looked at starters. They have done well compared to their peers the last four springs. Three times in the last decade, Dave Duncan’s charges finished the regular season with a team ERA over 4.50 and each time, the staff finished in the second division in the measurement.
Individually, despite having led the Cardinals in regular season ERA four times, Chris Carpenter was the spring pacesetter just twice and only once did his numbers really stand out, back in 2006.
St. Louis Cardinals spring training and regular season results, pitchers, 2000-2009
| Spring | Season | Spring | Season | |||||
| Year | ERA | NL Rank | ERA | NL Rank | Low ERA | ERA | Low ERA | ERA |
| 2009 | 4.35 | 4 | 3.66 | 4 | Pineiro | 1.44 | Carpenter | 2.24 |
| 2008 | 4.01 | 4 | 4.19 | 7 | Thompson | 2.70 | Wellemeyer | 3.71 |
| 2007 | 2.29 | 1 | 4.65 | 11 | Wainwright | 1.10 | Wellemeyer | 3.11 |
| 2006 | 3.65 | 2 | 4.54 | 9 | Carpenter | 0.68 | Carpenter | 3.09 |
| 2005 | 3.73 | 3.49 | 1 | Carpenter | 3.38 | Carpenter | 2.83 | |
| 2004 | 4.53 | 3.75 | 2 | Simontacchi | 1.13 | Carpenter | 3.46 | |
| 2003 | 5.65 | 4.60 | 11 | Stephenson | 3.12 | Morris | 3.76 | |
| 2002 | 3.34 | 3.70 | 4 | Williams | 2.33 | Williams | 2.53 | |
| 2001 | 4.40 | 3.93 | 3 | Hutchinson | 1.42 | Williams | 2.28 | |
| 2000 | 4.58 | 4.38 | 7 | Stephenson | 1.35 | Ankiel | 3.50 | |
| 4.05 | 4.09 | 5.9 | 1.87 |
Note the decade averages of spring batting average and ERA are not significantly better than their regular season decade mark. Very close, indeed.
Bottom line, I am not sure there are any takeaways from this, which is really the point. It is dangerous, perhaps downright foolish, to try to read much of anything from spring training stats.
Other spring training-related articles you may have missed:
“St. Louis Cardinals spring training radio and television schedules”
“Cardinals spring training rosters and numerology”
“Cardinals spring training ticket prices this decade”
“Cardinals spring training demographics”
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lefties today…….0/7………………add our righty/lefty batting third…………….0/11 .
My solution …………. buy out 2011 in a 5yr extension for 125 million. Let them negotiate the record setting years at that time. Everyone comes out looking good. Pressure off.
The real issues here are recognizing the dangers to AP. Greatness is a fragile thing beneath all of the posturing. When a mystery blogger broke the Khalil story, I remember them pointing out that not releasing him at that point could endanger his whole career. Management covered their ass with the “anxiety” diagnosis which obscured there culpability in trading for him in the first place. They strung him along as a testimonial to there compassionate nature. Right. The AP situation in its most profitable form to management is a bad season. In my estimation that’s a 100 million dollar reversal in his contract expectation. If they attempt to leverage him here by waiting, that goes right against his personal performance expectation. This guy is in trouble. If he can’t address this emotionally, his denial will lead him to a trade me posture, or to excepting the 10/200 life preserver with all the differed payment options still at play. BD/Mo have likely measured the nature of AP’s relationship to his Agent at this point. They are working to exploit this vulnerability. WC is not wrong here. I realize that this is not good news. My solution works in good faith for all sides.
Years of drug abuse can do sad things to the human mind. Do not give up hope Westie, a remedy my be found and you may be restored to your full faculties, such as they are.
Don’t worry about Westy, Jumbo. Sometimes stuff can leach out of the liver from the old days, that’s all. Happens.
Albert says he goes in to ST like he has to make the team. Lets take him at his word. Craig is out-playing him by a margin, so lets put him first at first on the depth chart. Challenge Albert to play his way back to the top. I’d go ahead and drop Schu to back-up status as well. As to our pitchers, they stink. I’m sure they are ‘working on stuff’.
Not one of your more important posts Jumbo. I think “Having a Clue” check is available for PC and Mac. Google it………………………… you’re clueless if you think Buster doesn’t weigh each little tattle tale “advertisement” that he is given. He is protecting a source. Every high end franchise has had talks about AP at some time or another. How not? The only reason a Philly exec drops a dime is to point this out? …………………. The pressure is on Albert. Mo says we aren’t trading AP. Albert says his agent told him the Cards haven’t bothered to begin a negotiation. Cardinals are losing leverage as time passes………………..unless Albert is injured or has a sub par season. Lozano knows Albert doesn’t want to take his family to the city. He knows AP is posturing for the Cardinals to make him the #1. I think BD is going to stick with the MLB owners on this one and threaten to continue their collusion. As I’ve said before, this thing may have already been decided…………….and Jumbo, yes its back to the bench for awhile.
Quite a number of high end pitchers gave it up today BB. These guys will gel. I’m trying to figure how they will keep Garcia off the team. They will though I’d guess.
Garcia could land as long reliever. It will be hard for him not to do so.
If Motte continues to pitch ok, he could retain a job. If Hawksworth continues to struggle, he will land at Memphis. The Cards would like Boggs to earn a job. Garcia could land the final slot.
If they had to pick the pen today, it could be McClellan, Motte, Boggs, Franklin, Garcia, T Miller, Reyes, with Hill as the 5th starter.
Its nice Craig, Mather, and Stavinoha are hitting, unlike Greene, Gotay, and Jay. Mather might be able to serve as 4th OF. Craig or Stavinoha might earn a niche as top pinch-hitter.
The Cards are not “losing leverage.” On the Pujols situation, its all about what is top dollar? Albert is going to get top dollar.
Negotiations will start when both sides want them to be conducted seriously and quickly. Until this time is mutually reached, it will be a waiting game. And all the Buster Olneys will write their stuff.
The Cards said they wanted to sign Albert, Albert said he wants to stay. Both sides have expressed public positions.
So when will they negotiate? The Cards just set the winter record for high spending on a position player with Holliday. They do not need to exceed even this, all in one off-season. Also, Pujols is under control for two more seasons, so there is no rush as yet for the Cards to sign him to an extension.
Mo and Lozano have probably chatted in broad terms about what the top of the market looks like, nowadays. The economy is a source of uncertainty and holds down even mega-salaries. Come October and November 2010, the Union may want the Cards to define the top of the market for a position player, for the second year in a row. Or the Cards may want to wait and see what the best free agent position player commands next December.
If the Cards extend Albert 7 more years as they did Holliday and do so today, then they will take on a commitment 9 years into the future. But if they wait to next winter to do the same thing, it will only be an 8 year commitment. Given the cost of the top salary in the game, even this one year is a significant difference from the team’s viewpoint.
The Cards could even wait until after the 2011 season and Pujols becomes a free agent. This is what they did with Holliday, and this situation ultimately worked out for both player and team.
” If Hawksworth continues to struggle, he will land at Memphis” He’s out of options, Jumbo. If he struggles, it’s to the glue factory with him.
Bling, BD has 10 very large sitting around in “dry powder form”. You should be looking at ways he is figuring to keep it dry. There will be a cry from allot of folks when this team is set. Keeping promising prospects to replace likely failures is cost efficient, and he has a track record of doing that. If they figure Hawksworth isn’t going to cut it, they need to trade him now. If not, watch out.
As BD said,” you never know whats going to happen in a baseball game”.
I’m not expecting any big surprises for the opening day roster. If Garcia makes it, it would be as 5th starter, with McClellan staying in the pen where he belongs. Gotay making it would be a surprise.
Garcia can relieve, just like Wainwright in 2006. The pen is a good way to ease a rook into the majors.
3 lefties in the pen would be a surprise.
The bench boy sees it right BB. Right ? Left? whats the difference in the end. Strike outs are the point for a reliever.
Issue, BD knows the value of an ace up his sleeve. They will use the argument that it might endanger his future and further lessen the value of Hawksworth who is out of options. That logic would also piss off Tony and AP, which couched in logic may be the real point I’m afraid. You would think that there is no way Craig won’t make it. That would be a dead give away if they say they want him to have more at bats. That will rile up the boys too. I’m just wander how the hell are they going to keep Ruben on the team. I’m looking for a trade move if he can’t cut it.
Shifting Skip to 2B, easing Rasmus entry the majors as a 4th OF, batting pitchers 8th, the Cards are capable of surprising.
The lefty-righty thing makes all the diference to Tony. Can you see him ever bringing in a lefty when there is a righty stepping into the box.
Craig on the roster would be fun. He’d have to play now and then. Would it be MH to sit or AP. Some incredible theories could be spun from that.
Westie is reading some of the leaves right (blind squirrel?
) but is drawing the wrong conclusions. The lack of a viable offer to Pujols makes it less likely he will be traded rather than more so. BD knows he would have to have made a reasonable offer to Pujols that wasn’t accepted in order to trade him. Westie also implies that BD doesn’t want to pay up for Pujols as he wants to hold the collusion line intact. However, if he trade him that means someone else is willing to cross the line. Doesn’t make sense.
He has match up lefties BB, and righties. We need a lights out two inning guy that can also pitch the 8th. We need a an old fashion fireman. Mott is just an arsonist on the prowl.
I do enjoy tea leaves, and acorns which are bitter though even in their best state. I glad your trying to follow a line off reasoning CC. Things to note;
A collusion is acting together to an agreed end. The line of simply suppressing salary and market expectations is likely recognized by all owners as a collective aspiration. That is hardly the point here. There are factions within ownership. Selig is a representative of a very powerful elitist faction.
If you read the article with BD yesterday, it is easy to see who your GM is and how his mind works. He has got it going on here is ST Louis, more than you know. The stand alone offer that changed baseball came from Arlington Texas, just after W was elected. It has really changed baseball. Now that it has changed, containing and reversing that trend represents huge profits.
Your price of beer is never going back down, but payroll might.
I started writing about finance and Sachs/Gold boys here 2yrs ago. For a reason. Some of you might be able to follow the big picture……………….. What you can’t see so well yet, and I know this to be true, S&G made huge profits through the W years as a Hedge Fund and commodity trader.
Their private knowledge and financing of the junk derivative securities and knowledge of how it would end, allowed them to control and predict market fluctuation on the way to gargantuan profits…………….. most held off shore. Back to the point. BD was on that train. He is arrogant and opinionated, and his elitist qualities might easily be construed as racist. etc;
Bottom line………something happened in NY and Boston this year…………… and something is happening in St Louis too. Lets just watch. I know that BD plays hardball………winner has nothing to do with a baseball game. That’s just a favorable market condition.
Scary to realize that Welly was our ERA leader 2 of the last 3 years.
Perhaps not a coincidence that the team missed the playoffs both years.
In today’s reporting, TLR expressly rejected Garcia for the pen, elevating him for the rotation, in StL or Memphis.
Hill did himself a lot of damage yesterday with walks. Hill is around 30. Hill is a veteran who has to deliver from day 1, no room for slack. Hill got booted out of Chicago by Sweet Lou because of walks. He may have pitched himself onto the Memphis roster yesterday.
Though we could use McClellan in the pen, his chances for the rotation look high.
Garcia is a great example of how comments can sometimes be extended and greater importance and conclusions are drawn from them that were perhaps not intended.
I was there with my recorder on about ten days ago when TLR previously spoke about Garcia at length. He mentioned his and Duncan’s ideal is for a pitcher to spend a full year in Triple-A and a full year relieving in the majors before moving into the rotation. He also noted that Garcia had done neither (though parts of both). From that, people assumed the ideal was equal to the plan. I never heard TLR express that, so I am less surprised by the recent developments.
Wainwright had about 1.5 seasons at AAA, before spending 2006 in relief. Maybe this is Tony’s best case scenario.
In 2010 spring training, Hill is giving up walks (a no-no) and McClellan could become needed in the pen, while Garcia was lights out in the PCL playoffs and is continuing to excel. This could result in a deviation from the ideal.
If the Cards go with McClellan as the 5th starter, this would boost Garcia’s chances as a long reliever. As long as Hill misses the plate and Garcia dominates, its hard to keep the latter off the team in some way.
Another rookie from Mexico who could become a factor by June is Salas.
Garcia was unheralded coming out of a S. Texas high school. He did not even pitch in the summer of 2005. His star emerged in 2006 and into 2007, until he got shut down for elbow soreness that returned in 2008. In essence, he went from high school to the cusp of the majors in 1.5 minor league seasons, suggestive of unusual talent. If Garcia elbow is again sound, his time may become now. If Garcia’s arm is vulnerable to re-injury, his time may be best spent contributing in the majors.
Tony is scratching some back here………….. already knowing the outcome. He is softening the emotional reaction for Garcia when he is sent down. Its the only way he might get BD to buy something.
Tony is a smart guy. He wants to keep open a lot of options, not get pinned down. So Garcia could start, he could start at Memphis, he could relieve, etc. There is no reason to make any decision before you have to make it.