Three St. Louis Cardinals hitters have at least 24 RBI through the team’s first 39 games and are on pace for 100 RBI seasons.
As the St. Louis Cardinals returned home Monday night to face the Washington Nationals, they badly needed to wash from their mouths the bitter tastes of a series defeat in Cincinnati, a two-week stretch of losing baseball and the forfeiture of first place.
The much-publicized switch in the batting order between Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday received the lion’s share of the ink, but when the game began, it was rookie third baseman David Freese (pictured) who really stepped up early on.
Batting sixth for the eighth time this season after a total of 13 starts in the number five spot, Freese’s two-run triple capped a four-run first inning. The Cardinals never looked back in defeating the Nats by a 6-2 score at Busch Stadium.
In an interesting but odd sidelight, Freese has picked up 19 of his 24 RBI this year in his first plate appearance in a game. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter is second in the National League behind Milwaukee’s Casey McGehee, who has 26.
With his pair of Monday RBI, Freese joined Yadier Molina at second place on the Cardinals with 24. The pair sit five behind team leader Albert Pujols, who has over twice as many RBI as Matt Holliday (14), but that is a story for a different day.
With the first 39 games of the 2010 season in the books, researcher Tom Orf went back to look at top Cardinals RBI producers in the early going, selecting 40 games as the mark.
In the last 50 years, 2010 is only the ninth time that at least three Cardinals have as many as 24 RBI in the team’s first 40 games. St. Louis also did it in 2009, with Ryan Ludwick and Chris Duncan joining Pujols then.
In both 2004 and 2001, four Cardinals hitters had at least 24 RBI through 40 games. The 2004 group included all three members of the “MV3″, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Pujols. Not surprisingly, Pujols remains the constant through the years as the other two now play for Cardinals NL Central rivals Cincinnati and Milwaukee, respectively.
At the other end of the spectrum, ten times in 50 years, not a single Cardinal had as many as 24 RBI through 40 games. That happened most recently in Tony La Russa’s second St. Louis campaign, 1997.
This season, with Colby Rasmus currently fourth with 17 RBI and Ludwick fifth on the team with 15, it is most unlikely the top three will be having company join them based on Tuesday night’s 40th game of the 2010 season.
To put 24 RBI in 39 games into perspective, if that pace could be maintained through 162 games, the player would finish the season with exactly 100 RBI. Most any non-Pujols Cardinal would be satisfied with that.
Cardinals with 24 or more RBI in the team’s first 40 games, 1960-2010
| Year | Player | RBI | Player | RBI | Player | RBI | Player | RBI |
| 2010 | Albert Pujols | 29 | David Freese | 24 | Yadier Molina | 24 | ||
| 2009 | Albert Pujols | 37 | Ryan Ludwick | 26 | Chris Duncan | 24 | ||
| 2008 | Albert Pujols | 25 | Ryan Ludwick | 24 | ||||
| 2007 | Albert Pujols | 23 | ||||||
| 2006 | Albert Pujols | 48 | Jim Edmonds | 27 | ||||
| 2005 | Albert Pujols | 35 | Jim Edmonds | 24 | ||||
| 2004 | Scott Rolen | 39 | Jim Edmonds | 29 | Reggie Sanders | 25 | Albert Pujols | 24 |
| 2003 | Edgar Renteria | 31 | Scott Rolen | 30 | Albert Pujols | 28 | ||
| 2002 | Jim Edmonds | 28 | ||||||
| 2001 | Albert Pujols | 44 | J.D. Drew | 33 | Jim Edmonds | 28 | Ray Lankford | 24 |
| 2000 | Mark McGwire | 36 | Jim Edmonds | 34 | Fernando Tatis | 28 | ||
| 1999 | Fernando Tatis | 38 | Mark McGwire | 29 | ||||
| 1998 | Mark McGwire | 45 | ||||||
| 1997 | ||||||||
| 1996 | Ray Lankford | 29 | Ron Gant | 26 | ||||
| 1995 | Bernard Gilkey | 27 | Brian Jordan | 25 | ||||
| 1994 | ||||||||
| 1993 | ||||||||
| 1992 | ||||||||
| 1991 | Pedro Guerrero | 27 | ||||||
| 1990 | Pedro Guerrero | 27 | ||||||
| 1989 | Pedro Guerrero | 29 | Tom Brunansky | 25 | ||||
| 1988 | Tom Brunansky | 25 | ||||||
| 1987 | Jack Clark | 43 | Willie McGee | 29 | Terry Pendleton | 26 | ||
| 1986 | ||||||||
| 1985 | Jack Clark | 35 | Tom Herr | 33 | Terry Pendleton | 25 | ||
| 1984 | ||||||||
| 1983 | George Hendrick | 32 | ||||||
| 1982 | Keith Hernandez | 26 | George Hendrick | 25 | ||||
| 1981 | George Hendrick | 27 | Tom Herr | 26 | ||||
| 1980 | George Hendrick | 31 | ||||||
| 1980 | Ted Simmons | 26 | Keith Hernandez | 25 | Ken Reitz | 24 | ||
| 1979 | Keith Hernandez | 27 | ||||||
| 1978 | Ken Reitz | 24 | ||||||
| 1977 | Keith Hernandez | 29 | Ted Simmons | 29 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||||||
| 1975 | Ted Simmons | 28 | ||||||
| 1974 | Reggie Smith | 32 | Ted Simmons | 24 | ||||
| 1973 | ||||||||
| 1972 | Joe Torre | 25 | Ted Simmons | 24 | ||||
| 1971 | Joe Torre | 30 | Jose Cardenal | 29 | ||||
| 1970 | Dick Allen | 37 | ||||||
| 1969 | Joe Torre | 24 | ||||||
| 1968 | ||||||||
| 1967 | Lou Brock | 31 | Orlando Cepeda | 27 | ||||
| 1966 | Curt Flood | 30 | ||||||
| 1965 | Ken Boyer | 24 | ||||||
| 1964 | Ken Boyer | 33 | ||||||
| 1963 | Ken Boyer | 30 | Bill White | 27 | ||||
| 1962 | Bill White | 32 | Ken Boyer | 31 | ||||
| 1961 | ||||||||
| 1960 | Bill White | 29 | Ken Boyer | 25 |
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Given his later collapse, it is hard for the human mind to take on board that Chris Duncan had 24 RBIs at this time last year.
When healthy, Freese drove in runs for Memphis. He should be able to do so at this level too, in part because he should see a lot of baserunners.
Freese’s ability (and willingness) to use all fields is presenting the biggest obstacle to our adversaries. With power. That quality is raising him above the fray. Albert was sweet last night. He seemed like a small boy again, experiencing the newness of his experience. I know he will adapt.
Chances of AP being the one to suggest the batting order change, I would think are slim and none. The chances that Tony presented the idea, with its most desirable appearances I’m guessing are a bit higher. It is my hope that they change places often, because one might speculate that more flexibility gives Tony many more ways of using Luddy, Colby, and David against certain pitchers with this more dynamic precedent.
With Lopez, Rasmus, and Schumaker, the Cards send 3 left swingers against an RHP. Four others can take outside pitches to opposite field, Freese, Molina, Pujols, and Holliday. They need to do more of it.
The main pull hitter is Ludwick, yet he is strong enough to hit outside pitches over the CF wall. Luddy will strike out sometimes, do damage other times. When Holliday warms up, he and Albert will have high on base percentages. This will create RBI opportunities for Rasmus, Freese, and Molina.
“I know he will adapt”. If there is anyone that knows about adapting it is you Westie. You adapt your storyline to whatever is happening with the Cards. Sure you dont want to change your moniker to WestCoastChameleon ?
In fairness, WC among others has been advocating dropping Pujols to the cleanup spot for a very long time now.
The hitting has been disappointing. Jiggling the lineup may limber some players up.
Jiggling Matt and Albert is essential Jumbo. even if niether hits better.
TLR has had Albert 3rd forever. He likes Albert to get up in the first inning. And its customary to bat your best hitter 3rd. To move Albert to cleanup, it shows TLR wants to get Holliday on track. And it shows confidence in hitters 5-7 to drive in runs.
I agree with you Jumbo, but as I see it, the important thing is to show 25 guys that the slump and the effort to pull out of it doesn’t involve just 23 guys.
Lohse was on the radio today and Bernie asked about the amount of clubhouse buzz when the lineup was posted. Lohse said he found out about it in the bottom of the first when Matt went out on deck. If so, I bet a lot of guys didn’t say a lot of stuff they were thinking.
TLR jiggles the lineup a lot anyway. We have had Luddy in LF and CF, Stavinoha in RF and LF, Schumaker hitting 1, 7, and 8; Ludwick 5 and 2; pitchers 8 and 9; Molina 5-7.
The problems are a big fall off by Ryan, the injury to Lopez, and smaller slump by Schumaker. If little guys get on base, it makes things better for bigger boppers.
The homerun by Lopez illustrates that the lineup suddenly starts to look a lot livelier when support players make contributions.
Its the 7th…………….I was sure that Wriggleman would use a squeeze of some sort there. The respect for Molina and Carpenter’s ability to counter it is “real”
Lord I hate the hero’s parade. And now Kennedy………..
So much for lineup jiggle unleashing an offensive explosion. Lannan is not a great pitcher, but the Cards do not do a lot with him. Ugh.
120 pitches……….that is the death scenario. Now he likely misses the win. I’m watching the Washington feed and they just showed Carp going Zambrano in the dugout……..not so good.
Incredible………..and then incredible……..Carp can win…..maybe////////
I’m laughing because Holiday is out there on second skinning a fresh stick of gum…..while he is maintaining a respectable lead. A little gratification……maybe a small creature comfort. He is like a hobbit.
So much for Brendan the handy utility guy. Maybe he can rub up balls or something.
Skip is way to tense………and now this. Error with a bad feed….Carpenter waiting in the Locker room. Man…………..Frankie Frankie………….
All’s well that ends well. We eke out a win at home against Strasburg and the Nationals. I mean Lannan.
Good games by Carpenter, Lopez, and Ludwick.
Wish it were true Jumbo………..did you see the starters lined up giving Franklin some love? They are influential on that bench……since Carpenter just trashed all the water coolers and the bat rack, pulled all the helmets down, and punched the bat boy……….I just don’t know……..if it alright.
If Carp hadn’t done that Westie would be complaining about the teams indifference.
It is exactly right Westy. Carp probably worked on the choreography last night. Contrast with Brendan, snuffling and shuffling around the dugout. Contrast with MH, who’s fine with his performance to date. Ditto Albert. They’re both putting up some numbers so no reason to get excited. Some guys hate to lose as much in the middle of May as they do in October. That is a leader in fact, not just by reputation.
I forgot to salute Ryan Franklin. Some fans dont care for him, but I like winning.
Too bad Tony rode Carpenter so hard, but they both wanted a win.
Mitey Miles is tearing up the Texas League. Aaron will soon be back in the saddle, riding high in St Louis MO.
I wish he would have torn out the bench Jumbo. Shumaker isn’t good enough to have the right to be pressuring himself. To win, everyone has to focus on their contribution. Skip knows Miles is going to be taking his Job. He is letting it get to him. Holiday is trouble, but Pujols is making progress from his new spot. His boogie men are dying……….that’s a good thing…….
If the Mitey one returns to the scene of his greatest exploits, who will be on the bench?
LaRue is needed. Stavinoha. Ryan can be this season’s Khalil. The Cards could send down Jon Jay so he can get more playing time. Aaron can become the left swinging PH.
Westie, I doubt Miles is going to displace Skip. (Not to fear, we are going to keep Ludwick around too.)
Skip is going to be the back up outfielder / infielder……..Jay is history. While the team is struggling Colby could be setting himself up for a big Pay Day…….he isn’t His old swing is back, and with it come the occasion power and a 260 average. It seems such a waste.
Jumbo I like Luddy………… but don’t tempt me to point out we would have had Johnson playing second and a different shortstop. That would have cut through a little of the BS.
Based on what they did last season, the Cards had no reason to dump Schumaker or Ryan. We like to be loyal.
The new 3-4 means Matt has less pressure, Albert more. Perfect. The exact make up of the periferal guys doesn’t matter nearly so much.
Some way needs to be found to DL Brendan. Is anxiety disorder contageous?
Now instead of non-tendering Ludwick Westie likes him? Schu is hitting .271 in May. Now he needs to find a little power and he’ll be OK. I dont think we see Miles unless someone goes on the DL – even that would depend on him out playing Greene at AAA.
Westie – at this point Mather goes before Jay if it comes to that.
Jumbo, the Cards wont dump Ryan at this point but they have dumped him as a starter. Loyalty only goes so far.
General information;
Unless you want Ryan at the hot corner……and the long throw…….. Mather is the backup at both corners. Lopez frequents the training room. They will not have him making that throw.
As Ryan has show, it is really about self confidence and a co-dependent self image that organizes is substantial physical skill. MM had him aspiring to things beyond the reasonable. With that failure, resulting in demotion…….. the self confidence is shaken, which jeopardizes the parameters for the very conditional co-depend interactions of his teammates. Considering the growing volatility of emotions in dugout, I would say his chance of contributing are “slim” and none. He cannot help himself in this case. Snake bit………………. Skip has been on the same “high wire” for far to long. When the pressure begins to interfere in normal flow of consciousness, and you can no longer tie your shoes……………….remembering to even put them on is next.
Carpenter goes into the eighth trying to get a win….well over a hundred pitches. This weekend we get to see how much Penny has lost……..Lohse goes against a tough lefty…… that’s a lucky draw.
Its no wonder Ludwick and Freese are having a party……..everyone else is out to lunch.
wc’s last post is missing
Maybe the filter flags dots now Westy.
Good point about Lopez not playing any 3B with the elbow thing. Other than Mather who is there for backup 3B?
Ryan has experience playing 3B.
I can’t see that sidearm sling working too well from third.
He has experience playing SS too………..
Another good point.
Atlanta up by 3 on Cincy.
Nice hitting by 3 and 4……. with a man at third base…….Colby looks a two pitches…….looking for something to go deep with? The last pitch says he wasn’t “seeing” anything. I sure hope to see a change…….back to the good old weeks of April. I do hate to labor this point.
of course we are talking about who goes down if Miles (or Greene) comes up — BINGO! Miles is your backup 3B!
Cincy trying to come back in the eighth, down 4-2.
Holliday just keeps getting on ahead of Albert, who then singles him over.
Both of Holliday’s hits have been on inside pitches. Hopefully he is adjusting.
Garcia is going to be lucky to get through 5 with his pitch count.
All of these teams want at the bull pen. They are very patient. Garcia would be lucky to finish 6. Starting pitch take a hit again.
Just to put it to rest, Mather is not a backup 3B. He is an emergency 3B, like Stavinoha is an emergency catcher. Or like Mather is an emergency relief pitcher for inning 18. We are unlikely to see much of Joe at 3B.
Right now, we have 4 infielders for 3 positions (Skip, Freese, Felipe, and Brendan). Brendan is backup to all three. The Cards played Lopez at 3B in 2008 and Felipe could serve again. If Freese got hurt, Ryan could go in at SS and Lopez could move to 3B.
Thanks Jumbo…………….
Jumbo, you forgot to mention that Albert played some third when he came up.
Here’s an update…
Miles is kicking backside in the TL. Springfield scored 13 runs this afternoon in just 5 innings, with Mitey Miles the Big Bopper, driving in 3.
Aaron is pawing the earth down in Springfield, MO. His OPS is approaching 1100.
Soon Tony and Aaron will be re-united!!! (Full disclosure: this is just my guess and Brian has not yet verified this future fact.)
Thanks Jumbo…………. looking forward to it………..
I would say advantage Florida.
What a bench: Mather, LaRue, and Ryan. Not a lot of hits there.
Its Stavinoha, rookie Jay, and pray for Ludwick to make contact. Soon Mitey Miles will arise and allow Jay to return to Memphis. Or maybe we could demote Mather?
We could try Walters for middle relief. So far 23 K’s, 3 BB’s, 1HR in 18 innings.
The Cards need any edge in terms of hitting. If Miles comes up, Mather or Ryan needs to go down.
Walters is our backup starting pitcher.
Jumbo, Ryan is out of options. He cannot go down. (Nor can Hawksworth for that matter.)
Mather or Jay may have options, so either could be sent to Memphis, to enable return of Aaron Miles.
And for future reference, to liberate their roster slots, Ryan and Hawksworth could be run through waivers or released or traded.
Perhaps it was not obvious to some of our poor readers here that any player could be waived, released or traded. Good of you to clarify for them.
Ryan presents a slightly unusual case. Mo would like to keep Ryan, in case he builds back wrist strength and bounces back to being a valuable contributor. If there were an option, it would seem an easy decision for Ryan to work on his game at Memphis. Its awkward for a team when a veteran slumps with no option available.