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Brian Walton's news and commentary on the St. Louis Cardinals (TM) and their minor league system

Cardinals unusual balanced attack

Albert Pujols (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)Six St. Louis Cardinals players have 25 RBI or more through 55 games, the most in at least the last half century.

While the St. Louis Cardinals are tied for sixth in run scoring in the National League, their production is unusually spread out across the lineup. While Albert Pujols ranks second in the NL in RBI, five other players have logged at least 25 RBI in the team’s first 55 games.

With six players at 25 or more RBI, the 2010 Cardinals have the most in any season over at least the last 50 years. The other RBI men this season are David Freese, Yadier Molina, Ryan Ludwick, Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus.

Cardinals with 25 RBI in first 55 games, 1960-2010

2010 Pujols 41 Freese 32 Molina 28 Ludwick 29 Holliday 25 Rasmus 25
2009 Pujols 49 Ludwick 28 Duncan 27
2008 Ludwick 39 Pujols 35 Glaus 32 Ankiel 25
2007 Pujols 31 Rolen 23
2006 Pujols 65 Rolen 30 Edmonds 29
2005 Pujols 44 Edmonds 34 Sanders 28
2004 Rolen 57 Pujols 40 Edmonds 38 Sanders 27
2003 Rolen 45 Pujols 43 Renteria 37 Edmonds 30
2002 Edmonds 36 Pujols 30 Martinez 29 Renteria 27
2001 Pujols 51 Drew 41 Lankford 31 Edmonds 30
2000 McGwire 48 Edmonds 39 Tatis 28 Lankford 26 Paquette 26
1999 Tatis 44 McGwire 42 Davis 27
1998 McGwire 68 Jordan 32 Lankford 29
1997 Lankford 37 Gant 32 Clayton 25
1996 Lankford 38 Gant 26
1995 Jordan 36 Gilkey 34 Lankford 29
1994 Lankford 29 Zeile 29 Jefferies 26
1993 Whiten 31 Jefferies 29
1992 Jose 29
1991 Guerrero 34 Jose 25 Zeile 25
1990 Guerrero 38 Pendleton 31 McGee 27
1989 Guerrero 38 Brunansky 33 Pendleton 25
1988 Brunansky 36 Horner 27
1987 Clark 56 McGee 43 Pendleton 33 O.Smith 30 Herr 27
1986
1985 Herr 51 Clark 47 Pendleton 33 McGee 27
1984 Hendrick 29
1983 Hendrick 46 Porter 30
1982 Hernandez 34 Hendrick 31 L.Smith 31
1981 Hendrick 37 Hernandez 32 Herr 32
1980 Hendrick 46 Simmons 34 Hernandez 32 Reitz 28
1979 Simmons 45 Hernandez 41 Reitz 36 Hendrick 29 Scott 26
1978 Reitz 29 Hernandez 26 Simmons 26
1977 Hernandez 36 Reitz 36 Simmons 34 Scott 28
1976 Simmons 25
1975 Simmons 40 R.Smith 33
1974 R.Smith 51 Simmons 32 Sizemore 25
1973 Cruz 26
1972 Simmons 36 Torre 33
1971 Torre 41 Cardenal 38 Alou 28 Simmons 27 Hague 26
1970 Allen 49 Torre 32 Hague 26
1969 Torre 34 McCarver 25
1968 Cepeda 29 Shannon 27 Flood 26
1967 Brock 40 Cepeda 37 McCarver 31 Shannon 29
1966 Flood 37
1965 Boyer 30 Flood 28 White 27
1964 Boyer 42
1963 Boyer 39 White 38 Musial 32 Groat 29
1962 White 47 Boyer 41 Flood 27 Musial 27 Sawatski 25
1961 Boyer 33 White 27 Musial 25
1960 Boyer 36 White 33 Spencer 27

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for providing the table.

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49 Responses to “Cardinals unusual balanced attack”

  1. CariocaCardinal says:

    Westie, weren´t we supposed to be in 3rd place by May?

  2. CariocaCardinal says:

    It´s good for Westie that Wynn is here. With the Cards hitting like everyone but Westie new they would the influence of Wynn in the psychie of others will give him something to chew his cud on while the rest of us enjoy the Cards winning.

  3. blingboy says:

    “The Yankees signed Winn for $1.1 million last winter after La Russa advocated that the Cardinals pursue him as outfield depth.

    The Cardinals now gain Winn’s services for the rest of the season for less than $300,000, a pro-rated share of the major league minimum. The relationship could be mutually beneficial as Winn’s 1,631 games played are the most by any active player without a postseason appearance.” Today’s STLToday.

    There is a lot in that statement, all of it good. Another TLR wish come true. Experience, some speed, and hungry for the post-season in maybe his last chance. Add to that no dry-powder spent and he has said he’s OK with any role, just wants to win. His CF experience can help Colby. He can probably help Stavinoah with his role as a pinch hitter. I expect a good effect on the clubhouse dynamic with an accomplished veteran added to the mix.

    Further evidence of commitment to winning. I like it.

  4. CardFanSince57 says:

    I’ve always liked Winn (I hated to see him come to the plate in recent years past, whenever we faced the Giants), but believed that the best of his career is so far behind him that his impact for us would be minimal. blingboy’s infectious optimism (“…hungry for the post-season in maybe his last chance” and “…good effect on the clubhouse dynamic”), however, has fanned my hopes and raised my expectations. With regard to the front office “commitment to winning”, I was began to firmly believe that on the happy day that Matt Holliday was signed long-term.

  5. CardFanSince57 says:

    By the way… THANK YOU, Brian, for the excellent comparison of our run-generating power with years past. It certainly presents a paradox, when compared to our recent slump…

  6. blingboy says:

    Jumbo will be in a jolly mood with mighty mouse getting a start tonight.

  7. CardFanSince57 says:

    The very best of pitchers are well known to experience occasional bad outings and Jaime is long overdue for one of those. Thankfully, for us tonight, we have big boppers who are every bit as formidable as the Brewers’ hot hitters. This could be a slugfest…

  8. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    This will be a good test of Garcia’s resources. Good pick up by Albert and Brendan.

  9. CardFanSince57 says:

    I love it when Colby goes golfin’! Now, if Albert and Matt can hit ‘em where they ain’t, we’ll get something going. That excellent double-play last inning will certainly help with Jaime settling-down…

  10. CardFanSince57 says:

    Albert and Luddie need to leave the golfing to Colby and stay within the zone…

  11. CardFanSince57 says:

    Manny Parra is having an unusually good night. After 4 innings, every Cardinal has struck-out, except for Matt…

  12. CardFanSince57 says:

    Parra’s Achilles heel is the left-handed hitter. If Lopez had listened to the scouts, he would not have batted right-handed tonight. Damn it!

  13. blingboy says:

    Garcia is around 100 pitches. If we rally and get to his spot he’s done. Fine outing. Good to see him fight through trouble a couple times without his best stuf. Kept us in it.

  14. CardFanSince57 says:

    What a timely homer! That’s why scouts are scouts and Albert is playing!

  15. JumboShrimp says:

    Parra has resemblences to Garcia. Both southpaws. Both drafted in the 20 something rounds. Parra was a draft and follow, and his second year of juco, spring 2002, he gained velocity and became a hot commodity, signing for $1.55MM. This was the same spring the Cards dropped $1.475MM on their draft and follow, Hawksworth. Parra is a southpaw who throws 94. Hes a good one, when healthy.
    It shows how great Rasmus could become that he can take a hard throwing southpaw out of the park.

  16. CardFanSince57 says:

    I agree, blingboy; Garcia is definitely a young scrapper.

  17. blingboy says:

    Not the first time this year we’ve turned a mediocre lefty into Koufax.

  18. blingboy says:

    Looks like he’s out of gas, thank god.

  19. CardFanSince57 says:

    Bush is GREAT in this situation (he’s a mediocre’s mediocre)!

  20. blingboy says:

    Right about Colby, Jumbo. Three lefties in a row. He’s looked at home in the box. Be fun to watch him against the top lefties now.

    Lets get some and make Garcia a winner.

  21. CardFanSince57 says:

    The loser of the classic battle o’ the mediocres is the one with the humiliating superstitious ritual!

  22. CardFanSince57 says:

    Too bad we couldn’t take advantage of Bush: The last time we saw Loe, he struck out the side…

  23. blingboy says:

    Wierd seeing Wynn in CF for the Cards.

  24. CardFanSince57 says:

    That’s what Kottaras gets for tryin’ to be a Molina…

  25. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    How would you like to be Miles and have Tony pinch hit Skip for you…….for money…… not so good..

    Ryan’s body language, I’m”The Man” hitting second has me wanting to take some air.

    Holiday now starts to cower behind a producing AP………. Great

    Lopez is getting to much playing time……….. that’s a known quantity

    And Tony using this line up and making these move deserves to crash this game.

    Why is it that I think Shoemaker wants to just burst out in tears he is pouting so hard. He battled making some of the most pathetic DP wannabe swings I’ve ever seen. Miles ain’t gonna last long.

  26. blingboy says:

    Wynn should come up in clutch in a minute.

  27. CardFanSince57 says:

    Villanueva is as inconsistent as they come. Let us hope that he is at his mediocre worst tonight.

  28. CardFanSince57 says:

    Randy is an instant hero!

  29. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    Brewers are snake bit…………. This game went off at 2/1……………… We have Stava in the hole.

  30. CardFanSince57 says:

    Should we thank Schumaker or his ridiculous glove thing?

  31. CardFanSince57 says:

    Attaboy, Franklin!

  32. blingboy says:

    He’s hungry aint he 57. Never been on a winner before, takes a few years off.

    Not meaning to horn in on Westy’s turf but it looked like Wynn just didn’t get around on that curve rather than trying to take it the other way. Could be wrong. The announcers said he got released because he couldn’t get around on fastballs. Maybe MM has a trick up his sleeve for that.

    Last year the ball jumped off Schu’s bat, this year comes off like a softball.

    Westy good point about Lopez. Good memory, history repeats.

  33. blingboy says:

    Maybe that’ll teach Albert to take that first pitch beachball like he does.

  34. blingboy says:

    Let’s get Holliday in to that eye doctor.

  35. CardFanSince57 says:

    I agree, blingboy: ‘Twas more of a halfway “Oops!” swing than anything else… But, happy for him and for us, it got the job done.

  36. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    I’m still laughing at Lopez……….he drops a major F bomb at the plate and the umpires dispose of him in a hurry in retaliation. Two Glaring AP pitch around’s..

  37. CardFanSince57 says:

    It’s “Mr All-Power No Finesse”! Alright, Brewers, hit him if you can!

  38. blingboy says:

    Nobody ever got a fatter center cut than that first one to Albert, Westy.

  39. CardFanSince57 says:

    Too bad that Motte is unable to induce grounders (no chance for a double play)…

  40. CardFanSince57 says:

    Axford is an up-and-coming star closer. I hope that we can get to him again tonight…

  41. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    Molina got clever……….Tony shut that down………… Funny team……..Motte could lose this, but it wasn’t his fault……………when he is over throwing that hard, its almost impossible for him not the get under the slider and hang it.

  42. CardFanSince57 says:

    Then, WCBW, he ought to have abandoned it and stuck with chucking high fast balls (Braun looked foolish fishing for two of them)…

  43. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    The reason he has been good is that Molina has been running him. He was as dominate tonight as I’ve seen him…………………..Molina didn’t take that into account. He was throwing so hard, he couldn’t deliver a successful slider.

    I’m wondering if RC went home this afternoon?

  44. CardFanSince57 says:

    Well, at least we’re tied for first and the Dodgers are worn-out from their marathon extra inning bout tonight. Our guys will get lots of rest on the way there and won’t be starting until 7 PST.

  45. blingboy says:

    Wynn didn’t get around on that one either, another curve. Harmless fly. If he’s going to be going the other way, can’t be hitting it in the air. Has to keep that left elbow up, don’t let the bat head drop.

    Missed a lot of chances tonight. Cleanup hitter sucked.

  46. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    Tony was arrogant tonight with all his move……….. Ryan suffered the most……….Lopez was uncomfortable at the corner………… and be honest……….Miles doesn’t look so good.

    You have to admit , it looked like flashes of 09 with AP the king of the wannabe’s. He is making a move with that left leg that is keeping him from sitting out. It’s very much effected his feelings of power to center. Three lefties made for a pretty easy week for him……..Dodgers will attack MH by ceremoniously walking AP. When is serves there propose they will try to get to his hands and then sliders away. Torre is smart. Lets see if AP is back or just feeding on carrion.

  47. blingboy says:

    Cards site has Hawk as probable starter, other sites have Walters. Question: Why use either? Why push Carp and Wainy back and have them pitching with six days rest instead of five. Isn’t it bad to upset their routine?

  48. WestCoastbirdWatcher says:

    there is a little game of pick your poison going on BB. 6 day could be about the rotation two weeks away…..check ahead on your schedule.

  49. CardFanSince57 says:

    blingboy: I’ve heard that it was proven, that to push starters’ rest days beyond five is definitely “to upset their routine”. WCBW: Is the philosophy of Tony to scrap probable success, with a proven formula in the near future, in order to invest in a more uncertain future two weeks distant?

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