The St. Louis Cardinals have been held to no runs by 11 opposing starters in the first 59 games in 2010.
When the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 1-0 score Tuesday night, it not only wasted an excellent start by ace Chris Carpenter, it continued the team’s futility count to 11, where futility is defined by being shut out by the opposing starting pitcher.
The latest to hold St. Louis’ offense scoreless was Dodger Hiroki Kuroda, augmented by Los Angeles’ pen.
The first shutout starter the Cardinals faced this season was Houston Astro Bud Norris. The right-hander carries a 6.80 ERA this season, which includes his gem against St. Louis back on April 15. He is currently on the disabled list.
In six of these 11 games this season, the Cardinals did not score against the opposing relievers, either. In other words, they were kept off the scoreboard the entire game.
Here is the full list, thanks to researcher Tom Orf. I added the 2010 and career ERAs for reference.
Not every pitcher deserves to be in the Bud Norris Club, but many do. Five of the 11 have 2010 ERAs over 4.80, including their scoreless stints against St. Louis. Seven of them have career ERAs of 4.35 or more.
Opposing Starters Allowing No Runs vs. Cardinals, 2010
| Player | Date | Tm | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | 2010 ERA | Career ERA |
| Huroki Kuroda | 6/8/2010 | LAD | W 1-0 | GS-7 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3.30 | 3.65 |
| Carlos Silva | 5/29/2010 | CHC | W 5-0 | GS-7 ,W | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2.93 | 4.62 |
| Kevin Correia | 5/26/2010 | SDP | W 2-1 | GS-6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 5.03 | 4.42 |
| Jon Garland | 5/25/2010 | SDP | W 1-0 | GS-7 ,W | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2.68 | 4.35 |
| Anibal Sanchez | 5/19/2010 | FLA | W 5-1 | GS-7 ,W | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3.18 | 3.73 |
| Jeff Karstens | 5/8/2010 | PIT | W 2-0 | GS-6 ,W | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4.81 | 5.09 |
| Zach Duke | 5/7/2010 | PIT | L 3-4 | GS-7 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5.43 | 4.39 |
| Kyle Kendrick | 5/5/2010 | PHI | W 4-0 | GS-7 ,W | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4.95 | 4.71 |
| Barry Zito | 4/24/2010 | SFG | W 2-0 | GS-8 ,W | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3.15 | 3.81 |
| Johan Santana | 4/17/2010 | NYM | W 2-1 | GS-7 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2.76 | 3.10 |
| Bud Norris | 4/15/2010 | HOU | W 5-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 6.80 | 5.53 |
| Average | 4.09 | 4.31 |
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A subtle message indeed Brian……….
Factors………………… Albert has made technical progress against his slump. Everyone cheer! He has hit weak to pathetic pitching like a grand master. All of his regained esteem and momentum is then played out and dissipated by superior pitching tactics and the instability of Albert’s own personal agenda…………………………….
The LA market which includes Anaheim, is pivotal to any marketing plan by Lozano. Now that Lozano is free of the “old money” he will try to position himself to make Albert the focal point of the Collusion grievance money’s. Boras always led there, until Barry/Boris became the figure head. In all likelihood………the offer of collusion moneys to Jeff Boris in a settlement of the Barry Bonds case, was for his agreement to influence Lozano to settle the AP’s extension issue in a way that didn’t break current market trends. This backroom barttering and the treat to expose it, is probably what allowed Lozano to demand his freedom to leave without blood.(right out of the Godfather) This all has to do with Ownerships desire to keep a very similar structure to the new Union agreement in 2011. They like it…….if they can control the inflationary element that they enjoyed and exploited for a time…………………. Albert isn’t aware of these complexities. He is aware of BD’s power plays though and is determined to keep his value high. No way this turns out well.
Holiday is drowning in the BS…….. the idea that he only has value as Albert’s protect………even if it kills him, is sad and silly. He is rich………he has a guaranteed contract. He doesn’t seem to be finding any emotional leverage on his own issues. The organization depends on his good faith for a competitive effort. At what point does that break? This isn’t about Tony……he is being pressured from AP loyalties on one side and BD/Mo on the other………….. the move to 3rd helped MH allot………but look who it rattled. Put him second……..put him 5th……..just put him somewhere and stop the game.
Side note…………MH’s lack of meaningful adjustments at the plate suggests that he, and others apparently, feel that his lack of power isn’t a tactical or technical problem………..but a mental one. If he says it isn’t attitudinal……..that will be the breaking point.
WCBW, although most of what you say here is understood and extremely interesting, I confess that I lack the knowledge to either agree or take issue. However, I am certainly able to convey a few observations about the “The Cardinals’ Bud Norris club” that Brian so accurately describes. I can plainly see that we need not look to a depleted starting rotation for an explanation of the fact that we are mired in another slump. It seems that all our weak-minded hitters can do, most of the time, is demoralize our aces. For the 13th time this season, we lost a game in which our starting pitcher allowed no more than two earned runs (in this case, NO earned runs)! I couldn’t believe that Chris was so courageous last night, with such absolutely uninspiring “support”! When we fail to squeeze with runners on 1st and 3rd (in a scoreless game with only one out), what does that say about Tony’s purportedly keen eye for manufacturing runs? With Ludwick leading the league in hits with RISP, I still have extremely difficulty with the fact that we’d rather go with Holliday, not because of any desire to win, but only because we are paying him $12 million to do it!
I was watching the Dodger feed last night 57, enjoying Vin’s interesting tidbits. …………. When Yadi (the human DP) went to the plate last night in the 7th and took a full hack at the first pitch, they showed close ups of Molina looking at Oquendo taking signs…….and then Huroda……… if you have MLB…..watch that moment. It was like the acting was so bad by Molina……… that he thought it must be a ruse. It was priceless………………….. when Molina went down to level the bat against a pitch below the knee…….I knew we had no team. We have these organisms that take exception to reason and good baseball in there own self interest……….and Molina is deep into his own trip. I will say this for the record………Tony’s claim that the squeeze was on at 1and 1 is BS and worse CS……..as bad as this team bunts, it would have been foolish to try a squeeze a veteran team. Saftey squeeze maybe, with some bluffing, trying to win the count for a slap or a sac fly……loading the bases being the goal. Tony is being humiliated by Torre.
A slight clarification……………..Asian players are beautifully trained in “small ball”. With an open count and an open base……..you don’t want to show him any sudden motion because he isn’t going to have any trouble completing a pitch-out………………………If you noticed the Dodger squeeze, the runner stays a step away from the bag…..no threat….before he broke………not a real suicide but more of a daredevil safety squeeze…………they are better coached………………don’t forget, the whole pretense of a squeeze was based on the obvious liability of Molina at the plate in a double play situation. A slap to the right side likely ends up a double play unless the hit and run was on.
Judging by your astute observation of Skip closely examining each glove label before every pitch, I have no doubt about your accuracy concerning Molina’s crappy acting. With regard to your assessment of him “deep into his own trip” and being absorbed with self-serving interests, I’ve observed his actions on a number of occasions during the past couple of years (on television), when he had defied Oquendo’s signs; obviously supposing that his wisdom is above his teammates, as well as field management. In one particular incident last year, when he had defiantly grounded towards the opposite field (for an out), instead of bunting, our guys were so disgusted that no one would talk to him in the dug-out for the rest of the game. No one loves and respects the otherwise superior performance of the best Catcher in baseball more than me, but he has his flaws like everybody else (some, however, glaring) and I refuse to treat him as though he were some sort of sacred institution – never to be questioned or criticized. I don’t have MLB TV: For games that I am not able to see on television (like last night’s), I rely upon ESPN’s computerized Comcast. It’s like watching the game blind!
Interesting conversation. To simplify, just like last year we can usually beat up the weak teams and usually can’t do much against the good teams. The addition of Holliday behind Albert has proven to be of no use unless Holliday is on a tear.
But as Westy has pointed out, if you put Luddy there and he does better than Holliday, he’ll want the money that the Cards have shown that role to be worth. By now it is obvious that the need for an exit strategy was not contemplated. They don’t teach that in those Ivy league schools I guess.
The first rule of the Bud Norris Club is that nobody talks about the Bud Norris Club.
On a positive note, there is always the performance of Randy Winn. Who was it (blingboy or JumboShrimp) who had lifted my hopes and expectations concerning him? Whoever it was, his reassuring words were nigh unto prophetic. Until Randy cools down, Tony will have a tough time taking him out of the line-up…
that was me 57………… He will rest Luddy and Holiday rarely……..Stava will never play and you will see the double switch outing Colby at times. Winn has nothing to lose…like Ludwick…….he will take advantage of all the turmoil. This is a perfect scenario for him to reestablish a reputation for a couple more years………hey, its money.
Whatever Randy’s motivation might be, Westy, he has reached back and found something he had lost along the way during the past couple of years. In fact, he has been looking just like the .300 hitter that I hated to see coming to the plate whenever we faced the Giants for several years through 2008.
The Reds MUST lose tonight, because they’ll be beating the hell out of Wellemeyer, while we’re off, in their rubber match tomorrow. Tonight’s match-up in Cincinnati is encouraging; Sanchez (2.70) versus Harang (5.53).
Wellemeyer 2010 – In case anyone needs a chuckle, here is what the Giants are foolishly saddled with:
G GS CG IP H R ER HR BB SO W L P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 11 10 0 56.2 52 36 36 12 34 40 3 5 89.8 1.52 .249 5.72
5.72 runs allowed Monday night would have been a great improvement over 12. Foolishness is relative 57.
Miles, Wynn and Lopez all starting. Couldn’t score less than 0 so its all upside, right??
If your 12 is the expression of average performance over several games (as with the ERA expressed by the 5.72), the foolishness would indeed be relative. Considering the offensive problems of this year, the jettisoning of Wellemeyer’s aggravation is particularly gratifying. Aye, whereas your 12 is expressive of only a single game, the 5.72 is expressive of many…
You’re right, blingboy, but in view of all that our offense owes to Wainwright, I am hoping that Albert will earnestly try to redeem himself after his Mighty Casey act last night….
I’m glad to be rid of Welly too, along with the other dead-wood basket cases. At least this year the guys who suck have the potential to suck less. That is clearly better.
Albert doesn’t often go Ofer twice in a row, so maybe he’ll put the ball in play at least. Knowing there’s a pugilistically challenged chokemeister behind him forces his hand and allows Torre to call all the shots. Perhaps a miracle will happen and Holliday will man up. Keep your eyes peeled for flying pigs.
It should be noted that Wainy can have a mean streak, and he can hit. Maybe he’ll put the paddles on this team and give em a jolt.
The Reds were winners against the Giants tonight; 6 to 3. Which means… IF we win, the Reds will go ahead of us by a half-game tomorrow; after they destroy Wellemeyer.
I agree. If we don’t see the flying pigs tonight, Wainwright is definitely capable of winning his own games. I will definitely remember your description of Matt in his present condition: “pugilistically challenged chokemeister” – hilarious!
With that swingin’ strikeout, Miles is now a buck, forty-three… impressive!
Man LOB! Man LOB! Now THAT is what I would call a “chokemeister” who is “pugilistically challenged”!
Now that we’ve racked-up two strike-outs in the very first inning (both just a-swangin’), we’re well on our way to outdoing ourselves.
Waino’s slider isn’t doing anything………breaking ball is not crisp……….he is in trouble already. Molina is already trying to cover for him. We will need 6 runs tonight.
I’ve seen Adam start-out like this before, then settle-in for yet another quality start.
Wainey could have hit sixth in this lineup.
Wainwright is struggling with his breath. He was probably apprehensive about run support. Now that feeling is heightened. His stuff just isn’t there today. Listening to Vin Scully bladeing the squeeze yesterday.
Just a-swangin’…
Some one needs to explain the Miles 2nd and Winn down in the order to me.
It is insanity giving birth…
Luddy got on base in the 2 spot, got yanked. Ditto Wynn. The objective seems to be to isolate Albert. Nothing ahead, nothing behind…….we know how the rest of it goes.
The flip-flop on Miles and Winn? Obviously, there is no strategy involved. If blingboy is not correct, I really don’t think there is any explanation, other than the effort of Tony to reward inferior performance and punish superior performance.
Waino started tasting a little of his own blood. He got a little anger going for fuel………..The problem with that is his over throwing has risk for his arm and fingers. Lets hope nothing come of that……….
All right! A swinger with a compulsive disorder!
I can’t blame Adam for joining the swangin’ chorus…
Good Morning! Good Afternoon! Good Night! No team creates Koufaxes like us!
Let’s see if Manny gets buzzed. Or maybe Wainy snaps off a knee buckler.
Whats embarrassing about this is that I don’t see a cardinal trying to slow this guy down. No bunts, no slaps……..nothing. We have no leadership. Lets hope we survive without injury.
That tells me what I need to know.
There’s no disgrace in intentionally walking a genuine clean-up hitter…
So walk him with four off the inside corner. Accomplish something.
While I’ve certainly seen Adam have the kind of first inning that he had sustained tonight, I can’t remember when he had ever been lit-up as badly as this…
Which one of you said, at the very outset of this series, “I smell a sweep”?
I suppose that I could go back through our chatter to Monday’s game and find out…
Our man Ludwick comes through big!
We so happen to have a clean-up hitter who bats fifth…
With Molina grounding-out to third, it’s a good thing that Ludwick cleaned-up and we didn’t have a man on third. The inning would be over…
As it was, we couldn’t finish without at least one strike-out…
What the hell does Wynn think as strike should look like?
Do you think Wainwright is perked-up, at least a little?
He is working hard 57,,,,,,,,,85 through 4………your gong to see boggs and salas soon enough.
Compare Schumaker’s AB with Albert’s final AB last night: He could be a Pujols wannabe! But, alas, he’s just a swanger with a compulsive disorder…
Waino gets a hit and then Lopez has him rototilling to avid the DP…….first pitch……… we are light headed it seems.
I can’t see Tony letting Wainwright go on. That cool air is dangerous. Waino is spent.
Manny – Manny Manny
Another man LOB! Another man LOB! Now THAT, blingboy, is DEFINITELY what I would call a “chokemeister” who is “pugilistically challenged”!
That Ludwick bomb damned near left the park!
That was the first major swing change I’ve seen from Holiday………he dropped his right elbow and hands down to try to cover his hands. That is the solution. Its a start.
At 107 pitches and against Furcal, that was a masterful strike-out!
He was sharp…………but he’s finished now. We have a day off so we’ll see Motte and Franklin.
That was Schumaker’s 3rd strike-out of the night!
Boy we sure leaped up there to defend Wainwright…………..this team is heartless. Shumacker is starting to bug me. As is Tony.
You were right, Westy. We got Mr “All Power-No Finesse”!
We have momentum now……….lets see someone take Kershaw to Right field. Lets see some tactical hitting. he has 113.
If we can possibly win this thing in the final two innings, the shame will be that the win would not go to Wainwright…
Joe made him announce…………. He wanted to avoid Rasmus. It worked. I guess. Is Colby there.
Colby took him deep into the count, but, alas…
Hey! Next inning (the top o’ the ninth), once again Albert and Matt will have to either fish or cut bait…
Colby likes that low ball so the went to the to of the zone.
All right, big guys, let us see what you’re really made of!
Albert didn’t exactly drill it to deep center, but a single will do…
Matt couldn’t leave home plate, with leaving another man on base…
Albert and Ludwick are the only two who haven’t struck-out tonight…
Hey! Thanks to Yadier’s near-homer, there is a glimmer of hope!
With this sweep, when we start the series against Arizona, we’ll be a game-and-a-half back…
Regardless of talent questions…….we were out coached and out played again. When Albert has the sheepish look, we aren’t going far. Holiday needs to reload…….he is not liking to be a Cardinal at this point.
I got bored and went to bed. Sounds like Luddy came to play.
Sure glad the Cards are losing again so I can listen to Westie rant and pontificate. It wasnt the same around here when the Cards went on their win streak.