Has Adam Wainwright supplanted Chris Carpenter as the St. Louis Cardinals’ ace – on paper, at least?
It is unusual to start with a disclaimer, but that is exactly what I am doing.
I have been thinking about this for a long time, but out of respect for the long-term greatness of Chris Carpenter, I have not written about it. Even now, I want to be clear that I am not diminishing the talents of the former Cy Young Award winner, or worse, writing him off in any way.
What am I talking about?
It feels like the very unofficial and only-to-be-whispered mantle of “the Cardinals ace” has passed from Carp to Adam Wainwright.
Of course, this title doesn’t matter in terms of the team winning games or anything else of substance. Yet, in every player’s career, there comes a time when he is no longer top dog. For the last year or so, I have called the two “co-aces.”
Given his years and experience, Carpenter will remain the dean of the staff as long as he remains active and wearing the birds on the bat, but at least in 2010, he may no longer be its best starter.
Though both Carpenter and Wainwright were named to the National League All-Star team, it was Wainwright who was chosen to pitch in the game on Tuesday night. Looking at their respective numbers this season, the right decision was made.
| 2010 at the break | GS | CG | GF | W | L | WPct | Sv | Sho | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K | HBP | BK | WP | ERA | K9 | BB9 | HR9 |
| Chris Carpenter | 19 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 | 0 | 0 | 125 2/3 | 118 | 52 | 46 | 14 | 38 | 108 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3.29 | 7.73 | 2.72 | 1.00 |
| Adam Wainwright | 19 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 0.722 | 0 | 1 | 136 1/3 | 102 | 35 | 32 | 10 | 35 | 127 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.11 | 8.38 | 2.31 | 0.66 |
To summarize, in the same number of starts, Wainwright has more wins, more complete games, more shutouts, more innings pitched, a substantially lower ERA, a lower walk rate, a lower home run allowed rate and a higher strikeout rate. He also has more losses, pretty much the only category in which Carpenter is on top.
Not in the above table, but Wainwright also leads in quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer runs allowed) 16-13. The Cardinals have an identical 13-6 record in games each started.
Once upon a time, in 2005, Carp was at the peak of his game and was named as the NL’s All-Star starter. In 2006, coming off his Cy Young Award campaign, he was on the team but did not appear. Later that season, Wainwright starred as the unlikely closer for the World Champions. Carpenter hadn’t been back to the Midsummer Classic since – until Tuesday night.
That is when I finally decided to write this.
Carpenter is now 35 years of age, having become a professional back in 1994, while the 28-year-old Wainwright is in his fourth season as a major league starter. Carpenter is under contract through 2011 with a pricey $15M club option or a $1 million buyout for 2012. Wainwright is under team control through 2013 with a below-market contract wisely negotiated by general manager John Mozeliak early in his tenure.
In their most recent prior national popularity test, Carp and Waino finished second and third in the 2009 National League Cy Young Award voting, collecting 94 and 90 points respectively. In one of the closest three-way races ever, San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum won with 100 points in the Baseball Writers Association of America balloting. It is worthy to note Wainwright had the most first-place votes of all candidates and Carpenter the highest second-place standing.
The voting concluded prior to the post-season. Given the NLDS game one start, Carpenter yielded two runs in the first inning and four over five innings in the loss at Dodger Stadium. Wainwright pitched brilliantly in game two, allowing just one run on three hits over eight innings, but along with his teammates fell victim to the Matt Holliday-Ryan Franklin collapse in the bottom of the ninth.
Last season, Carpenter won the Players Choice National League Comeback Player of the Year Award for the second time. He previously took the honor in 2004. Wainwright is still on the way up, with 2010 being his first-ever All-Star selection.
As noted above, in terms of effectiveness, Wainwright has moved ahead of his elder in a number of categories, but any passing of this title should not be a rash decision. Expanding the aperture just a bit makes it far less of a slam dunk.
Since Carp’s most recent comeback began last year, I also pulled the numbers of each from the start of the 2009 season.
| 2009-2010 to date | GS | CG | GF | W | L | WPct | Sv | Sho | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K | HBP | BK | WP | ERA | K9 | BB9 | HR9 |
| Chris Carpenter | 47 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 7 | 0.788 | 0 | 1 | 318 1/3 | 274 | 101 | 94 | 21 | 76 | 252 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2.66 | 7.12 | 2.15 | 0.59 |
| Adam Wainwright | 53 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 13 | 0.711 | 0 | 1 | 369 1/3 | 318 | 110 | 100 | 27 | 101 | 339 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2.44 | 8.26 | 2.46 | 0.66 |
Waino pro: Wainwright has started six more games than Carp and has six more wins during that time.
Carp pro: Wainwright also has six more losses.
Waino pro: Wainwright has a lower ERA (2.44 to 2.66) and a higher strikeout rate.
Carp pro: Carpenter has a lower walk rate and a lower home run allowed rate (though the latter gap has been closing quickly).
Of course, the reality is that Cardinals fans should enjoy both of these excellent pitchers, with the next opportunity coming when Carpenter starts game one of the post-break schedule on Thursday against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium. Wainwright will get the ball again on Saturday.
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Wainwright has ascended. It is his time on the Throne.
It is the way of the world. Time has its way with us and reaps us all, including Carpenter and Jumbeau.
Other than getting hit on the arm, Carp hasn’t shown any sign of getting reaped. Wainy has caught up with him.
Both are exceedingly good, but Wainwright is definitely tops. No argument. If I had one game to win, I’m not sure that I’d want any pitcher anywhere to start for me over Wainwright.
Adam was very intensely focused in that All Star performance……………… he had to be to stop the massive momentum shift of 14yrs worth of losses………………..as it dribbled out of Holidays mitt.
Waino has serious cajones………………….
Carpenter is still the big dog though……………. Wainwright knows that and wouldn’t have it any other way………………… Carp just needs a few laugher’s to find his physical center. He has been carrying all the weight…………….notice that Garcia separates them again.
Roland is doing just what WJ hired him to do……………. Their vulnerability is pitching fatigue. Baker will burn the hero’s to the ground as is his custom.
That’s a good reminder. You can always trust good ol’ Dusty to ruin a pitcher or twelve.
For a while, we definitely had a delightful “Co-Ace” situation, but we definitely now have a “changing of the guard”. The fact that Adam is now THE Ace of the staff really has nothing to do with superiority of records or favor of one over the other, but of the elder graciously giving the mantle to the younger. Chris’ performance, while undergoing natural decline, will nevertheless continue to be better than most for another couple of years. Adam’s performance, however, is destined not to peak until after another 2 or 3 years. Aye, the records of both pitchers are undeniably Cy Young award material, but Adam is 28 and Chris is 35.
Four aces in a deck………………………………………………..face value is only relevant in a playoff scenario anyway………because of age, you would want Wainwright to have the 3 looks in a 7 game series because the short rest between games 4 and 7…..
2 in a five game series. No matter how the season resolves……….Adam would probably start the opener’s.
I’ve been critical of the St. Louis sports media types often enough, so I got a chuckle out of this:
Joe Strauss: Pressure? The St. Louis media? Are you kidding me? The manager and the first baseman go at it in the dugout and 95 percent of the St. Louis media pulls a hamstring running the other way.
Brian, next time you see Joe, will you find out how his sore hammy is doing?
Despite Carp’s struggle against the Dodgers last year, I wonder if TLR would risk disrespecting Carp by giving Waino the game one start in the NLDS. Let’s hope they get there so we can find out.
Brian, I don’t think TLR would ever not let Carp open the series even though the Carp of 2010 is obviously not as good as the Waino of 2010. This is one of those spots where the loyalty may not help your team but it will keep yours and his relationship strong forever.
I am anxiously awaiting these next four series to see what we look like. It appears from my seat to be a pretty daunting task for the cards to win more than they lose in these next 14 games. Heres hoping against hope that I’m wrong in what I’m feeling.
“The Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals have an identical record (29-33) over the past 62 games. Yikes!” I agree with Bernie’s ‘yikes’, and if the quality of play continues then RC is right, it will be daunting to come out ahead these next four series’.
We don’t need any miracles to happen, just some guys play like they have before. Offensively here are the OPS results of the first half compared to career (from the same article): Matt Holliday (minus 30 points), Albert Pujols (minus 63), Skip Schumaker (minus 113), Yadier Molina (minus 97), Ryan Ludwick (minus 40), Brendan Ryan (minus 158). Defensively, the same thing. We are not super strong up the middle, but a return to form by Brendan would go a long way. Having Colby play in a little (to offset less than impressive arm??, to expand his horizon as a more Edmonds like CF???) has not really helped matters, nor has Skip’s inability to stay in the lineup.
I’m betting some guys will snap out of it here these next couple weeks, somebody will emerge to get things shaking, and Mo will add a swizzle stick (picture one with a little brock-a-brella on top).
blingboy’s “OPS results of the first half compared to career” certainly portrays the entire story in a nutshell, doesn’t it? If our offense had played according to career stats, we’d be running away with the division, the won-lost records of our starting rotation would be much better and the July 31st trading deadline would mean nothing for us. Impetus towards the bet that “some guys will snap out of it” would certainly be established if Albert’s prophecy (concerning himself and Matt) would now finally come true; “It’s going to get scary”. Oh, how I hope that we do to the Dodgers what we did to them at Busch last season! Oh, how I hope that we do to the Phillies what they did to us in their yard a couple of months ago! Hell, we’d go to Wrigley really loaded for bear!
RC, How many the Cards win over the next 14 may depend on whether you got to do some BP work with Colby over the break or not — insights?
Well Carioca, I’ve been in Panama City Beach for the break and Colby has been in St. Louis so we are gonna be SOL if that was going to be an important ingredient for the cards success in these next 14 games.
If we win more than we lose over these next 14 games Albert and Matt will have to go berzerk with crazy big games is my guess. I’m skeptical of Carp being the old Carp and Jaime has not been as lights out of late. I like Waino’s chances every time he climbs the bump and we could get hammered when the other two guys pitch so scoring runs in bunches seems to be our only hope. Kershaw tonight is gonna be tough IMO but we can all hope for a miracle so thats what I will be doing……hoping for a miracle.
A miracle? Miracle? Apparently, they don’t have kool-aid at the beach.
You guys are such downers you spoli my fun.
I know the doubts are valid, but still….
I thought for a moment you forgot the last O in SOLO…………..reason prevailed……………
Bad news………..Manny probably doesn’t play.
We can’t be same old, same old. We need to steal a few. We need a few successful bunt’s, in a variety of situations…………….Cardinals have been viciously out coached by LA. Torre is a master at exploiting our AP vulnerabilities………… Tony first has to admit that its true before he can counter. That is the true telling of wisdom in planning………………… Kershaw is a wild card. If we chase, we loose………………….
1. Felipe Lopez, 3B
2. Colby Rasmus, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Matt Holliday, LF
5. Allen Craig, RF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Aaron Miles, 2B
8. Chris Carpenter, SP
9. Brendan Ryan, SS
This line up is a losing lineup……………. Molina at 6th is death. He puts Miles, a guy who needs to bunt behind the turtle……….also making Yadi a pitch around target for Torre……….Craig and Holiday better bring it.
Sorry but it should have been Miles 2nd Colby 6th.
Stavi to DL (shoulder) with Craig called up. Ottavino to have shoulder surgery. Mo gets 3-year contract extension.
We’re facing a southpaw: It’s time to replace as many lefthanded batters as possible with the B team! What of Brendan starting instead of Tyler? Is Brendan’s side-arm coolness so much of a defensive asset as to compensate for the debilitating effect of his sub-Mendoza offense? I’ve been looking forward to this game with much hope and optimism. Now that I’ve seen the starting order, however, I am becoming just as doubtful as many of the rest of you (“hoping for a miracle”, “a losing lineup”)…
WC, I would have put Colby on the pine and left Jon Jay in there…..he is hot and we need to ride the hot stick.
I’m excited to see what Craig can do this time around.
Warrior, I would have kept Craig on the pine and left Jon Jay in there. Why? Because both Colby and Jon are hot and “we need to ride the hot stick”.
10 days on Ludwick, 2 weeks on Freese, Stavi to the DL, Lohse will most likely throw before Penny. Yikes!!! Gloomy gloomy gloomy outlook for these next 14 games.
I am thrilled also that Craig is with us, but I thought that he should appear late in the game; either as a replacement or as a pinch hitter.
I like Craig thrown in there. You got a LH starter in Kershaw and Craig is a professional hitter so lets get him hitting. But Jay has been hot and he may lose his hitting streak with only a pinch hit appearance tonight. That would be a shame.
Jay was hot four days ago. What he is now remains to be seen.
Warrior, you know more than all of us that if a lefthanded batter cannot face lefthanded pitching, neither ought he to be at the Major League level of play. As Colby has resoundingly demonstrated the ability to hit lefthanded pitching, Jon needs to demonstrate the same. From what I’ve seen, as a mere fan, both Colby and Jon are every bit the professional hitters that Craig certainly is. There is a time for Craig to start hitting for us, but not in the midst of Jon’s hot streak…
That being said Yadi is one of the two hottest hitters on the team since he got a hit 2 days ago and only Matt Holliday can match that hot streak.
You’re right, Brian; Jay may not be hot anymore. But, of course, we shall not know at the start of this game… I simply cannot see any reason to presume that he’s gone cold…
I’m not a big fan of playing the percentages. If they can hit with their toes, I say let em hit.
RC, if Colby will just push the hands back and away……….the impediment will have a positive effect on his pitch selection. With that, along with a realistic expectation………… he walks once, maybe twice against Kershaw…..if he attacks the LF center gap…………good things will happen………maybe even a mistake down and in. It is the solution………….no matter how it appears.
You have to take Craig here………..tha’ts a must…………Rt is a hot corner against LA…….sure hope he’s up for it.
What’s to keep Colby from stepping out of the phone booth with a cape on and adding some black to the Dodger blue? The lineup doesn’t matter nearly as much as somebody stepping up and bringing some friends.
How did Stavi get hurt?
Ah, indeed; blingboy! We go with those with the best history of “stepping up and bringing some friends”…
Kershaw has been pretty dominant his last 8-10 starts and he is especially tough on LH hitters so I’m not expecting Colby to do much, especially being off for 4 or 5 days. IT will take him a few games to get back in the swing of things. One hit tonight would be a great game for him IMO.
Purest hope makes me yearn that we are all pleasantly shocked by the end of tonight’s game…
BB, 57, good points…………… whats to stop any of these guys from stepping up and taking a ride on the b–ch………………………oh yeah, forgot about that……………….
…..if Albert is guessing, and chasing, striking out or worse, grounding to the SS………..the ripple effect will be fuel for the Dodgers………..they’re in a race, not a thing to lose………..they will score 5, and that’s plenty.
Otto is out with a labrum tear, and having had a few of these operations on my players I can tell you his prognosis is not gonna be good. From my experience with the labrum he may be done. They can fix it but the pain seems to continue years later and most times never goes away as well as there are usually a number of minor setbacks over a few years within the rehab. Bad news for him. The good news is he will make big league money while he rehabs that shoulder which he better save.
Yeah WC I have my doubts that Carp can keep the Dodgers from scoring 5 or 6, and I’m not sure we will score 5 or 6 this weekend.
Our lineup is probably scaring the Dodgers to death
Thank you, Warrior, for your valuable voice of experience with regard to Ottavino’s injury: I pick-up savvy by hob-nobbing with guys like you. I feel badly, however, that Adam no longer figures in our future…
It doesn’t appear that the Home Run Derby had any negative effect upon Corey Hart: He just hit his 22nd homer…
I spoke with some of my Braves buddies over the break including Huddy and man they are excited to be rid of Escobar. The rumors are there was some talk with the cardinals regarding Escobar to St. louis but Mo was not being too agreeable….. Huddy thinks Escobar would fit right in with the guys the cardinals have who take liberties regarding walking out ground balls……said Bobby Cox can’t stand that stuff but said TLR seems to be fine with it.
I thought that was funny stuff.
Darn Brian, Are you sure you didn’t have Tony ghost write that article for you? All that respect stuff almost got me teary eyed.
I’ll never forget one particular case of heartburn that Bobby Cox had with Andru Jones (it was back during the days when Andres Galarraga was with that team). I got the distinct impression that Bobby Cox runs a loose clubhouse, but demands nothing less than hustle.
I hope that Ottavino will be able to rebound at some point. I was counting on him to excel out of the bullpen in the future.
57
The Braves players I know will tell you Bobby cares about them as people as well as ballplayers. TLR is your Boss and I’m not sure every Cardinal player believes TLR cares about anyone other than Yadi and Albert. Huddy will tell you don’t speak badly about Bobby or you’ll have 25 Braves ready to whip you.
its just different managerial styles and both have had their successes with how they do it.
Labrum’s tear for a reason………….usually a big league reason…………. that being said, he is likely done here. He will get some care but probably have to take time off and re enter at some point with another team.
I hear you…
Albert and Yadi have contributed more to the team’s success over the past few years than any other position players on the team, and arguably still do. I would expect that the rest of the guys factor that in.
A 13 pitch inning, including a strike-out and a ground-out: Not bad, despite the rather alarming fly ball…
He showed his fastball a bit more……locating well………….. it sets up his other pitches.
With the first 3 pitches as balls, Kershaw ain’t starting-out too swiftly…
I can’t believe that Colby laid-off that “low and in”: Man, taking advantage of Kershaw, he is the epitome of discipline and patience tonight.
Loving the plate discipline early on. Two straight walks!
Wow! What a great way to start the game! Kershaw must be sweatin’ bricks and crappin’ in his pants!
‘Twas a productive out, any way you slice it…
Wasn’t that another productive out? Attaboy, Craig!
Yadier drove-up the count: Anytime we can give Kershaw a 30 pitch headache, we’re doin’ well…
2 runs and not a whole lot of offense. Hmmmm.
Loved Craigs setup……………. he took away the hands……….I assumed he was going to go to right. Not…………………….. he wanted to turn on the inside pitch……….Torre calling pitches himself.
Once again, despite another couple of deep fly-outs, Chris did a decent 14 pitch job on ‘em…
Many more cutters and two seamer’s. You see why its hard…….if they catch one your behind. He is using the lead he was given……….he needs that.
crdswmn hit the nail on the head. 2 runs, no homers, no big bop. The muffed DP helped.
That’s the way to lead-off, Miles! Bravo!
Their pitcher can’t throw strikes tonight and our pitcher is taking advantage of that: After driving-up the pitch count, our man gives us a decent sacrifice!
Neither of those needed to be 3 pitch at bata: Both Brendan and Flip could have made Kershaw work…
Imagine the job that Philly did on the Reds and then going to Wrigley and getting slaughtered…
That’s how a pitcher strikes-out a pitcher!
A 12 pitch inning! If Chris ain’t careful, he’s gonna find himself pitching a complete game…
It’s a damned shame that Colby has so much difficulty with lefties: That was only a measly ground-rule double…
Colby shoulda legged out a triple
99 yr old Jamie Moyer is getting clobbered
All right, Craig; do what Jon would do!
Well that sucked.
All Colby can do is set an example…
Pujols has to move the runner………….never occurred to him……….walks Holiday because we’re soft at 6…………. Craig is still trying to pull the damn ball…………..Holiday doesn’t slide………….this team sucks.
Ouch!
I really worry about those fly-outs, knowing that Chris is an established ground-ball pitcher…
He gets the 120 whether he slides or not
Still… 49 pitches after 4 innings places Chris in great danger of going all the way…
Attaboy, Yadier! Very, VERY encouraging!
Those Dodgers are really having difficulty throwing the ball tonight, hey? Nice work, Miles: We need to break out…
Once again, Brendan could have worked Kershaw (3 balls), but no…
That’s the Flip we know!
We don’t suck, exactly………:)
Kershaw is nigh unto 80 pitches. After 4 earned runs, he won’t enjoy a quality outing tonight: His hot streak has run into the provervial buzz saw…
They didn’t give in to Colby…………he was will to pitch to Albert…………….Colby was greedy there. He could have been playing for the run, but fell for the breaking pitch which was an easy single away.
Chris could… go… all… the… way!
That was beautiful! Thank you, Albert!
That was righteous! Thank you, Matt!
back, back, back, back, back
That was Craig’s second productive (RBI) out of the night!
Torre pitches to Craig with the lefty…….knowing that Tony counters with Jay. Craig stayed closed..took it deep and drove it……………….his job. He will put Jay in for defense…amongst other things.
Miles worked Miller nicely for a fine “How do you do?”
I can’t thank our guys enough for giving Kershaw such a rotten night!
Payback is a bitch, 57.
Carp has been excellent and Kershaw was on the bad side of not too good. Nice job by us of taking advantage of the early wildness by Kershaw. This is a nice win on game one of the series as the Dodgers have played like the pre all star break cardinals tonight defensively.
As the game progresses, Chris typically gets meaner and stingier…
What a gift that they brought Manny in…………….. I’m afraid Brendan is done…………. he doesn’t recover from here.
I’m still trying to understand the wisdom in starting Brendan tonight. His glove prowess compensates for his worthlessness at the plate, right?
You’re right Westy. Manny doesn’t look like he is trying too hard.
Hey, Warrior: Imagine Manny in a Braves uniform, playing for Bobby Cox!
How ’bout a classic Carpenter-induced DP now?
The Flubs are slaughtering the Fillies!
‘Twas a classic Carpenter-induced DP! Thank you, Chris! You’re magnificent!
That boy has got a future!
That’s how Jon runs his consecutive hit streak to 12 games!
Whaddaya say, Brian?
That’s how Yadier roars out of his slump!
Two hits for Yadi? What has gotten into him all of a sudden?
Just keep on runnin’ up the score, fellas! Torre and his guys need to know how it feels…
That’s the 2nd straight time that Chris mowed Blake down on 5 pitches!
Those fly-outs are scary: That one was the 8th of the game. So what if Chris has gotten away with murder? It’s about damned time that things went his way…
Poor old broken down Carp the graybeard. He used to be good, back in the day.
Chris is over 100 pitches, but he’s looking very strong. For the sake of a well-deserved CG, I sure hope that he demands to stay in…
Carp is never satisfied, though. He’s probably kicking himself for that HR.
Despite entering his natural years of decline, Chris will remain better than most for at least another three years…
It is extemely positive to score 7 without any thumpage by Albert or Matt, or anybody.
“Oh, for…!” Brendan is now down to .190! The wisdom of starting him and leaving him in is beyond me…
You just placed your finger upon the pulse of what is most encouraging, blingboy!
We’ve certainly raided their Bullpen!
Despite two singles and a double (no homers), Albert has been looking damned good…
Despite only a single and an RBI, Matt ain’t been looking too bad either. The offense of fhis game has really been all about the rest of our guys (except for Brendan)…
Ol’ “Mow ‘em Down” Mitchell ain’t showin’ any mercy tonight~
The offense did well tonight. Carp I wasn’t worried about.
“Mitchell the Merciless” is my idea of a flame-throwing, intimidating lights-out closer!
It was likely Mo that started Brendan CRD…………………. showing our confidence in him………..to everyone else……….he’s gone…….we’re just talking about what we might get.
Good Win tonight. Carp was dominant and man was that nice to see.
Well, with regard to hopes for the second-half, we’ve certainly established impetus. Now let us continue with momentum…
Philly just lost so we now have a better win % than the ‘yankees of the NL’. Ha, ha, they suck.
The exclamation mark upon Chris’ performance tonight was the way in which he ended it; with a strike-out.
It is amazing that this thread is likely to end the way it began; with a discussion concerning the changing of the guard. During the next 2 or 3 years, I have no doubt that we will see more such performances as tonight from Chris. While he is undergoing natural decline, there can be no doubt that he will nevertheless continue to be better than most for another couple of years. Adam’s performance, however, will generally become more dominant and is destined not to peak until after another 2 or 3 years. Aye, the career records of both pitchers undeniably contain Cy Young award material, but Adam is 28 and Chris is 35.
I wonder if anybody is gooing to hire Looper this year? One would think his demands have become flexible by now. I saw where the Reds have signed Russ Springer.
Having watched Looper in Milwaukee for a couple of years, I am convinced that he represents very little improvement, if at all, over Suppan. In fact, I sincerely believe that he is not in any position to demand anything more than a minor league contract. If the front office can swing it, we could certainly use an affordable marquee pitcher (like the Astros pitcher who just beat us), rather than another 4.00+ mediocre stop-gap.
We are all well aware of the fact that we will not be scoring 7 runs every game. So it is that, if we don’t do something to strengthen our starting rotation, the thought is horrifying of Suppan facing Padilla on Sunday and likely facing Dempster next Friday…
Carp had the lead. He pitched aggressively with it. He needed that to throw that many fastballs. Notice how many the Dodgers took??????????? That wasn’t their game plan…………but did you notice how they stayed with it……….. that’s a disciplined team.
With some patients Colby could have had a “average building day” ……….you can’t turn on everything……….with two strikes, take it late..and deep. You can always spoil the fastball on the hands………you can’t always expect it…..that’s a bad gamble 325 hitters don’t take. If he hit smart, Colby can hold the number two sending Ludwick to 5………….that is profitable..and worth the effort.
WC therein lies the problem, If he hit smart
“………….this team sucks.” The team’s bat boy with great (and of course wrong) insight.
Ottavino has tried to play through pain since April. I am very sorry to hear of his need for an operation, but its not surprising.
Penny is a big question mark for returning. Ugh. That’s rotten news indeed. A starting pitcher has to be numero uno on Mo’s shopping list.
Mo has to be praying Lohse’s unusual operation will allow him to rebound to his 2008 performance level.
Ludwick out for still 10 more days. That’s longer than they estimated to begin with.
Freese they think two more weeks, but with a bone bruise, who knows?
Maybe to help cheer him up, Mo lands a 3 year deal.
[...] 11-0 with a 1.22 ERA in 12 starts this season. Some excited scribes, including yours truly, passed the mantle of team ace from Chris Carpenter to [...]