New St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mike MacDougal is the 23rd reliever to win in his first game with the team.
As St. Louis Cardinals fans may already know, the club purchased the contract of veteran reliever Mike MacDougal on Wednesday, optioning out Fernando Salas for the fourth time this season. The 33-year-old, wearing number 63, was immediately thrown into action, picking up a win after tossing a scoreless 12th that same evening. Albert Pujols’ RBI single plated what would become the winning run in the 13th inning at New York.
MacDougal was called upon again Thursday afternoon, but did not fare as well wearing what will be his semi-permanent number 48. As has been his custom in the past, control was the issue. He walked two and hit another batter, but escaped his self-made jam for a scoreless eighth inning.
His first-game victory had not happened previously with a Cardinals reliever since Troy Percival did it on June 29, 2007. For a starter, it is far more prevalent, with future Hall of Famer John Smoltz being the last to accomplish a win in his St. Louis debut, on August 23 of last season.
Researcher Tom Orf was kind enough to pull the list of 23 relievers to have taken a “W” in their first game with the Cardinals over the last half-century, since 1960. There are some familiar names as well as others virtually forgotten over time.
St. Louis Cardinals, relievers, win in first game with the team, 1960-present
| Mike MacDougal | 7/28/2010 |
| Troy Percival | 6/29/2007 |
| Sterling Hitchcock | 8/23/2003 |
| Russ Springer | 3/31/2003 |
| Juan Acevedo | 4/2/1998 |
| Paul Kilgus | 6/3/1993 |
| John Costello | 6/2/1988 |
| Tim Conroy | 4/19/1986 |
| Andy Hassler | 9/16/1984 |
| Doug Bair | 9/12/1981 |
| John Martin | 8/27/1980 |
| Tom Bruno | 8/5/1978 |
| Roy Thomas | 6/28/1978 |
| Clay Carroll | 4/10/1977 |
| Doug Capilla | 9/12/1976 |
| Mike Garman | 4/11/1974 |
| Diego Segui | 6/8/1972 |
| Stan Williams | 8/1/1971 |
| Dick Hughes | 9/11/1966 |
| Don Dennis | 6/18/1965 |
| Harry Fanok | 4/16/1963 |
| Craig Anderson | 6/23/1961 |
| Bob Grim | 8/3/1960 |
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You’re right, Brian; Mike MacDougal’s second outing wasn’t pretty. However, the fact remains that he held opponents hitless in the total of two innings that he pitched. If he is as mentally sharp as he appears to be, he will respond quickly to Dave Duncan’s way of doing business and vindicate the wisdom of picking him out of the scrap heap of damaged goods.
When I saw how youthful he appeared on the mound, I immediately remembered the Summer of ’57, when a teenager who was only eight years older than me at the time had suddenly appeared as a Cardinal pitcher. I don’t recall if his first appearance resulted in a win, but I certainly remember that his first several innings were similarly hitless (my ’58 Von McDaniel baseball card became a prized possession for many years)! I mention him now, because of Tom Orf’s list dating back to ’60. We can only hope that Mike does not suffer anything resembling Von’s sudden and inexplicable breakdown of mechanics.
I have to share this gem from the Reds website. Fans bitching about losing to Braves. Here it is:
“I just talked to Cardinals front office and it is almost official, we give them Codero in trade for the waterboy and towel washer. Just a few more minor details to work out, trying to get Larussas dog too.”
I can’t stop laughing.
Brian (and interested parties): After recounting my boyhood experience and questioning whether my memory was accurate, I looked up an article about Von McDaniel’s famous older brother and pioneer of relief pitching, Lindy. Imagine the thrilling gush of memory when I read the following excerpt!
Watching his brother, Von, pitch as his teammate with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957 also ranks among his most gratifying moments. “It was a great thrill for me to watch Von pitch. He was only 18 years old, just two weeks out of high school but stepped right in and shutout the Dodgers in his first start. He went on to pitch a one hitter against the Pirates.” In fact, Von did not allow a run in his first 20 major league innings including two relief stints prior to the 2-0 win over the Dodgers.
Hoping that your memory will also be as wonderfully refreshed, the article itself is really an entertaining read:
http://www.lindymcdaniel.com/blogabout.html
crdswmn: Methinks the Reds’ many bandwagon fans will have much more to complain about during the next couple of days. While there remains little doubt that the Braves will hand their butts to them, by sweeping the series, our offense ought to be a guarantee that we will be doing the same to the Pirates…
It’s way past this old man’s bedtime: Good Night!
CFS, it’s tough to give up hits if you don’t throw strikes. MacDougal is incapable of locating his pitches. He can’t last long up in the majors this time around.
The deadline is upon us and the Cards’ greatest needs are a couple of middle of the order hitters and a couple of veteran team leader types. Sad but true.
When Albert hit into the DP in the first last night, I couldn’t take it anymore.
If McDougal does not work out, the Cards are well stocked with other right relievers: Kinney; Salas; Walters; and Hawksworth can return to relieving after Lohse returns.
Everybody will want to be in the lineup today. McCutcheon is one of the most hittable starters within MLB.
How will the Cards generate offense down the stretch? Ludwick has been out of action for a month and has just returned; this will help. Jay has been terrific. Pujols and Holliday have OPSes of about 950 and 900; they are having good seasons, even if some fans expect them to hit 100 homers each per year. Rasmus has had a muscle strain and could rebound. Freese will return, provided he stops having accidents. The Cards have enough hitting. It is important to get Lohse back and much may hinge on him.
100 between them would be fine. Seriously, we shouldn’t humor them, it just makes it worse. Soon, Jay will be getting walked to get to Albert. Jay is, after all, outhitting him by 100 pts.
As to MacDougal, I take it he is better than Rich Hill. He has been in pro ball for 10 or 11 years and has never had a plate appearance. But he’s a switch hitter. That has to be it.
As of last night, Pujols had an OPS of 939 and Holliday of 900. This puts Pujols in 10th place, among all ML players for this season. Holliday is in 20th place.
The Cardinals traded Ludwick for Westbrook. I am stunned.
The Indians are flipping Ludwick to the Padres for some Padres prospects. We are getting a prospect from the Padres. I am going to miss Ludwick. Westbrook better turn out to be worth it.
The question I have is who is leaving to make room for Westbrook. We can’t move another position player.
While there is nothing mediocre about Studwick, there is nothing brilliant about Jake Westbrook. Six years removed from his All Star season (the ONLY year that his ERA was below 4.00), he comes to us now at 4.65, guaranteed to give-up an average of one hit for every inning pitched. Either Dave Duncan is seeing something remarkable in this guy, a veritable diamond-in-the-rough, or else the intelligence of our front office must be called into question. As for the “prospect”:
“Greenwood is a 22 year old A-ball southpaw who’s been working out of the rotation. His fastball tops out around 90 and hovers in the high 80s, and his preferred secondary pitch is a curveball. He is a long, long ways away”
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/7/31/1598407/nicholas-greenwood-trade-ryan-ludwick-jake-westbrook
What is right about this picture? Granted, our outfield is crowded, but we need a hot bat much more than we need a mediocre pitcher!
The only advantage I see to this is shedding payroll to make room to sign Albert.
From the Comments section of the article entitled, “Westbrook in, Ludwick out in 3-team deal”, by Joe Strauss:
cardsandcats said on: July 31, 2010, 1:04 pm
Wow, I guess we’ll see how this goes, so we get a #4 or #5 starter as a 2 month rental, who can walk this winter, we trade our 3rd best run producer from a team that can’t score runs to begin with, but we don’t have to worry about Ludwick and arbitration next year, so we can dump all the money into Albert’s next contract so we can have Holliday and Pujols and the 7 offensive dwarfs next year and for years to come, and we get a prospect who ends up at A ball and may never contribute.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/article_e4233caa-9cc5-11df-9c0a-00127992bc8b.html?mode=comments
Luddy would be a FA (with most likely 2 draft picks coming our way when he becomes a FA) by the time ALberts new contract kicks in. Those touting this as a help sign Albert move are misguided I think.
I wouldn’t classify myself as misguided. Wrong, probably, misguided, no. I do not consider myself an expert on these things by any means.
Did not mean that as insult. I didn’t want to say you were “wrong” because who am I to say for sure that it doesnt help us sign ALbert.. I thought misguided would be a kinder way of saying I strongly disagreed. It appears my use of the word “misguided” may have been misguided.
I wan’t insulted. I have a pretty thick skin.
From the reactions I am seeing on the various websites, Mo is an idiot and should be fired (not my words). I expected this to not go over well.
per a tweet I just saw — Ludwick leads NL in batting with runners in scoring position .448 (26-for-58), 5 HR, 35 RBI.
I am a wait and see kinda gal. Anything can happen in baseball.
Hmmmm. Braves acquired Rick Ankiel from the Royals.
From the Comments section of “Gordon: Cards pay big price to stay in arms race”
GM1966 said on: July 31, 2010, 3:24 pm
I think Gordo is being paid by the Cards to spin this trade. There is no way that this offensively challenged team is better because we subtracted the best run producing RF in the NL for the past two years and we RENTED a mediocre at best SP. There is no way that you can convince me that RIGHT NOW that our team just got better. Why not replace the under-performers?
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_51a4b3bc-9cd0-11df-b173-00127992bc8b.html?mode=comments
I have no problem with moving Luddy since he and Jay both can’t play RF. With Jay and Colby full time they should both develop well. But, the only guys doing anything like clutch hitting are (were) Jay and Luddy. So what happens when Jay cools off?
It would be interesting to hear Westy’s take, especially the Albert re-signing angle.
I would think Stav will be back soon as the bat off the bench.
If Westbrook can keep his ERA under 2.00 and contribute a clutch hit here and there he should be OK.
“If Westbrook can keep his ERA under 2.00 and contribute a clutch hit here and there he should be OK”
The problem is that Westbrook can’t even keep his ERA under 4.00!
You really want to hear Westie talk about how this is all part of the conspiracy to either force Albert to a big marke team, break the union, or set up a large collusion settlement (depending on the day). It has entertainment value but has little to do with Cardinal baseball (or reality).
57, you have to remember that Luddy was never going to hit 3rd or 4th where his clutch RBI hitting would matter. Jay and Colby can do just as well as 2 and 5 hitters. In an alternate universe, Jay and Luddy, the hot clutch guys would be 3 and 4, and Albert and Matt would be 2 and 5, at least until they heated up. But this is not an alternate universe, this is Tonyland. Keep that reality in mind, and also the reality that Mo is not about to abandon the masterplan which he convinced BDW to spend $120M on. In that light, Mo did the right thing. All we can do is hope and pray that Albert and Matt grow a pair and revert to what they have been in the past. In the meantime, Jay should get used to getting forced out at second, or get better at stealing.
Pardon me, blingboy; my bowels are in such an uproar that I failed to see and appreciate your sarcasm (“If Westbrook can keep his ERA under 2.00…”)
I hear you CC. I don’t mind being entertained. There is also nothing I would consider beyond what owners might do, nothing at all.
I have no argument about the universe according to Tonyland and fully understand why Studwick had to go. My frustration stems from the fact that our pitching is not the problem and that we did not get a fair exchange for our best clutch hitter… Last night was a prime example of our problem: It definitely was not pitching, but offense!
Understandable 57. Maybe your uproarious bowels will take your mind off the other health issue for a while. I hope so. Baseball is, after all, the best medicine.
Lets hope Albert and Matt and the boys give McCutcheon a pine tar enima tonight.
My position on what is and isn’t the problem have been said often enough so I won’t harp on it. Best wishes to Luddy, and good luck to Jake.
My wonderful lady friend is still in stitches about the “pine tar enima”! She appreciates you almost as much as I do!
Ludwick has done nothing but play his but off for the cardinals and I for one hate to see him go. He played the game like it was supposed to be played and he was a teammate to all from what CR has told me. Every time Luddy walked by any players family members he always spoke and was as nice a person as you could find. I for one think the cards will miss him as a person and a player.
But I will say this…. Luddy will most likely play every day for the Padres and TLR never seemed to like Luddy as a full time player. So this is a positive move for Ryan no matter how you shake it. This move strengthens the Padres and I’m not sure it helps the cardinals.
My problem with the trade is we could have gotten more for Luddy. The guy Cleveland got for Westbrook wasn’t even a top 40 prospect going in to the season.
Dodgers fleeced the Cubs – Lilly will get them 2 top draft picks at the end of the year. They then turn around and get fleeced themselves by the Pirates when acquiring Dotel.
I also worry about how the loss of Luddy will affect the morale of the rest of the team.
A 4.50 ERA pitcher in exchange for our best clutch hitter: WE were fleeced!
Are we getting a late lineup?
Sorry: Lopez 3b Jay RF Pujols 1B Holliday LF Rasmus CF Molina C Skip 2B Suppan P Ryan SS
I’m surprised Yadi is starting. LaRue usually catches Suppan.
We think of Luddy as a full time player but that has never been proven. Whatever his role, I wish him well. Agree with RC about Luddy being a 100% player and great guy. I’m aware RC would have liked for something else to have happened. As a Cards fan, I’m glad it didn’t. I hope to see Colby become a star in a Cards uniform.
After 7 innings, the Reds are climbing all over the Braves; 5-2 (Scott Rolen hit his 18th…)
I missed crdswmn’s mention of the Ankiel trade earlier. Rick has yet to show he can once again hit at the MLB level. Hopefully, we will see him at Busch again. I’ll be there just on the chance we are stupid enough to test his arm.
Just the other day, Rick went 3 for 4 (with a homer) for the Royals…
There was a short interview on the pre-game show with Luddy as he was leaving the building. I cried.
Ref #36, I agree with RC 100 percent.
Though many people are talking about Luddy not playing everyday, since his return from the DL it was by design not a TLR whim. They said he was only going to play 2 out of every 3 until they were sure he was 100%. Of course that doesn’t excuse the previous incidences of Luddy not playing full time.
While Luddy was a model citizen, including good defensive RF, the Cards had to land another starting pitcher. Wainwright, Carp, Westbrook, Lohse, and Garcia give us a good chance.
The trade also makes room for Jon Jay, who has been sensational.
If Westbrook had spent his career in the NL (without the DH), his career ERA would likely be 3.9 or so. He is a solid pitcher, earning $11MM this season.
No tears for Luddy. The Cards traded his brother for McGwire. Now we have traded Luddy to a first place team and hope to see him in the playoffs.
This trade better work out well for the team or Mo will likely be burned in effigy in front of Busch Stadium.
Mo has a new 3 year contract. He is freed creatively.
The Reds have now moved into a tie with us; hopefully, not for more than 2 or 3 hours…
Infield fly? Interesting. It was good that Yadi threw the guy out at 2nd.
The offense is at it again.
In 2 innings, Lohse has given up more HR’s than K’s. 2/1
That’s very encouraging, Carioca…
I love to see Yadier hit those opposite field gems…
Goold article:
Other players said a lot by their prolonged silence before answering what the deal meant to the clubhouse.
Said one Cardinal: “It’s bittersweet. I think that’s best to say.”
Batting .214, Jeff is liable to give them an unpleasant surprise…
Like I said…
What a commentary, that our pitcher should be responsible for driving-in the first run…
Lohse update: 3 HR 2 K’s in 4 IP.
Brendan’s offensive heroics never occur until late in a game…
I expected the trade wouldn’t go over well with the players. it’s a shame.
Very, VERY encouraging, Carioca…
At .129, Kratz was a strikeout waiting to happen
One run out of all that. At least the PHE worked out, albeit not as intended. Maybe the top of the order can show up next inning.
Kyle must be getting it over the plate at least.
Wow! Flip was intent upon wearing-out the mediocre!
Nice work, Albert: Too bad Flip was picked-off…
McCutchen with 51 pitches through 3 innings – do we really want a guy with an 8+ ERA to be pulled due to pitch count
Imagine that! A mediocre with an 8+ ERA, three-hitting us through 4 innings!
At least our pitcher is feasting upon the Pirates, both on the mound and at the plate…
I’ll be damned if Jeff didn’t strikeout the side! Looks like, he’s got something to say about Jake nudging him aside…
Look at the good side 57. They didn’t wait until the 11th inning to score their 1 run.
After 50 pitches, is McCutchen THAT tired?
good one
It takes the batting skills of a pitcher for us to score an early run!
Talk about inconsistency… First, the mediocre walks Colby on four pitches and then he turns around a strikes Yadier out on four pitches…
…and THEN he walks Skip on FIVE pitches!
With the fielder’s choice and Pittsburgh’s error, Jeff figures-in on our SECOND run!
A big thank you to the Pirates for giving us another run.
Talk about small-ball… We’ve got a grand total of 3 hits! Having walked us 5 times and having committed the throwing error, Pirates are busy gift-wrapping another game for us!
What’s with the groundouts and strikeouts, Jeff? Did Duncan feed you a can o’ Kick Ass or are you wanting to keep your job a while longer?
Suppan wants to stay in rotation, let Blake go back to the pen.
Finally! One of our Boppers bops one! Congratulations, Albert: The road back to .300 is not necessarily paved with singles!
Matt just joined Albert in the “Sub .300″ Club…
One of our boppers decided to actually bop one.
I’d say Supp has a lot of motivation.
Jon Jay is now the only hitter who is batting over .300…
Not Reyes again! Crap!
Yeah, Reyes has gotten us all snake-bitten…
He still makes me nervous.
He OWED us that (imagine what his ERA would look like if he had been charged with all the runs that he’s given-up)!
It is so good to see Yadier enjoying another multi-hit night!
Lohse has about $24 million less motivation than Soup (Lohse’s salary for 2011-12 is guaranteed).
God created ground rule doubles for players like Yadi.
After driving-up McCutcheon’s count past 90, Skip gave us a productive out; knocking Yadier over to third…
“God created ground rule doubles for players like Yadi”
- priceless!
All right, Brendan: It’s late in the game and you want to prove that the first half of the season was a fluke…
A sacrifice is perfectly acceptable!
(Brendan drove McCutcheon’s pitch count past 100…)
All RIGHT! A 2 out rally!
“Oh, for…!” Jon Jay was long overdue for one of those…
Poor Jon. Tonight is not a good night to go o’fer. It will just fuel the fire over the Ludwick trade.
Houston’s new 1st Baseman also went “Oh, for…” tonight…
“Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night” – Two batters in a row! McClellan is simply overwhelming!
Think of all the pressure Jon is going to be under now. I hope he can weather it.
Since they’re not going to make McClellan a starter, I don’t understand why he is not being groomed for being our lights-out closer…
Albert has gone 3 for 4 tonight and crept to .001 away from that .300 mark!
Matt will never get back to .300 doin’ that… Oh, well; at least he knocked Albert over to 2nd…
Jackson knows all about that “low and in” sucker ball that Colby loves so much… (he missed the first one, fouled-off the second one, fouled-off the third one and nailed the fourth one)!
Can you believe Yadier tonight? He’s now at .241 (and steadily rising…)
A sub-Mendoza Line hitter is not supposed to do that against Mighty Mitchell….
Mitchell is supposed to have the same accuracy throwing to 1st Base as he does throwing to the catcher…
Oh, well… If a reliever is going to have a bad outing, this is the kind of night for it.
Brendan is now at .205!
Wow! Bases loaded for a Bopper who’s done bopped tonight! Will he bop again?
Will Matt redeem himself?
He sure as Hell will!
Colby has risen back to respectability (.271) in style!
(Matt checked-out of the “Sub .300 Club”…)
Skip continues his rebound!
A soothing balm has been placed upon the frustration of last night and the edge has been removed from the angst concerning today’s trade. It feels great again to be a Cardinal fan…
Can you believe Brendan? He’s STORMING away from that damned Mendoza Line!
Contrary to the trite 1 to 0 win, this manhandling is what a contender is supposed to do to a doormat club!
I’ve forgotten how it feels to go into the 9th without biting my nails!
This night is crowned by Mike MacDougal pitching his 3rd scoreless inning (11 strikes, 6 balls)!
Wanted to see Larue and Yadi pull the pickoff play.
Nice win for Suppan.
I think the pickoff play is done telepathically between Albert and Yadi.
No walks for McDougal!
I’ll bet that pine tar stings.
Colby needs a little work on his post game interview skills. Seems a little nervous. Great to see him perking up. Same for Brendan and Yadi. That’s one good offensive performance in a row.
Tomorrow I hope Jay is over his jitters. Suddenly finding out you have been declared the Cardinals starting right fielder a few weeks out of the minors would do it to a guy.
I hope that we will see many more games in which all three of our boppers contribute to the cause. What is particularly wonderful is that none of them were actually needed tonight: Our small-ballers had the situation well in hand. In fact, the two runs in which Jeff Suppan had figured-in were sufficient to win the game. And what about Jeff? He will have to go back a couple of years to remember a game in which his pitching was so effective!