Based on success of others before him, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright’s pace though 113 games may have him on a track to win the Cy Young Award.
Is there any doubt that St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright is a workhorse – and is an extraordinary one at that?
Heading into Friday’s action, the Cardinals had played in 113 games this season. In his 25 starts to date, Wainwright accumulated 17 wins and a 1.99 ERA. Researcher Tom Orf helped me put Wainwright’s pace into a most impressive historical context.
The table below lists all MLB starters over the last half century with 20 or more starts and an ERA under two through their respective teams’ first 113 games.
Since 2000, Wainwright is among only five pitchers to have accomplished this. In addition to Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and Chris Young, Florida’s Josh Johnson, who the Cardinals faced last Friday in Miami, is the other. *
(* It should be noted that since this data was pulled, Johnson’s ERA “ballooned” to 2.24 as he yielded six runs in 2 2/3 innings at Cincinnati Friday night. As such, if this list was reflected results through 114 games, Johnson’s name would vanish.)
Others who met these criteria in past decades are also listed.
One has to go all the way back to Dwight Gooden in 1985 to find a pitcher with more wins (18) than Waino and a sub-2.00 ERA at this point of the season. Roger Clemens also had 17 wins in 1997.
The common thread? Both Doc and the Rocket took home the Cy Young Award following those seasons.
This week, Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch penned an in-depth article that is definitely worth a read. It looks at Wainwright’s 2010 candidacy from a number of angles. Since the voters have proven to be all over the map in their actual votes, I personally tend to not spend a lot of time trying to guess what they should do, let alone what they might do.
Instead, as a quick-and-dirty measure, I often refer to the ESPN Cy Young Predictor. That tool uses a Rob Neyer/Bill James formula to forecast the top contenders and leaders based on stats of past winners. Wainwright currently has a comfortable lead in the race for the 2010 NL award using this view.
However, before getting too excited, it is appropriate to note that Wainwright also had the highest score in ESPN’s formula last year. We all learned how a few voters who see the world differently than others can dramatically affect a tight competition and toss all the predictions out the window.
Wainwright and his supporters have to hope that he can further distance himself from the pack this time around and make it a one-horse race.
MLB pitchers through 113 games, season, minimum 20 starts and an ERA under 2.00, ordered by ERA within decades, 1960-2010
| 2000-2010 | Cy? | Year | W | L | ERA | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO |
| Roger Clemens | No | 2005 | 11 | 4 | 1.38 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 106 | 24 | 6 | 44 | 139 |
| Pedro Martinez | Yes | 2000 | 13 | 4 | 1.46 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 154 | 90 | 25 | 12 | 27 | 204 |
| Chris Young | No | 2007 | 9 | 3 | 1.82 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 78 | 24 | 4 | 39 | 114 |
| Josh Johnson * | TBD | 2010 | 10 | 4 | 1.97 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 121 | 34 | 5 | 36 | 156 |
| Adam Wainwright | TBD | 2010 | 17 | 6 | 1.99 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 176 | 129 | 39 | 11 | 42 | 158 |
| 1990-1999 | Year | W | L | ERA | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | |
| Greg Maddux | No | 1998 | 14 | 5 | 1.61 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 184 | 139 | 33 | 6 | 24 | 145 |
| Greg Maddux | Yes | 1994 | 15 | 6 | 1.63 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 193 | 147 | 35 | 4 | 31 | 152 |
| Roger Clemens | Yes | 1997 | 17 | 4 | 1.69 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 186 | 135 | 35 | 8 | 49 | 202 |
| Pedro Martinez | Yes | 1997 | 13 | 5 | 1.76 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 164 | 102 | 32 | 11 | 44 | 199 |
| Greg Maddux | Yes | 1995 | 14 | 2 | 1.86 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 169 | 120 | 35 | 8 | 19 | 148 |
| Kevin Brown | No | 1996 | 10 | 9 | 1.94 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 158 | 129 | 34 | 5 | 21 | 102 |
| Bob Tewksbury | No | 1992 | 10 | 5 | 1.97 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 169 | 158 | 37 | 11 | 14 | 66 |
| 1980-1989 | Year | W | L | ERA | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | |
| Nolan Ryan | No | 1981 | 11 | 5 | 1.69 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 149 | 99 | 28 | 2 | 68 | 140 |
| Dwight Gooden | Yes | 1985 | 18 | 3 | 1.82 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 202 | 147 | 41 | 13 | 51 | 192 |
| Dave Dravecky | No | 1985 | 10 | 6 | 1.94 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 158 | 127 | 34 | 11 | 44 | 86 |
| 1970-79 | Year | W | L | ERA | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | |
| Vida Blue | Yes | 1971 | 20 | 4 | 1.56 | 28 | 19 | 8 | 230 | 146 | 40 | 9 | 67 | 231 |
| Steve Kline | No | 1972 | 14 | 5 | 1.63 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 177 | 136 | 32 | 7 | 29 | 39 |
| Randy Jones | No | 1975 | 14 | 6 | 1.84 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 190 | 149 | 39 | 11 | 28 | 61 |
| Tom Seaver | Yes | 1973 | 14 | 6 | 1.86 | 25 | 13 | 2 | 203 | 149 | 42 | 16 | 44 | 175 |
| Ron Guidry | Yes | 1978 | 16 | 2 | 1.88 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 191 | 141 | 40 | 10 | 50 | 182 |
| Wilbur Wood | No | 1971 | 13 | 8 | 1.96 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 201 | 174 | 44 | 13 | 37 | 115 |
| Gaylord Perry | Yes | 1972 | 18 | 12 | 1.97 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 260 | 192 | 57 | 12 | 56 | 169 |
| Jim Palmer | No | 1972 | 15 | 6 | 1.98 | 26 | 13 | 1 | 195 | 153 | 43 | 16 | 53 | 131 |
| 1960-1969 | Year | W | L | ERA | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | |
| Bob Gibson | Yes | 1968 | 15 | 5 | 1.08 | 23 | 18 | 8 | 207 | 133 | 25 | 7 | 40 | 163 |
| Luis Tiant | No | 1968 | 17 | 6 | 1.41 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 197 | 111 | 31 | 11 | 51 | 194 |
| Sandy Koufax | Yes | 1966 | 19 | 6 | 1.62 | 29 | 19 | 3 | 232 | 178 | 42 | 16 | 51 | 240 |
| Sam McDowell | No | 1968 | 12 | 9 | 1.62 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 188 | 125 | 34 | 9 | 74 | 216 |
| Dean Chance | Yes | 1964 | 10 | 5 | 1.64 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 153 | 109 | 28 | 4 | 46 | 109 |
| Sandy Koufax | Yes | 1963 | 18 | 4 | 1.77 | 27 | 16 | 10 | 213 | 136 | 42 | 9 | 45 | 210 |
| Juan Marichal | No | 1965 | 17 | 9 | 1.81 | 27 | 20 | 8 | 223 | 163 | 45 | 15 | 32 | 179 |
| Bill Singer | No | 1969 | 14 | 7 | 1.82 | 27 | 11 | 2 | 217 | 151 | 44 | 15 | 49 | 177 |
| Dave McNally | No | 1968 | 15 | 8 | 1.83 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 187 | 109 | 38 | 18 | 37 | 140 |
| Don Drysdale | No | 1968 | 12 | 10 | 1.86 | 27 | 11 | 7 | 212 | 174 | 44 | 9 | 49 | 137 |
| Sandy Koufax | No | 1964 | 17 | 5 | 1.87 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 202 | 141 | 42 | 12 | 51 | 198 |
| Vern Law | No | 1965 | 11 | 9 | 1.87 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 168 | 134 | 35 | 12 | 28 | 85 |
| Steve Carlton | No | 1969 | 13 | 6 | 1.89 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 167 | 128 | 35 | 6 | 65 | 147 |
| Denny McLain | Yes | 1968 | 23 | 3 | 1.90 | 29 | 20 | 5 | 237 | 163 | 50 | 19 | 44 | 188 |
| Bob Veale | No | 1968 | 9 | 10 | 1.94 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 172 | 136 | 37 | 6 | 67 | 124 |
| Tommy John | No | 1968 | 8 | 5 | 1.94 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 157 | 115 | 34 | 9 | 44 | 106 |
| Jim Nash | No | 1968 | 9 | 7 | 1.95 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 157 | 118 | 34 | 13 | 32 | 113 |
| Jerry Koosman | No | 1968 | 14 | 7 | 1.96 | 23 | 12 | 6 | 179 | 146 | 39 | 7 | 47 | 128 |
| Tom Seaver | No | 1968 | 10 | 7 | 1.99 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 185 | 154 | 41 | 9 | 31 | 127 |
As an interesting sidelight, note that 11 pitchers met these criteria in 1968, The Year of the Pitcher. Seeing a name like Jim Nash alongside greats like Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver and Denny McLain helps explain why the mound was lowered as a result. It should also be noted that prior to 1967, there was only one annual Cy Young Award encompassing both leagues.
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In my opinion, Johnson is a one trick pony–ERA. My top three are Waino, Halladay and Jimenez (although Tim Hudson could sneak in there). I believe it is going to come down to Waino and Halladay. Halladay is pitching today against the Mets. I will be watching that game closely, in addition to the Reds game.
The fact which is most nagging and irking is “how a few voters who see the world differently than others can dramatically affect a tight competition and toss all the predictions out the window”. Our ONLY hope is for Adam to distance himself so far from the pack that no other choice can possibly be made, regardless of how odd and obliquely some voters may approach reality. While most parameters are solely under Adam’s control (e.g., ERA, BB, ShO), there are some which are dependent upon a Manager’s wisdom and discretion (e.g., CG) and some which are dependent upon relief pitching and/or offensive support (e.g., Wins). Indeed, today was an example in which a quality start resulted in a loss. With less than 50 games remaining, the Cy Young award is something which appears solidly in hand, but which can yet easily become a mirage…
TLR said yesterday he won’t talk about his plans beyond 2010 but admits to weighing matters as season unfolds. J Strauss…………..
Hmmmmmmmmmmm………….. what are the unfolding season variables? Is this a vague reverence to front office laziness on the 3rd base issue……………..Does this have anything to do with staying current with AP’s resurgence……….will Albert sound off…………………… What else?
Craig might have got a start tomorrow…………. how now…………. Lopez has 5 hits this month….Who ya gonna play…………………….. Is Tony going to send out an excuse team tomorrow? Lohse has to survive 3 innings to gain any momentum………….. if he is stalling out at his balance point……….he isn’t going to last long. They are likely to hit him hard…. early.
I see the TLR item as non-news. Of course, he is thinking about his future plans and of course, he won’t talk about it during the season. It has been exactly the same the six or seven previous times his contract was up.
. what are the unfolding season variables? ………..that he admits to be weighing…………of course Joe is being provocative………………..but Tony knew he would…………..
“It was a battle,” Carpenter said. “It was a battle the whole day trying to make pitches and trying to locate the ball. … It wasn’t one of my greatest, but I was able to give my team a chance to win.”
Indeed, he most certainly DID…
Despite the fact that Chris struggled and was at 94 pitches by the end of the 6th inning, he nevertheless gave us a quality outing. All we needed by an offense which had theretofore been firing on all cylinders was 4 measly runs! But, alas, our horse got screwed yet again! Zambrano gets worn-down and chased before he can complete 6 innings and we STILL can’t do what needs to be done against the doormat Flubs!
“You’ve got to get the bunt down, period,” Ryan said of his two tries against Cubs closer Carlos Marmol in the bottom of the ninth. “Really frustrating. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment. I was ready to do my job. I got a second chance, and I still screwed up.” Although blame can also be directed towards the hare-brained idea of taking Jon Jay out of the game, we cannot overlook the fact that our Lead-Off man was hitless, the fact that Matt had grounded-out in the 5th with bases loaded and the fact that Colby had struckout 3 times in his “Oh, for…” afternoon! Here’s hoping that the lapse in offense was just a fluke and not symptomatic of a general reversion to the first half nonsense…
It wouldn’t be so much of a concern, were it not for the fact that today’s game represents a much more formidable challenge than yesterday’s. In fact, it won’t matter even in the event that Lohse should enjoy an exceptionally fine outing, if our offense cannot do better in the face of a much better pitcher. Dempster does not represent mediocrity, by any stretch of the imagination…
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_ec16eae5-1cbe-57f6-82a2-aa2622b0fe60.html
Unless Ted Williams is going to step out of the dugout with a bat, why would it even occur to anyone to pinch hit for Jay?
Lopez is forcing Mo to do something. I don’t fault Flip. He’s done more, and for longer, than anyone had a reason to expect. The idea that Tony’s decision will hinge on it seems far fetched though. I can’t see where we’d be worse off with Gotay/Flip platoon.
Maybe we see Jay lead off and Craig hitting second, playing third.
As long as no one ever throws Craig a slider, I’m all for it. I’m with WC – that was a pitiful AB yesterday. It’s one thing to be able to mash against AAA pitching. It’s another thing entirely to face major league off-speed pitches. This guy ain’t ready.
Craig still hitting at a 28% LD rate. Either yesterday was an aberation or the rest of the league hasn’t figured out his slider problem.
Tony obviously not too worried as he is doing the worst thing (possible) for Craig and the Cards by starting him at 3rd this afternoon.
it was a bad day in baseball universe yesterday. I hope today will be better.
Craig has had 832 plate appearances at AAA. Since starting pro ball in June 2006, Craig been durable and has hit consistently for a good average. He is about as ready and mature as any rookie can be.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=craig-002all
Marmol has a fine fast ball. Batters have to protect against this. Doling so makes them vulnerable against a slider. Brad Lidge is another closer who has racked up a lot of Ks with the slider.
A guy with hardly any ML at bats not being able to come off the bench late in the game and look good against Zambrano when he’s on and then Marmol, does not mean he’s not ready to play in MLB. He looked no worse than Colby has looked many times earlier in the season.
Besides, if he goes Ofer we’re no worse off.
With the pitcher eighth, seven is where you try to hide ‘that guy’. Colby must be in the dog house.
I won’t see the game but won’t be able to resist checking online now and then to see how Kyle and Craig work out. Colby and Brendan could stand having good games. Same for Skip leading off. Come to think of it, an awful lot needs to go right today. Let’s hope it does.
I understand the weather in Stl is much less severe today. That should help Kyle I would think.
TLR could have gone with Winn in CF. After a terrible yesterday, Rasmus gets less pressure and Craig gets the pressure of batting 5th. TLR is doing Rasmus a favor.
The Cards were big favorites to win yesterday and needed to win. Now they need to win all the more. This is why Ironman Molina is not getting an off day.
We are lucky the doctors finally diagnosed Lohse’s ailment and saved his career.
Schumaker 2b
Jay rf
Pujols 1b
Holliday lf
Craig 3b
Molina c
Rasmus cf
Lohse p
Ryan ss
Just moments ago, with one ball and two strikes against him in his very first AB of the game (bottom of the 1st), Joey Votto was ejected from the game…
If we had won yesterday, Yadi would have the day off today. Poor guy, I don’t know how he does it.
What did he do to get ejected? Argue a strike call?
Think of how nice it would have been to see Jay/Colby 1nad 2………………… You can’t do it. Colby has taken the “exclusive swing”……..and then becomes more selective about laying off pitches that is can’t deal with………and turns into a strikeout machine………or a walk machine if the pitcher doesn’t know the difference………………Tony has set a trap there because he will likely be pitched around to get to the pitcher hitting 8th………hopefully Lohse can bunt and slap a little….
Stava is useless……it should have been Gotay……….that’s about something…….Votto just got tossed.
I’m surprised to see the Cardinals as favorites here………..hope someone sees more than me.
Jimmy Baseball is now playing 1st Base in today’s game, in place of Votto… Will wonders ever cease?
Lohse’s change ups are going to be giving birth to some “seeds” for Craig to admire over at third. I hope he’s up for it…………………..it my mind there is an element of human sacrifice going on here………… Tony’s well publicized speculation “prayer” in using Craig at third….against the Cubs…is putting a lot of pressure on Mo should it fail……….how not? He has no options.
I saw Gotay take a few quality AB’s against a good pitcher……….I’m no fan, but the kid was playing for the scouts he knew were there watching the Lohse start………… he would have looked good leading off today. He had many plus attributes.
Skip leading off will have some instructions I hope………….maybe an attempt at putting HR Skip back on the shelf.
Nick Stavinoha has been a veritable hit machine for Memphis (.447 and 4 homers) during the past 8 days. Talk about quality ABs, I’m not surprised that he was called back…
There it was out of DD mouth……….Penny will head to the Pen……….. closer by committee at first, then maybe a job…………………..if we get there………..
Derrick Lee versus Kyle Lohse – 8 for 19 and 1 homer…
Kyle looked good except for the HR. Offense needs to play better today.
15 pitches, 2 groundouts and 2 fly balls (one of them, deadly)… Hopefully, ’twas the “debut” jitters and Lohse will now settle-in….
Lohse must be so happy to have his arm back. He is feeling frisky. Too frisky on a pitch to Lee. Lohse needs to pitch carefully to the middle of the lineup, challenge the little guys.
Lohse is saving the slider??????? steps off ..way head and centers it………. his stuff is alright….worrying about saving pitches for the second time around is a little ” mysterious”.
Tip for tap… Thank you, Albert!
That is a healthy location for Albert……..show he is staying on it. We need to score plenty.
Our guys otherwise gave Dempster an easy 12-pitch, 2 strikeout inning…
Sort of synergy that both pitchers give up a HR in the 1st inning.
“Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night” against Marlon Byrd – very impressive!
17 pitches, HBP, BB, botched DP and 2 K… can’t complain…
Another 2-strike opposite field gem, courtesy of Yadier!
Nothing, but fast balls – alas… Colby could not catch-up to them!
Give Colby a gold star on that very worrisome fly ball…
Give Lohse a gold star for another “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night”…
Take that gold star away from Lohse for allowing another fly ball that went too far…
Talk about inconsistency… Lohse will strikeout a batter on three pitches and then turn around that allow for frightening fly balls!
Derek Lee likes Kyle Lohse.
That’s leading-off, Skip boy! Now, let’s get the table set for our boppers…
When we come up again next inning, it will be Matt’s turn to do some long-ball damage…
The positioning of our middle infield just transformed a DP into a hit (and RISP)…
The first hit and that walk are on Lohse… The second hit is on our middle infield. Instead of two outs, we have no outs and loaded bases….
When Lohse starts hopping after his release…………its over.
“…it won’t matter even in the event that Lohse should enjoy an exceptionally fine outing, if our offense cannot do better (than yesterday) in the face of a much better pitcher. Dempster does not represent mediocrity, by any stretch of the imagination…”
There goes Lohse’s quality outing and impressivde debut. Now, it’s on our offense more than ever. How big is yesterday’s loss now?
Yeah, Lohse just kinda fell apart like a cheap suit. 3 innings, 67 pitches, 6 H and 5 ER… disgusting!
Now we can give MacDougal some work, see what he can contribute.
Adding insult to injury, without even recording the first out of the inning, MaDougal adds a 6th ER to Lohse’s record!
How ’bout that? A hit and a WP and MacDougal doesn’t suffer a single ER on his record… As though the 5 that Lohse had already left were not enough!
All RIGHT! MacDougal notches his first ER of the game!
Now is the time for our offensive millionaires to open themselves a can o’ Kick Ass, flex their muscles and go full tilt at maximum potential… Yeah, I’m talking about the kind of Cardinal power required to get at least 8 runs in 6 innings! Is that really an unrealistic expectation?
Did anyone else see this coming?
Tony didn’t throw MacD in the fire for no reason…….this is likely his last appearance of the year.
Tony knew we weren’t going to hit Dempster. Mo needs to get some help says Tony.
Matt’s meek fly ball to shallow center was hardly an example of flexing his muscles and going full tilt at maximum potential…
Another Craig strikeout, followed by a fly ball to right-center: Three up and three down. Yeah, we’re really flexing our offensive muscles and going full tilt at maximum potential…
Are we going to go down like whipped, whimpering wimps?
Imagine losing two in a row to a depleted, dysfunctional and demoralized doormat club! How sickening would that be?
Yeah, Colby; if you can’t catch up to anything over 90mph, just stand there and hope for a walk…
The Reds have taken care of their business against the Marlins, 2 to 0…
Leave it to a small-baller, like Skip, to help ease the pain…
We always have trouble with the Cubs.
We now have 4 opportunities remaining, to score 7 runs…
Allen is going to wind-up challenging Colby for the strikeout championship…
Steve Hill, the Texas League Home Run King, is starting off for us in a Colby, Allen sort of way…
Having stranded Albert, we now have 3 opportunities remaining, to score 7 runs…
So far, Albert, Skip and Blake represent the only bright spots in this sorry game…
I’m glad Brendan got a hit after his disaster yesterday.
Attaboy, Brendan! Just throw the bat at that damned ball! Who knows? It just might go for a double!
Once again, we failed to flex any offensive muscle and go full tilt at maximum potential… Our offense just can’t get it up and rise to the occasion… too much time off!
We are now down to 2 opportunities remaining, to score 7 runs…
So far, Blake has looked sharp on the mound… So far, Albert and Skip represent the extent of our offense…
By hook or by crook, Jon is getting on base… damn it!
Albert certainly chased that one… C’est la vie…
“Oh, for…!” It’s been that kind of day, Matt…
“Oh, for…!” It’s been that kind of day, Allen…
We are now down to a final opportunity, to score 7 runs…
This time the ER is his own… For a change, leaky Reyes didn’t inherit runners, but created them himself.
In this sorry game, only one pitcher looked sharp (Blake) and only two batters gave us our two runs (Albert and Skip). Our offense has been absolutely pathetic for the second day in a row…
Add the Texas League Home Run king to the offensive category of Albert and Skip…
NIck is picking-up here where he left-off in Memphis…
Well, at least our small-ballers and B-Teamers aren’t goin’ down without a fight…
Bases are loaded and there are no outs? We should have pulled our big boppers and A-Teamers earlier in this game!
If Albert and Matt were still in we might have a chance. Alas………
Well, the B team has certainly made it interesting.
By hook or by crook, even if it means walking-in a run, Jon Jay was determined to be an offensive factor in this losing cause. I’m really proud of that undaunted fighter!
Thanks to Flip (LONG overdue), the tying run is now at the plate!
Did the great Marmol just give-up a hit, followed by a walk? To our B-Teamers? Wow!
Here is Allen Craig’s BIG opportunity!
‘Twas a productive out, Allen. We’ll take it!
Thanks to our small-ballers and B-Teamers, we didn’t go down as whimpering wimps. I’m really proud of those guys!
Steve Hill is .333 with a homer as a Major Leaguer, coming-up from AA Springfield. I’m really proud of HIM!
I wonder if they got that ball from the fan? The guy should just give Hill the ball for pete’s sake. I would.
Great to see Hill get a chance to show what he can do.
I wonder when Jeff Suppan is going to be ready to pitch again?
Suppan was placed on the 15 day DL, retroactive to August 1. He could be reactivated as early as Tuesday. Hmmm…….
When you just gone done losing with your ace, you can’t complain that much when you lose with your 4 or 5 guy.
I guess playing a hard nine should apply to the manager too. A lot of Mr. DeWit’s money was sitting on the bench when we tried to come back in the ninth. I’ll bet Albert and Yadi are hoppin mad they weren,t in there. Don’t know about Matt. Tony won’t have much luck getting either one of them to take a day off from here on.
The Rockies won but Jimenez didn’t get a win so he is stuck at 17. Waino can pass him on Wednesday hopefully.
As a starter for the Cards, Suppan’s ERA has been 4.14. That looks pretty good in relation to Lohse today.
When Suppan is able to return, he can be the 5th starter, Lohse bumps back to the pen, and we say goodbye, thanks for the memories, to MacDougal.
I suspect Suppan will be back by this weekend.
So how about that Allen Craig? Sure showed me, didn’t he?
So which Craig strikeout was better? This one, where he took a fat pitch in the strikezone and chased one practically in the dirt:
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/cache/numlocation.php-pitchSel=133225&game=gid_2010_08_15_chnmlb_slnmlb_1&batterX=38&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3.gif
Or this one, where he swung and missed at two strikes:
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/cache/location.php-pitchSel=133225&game=gid_2010_08_15_chnmlb_slnmlb_1&batterX=53&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3.gif
I could characterize our current situation………..but I really already have……………haven’t I……..
Curious to hear some of the baseball experts here tell me whats likely to happen next………
I have told you why Colby would slump…………now that he is………whats going to happen?
Craig can’t (hasn’t) hit ML pitching……….he has an extremely evident hitting flaw that makes him worthless at this level………….is it though that it can’t be dealt with here and now……….if so why is he here?
When I pointed out on Friday that we had lost all our Reds sweep momentum with arrogant displays of “career speculations” in the batters box ………..hero’s strutting everywhere basking in their glory, not much of a response
Tony resting the hero’s before a day off……….. quite a liberty……quite an assessment of reality…
quite what? Quite a play (statement)………..he had no line up options………… The team has serious problems of which there are no apparent solutions. AP has arrived…….can’t count on that…………Garcia loses that game today too……….he was spared. ………….Duncan let out the Penny bullpen future as if that was a surprise.
And the Reds pick themselves up and sweep Florida………..and we have the troublesome Brewers coming and the nasty hungry spending money Giants on the way.
Lohse will pitch next weekend………he seems healthy……….Craig should be sent down because he is unlikely to be used again…………… The unrealistic expectations that Miles or Winn are “difference makers” is kind of a joke…………. Hill has a swing, but no future right now………LaRue is another wasted player because he isn’t used……….never as a pinch hitter……………..
AP now has BD in a “Toe hold”……….. Mo, who spent so much time using the Lohse return as something important, is now out of stalling plays…………
Truth of the matter……….if not the Cubs……then who????????? Carp can be beat by chumps……..Lohse may have survived with a little offensive activity around him………. his contract will dominate any baseball logic…………. Dempster did not have great stuff today..a journeyman effort all ways……….that’s how bad we really are at the plate…………Lopez’s situation is and was well know………Ryan and Shoemaker sure aren’t hiding cards under the table……..the outfield is now set………..gotta have a bat at third…….no way of getting around it.
The P-D mentions Mo is looking into soon to be free agent Brandon Inge. He came up a catcher and moved to 3B. TLR would like a vet and a reliable fielder. Inge would fit.
How could the organization’s player of the year not be any good?
Minor league player of the year, BB? Well, the organization’s minor leaguers aren’t very good, for one. Secondly, a hitter can get away with more in AAA than he can in the majors. Some guys can play well enough to pound mediocre pitching yet get destroyed by major league quality repertoires. These guys inhabit an imaginary space known as AAAA.
So what if Brandon Inge is placed on waivers and another contender doesn’t put in a claim to block the Cardinals from having a shot at him? Do we need a glove at 3rd Base so desperately that we’re willing to settle for something FAR less at the plate (career .238) than what we’re getting from Flip (career .268)? Look at his fielding record, which has become less and less remarkable, and you’ll agree that Inge represents a whole lotta nuthin’ on a nearly 7 million dollar plate…
That’s the word Nut…………
BB, you can’t just look at the pedigree of a player………that means something but in truth, there is another variable here………….. the tactical preparation and performance of big league pitching in the modern age has become lethal in exploiting swing flaws……(holes)……….and the rapidity of the adjustments can in some instances, adapt within the confines of a single game……..(Dave D )
4 months for AP………. to make a small adjustment with a slightly augmented targeting emphasis.?????????
Colby seemingly without witness or coaching………Brendan…..??????an idiot???????he has been asked/told many times to give up what he’s doing…….can’t…….
Craig should be sent down for his own good…………if he isn’t, the Cardinals will have rendered another bench position….”meaningless”………the book in out on his weakness……….people are paid to notice these things…….. he shows no aptitude for adjustments.
THE BARRAGE OF THE SMALL-BALLERS & B-TEAMERS…
(from “Cardinals late rally falls short” by Gerard Apadula):
“After a Steve Hill homerun, pinch hitter Nick Stavinoha ripped a single past the shortstop, Aaron Miles followed with a single, Brendon Ryan walked, Skip Schumaker struck out, Jon Jay walked, Felipe Lozez singled in two, Allen Craig grounded out and so too did Steven Hill….game over….close but no cigar”
“The Cardinals are 10-5 against their arch rival Cincinnati Reds, yet are a combined 9-12 vs the lowly Cubs and Astros……go figure”
http://network.yardbarker.com/MLB/article_external/Cardinals_late_rally_falls_short/3056986
PHILOSOPHY OF A LOSER – “We’re down by 7 runs, so I might as well pull all my key players and give them a day off”
I would like to forget about that Sunday when Tony had quite obviously attempted to give Joe Torre a birthday gift, but games like yesterday keep refreshing my memory…
Against Tony’s non-competitive notions, several courageous players rose to the occasion and did much more than give the pompous wimp a Spring Training exercise: Blake Hawksworth, Steve Hill, Nick Stavinoha, Aaron Miles, Brendan Ryan, Jon Jay and Felipe Lopez. They damned near won the game! This team will continue to win games, not because of Tony, but in spite of him!
Westie thinks if he throws enough BS against the wall and a little bit of it sticks he’s a genius.
You’re an insightful guy, CC. I know that you have more to contribute to a discussion than your 100th WC bashing of the year.
CFS, while Inge doesn’t hit much in the way of average, he does present a sizable defensive upgrade at third base over anyone else on the Cardinals team and has a legitimate power bat, despite a down year in that department. I don’t know that there is any hope of landing him, however.
Schumaker struck out three times yesterday, once more than Allen Craig. Skip gets more favorable R/L matchups, plays regularly, and is accustomed to the majors. But he still whiffed.
Its nice when a rookie enjoys a smooth introduction to the majors. Jay has had a great entry, helped by more at bats, given his left swing and ability to play CF.
Nut, some people are new here. They might take Westie’s delusion’s of grander seriously if not warned.
Jon Jay squirmed a bit when he first came up. On his second arrival he seemed quite focused, self motivated, and very much an opportunist, exploiting our apparent weaknesses in some positions.
Watching Gotay in spring training, I couldn’t help but notice his willingness to speculate in regards to a rational expression of expected performance criteria…………….. (he show boated and blew it) ……Many bad throws and unforced errors were his lot.
When I saw him in Reno, he seemed quite relaxed. He showed some quality defensive skills snagging a couple of “seeds” that only KL could have given birth to. His throws were exceptional. He showed above average skills at the plate, using all fields and some very nice variation in tempo as the game situation demanded…………. He had a 3 run dinger the night before.
Considering many of the variables, not giving him a look, even if it was a band-aid move until something comes along is just a little bit perplexing………….even revealing I would speculate.
You can’t over use Lopez as an everyday…..proven fact…………Craig isn’t in the ball game. They will catch him leaning every time………..back him up, and then outer third……..rookies could do that……………………………… so what’s the problem here ? Lets see Gotay against the Brewers.
Jumbo, I would hope that the Cardinals would aspire to employ players of a superior caliber to Skip Schumaker this season, particularly if they are playing a corner position. Skippy and his .666 OPS are an embarassment to himself and the team. Of the 79 NL players with at least 375 PA, Skip has the seventh worst OPS. Molina has the sixth worst, but at least he can play defense.
I don’t like to jump on some players Nut……….. Whats true is that Skip knows his baseball career isn’t going past his current contract………….. unless he seriously does a Dan Uggla at some point. He isn’t that good I’m afraid. He exists only as a Cardinal remedy……..no other team would touch him…………..he knows the truth of this.
Last year Skip’s OPS was circa 760, plenty good enuf for the light hitting position of 2B.
Ozzie Smith’s career OPS was 665. Was the htting part of his career an “embarassment”?
Wow. Comparing Ozzie and Skip? Really? Unfortunately, a team has to play an entire ballplayer, not just part (unless you count the stupid DH!).
Ozzie’s career .665 OPS includes the early years with San Diego when he couldn’t hit at all. low 500′s. He was near or above .700 most of the time here.
I agree that Gotay should get a look. Before Sept first in case he turns out to be better than what we have now. He could be an option at both third and second and might give us a top of the order guy who can get on along with Jay. He is really not likely to be a defensive downgrade at either position.
I understand Milwaukee has put a couple infielders thru waivers, we will get a look the next couple days.
Ozzie had 15 seasons in St Louis. 4 of the years he had an OPS lower than Skip this season, 25 percent of the time. Ozzie’s best couple of years at the plate were comparable to Skip during 2008-9.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/S/Ozzie-Smith.shtml
Skip seems like a great guy and when he was putting up a strong batting average against RHP, he was a useful player. However, his current offensive performance, coupled with a sub-par defense (as opposed to Molina and Smith’s game changing defense) makes him a very poor major league starter. Further defensively challenged guys like Allen Craig need to do a lot better than that if they hope to stick with the team.
If you look at what’s been done………….the Cardinals have already prepared to loose this year….
The Cubs and Brewers and Houston and Pittsburgh will destroy us down the stretch……….. because they’re out of it…………with no hope……..no reason not to use extremely volatile tactics…like walking multiple players with two outs to get to a chump……………It really isn’t about Skip….its admitting where he came from and why………………its not about Lopez at third……….its just that while he is there, we have no recourse but to rely on Ryan and Shu…………….
We are looking at two of MLB’s worst pitchers mid week……………they should be destroyed so that the pitchers can control pitch counts and innings ………laughers………….. How many think that that’s going to happen? They will just pitch around the King…….avoid the prince….and try to bring yadi back to double play land………….
And then its Frisco……in a race. Carp gets Timmy……Lohse gets the LH curve monster “Zito”. If that ain’t trouble……………. and Craig is your back up save for Stava………..tell me that looks good. This race could be over this week because the Reds know there in one…….Cardinals in denial………………
I’m not ready to give up on the Cardinals this season after dropping two of three against the Cubs. They’re a better team than Cincy and they’ll show it.
I think that Skip makes for a fine part time player and I think that he could have a reasonable career as a super sub if he picked up third base at some point, but he shouldn’t be starting for a playoff caliber team.
Of course, Skip, like many Cardinal hitters this season, has shown poor plate discipline. His walk to strikeout ratio is below normal and he’s swinging at too many pitches outside of the zone. If coach McGwire is steering him back in the right direction, maybe he can regain replacement level status.
Its not give up time Nut……..its sober up time……… Lohse can beat Zito………..Carp can beat TL…..the question is…….now that AP is feeding again…….and he is…… who else is hungry? It wasn’t till the Men were off the field Sunday, that the boys started playing………….We are a proven loser in the configuration of Super Star and cast……………… Brewers could put up some runs tonight. Colby starts……………is he a player……….Lopez starts, is he still unfocused? Is Yadi back ti business, or is he still swaggering? 3hrs till story time.
Cardinals’ lineup:
Schumaker 2b
Jay cf
Pujols 1b
Holliday lf
Craig rf
Lopez 3b
Molina c
Garcia p
Ryan ss
Here’s your answer concerning Colby…………..this I’m pretty sure is Craig s wake up call………if he doesn’t contribute………he won’t see the weekend.
Molina is 7th…………yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rationale…………..lefty is tomorrow…….after a day off……..Tony is pressing an issue with Mo/BD.
Found out the answer to my question about Chris Duncan from awhile back. He left Syracuse and is back in St. Louis for hip surgery, the other hip, not the one operated on before. Will take place in a couple weeks.
Heard it suggested that Walt is part of the ‘ol boys’ network of GMs, and they would like to see him win. This may be causing Mo some difficulties trying to upgrade certain areas.
Cards have wire position on Reds BB. Concil is a better hitter than we have…..but he isn’t the solution………… Any Detroit maneuver would have competition at this point. If we reach out problem solved…………if we slum and try to cash in player value, no help in site.
I can’t see Mo going for a 40 yr old 3rd baseman, however short term. But if there is any truth to the GM ‘ol boy’ talk, Doug Melvin would surely be in Walt’s corner, making Counsell a no go. I bet we don’t see him at third, if at all, this series.
I’ve also read where Sabean, out there in Westyland, is/has/will try to put a stick in Mo’s spokes. I don’t really understand why. Besides, The Giants have a better record (barely) so wouldn’t be able to get in a waiver claim ahead of us.