Friday night’s suicide squeeze by Matt Pagnozzi was the St. Louis Cardinals’ first in three years.
St. Louis Cardinals rookie catcher Matt Pagnozzi executed a squeeze play in the sixth inning on Friday night, driving home the last of the Cardinals’ three runs in their win over the Colorado Rockies.
It was the first successful suicide squeeze for an RBI by a member of the Cardinals in almost three years. The last was been in April 2008 by pitcher Brad Thompson.
In the last 51 years, since 1960, the Cardinals have executed 146 sacrifice bunts that delivered an RBI. That averages slightly fewer than three per season. As recently as 2005, the Cardinals had 11 such plays, executed by 11 different players.
Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith led the way with 20 sac bunts for RBIs since 1960.
St. Louis Cardinals team leaders, sacrifice bunt RBI, 1960-2010
| O.Smith | 20 |
| Forsch | 7 |
| Herr | 7 |
| Oquendo | 6 |
| Taguchi | 5 |
| LaValliere | 4 |
| Matheny | 4 |
| Pendleton | 4 |
By a considerable margin, the 1980′s era Whiteyball was the most prevalent decade for this play.
St. Louis Cardinals, sacrifice bunt RBI by decade, 1960-2010
| 2000′s | 31 |
| 1990′s | 18 |
| 1980′s | 68 |
| 1970′s | 9 |
| 1960′s | 17 |
The list of the previous 145 sacrifice bunts that delivered RBIs follows, all courtesy of researcher Tom Orf.
St. Louis Cardinals, sacrifice bunt RBI, 1960-2010
| Date | Batter | Opp | Pitcher | Score | BOP | Pos | Inn | RoB | Out | RBI | |
| 4/8/2008 | Brad Thompson | @HOU | Shawn Chacon | tied 0-0 | 8 | 1 | Out | t2 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/15/2007 | Brendan Ryan | @MIL | Yovani Gallardo | ahead 1-5 | 9 | 4 | Out | t6 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/10/2006 | Jeff Suppan | @ARI | Tony Pena | ahead 4-6 | 9 | 1 | Out | t6 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/1/2006 | Ronnie Belliard | PHI | Scott Mathieson | down 3-1 | 7 | 4 | Out | b4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/19/2006 | So Taguchi | @KCR | Joel Peralta | ahead 5-8 | 7 | 7 | Out | t5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/24/2006 | David Eckstein | PIT | Oliver Perez | ahead 0-3 | 1 | 6 | Out | b2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/17/2005 | Mark Mulder | @CHC | Greg Maddux | ahead 0-1 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/2/2005 | John Rodriguez | @HOU | Brad Lidge | tied 3-3 | 5 | 7 | Out | t10 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/20/2005 | Yadier Molina | SFG | Kevin Correia | ahead 2-3 | 8 | 2 | FC | b6 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/17/2005 | Abraham Nunez | ARI | Brandon Webb | ahead 0-4 | 2 | 5 | Out | b7 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/10/2005 | So Taguchi | @MIL | Ben Sheets | tied 0-0 | 3 | 9 | Out | t1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/31/2005 | Hector Luna | @LAD | Steve Schmoll | ahead 2-4 | 7 | 5 | Out | t8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/26/2005 | Einar Diaz | @SDP | Woody Williams | ahead 0-3 | 8 | 2 | Out | t6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/6/2005 | David Eckstein | @ARI | Javier Vazquez | tied 1-1 | 1 | 6 | Out | t9 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/25/2005 | Chris Carpenter | PIT | Mark Redman | ahead 0-4 | 9 | 1 | Out | b4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/6/2005 | Matt Morris | BOS | Tim Wakefield | ahead 1-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | b2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/17/2005 | Jeff Suppan | @PHI | Cory Lidle | down 2-0 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/18/2004 | So Taguchi | ARI | Chad Durbin | ahead 0-4 | 2 | 8 | Out | b7 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/11/2004 | Mike Matheny | ATL | Jaret Wright | ahead 1-2 | 8 | 2 | RoE | b6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/29/2004 | So Taguchi | PHI | Kevin Millwood | tied 0-0 | 8 | 7 | Out | b5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/22/2004 | Hector Luna | @HOU | Dan Miceli | tied 1-1 | 9 | 11 | Out | t12 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/16/2003 | Bo Hart | MIL | Luis Martinez | ahead 0-3 | 1 | 4 | Out | b2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/24/2003 | So Taguchi | PHI | Mike Williams | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 9 | Out | b8 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/3/2003 | Bo Hart | SFG | Kirk Rueter | ahead 0-3 | 1 | 4 | Out | b2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/27/2003 | Orlando Palmeiro | @FLA | Tim Spooneybarger | ahead 1-5 | 9 | 11 | Out | t9 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/10/2002 | Miguel Cairo | @MIL | Jose Cabrera | ahead 3-6 | 1 | 4 | Out | t8 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/11/2002 | Chuck Finley | NYM | Pedro Astacio | tied 0-0 | 9 | 1 | RoE | b2 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/14/2002 | Bud Smith | @SDP | Bobby Jones | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | t6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/1/2002 | Mike Matheny | PIT | Bronson Arroyo | ahead 0-5 | 8 | 2 | Out | b1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/2/2001 | Mike Matheny | @LAD | Kevin Brown | tied 0-0 | 8 | 2 | Out | t2 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/27/2001 | Mike Matheny | @CHC | Jason Bere | ahead 1-2 | 8 | 2 | Out | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/6/1999 | Joe McEwing | @DET | Bryce Florie | tied 1-1 | 1 | 4 | RoE | t5 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/22/1998 | Luis Ordaz | HOU | Scott Elarton | ahead 0-3 | 7 | 6 | Out | b6 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/16/1998 | Joe McEwing | PIT | Jason Christiansen | ahead 0-2 | 1 | 4 | Out | b7 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/7/1998 | Kent Bottenfield | CHC | Steve Trachsel | tied 3-3 | 8 | 1 | RoE | b1 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/5/1998 | Kent Mercker | @MIL | Jeff Juden | ahead 1-3 | 8 | 1 | FC | t4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/12/1998 | Placido Polanco | HOU | Sean Bergman | ahead 1-3 | 7 | 4 | Out | b3 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/25/1998 | David Howard | @PHI | Yorkis Perez | ahead 5-6 | 8 | 4 | Out | t8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/24/1997 | Andy Benes | @SFG | Joe Roa | ahead 2-3 | 9 | 1 | Out | t4 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/15/1997 | Brady Raggio | @FLA | Alex Fernandez | ahead 0-3 | 9 | 1 | Out | t4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/13/1996 | Danny Sheaffer | @LAD | Mark Guthrie | tied 0-0 | 7 | 2 | Out | t9 | 12- | 0 | 1 |
| 9/12/1993 | Rheal Cormier | @SFG | John Burkett | ahead 1-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | t4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/22/1993 | Jose Oquendo | COL | Jeff Parrett | ahead 2-4 | 8 | 6 | Out | b8 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/23/1992 | Rheal Cormier | CIN | Jose Rijo | tied 1-1 | 9 | 1 | Out | b2 | 1-3 | 0 | 1 |
| 8/25/1991 | Tom Pagnozzi | LAD | Tim Belcher | ahead 1-3 | 7 | 2 | Out | b6 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/13/1991 | Jose Oquendo | @SDP | Atlee Hammaker | ahead 1-4 | 8 | 4 | Out | t5 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/9/1990 | Bryn Smith | @CHC | Mike Bielecki | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/5/1990 | Ozzie Smith | @SDP | Greg Harris | ahead 1-2 | 2 | 6 | Out | t9 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/1/1990 | Jose Oquendo | CHC | Greg Maddux | ahead 1-2 | 8 | 4 | Out | b6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 08/14/1989-2 | Tim Jones | ATL | Paul Assenmacher | ahead 2-4 | 7 | 6 | Out | b6 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/22/1989 | Terry Pendleton | MON | Gene Harris | ahead 2-3 | 3 | 5 | FC | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/11/1988 | Ozzie Smith | CHC | Mike Harkey | tied 2-2 | 2 | 6 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/5/1988 | Ozzie Smith | MON | Jeff Parrett | ahead 2-4 | 2 | 6 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/24/1988 | Jose Oquendo | ATL | Bruce Sutter | ahead 3-4 | 7 | 4 | Out | b8 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/28/1988 | Luis Alicea | MON | John Dopson | tied 2-2 | 8 | 4 | Out | b6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/23/1988 | Ozzie Smith | PHI | Shane Rawley | ahead 0-1 | 2 | 6 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/4/1988 | Jose Oquendo | @PHI | Kent Tekulve | ahead 1-5 | 7 | 5 | FC | t8 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/30/1988 | Luis Alicea | @LAD | Fernando Valenzuela | ahead 0-1 | 8 | 4 | FC | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/21/1988 | Tom Herr | @PIT | Vicente Palacios | ahead 3-7 | 4 | 4 | Out | t7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/15/1987 | Bob Forsch | @PHI | Kevin Gross | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/30/1987 | Jose Oquendo | ATL | Gene Garber | tied 3-3 | 7 | 4 | FC | b9 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/14/1987 | Greg Mathews | PHI | Bruce Ruffin | down 3-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | b2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/28/1987 | Ozzie Smith | @MON | Jeff Parrett | tied 6-6 | 2 | 6 | Out | t11 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/14/1987 | Tom Herr | CHC | Ed Lynch | ahead 0-2 | 3 | 4 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/13/1987 | Ozzie Smith | CHC | Dickie Noles | ahead 2-4 | 2 | 6 | Out | b7 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/19/1987 | Rod Booker | @ATL | Rick Mahler | tied 3-3 | 8 | 11 | Out | t7 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/12/1987 | Joe Magrane | @SFG | Mike LaCoss | ahead 1-5 | 9 | 1 | Out | t9 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/26/1987 | Bob Forsch | @NYM | Randy Myers | ahead 0-6 | 9 | 1 | Out | t5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/21/1986 | Mike LaValliere | @MON | Curt Brown | ahead 2-6 | 7 | 2 | Out | t8 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/31/1986 | Tom Herr | CIN | Carl Willis | ahead 3-7 | 3 | 4 | FC | b6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/13/1986 | Danny Cox | @MON | Bryn Smith | tied 1-1 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/7/1986 | John Tudor | PHI | Kevin Gross | tied 2-2 | 9 | 1 | RoE | b6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/4/1986 | Terry Pendleton | PHI | Dan Schatzeder | tied 2-2 | 5 | 5 | FC | b9 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/30/1986 | Bob Forsch | @PHI | Charles Hudson | ahead 0-1 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/21/1986 | Tom Herr | SFG | Steve Carlton | tied 3-3 | 5 | 4 | Out | b6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/29/1986 | Mike LaValliere | PHI | Don Carman | ahead 4-5 | 6 | 2 | Out | b8 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/27/1986 | Ozzie Smith | PHI | Shane Rawley | down 1-0 | 2 | 6 | RoE | b5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/24/1986 | Terry Pendleton | PIT | Jim Winn | ahead 1-2 | 7 | 5 | Out | b4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/11/1986 | Mike LaValliere | MON | Jeff Reardon | down 3-2 | 6 | 11 | Out | b9 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/3/1986 | Greg Mathews | @HOU | Jim Deshaies | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | t5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/11/1986 | Mike LaValliere | SFG | Mike Krukow | ahead 0-1 | 8 | 2 | Out | b2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/8/1986 | Ozzie Smith | SDP | Craig Lefferts | tied 3-3 | 2 | 6 | Out | b6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/20/1985 | Ozzie Smith | MON | Randy St. Claire | ahead 3-4 | 7 | 6 | Out | b8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/26/1985 | Ozzie Smith | @CIN | Jay Tibbs | ahead 0-2 | 8 | 6 | Out | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/23/1985 | Randy Hunt | CHC | Lary Sorensen | ahead 0-4 | 8 | 2 | Out | b6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/18/1985 | Tom Nieto | PHI | Larry Andersen | ahead 0-4 | 8 | 2 | Out | b5 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/16/1985 | Ozzie Smith | @CHC | Dennis Eckersley | ahead 0-2 | 7 | 6 | Out | t4 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/14/1985 | Tom Nieto | @CHC | Lary Sorensen | ahead 4-5 | 8 | 2 | RoE | t6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/28/1985 | Tom Nieto | @ATL | Zane Smith | ahead 0-2 | 8 | 2 | RoE | t4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/26/1985 | Terry Pendleton | @CIN | John Franco | ahead 2-4 | 6 | 5 | Out | t8 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/20/1985 | Ozzie Smith | ATL | Craig McMurtry | ahead 0-5 | 2 | 6 | Out | b4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 09/12/1984-2 | Ozzie Smith | @PHI | Kevin Gross | down 3-2 | 8 | 6 | RoE | t4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/17/1984 | Ozzie Smith | NYM | Bruce Berenyi | ahead 1-3 | 8 | 6 | Out | b4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/27/1984 | Tom Herr | @ATL | Terry Forster | ahead 8-11 | 2 | 4 | Out | t8 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/18/1984 | Ozzie Smith | CIN | Tom Hume | ahead 3-4 | 7 | 6 | Out | b8 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/27/1984 | Ozzie Smith | @MON | Bob James | ahead 2-5 | 8 | 6 | RoE | t8 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/22/1983 | Jeff Doyle | NYM | Ron Darling | ahead 0-1 | 2 | 4 | Out | b5 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/7/1983 | Ken Oberkfell | PIT | Rod Scurry | ahead 1-4 | 6 | 5 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/4/1983 | Glenn Brummer | CIN | Joe Price | ahead 0-1 | 8 | 2 | Out | b2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/19/1983 | Andy Van Slyke | HOU | Mike Madden | ahead 0-1 | 3 | 5 | Out | b8 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/21/1983 | Neil Allen | @NYM | Tom Gorman | ahead 0-3 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/17/1983 | Ozzie Smith | CHC | Chuck Rainey | ahead 2-3 | 8 | 6 | RoE | b4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/11/1983 | Ozzie Smith | @CHC | Craig Lefferts | tied 0-0 | 8 | 6 | Out | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/15/1983 | John Stuper | NYM | Scott Holman | ahead 0-4 | 9 | 1 | RoE | b6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/23/1982 | Ozzie Smith | LAD | Terry Forster | ahead 1-4 | 1 | 6 | Out | b6 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/14/1982 | Mike Ramsey | @PIT | Kent Tekulve | ahead 1-3 | 7 | 5 | Out | t8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/13/1982 | Bob Forsch | @PIT | Don Robinson | down 2-1 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/3/1982 | Ozzie Smith | PIT | Don Robinson | ahead 1-3 | 8 | 6 | Out | b5 | 123 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/31/1982 | Steve Mura | @MON | Dan Schatzeder | ahead 0-6 | 9 | 1 | Out | t6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/30/1982 | Dave LaPoint | @MON | Scott Sanderson | tied 3-3 | 9 | 1 | FC | t6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/8/1982 | Ken Oberkfell | @MON | Woodie Fryman | ahead 3-4 | 2 | 5 | Out | t12 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/8/1982 | Mike Ramsey | @MON | Steve Rogers | down 2-1 | 9 | 11 | Out | t7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/4/1982 | Bob Forsch | LAD | Terry Forster | ahead 2-4 | 9 | 1 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/28/1982 | Mike Ramsey | SDP | Juan Eichelberger | ahead 1-3 | 8 | 4 | Out | b7 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/12/1981 | Tom Herr | @HOU | Joe Sambito | tied 2-2 | 8 | 4 | RoE | t10 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/3/1980 | Tom Herr | @LAD | Rick Sutcliffe | ahead 1-3 | 1 | 4 | Out | t9 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/16/1980 | Pete Vuckovich | SDP | Bob Shirley | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | b7 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/23/1976 | Eric Rasmussen | CHC | Ray Burris | tied 0-0 | 9 | 1 | Out | b3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/21/1976 | Lynn McGlothen | NYM | Bob Apodaca | ahead 1-5 | 9 | 1 | Out | b5 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6/3/1976 | Bob Forsch | PHI | Larry Christenson | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | Out | b2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/4/1976 | John Denny | @ATL | Phil Niekro | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | FC | t2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/24/1975 | Al Hrabosky | ATL | Max Leon | ahead 2-5 | 9 | 1 | FC | b8 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/2/1975 | Bob Forsch | @CHC | Milt Wilcox | ahead 0-3 | 9 | 1 | Out | t9 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/25/1974 | Lou Brock | @LAD | Andy Messersmith | down 5-1 | 1 | 7 | Out | t3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/14/1972 | Mick Kelleher | @MON | Bill Stoneman | ahead 0-1 | 8 | 6 | Out | t2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 08/13/1972-1 | Dal Maxvill | @PIT | Dock Ellis | ahead 0-1 | 8 | 6 | Out | t7 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/12/1969 | Jim Ellis | PIT | Steve Blass | ahead 0-2 | 9 | 1 | FC | b2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/1/1967 | Dal Maxvill | HOU | Bruce Von Hoff | ahead 0-2 | 8 | 6 | Out | b4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/15/1966 | Julian Javier | @CIN | Sammy Ellis | ahead 1-2 | 8 | 4 | Out | t4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/9/1966 | Ray Washburn | HOU | Larry Dierker | ahead 0-1 | 9 | 1 | RoE | b2 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/5/1966 | Phil Gagliano | @SFG | Ron Herbel | ahead 1-2 | 2 | 5 | Out | t8 | -23 | 1 | 1 |
| 09/05/1965-2 | Ray Washburn | NYM | Rob Gardner | tied 0-0 | 9 | 1 | Out | b5 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7/4/1965 | Bob Purkey | @NYM | Galen Cisco | ahead 0-1 | 9 | 1 | Out | t2 | 123 | 0 | 1 |
| 06/13/1965-2 | Bob Purkey | MLN | Hank Fischer | ahead 0-1 | 9 | 1 | FC | b4 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/20/1964 | Bill White | @CIN | Joe Nuxhall | ahead 0-4 | 5 | 3 | Out | t3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 05/10/1964-2 | Ray Washburn | @NYM | Tom Sturdivant | ahead 1-6 | 9 | 1 | Out | t6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/3/1964 | Dick Groat | PIT | Don Schwall | ahead 3-5 | 2 | 6 | Out | b2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/19/1964 | Julian Javier | @HOU | Don Nottebart | tied 1-1 | 8 | 4 | Out | t2 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8/3/1963 | Julian Javier | PHI | Cal McLish | tied 0-0 | 7 | 4 | Out | b2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4/14/1962 | Don Landrum | @CHC | Cal Koonce | ahead 1-4 | 1 | 8 | Out | t6 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 9/1/1961 | Jimmie Schaffer | PIT | Al McBean | ahead 2-7 | 8 | 2 | Out | b7 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 06/20/1961-2 | Bob Lillis | @CIN | Joey Jay | ahead 0-4 | 8 | 4 | Out | t6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5/3/1961 | Hal Smith | PIT | Vinegar Bend Mizell | ahead 0-2 | 8 | 2 | Out | b5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow The Cardinal Nation Blog on Facebook.
That was an exciting play. I watched the video muliple times.
I have a ticket for tomorrow’s game. I would love to see more of the same.
I remember the one on 6-11-86 because it was my oldest sons first game, took him for his 4th birthday. It was typical edge of your seat Whiteyball and the fans were going crazy. Bottom of the ninth Cards trailing by one run. Jack Clark led off with a double. Ozzie sacrificed him to third. Then Spanky LaValliere stepped up, Clark broke for the plate and Spanky laid down the bunt. Perfect suicide squeeze.
Need a little help from some of you sabr wonks. The first quote is from the fangraphs article linked below, on Wainy, the second quote is a comment on the board following the article. I’m making a serious effort to understand this stuff, but I can’t quite follow. Thanks for any help.
“In 2010, Wainwright has taken his curveball use to another level, increasing to 28.5% of his pitches and his strikeout rate to 8.26 K/9 and lowering his FIP to 2.86. He has not sacrificed control, lowering his walk rate to 2.21 BB/9. His curveball and slider, which may be more of a cutter, have been slightly less effective, but still very useful pitches. The significant change has occurred in the effectiveness of his fastball. Wainwright has decreased the number of fastballs thrown to a career low 46.5% of pitches. With this decrease has come a drastic increase in the effectiveness of the fastball without changing the velocity, moving to 1.00 wFB/C from last year’s total of -0.75 wFB/C.”
“I think that, if you dig a bit deeper into the linear weights you’ll find that a LOT of this difference has to do with results on balls in play. Last year BABIP on his fastball was about 50 points higher than it is this year. I think that’s a more likely explanation for the turn around in value than the small decrease in fastball usage.”
http://www.fangraphs.com/community/index.php/wainwright-throws-fewer-fastballs-increases-effectiveness/
I wrote a very clever reply BB…………but then lost it by an inadvertent key pad touch………..must be Karma……………….
A better way to look at it…………….. arm fatigue from too many curve balls……….grip fatigue from to many sliders…………………….. Pressure from longer counts because of developing fatigue yielding more predictable fastballs and locations as a result……….Pitching to contact earlier to elongate the chance for run support and wins…………… shorter periods in the dugout from first pitch swinging AHoles…………..etc, etc No FFFFFFFFFFing run support…………………………bottom line……..I told you they would get tired….and they did………………. This team was engineered to lose, and it did. ……………… there was a purpose it seems……………we will see soon enough…………………… If they yank on Tony’s chain , we will know about it………… If they were going to make a move for Westbrooke, it would be in the next 10 days, or there would at least be stories of an offer. Doubt it………… Ryan, bare handing a high bouncer deep in the hole, and making that throw against a speedster……..in a 0/0 game?????????? I would guess he thinks its him or Shu that may be goated…………… his motivation was par for the course……..Rasmus shaved his “sole patch”……….wow…….whats going on.
Love those “…………………………”es. So peaceful.
Its also hard to mis-spell, when typing “……………………..” No unsightly typos, like sole patch or revue.
I always thought of it like a patch in a bums shoe Shrimp……………..it hardly seems soulful. Your drinking again Jumbo and that saddens me. You seemed lucid for a while. Get to a meeting.
After reading a few “……………………”es, I had a splendid night’s sleep. There is no reason for Cards fans to get misled or alienated by Westie’s thoughts and typos, if they instead just focus on the “……………………”es. These filler-dots are the CNB equivalent to a sleep-sound machine.
Its a happy day. Today is McDougle’s last in a Cards uniform.
Who says Dave Duncan is always a miracle worker? Esteban Yan, Jorge Sosa, and McDougle say Dave is a mere mortal.
MacDougal is how his name is spelled. We are going to miss him next year, for games in which we are 10 runs down.
This could also be the last day for some guys who have served well. Today will be the 108th start by Jeff Suppan in a Cards uniform. His record is 46 and 35 as a starter, 11 games over 500. Todays will be Suppan’s 411th ML start. That is a lot of work, more than 2,500 innings in the majors. A fine long career. Even in 2010, Suppan was a help, enabling the team to survive injuries to Penny and Ottavino.
Little Aaron Miles reached the heights with TLR. 753 OPS in 2008 enabled Miles to land a nice contract from the Cubbies and he responded with a 466 OPS. Other teams dropped Miles for 2010, but not TLR. Miles bounced back with a 632 OPS in 2010, plus made two pitching appearances (no runs) and played SS yesterday.
Randy Winn has a 697 OPS in limited play for the Cards in 2010. Winn helped out. 5 for 5 in steal attempts, 17 RBIs.
Not going to miss Pedro Feliz’s 482 OPS. Pedro needs to retire, let another player have a chance.
Jake Westbrook will have a starting job next season, throwing 202 innings, with a 3.5 ERA for the Cards. Mo would like to retain him.
Dennis Reyes will be a free agent, so the Cards will hunt for a replacement LOOGY.
Heh. It seems that after the past couple of seasons, the thing that I most look forward to the following year is the Cardinals cutting dead weight. I’m with you, Jumbo.
BB, those quotes are bursting with stats and information. Is there any part in particular that is giving you trouble? In essence, the first quote is asserting that by throwing his curveball more often and his fastball less often, Wainwright is giving up one fewer run than league average per 100 fastballs thrown this season as opposed to giving up 0.75 more runs than league average per 100 fastballs thrown last season. He’s saying that Wainwright’s pitches themselves didn’t actually change but that he started employing them more effectively.
The quote in reply asserts that the improvement in Wainwright’s fastball performance this season is not due to using it less frequently but due to the fact that when opposing batters are making contact, they are ending up with fewer hits. From that quote, I’m not sure if he is attributing the difference in opposing batting average with balls in play from year to year to luck or to better placement that leads to more pop-ups and fewer line drives, for example.
I was waiting for Jumbo to mention that in a few hours Albert will be a 5-10 guy. Un-noteworthy compared to Pedro, Winn and MacDougal??
Thanks Nut, the plain english helps some. As you say, its thick, just to may interrelated factors to get a grip on. The thing that got my attention in the article is that it describes how Adam’s employment of his pitch selection has evolved through his career, with ever improving results, and I think, tries to propose a conclusion as to why and how.
So, I was hoping maybe I might try to predict what further evolution might take place for next season, based upon what he has done in the past. But then the comment section threw new wrenches into it and dashed my hopes.
Ref comment #13, while it is true that Albert is not quite officially a 10-and-5 player, realistically that occurred once the trade deadline passed.
IIRC, the Cards stated a few years ago that the business goal for their scouting/minors were to produce 3 players per year from the US and 2 from outside the US. How are they doing? There is systemic progress.
In 2010, they added Jaime Garcia (US amateur signing), Freese (obtained by trade), and Hawksworth at the start of the season, and added Jon Jay later, with Allen Craig and Salas (international signing) as back and forthers with Memphis. Ottavino made a handful of starts too, Greene played a little. This probably adds up to 5 player years, meeting the goal.
We could make an adjustment, subtracting Freese since a Padres signee, while adding Chris Perez (supplemental round pick in 2006 who is developing into a successful closer for the Indians). We had to sacrifice Perez to plug an emergent hole at 3B last year (when Glaus and Freese were both out of action). Perez was part payment for DeRosa, a deal promptly ruined by an injury to DeRosa.
What about 2011? Its hard to say anyone at Memphis is as ready as Garcia and Freese were coming into spring training 2010. Craig, Salas, and Walters will be trying to establish themselves in the majors. It could work out. Pagnozzi, Anderson, Cruz and Hill are competing for LaRue’s vacancy during 2011-12, and they each have possibilities; its nice to have catching depth in the high minors. Another reliever, Sanchez could back and fro with Memphis. It seems like there is good systemic pitching depth at AA/AAA. Hamilton provides depth at 1B. I’d like to see them move Ottavino to reliever, since he had shoulder woes this summer and may not be able to hold up as a starter.
In the baseball world there has been ever increasing emphasis on throwing harder and harder. Wainy has achieved increasing success by throwing less and less fastballs, relying instead on a superb curve, complemented by other non-fastball pitches. Chapman is said to have a great curve. Will he put in the effort to master it and follow in Wainy’s footsteps? He has alredy learned, in a very brief MLB career, that you can’t reliably throw a 100+ mph fastball past MLB hitters if they know its coming.
I also wonder if Motte will be able to develop and master other pitches with that pronounced short-arm motion. I’ve brought that up before, and can’t remember if we identified any pitchers have/had pronounced short arm motion and have really good breaking stuff.
Descalso is a candidate for 2B by the middle of 2011. The Cards could begin him at Memphis, as with Jay in 2010. If he can improve during his second season at AAA, as did Jay, then he could move up during 2011, liberating Skip for a multi-purpose role at 2B/OF.
3B is a problem, given chronic foot problems for Freese. Its not going to be easy for Mo to find a veteran on the free agent market. Andre Beltre will be pricey. If he does not resign with Boston, then the Sox will be shopping for a replacement and will grab up the next best possibility.
The Cards have two long-shot internal candidates for 3B, Matt Carpenter from AA and Zach Cox from amateur ranks. If the Cards cant find a good veteran at a reasonable price, and if Freese cannot get healthy, then at least there are two internal Cinderella candidates.
It looks like the goal of 5 man years produced by rookies could be met next year (from among Craig, Walters, Salas, Ottavino, Pagnozzi, Sanchez, Descalso, etc.). The “system” of scouting/development is functioning.
What the Cards could sure use is one effective starting pitcher candidate per year from the minors. Jaime Garcia illustrates the impact of a homegrown starting pitcher. The business plan will become more successful when there is more abundant production of home grown effective starting pitchers.
I looked back at the minor league record of J D Drew, in case this illustrates anything in relation to Zach Cox. Drew turned down the Phillies in 1997, when drafted after his junior year at Florida State. He played amateur ball in late summer 1997 and in spring 1998, before signing with the Cards. IIRC, Drew signed a ML deal, like Cox. Drew began at AA in 1998, hit well, got moved up to AAA, hit well, and got moved up to the Cards for Sept 1998, hitting well again. Then he had a 100 at bat warm up at Memphis in 1999, before being elevated for good. So Drew began at AA and did not spend much time in the minors.
Drew played one more season of college ball and played a bit more indy league ball (while spurning the Phillies), so he had more amateur experience than has had Cox, who played two season for the Univ. of Arkansas. The Cards gave him a ML contract, as they did Drew. The Cards would probably expect Cox will need at least 1 to 2 years of minor league preparation, before being able to contribute in the majors.
Brett Walllace is another useful comp as another accomplished collegiate hitter. Wallace moved up fast, but has still needed about two full seasons of minor league experience, before being given regular at bats by the Astros. If Cox can move up faster, it will be a Cinderella story.
Not likely on Mott BB. The speed that he needs to accelerate is to short to use the exotic grips used by Wainwright and Carpenter. If you recall Wano ruptured a tendon by over gripping in 2008.
Nut……… Wainwright is unlikely going to repeat this seasons results…………….he may well win 25 games in the future…………..but Tommy John hunts him now………he will need to do it another way.
Statistic are masturbatory when you are partitioning the competitive field dialog to examine them. You will go blind……………….
And for Jumbo as he heads back to the bench…………..this is Cardinal baseball……..the view in Mo’s office;
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2aAXVm/www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w/r:f
The guy who washes jock straps trying again to send someone to the bench. Hilarious!
CC, focusing on the “…………….”es can be soothing and peaceful.