Given the St. Louis Cardinals’ struggles on offense early this season, currently last in the National League in run scoring, I thought it would be illustrative to show Cardinals hitters’ past results against the San Francisco Giants’ weekend starters, Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain and Barry Zito.
The samples are not large, but perhaps offer some glimpse of hope. Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols have done especially well in the past against the trio of Giants’ pitchers. The Cardinals also miss two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. Like St. Louis, the defending World Champions began a disappointing 2-4, though Friday marks their 2011 home opener.
Addendum: The Cardinals were 3-3 against the Giants last season with both teams going 2-1 at home. In the all-time regular season series, the Cardinals trail the Giants 913-979 (.483). The Cardinals are 14-19 all-time in regular season play at AT&T Park.
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| Jonathan Sanchez | Matt Cain | Barry Zito | |
| (vs. Jake Westbrook) | (vs. Jaime Garcia) | (vs. Kyle Lohse) | |
| Batter vs. pitcher | |||
| Lance Berkman | 0-4 .000 | 3-8 .375 | 4-10 .400 |
| 2k | 1hr 1bb 2k | 1hr 1bb 1k | |
| Allen Craig | 0-0 .000 | 0-0 .000 | 1-5 .200 |
| 1hr 1k | |||
| David Freese | 0-0 .000 | 0-1 .000 | 0-2 .000 |
| 1k | 1bb 1k | ||
| Matt Holliday | 4-18 .222 | 6-35 .171 | 6-27 .222 |
| (injured) | 4bb 4k | 2hr 4bb 9k | 2hr 2bb 6k |
| Yadier Molina | 1-3 .333 | 2-6 .333 | 5-13 .385 |
| 2bb | 1bb | 3bb 1k | |
| Albert Pujols | 4-5 .800 | 8-12 .667 | 6-15 .400 |
| 1bb 1k | 2hr 3bb | 2hr 5bb 4k | |
| Colby Rasmus | 0-0 .000 | 4-8 .500 | 1-2 .500 |
| 1k | 1k | ||
| Skip Schumaker | 0-6 .000 | 3-15 .200 | 5-9 .556 |
| 2k | 1bb 1k | ||
| Ryan Theriot | 3-7 .429 | 3-20 .150 | 3-14 .214 |
| 1hr 1bb | 1bb 3k | 1bb 1k |
Data courtesy of Bill James’ Matchups.
Also, I discovered a new feature at The Baseball Cube called “Player Connections” to compare the intersection of any two players. Won-loss of their teams and head-to-head stats are included by game. This example is Pujols and Bud Norris.
While the invaluable Baseball-Reference.com has a similar feature, they require a subscription to see all the individual game detail, while the Cube’s capability is free.
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Tough sledding for the Redbirds without Matt or the normally hot hitting Albert Pujols. Lance and Craig need to play big is my guess.
I do predict that the Cardinals will score more than 3 runs at least one of the three games at San Fran.
And I do believe that the Cardinals will take one game out of the series with the Giants.
I added last year’s results as well as historical totals to the main post above.
Any hot dog reports from giant’s stadium?
I see you solved the gravatar problem. Good. Did you select a Busch Stadium view?
Yeah, posted from my phone (the pic is from a game last summer, we sat behind third base and I took a pic of Holliday at bat with my phone) hopefully it will work when I post from my computer too.
Oh yeah. He hit two homers that hot day, but we lost 3-2 to the A’s.
I have been there and the eating is mighty fine birdman. Hot Dogs are excellent. As a matter of fact my trip to San Fran was the most exciting, fun filled trip my wife and I have made. I absolutely hate I can’t be out there this weekend.
China town was really cool. Muir woods was the most awesome hiking trip I’ve ever been on. Those 400 year old redwoods are something to see. Visited a lavendar farm complete with honey bees, and brought back some lavendar honey. Biked from the pier to sausilito across the Golden Gate bridge. Drove the ferry back across the Bay passing Alcatraz. Ate dinner at the oldest italian restaraunt in San Fran. And had at least 3 hot dogs a game. And they were delish.
I just read this review of AT&T Park.
There it is……………………… “El Ginantes” The big all beef Hot Dog. Good gravy that thing is good. Put you a big scoop of the queso on top ……….my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The Giants and Diamonbacks stadiums are the only place I’ve found the queso dogs. Man they’re good.
We have a double header….region game tonight or I’d be out there eating me one. Our hot dogs here at Russell County are excellent as well…..all beef. We also grille chicken, have boston butt on the grille, boiled peanuts, and have a one pound hamburger here at the Russell County Ballpark bar and grille. Our motto is we are gonna kick your ass and send you home with some good food.
But we are away in Tallassee Alabama tonight….(region championship on the line)…. where the hillbilly’s would rather their hot dogs consist of all of the by products of the chicken. Terrible suckage is what comes to mind when we play there and have to eat at that joint. It ranks right there with the Busch dogs. yuk!
My dad too prefers all beef hot dogs, NO POULTRY FILLER! I don’t know if that is because we had a cattle farm growing up or taste preference, but I am pretty sure it is a taste thing. The men in my family are big meat eaters. As far as hot dogs go I like lotsa toppings (esp spicy) or brats with kraut and mustard. The trip to northern CA sounds awesome. I would like to visit someday. Good luck RC.
Muir Woods is one of my favorite places.
Lineup: Theriot SS, Rasmus CF, Pujols 1B, Craig RF, Freese 3B, Berkman RF, Molina C, Greene 2B, Westbrook P
Looks like the old two right-fielder shift is on…
I suspect typo rather than strategy.
. But then I copied and pasted………..
Glad to see Tyler Greene finally getting some playing time, as far as I can tell he has only had one plate appearance this season. He definitely needs to play regularly to get his bat going and to be relaxed in his playing.
Would be fun to see Greene and Descalso playing full time at short and second and see what happens.
I saw enough of Tyler Greene last year to decide that he doesn’t have what it takes. He is a waste of a roster spot imo.
Maybe Mr. Greene will change your mind today and this season! Nice RBI for him in his first AB today. I’m just listening so I don’t know if he messed up on covering the bag at 2nd on the line drive back to Westbrook, sounded like Jake didn’t know who was covering?
It was just a bad throw on Westbrook’s part, off to the shortstop side of the bag. Theriot was already on second base at the time.
Albert got down the line on that nubber.
Wow. What an epic top of the ninth! Three left-handed pinch hitters and Theriot just worked himself into my good graces by hanging in that at-bat!
I have to admit Brendan wouldn’t have put up an AB like that. Not in a year of trying. He wouldn’t have been allowed to go for the stolen base in the 8th either.
Except for making an error, again, Therriot has had a nice game.
Since Brendan has already had a similar at bat with the Mariners I don’t know how you could conclude he would never have done it.
Any game that involves a successful use of five infielders at one time is a great one by my book.
Augenstein just made my good graces as well.
On to the 12th. Anyone not watching this one should tune in.
They have come this far – they really need this win.
It was an exciting game, would have been more exciting had they won.
Franklin is a loser at closer.
I missed the end of the game, sort of looked like less than stellar defense in the OF at the end. And I think its 7 errors in 7 games, so I guess we aren’t making the routine plays.
On the upside, I saw both Albert and Yadi run hard, and the team showed some vital signs as the game went on.