Lacking the excitement surrounding his recently-demoted predecessor Ryan Franklin, new St. Louis Cardinals closer Mitchell Boggs quietly converted each of his first three save opportunities during the club’s most recent homestand.
The three saves, collected against Washington in last Wednesday’s game two and versus Cincinnati on Friday and Sunday, were the first three opportunities of Boggs’ major league career, which spans back to June 2008 and 91 previous appearances.
To help us determine how notable Boggs’ introduction to closing has been, researcher Tom Orf pulled the list of Cardinals relievers who converted their first three save chances since 1950.
Boggs became number 46 on the list but the first since Al Reyes six years ago. He has logged the ninth 3-for-3 introduction to the job over Tony La Russa’s 16 years managing the club.
Notable in their absences are Franklin and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley. Eck blew two of his first four chances for La Russa in 1996. Franklin’s 2007 start with St. Louis was far rockier. He blew his first three save opportunities and five of six in his first season with the club.
St. Louis Cardinals with saves in all of first three-plus opportunities, 1950-present
| Pitcher | Start | End | Saves |
| Mitchell Boggs | 4/20/2011 | 4/24/2011+ | 3 |
| Al Reyes | 4/29/2005 | 5/9/2005 | 3 |
| Julian Tavarez | 4/22/2004 | 8/8/2004 | 3 |
| Jason Isringhausen | 4/9/2002 | 4/24/2002 | 3 |
| Dave Veres | 4/8/2000 | 4/28/2000 | 5 |
| Ricky Bottalico | 4/16/1999 | 5/20/1999 | 3 |
| Scott Radinsky | 4/27/1999 | 5/10/1999 | 3 |
| Rich Croushore | 6/18/1998 | 7/26/1998 | 7 |
| Jeff Brantley | 4/9/1998 | 5/3/1998 | 6 |
| Tom Henke | 4/30/1995 | 7/22/1995 | 22 |
| Rene Arocha | 5/17/1994 | 6/11/1994 | 4 |
| Lee Smith | 5/11/1990 | 6/1/1990 | 5 |
| Pat Perry | 4/28/1986 | 4/30/1987 | 3 |
| Bill Campbell | 5/10/1985 | 8/25/1985 | 4 |
| Ken Dayley | 5/9/1985 | 5/22/1985 | 3 |
| Doug Bair | 9/29/1981 | 6/18/1982 | 3 |
| Bruce Sutter | 4/12/1981 | 4/26/1981 | 4 |
| Darold Knowles | 4/18/1979 | 5/8/1979 | 3 |
| Roy Thomas | 6/30/1978 | 8/6/1978 | 3 |
| John Urrea | 4/10/1977 | 4/17/1977 | 3 |
| Bill Greif | 6/12/1976 | 9/19/1976 | 6 |
| John Curtis | 6/25/1974 | 8/17/1976 | 3 |
| Orlando Pena | 6/26/1973 | 8/5/1973 | 4 |
| Moe Drabowsky | 4/20/1971 | 7/9/1971 | 5 |
| Sal Campisi | 5/10/1970 | 8/1/1970 | 4 |
| Wayne Granger | 6/5/1968 | 6/28/1968 | 3 |
| Larry Jaster | 5/8/1967 | 9/12/1967 | 3 |
| Jack Lamabe | 7/19/1967 | 9/7/1967 | 3 |
| Ron Willis | 10/1/1966 | 5/12/1967 | 3 |
| Joe Hoerner | 5/19/1966 | 7/28/1966 | 11 |
| Hal Woodeshick | 6/18/1965 | 7/24/1965 | 9 |
| Ray Sadecki | 4/18/1962 | 7/1/1965 | 4 |
| Mike Cuellar | 6/23/1964 | 8/14/1964 | 4 |
| Roger Craig | 4/22/1964 | 7/30/1964 | 5 |
| Ed Bauta | 8/10/1960 | 8/29/1961 | 6 |
| Bob Miller | 4/20/1961 | 6/18/1961 | 3 |
| Jim Brosnan | 6/29/1958 | 9/6/1958 | 3 |
| Lloyd Merritt | 6/7/1957 | 9/25/1957 | 7 |
| Larry Jackson | 7/7/1955 | 5/8/1957 | 12 |
| Jackie Collum | 5/7/1956 | 9/15/1956 | 7 |
| Jim Konstanty | 6/9/1956 | 7/28/1956 | 5 |
| Barney Schultz | 5/11/1955 | 5/18/1955 | 3 |
| Stu Miller | 5/8/1953 | 6/8/1954 | 5 |
| Eddie Yuhas | 6/17/1952 | 7/12/1952 | 3 |
| Al Brazle | 5/14/1950 | 4/15/1952 | 8 |
| Howie Pollet | 5/21/1950 | 6/3/1951 | 3 |
It will take some months of flawless pitching before Boggs can threaten the best start for a new Cardinals closer in recent years. In 1995, the season prior to La Russa’s arrival, veteran Tom Henke converted his first 22 save opportunities.
Henke was in a much difference career place than Boggs, having already logged 275 saves with Texas and Toronto. It would become the final season of Henke’s 14 years in the major leagues. At age 37, he went out on top, with his 1.83 ERA the lowest of his career and his 36 saves in 38 opportunities representing his second-best season.
At this point, Boggs can only dream of such success. His initial test drive will continue on rougher roads in Houston and Atlanta this week.
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow The Cardinal Nation Blog on Facebook.
Pujols must sit out at least one game………………or risk accusations that his limping off the field was nothing more than “a show” for the national audience (highlighting) a mediocre to poor performance. .
………… against a last place team, if we scorch them tonight, he really should make it 2 or three games with our starting pitching being so strong for this series…….that is just common sense………. a realistic assessment to protct his future contributions……….
If Tony allows him to play……and he is favoring that leg at all (how not if he really hurt it) the entire teams loses face……and with (just assuming) Molina’s swaggering around, this team really risks a “flat spot” just like last year………… Houston will pitch him low and away………. I the back of AP’s mind is a recognition of worst case scenarios………..team has fun and kicks butt without him………..yes, I will be the one doing the accusing………….
Yeah, I’d like to see Hamilton get a start against Bud Norris, at least.
from Joseph Smoseph’s bog
There is a direct correlation between Albert’s “improvements” and the rest of the teams “productivity”. He is struggling. Pitching him up and in won’t be fashionable next week in the NL. It goes in cycles.
Albert came into this year in the best shape I’ve seen him. His personal hitting style is even more extreme in its eccentricities than in the past. He has not managed it well. Quite frankly, he did not anticipate being attacked at the plate quite like its come about. The success of Berkman and Holiday with Rasmus in front, have made him a target. His style is designed to exploit the fringes of the strike Zone, it did not handle the middle very well for a few weeks. When he started staying back and extending earlier, he managed it mainly with HR’s or singles up the middle.
Opposing pitchers went back inside, up, and with allot of off speed that he most often pulled foul. He hit a few Hr’s (up/in) this week. Next week they will go back to low and away. Its the game. Sore hammy will pull him out of his squat a bit, an I think that will help.
We have Starting pitching. We are forming a solid bull pen. We can hit when chemistry compels. Our biggest obstacle this year has been Pujols’ “struggles”. In my opinion, if he pulled that hammy and took a month off, he comes back to a team that 5 games out in front. But thats just me. He needs to review the issues that are causing him to “live” so far out in front of every swing impulse. Sore hammy will help in my opinion.
Tuesday lineup in Houston against Bud Norris: Theriot SS, Jay RF, Holliday LF, Berkman 1B, Rasmus CF, Molina C, Punto 2B, Descalso 3B, Garcia P.
That is a winner……………..
I would have left Lance in right…..hitting third…..Hamilton at first hit 5th…….
Tony is dealing with a bunch of delicate birds here. Keeping the Lance/Holiday relationship had purpose. Keeping Hamilton from tearing up Norris no doubt contributed to the decision to bring Lance into first. Molina at 6th completely undermines Colby’s 5th……thats a pitch around……. lets hope we have men on to discourage that.
Yadi might undermine Colby batting 5th, but Descalso and Punto aren’t hitting the cover off the ball at the moment. Those 2 would represent even more of a pitch around. Plus having Descalso batting 6th would be 3 straight lefties.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I’m glad that you were wrong about those two tonight, T8Ball.
Aye, Nutlaw. I didn’t see that game from ole Danny Boy coming. 3XBH, one of them inches from a HR. For a while Descalso was the only one laying off the slider. Glad I was wrong, but wish the outcome was different.
Need bunting help all around. Twice we had leadoff doubles and they didn’t score. And the back end of back to back doubles never scored.
Sigh……(homage to Westcoast with the ellipses
)
Therriot scratched, new lineup
1. Jon Jay, RF
2. Colby Rasmus, CF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Lance Berkman, 1B
5. David Freese, 3B
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Nick Punto, SS
8. Daniel Descalso, 2B
9. Jaime Garcia, LHP
Houston should get a lefty warming up.
What’s the word on Freese? 2nd straight game sitting on the bench.
It is obviously a non-issue/non-story that no rational fan would care about T. With Albert having a booboo it wouldn’t have been polite for the media guys to turn attention elsewhere.
I wish I was there to ask as I wondered the same thing. Sunday plus the day off Monday should have been enough.
Descalso, Theriot, Punto, Berkman. Wow. The regular is probably the weakest link.
Freese, Punto, Descalso, Berkman. Wow. I like it.
Jon Jay, RF
2. Colby Rasmus, CF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Lance Berkman, 1B
5. David Freese, 3B
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Nick Punto, SS
8. Daniel Descalso, 2B
9. Jaime Garcia, LHP
new lineup………………sweet
Be honest………..Rasmus has went mental again………. and he was taken advantage of….no paced swings from him……Jay is killing himself with his swing explorations……..who the hell is coaching that kid? ……… Punto is starting to show signs of pressure……………Freese has my attention too…..somethings a brewing in his head……pitching just dragging these dunces along.
Norris is one of the most conventional pitchers you’ll ever seem…………release point……arm slot…. most importantly……..how he uses his pitches………….. the role players come to life………whats with Garcia not taking the walk?
Colby is starting to look for a certain pitch again……..scouts recognize it…….he wants to use his favorite swing……scouts recognize it………… and they are tricking him using this secret information….go figure.
Garcia has family and friends at the game? He seemed unusually aggressive tonight……..especially at the plate…………….. when he started overthrowing, he hit the wall…………. Tony was late om that diagnosis………it would appear.
Miguel Batista is said to be 40 years old, officially. Add a couple of years for a phoney birthdate and he may be 42. Yet he is still a good pitcher. Very impressive.
Terribly managed game by TLR
blingboy says:
April 24, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Descalso is a steady hand at 3rd. He eats wet horsehide for lunch. Too bad he can’t hit.
Off the mark there.
Blown save for Boggs. Boo, hisss, you stink.
Not just a blown save, but a wild pitch and an error by Boggs. He cracked.
The Cardinals shouldn’t be losing any games to these clowns.
And a PB by Yadi.
Houston has such a weak team…………but they were willing to put the ball in play…….. Looks like Tony was making a statement with Boggs. He didn’t seem to have his best stuff, but he let him pitch…..
We lost this game because ………. John Jay doesn’t have a hitting coach………… and Colby can’t say no to his self interests………. Like it or not, you’re seeing Freese evolving in his protected role, and that isn’t going so well…………. I actually believe Skip and Craig are going to be welcomed back, and Freese is going to rest more……………….
Punto knows his game….well……I wish it were a “better” game. Seems like his bat head is bouncing into the zone and he never really connects on anything……………… I would say Tony’s eye infection and the antbiotics don’t have him in the most alert state. Lets hope Lohse brings something tomorrow least WC’s premonitions about Molina and company come to pass…… Laird would seem logical.
Tough loss, ugly game. Boggs must have been feeling the pressure. We had our best defense out there and still couldn’t play clean.
A one run lead on the road is not an easy thing to protect.
Not a loss to pin on Ryan Franklin.