On Thursday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals failed to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. 17 times during the 6-3 loss, a St. Louis hitter was sat down on strikes. Despite pitching just five innings, Bucs starter Erik Bedard collected 11 of the Ks, including a Pittsburgh-record seven in a row.
The 17 strikeouts is just one off the Cardinals’ worst nine-inning showing ever in this category. On September 10, 1989, 18 Cardinals were fanned by Chicago Cubs pitching in a 4-1, nine-inning loss at Wrigley Field. (link to boxscore)
Researcher Tom Orf pulled the following table, which indicates the Cardinals had just two 16-strikeout nine-inning games prior to Thursday. It was their 30th game of at least 14 strikeouts.
Strikeouts in a nine-inning game, St. Louis Cardinals hitters, history
| Date | Opp | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
| 9/10/1989 | CHC | L 1-4 | 35 | 32 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| 5/3/2012 | PIT | L 3-4 | 41 | 34 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| 9/29/2000 | CIN | L 1-8 | 36 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| 8/20/1997 | MON | W 6-3 | 44 | 35 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| 4/22/2001 | HOU | L 3-4 | 34 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
| 9/12/1998 | HOU | L 2-3 | 35 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| 5/13/1997 | PHI | L 2-3 | 32 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| 5/21/1996 | HOU | W 8-2 | 42 | 40 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 15 |
| 6/25/1966 | HOU | L 2-3 | 35 | 32 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| 9/1/2011 | MIL | W 8-4 | 38 | 37 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 14 |
| 4/13/2008 | SFG | L 4-7 | 42 | 37 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| 9/26/2004 | COL | W 9-3 | 45 | 40 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 14 |
| 7/18/2001 | HOU | L 11-17 | 47 | 44 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 14 |
| 8/27/1999 | ATL | L 1-2 | 35 | 35 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 6/25/1999 | ARI | W 1-0 | 32 | 29 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 4/26/1998 | PHI | L 3-9 | 36 | 34 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| 9/27/1995 | CHC | L 3-5 | 41 | 37 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| 9/25/1988 | NYM | L 7-9 | 40 | 37 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| 8/22/1984 | CIN | W 6-3 | 37 | 35 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 14 |
| 6/24/1984 | CHC | L 0-5 | 33 | 31 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| 5/21/1984 | HOU | L 2-3 | 37 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 9/23/1983 | PHI | L 2-6 | 36 | 34 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 9/21/1982 | PHI | L 2-5 | 38 | 35 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| 4/19/1980 | PIT | W 2-1 | 41 | 34 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 6/9/1978 | HOU | L 7-11 | 43 | 35 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 9/9/1977 | PHI | L 4-11 | 33 | 31 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
| 8/31/1971 | NYM | W 2-1 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| 5/20/1966 | CIN | L 3-5 | 37 | 34 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| 5/31/1959 | LAD | L 3-5 | 39 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 14 |
| 9/6/1941 | CIN | L 0-2 | 32 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
Note the big bulge in the 1980s and 1990s of such games.
| Decade | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
| # | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
The Cardinals have nothing to be ashamed of or be worried about. Bedard’s career best game was even better – 15 strikeouts. Further, even after the bad day, the Cardinals still only rank fourth in the National League in strikeouts.
Even more importantly, the 2012 Cards are first in the NL in runs scored at 138, with only one club within 20 runs of their total. Further, their league-best batting average of .286 is 20 points higher than the second-place club.
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The starting pitching is even more notable than the hitting. Lets see if Kyle can match Lance at 5-0, and maybe catch him in ERA too. (Lance 1.60; Kyle 1.62) Maybe in WHIP ? (Lance .772; Kyle .840)
In Westy’s absense, I will point out that Schmalbert grounded to third three times last night. Pulling everything. That’s a bad sign I think.
There was an article in the LA paper, maybe Orange County Register, about the woes of the Angels top of the lineup, and the crazy combinations Scoiscia is trying (with the 1 and 2) all to no avail, and pointing out the 3 spot remains unchanged. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. Tony would try to address the problem the same way, with the same results.
Friday lineup:
1. Rafael Furcal (S) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) CF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Allen Craig (R) 1B
5. David Freese (R) 3B
6. Yadier Molina (R) C
7. Matt Carpenter (L) RF
8. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
9. Kyle Lohse (R) P
I had heard that Craig may not be able to play the outfield yet. I guess that this proves it. Holliday couldn’t slide over to at least let Carpenter handle LF? Sheesh. Have fun out there, buddy.
You called it, Nut. Too bad we didn’t have Komatsu out there
Or Robinson?
What would be the reason for putting Skip at 2B rather than RF? I guess to get MCarp’s bat in the lineup along with Freese and Craig. And to keep Skip’s bat in the lineup too. The sacrifice defense to get more offense approach. Geesh, that was the problem the first 2/3 of last season.
When Berkman returns, who will go to Memphis, Shane Robinson or Matt Carpenter?
Well, Komatsu was the guy not getting any playing time and he was odd man out. Now it seems like Descalso not getting much time, or am I imagining that?
Looks like about one start a week for the last couple weeks. Same for Greene. Robinson somewhat more.
I don’t really think we’ll see Beltran spelling Jay in CF, so its a question of will Mike want to use Skip in that role?
All things considered, when Lance comes back it may be an infielder to go, and if so, I expect it to be DD.
Skip is also a backup OF, so if we move him out to OF, then one of Descalso and Greene stays, because we have to have a backup middle infielder.
The Cards are fortunate to have one ML player more than they have roster slots for position players. Either Robinson or Carpenter, being junior guys in seniority, will be sent back to Memphis. I will guess Carpenter. Matt can collect steady at bats for Memphis and be called back in the event of an injury.
THAT would not go over well at all. Sending DD down and keeping Greene after the contributions DD made to the team last year, especially in the post season? I’m not saying it won’t happen, because the Komatsu DFA was a surprise to me, but that would rile the fan base like nothing else could.
I called the Komatsu departure with conviction and turned out to be correct.
I do not think either Greene or Descalso is likely to be sent to Memphis.
This season, the guys on the bubble, at the transition point between AAA and the Majors are Carpenter and Robinson. Robinson provides a spot starter at any OF position against a LHP, while Carpenter’s contributions can be filled by Berkman, Craig, Freese, and Descalso. Thus, if we got to full strength healthwise, Matt would probably get some more AAA training. However, since we are seldom at 100 percent healthwise, he should not worry about it.
Agreed, Jumbo. They certainly won’t waive Greene to remove him from the roster and Descalso is also unlikely due to his positional versatility. It has to be Carpenter or Robinson.
With Berkman out, Matheny has gone to Skip at 2B, to get a little more offense than Descalso can give. After Berkman returns, we could return to the earlier plan of Greene/Descalso platooning at 2B to give better defense, with Skip becoming an OF spot starter.
“There was an article in the LA paper, maybe Orange County Register, about the woes of the Angels top of the lineup, and the crazy combinations Scoiscia is trying (with the 1 and 2) all to no avail, and pointing out the 3 spot remains unchanged. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. Tony would try to address the problem the same way, with the same results.”
I liked our results under Tony. 9 post seasons in 16 years. He’s right smack in the middle of the greatest manager of all-time debate.
Can’t one like the bottom line with agreeing with all of the tactics?
I want to welcome you Wes, to the board. Now that you are here, you should probably be aware that you will encounter some people who will not always sing Tony LaRussa’s praises. I think most of the regulars would agree that I am the worst in that category.
As Brian says, it is possible to like the results but not like the tactics (or in my case not like the tactician).
Well, we’ll see if we are in the post season 9 of the next 16 years.
Considering we were in the post season 3 of the previous 27 seasons before LaRussa.
You see, once fans get REALLY spoiled, then they get MORE critical.
Wes, welcome aboard. Those doubtful of the super-genius often include new fans.
I am calling BS on that one, Jumbo. Or more appropriately, super-BS.
I like Wes’s thinking as regards spoiled fans. I miss Bw52, reigning poster of the year.
No poster of the year. No oversimplified labels of spoiled fans or Pollyannas just because they don’t agree with me. Discuss issues.
King Canute ruled the waves
Jumbo-still here .I just don`t always respond to Cardswmns bashing of her favorite subject.
One vulnerability of this team is people who may need the DL. Furcal, Berkman, Freese, and Beltran have been prone to injuries.
As I have aged I have completely let go of criticizing the coach or the players. Too commonplace for my taste. My schtick is poking fun at the fans. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it, particularly knowing full well that it rules out any victories in blog popularity contests.
My two sports loves are the Saint Louis Cardinals on the professional level and the Louisville Cardinals on the collegiate. I am coming off the recent basketball season where 90 percent plus of the posters on the Louisville blog that I frequent spent 2 months of the season calling for Pitino to be fired and calling the players an embarrassment to the programs tradition. They then pulled out their pom-poms and pounded their chests like King Kong during the Final Four run.
It’s all a grand comedy. And they take themselves so seriously.
Wes, this site is where Brian posts opinion pieces. He sometimes criticizes this or that. Historically, this site has tilted a little negative or whiny or kooky, but generally tolerant and well-mannered. Not a lot of schmoozing or arguing among posters. Mostly about baseball, as opposed to fond recollections of old tv shows. It will probably not be necessary to rip on other posters much. Just let them vent.
The thing to appreciate is the Cards are a well run organization and make a lot of good personnel decisions. Last summer, some worried about unloading kid Rasmus for Jackson. Now Rasmus has an OPS around 670, while Jon Jay has been super (when not running into fences). When we win, things can get quiet, because there is little to annoy fans and provoke posts.
Well said Jumbo.
The general psychological breakdown of the criticism of the baseball manager by the fan is as follows………..If I were the manager we would have won all the games that the team did win. And in addition we would have won the close losses, because I would have done this or that, instead of what the manager actually did. We would even have won some of the rout losses and not had slumps because I would have made such and such line-up changes or delivered stirring locker room pep-talks or struck the fear of God in the team with temper tantrums. In brief—If I was manager we would be about 142-20 every year.
Except in the really extreme cases where it would be 162-0.
Schmalbert is the best .194 hitter in baseball.
Having grounded to third three times Thursday, Our Schmal stepped to the plate in the ninth inning Friday. O-fer so far, he faced a man on 2B, no outs, and the Angels down. At the very least, sound fundamentals would dictate hitting behind the runner allowing him to advance. What did our homerless hombre do? Grounded to third.
I am prepared to concede that there might be .194 hitters out there who could have at least hit behind the runner, and therefore I will not argue with anyone wishing to disagree with the comment above.
ESPN showed a lot of booing by Angels fans at that at-bat this morning.
I have to say that it makes me awfully disappointed to see the Cardinals lose to chumps like the Astros. I know logically that the Cards can’t win them all, but I irrationally expect them to do so in these cases. I was only able to catch the first three innings, but I fully expected them to come back against this AAA squad.
However, I’m still not worried. With by far the largest run differential in baseball (+61), I expect further coasting against this sad NL Central, as much as I’m sure that that expectation will make me sweat it out along the way. It’s much more fun to be pleasantly surprised, as happened last year.
After 5 or 6 weeks of putting up offensive and pitching numbers that are not sustainable over the whole season we are only up 2 1/2. That doesn’t bode well for when we cool off.
The Astros are better than people think.
bwa-ha-ha. That’s a good one.
Nutlaw, I agree that it is annoying to drop games to chumps, including the Astros, Cubs, and Pirates. Last night, Beltran and Berkman were out of the lineup against the RHP, so the Astros squeaked out with a win. Matheny is doing the right thing to focus on keeping guys healthy. Its a long season and this is best for the long haul.
Sage baseball wisdom Jumbo…………………….. If the Teams goes 3/3 on this trip…….I would be startled.
That would require Berkman to reenter against AZ at full potency. We aren’t going to beat Miley on Wednesday……..haven’t checked the other match ups really……………. Robinson gets the big pinch hit at bat………..and loops his wrist……….like a slow pitch king……on the first pitch……heading for the Crawfords………. Matheny isn’t stupid………….. he goes down………….will Lance B. attempt a rescue on Sunday? and will he suffer for its………….??????????? You guys have a hard hitting style here……keep it up……..all the best……WC
Keep in touch, Westie. Don’t forget your faithful friends here.
Westy, I can’t believe you stopped in without giving us your analysis of Schmalbert’s slump. I’m hurt.