photo: Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
As award season nears, the St. Louis Cardinals have multiple finalists for Gold Glove and Hank Aaron Awards. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are in the running for both. Our history feature recounts Albert Pujols’ home run feats in 2019 and 2020.
Two Cardinals are finalists for Hank Aaron Award
On Monday, the nominees for the annual Hank Aaron Award were announced by Major League Baseball. Eight finalists from each league have reached the final round of voting. The award, established in 1999, is for the most outstanding regular season offensive performer for each of the two leagues.
A panel of MLB.com writers selected the 16 finalists from a list of nominees. Beginning on Monday through October 24, fans may vote online at MLB.com/aaron. Also part of the selection process are a panel of Hall of Fame players which includes Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Eddie Murray, and Robin Yount.
Cardinals Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt are finalists for the 2022 award for the National League. They are joined by six others, Pete Alonso, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Manny Machado, Austin Riley, and Kyle Schwarber. Goldschmidt win the award in 2013 while he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Since the award’s inception, only one Cardinal has won the award. Albert Pujols was selected twice, in 2003 and 2009.
Four Cardinals finalists for Gold Glove Awards
The top three finishers in the annual Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced on Thursday evening. This year the Cardinals have four finalists.
The annual awards are held each year after the season concludes to recognize the top defenders in each position and in each league. This year the designated hitter award was added for the National League and a new award for utility player was also added in both leagues.
The Cardinals finalists are Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Edman, and Brendan Donovan. Arenado, Goldschmidt and Edman are repeat finalists, and Donovan is a finalist for the first time.
Edman is a finalist in two categories, second base, and utility player. Edman won in 2021 at second base, but in 2022 he played at both second base and shortstop, also making him eligible for the utility award.
Donovan, who took the field at six different positions for the Cardinals this season, is a finalist for the utility player award in his rookie season. Donovan appeared at all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots.
Arenado is up for the award for the 10th time in his career. Goldschmidt has four Gold Gloves and is up for his fifth this year, second as a Cardinal. Edman is a finalist for second base for the second time, though he played slightly more innings at shortstop in 2022. Donovan’s versatility earned him the utility finalist nod in his rookie season.
The Cardinals had six nominations in 2021 with five winners. Tyler O’Neill and Harrison Bader won in left and center fields, respectively, but injuries kept them from being in the mix for 2022 (and in the case of Bader, he is no longer a Cardinal). Arenado, Goldschmidt and Edman are prior winners.
The awards are voted on prior to the end of the season by coaches and managers. A defensive metric called the SDI (SABR Defensive Index) accounts for 25% of the score. The finalists are the top three vote-getters, and the winners have already been chosen but will not be revealed until November 1 in a one-hour special edition of “Baseball Tonight” on ESPN at 4 pm CT, prior to Game 4 of the World Series.
Schumaker Hopes to be Marlins Manager
The Miami Marlins, in search of a new manager after the resignation of Don Mattingly, have given Cardinals bench coach Skip Schumaker two interviews. The 42-year-old is one of three finalists for the job according to media sources.
The Marlins have also interviewed Oz Ocampo for an open assistant general manager position. Ocampo is a former Cardinals scout and staffer and is currently a member of the Houston Astros front office.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
There are no transactions to report.
Injury Report
There are no new injuries to report.
Looking Ahead
At the end of the postseason, the offseason begins with free agency becoming official five days after the conclusion of the World Series. The Cardinals have three potential free agents and one player with an opt out. Pitchers Adam Wainwright and Jose Quintana, and outfielder Corey Dickerson will be free agents as of the fifth day following the end of the World Series. Third baseman Nolan Arenado will also be a free agent on that date if he exercises his opt out provision. He is not expected to do so, but it is a possibility until confirmed.
The Cardinals can negotiate for the return of their free agents during the five-day window following the World Series. It is expected that Wainwright will either re-sign with the Cardinals or retire. There is a possibility that the Cardinals will also attempt to re-sign Quintana, with the odds higher if Wainwright does not return. It is unknown whether the team has any desire to sign Dickerson.
Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina will also be free agents, but both have announced their intention to retire.
Blast from the Past
In the next installment of our series on the career home run record of Cardinals great Albert Pujols, we review his 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
Following is each season with totals for each and further details about the home runs hit.
2019 season
This was Albert Pujols’ 19th major league season. Pujols hit 23 home runs in 2019. He had one game with two home runs.
Pujols’ first home run of the season (#634) was hit on April 6 against the Texas Rangers at Angels Stadium. The Angels beat the Rangers 5-1. The long ball was a solo shot in the seventh inning against reliever Adrian Sampson.
The final home run hit by Albert in 2019 (#656) was hit at Angels Stadium off Tampa Bay starter Ryan Yarbrough on September 15. It was a three-run blast in the fifth inning. The Angels beat the Rays 6-4.
Further details on the 23 home runs hit by Pujols in 2019.
- Twelve of the 23 home runs were hit against right-handed pitchers. Eleven were hit off left-handers.
- Of the 23, 14 were hit on the road and nine at home.
- Albert hit five home runs against Seattle Mariners pitching.
- Pujols hit three home runs off Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy.
- Albert hit three home runs at Safeco Field.
- Locations of the 17 home runs were, Pulled (16), Up the Middle (4), and Opposite Field (3).
- Long balls by month: April (5), May (5), June (4), July (4), August (3), September (3).
- Type: Fly Balls (22), Line Drives (1).
2020 season
In his 20th major league season and ninth season with the Angels, Albert hit six home runs in the pandemic shortened season.
His first home run (#657) was hit on July 28, against the Mariners at home. It was a solo home run in the fifth inning against starter Nestor Cortes. The Angels beat the Mariners, 10-2.
Pujols’ final home run of 2020 (#662) came at Angels Stadium on September 18 in the seventh inning against Texas reliever Demarcus Evans. It was a solo shot. The Angels beat the Rangers, 6-2.
Further details on Pujols’ 2020 home runs.
- Pujols hit four home runs against right-handed pitchers and two against left-handers.
- He hit four home runs at home and two on the road.
- Albert blasted two home runs each vs. the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners.
- Pujols hit six home runs off six different pitchers.
- One long ball each was hit at Safeco Field and Coors Field.
- The location of all home runs were: Pulled (6).
- Long balls by month: July (1), August (2), and September (3)
- Type of home runs: Line Drive (4), Fly Ball (2).
The next installment will look at Pujols’ 2021 season with the Angels and Dodgers and the 2022 season with the Cardinals.
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