All posts by Brian Walton

Brian Walton runs The Cardinal Nation, covering the St. Louis Cardinals and minor league system.

What to do with Kyle Lohse?

Considering from every angle the actions the St. Louis Cardinals could take with rehabbing pitcher Kyle Lohse.

Kyle Lohse (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)My most recent prior post, a tongue-in-cheek shot at the top 10 reasons why Kyle Lohse doesn’t want to make a fourth rehab start, did raise some questions about what the St. Louis Cardinals might do with their rehabbing hurler.

In a return to seriousness, I will lay out as many possible alternatives as I can think of and I know if I forgot any, readers will remind me.

Return to the MLB rotation. The case likely preferred by the vast majority is for Lohse to pitch effectively enough to return to the major league rotation. Barring any other injuries, it would be at the expense of Jeff Suppan. The next step in locking that down would be for Lohse to pitch effectively for Triple-A Memphis in Reno Tuesday night.

Remain on rehab assignment. This is not an indefinite option, as a rehab stint for a pitcher has a maximum window of 30 games. Lohse pitched in his first rehab outing on July 26.

Return to the DL. Of course, if Lohse encounters any physical problems following his unique forearm surgery, he could return to the disabled list and then start another rehab assignment. Rinse and repeat as necessary. To date, there have been no public reports of any lingering injury concerns, I should point out.

Return to MLB as reliever. Another option would be to put Lohse in the major league bullpen and keep starting Suppan as the number five as infrequently as possible. Given Lohse’s salary and status, this would seem to be a low-odds, interim move at best.

Option to the minor leagues. This is another very unlikely possibility. First and foremost, a player with five or more years of service time (Lohse has over eight) is not obligated to report. Given Lohse’s concern about even making a fourth rehab start in the minors reinforces the unrealistic nature of this thought.

Further, if Lohse is asked and doesn’t want to go, he could immediately declare himself a free agent. The rub is that in doing so, he would void his current contract. That would be leaving a lot of moolah on the table, between $26 and $27 million by my rough estimation. I would be pretty confident in calling the chance of any option scenario reaching the light of day as zero.

Release or designate for assignment. The Cardinals are no more likely to release Lohse. They would be obligated to pay his entire remaining salary and receive nothing in return. It would be an extremely short-sighted move, especially given the unusual surgery and unknown recovery history.

Let go via waivers. August is the time of year when organizations routinely pass their players through waivers to see what interest is out there. Lohse is the kind of player who would likely be unclaimed due to his uncertain health status and large contract dollars remaining.

In the unlikely event a club did claim Lohse, the Cardinals could let him go, with the claiming team required to assume his entire remaining contract obligation. They could also try to work out some kind of trade with the claiming organization or revoke the waivers and keep Lohse.

Waiver trade. A very interesting, but again low odds scenario would be to essentially trade Lohse to another club with a high-salaried infielder, say a third baseman. Of course, one element of what makes this unlikely is that the third baseman would have had to previously clear waivers (or been claimed by the Cardinals), not to mention requiring the other team’s needs and money to line up. Then there is Lohse’s full no-trade protection, which would probably have to be bought out.

This could be worked on with the claiming club, but more likely with any one of 29 other teams should Lohse pass through waivers unclaimed. While this might look ok on paper perhaps, in reality…

Even if Lohse cleared waivers, the most probable case would be that nothing external would happen.

Did I miss anything?

Again, the purpose of this exercise was to consider all the possibilities for Kyle Lohse for the remainder of this season. Many of them have little to no chance of happening.

Lohse can take control of his destiny by pitching so well the Cardinals would want nothing more than for him to rejoin their rotation and help lead them into the playoffs.

What actually happens of course remains to be seen.

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Top Ten Reasons Why Kyle Lohse Doesn’t Want to Make a Fourth Rehab Start

Despite shaky results to date, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse isn’t happy about having to make another minor league rehab start.

Kyle Lohse (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)As many St. Louis Cardinals fans have heard, pitcher Kyle Lohse has been rehabbing from May forearm surgery, working up his pitch count in a series of minor league starts.

Despite dropping down to Double-A for his third start after two uneven Triple-A outings, Lohse continued to struggle. In total, the 31-year-old has a 6.75 ERA in 12 minor league innings.

Following his most recent outing in Springfield on Thursday night, during which he allowed 12 hits and five runs in five innings, Lohse proclaimed himself ready to go. One explanation the pitcher offered for the all the runs on the scoreboard was the preparation of the baseballs, stating he should have brought his own with him.

Agreeing with most sane observers, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan doesn’t feel Lohse is yet ready to return to the majors. As a direct result, Lohse has been asked to make a fourth rehab start. It will likely be this coming Tuesday at a park to be determined, instead of him getting the ball against Chicago on Friday night as had been projected.

In a terse discussion with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, an unhappy Lohse made it clear he does not agree with his coach’s decision.

In the spirit of David Letterman and with some help from our readers, we offer the…

Top Ten Reasons Why Kyle Lohse Doesn’t Want to Make a Fourth Rehab Start

10. No reserved spot to park his Bentley at tiny minor league stadiums.

9. Hey, at least all the home runs were only solo shots.

8. He then gets stuck buying another ping-pong table for the local team.

7. All the travel interferes with his tee times.

6. The food is far better in the major league clubhouse and there are many more places to avoid reporters.

5. It’s not like Jeff Suppan and Blake Hawksworth don’t get shelled, too.

4. Just be happy he didn’t pull a Brad Penny and take three months off with pay.

3. Doesn’t want to drop down to Palm Beach in hopes of looking good against hitters.

2. He will have to bring his own balls with him.

And, the number one reason why Kyle Lohse does not want to make a fourth rehab start…

1. Four years, $41 million guaranteed with a full no-trade clause.

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Westbrook’s whiff-fest

Jake Westbrook (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)New St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook has been striking out NL opponents at a record pace.

Jake Westbrook joined the St. Louis Cardinals with the reputation as a ground ball specialist. Apparently he didn’t get the memo, as the 32-year-old stuck out seven in his six-inning Cardinals debut and followed that up with a nine-K performance in seven frames in Miami Saturday night.

Westbrook’s 16 strikeouts over his first two games wearing the Birds on the Bat ties him with “Toothpick” Sam Jones for the whiffingest pair of debuts in team history since at least 1920. John Smoltz joined the list with 15 one year ago.

Strikeouts, St. Louis Cardinals pitchers, first two games with team, 1920-2010

Pitcher Year 2G total StL debut Game 2
Jake Westbrook 2010 16 7 9
Sam Jones 1957 16 11 5
John Smoltz 2009 15 9 6
Chuck Finley 2002 15 8 7
Kip Wells 2007 14 7 7
Joe Magrane 1987 13 7 6
Sonny Siebert 1974 13 6 7
Howie Pollet 1941 13 7 6
Scipio Spinks 1972 12 5 7

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the above table.

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Why the Cardinals need help at third base

Rookie David Freese’s season-ending injury and fill-in Felipe Lopez’ leadoff role means RBIs from the St. Louis Cardinals third base position have been increasingly rare.

Felipe Lopez (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Ideally, third base would be a power position, where a big bat can drive in runs with regularity. The reality is that the during the Tony La Russa years, since 1996, the St. Louis Cardinals had multiple good years from Scott Rolen and one year each by Fernando Tatis and Troy Glaus. That has been about it.

The position hit bottom in 2009. Many Cardinals fans recall the continuing problems at third base all season long. Eight different players had a share of the job from spring training through October, but none of them produced for more than a few weeks at a time and others, not at all. Some of it was injury, some ineffectiveness, while others were overexposed. Whatever the reason, their aggregate line was .229/.292/.369/.661, worst in MLB.

Another indicator of the lack of production was their meager total of 65 RBI. That is the lowest sum by a group of St. Louis third basemen since La Russa joined the organization prior to the 1996 season.

This spring, the Cardinals came to camp with rookie David Freese anointed as the starter at the position. The 27-year-old got off to a quick start before leveling off a bit. Still, he drove in 36 runs over his first 70 games. Projected to 140 contests, Freese would have plated a respectable 72 runs over the full season. Over an unrealistic 162 games, Freese’s rate would have led to a total of 83 RBI.

Problem is that Freese suffered a bone bruise on his right ankle early in June and by the 28th was placed on the disabled list. A dropped weight, a rehab stint that lasted less than one game due to a season-ending injury followed by another surgery is how it ended for him.

The Cardinals had little choice but insert veteran Felipe Lopez at the hot corner, where he has a .287 average and a .364 OBP. His offensive profile is better suited for second base with a game consisting of less power and more on-base. As such it is easy to see why La Russa addressed his club’s inadequacies at the leadoff spot by stationing Lopez there. Bottom line, we should not be completely surprised that Felipe has just 15 RBI in 188 plate appearances as the Cardinals third baseman this season.

Extending Lopez’ RBI rate over the remainder of the season if he played at third every day would get him to 34 RBI. Adding that to Freese’s 36 and Tyler Greene’s two would project to a total of 72 RBI from the club’s third base position through 162 games.

The good news is that 72 RBI would still be a slight improvement from last season’s black hole. The bad news is that it would tie for the third-lowest production from the position in the La Russa era, with only last season and 1998 worse and equaling 2005, a year in which an injured Rolen drove in just 28 and journeyman Abraham Nunez tried valiantly to hold down the fort, but knocked in just 31 himself.

If this doesn’t illustrate why the Cardinals need to get more out of the third base position, I don’t know what does.

St. Louis Cardinals third basemen, RBI, season, 1996-present

3B RBI Team Leader #
2010 proj 72 Freese 36 Lopez 34 T. Greene 2
2010 YTD 53 Freese 36 Lopez 15 T. Greene 2
2009 65 DeRosa 27 Thurston 18 K.Greene 8 Barden 6 Freese 4 Glaus 2
2008 101 Glaus 96 Lopez 3 Miles 2
2007 77 Rolen 58 Spiezio 12 Ryan 3 Miles 2 Cairo 1 Branyan 1
2006 122 Rolen 95 Spiezio 27
2005 72 Nunez 31 Rolen 28 Seabol 5 Luna 4 Mabry 4
2004 138 Rolen 124 Mabry 10 Luna 2 McKay 2
2003 109 Rolen 104 Perez 4 Delgado 1
2002 89 Rolen 43 Pujols 24 Polanco 20 Cairo 2
2001 83 Pujols 44 Polanco 27 Paquette 12
2000 99 Tatis 62 Paquette 31 Polanco 6
1999 122 Tatis 107 Paquette 13 Polanco 1 D.Howard 1
1998 68 Gaetti 36 Tatis 24 Mabry 6 Jordan 2
1997 79 Gaetti 66 Sheaffer 7 Bell 4 Gallego 1 Gulan 1
1996 75 Gaetti 72 Bell 2 Sheaffer 1

Special thanks to Tom Orf for the data table above.

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If Waino is the ace, Carp is the horse

At age 35, Chris Carpenter has been pitching deep into games for the St. Louis Cardinals this season.

Chris Carpenter (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Much has been written recently about St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright’s home success, where he is currently 11-0 with a 1.22 ERA in 12 starts this season. Some excited scribes, including yours truly, passed the mantle of team ace from Chris Carpenter to Waino.

I may have spoken too soon. When the Cardinals clearly needed a stopper after a pair of extremely embarrassing and ugly home losses to the Houston Astros, it was Carpenter who stepped up Wednesday night. Avoiding overexposing a suddenly-leaking bullpen, Carp worked 7 1/3 innings to improve to 12-3 and win for the ninth time in 11 decisions at Busch Stadium.

While Wainwright has averaged just six innings over his most recent four starts, Carpenter has stepped up big. If Carp isn’t the ace, he is clearly the horse of the staff.

As good as Wednesday night’s performance was, it was actually a step down from his previous three outings at Busch, where he went at least eight innings each time. Carp still owns the longest two stretches of home starts of at least eight innings since 1990 and three of the top nine.

The downside? Carpenter is on pace to toss 246 innings this season. A new career high at the age of 35 has to be considered a red flag. Wainwright is not far behind with a projected load of 240 1/3, which would also be a new maximum for him.

All tables are consecutive starts of eight innings or more, courtesy of researcher Tom Orf.

# Home since 1980 8 IP or more – dates Record ERA
5 Chris Carpenter 2005-07-17/2005-08-19 2-0 1.47
4 Chris Carpenter 2006-08-15/2006-09-11 3-0 0.51
3 Chris Carpenter 2010-07-15/2010-07-30 2-0 0.75
3 Woody Williams 2003-05-31/2003-06-21 2-1 1.13
3 Todd Stottlemyre 1998-05-11/1998-05-27 3-0 1.78
3 Andy Benes 1996-08-10/1996-08-31 3-0 1.50
3 Bob Tewksbury 1994-04-26/1994-05-11 2-0 1.80
3 Bob Tewksbury 1992-05-30/1992-06-29 2-0 1.04
3 Omar Olivares 1991-08-29/1991-09-14 2-1 1.09

MLB Network commentator Joe Magrane holds the longest run of eight innings in all starts since 1980 with seven. Carp had a stretch of five during his Cy Young Award campaign in 2005.

# All games since 1980 8 IP or more – dates Record ERA
7 Joe Magrane 1989-07-30/1989-08-29 7-0 2.23
6 John Tudor 1986-05-28/1986-06-23 2-0 1.35
5 Chris Carpenter 2005-08-02/2005-08-24 3-0 2.36
5 John Tudor 1985-07-24/1985-08-12 5-0 1.04

Of course, the master is Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. In “The Year of the Pitcher”, 1968 and through the next year as well, Gibson put together a run of iron-man pitching reminiscent of the early days of baseball.

# Home since 1952 8 IP or more – dates Record ERA
33 Bob Gibson 1968-04-20/1969-10-02 19-12 1.71
# All games since 1952 8 IP or more – dates Record ERA
35 Bob Gibson 1968-04-20/1969-04-19 23-10 1.13

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Craig’s impressive RBI pace in early action

Rookie St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Allen Craig has seven RBI in his first 15 career games.

Allen Craig (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Depending on your point of view, there is either much concern or much interest in the St. Louis Cardinals third base position. With incumbent David Freese out for the season, Allen Craig, moved from the hot corner to the outfield two years ago, made his first MLB appearance at third base Tuesday night.

Whether that is an indicator of a change ahead or a novelty like Aaron Miles pitching in the 18-4 home blowout administered by the Houston Astros remains to be seen.

However, with the bat, despite considerable focus on his low batting average, Craig has shown an early proficiency in plating runs. In fact, he has been among the most productive Cardinals in their first 15 career games in that stat since 1980.

Cardinals since 1980-7+ RBI in 1st 15 career games
(name, RBI, batting average)

J.D. Drew 13 (.385)
Adam Kennedy 12 (.291)
Albert Pujols 12 (.389)
Andy Van Slyke 10 (9-of-61 .173)
Bo Hart 9 (.412)
John Morris 9 (.204)
David Bell 8 (.280)
Tom Pagnozzi 8 (.219)
Luis Alicea 8 (.235)
Chris Duncan 8 (.294)
John Mabry 8 (.302)
John Rodriguez 8 (.356)
Eli Marrero 7 (.256)
Andy Rincon 7 (.206)
John Gall 7 (.222)
Stan Royer 7 (.375)
Allen Craig 7 (6-of-42 .158)

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the above table.

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Jon Jay at 50 (games, that is)

After 50 games, outfielder Jon Jay has the third highest average of any St. Louis Cardinals player since 1920.

Jon Jay (Doug Benc/Getty Images)For those waiting for St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay to come back to earth, 50 games into his career, it hasn’t happened yet. Certainly the club’s comfort with Jay playing a regular role over a longer period was a factor in the trade of Ryan Ludwick this past weekend.

To that end, researcher Tom Orf pulled the stats from the top 20 players in Cardinals history in the last 90 years, since 1920, in terms of batting average through their first 50 career games. During that time, Jay’s .378 mark is third highest.

Several very familiar names are down the page from Jay, including Albert Pujols, Stan Musial, Jim Bottomley and Enos Slaughter. There are plenty of long-since forgotten players and ones who didn’t pan out, too.

Which will Jay become?

St. Louis Cardinals, highest batting average, first 50 career games, 1920-2010

Player PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
George Watkins 165 146 58 16 3 6 33 13 26 0.397 0.453 0.671 1.125
Don Lang 98 79 31 5 1 1 9 16 11 0.392 0.495 0.519 1.014
Jon Jay 134 119 45 12 1 3 13 11 18 0.378 0.427 0.571 0.999
Stu Martin 199 173 65 15 3 5 29 21 12 0.376 0.446 0.584 1.030
Wally Roettger 183 170 63 11 3 5 29 7 14 0.371 0.399 0.559 0.958
Albert Pujols 213 185 66 10 1 16 51 19 33 0.357 0.423 0.681 1.104
Art Rebel 79 72 25 4 0 0 5 6 4 0.347 0.397 0.403 0.800
Eddie Kazak 201 183 63 11 0 4 26 12 12 0.344 0.388 0.470 0.858
Wally Moon 235 202 69 8 4 6 32 28 19 0.342 0.417 0.510 0.927
Specs Toporcer 165 144 49 10 2 2 17 12 10 0.340 0.391 0.479 0.870
Heinie Mueller 184 169 57 9 5 0 27 10 23 0.337 0.381 0.450 0.831
Willie McGee 171 161 54 3 6 0 22 7 23 0.335 0.361 0.429 0.790
Mike Ryba 60 51 17 2 0 0 11 6 10 0.333 0.404 0.373 0.776
Stan Musial 194 174 58 13 4 6 22 18 9 0.333 0.399 0.557 0.956
Gus Mancuso 160 147 49 6 2 4 31 8 11 0.333 0.372 0.483 0.855
Jim Bottomley 217 200 66 13 6 6 45 10 17 0.330 0.371 0.545 0.916
Gene Green 168 149 49 10 2 4 15 16 14 0.329 0.389 0.503 0.893
Brian Barden 71 64 21 2 0 3 7 5 12 0.328 0.386 0.500 0.886
Brendan Ryan 151 137 45 6 0 4 11 12 15 0.328 0.383 0.460 0.842
Enos Slaughter 227 211 69 14 4 6 34 15 18 0.327 0.372 0.517 0.888

Footnote: For those who wonder, after his first 50 games, 2003 phenom Bo Hart’s average had already fallen to .301 on his way to a .277 mark over 88 career games in that season and the next.

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Westbrook’s first Cardinals start: A historical take

A look at how starting pitchers acquired in deadline deals prior to Jake Westbrook fared for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jake Westbrook (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)Newly-acquired St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook will take the mound for the first time wearing the Birds on the Bat on Monday night against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium.

Time will tell if the 32-year-old steps into the Brad Penny void and helps lead the Cardinals into the post-season and beyond, but that is certainly why the free agent-to-be was acquired in the controversial trade that cost the club outfielder Ryan Ludwick.

Looking back at successful deadline moves for starting pitching made by the organization in the past, the name Woody Williams first comes to mind. Acquired from San Diego for an end-of-career Ray Lankford nine years ago, the then-34-year-old Williams went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA the rest of the way in 2001.

Like others that would follow, such as Joel Pineiro, picked up from the Red Sox in 2007, Williams would remain a Cardinal beyond that season. Others, such as 2006 World Series star Jeff Weaver, quickly left for more money (though less success) elsewhere. Yet others, such as Chuck Finley in 2002, called St. Louis their last stop before retiring from the game.

Researcher Tom Orf pulled the list of 15 starting pitchers added by the Cardinals over the last half-century prior to Westbrook and their results with St. Louis for the remainder of that season.

Cardinals starting pitchers acquired in mid-season trades, initial season with team, 1960-2010

Traded Pitcher Year Age W L ERA G GS GF CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO
6/22/2007 Mike Maroth 2007 29 0 5 10.7 14 7 2 0 0 38 71 56 45 11 17 23
7/31/2007 Joel Piniero 2007 28 6 4 3.96 11 11 0 0 0 63.2 69 29 28 11 12 40
7/5/2006 Jeff Weaver 2006 29 5 4 5.18 15 15 0 0 0 83.1 99 49 48 16 26 45
8/22/2003 Sterling Hitchcock 2003 32 5 1 3.79 8 6 0 0 0 38 34 17 16 8 14 32
7/19/2002 Chuck Finley 2002 39 7 4 3.8 14 14 0 1 1 85.1 69 41 36 7 30 83
8/29/2002 Jamey Wright 2002 27 2 0 4.8 4 3 0 0 0 15 15 8 8 2 12 8
8/2/2001 Woody Williams 2001 34 7 1 2.28 11 11 0 3 1 75 54 22 19 7 19 52
7/31/1998 Darren Oliver 1998 27 4 4 4.26 10 10 0 0 0 57 64 31 27 7 23 29
6/13/1997 Fernando Valenzuela 1997 36 0 4 5.56 5 5 0 0 0 22.2 22 19 14 2 14 10
6/16/1995 Mike Morgan 1995 35 5 6 3.88 17 17 0 1 0 106 114 48 46 10 25 46
6/15/1983 Neil Allen 1983 25 10 6 3.7 25 18 3 4 2 121 122 55 50 6 48 74
6/15/1977 Tom Underwood 1977 23 6 9 4.95 19 17 2 1 0 100 104 61 55 7 57 66
5/28/1975 Ron Reed 1975 32 9 8 3.23 24 24 0 7 2 175 181 79 63 4 37 99
8/15/1974 Claude Osteen 1974 34 0 2 4.37 8 2 2 0 0 22.2 26 14 11 1 11 6
6/15/1963 Lew Burdette 1963 36 3 8 3.77 21 14 3 3 0 98 106 50 41 6 16 45

Going one step further, we also offer the first-game results of each of the earlier 15. As a group, they went 7-7 with one no-decision as the Cardinals won seven and lost eight of those debut contests.

Williams and Neil Allen, added in the terrible Keith Hernandez trade in 1983, held their opponents scoreless in their respective Cardinals debuts. In 1975, Ron Reed yielded just two unearned runs while Sterling Hitchcock, added in 2003, tossed a scoreless inning in his debut (in relief). Only Lew Burdette in 1963 threw a complete game.

Cardinals starting pitchers acquired in mid-season trades, first game with team, 1960-2010

Traded Pitcher Debut Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
6/22/2007 Mike Maroth Jun 25 @ NYM L,1-2 GS-8 7 2 1 1 2 4 1
7/31/2007 Joel Piniero Aug 4 @ WSN L,1-12 GS-5 L(1-2) 5 7 5 4 2 2 1
7/5/2006 Jeff Weaver Jul 17 ATL L,3-15 GS-4 L(3-11) 4 8 6 6 2 1 2
8/22/2003 Sterling Hitchcock Aug 23 PHI W,5-3 6-6 W(2-3) 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
7/19/2002 Chuck Finley Jul 21 @ PIT W,8-4 GS-6 W(5-11) 6 7 4 3 2 8 0
8/29/2002 Jamey Wright Aug 30 @ CHC W,6-3 GS-6 W(6-13) 6 6 2 2 3 3 0
8/2/2001 Woody Williams Aug 4 FLA W,3-0 GS-7 W(9-8) 6 7 0 0 0 5 0
7/31/1998 Darren Oliver Aug 3 @ MIL L,5-6 GS-6 L(6-8) 5 9 6 3 2 1 1
6/13/1997 Fernando Valenzuela Jun 17 @ MIL L,3-4 GS-6 L(2-9) 5 5 4 3 3 3 1
6/16/1995 Mike Morgan Jun 18 SFG L,1-6 GS-5 L(2-2) 5 6 4 4 0 2 0
6/15/1983 Neil Allen Jun 21 @ NYM W,6-0 GS-8 W(3-7) 8 4 0 0 2 6 0
6/15/1977 Tom Underwood Jun 22 @ LAD L,1-12 GS-4 L(3-3) 3 7 5 5 4 3 0
5/28/1975 Ron Reed Jun 3 ATL W,4-2 GS-7 W(5-5) 7 8 2 0 1 3 0
8/15/1974 Claude Osteen Aug 19 @ ATL L,6-11 GS-4 L(9-10) 3 9 6 4 2 0 1
6/15/1963 Lew Burdette Jun 18 NYM W,6-2 CG W(7-5) 9 6 2 2 1 7 1

Footnote. I read in a USA Today article outlining the Arizona Diamondbacks’ fire sale about the last pitcher prior to Edwin Jackson this year to have been traded during the same season in which he had thrown a no-hitter.

It was Cliff “Lefty” Chambers, dealt by the Pirates to the Cardinals in 1951. Interestingly, catcher Joe Garagiola was among those heading in the other direction in the seven-player trade. Including his no-hitter against the Boston Braves, Chambers was 3-6 with a 5.58 ERA before the move, but 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA over the remainder of that season after joining St. Louis.

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Closing the Cardinals books on Ludwick

Traded outfielder Ryan Ludwick had been one of St. Louis’ top two offensive leaders since his 2007 arrival.

Ryan Ludwick (AP Photo/Kyle Ericson)With Saturday’s surprising trade to San Diego, outfielder Ryan Ludwick left the St. Louis Cardinals after three-plus years at the major league level, following a partial Triple-A season. The man who dealt away Ludwick, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, was instrumental in bringing the 32-year-old to the organization prior to the 2007 season.

Here are a few of Ludwick’s Cardinals highlights:

2007: Called up from Memphis on May 6 and did not return. His 11 pinch hits were second on the team and tied for 11th in the National League.

2008: All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner. Set career highs in average (.299), home runs (37) and RBI (113).

2009: Led Cardinals outfielders with 22 home runs and 97 RBI. NL Player of the Month for July. Had nine assists and just one error all season long. Was one of the few to hit well in the short post-season, going 4-for-12 (.333) against the Dodgers in the NLDS.

2010: Out from July 3-24 due to a calf injury. Having played in 77 of the team’s 103 games, Ludwick was fourth on the team with 11 home runs and third with 20 doubles and 43 RBI.

Researcher Tom Orf helps me close the books on the segment of Ludwick’s career that intersects with the Cardinals. The data that follows indicates that since the start of 2007, Ludwick was second only to Albert Pujols on the club in most offensive categories. That proven production will need to be replaced.

Rk
 Player HR From To
1 Albert Pujols 139 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 84 2007 2010
3 Rick Ankiel 47 2007 2009
4 Matt Holliday 32 2009 2010
5 Colby Rasmus 32 2009 2010
6 Chris Duncan 32 2007 2009
7 Troy Glaus 27 2008 2009
8 Yadier Molina 23 2007 2010
9 Skip Schumaker 17 2007 2010
10 Jim Edmonds 12 2007 2007
Rk
 Player RBI From To
1 Albert Pujols 425 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 305 2007 2010
3 Yadier Molina 188 2007 2010
4 Rick Ankiel 148 2007 2009
5 Chris Duncan 129 2007 2009
6 Skip Schumaker 124 2007 2010
7 Matt Holliday 115 2009 2010
8 Troy Glaus 101 2008 2009
9 Colby Rasmus 95 2009 2010
10 Brendan Ryan 79 2007 2010
Rk
 Player R From To
1 Albert Pujols 384 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 253 2007 2010
3 Skip Schumaker 238 2007 2010
4 Rick Ankiel 146 2007 2009
5 Brendan Ryan 139 2007 2010
6 Yadier Molina 134 2007 2010
7 Colby Rasmus 126 2009 2010
8 Aaron Miles 112 2007 2010
9 Chris Duncan 102 2007 2009
10 Matt Holliday 99 2009 2010
Rk
 Player H From To
1 Albert Pujols 670 2007 2010
2 Skip Schumaker 464 2007 2010
3 Ryan Ludwick 450 2007 2010
4 Yadier Molina 446 2007 2010
5 Brendan Ryan 266 2007 2010
6 Aaron Miles 259 2007 2010
7 Rick Ankiel 244 2007 2009
8 Chris Duncan 211 2007 2009
9 Colby Rasmus 200 2009 2010
10 Matt Holliday 198 2009 2010
Rk
 Player 2B From To
1 Albert Pujols 150 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 102 2007 2010
3 Skip Schumaker 81 2007 2010
4 Yadier Molina 67 2007 2010
5 Rick Ankiel 50 2007 2009
6 Brendan Ryan 48 2007 2010
7 Chris Duncan 43 2007 2009
8 Matt Holliday 42 2009 2010
9 Colby Rasmus 41 2009 2010
10 Troy Glaus 35 2008 2009
Rk
 Player 3B From To
1 Brendan Ryan 9 2007 2010
2 Skip Schumaker 9 2007 2010
3 Ryan Ludwick 6 2007 2010
4 Rick Ankiel 5 2007 2009
5 Adam Kennedy 5 2007 2008
6 Colby Rasmus 4 2009 2010
7 Julio Lugo 4 2009 2009
8 Joseph Thurston 4 2009 2009
9 Matt Holliday 3 2009 2010
10 Felipe Lopez 3 2008 2010
11 Aaron Miles 3 2007 2010
12 Albert Pujols 3 2007 2010
13 Cesar Izturis 3 2008 2008
Rk
 Player BB From To
1 Albert Pujols 384 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 153 2007 2010
3 Yadier Molina 148 2007 2010
4 Skip Schumaker 135 2007 2010
5 Chris Duncan 130 2007 2009
6 Troy Glaus 90 2008 2009
7 Rick Ankiel 81 2007 2009
8 Brendan Ryan 79 2007 2010
9 Colby Rasmus 74 2009 2010
10 Matt Holliday 69 2009 2010
Rk
 Player SO From To
1 Ryan Ludwick 388 2007 2010
2 Chris Duncan 242 2007 2009
3 Rick Ankiel 240 2007 2009
4 Albert Pujols 227 2007 2010
5 Skip Schumaker 193 2007 2010
6 Colby Rasmus 192 2009 2010
7 Yadier Molina 146 2007 2010
8 Brendan Ryan 145 2007 2010
9 Troy Glaus 112 2008 2009
10 Matt Holliday 103 2009 2010
Rk
 Player SB From To
1 Albert Pujols 36 2007 2010
2 Brendan Ryan 36 2007 2010
3 Cesar Izturis 24 2008 2008
4 Yadier Molina 16 2007 2010
5 Skip Schumaker 16 2007 2010
6 Adam Kennedy 13 2007 2008
7 Ryan Ludwick 12 2007 2010
8 Colby Rasmus 12 2009 2010
9 David Eckstein 10 2007 2007
10 Matt Holliday 9 2009 2010
11 Felipe Lopez 9 2008 2010
Rk
 Player HBP From To
1 Ryan Ludwick 26 2007 2010
2 Albert Pujols 22 2007 2010
3 Yadier Molina 14 2007 2010
4 David Eckstein 12 2007 2007
5 Jason LaRue 10 2008 2010
6 Brendan Ryan 9 2007 2010
7 Matt Holliday 8 2009 2010
8 Rick Ankiel 8 2007 2009
9 Tyler Greene 6 2009 2010
10 Cesar Izturis 6 2008 2008
11 So Taguchi 6 2007 2007
Rk
 Player SF AB From To
1 Albert Pujols 28 2037 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 15 1608 2007 2010
3 Yadier Molina 11 1589 2007 2010
4 Rick Ankiel 10 957 2007 2009
5 Aaron Miles 7 854 2007 2010
6 Skip Schumaker 7 1562 2007 2010
7 David Eckstein 7 434 2007 2007
8 Scott Rolen 7 392 2007 2007
9 Matt Holliday 6 617 2009 2010
10 Chris Duncan 5 857 2007 2009
11 Adam Kennedy 5 618 2007 2008
Rk
 Player BA AB From To
1 Jon Jay 0.396 111 2010 2010
2 Albert Pujols 0.329 2037 2007 2010
3 Matt Holliday 0.321 617 2009 2010
4 David Eckstein 0.309 434 2007 2007
5 Felipe Lopez 0.308 425 2008 2010
6 Aaron Miles 0.303 854 2007 2010
7 David Freese 0.299 271 2009 2010
8 Skip Schumaker 0.297 1562 2007 2010
9 So Taguchi 0.290 307 2007 2007
10 Juan Encarnacion 0.283 283 2007 2007
11 Yadier Molina 0.281 1589 2007 2010
12 Ryan Ludwick 0.280 1608 2007 2010
Rk
 Player SLG AB From To
1 Albert Pujols 0.610 2037 2007 2010
2 Jon Jay 0.604 111 2010 2010
3 Matt Holliday 0.554 617 2009 2010
4 Ryan Ludwick 0.507 1608 2007 2010
5 Troy Glaus 0.471 573 2008 2009
6 Rick Ankiel 0.465 957 2007 2009
7 Felipe Lopez 0.447 425 2008 2010
8 Colby Rasmus 0.445 776 2009 2010
9 Juan Encarnacion 0.445 283 2007 2007
10 Julio Lugo 0.432 148 2009 2009
Rk
 Player XBH AB From To
1 Albert Pujols 292 2037 2007 2010
2 Ryan Ludwick 192 1608 2007 2010
3 Skip Schumaker 107 1562 2007 2010
4 Rick Ankiel 102 957 2007 2009
5 Yadier Molina 91 1589 2007 2010
6 Matt Holliday 77 617 2009 2010
7 Chris Duncan 77 857 2007 2009
8 Colby Rasmus 77 776 2009 2010
9 Brendan Ryan 66 1022 2007 2010
10 Troy Glaus 63 573 2008 2009

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Managing Garcia’s workload during a pennant race

What is the best way for the St. Louis Cardinals to manage their number three starter, rookie Jaime Garcia?

Over on The Cardinal Nation message board, one of our most astute posters, “Gagliano”, stepped into Dave Duncan’s shoes to develop a schedule for the St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers through the end of the season.

Key assumptions that were made include deploying only the pitchers that are currently on the roster (no trades), the return of Kyle Lohse after two more rehab starts and the avoidance of using the fifth starter whenever possible by always keeping the starting four on regular rest.

I can understand the first two, but worry about the latter.

Put aside for a moment driving aces Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, the latter with past injury issues. Even put aside the risks of placing a full workload on Lohse the rest of the way, a pitcher who has been injured much of the last two seasons.

I understand the interest in minimizing any future starts by both Jeff Suppan and Blake Hawksworth, but at what potential cost?

Jaime Garcia (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)The Cardinals came into this season with the firm intent to start rookie Jaime Garcia in Memphis to more carefully manage his workload as he is coming off rehab from surgery. The lefty had other plans, forcing his way into the rotation and performing better than anyone had a right to expect.

Just this past week in New York, we asked manager Tony La Russa about Garcia’s workload. Tony said they discussed it this spring as an organization. On one hand, the manager said they carefully monitor all pitchers, while also acknowledging Garcia was given two extra days and the All-Star break already. Going forward, La Russa said “We will err on the side of caution.”

The manager was asked if the pennant race might have an impact on Garcia’s usage. “The race wouldn’t change what Dave Duncan and I do. The organization might look at that differently, though. I hope we don’t get there.” The latter point was a reference to falling out of contention.

This raises a related question I wanted badly to ask La Russa about in New York but knew it was too speculative to get an answer:

“If you don’t acquire another starter, would you rather continue to try to give Garcia extra days off now and then or avoid using the fifth starter whenever possible?”

Gagliano’s strawman assumes the latter. If the Cards can stay in the race, I think I prefer the former for two reasons.

1) Garcia’s injury history. He is squarely on track to reach a career high in innings pitched, 182, not including the post-season. Jaime threw 155 innings in his first pro season in 2006 but managed just 247 innings over the next three years combined. A elbow problem that led to Tommy John surgery late in the 2008 season was the primary reason.

2) Having a stronger Garcia for the playoffs. The Cardinals need an effective third starter – if they make it to October, of course, which takes us back to needing to play well enough in the interim to get there…

That is why La Russa and Duncan make all that money – to make these kinds of decisions.

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Reliever MacDougal’s rare introductory feat

New St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mike MacDougal is the 23rd reliever to win in his first game with the team.

Mike MacDougal (Allison Rhoades photo)As St. Louis Cardinals fans may already know, the club purchased the contract of veteran reliever Mike MacDougal on Wednesday, optioning out Fernando Salas for the fourth time this season. The 33-year-old, wearing number 63, was immediately thrown into action, picking up a win after tossing a scoreless 12th that same evening. Albert Pujols’ RBI single plated what would become the winning run in the 13th inning at New York.

MacDougal was called upon again Thursday afternoon, but did not fare as well wearing what will be his semi-permanent number 48. As has been his custom in the past, control was the issue. He walked two and hit another batter, but escaped his self-made jam for a scoreless eighth inning.

His first-game victory had not happened previously with a Cardinals reliever since Troy Percival did it on June 29, 2007. For a starter, it is far more prevalent, with future Hall of Famer John Smoltz being the last to accomplish a win in his St. Louis debut, on August 23 of last season.

Researcher Tom Orf was kind enough to pull the list of 23 relievers to have taken a “W” in their first game with the Cardinals over the last half-century, since 1960. There are some familiar names as well as others virtually forgotten over time.

St. Louis Cardinals, relievers, win in first game with the team, 1960-present

Mike MacDougal 7/28/2010
Troy Percival 6/29/2007
Sterling Hitchcock 8/23/2003
Russ Springer 3/31/2003
Juan Acevedo 4/2/1998
Paul Kilgus 6/3/1993
John Costello 6/2/1988
Tim Conroy 4/19/1986
Andy Hassler 9/16/1984
Doug Bair 9/12/1981
John Martin 8/27/1980
Tom Bruno 8/5/1978
Roy Thomas 6/28/1978
Clay Carroll 4/10/1977
Doug Capilla 9/12/1976
Mike Garman 4/11/1974
Diego Segui 6/8/1972
Stan Williams 8/1/1971
Dick Hughes 9/11/1966
Don Dennis 6/18/1965
Harry Fanok 4/16/1963
Craig Anderson 6/23/1961
Bob Grim 8/3/1960

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Cardinals live chat on FOX Sports Midwest Thursday

The tenth of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season will be held throughout Thursday morning/afternoon’s Cardinals-Mets series final. Join in the discussion with me and the FSM personalities.

You can participate via the frame below or through FOX Sports Midwest’s website.

Blake Hawksworth (4-6, 5.23) faces R.A. Dickey (6-4, 2.55) as the Cards try to win the rubber match of the road series and salvage a 3-3 split in the trip through Chicago and New York. The Cardinals only winning 2010 road trip remains their first of the season.

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled early – 11:10 A.M. Central with the pregame show starting at 10:30.

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FOX Sports Midwest Cardinals ratings tops in MLB

In the most recent Nielsen research data, the St. Louis Cardinals games have taken over the highest local ratings in baseball.

fsmidwest-cards-logos“The best fans in baseball.”

When tossed around in reference to the followers of the St. Louis Cardinals, I don’t like it one bit. It has nothing to do with an outbreak of the wave at Busch Stadium while the home team is batting in the eighth inning of a tie game. It is just one of those terms that is better left unsaid.

Having the most rabid fans, on the other hand, can be suggested – and when using television ratings in support of one’s position, that debate can be won.

On Monday, SportsBusiness Journal published an analysis of Nielsen Media Research data through the All-Star break. The Cardinals regional sports network, FOX Sports Midwest, came in number one across all of major league baseball’s local markets with a 9.70 average rating. That represents over 120,000 households in the St. Louis market watching the telecast on the average and both numbers are a whopping 41.6 percent higher than last season.

The next closest club, the Minnesota Twins on FOX Sports North, have a 7.85 average rating in the Twin Cities DMA. The Oakland A’s on CSN California are last at 1.23. The leader for the past six years, the Boston Red Sox’ NESN, slipped to fifth at 6.25, causing much concern in Beantown. (These ratings do not account for viewers in outer markets.)

It was recently disclosed that starting in 2011, FS Midwest will be televising all Cardinals games not on national broadcasts. On the radio side, rumors persist that the team is considering a change from KTRS, despite holding a partial ownership stake in the station.

In the radio rankings, KTRS comes in ninth in MLB in terms of average listeners at 128,400. That is down five percent from last season. KTRS is third in MLB in average rating among the desirable 25-54 age male group at 19.1. Again, that is in decline, down 4.5 percent from 2009.

At the national level, ratings remained basically flat on every network except ESPN.

FOX averaged a 1.9 rating for their MLB game coverage during the first half of the season, same as last year. While that is slightly up, it isn’t great news as last season, FOX’s 1.8 average was a record low. ESPN’s 1.0 national rating for its games is down from last year’s 1.1, while ESPN2 averaged 0.74. Not surprisingly, TBS was the least-watched of the national networks with a 0.41 rating, even with last year.

Click on the above link to be taken to the detailed data.

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Great Museums: The National Baseball Hall of Fame

A one-hour video tour of one of nation’s greatest museums, located in Cooperstown, New York.

With the help of a number of members of SABR, I continue to research my pet project from over the winter, the circumstances surrounding Stan Musial wearing the number 19 in spring training 1942. It is because of one of them that I am sharing this post.

Recently, I have also worked with several members of the research staff at The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and plan to make an archival-focused visit there in the near future. I was hoping to snare a work-related trip to the Hall this past weekend for the induction of Whitey Herzog, but that did not come to pass.

At any rate, not everyone has the opportunity to go through the Hall, but for those who cannot, the following one-hour video is the next best thing. Enjoy!

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Hall of Fame Sunday thoughts

Anger over MLB’s Hall of Fame Sunday games and wonder about ESPN’s Sunday night choice.

Whitey Herzog (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)The annual Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony was held on Sunday afternoon and three headliners were inducted – former Cubs and Expos outfielder Andre “The Hawk” Dawson, ex-Cardinals and Royals manager Whitey “The White Rat” Herzog and retired umpire Doug Harvey. Congratulations to them and the other new Hall members. (Link to induction speeches.)

I’ve had two Hall-related thoughts in my head about the day that I want to share here.

First, I am ashamed of Major League Baseball. I am ashamed of them for continuing to schedule a full slate of Sunday afternoon games during the Hall of Fame induction.

It wouldn’t have to be. The date is set long in advance – the last Sunday of July.

Why couldn’t and shouldn’t all MLB ballparks be dark on that one Sunday afternoon each summer? Encourage all baseball fans to take in a day of history. Move all the games to that night.

Why won’t it happen? Some owners somewhere will complain about a loss in revenue with a Sunday night gate compared to an afternoon and we all know exactly how the commissioner works.

I think it is incredibly disrespectful of the history of the game and especially a slight to the most worthy inductees each year.

Sticking with the money theme leads me to my second thought.

Sunday afternoon, my friend and Cubs Scout.com counterpart from InsideTheIvy.com Steve Holley wondered out loud why the far-below .500 Cubs were selected by ESPN to play on the Sunday night national broadcast for the third consecutive week.

It seemed clear as day… er night to me – ratings.

After all, we have the team of Herzog taking on Dawson’s club. (I also pointed out to Steve that the Expos were unavailable.)

The worldwide leader had previously lost out on their normal gig televising the induction to the in-house mouthpiece MLB Network. By picking this game, ESPN can take advantage of Hall of Fame Sunday as much as they can.

I don’t see that as a particular problem – just pointing out the possibility of something that seemed obvious to me.

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Molina’s pickoffs: The recap

Much has already been written about St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina’s overall excellence, and rightfully so. He has won Gold Gloves in the most recent back-to-back seasons, has been the National League All-Star starter behind the plate the last two years and of course, the 28-year-old has a World Series ring.

Yadier Molina (AP/Jeff Roberson)Last season, Molina led all major league catchers with 138 games played and batted .293. He was the toughest to strike out of all major league players the last two full seasons at one per 15.3 plate appearances.

Molina stops the opposition’s running game better than anyone. Since 2005, his catcher’s throwing percentage is 41.6 percent, best in MLB and still improving – up from 41.2 percent at the end of 2009.

The focus of this article, with the table below compiled by Tom Orf, illustrates one of the flashiest and most effective parts of Molina’s game – his MLB-leading 37 regular-season pickoffs since his 2004 debut. His first two of the 2010 season occurred during the recently-completed Philadelphia series.

To illustrate how dominant Molina is in this category, coming into this season, the next closest catcher had 13 pickoffs since 2005 (compared to Molina’s 34 at the time).

(Note this list includes 38 total pickoffs, including one in the 2006 NLDS. 37 regular season pickoffs are documented. As of now, we cannot explain why the Cardinals quote 36 pickoffs and where the discrepancy of one occurred.)

Pickoffs, Yadier Molina, career

Date Opp Inn Runner at From Out Score Final
7/22/2010 Phi 5 Polanco 1B C-1B 2 0-0 L 0-2
7/19/2010 Phi 3 Werth 1B C-1B 3 2-3 W 8-4
10/1/2009 @ Cin 3 Stubbs 1B C-1B 2 5-0 W 13-0
8/15/2009 SD 7 Venable 1B C-1B 3 5-4 W 7-4
7/17/2009 Arz 6 Reynolds 1B C-1B 1 1-0 W 6-1
7/11/2009 @ Chi 7 Theriot 1B C-1B 1 1-5 L 2-5
6/3/2009 Cin 1 Dickerson 1B C-1B 2 0-0 L 3-9
5/19/2009 Chi 1 Soriano 1B C-1B 1 0-0 W 3-0
4/27/2009 @ Atl 6 Escobar 1B C-1B 3 2-1 W 3-2
4/21/2009 NYM 1 Murphy 1B C-1B 1 0-0 W 6-4
8/30/2008 Hou 3 Newhan 1B C-1B 1 3-6 L 5-8
8/2/2008 Phi 8 Bruntlett 1B C-1B 3 1-2 L 1-2
7/23/2008 Mil 3 Weeks 1B C-1B 2 0-0 L 0-3
5/27/2008 Hou 1 Towles 1B C-1B 3 0-4 L 2-8
5/17/2008 TB 1 Longoria 1B C-1B 3 0-1 W 9-8
4/7/2008 @ Hou 8 Berkman 1B C-1B 3 0-3 L 3-5
4/6/2008 Was 1 Milledge 1B C-1B 3 0-0 W 3-0
9/4/2007 Pit 2 Pearce 1B C-1B 3 2-0 W 6-2
4/15/2007 Mil 5 Fielder 1B C-1B 3 4-2 W 10-2
9/20/2006 @ Mil 8 Hart 1B C-1B 3 0-0 L 0-1
7/29/2006 @ Chi 1 Barrett 2B C-SS 3 1-0 L 2-4
7/9/2006 @ Hou 9 Munson 1B C-1B 3 5-5 W 7-5
6/25/2006 @ Det 7 Thames 1B C-1B 3 1-1 L 1-4
5/27/2006 @ SD 9 Giles 1B C-1B 3 4-3 W 4-3
5/12/2006 Arz 1 Easley 2B C-1B-SS 2 0-0 W 5-3
5/8/2006 Col 3 Ardoin 1B C-1B 3 0-3 L 2-6
5/2/2006 @ Cin 5 Freel 1B C-1B 3 2-0 L 2-3
9/16/2005 @ Chi 7 Burnitz 1B C-1B 3 3-5 L 3-5
8/26/2005 @ Was 6 Wilkerson 1B C-1B 3 0-4 L 1-4
6/28/2005 Cin 7 Aurilia 1B C-1B 3 2-1 W 2-1
6/18/2005 @ TB 3 Cantu 1B C-1B 3 0-2 W 5-2
5/18/2005 @ Phi 2 Burrell 1B C-1B 3 0-0 W 8-4
5/5/2005 SD 8 Burroughs 1B C-1B 3 3-5 L 3-8
5/5/2005 SD 3 Jackson 1B C-1B 2 1-0 L 3-8
5/3/2005 @ Cin 2 Dunn 1B C-1B 1 0-0 W 4-2
4/12/2005 Cin 4 F.Lopez 1B C-1B 3 3-1 W 5-1
6/30/2004 @ Pit 7 Mackowiak 1B C-1B 3 4-4 L 5-6
NLDS
10/7/2006 SD 1 Piazza 1B C-1B 3 0-0 L 1-3

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Batavia Muckdogs financial situation eroding

Lack of attendance is killing the St. Louis Cardinals New York-Penn League affiliate, the Batavia Muckdogs.

Alanna Stage of the Batavia News wrote an article which outlines the lack of financial progress being made by the Batavia Muckdogs franchise.

Key factoids:

–          With 1,024 fans per game, down from last season, the Muckdogs are last in attendance in the New York-Penn League. The next worst team averages over 1,400.

–          The chairman and COO of Rochester Community Baseball (RCB), operator of the team, is threatening to make the decision to end their management agreement unless attendance improves, perhaps even before the season is out. RCB is only committed through the 2010 season.

–          Remarks from the chairman of The Genessee County Baseball Club, owners of the team, support RCB’s concern over the low level of fan support.

From past articles: link

–          Upon the club’s sale, RCB would pick up five percent ownership of the Muckdogs for each year they have operated the club. 2010 is their third season.

–          RCB lost $400,000 running the Muckdogs during their first two years of operation, 2008 and 2009.

–          The franchise may be worth from $3 million to $5 million on the open market. If sold, it would certainly be moved away from Batavia, likely forever.

I spoke with a senior Cardinals official who would only say that any negotiations for the organization to remain associated with the franchise would not be discussed until after the season ends. The Cardinals player development contract is up this fall.

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Cardinals live chat on FOX Sports Midwest Friday

FSM-site-logo-200

The ninth of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season will be held throughout Friday afternoon’s Cardinals-Cubs series opener. Join in the discussion with me and the FSM personalities.

You can participate via the frame to be added below or through FOX Sports Midwest’s website.

Jeff Suppan faces Randy Wells as the Cards try to break their one-game losing streak and get the Wrigley Field series started on the right foot.

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:20 P.M. Central. Pre-game starts at 12:30.

Note: And if that isn’t enough… As is the case every Friday, my weekly “Cards Talk” segment will be streamed live at kxno.com and broadcast on AM 1460 KXnO FOX Sports Radio in Des Moines at 5:25 p.m. CDT.

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Will Wainwright’s home pitching feats continue?

At Busch Stadium, Adam Wainwright has posted among the most impressive results of any pitcher in St. Louis Cardinals history.

Adam Wainwright (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is on a roll, but it isn’t just a recent phenomenon. He tossed six scoreless innings to earn his 14th win of the season in the Cardinals’ 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday at Busch Stadium.

Wainwright extended his 2010 record to 14-5 while lowering his ERA to 2.02. The right-hander has just one no-decision in his 20 starts this season and is averaging seven innings per start and 8.2 strikeouts against just 2.3 walks per nine innings.

In his Saturday win, Wainwright became the first Cardinals pitcher since at least 1920 to win his first 10 decisions at home. In his ten starts at Busch this season, Wainwright is 10-0 with a 1.31 ERA, the lowest home ERA of any starter in the National League.

In an amazing measure of consistency, Wainwright extended his streak of home quality starts to 25. Those are games in which he yielded three earned runs or less and pitched six or more innings.

The last time the 28-year-old did not toss a quality start at Busch Stadium was on May 5, 2009, when he allowed seven runs in six innings pitched. The opponent was none other than the Philadelphia Phillies, his opposition again this Thursday.

In his only outing against the Phils since, Wainwright took a no-decision at Citizens Bank Park this May 4 despite yielding just one run over eight innings. Due to the unbalanced schedule used by MLB, the two clubs generally only have one home and one away series each season.

The May 5, 2009 home defeat was Wainwright’s only career loss to Philadelphia in seven appearances, including five starts. He has a 2-1 record with a 2.68 ERA when facing the Phillies. His career ERA at home against all clubs is even lower at 2.46.

As Waino faces off against the Phillies and Cole Hamels at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon’s finale of the four-game set, it will be his 58th career start at home. Through 57, that 2.46 ERA is the second-lowest by any St. Louis starter of those with at least 50 home starts since at least 1920. Only the “Cranky Yankee”, John Tudor, had a lower career home ERA. Wainwright’s teammate, Chris Carpenter, is fifth.

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers, lowest home ERA, 50 starts or more since 1920

Player W L ERA GS CG SHO IP H ER HR BB SO WHIP
John Tudor 35 8 2.26 66 15 8 478 411 120 28 93 244 1.05
Adam Wainwright 31 16 2.46 57 5 1 394.1 346 108 26 100 308 1.13
Mort Cooper 54 18 2.47 89 54 12 692 592 190 24 195 358 1.14
Max Lanier 46 27 2.57 87 41 12 623 571 178 15 189 354 1.22
Chris Carpenter 38 15 2.57 72 10 6 505 438 144 33 109 412 1.08
Al Brazle 31 17 2.74 59 31 4 429.2 410 131 12 127 177 1.25
Steve Carlton 31 37 2.89 84 28 7 607.2 561 195 35 212 424 1.27
Harry Brecheen 62 29 2.91 112 61 13 820 739 265 41 210 408 1.16
Howie Pollet 41 31 2.93 88 45 10 620.2 609 202 25 212 291 1.32
Dizzy Dean 63 29 2.97 102 70 11 840.2 822 277 44 174 532 1.18
Danny Cox 33 23 2.99 81 12 3 562.1 542 187 41 140 265 1.21
Bob Gibson 112 85 3.04 237 110 21 1865 1659 630 132 593 1529 1.21
Lynn McGlothen 23 20 3.04 50 17 7 358.1 328 121 22 116 190 1.24
Nelson Briles 28 17 3.06 60 13 6 405.1 374 138 27 109 230 1.19
Joe Magrane 22 26 3.09 68 8 4 457.2 433 157 16 140 221 1.25
Curt Simmons 38 25 3.10 91 28 11 635.1 658 219 54 142 298 1.26
Ray Washburn 31 28 3.16 83 15 6 540.2 531 190 43 120 303 1.20
John Denny 32 18 3.16 68 18 7 467.1 455 164 25 150 202 1.29
Bill Doak 33 19 3.19 69 27 7 468.2 501 166 11 124 168 1.33
Matt Morris 57 28 3.22 115 11 7 757.2 714 271 62 203 563 1.21
Bob Tewksbury 34 21 3.23 71 8 1 490.1 493 176 36 57 203 1.12
Reggie Cleveland 22 14 3.25 50 17 5 351.2 334 127 22 83 216 1.19
Ernie Broglio 34 15 3.35 77 25 9 534.2 467 199 53 202 358 1.25
Joaquin Andujar 30 33 3.35 74 21 7 537.1 504 200 31 149 269 1.22
Red Munger 38 17 3.36 74 32 10 498.1 480 186 19 198 262 1.36
Bob Forsch 89 57 3.42 205 34 12 1349 1283 512 79 373 560 1.23
Jose DeLeon 23 28 3.47 76 7 3 471.2 390 182 34 168 377 1.18
Vinegar Bend Mizell 38 32 3.48 95 28 6 640.2 581 248 51 288 405 1.36
Donovan Osborne 28 16 3.48 68 2 2 429 403 166 41 106 276 1.19
Murry Dickson 26 22 3.55 67 25 4 461 458 182 45 155 223 1.33
Harvey Haddix 28 17 3.58 56 25 9 407 368 162 40 115 298 1.19
Jesse Haines 93 67 3.65 193 103 10 1422 1520 576 82 371 476 1.33
Bill Hallahan 51 28 3.73 101 44 9 712.2 720 295 33 268 417 1.39
Jeff Suppan 20 16 3.74 53 0 0 315.1 345 131 35 101 193 1.41
Bill Sherdel 56 46 3.76 113 69 3 870.1 1009 364 58 183 254 1.37
Gerry Staley 43 22 3.77 81 31 5 556.2 598 233 41 145 199 1.33
Andy Benes 27 13 3.88 59 2 0 373.2 341 161 47 144 297 1.30
Larry Jackson 51 28 3.93 110 41 6 760.2 818 332 76 206 432 1.35
Flint Rhem 37 29 3.95 80 36 4 553 613 243 35 170 191 1.42
Lon Warneke 36 26 4.13 84 33 4 584 626 268 60 169 254 1.36
Syl Johnson 20 19 4.34 51 20 3 346.1 372 167 25 84 156 1.32
Ray Sadecki 32 29 4.49 81 18 1 499 521 249 63 200 317 1.44
Jason Marquis 23 20 5.07 51 0 0 314.1 349 177 48 113 183 1.47

Special thanks to Tom Orf for the data table above.

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Cardinals extend winning streak to seven

Since Tony La Russa became St. Louis Cardinals manager in 1996, his clubs have had only seven longer winning streaks.

(AP/Tom Gannam)With their 7-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night, the St. Louis Cardinals extended their current winning streak to seven games, the longest active stretch among all MLB clubs.

It is not only St. Louis’ best run this season – it would have been their longest during the previous three years, too. One has to go back to their World Series-winning season of 2006, July 7-16 to be specific, to find an example of the Cards taking seven straight games. Ironically, the 2006 Cardinals vanquished Houston and Los Angeles during their run, the same clubs defeated in the first five games of the current streak.

Because someone will surely ask, in the Tony La Russa years (starting in 1996), the Cardinals have enjoyed just seven winning streaks of eight or more consecutive games. The club’s best under Tony was 11 straight in August 2001.

St. Louis Cardinals winning streaks, 1996-present

First Last G Opponents
8/9/2001 8/19/2001 11 MON,NYM,CIN,PHI
5/7/2001 5/17/2001 10 PIT,CHC
8/27/2004 9/5/2004 9 PIT,SDP,LAD
9/8/2001 9/22/2001 9 LAD,MIL,PIT
7/2/2004 7/10/2004 8 SEA,CIN,CHC
9/3/2002 9/11/2002 8 CIN,CHC,MIL
8/30/1996 9/7/1996 8 COL,HOU,SDP
7/11/2010 7/20/2010* 7 HOU,LAD,PHI
7/7/2006 7/16/2006 7 HOU,LAD
8/4/2004 8/11/2004 7 MON,NYM,FLA
4/27/2003 5/4/2003 7 FLA,NYM,MON
9/11/2000 9/17/2000 7 PIT,CHC

* current

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for providing the above table.

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Jay’s doubles among all-time Cards early leaders

Jon Jay (Doug Benc/Getty Images)Jon Jay has nine two-base hits in his first 38 games, joining just 16 other St. Louis Cardinals who could say the same.

In his 38th career MLB game on Tuesday night, outfielder Jon Jay continued his stellar play. The rookie hit two doubles, walked, scored and drove in a run, raising his average to .372.

It was his second career two-double game and the pair of doubles increased his career total to nine.

In the former stat, Jay joined nine other Cardinals hitters since 1920 with two two-double contests in their first 38 career games.

St. Louis Cardinals, multi-double games, first 38 career games

2 Jon Jay
2 George Watkins
2 Del Rice
2 Albert Pujols
2 Johnny Mize
2 Whitey Kurowski
2 Adam Kennedy
2 Ray Jablonski
2 Art Garibaldi
2 Howard Freigau

Jay became the 17th Cardinals hitter since 1920 to collect at least nine doubles in his first 38 games. Joe “Ducky” Medwick is on top with 14 two-base hits during the earliest stages of what would become his Hall of Fame career.

St. Louis Cardinals, doubles, first 38 career games

Doubles
14 Joe Medwick
13 Stu Martin
11 Del Rice Johnny Mize Ernie Orsatti
10 Adam Kennedy Art Garibaldi George Watkins Tom Alston Ray Sanders
9 Whitey Kurowski Howard Freigau Eddie Kazak Ray Lankford Stan Musial
9 Enos Slaughter Jon Jay

Special thanks to Tom Orf for the data tables above.

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Craig celebrates 26th birthday in style

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Allen Craig had a three-RBI game on Sunday as the Dodgers were swept out of town.

Allen Craig (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Instead of waiting for another chance in St. Louis, rookie Cardinals outfielder Allen Craig helped make it happen by continuing to play hard after being sent down to Triple-A Memphis after an unproductive introductory period as a major leaguer.

His productivity is most evident by his 65 Pacific Coast League RBI in 67 games, good enough to be named by The Cardinal Nation as the Player of the Month across the organization for June.

Given another opportunity with the Cardinals on July 15 means Craig’s major league career is still only 11 games old. Coming into his start at first base on Sunday in place of resting Albert Pujols, some focused on his 2-for-22 (.091) beginning, expecting the worst from the right-handed hitter.

Fortunately, Craig had other ideas, enjoying a big afternoon on his 26th birthday.

Batting in Pujols’ customary third spot, Craig was on base three times, going 2-for-4 with a double and a walk. Further, he plated three of the Cardinals’ five runs in their comeback win over the Dodgers. Craig walked in the sixth, doubled in two runs and scored in the eighth and his single with two out in the ninth plated Yadier Molina with the tying run.

On Thursday, Craig had collected his first two career RBI in game one of the four-game sweep over the visiting Dodgers. Sunday’s three-RBIs in game four served as an impressive bookend.

With a pair of multi-RBI games in the first 11 games of his Cardinals career, Craig put his name on a list that now has just 30 names on it since 1920. As one might expect, Pujols is at the top with four such games, but in Craig, Cardinals fans may have much about which to be hopeful.

St. Louis Cardinals, two or more multi-RBI games in first 11 career games, 1920-present

Player Year G RBI
Albert Pujols 2001 4 10
Fred Whitfield 1962 4 10
Don Gutteridge 1936 3 9
George Puccinelli 1930 3 7
Jim Bottomley 1922 3 7
Wally Moon 1954 3 6
Joe Cunningham 1954 2 9
Hal Smith 1956 2 6
Enos Slaughter 1938 2 6
Heinie Schuble 1927 2 6
Allen Craig 2010 2 5
Adam Kennedy 1999 2 5
Rod Booker 1987 2 5
George Watkins 1930 2 5
John Gall 2005 2 4
Keith McDonald 2000 2 4
J.D. Drew 1998 2 4
Eli Marrero 1997 2 4
John Morris 1986 2 4
Vince Coleman 1985 2 4
Tom Nieto 1984 2 4
Ken Reitz 1972 2 4
Julian Javier 1960 2 4
Ken Boyer 1955 2 4
Stan Musial 1941 2 4
Harry Walker 1940 2 4
Bruce Ogrodowski 1936 2 4
Bill Lewis 1933 2 4
Chick Hafey 1924 2 4
Les Bell 1923 2 4

Thanks to Tom Orf for the data table above.

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Molina snaps out of it

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has resumed driving in runs.

Yadier Molina (AP/Gene J. Puscar)Coming off a 7-for-72 pre-break slump which saw his batting average drop to an embarrassingly-low .223, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was due for a turn of luck. Thursday and Friday marked just the second time this season, and the first time since late April, that Molina had had back-to-back multi-hit games.

In the first contest following the All-Star Game, Molina knocked in two runs, followed by four on Friday, when he hit a two-run home run and added a single. It was the catcher’s second four-RBI game this season and fifth in his career. 17 times since Tony La Russa became manager in 1996 a Cardinals catcher has driven in at least four.

Thanks to Tom Orf for the data that follows, which indicate the most RBI by a Cardinals catcher in a single game since at least 1920 is seven, by Ken O’Dea on May 3, 1942. Ted Simmons had 25 four-RBI contests between 1971 and 1980.

Four or more RBI games, St. Louis Cardinals catchers, since 1920

Player Date Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO
Yadier Molina 7/16/2010 LAD W 8-4 4 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 4/5/2010 CIN W 11-6 5 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 1
Yadier Molina 8/22/2008 ATL W 18-3 6 5 2 4 0 0 0 4 1 1 0
Jason LaRue 6/29/2008 KCR W 9-6 4 4 1 2 0 1 1 4 0 0 0
Gary Bennett 8/27/2006 CHC W 10-6 5 2 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 1 0
Yadier Molina 8/7/2006 CIN W 13-1 5 5 1 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 5/25/2005 PIT W 11-5 4 4 2 4 2 0 0 4 0 0 0
Mike Matheny 6/27/2004 KCR W 10-3 5 5 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Mike Matheny 8/2/2003 NYM W 10-9 4 3 1 1 1 0 0 4 1 1 0
Mike Matheny 4/8/2003 COL W 15-12 7 6 1 3 0 0 1 4 1 0 0
Eli Marrero 7/19/2002 PIT L 9-12 5 4 3 3 2 0 1 4 1 0 0
Eli Marrero 5/25/2002 PIT W 6-3 4 4 0 2 2 0 0 4 0 0 0
Mike Matheny 5/20/2000 PIT W 19-4 6 5 2 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Eli Marrero 4/20/2000 SDP W 14-1 5 5 2 2 0 0 2 5 0 0 0
Tom Lampkin 4/9/1998 COL W 7-5 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 4 1 0 0
Tom Lampkin 4/7/1998 COL W 12-11 5 5 2 3 1 0 1 4 0 0 1
Tom Pagnozzi 5/17/1996 COL L 11-12 5 5 2 2 0 0 2 4 0 0 0
Tom Pagnozzi 6/18/1994 PIT W 9-0 4 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Hector Villanueva 6/3/1993 CIN W 9-2 5 5 1 3 1 0 1 5 0 0 1
Tom Pagnozzi 5/26/1991 NYM W 14-4 6 6 0 4 1 1 0 6 0 0 0
Todd Zeile 6/15/1990 MON L 4-7 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 4 1 0 1
Todd Zeile 4/13/1990 PHI W 11-0 5 5 2 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Tony Pena 8/22/1989 ATL W 10-5 5 4 0 3 1 0 0 5 0 0 1
Tony Pena 8/8/1987 PHI W 9-5 5 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 1 1 0
Tom Pagnozzi 5/17/1987 CIN W 10-2 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 4 1 1 0
Mike Heath 6/21/1986 PHI W 8-6 5 5 1 2 1 0 0 4 0 0 1
Mike Heath 5/31/1986 CIN W 11-2 5 5 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 1
Darrell Porter 7/18/1984 SFG W 8-4 6 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 1 1
Darrell Porter 5/7/1984 LAD W 5-1 4 4 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 1
Darrell Porter 1983-07-04 (2) PIT W 11-4 5 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 0 1
Darrell Porter 5/30/1983 CIN W 9-1 4 4 1 2 0 1 1 4 0 0 1
Jamie Quirk 5/29/1983 HOU W 7-3 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 4 1 0 0
Darrell Porter 5/10/1983 SFG W 8-4 4 4 2 2 0 0 2 5 0 0 0
Gene Tenace 8/23/1982 LAD W 11-3 5 4 1 3 1 0 0 4 1 0 1
Darrell Porter 9/17/1981 MON W 7-4 4 4 1 2 1 0 1 5 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 9/25/1980 PIT W 10-2 5 4 3 3 0 0 2 6 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 9/2/1980 CIN W 12-4 5 5 2 2 1 1 0 4 0 0 1
Ted Simmons 8/6/1980 PHI W 14-0 5 5 1 4 2 0 0 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 5/9/1980 LAD W 15-7 5 4 2 2 0 0 1 5 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 5/2/1980 HOU W 9-1 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 4 1 0 0
Terry Kennedy 1979-07-01 (1) PHI W 13-7 5 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 1 1 1
Ted Simmons 6/11/1979 LAD W 9-7 5 5 2 3 0 0 2 6 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 4/27/1977 CHC W 21-3 4 3 1 2 0 0 0 4 1 1 0
Ted Simmons 4/20/1977 NYM W 4-2 4 4 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Joe Ferguson 1976-09-15 (1) NYM W 7-0 4 4 1 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 9/7/1975 NYM W 12-4 5 5 1 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 8/23/1975 ATL W 7-2 4 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 5/17/1975 SFG W 17-2 6 5 2 3 0 1 1 5 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 4/17/1975 NYM L 7-14 5 4 2 2 0 0 2 4 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 9/22/1974 CHC W 6-5 5 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 8/9/1974 LAD W 5-3 3 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 5/17/1974 CHC W 9-8 5 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 5/15/1974 NYM W 10-1 5 5 2 2 0 0 2 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 7/31/1973 MON W 10-5 5 5 2 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 7/2/1973 PHI W 7-4 4 4 1 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 6/27/1973 PIT W 15-4 6 4 2 3 2 0 1 5 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 6/6/1973 SDP W 6-3 4 4 1 3 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 9/15/1972 PIT W 10-4 5 4 2 2 1 0 0 4 1 0 0
Ted Simmons 6/10/1972 SDP W 5-2 4 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Ted Simmons 5/18/1972 CHC L 4-6 5 4 0 3 0 0 0 4 1 0 1
Ted Simmons 5/10/1972 HOU L 7-10 4 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 1 0
Ted Simmons 7/11/1971 HOU W 7-3 5 4 1 3 1 0 0 4 0 0 0
Jerry McNertney 5/26/1971 CHC W 9-4 4 4 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Joe Torre 6/27/1970 PHI W 9-8 4 4 2 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Tim McCarver 4/26/1969 PHI W 10-4 5 5 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Tim McCarver 6/14/1967 PIT W 7-4 4 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Tim McCarver 8/16/1965 MLN L 8-10 4 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Tim McCarver 1963-06-09 (2) NYM W 10-4 4 4 2 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Carl Sawatski 5/9/1962 SFG W 7-3 4 4 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Jimmie Schaffer 6/30/1961 CHC W 11-4 3 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 1
Hal Smith 1960-06-26 (2) PHI W 4-3 4 4 1 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Hal Smith 9/22/1959 LAD W 11-10 5 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 0 0
Hal Smith 5/9/1959 CHC W 11-1 4 4 2 2 0 0 2 5 0 0 0
Hal Smith 5/17/1958 LAD W 10-1 4 4 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 0 0
Hal Smith 9/3/1957 CIN W 14-4 5 5 1 3 1 0 0 4 0 0 0
Hal Smith 5/8/1957 NYG W 13-4 5 5 1 3 0 0 1 6 0 0 0
Walker Cooper 8/3/1956 BRO W 11-8 6 6 2 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0
Bill Sarni 6/2/1956 PHI L 4-6 4 4 0 3 1 0 0 4 0 0 0
Bill Sarni 4/19/1956 CIN L 9-10 5 5 2 2 0 0 2 4 0 0 0
Bill Sarni 6/6/1954 PHI L 8-11 5 4 2 3 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Del Rice 6/23/1953 NYG W 15-8 5 3 2 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 1
Del Rice 8/7/1951 PIT W 16-7 5 3 2 2 1 0 1 4 1 0 1
Del Rice 1950-07-19 (1) NYG W 18-4 5 3 2 2 1 0 1 5 1 0 0
Joe Garagiola 1950-05-28 (2) CIN W 7-2 4 4 1 3 1 0 1 4 0 0 0
Del Rice 8/14/1948 PIT W 6-3 4 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0
Del Wilber 8/2/1948 NYG W 21-5 6 6 2 3 1 0 0 5 0 0
Del Rice 5/20/1948 BRO W 13-4 5 4 0 2 2 0 0 4 0 1
Joe Garagiola 4/30/1948 CIN W 13-7 5 4 2 3 0 0 1 4 1 0
Del Rice 8/19/1947 BRO W 11-3 5 5 2 3 2 0 1 4 0 1
Del Rice 8/5/1947 CHC W 8-2 5 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 0
Ken O’Dea 1944-06-21 (2) CHC W 7-2 5 4 2 2 0 0 1 4 1 0
Walker Cooper 1943-08-22 (1) BSN W 6-1 5 5 1 3 2 0 1 5 0 0
Walker Cooper 1943-06-20 (1) CHC W 10-9 5 5 0 3 1 0 0 4 0 0
Walker Cooper 1943-05-23 (1) NYG W 6-5 5 5 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0
Walker Cooper 5/18/1942 NYG W 16-4 6 5 1 2 2 0 0 4 1 1
Ken O’Dea 1942-05-03 (1) BRO W 14-10 5 5 1 2 1 0 1 7 0 2
Don Padgett 7/30/1940 BSN W 13-5 5 5 1 4 1 1 0 4 0 0
Mickey Owen 5/29/1940 CHC W 8-2 4 4 1 2 2 0 0 4 0 0
Mickey Owen 1939-08-06 (1) PHI W 11-0 5 5 0 3 1 0 0 4 0 0
Don Padgett 7/27/1939 NYG W 9-4 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0
Don Padgett 7/26/1939 NYG W 10-0 5 5 2 3 2 0 0 4 0 0
Mickey Owen 7/24/1937 BRO W 20-2 4 4 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0
Spud Davis 9/11/1935 PHI W 10-2 3 3 1 3 0 1 1 5 0 0
Bill DeLancey 7/18/1935 BSN W 13-3 5 5 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 1
Bill DeLancey 9/30/1934 CIN W 9-0 5 4 1 3 0 0 1 4 1 1
Spud Davis 7/29/1934 PIT W 9-5 5 5 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 0
Spud Davis 7/7/1934 CIN W 10-4 5 5 1 4 2 0 1 5 0 0
Bill DeLancey 1934-05-30 (1) CIN W 9-6 5 5 1 4 0 1 1 4 0 1
Spud Davis 4/26/1934 PIT W 10-1 5 5 2 3 1 0 1 4 0 0
Gus Mancuso 6/29/1932 CIN W 10-9 5 5 1 3 2 0 0 4 0 0
Gus Mancuso 1931-07-04 (1) PIT L 8-9 6 5 1 1 0 0 0 4 1 0
Jimmie Wilson 4/18/1931 CHC W 7-5 5 4 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 1
Gus Mancuso 9/23/1930 PHI W 19-16 6 6 3 3 2 0 0 4 0 0
Gus Mancuso 8/22/1930 PHI W 10-8 5 4 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 0
Jimmie Wilson 1930-08-17 (2) NYG W 14-4 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0
Jimmie Wilson 7/9/1930 PIT W 7-6 4 4 1 2 1 1 0 4 0 0
Jimmie Wilson 8/3/1929 BSN W 7-5 2 2 1 2 2 0 0 4 0 0
Jimmie Wilson 7/13/1928 NYG W 11-6 5 4 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 0
Frank Snyder 9/19/1927 PHI W 12-5 4 4 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 0
Johnny Schulte 5/29/1927 CIN W 11-3 5 5 1 3 0 0 0 4 0 0
Bob O’Farrell 5/21/1926 PHI W 12-4 5 4 2 3 2 1 0 4 1 0
Mike Gonzalez 4/29/1924 CIN W 6-3 4 4 0 2 2 0 0 4 0 1
Eddie Ainsmith 4/28/1922 CHC W 11-3 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 4 1 0
Verne Clemons 8/23/1921 NYG W 10-7 4 4 0 3 1 0 0 5 0 0
Verne Clemons 8/7/1921 BSN W 11-0 5 4 1 3 0 0 0 4 1 0
Verne Clemons 6/10/1920 BRO W 9-3 4 4 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0

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Time to revisit McClellan in the rotation?

The Cardinals need another dependable starter. They may have one in their bullpen.

Kyle McClellan (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Reality set in for Jaime Garcia on Friday night – taking 82 pitches to get just ten outs – the reality is that he isn’t going to be able to maintain an ERA at two all season long. Most likely, there are some further bumps ahead and if so, the Cardinals’ first-half big three of Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Garcia, may drop to just two.

Kyle McClellan then came in to get Garcia out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fourth inning and went on to toss another scoreless frame. He fanned one and yielded just one hit while picking up his first win of the season as the resurgent offense expanded their lead over visiting Los Angeles in the eventual 8-4 victory.

The Cardinals need at least one more dependable starter.

Why not Kyle?

McClellan was tried in the role this spring, but Garcia just plain beat him out. He didn’t lose the job, they all said.  It is only a matter of time until he is a starter, they assert. Interestingly, Kyle had a lower spring ERA and lower opposing batting average than Jaime.

Maybe now is the time to revisit the situation.

Yes, I know GM John Mozeliak said if he had one bullet, he would use it on a starting pitcher. What if he can’t find anyone better than Jeff Suppan in the trade market at an affordable cost?

Yes, I know Kyle Lohse is supposed to throw a bullpen on Saturday and Brad Penny is in indefinite limbo. If miracles occurred and there were too many effective starters, McClellan could always slide back into the pen.

Yes, I know McClellan isn’t stretched out. Neither was Blake Hawksworth when he was moved from relief.

Yes, I know McClellan is said to be too valuable in the bullpen. I also know that compared to the rotation, the pen is in pretty good shape, with an ERA of 3.50, fourth-best in the National League. On the other hand, the Cardinals are just 13-20 in games not started by the first-half big three this season. Where is the help more needed?

While McClellan has a stellar 2.05 ERA, Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte have moved into more important roles and done well, easing the potential loss of McClellan in relief.

Further, one of the best closers in Triple-A, Fernando Salas, 17-for-17 in save situations, is waiting in Memphis for his fourth chance after impressing in each of his first three MLB trials this season.

Would you rather see Salas relieving McClellan or McClellan relieving Suppan?

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FOX Sports Midwest confirms full slate of Cardinals games in 2011

Starting next season, FOX Sports Midwest will be televising all games that were on KSDK in recent years.

FOX Sports Midwest spokesman Geoff Goldman confirmed the network will be televising the full slate of St. Louis Cardinals games starting in 2011, taking those which had been televised by KSDK, primarily on Sundays.

“FOX Sports Midwest will be the exclusive television home of the Cardinals next season, showing every game that is not broadcast nationally,” Goldman said when contacted on Wednesday. “We are proud to add 20 games to our schedule starting in 2011.”

FS Midwest is televising all 130 of its 2010 games in high definition.

Gauging initial reaction to the news, the basic concerns seem to be related to the principle of the matter of games leaving over-the-air television.

Moving regional events to cable outlets is hardly new. The trend has been occurring across MLB for some time for teams to take their games to more lucrative networks. In St. Louis, the shift actually began 15 years ago. The Cardinals will soon be joining a number of other clubs whose games have already left free television.

Those actually affected by the loss of games on free television are part of a small minority. FOX Sports Midwest is available via basic or expanded basic packages on most all cable and satellite systems. According to Nielsen Media Research, St. Louis’ cable plus satellite penetration is 89 percent, just two percent under the national average.

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The Cardinals ace: A changing of the guard?

Has Adam Wainwright supplanted Chris Carpenter as the St. Louis Cardinals’ ace – on paper, at least?

Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)It is unusual to start with a disclaimer, but that is exactly what I am doing.

I have been thinking about this for a long time, but out of respect for the long-term greatness of Chris Carpenter, I have not written about it. Even now, I want to be clear that I am not diminishing the talents of the former Cy Young Award winner, or worse, writing him off in any way.

What am I talking about?

It feels like the very unofficial and only-to-be-whispered mantle of “the Cardinals ace” has passed from Carp to Adam Wainwright.

Of course, this title doesn’t matter in terms of the team winning games or anything else of substance. Yet, in every player’s career, there comes a time when he is no longer top dog. For the last year or so, I have called the two “co-aces.”

Given his years and experience, Carpenter will remain the dean of the staff as long as he remains active and wearing the birds on the bat, but at least in 2010, he may no longer be its best starter.

Though both Carpenter and Wainwright were named to the National League All-Star team, it was Wainwright who was chosen to pitch in the game on Tuesday night. Looking at their respective numbers this season, the right decision was made.

2010 at the break GS CG GF W L WPct Sv Sho IP H R ER HR BB K HBP BK WP ERA K9 BB9 HR9
Chris Carpenter 19 0 0 9 3 0.750 0 0 125 2/3 118 52 46 14 38 108 10 0 1 3.29 7.73 2.72 1.00
Adam Wainwright 19 4 0 13 5 0.722 0 1 136 1/3 102 35 32 10 35 127 4 0 0 2.11 8.38 2.31 0.66

To summarize, in the same number of starts, Wainwright has more wins, more complete games, more shutouts, more innings pitched, a substantially lower ERA, a lower walk rate, a lower home run allowed rate and a higher strikeout rate. He also has more losses, pretty much the only category in which Carpenter is on top.

Not in the above table, but Wainwright also leads in quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer runs allowed) 16-13. The Cardinals have an identical 13-6 record in games each started.

Once upon a time, in 2005, Carp was at the peak of his game and was named as the NL’s All-Star starter. In 2006, coming off his Cy Young Award campaign, he was on the team but did not appear. Later that season, Wainwright starred as the unlikely closer for the World Champions. Carpenter hadn’t been back to the Midsummer Classic since – until Tuesday night.

That is when I finally decided to write this.

Carpenter is now 35 years of age, having become a professional back in 1994, while the 28-year-old Wainwright is in his fourth season as a major league starter. Carpenter is under contract through 2011 with a pricey $15M club option or a $1 million buyout for 2012. Wainwright is under team control through 2013 with a below-market contract wisely negotiated by general manager John Mozeliak early in his tenure.

In their most recent prior national popularity test, Carp and Waino finished second and third in the 2009 National League Cy Young Award voting, collecting 94 and 90 points respectively. In one of the closest three-way races ever, San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum won with 100 points in the Baseball Writers Association of America balloting. It is worthy to note Wainwright had the most first-place votes of all candidates and Carpenter the highest second-place standing.

The voting concluded prior to the post-season. Given the NLDS game one start, Carpenter yielded two runs in the first inning and four over five innings in the loss at Dodger Stadium. Wainwright pitched brilliantly in game two, allowing just one run on three hits over eight innings, but along with his teammates fell victim to the Matt Holliday-Ryan Franklin collapse in the bottom of the ninth.

Last season, Carpenter won the Players Choice National League Comeback Player of the Year Award for the second time. He previously took the honor in 2004. Wainwright is still on the way up, with 2010 being his first-ever All-Star selection.

As noted above, in terms of effectiveness, Wainwright has moved ahead of his elder in a number of categories, but any passing of this title should not be a rash decision. Expanding the aperture just a bit makes it far less of a slam dunk.

Since Carp’s most recent comeback began last year, I also pulled the numbers of each from the start of the 2009 season.

2009-2010 to date GS CG GF W L WPct Sv Sho IP H R ER HR BB K HBP BK WP ERA K9 BB9 HR9
Chris Carpenter 47 3 0 26 7 0.788 0 1 318 1/3 274 101 94 21 76 252 17 0 2 2.66 7.12 2.15 0.59
Adam Wainwright 53 5 0 32 13 0.711 0 1 369 1/3 318 110 100 27 101 339 7 0 7 2.44 8.26 2.46 0.66

Waino pro: Wainwright has started six more games than Carp and has six more wins during that time.

Carp pro: Wainwright also has six more losses.

Waino pro: Wainwright has a lower ERA (2.44 to 2.66) and a higher strikeout rate.

Carp pro: Carpenter has a lower walk rate and a lower home run allowed rate (though the latter gap has been closing quickly).

Of course, the reality is that Cardinals fans should enjoy both of these excellent pitchers, with the next opportunity coming when Carpenter starts game one of the post-break schedule on Thursday against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium. Wainwright will get the ball again on Saturday.

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Can Jon Jay sustain?

Jon Jay (Doug Benc/Getty Images)St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay has been a pleasant surprise covering in right field for the injured Ryan Ludwick. Jay comes into the break with an NL-best 11-game hitting streak (17-for-37, .459) and has hit safely in every game he’s started this year (19-for-46, .413). He does not yet qualify for the NL rookie leader board, but among those with at least 40 at-bats, Jay is on top with a .377 average.

The excitement is so high, a respected poster on The Cardinal Nation message board asked if Jay might be considered a legitimate contender for the National League Rookie of the Year. That is most likely out of the question, but there can be no argument that Jay has suitably impressed in his first season as a major leaguer.

In the minors, the former second-round pick from the University of Miami was touted as having the ability to become a future MLB batting champion. To date, Jay has been very good – a career .300 hitter in the minor leagues with a solid .800 OPS.

Jon Jay, career stats

Jay PA BA OBP SLG OPS
Minors 1767 0.301 0.367 0.432 0.799
Majors 73 0.377 0.394 0.594 0.989

Not even watering down his minor league numbers by applying major league equivalencies, one has to expect that Jay will cool off substantially as a major leaguer, however. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a productive player, of course.

“If he keeps that up, he’s going to earn a lot of playing time,” manager Tony La Russa said after Jay doubled twice on Thursday.

Just to continue the legend of Jay one step further before moving on, Tom Orf offered a list of the top 30 Cardinals in team history in terms of slugging over their first 30 games. Well, truth be known, he gave me a list of over 300 names, but “30 in 30” has a nice ring. I wonder if that is registered.

Anyway, Jay is currently sixth all time in that narrow slice. There are some very familiar names and others who quickly slipped into obscurity listed below. Where will Jay fall?

Cardinals history, first 30 games, ranked by SLG

Player PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP
Albert Pujols 131 115 42 8 1 10 34 11 18 .365 .427 .713 1.141 0 2 2 3 11
J.D. Drew 103 90 27 5 3 7 20 11 25 .300 .373 .656 1.028 1 1 0 0 4
Johnny Mize 114 105 35 10 4 5 25 7 10 .333 .375 .648 1.023 2 0 0
Grant Dunlap 17 17 6 0 1 1 3 0 2 .353 .353 .647 1.000 0 0 0 0 1
Fred Whitfield 69 66 22 4 0 5 19 3 7 .333 .362 .621 .984 0 0 0 0 5
Jon Jay 61 57 21 5 0 3 9 2 10 .368 .377 .614 .991 2 0 0 0 2
Eddie Dyer 38 36 12 4 0 2 5 2 4 .333 .368 .611 .980 0 0 0
Ripper Collins 84 78 29 5 5 1 18 4 7 .372 .417 .603 1.019 0 0 2
Wally Moon 138 114 41 6 2 5 15 22 10 .360 .464 .579 1.043 0 1 0 1 1
Don Gutteridge 116 111 37 4 5 4 21 4 16 .333 .357 .568 .924 1 0 0
George Puccinelli 87 82 27 7 0 4 13 5 9 .329 .368 .561 .929 0 0 0
George Watkins 87 75 24 5 2 3 21 8 18 .320 .393 .560 .953 3 0 1
Jim Bottomley 130 120 42 6 5 3 26 6 11 .350 .391 .558 .949 2 0 2
Hal Smith 98 88 32 8 0 3 14 10 8 .364 .429 .557 .985 0 0 2 0 3
Stu Martin 105 92 34 8 0 3 12 11 7 .370 .437 .554 .991 2 0 0
Johnny Schulte 78 56 15 2 1 4 16 20 7 .268 .461 .554 1.014 2 0 0
Wally Roettger 102 93 35 6 2 2 17 5 9 .376 .408 .548 .957 4 0 0
Ernie Orsatti 117 104 35 9 3 2 15 11 15 .337 .400 .538 .938 2 0 0
Curt Ford 78 67 23 8 1 1 7 10 9 .343 .429 .537 .966 1 0 0 0 0
Chris Duncan 66 62 16 3 1 4 12 1 22 .258 .288 .532 .820 0 1 0 2 3
Bill DeLancey 78 72 20 4 4 2 8 6 8 .278 .333 .528 .861 0 0 0
Bill Virdon 132 118 40 5 1 5 11 13 14 .339 .405 .525 .930 1 0 0 0 3
Joe Cunningham 132 117 34 7 1 6 21 14 13 .291 .371 .521 .893 0 0 1 1 1
Bill Lewis 38 35 14 1 0 1 8 2 3 .400 .432 .514 .947 1 0 0
Joe Mather 85 78 21 4 0 5 12 7 17 .269 .329 .513 .842 0 0 0 0 0
Al Grabowski 45 43 16 4 1 0 6 1 7 .372 .386 .512 .898 1 0 0
Joe Medwick 124 120 39 12 2 2 12 2 12 .325 .341 .508 .850 1 0 1
Tom Alston 129 113 33 10 1 4 27 14 13 .292 .372 .504 .877 0 1 1 1 3
Micah Franklin 37 34 11 0 0 2 2 3 10 .324 .378 .500 .878 0 0 0 0 0
Brian Jordan 117 112 28 8 2 5 20 5 25 .250 .282 .491 .773 0 0 1 0 2

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