All posts by Brian Walton

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

New Cardinals minor league segment on Channel 5

Catch Brian Walton and Katie Felts talking Cardinals minor leaguers during KSDK’s Sunday post-game show.

Starting Sunday, July 11, KSDK Newschannel 5, the Sunday home of the St. Louis Cardinals, will be adding a new feature to their post-game show. Following away games for the remainder of the season, KSDK will air a segment focused on news from the Cardinals minor league system.

I am pleased to announce that I will be providing the content for that segment, delivered in discussion format with Channel 5’s Katie Felts. The first installment will follow the Cardinals at Houston Astros game on Sunday afternoon.

For those outside the viewing area of KSDK and its Cardinals network, the clip of this feature will be posted and a link will be provided here on Monday.

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Pujols and Holliday deliver with two out

The two big bats in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup have been driving in runs with two outs in 2010.

Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)Much has been written this season about the poor productivity with runners in scoring position by the middle of the St. Louis Cardinals lineup, especially clean-up hitter Matt Holliday. Further, fans seem to be eagerly awaiting the day that both hitters get in their groove at the same time.

Perhaps those criticisms should be retired already – at least regarding those times when the Cardinals have two outs.

In the National League, Albert Pujols and Holliday are currently ranked first and tied for second, respectively, in two-out RBI this season. Number three hitter Pujols has 29 and with 28, clean-up hitter Holliday is right behind. Holliday is knotted with former Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus, now with Atlanta.

In those two-out situations, Pujols is batting .313 after his two-run home run in the ninth-inning Friday night in Houston. Holliday’s .359 average with two outs is the best in the entire National League.

On the current road trip to Colorado and Houston, Holliday is batting .389 with a 1.111 slugging percentage, including four home runs and eight RBI.

A non flat-billed cap tip to Cardinals media relations for the research.

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Several Rays adopt Cardinals old-school stirrups

Several of the Tampa Bay Rays are modeling hose in the Brendan Ryan, old-school St. Louis Cardinals look.

Sean Rodriguez (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)After a St. Louis Cardinals loss the other night, I switched channels to MLB Network to catch up on action across the majors. It turned out their broadcast of the Tampa Bay Rays game was in its final innings.

Catcher Kelly Shoppach was at the plate for the Rays. He was going old school with high socks and stirrups that looked very familiar. The broadcasters told the story that the Rays equipment manager was asked by some of the players and manager Joe Maddon, a long-time Cardinals fan, to come up with Cardinals-like hose – in their blue colors, of course.

The Tampa Bay player in the photo is infielder Sean Rodriguez, who happens to be the son of Quad Cities manager Johnny Rodriguez.

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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Walton on KXnO FOX Sports Radio Friday

kxno-logo-150-200Catch me talking St. Louis Cardinals baseball with Matt Perrault and Ken Miller on KXnO FOX Sports Radio 1460 in Des Moines Friday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m. CDT. Our weekly show is titled “Cardinal Talk.”

Go to kxno.com for the live stream.

Cardinals fans in central Iowa should be sure to catch Cardinals radio broadcasts on KXnO all 2010 season long.

For Scout.com subscribers who miss it, I will post the audio at TheCardinalNation.com following the segment.

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Cardinals live chat on FOX Sports Midwest Thursday

FSM-site-logo-200The eighth of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season will be held throughout Thursday afternoon’s Cardinals-Rockies series finale. Join in the discussion with me and the FSM personalities.

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

Chris Carpenter (9-2, 3.16) faces Ubaldo Jimenez (14-1, 2.27) in a match-up of All-Stars as the Cards try to erase the bitter taste of two consecutive walkoff losses and avoid being swept.

Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 P.M. Central with the pre-game show starting at 1:30.

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Ludwick greatly missed at Coors

Injured St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick is the team’s career leader in SLG and OPS in Denver.

Ryan Ludwick (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)The potential impact of the St. Louis Cardinals missing Ryan Ludwick for the road series at Colorado due to a stint on the disabled list may be greater than readers might  have expected.

Not only is the outfielder the top producer on the current team in terms of slugging (1.034) and OPS (1.472) there, he has the top visiting marks of any Cardinals player past or present since the Rockies came into being in 1993.

Other team leaders at altitude vary from the likely, Albert Pujols with 29 RBI and Ray Lankford with the most counting numbers due to his longevity, to the most unlikely. The latter group includes David Bell with two triples, Scott Cooper’s .458 batting average and So Taguchi’s three sacrifice flies.

Courtesy of Tom Orf, the details follow.

Cardinals offensive numbers at Colorado, history (since 1993) – 20 or more plate appearances – listed by SLG – leaders in bold

Player G PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP
Ryan Ludwick 11 32 29 12 3 0 5 9 2 8 0.414 0.438 1.034 1.472 0 1 0 0 0
Tom Lampkin 8 24 21 8 2 0 3 11 1 3 0.381 0.417 0.905 1.321 0 1 0 1 1
Scott Rolen 12 55 48 19 6 0 6 12 7 4 0.396 0.473 0.896 1.369 0 0 0 0 3
Todd Zeile 15 68 59 25 9 0 4 15 9 6 0.424 0.500 0.780 1.280 0 0 1 0 2
Mark McGwire 18 83 64 20 6 0 7 15 17 12 0.313 0.458 0.734 1.192 0 1 1 1 1
Jim Edmonds 26 110 88 28 5 1 9 22 18 26 0.318 0.436 0.705 1.141 0 2 2 2 0
Placido Polanco 11 35 35 16 1 0 2 4 0 2 0.457 0.457 0.657 1.114 0 0 0 0 1
Albert Pujols 31 132 113 34 7 0 9 29 16 10 0.301 0.386 0.602 0.988 0 2 4 1 4
J.D. Drew 10 44 40 14 2 1 2 9 3 9 0.350 0.409 0.600 1.009 0 0 1 1 0
Bernard Gilkey 16 72 65 21 2 0 5 14 5 10 0.323 0.375 0.585 0.960 0 1 0 1 1
Scott Cooper 6 25 24 11 3 0 0 4 1 3 0.458 0.480 0.583 1.063 0 0 0 0 2
John Mabry 27 113 104 40 8 1 3 22 7 17 0.385 0.429 0.567 0.996 1 0 2 1 5
Tino Martinez 6 29 25 7 1 0 2 6 2 2 0.280 0.379 0.560 0.939 0 0 1 2 0
Ron Gant 11 45 39 15 3 0 1 6 6 8 0.385 0.467 0.538 1.005 0 0 0 0 0
Ray Lankford 46 199 159 41 12 0 10 27 35 39 0.258 0.397 0.522 0.919 0 2 1 3 5
Edgar Renteria 20 86 74 27 5 0 2 14 11 9 0.365 0.442 0.514 0.955 0 1 0 0 0
David Bell 8 29 22 6 1 2 0 4 6 1 0.273 0.429 0.500 0.929 1 0 1 0 1
Tom Pagnozzi 20 80 73 23 5 1 2 10 6 7 0.315 0.375 0.493 0.868 0 0 1 1 3
Mike Matheny 17 66 59 16 7 0 2 9 6 14 0.271 0.348 0.492 0.840 0 0 2 1 5
Delino DeShields 8 37 33 13 3 0 0 3 3 6 0.394 0.444 0.485 0.929 1 0 0 0 1
Eli Marrero 17 43 37 8 3 0 2 8 4 7 0.216 0.302 0.459 0.762 0 1 1 1 2
Mark Whiten 10 45 40 11 1 0 2 9 5 10 0.275 0.356 0.450 0.806 0 0 0 0 0
Willie McGee 19 49 46 11 3 0 2 9 2 7 0.239 0.265 0.435 0.700 0 1 0 0 1
Fernando Vina 15 73 66 20 6 1 0 5 6 2 0.303 0.370 0.424 0.794 0 0 0 1 2
So Taguchi 13 40 29 9 0 0 1 4 7 2 0.310 0.475 0.414 0.889 0 1 0 3 1
Gary Gaetti 17 70 61 15 2 1 2 7 8 8 0.246 0.343 0.410 0.753 0 0 0 1 3
Fernando Tatis 6 29 27 6 2 0 1 5 1 5 0.222 0.276 0.407 0.683 0 0 0 1 1
Aaron Miles 8 35 32 8 2 0 1 2 3 0 0.250 0.314 0.406 0.721 0 0 1 0 1
Royce Clayton 18 81 77 22 6 1 0 5 3 4 0.286 0.309 0.390 0.698 0 1 0 0 0
Brian Jordan 19 81 75 17 1 1 3 14 1 6 0.227 0.263 0.387 0.649 1 1 0 3 1
Skip Schumaker 6 20 17 5 1 0 0 0 3 1 0.294 0.400 0.353 0.753 0 0 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 13 40 37 12 1 0 0 4 2 5 0.324 0.375 0.351 0.726 0 0 0 1 3
Luis Alicea 13 41 37 9 2 1 0 3 4 8 0.243 0.317 0.351 0.668 0 0 0 0 0
Rick Ankiel 7 22 20 4 0 0 1 4 2 9 0.200 0.273 0.350 0.623 0 0 0 0 1
Jose Oquendo 10 32 25 6 0 1 0 3 5 6 0.240 0.355 0.320 0.675 1 1 2 0 0
Tripp Cromer 5 20 19 5 1 0 0 2 0 2 0.263 0.263 0.316 0.579 1 0 0 0 1
Juan Encarnacion 7 22 22 4 2 0 0 3 0 0 0.182 0.182 0.273 0.455 0 0 0 0 1
Adam Kennedy 7 28 26 5 0 1 0 3 2 5 0.192 0.250 0.269 0.519 0 0 2 0 1
Gregg Jefferies 11 51 49 11 2 0 0 3 2 2 0.224 0.255 0.265 0.520 0 0 0 0 2
Geronimo Pena 7 27 20 2 0 0 1 3 6 5 0.100 0.296 0.250 0.546 0 1 0 0 1
Ozzie Smith 15 66 56 12 1 0 0 5 6 4 0.214 0.277 0.232 0.509 1 3 0 0 0
David Eckstein 6 28 25 5 0 0 0 0 3 5 0.200 0.286 0.200 0.486 0 0 0 0 0
Larry Walker 5 21 19 2 0 0 0 1 2 6 0.105 0.190 0.105 0.296 0 0 0 0 2
Reggie Sanders 7 24 21 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0.095 0.208 0.095 0.304 0 0 0 1 0

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Cardinals first half rankings

Looking at how the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals stack up against their peers over time.

Compared to their peers since 1952, 2010 St. Louis Cardinals players have placed on seven of 18 individual “top ten” lists through the first half, 81 games. Not surprisingly, Albert Pujols appears three times and Adam Wainwright twice.

They include five positive marks:

24 doubles – Matt Holliday – tied for ninth
56 walks – Pujols – tied for ninth
21 intentional walks – Pujols – second
11 wins – Wainwright – tied for tenth
114 strikeouts – Wainwright – tenth

Two are not positive:

81 strikeouts – Colby Rasmus – fifth
15 ground into double plays – Pujols – second

First-half lists in which no one in 2010 placed in the top ten since 1952: hits, triples, home runs, RBI, extra-base hits, times on base, hit by pitches, sac flies, sacrifices, innings pitched and saves.

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf, the detailed tables follow.

St. Louis Cardinals players, first 81 games, season, 1952-2010

Hits Doubles Triples
Player Year H Player Year 2B Player Year 3B
Red Schoendienst 1954 119 Gino Cimoli 1959 32 Willie McGee 1985 10
Albert Pujols 2003 117 Albert Pujols 2003 29 Garry Templeton 1979 10
Joe Torre 1971 115 Ted Simmons 1978 28 Mike Tyson 1976 9
Garry Templeton 1980 114 Stan Musial 1957 27 Vince Coleman 1988 9
Red Schoendienst 1953 113 Lou Brock 1968 26 Tim McCarver 1966 9
Wally Moon 1954 112 Edgar Renteria 2003 26 Tony Scott 1979 9
Lou Brock 1972 112 Felix Jose 1991 25 Lou Brock 1972 8
Stan Musial 1957 110 Scott Rolen 2006 25 Red Schoendienst 1954 8
Lou Brock 1971 109 Matt Holliday 2010 24 Don Blasingame 1958 8
Willie McGee 1988 109 Stan Musial 1953 24 Delino DeShields 1997 8
Bill White 1963 109 Pedro Guerrero 1989 24 Bill White 1960 8
Albert Pujols 2004 24
Scott Rolen 2003 24
Home Runs RBI Extra Base Hits
Player Year HR Player Year RBI Player Year XBH 2B 3B HR
Mark McGwire 1998 37 Mark McGwire 1998 87 Albert Pujols 2003 52 29 0 23
Albert Pujols 2009 30 Stan Musial 1954 82 Jim Edmonds 2003 49 23 1 25
Mark McGwire 2000 30 Jack Clark 1987 82 Stan Musial 1957 49 27 1 21
Albert Pujols 2006 28 Scott Rolen 2004 78 Albert Pujols 2009 49 19 0 30
Stan Musial 1954 26 Albert Pujols 2009 77 Mark McGwire 1998 49 12 0 37
Mark McGwire 1999 26 Albert Pujols 2006 73 Stan Musial 1954 47 16 5 26
Jack Clark 1987 25 Albert Pujols 2003 72 Albert Pujols 2004 45 24 0 21
Jim Edmonds 2003 25 Ray Jablonski 1954 71 Jack Clark 1987 44 18 1 25
Dick Allen 1970 23 Stan Musial 1956 69 Gino Cimoli 1959 42 32 3 7
Albert Pujols 2003 23 Dick Allen 1970 69 Albert Pujols 2002 41 23 0 18
Stan Musial 1957 69
Walks Strikeouts Times On Base
Player Year BB Player Year SO Player Year TOB
Mark McGwire 1998 79 Jim Edmonds 2000 91 Mark McGwire 1998 165
Mark McGwire 2000 72 Ron Gant 1997 91 Jack Clark 1987 160
Mark McGwire 1999 71 Ray Lankford 2001 89 Albert Pujols 2009 158
Jack Clark 1987 70 Jack Clark 1987 83 Jim Edmonds 2000 156
Albert Pujols 2009 64 Colby Rasmus 2010 81 Albert Pujols 2005 156
Stan Musial 1952 58 Dick Allen 1970 79 Dick Groat 1963 154
Enos Slaughter 1953 58 Ray Lankford 1994 79 Albert Pujols 2003 154
Jim Edmonds 2000 57 Jim Edmonds 2004 77 Stan Musial 1958 153
Albert Pujols 2010 56 Steve Bilko 1953 76 Albert Pujols 2007 153
Albert Pujols 2008 55 Lou Brock 1968 76 Bill White 1963 152
HBP Intentional Walks Sacrifice Flies
Player Year HBP Player Year IBB Player Year SF
Fernando Vina 2000 14 Albert Pujols 2009 28 Pedro Guerrero 1990 8
Fernando Vina 2001 13 Albert Pujols 2010 21 Bob Horner 1988 8
Fernando Tatis 1999 11 Stan Musial 1958 20 Jim Edmonds 2001 7
David Eckstein 2006 10 Albert Pujols 2008 19 Tom Herr 1985 7
Fernando Vina 2002 9 Mark McGwire 1998 14 Ray Jablonski 1954 7
Joe Cunningham 1961 9 Orlando Cepeda 1967 14 Keith Hernandez 1982 7
Bernard Gilkey 1994 9 Pedro Guerrero 1990 13 Terry Pendleton 1987 6
Solly Hemus 1952 9 Albert Pujols 2006 13 Jose Cardenal 1971 6
Fernando Vina 2003 8 Tim McCarver 1967 11 Pedro Guerrero 1989 6
Solly Hemus 1953 8 Stan Musial 1957 11 George Hendrick 1983 6
Larry Walker 2005 8 Mark McGwire 2000 11 George Hendrick 1982 6
Albert Pujols 2005 7 Jose Oquendo 1991 11 Ray Lankford 1996 6
Albert Pujols 2002 7 Albert Pujols 2007 11 Stan Musial 1956 6
Tino Martinez 2003 7 Dick Allen 1970 11 Albert Pujols 2001 6
Brian Jordan 1995 7 Ted Simmons 1977 11 Scott Rolen 2007 6
David Eckstein 2005 7 Ted Simmons 1979 11 Red Schoendienst 1954 6
Reggie Smith 1975 6
Reggie Smith 1974 6
Todd Zeile 1992 6
Todd Zeile 1994 6
Sacrifices GI Double Play
Player Year SH Player Year GDP
Ted Sizemore 1975 12 Ted Simmons 1973 18
Danny Cox 1986 10 Albert Pujols 2010 15
John Tudor 1986 10 Albert Pujols 2001 14
Placido Polanco 2001 9 Ken Boyer 1956 14
Ozzie Smith 1994 9 Joe Torre 1970 14
Reggie Cleveland 1972 8 Del Ennis 1958 13
Jose DeLeon 1988 8 Edgar Renteria 2002 13
Jose Oquendo 1988 8 Joe Torre 1972 13
Tom Herr 1983 8 John Mabry 1996 12
Eli Marrero 1999 12
Edgar Renteria 1999 12
Ken Boyer 1964 12
Julian Javier 1970 12
Stan Musial 1956 12
Ken Reitz 1977 12
Red Schoendienst 1952 12
Innings Pitched Wins Strikeouts
Player Year IP Player Year W Player Year SO
Bob Gibson 1966 163 Joaquin Andujar 1985 15 Bob Gibson 1970 149
Larry Jackson 1960 157 Joaquin Andujar 1984 13 Bob Gibson 1966 146
Harvey Haddix 1954 146 Harvey Haddix 1954 13 Bob Gibson 1969 140
Joaquin Andujar 1985 144 Lynn McGlothen 1974 12 Bob Gibson 1965 139
Gerry Staley 1952 143 Gerry Staley 1953 12 Alan Benes 1997 126
Joaquin Andujar 1982 142 Kent Bottenfield 1999 12 Chris Carpenter 2005 121
Joaquin Andujar 1984 142 Chris Carpenter 2005 12 Todd Stottlemyre 1998 120
John Tudor 1986 141 Bob Gibson 1970 12 Bob Gibson 1967 118
Larry Jackson 1959 138 Gerry Staley 1952 12 Steve Carlton 1970 116
Rick Wise 1972 138 Steve Carlton 1971 11 Adam Wainwright 2010 114
Adam Wainwright 2010 11
Reggie Cleveland 1972 11
Darryl Kile 2000 11
Bob Gibson 1966 11
Saves
Player Year SV
Lee Smith 1993 29
Jason Isringhausen 2006 24
Lee Smith 1991 23
Jason Isringhausen 2005 22
Tom Henke 1995 22
Bruce Sutter 1981 21
Bruce Sutter 1984 20
Ryan Franklin 2009 19
Lee Smith 1992 19
Dennis Eckersley 1997 18
Bruce Sutter 1982 18
Todd Worrell 1987 18
Jason Isringhausen 2004 18
Jason Isringhausen 2002 18

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Wainwright’s big July 4 boom stick

Adam Wainwright (AP/Jeff Roberson)St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright was the team’s top pitcher – and hitter – on Sunday.

Adam Wainwright doubled the St. Louis Cardinals’ lead from three to six over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon with his three-run, two-base hit off fellow All-Star Yovani Gallardo. The blow, along with Wainwright’s complete-game pitching, helped to erase the memories of Saturday’s equally disappointing defeat.

It was only the third bases-clearing double by a Cardinals pitcher since 1990 and first since 2001.

Following are all 37 three-or-more RBI hits by Cardinals pitchers since 1952, thanks to researcher Tom Orf.

Date DH Batter Opp Pitcher Score H Inn RoB Out RBI
7/4/2010 Adam Wainwright MIL Yovani Gallardo ahead 3-0 2B b 3 123 2 3
5/21/2010 Brad Penny LAA Joel Pineiro tied 4-4 HR b 3 123 2 4
10/1/2009 Chris Carpenter @CIN Kip Wells ahead 1-0 HR t 2 123 1 4
6/5/2008 2 Mark Worrell @WSN Tim Redding down 3-8 HR t 6 1-3 2 3
4/12/2005 Jason Marquis CIN Aaron Harang down 0-1 3B b 2 123 1 3
6/5/2003 Woody Williams TOR Mark Hendrickson ahead 4-0 3B b 3 123 2 3
7/26/2003 Jason Isringhausen PIT Joe Beimel ahead 10-6 3B b 8 123 2 3
4/15/2001 Andy Benes HOU Jose Lima down 1-3 2B b 4 123 1 3
4/26/2000 Rick Ankiel MIL Steve Woodard ahead 1-0 HR b 4 -23 1 3
9/2/1998 Kent Mercker @FLA Jesus Sanchez ahead 3-0 HR t 4 123 0 4
9/7/1996 Donovan Osborne SDP Andy Ashby tied 1-1 HR b 5 123 1 4
7/25/1990 John Tudor CHC Mike Harkey ahead 4-0 2B b 1 123 1 3
4/27/1989 Scott Terry SFG Joe Price ahead 4-0 HR b 6 1-3 2 3
4/4/1988 Joe Magrane @CIN Mario Soto tied 1-1 HR t 4 12- 2 3
5/10/1986 Ray Burris SFG Roger Mason tied 0-0 2B b 2 123 1 3
5/24/1986 Ray Burris ATL David Palmer tied 0-0 2B b 2 123 2 3
9/12/1986 Bob Forsch MON Floyd Youmans down 0-2 HR b 2 12- 2 3
5/15/1984 Joaquin Andujar ATL Jeff Dedmon ahead 5-1 HR b 8 123 2 4
5/7/1980 Bob Forsch SFG Al Holland ahead 4-0 HR b 6 1-3 1 3
8/22/1976 Lynn McGlothen ATL Pablo Torrealba ahead 5-0 2B b 8 123 1 3
9/27/1974 Bob Gibson @CHC Tom Dettore tied 0-0 2B t 2 123 2 3
7/26/1973 1 Bob Gibson NYM John Strohmayer ahead 6-1 HR b 5 123 0 4
8/1/1973 1 Rick Wise @MON Bill Stoneman ahead 4-3 HR t 6 1-3 1 3
8/21/1973 Rick Wise @ATL Roric Harrison ahead 3-0 HR t 3 123 2 4
6/21/1972 Bob Gibson SDP Mark Schaeffer ahead 10-1 HR b 7 12- 2 3
8/4/1972 Don Durham PHI Ken Reynolds down 0-1 HR b 2 12- 2 3
8/27/1972 Rick Wise SDP Fred Norman ahead 3-0 2B b 1 123 2 3
6/29/1971 Reggie Cleveland PIT Luke Walker ahead 4-1 2B b 3 123 2 3
9/18/1970 Mike Torrez PHI Grant Jackson down 0-2 3B b 2 123 2 3
9/1/1969 Steve Carlton @HOU Don Wilson ahead 2-0 HR t 7 1-3 2 3
7/22/1966 Joe Hoerner @CHC Fergie Jenkins ahead 3-2 HR t 8 1-3 2 3
8/15/1965 Bob Gibson CIN Sammy Ellis down 1-3 HR b 2 1-3 2 3
9/29/1965 Bob Gibson @SFG Gaylord Perry ahead 4-0 HR t 8 123 1 4
9/10/1963 Bob Gibson CHC Glen Hobbie ahead 2-0 HR b 2 12- 1 3
8/6/1961 1 Ray Sadecki PHI Frank Sullivan tied 0-0 2B b 2 123 2 3
9/3/1957 Vinegar Bend Mizell @CIN Bill Kennedy ahead 11-3 2B t 8 123 2 3
6/23/1953 Harvey Haddix NYG Frank Hiller ahead 4-0 HR b 1 12- 2 3

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Cardinals staff continues home run stinginess

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers are not giving up as many home runs as in most recent seasons.

Jaime Garcia (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)One big reason the St. Louis Cardinals have continued to hang in the National League Central Division race is the performance of the pitching staff. Led by starters Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia, the team ERA ranks second in Major League Baseball at 3.21.

A major factor in that impressive ERA has been keeping the ball in the park. Through the first 80 games of the season, the 2010 Cardinals pitchers have yielded just 65 opposing long balls.

Since Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan joined the team in 1996, this is the second-lowest total through 80 games. Only the 1997 staff, anchored by Matt Morris, Todd Stottlemyre and the Benes brothers yielded fewer, with 51.

Folks talk about the MV3 of the 2004 team, but the pitchers came up big, also. Starting with game 81 through the remainder of the season, that 2004 staff was stingiest in terms of home runs allowed, with just 30 in 82 games.

One might wonder if the success this season is building upon 2009. In the final 82 games, last season’s bunch was right behind the 2004 club with just 31. From start to finish, last year’s staff was best, with just 99 in 162 games.

Home runs allowed, Cardinals staff, 1996-2010

G1-80 G81-162 Season
2010 65
2009 68 31 99
2008 73 55 128
2007 80 50 130
2006 95 52 147
2005 70 49 119
2004 89 30 119
2003 106 47 153
2002 72 47 119
2001 105 44 149
2000 109 35 144
1999 80 53 133
1998 76 46 122
1997 51 54 105
1996 91 46 137

Here is the breakdown of who yielded the 65 to date this season. Perhaps most impressive is Jaime Garcia’s four home runs allowed in 94 1/3 innings.

Most concerning is Chris Carpenter’s 13 yielded. It is the club’s worst full-half showing since 2006, when Jason Marquis gave up 19 and Mark Mulder 18. Matt Morris’ 24 homers allowed through 80 games in 2004 is the worst since 1996.

Home runs allowed, Cardinals pitchers, 2010 through game 80

HR Games 1-80
13 Chris Carpenter
9 Adam Wainwright
7 Blake Hawksworth
4 Jaime Garcia, Kyle McClellan, Brad Penny,
Jason Motte, P.J. Walters, Adam Ottavino
3 Jeff Suppan
2 Kyle Lohse, Trever Miller, Mitchell Boggs
1 Fernando Salas, Dennys Reyes, Ryan Franklin
0 Felipe Lopez, Joe Mather

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for offering the data tables shown above.

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Breaking down Pujols’ declining slugging percentage

What Albert Pujols is swinging at, where and resulting contact rate leads to a lower slugging percentage in 2010.

Pujols' home run (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)By Ian Walton

A popular topic of conversation at The Cardinal Nation Blog has revolved around Albert Pujols’ declining slugging percentage.  The following article will attempt to demonstrate that this is likely a result of Pujols being less selective in which pitches he hits.

There is little doubt that Pujols has lagged behind his normal power production this season.  His .570 slugging percentage lies somewhat below his career .625 mark and noticeably below his .653 and .658 rates in 2008 and 2009.  In 2010, he is hitting home runs every 5.3% of his at-bats and doubles at the exact same rate.  Compare that to his career rates of hitting a home run in 7.1% of his at-bats and a double in 7.5% of his at-bats.

Year % Swinging Outside Zone % Contact Outside Zone % Swinging Inside Zone % Contact Inside Zone % Pitches Thrown Inside Zone
2007 18.3 72.3 59.0 93.9 49.9
2008 21.6 75.1 63.8 95.8 47.1
2009 22.9 68.2 66.6 94.4 45.0
2010 28.3 76.5 65.2 88.6 43.7
Career 19.8 66.1 65.6 92.1 49.1

As can be seen above, opposing pitchers have been throwing fewer pitches within the strike zone to Pujols in each of the past four seasons.  This is certainly understandable behavior, as Pujols is unquestionably one of the strongest hitters in the game today.  However, in each of the past four seasons, Pujols has increased the rate at which he swings at pitches thrown outside of the strike zone, with 2010 showing a dramatic increase over years past.  Somewhat surprisingly, he has actually increased his contact rate at balls thrown outside of the strike zone this season as well.

The above graph displays the location of each pitch thrown to Pujols in 2010 that resulted in a home run from the perspective of the catcher (except for his home run on 6/15, where data is for some reason not available).  Aside from one high four-seam fastball, these pitches are located in the center portion of the zone vertically and the outer half of the plate.  Not a single home run was hit outside of the strike zone.

So in summation, opposing pitchers are throwing Albert Pujols fewer strikes while Pujols is swinging at more balls.  As he is only hitting home runs on balls thrown to a particular portion of the strike zone, he is understandably hitting for less power this season.

Swing Rate data was provided by FanGraphs.
Pitch F/X data was provided by Brooks Baseball (though the graph is mine this time).

Trading Shelby Miller – legal or not?

Summarizing a Twitter discussion about rules regarding trading of recently-drafted players.

Shelby Miller (Getty Images)During Wednesday afternoon’s four-hour snooze-a-thon that ended with the Arizona Diamondbacks stopping the St. Louis Cardinals’ eighth attempt to sweep a three-game series this season, the Twitterverse came alive with discussion about the possibility of the Cardinals trading 2009 first-round draft pick Shelby Miller.

Whether for Cliff Lee, Dan Haren or anyone else, a question was posed as to whether or not a drafted player could be dealt within his first year as a professional. (Trading picks prior to draft day remains against MLB rules.)

Previously, some had thought the restriction lasted until a year after draft day. Others, including me, recalled the “Pete Incaviglia Rule”, aka Rule 3(b)(7). Explained on MLB.com https://bit.ly/bSmjdi and at Scout.com https://bit.ly/bru5BU, it basically states a team must wait until a year has passed after a player has signed before he can be traded.

That led to a tweet from Derrick Goold (Twitter @dgoold) of the Post-Dispatch questioning whether a player could be dealt as a “player to be named later” (PTBNL) before his initial year was up. This is especially relevant since Miller’s signing by the Cardinals was not announced until August 17, 2009. He is currently pitching for the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League.

In his searching, Goold came to the conclusion such a trade could be allowed if the player was playing for the drafted organization until he was announced as the PTBNL and moved.

Regular reader CariocaCardinal (@cariocacardinal) found an example which proves that such a trade would be within the rules. It involves pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, now of the Detroit Tigers.

Here is Bonderman’s chronology:

  • June 5, 2001: Drafted in the first round, 26th overall, by the Oakland A’s.
  • August 22, 2001: Signed with the A’s but did not play that season.
  • April 2002: Began playing career in A-Advanced ball with Modesto.
  • July 5, 2002: Three-way, seven-player trade announced among the A’s, Detroit and the Yankees including Jeff Weaver, Carlos Pena, Ted Lilly and others. The seventh was a player to be named later to go from the A’s to the Tigers.
  • August 22, 2002: On his one year signing anniversary, Bonderman was announced as the PTBNL and moved to Detroit. He was assigned to A-Advanced Lakeland, where he made two appearances to close out the season.

One other small point. Players to be named later must be identified within six months of the trade date.

Conclusion: It appears there is nothing that would preclude the Cardinals from dealing Miller if they so choose. While that point is apparently not debatable, the wisdom of such a move clearly remains fodder for debate and discussion.

Others who participated in the Twitter discussion included @C70, @sporer and @MatthewHLeach.

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Cardinals live chat on FOX Sports Midwest Wednesday

FOXSportsMidwest.comThe seventh of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season will be held throughout Wednesday afternoon’s Diamondbacks-Cardinals series finale. Join in the discussion with me and the FSM personalities.

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

Jeff Suppan (0-3, 6.65) faces MLB first-timer Barry Enright (0-0, 0.00) as the Cards try to end the 2010 action between the clubs with a series sweep.

Wednesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:15 P.M. Central.

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La Russa pal Bissinger rips Sweet Lou

One of the oddest and most famous of Twitter personalities aims a series of shots directly at the manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Buzz Bissinger (Getty Images)Perhaps no one has found the social phenomena of Twitter to be more exhilarating than best-selling author H.G. Bissinger III, known to the world as “Buzz.” Through his penning of wildly popular books including “Friday Night Lights” and the Tony La Russa and Cardinals-focused “Three Nights in August,” Bissinger’s reputation as a literary leader of his generation has long been cemented in place.

The friend and business partner of La Russa in Red Bird Cinema is a regular visitor in the manager’s office when the Cardinals visit Philadelphia. The group’s announced projects include a film adaptation of “Three Nights” with “Lights” star and long-time Cardinals fan Billy Bob Thornton producing.

Yet there is another, unflattering side of Buzz. In an infamous “Internet Media” episode of Bob Costas’ series “Costas Now” aired on HBO in April 2008, Bissinger went off on an embarrassing tirade perhaps directed as much as what Deadspin founder Will Leitch represents as at Leitch himself. The basis was the author’s extreme dislike of bloggers. Bissinger’s over-the-top actions drew widespread criticism and ridicule at the time.

Since first tasting the immediacy of instant messaging months ago, Bissinger has increased his outspokenness exponentially via that medium. As he tweeted Monday,

“Even if some of you think I am a vicious little profane prick, which I am and am not…”

The author has taken a particular and most odd liking to the catch phrase “douche juice,” which he fires at the drop of a hat. It doesn’t end there as “F” bombs and worse are a regular part of Buzz’ Twitter shock-shtick.

On Monday, one of the targets of his Buzz bombs was Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, a friend of La Russa back to their youth in Tampa, Florida. Apparently, Bissinger is not in the process of negotiating the rights to ink “Three Nights in Chicago.”

In the first related tweet, Bissinger suggested Piniella has not been worth his pay with the Cubs.

“I am surprised nobody came up with Pinella in who is stealing money. Spent week with Cubs 1st season. Kept getting lost on way to clubhouse,” Buzz tweeted.

Just in case there was any doubt about what he was saying, Bissinger followed with this 140-character analysis.

“Piniella could have cared less. Spoke tough. All bark. La Russa gets to ballpark seven hours before game. Lou five minutes before BP.”

The Monday night trilogy was completed with this observation.

“Piniella was a big name. They thought it was a coup talking him out of retirement. But he was coasting on reputation. Obvious.”

Update: Tweets number four and five appeared shortly afterward.

“Piniella might as well sit on top of the dugout in a rocking chair. Swig a beer. Get some bennies. Ignore that Wrigley is a dump.”

And then this:

“Lenny Dykstra would do better job managing cubs than Piniella. At least he would not pretend to manage. Lou should be playing LF for Pirates.”

Bissinger’s criticism apparently has no bounds, as he even questions his buddy La Russa.

“McGwire was a terrible mistake La Russa made. He is not a good hitting coach…”

It appears that Bissinger is not taking himself too seriously and doesn’t seem to care what he says about anyone to everyone. His online tough-guy persona reminds me a bit of another author who was “Juiced” in his own way, Jose Canseco.

As the story of Mark McGwire’s return put him back in the spotlight briefly this past off-season, La Russa’s former pupil and McGwire’s “Bash Brother” posted a series of wildly profane tweets challenging and threatening those critical of him and his checkered past.

Odd internet bedfellows indeed.

If you dare, follow Bissinger’s tweets here (NSFW). He has over 6,500 followers.

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Cardinals starters exiting games early

St. Louis Cardinals starters have gone five innings or less in four consecutive games.

Adam Wainwright being removed (AP/Jeff Roberson)The St. Louis Cardinals’ last two series-ending games have been major disappointments. Co-ace Adam Wainwright’s uncharacteristically poor and brief four-inning start on Thursday to close the Toronto set began an unenviable streak of short starts. It is one that Chris Carpenter will be trying to end when he faces Arizona at Busch Stadium on Monday night.

Jaime Garcia also had his worst outing of the season on Sunday, going just two innings in Kansas City while yielding five earned runs.

In between the two unexpected bookends, Jeff Suppan and Blake Hawksworth went just five innings each on Friday and Saturday, respectively. That was more expected.

As such, the starting staff returns home hoping to end their unenviable run of going five innings or less in four consecutive games.

It is a stretch of rough pitching the likes of which has been seen by Cardinals fans just three times in the last three seasons – none last season, once in 2008 and twice in 2007. The worst streak was six such games, accrued in September 2007.

St. Louis Cardinals, consecutive starts of five or fewer innings, summary, 2007-current

5 IP or less # 6 starts # 5 starts # 4 starts
2010 0 0 1+
2009 0 0 0
2008 0 1 0
2007 1 0 1

Braden Looper was the constant in all three prior stretches.

St. Louis Cardinals, consecutive starts of five or fewer innings, detail, 2007-current

Starting Pitcher Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Jaime Garcia 6/27/2010 KCR L 3-10 GS-2 ,L 2.0 4 5 5 2 0 1
Blake Hawksworth 6/26/2010 KCR W 5-3 GS-6 ,W 5.0 2 2 1 1 1 0
Jeff Suppan 6/25/2010 KCR L 2-4 GS-5 ,L 5.0 7 3 3 2 3 0
Adam Wainwright 6/24/2010 TOR L 0-5 GS-4 ,L 4.0 6 5 4 0 6 3
Kyle Lohse 7/27/2008 NYM L 1-9 GS-6 ,L 5.0 11 7 7 1 2 3
Joel Pineiro 7/26/2008 NYM W 10-8 GS-4 4.0 10 5 5 1 2 2
Mitchell Boggs 7/25/2008 NYM L 2-7 GS-5 ,L 4.1 8 6 6 4 1 1
Todd Wellemeyer 7/24/2008 MIL L 3-4 GS-5 5.0 5 2 2 5 2 0
Braden Looper 7/23/2008 MIL L 0-3 GS-5 ,L 5.0 7 1 1 2 4 1
Kip Wells 9/13/2007 CIN L 4-5 GS-5 ,L 4.2 10 5 5 6 2 1
Anthony Reyes 9/12/2007 CIN L 1-5 GS-4 ,L 3.1 4 3 3 2 1 2
Mark Mulder 9/11/2007 CIN L 2-7 GS-4 ,L 4.0 7 7 5 3 2 2
Joel Pineiro 9/10/2007 CHC L 3-12 GS-4 ,L 3.1 8 6 6 0 3 2
Brad Thompson 9/9/2007 ARI L 5-6 GS-2 2.0 4 2 2 0 1 1
Braden Looper 9/8/2007 ARI L 8-9 GS-4 3.1 8 7 6 1 2 2
Anthony Reyes 6/17/2007 OAK W 10-6 GS-5 5.0 7 5 5 3 3 1
Todd Wellemeyer 6/16/2007 OAK W 15-6 GS-4 3.1 6 3 2 2 2 1
Braden Looper 6/15/2007 OAK L 3-14 GS-5 ,L 4.1 8 8 7 2 1 1
Kip Wells 6/14/2007 KCR L 8-17 GS-2 ,L 1.1 3 6 6 4 1 0

If one expands the aperture to streaks of six innings or less, one more bad run in 2008 is added and two more in 2007, a very rough season for the defending World Champions.

St. Louis Cardinals, consecutive starts of six or fewer innings, summary, 2007-current

6 IP or less # 6 starts # 5 starts # 4 starts
2010 0 0 1+
2009 0 0 0
2008 0 2 0
2007 2 0 2

Likely one of the reasons that the youthful Cardinals relief corps came into Sunday with the second lowest ERA in the National League at 3.09 was that they haven’t been overused. In fact, almost ¾ of NL bullpens, 11 of 16, have pitched more innings than St. Louis’ 210 this season.

Obviously, if the starters will continue to exit as early as they have over the most recent four games, the bullpen will surely suffer as well.

Then, there is the Cardnials’ inconsistent offense…

(Thanks to Tom Orf for providing the game detail.)

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2010 Cardinals are the opposite of streaking

This year’s version of the St. Louis Cardinals has an unusually low quantity of both winning and losing streaks.

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesMost St. Louis Cardinals fans would agree that the 2010 club has yet to reach its potential. Missing 2/5 of their rotation as well as featuring an inconsistent offense seems to have come together to limit the team from breaking off a long stretch of playing good old winning baseball.

The data, provided upon request by researcher Tom Orf, supports the feeling. So far, this year’s team has only three stretches of three or more consecutive victories and just one winning streak of more than three games, five. They are listed below as “2010 YTD,” or year to date.

Though we are currently only 45 percent of the way through the season, fractional streaks are impossible. Therefore, the current pace would put the Cardinals at six winning streaks at the end of the campaign, denoted below as “2010 Proj,” projected.

If 2010 would conclude in that manner, it would be the season with the fewest number of winning streaks of three or more games in the Tony La Russa era, which began in 1996.

The common thread among the three prior years with the least winning streaks, 1997 with seven and 1999 and 2003 with eight, is that the Cardinals failed to make the playoffs each season.

Winning streaks of three or more games, St. Louis Cardinals, 1996-present

Winning 11G 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Tot
2010 Proj 2 4 6
2010 YTD 1 2 3
2009 5 2 5 12
2008 1 2 2 5 10
2007 2 2 6 10
2006 1 1 4 7 13
2005 1 3 3 5 12
2004 1 1 1 2 4 1 6 16
2003 1 1 2 4 8
2002 1 1 5 4 3 14
2001 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 10
2000 1 2 1 3 8 15
1999 2 6 8
1998 1 2 3 4 10
1997 2 1 4 7
1996 1 2 4 4 11

The 2001 team had a La Russa-best 11-game winning streak as well as the second-longest run at ten games.

Looking at the corresponding losing streak data leads to similar, but not identical conclusions. Current pace would lead to six losing streaks of three or more games, a relatively low number.

In fact, the 100-win campaigns of 2004 and 2005 are the only La Russa-era years in which the Cardinals had fewer than six losing streaks.

Losing streaks of three or more games, St. Louis Cardinals, 1996-present

Losing 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Tot
2010 Proj 2 4 6
2010 YTD 1 2 3
2009 1 8 9
2008 1 1 1 5 8
2007 1 3 1 4 9
2006 2 1 1 5 9
2005 3 3
2004 1 4 5
2003 1 4 7 12
2002 1 1 2 2 6
2001 1 3 4 8
2000 1 6 7
1999 1 1 1 9 12
1998 1 4 8 13
1997 1 1 2 5 2 11
1996 1 1 8 10

The 2007 team had La Russa’s worst losing skid, at nine consecutive games.

Putting the data together, we can see there was only one season in the last decade, 2003, in which the Cardinals had more losing streaks than winning streaks. That team stayed home in October.

Not surprisingly, in every one of La Russa’s eight playoff seasons, the team had more winning runs than losing stretches. Still, having more winning streaks than losing streaks wasn’t enough in 2007 and 2008, when the differential between the two was less than three streaks.

Further, every one of those eight playoff clubs had at least ten winning streaks of three games or more. The 2010 Cardinals are on a pace to finish with six.

Without a change in trajectory, you can draw your own conclusions how this year’s story may end.

Winning and losing streaks compared to playoff teams, Cardinals, 1996-present

# WS #LS Playoffs
2010 Proj 6 6 ?
2010 YTD 3 3
2009 12 9 Yes
2008 10 8
2007 10 9
2006 13 9 Yes
2005 12 3 Yes
2004 16 5 Yes
2003 8 12
2002 14 6 Yes
2001 10 8 Yes
2000 15 7 Yes
1999 8 12
1998 10 13
1997 7 11
1996 11 10 Yes

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La Russa “Housecat Housecall” appearance on Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and family to appear on feline-focused television show Saturday morning.

Dr. Katrina and La Russa familyHousecat Housecall, one of the first reality-based cat television programs, in its third season on Animal Planet, provides cat-owning families with resolutions for addressing their various cat behavioral concerns.

The television series, which airs on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Eastern/Pacific and 9:30 a.m. Central, with encores on Sundays at 8:00 a.m. E/P on Animal Planet, is hosted by popular TV personality and Australian veterinarian Dr. Katrina Warren.

Each week, Dr. Katrina visits cat-owning homes, observes the cats in their natural environments and recommends actionable solutions to the owners to help them ultimately live more connected lives with their cats.  Housecat Housecall features real cats, real people and a real veterinarian working through a wide range of cat care situations.

In this week’s episode, which airs on June 26, Dr. Katrina (left in photo) works side-by-side with St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa and his family to identify and train “therapy” cats for an animal-assisted therapy program run by ARF, the animal welfare organization founded by La Russa.

Cat owners seeking information about Housecat Housecall or wanting additional cat care guidance beyond the show can visit www.housecathousecall.com. The web site features an episode guide, cast bios and information for accessing Purina Cat Chow Mentors, cat care specialists who are available to share helpful advice any day of the week, at any time.

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Holliday serious about six consecutive hits

Picking out one of St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday’s hot hitting stats.

Matt Holliday (Getty Images)As St. Louis Cardinals fans know, left fielder Matt Holliday has been on fire with the bat over the last ten days. There are a number of ways to reflect the positive results generated by the reigning National League Player of the Week.

For example, Holliday had his fifth straight multi-hit game on Wednesday night, including the only RBI and game-winner with a full count and two outs in the ninth, though his home run streak was broken at four consecutive contests. He hit four home runs with eight RBI in the Oakland series, even more impressive when noting the entire Cardinals team scored just 12 runs during the three games. Holliday had his 14th career two home run game on Sunday. Finally, he is batting .454 (15-for-33) since moving to the number two spot in the lineup on June 14.

However, the stat we’ve chosen to emphasize today is Holliday’s six consecutive hits, collected Sunday and Tuesday (the team was off Monday).

  1. Sunday fourth inning: home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch
  2. Sunday sixth inning: home run to left-center field on a 1-1 pitch
  3. Sunday eighth inning: singled to right field
  4. Tuesday first inning: singled to right-center field
  5. Tuesday third inning: home run to left-center field on a 2-1 pitch
  6. Tuesday fifth inning: doubled to left field

As researcher Tom Orf learned, it is the second time Holliday had a half-dozen consecutive hits as a Cardinal but only the fourth time in his six-plus year major league career. He had two such streaks in five years in Colorado, none in a half season in Oakland and his most recent two in less than one full season with St. Louis.

Holliday failed in Tuesday’s seventh inning, grounding out, to match his career best of seven consecutive hits. That mark was set from April 19-20, 2005.

Matt Holliday, career, six or more consecutive hits

Date Tm Opp Pitcher Score Inn RoB Out BI Play Description
7/31/2009 STL HOU Brian Moehler down 0-1 1B b 2 — 0 0 Single to 3B (Ground Ball to Weak 3B)
7/31/2009 STL HOU Brian Moehler down 0-1 1B b 4 1-3 1 1 Single to LF (GB thru Weak 3B); Lugo Scores; Pujols to 2B
7/31/2009 STL HOU Brian Moehler down 1-2 1B b 6 — 2 0 Single to CF (Line Drive to Deep CF)
7/31/2009 STL HOU Alberto Arias down 2-3 2B b 8 1– 1 1 Double to RF (Line Drive to Deep RF Line); Pujols Scores
8/1/2009 STL HOU Wandy Rodriguez tied 0-0 HR b 2 — 0 1 Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line)
8/1/2009 STL HOU Wandy Rodriguez tied 1-1 1B b 4 1– 0 0 Single to LF (Ground Ball thru Weak 3B); Pujols to 2B
5/15/2006 COL LAD Takashi Saito down 3-5 HR b 9 — 1 1 Home Run (Line Drive)
5/16/2006 COL LAD Derek Lowe down 0-1 2B b 2 — 0 0 Double to LF (Ground Ball thru Deep LF)
5/16/2006 COL LAD Derek Lowe tied 1-1 1B b 4 1– 0 0 Single to CF (Ground Ball); Helton to 2B
5/16/2006 COL LAD Derek Lowe ahead 4-1 1B b 5 -2- 2 1 Single to CF (Fly Ball); Helton Scores
5/16/2006 COL LAD Tim Hamulack ahead 5-1 1B b 8 1– 0 0 Single to CF (Ground Ball); Helton to 2B
5/17/2006 COL LAD Brad Penny tied 0-0 2B b 1 1– 2 0 Double to CF (Line Drive to Deep CF-RF); Helton to 3B
4/19/2005 COL ARI Shawn Estes down 0-1 1B b 2 — 0 0 Single to RF (Ground Ball)
4/19/2005 COL ARI Shawn Estes tied 1-1 BB b 3 12- 2 0 Walk; Barmes to 3B; Wilson to 2B
4/19/2005 COL ARI Shawn Estes ahead 3-1 1B b 5 — 0 0 Single to RF (Fly Ball)
4/19/2005 COL ARI Lance Cormier ahead 3-1 1B b 7 — 1 0 Single to CF (Ground Ball)
4/19/2005 COL ARI Mike Koplove ahead 5-1 3B b 8 123 1 3 Triple to RF (LD Deep RF);Barmes Gonzalez Helton Score
4/20/2005 COL @PHI Cory Lidle ahead 1-0 1B t 1 12- 1 0 Single to LF (Line Drive); Helton to 3B; Wilson to 2B
4/20/2005 COL @PHI Cory Lidle ahead 2-1 1B t 3 1– 0 0 Single to LF (Line Drive); Wilson to 2B

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Cardinals organization roster matrix: 2010 short season

NOTE: This version of the roster matrix is no longer current. It reflects the 2010 season-ending organization and should be considered a historical reference document. For the active roster matrix covering the 2010-11 off-season, click here.

With the final opening day among the St. Louis Cardinals’ ten clubs on Tuesday, June 22, as the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League take the field, it is once again time for a refresh of the St. Louis Cardinals system roster matrix. This version will reflect all changes made through the end of the season. I plan to refresh the entire matrix at that time as we head into another off-season.

matrix-grid-crop-200If you are new to the site and aren’t sure what the Cardinals organization roster matrix is all about, here is quick summary:

At the time of this posting, the St. Louis Cardinals have 321 players under contract from top to bottom. The matrix places each one at his current assigned level in the system as well as by position. It is kept updated daily as transactions occur.

Nowhere else will you find this current and comprehensive single-page view of the entire Cardinals organization.

Don’t be concerned about the order of the players’ names within a team. They don’t signify anything other than often a rough approximation of alphabetical order. Roster rotation order and tandem assignments are noted when applicable.

The players on the 40-man roster are called out in bold. The round each signed 2010-drafted player was selected is listed following his name.

Full team rosters and player profiles at The Cardinal Nation

Remember that to get detailed profile information on every single one of these 321 Cardinals players, simply check out their free player profiles freshly updated for 2010 now at The Cardinal Nation / Scout.com. You can see bios, photos, videos, articles, news items, links to current season and career stats and much more – everything you need to know about a player in one place.

Click on the following links to be taken to one of the ten team pages at The Cardinal Nation:

Full-season clubs
St. Louis Cardinals
Memphis Redbirds
Springfield Cardinals
Palm Beach Cardinals
Quad Cities River Bandits

Short-season clubs
Batavia Muckdogs
Johnson City Cardinals
Gulf Coast League Cardinals
Dominican Summer League Cardinals
Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals

Once there, just click on a player’s name to be taken to his individual profile page. For example, here is Adam Ottavino’s profile.

Looking ahead and back

Now that you’ve found this page once, remember one of three ways to get back here. Bookmark the page, type “Roster Matrix” in the dark blue search box at the upper right or use the dropdown menu at the top of the page: “Players/Staff” > “Depth Charts/Roster Matrix”.

For details behind past 2009 rosters and 2010 transactions to date, check out the earlier versions of the Cardinals organization roster matrix as follows.

Link to previous matrices: Jan–March 2009, April 2009, May 2009, June 2009, July 2009-February 2010, Spring camp 2010, Opening season 2010, First half 2010

Transactions

6/22: New matrix. Total 321.

6/24: RHP Trey Hearne off Mem DL to PB. RHP Pete Parise to Mem DL. RHP Eduardo Sanchez from Spr to Mem. LHP Tyler Norrick from PB to Spr. RHP Matt Frevert to PB DL. RHP Miguel Tapia off QC DL to PB. IF Luis Mateo off QC DL.

6/25: OF D’Marcus Ingram off QC DL. RHP Adam Ottavino from Mem to StL. RP Fernando Salas from StL to Mem. OF Mark Shorey off Mem DL. RHP David Kopp from Mem to Spr.

6/26: RHP David Kopp from Spr to Mem. LHR Rich Hill released from Mem. LHP Angelo Echeverria off VSL DL. New total 320.

6/28: OF D’Marcus Ingram from QC to PB. RHP Mike Blazek from PB to QC. RHP Mark Diapoules from Spr to PB. OF Rich Racobaldo onto PB DL. SS Kevin G0nzalez signed, assigned to VSL. New total 321.

6/29: 3B David Freese onto StL DL. RP Fernando Salas from Mem to StL. 2B Jason Stidham to QC DL. LHP Dean Kiekhefer from JC to QC. RHP Charllan Jimenez from GCL to JC. RHP Juan Bautista signed to DSL. New total 322.

6/30: OF Steven Ramos from JC to GCL. OF Oscar Taveras from GCL to JC. 2B Daniel Descalso to Mem DL.

7/1: OF Tyler Henley to Spr DL. IF/OF Andrew Brown off Spr DL. RHP Mark Diapoules to PB DL. RHP Cory Rauschenberger signed and sent to PB. New total 323.

7/2: RP Fernando Salas from StL to Mem. SS Tyler Greene from Mem to StL. IF Mike Folli from Spr to Mem. RP Josh Kinney outrighted off 40-man. LHP Renyel Pinto signed, assigned to Mem. New total 324.

7/3: OF Ryan Ludwick to StL DL. OF Jon Jay from Mem to StL. OF Aaron Luna from Spr to Mem. IF Jermaine Curtis and OF Tommy Pham from PB to Spr. C Luis De La Cruz from Bat to PB. 3B Nkio Vasquez from QC to PB. IF Alan Ahmady from Bat to QC. C Roberto Espinoza off QC DL to Bat. 2B Colin Walsh from JC to Bat. OF Corderius Dodd (17th round) signed, assigned to GCL. New total 325.

7/4: C Robert Stock onto QC DL. C Roberto Espinoza returned to QC from Bat.

7/6: RHP Dyllon Nuernberg (23rd round) signed; assigned to GCL. New total 326.

7/7: OF Michael Swinson onto QC DL. OF Ross Smith from Bat to QC. RHP Adam Ottavino to StL DL. LHP Evan MacLane from Mem to StL. RHP Mike MacDougal signed, added to Mem. New total 327.

7/8: RHP Trey Hearne from PB to Spr. LHP John Gast (6th round) signed and assigned to Bat. New total 328.

7/10: RHP Matt Frevert off PB DL.

7/11: RHP Andrew Moye (50th round) did not sign. New total 327.

7/14: C Robert Stock off QC DL. C Roberto Espinoza from QC to Bat.

7/15: OF Nick Stavinoha onto StL DL. OF ALlen Craig from Mem to StL. 1B Mark Hamilton off Mem DL. RP Andrew Brown onto Mem DL. OF Adron Chambers from Spr to Mem. OF Chris Swauger from PB to Spr.

7/16: OF Rich Racobaldo off PB DL. IF Manuel Marquez (DSL) released. New total 326.

7/18: LHP Evan MacLane from StL to Mem. RHP Fernando Salas from Mem to StL. LHP Daniel Bibona (8th round) signed, sent to QC. New total 327.

7/19: RHP David Kopp from Mem to Spr. LHP Ryan Kulik from Spr to Mem.

7/20: RHP Bryan Martinez from DSL to GCL. OFs Tyler Bighames (GSL) and Devin Shepherd (PB) released. New total 325.

7/21: IF Ryan Jackson, OF Ryde Rodriguez from QC to PB. IF Ted Obregon from PB to QC. IF Oliver Marmol released from PB. OF Rainel Rosario from Bat to QC. New total 324.

7/22: P Gary Daley released from Spr. P Arquimedes Nieto from PB to Spr. LHP Kevin Siegrist from Bat to JC. RHP Deryk Hooker from QC to PB. New total 323.

7/23: RHP P.J. Walters from Mem to StL. OF Allen Craig from StL to Mem. RHP Shaun Garceau (Spr) and OF Joey Hage (JC) released. New total 321.

7/24: RHP P.J. Walters from StL to Mem. OF Ryan Ludwick off StL DL OF Mark Shorey released (Mem). New total 320.

7/25: C Roberto Espinoza from Bat to QC. LHP Anthony Ferrara to Bat 60-day DL. LHP Tyler Lyons (9th) signed, assigned to Bat. New total 321.

7/26: RHP Casey Mulligan off Spr DL to PB. 1B Xavier Scruggs from PB to Spr. 1B Curt Smith to Spr DL. Mem OF Adron Chambers to Temp Inactive List. OF Amaury Cazana to Mem.

7/27: LHS Evan MacLane onto Mem DL. 2B Daniel Descalso off Mem DL.

7/28: RHR Mike MacDougal from Mem to StL (added to 40-man). RHR Fernando Salas from StL to Mem. OF Aaron Luna from Mem to Spr. OF Adron Chambers off Mem TI list.

7/29: IF Jermaine Curtis from Spr to PB. C Ivan Castro to QC DL.

7/30: RHP Seth Blair (rd 1s) signs and sent to Bat. New total 322.

7/31: RHP Jake Westbrook (StL) and LHP Nick Greenwood (QC) acquired. OF Ryan Ludwick (StL) traded. RHP Brad Penny moved to 60-day DL. RHP Miguel Tapia to PB DL. LHP Daniel Bibona active at QC. RHP Jason Novak onto QC DL. C Ivan Castro off QC DL. C Roberto Espinoza from QC to Bat.

8/1: SS Tyler Greene to StL DL. C Juan Castillo from JC to Bat.

8/2: LHS Nate Robertson signed, assigned to Mem. New total 324.

8/3: IF Mike Folli traded to Tampa Bay. OF Allen Craig Mem to StL. OF Nick Stavinoha StL to Mem. New total 323.

8/4: RP Jason Motte to StL DL. RP Fernando Salas from Mem to StL. IF Alan Ahmady to QC DL. IF Colin Walsh from Bat to QC. LHP Tyler Lyons to Bat 60-day DL. OF Chris Edmondson from JC to Bat. RHR Francisco Samuel from Spr to Mem. RHR Ramon Delgado from PB to Spr. Spr P Kyle Mura released. DSL P Jefferson Segundo off RL. New total 322.

8/5: RP Jesse Simpson from QC to PB. RP Jose Rada from Bat to QC. C Luis De La Cruz from PB to Bat.

8/8: C Tony Cruz to Spr DL. C Charles Cutler from PB to Spr. C Kevin Moscatel from GCL to PB. IF Wilfred Vivas off GCL DL.

8/10: JC RHR Chris Patterson retired. New total 321.

8/11: RHS Jeff Suppan onto StL DL. C Steven Hill onto 40-man, to StL from Spr. C Luis De La Cruz from Bat to PB. C Nick Derba from PB to Spr. Bat Cs Audry Perez and Geoff Klein to the DL. LHP Justin Wright (47th) signs, assigned to Bat. New total 322.

8/13: C Jason LaRue to StL DL. OF Nick Stavinoha from Mem to StL. LHP Dean Kiekhefer to QC DL. RHP Tyrell Jenkins (1s) signs, assigned to JC. New total 323.

8/15: RHP Kyle Lohse off 60-day DL, activated by StL. RHR Fernando Salas from StL to Mem. 3B David Freese from 15- to 60-day DL. RHR LaCurtis Mayes from Bat to QC.

8/16: OF Tommy Pham onto Spr DL. 3B Zack Cox (1st round) signed, assigned to GCL. RHP Jordan Swagerty (2nd round) signed, assigned to Bat. New total 325.

8/17: LHS Evan MacLane off Mem DL. C Steven Hill StL to Mem. C Bryan Anderson Mem to StL. SS Tyler Greene off StL DL to Mem. RHP Adam Ottavino from StL 15-day DL to 60-day DL. Mem 1B Mark Hamilton to TI list. Mem RP Matt Scherer to PB (rehab?). IF Jermaine Curtis from PB to Spr.

8/18: OF C.J. Beatty from QC to PB. OF Ross Smith to QC DL. OF Michael Swinson, IF Alan Ahmady off QC DL. RHP Chris Notti suspended. RHP Chris Corrigan from Bat to QC.

8/19: 3B Pedro Feliz from Houston in return for PB RHR David Carpenter. C Jason LaRue from 15 to 60-day DL. RHR Andrew Brown released from Mem. OF Adron Chambers onto Mem DL. 1B Mark Hamilton off Mem TI. Cs Geoff Klein and Audry Perez off Bat DL. New total 324.

8/20: OF Nick Stavinoha from StL to Mem.

8/21: Mem LHR Renyel Pinto released. New total 323.

8/22: Spr IF Jose Martinez begins rehab at GCL. C Roberto Espinoza from Bat to PB.

8/23: LHR Nate Robertson released. RHR Matt Scherer returned to Mem from PB rehab. New total 322.

8/24: LHR Dennys Reyes to StL DL. RHR Fernando Salas from Mem to StL. RHS Arquimedes Nieto from Spr to PB.

8/25: RHP Scott Gorgen off Spr DL. LHR Tyler Norrick from Spr to Mem.

8/26: OF Adron Chambers off Mem DL. IF Donovan Solano onto Mem DL. C Kevin Moscatel from PB to GCL. LHP George Brown off PB DL. OF Anthony Garcia, 2B Starlin Rodriguez and 3B Roberto De La Cruz from GCL to JC. LHP Anthony Ferrara off Bat DL.

8/27: OF Ross Smith off QC DL to Bat.

8/30: RHR Jason Motte off StL DL. OF Allen Craig from StL to Mem. C Tony Cruz off Spr DL. C Nick Derba onto Spr temp inactive list. OF Steven Ramos from GCL to JC. DSL LHP Delvi Rodriguez and RHP Jean Carlos De La Cruz suspended 50 games for failed drug tests.

8/31: RHP Javier Avendano from GCL to Bat.

9/1: LHR Dennys Reyes, RHS Jeff Suppan off StL DL. OF Nick Stavinoha, C Matt Pagnozzi Mem to StL. C Tony Cruz Spr to Mem. C Nick Derba off Spr TI. OF Ross Smith from Bat to QC. 1B Matt Adams onto QC DL.

9/3: C Charles Cutler to Spr DL. C Luis De La Cruz from PB to Spr. C Geoff Klein from Bat to PB.

9/4: IF Kevin Howard onto Memphis suspended list. IF Donovan Solano off Mem DL.

9/5: RHR LaCurtis Mayes onto QC DL. C Cody Stanley from JC to QC.

9/6: C Geoff Klein from PB to Bat. RHR Adam Reifer from Spr to Mem. OF Adam Melker onto Bat DL (sometime between August 25-31).

9/7: IF Tyler Greene from Mem to StL. Mem IF Kevin Howard released. New total 321.

9/8: RHPs Kevin Thomas and Matt Frevert from PB to Spr. LHP Ryan Kulik onto Spr DL.

9/18: RHP P.J. Walters, 1B Mark Hamilton, OF Allen Craig, OF Joe Mather from Mem to StL. 2B Daniel Descalso from Mem to StL and added to 40-man roster. LHP Evan MacLane designated for assignment (off 40-man roster).

9/21: IF Felipe Lopez released. New total 320.

9/24: C Steven Hill from Mem to StL.

9/28: Name change – DSL P Carlos Matias to Carlos Martinez.

9/29: RHP Adam Ottavino off 60-day DL.

9/30: VSL SS Lainer Bueno suspended for first 30 games of 2011 for PED use.

The St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix (as of 09/30/10)

St. Louis (36+3) 40-man (40+3)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
C Carpenter Franklin Molina Pujols Schumaker Ryan Freese (60 DL) Holliday
Lohse McClellan Anderson Hamilton Descalso T Greene Feliz Stavinoha
Westbrook Boggs S Hill
Miles

Rasmus
Wainwright Motte LaRue (60 DL)



Jay
Ja Garcia (L) Ottavino Pagnozzi



Craig
Walters T Miller (L)




Winn
Suppan Salas




Mather
Penny (60 DL) Hawksworth






MacDougal






Reyes (L)





Memphis (18+2)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Lynn 4 Fick T Cruz Gotay Solano Chambers
Kinney Rapoport
Dickson 3 Samuel Cazana
MacLane (L) Parise (DL) Robinson (DL)
O Perez 5 Rundles (L)
Sanchez
Scherer
Norrick (L)
Reifer
Springfield (24+7)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Additon (L) 2 Delgado Derba C Smith (DL) Jo Martinez1(DL GCL) Kozma Curtis Ant. DeJesus
Kopp 3 Eager L DeLaCruz A Brown1 Jo Garcia M Carpenter Swauger
Thomas King Cutler (DL) Scruggs Jones
Kulik (L DL) S Freeman (L DL) Pham (DL)
Frevert Henley (DL)
Hearne Luna
Broderick 4 Gorgen
McGregor 1 Buursma
Palm Beach (22+5)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Schneider 4 Mulligan Espinoza Rivera (DL) R Jackson Bolivar N Vasquez A Castellanos
G Brown (L) Bradford P Vasquez (RL) Sedbrook Beatty
Diapoules (DL) R Rodriguez
Simpson Bogany
Ri Castillo 1 Ingram
Zawacki 2 Pichardo Racobaldo
Bittle (DL)
Hooker 5 M Tapia (DL)
Nieto Rauschenberger
Quad Cities (27+6)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Rondon 2 Novak (DL) Stock Adams (DL) L Mateo Ahmady Lara
Fornataro 1 Calhoun (L) Castro Goodwin R Smith
J Smith Stanley (4th) Stidham (DL) Swinson
Kelly 4 Mayes Obregon R Rosario
S Miller 5 Rada Walsh (13th)
Cardenas (L DL) Terry Parejo
Bibona (L 8th) 3 Blazek Conley (DL)
Kiekhefer (L DL 36)
Notti
Corrigan
Greenwood (L)
Batavia (29+3)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Ju Edwards (L) 1 Butler Klein (15th) J Rodriguez Bergman (33rd) Y Castillo Biserta (24th)
Moss 5 North J Castillo V Sanchez (26th) Valaika (34th) Jo Edwards
Gast (L 6th) 3 Swagerty (2nd) A Perez Edmondson (43rd)
Wright (L 47th) Longmire (5th)
Lawler Melker (44th DL)
A Ferrara (L) Squatrito (DL) O’Neill (31st)
McCully 4 Summers
Russell 2 Kington
Blair (1s) Lyons (L 9th 60DL))
Reid (41st)
Avendano
Johnson City (33+1)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Copeland (L 32) T1 Benes (35th) Tartamella D Medina S Rodriguez Elkins (37th) Cerreto (40th) A Garcia
H Hernamdez (L) T1 Corpas G Garcia (7th) Teran S Ramos (22nd)
Ang. De Jesus T2 Guzman R Ruiz R DeLaCruz V Hill
Daugherty (L) T2 A Lucas (27th) C Valera Taveras
C Johnson 3 Nazario (L 30th) Rbto Reyes
Jimenez T4 Jenkins (1s) Williams (10th)
Rosenthal Revesz (L 49th)
Nadeau (L 38) T5 Patterson (RL 29th)
Whiting (18th) T5
Siegrist (L) T4
Unassigned (1)
P P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
M Harris (MIL)
GCL (31)
P 2010 P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
B Freeman (L 11) Alcala Pimentel W Perez Tuivailala (3rd) Bryant (16th)
A Castillo Aguilar (14th) Moscatel Washington Vargas Martin (20th) H Garcia Fonseca
J Lucas (21st) Montero Vivas Cox (1st) Rivero
B Martinez Mendoza (25th) Babrick
Pasen M DeLaCruz (L)
Santana Brand (42nd) Dodd (17th)
R Martinez (FA)
Uribe (L) Nuernberg (23rd)
Colorado (L)
DSL (32+6)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
A Tapia 2 A DeLaCruz (L) Baez V Ferreira Rblys Reyes Gil (RL) B Hiraldo (RL) Beras
A Gonzalez L Perez J Lopez R Medina Capellan
C Martinez 1 A Toribio Barbuena Celestino
S Lopez 3 Ceballo Agustin Encarnacion
Paulino 5 L Polanco J Pena
D Rodriguez (L RL) Ro Castillo
DeLeon D Diaz
DeLosSantos
E Hiraldo
Estalis
JC DeLaCruz (RL)
L Mata
Concepcion
P Pena (L RL)
Rudecindo (RL)
Segundo
Bautista
VSL (32+2)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
S Garcia 5 Almeida Rivas B Valera Bueno H Martina Acevedo
Bier 1 Canache J Gomez R Garcia Argenal
Montanez 2 Cueto Velazco K Gonzalez Jo Martinez2
Villanueva (L) 4 De Aguas (L DL) Sucre
Ulacio 3 E Ramos Martines
Echeverria (L)
Escudero
Gerdel
Guerra
Oraa (DL) I Brito
J Perez
Jh Polanco
Planchart
Solarte
Villegas

Codes
(DL): injured – on the disabled list
(TI): temporary inactive list
(SL): suspended list
(RL): restricted list
(TO): tryout player not under contract
(L) left-handed pitcher
bold: on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster
(#+#) number of active players on the roster plus number of inactive/not under contract (DL+TI+SL+RL+TO) players

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Cardinals unable to sweep three-game series

The St. Louis Cardinals have failed all six times to sweep three-game series this season, but almost always come close.

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesOne by-product of the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals having put together just one winning streak of more than three games is the odd circumstance of them not having a single three-game series sweep* during their first 69 games.

Six times this season, the Cardinals have taken the first two games of a three-game set, only to lose the final contest each time. In a most interesting angle, St. Louis fell exactly one run short in five of those six game threes. (In all other one-run games this season, the Cardinals are 11-9.)

Another oddity is that three of the six series were within a ten-day period in April and the other three have been during June, with none occurring in May. The most recent four occurred at home, including both series in the just-concluded homestand – against the Seattle Mariners mid-week and the Oakland A’s last weekend.

Cardinals going for three-game sweep, 2010

Opponent G1 win Score G2 win Score G3 loss Score
at CIN 4/5/2010 11-6 4/7/2010 6-3 4/8/2010 1-2
at MIL 4/9/2010 5-4 4/10/2010 7-1 4/11/2010 7-8
HOU 4/12/2010 5-0 4/14/2010 2-1 4/15/2010 1-5
MIL 6/4/2010 8-0 6/5/2010 5-4 6/6/2010 3-4
SEA 6/14/2010 9-3 6/15/2010 4-2 6/16/2010 1-2
OAK 6/18/2010 6-4 6/19/2010 4-3 6/20/2010 2-3

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the above table.

* As part of their season-long five-game winning streak, the Cardinals did sweep the Atlanta Braves out of town in four straight from April 26-29.

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Skip moving up Cardinals leadoff hitter lists

Batting first, St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker has been getting on base regularly.

Skip Schumaker (AP Photo/Morry Gash)On Saturday, St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker came up in the seventh inning in what would be his final plate appearance of the day. He already had two hits and a fly out, with a chance for his second consecutive three-hit game.

Instead, the recently-restored leadoff man gave up his at-bat for the team, sacrificing Brendan Ryan to third base. Rather than scoring on a sacrifice fly, Ryan came home on a Matt Holliday home run. The final pair of runs turned out to be extremely important in the Cardinals’ 4-3 win over Oakland.

Friday night’s three-hit performance was Schumaker’s 24th as the first batter in the Cardinals’ order in his career. That moved him into a tie for eighth in three-hit games by a Cardinals leadoff hitter in the last 40 years with another second baseman from years past, Julian Javier. As one might expect, Lou Brock leads in all categories by a substantial margin, with Vince Coleman and Curt Flood making up the top three.

Since 1960, Schumaker is also eighth in three on-base games with 58 and sixth in four on-base games at 18.

St. Louis Cardinals, leadoff hitters, 1960-current

3-Hit Games 3 Times On-Base 4 Times On-Base
Rk Player G Rk Player G Rk Player G
1 Lou Brock 164 1 Lou Brock 365 1 Lou Brock 81
2 Vince Coleman 64 2 Vince Coleman 147 2 Curt Flood 34
3 Curt Flood 61 3 Curt Flood 103 3 Vince Coleman 33
4 Garry Templeton 47 4 Fernando Vina 102 4 Fernando Vina 27
5 Fernando Vina 40 5 David Eckstein 84 5 Garry Templeton 19
6 David Eckstein 35 6 Garry Templeton 64 6 Skip Schumaker 18
7 Bernard Gilkey 26 7 Bernard Gilkey 60 7 Lonnie Smith 17
8 Skip Schumaker 24
8 Skip Schumaker 58 8 Julian Javier 14
8 Julian Javier 24 9 Lonnie Smith 53 8 David Eckstein 14
10 Lonnie Smith 18 10 Julian Javier 52 10 Ray Lankford 12
11 Tom Herr 17 11 Ray Lankford 46 10 Bernard Gilkey 12
12 Ray Lankford 16 12 Tom Herr 41 12 Tom Herr 11
12 Delino DeShields 16 13 Delino DeShields 30 13 Delino DeShields 10
14 Tony Womack 15 14 Tony Womack 28 14 Royce Clayton 7
15 Bake McBride 10 14 Royce Clayton 28 15 Tony Womack 6
15 Royce Clayton 10 16 Ozzie Smith 24 16 Geronimo Pena 5
17 Willie McGee 9 17 Willie McGee 23 16 Joe Cunningham 5
18 Ozzie Smith 8 18 Geronimo Pena 21 18 Ozzie Smith 4
18 Bo Hart 8 19 Jerry Mumphrey 20 18 Ken Oberkfell 4
20 Geronimo Pena 6 19 Bake McBride 20 18 Jerry Mumphrey 4
21 Edgar Renteria 5 21 Edgar Renteria 10 18 Willie McGee 4
21 Jerry Mumphrey 5 21 Bo Hart 10 18 Bake McBride 4
23 So Taguchi 4 23 Ken Oberkfell 9 18 Bo Hart 4
23 Placido Polanco 4 24 Joe Cunningham 8 18 Darren Bragg 4
23 Ken Oberkfell 4 25 Milt Thompson 7 25 Placido Polanco 3
23 Shawon Dunston 4 25 So Taguchi 7 25 Matty Alou 3
23 Matty Alou 4 25 Brendan Ryan 7 27 So Taguchi 2
28 Brendan Ryan 3 25 Darren Bragg 7 27 Brendan Ryan 2
28 Joe Cunningham 3 25 Matty Alou 7 27 Edgar Renteria 2
28 Darren Bragg 3 30 Placido Polanco 6 27 Julio Lugo 2
30 Aaron Miles 6 27 J.D. Drew 2
30 Felipe Lopez 6 27 Bobby Bonds 2
30 Phil Gagliano 6
30 J.D. Drew 6

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the above tables.

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Cardinals pitcher hitting eighth experiment failing

Both the position players and pitchers were more productive offensively when hitting in their traditional spots in the St. Louis Cardinals batting order.

Chris Carpenter's 2009 grand slam (AP Photo/Al Behrman)Oh, to recapture the glory of 2007.

OK, I readily admit that comment is ridiculous in the context of the big picture of the St. Louis Cardinals as the defending World Series champions finished six games below .500 and missed the playoffs that season.

While the 2007 ship was listing, but not yet sunk, manager Tony La Russa trotted out his lineup twist last employed on a regular basis in 1998, Mark McGwire’s glory days – the pitcher hitting eighth.

PHE is the convenient term to characterize the moves, but in reality, the reason for doing it is not for the pitcher’s benefit, but instead to increase the chances of getting another baserunner on prior to the top of the lineup coming around. This would be the desired result from the position player batting ninth.

Despite the fact that in 1998 both the pitcher and the position players hitting eighth/ninth generally performed better in their traditional lineup spots, the move was one of the few things that worked as planned in 2007.

That season, batting ninth, the position pitchers hit better, got on base more often and had higher overall productivity as measured by OPS than when the position players were on the lineup card in the eighth spot. This allowed La Russa to brag about his “second leadoff hitter.”

Though it is more of a side point, the pitchers also performed better when batting eighth in 2007, further supporting the moves.

Unfortunately, that did not continue in 2009 or here in 2010.

Similarly in this season and last, both the position players and pitchers were delivering better results when in their traditional spots in the order. As the table below indicates, it isn’t even close, whether batting average, on base percentage or OPS.

It is true that in the ninth spot, the position players are producing better than did the pitchers when there, at least, but that isn’t the entire story. Let’s look at on base percentage, as that is what is desired from the ninth-place hitter.

In the ninth spot in 2010, the position player’s OBP is 73 points better than the pitcher (.263 vs .190) . Check. The downside is that the pitcher’s OBP is 145 points worse in the eighth spot compared to when the position players hit eighth (.182 vs .327). The same kind of differential existed last year, too.

So, is adding 73 points of OBP in the number nine spot worth losing 145 points at number eight?

(Note: These four seasons were chosen as they are the only ones in which there is a reasonable sample of both approaches in the same year. Bolded data is the higher of the two.)

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the raw data which I summarized here.

PH8 PH9 NonPH8 NonPH9 PH8 PH9 NonPH8 NonPH9 PH8 PH9 NonPH8 NonPH9
BA BA BA BA OBP OBP OBP OBP OPS OPS OPS OPS
2010 0.143 0.150 0.254 0.211 0.182 0.190 0.327 0.263 0.348 0.400 0.713 0.560
2009 0.135 0.163 0.254 0.236 0.155 0.198 0.327 0.292 0.338 0.439 0.730 0.633
2007 0.216 0.185 0.275 0.279 0.248 0.212 0.329 0.335 0.495 0.449 0.686 0.730
1998 0.106 0.192 0.217 0.221 0.153 0.242 0.302 0.286 0.327 0.445 0.656 0.594

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Walton on KXnO FOX Sports Radio Friday

kxno-logo-150-200Catch me talking St. Louis Cardinals baseball with Matt Perrault and Ken Miller on KXnO FOX Sports Radio 1460 in Des Moines Friday, June 18 at 4:28 p.m. CDT. The weekly show is titled “Cardinal Talk.”

Go to kxno.com for the live stream.

Cardinals fans in central Iowa should be sure to catch Cardinals radio broadcasts on KXnO all 2010 season long.

For Scout.com subscribers who miss it, I will post the audio at TheCardinalNation.com following the segment.

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Cardinals pitchers hitting eighth vs. ninth not good for them

A cursory glance at how the St. Louis Cardinals pitchers batting eighth compares to when they bat ninth by season does not leave a positive impression.

Chris Carpenter's 2009 grand slam (AP Photo/Al Behrman)The lesser-noticed of this week’s lineup changes by St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is the return of the pitcher hitting eighth. Having been used extensively in multiple seasons now, it is more familiar than the revolutionary idea of moving Matt Holliday into the number two spot. Holliday had never batted second, even as a pinch hitter, in his first 915 career games – until now.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, La Russa noted a reason to bat the pitcher eighth is to increase the chances that Holliday will come up with runners on base – the ninth and first hitters.

The pitcher himself is surely not the only or even the primary reason for the lineup change, yet the data shows that batting eighth has a marked negative impact on the pitchers’ results. In three of the four years in which there were significant at-bats in both spots, the pitchers performed substantially better when hitting ninth (in bold below).

St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher batting eighth vs. ninth, average and OPS

PH8 PH9 PH8 PH9
BA BA OPS OPS
2010 0.143 0.150 0.348 0.400
2009 0.135 0.163 0.338 0.439
2007 0.216 0.185 0.495 0.449
1998 0.106 0.192 0.327 0.445

Here are the detailed stats during the La Russa era, with pitcher hitting eighth listed first. As always, thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the data.

PH8 G PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP BA OBP SLG OPS
2010 18 47 42 6 1 0 0 0 2 0 11 0 3 0 0 3 0.143 0.182 0.167 0.348
2009 55 137 126 17 3 0 1 5 2 0 47 1 8 0 1 1 0.135 0.155 0.183 0.338
2008 153 379 325 57 10 1 2 30 15 0 139 0 38 1 1 7 0.175 0.211 0.231 0.442
2007 55 116 97 21 0 0 1 7 4 0 52 0 15 0 0 0 0.216 0.248 0.247 0.495
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
1998 78 191 161 17 3 1 2 15 9 0 70 0 21 0 2 4 0.106 0.153 0.174 0.327
1997
1996
PH9 G PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP BA OBP SLG OPS
2010 47 111 100 15 3 0 1 6 4 0 32 1 6 0 0 0 0.150 0.190 0.210 0.400
2009 101 244 208 34 8 1 2 12 7 0 65 2 27 0 1 1 0.163 0.198 0.240 0.439
2008 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
2007 97 201 173 32 6 0 1 13 5 0 57 1 22 0 2 3 0.185 0.212 0.237 0.449
2006 150 364 305 53 9 0 2 23 18 0 98 2 39 0 1 6 0.174 0.225 0.223 0.448
2005 152 393 344 56 12 1 2 22 17 0 94 0 30 2 8 4 0.163 0.201 0.221 0.422
2004 156 381 337 53 11 0 0 18 9 0 108 1 30 4 7 7 0.157 0.179 0.190 0.369
2003 152 382 319 65 11 2 2 27 15 0 108 3 44 1 9 4 0.204 0.246 0.270 0.515
2002 156 365 320 52 9 0 2 15 10 0 115 1 33 1 6 4 0.163 0.190 0.209 0.399
2001 156 370 326 44 12 0 2 22 13 0 135 0 31 0 3 1 0.135 0.168 0.190 0.358
2000 152 398 333 45 2 1 3 17 26 0 122 0 39 0 7 9 0.135 0.198 0.174 0.372
1999 155 360 323 47 10 1 0 15 7 0 124 0 30 0 6 5 0.146 0.164 0.183 0.346
1998 77 195 167 32 2 0 0 4 11 0 58 0 17 0 0 2 0.192 0.242 0.204 0.445
1997 155 359 321 64 12 1 0 23 15 0 106 1 22 0 0 2 0.199 0.237 0.243 0.480
1996 160 399 335 58 13 0 1 27 17 0 140 1 44 2 5 4 0.173 0.214 0.221 0.435

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Jeff Suppan solid in Cardinals return

Analyzing returned St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jeff Suppan’s four-inning outing on Tuesday evening

By Ian Walton

Jeff Suppan (AP/Jeff Roberson)In his first start for the Cardinals since 2006 and following his release by the Milwaukee Brewers, Jeff Suppan allowed only one run in four innings pitched on Tuesday evening against the Seattle Mariners in what must be considered a successful outing during a 4-2 Cardinals victory.

After loading the bases in the first inning with two outs, Suppan coaxed a fielder’s choice groundout by Josh Wilson.  A double by Rob Johnson in the second inning was promptly followed by four straight strikeouts. A home run by Milton Bradley in the fourth was the only other hit he surrendered before being pulled from the game following a double of his own and a run scored in the bottom of the fourth.

Having spent the better part of the season in Milwaukee’s bullpen, Suppan was understandably stopped at 73 pitches.  Forty-six of those pitches were thrown for strikes and he ended up with four strikeouts against two walks and four hits.

Suppan-vs-RHB

As can be seen above, Suppan had good command of his fastball (FF) against right-handed batters, hugging close to the lower and outside edges of the strike zone in many cases.  His curveballs (CU) all missed low.  One can see a few changeups (CH), cutters (FC), and a slider (SL) thrown in, according to PitchFX.

Suppan-vs-LHB

Against left-handed batters, Suppan was less selective with his fastball, leaving many more in the center of the plate.  In aggregate, Suppan threw 30 of his 41 fastballs for strikes on the night.  His changeup predictably worked the outer half of the plate while a few of his curveballs managed to land for strikes this time.  In total, only five of his 14 curveballs thrown were registered as strikes however (with one a missed swing).

Suppan-Release-Points

As per normal, Suppan hid his pitch selection well upon release as can be seen above.  His curveballs, fastballs, and changeups all left from the same location, which was an important deception along with his ability to change speeds.  Despite a fastball that topped out at 89 MPH, he averaged a seven MPH difference between his fastball and changeup and a 14 MPH difference between his fastball and curve.

Suppan seemed to fall right back into Dave Duncan’s standard game plan, inducing plenty of ground balls by pitching to contact.  He tallied six groundouts on the night as opposed to only two fly outs.  Only five of his 46 strikes were swung upon and missed.

In conclusion, while not spectacular in his short outing on Tuesday night, Jeff Suppan likely exceeded most expectations and represented a notable upgrade over recently demoted starters Adam Ottavino and P.J. Walters.  To review:

Positives

  • Fastball thrown for strikes, with good command shown against RHB
  • Ten of 12 outs recorded by strikeout or groundout
  • Release points and pitch speeds led to reasonable deception

Negatives

  • Too many pitches to LHB thrown in the center of the plate
  • Ineffective curveball often landed low and didn’t fool anyone

Brooks Baseball generated the graphs used in this article.

Cardinals walk off losses on record pace

The 2010 St. Louis Cardinals have already lost five games on walk off home runs, one short of their worst season since at least 1952.

Kyle McClellan walk off, 2009 (AP/Jeff Roberson)Arizona’s Chris Young slammed a two-run home run off Kyle McClellan to end Sunday’s game and a 1-5 road trip for the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the fifth walk off loss already this season for St. Louis and the 124th in the regular season since 1952.

The most the Cardinals have had in any one season during that time was six walk off defeats via home runs in 2003. At the current pace, the 2010 Cardinals would end the regular season with 13, more than any two other seasons in the last 58 years combined.

Here are the yearly totals.

St. Louis Cardinals opponent walk offs by home runs, by season, 1952-current

Regular Post
2010 5
2009 2
2008 5
2007 1
2006 4
2005 2
2004 0 1
2003 6
2002 4
2001 3
2000 0
1999 2
1998 1
1997 3
1996 5
1995 0
1994 3
1993 1
1992 1
1991 3
1990 2
1989 1
1988 0
1987 3
1986 1
1985 1
1984 1
1983 2
1982 4
1981 2
1980 3
1979 3
1978 4
1977 1
1976 2
1975 1
1974 0
1973 3
1972 1
1971 2
1970 1
1969 1
1968 0
1967 1
1966 2
1965 1
1964 2 1
1963 1
1962 5
1961 1
1960 0
1959 2
1958 4
1957 5
1956 1
1955 1
1954 2
1953 3
1952 1

In addition, two post-season games since 1952 ended with a walk off defeat via the long ball.

Date Pitcher Opp Batter Score Inn Out R Play Description
10/10/1964 WS Barney Schultz @NYY Mickey Mantle tied 1-1 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
10/18/2004 LCS Jason Isringhausen @HOU Jeff Kent tied 0-0 b9 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Beltran Scores; Berkman Scores

Here is the detail behind the 124 regular season walk offs via home runs, courtesy of researcher Tom Orf.

Date Pitcher Opp Batter Score Inn Out R Play Description
6/13/2010 Kyle McClellan @ARI Chris Young tied 5-5 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
5/26/2010 Mitchell Boggs @SDP Jerry Hairston tied 1-1 b13 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
5/4/2010 Blake Hawksworth @PHI Carlos Ruiz tied 1-1 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
4/11/2010 Kyle McClellan @MIL Casey McGehee tied 7-7 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF Line)
4/8/2010 Jason Motte @CIN Jonny Gomes tied 1-1 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
6/9/2009 Jason Motte @FLA Jeremy Hermida tied 3-3 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF)
4/18/2009 Dennys Reyes @CHC Aramis Ramirez tied 5-5 b11 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Fukudome Scores
8/29/2008 Russ Springer @HOU Lance Berkman tied 2-2 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
7/12/2008 Chris Perez @PIT Jason Michaels ahead 11-10 b10 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Chavez Scores
6/22/2008 Mike Parisi @BOS Kevin Youkilis tied 3-3 b13 0 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF); Lowell Scores
6/5/2008-2 Ryan Franklin @WSN Elijah Dukes ahead 9-8 b10 0 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep CF); Guzman Scores
4/7/2008 Kyle McClellan @HOU Miguel Tejada tied 3-3 b9 0 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line); Erstad Scores
6/25/2007 Russ Springer @NYM Shawn Green tied 1-1 b11 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF)
9/23/2006 Tyler Johnson @HOU Luke Scott tied 4-4 b9 0 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Ensberg Scores; Berkman Scores
9/20/2006 Tyler Johnson @MIL Geoff Jenkins tied 0-0 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive)
8/22/2006 Jason Isringhausen @NYM Carlos Beltran ahead 7-6 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive); Lo Duca Scores
8/9/2006 Jason Isringhausen @CIN David Ross ahead 7-6 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Denorfia Scores
7/7/2005 Ray King @ARI Luis Gonzalez tied 1-1 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball)
4/30/2005 Jimmy Journell @ATL Raul Mondesi tied 2-2 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to LF-CF)
9/2/2003-1 Jeff Fassero @CHC Sammy Sosa tied 2-2 b15 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Ojeda Scores
7/21/2003 Lance Painter @SDP Miguel Ojeda tied 4-4 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball)
5/10/2003 Cal Eldred @CHC Alex Gonzalez tied 2-2 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive)
5/6/2003 Kiko Calero @CIN Barry Larkin ahead 5-4 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive); Pena Scores
5/5/2003 Dustin Hermanson @CIN Aaron Boone tied 4-4 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive)
4/11/2003 Matt Morris @HOU Jeff Kent ahead 2-1 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Berkman Scores
8/4/2002 Dave Veres @ATL Gary Sheffield tied 1-1 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (LF-CF)
6/9/2002 Mike Timlin @KCR Raul Ibanez tied 2-2 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
5/6/2002 Mike Timlin @CHC Alex Gonzalez tied 5-5 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
4/7/2002 Luther Hackman @HOU Daryle Ward tied 6-6 b12 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
8/20/2001 Andy Benes @CIN Ken Griffey tied 4-4 b11 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Inside-the-park Home Run to CF (Fly Ball)
7/7/2001 Dave Veres @CLE Jim Thome tied 6-6 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
6/14/2001 Gene Stechschulte @KCR Mike Sweeney tied 2-2 b13 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (LF-CF)
7/20/2000 Dave Veres @ARI Tony Womack ahead 2-1 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Frias Scores
9/26/1999 Ricky Bottalico @CIN Pokey Reese ahead 5-4 b12 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Robinson Scores; LaRue Scores
7/9/1999 Manny Aybar @SFG J.T. Snow tied 4-4 b11 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
6/10/1998 Sean Lowe @CHW Robin Ventura tied 8-8 b11 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive to Deep RF Line); Belle Scores
8/6/1997 Mark Petkovsek @ATL Danny Bautista tied 3-3 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball)
6/16/1997 Alan Benes @MIL Jeromy Burnitz tied 0-0 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Burnitz Scores
4/17/1997 Mark Petkovsek @FLA Jeff Conine tied 1-1 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF Line); Conine Scores
8/24/1996 Todd Stottlemyre @HOU Orlando Miller tied 1-1 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Mouton Scores; Miller Scores
8/20/1996 T.J. Mathews @COL Dante Bichette ahead 4-3 b13 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Galarraga Scores
6/5/1996 Tony Fossas @SDP Tony Gwynn ahead 4-3 b9 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Gwynn Scores/unER; Finley Scores/unER; Gwynn Scores/unER
5/18/1996 Dennis Eckersley @COL John Vander Wal ahead 8-6 b9 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Bichette Scores; Galarraga Scores
4/23/1996 T.J. Mathews @MON Moises Alou tied 11-11 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
8/9/1994 Vicente Palacios @FLA Chuck Carr tied 3-3 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Abbott Scores
8/1/1994 Rich Rodriguez @MON Marquis Grissom tied 2-2 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Inside-the-park Home Run to CF (Fly Ball)
4/4/1994 Rob Murphy @CIN Kevin Mitchell tied 4-4 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
4/30/1993 Rob Murphy @ATL Damon Berryhill tied 2-2 b11 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
4/22/1992 Cris Carpenter @NYM Eddie Murray tied 2-2 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Murray Scores
9/19/1991 Lee Smith @PIT Curt Wilkerson tied 1-1 b9 2 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line); Bonds Scores; Buechele Scores; Redus Scores; Wilkerson Scores
9/7/1991 Cris Carpenter @SDP Tim Teufel tied 0-0 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF); Teufel Scores
8/12/1991 Lee Smith @PIT Barry Bonds ahead 3-2 b11 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Bonilla Scores; Bonds Scores
9/11/1990 Lee Smith @NYM Darryl Strawberr tied 8-8 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive to Deep RF); Herr Scores
5/18/1990 Ken Dayley @CIN Paul O’Neill tied 0-0 b9 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF)
9/17/1989-1 Matt Kinzer @PHI John Kruk tied 5-5 b12 2 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF Line); Cook Scores; Herr Scores; Hayes Scores
8/5/1987 Ken Dayley @MON Andres Galarraga tied 1-1 b13 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
7/26/1987-1 Todd Worrell @SFG Will Clark tied 3-3 b10 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Wasinger Scores; Davis Scores
7/16/1987 Todd Worrell @SDP Benito Santiago tied 8-8 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive)
9/6/1986 Todd Worrell @HOU Jose Cruz ahead 6-5 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Walker Scores
4/9/1985 Neil Allen @NYM Gary Carter tied 5-5 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
4/5/1984 Jeff Lahti @LAD Mike Marshall tied 2-2 b12 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Whitfield Scores; Guerrero Scores
7/11/1983 Bruce Sutter @LAD Dusty Baker ahead 6-5 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Landreaux Scores
6/8/1983 Bruce Sutter @PHI Tony Perez tied 4-4 b9 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Morgan Scores; Matthews Scores
9/4/1982 Bruce Sutter @SFG Jack Clark ahead 4-2 b9 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (LF-CF); Leonard Scores; Morgan Scores
7/10/1982 Bob Forsch @HOU Jose Cruz tied 2-2 b9 0 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Walling Scores
6/7/1982 Bruce Sutter @MON Warren Cromartie tied 2-2 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (CF-RF)
5/14/1982 Doug Bair @ATL Biff Pocoroba tied 1-1 b9 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
9/20/1981 Bruce Sutter @NYM Mookie Wilson ahead 6-5 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep RF); Taveras Scores
9/5/1981 Jim Kaat @LAD Dusty Baker tied 3-3 b11 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep LF)
9/29/1980 George Frazier @MON John Tamargo tied 2-2 b9 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Carter Scores/unER; Bernazard Scores/unER; Tamargo Scores/unER
8/1/1980 Bob Forsch @LAD Joe Ferguson tied 1-1 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
4/22/1980 Mark Littell @CHC Barry Foote tied 12-12 b9 2 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Randle Scores; Buckner Scores; Martin Scores
9/16/1979-2 George Frazier @MON Dave Cash tied 1-1 b10 2 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Carter Scores/unER; White Scores/unER; Cromartie Scores/unER; Cash Scores/Team unER
6/15/1979 Darold Knowles @SFG Willie McCovey tied 6-6 b13 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Herndon Scores; Clark Scores
5/22/1979 Bob Forsch @PHI Greg Luzinski tied 1-1 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Rose Scores
7/25/1978 Bob Forsch @SFG Mike Ivie ahead 2-1 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Herndon Scores
7/1/1978 Mark Littell @MON Del Unser tied 2-2 b9 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
6/2/1978 John Denny @HOU Jose Cruz ahead 1-0 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Cabell Scores
5/14/1978-1 Mark Littell @SFG Terry Whitfield tied 4-4 b12 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
7/4/1977-2 Rawly Eastwick @PIT Dave Parker tied 3-3 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
8/3/1976-1 Bill Greif @PIT Duffy Dyer tied 1-1 b9 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
6/11/1976 Al Hrabosky @CIN Tony Perez ahead 7-5 b9 0 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Griffey Scores; Concepcion Scores
5/19/1975 John Curtis @SDP Johnny Grubb tied 0-0 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
9/3/1973-1 Eddie Fisher @PIT Richie Hebner tied 4-4 b13 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Inside-the-park Home Run to RF
4/22/1973-2 Bob Gibson @PHI Mike Schmidt tied 1-1 b9 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
4/8/1973-1 Wayne Granger @PIT Bob Robertson tied 3-3 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
7/22/1972 Tony Cloninger @ATL Dusty Baker tied 7-7 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
8/17/1971 Chuck Taylor @CIN Johnny Bench tied 3-3 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; May Scores
4/6/1971 Bob Gibson @CHC Billy Williams tied 1-1 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
9/25/1970 Al Hrabosky @MON Ron Fairly ahead 5-4 b9 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Bailey Scores; Fairey Scores
8/6/1969 Steve Carlton @SDP Ed Spiezio tied 2-2 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
7/9/1967 Ron Willis @PHI Tony Gonzalez tied 3-3 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
6/26/1966 Joe Hoerner @HOU Jim Wynn tied 3-3 b11 0 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Lillis Scores; Jackson Scores/unER
6/4/1966-1 Curt Simmons @ATL Felipe Alou tied 1-1 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
5/10/1965 Bob Purkey @PHI John Briggs tied 2-2 b10 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Amaro Scores
9/19/1964-1 Bob Gibson @CIN Frank Robinson ahead 5-4 b9 2 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Harper Scores; Pinson Scores
7/9/1964 Curt Simmons @NYM Frank Thomas ahead 3-2 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Christopher Scores
6/7/1963 Diomedes Olivo @NYM Duke Snider ahead 2-0 b9 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Kanehl Scores; Hunt Scores
9/14/1962 Lindy McDaniel @PHI Johnny Callison tied 1-1 b9 2 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep RF)
7/12/1962 Lindy McDaniel @MLN Hank Aaron ahead 6-4 b9 1 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep LF); McMillan Scores; Jones Scores; Mathews Scores
7/7/1962-1 Ernie Broglio @NYM Marv Throneberry ahead 4-3 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Christopher Scores
6/18/1962 Bob Gibson @LAD Tommy Davis tied 0-0 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive)
6/17/1962 Ray Washburn @SFG Tom Haller tied 3-3 b9 0 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Bowman Scores; Pagan Scores
5/20/1961 Larry Jackson @CHC Ed Bouchee tied 0-0 b9 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep LF)
6/26/1960-1 Ernie Broglio @PHI Tony Gonzalez tied 2-2 b12 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep RF)
9/9/1959 Ernie Broglio @MLN Bobby Avila ahead 3-1 b9 1 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep LF); DeMerit Scores; Logan Scores; Crandall Scores
5/30/1959 Lindy McDaniel @LAD Gil Hodges tied 6-6 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
7/18/1958-2 Bob Mabe @CIN Frank Robinson tied 1-1 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
5/27/1958 Sam Jones @MLN Joe Adcock ahead 2-1 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Logan Scores
4/30/1958 Morrie Martin @CIN Frank Robinson tied 4-4 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
4/23/1958 Phil Clark @SFG Daryl Spencer ahead 7-6 b9 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Cepeda Scores/unER; Spencer Scores/unER
9/23/1957 Billy Muffett @MLN Hank Aaron tied 2-2 b11 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep CF); Logan Scores
9/21/1957 Herm Wehmeier @CIN Roy McMillan ahead 8-7 b10 2 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Hoak Scores
9/2/1957-2 Larry Jackson @CIN Frank Robinson tied 1-1 b10 0 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Thurman Scores
5/4/1957 Lindy McDaniel @BRO Charlie Neal tied 2-2 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (LF-CF); Drysdale Scores
4/24/1957 Willard Schmidt @MLN Del Crandall tied 7-7 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep LF)
9/23/1956-1 Tom Poholsky @CIN Ed Bailey tied 2-2 b10 0 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
6/6/1955 Luis Arroyo @BRO Jackie Robinson ahead 4-3 b9 0 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball); Hodges Scores
8/4/1954 Tom Poholsky @BRO Jackie Robinson ahead 7-6 b9 1 2 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run; Gilliam Scores
6/19/1954 Joe Presko @NYG Hoot Evers tied 2-2 b9 1 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to LF Line); Irvin Scores; Gomez Scores
7/24/1953 Harvey Haddix @PHI Granny Hamner tied 1-1 b9 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run
6/6/1953 Stu Miller @BRO Gil Hodges ahead 4-2 b9 0 3 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Line Drive); Robinson Scores; Campanella Scores
4/14/1953 Gerry Staley @MLN Bill Bruton tied 2-2 b10 1 1 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF)
6/16/1952 Willard Schmidt @NYG Bobby Thomson ahead 7-4 b9 1 4 *ENDED GAME*:Home Run (Deep LF Line); Thompson Scores; Williams Scores; Lockman Scores

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Cardinals lead MLB with three starters with sub-3.00 ERAs

Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia are among MLB’s top pitchers this season.

Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)With all the questions about the back end of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation, it seems worthwhile to remember just how successful the front end is.

Coming into Sunday’s action, the Cardinals are the only team in the Major Leagues with three starters with ERAs under three, minimum 12 starts. In fact, there are only 22 such pitchers in the league.  They are listed below.

On the bad side, the Cardinals three starters with ERA under 2.55, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia, aren’t getting enough victories. The three have just 21 wins in their 38 total starts coming into Sunday.

Only 15 starting pitchers across MLB have ERAs under 2.55. The only team besides the Cardinals with more than one is the Tampa Bay Rays with two. Ten teams have one.

Starting pitchers (22) with ERA under 3.00, MLB, 2010 through June 12

Pitcher Tm GS ERA Wins Age
3 SP with ERA under 3.00
Adam Wainwright STL 13 2.30 8 28
Chris Carpenter STL 13 2.54 7 35
Jaime Garcia STL 12 1.49 6 23
2 SP with ERA under 3.00
Johan Santana NYM 13 2.96 4 31
Mike Pelfrey NYM 12 2.23 8 26
Jon Garland SDP 13 2.81 6 30
Clayton Richard SDP 12 2.72 4 26
Jonathan Sanchez SFG 12 2.82 4 27
Matt Cain SFG 12 2.11 5 25
David Price TBR 12 2.23 9 24
Jeff Niemann TBR 12 2.48 6 27
1 SP with ERA under 3.00
Tim Hudson ATL 13 2.43 6 34
Clay Buchholz BOS 12 2.52 8 25
Carlos Silva CHC 12 2.89 8 31
Mike Leake CIN 12 2.68 5 22
Ubaldo Jimenez COL 13 1.16 12 26
Josh Johnson FLA 13 1.91 7 26
Yovani Gallardo MIL 13 2.41 6 24
Francisco Liriano MIN 12 2.90 6 26
Andy Pettitte NYY 12 2.46 8 38
Roy Halladay PHI 13 1.96 8 33
Livan Hernandez WSN 12 2.28 5 35

Thanks to Tom Orf for his research on the subject of this article.

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Suppan is a bad option, but not that bad

The St. Louis Cardinals added Milwaukee’s reject, Jeff Suppan. How much trouble will ensue?

By Ian Walton

Jeff Suppan (AP photo)Apparently fed up with giving starts to the likes of P.J. Walters and Blake Hawksworth, the Cardinals have decided to do their starting rotation what they have been doing to their bench of late, sign another team’s discard to take the place of a rookie.  In this instance, former Cardinal Jeff Suppan joins Aaron Miles and Randy Winn in making the team older, if not particularly more or less talented.

It isn’t news that Jeff Suppan, despite being a nice guy by many accounts, is not a very good pitcher any more.  You don’t need me to tell you that.  The Brewers, who as of 6/10 were ranked 15th of 16 National League teams in ERA with a 5.30 mark, released the guy despite owing him $12.5M this season.  He’s 35 years old.  His fastball lies at 87-88 MPH.  His walk rate per nine innings pitched during his three full seasons with the Brewers increased from 2.96 to 3.39 to 4.12.  His strikeout rate per nine decreased from 4.96 to 4.56 to 4.45.  His 12 wild pitches last season were the third most thrown in the National League.  The man held a 7.84 ERA in 31 innings this season.  Jeff Suppan is a bad pitcher who is only getting worse.

He isn’t all that bad, however.  He isn’t really a 7.84 ERA pitcher.  He has been unlucky this season and offers a number of reasons for Cardinal fans not to be entirely discouraged by his signing:

  • He has a legitimate starter’s repertoire of pitches.  According to Pitch F/X, he mixes a four-seam fastball with a slider, a curveball, a changeup, and a cut fastball.  At very least, he can keep hitters guessing which one of his mediocre pitches will be thrown.
  • His changeup, which was his only above average pitch last season according to FanGraphs, is getting absolutely destroyed this season.  One reason might be that he has been throwing it at a meager 79.6 MPH this year, down a full 1.5 MPH from 2009.  Considering that his fastball isn’t getting any slower, Dave Duncan might convince him to take less off of the change in hopes of hitters having a little less time to react to it.  If that doesn’t work, he can always scrap the pitch in favor of the cutter that he has started throwing this season.
  • His groundball percentage in 2010 is only 37.5%, down from 48.9% in 2009.  If anyone can help him fix this particular flaw, it is Dave Duncan.
  • Opposing hitters have a .399 batting average on balls in play in 2010 against Suppan, which is dramatically higher than his career .303 value.  He has been unlucky this year, plain and simple.
  • This year, his K/9 rate is 5.23 and his BB/9 rate is 3.48, which are noted improvements over his 4.45 and 4.12 values in 2009 as listed earlier.  Again, he has pitched moderately well for being Jeff Suppan despite his inflated ERA.

So maybe the Jeff Suppan signing won’t really be all that bad.  P.J. Walters gave up 13 earned runs over his last eight innings pitched.  Blake Hawksworth gave up six earned runs in four innings during his past start.  Even 2010 Jeff Suppan was better than that, and 2010 Jeff Suppan has been rather unlucky.  A reasonable case can be made that he is legitimately the Cardinals’ fifth best healthy starting pitching option at this point.  As a $12.5M pitcher, Jeff Suppan was an outlandish disappointment.  As a pro-rated league minimum pitcher, he could get the job done until Brad Penny returns from the DL.  I can’t fault the Cardinals for trying.