All posts by Brian Walton

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

Three Cardinals on pace for 100 RBI

Three St. Louis Cardinals hitters have at least 24 RBI through the team’s first 39 games and are on pace for 100 RBI seasons.

David Freese (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)As the St. Louis Cardinals returned home Monday night to face the Washington Nationals, they badly needed to wash from their mouths the bitter tastes of a series defeat in Cincinnati, a two-week stretch of losing baseball and the forfeiture of first place.

The much-publicized switch in the batting order between Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday received the lion’s share of the ink, but when the game began, it was rookie third baseman David Freese (pictured) who really stepped up early on.

Batting sixth for the eighth time this season after a total of 13 starts in the number five spot, Freese’s two-run triple capped a four-run first inning. The Cardinals never looked back in defeating the Nats by a 6-2 score at Busch Stadium.

In an interesting but odd sidelight, Freese has picked up 19 of his 24 RBI this year in his first plate appearance in a game. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter is second in the National League behind Milwaukee’s Casey McGehee, who has 26.

With his pair of Monday RBI, Freese joined Yadier Molina at second place on the Cardinals with 24. The pair sit five behind team leader Albert Pujols, who has over twice as many RBI as Matt Holliday (14), but that is a story for a different day.

With the first 39 games of the 2010 season in the books, researcher Tom Orf went back to look at top Cardinals RBI producers in the early going, selecting 40 games as the mark.

In the last 50 years, 2010 is only the ninth time that at least three Cardinals have as many as 24 RBI in the team’s first 40 games. St. Louis also did it in 2009, with Ryan Ludwick and Chris Duncan joining Pujols then.

In both 2004 and 2001, four Cardinals hitters had at least 24 RBI through 40 games. The 2004 group included all three members of the “MV3”, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Pujols. Not surprisingly, Pujols remains the constant through the years as the other two now play for Cardinals NL Central rivals Cincinnati and Milwaukee, respectively.

At the other end of the spectrum, ten times in 50 years, not a single Cardinal had as many as 24 RBI through 40 games. That happened most recently in Tony La Russa’s second St. Louis campaign, 1997.

This season, with Colby Rasmus currently fourth with 17 RBI and Ludwick fifth on the team with 15, it is most unlikely the top three will be having company join them based on Tuesday night’s 40th game of the 2010 season.

To put 24 RBI in 39 games into perspective, if that pace could be maintained through 162 games, the player would finish the season with exactly 100 RBI. Most any non-Pujols Cardinal would be satisfied with that.

Cardinals with 24 or more RBI in the team’s first 40 games, 1960-2010

Year Player RBI Player RBI Player RBI Player RBI
2010 Albert Pujols 29 David Freese 24 Yadier Molina 24
2009 Albert Pujols 37 Ryan Ludwick 26 Chris Duncan 24
2008 Albert Pujols 25 Ryan Ludwick 24
2007 Albert Pujols 23
2006 Albert Pujols 48 Jim Edmonds 27
2005 Albert Pujols 35 Jim Edmonds 24
2004 Scott Rolen 39 Jim Edmonds 29 Reggie Sanders 25 Albert Pujols 24
2003 Edgar Renteria 31 Scott Rolen 30 Albert Pujols 28
2002 Jim Edmonds 28
2001 Albert Pujols 44 J.D. Drew 33 Jim Edmonds 28 Ray Lankford 24
2000 Mark McGwire 36 Jim Edmonds 34 Fernando Tatis 28
1999 Fernando Tatis 38 Mark McGwire 29
1998 Mark McGwire 45
1997
1996 Ray Lankford 29 Ron Gant 26
1995 Bernard Gilkey 27 Brian Jordan 25
1994
1993
1992
1991 Pedro Guerrero 27
1990 Pedro Guerrero 27
1989 Pedro Guerrero 29 Tom Brunansky 25
1988 Tom Brunansky 25
1987 Jack Clark 43 Willie McGee 29 Terry Pendleton 26
1986
1985 Jack Clark 35 Tom Herr 33 Terry Pendleton 25
1984
1983 George Hendrick 32
1982 Keith Hernandez 26 George Hendrick 25
1981 George Hendrick 27 Tom Herr 26
1980 George Hendrick 31
1980 Ted Simmons 26 Keith Hernandez 25 Ken Reitz 24
1979 Keith Hernandez 27
1978 Ken Reitz 24
1977 Keith Hernandez 29 Ted Simmons 29
1976
1975 Ted Simmons 28
1974 Reggie Smith 32 Ted Simmons 24
1973
1972 Joe Torre 25 Ted Simmons 24
1971 Joe Torre 30 Jose Cardenal 29
1970 Dick Allen 37
1969 Joe Torre 24
1968
1967 Lou Brock 31 Orlando Cepeda 27
1966 Curt Flood 30
1965 Ken Boyer 24
1964 Ken Boyer 33
1963 Ken Boyer 30 Bill White 27
1962 Bill White 32 Ken Boyer 31
1961
1960 Bill White 29 Ken Boyer 25

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Quality starts: And then, there was Jaime

Two of three St. Louis Cardinals starters working on quality start streaks saw them end over the weekend

Jaime Garcia (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Coming into this past weekend, seven major league starting pitchers were working to extend their season-opening streaks of quality starts* of seven games or more. Three of the seven were from just one of the 30 teams, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Now the list is down to five, and just one is a Cardinal.

After taking losses in subpar outings in Cincinnati on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, Adam Wainwright and Brad Penny ended their 2010 quality runs at seven each. Only Friday night winner Jaime Garcia carries the Cardinals quality flag forward into this week.

The Cardinals certainly have nothing to be embarrassed about. Even after the two non-quality starts over the weekend, the starting staff has 30 in 38 games, the most in MLB.

Wainwright and Penny had been at this even longer. Going back to include the end of last season, Wainwright’s quality start streak ended at 12, while Penny’s was stopped at nine.

Researcher Tom Orf went back into the annals of baseball and could find no other staff since at least 1920 (excluding the years of 1940-51) to match the 2010 Cardinals with three pitchers compiling season-opening quality start streaks of at least seven games.

* A quality start is defined as an outing of six innings or more while allowing three or fewer runs.

Quality start streak to begin season, seven games or more, MLB, 1920-present (excluding 1940-51)

Strk Start End Tm G W L GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Brad Penny 4/8/2010 5/11/2010 STL 7 3 3 7 0 0 0 0 47.2 45 14 9 8 27 2 1.70
Adam Wainwright 4/7/2010 5/9/2010 STL 7 5 1 7 2 0 0 0 52 35 13 12 12 43 1 2.08
Jaime Garcia 4/10/2010 current STL 7 4 2 7 0 0 0 0 44.1 31 9 7 16 36 1 1.42
Tim Lincecum 4/5/2010 current SFG 8 5 0 8 0 0 0 0 56.1 38 11 11 15 69 3 1.76
Roy Oswalt 4/5/2010 current HOU 8 2 5 8 0 0 0 0 55 46 17 16 13 52 6 2.62
C.J. Wilson 4/8/2010 current TEX 7 3 1 7 2 0 0 0 48.2 35 10 8 18 34 0 1.48
Ubaldo Jimenez 4/5/2010 current COL 8 7 1 8 1 1 0 0 56.1 35 7 7 21 54 1 1.12
Chad Billingsley 4/8/2009 5/19/2009 LAD 9 6 1 9 0 0 0 0 61 41 18 17 29 63 1 2.51
Dan Haren 4/7/2009 5/12/2009 ARI 8 3 4 8 1 0 0 0 56 39 13 13 9 56 4 2.09
John Lackey 5/14/2008 6/29/2008 LAA 9 6 1 9 1 0 0 0 68.2 48 13 11 13 54 6 1.44
Ervin Santana 4/3/2008 5/5/2008 LAA 7 6 0 7 1 1 0 0 49 34 12 11 9 38 3 2.02
Cliff Lee 4/6/2008 5/12/2008 CLE 7 6 0 7 1 1 0 0 53.2 32 5 4 4 44 1 0.67
Jamie Moyer 4/6/2007 5/9/2007 PHI 7 4 2 7 0 0 0 0 48 37 17 16 15 31 3 3.00
Brad Penny 4/6/2007 5/12/2007 LAD 8 5 0 8 0 0 0 0 51.2 42 9 8 18 33 0 1.39
Tim Hudson 4/4/2007 5/15/2007 ATL 9 5 1 9 0 0 0 0 66 48 13 13 13 43 2 1.77
Jered Weaver 5/27/2006 8/3/2006 LAA 9 7 0 9 0 0 0 0 59.2 41 13 12 14 47 2 1.81
Mike Mussina 4/4/2006 5/31/2006 NYY 12 7 1 12 1 0 0 0 81.2 65 25 22 13 70 9 2.42
Chris Capuano 4/4/2006 5/26/2006 MIL 11 5 3 11 1 1 0 0 75 64 27 24 16 64 6 2.88
Brandon Webb 4/3/2006 5/10/2006 ARI 8 6 0 8 0 0 0 0 58.2 59 16 15 6 36 3 2.30
Mark Redman 4/7/2005 5/20/2005 PIT 9 3 3 9 2 1 0 0 61.2 48 18 17 16 32 2 2.48
Roger Clemens 4/8/2005 5/19/2005 HOU 9 3 2 9 0 0 0 0 63 39 10 9 18 63 2 1.29
A.J. Burnett 4/7/2005 5/9/2005 FLA 7 3 3 7 2 0 0 0 50 43 17 15 14 52 4 2.70
Kevin Millwood 4/5/2004 5/11/2004 PHI 7 4 2 7 0 0 0 0 45.2 49 21 18 9 32 5 3.55
Runelvys Hernandez 3/31/2003 5/9/2003 KCR 8 4 2 8 0 0 0 0 53 36 16 12 20 28 4 2.04
Mark Prior 4/3/2003 5/6/2003 CHC 7 4 1 7 1 1 0 0 49 35 13 9 12 52 0 1.65
Randy Johnson 4/1/2002 5/6/2002 ARI 7 6 1 7 2 1 0 0 53 35 11 9 11 69 3 1.53
Tom Glavine 4/1/2002 5/1/2002 ATL 7 5 1 7 0 0 0 0 48.1 34 8 5 12 35 2 0.93
Eric Milton 4/5/2001 5/13/2001 MIN 8 5 2 8 1 1 0 0 54.1 53 16 15 12 32 4 2.48
Brad Radke 4/3/2001 5/6/2001 MIN 7 6 0 7 2 0 0 0 56.2 51 14 14 4 30 4 2.22
Wade Miller 4/5/2001 5/9/2001 HOU 7 5 1 7 1 0 0 0 51.2 35 18 15 17 52 5 2.61
Pedro Martinez 4/2/2001 6/4/2001 BOS 12 7 1 12 1 0 0 0 87 59 17 16 19 131 3 1.66
Pedro Martinez 4/4/2000 6/20/2000 BOS 13 9 3 13 3 2 0 0 99.1 56 14 13 19 130 6 1.18
Randy Johnson 4/4/2000 5/16/2000 ARI 9 7 1 9 5 2 0 0 74.1 44 12 8 14 100 5 0.97
Tom Glavine 4/4/2000 5/5/2000 ATL 7 5 0 7 1 1 0 0 52 31 10 10 14 38 1 1.73
Pedro Martinez 4/5/1999 6/4/1999 BOS 12 11 1 12 2 0 0 0 89.2 70 21 19 18 133 3 1.91
Curt Schilling 3/31/1998 5/23/1998 PHI 11 5 5 11 4 1 0 0 85.2 57 22 19 20 117 6 2.00
Andy Ashby 4/2/1998 5/14/1998 SDP 9 5 2 9 1 1 0 0 64.2 60 18 16 13 41 3 2.23
Pedro Martinez 4/15/1997 5/23/1997 MON 8 8 0 8 3 1 0 0 61.1 39 11 8 11 68 3 1.17
Andy Ashby 4/2/1997 5/11/1997 SDP 8 2 2 8 1 0 0 0 62.1 46 20 16 16 38 3 2.31
Andy Pettitte 4/2/1997 5/8/1997 NYY 8 6 1 8 2 0 0 0 58 51 17 15 18 36 3 2.33
Tom Glavine 4/3/1997 5/3/1997 ATL 7 4 1 7 1 1 0 0 52 40 10 9 14 28 1 1.56
Curt Schilling 5/14/1996 6/19/1996 PHI 8 2 1 8 0 0 0 0 52 38 16 15 20 46 7 2.60
Ismael Valdez 4/2/1996 5/21/1996 LAD 10 5 2 10 0 0 0 0 68.2 60 24 19 11 58 6 2.49
Joey Hamilton 5/24/1994 7/5/1994 SDP 9 5 3 9 1 1 0 0 65 55 15 14 17 34 2 1.94
Greg Maddux 4/4/1994 6/22/1994 ATL 16 10 3 16 5 2 0 0 127.1 97 28 23 22 100 2 1.63
Orel Hershiser 4/5/1994 5/24/1994 LAD 10 3 1 10 0 0 0 0 68.1 67 22 19 14 44 4 2.50
Wilson Alvarez 4/6/1994 5/15/1994 CHW 8 7 0 8 1 0 0 0 56.2 50 19 15 22 32 6 2.38
Ricky Bones 4/8/1994 5/12/1994 MIL 7 3 2 7 2 1 0 0 55.2 39 12 9 17 13 4 1.46
Erik Hanson 4/9/1993 5/29/1993 SEA 11 5 2 11 2 0 0 0 82.2 75 19 18 17 72 4 1.96
Jimmy Key 4/5/1993 5/7/1993 NYY 7 3 0 7 1 1 0 0 53.2 35 8 8 6 36 4 1.34
Doug Drabek 4/5/1993 5/6/1993 HOU 7 3 3 7 3 1 0 0 56 43 15 14 9 37 1 2.25
Kevin Appier 4/6/1992 6/5/1992 KCR 12 5 3 12 1 0 0 0 88.1 64 22 21 27 59 3 2.14
Juan Guzman 4/9/1992 5/10/1992 TOR 7 5 0 7 1 0 0 0 50.1 31 9 9 21 52 1 1.61
Bill Swift 4/6/1992 5/7/1992 SFG 7 6 0 7 3 2 0 0 55.2 42 9 8 12 24 1 1.29
Scott Kamieniecki 6/18/1991 7/23/1991 NYY 7 4 2 7 0 0 0 0 47 40 14 14 17 28 6 2.68
Dennis Rasmussen 5/25/1991 7/13/1991 SDP 10 3 5 10 1 1 0 0 71.1 65 23 18 24 36 5 2.27
Scott Erickson 4/11/1991 5/17/1991 MIN 8 6 2 8 3 2 0 0 62.1 47 12 10 21 33 2 1.44
Zane Smith 4/10/1991 5/14/1991 PIT 7 5 1 7 1 1 0 0 50.1 48 13 12 6 31 2 2.15
Roger Clemens 4/8/1991 5/13/1991 BOS 7 6 0 7 2 1 0 0 57 31 6 6 10 58 0 0.95
Tom Candiotti 4/9/1991 5/12/1991 CLE 7 4 1 7 2 0 0 0 53 32 8 6 16 44 1 1.02
Dwight Gooden 4/3/1989 6/2/1989 NYM 12 6 2 12 0 0 0 0 87.1 64 25 22 36 74 4 2.27
Ken Hill 4/20/1989 5/19/1989 STL 7 2 2 7 1 1 0 0 51.2 44 13 12 17 32 0 2.09
Kirk McCaskill 4/7/1989 5/16/1989 CAL 8 5 1 8 1 1 0 0 59.2 43 7 7 18 27 1 1.06
John Smiley 4/6/1989 5/12/1989 PIT 7 4 1 7 2 1 0 0 54 43 17 13 10 30 4 2.17
Pascual Perez 4/6/1988 7/24/1988 MON 14 7 4 14 2 1 0 0 104.1 69 23 20 23 75 6 1.73
Bob Knepper 4/6/1988 6/6/1988 HOU 10 7 1 10 1 1 0 0 68.1 62 19 12 20 41 5 1.58
Ron Darling 4/6/1988 6/4/1988 NYM 12 6 3 12 3 2 0 0 93 66 24 23 23 60 6 2.23
Dave LaPoint 4/7/1988 5/19/1988 CHW 9 4 2 9 1 1 0 0 66 47 16 12 16 35 4 1.64
Bob Walk 4/9/1988 5/11/1988 PIT 7 4 1 7 0 0 0 0 47.2 36 8 7 13 23 0 1.32
Jay Tibbs 4/10/1986 5/15/1986 MON 8 3 0 8 2 2 0 0 56 37 13 10 25 32 1 1.61
Dwight Gooden 4/9/1985 6/30/1985 NYM 17 11 3 17 7 3 0 0 136.1 99 26 25 35 134 8 1.65
Rick Reuschel 5/21/1985 6/26/1985 PIT 8 4 1 8 1 0 0 0 54.2 45 14 14 13 35 1 2.30
Bryn Smith 4/12/1985 5/15/1985 MON 7 5 1 7 1 1 0 0 52.2 45 12 12 5 30 3 2.05
Joe Niekro 4/10/1985 5/10/1985 HOU 7 2 3 7 0 0 0 0 46.2 35 16 12 29 24 1 2.31
Phil Niekro 4/4/1984 5/24/1984 NYY 10 7 2 10 2 1 0 0 75 68 15 10 21 52 1 1.20
John Denny 4/4/1984 5/19/1984 PHI 8 4 3 8 2 0 0 0 60 49 20 11 7 34 5 1.65
Bill Laskey 4/6/1984 5/6/1984 SFG 7 1 3 7 0 0 0 0 47 41 13 10 13 15 2 1.91
Atlee Hammaker 4/13/1983 6/7/1983 SFG 11 6 3 11 4 2 0 0 83 61 21 13 12 60 1 1.41
Joe Price 4/11/1983 6/3/1983 CIN 8 4 2 8 3 0 0 0 63.1 40 16 16 17 35 3 2.27
Dave Stieb 4/5/1983 5/21/1983 TOR 10 8 2 10 6 2 0 0 86.1 62 15 10 32 64 1 1.04
Len Barker 4/11/1982 5/13/1982 CLE 7 4 1 7 1 0 0 0 52 36 17 13 29 35 1 2.25
Doyle Alexander 4/11/1981 5/27/1981 SFG 10 5 3 10 0 0 0 0 68.1 59 15 14 24 36 3 1.84
Rick Rhoden 4/12/1981 5/20/1981 PIT 7 5 0 7 1 1 0 0 48 43 12 12 17 31 2 2.25
Fernando Valenzue 4/9/1981 5/14/1981 LAD 8 8 0 8 7 5 0 0 72 43 4 4 17 68 2 0.50
Steve Carlton 4/11/1980 5/14/1980 PHI 8 6 2 8 3 1 0 0 62 39 15 14 22 52 4 2.03
Ron Guidry 4/8/1978 6/22/1978 NYY 15 12 0 15 6 2 0 0 120 87 23 20 34 112 3 1.50
Gaylord Perry 4/7/1978 5/15/1978 SDP 7 2 1 7 1 0 0 0 54.1 43 16 12 14 32 0 1.99
Ross Grimsley 4/9/1978 5/12/1978 MON 7 6 1 7 5 1 0 0 58.1 50 17 12 19 22 4 1.85
John Candelaria 4/16/1977 6/6/1977 PIT 10 7 1 10 1 1 0 0 70.2 59 15 13 14 39 5 1.66
Ed Figueroa 4/9/1977 5/19/1977 NYY 8 5 2 8 6 1 0 0 66.1 48 14 9 18 28 2 1.22
Joe McIntosh 4/12/1975 5/21/1975 SDP 8 5 2 8 3 1 0 0 63.2 47 13 10 12 29 2 1.41
Tom Seaver 4/8/1975 5/16/1975 NYM 8 5 3 8 5 0 0 0 64 53 15 14 16 47 2 1.97
Ken Holtzman 4/9/1975 5/10/1975 OAK 8 1 4 8 3 0 0 0 61.1 53 21 17 22 24 1 2.49
Larry Dierker 4/9/1974 5/14/1974 HOU 8 2 3 8 1 0 0 0 55.2 45 16 13 21 31 3 2.10
Jim Lonborg 4/7/1974 5/8/1974 PHI 7 3 2 7 3 1 0 0 57.2 57 16 14 14 26 4 2.18
Ross Grimsley 4/7/1974 5/7/1974 BAL 7 4 2 7 3 0 0 0 55.1 44 18 15 13 32 6 2.44
Steve Rogers 7/18/1973 9/25/1973 MON 16 9 5 16 7 3 0 0 128.2 87 24 20 45 59 5 1.40
Ken Holtzman 4/8/1973 5/22/1973 OAK 11 9 2 11 9 1 0 0 96.2 63 20 14 19 55 6 1.30
Bill Singer 4/10/1973 5/18/1973 CAL 9 7 1 9 6 1 0 0 80.2 52 17 15 27 80 1 1.67
Jim Willoughby 8/6/1972 9/9/1972 SFG 7 5 2 7 5 0 0 0 58 44 13 12 7 26 5 1.86
Jim Kaat 4/29/1972 5/28/1972 MIN 7 6 1 7 2 0 0 0 57 39 10 7 9 31 4 1.11
Claude Osteen 4/20/1972 6/21/1972 LAD 12 7 4 12 3 1 0 0 94.2 83 20 19 25 35 7 1.81
Don Sutton 4/15/1972 5/18/1972 LAD 7 5 0 7 3 2 0 0 60.2 25 6 6 15 43 2 0.89
Dock Ellis 4/6/1971 6/11/1971 PIT 13 9 3 13 5 1 0 0 98.2 78 26 22 20 69 4 2.01
Larry Dierker 4/5/1971 5/6/1971 HOU 7 5 0 7 4 1 0 0 59 44 10 9 12 36 1 1.37
Gary Gentry 4/11/1970 5/18/1970 NYM 8 4 1 8 1 1 0 0 60 37 18 13 22 52 4 1.95
Claude Osteen 4/7/1970 5/8/1970 LAD 7 3 3 7 2 1 0 0 55.1 47 14 12 12 26 2 1.95
Sam McDowell 4/7/1970 5/6/1970 CLE 7 3 3 7 4 0 0 0 56 38 18 15 32 65 2 2.41
Bob Gibson 4/10/1968 7/30/1968 STL 22 15 5 22 18 8 0 0 196.2 121 26 21 37 153 5 0.96
Bob Veale 4/11/1968 5/25/1968 PIT 9 2 4 9 3 1 0 0 73 54 15 13 25 65 5 1.60
Steve Barber 6/2/1968 7/16/1968 NYY 9 3 3 9 3 1 0 0 67 59 25 14 33 44 2 1.88
Jerry Koosman 4/11/1968 6/19/1968 NYM 14 11 2 14 8 3 0 0 113.1 84 23 19 26 84 4 1.51
Tom Seaver 4/10/1968 6/10/1968 NYM 13 4 5 13 5 1 0 0 111 89 26 22 19 63 5 1.78
Bill Singer 4/11/1968 5/9/1968 LAD 7 2 4 7 2 1 0 0 55 39 13 10 16 49 1 1.64
Dave Giusti 4/13/1968 6/2/1968 HOU 11 4 5 11 6 1 0 0 90 61 20 18 25 60 6 1.80
Denny McLain 4/11/1968 5/10/1968 DET 7 5 0 7 5 1 0 0 59 44 12 12 9 52 6 1.83
Tom Phoebus 4/10/1968 5/18/1968 BAL 8 4 4 8 4 1 0 0 65 41 13 12 32 53 2 1.66
Dick Bosman 8/29/1967 10/1/1967 WSA 7 3 1 7 2 1 0 0 51.1 38 12 10 10 25 3 1.75
Claude Osteen 4/14/1965 5/15/1965 LAD 8 3 3 8 3 0 0 0 67.2 47 15 14 13 37 5 1.86
Jim Maloney 4/13/1964 5/17/1964 CIN 7 3 4 7 4 0 0 0 54 37 16 11 24 52 4 1.83
Bob Friend 4/12/1960 5/13/1960 PIT 7 4 1 7 4 2 0 0 57 38 11 10 9 49 3 1.58
Whitey Ford 4/20/1956 5/28/1956 NYY 8 7 1 8 8 2 0 0 71 59 13 8 22 45 2 1.01
Allie Reynolds 4/18/1952 6/7/1952 NYY 10 7 3 10 10 2 0 0 89 48 14 13 26 60 2 1.31
Sal Maglie 4/16/1952 5/27/1952 NYG 9 9 0 9 8 3 0 0 80.1 47 13 10 28 51 4 1.12
Gerry Staley 4/15/1952 5/18/1952 STL 8 7 1 8 3 0 0 0 66 61 19 16 14 24 5 2.18


1920-39 Strk Start End Tm G W L GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Carl Hubbell 4/21/1938 5/28/1938 NYG 7 6 1 7 0 0 6 0 62 50 13 12 13 42 2 1.74
Slick Castleman 4/24/1937 6/19/1937 NYG 12 7 3 12 0 0 7 0 95.1 79 28 25 20 50 6 2.36
Lefty Gomez 4/20/1937 6/3/1937 NYY 10 6 4 10 0 0 8 0 85 80 20 14 31 51 2 1.48
Monty Stratton 4/22/1937 5/31/1937 CHW 8 5 3 8 0 0 5 0 66.1 60 18 10 15 26 1 1.36
Carl Hubbell 4/23/1937 5/24/1937 NYG 7 7 0 7 0 0 5 0 60.1 48 15 11 13 48 5 1.64
Hal Schumacher 4/20/1935 7/10/1935 NYG 17 13 2 17 0 0 13 0 149.2 112 46 34 36 36 9 2.04
Jakie May 4/18/1930 6/1/1930 CIN 7 2 3 7 3 0 0 0 56 53 24 16 20 19 1 2.57
Socks Seibold 4/15/1930 5/17/1930 BSN 7 5 2 7 7 0 0 0 62.2 64 20 16 21 11 0 2.30
Jake Miller 4/23/1929 6/1/1929 CLE 8 4 3 8 6 2 0 0 67.2 65 16 10 16 17 0 1.33
George Uhle 4/17/1929 5/18/1929 DET 7 7 0 7 7 1 0 0 63 58 16 10 11 24 2 1.43
Dazzy Vance 4/17/1924 5/22/1924 BRO 7 6 1 7 7 0 0 0 69.2 62 20 17 15 45 2 2.20
Herman Pillette 4/20/1923 5/21/1923 DET 8 2 2 8 4 0 0 0 63 57 26 14 17 13 2 2.00

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Ludwick the hit machine

Streaky Ryan Ludwick is in the midst of one of his hottest runs as a St. Louis Cardinal.

Ryan Ludwick (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)With three hits in the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 road victory over Cincinnati on Friday night, Ryan Ludwick did something the notoriously-streaky outfielder has never done before with the club – collect three hits three times in the span of four games. (He also is in the midst of a seven-game hit streak.)

It was the 11th time a Cardinal has had a similar stretch of three-hit games since 2000. As a further demonstration of his remarkable consistency, Albert Pujols has accomplished it just three times, and only once since 2003. Of course, that is still more than any other Cardinal during the past decade  – two more than Bo Hart!

Cardinals Three 3-Hit Games in a 3 or 4-Game Span (2000-2010)

Player Date Tm-G Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI
Ryan Ludwick 5/14/2010 36 CIN W 4-3 4 4 2 3 0 0 1 2
Ryan Ludwick 5/12/2010 34 HOU L 6-9 5 5 1 3 1 0 0 0
Ryan Ludwick 5/11/2010 33 HOU L 3-6 5 4 2 3 1 0 0 1
Albert Pujols 9/9/2009 141 MIL W 5-1 5 5 2 3 0 0 2 3
Albert Pujols 9/7/2009 139 MIL W 3-0 5 4 1 3 2 0 0 2
Albert Pujols 9/6/2009 138 PIT L 5-6 5 5 1 3 0 0 0 1
Matt Holliday 8/14/2009 117 SDP W 9-2 5 5 2 3 2 0 0 3
Matt Holliday 8/12/2009 116 CIN W 5-2 4 4 0 3 1 0 0 1
Matt Holliday 8/11/2009 115 CIN L 4-5 5 5 0 3 0 0 0 0
Felipe Lopez 9/28/2008 162 CIN W 11-4 5 5 2 4 2 0 0 3
Felipe Lopez 9/26/2008 160 CIN W 7-6 5 4 3 3 0 0 0 0
Felipe Lopez 9/25/2008 159 ARI W 12-3 6 6 1 3 0 0 0 2
Felipe Lopez 9/23/2008 157 ARI W 7-4 4 4 2 3 1 0 0 1
Felipe Lopez 9/22/2008 156 ARI L 2-4 5 5 0 3 0 0 0 0
Troy Glaus 7/13/2008 96 PIT W 11-6 5 4 3 3 2 0 1 2
Troy Glaus 7/12/2008 95 PIT L 11-12 6 4 2 4 0 0 1 2
Troy Glaus 7/11/2008 94 PIT W 6-0 5 5 1 3 0 0 0 0
Chris Duncan 8/17/2006 120 CIN W 2-1 4 4 1 3 0 0 0 0
Chris Duncan 8/16/2006 119 CIN L 2-7 5 4 0 3 1 0 0 0
Chris Duncan 8/15/2006 118 CIN W 5-0 5 5 1 3 0 0 1 2
David Eckstein 5/12/2005 34 LAD W 10-3 5 4 1 3 1 1 0 1
David Eckstein 5/11/2005 33 LAD W 9-3 6 5 1 4 0 0 0 1
David Eckstein 5/10/2005 32 LAD L 8-9 5 4 1 3 0 0 0 0
David Eckstein 5/8/2005 30 SDP W 15-5 6 6 3 3 1 0 0 2
Albert Pujols 6/26/2003 77 CIN W 11-7 5 5 2 4 0 0 0 0
Albert Pujols 6/24/2003 75 CIN L 4-7 7 6 1 3 1 0 0 0
Albert Pujols 6/22/2003 74 KCR L 2-5 5 5 0 3 0 0 0 1
Albert Pujols 6/21/2003 73 KCR W 8-1 5 5 3 3 2 0 1 4
Albert Pujols 6/6/2003 59 BAL W 8-6 5 4 0 4 1 0 0 4
Albert Pujols 6/5/2003 58 TOR W 13-5 4 3 2 3 1 0 1 2
Albert Pujols 6/3/2003 56 TOR W 11-5 5 5 1 3 0 0 0 0
Bo Hart 6/28/2003 79 KCR W 13-9 6 6 4 4 0 0 0 0
Bo Hart 6/26/2003 77 CIN W 11-7 5 5 1 3 0 0 0 1
Bo Hart 6/25/2003 76 CIN W 9-6 5 5 2 3 0 0 1 1
Bo Hart 6/24/2003 75 CIN L 4-7 8 8 0 4 0 0 0 0
Bo Hart 6/21/2003 73 KCR W 8-1 5 5 2 3 0 1 0 0
Edgar Renteria 7/17/2002 91 SFG L 4-5 4 4 1 3 0 0 0 1
Edgar Renteria 7/16/2002 90 LAD W 9-2 4 4 3 4 1 0 0 2
Edgar Renteria 7/14/2002 88 SDP W 4-1 4 4 1 3 0 0 0 0

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the data.

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Walton on KXnO FOX Sports Radio Friday

Catch me talking St. Louis Cardinals baseball with Matt Perrault on KXnO FOX Sports Radio 1460 in Des Moines today (Friday) at 5:25 p.m. CDT. The newly-sponsored and titled weekly show is called “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

The fourth of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season will be held throughout Thursday afternoon’s Astros-Cardinals series finale. Join in the discussion with the FSM personalities.

You can participate via FOX Sports Midwest’s website.

Chris Carpenter (4-0, 2.80) faces Bud Norris (1-4, 7.52) as the Cards try to end the home series with a single win.

Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 12:40 P.M. Central.

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Garcia on Fernando’s rookie track

St. Louis Cardinals rookie Jaime Garcia’s 2010 start invokes memories of another left-hander from Mexico who made his MLB debut 30 years ago, Fernando Valenzuela.

Fernando as a Cardinal, 1997 Choosing to ignore the St. Louis Cardinals ugly loss to Houston on Tuesday night, I will look ahead to Jaime Garcia’s next start at Cincinnati on Friday night. The rookie left-hander has a 3-2 record with a 1.18 ERA over his initial six starts.

Having done even better than textbook quality starts, Garcia went six or more innings and allowed two or fewer runs all six times here in 2010. (The quality start is three or fewer runs yielded.)

Tom Orf went back and found that Garcia is only one of three MLB rookies since at least 1952 to start a season with six or more of these games. The record over that time is eight, co-owned by Fernando Valenzuela of the 1981 Dodgers and Joe McIntosh of the 1975 Padres.

Oddly, all three pitchers began their streaks in their 11th career outing.

Cardinals fans would hope Garcia mimics the career of fellow Mexican lefty Fernando, who went on to win 173 games over 17 seasons rather than McIntosh, whose career ended after that season with an aggregate 8-19 record.

At the other end of his long career, Fernando concluded with the 1997 Cardinals (pictured above), having joined the club via trade that June. He went 0-4 in five starts and was released in July. Valenzuela would not appear in the majors again.

Is it too early to suggest “Jaimemania?”

Rookies to start season with a string of games going 6+ innings and allowing 2 runs or less, MLB, since 1952

Fernando Valenzuela
1981 17.2 Prev IP
Gcar Gtm Date Tm Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
11 1 Apr 9 LAD HOU W,2-0 SHO W(1-0) 9 5 0 0 2 5 0
12 5 Apr 14 LAD @ SFG W,7-1 CG W(2-0) 9 4 1 1 2 10 0
13 8 Apr 18 LAD @ SDP W,2-0 SHO W(3-0) 9 5 0 0 0 10 0
14 12 Apr 22 LAD @ HOU W,1-0 SHO W(4-0) 9 7 0 0 3 11 0
15 17 Apr 27 LAD SFG W,5-0 SHO W(5-0) 9 7 0 0 4 7 0
16 22 May 3 LAD @ MON W,6-1 GS-9 W(6-0) 9 5 1 1 0 7 0
17 27 May 8 LAD @ NYM W,1-0 SHO W(7-0) 9 7 0 0 5 11 0
18 32 May 14 LAD MON W,3-2 CG W(8-0) 9 3 2 2 1 7 2
Joe McIntosh

1975 37.1 Prev IP
Gcar Gtm Date Tm Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
11 3 Apr 12 SDP CIN W,3-2 GS-8 W(1-0) 7 6 2 2 6 4 0
12 8 Apr 18 SDP @ ATL W,3-1 GS-9 W(2-0) 8 5 1 0 1 4 0
13 13 Apr 23 SDP LAD W,7-1 CG W(3-0) 9 5 1 1 3 5 0
14 19 Apr 28 SDP HOU L,1-4 GS-7 L(3-1) 7 8 3 2 0 2 0
15 24 May 3 SDP @ LAD W,3-1 GS-8 8 4 1 1 0 7 1
16 29 May 9 SDP @ CHC L,2-5 GS-6 L(3-2) 6 5 3 2 1 2 1
17 34 May 16 SDP CHC W,8-2 CG W(4-2) 9 6 2 2 1 1 0
18 39 May 21 SDP STL W,1-0 SHO W(5-2) 9 8 0 0 0 4 0
Jaime Garcia

2010 16 IP Prev IP
Gcar Gtm Date Tm Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
11 5 Apr 10 STL @ MIL W,7-1 GS-6 W(1-0) 6 4 1 1 3 5 0
12 11 Apr 17 STL NYM L,1-2 GS-7 7 1 0 0 2 5 0
13 16 Apr 23 STL @ SFG L,1-4 GS-6 L(1-1) 6 7 4 2 3 2 0
14 21 Apr 28 STL ATL W,6-0 GS-7 W(2-1) 7 4 0 0 1 5 0
15 26 May 3 STL @ PHI W,6-3 GS-6 W(3-1) 6 3 1 1 4 6 0
16 31 May 8 STL @ PIT L,0-2 GS-6 L(3-2) 6 7 1 1 2 7 0

Because someone will probably ask, Tom also pulled the three rookie pitchers with at least six such games at the start of their individual season, not that of their team. Jared Weaver of the 2006 Angels had seven starts, while Steve Rogers (Montreal, 1973) and Dave Righetti (1981 Yankees) each had six.

Rookie pitchers with streak at start of their season not their teams, MLB, since 1952.

Dave Righetti

1981 17.1 Prev IP
Gcar Gtm Date Tm Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
4 38 May 23 NYY CLE W,3-2 GS-8 W(1-0) 7 4 2 2 3 7 0
5 43 May 29 NYY @ CLE W,5-2 GS-9 W(2-0) 8 3 2 1 4 3 0
6 48 Jun 3 NYY BAL W,2-0 GS-9 8 8 0 0 3 8 0
7 53 Jun 8 NYY @ KCR W,8-3 GS-7 W(3-0) 7 8 2 2 0 5 0
8 58 Aug 11 NYY TEX L,0-1 GS-6 L(3-1) 6 6 1 1 1 9 0
9 63 Aug 16 NYY @ DET L,4-5 GS-6 6 4 1 1 3 7 0
Steve Rogers

1973 G #91 1st start
Gcar Gtm Date Tm Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
1 91 Jul 18 MON @ HOU W,3-2 GS-8 8 4 2 2 3 2 0
2 96 Jul 26(1) MON @ PHI W,4-0 SHO W(1-0) 9 1 0 0 2 3 0
3 101 Jul 30(1) MON @ NYM W,1-0 SHO W(2-0) 9 7 0 0 3 3 0
4 108 Aug 4 MON CHC W,6-1 CG W(3-0) 9 8 1 1 3 7 0
5 112 Aug 8 MON @ SFG L,1-2 CG(8) L(3-1) 8 4 2 2 3 3 1
6 115 Aug 12(1) MON @ SDP W,2-0 GS-8 W(4-1) 8 4 0 0 2 4 0
Jared Weaver

2006 G #49 1st start
Gcar Gtm Date Tm Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
1 49 May 27 LAA BAL W,10-1 GS-7 W(1-0) 7 3 0 0 1 5 0
2 54 Jun 2 LAA @ CLE W,10-3 GS-7 W(2-0) 6 4 2 2 2 8 0
3 59 Jun 7 LAA @ TBD W,6-2 GS-6 W(3-0) 6 4 2 2 0 4 2
4 64 Jun 13 LAA KCR W,4-1 GS-7 W(4-0) 7 5 1 0 1 5 0
5 82 Jul 3 LAA @ SEA W,7-1 GS-7 W(5-0) 7 5 1 1 1 9 0
6 87 Jul 8 LAA @ OAK W,6-4 GS-7 W(6-0) 7 2 0 0 2 5 0
7 98 Jul 23 LAA @ KCR W,3-1 GS-7 W(7-0) 6 3 1 1 4 4 0

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Wainwright’s quality pitching continues

The St. Louis Cardinals Adam Wainwright has 25 quality starts in his last 26 outings, including all seven in 2010.

Adam Wainwright (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Once again, it is time to revisit the quality start following Adam Wainwright’s Sunday outing, during which he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings despite not having his best stuff.

After the St. Louis Cardinals scored five in the top of the sixth to go up 11-2 over the Pittsburgh Pirates, I would have given Wainwright the rest of the day off. Though he was around 80 pitches at the time, he has been among the league leaders in pitches thrown and innings pitched both last season and this and there are many more important battles to fight up ahead.

Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan left Wainwright in to pitch the bottom of the sixth. He struggled, but worked around a single and a walk to lead off the inning, completing the minimum for a quality start before being lifted at an even 100 pitches.

After the rotation’s 14-game quality start streak was broken by Kyle Lohse on Thursday in Philadelphia, Chris Carpenter began a new one in Pittsburgh on Friday. Followed by Jaime Garcia on Saturday and Wainwright, the latest run is three and counting.

Wainwright’s Sunday outing was the 25th time in 26 starts going back to last season that the right-hander put forth a quality start as defined by yielding three runs or fewer while lasting at least six innings. During that time, Wainwright is 16-5 with the only non-quality start a 14-7 win, also at Pittsburgh last September 4.

Wainwright’s quality start streak of seven this season is tied for the major league lead with three others. The table below is sorted by number of quality starts, then by innings pitched. Note Wainwright leads them in the latter category.

He is just one ahead of a group of four with six straight season-opening quality starts. Among them are his teammates Brad Penny and Garcia. The former starts at home on Tuesday against Houston with the latter next scheduled to take the hill on Friday night in Cincinnati.

Season-opening quality starts, MLB, 2010, through Sunday, May 9

Tm G W L GS CG SHO GF IP H R ER BB SO HR
Adam Wainwright STL 7 5 1 7 2 0 0 52 35 13 12 12 43 1
Tim Lincecum SFG 7 4 0 7 0 0 0 48 34 10 10 10 64 3
Ubaldo Jimenez COL 7 6 1 7 1 1 0 48 28 5 5 20 49 0
Roy Oswalt HOU 7 2 4 7 0 0 0 48 40 15 14 13 45 5
Barry Zito SFG 6 5 0 6 0 0 0 42 27 7 7 12 28 0
C.J. Wilson TEX 6 3 1 6 2 0 0 41 31 9 7 15 29 0
Brad Penny STL 6 3 2 6 0 0 0 40 38 10 9 8 24 2
Jaime Garcia STL 6 3 2 6 0 0 0 38 26 7 5 15 30 0

Thanks to statistician Tom Orf for the table.

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Garrett Jones, the Pirates’ Ryan Ludwick

The Pirates and Cardinals right fielders this weekend traveled long roads before achieving major league success.

As I watched the Cardinals take on the Pirates in Pittsburgh this weekend, I couldn’t help but think about the parallels between the right fielders of each club, Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones and St. Louis’ Ryan Ludwick. Each traveled a long, hard road after having been drafted in 1999 before finally sticking in the majors at the age of 28 and excelling once finally there for good.

Cardinals fans probably know the basics of Ludwick’s story by now, but for completeness, here is it again.

Ryan Ludwick (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Ludwick was originally signed as the second-round selection of the Oakland A’s in 1999. He moved to Texas in a 2002 trade and that year, he made his big-league debut for the Rangers before his season ended with a hip fracture.

In July of 2003, after playing most of the season in Triple-A, Ludwick joined the Cleveland Indians in another trade. Continuing to spend most of the time in the minors, his 162 major league at-bats that season would be his career high before joining St. Louis.

The right-handed hitter missed considerable time in 2004 and 2005 due to knee, shoulder and wrist woes, especially struggling the latter year after finally making the Indians out of Spring Training. He was removed from the 40-man roster, not retained by the Indians, then spent 2006 in Triple-A for Detroit, but did not get called up. Again a free agent, Ludwick signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals.

After just 29 games at Triple-A Memphis in 2007, at the age of 28, Ludwick was promoted to St. Louis, where he played in 120 Major League games, hitting .267/.339/.479 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI. After having spent the majority of each of the previous six years in Triple-A, the minor league phase of his career finally ended at 736 games played .

Coming into 2008, Ludwick was not penciled in as a starter, but by the end of the season was an All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, with 37 home runs, 113 RBI and a .299 average. His .591 slugging percentage was second best in the National League.

Garrett Jones (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1999’s 14th round, Jones suffered a broken jaw in 2001 and was released by the organization early in the 2002 season. He signed with Minnesota where he was initially assigned to Quad Cities, then a Twins affiliate.

After a slow climb through the system, Jones finally made his MLB debut in May 2007, a month before his 26th birthday. He would go down and come back up again twice more that season, appearing in his first 31 career MLB games.

During the spring of 2008, Jones was outrighted off the Twins’ 40-man roster. After spending the entire season in Triple-A without a return to the roster or the Twin Cities, he became a minor league free agent that fall.

Jones signed a minor league contract that included a major league spring training invitation with the Pirates for 2009. After not making the big club, he reported to Triple-A for the fifth consecutive season. Hitting .307 with 18 doubles, 12 home runs, 48 RBI and 14 stolen bases at the time, Jones received the call to Pittsburgh last June 30. He was 28 years old, long past having been considered a “prospect.”

Despite not playing his first game with Pirates until July 1, Jones acted like he should have been there all along. He led all Major League rookies last season in home runs and slugging percentage (.567). Jones ranked second among National League rookies in on-base percentage (.372), third in batting, fifth in total bases (178) and in the top ten in RBI, doubles, steals and runs scored.

Compared to all MLB players, Jones tied for fifth in home runs hit from July 1 through the end of the season, trailing only Prince Fielder (26), Ryan Howard (25), Derrek Lee (24) and Mark Reynolds (23). Jones became the fastest player in Pirates history to reach 10 home runs in a season (in his first 19 games). His 21 home runs were the most by a left-handed hitting rookie in club history.

Jones’ minor league career has likely ended, or at least suspended indefinitely, at 1038 games.

Both Ludwick and Jones offer examples of perseverance, required by many to attain and hold onto their ultimate goal.

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Molina was everywhere Friday night

Yadier Molina found himself in the middle of most of the pivotal plays in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 4-3 series-opening win in Pittsburgh on Friday night.

Yadier Molina (AP/Gene J. Puscar)The catcher’s two-run, two out single in the first inning got the Cardinals started right, giving them a lead they would hold until the bottom of the eighth.

Leading off the sixth, Molina reached via a throwing error and eventually came around to score his team’s third run on a Skip Schumaker single.

In the bottom of the eighth, Molina was involved in two big plays. In the first, Andy LaRoche was caught in a rundown between third and home. Molina ran him back to the bag, where the trailing runner, Andrew McCutchen, had also taken up residence. When the out call was made on McCutchen, LaRoche must have thought he was being called out and stepped off the bag. Molina alertly tagged him for the second out as McCutchen, still on the bag, tried in vain to pull LaRoche back.

After Trever Miller hit the next two batters to reload the bases, closer Ryan Franklin’s offering scooted between Molina’s legs. Though it was scored a wild pitch since it was in the dirt, it allowed Pittsburgh to tie the game at three and cost Chris Carpenter a much-deserved win. Carpenter had gone seven innings, allowing two runs.

Molina then drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth with another two-out hit, a double struck into the right-center gap. Joe Mather, pinch-running for Matt Holliday, scored. Though he was not driven home, Molina even added a stolen base as he swiped third.

Molina went 4-for-5 on the evening with three RBI. With four stolen bases on the season, he is tied with Colby Rasmus for the team lead. Molina’s 19 RBI ties him with David Freese for second-most on the Cardinals behind Albert Pujols. The 19 RBI also leads all Major League Baseball catchers.

From a historical perspective, it was Molina’s sixth four-hit game in his five full and two partial seasons as a major leaguer. Since 1952, he ranks third in four-hit games by a Cardinals catcher.

Four-hit games, Cardinals catcher, 1953-current

Catcher 4-hit games
Ted Simmons 19
Tim McCarver 8
Yadier Molina 6

In the almost-30 years since Ted Simmons left after the 1980 season, there have been a dozen four-hit games by Cardinals catchers. Molina has half of them and half of those have been against Pittsburgh.

Four-hit games, Cardinals catcher, 1981-current

Player Date Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO SB CS
Yadier Molina 5/7/2010 PIT W 4-3 5 5 1 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0
Yadier Molina 7/17/2009 ARI W 6-1 4 4 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 8/22/2008 ATL W 18-3 6 5 2 4 0 0 0 4 1 1 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 7/12/2008 PIT L 11-12 6 6 1 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 6/2/2006 CHC L 4-5 7 7 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 5/25/2005 PIT W 11-5 4 4 2 4 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
Cody McKay 5/29/2004 HOU W 10-3 5 5 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Matheny 6/16/2003 MIL L 4-9 4 4 1 4 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Difelice 5/24/1997 SFG W 9-3 5 5 0 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Tom Pagnozzi 4/27/1995 PHI L 2-6 4 4 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tom Pagnozzi 5/26/1991 NYM W 14-4 6 6 0 4 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
Tony Pena 5/4/1989 LAD W 12-0 6 6 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

In one final tidbit, researcher Tom Orf also notes that the last Cardinals catcher to collect four hits and steal a base in the same game was Tim McCarver on June 10, 1966. McCarver had two RBI in that game, trumped by Molina’s three on Friday night.

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Six reasons why Carpenter should defeat Pittsburgh

History is on the side of Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals Friday night in Pittsburgh.

Chris Carpenter (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)Having just witnessed the St. Louis Cardinals’ four-game series in Philadelphia, I understand the problems with the offense. They went 4-for-35 with runners in scoring position over the four games, the final three defeats. But the Phillies missed Chris Carpenter.

Friday offers a new series in a new city against an old foe, the Pittsburgh Pirates, coming off a sweep of the Chicago Cubs. With Carpenter, 4-0 with a 2.84 ERA, taking the mound in Game 1, the Cardinals, who could really use a win, should get one.

Here are six reasons for my optimism:

1) He is a fast starter.

Carpenter is 7-0 in April and May over the last two years.

2) He has momentum.

In his last start, Carpenter worked seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball, fanning eight Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. He is tied for fourth in the National League in wins and seventh in the League with 39 strikeouts.

3) He owns the National League Central.

Carpenter is 13-0 against NL Central opponents the last two years.

4) He is on a streak against the Bucs.

Carpenter last faced the Pirates on August 7 of last season, when he registered his 10th consecutive win over Pittsburgh.

5) He has owned the Pirates like no other club.

Carpenter is a career 11-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 13 career starts vs. Pittsburgh, his most wins against any opponent.

6) He pitches well in Pittsburgh.

Carpenter is 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA in seven career starts at PNC Park.

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Cardinals live chat on FOX Sports Midwest Thursday

I am returning as a panelist for the third of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season to be held throughout Thursday afternoon’s Cardinals-Phillies series finale. Join in the discussion with the FSM personalities and yours truly.

You can participate via FOX Sports Midwest’s website or once the event begins, you can enter your comments and questions right here in the “CoveritLive” area to be activated below.

Kyle Lohse (0-1, 5.28) faces Philadelphia’s ace Roy Halladay (5-1, 1.47) as the Cards try to end the road series with a split.

Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 12:05 P.M. Central.

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Stavi’s hot pinch-hit home run pace

Nick Stavinoha is only one short of tying for the most pinch-hit home runs in a season by a Cardinal since Tony La Russa became manager in 1996.

Nick Stavinoha (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Perhaps lost in the excitement of David Freese’s bases-clearing double and Jaime Garcia’s strong mound outing Monday night in Philadelphia was the pinch-hit home run by Nick Stavinoha that broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh and put the Cardinals ahead for good.

The shot was Stavinoha’s second pinch-hit home run of the season and the team’s, as well. Both of Stavi’s big flies this season put the Cardinals in the lead. His first pinch-hit home run was last July 17.

With the assistance of Tom Orf, who pulled the specifics of every Cardinals pinch-hit home run since 1952, I have summarized the information below for the Tony La Russa era (1996-current).

The table shows the number of Cardinals pinch-hit home runs each season along with the team leader and how many he hit. With two already through the Cardinals first 27 games, Stavinoha needs just one more during the final 135 contests to tie for the most such hits in any one year during La Russa’s managerial stint. Ryan Ludwick (2007), Marlon Anderson (2004) and Eduardo Perez (2002) each had three in one season.

Cardinals pinch-hit home runs, season, 1996-present

Year Team Leader #
2010 2 Nick Stavinoha 2
2009 8 Rick Ankiel 2
2008 6 Joe Mather 2
2007 5 Ryan Ludwick 3
2006 7 Jim Edmonds 2
Chris Duncan 2
John Rodriguez 2
2005 6 Six players 1
2004 6 Marlon Anderson 3
2003 2 J.D. Drew 2
2002 7 Eduardo Perez 3
2001 6 Craig Paquette 2
2000 9 Thomas Howard 2
Keith McDonald 2
1999 3 Three players 1
1998 10 Tom Lampkin 2
John Mabry 2
Ron Gant 2
1997 3 Delino DeShields 2
1996 1 Ron Gant 1
total 81

Since 1952, the most pinch-hit home runs by a Cardinal in one season is four, accomplished in each of the years of 1959-61. George Crowe did it the first two seasons and Carl Sawatski followed in 1961. At his current pace, Stavinoha could easily surpass them this summer.

During the La Russa years, Chris Duncan had the most of the 81 Cardinals pinch-hit homers with six. Ludwick has four, with eight others having three, including the newest name on the list, Stavinoha.

Cardinals pinch-hit home runs, player total, 1996-present

PH HRs
Chris Duncan 6
Ryan Ludwick 4
Delino DeShields 3
Eduardo Perez 3
John Mabry 3
Marlon Anderson 3
Rick Ankiel 3
Ron Gant 3
Thomas Howard 3
Nick Stavinoha 3

Oddly, of the 81 long balls, only one was a walkoff. That was hit by Willie McGee against Montreal at Busch Stadium II on April 8, 1997.

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Garcia invokes early memories of another “Lefty”

Of course, it is early, but Jaime Garcia’s 2010 start matches that of a couple of Hall of Famers, including one named “Lefty.”

Steve CarltonIn beginning the season with five outings of six or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs each time, St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia has done something only three others in team history have accomplished.

The three who preceded Garcia are Dizzy Dean in 1937, Steve Carlton in 1969 (pictured) and Woody Williams in 2003. It is pretty good company to be among, as the former two hurlers are members of Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

While Dean and Williams were veterans when they built their season-opening streaks, “Lefty” was just 24 years old in 1969, though beginning his third full-season in the bigs. Also left-handed, Garcia is now 23, but is still officially a rookie despite having made his brief MLB debut in 2008.

Carlton went on to pitch for two more decades, enjoying his greatest success with the same Philadelphia Phillies Garcia tamed on Monday night.

Cardinals Starting Pitchers, Season-Starting Streak of 6+Innings Pitched and 2 Earned Runs or Less

Jaime Garcia Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP ERA
1 4/10/2010 @ MIL W,7-1 GS-6 W(1-0) 6 4 1 1 3 5 0 0 1.50
2 4/17/2010 NYM L,1-2 GS-7 7 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 0.69
3 4/23/2010 @ SFG L,1-4 GS-6 L(1-1) 6 7 4 2 3 2 0 1 1.42
4 4/28/2010 ATL W,6-0 GS-7 W(2-1) 7 4 0 0 1 5 0 0 1.04
5 5/3/2010 @ PHI W,6-3 GS-6 W(3-1) 6 3 1 1 4 6 0 0 1.69
Woody Williams Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP ERA
1 4/2/2003 MIL W,7-0 GS-7 W(1-0) 6.2 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 0.00
2 4/12/2003 @ HOU W,3-0 GS-6 W(2-0) 6 6 0 0 2 2 0 0 0.00
3 4/18/2003 ARI W,6-3 GS-7 W(3-0) 7 3 0 0 0 6 0 1 0.00
4 4/24/2003 @ ATL L,3-4 GS-7 6.1 11 2 2 1 4 0 0 0.69
5 4/30/2003 NYM W,13-4 GS-7 W(4-0) 7 4 2 2 2 5 0 0 1.09
Steve Carlton Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP ERA
1 4/11/1969 @ NYM W,6-5 GS-8 W(1-0) 7 9 3 2 1 6 0 0 2.57
2 4/16/1969 CHC L,0-1 GS-8 L(1-1) 8 9 1 1 4 6 0 0 1.80
3 4/22/1969 MON L,0-2 GS-7 L(1-2) 7 5 1 0 3 3 0 0 1.23
4 4/28/1969 @ PIT W,6-2 CG W(2-2) 9 4 2 1 5 6 0 0 1.16
5 5/3/1969 PHI L,1-4 GS-7 L(2-3) 7 5 2 1 5 4 0 0 1.18
Dizzy Dean Opp Rslt Inngs Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP ERA
1 4/20/1937 @ CIN W,2-0 GS- W(1-0) 10 13 0 0 2 6 0 0 0.00
2 4/25/1937 CHC W,4-0 GS- W(2-0) 9 5 0 0 1 10 0 0 0.00
3 4/30/1937 CIN W,7-1 GS- W(3-0) 9 5 1 1 1 6 0 0 0.32
4 5/5/1937 @ BSN W,13-1 GS- W(4-0) 9 6 1 0 0 11 0 0 0.24
5 5/9/1937 @ BRO W,7-1 GS- W(5-0) 9 9 1 1 1 7 0 0 0.39

As always, thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the data.

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Cardinals quality start streak pushing 1973 run

With another quality start on Monday night in Philadelphia, the St. Louis Cardinals rotation would establish their longest string of quality starts since 1973.

Chris Carpenter (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)The “quality start” is a stat that is not universally loved. The term is tagged to a starting outing if the pitcher lasts at least six innings and allows three or fewer runs. In reaching the minimum innings with the maximum runs yielded, the resulting 4.50 ERA would hardly be exemplary, critics observe.

Yet in 2010, the five members of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation have been pitching much better than that. Through Chris Carpenter’s seven shutout inning outing against Cincinnati on Sunday, the club has put together a string of 11 consecutive quality starts. The ace started the run, had one in the middle and logged the most recent one as well. The team is 8-3 over their last 11 games.

11 ties the longest run for the Cardinals rotation since 1973. At this exact time of year in 2003, the starters had an 11-game quality streak with Matt Morris as the anchor. So did the group starting in July 1989 led by Jose DeLeon and Joe Magrane.

So far, the longest number of consecutive quality starts researcher Tom Orf has located is 14 in May/June 1973, a time long before the term “quality start” was first coined. 37-year-old Bob Gibson was joined by Rick Wise, Reggie Cleveland, Scipio Spinks and Alan Foster.

The Cardinals have their work cut out for them this week as they head into Philadelphia for a four-game series. Jaime Garcia starts the opener on Monday night, followed by Adam Wainwright, Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse. If they can keep the string going beyond 14, we will try to determine if the Cardinals had a longer run prior to 1973.

Cardinals Starting Pitchers, Consecutive Starts 6+ IP, 3 ER or less, 1973-present

11 games Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Chris Carpenter 5/2/2010 CIN W 6-0 GS-7 7 2 0 0 3 8 0
Kyle Lohse 5/1/2010 CIN W 6-3 GS-7 7 5 1 1 0 8 0
Brad Penny 4/30/2010 CIN L 2-3 GS-6 ,L 6 8 3 3 5 3 0
Adam Wainwright 4/29/2010 ATL W 10-4 GS-6 ,W 6 6 3 3 2 4 0
Jaime Garcia 4/28/2010 ATL W 6-0 GS-7 ,W 7 4 0 0 1 5 0
Chris Carpenter 4/27/2010 ATL W 5-4 GS-6 ,W 6 3 2 2 3 4 0
Kyle Lohse 4/26/2010 ATL W 4-3 GS-6 6 7 3 3 2 2 0
Brad Penny 4/25/2010 SFG W 2-0 GS-8 ,W 7.2 8 0 0 0 2 0
Adam Wainwright 4/24/2010 SFG L 0-2 CG 8 ,L 8 7 2 2 1 4 0
Jaime Garcia 4/23/2010 SFG L 1-4 GS-6 ,L 6 7 4 2 3 2 0
Chris Carpenter 4/21/2010 ARI W 9-4 GS-8 7 6 3 3 2 10 0
11 games Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Matt Morris 5/4/2003 MON W 6-2 CG 9 ,W 9 6 2 2 3 6 0
Garrett Stephenson 5/3/2003 MON W 3-1 GS-8 ,W 8 8 1 1 3 5 0
Jason Simontacchi 5/2/2003 MON W 8-1 GS-8 ,W 8 6 1 1 3 1 0
Brett Tomko 5/1/2003 NYM W 6-5 GS-7 6.1 6 2 2 3 2 0
Woody Williams 4/30/2003 NYM W 13-4 GS-7 ,W 7 4 2 2 2 5 0
Matt Morris 4/29/2003 NYM W 13-3 GS-6 ,W 6 5 2 2 2 5 0
Garrett Stephenson 4/27/2003 FLA W 7-6 GS-8 8 4 1 1 5 4 0
Jason Simontacchi 4/26/2003 FLA L 3-5 GS-7 6.1 4 2 2 2 0 1
Brett Tomko 4/25/2003 FLA W 9-2 CG 9 ,W 9 9 2 2 1 3 1
Woody Williams 4/24/2003 ATL L 3-4 GS-7 6.1 11 2 2 1 4 0
Matt Morris 4/23/2003 ATL L 2-4 GS-7 ,L 7 5 2 2 1 3 2
11 games Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Jose DeLeon 7/31/1989 NYM W 3-2 GS-8 ,W 7.2 3 2 2 3 8 0
Joe Magrane 7/30/1989 MON W 8-3 GS-9 ,W 8.2 8 3 3 1 6 1
Ken Hill 7/29/1989 MON L 0-2 CG 8 ,L 8 6 2 2 0 5 0
Ted Power 7/28/1989 MON W 2-0 GS-7 ,W 7 4 0 0 1 3 0
Jose DeLeon 7/26/1989 CHC W 2-0 GS-8 ,W 8 2 0 0 3 8 0
Joe Magrane 7/25/1989 CHC L 2-4 GS-7 ,L 7 6 3 3 3 5 0
Scott Terry 7/24/1989 CHC L 2-3 GS-7 ,L 7 4 2 2 0 3 0
Ken Hill 7/23/1989 SDP W 3-2 GS-6 ,W 6 5 1 1 4 1 0
Ted Power 7/22/1989 SDP W 5-2 GS-7 ,W 6.2 3 1 1 0 2 1
Jose DeLeon 7/21/1989 SDP W 5-0 GS-7 ,W 7 3 0 0 2 6 0
Joe Magrane 7/20/1989 SDP W 7-1 GS-8 ,W 8 5 1 1 4 5 0
14 games Date Opp Rslt App, Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Bob Gibson 6/6/1973 SDP W 6-3 CG 9 ,W 9 5 3 3 0 7 1
Alan Foster 6/5/1973 SDP W 5-3 GS-8 7.2 6 2 2 3 4 1
Scipio Spinks 6/3/1973 HOU W 2-1 GS-8 8 3 1 0 4 1 0
Rick Wise 6/2/1973 HOU W 6-2 CG 9 ,W 9 6 2 1 2 4 0
Reggie Cleveland 6/1/1973 HOU W 4-2 GS-7 ,W 7 8 2 2 2 3 0
Bob Gibson 5/31/1973 CIN L 2-3 CG 9 ,L 9 6 3 3 3 6 1
Alan Foster 5/30/1973 CIN W 5-2 GS-7 7 8 2 2 2 6 2
Scipio Spinks 5/29/1973 CIN W 2-0 GS-6 ,W 6 5 0 0 4 8 0
Rick Wise 5/28/1973 ATL W 3-2 GS-8 ,W 8 5 2 2 2 2 0
Reggie Cleveland 5/27/1973 ATL W 5-4 GS-7 ,W 7 6 4 2 0 2 1
Bob Gibson 5/26/1973 ATL W 2-0 SHO8 ,W 8 4 0 0 2 8 0
Alan Foster 5/25/1973 ATL W 4-1 CG 9 ,W 9 5 1 1 1 4 1
Rick Wise 5/22/1973 NYM W 5-3 GS-9 ,W 8 5 3 3 3 6 0
Reggie Cleveland 1973-05-20 (2) MON W 7-3 GS-9 ,W 8 6 3 2 4 2 0

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Lohse adds to list of Cardinals tough-luck starts

Kyle Lohse deserved a win on Saturday after tossing seven innings of one-run ball for the St. Louis Cardinals, but instead took a no-decision.

Kyle Lohse (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Right-hander Kyle Lohse made his best start of the season on Saturday for the St. Louis Cardinals, departing after seven innings with a 3-1 lead, only to have the bullpen given the runs back to the visiting Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals eventually prevailed, 6-3, giving Lohse the third no-decision this season for a St. Louis starter going seven or more innings allowing one or no earned runs.

It was not a rare occurrence, having been the 60th such start in the last decade and one month for the Cardinals.

Cardinals starters, seven innings or more, allowing one or no runs, no decision, 2000-current

Pitcher Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Kyle Lohse 5/1/2010 CIN W 6-3 GS-7 7 5 1 1 0 8 0
Jaime Garcia 4/17/2010 NYM L 1-2 GS-7 7 1 0 0 2 5 0
Brad Penny 4/8/2010 CIN L 1-2 GS-7 7 6 1 1 2 4 0
Chris Carpenter 9/25/2009 COL L 1-2 GS-7 7 5 1 1 3 2 0
Chris Carpenter 9/19/2009 CHC W 2-1 GS-8 8 8 0 0 2 4 0
Mitchell Boggs 9/5/2009 PIT W 2-1 GS-7 7 5 1 1 2 3 0
Joel Pineiro 7/29/2009 LAD W 3-2 GS-8 8 6 1 1 2 7 0
Adam Wainwright 7/1/2009 SFG W 2-1 GS-9 9 6 1 1 3 12 0
Chris Carpenter 5/25/2009 MIL L 0-1 GS-8 8 2 0 0 0 10 0
Adam Wainwright 4/24/2009 CHC W 4-3 GS-7 7 7 3 1 1 6 0
Braden Looper 9/5/2008 FLA L 1-4 GS-8 7.1 4 0 0 0 6 0
Braden Looper 6/18/2008 KCR L 2-3 GS-7 7 5 1 1 0 0 0
Joel Pineiro 6/17/2008 KCR L 1-2 GS-7 7 7 1 1 0 4 0
Adam Wainwright 5/7/2008 COL L 3-4 GS-7 7 4 0 0 2 3 0
Braden Looper 4/25/2008 HOU L 2-3 GS-7 7 2 0 0 1 2 0
Adam Wainwright 9/19/2007 PHI W 2-1 GS-8 8 4 1 1 4 7 0
Braden Looper 2007-09-15 (1) CHC L 2-3 GS-7 7 3 1 1 2 5 0
Mike Maroth 6/25/2007 NYM L 1-2 GS-8 7.1 2 1 1 2 4 1
Adam Wainwright 6/1/2007 HOU W 8-1 GS-7 7 4 1 1 4 6 0
Braden Looper 4/25/2007 CIN W 5-2 GS-7 7 3 1 1 2 4 1
Jeff Suppan 9/20/2006 MIL L 0-1 GS-7 7 6 0 0 1 4 0
Jeff Suppan 8/31/2006 FLA W 5-2 GS-7 7 6 1 1 4 5 1
Chris Carpenter 8/26/2006 CHC W 2-1 GS-8 8 2 1 1 1 5 1
Jeff Weaver 8/17/2006 CIN W 2-1 GS-8 7.1 3 1 1 1 2 1
Jeff Suppan 7/15/2006 LAD W 2-1 GS-7 7 5 1 1 2 6 0
Chris Carpenter 6/28/2006 CLE W 5-4 GS-7 7 5 1 1 1 4 0
Chris Carpenter 5/9/2006 COL W 4-2 GS-7 7 4 2 1 6 6 1
Chris Carpenter 4/29/2006 WSN W 2-1 GS-7 7 9 1 1 0 3 1
Mark Mulder 9/2/2005 HOU L 5-6 GS-8 8 2 2 1 2 8 0
Chris Carpenter 7/22/2005 CHC W 2-1 GS-9 9 8 1 1 2 3 0
Mark Mulder 7/15/2005 HOU W 4-3 GS-8 8 8 1 1 3 3 0
Jason Marquis 7/7/2005 ARI L 1-2 GS-8 8 4 1 1 1 7 1
Chris Carpenter 9/6/2004 SDP L 3-7 GS-7 7 5 3 0 0 5 0
Woody Williams 8/7/2004 NYM W 2-1 GS-7 7 2 1 1 2 5 0
Jeff Suppan 6/28/2004 PIT L 1-2 GS-8 8 2 1 1 1 7 0
Woody Williams 6/26/2004 KCR W 3-1 GS-8 8 8 1 1 3 5 0
Chris Carpenter 5/28/2004 HOU W 2-1 GS-8 8 2 0 0 3 4 0
Matt Morris 5/2/2004 CHC W 1-0 GS-9 9 4 0 0 1 4 0
Jason Marquis 4/22/2004 HOU W 2-1 GS-7 7 6 1 1 2 4 0
Sterling Hitchcock 9/5/2003 CIN L 2-4 GS-7 7 3 1 1 1 8 1
Woody Williams 8/27/2003 CHC W 4-2 GS-7 7 5 1 1 1 6 0
Garrett Stephenson 6/12/2003 BOS W 8-7 GS-7 7 3 0 0 6 6 0
Brett Tomko 5/17/2003 CHC L 1-2 GS-7 7 9 1 1 3 4 0
Garrett Stephenson 4/27/2003 FLA W 7-6 GS-8 8 4 1 1 5 4 0
Matt Morris 4/5/2003 HOU L 1-2 GS-8 8 3 0 0 2 10 0
Jason Simontacchi 9/27/2002 MIL L 1-2 GS-7 7 4 1 1 2 3 1
Andy Benes 9/24/2002 ARI W 3-2 GS-7 7 4 0 0 2 4 0
Andy Benes 8/4/2002 ATL L 1-2 GS-8 7.1 4 1 1 1 8 0
Matt Morris 7/13/2002 SDP W 2-1 GS-7 7 4 1 1 2 5 0
Matt Morris 5/3/2002 ATL L 1-2 GS-8 8 3 0 0 3 4 0
Woody Williams 10/5/2001 HOU L 1-2 GS-7 7 6 0 0 4 6 0
Darryl Kile 8/17/2001 PHI W 4-3 GS-7 7 6 1 1 2 5 0
Darryl Kile 7/22/2001 PIT L 0-2 GS-8 8 6 0 0 2 4 0
Dustin Hermanson 7/3/2001 MIL L 0-2 GS-7 7 5 0 0 1 8 0
Matt Morris 6/30/2001 SFG L 2-5 GS-7 7 8 1 1 1 5 0
Matt Morris 5/2/2001 FLA W 4-2 GS-9 8 8 2 1 1 11 1
Rick Ankiel 9/3/2000 NYM W 4-3 GS-7 7 2 1 1 5 8 0
Darryl Kile 7/20/2000 ARI L 2-3 GS-8 8 3 1 1 0 9 1
Rick Ankiel 6/25/2000 LAD W 2-1 GS-7 7 4 1 1 5 3 1
Rick Ankiel 5/13/2000 LAD L 1-3 GS-7 7 4 0 0 4 9 0

From a Cardinals historical perspective, Bob Forsch had the most such career games with 18. John Tudor was next with 12, followed by Matt Morris at 11, and Joe Magrane, Luis DeLeon and Chris Carpenter with ten each.

Far more unusual is going seven or more, yielding one or no runs and taking the loss. That has happened just 14 times in the last decade. The frequency is increasing with ten of them in the last four years.

Joel Pineiro was victimized by this lack of support three times last season alone. Had he deservedly won those games, his 2009 record would have been a superb 18-9 instead of an ok 15-12, reminding us how unjust the win statistic can be.

Cardinals starters, seven innings or more, allowing one or no runs, loss, 2000-current

Pitcher Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO HR
Joel Pineiro 9/11/2009 ATL L 0-1 GS-7 ,L 7 5 1 1 2 7 0
Joel Pineiro 6/18/2009 DET L 3-6 GS-7 ,L 7 5 4 1 0 4 0
Adam Wainwright 5/16/2009 MIL L 0-1 GS-8 ,L 8 2 1 1 2 7 1
Joel Pineiro 5/2/2009 WSN L 1-6 GS-7 ,L 7 7 4 1 1 4 1
Todd Wellemeyer 8/31/2008 HOU L 0-3 GS-7 ,L 7 4 1 1 0 4 0
Braden Looper 8/19/2008 PIT L 1-4 GS-7 ,L 7 3 1 1 2 2 0
Anthony Reyes 8/7/2007 SDP L 0-4 GS-7 ,L 7 7 1 1 1 2 0
Jeff Weaver 9/2/2006 PIT L 0-1 GS-7 ,L 7 5 1 1 1 4 0
Anthony Reyes 6/22/2006 CHW L 0-1 CG 8 ,L 8 1 1 1 0 6 1
Chris Carpenter 4/14/2006 CIN L 0-1 GS-8 ,L 8 4 1 1 3 6 0
Chris Carpenter 8/26/2004 CIN L 0-1 CG 8 ,L 8 3 1 1 1 11 1
Woody Williams 5/16/2004 FLA L 2-3 GS-7 ,L 7 9 3 1 2 6 0
Brett Tomko 4/20/2003 ARI L 0-1 GS-8 ,L 8 8 1 1 4 6 0
Matt Morris 7/24/2001 HOU L 1-2 GS-8 ,L 8 7 2 0 0 5 0

As always, thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the data.

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TCN blog’s Freese article featured on KSDK Channel 5

On Sunday, May 2, our recent article about rookie St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese’s Thursday performance, “Freese’s six RBI in historical context,” will provide the basis of a segment of the “This Week in Cardinal Nation” television program, shown every Sunday at 10:00 A.M. on KSDK Channel 5 in St. Louis.

I am very proud this blog has been selected a fifth time overall and first this season to be highlighted by our good friends at Channel 5, the Sunday home of the St. Louis Cardinals.

For those outside the St. Louis viewing area or for those who miss Sunday’s show, depending on guidelines for showing game footage, if a copy of the segment can be loaded on KSDK.com, it will be added here as well.

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Rasmus’ unusual run-scoring day

Lost amid the excitement of the St. Louis Cardinals’ first four-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves since August 1989, the six-RBI day of third baseman David Freese and the ten-run offensive explosion for the club despite Albert Pujols being nailed to the bench was Colby Rasmus’ unusual game on Thursday.

Rasmus scored in the fifth inning Thursday (AP/Jeff Roberson)On Thursday, cleanup hitter Rasmus completed the rare feat of scoring four times despite having just two official at-bats.

The 23-year-old second-year centerfielder wasn’t bothered by moving up into the number four spot with Pujols being rested and Matt Holliday in Albert’s number three hole. After all, Rasmus not only leads the Cardinals in OPS, he is first in the entire National League. It was a place in the lineup in which he had hit during a considerable part of the spring while Holliday was sidelined by injury.

The four runs scored was Rasmus’ career best and the Cardinals are 11-0 this season in games when Colby crossed the plate.

On Thursday, two of Freese’s six RBI were scored by Colby.

  • First inning: Rasmus singled and scored on a Freese home run.
  • Fourth inning: Rasmus walked and scored on a Yadier Molina single.
  • Fifth inning: Rasmus intentionally walked and scored on a Freese double.
  • Seventh inning: Rasmus singled and scored on a Joe Mather ground out.

Just how rare was Rasmus’ day?

Scoring four times in just two official at-bats has occurred only four prior times in Cardinals team history. Jim Edmonds did it in 2005 and Edgar Renteria accomplished it the year prior, but it had happened just once in the preceding 76 years. Solly Hemus, later to become St. Louis’ manager, scored five times in two at-bats in May 1953.

Cardinals player, scoring four or more runs in two at-bats, game, team history

Player Date Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB BOP Pos
Colby Rasmus 4/29/2010 ATL W 10-4 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 CF
Jim Edmonds 7/18/2005 MIL W 11-4 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 CF
Edgar Renteria 7/2/2004 SEA W 11-2 5 2 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 2 SS
Solly Hemus 5/20/1953 PIT W 11-6 5 2 5 2 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 SS
Taylor Douthit 1928-07-04 (1) CHC W 11-6 5 2 4 2 1 0 0 0 3 1 CF

Thanks to statistician Tom Orf for providing the data table shown immediately above.

Footnote: The ten-run day on Thursday was just the second double-digit scoring game for the Cardinals this season and the first since they battered Cincinnati pitching for 11 runs on opening day.

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Freese’s six RBI in historical context

David Freese (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese (pictured) drove in six runs against the Atlanta Braves Thursday afternoon. We tell you how unique that is.

Cardinals six RBI factoids:

Player

The last Cardinal player with six RBI in a game was a most unlikely hitter, Chris Carpenter, on October 1, 2009. To show how unusual it was, Carpenter has just seven RBI the entire remainder of his 13-year career! Granted, almost half that time was in the American League, but still…

Third baseman

The last St. Louis third baseman with six RBI was Scott Rolen on September 15, 2006.

Vs. Atlanta

The last time a Cardinal drove in six against the Braves was on June 24, 1996 by former Atlanta Falcons strong safety-turned outfielder Brian Jordan, who would later return to Atlanta as a member of the Braves.

Rookie

Back to 1952, no Cardinal rookie had as many as six RBI in a game, but rookie Chick Hafey had six RBI on September 9, 1924 and so did Les Bell the next season, on April 18, 1925. That makes Freese the first Cardinals rookie to accomplish the feat in just over 85 years!

Tom Orf also pulled the list of all 40 occurrences of Cardinals collecting six or more RBI in a game since 1952.

They follow, led by Mark Whiten’s 12 RBI virtuoso performance in 1993. Also notable is Fernando Tatis‘ two-grand-slams-in-one-inning-against-the-same-pitcher game against Chan Ho Park and the Dodgers in 1999. More recently, Albert Pujols knocked in seven runs against Houston last April 11.

Six or more RBI, game, Cardinals, 1952-present

Player Date Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Pos
Mark Whiten 1993-09-07 (2) CIN W 15-2 5 5 4 4 0 0 4 12 CF
Fernando Tatis 4/23/1999 LAD W 12-5 5 5 2 2 0 0 2 8 3B
Ken Reitz 1977-06-28 (2) PIT W 13-3 5 5 3 3 0 0 2 8 3B
Stan Musial 8/5/1954 BRO W 13-4 6 4 3 2 0 0 2 7 RF
Stan Musial 6/23/1961 SFG W 10-5 5 4 2 2 0 0 2 7 LF
Dick Allen 6/2/1970 SFG W 12-1 5 5 3 3 0 0 2 7 1B
George Hendrick 8/25/1978 ATL W 11-10 6 5 3 4 1 0 2 7 CF
Dane Iorg 8/28/1980 ATL W 11-2 5 5 1 3 2 0 0 7 LF
George Hendrick 6/29/1982 PHI W 15-3 5 4 2 2 1 0 1 7 RF
Mark McGwire 5/18/2000 PHI W 7-2 5 4 3 3 0 0 3 7 1B
Albert Pujols 8/22/2006 NYM L 7-8 4 4 2 2 0 0 2 7 1B
Scott Rolen 9/15/2006 SFG W 14-4 4 4 2 3 1 0 2 7 3B
Rick Ankiel 9/6/2007 PIT W 16-4 5 4 4 3 1 0 2 7 CF
Albert Pujols 4/11/2009 HOU W 11-2 4 4 2 2 0 0 2 7 1B
Red Schoendienst 5/20/1953 PIT W 11-6 5 4 3 4 2 0 1 6 2B
Stan Musial 5/25/1953 CHC W 14-3 6 4 3 3 0 0 2 6 LF
Stan Musial 1954-05-02 (1) NYG W 10-6 5 4 3 4 0 0 3 6 RF
Hal Smith 5/8/1957 NYG W 13-4 5 5 1 3 0 0 1 6 C
Bill White 5/30/1960 LAD W 15-3 6 5 2 4 1 0 2 6 1B
Ken Boyer 5/26/1961 PIT W 12-2 5 5 4 3 0 0 2 6 3B
Mike Tyson 8/19/1977 SDP W 12-4 4 4 2 3 1 0 1 6 2B
Ted Simmons 6/11/1979 LAD W 9-7 5 5 2 3 0 0 2 6 C
George Hendrick 4/17/1980 PIT W 12-9 5 5 1 4 0 0 1 6 RF
Terry Kennedy 6/20/1980 CIN W 7-5 5 3 2 2 0 0 2 6 LF
Ted Simmons 9/25/1980 PIT W 10-2 5 4 3 3 0 0 2 6 C
Willie McGee 6/23/1984 CHC L 11-12 6 6 3 4 1 1 1 6 CF
Tom Herr 4/18/1987 NYM W 12-8 6 3 2 3 1 0 1 6 2B
Tom Pagnozzi 5/26/1991 NYM W 14-4 6 6 0 4 1 1 0 6 C
Ozzie Smith 6/17/1993 CHC W 11-10 6 5 1 5 3 0 0 6 SS
Todd Zeile 8/8/1994 FLA W 11-1 5 4 2 2 0 0 2 6 3B
Brian Jordan 6/24/1996 ATL W 9-2 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 6 RF
Brian Jordan 7/13/1996 CHC W 10-5 4 4 2 3 0 0 2 6 RF
John Mabry 6/3/1997 COL W 15-4 4 4 1 3 0 0 1 6 RF
Mark McGwire 5/19/1998 PHI W 10-8 5 5 3 3 0 0 3 6 1B
Mark McGwire 7/16/1999 CHW L 8-9 5 4 2 2 0 0 2 6 1B
Shawon Dunston 6/22/2000 SFG W 11-10 5 5 2 3 1 0 2 6 CF LF
Scott Rolen 8/19/2003 PIT W 13-5 5 5 1 3 1 0 0 6 3B
Albert Pujols 6/21/2009 KCR W 12-5 5 5 2 4 1 0 2 6 DH
Chris Carpenter 10/1/2009 CIN W 13-0 3 3 1 2 1 0 1 6 P
David Freese 4/29/2010 ATL W 10-4 4 3 2 3 1 0 1 6 3B
Player Date Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Pos

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Cardinals live chat on FOX Sports Midwest Thursday

FOXSportsMidwest.comI am returning as a panelist for the second of FOX Sports Midwest’s live chats of the 2010 season to be held throughout Thursday afternoon’s Braves-Cardinals series finale. Join in the discussion with the FSM personalities, perhaps a special guest from the Braves side and yours truly.

You can participate via FOX Sports Midwest’s website or once the event begins, you can enter your comments and questions right here in the “CoveritLive” area to be activated below.

2009 National League wins leader Adam Wainwright (3-1, 1.69 ERA) faces Altanta’s Jair Jurrjens (0-2, 5.48) as the Cards try to sweep the Braves out of town in game 4 of the series.

Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 12:40 P.M. Central.

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Cardinals number six spot not producing

The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t getting many RBI from the sixth spot in their batting order.

Yadier Molina (AP/Tom Gannam)Most St. Louis Cardinals fans are aware the club’s offense has yet to achieve its desired consistency in 2010. While the potential explanations will vary depending on to whom you talk, the bottom line is that the club has scored just 82 runs in 19 games, 12th in the 16-team National League.

The big four in the lineup, Ryan Ludwick at number two followed by Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, then Colby Rasmus at number five, receive a lot of the attention for good reason. Though none has been hitting on all cylinders the entire time, there has been enough production from them to back up the strong pitching and the Cardinals to win 12 of their first 19 games. This is the case despite catalysts Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan not getting on base as frequently as expected.

Following the big four hitters has been an offensive black hole – the number six spot.

Until Yadier Molina’s game-winning eighth-inning double Monday night (pictured), the number six hole had produced only three RBI all season, just one ahead of the pitcher’s spot for the least productive in the Cardinals lineup.

2010 Cardinals, RBI by batting order position, through 19 games

Lineup RBI Plays Details (# RBI)
1st 7 2 Lopez HR(4), Schumaker HR(3)
2nd 6 4 Ludwick 3 HR(5) & triple
3rd 18 12 Pujols 7 HR(12)/4 1B(5), gr out
4th 8 5 Holliday 4 HR(6)/1 2B(2)
5th 12 9 Rasmus 6 HR(9)/2 1B(2), Molina 1B
6th 4 4 Ludwick 2 1B(2), Molina 1B(1)/2B(1)
7th 9 4 Molina 2 HR(7)/SF, Freese SF
8th 10 8 Freese 4 1B(4), Stavinoha HR(2), Ryan 2B(1)/3B(1)/BB(1)
9th 3 3 Carpenter gr out, Lohse 1B, Anderson 2B

(Thanks to statistician Tom Orf for the above table.)

Further, note that despite the fact that Ludwick has only started three games in the number six spot, he still has half of the RBIs generated from that place in the Cardinals lineup this season.

The problems are shared by many.

Games started, number six spot, 2010 Cardinals, through 19 games

Player Starts RBI
Yadier Molina 5 2
Felipe Lopez 5 0
David Freese 5 0
Ryan Ludwick 3 2
Colby Rasmus 1 0

Bonus coverage: Pinch-hitters not driving in runs, either

While Nick Stavinoha’s game-winning pinch-hit two-run home run back on April 9 in Milwaukee endeared the outfielder to fans, that has pretty much been it for the club this season. Orf points out that Bryan Anderson’s Monday night double was only the Cardinals’ second pinch hit of the season that actually plated a run.

Overall in 2010, St. Louis pinch-hitters are 6-for-25 (.240).

2010 Cardinals, pinch-hitting, through 19 games

PH Average AB H RBI
Anderson 0.333 3 1 1
Craig 0.000 2 0 0
Jay 0.000 1 0 0
Lopez 0.250 4 1 0
Ludwick 0.000 1 0 0
Mather 0.333 3 1 0
Rasmus 0.000 1 0 0
Stavinoha 0.300 10 3 2
Total 0.240 25 6 3

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Penny matches Wainwright stingy streak

Two St. Louis Cardinals hurlers have current runs of four starts of seven innings or more and two or fewer earned runs. The last time it was done even once to start a season was in 1973.

Alan Foster Topps 1975Previously, we looked at pitching streaks of six or more innings allowing two or fewer earned runs. Since Brad Penny upped the ante on Sunday by tossing 7 2/3 shutout innings at his former San Francisco Giants teammates, this time we’ll look at season-opening runs of seven or more innings while yielding two or fewer earned runs.

This list is much shorter, headed by Alan Foster. As noted in the earlier post, Foster had quite a run in his May/June 1973 Cardinals debut, stringing together six such starts. That is the longest season-opening streak for a Cardinal since at least 1952.

In a clear indication of how relief pitching has changed the game, the current streaks of Penny and Adam Wainwright are the only two runs of four or more of these gems assembled by any St. Louis starter since Foster, some 37 years ago.

Cardinals starting pitchers – Season-opening streak 7+IP and 2 ER or less (1952-2010)

Pitcher Streak start End G W L GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HBP WP BK
Alan Foster 5/6/1973 6/5/1973 6 3 1 6 2 1 47.0 33 9 8 13 22 5 1.53 3 0 0
Al Jackson 5/13/1966 6/1/1966 5 3 2 5 2 1 41.0 22 4 3 10 14 1 0.66 1 0 0
Steve Carlton 4/11/1969 5/3/1969 5 2 3 5 1 0 38.0 32 9 5 18 25 0 1.18 0 1 0
Stu Miller 8/12/1952 8/26/1952 4 3 1 4 4 1 36.0 20 6 3 11 29 0 0.75 0 0 0
Ernie Broglio 4/9/1963 4/23/1963 4 2 0 4 2 2 33.0 16 5 3 10 17 0 0.82 0 2 0
Larry Jaster 5/20/1968 6/5/1968 4 3 1 4 2 1 33.1 17 3 2 8 13 0 0.54 0 0 0
Adam Wainwright 4/7/2010 4/24/2010* 4 3 1 4 2 0 32.0 20 7 6 6 26 1 1.69 3 0 0
Brad Penny 4/8/2010 4/25/2010* 4 3 0 4 0 0 28.2 25 4 3 3 15 0 0.94 0 0 0
* current

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the data table above.

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Wainwright extends streak to four in Saturday loss

Three St. Louis Cardinals starters are working on pitching streaks of six innings or more while allowing two or fewer runs.

Adam Wainwright (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)St. Louis Cardinals watchers were reminded again and again Friday and Saturday night that despite a pair of losses, the club is in first place in the National League Central in a large part due to its excellent starting pitching. The rotation as a whole is third in Major League Baseball in ERA at 2.79 and has logged eight of the club’s ten wins.

Take Adam Wainwright’s complete game Saturday night at San Francisco during which his ERA actually grew from 1.50 to 1.69 despite a superb performance. The 28-year-old spun his fourth consecutive start of six or more innings allowing two or fewer runs. In other words, Wainwright has accomplished the feat in each of his mound appearances this season.

The right-hander is not alone. Rookie Jaime Garcia is working on a season-opening string of three such starts after his Friday night outing and former Giants hurler Brad Penny will be looking to join Wainwright at four straight as he takes the hill at AT&T Park on Sunday afternoon.

Reinforcing that life isn’t always fair, Penny has the only undefeated record of the three, but still has taken one no-decision. Garcia has a win, loss and a no decision, while Wainwright is now 3-1 after the tough-luck loss on Saturday night.

From a historical perspective, the three current Cardinals join a group of 25 other such streaks in the last 50 years. Bob Gibson made the list three different seasons, while Bob Forsch and John Tudor each appear twice.

The team record since 1960 is an incredible ten straight starts, accrued by control artist Bob Tewksbury to begin the 1992 season. In a major surprise, oft-forgotten Alan Foster is next with six consecutive outings, logged in his St. Louis debut in 1973.

Cardinals starting pitchers – began season with streak of 6+ innings, giving up 2 or fewer earned runs (since 1960)

Pitcher Strk Start End G W L GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bob Tewksbury 4/10/1992 5/30/1992 10 5 1 10 2 0 74 64 15 15 6 27 5 1.82
Alan Foster 5/6/1973 6/5/1973 6 3 1 6 2 1 47 33 9 8 13 22 5 1.53
Woody Williams 4/2/2003 4/30/2003 5 4 0 5 0 0 33 26 4 4 6 22 0 1.09
Steve Carlton 4/11/1969 5/3/1969 5 2 3 5 1 0 38 32 9 5 18 25 0 1.18
Al Jackson 5/13/1966 6/1/1966 5 3 2 5 2 1 41 22 4 3 10 14 1 0.66
John Tudor 4/8/1986 4/22/1986 4 3 0 4 1 0 32 25 7 6 8 15 1 1.69
Dave LaPoint 5/20/1982 6/8/1982 4 2 0 4 0 0 27 29 9 8 4 16 3 2.60
Larry Jaster 5/20/1968 6/5/1968 4 3 1 4 2 1 33 17 3 2 8 13 0 0.54
Ernie Broglio 4/9/1963 4/23/1963 4 2 0 4 2 2 33 16 5 3 10 17 0 0.82
Adam Wainwright 4/7/2010 4/24/2010* 4 3 1 4 2 0 32 20 7 6 6 26 1 1.69
Jaime Garcia 4/10/2010 4/23/2010* 3 1 1 3 0 0 19 12 5 3 8 12 0 1.42
Brad Penny 4/8/2010 4/19/2010* 3 2 0 3 0 0 21 17 4 3 3 13 0 1.29
Jason Marquis 4/6/2005 4/17/2005 3 2 0 3 0 0 20 17 4 3 4 15 1 1.33
Matt Morris 4/1/2002 4/12/2002 3 3 0 3 0 0 19 17 5 3 8 18 0 1.42
John Tudor 4/26/1988 5/7/1988 3 1 0 3 0 0 20 7 1 1 3 10 0 0.45
Joe Magrane 4/25/1987 5/6/1987 3 2 0 3 1 1 23 16 5 3 4 16 0 1.17
Andy Rincon 9/15/1980 9/26/1980 3 3 0 3 1 0 25 16 3 3 4 18 1 1.08
Pete Vuckovich 6/3/1978 6/12/1978 3 2 1 3 1 0 22 19 3 3 5 12 1 1.19
Bob Forsch 4/7/1978 4/16/1978 3 3 0 3 2 1 25 9 2 2 7 14 0 0.71
Bob Forsch 4/9/1977 4/18/1977 3 3 0 3 1 0 23 16 4 3 8 9 1 1.17
Ron Reed 6/3/1975 6/13/1975 3 3 0 3 1 0 23 26 5 2 2 10 0 0.76
John Curtis 5/10/1975 5/19/1975 3 2 1 3 1 0 24 17 7 4 10 11 1 1.50
Al Santorini 6/16/1971 6/25/1971 3 0 2 3 0 0 20 21 5 5 10 11 1 2.25
Bob Gibson 4/6/1971 4/16/1971 3 2 1 3 3 0 27 20 5 5 5 17 3 1.65
George Culver 4/10/1970 4/24/1970 3 3 0 3 2 0 25 20 6 4 9 12 1 1.40
Bob Gibson 4/8/1969 4/19/1969 3 1 1 3 2 0 27 19 5 5 8 26 1 1.67
Ray Washburn 4/18/1968 4/30/1968 3 2 0 3 1 1 25 19 4 3 3 14 1 1.07
Bob Gibson 4/15/1964 4/24/1964 3 2 0 3 2 0 26 20 5 5 10 21 2 1.73

* current

Special thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the data.

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The Cardinal Nation Blog: FOXSports.com’s Blog of the Day again!

Lopez-Canseco story and association with Yardbarker leads to repeat national exposure for St. Louis Cardinals-oriented blog.

For at least the fourth time this year, The Cardinal Nation Blog has been selected as FOXSports.com’s Blog of the Day, achieved through this site’s association with Yardbarker. What brought the recognition was the Felipe Lopez pitching comparison to Jose Canseco, “Did Lopez risk a “Canseco” by pitching injured?”

If you’re one of the many first-time visitors here and consider yourself a St. Louis Cardinals fan, please look around, register and join the discussion. I think you will enjoy the fresh new articles and daily commentary.

The link to my McGwire article is featured on FOXSports.com’s main MLB page just under Ken Rosenthal and Tracy Ringolsby at the lower left under the heading “Blog of the Day”. But now that you are here, there is no need to go there, since the link will take you right back here.

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Did Lopez risk a “Canseco” by pitching injured?

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Felipe Lopez took the mound with a sore elbow, not disclosing pre-existing discomfort until afterward. Was he tough or careless?

Felipe Lopez pitching, April 17, 2010St. Louis Cardinals infielder Felipe Lopez was considered a hero at the time Saturday night when he took the mound to pitch a scoreless 18th inning in the eventual 20-inning loss to the New York Mets.

Unfortunately, there is an unpleasant sidebar to this story as the veteran has been out of action since Monday due to elbow discomfort. That same pain is what caused Lopez to opt out of pitching a second frame on Saturday night.

What makes matters worse is that Lopez first hurt his right, throwing elbow the week prior in Milwaukee but did not disclose his injury to trainers. Had team officials known that, not only would the player have received more prompt treatment, he most likely would not have been allowed to risk further damage by pitching last weekend.

While manager Tony La Russa has been second, third and fourth-guessed over his managerial decisions in that game, he made it clear he had no prior knowledge of Lopez’ elbow soreness.

The severity of the injury is being downplayed, with Lopez potentially being available for this weekend’s series in San Francisco. What if that is not the case, however?

Rob Rains of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat penned an interesting piece about the Cardinals history of using non-pitchers on the mound. It is well worth the read but it does not acknowledge injuries incurred when players not conditioned to pitch end up doing just that.

Jose Canseco, May 30, 1993 (Getty Images)While the Cardinals may have avoided high-profile cases of position player mound injuries to date, the story of Jose Canseco may best illustrate the ugly underbelly of this kind of maneuver.

While with Texas on May 30, 1993, Canseco took to the mound in mop-up duty for the Rangers. He injured his right elbow on his second pitch, but continued to throw a total of 33 that day. A torn ligament meant reconstructive surgery and a ruined season for the “Juiced” slugger.

As often happens in sport, we see in the Lopez case a blurring of the line between “manning up” and being smart. The potential detriment to both the player and team of anything less than full disclosure of injuries is considerable.

Here is hoping this is the last we hear of problems with Lopez’ elbow.

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Carp’s 10K report

Chris Carpenter added his name to an exclusive list on Thursday night with his second consecutive ten-strikeout game for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Chris Carpenter (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)Almost lost in all the St. Louis Cardinals hit-by-pitch posturing, multiple home runs and final inning comeback Wednesday night was the performance on the mound by Chris Carpenter.

Though the bullpen helped cost him a win, the Cardinals’ ace still fanned ten Arizona Diamondbacks through seven-plus innings. In fact, it was the right-hander’s second consecutive ten strikeout performance, coming on the heels of his seven-inning, 10 K win over the Mets last Friday night.

Surprisingly, it was Carpenter’s first such back-to-back double-digit strikeout performance as a Cardinal in his seventh year with the club. In doing so, his was the 21st in team history by the 11th individual. Teammate Adam Wainwright joined the group last September as he built his case for the Cy Young Award that ultimately went to Tim Lincecum.

From a historical perspective, not surprisingly, Hall of Famer Bob Gibson dominates the list with nine of the 21 entries. Gibson not only has the single four-game, double-digit strikeout streak in team history, but he had also four of the five three-game stretches ever accrued by a Cardinals hurler.

Streak of 10 or more strikeout games, Cardinals pitchers

Pitcher Strk Start End G SO W L GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB
1 Bob Gibson 9/17/1968 4/8/1969 4 42 1 2 4 3 1 34 26 6 5 7
2 Bob Gibson 6/27/1965 7/7/1965 3 37 2 1 3 3 1 31 23 7 7 9
3 Bob Gibson 8/19/1968 8/28/1968 3 40 2 1 3 3 2 27 12 6 3 7
4 Bob Gibson 7/25/1969 8/5/1969 3 34 3 0 3 3 0 31 20 4 4 4
5 Bob Gibson 8/2/1970 8/12/1970 3 33 3 0 3 3 0 32 22 7 6 7
6 Andy Benes 6/12/2000 6/23/2000 3 30 2 0 3 0 0 19 18 7 7 7
7 Bill Hallahan 5/11/1932 5/17/1932 2 22 1 1 2 2 0 21 21 9 9 8
8 Sam Jones 8/17/1958 8/22/1958 2 25 1 1 2 1 0 15 12 9 9 7
9 Bob Gibson 8/8/1962 8/14/1962 2 20 1 1 2 2 1 18 10 4 2 10
10 Bob Gibson 4/15/1966 4/21/1966 2 21 2 0 2 2 0 18 10 6 3 2
11 Bob Gibson 5/6/1968 5/12/1968 2 21 1 1 2 1 0 19 14 4 3 3
12 Steve Carlton 9/11/1969 9/15/1969 2 29 0 2 2 1 0 16 17 7 6 4
13 Steve Carlton 5/21/1970 5/27/1970 2 26 0 1 2 0 0 15 14 6 6 9
14 Bob Gibson 5/23/1970 5/28/1970 2 27 2 0 2 2 0 18 13 3 3 3
15 Jose DeLeon 6/5/1989 6/9/1989 2 20 2 0 2 0 0 14 6 4 4 8
16 Todd Stottlemyre 5/10/1996 5/15/1996 2 24 1 0 2 1 1 17 10 2 2 6
17 Alan Benes 6/11/1997 6/16/1997 2 22 1 1 2 1 0 14 8 4 4 7
18 Andy Benes 7/4/1997 7/12/1997 2 22 0 0 2 0 0 16 10 4 4 4
19 Rick Ankiel 7/21/2000 7/27/2000 2 21 1 1 2 0 0 11 9 7 7 5
20 Adam Wainwright 9/20/2009 9/26/2009 2 21 1 0 2 0 0 15 15 6 4 3
21 Chris Carpenter 4/16/2009 4/21/2009* 2 20 1 0 2 0 0 14 10 4 3 5
* current

Thanks to Tom Orf for providing the data table.

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Cardinals starting streak broken at seven; not close to record

The St. Louis Cardinals’ run of seven consecutive starts of seven innings or more allowing two or fewer runs ended Tuesday night in Arizona. The team record may be 12, set in 1944.


Though the St. Louis Cardinals’ run of stellar starting pitching performances of seven innings or more while allowing two or fewer runs was broken Tuesday night as the Arizona Diamondbacks got to Kyle Lohse in the third inning, it was an extraordinary set of performances. Not since 1967 had the Cardinals starting staff put together as lengthy a run.

What we believe may be the club record, as researched by Tom Orf, is 12 such games, compiled by the 1944 Cardinals – a club on its way to a world championship. From July 8-21 that season, during a period that included the All-Star break, three double-headers and four different opponents, St. Louis’ starters went a dozen games going at least seven innings while allowing two or fewer runs.

In an oddity, every one of the starters took a decision and 11 times, they went at least nine innings. Ten of them were winners, including Ted Wilks three times, in the first, sixth and 11th games.

Blix-Donnelly - 1951 Bowman card30-year-old Blix Donnelly, who had made his MLB debut that May after nine minor league seasons, picked up his first career win in game 7. Sadly, just as with Lohse on Tuesday, the 1944 streak ended with Donnelly. The rookie started what would have been game 13 on July 22, 1944 at Boston, but lasted just three innings. A small consolation was that none of the four runs that scored while he was on the mound that day were earned.

I am pretty sure that in all my years of writing about the Cardinals, this is my first mention of Donnelly, who went somewhere Lohse has yet to go. Following the streak, Donnelly would later pitch in games 1 and 2 of the 1944 World Series. The right-hander picked up the win over the Browns in the 11-inning game 2 with four scoreless innings in relief of Max Lanier, who had earlier won game 9 of the July 12-game streak.

Donnelly went on to win 27 games and lose 32 in an eight-year career with three teams, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Boston, but would never again appear in the World Series. I am pretty sure he was not again part of a 12-game starting streak as in 1944, either!

12 consecutive starts with seven or more innings and two or fewer earned runs, St. Louis Cardinals

Date Starter Decision Opponent IP H R ER BB SO
7/8/1944 Ted Wilks W BOS 9 6 0 0 3 5
7/9/1944 (1) Mort Cooper W BOS 9 5 0 0 3 6
7/9/1944 (2) Harry Brecheen W BOS 9 5 0 0 0 0
7/13/1944 Al Jurisich W CIN 11 6 2 2 3 2
7/14/1944 Mort Cooper L CIN 7 5 2 2 1 2
7/15/1944 Ted Wilks W CIN 9 4 1 1 3 0
7/16/1944 (1) Blix Donnelly W CIN 9 8 2 2 2 5
7/16/1944 (2) Harry Brecheen L CIN 9 6 3 2 1 4
7/18/1944 Max Lanier W at BRO 9 4 0 0 0 5
7/20/1944 (1) Mort Cooper W at NY 9 9 2 2 2 4
7/20/1944 (2) Ted Wilks W at NY 11 7 2 2 1 4
7/21/1944 Harry Brecheen W at NY 9 5 0 0 3 6

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Penny extends Cardinals starting streak to seven

The St. Louis Cardinals are working on run of seven consecutive starts of seven innings or more allowing two or fewer runs.

Brad Penny (AP Photo/Paul Connors)Following Monday night’s game against Arizona in which Brad Penny scattered eight hits over seven innings while yielding two earned runs, the St. Louis Cardinals starting staff has now extended their string of starts in which they have worked at least seven innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs to seven. The Cardinals won five of the seven games.

The last time St. Louis hurlers built a similar streak of seven straight such starts was from August 28 to September 3, 1967. Prior to that, it hasn’t been accomplished by the club’s pitchers since June 12-19, 1954.

Penny has enjoyed more career success against Arizona than any other team with a 9-3 record with a 1.96 ERA in 17 career starts vs. the Snakes. The 31-year-old right-hander’s 2010 ERA lowered his season and Cardinals ERA to 1.29 as a result of his strong Monday outing.

The baton is now passed to Kyle Lohse, who receives the start against Arizona’s ace, former Cardinals pitcher Dan Haren, on Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Seven consecutive starts with seven or more innings and two or fewer earned runs, Cardinals (1954-2010)

Player Date Opp Rslt App,Dec IP H R ER BB SO
Adam Wainwright 4/12/2010 HOU W 5-0 GS-8 ,W 8 6 0 0 1 7
Brad Penny 4/14/2010 HOU W 2-1 GS-7 ,W 7 3 1 0 0 4
Kyle Lohse 4/15/2010 HOU L 1-5 GS-7 ,L 7 5 2 2 0 1
Chris Carpenter 4/16/2010 NYM W 4-3 GS-7 ,W 7 4 1 0 3 10
Jaime Garcia 4/17/2010 NYM L 1-2 GS-7 7 1 0 0 2 5
Adam Wainwright 4/18/2010 NYM W 4-3 CG 9 ,W 9 4 3 2 2 9
Brad Penny 4/19/2010 ARI W 4-2 GS-7, W 7 8 2 2 1 5
Pitcher Date Opp Rslt App, Dec IP H R ER BB SO
Jack Lamabe 08/28/1967 (2) NYM W 6-0 GS-9, W 9 6 0 0 1 5
Dick Hughes 8/29/1967 NYM L 0-2 GS-8, L 8 4 2 2 1 5
Larry Jaster 8/30/1967 NYM W 2-0 GS-9, W 8.1 4 0 0 1 2
Ray Washburn 8/31/1967 HOU W 5-1 GS-8, W 7.2 5 1 1 1 5
Nelson Briles 9/1/1967 HOU W 5-0 GS-9, W 9 8 0 0 1 5
Steve Carlton 9/2/1967 HOU W 8-2 GS-9, W 9 4 2 2 7 9
Dick Hughes 9/3/1967 HOU W 13-1 GS-9, W 9 4 1 0 2 3
Pitcher Date Opp Rslt App, Dec IP H R ER BB SO
Gerry Staley 6/12/1954 PIT L 2-4 GS-8, L 8 8 2 2 1 2
Harvey Haddix 6/13/1954 (1) PIT W 5-0 GS-9, W 9 3 0 0 0 10
Tom Poholsky 6/13/1954 (2) PIT W 5-3 GS-7 7 3 2 0 0 5
Vic Raschi 6/15/1954 PHI W 3-1 GS-9, W 9 6 1 1 3 3
Gerry Staley 6/17/1954 PHI L 2-3 GS-12 12 7 2 1 5 1
Harvey Haddix 6/18/1954 NYG W 5-0 GS-9, W 9 4 0 0 2 7
Tom Poholsky 6/19/1954 NYG L 2-5 GS-8 8 5 1 1 1 3

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