All posts by Brian Walton

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

Walton on Baseball Digest Daily’s Saturday marathon blog


On Saturday, I will be among the guests of Baseball Digest Daily, who are running a day-long live blog starting at 11:30 a.m. CDT and running into the Cardinals-Giants game. That contest starts at 8 p.m. CDT, which is when I will be joining.

Among the other guests throughout the day/evening will be Melissa Lockard, our OaklandClubhouse.com expert from Scout.com. (For those who are Scout.com subscribers, you can read Melissa’s excellent article on past number 13 overall draft picks currently running both on the Cardinals and A’s Scout home pages. The subjects include Brett Wallace, Khalil Greene, Shaun Boyd and others.)

If you are interested in participating in Saturday’s live blog, you can access the feed below or through BDD’s website.

<a href=”https://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&#038;task=viewaltcast&#038;altcast_code=381dc44bd4″ mce_href=”https://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=381dc44bd4″ >BDD ’09 Live Blog #3 — Super Saturday Major League Baseball Live Blogfest</a>

Hunting the Cardinals’ precious Faberge Eggs


Several of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writers have been very consistent in their skepticism over the St. Louis Cardinals player development function and the ballplayers in it.

One important area where I struggle with their perspective is the apparent lack of consistency and specifics in their evaluation of the system.

At times, the contention seems to be that the Cardinals overvalue their prospects. Upon occasion, they have referred to unnamed scouts from other organizations that are not high on the Cards’ top minor league players.

At other times, the Cardinals take hits over their supposed refusal to trade away prospects. The implication is that the organization is walking away from good trade offers based on principle. This could be independent of any potential overvaluation of these players by the Cardinals.

In his most recent article on the subject, columnist Bernie Miklasz asserts the following:

“Vice president of player development Jeff Luhnow will object to any deal that requires the bartering of his precious Faberge Eggs, which is the name I’ve given to the Cardinals’ long list of breathlessly hyped prospects. Why? Track record. They haven’t traded a Faberge Egg yet.”

Putting aside how anyone knows what Luhnow will or will not object to 100% of the time, I want to focus on the phrase, “the Cardinals’ long list of breathlessly hyped prospects.”

Which is it? Do the players on this extensive list of prospects have little value because they are overrated or do they have considerable value and the Cardinals just refuse to trade them? Can one have it both ways?

I am the first to admit that I didn’t buy the party line implication that Jason Motte for Will Ohman was the only possible trade that the Cardinals could have made last summer to help their floundering bullpen from the left side.

But which argument does this support?

Was not trading the organization’s seventh-ranked prospect (according to our off-season ranking at Scout.com) for two months worth of services of a left-handed relief specialist an indication of the Cards overvaluing Motte or were they foolish not to accept the Braves’ offer?

In other words, was Motte a precious Faberge Egg?

I suggest most Cardinals watchers would agree that this particular trade was best unmade. Yet none of us have any idea as to the specifics of some very high percentage of trades under consideration. As a result, it is pretty much impossible to gauge which Eggs are being inspected and bartered.

Yet I keep seeing these vague references to “precious Faberge Eggs” without any indication of exactly who they are. Let’s consider other recent trade talks that did become public.

The Cardinals dealt two prospects over the winter to acquire Khalil Greene. Were relievers Mark Worrell and Luke Gregerson Faberge Eggs? Apparently not, though both are products of the Cards’ farm system and are now major leaguers.

In our Cardinals prospect ranking, linked to above, Worrell came in at number 31 and Gregerson was listed at 37.

Mitchell Boggs (pictured), our eighth-ranked prospect, was reportedly part of the nixed deal to Colorado for Matt Holliday. I have seen no indications that Boggs’ inclusion was the deal-breaker, so I guess the number eight prospect isn’t an Egg either.

So exactly what defines these Eggs? Are they only the top twenty, ten or five prospects? Are they the recent first or second-round picks? Are they high school draftees or collegians? Are they at higher or lower levels in the system? Are they players currently performing well or underperforming?

Or is it a non-existent list that makes it easier for self-admitted skeptics to take potshots at every deal, real or imagined?

What do you think?

1) Exactly who are the Cardinals’ “precious Faberge Eggs”?

2) Should any of them be considered completely untouchable in terms of trade consideration, no matter the proposed deal?

Wallace and the hot seat


Recent articles in the mainstream press indicate that St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak is on the “hot seat” over the perceived need of the club to acquire a veteran third baseman via trade.

I find myself wondering exactly who is viewed to be the one putting Mo on that hot seat. Is it the dugout, the press, the fans, himself?

Just a few months ago, the upper levels of the organization were awash with third base prospects, with no place to play Brett Wallace (pictured) at Memphis with David Freese and Allen Craig ahead of him.

Now, everything has changed. The rest of the world has finally figured out that Troy Glaus isn’t going to be much of any good this season and the April shine has worn off the rookie replacements, Joe Thurston and Brian Barden.

Freese required surgery this month, Craig isn’t viewed as a major league third baseman and Joe Mather, thought to be good enough to play at the hot corner at the major league level this spring, is out with a recurring wrist problem.

Wallace has just 11 games and 47 at-bats with Memphis to date. Mozeliak and manager Tony La Russa both agree that Wallace isn’t ready. To help put that into perspective, I ran major league equivalencies (MLEs) for Wallace’s limited Triple-A sample and compare them to the incumbents’ season results.

Hitter 2009 BA OBP SLG OPS
Wallace Mem MLE 0.265 0.276 0.350 0.626
Thurston StL 0.236 0.349 0.382 0.731
Barden StL 0.256 0.311 0.439 0.750

Wallace doesn’t stack up well here. One reason is that he has taken just one walk with Memphis after showing a good eye in the past.

Now, let’s compare Wallace at Memphis to Thurston and Barden this month only. The picture changes. Still, Wallace’s .626 MLE OPS is nothing to get excited over.

Hitter May BA OBP SLG OPS
Wallace Mem MLE 0.265 0.276 0.350 0.626
Thurston StL 0.196 0.328 0.357 0.685
Barden StL 0.140 0.196 0.256 0.452

One challenge the Cardinals face is that it is early in the trade season. We are barely one quarter of the way into the regular season, a full two months ahead of the July 31 deadline, a date that many clubs still find too early. The advent of the wild card keeps more teams in the hunt longer.

Following are the year-to-date lines for the three names that have been mentioned as possibilities for the Cardinals in various reports. They are Garrett Atkins of Colorado, Mark DeRosa of Cleveland and Melvin Mora of Baltimore.

Hitter 2009 BA OBP SLG OPS 09 vs career Career OPS Age
Atkins Col 0.192 0.272 0.291 0.563 lower 0.819 29
DeRosa Cle 0.267 0.332 0.450 0.782 higher 0.770 34
Mora Bal 0.259 0.322 0.343 0.665 lower 0.796 37
K Greene StL 0.202 0.289 0.298 0.587

Clearly in the case of two of the three, Atkins and Mora, the reason they may be available now is that they are having subpar seasons. In acquiring them, one would have to believe a rapid rebound is likely.

Just for grins, I included the line from the Cardinals’ most recent reclamation project, Khalil Greene. Notice how closely his stats this season mirror Atkins’.

Keeping money aside, each has significant warts. Mora is 37 years old and Atkins’ career nums were impacted by the reality that he plays 81 games a year in Colorado. DeRosa is playing at an above-average level for him this season, but will he maintain that pace after another move? (DeRosa was traded from the Cubs to the Indians over the winter.)

So, are any of these three going to be better than what the Cardinals already have?

What are the possible reasons to not call up Wallace?

1) There’s a better option on the trade market.

2) Wallace is not ready offensively.

3) Wallace is not ready defensively.

4) He is out of shape – reportedly 23% body fat this spring.

5) The 40-man roster is going to be tight this winter and Wallace would not need to be added.

6) His arbitration and free agency clock will begin prematurely.

7) The major league coaching staff is against the idea.

We will take these one at a time.

1) A better option may exist on the market. Can’t argue with that if it means someone other than the three names already mentioned. How long will it take for such individuals to become available, however, and what would it take to get them?

2) Wallace isn’t ready with the bat. Can’t argue with that either. More time at the plate in Memphis would be ideal. But, isn’t Wallace probably better offensively than Barden and Thurston today?

On an aside, but parallel bent to Wallace, I just read that the first-place NL West Dodgers, dealing with outfield injuries and one very high profile suspension, just called up Jamie Hoffman. He was a Double-A All-Star last season, was raking back in Double-A this season (.952 OPS), but only has 35 Triple- A at-bats.

3) Wallace isn’t ready with the glove. If range is truly the issue and I am not doubting that, how much can it improve by more reps in the minors? Once he is positioned properly, his range is what it is, right? One argument is that his range will only erode as he ages, so…

4) Wallace is out of shape. Let’s face it; his body type is not that of a weight-lifter. Yet, there are others in the majors today who are much worse. Chances are that physically, Wallace is what he is. I suggest basing any decision on results, not physique.

5) 40-man roster issues. This is not an immediate problem, but will become one this winter as the Cardinals have to make decisions on a number of players or risk losing them in the Rule 5 Draft.

Having been drafted last June, Wallace would not need to be protected this winter unless he is called up during this season.

For me, the real question is whether or not it is believed that Wallace can contribute at the major league level in 2009. If so, then the future roster issue has to be secondary to improvement in St. Louis now.

6) Arbitration and free agent clocks would begin prematurely. Not a major issue. It is late enough into this season that the Cardinals would not be forced into early arbitration in just under three years. Same with free agency at six.

If he isn’t good enough to stick, he won’t accrue MLB service time back in Memphis. Even those most pessimistic about Wallace think he will make his major league debut in 2010, anyway.

7) Political issues. This is a very thorny one, as based on remarks by Post-Dispatch beat writer Joe Strauss, La Russa is very much against a Wallace promotion. Despite the glaring need at the position, Wallace barely received a sniff in major league camp before being cut.

While Mozeliak is in public agreement at least that Wallace isn’t ready, would his opinion change if the third baseman puts in a good month with Memphis and a fair trade cannot yet be found?

Is there any scenario under which La Russa embrace a Wallace promotion this season? The signals say “no”.

In summary

I am not sure why there is such a negative vibe about Wallace, but it seems other organizations are not reluctant to promote players who excelled at Double-A.

If nothing else is cooking, why not give Wallace a try soon? If he stumbles, it will be a lot closer to the trade deadline when more teams may be in the mood to deal.

Remember that other rumors have the Cardinals looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, too. What are the odds Mozeliak could land both an impact outfielder and a third baseman and do it within the club’s current financial constraints? What is a higher priority for the club? What may be easier to find?

Considering all, it is more realistic to assume the Cardinals will move to bring in an Atkins-like player in hopes he can pick up the slack at third. If another Khalil Greene-like failure occurs, there could still be time for Wallace later this summer – if the Cardinals can remain in contention that long with their sputtering offense.

Cards double digit strikeouts – where have they gone?

News item: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter fanned ten Milwaukee batters over eight innings of work on Monday. Teammate Adam Wainwright fell just short the next night, as he retired a personal MLB-best nine Brewers hitters via strikeouts.

Carpenter’s Monday performance was only the second time a St. Louis pitcher has struck out as many opposing hitters in one contest since the start of the 2006 season. Not surprisingly, Carp delivered the previous 10+K outing, too. Back on June 13, 2006, he set his personal single-game high with 13 punchouts at Pittsburgh.

The rarity of such a feat causes the uninformed to nod their heads, noting the oft-discussed pitch-to-contact, groundball philosophy supposedly pushed by the Cardinals organization.

In discussing his long-time pitching coach Dave Duncan, Tony La Russa recently told me this:

“We always laugh when we talk about “The Dave Duncan Style”. It gets talked about a lot here in St. Louis – pitch to ground ball. Dave focuses on the abilities of the pitchers.”

In other words, when Duncan and La Russa are given strikeout pitchers, they are more than happy to take the Ks. In fact, over the first six seasons of this decade, the Cardinals amassed 34 occurrences in which the starter fanned ten or more.

The team’s average from 2000 through 2005 was almost six such games per season but as already noted, there have been just two in the 3 ¼ seasons since.

Not only were each of the Cardinals’ most recent 10K performances registered by Carpenter, but he also owns seven of the team’s last nine such games, going back to his St. Louis debut in the 2004 season. He authored four more during his Cy Young Award campaign in 2005.

Ten or more strikeout games by a Cardinals pitcher by season (2000-2009)

Year Total Pitcher # Pitcher # Pitcher #
2009 1 Chris Carpenter 1
2008 0
2007 0
2006 1 Chris Carpenter 1
2005 5 Chris Carpenter 4 Mark Mulder 1
2004 3 Chris Carpenter 1 Woody Williams 1 Matt Morris 1
2003 1 Matt Morris 1
2002 4 Matt Morris 2 Chuck Finley 2
2001 7 Matt Morris 4 Darryl Kile 3
2000 14 Rick Ankiel 6 Darryl Kile 5 Andy Benes 3

With his current total of seven 10K games this decade, Carpenter is just one behind the leaders, Matt Morris and the late Darryl Kile. Eight pitchers in total made the list.

Carpenter and Morris have the best single-game performances during the 2000s with 13 strikeouts. Chuck Finley and Mark Mulder each had a 12K outing.

Ten or more strikeout games (2000-2009) with bests by each pitcher

Pitcher # 10K Best game
Matt Morris 8 13
Darryl Kile 8 11
Chris Carpenter 7 13
Rick Ankiel 6 11
Andy Benes 3 10
Chuck Finley 2 12
Mark Mulder 1 12
Woody Williams 1 11

You may have noticed the fourth-place leader in the total number of 10K games, the only other one of the eight that is an active major leaguer today. In fact, he remains in the uniform as a current teammate of Carp, retired hurler Rick Ankiel. At the age of 20 and 21, the lefty had the best single-season for such feats during this time when he collected six in 2000 – a reminder of what could have been.

Striking out ten or more does not necessarily guarantee a win for the pitcher or his club. Carpenter has one of the seven losses taken, back in 2004, and two of the six no-decisions in these contests. Overall, the starters are 23-7-6 (.767) in the 10K games.

Pitcher Win Loss No dec Win pct.
Andy Benes 2 0 1 1.000
Mark Mulder 1 0 1.000
Matt Morris 5 1 2 0.833
Chris Carpenter 4 1 2 0.800
Rick Ankiel 4 1 1 0.800
Darryl Kile 6 2 0.750
Chuck Finley 1 1 0.500
Woody Williams 0 1 0.000
total 23 7 6 0.767

If he continues at his 2009 pace of one such game each fourth start, Carpenter will soon tie and then pass the Cardinals leaders in number of ten strikeout games this decade.

In closing, the individual summaries of the 36 performances follow. Andy Benes’ three 10K outings are especially notable in that they occurred in consecutive starts in June, 2000. The team had five that month as Ankiel and Kile each had one prior to Benes’ run.

Pitcher Date Opp G StL Opp App, Dec IP H R ER BB SO
Chris Carpenter 5/25/2009 @MIL L 0 1 GS-8 8 2 0 0 0 10
Chris Carpenter 6/13/2006 @PIT W 2 1 GS-7 W 7 3 0 0 3 13
Chris Carpenter 8/7/2005 ATL W 5 3 GS-8 8 4 2 2 2 10
Chris Carpenter 6/25/2005 PIT W 8 0 SHO9 W 9 4 0 0 0 11
Chris Carpenter 6/14/2005 @TOR W 7 0 SHO9 W 9 1 0 0 1 10
Mark Mulder 5/9/2005 LAD W 4 2 GS-7 W 7 5 1 1 2 12
Chris Carpenter 4/27/2005 MIL W 6 3 GS-8 W 7 8 3 3 0 12
Matt Morris 9/3/2004 LAD W 3 0 SHO9 W 9 2 0 0 0 11
Chris Carpenter 8/26/2004 @CIN L 0 1 CG 8 L 8 3 1 1 1 11
Woody Williams 8/18/2004 CIN L 4 5 GS-6 L 6 9 5 5 1 11
Matt Morris 4/5/2003 HOU L 1 2 GS-8 8 3 0 0 2 10
Chuck Finley 9/1/2002 @CHC L 4 5 GS-8 L 7 5 5 5 5 12
Chuck Finley 8/21/2002 PIT W 4 1 GS-8 W 8 3 1 1 2 10
Matt Morris 5/8/2002 @CHC W 3 2 GS-8 W 8 4 2 2 4 10
Matt Morris 4/23/2002 @NYM L 3 4 GS-7 L 7 8 4 4 2 10
Matt Morris 10/4/2001 @MIL W 10 3 GS-6 W 6 3 0 0 3 10
Darryl Kile 9/26/2001 @HOU W 5 1 GS-7 W 7 4 0 0 2 10
Matt Morris 9/19/2001 MIL W 8 2 GS-7 W 7 5 1 1 1 13
Matt Morris 7/14/2001 DET W 3 2 GS-8 W 7 5 2 2 2 11
Darryl Kile 6/18/2001 CHC W 6 2 GS-7 W 7 5 2 2 1 11
Darryl Kile 5/22/2001 @MIL L 0 5 GS-8 L 7 7 5 4 1 10
Matt Morris 5/2/2001 @FLA W 4 2 GS-9 8 8 2 1 1 11
Rick Ankiel 9/13/2000 @PIT W 9 5 GS-7 W 6 7 4 2 0 11
Darryl Kile 9/7/2000 MON W 6 1 GS-7 W 7 5 1 1 1 10
Rick Ankiel 7/27/2000 ARI L 5 17 GS-5 L 4 6 6 6 2 10
Rick Ankiel 7/21/2000 @HOU W 12 1 GS-7 W 7 3 1 1 3 11
Darryl Kile 7/2/2000 HOU L 3 6 GS-7 L 7 7 5 5 1 10
Andy Benes 6/23/2000 LAD W 9 6 GS-7 7 5 2 2 3 10
Andy Benes 6/17/2000 @LAD W 4 3 GS-6 W 6 7 2 2 2 10
Andy Benes 6/12/2000 @SDP W 7 3 GS-6 W 6 6 3 3 2 10
Darryl Kile 6/7/2000 KCR W 4 2 CG 9 W 9 7 2 2 1 10
Rick Ankiel 6/4/2000 CLE L 2 3 GS-5 5 5 2 2 0 11
Rick Ankiel 5/25/2000 FLA W 7 6 GS-7 W 6 7 4 4 0 11
Darryl Kile 5/23/2000 FLA W 10 3 GS-8 W 8 4 2 2 3 11
Darryl Kile 4/25/2000 MIL W 7 2 GS-7 W 7 6 2 2 1 10
Rick Ankiel 4/9/2000 MIL W 11 2 GS-6 W 6 3 2 2 3 10

Special thanks to statman Tom Orf for collecting this historical data.

Open letter from Dr. Mike Marshall


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Dear Sir,

A reader of my website sent me a copies of your articles “Joe Williams: Not Your Normal Prospect” posted on May 18, 2009 and “Does the Cardinals’ signing of Joe Williams have a deeper meaning?”, May 21, 2009.

After fourteen years of pitching major league baseball, I know that writers do not verify everything that they write and I am too old to care. Nevertheless, I have to take exception to something that Mr. Strauss said.

Mr. Strauss wrote,

“Marshall has been seeking audiences with numerous major-league organizations trying to regain a toe-hold in the industry.”

I am working as hard as I can to teach those in professional baseball how to eliminate all pitching injuries. However, I am not trying to regain a toe-hold in the industry, as though I ever had a toe-hold in professional baseball.

However, in your May 18, 2009 article, you got it right.

You wrote,

“Apparently not every organization is constrained by tradition, which has a direct relation to how Williams became a Cardinal. St. Louis Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jeff Luhnow recently asked Marshall to come down to Extended Spring Training (EST) in Jupiter, FL to meet with his staff.”

The Cardinals invited me to explain how to eliminate pitching injuries. Actually, before spring training 2006, to learn how I train baseball pitchers, the Cardinals sent someone to my Baseball Pitching Research/Training Center. At the end of that session, I had convinced this young man that I knew how to eliminate pitching injuries.

Unfortunately, they decided to go another way.

Then, this spring, Mr. Luhnow invited me to Jupiter, FL and, after my presentation, as you wrote,

“Shortly after, Williams was invited to participate in the Cardinals’ camp, where he must have shown enough to the coaches to snag a contract.”

Joe’s mission was to prove that baseball pitchers I train can pitch every day without discomfort.

That Joe successfully pitched in eight of the thirteen games available apparently convinced the Cardinals that Joe had sufficient talent to invite Joe back into professional baseball.

I believe that, considering the circumstances, Joe did exceptionally well.

That they terminated Joe’s opportunity is unfortunate, nevertheless, it showed Joe that, with a real opportunity, he could become a major league pitcher. Where we go from here is the question.

Lastly, I want to thank you for writing,

“Even that may seem threatening to some, but I wonder what harm could be caused in being open-minded about new and different ways to teach and learn. Still, in a tradition-laden environment like baseball or journalism for that matter, old ways die hard and new ones are notoriously slow to take root.”

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Marshall

The Pujols “convenience fee”?


Over at The Hardball Times, Chris Jaffe wrote an excellent, but highly depressing article entitled “The cost of gouging”. The subject is a ripoff we all have encountered with regularity – the confusing and frustrating add-on costs affixed to ticket purchases.

Jaffe researched “order processing charges” and the stick-in-your-eye-named “convenience fees” charged by Major League Baseball clubs for ticket transactions made online or via telephone. Some clubs even assess a surcharge depending on how you want to pick up your ticket. In his work, Jaffe chose the least expensive tickets for comparison.

In these challenging economic times, over half of the 30 MLB clubs either held the line on “gouging fees” from 2008 (seven teams) or actually decreased them (nine) compared to last season, but not the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals tied the Baltimore Orioles for the eighth-highest such fees across Major League Baseball at $8.00 per ticket, up 50 cents from 2008. Half of that is convenience fee and half is labeled order processing.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Milwaukee Brewers charge just $2.00 per ticket for order processing and that is it. No bogus “convenience fee” that is just another way to rip off the ticket-buying public.

What really got my blood boiling was Jaffe’s report that the add-on charges are generally not constant. In other words, as you move up the ticket price spectrum, the fees usually increase, too.

Think about that. How could it cost more to process a $100 ticket compared to a $30 ticket? For whom is $100 more convenient? In addition, these gaps are generally growing wider each year.

In this case, the Cardinals receive a nod, as they are one of just four MLB clubs that hold “gouging fees” at the same level despite the price of the ticket, according to THT.

Another recent article, at The New York Times, noted the San Francisco Giants are experimenting with dynamic ticket pricing. This concept is not unlike the one used by airlines, where prices are lowered or raised regularly based on changes in demand – potentially right up until game time.

As a result, like in air travel, every fan may have paid a different price for his or her seat compared to the person sitting next to them. Not surprisingly, the Giants feel they can bring in more money this way.

Clubs are driven to be even more creative since their in-house ticket reselling services were forcibly submerged when MLB signed a five-year exclusive deal with StubHub, a unit of eBay, last year.

For example, the Giants had DPTW, “Double Play Ticket Window”, while the Cardinals called their service “Prime Seat Club”. Now all sanctioned MLB ticket reselling is administered from one place – at the top.

While Bud Selig catches a lot of heat in some quarters, including here, this is yet another reminder of the rarity of him missing an opportunity to grab a piece of the financial pie.

A final observation made by Jaffe was also about the Giants. Their declining ticket surcharges caused me to pause and consider “What if?”

“If you’re curious, San Fran used to be able to charge huge extra fees when Barry Bonds was around,” Jaffe observed.

Of course, the Cardinals currently have under contract the services of Bonds’ heir apparent as the best player in the National League and all of MLB, Albert Pujols. No later than following the 2011 season, Pujols will receive a new multi-year deal – one that may surpass any other in terms of years and dollars.

It has been assumed by many that the Cardinals will cover the increased cost of Pujols’ new contract by cutting payroll through not signing veterans as well as by deploying more lower-cost replacement players developed through an improving farm system.

While that may or may not be the case, even if it is, what if it isn’t enough?

What if the Cardinals also decide to hit fans directly for some or all of the increased cost of keeping Pujols by jacking up their “gouging fees” as the Giants did at the height of Bonds’ popularity?

Would you be angry enough to go Howard Beale or would you be willing to pay two or three bucks more per ticket to help keep Albert in St. Louis?

Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals Report: 05/24/09


By Josh Jones, Cardinals Best News Links

The Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals opened their 2009 season this past Monday and have now played five games on the season. The team finished with a 3-2 record, which is good for second place and only one game out of first. They are 1-1 at home and 2-1 on the road to start.

Starting the week off, the Cardinals traveled to visit the Phillies. The Redbirds opened the game up scoring two in the first inning and added on another four in the seventh. The team’s pitchers didn’t allow a run until the fifth frame and doubled up their opponents 8-4. The Phils committed four errors which slightly contributed to the Cards win.

The next day the Cardinals had the Mariners in town for a contest. The M’s managed to knock out the Cards starter in the third and continued to pummel the following long reliever. Walks came back to bite the Cardinals and they couldn’t get an extra base hit during the game. The Mariners handed the Cardinals their first shutout 7-0.

The Cardinals stayed home and hosted the Mets the next day. Again the Cards opened the game with a run in the first inning and got some help from the starter, who held their opponents to one hit and no runs in the first four frames. The bullpen followed with the same success until the closer gave up a hit and run in the ninth. Cardinals held off the Mets 3-1.

The Cardinals went on the road after having an off day, visiting the Pirates on Friday. The Redbirds struck first and held a the lead until the sixth when the bullpen tanked. The Bucs ended up scoring two or more in three frames during the game. The Cards gave up their first home run but also cranked out their first of the season during this contest. Pirates took the game 8-3.

The final game of this period the Cardinals stayed away from home as they took on the Rays. The Redbirds had their best pitching performance of the season during this game. They held the Rays to only four hits and didn’t allow a single run to cross the plate. The Cardinals picked up their first shutout of the season with a 4-0 victory over the Rays.

Who’s Hot:

Jose Cortez had two multi-hit games and went 6-for-19 (.316) during the week. The 20-year old right-handed hitter leads the team with eight total bases and four walks, and is tied with two doubles and three runs scored. The centerfielder also picked up his first and only RBI, struck out four times, and committed one error during this period.

Hector Garcia will be carrying a four-game hitting streak into the next week. The 19-year old right-handed hitter went 4-for-13 (.308) with one double, one RBI, five total bases, and scored two runs. He split his four games played between third base and designated hitter.

Jem Argenal (pictured) currently has a two-game hitting streak and was the first VSL Cardinal to slug a home run this season. The 18-year old left-handed hitter also has six total bases, two walks, and has scored two runs for the team. He leads the team with a .600 SLG, .462 OBP, and 1.062 OPS at this time.

Deimer Bier has pitched the most innings by any Cardinals starter up to this point in the season. The 18-year old right-hander made his first start on May 23, pitching five innings. He gave up two hits, no runs, walked two, and struck out four for his first winning decision of the year.

Javier Avendano got back on track after being slowed at the end of last season. The 18-year old right-hander pitched four innings, allowing one hit, no runs, two walks, and struck out six on May 20. He currently leads the team in strikeouts and is ranked third with a 0.75 WHIP.

Who’s Not:

Osmir Medina has gone hitless in his last three straight games. The 18-year old shortstop went 1-for-14 (.071) with one total base, one walk, scored one run, and struck out once during the week.

Tharick Martinez is wearing the sombrero for the season. The 18-year old outfielder went 0-for-6 with one walk, three strikeouts, and stole one base in the first week. The former DSL Cardinal has struck out in each of his three games.

Moises Colorado was thumped in his only appearance of the week. On May 19, the 19-year old left-hander entered the game during the third and was knocked around for five hits, five runs (four earned), two walks, and struck out two over 3.1 innings. He was able to keep the ball down on the ground and stranded both inherited runners.

Fernando Cedeno continued his so-so VSL career this past week. The 18-year old right-hander made his 2009 debut on May 18, giving up three hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out a early season-high three over 1.1 innings. He did pick up the winning decision and kept his only inherited runner on. The third-year VSL participant made his second outing on May 22, which didn’t last long or end well. His opponents chalked up three hits, two earned runs, and the team’s first home run allowed in only a third of an inning for his first losing decision of the season.

Ruben Alvarado followed in somewhat the same fashion as Cedeno, just not as bad. The 17-year old left-hander made his season debut on May 18, picking up a hold and pitching two scoreless innings. He struck out three and gave up only one run in the appearance. Then on May 22, like Cedeno, he was slapped back down to earth. The second-year VSL pitcher gave up four hits, three earned runs, three walks, and struck out one over 1.1 innings.

Comings and Goings:

Enrique Brito assumed the manager position after holding the same title with the Gulf Coast Cardinals. He takes over for Javier Meza, who moved on to teach the hitters at GCL.

Former Cardinal farmhand Henderson Lugo, took over the pitching duties and Jesus Laya moved over form the Detroit Tigers franchise to coach the hitters.

2008 VSL Co-Players of the Year Alberto Rivero and Gerardo Mambell, 2008 Starting Pitcher of the Year Geney Rios, Yorbel Alcala, and Jonathan (formerly known as Yonathan) Gonzalez are currently in Jupiter, FL attempting to make one of the three rookie-season teams opening play in June.

Wilson Perez, Billy Bolivar, Peter Jaspe, Cristofher Dumont (GCL), Carlos Noguera, Miguel Lopez, and David Brito have all been given their unconditional releases.

Jesus Montero was reassigned to the Dominican Summer League Cardinals squad for 2009.

Wilfred Vivas is serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance enhancing substance during the winter. He probably will not make an appearance til mid-July.

Johnny Polanco, who was recently signed out of Nicaragua, should be joining the team sometime in the near future. Nothing has been set in stone at this time.

Jose Campos, who backed out of a potential deal with the Cardinals during the spring, is officially active and pitching for the VSL Mariners. He debuted on May 22, pitching 2.1 innings, and allowing no hits or runs, three walks, and struck out three.

Up Next:

May 24: @ Mets (2-3)

May 25: Tigers (2-3)

May 26: @ Tigers (2-3)

May 27: Phillies (2-2)

May 29: Mariners (2-3)

May 30: Rays (2-3)

More on Cardinals stinginess streaks


Folks seemed to enjoy the last look at fewest runs allowed by the St. Louis Cardinals pitchers over three games, so here are the numbers over five through nine games, covering the last fifty years.

Of course, the current run is included, with two runs yielded over the last five games. It is the fourth such streak over the last half-century and ties the best single-season record. Prior to 2009, the most recent stretch was in 1973.

It is not the record however, as the club spun five consecutive shutouts over the end of the 1962 season and into the start of 1963. (Yes, streaks are allowed to run over season boundaries.)

Game Date Opponent StL R Opp R StL Winning pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
39 5/19/2009 vs Chicago Cubs 3 0 W Piniero 9 3 0 0 0 5
40 5/20/2009 vs Chicago Cubs 2 1 W Carpenter 5 3 0 0 2 4
41 5/21/2009 vs Chicago Cubs 3 1 W Wainwright 8 2/3 5 1 1 1 7
42 5/22/2009 vs Kansas City Royals 5 0 W Wellemeyer 6 4 0 0 3 3
43 5/23/2009 vs Kansas City Royals 5 0 W Lohse 8 4 0 0 0 6
158 9/26/1973 vs Chicago Cubs 1 0 W Wise 9 5 0 0 0 6
159 9/27/1973 vs Chicago Cubs 2 0 W Cleveland 9 1 0 0 0 3
160 9/28/1973 vs Philadelphia Phillies 3 0 W Segui (RP) 5 2 0 0 3 2
Thompson, M.(SP-ND) 4 0 0 0 4 3
161 9/29/1973 vs Philadelphia Phillies 7 1 W Gibson 6 5 1 1 3 2
162 9/30/1973 vs Philadelphia Phillies 3 1 W Wise (RP) 4 0 0 0 1 4
Foster, A. (SP-ND) 4 1/3 4 1 1 2 3
62 6/15/1968 vs Cincinnati Reds 2 0 W Gibson 9 4 0 0 0 13
63 6/16/1968 vs Cincinnati Reds 4 2 W Washburn 7 1/3 9 2 2 4 3
64 6/18/1968 vs Chicago Cubs 1 0 W Briles 9 8 0 0 0 3
65 6/19/1968 vs Chicago Cubs 4 0 W Carlton 9 1 0 0 0 9
66 6/20/1968 vs Chicago Cubs 1 0 W Gibson 9 5 0 0 1 6
Over 2 Years
161 9/28/1962 at Los Angeles Dodgers 3 2 W Jackson, L. 10 9 2 1 2 2
162 9/29/1962 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2 0 W Broglio 9 2 0 0 3 9
163 9/30/1962 at Los Angeles Dodgers 1 0 W Simmons 9 5 0 0 1 4
1 4/9/1963 at New York Mets 7 0 W Broglio 9 2 0 0 2 8
2 4/10/1963 at New York Mets 4 0 W Washburn 9 4 0 0 1 5
3 4/13/1963 vs Philadelphia Phillies 7 0 W Simmons 9 5 0 0 2 4

That same 1962-1963 stretch can also be extended to two runs over six games. The current Cards would need another shutout to close the Royals series on Sunday to match that as the lowest opponent scoring six-game stretch over the last 50 years.

As long as we’re looking ahead, here are all the best six-game stretches, with the record low in a single season at five runs. That occurred five times in total, three during a single season, most recently in 1982. Beating that remains possible Sunday.

Game Date Opponent StL R Opp R StL Winning pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
143 9/14/1982 at Philadelphia Phillies 2 0 W Stuper 7 1/3 4 0 0 3 3
144 9/15/1982 at Philadelphia Phillies 8 0 W Andujar 9 3 0 0 1 4
146 9/17/1982 at New York Mets 7 1 W Sutter (RP) 3 0 0 0 0 2
Rasmussen (SP-ND) 7 4 2 2 0 4
145 9/17/1982 at New York Mets 3 2 W Mura 5 2/3 6 1 1 5 3
147 9/18/1982 at New York Mets 2 0 W Forsch 7 1/3 5 0 0 3 6
148 9/18/1982 at New York Mets 6 2 W Lahti (RP) 6 5 1 1 0 6
Kaat (SP-ND) 3 5 1 1 0 1
149 9/19/1982 at New York Mets 3 1 W Stuper 6 1/3 7 1 1 2 2
150 9/20/1982 vs Philadelphia Phillies 4 1 W Andujar 6 2/3 7 1 1 3 6
62 6/15/1968 vs Cincinnati Reds 2 0 W Gibson 9 4 0 0 0 13
63 6/16/1968 vs Cincinnati Reds 4 2 W Washburn 7 1/3 9 2 2 4 3
64 6/18/1968 vs Chicago Cubs 1 0 W Briles 9 8 0 0 0 3
65 6/19/1968 vs Chicago Cubs 4 0 W Carlton 9 1 0 0 0 9
66 6/20/1968 vs Chicago Cubs 1 0 W Gibson 9 5 0 0 1 6
67 6/21/1968 vs Atlanta Braves 4 3 W Granger 2 1 0 0 0 0
Jaster (SP-ND) 6 2/3 5 2 1 1 3
68 6/22/1968 vs Atlanta Braves 6 1 W Washburn 9 7 1 1 0 4
144 9/8/1963 at Pittsburgh Pirates 3 2 W Broglio 7 8 2 2 1 1
145 9/9/1963 vs Chicago Cubs 6 0 W Simmons 9 5 0 0 2 3
146 9/10/1963 vs Chicago Cubs 8 0 W Gibson 9 6 0 0 3 5
147 9/11/1963 vs Chicago Cubs 4 0 W Sadecki 5 2/3 4 0 0 2 3
148 9/12/1963 vs Chicago Cubs 8 3 W Broglio 9 8 3 3 0 7
149 9/13/1963 vs Milwaukee Braves 7 0 W Simmons 9 5 0 0 3 7
150 9/14/1963 vs Milwaukee Braves 3 2 W Gibson 8 5 2 1 5 7
152 9/15/1963 vs Milwaukee Braves 5 0 W Burdette 9 6 2 2 0 5
151 9/15/1963 vs Milwaukee Braves 3 2 W Sadecki 9 5 0 0 4 6
Over 2 Years
158 9/28/1966 vs Los Angeles Dodgers 2 0 W Jaster 9 4 0 0 2 4
159 9/29/1966 vs Los Angeles Dodgers 1 2 L Jackson, A. 6 8 2 2 1 1
160 9/30/1966 vs Chicago Cubs 2 0 W Hughes 9 3 0 0 1 8
161 10/1/1966 vs Chicago Cubs 4 3 W Gibson 8 1/3 8 3 3 5 5
162 10/2/1966 vs Chicago Cubs 2 0 W Cosman 9 2 0 0 2 5
1 4/11/1967 vs San Francisco Giants 6 0 W Gibson 9 5 0 0 0 13
161 9/28/1962 at Los Angeles Dodgers 3 2 W Jackson, L. 10 9 2 1 2 2
162 9/29/1962 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2 0 W Broglio 9 2 0 0 3 9
163 9/30/1962 at Los Angeles Dodgers 1 0 W Simmons 9 5 0 0 1 4
1 4/9/1963 at New York Mets 7 0 W Broglio 9 2 0 0 2 8
2 4/10/1963 at New York Mets 4 0 W Washburn 9 4 0 0 1 5
3 4/13/1963 vs Philadelphia Phillies 7 0 W Simmons 9 5 0 0 2 4

Though it is clearly getting ahead of myself, the above data also covers the best seven-game period at six runs, again last accomplished in 1982. Over eight games, we see a best of seven runs scored in 1982 and for nine games, the 1962 Cards yielded just nine runs.

I won’t make any suggestions or predictions this time other than to note that Sunday’s starter, Joel Pineiro (pictured above), is the man who began the run, so he is quite capable.


Special thanks: Without researcher Tom Orf, I wouldn’t have been able to bring this to you.

Cardinals inherited runners in context


Over the last few days, the St. Louis Cardinals official media notes have called out an interesting stat regarding inherited runners scored. As a result, the broadcast and print media have echoed the statement in great celebration. In a few cases, it may have been extended beyond its original scope.

Here is the quote:

“The bullpen staff has been very stingy – a good thing when it comes to inherited runners…Cards relievers have allowed just nine IRs to score this year (out of 59), which ranks 1st in the Majors.”

While I am not disputing the data, which works out to 15%, there are a couple of limitations in it that may not be obvious at first blush.

First of all, this is not a complete reflection of how well the relievers pick up the starters. In other words, some percentage of the 59 inherited runners were inherited from another reliever, not the starter.

In addition, when multiple relievers pitch during an inning, they could each get credit for stranding the same inherited runner. With Tony La Russa’s frequent late-game pitcher-batter matchups, this might further skew the data.

Of course, it also says nothing about how many runs the relievers themselves are responsible for putting on base and allowing to cross home plate.

For me, it would make the most sense to compare Cardinals bullpens year-to-year using a variety of measures. Since La Russa’s behavior seems relatively consistent over that time, I looked up the similar stats for the relievers after 40 games in 2008, 2007 and 2006.

It does confirm that the club has seen a reduction in inherited runners scoring – in fact this mark has improved in each of the last three seasons. In 2009, the raw number of inherited runners is greatest while the fewest have scored – the apparent best possible conditions.

However…

The 2009 group has retired a lower percentage of first batters faced than either their 2008 or 2007 peers.

While the 2009 pen has improved their save percentage over the dreadful 2008 season, the current mark does not approach the success rate in either 2007 or 2006.

In terms of bullpen ERA, the runs for which they are most directly responsible, the 2009 relievers have the worst mark after 40 games in any of the last four years.

Unless the holds rule has changed in the last two seasons, the explosion in number of holds would signal to me that a higher number of Cardinals pitchers have been appearing in save situations in 2008 and 2009. Considering La Russa’s liberal substitution patterns, this is not a stretch.

I say this because my understanding of the hold rule is the same as the save rule – secure at least one out in a save situation and leave with the lead, but the difference is that the “hold” pitcher of course doesn’t finish the game.

Won-loss results are included for illustration, but I am not reading anything into the yearly fluctuations.

My conclusion: While inherited runners scored does look great, the 2009 Cardinals bullpen could improve in retiring first batters faced, save percentage and ERA compared to recent seasons.

Key Cardinals bullpen measures after 40 games (2006-2009)

Thru 40 G Inh runners scored Percent 1st batter retired Percent Saves/opps Percent Holds ERA Won-loss
2009 9-of-59 15% 96-of-133 72% 13-of-19 68% 35 4.02 6-5
2008 14-of-49 29% 83-of-107 78% 16-of-26 62% 36 3.86 6-8
2007 15-of-40 38% 98-of-133 74% 10-of-12 83% 13 3.33 6-2
2006 23-of-51 45% 70-of-104 67% 12-of-16 75% 24 2.85 6-5

Can Wellemeyer keep the streak going?


Likely there aren’t many St. Louis Cardinals fans anywhere that are not aware of the satisfying, slump-breaking three-game sweep the club applied to the visiting Chicago Cubs this Tuesday through Thursday.

The wins were secured by superb pitching, as the Cardinals’ staff, led by starters Joel Pineiro, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and fortified by the bullpen, allowed the Cubbies just two runs in total over the 27 innings of baseball.

With the help of statman Tom Orf, we can put that team pitching feat into its proper perspective. During the last 30 years, only once prior to this week had the Cardinals stopped the Cubs offense so consistently over at least three games.

From April 20 through 22, 1981, Bob Forsch, Andy Rincon and the late Lary Sorensen and their pen mates held the Chicagoans to a single run in the three home games. The latter two spun complete-game shutouts while Forsch, like Carpenter this week, went five innings.

Overall, such a three-game period of Cardinals dominance (opponents scoring two total runs or fewer) has now occurred 17 times in the three decades since 1979. In addition to the 1981 Chicago set, the Cards have allowed just one run three other times, but have not strung together three consecutive scoreless games.

Only five times during such a streak did the Cardinals hold their opponent to two runs or fewer only to lose the game. They were shut out each time. Ten of the 17 were against the same club during the same series, while the others included two different opponents.

Here are the 13 three-game streaks since 1979, listed from most recent to oldest.

Game Date Home/away Opponent StL runs Opp runs StL W/L Pitcher
39 5/19/2009 vs Chicago Cubs 3 0 W Piniero
40 5/20/2009 vs Chicago Cubs 2 1 W Carpenter
41 5/21/2009 vs Chicago Cubs 3 1 W Wainwright
95 7/21/2006 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2 0 W Suppan
96 7/22/2006 at Los Angeles Dodgers 6 1 W Weaver
97 7/23/2006 at Los Angeles Dodgers 6 1 W Marquis
142 9/9/2001 vs Los Angeles Dodgers 8 1 W Mathews, T.J.
143 9/10/2001 at Milwaukee Brewers 8 0 W Kile
144 9/17/2001 vs Milwaukee Brewers 2 1 W Smith, Bud
137 9/3/2001 at San Diego Padres 4 0 W Smith, Bud
138 9/4/2001 at San Diego Padres 6 1 W Morris
139 9/5/2001 at San Diego Padres 2 0 W Williams
80 6/30/1997 vs Minnesota Twins 2 1 W Morris
81 7/1/1997 vs Minnesota Twins 2 0 W Stottlemyre
82 7/2/1997 vs Minnesota Twins 2 1 W Petkovsek
16 4/24/1991 vs Chicago Cubs 0 1 L DeLeon
17 4/26/1991 vs Montreal Expos 4 0 W Smith, Bryn
18 4/27/1991 vs Montreal Expos 2 1 W Hill
98 7/26/1989 vs Chicago Cubs 2 0 W DeLeon
99 7/28/1989 at Montreal Expos 2 0 W Power
100 7/29/1989 at Montreal Expos 0 2 L Hill
56 6/8/1989 at Montreal Expos 7 2 W DiPino
57 6/9/1989 at Chicago Cubs 1 0 W DeLeon
58 6/10/1989 at Chicago Cubs 6 0 W Magrane
118 8/16/1988 vs Houston Astros 3 0 W Terry
119 8/17/1988 vs Houston Astros 0 1 L Magrane
120 8/18/1988 vs Houston Astros 2 1 W Forsch
113 8/10/1988 at Philadelphia Phillies 1 0 W Tudor
114 8/11/1988 at Philadelphia Phillies 0 1 L Costello
115 8/12/1988 at Chicago Cubs 4 0 W Magrane
76 7/3/1987 at Atlanta Braves 9 1 W Forsch
77 7/4/1987 at Atlanta Braves 3 0 W Cox
78 7/5/1987 at Atlanta Braves 4 1 W Mathews, Greg
120 8/24/1985 at Atlanta Braves 7 0 W Forsch
121 8/25/1985 at Atlanta Braves 5 2 W Kepshire
122 8/26/1985 at Cincinnati Reds 3 0 W Cox
151 9/19/1984 vs Montreal Expos 1 0 W Cox
152 9/20/1984 vs Montreal Expos 3 2 W LaPoint
153 9/21/1984 vs Chicago Cubs 8 0 W Kepshire

Now, the pressure is really on Friday starter Todd Wellemeyer (pictured) as he faces his former Kansas City Royals teammates. Only twice during the last 30 years have the Cardinals gone four games in a row yielding a total of two runs or fewer. If Wellemeyer and his mates can blank the Royals at Busch Stadium Friday night, they would join this list.

The two four-game streaks follow, along with an overlapping pair of three-game streaks of two runs or fewer allowed which occurred in 1982.

Game Date Home/away Opponent StL runs Opp runs StL W/L Pitcher
119 8/19/1983 vs Houston Astros 2 0 W LaPoint
120 8/20/1983 vs Houston Astros 3 0 W Stuper
121 8/21/1983 vs Houston Astros 5 2 W Cox
122 8/23/1983 vs Atlanta Braves 7 0 W Andujar
142 9/13/1982 at Philadelphia Phillies 0 2 L Forsch
143 9/14/1982 at Philadelphia Phillies 2 0 W Stuper
144 9/15/1982 at Philadelphia Phillies 8 0 W Andujar
146 9/17/1982 at New York Mets 7 1 W Sutter
7 4/20/1981 vs Chicago Cubs 6 1 W Forsch
8 4/21/1981 vs Chicago Cubs 8 0 W Rincon
9 4/22/1981 vs Chicago Cubs 3 0 W Sorensen
10 4/25/1981 at Pittsburgh Pirates 5 1 W Shirley

In a final oddity, just once over the last 30 years did the Cardinals put together a five-game stretch during which two three-game sets of two runs or fewer overlapped by just one game. No matter how you count it, three shutouts in five days, separated by a pair of two-run games is very, very impressive!

Game Date Home/away Opponent StL runs Opp runs StL W/L Pitcher
126 8/28/1992 vs Los Angeles Dodgers 1 0 W Clark
127 8/29/1992 vs Los Angeles Dodgers 3 2 W Olivares
128 8/30/1992 vs Los Angeles Dodgers 3 0 W Cormier
129 8/31/1992 vs San Diego Padres 6 2 W Tewksbury
130 9/1/1992 vs San Diego Padres 2 0 W Osborne

In terms of individual pitchers, Bob Forsch is the champion of this subset of stats with five wins gained during such a streak. They occurred in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. Danny Cox had four victories, also during the 1980’s.

Of the 17 streaks, four have occurred in this decade, with only three during the 1990’s. The other ten were during the glory years of the 1980’s.

During the last 30 years, the Cards have yet to hold their opponent to two runs or fewer in total over five games. Is that too much to ask? It is up to Wellemeyer, Saturday’s starter Kyle Lohse and perhaps the bullpen.

Does the Cardinals’ signing of Joe Williams have a deeper meaning?


Early in the week on Scout.com, I wrote about Springfield lefty Joe Williams (pictured), a disciple of Dr. Mike Marshall who was recently signed by the St. Louis Cardinals organization after farm director Jeff Luhnow had Marshall meet with his Extended Spring Training staff. I found it to be an interesting topic to cover despite the long odds Williams still faces in ever reaching the major leagues.

Marshall seems to be a popular subject in the media recently. On Wednesday, The Discovery Channel – Canada ran a seven-minute feature that provides a glimpse of Marshall’s modest Florida facilities and stars Williams in his usual demonstration role. As opposed to the video I ran on Scout which shows Williams throwing various offerings, these clips illustrate a number of the exercises Marshall prescribes.

Marshall is a polarizing figure in organized ball as his methodologies are in conflict with traditional pitching teaching methods. Yet other than the low-risk signing of the 28-year-old Williams, I have seen no indication that the Cardinals are doing anything other than looking into what Marshall has to say.

Even that may seem threatening to some, but I wonder what harm could be caused in being open-minded about new and different ways to teach and learn. Still, in a tradition-laden environment like baseball or journalism for that matter, old ways die hard and new ones are notoriously slow to take root.

This Marshall-Williams situation seems to have resurfaced ongoing problems within the Cardinals organization. In the midst of sharing always-interesting details in his weekly chat on Wednesday, the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss said this in response to a question about Williams:

“Your information is correct and represents an obvious split between player development and the major-league staff. Marshall has been seeking audiences with numerous major-league organizations trying to regain a toe-hold in the industry. A former colleague at the P-D has been working on a tome with Marshall. The Williams signing caught the attention of many in the system and served as a reminder that pitching philosophies are becoming increasingly factionalized. The “classic mechanics” was tested on Adam Ottavino last year with less than positive results. Others in the system believe the concept has value. Minor league pitching instructor Brent Strom also has ideas considered unconventional by many. To the Kool-Aid drinkers, this has little meaning. But to those with eyes wide open, it’s an example of an organization operating on different pages writing different chapters.”

The first and last sentences really make it clear. Strauss, who has as frequent access to the major league staff as anyone not employed by the Cardinals, is clearly pointing out a continuing rift between the Tony La Russa – Dave Duncan staff and the administration of Luhnow.

Later, in response to another question, Strauss came back to the subject, pointing out there are dissenters in other places than just St. Louis.

“Some organizations install a vertical flow chart where major league philosophy is implemented throughout the system. That does not apply with the Cardinals. The defection and firing of a number of instructors since Walt Jocketty’s ouster underscores “new” organizational thinking. The Cardinals retain a number of solid instructors and coaches, especially on the pitching side. However, those instructors are not consulted in crafting philosophy.”

There is no reason to believe that this is an exception to the old line, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire”. The most relevant question may be to wonder “What will be done about it?”

As many Cardinals fans know, La Russa is in his 14th season managing in St. Louis and he and his coaches are not under contract for 2010 and beyond.

Luhnow has been with the organization for 5 ½ years with his first draft considered to be the Class of 2005. Of that group, five players have made the majors to date, including the top two picks reaching this season, Colby Rasmus and Tyler Greene. The others are Mitchell Boggs, Nick Stavinoha and Jaime Garcia, all first called up in 2008.

2006 has delivered Chris Perez, Shane Robinson and P.J. Walters to the majors so far. No players from 2007 or 2008 have arrived in St. Louis, though Jess Todd from the former year and Brett Wallace from last June may be closest. None are yet impact players, with Rasmus generally considered to have the best chance.

In a related vein, I must admit that I have received several notes from readers and bloggers alike in recent weeks questioning negative language from certain P-D writers that at times borders on condescending when referring to the farm system and those who cover it. For example, during Strauss’ Wednesday chat, he said the following in addition to the quote above:

“Depth is an issue here, despite what you may have heard about the burgeoning farm system from various media outlets and team mouthpieces.”

“It’s dangerous to drink Kool-Aid while reading your Baseball America.”

“There is NO support within the dugout for promoting Wallace any time soon. It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to give the kid more than 50 at-bats at Memphis before pulling that trigger. To Wallace’s credit, he has no problem insisting his bat is major league-ready. Apparently he’s been reading a number of Cardinal-related Teen Beat-type blogs.”

At first blush, I admit it was disappointing to read such comments from a pro like Strauss. On the other hand, the “JSL (Live)” format allows Strauss to express himself in a more direct, new-school manner than his traditional articles can likely allow – not unlike a blogger blogging.

Perhaps most importantly, I come back to a point I made above about organizational contacts and orientation. Are these Strauss’ personal feelings, is he reporting the kinds of things he is hearing from the major league staff or some indistinguishable blend of the two?

I’ve discussed minor league coverage with Joe as recently as earlier this month, but didn’t come away with a definitive reading. In hindsight, does it really matter?

It is clear that the Post-Dispatch writers do not speak with one voice, which is certainly good. I still felt it necessary to point out to Joe that Baseball America’s Cardinals writer is one of his P-D peers and one of the fluffiest articles I can recall reading about the Cardinals farm system in the last few years recently ran in his own very newspaper.

Again, I want to be clear that this isn’t about Joe Strauss or any other writer personally. Look at their words and consider where they’re coming from. Everyone has an angle and a perspective.

As Strauss noted on Wednesday in response to another question about the 2010 Cardinals:

“Some of what happens will be dependent on who is managing the club.”

Certainly food for thought.

MLB celebrates keeping fans from seeing games


I was amazed to learn that Major League Baseball is so proud of their ability to restrict fans from seeing game broadcasts that they are protecting the capability. Not only that, they want the world to know it.

MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (MLBAM) is known as the extremely profitable arm that introduced MLB.tv, the online video server for streaming games live and on-demand said to be the most successful subscription service on the entire internet.

The technology used by MLBAM for a system and method that identifies the location of an Internet user has been recognized with a U.S. patent, officially given number 7,486,943.

The purpose of the system is to determine if a user is eligible to receive the video feed of a particular game given television blackout restrictions. The system determines the location of an subscriber using Internet protocol addresses and compares it with a set of predefined rules to determine whether the user will be allowed to access to the requested content.

MLBAM has proudly boasted that it believes the patent is the first issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to the baseball industry in the modern era.

You’ll have to excuse me for not joining in the celebration. There are so many areas to be concerned about here that I can barely count them all.

First and foremost, with MLB it is always about money. In this case, it is protecting the golden goose they have raised in MLB.tv. Can you imagine the horrors, the tragedy, if one of their paying customers accidentally was able to see a game that MLB deems they shouldn’t?

Let’s say you were caught at work and couldn’t get home to see the game on television. Instead you wanted to tune it in on your computer at the office. Sorry. MLBAM’s world-class technology will ensure you can’t.

After all, why should fans be able to see games they wouldn’t otherwise be able to? In MLB-think, that is apparently bad business.

Wouldn’t it be great if MLB would decide to invest as much energy and resources in fixing their amazingly complex and overlapping broadcast territories and the confusing and frustrating blackouts inherent with them as they do in defending them?

In fact, three years ago, Commissioner Bud Selig promised to get to the bottom of the territorial rights issue.

“I don’t understand (blackouts) myself,” Selig said. “I get blacked out from some games.”


“Right now,” he said, “I don’t know what to do about it. We’ll figure it out.”


“I hear more about people who can’t get the game,” Selig said, “and, yes, I’ve already told our people we have to do something about it.”

Apparently what his “people” have done since 2006 has been to make it even more difficult for fans all over the country to see Major League Baseball games. And now they have the patent to prove it.


And they’re not stopping there. MLBAM has an additional ten patent applications pending approval, likely all intended to generate even more money while further decreasing fan-friendliness.


Congratulations, MLB. You may not seem to care much about fans, but you’re definitely consistent.

The Cardinals organization roster matrix: VSL version


Hopefully, you have been here to the site previously and know what the Cardinals organization roster matrix is all about. If not, here is a quick summary:

The St. Louis Cardinals currently have at least 281 players under contract. The matrix places each one at his current assigned level in the system as well as by position. It is kept updated throughout the season.

The occasion for this refresh is the opening of the Venezuelan Summer League season. Subscribers to Scout.com can read more about what I’ve written there on the subject, but here we have an overview of the 34-man VSL opening roster.

The next update of the roster matrix should be coming within the next ten days to two weeks as the Dominican Summer League will open. Following that, the players in Extended Spring Training will couple with next month’s draftees to define the 2009 Batavia, Johnson City and Gulf Coast League rosters.

For details behind the codes used in the matrix as well as 2009 transactions to date, check out the earlier versions of the Cardinals organization roster matrix as follows:

Link to previous matrices: January – March, 2009, April – May, 2009

Transactions

May 19 update: Signed VSL pitchers John De Aguas, Angelo Echeverria, Johnny Polanco, Ramon Ulacio and Dail Villanueva. New total 281.

May 20 update: RHP Chris Carpenter activated by StL, OF Shane Robinson optioned to Mem.

May 21 update: LHP Jonny Bravo to QC DL. RHR Jason Buursma from EST to QC. Mem C Brandon Yarbrough placed on DL eff 5/20. LHR Charlie Manning outrighted off 40-man roster.

May 23 update: OF Jon Edwards placed on QC DL. OF Jairo Martinez from EST to QC. 1B Mark Hamilton to Spr DL. 1B Matt Arburr from PB to Spr.

May 24 update: OF Rick Ankiel activated from DL, SS Tyler Greene optioned to Mem. Spr LHR Joe Williams released. RHR Eduardo Sanchez from PB to Spr. RHR Casey Mulligan QC to PB. New total 280.

May 25 update: RHS David Kopp from PB to Spr. RHR Joel Pichardo from EST to QC. RHR Kyle Mura to Spr DL. IF Donovan Solano returned to Spr from Mem.

May 27 update: RHS Josh Wilson placed on restricted list from QC active roster. RHS Brett Zawacki from EST to QC. Spr RHR Eddie Degerman to DL.

May 29 update: OF Ryan Ludwick activated from DL. SS Khalil Greene placed on 15-day DL. OF Joe Mather activated from Mem DL. 1B Javier Brito placed on Mem DL. Eff 5/31, QC moves to five-man rotation with Adam Veres and Scott McGregor to the pen.

May 30 update: 2B Aaron Luna activated from QC DL and assigned to PB. LHR Kristhiam Linares activated from Spr DL and assigned to PB.

June 1 update: RHS Deryk Hooker activated from QC restricted list and assigned to EST (Batavia). RHS Nick Additon to PB DL, RHR Shaun Garceau to PB DL. IF Oliver Marmol act from PB DL. RHP Elvis Hernandez activated from Spr DL and assigned to PB.

June 3 update: RHS Tyler Herron released from Spr. RHR Eddie Degerman act from Spr DL. New total 280.

June 4 update: RHR Blaine Boyer DFAed. RHR Jess Todd from Mem to StL. LHR Ian Ostlund act from Mem DL.

June 5 update: RHS Kyle Lohse onto StL DL. IF Tyler Greene from Mem to StL. C Blake Murphy act from QC DL and promoted to PB.

June 6 update: C Nick Derba promoted from PB to Spr. RHS Blake Hawksworth from Mem to StL. RHR Jess Todd from StL to Mem. IF Donovan Solano from Spr to Mem.


The St. Louis Cardinals Roster Matrix (effective 06/06/09)

St. Louis (25+5) 40-man (38)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Carpenter Franklin LaRue Pujols Schumaker K Greene (i)
 Glaus (i) Ankiel
Lohse (i)
 Thompson Molina Thurston Ryan Duncan
Pineiro McClellan Barden Ludwick
Wainwright Motte (4) T Greene (16) Rasmus (1)
Wellemeyer C Perez Stavinoha (35)
Ja Garcia (9iL) Miller (L)
Hawksworth Reyes (L)

Memphis (24+5)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF

Boyer (DFA) Anderson (3) Brito (i) Hoffpauir Solano Craig (18) Jay (12)
Mortensen (11) Salas (31) Pagnozzi Rowlett Freese (5i) Mather
Parisi (i) Scherer Yarbrough (i) Wallace (2) Shorey
Walters (17) Kinney (20) Robinson (27)
Ottavino (15) Maekawa (L)
Boggs (10) Ostlund (L)
MacLane (L) Manning (L)
Ring (L)
Todd (7)
Others (1)
Cazana
(Mexico)
Springfield (24+8)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Kopp (28) Mura (i) Hill (34) A Brown (i) Descalso Kozma (8) Folli Jones (6)
M Gonzalez T Cruz (36) Hamilton (i) Jo Martinez (37ti) Rapoport
Hearne Degerman Derba C Smith (40) Ant. DeJesus
Fiske (iL) Parise Arburr Henley
Lynn (14) Samuel (21)
Kulik (L) McCormick (i)
Dew (i)
Norrick (L)
Dickson
Furnish (L)
Sanchez
Maiques (susp)
Palm Beach (25+2)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Broderick Diapoules Rivera Marmol Bolivar Curtis Chambers
R Castillo (19) Eager Vazquez Jo Garcia Sedbrook Pham
Additon (26iL) King Murphy Luna (39) Peterson
Gorgen (22) Reifer (24) Swauger
Fick Linares (L)
Freeman (L)
Garceau (29i)
Mulligan
E Hernandez
Quad Cities (25+4)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Daley, Jr. Carpenter Cutler Morales Toribio Vasquez (13) Parejo
Zawacki Delgado Espinoza A Castellanos Edwards (23i)
Buursma Lilley P Cruz
Bravo (iL) Rosales Toribio Bogany
Bradford (i) M Tapia Mitchell
Nieto Pichardo Ja Martinez
Cardenas (L) Veres
Thomas McGregor
J Wilson (restr)
Ext. Spring (63)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
A Cruz A Castillo A Perez D Medina Landin Alvarez Teran Babrick
Ang. De Jesus Castro Rigoli L Mateo Y Castillo R DeLaCruz (38) Gomez
Arredondo Calero Cawley Scruggs Mambell Hage
Blazek Frevert L DeLaCruz Mosquera Ingram
Diaz Maertz Moscatel Obregon
Fornataro Mayes Polanco R Ruiz Lara
Javier Munoz Alcala Valera Rivero
Leach Orozco R Rodriguez
North Ortiz R Rosario
Notti Riportella
R Gonzalez Rondon Shepherd
Rada Russell Swinson
Richardson Y Gonzalez
Rios J Castellanos (L)
Santos Siegrist (L)
Hooker (32)
A Ferrara (L)
G Brown (L)
EST (visa delay 2)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Estalis J Castillo (susp)
Batavia (TBD)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Johnson City (TBD)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
GCL (TBD)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
DSL (32)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
A Tapia Concepcion V Ferreira Pimentel Avila Cabrera Villar Beras
Franco E Rivera L Perez Hiraldo G Hernandez Encarnacion
Jimenez M Martinez Montero J Lopez J Pena
Pasen Pinard W Perez Reyes
Urena D Rodriguez (L) Sandoval
Herrera (L) Mercedes (L) Taveras
L Rosario (L) P Pena (L)
Uribe (L)
VSL (34+1)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Avendano Cedeno Rivas R Perez M Marquez O Medina H Garcia Argenal
Bier F Marquez Viloria Vargas Yegues Cortez
Corpas Guzman Velazco Vivas (susp) H Martina Fonseca
Nieves Polanco Inojoza
Oraa Ulacio A Castellano
Colorado (L) Ramos Martines
Solarte
Weffer (L)
R Alvarado (L)
De Aguas (L)
Echeverria (L)
Villanueva (L)

Codes:

(#): My Cardinals prospect ranking from over the winter at Scout.com

(i): injured – on the disabled list

(t): temporary inactive list

(susp): suspended list

(restr): restricted list

(L) left-handed pitcher

Bold: on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster

(#+#) number of active players on the roster plus number of inactive (i+t+susp+restr) players

Is not signing minor league vets really the Cards’ problem?


In recent days, I have seen several columns in the traditional news media that regularly cover the St. Louis Cardinals engage in what for them is a continuing theme – second-guessing the organization’s commitment to building from within.

What is currently stuck in my craw is a new variation on the theme – complaining over the Cardinals not having signed a gaggle of minor league veterans during the winter to have on the ready at Triple-A Memphis.

Certainly the rash of injuries that the Cardinals have encountered in 2009, already driving them to call upon 11 rookies, is beyond any measure of comfort. In other words, no matter what Memphis’ roster looked like, when you have to promote that many players in such a short period of time, the level of play is destined to diminish. After all, if the minor league players were better, they generally wouldn’t have been down there in the first place.

My fundamental concern is over what I feel is a very questionable assumption inherent in the basic complaint mentioned above. The implication is that when called upon to help out in the majors, a minor league veteran will outperform a younger product of the farm system.

Put aside for the moment the very valid question of whether the veterans would be blocking prospects from advancing up into the top levels of the system and just consider the veterans themselves.

The example of Ryan Ludwick is often trotted out as if he could be the norm, rather than the anomaly he is. (Ludwick joined the organization on a minor league contract for 2007 and by 2008 became a National League All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner.)

If only they all could be so good. Instead, here is a dose of reality.

Looking back 13 months, ten veterans that had been signed from outside the organization to minor league contracts made the roster of the 2008 Memphis Redbirds as they broke camp. They were:

Pitchers: Joe Rogers, John Wasdin, Hugo Castellanos, Ron Flores and Cliff Politte.

Catchers: Gabe Johnson and Mark Johnson.

Infielders: Josh Phelps and D’Angelo Jimenez.

Outfielders: Juan Gonzalez (temporary inactive list).

In addition, one could include an 11th player, third baseman Rico Washington (pictured). The then-30-year-old, in his 12th season as a professional, actually made the 2008 Major League club out of spring training as a non-roster invitee due to a training camp injury suffered by Brendan Ryan. Hitting .158, Washington didn’t last three weeks in the bigs.

A 12th veteran signing was starting pitcher Dewon Brazelton, but the right-hander didn’t even make it through spring training camp before being released.

Now, let’s step back for a moment and consider the situation in St. Louis last season to verify there was adequate opportunity for these veterans.

There was. After all, during the 2008 regular season, the Cardinals called up eleven different players from the minors for their first exposure to the big leagues. Washington and Rule 5 pick Brian Barton were the only two that didn’t come up through the Cardinals farm system.

Meanwhile, of the ten minor league vets that began the season with Memphis noted above, not a single one of them received a call to help the big league club last season. Not one.

Instead, the Cardinals selected the rookie every time in 2008 when help was needed.

Phelps and Mark Johnson, both over 30 like Washington, but different in that each had considerable past MLB service time, did receive promotions when rosters expanded in September. They did next to nothing and both departed shortly thereafter.

The others? Rogers and Politte were injured almost all year, Castellanos and Gabe Johnson were released before July was out and Gonzalez never played in the regular season after being injured during spring camp. Like Phelps and Mark Johnson, Wasdin, Flores and Jimenez stuck it out all season, but unlike them, they didn’t earn promotions. Not a one remains with the Cardinals organization today, nor are any missed.

In summary, here are grand totals of the 12 named minor league veterans’ results with the 2008 Cardinals. Johnson’s .627 OPS was the best of the three that made it.

2008 Cardinals Age G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+
Josh Phelps 30 19 34 4 9 1 0 0 1 0 2 11 0.265 0.306 0.294 0.600 60
Mark Johnson 32 10 17 1 5 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 0.294 0.333 0.294 0.627 68
Rico Washington 30 14 19 2 3 2 0 0 3 0 3 6 0.158 0.273 0.263 0.536 43

So the next time someone suggests the Cardinals should have signed more minor league free agents this season, ask him or her to show you which ones contributed last year.

If you didn’t know already, now you are aware there weren’t any.

The Milwaukee Cardinals?


Recently, I became aware of a most interesting article by fellow SABR member Gordon Hylton that is especially topical given the current Milwaukee at St. Louis series. The subject is the potential risk of Major League Baseball losing its antitrust exemption within the context of the sale of the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 1953 season.

Specifically, at least one set of interested buyers from Milwaukee, Hylton’s current home, actually outbid August Busch in their attempt to purchase the Cardinals from Fred Saigh (pictured). That group, also led by a beer baron, Fredrick C. Miller of the Miller Brewing Company, appeared to have won at one point during the early months of 1953.

The Cardinals owner had been convicted of tax evasion in Federal court and sentenced to prison time. As such, he was being forced to divest his 90 percent interest in the team, but when push came to shove, Saigh took $450,000 less to keep the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Though history has painted Saigh positively due to his willingness to take less money to avoid moving the Cards, Hylton suggests there may have been another motive – the move to Milwaukee may have been turned down by the other owners. A possible by-product could have been a court test of Major League Baseball’s important antitrust exemption.

At the same time, Bill Veeck’s St. Louis Browns were in serious financial difficulty. Hylton considers how the baseball landscape might have looked had the Browns stayed, the Cardinals left and the Braves didn’t leave Boston for Milwaukee. The impact may have been wide-spread, including how baseball eventually annexed the West Coast.

The article ends with the open question of whether the Milwaukee Cardinals would have moved to Atlanta in 1966 as the Braves did.

For all the fascinating details, check out the link below.

Milwaukee Cardinals Baseball Team v. Major League Baseball (1953): The Antitrust Case That Might Have Changed the Face of the National Pastime

As an aside, Hylton taught at Washington University in the early 1990s and became hooked on the Cardinals during the Joe Torre era. He is now on the faculty of Marquette University’s law school.

Book review: “St. Louis Cardinals Past & Present”


Another new book about the St. Louis Cardinals has hit the bookstores this spring. St. Louis Cardinals Past & Present by Doug Feldmann covers the history of the franchise from its 1880’s roots to the current edition. Perfect for coffee table showing off, the book pictures the players, managers, facilities and fans from over 120 years of Cardinals baseball.

To collect the photos, a number of which I had never seen before, Feldmann not only hit the standard sources like the Associated Press and Getty Images, but also dug into the collections of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the United States Library of Congress.

I didn’t count them, but I would estimate the 9 ¼ inch by 11 inch, 144-page hardcover book averages at least two photos per page, with a mixture of black and white and color as appropriate for the vintage.

St. Louis Cardinals Past & Present includes photo sections with accompanying dialogue of players by position as well as intriguing chapters on such subjects as Gaffes and Controversies, The Rivalries, Bad Boys, Hard-Luck Players, Voices of the Cardinals and much more.

Feldmann’s passion and knowledge of Cardinals baseball really comes through. His parents grew up in St. Louis and southern Illinois respectively, so he appreciates the regional breadth and success of the franchise.

He serves as a professor in the College of Education and Human Services at Northern Kentucky University and knows the game from a hands-on perspective as demonstrated by his part-time role as a scout for the Cincinnati Reds.

A member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Feldmann has written eight books about baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals, including Dizzy and the Gashouse Gang: The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals and Depression-Era Baseball, Fleeter Than Birds: The 1985 St. Louis Cardinals and Small Ball’s Last Hurrah, and El Birdos: The 1967 and 1968 St. Louis Cardinals.

As we head toward Father’s Day, consider St. Louis Cardinals Past & Present as a very appropriate gift for the most important Cardinals fan in your family – Dad – or just pick up a copy for yourself.

Selected contents can be viewed at Amazon.com.

And Maiques makes four and 13 suspended Cardinals


Major League Baseball announced on Friday that St. Louis Cardinals minor league reliever Kenny Maiques (Springfield – pictured) has been suspended 50 games due to a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The commissioner’s office said that Maiques tested positive for “a drug of abuse,” but did not disclose the specific drug.

It is similar wording and result from just one month ago when Quad Cities starting pitcher Deryk Hooker was handed down the same suspension for the same basic reason.

The pair join two other Cardinals farmhands currently suspended. They are catcher Juan Castillo (Extended Spring Training) and second baseman Wilfred Vivas (Venezuelan Summer League).

Since 2005, the Cardinals have seen 13 of their Major or Minor Leaguers face suspension for drug violations. That total ranks as tied for fourth-highest among the 30 organizations and five suspensions above the average of eight.

While all of the Cards 13 hailed from the minors, current Cardinal Rick Ankiel was mentioned in the Mitchell Report as was Troy Glaus, called out for actions before he joined the club. Neither faced any disciplinary action from MLB.

The list of suspended Cardinals players since 2005 follows. Announced reasons vary from performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to specific substances to drugs of abuse, generally considered recreational drugs as opposed to PEDs.

Date Player Name Substance Length
4/4/2005 Sal Frisella PEDs 15 games
5/13/2005 Jeremy Cummings PEDs 15 games
4/18/2006 Yonathan Sivira PEDs 50 games
8/2/2006 Marcos Chavez PEDs 50 games
8/2/2006 Jonathan Gonzalez PEDs 50 games
2/20/2008 Scott Vander Weg PEDs 50 games
7/29/2008 Braulin Beltre Boldenone 50 games
7/29/2008 Andres Beras Boldenone 50 games
7/29/2008 Yedilson Pena Boldenone 50 games
8/25/2008 Juan Castillo Stanozolol 50 games
12/1/2008 Wilfred Vivas Methandienone 50 games
4/9/2009 Deryk Hooker Drug of Abuse 50 games
5/15/2009 Kenny Maiques Drug of Abuse 50 games

Though I have not dug into movement of suspended players in detail, I found it interesting to note the Cardinals also signed four former Seattle Mariners who had previously been suspended, including current Major League closer Ryan Franklin. (The others were Troy Cate, Ryan Christianson and Omar Falcon, none of whom are still employed by the Cardinals today.)

With all the attempts at education, the core issue is driven by decisions made by young men, not clubs and as such, this is not intended to be an indictment of any organization. Also, the number of additional users not caught is of course unknown. Still, being prominently mentioned on this list of total suspensions since 2005 is not where any club would like to be.

Number Clubs
3 Indians, Red Sox
4 Astros, Nationals
5 Brewers
6 Marlins, Phillies, Rays, Tigers, White Sox
7 Braves, Padres, Rockies, Twins
8 MLB average, (none), Angels, D-Backs, Orioles, Pirates
9 Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants, Yankees
10 Athletics
11 Reds
12 Royals
13 Cardinals, Rangers
14 Mariners
15 Mets
16 Cubs
257 Total

(Note: “none” designates those players not a member of any organization at the time of their suspension.)

It is enlightening to scan the totals by team, with the Chicago Cubs bringing up the rear with the most players caught, 16, over five times the two clubs with the fewest suspensions, the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox at three each.

Of course, this simply indicates the organization of record at the time the player tested positive. For example, the furor over the Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez’ recent suspension may have been felt nearly as strongly in Boston, where he helped lead the Red Sox to two World Series championships as in his current employment location, Los Angeles.


Hearty tips of the cap are given to the Biz of Baseball blog and longgandhi.com, among the sites where suspension details are maintained.

April highs and May Lohse


The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a disappointing 2-4 road trip as perennial National League Central Division doormats Cincinnati and Pittsburgh wiped their cleats on St. Louis. As a result, the club is on the verge of falling out of the division’s top spot for the first time since the fifth day of the season.

Returning home to face co-NL Central leader the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend, the Cards are asking veteran right-hander Kyle Lohse to right the skid that includes seven losses in their last 11 games. Two of those defeats were taken by Lohse.

While the surging Brewers (17 for their last 22, best in baseball) just added top prospect Mat Gamel to their roster, the reeling and injured Redbirds have had to call on the likes of lesser lights Shane Robinson and Nick Stavinoha for reinforcement that has not yet been delivered.

Lohse will make his team-high eighth start on Friday in the first game of the homestand, but seems an unlikely source to provide a slump-stopping performance.

The Cardinals have fallen in each of the last three games Lohse has started and as noted above, he picked up the loss in both of the last two. His most-recent appearance was last Saturday, May 9 at Cincinnati. The club was defeated 8-3 as Lohse pitched six innings and allowed seven runs.

You won’t find encouragement when you look at Lohse’s past against the Brewers, either. He has made ten career starts against Milwaukee and holds a 3-3 record and a 5.22 ERA. In Lohse’s three starts against the Brew Crew last season, the Cardinals lost each one, though he had help as he did not receive a decision in any of them.

The 30-year-old allowed three runs over eight innings in his last start against Milwaukee on July 22 of last season, as the Brewers scored in the top of the ninth for a 4-3 win. Kyle McClellan took that loss as the Cardinals would go on to be swept four straight at home to close out their first homestand of the second half.

The month of May has not been kind to Lohse to date. After beginning the season at 3-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five April starts, he is 0-2 with an 11.32 ERA so far this month.

In fact, May has always been a problem for Lohse. In 38 career starts during this month, he is 12-17, with the .414 winning mark the worst in any such period over the career 81-82 hurler’s nine-year MLB history. His aggregate May ERA is 4.90.

The right-hander has been pitching through back and knee soreness, dealt with the flu and was recently struck on his non-pitching elbow by a batted ball. Partially as a result, both Lohse and Adam Wainwright were given an extra day of rest this time through the rotation.

The slumping Cardinals badly need a member of their struggling rotation to somehow find a way to come up with a well-pitched victory. During this 11-game period, the club’s starters have made just two quality starts (six innings or more, three runs or fewer).

Friday offers Lohse a turn to take his best shot.

SI: DeWitt third-best MLB owner


On their website, SI.com, Sports Illustrated has unveiled their view of the five best and five worst owners in each of the four major professional team sports, including Major League Baseball.

The only National League club represented on the “best” list is the St. Louis Cardinals. Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr. (pictured) was singled out as the third-best owner in MLB, after John Henry/Tom Lerner/Larry Lucchino of the Boston Red Sox and Arte Moreno of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The NL has two owners among the “worst” five, though neither is from the Central Division. They are Ted Lerner of the Washington Nationals at five and Jeffrey Loria of the Florida Marlins as fourth-worst.

The method used took into account both objective and subjective measures. Among the criteria:

  • Willingness to spend money to improve the team
  • Stability and capabilities of the front office and management
  • Amenities at the team’s venue
  • The club’s culture and interactivity with fans
  • The team’s success or failure on the field

In recent years, several local media personalities and a vocal segment of Cardinals followers have hounded DeWitt for his alleged cheapness in matters of player payroll to the point of childish and unprofessional name-calling and worse.

They will be the last to accept the fact that team ownership is being recognized nationally as one of the best. Chances are the critics haven’t followed the club long enough to remember the Cardinals of the early 1990s, underfunded and non-competitive on the field.

Worse than that, how would they like to Cards to change owners with the cross-state Kansas City Royals, for example? (Hint: The Royals’ David Glass is number three on SI’s “worst” list.)

Some folks just don’t know when they have it good. Sadly by the time they realize it, it will be too late. The rest of us should continue to enjoy and appreciate the consistent competitive, winning baseball this ownership group has enabled over the last decade and a half.

In doing so, Cards fans do not have to stop yearning for improvement. I bet ownership would be the first to agree that they want the same. Yet expectations need to remain realistic, as in each season, 29 of 30 teams are destined to fall short.

Those who try to paint all Cardinals fans into one of two polarized corners – either “Kool-Aid drinkers” or “nay-sayers” – are as clueless as Baltimore’s Peter Angelos, baseball’s worst owner.

Wellemeyer underscores Cards starting pitching woes


Anyone who caught Tuesday’s St. Louis Cardinals series opener in Pittsburgh witnessed Todd Wellemeyer get hammered 7-1 by a badly slumping Pittsburgh Pirates club, losers of eight straight and 12 of their last 13 games coming in.

It was such a bad evening that when Wellemeyer tried to retaliate against a pair of Cardinals hit batters by firing a pitch up at Freddy Sanchez, he missed the second baseman entirely, throwing behind him.

But the subject of this post isn’t to complain about Wellemeyer, who allowed seven runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings. Instead, it is a quick look at the troubles of the Cardinals starting pitchers as a group this season to-date.

In the big picture, Chris Carpenter remains on the disabled list, Adam Wainwright is consistently allowing too many baserunners, Kyle Lohse and Joel Pineiro were sick then off their respective games and Mitchell Boggs remains youthfully inconsistent.

On one hand, even with the Tuesday loss, the starters in aggregate have a 15-8 (.652) record, among the best in the National League.

A look at their numbers in greater depth illustrates some of the problems. The table below lists the NL starting pitching stats by team coming into Tuesday’s game ranked by ERA. I then added Wellemeyer’s Tuesday line into the totals, giving the up-to-date Cardinals a second line.

RK CLUB W L PCT ERA G IP H TBF R ER HR BB SO AVG
1 LOS ANGELES 14 6 0.700 3.70 33 185 149 776 80 76 12 84 153 0.224
2 SAN FRANCISCO 11 10 0.524 3.96 31 179.2 160 764 82 79 21 82 175 0.241
3 ATLANTA 13 12 0.520 3.99 32 189.2 176 812 93 84 20 73 162 0.246
(4) St. Louis (5/11) 15 7 0.682 4.00 32 189 205 811 96 84 14 64 125 0.281
4 PITTSBURGH 11 13 0.458 4.04 31 189.1 183 803 91 85 18 70 100 0.261
5 ARIZONA 8 16 0.333 4.14 33 193.1 184 814 92 89 29 65 148 0.250
6 CINCINNATI 17 11 0.607 4.14 32 198 188 843 99 91 25 76 150 0.251
7 HOUSTON 7 12 0.368 4.17 32 172.2 178 741 84 80 13 67 124 0.274
8 MILWAUKEE 10 10 0.500 4.19 32 187 170 803 93 87 27 75 145 0.242
9 CHICAGO 13 8 0.619 4.22 31 185.2 176 791 91 87 27 70 171 0.251
10 St. Louis (5/12) 15 8 0.652 4.24 33 193.1 214 836 103 91 16 67 129 0.285
11 NEW YORK 15 8 0.652 4.42 31 175 167 767 91 86 18 82 138 0.253
12 COLORADO 9 11 0.450 4.59 30 170.2 169 747 94 87 20 74 121 0.259
13 FLORIDA 8 12 0.400 4.61 32 183.1 196 809 104 94 19 65 141 0.271
14 SAN DIEGO 5 11 0.313 4.71 32 179.2 174 772 99 94 16 80 144 0.259
15 WASHINGTON 9 11 0.450 5.16 31 167.1 199 770 116 96 22 78 96 0.295
16 PHILADELPHIA 7 10 0.412 6.28 29 157.2 196 722 110 110 38 58 114 0.308

On Monday, the Cards starters were fourth in the league in ERA at an even four runs per game. Once Wellemeyer’s Tuesday performance was added in, almost a quarter run per nine innings was lumped on the starters. That would drop them all the way from fourth down to tenth in the NL.

Another indication of the concern is the batting average of the opposing hitters. Prior to Tuesday, the Cardinals starters were touched for a .281 batting average, third-worst in the league. Wellemeyer raised that to .285 on Tuesday.

There is some positive news in that Carpenter is inching closer to a return, perhaps taking the mound in rehab later in the week, but the current five starters seem to be struggling all at once. With Monday’s day off, instead of skipping Boggs this time through, Tony La Russa instead decided to give Lohse and Wainwright an extra day of rest. It seems early for that, but given everything it is probably a good thing.

As a result of the difficulties, the Cardinals are playing only .500 ball over their last ten games. Obviously, over the long haul, that won’t be good enough. While St. Louis is still on top of the NL Central, they are also just two games out of where they finished last season – in fourth place.

The Cards’ 25th man, the DH and MLB indecision


Over on the Scout.com message board, there is a lot of angst over the use of the final, 25th spot on the St. Louis Cardinals active roster. As the season began, it was deployed in the traditional manner, on a position player, but as the club headed into a brutal stretch of consecutive games, manager Tony La Russa went to eight relievers and 13 pitchers overall.

With a short bench, starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer made a pinch-hit appearance in a bunting situation on Sunday, following fellow rotation member Adam Wainwright in being called upon to hit on a day off this season.

A number of fans have been critical of carrying the extra pitcher, with some in favor of simply shifting the roster balance back from pitching to hitting, dumping a pitcher such as Brad Thompson (pictured) in the process. Others with a more radical and longer-term view want to see MLB rosters expanded beyond 25.

While the Players Association would likely be all for such an idea, ownership would surely be just as against bearing the additional costs inherent in adding another 30, 60 or 90 major leaguers in perpetuity.

Putting money aside, I am apparently in the minority, but I kind of like the fact the current roster size forces managers to make creative tradeoffs late in games. Others seem to enjoy what I feel are more robotic moves common in the American League due to the long-time deployment of the designated hitter.

For those who want to see change, a way to perhaps negotiate expanded roster sizes would be in dealing with the DH disconnect once and for all. While I obviously have a personal bias in one direction, I am even stronger in my opinion that the two leagues should have a uniform rule.

Show me another major sport anywhere that has such an important difference in basic rules between leagues. It is nutty – a three-year trial that never ended. Either adopt it universally or dump it.

I see this issue as the poster child of the reign of Bud Selig – the master of indecision and inaction.

Then again, if you would argue in favor of replacing this problem with inconsistent and self-governed umpiring, rampant unchecked use of performance enhancing drugs, inexplicable television broadcast territories that arbitrarily restrict fans from seeing their team’s games or any number of other broken parts of America’s Pastime, I couldn’t disagree.

La Russa’s coaching legacy: Part two


In part one of this article, I introduced the question of whether a factor in assessing a manager’s lifetime impact should include the number of future managers he developed. It is an not an area in which St. Louis’ Tony La Russa has excelled compared to some of his most prominent peers.

More prolific MLB managerial breeders such as Bobby Cox and Mike Scioscia were cited as well as a look at several more expansive coaching trees in the National Football League.

In La Russa’s 31-year managerial career, he has employed at least* 41 different coaches. Only two of them later became first-time managers, Jim Leyland and Jim Lefebvre. Neither occurred in the last 20 years.

Also note the ages of these gentlemen. They are contemporaries of La Russa, not younger men mentored by the manager.

Current age Years managing
Tony La Russa 64 30+
MLB manager post-TLR Current age # years with TLR Hired mgr
Jim Lefebvre 67 2 before, 2 after 1989
Jim Leyland 64 4 before 1986

Since 1979, La Russa also employed four others who had been Major League skippers prior to joining his staff.

In one case, that of Rene Lachemann, the individual returned to coaching for La Russa after having been fired as a skipper elsewhere but later left the staff for his third MLB managerial shot. Two of them, Doug Rader and Bobby Winkles, were only with La Russa for a short time some years years ago.

Current Cardinals hitting coach Hal McRae managed both Kansas City and Tampa Bay in the past. He is now in his fifth season in St. Louis. Notice again the ages of all these coaches compared to La Russa.

MLB manager pre-TLR Current age # years with TLR TLR years
Hal McRae 63 4+ 2005-current
Rene Lachemann 64 9 87-92, 97-99
Doug Rader 64 1.5 1986, 1992
Bobby Winkles 79 3 1979-1981

The positive side of this story is related to the clear benefits received through a staff that has remained together over a very long time. Yet some see it as ideal with no downside to La Russa’s approach.

I disagree.

It has been years since the Cardinals organization has rewarded one of their minor league coaches with the visibility of a spot on the big league staff. Specifically, it hasn’t happened since Joe Pettini (front left, pictured with La Russa) joined in 2002. Technically, he had been minor league field coordinator since last coaching in the minors in 1996, La Russa’s first year in St. Louis.

When La Russa added a new position to his staff prior to last season, assistant hitting coach, he brought in one of his former Oakland players, Mike Aldrete, instead of promoting from within.

I have no way of knowing why La Russa adopted this approach, whether it is his legendary attention to detail, tenacity or something else, but I do see this as one area in his sure Hall of Fame career in which he has lagged behind.

Even when third base coach Jose Oquendo is given his managerial chance, it will not dramatically open up La Russa’s notoriously dry pipeline.


Bonus: Following are the year-by-year details of La Russa’s 31 years of coaching staffs. The ages of the current coaches are noted in parentheses below. Those who were MLB managers at some point are in bold.

StL Pitching Bench 1B 3B Hitting Bullpen
2009 Dave Duncan (63) Joe Pettini (54) Dave McKay (59) Jose Oquendo (45) Hal McRae (63) Marty Mason (51)
2008 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Hal McRae Marty Mason
2007 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Hal McRae Marty Mason
2006 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Hal McRae Marty Mason
2005 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Hal McRae Marty Mason
2004 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Mitchell Page Marty Mason
2003 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Mitchell Page Marty Mason
2002 Dave Duncan Joe Pettini Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Mitchell Page Marty Mason
2001 Dave Duncan Mark DeJohn Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Easler/Page Marty Mason
2000 Dave Duncan Mark DeJohn Dave McKay Jose Oquendo Mike Easler Marty Mason
1999 Dave Duncan Jose Oquendo Dave McKay Rene Lachemann Mike Easler Mark DeJohn
1998 Dave Duncan Carney Lansford Dave McKay Rene Lachemann Dave Parker Mark DeJohn
1997 Dave Duncan Carney Lansford Dave McKay Rene Lachemann George Hendrick Mark DeJohn
1996 Dave Duncan Ron Hassey Dave McKay Tommie Reynolds George Hendrick Mark DeJohn
Oak
1995 Dave Duncan Carney Lansford Dave McKay Tommie Reynolds Jim Lefebvre Art Kusyner
1994 Dave Duncan Carney Lansford Dave McKay Tommie Reynolds Jim Lefebvre Art Kusyner
1993 Dave Duncan Carney Lansford Dave McKay Tommie Reynolds Greg Luzinski Art Kusyner
1992 Dave Duncan Tommie Reynolds Dave McKay Rene Lachemann Doug Rader Art Kusyner
1991 Dave Duncan Tommie Reynolds Dave McKay Rene Lachemann Rick Burleson Art Kusyner
1990 Dave Duncan Tommie Reynolds Dave McKay Rene Lachemann Merv Rettenmund Art Kusyner
1989 Dave Duncan Tommie Reynolds Dave McKay Rene Lachemann Merv Rettenmund Art Kusyner
1988 Dave Duncan Bob Watson Rene Lachemann Jim Lefebvre Jim Lefebvre Mike Paul
1987 Dave Duncan Joe Rudi Rene Lachemann Jim Lefebvre Bob Watson Mike Paul
1986 Dave Duncan Bob Didier Dave McKay Ron Plaza/Joe Rudi Bob Watson Jeff Newman
ChW
1986# Dave Duncan Ed Brinkman Doug Rader Joe Nossek Art Kusyner
1985 Dave Duncan Ed Brinkman Mike Lum Jim Leyland Joe Nossek Art Kusyner
1984 Dave Duncan Ed Brinkman Dave Nelson Jim Leyland Joe Nossek Art Kusyner
1983 Dave Duncan E. Brinkman/L. Babe Dave Nelson Jim Leyland Charlie Lau Art Kusyner
1982 R. Schueler/K. Silvestri Dave Nelson Jim Leyland Charlie Lau Art Kusyner
1981 Ron Schueler Dave Nelson Vada Pinson Bobby Winkles Art Kusyner
1980 Ron Schueler Loren Babe Orlando Cepeda Minnie Minoso Bobby Winkles Art Kusyner
1979 Fred Martin Joe Sparks Bobby Winkles

* I said “at least” because I relied on Retrosheet data for the identities of La Russa’s staffs in Oakland and Chicago and that information was not always labeled clearly, especially when changes were made during the season. Also as a result, the coaching roles in the 1980’s and late 1970’s may not be completely accurate, though I have no reason to believe the names are not.

# Two additional coaches in 1986 were hired (and later reassigned out) by then-Chicago White Sox GM Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, Moe Drabowsky and Willie Horton.

Cardinals youth movement ahead of 2008 pace

We are just over a month into the 2009 season and the St. Louis Cardinals have already employed the services of ten rookies, the most in the Major Leagues. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and San Diego Padres are next, having both deployed nine rookies to this point.

The difference is in the bottom line as neither of the other clubs have a winning record. The second-place Angels came into Saturday at .500 in the American League West, while the woeful Padres, coming off a 99-loss season, are four games under .500 in the National League West.

Seven of the ten rookies are currently still with the Cardinals and five of the ten made their Major League debuts this season. Six rookies were on the Opening Day roster for the club.

Rookie position players Brian Barden, Colby Rasmus (pictured) and Joe Thurston along with pitcher Jason Motte opened the 2009 season with the club and remain there.

They were later joined by pitcher Mitchell Boggs, infielder Tyler Greene and outfielder Shane Robinson.

The three rookies now in Triple-A are third baseman David Freese and reliever Josh Kinney, both of whom were on the Opening Day roster, and starting pitcher P.J. Walters, who was called up and later returned to Memphis.

The five who made their first Major League appearance this year have been Freese, Greene, Rasmus, Robinson and Walters.

Rookies have taken 1/4 of all the at-bats for St. Louis this season at 26% (265 of 1034 ABs) and are hitting a combined .242 (64-for-265). Rookie pitchers have made four starts and thrown 43 2/3 IP.

That makes 16 Cardinals first-timers to have arrived on the scene over the last season plus one month, as 11 Cardinals rookies made their MLB debuts in 2008. They are Kyle McClellan, Brian Barton, Rico Washington, Mike Parisi, Chris Perez, Joe Mather, Boggs, Nick Stavinoha, Jaime Garcia, Mark Worrell and Motte.

That was the largest number of first-timers to don the Cardinals uniform in any single season since the second year of the Tony La Russa era, which began in St. Louis in 1996. 12 players debuted in 1997.

2009 offers a decent chance to exceed the 2008 mark as at this point last year, only four of the 11 had been called up – McClellan, Barton, Washington and Parisi.

Quad Cities alters tandem rotation

After starting the season with five pairs of tandem starting pitchers, the St. Louis Cardinals’ A-level club, the Quad Cities River Bandits, have dropped the pairings down to four, effective this weekend.

In the process, the Midwest League club moved one pitcher down to Extended Spring Training, George Brown, and slid two others into the bullpen. They are Miguel Tapia and Andres Rosales. In addition, 2008 River Bandit then surprise retiree Josh Wilson is back, promoted from Extended Spring Training to take Brown’s place.

Bravo was promoted from EST one week ago when Chuckie Fick was bumped up to Palm Beach. With the arrival of Wilson, that tandem pairing has both Quad Cities newbies.

These pairings remained the same:

Adam Veres and Gary Daley

Kevin Thomas (pictured) and Hector Cardenas

These changed:

From Jonny Bravo and George Brown

To Bravo and Josh Wilson

From Miguel Tapia and Scott McGregor

And Andres Rosales and Arquimedes Nieto

To McGregor and Nieto

With Tapia and Rosales to relief

Wilson was to have his first tandem start of the season following Bravo on Friday, but the game was suspended in the second inning due to rain, to be resumed on Saturday. Veres/Daley take the hill for Saturday’s regularly-scheduled contest, then Thomas/Cardenas go on Sunday, the first pair to come off three days rest. In the previous five-pairing system, the latter turn would instead have been taken by Rosales/Nieto.

After a day off on Monday, Tuesday’s double-header at Peoria is driving a very minor adjustment, with both tandems getting a start. McGregor will take the mound in game one while his tandem partner, Nieto, will start in game two. The normal four-man rotation of Wilson/Bravo and so on will follow.

Following are the stats for the Quad Cities starters this season coming into Friday’s game ordered by ERA. “T1” etc. shows the new tandem pairings in order, with “BP” denoting those shifted to relief. “PB” is for Palm Beach and “EST” is for extended spring training.

2009 QC starters W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WHIP
Adam Veres T4 2 0 0.54 6 3 0 16.2 12 4 1 0 0 12 20 1.44
Kevin Thomas T1 2 0 1.31 7 2 1 20.2 12 4 3 0 0 5 13 0.82
Arquimedes Nieto T2 0 2 3.26 6 2 0 19.1 17 9 7 1 3 6 23 1.19
Andres Rosales BP 2 1 4.08 6 2 0 17.2 14 8 8 2 3 11 18 1.42
Chuckie Fick PB 0 2 4.24 4 3 0 17 21 9 8 1 0 4 13 1.47
Miguel Tapia BP 0 2 5.03 7 3 0 19.2 20 13 11 2 0 9 21 1.47
Hector Cardenas T1 2 1 5.40 5 3 1 18.1 21 17 11 1 0 5 14 1.42
George Brown EST 0 2 6.16 8 3 0 19 21 16 13 1 1 10 14 1.63
Scott McGregor T2 1 1 6.75 6 3 0 18.2 26 17 14 1 0 5 18 1.66
Gary Daley T4 2 0 10.54 7 2 0 13.2 20 19 16 3 0 12 19 2.34
Jonny Bravo T3 0 0 36.00 1 0 0 1 1 4 4 0 0 6 3 7.00
Josh Wilson T3

For current rosters and up-to-date transactions at all levels of the Cardinals minor league system, don’t forget to check out the Roster Matrix.

Where is La Russa’s legacy being passed? – Part one


Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman has published his yearly take on the top managers in Major League Baseball. After a year at number two in the rankings, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Tony La Russa is back on top here in 2009.

Key reasons cited are his roster management, teams that play hard and results. Heyman also wonders out loud about La Russa’s contract status because of his relationship with GM John Mozeliak without noting the manager’s long-standing support from ownership. Another glaring omission was any acknowledgement of the 800-pound gorilla in the room, Albert Pujols, as the MVP relates to the manager’s future in the Gateway City.

Among the often-heralded MLB managerial veterans who fell outside Heyman’s current top ten are Jim Leyland and Bobby Cox.

One rising managerial star I particularly admire is Tampa’s Joe Maddon. What’s not to like? Maddon has been an avid Cardinals fan virtually his entire life. Heyman notes his second-ranked skipper Mike Scioscia of the Angels is Maddon’s mentor. Scioscia is also a strong supporter of Don Wakamatsu of the surprising 2009 Seattle Mariners after the younger man coached in the Halos organization.

That reminded me of something that has bothered me for some time.

I am not quibbling about La Russa being among the top managers year upon year, nor am I particularly worried about his contract status.

What I have wondered about is the lack of successful Major League managers groomed by La Russa.

In his 14th season managing St. Louis and 31st year in the big leagues, the skipper turns 65 years of age this fall. Though he has not shared his future plans publicly, I am among those who believe he will continue to manage at least until he collects the 284 wins needed to pass John McGraw with the second-highest victory total in the history of the game. If so, that would keep La Russa in a big league dugout somewhere for at least three more seasons after this one.

Just about any article that mentions La Russa also gives proper credit to his Tonto, pitching coach Dave Duncan. In an article I will be running on Scout.com starting on Friday, La Russa makes this interesting observation about Duncan: “He wants to coach longer than I want to manage.”

Content with his role and disinterested in putting up with the “B.S.” that goes with being the man in front, Duncan is the quintessential sidekick – the best at what he does, but with no interest in becoming the lead performer himself.

One might say that about almost all of Tony’s coaching staff. While each is an excellent coach in his own right, they don’t seem to be on the managerial fast track. Instead of taking on hard chargers as he was early in his career, La Russa has primarily surrounded himself with contemporaries, baseball lifers seemingly content to stay right where they are.

Of them, only hitting coach Hal McRae has been a major league manager in the past and after speaking with him about it, I am quite sure he won’t be back in that role. Again, McRae says it is primarily driven by distaste for the B.S. inherent in the job.

First base coach Dave McKay has been with La Russa for 24 years and has always been a coach. Bench coach Joe Pettini once served as the Cardinals’ minor league field coordinator, but hasn’t managed in the minors since 1996. Ten-year bullpen coach Marty Mason has always been a pitching-related coach – never a manager.

That leaves Jose Oquendo as the lone potential exception and the only coach on the staff under 50 years old. Though he has just one season as a professional manager, way back in 1998 in short-season ball, Jose has gained international experience in winter ball and in the World Baseball Classic representing his homeland of Puerto Rico. Renowned as an infield teacher, “Secret Weapon” has interviewed for managerial openings in San Diego and Seattle, but has yet to be given a shot.

Don’t get me wrong – the continuity of coaches is one important factor that helps set the Cardinals apart in their excellence. Still, I can’t help but wonder to which future managers La Russa has been passing his considerable knowledge down.

Shouldn’t one important measure of coaching greatness be the number of descendents a manager/head coach fosters?

Not every manager can be like the NFL’s Bill Walsh, whose coaching tree is legendary. Championship coaches like Mike Holmgren, Jim Fassel, Sam Wyche, Dennis Green and George Seifert all received their starts under Walsh, with them later spawning another couple of dozen NFL head coaches.

The La Russa football connection is in front of mind as Tony is best buddies with another pair of NFL coaching greats, Bill Parcells and his one-time protégé, Bill Belichick. Despite having put in just nine years as the leader of the Pats, Belichick has launched the careers of at least six NFL head coaches. His protégés include three current top dogs – Eric Mangini (Cleveland), Josh McDaniels (Denver) and Jim Schwartz (Detroit).

Closer to home, Cox may be considered La Russa’s closest comparable, both in terms of time in the job and managerial victories. Since 1978, Cox developed current MLB managers Fredi Gonzalez and Cito Gaston along with former skippers Ned Yost and Jimy Williams. Cox also has his own version of in-house successor-in-waiting Oquendo in hitting coach and former Cardinals third baseman Terry Pendleton.

In Rob Rains’ new book,“Tony La Russa: Man on a Mission”, the importance of certain individuals in La Russa’s own early development jumps off the page. Specifically, keys were Loren Babe, his managerial mentor and then-White Sox general manager Roland Hemond, who gave La Russa his first big league job.

In turn, where are the examples of future Major League managers whose careers were started by working under La Russa?

In part two of this article, we will review La Russa’s coaching staffs since he was initially hired as a major league skipper in 1979 and focus on the subset who later became first-time MLB managers.

There have been only two in 31 years.

Was Boggs’ hook too quick?


With his team riding a three-game losing streak, their first of the season, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Mitchell Boggs was given the ball for his third start in 2009 and his ninth in his two years as a major leaguer. His Wednesday evening opponent was the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

Following an Albert Pujols home run in the first, Boggs coughed up the lead on a pair of singles bookending three free passes. Only a double play kept the score tied in the top of the second.

The Cardinals offense picked up three more in the bottom of the fourth on a Chris Duncan triple off the top of the right field wall and a Khalil Greene sacrifice fly in which a daring Duncan surprised Pirates’ centerfielder Nate McLouth by tagging up.

Staked to a three-run lead, Boggs walked the leadoff man as the fifth got underway. After a fly out and a stolen base, an RBI double cut the lead to 4-2.

With the tying run coming up to the plate in the form of Bucs’ cleanup hitter Adam LaRoche, Tony La Russa pulled Boggs from the game. He was two outs short of having gone the necessary distance to qualify for a win.

In his post-game comments, Boggs took full responsibility. “I am not pleased with the way I pitched…. I didn’t want the bullpen to have to cover that many innings…. I didn’t have the command that I did before tonight.”

FOX Sports Midwest’s Dan MacLaughlin observed on air that Boggs would not have been taken out so quickly had he been a veteran.

I agree with Dan and have often been unhappy in the past with La Russa sticking with his starting pitcher too long, risking a chance for a team win in what appeared to be an effort to get his starter the “W”. I haven’t felt that way often lately, but it hasn’t been all that uncommon in past seasons.

Apparently, Boggs hasn’t yet secured the confidence of his manager.

La Russa’s eight-man bullpen may have played into his decision. In this case, both Trever Miller and Kyle McClellan were required to get out of the fifth, which they did without allowing further damage.

In the sixth, McClellan loaded the bases with the help of an error, but escaped his own jam. Dennys Reyes, Jason Motte and Ryan Franklin finished off the Pirates in the 4-2 victory.

After the game, La Russa had this to say about Boggs: “I think it’s a learning experience for him…. A guy tries to be too careful…. He walked the leadoff man and had struggled already, so I had to come and get him.”

Over half of Boggs’ pitches on the evening were out of the strike zone, 43 of 85. He walked five in his 4 1/3 innings of action, equaling the number of hits allowed.

It was a return to his past problems that had not appeared to date in 2009. Over his previous three outings totaling 13 2/3 innings including two starts, Boggs had walked just four opposing batters in total.

That represented a significant improvement over his somewhat disappointing 2008 rookie introduction. He had a walk-free outing in just one of his eight games, during his two-inning MLB debut. In performances reminiscent of Wednesday evening, Boggs issued ten free passes over his final two MLB starts last season.

Overall, Boggs walked 22 opposing batters in 34 major league innings in 2008, which is likely a big part of the reason he ended up back in Memphis, not to be recalled in September when rosters expanded.

So, what do you think? Was La Russa’s quick hook justified? If so, should he do it more often with other starters or does Boggs simply need to earn that trust?

Palm Beach tandem starters done


2009 marks the third year of the St. Louis Cardinals’ use of the tandem starter system at Class A, implemented by two full-season clubs, Palm Beach of the A-Advanced Florida State League and Quad Cities of the A-level Midwest League.

The primary benefit is to enable the organization to develop eight starting pitchers rather than five by pairing four groups of pitchers. The two in each pair take turns starting every fourth day, with the other following in relief. The starter might go five innings or 70-80 pitches, with the second starter scheduled to take over in the sixth.

Just as in 2008, the system has first been abandoned at A-Advanced Palm Beach, though this time around it occurred 19 games or about three weeks earlier than last season. The flash point was the promotion of ace Lance Lynn (pictured) to Double-A Springfield last weekend, but as one Cardinals official explained, “it wasn’t working as well this season as last.”

At the time the deployment of the tandem starters ended last season, the Florida State League club had played 40 games. The club’s record was a stellar 25-15 (.625), the second-best mark in the league and a major contributor to their four-game lead in the FSL East Division.

This season, the final game of the approach occurred on May 1, or about three weeks into the season. The club had a losing record, at 9-12 (.429). In all fairness however, it is difficult to assess the amount of blame for the decline to be placed on the tandem system itself. Clearly the club was looking for a change as when the switch was made, the Cardinals had lost 11 of their previous 13 games.

As the following table shows, the 2009 tandem starters did not earn a single win, in significant contrast to 2008. They had just five decisions in 21 starts. The piggyback starters managed a .500 record but blew four of five save opportunities this season, not performing as well as in 2008. The true relievers are doing slightly better in 2009 in terms of wins and losses, but do not seem to be the difference-makers in terms of this year-to-year comparison.

Looking at the offensive support provided helps to confirm the problems are not all pitching. The hitters’ scoring is down year-to-year between a half and three-quarters of a run per game. The Palm Beach offense is in the bottom third of the league in scoring this season despite them being third in batting average.

2008 40 games Won-Loss No-decisions Saves/opps Runs/game
Tandem starters 9-8 23
Piggyback starters 10-2 6 of 8
Relievers 6-5 not avail
Offense 4.28
2009 21 games
Tandem starters 0-5 16
Piggyback starters 5-5 1 of 5
Relievers 4-2 5 of 6
Offense 3.67

In terms of the pitchers themselves, here are the initial pairings from the start of the season:

Mark Diapoules / Ryan Kulik

Brian Broderick / Lynn

David Kopp / Nick Additon

Shaun Garceau / Richard Castillo

Thomas Eager was the first starter candidate to move into relief as he was the odd man out from the nine potential starters coming out of spring training. Eager has been very busy out of the pen with a dozen appearances since.

This starting group remained intact until April 27 when Kulik was called up to Springfield. Scott Gorgen, coming off minor shoulder surgery, was promoted from Extended Spring Training to replace him.

Next was Lynn’s promotion on May 2. Chuckie Fick, who had been starting at Quad Cities, was the replacement. However, he went directly into relief upon joining Palm Beach.

The other tandem starters now moved to the bullpen are Garceau and Diapoules, leaving Gorgen, Broderick, Additon, Kopp and Castillo as the five-man rotation going forward.

Looking at the following table, sorted by ERA, one can understand how the decisions were made, as the two pitchers with the highest ERAs were reassigned to relief. Kulik’s ERA was not tidy, but check out his strikeout to walk ratio – same as Lynn’s 17-to-3 when he was promoted.

Those currently starting are denoted with an “S”, those promoted with a “P” and the pitchers moved to relief are labeled with an “R”.

The remaining guys really need to cut down on the free passes. As a team, the Cardinals currently lead the FSL with 107 walks, a bloated total that is 26% higher than the second-worst team and 41% above the league average.

With Palm Beach W L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO WHIP
Scott Gorgen S 0 0 1.29 2 1 7 2 1 1 3 6 0.71
Lance Lynn P 0 0 2.30 5 2 15.2 16 4 4 3 17 1.21
David Kopp S 1 2 3.18 6 4 22.2 25 8 8 9 17 1.50
Brian Broderick S 2 1 3.65 6 4 24.2 22 10 10 3 10 1.01
Nick Additon S 0 1 4.82 6 3 18.2 16 17 10 13 12 1.55
Richard Castillo S 0 3 5.14 6 3 21 26 17 12 11 8 1.76
Ryan Kulik P 1 1 5.25 4 2 12 15 7 7 3 17 1.50
Mark Diapoules R 1 1 5.79 6 3 14 18 10 9 14 11 2.29
Shaun Garceau R 0 2 6.16 6 3 19 15 14 13 9 12 1.26

It remains to be seen if the change can help right the Cardinals’ ship, but at least most of the way the first time through, it hasn’t yet helped the bottom line.

Since the tandem system was scrapped, four more defeats have ensued on 18 total runs allowed. That has extended Palm Beach’s skid to seven in a row and 15 losses in their last 18 games.

Hopefully, the Cardinals brass can come up with a way to tweak the offense too, as they scored just 11 runs in the four games, or fewer than three runs per, a trend that is not heading in the right direction.


For current rosters and up-to-date transactions at all levels of the Cardinals minor league system, don’t forget to check out the Roster Matrix.


Note that Future Redbirds has also posted a Palm Beach “Club Check” in the last 24 hours with additional information on the team worth checking out.