Cards high-walk games occurring at record pace

On Friday, St. Louis Cardinals pitchers walked seven or more opposing batters in a game for the eighth time in 2009. Eight equals the club’s high for any entire season from 2003-2008.

All five Friday hurlers issued at least one free pass, including five by the bullpen in just 1 2/3 innings: starter Joel Pineiro (two) and relievers Jason Motte (one), Dennys Reyes (one – pictured), Kyle McClellan (two) and Blake Hawksworth (one).

The highest number of such walkfests by June 12th in any season during the last 40 years was ten in 1970, followed by eight in 1976 and here in 2009. In other words, this current staff is on pace to be the worst Cardinals team at big walk games in at least the last 33 years!

Number of games in which Cardinals pitchers walked seven or more

By 6/12 Full Yr
2009 8
2008 2 6
2007 2 8
2006 2 4
2005 1 4
2004 4 8
2003 4 6
2002 3 12
2001 7 13
2000 7 14
1999 7 21
1998 5 11
1997 1 5
1996 5 6
1995 3 7
1994 4 10
1993 1 2
1992 1 4
1991 1 5
1990 5 9
1989 1 6
1988 6 12
1987 2 11
1986 5 9
1985 3 9
1984 1 8
1983 7 15
1982 4 11
1981 3 6
1980 5 11
1979 4 13
1978 4 16
1977 1 9
1976 8 17
1975 5 19
1974 7 18
1973 5 14
1972 5 16
1971 6 16
1970 10 25

Thanks to Tom Orf for the research and supporting data.