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I think Norris is the closest thing we have to being a closer. He has at least had some success. He blew it today. Closers do that. Even Sutter did that.
If Hicks could throw strikes consistently, he might be a candidate. But, he can’t. If Martinez could throw strikes, he might be a closer. But, he also has his bad times.
Gomber throws strikes. But, he’s too valuable as a starter.
But, we win both of the last two games if Martinez doesn’t screw up with the bases loaded and nobody out. We blew these two games because we were playing Non-Cardinal baseball by loading the bases with nobody out, and not scoring the winning runs. Zero. Zilch. In both games, they scored three in regulation. That is acceptable pitching. We failed to do better hitting.
I have been outraged more about the hitters who strike out when we needed to move runners than anything else on this team. The Cardinal Way is to move runners around, steal bases, sacrifice, get the fly ball or ground ball that scores a run. Manufactured runs win more games than solo home runs.
I wouldn’t let a player leave Spring Training until he demonstrated the understanding that Ks are never acceptable, and hitting involves more than personal glory. We lost this game twice. We began the game with runners on first and second, and Martinez struck out. We lost it again when we struck out rather than getting a run home with runners on first and third and the game tied. Finally, Martinez, —with the bases loaded and nobody out, I’d rather see you bunt. Better chance of a squeeze than hitting a fly ball.
Toerner, Torres, and the kids in the rookie leagues are about all that I can see that might eventually make it to the top.
I tend to blame old pitchers for control problems that set a tone for the game. Cecil is 32. By now, he should be throwing strikes. Hicks is 21, soon 22. If he can’t throw strikes by 26, I’ll be angry with him, too.
You can get away with giving up ten hits while only allowing two runs—-if you don’t walk anyone. I love pitchers who throw strikes.
True. But, Montero spent three years in the rookie leagues, hitting about nine home runs total with not a lot of production. He did well when he moved up this year—to Peoria where Gorman now is.
Gorman had one year in the rookie leagues, hitting 350 with more home runs than Montero had in three. Then, he moved to Peoria at the end of his first year, hitting six home runs in about 83 at bats. Indeed, he is striking out too much and is down to 217. But, he’s where it took Montero four years to get to.
I don’t know about the fielding of any of them. I kind of want to see where Montero, Gorman, and Nunez are next year, being the second for Gorman and Nunez.
It certainly looks like Bader has his job until we draft some new centerfielders. Wonder if our third base prospects can learn to play centerfield?
Robert,
I’m a bit late in getting back to this. But, I am curious as to why Montero would be ranked above Nunez or Gorman.It appears to me that Montero blossomed somewhat this year at the age of 20 (birthday in August). Prior to this year, he had not really been an offensive force. I think he had nine total home runs in three seasons until hitting about 17 this year. I don’t know what the increase in power is due to. Maturity?
Gorman seems to have the power game down at age 17. He kind of exploded on to the scene. If he is a third baseman, an 18-year old with that much power at JC and Peoria would seem to be on a rapid pace to high success.
I am just as intrigued by Nunez for other reasons. He is only 17, and he had a good year. He had a very good K/BB ratio as compared to so many of the strikeout artists that we have now. He had a good year for a 17-year old.
Neither Gorman nor Nunez seemed to need a couple of years to develop their offense.
I think it may be Gorman, Nunez, and Montero. Nunez is only 17, and he doesn’t strike out Seems to have good bat control. Gorman is 18 and has power. Montero seems to have emerged this year as having some power after a couple of years with little power. But, he is a couple of years older.
Right now, it’s all Gorman. But, Nunez is interesting at 17.
Strike out three times and hit the game-winning HR. This seems to happen a lot. Makes for a lot of breathless games.
Three straight rookie pitchers start in LA—and we get three wins.
He irritated that arm on a throw that he shouldn’t have made in the first place. He had no chance at home, and he allowed the other runner to reach second on the throw, which was a weak one. Major league outfielders should know which base to throw to.
Poncedeleon goes down? He has pitched well enough to be a rotation regular.
Baseball can be a streaky game. I don’t yet know whether I would think it is all about Shildt. I do think it has helped that someone saw fit to revamp the bullpen and get Fowler out of the lineup—and outfield. I do like the fact that DeJong healed, and Wong is at second base. I like having Bader in center, and Martinez anywhere.
I am also impressed that we keep bringing up pitchers who keep winning critical games as though we had Gibson and Carlton as a one-two punch, except that with Mikolas, Poncedeleon, Gomber, Flaherty, and Gant, I’m almost dreading what might happen if Wainwright, C. Martinez, and Reyes get healthy. We just won two in LA against what appeared to be a playoff-bound team with Gomber and Ponceleon who wouldn’t be here if not for injuries.
I am still frustrated that we have a bunch of hitters who strike out with the bases loaded and nobody out or fail to move runners over because they are too busy striking out. Yet, somehow, they seem to do just enough in most games to get five runs and a win. Since the bullpen has some element of stability now, five runs seems to be enough on most nights.
Is this all just pure luck? What part of this reorganization was due to Shildt? This team is now competitive with the best.
If we didn’t walk so many and strike out so often, this might be THE team. We walked nine LA hitters and won in their house?
The play by Wong may be the best that I have ever seen by a second baseman. Last night, it was DeJong with the great play. Wong had one last night to end the first. DeJong, Wong, Bader, and Molina—the middle is good.
During this 10-1 stretch, Carpenter has been 6 of 51, but with four home runs. Feast or famine. Molina hasn’t had a hit in three games. The most productive thing he has done was striking out and getting to first—to begin a three-run rally. What a way to start a rally!
Now in the Wild Card by a half game. Have to win tomorrow to keep it. Four behind the Cubs. Milwaukee is 4.5 behind the Cubs. We are a half game behind Philly.
22 Flaherty (10/15)
23 Hudson (9/15)
23 Reyes (8/29)
24 Gomber (11/23)
24 Weaver (8/21)
26 Gant (8/6)
26 Poncedeleon (1/16)
26 Martinez (9/21
27 Wacha (7/1)
29 Mikolas (9/23)From what I have seen, I don’t want to trade any of these. We have the most valuable thing in baseball, a young and good pitching staff. The only one that I have any reservations about is Weaver, and he has pitched well in his two most recent starts, despite losing due to run support. Mikolas is the most dependable.
If I were to trade any of these, it would require a young star who can hit, play defense, and doesn’t strike out once per game. If not a career 290 hitter, I don’t want to consider a trade.
We have the makings of a staff that could be here ten years if not for free agency, and we would be contenders for each of those ten years.
