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I don’t remember seeing a decent (not great) player going from being pretty good to a total disaster at the plate with no apparent hope of rebuilding. This is unique, and I don’t know what to make of it. I would think that someone with his experience would be able to work his way out of it.
His minor league performance is of concern. He should be able to hit AA pitching, and he can’t. I wonder if there isn’t something wrong that has not yet surfaced. I have seen people decline, but not like this.
I don’t see anything in Munoz that makes me think he is a starter at any position. He can “Play” a lot of positions. I think it is more that he can play at them rather than play them. He seems to make little stumbles with his hands that make him inconsistent as an infielder. That triple off the wall for runs 7 and 8 was no triple. That was a simple misplay that a major league outfielder has to be able to make.
Edman seems a bit better on defense. His offense has been OK. But, he does strike out a lot against the better pitchers that he has seen. It’s like he can hit the pitchers who are about half major leaguer and half AAA. As of now, I think he is an adequate replacement for a good player. I don’t know that Munoz is worth more than five or ten starts per year. I see more promise in Martinez, defensively.
I don’t think we have a major league third baseman right now. Some may be on the way. I would say that it would be more likely to see Gorman there in 2021 than anyone we have up there now.
Since four of the five runs against Ponce were due to walks, I don’t think the loss had anything to do with how good the Houston hitting was. Houston’s only really earned run was the home run, and that was under unusual circumstances. The first inning debacle was as bad as the walks.
We just played a lousy game. It happens after winning six straight.
Wacha and Ponce de Leon are 27. I don’t give away young pitchers who have shown that they can get big league hitters out. I would rather they were here when they work out their problems. Most young pitchers can’t pitch anything but batting practice, as Mayers just showed. We have a bunch of older pitchers who aren’t consistent, and we use them in relief. Neither Wacha nor Ponce de Leon have benefited from 9 and 10 run innings like an older pitcher we know.
Wacha should be starting. Sure, he does allow HRs. But, he also can throw strikes. I do hate pitchers who walk people. Since the HR, they haven’t done anything with Wacha.
It isn’t the Cards’ night. Every pop foul gets caught. Every Houston pop foul makes it to the stands. That first inning was a nightmare on defense. Can’t catch a throw from the first baseman. Let an infield pop hit the ground, resulting in a run. MIshandled a double play ball Should have been zero runs in the first.
I see that Wong has had trouble with Cole. Here’s hoping that his hot streak survives this one. He has not struck out since the first two games after the break.
I see that Carp is 0-6 at AAA with 3Ks, and now 0-3 at AA with a K. You have to wonder what has happened to his batting eye or form.
Since the break:
244 1 5 Edman
216 1 4 Fowler
212 2 7 Martinez
250 7 19 Goldschmidt
235 5 14 DeJong
372 1 5 Wong
273 4 5 Wieters
250 1 4 Munoz300 4 12 O’Neil
143 0 0 Bader
211 1 3 Knizner
000 0 0 RaveloGoldschmidt is only hitting 250 during this winning streak. But, in fifteen games, he has 7 home runs and 19 RBIs. Wieters has four home runs, but only five RBIs. The worst BA among the starters during the streak is 212. It is more of everyone doing something than it is one or two players that are hot, although it is nice that Goldschmidt, DeJong, and O’Neil have had an RBI run.
Just when it looked like this team was toast, they reel off a 12-3 streak to take the definitive lead in the NL Central. Goldschmidt is still striking out too much. But, his home runs seem to be mostly with men on base, and many have been at critical times. It’s not like anyone (other than Wong) is hitting consistently. But, everyone is turning what they do into wins.
I wish Flaherty could have gotten the win. He has been pitching so well and hasn’t had a win since May.
We picked up ground in the WC on Washington and Philly.
I don’t get to see the Cards every day, maybe only once per week. But, I have been watching Carp while thinking that he, as a veteran, will work out of his problems. Yet, what I am seeing is a player who looks like he doesn’t have any focus. His swing looks loose and random, not actually directed at the locale of the ball. It looks like he is missing the ball by four to six inches above and below the swing. It also seems that his swing is the same wherever the ball is pitched.
Good hitters keep their eyes on the ball all the way through the zone, focusing on the point of contact of bat and ball. When someone steps away from the swing or the pitch (not just Carp), I assume that they have no focus on the pitch. It looks like they have given up any chance of hitting the pitch except luck.
When I look at the Memphis stats and see that Carp is 0 for 6 with three strikeouts at the AAA level, I just don’t see that he is ready for major league pitching. He may have good years of experience, but sometimes, people just lose it. I wonder if it is the shift. If so, learn to hit to all fields. But, show some sign that there is a focus.
Since the break:
250 1 5 Edman
208 1 4 Fowler
207 2 7 Martinez
229 6 16 Goldschmidt
245 5 14 DeJong
359 1 4 Wong
276 3 4 Wieters
278 1 4 Munoz298 4 12 O’Neil
143 0 0 Bader
211 1 3 Knizner
000 0 0 RaveloMartinez has 9 walks to only 7 Ks. Wong has 4 walks to only 2 Ks. All who have started have hit at least 207, except Bader.
K/W problems?
18/3 Fowler
14/0 O’Neil
14/5 Goldschmidt
11/4 Edman
9/2 DeJongWould anyone be interested in a package of Carpenter and Ozuna? I’d give up both gladly for a Minor, Stroman, or Blackmon. Someone may think Carp still has it.
I would be happy to go with J. Martinez, Munoz, O’Neil, Fowler, an Bader while leaving Edman at third.
Flaherty has allowed 4, 1, 1, and 0 runs in his last four starts, won only the last one. If he gives up a run, he loses. Needs to get Wainwright’s support for a while.
Flaherty hasn’t won a game since May 9, despite pitching well. He allowed no runs on May 26 in six innings, only to get no decision in a loss. He didn’t get the win in his 4.1 innings of shut out ball on July 21 because he only went 4.1.
The lineup is hitting, and they have cut down dramatically on Ks. I don’t want to disrupt this lineup, especially with Carp. I might try to work Ozuna back into it, slowly. But, I wouldn’t even guarantee Molina a spot with this team going this well.
When things go well, sometimes it is a good idea not to ask why or to assume that it will get better if you put in a “better” hitter. They are alive and motivated. Edman looks better at third than does Carp. Munoz looks better in left, as does everyone. Who do we bench to get one of them back in the lineup? Who hasn’t been a good part of this 11-3 run since the break?
If they can pitch, maybe they can give them a start in place of Wainwright. It seems to take at least a nine-run inning to support him recently.
Edman and Munoz are performing better than Carp did. We have momentum. We don’t need for Ks to kill it.
Well, I guess we only needed the nine that we got in the second. It sure did feel better to have the other 5. But, we didn’t gain on the Cubs, Brewers, Nats, or Phillies.
I’m surprised that 8 extra base hits was a major league record. I wonder if three home runs and a double are a Card record for TB?
13-4. I think Waino may work five, but no more. Let the kids get some experience until we get in trouble.
Goldy
DeJong
Wong are 8 for 9 with the only non-hit being the error that started the second inning. Three HR and three doubles between them.After a three up, three down first, the second went:
error SS, Goldschmidt to first
HR, DeJong, 2-2
2B Wong
2B Munoz 3-2
HR Knizer 5-2
BB Edman
2B Fowler 6-2
1B Martinez, Fowler out at home
HR Goldschmidt 8-2
2B DeJong
2B Wong 9-2
K MunozGoldschmidt scores twice in the second after reaching on an error to start the inning. 8-2 Cards, two out. They did catch a break when Fowler was thrown out at home for the second out, RF to C. Escobar relieves Lyles, only to be met with back-to-back doubles by DeJong and Wong, 9-2. Munoz strikes out to end the inning.
