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Harrison Bader this year has put up average to slightly above offense and above average to elite defense. He’s at 1.0 bWAR and 0.8 fWAR which would extrapolate to 5ish-6 WAR guy over a full season of play. VEB has an article up that he should be the every day RF…at the very least.
Rats…
To pick up Moustakas we have to trade one of Wong, Gyorko or Martinez. Maybe a straight swap would work?
That does it…Hicks with some punchouts the last two innings and the series is tied 1-1 with two good pitchers going tomorrow.
Good inning for Hicks there. If his slider can play like that…those strikeouts will start to pile up.
Nice job by Tui to get the strikeout. 5-1 still…I’d yet like to see a few more insurance runs though.
Brewers score one and now have two more in scoring position. One swing from being right back in it. Tuivalala can’t seem to hit the zone now.
It’s a real shame that Kolten has hit so poorly this year, or that the lineup hasn’t been entire or clicking because his defense has been quite excellent to have at 2B.
Wacha was cruising until getting into some trouble putting guys away here in the 6th. Should be his last inning no matter what.
Hate to say it but with Pham’s offensive slump and watching him struggle in his jumps tonight but…maybe there’s something going on with his eyes?
Brian mentioned in another thread that he has heard that there is a clause in his contract like Oh’s that will make him a FA after 2019.
I agree, 858…just gotta keep it together until the lineup is whole again. Thankfully, after this weekend’s series against the Pirates (who are punching way above their weight this year as a probably low 70s win true talent team) there are 9 games against Miami, Cincinnati and San Diego before the schedule turns tough again. Hopefully we can see the light on both those guys coming back by then.
Other than the little blip in Springfield early this year, Helsley has done nothing but pitch well in his career so far. Seems a bit like Rosenthal in that he’s overshadowed by the flashier prospects in the rotation but may be a valuable guy in the bullpen. Or who knows, he may find himself in the rotation eventually.
Carpenter is an above average defensive 1B. So not at all in the same boat as Martinez, who really should be a DH in the AL, or a late inning pinch hitter.
Figure Bader gets the start against the lefty? Carp is hitting well lately so he probably plays 2B today and Wong sits. Ideally I’d like to see:
2B Carpenter
RF Bader
CF Pham
1B Martinez
3B Gyorko
LF Ozuna
SS Muñoz
C Kelly
P WeaverMan, this lineup can really use Dejong and Yadi back.
Good to sneak out with the series win. Admittedly it didn’t look possible after the first game clunker. I don’t want to read too much into it because there have been a number of wins this year that looked like they could jump start the team…but it would be nice to get on a run.
Once again the Cards are making a mediocre pitcher look like a Cy Young candidate. Good teams need to close out series. 1-4 runs is not going to cut it.
This is a big swing game for the Cards, and the Pirates as well. Both teams have scuffled lately and with the series against the Brewers looking winnable, St Louis needs to win this series.
Hopefully Mikolas is effective and the offense can score some runs.
I think every news outlet including the Cardinals team page has said he’s starting so unless something happens between now and then he’s pitching this one.
This team would have a better record if they faced Kershaw, Verlander and Sale every series than if they faced some no name callup from AAA. The book has to be out on this offense…just bring a guy up and let him throw 6+ shutout innings against St Louis.
I don’t think it’s that big an if. Last year at this time, Carpenter and Fowler had bad stats and they eventually turned it around. Guys have slumps at different times. The track record says that they will be closer to their career normals than what they are now.
Much like the offense, I think the bullpen issues are a lot more mental than physical ability. There are a number of guys who have been good to elite in the last couple years that just need to buckle down and execute. Looking at you, Holland, Lyons, Cecil, Leone. The rest of the guys are a mix of potential solid options and guys like Norris who are performing to expectations and beyond.
On the offensive side, yeah Reyes isn’t a help but if Carp, Fowler, Wong and Ozuna hit to their career numbers then the offense will be top half of the league and not an issue.
Mo talked last night and in the P-D article seemed to indicate that Reyes wouldn’t be on an innings limit. While I’m sure there is a limit, it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out going forward. I read in the article that there will be a 6-games-in-5-days stretch right after the break where the guys they have will come in handy.
Otherwise, perhaps we’ll see some kind of hybrid rotation that will be able to eat bullpen innings when starters have shorter outings (which is still a concern for me for Weaver, Flaherty and Reyes). Imagine facing Flaherty and not really breaking through but pushing up the pitch count, getting by him after 5 with maybe a run on 5 hits…only to face Alex Reyes the next 4 innings to finish the game? Or Weaver in relief of Reyes? Lots of potential.
Imagine being Gant, or Poncedeleon right now…you’re good enough to start on probably 20+ rotations in the big leagues right now but you’re now the #7/8 starter with little chance of getting a long run going forward? I do think those two guys can contribute in the bullpen though.
Then you add Waino, who may be deemed healthy at some point and will want to pitch. I hope we do see him start again…the final weekend as a going away after the Cards have wrapped up the division. ?