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Kelly made decent contact there but didn’t have the juice to send it out to straight center.
Flaherty could really use a quick inning here. Would be very good to get six innings from him.
Flaherty using the curve more than I expected. It’s got decent movement but he’s struggling to command it. That 2-0 fastball to Escobar had nice movement too. Unfortunately, the next pitch was striped up the middle to put the runner on.
In all the games I’ve watched this year, Ozuna has rarely looked on balance. I suppose I didn’t pay close attention when he was with the Marlins but has he always looked so off balance??
It’s early, but this one has the sinking feeling of a game where the pitcher just has the Cards’ number…once again.
Flaherty with the 97 mph heat in that first plate appearance by Mauer.
Other than that, Jack is not being too efficient. Gotta start hitting his spots.
Pham and Martinez both bailed Berrios out of batters counts by swinging at borderline pitches. Makes it look like an easy inning, but he did not have good command there.
Berrios treating Marp like he’s a pitcher up there…FB (taken), FB (swinging), FB (swinging). Sad at bat there.
I see that rats is letting Flaherty hit for himself, despite the DH…gives all of us bench types hopes that maybe we’ll get the call at game time!!
I’m probably higher on Mercado than most. He was good enough to relegate Mags Sierra to a corner spot last year, the power uptick has mostly stuck around this year and he’s good on the bases. At worst I think he profiles as a 4th OF, with perhaps the ability to be a CF starter.
I guess to put them in my own categories, I’d say..
In the Cards: Bader, Mercado, Arozarena
Trade Fodder: O’Neill
Busted: Garcia, ThomasI would think at minimum they’ll need to eat half his salary…and that’s even assuming a rebound. If he keeps on being a below average hitter and fielder going forward it would have to be 75% of it or more.
If a DFA were to happen, it would be in the last year of the deal. Of that I’m certain. Out of respect to the veteran, they would definitely let him try to right himself in that last year.
Berrios has struggled lately but was pretty good last year. This one will be a tough matchup. Hopefully Flaherty can throw a gem and get the Birds a measure of payback for the beatdowns the Twins put on em in St Louis last week.
Schrock is probably all around an inferior player to Wong at this point. That doesn’t mean he’s not worth a shot at some point but it’s fine that he’s contuing to get seasoning at Memphis. After all, he’s running a 109 wRC+ there so it’s not like he’s exactly lighting it up.
Wong is playing elite level defense this year and is young enough that the bat should come around to around average level. His ability to draw walks in recent seasons has meant he has a better offensive profile than early career and I suspect that will continue.
Only way the Cards will be able to trade him is to pay almost all of his salary and accept no return. Given that, a trade isn’t going to happen.
I’m in favor of a platoon with Bader, bat Fowler 7th or 8th in the lineup and see what happens.
You wonder if he’s pushing so hard defensively that he’s sacrificing at the plate. Seems like that’s what his issue was early in his career and maybe time will sort it out.
Definitely he should be part of the Memphis shuffle, if not a permanent place at Memphis. If he pitches well there, bring him back up in the rotation of Brebbia, Gant, etc
It’s sad that some freak things like the Achilles injury robbed Adam of the end of his career that we all probably hoped for. I had some hopes that he could be a viable back of the rotation starter this year…but that seems unlikely and the team really probably doesn’t need him to be that with the plethora of young guys ready to step in. The really big question at this point probably becomes whether Reyes or Flaherty should start over Weaver if he keeps on scuffling.
That said, it seems clear that Waino is injured and needs a DL stint. Maybe bring him back for a September start or two if they can afford it and let him go out with the adoration of the fans behind him.
Looks like Carpenter has been benched, now that he’s sat out three games in a row. I can’t blame them, with Gyorko and Martinez hitting much better and Wong being the far superior defender.
Carpenter seems like more of a mental issue at this point. If he can get a week or two of those liners falling in for hits, maybe he becomes the guy we need.
Fowler just may be in massive decline. I still think both guys end up with decent lines at season’s end but the platoon has to be the way to go for now.