St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook: Week of February 19-25

photo: Roger Dean Stadium (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports) 

Spring Training game recaps

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

Friday, February 23 – Cardinals 4 at Marlins 6

In the first game of the 2018 Grapefruit League season, the St. Louis Cardinals were defeated by the Miami Marlins.  Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty pitched two scoreless innings.  Flaherty was followed by John Gant, Josh Lucas, Connor Greene, Jordan Schafer, Ryan Sherriff, and Jordan Hicks.  Schafer gave up five of the Marlins’ six runs, Greene gave up the other.

There were 10 Cardinals hits.  Luke Voit was 2-for-2, and Oscar Mercado was 2-for-3.  Extra base hits were doubles by Kolten Wong and Yairo Muñoz.  Wong also stole third base.

Adolis Garcia (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

Saturday, February 24 – Cardinals 10 at Mets 5

The Cardinals topped the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie on Saturday.   NRI minor leaguers Randy Arozarena and Adolis Garcia hit long balls.  Arozarena’s solo home run and Garcia’s two run shot both came in the third inning.  Carson Kelly, Paul DeJong, Alex Mejia, Harrison Bader, Luke Voit, and Garcia contributed doubles.  Bader was 2-for-4, Voit was 2-for-3, Garcia was 2-for-3, while Mejia and Arozarena were both 2-for-5.

On the mound to start was Carlos Martinez, who had a rough go of it.  Martinez gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings, struggling with his command.  He walked three of the nine batters he faced. Martinez gave way to Ryan Helsley, Bud Norris, Jake Woodford, Sean Gilmartin, Derian Gonzalez, and John Brebbia.  Helsley and Norris gave up two runs apiece, but Helsley was awarded the win.

Harrison Bader stole a base, and Garcia had an outfield assist.

Mike Mayers (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

Sunday, February 25 – Cardinals 3, Astros 7

The Cardinals fell to the World Series Champion Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday.  New Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas had a poor first outing, giving up six runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched.  Mike Mayers followed with a very good performance, pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings.  Following Mayers were Daniel Poncedeleon, Hector Mendoza, Jason Motte, and Preston Guilmet.   Poncedeleon, who was struck in the head by a line drive and spent weeks in the hospital with a fractured skull last season, returned to the mound and pitched two innings, giving up the additional Astros run.

Picking up where he left off in 2017, Tommy Pham got the Cardinals on the board with a solo home run in the fourth.  Yadier Molina followed with his own solo shot.  Luke Voit had another good day, going 2-for-4, with a double.  Also contributing doubles were Marcell Ozuna, and Andrew Knizner.

Greg Garcia stole a base, and Randy Arozarena had the team’s second outfield assist in two days, as the right fielder threw out a runner at third.

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

There are no transactions to report.

Injury Report

Matt Carpenter (USA TODAY Sports Images)

IF Matt Carpenter is reportedly dealing with a stiff back.  Carpenter’s workouts will be limited to first base for the time being.  Carpenter has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game.

RHP Alex Reyes (Tommy John surgery) has begun Spring Training with light workouts to build up endurance.  The workouts so far have not included throwing breaking balls during bullpen sessions.  The Cardinals have set a return date of May 1 for Reyes.

IF Jedd Gyorko is dealing with some minor wrist irritation.  It is expected that Gyorko will remain out of Grapefruit League games for a couple of days, but may get into Wednesday’s game against the Orioles in Sarasota.

NRI second baseman Max Schrock has an oblique injury that has keep him out of spring action to date.

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals will travel to the other side of Florida to play the Twins on Monday and the Red Sox on Tuesday in Fort Myers.  The Cardinals will visit the Orioles in Sarasota on Wednesday, then return to Jupiter to face the Twins and Red Sox again on Thursday and Friday.

Grapefruit League play will continue throughout the remainder of February and most of March.  Spring Training information, including the schedule, can be found here.

The regular season begins on Thursday, March 29 as the Cardinals play the Mets in New York in a four game series.  A three game set against the Brewers in Milwaukee follows the Mets series.  St. Louis’ home opener is on Thursday, April 6, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Blast from the Past

This week’s history segment features the Cardinals team from 1941.  It was the 60th season of the franchise, and the 50th in the National League.

The Cardinals went 97-56 during the season and finished second of eight teams in the NL, 2 ½ games back of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  The manager was Billy Southworth, the GM was Branch Rickey, and the owner was Sam Breadon.

The Opening Day lineup was Ernie Koy (LF), Jimmy Brown (3B), Terry Moore (CF), Johnny Mize (1B), Enos Slaughter (RF), Gus Mancuso (C), Marty Marion (SS), Frank “Creepy” Crespi (2B), and Lon Warneke (SP).

1941 St. Louis Cardinals

The longest losing streak was five games, from July 3-6.  The longest winning streak was 11 games, from May 21-30.  The highest winning margin was a 13-1 victory over the Boston Braves on June 24.  The worst defeat was a 12-5 loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers on June 14. Splits were 55-24 at home and 44-32 on the road.

The top starting pitcher was 24 year old Ernie White, who had a record of 17-7 and an ERA of 2.40.  The best offensive performances were provided by Johnny Mize, who hit .317/.406/.535 with 16 HR and 100 RBIs, and Enos Slaughter, who hit .311/.390/.496 with 13 HR and 76 RBI.

Future Hall of Famer Stan Musial made his major league debut on September 17, 1941, at the age of 20.  Musial appeared in 12 games in 1941, batting .426/.449/.574, with one HR and seven RBI in 49 plate appearances.

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