St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of July 8-14

photo: Paul DeJong (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals came out of the All-Star break with a series win over visiting Arizona. New closer Carlos Martinez saved both wins. Our weekly history feature remembers prior years when St. Louis had just one All-Star, as in 2019 with Paul DeJong.


Game recaps

Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 11 – All Star Break


Tuesday, July 9 – American League All-Stars 4, National League All-Stars 3

Paul DeJong was St. Louis’ lone representative in the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland.  The third shortstop to enter the game for the NL walked in his only plate appearance, in the eighth. DeJong stole third base as part of a double steal, but representing the tying run, did not score. Defensively, the Cardinal started a double-play in the home ninth.


Friday, July 12 – Cardinals 2, Diamondbacks 4

Daniel Ponce de Leon (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In the first series on return from the All-Star break, the Cardinals took on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three game series at Busch Stadium.  In the opener, the Cardinals fell to the Diamondbacks 4-2.

Daniel Ponce de Leon made the start as a replacement for Adam Wainwright, who was scratched from the start due to back spasms.  Ponce de Leon pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits.  The right hander fanned seven.  Andrew Miller surrendered a home run to his only batter was removed without recording an out.  John Gant got the final out of the seven and remained for the eighth.  Gant allowed two runs in his 1 1/3 innings.  John Brebbia pitched a scoreless ninth.  Miller took the loss.

The offense was kept off the board until the fifth inning, when Matt Wieters’ solo home run to right field put the Cardinals on the board.  St. Louis added a second run in the eighth on a single by Paul DeJong.

Jose Martinez made a fielding error.


Saturday, July 13 – Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2

Tyler O’Neill (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Fortunes were reversed as well as the score as the Cardinals were the 4-2 victors on Saturday.  The Cardinals got on the board in the first inning on a two-run double by Tyler O’Neill.  The Diamondbacks answered in the top of the second to make it 2-1.

In the third, the Cardinals added to their lead with two runs provided again by O’Neill, but this time on a two run home run.  Arizona was able to cut the lead to 4-2 with a second score in the fifth, but that score held for a St. Louis victory.  O’Neill and Matt Wieters each had two hits.

Starter Dakota Hudson pitched six innings and gave up two runs on three hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked four.  Giovanny Gallegos followed with 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings. For the second night in a row, Andrew Miller replaced Gallegos but did not record an out, walking the only batter he faced on four straight pitches.  Carlos Martinez got the last out of the inning, then returned to pitch a scoreless ninth. Hudson received his eighth win and Martinez earned his fourth save.

Yairo Munoz was picked off and caught stealing.


Sunday, July 14 – Cardinals 5, Diamondbacks 2    

Adam Wainwright (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were again the victor over Arizona to take the game and series on Sunday.  Adam Wainwright returned after he was scratched on Friday due to back spasms.  Wainwright pitched well, tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits, fanning seven and walking one.  The right hander earned his sixth win of the season.  Dominic Leone pitched a scoreless eighth.  John Brebbia began the ninth and gave up two runs on eight hits.  Carlos Martinez came in to get the last out of the ninth to collect his fifth save.

Tyler O’Neill again drove in the first run on a double.  In the third, Yairo Munoz singled to plate a run.  Paul Goldschmidt added to the lead with a two run home run to left field against his former team.  A fifth run was added in the fourth on a sac fly by Matt Carpenter.  Goldschmidt, Dexter Fowler, and Kolten Wong each had two hits.

Kolten Wong was picked off and caught stealing.


The Big Picture

Paul Goldschmidt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In this short post All-Star break week, the Cardinals took 2-of-3 from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The first game of the series was a disappointment, as it was much similar to the team’s play before the break – meager offense.  The offense somewhat improved in the last two games of the series, but aside from the Sunday home run by Paul Goldschmidt most of the production came from Tyler O’Neill.

The offense still is not operating on all cylinders.  Matt Carpenter came back from the injured list, but continues to struggle, albeit for only three games.  Another struggler, Harrison Bader, got his first extra base hit in a month in Sunday’s game; whether this is a sign of some improvement remains to be seen.  Bader has posted a very low BABIP, especially against LHP, once a strength for him, which indicates part of his struggles is a result of bad luck.  Matt Carpenter has a low BABIP as well, so one hopes there is some end coming from the slumps of both.  Paul Goldschmidt is showing marked signs of improvement.

Carlos Martinez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Defense in the short term is fine, in the shadows of a horrendous outing for the outfield in the series before the break.  Nothing much can be expected defensively from Jose Martinez, who is in the lineup for his bat.

Ponce de Leon, Dakota Hudson, and Adam Wainwright all pitched well in the series.  The bullpen is mostly fine, save some recent hiccups from John Brebbia and Andrew Miller, who couldn’t record an out in his two appearances over the weekend. Carlos Martinez collected two saves.

The Cardinals play a three game series at home against the Pirates to begin the week, with a series in Cincinnati against the Reds following.  Both teams are back of the Cardinals in the division, by 2.5 and 3.5 games respectively. Neither team can be underestimated as both play the Cardinals very tough.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Chicago 50 43 0.538
Milwaukee 48 46 0.511 2.5
St. Louis 46 45 0.505 3
Pittsburgh 44 48 0.478 5.5
Cincinnati 42 48 0.467 6.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that the Cardinals have renewed interest in left handed reliever Will Smith of the San Francisco Giants.  The Cardinals are said to have first had talks with the Giants about acquiring Smith during the offseason, but the two sides could not come to an agreement.


Transactions 

  • 7/8 The Cardinals optioned LHP Tyler Webb to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals activated 3B Matt Carpenter from the 10-day injured list.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals placed C Yadier Molina on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 8. Right thumb tendon strain.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals transferred RHP Jordan Hicks from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Torn UCL in right elbow.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals optioned 1B Rangel Ravelo to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals selected the contract of LHP Chasen Shreve from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals recalled C Andrew Knizner from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training.  The left hander has had a setback in his rehab and it remains unclear when he will return.
  • RHP Mike Mayers (right shoulder lat strain) continues on the 60-day injured list and has been pitching on a rehab assignment with Memphis since the end of June. No announcement of a return to the roster has been made.
  • 3B Jedd Gyorko remains on the 10-day injured list. Gyorko originally was placed on the list due to lower back issues, was then reported to have recurring calf issues, and at present is suffering from a wrist ailment for which he had arthroscopic surgery on June 24.  The timetable for Gyorko’s return has been pushed back to the middle or end of August.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Marcell Ozuna (fractured right fingers) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 29. Ozuna suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. The outfielder is still dealing with swelling in the hand and has been unable to test his grip strength.  The team is hoping for a return by the end of July or early August.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 11, retroactive to July 8. Molina is expected to remain out for at least three weeks.

Special good wishes go out to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who is in an Omaha hospital battling pancreatic cancer.


Looking Ahead

The home stand will continue with a three game series with the Pirates from July 15-17. Due to a last minute change to the rotation because of a mild injury to Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas did not make the Sunday start as previously scheduled but will make the Monday start against the Pirates.  Jack Flaherty will make the Tuesday start.  Michael Wacha has been moved to the bullpen and Daniel Ponce de Leon will take his place Wednesday.

The Cardinals travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds in a four game series beginning Thursday, July 18. On Monday, July 22, the team flies to Pittsburgh for a four game series. The Cardinals then return home for a weekend interleague series with the Houston Astros.

After an off day on Monday, July 29, the Chicago Cubs come to Busch Stadium for a three game series.  St. Louis has another off day on Friday, August 2 to travel to Oakland to play a two game interleague series beginning Saturday with the Athletics.  The West Coast trip continues with a stop in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers in a three game series beginning August 5.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

Paul DeJong (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The 2019 All-Star Game has come and gone.  The Cardinals had only representative this year, shortstop Paul DeJong. This was the first time since 2007 that St. Louis had only one All-Star, when Albert Pujols was the team’s representative.

This week’s Blast from the Past looks at the prior years when there was only one Cardinal All Star and points out similarities.

2007 is recent enough for most fans to recall that this was the year following the World Championship in 2006.  It is not uncommon for a World Series winning team to not play well in the next year.  Last year’s winner, the Boston Red Sox, is an example of this phenomena.  The 2007 Cardinals posted a losing record of 78-84, another example and likely why only Albert Pujols was the only All-Star.

Ducky Medwick

The All-Star Game started in 1933, so we are looking back 86 years in total.  In 1938, the Cardinals sent only Joe “Ducky” Medwick to the game.  The team had a losing record of 71-80 that year, after posting a winning record the prior season.  A few other Cardinals besides Medwick had good seasons, but without probing into whether there were better players at those positions from other teams, one would have to conclude the reason was likely the team as a whole wasn’t good. (Remember at this time, the league had just eight teams.)

Fast forward to 1965, the next year there was only one All-Star Cardinal.  That year it was Bob Gibson, and the reason for his selection should be fairly obvious.  The team had won the World Series the previous year but posted a losing record in 1965.

Bake McBride was the single All-Star in 1976.  The entire decade of the 1970s featured mediocre Cardinals teams.  The 1976 team posted a record of 72-90.  There was again only a single Cardinal in the All-Star game in 1978, Ted Simmons.  The 1978 team was worse, with a record of 69-93.  The reason for these snubs isn’t difficult to comprehend. This author lived through that decade of Cardinals baseball and those teams were bad.

Bruce Sutter was St. Louis’ representative in 1981.  The teams during the decade of the 1980s teams were much better, but not every year was a winner.  A record of 59-43 in that strike-shortened year wasn’t bad, as the Cardinals were beginning to come out of the tough decade of the 1970s.  They would win the World Series the next year.

Ozzie Smith (Getty Images)

Ozzie Smith went to the All-Star Game in 1986.  The 1986 team had a losing record of 79-83, the year following a trip to the World Series in which lost to the Kansas City Royals and their good friend Don Denkinger.

Smith was again the lone All-Star Cardinal in 1990.  That team had a losing record of 70-92 as the team played musical chairs with managers.  First, Whitey Herzog resigned, then Red Schoendienst followed on an interim basis, and lastly Joe Torre.  A lot of upheaval.

In the year of the home run race, 1998, as one would imagine, Mark McGwire was an All-Star, but he was the only Cardinal so honored.  That team posted a winning record, barely, but was third in the NL Central.  The 1990s weren’t really one of the best decades for Cardinal baseball either, though it was better overall than the 1970s.

The next year of a sole Cardinal was 2007, so we’re back where we started. What conclusion should be drawn from the perusal of this history of Cardinal All-Star one-hit wonders?  Nothing concrete, other than the general theme that bad teams don’t always produce All-Stars in multiples.  Some of these teams weren’t very bad, but other considerations, like the competition from other teams at each position, likely played into it as well.


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Gulf Coast League Cardinals Notebook – 2019 Week 3


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